Filed in September of 2007, Paris Hilton accused Hallmark of invading her privacy with the misappropriate images of one of their cards. The greeting card depicts Hilton on her first day of waitressing. This card was one of three cards that Hallmark offered featuring Hilton.

Hilton was seeking approximately $500,000 in actual damages. She claims the card went on sale without her approval and was still available to the public after her complaints.

A representative for the card company declined to comment on the lawsuit. However according to legal experts it appears Ms. Hilton has very little legal basis for suit due to the protection our Constitution gives public satire.

However in August of 2009, The Ninth Circuit upheld the lower court’s denial to dismiss Hallmark’s motion to dismiss Hilton’s right-of-publicity claim. Hallmark defended the card as a parody, which is normally protected under fair-use law according to CBS News.

Although it is a negative image of Paris Hilton that is depicted in this card, there has been far worse public portrayal of her. Images of Hilton in jail and stories telling of a sex tape with a thirty-year old male are more detrimental to her reputation as a whole.

The news went wild with this story when it first came out. Many websites had very similar details to one another, but all had a hint of sarcasm and mocked Paris for her ridiculous accusations toward Hallmark.

This lawsuit was filed in 2007 and continued to receive updates as of August 2009.

Within the last week Toyota has issued  another recall on one of their vehicles, this time it being the 2003 Sequoia. Although this is putting the company in a negative limelight, Steve St. Angelo, Toyota chief quality officer for North America issued this statement in an article from Cars.com:

“Toyota is committed to investigating customer complaints more aggressively and to responding quickly to issues we identify in our vehicles. As a result, we are voluntarily launching this recall to ensure that as many 2003 Sequoias as possible are serviced to the full satisfaction of our customers.”

To reverse such negative thinking about Toyota, I ask that you consider the impression Toyota has left prior to all of this negative publicity. When shopping for a new vehicle, I guarantee Toyota is one of the first cars thrown at you to consider for purchasing.

So many are focused on the recall of the several vehicles, but are not realizing that the 2010 Prius received a 10.0 out of 10.0 in its Predicted Reliability Rating by J.D. Power and Associates. In 2009, the Corolla was also rated among the best in overall performance quality.

Some may completely disagree and find that this information is not substantial enough to guarantee reliability for future vehicles. Although more cars than usual were recalled by Toyota, they still are among the leading car companies to have consistent reliability ratings.

Other companies have never achieved the status that Toyota has, but people are still investing tens of thousands of dollars in their vehicles. Take for example, the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta. They received a 5.0 out of 10.0 on their Predicted Reliability from J.D. Power and Associates. Are people no longer purchasing Jettas because of this? Absolutely not.

I just ask that you make your judgment of Toyota with all things considered and not simply the shadowing of these recent statements.

Set in Las Vegas, the Golden Globe winning movie The Hangover was released in 2009. What they anticipated to be a fun bachelor party in the “Sin City,” turned into a manhunt when the three groomsmen lose the groom, Doug, after a night of heavy drinking. The twist to it all is none of the men can remember anything about the night and slowly try to piece together and re-trace their whereabouts.

Numerous advertisements popped up in the movie because of the location that the producers filmed the movie. One of the major ones that I took note of, at the start of the movie, was the car the men drove into the city, an antique convertible Mercedes Benz.

The men also sported different styles of Ran Ban sunglasses on their drive into Vegas. On the roof of Caesar’s Palace, where the men stayed, the group took shots of Jagermeister to toast Doug’s future. This liquor definitely made that particular scene memorable, because it was the only moment the group could re-call from the night prior.

Since so many of their shenanigans revolved around the antique Mercedes, that the groom’s father-in-law lent out, it was definitely a memorable product/thing. Whether it was on their drive in or while on their hunt to find Doug with a tiger in the backseat, the men were always so cautious with this vehicle.

What made this product  influential in the film was how the men were always so careful with the vehicle because of its value. And what was  ironic was how although very vigilant the entire trip, the car in the end was in shambles.

Caesar’s Palace was certainly chosen because of its distinction in Las Vegas. The Mercedes Benz was simply a beauty and would be difficult not to remember in a film. However, Worst Product Placement shows some other products that they felt were poorly displayed such as Coca-Cola cans, Monster Energy Drinks, etc.

Many products were featured in this film, some of which I am sure to have overlooked. It was these few products that I found to be unforgettable, some because of my personal taste and others because they were hard not to remember.

The film is hysterical and one I recommend when you are in need of a good laugh.

Although fiction, many things discussed in The Kite Runner are factual. Set in Kabul, Afghanistan, the story tells of a relationship between a father and a son, the disloyalty seen in friendships, the cruelty of class systems, and the horrific truth of war.

I read this novel in the summer of 2009 and literally found myself anxious to continue reading. The book was given to me by a friend and stirred several conversations with outside peers. Some topics that were discussed were the demise of the friendship between Amir, the main character, and his loyal and life-long friend, Hassan, the sequel to book (A Thousand Splendid Suns), and the constant struggle some people in Afghanistan faced.

