The impact of Television

Almost seventy-five years ago the television was introduced to the United States and was admired and desired by most American families. No one could have imagined that it would have changed so drastically since the beginning of its production to now days. Manufacturers and Networks have been trying to expand the influence that the television does have on society through the television’s features, commercials, and programs’ content. The television’s features and its availability have heavily influenced the way society views programs. When televisions were first available to the public, they were considered a piece of furniture, monochrome, a screen, and expensive for the average household. The cost of a television was about a third of the family’s annual income when first introduced. The standard features of the modern television are color, flat and large screens, with remote controls, portable, and more affordable. The comparatively low cost of a modern television has increased the number found in the average American home. At the onset of its popularity in the 1950’s, most homes only had one television set. Today, television sets are found in nearly every room in the home and even in vehicles and cell phones. We take our televisions with us wherever we go. Commercials were first used in television programs in the 1940’s. Products were being marketed directly to consumers in their very own homes. This quickly became an advertiser’s dream come true. Advertisers were able to reach many more people in a short period of time to promote their product. “As seen on TV” became a popular saying for products in the later part of the 20th century. The content of television’s programs has changed drastically since it began. Up until about the 1970’s couples were not aired as sleeping in the same bed, actresses should not show their midriff area, and swearing was forbidden. Cable television pushed the FCC’s regulations on television programs beyond its guidelines. Now in the 21st century, swearing, nudity, and graphic violence have become common and accepted on even family shows and local networks. Over its seventy- five year history, television is arguably a factor in the degradation of American morals and family values in the 21st century. With technology ever increasing and improving rapidly, we can expect that television will continue to impact society through its convenient features, commercials, and especially the content of television programs that are to give the impression to its viewers as being the “norm” and acceptable.

It may have taken me 19 years....but totally worth it!

19 years ago I enrolled as a student at Pima Community College. I took several breaks over the years and for periods of time as I was starting a family. I decided a year and a half ago to return and finish up the last 12 classes I needed. As I enrolled I was offered a part-time job working with my sister-in-law that same week, so I only went to school part-time. Last night, May 16, 2013 I finally graduated with not 1 Associate's degree, but 3 Associate's Degrees (Associate of Arts, Liberal Arts, & Psychology) and most importantly to me with a 4.0 while doing so. My plans are to continue on to the University of Arizona in the Fall of 2013 to earn my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a minor in Family Studies and Human Development. I am ever so grateful for the support of my husband and family for encouraging me to finish and for putting up with me as "I always needed to study".

Aubrey's Spelling Bee 2013

I am one proud Mom! Aubrey competed in the school Spelling Bee for the 2nd year in a row. She has been diligent in studying her words since December 18, 2012. She is in the 4th grade this year and was 1 out of 24 participants in the schoool Spelling Bee. She went to the final round against Nic, a 5th grader. She misspelled her last word "demonstrable" and Nic spelled his word correctly so he was declared the winner. We are so proud of Aubrey’s hard work, determination, and bravery. Way to go Aubrey!!!!! (We ran out of time for studying all of the 450 words on the list and had to stop at the 7th grade words. "Demonstrable" was the 3rd word from where we left off studying...Bummer!)

Happy July 4th!!!!

I can not believe that it is already JULY!! More than 1/2 of the year is already gone. Today we started off our day early at a July 4th Breakfast at the park. Aubrey started taking piano lessons a month ago through Parks & Recreation. She has learned to play the Star Spangled Banner so she asked the Bishopric if she could play that song this morning at the breakfast. I think she did a fabulous job....she played 1 wrong note at the beginning and got lost with everyone singing but she managed to get back on track and did AWESOME. (She also auditioned for a solo on her recorder for her Music Performance in May and was chosen. I was shocked that she would want to do that.) Our shy little Aubrey is breaking through her shell.

(I will try to load video later- difficulty tonight doing so.)

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there.