Reading the novel really made me take a step back and think about the things I occasionally lose sight of, and at times take for granted.

The character Amir struggled from a young age for his father’s acceptance and approval. Envious of his servant and best friend, Hassan, he never felt he could reach the status of love that Hassan achieved with Baba, the father. My parents consistently tell my brothers and myself just how proud they are for all that we accomplish in school and in life. Some children are not given that reassurance and recognition and ultimately, develop feelings of resentment, just as Amir did.

This was just one of the many things I got out of reading the novel. These impressions that were left were so powerful merely because I have never had to experience even a few of the many things these people have. Witnessing rape due to fear of defending oneself, fighting for the love of your father, growing up in the midst of war, all of these things are situations people in Afghanistan had to face.

Reading this book opened my eyes to things that are happening around the world. It motivated me to further learn about the lifestyle and cultures of the people living outside of America.

The Kite Runner is written exceptionally well and is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Your eyes will be opened to many harsh realities, but you will be sure to have a new outlook about one aspect of your life.

All of us have a shared love in that particular Disney film, or maybe even several films for that matter. Whether the film provides a reminiscent moment to our childhood or it is a newly released Pixar phenomenon, people young and old adore and appreciate the films that have been made for decades.

With themes hinting at interracial relationships, confronting your fears and overcoming them, clashing of the upper and lower classes and not to judge off of looks alone, Disney continues to teach values in each of their films.

Disney culture extends such values to audiences ranging from children to adults. Each person gets something different out of a Disney film, and I believe it is this distinct quality that make’s the company’s movies both popular and profitable.

As a child I thoroughly enjoyed watching Disney films. However, many of the themes that I identify, now as a young adult, are not the same themes I recognized as a child.

For example, watching Beauty and the Beast I always saw Belle simply as a beautiful woman, who very strangely, found love and comfort in a cruel beast.

Growing up with this Disney culture I did not connect the themes of these films to that of real life. Pocahontas and John Smith were both from two completely different cultures, with  families that rejected and dismissed their feelings for one another. A child would be unable to identify the theme of an interracial relationship, while an adult would realize it instantaneously.

One particular website, written by a feminist journalist from Boston, referred to some of the princesses as “happy housewives” with messages unfit for young girls.

Critique of Disney Culture

Ms. Maio further pointed out, that several of the  women partake in housework and at one point or another falls into a deep sleep that can only be broken by that of a man.

Although these are valid points that are made, I still like to think of the Disney movies as what they are intended to be, fairytales that aim to put a smile on your face.

In an article from THE INDEPENDENT, a newspaper based out of the United Kingdom, different cases regarding what is posted on  profiles for facebook, MySpace and the newly formed Bebo are told. (Bebo, meaning Blog Early, Blog Often was founded in 2005 and is targeted at countries such as the UK, Italy, and Spain.)

THE INDEPENDENT

Many have lost their jobs or have even been denied the opportunity to apply due to the content on their profiles. A Florida sheriff’s deputy was forced to turn in his badge due to exposure of a heavy drinking habit and liking for women’s breasts. Now, more than ever, employers and authorities are monitoring what many believed to be private websites.

Review of applicants has gone as far as the installation of software that automatically notifies employers of content that may interest them. At the opposite end of the spectrum, software to keep employers/officials from invading such social networks is surfacing.

Sites such as facebook, allow for anyone, thirteen and older with an email address, to have an account on their website. With very little parental control on these websites, the possibility for children to meet pedophiles is extremely high.

facebook statistics

While I feel that these social networking sites are  an excellent means of networking with clients and prospective employers, they also can bring about termination of future opportunities. Many friends of mine are now making their profiles extremely private due to the increasing trend of employer investigation of the site.

Other concerns regarding facebook are the increase in procrastination of studies due to activity on the site. A  recent discussion had on the Mass Communications 101 homepage was proof that a majority of college students are seeking distraction from social networking sites such as facebook.

All of this taken into consideration, people will continue to use these various sites. However, I believe more attention is being paid to just how much information each individual is willing to release and nonetheless, risk, being read by outsiders.

During the 10:30 p.m. timeslot, I pulled up the website and was instantly drawn to two advertisements for this program. What made the advertisement even more striking was the flashing lights, symbolizing that of a camera taking pictures of the three sisters that star in the show.

E!Online

As I scrolled down the page I again saw an advertisement embedded in the news articles. When I returned to this website the next day, the two advertisements, that had once caught my immediate attention at the top page of the website, were replaced with clothing advertisements.

Such strategic placement of these PRETTY WILD advertisements during the programming, allowed for potential new viewers to be drawn to the show.

What was so interesting about the functionality of this site, was the mass appeal it has to niche audiences. One article describes the occurrences at Nickelodeon’s Kid’s Choice Awards, such as the sliming of presenter, Katy Perry, while another article discusses the marriage of Real Housewife of New York, Bethenny Frankel.

And if you are the kind of person where a picture says it all for you, this site is fantastic as well! One section of the front page is dedicated exclusively to jaw-dropping photos of stars at their best and worst moments, and let’s be honest, who does not LOVE  to see such pictures.

E!Online, while very entertaining, has one minor problem – it is entirely too busy on the main page. As a viewer of the site, I found myself somewhat overwhelmed by the innumerable advertisements and articles, crammed into one page. I felt my eyes frantically scanning left, right, up, and down.

On the whole, the website is highly entertaining and successful. Countless updates are given about the stars, award shows, television series, etc. Weaved into all of this are advertisements for clothes, movie reviews, and fashion guides, to name a few. E!Online is certainly a webpage that will keep your mouse clicking and your reality statuses updated.

It is late at night and still going strong. I have not accessed Facebook on my phone or on my laptop at all today. The biggest test came when I was home for the evening after a day of classes and rehearsals. My roommate was sitting next to me, clicking away on Facebook at this person’s page and that person’s status. This exposure unfortunately broke my Facebook detox. Seeing that website was just unavoidable.

Day 2: Only the Strong Survive

Today I wanted to further challenge myself. So I basically made it through the day without Facebook, but would I be able to say the same about my BlackBerry?

Two hours into the morning I receive a call from my mom. BlackBerry detox has already failed.

All right it was my mom, there has to be some leeway. Continue with my day, no BlackBerry messaging, no text messaging, none of it can be done.

Until I finish my Composition class and find a smiley face with an asterisk and three envelops with red asterisks at the top of my phone. This is not good. This means one thing and one thing only – I have three new text messages and a new BlackBerry message.

I sat there and watched as all of my friends went typing away on their phones. What would you do? Placing my phone back in my bag, with the thought, out of sight, out of mind. This was completely false. It was all I could think about!

Approximately fifteen minutes elapsed and I caved in, I checked my messages. I later saw a friend whose message I had not immediately read and she commented on how I had not answered her as quickly as she anticipated. Clearly others are aware of my attachment.

Evidently staying off of my phone for an entire day is impossible for me and I am sure many others. However, this exercise has taught me that there are certain instances where you could keep off your phone. You could possibly keep the conversation with someone to a minimum or not initiate conversation with others via your phone. We could try meeting and having a conversation, how weird!

Who knows what interesting things may occur from simply stepping away from the phone.

Growing up in an age where technology literally engulfed my life, it is not so uncommon for it to be a big part of my everyday routine. However, how much is too much?

Well one thing is for sure; it definitely is not healthy for someone to physically be unable to be away from his or her phone. Are you in the same boat as I am? I literally found myself checking my phone every couple of minutes when I was not in a dance or academic course.

Okay so the phone is one thing, now what about Facebook. It is safe to say that Facebook is no longer for adolescents, considering I have dodged a friend request from both my father and my uncle within the last month. With easy access to the Internet on my phone, it was as simple as clicking a button and checking my notifications, friend requests, group invites, etc.

And when I was not checking it on my phone, naturally it was pulled up as a second tab on my laptop. Not only did I have Facebook open while doing my homework, but also the television was on and my roommate was playing music.

It is hard to see after paying close attention to my media consumption just how frequently I use media. At times I found myself with my back to the television, the volume at low, doing my homework. I was not even paying attention to the programming! Therefore, it was not necessary at all for it to be on. But there was a sense of comfort I felt by having it on behind me. Definitely not a healthy form of reassurance!

While having the television on constantly appeared to be my biggest downfall, life without my cell phone came in first place. If I was not talking on the phone with my mom in New Jersey, I was BlackBerry messaging my roommate or texting a friend about something random. Of course I have been scolding before by my mother for constantly being on my phone, but until I consciously made an effort to take note of my intake, did I become aware of my addiction.

This brought me to think about how often I remove myself from society and fall into the world of BlackBerry. Thus, at the end of the day I concluded that I do not want a BlackBerry as my soul companion and need to weed out consistent media consumption.

Aside from that fact, I also found it interesting that visual communication started out with three main networks – ABC, NBC and CBS. I was aware that we did not have the hundreds of networks that are currently on television, but it was fascinating to think about only having three networks to watch on television. I have grown up in an age of constant advancements in technology and have been somewhat spoiled by always having multiple channels of mass media: the internet allowing access to online books and newspapers, television with numerous channels and the radio with multiple stations. I always kind of wonder what it would have been like to be alive during that time period and to only having those three networks as a means for visual communication. From this thought I began to think about the audiences that each network aimed to target. Watching a lot of MTV as an adolescent I never exactly considered that the producers and media owners were trying to serve for one niche audience – teenagers. I simply would watch the shows for pure entertainment, not even taking into consideration the idea or the reasoning why my parents would denounce such shows.

While I was aware of many of the inventions and advances in media over the last few centuries, I never thought of the reasoning for such advancements: to target certain audiences, to bring about identical copying in a quicker fashion, etc. The video definitely opened my eyes to a new way of thinking about media.