I came across this and found it so funny...I thought all Mother's out there might enjoy it this Mother's day and find a little humor in it. Oh come on, don't let me think I am the only one that feels this way. What Mom's Really Want For Mother's Day... 1. To be able to eat a whole candy bar by herself, and drink a glass of Diet Coke without any "floaties". 2. To have my 14-year-old answer a question without rolling her eyes in that "Why is this person my mother?" way. 3. Five pounds of chocolate that won't add twenty. 4. A shower, without a child peeking through the curtain with a "Hi'ya, Mom" just as I put razor to my ankle. 5. A full-time cleaning person, who looks like Brad Pitt. 6. For my teenager to announce, "Hey, Mom! I got a full scholarship and a job all in the same day!" 7. A grocery store that doesn't have candy, gum, or cheap toys displayed at the checkout line. 8. To have a family meal without a discussion about bodily secretions. 9. To be able to sit down on a plane with my toddlers and not have some pencil-neck-yuppie moan, "Ohhh, nooo! Why me?" 10. Four words: Fisher Price Play Prison!!

Crazy Day for sure

My kids love to dress up for "crazy day" at school. I find it so funny because they are so excited, but I would never have done that when I was their age. It is very hard for a hairdresser and OCD mother to allow her children to go to school looking this way. I mean can't their clothes at least match? I guess that is why it is crazy day!

These 2 pictures are the kids with my niece and nephew.

Damian's trip of a lifetime to Washington DC

So a year ago Damian started the process of trying to earn $2400.00 to go on a trip of a lifetime with his school class....to Washington DC. He has been busy around the house doing extra chores, recycling aluminum cans, washing cars, doing school spell-a-thons, and collecting tax credits from very generous family members. (He even earned a scholarship through his school). Damian achieved his goal adn left for Washington DC on Thursday, April 26th 2012 and returned Tuesday, May 1, 2012. Some of the places they traveled were: The White House- (No pictures due to heightened security that day.) Lincoln, Korean, Vietnam Memorials Arlington National Cemetery Iwo Jima Memorial Naval Museum The Newseum FDR, Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr Memorials Drive to Pennsylvania for: Gettysburg Museum & Battlefield Tour WWII Memorial, Einstein Statue September 11- Pentagon Memorial- return back to DC Mount Vernon Cruise Washington Monument Holocaust Museum National Capitol Tour Library of Congress Supreme Court Smithsonian Museums Fords Theatre Peterson House Tour National Archives WOW!!! What an experience. He said he only got about 10 hours of sleep all week. BUT worth every penny. - This is what it looks like at 4 AM- getting ready to go to the airport from the school.

Getting ready to take off- ALL ABOARD!!!!!

Various Pictures of Damian

September 11th Memorial at the Pentagon.

Nation's Capitol

Iwo Jima Memorial

Washington Monument

Arlington National Cemetery

Abraham Lincoln Memorial

Smithsonian Museums- Natural & American History & Air & Space Museums

Damian arriving Home May 1, 2012 10:00 PM

So the story behind this... Damian went on a field trip in 4th grade on the Colorado River trip. I gave him a disposible camera for pictures....he came home with a roll of film of "Donkey Dung". So before I left I asked him to get some pictures of more than Donkey Dung. So he didn't take any pictures of it....he brought it home instead. That's my Damian! Thank you to everyone who helped make this dream come true for Damian!

Pima County Spelling Bee

This last saturday, February 18,2012, Damian competed in the Pima County Spelling Bee. It was held at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB). He was given participant #5 and there were 45 competing. They didn't let us take pictures of the actual Bee but I took 1 before it started. Damian finished in 10th place out of 45 and we are proud of him. What an experience! He says he will win next year.
The next day we received a call that he was in the Sunday Arizona Daily Star newspaper. Here is the link.

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/spell-binding/article_34f92839-6689-54f8-86c6-5bd0f835c879.html

BTW: the word he missed was aggregate (He spelled it too fast and left out a g)

The word is Winner... W-I-N-N-E-R....

The kid's school Spelling Bee was held on Friday and Damian and Aubrey were both participants. Aubrey is in 3rd grade this year and Damian is in 7th grade. Aubrey went through round 5. She missed a 5th grade word "municipal". Damian went to round 20 (the last 4 rounds were words that were not given ahead of time to study) and spelled "miscellaneous" correctly and was declared the champion for Tucson Country Day School. He will represent the school in the Pima County Spelling Bee on February 18th. Way to go kids!!!!





















Here is also the video of the final rounds. It is a little over 4 minutes long.


The funny story is.... Damian had been on restriction before this. The night before the Spelling Bee he came and asked me how he could get off restriction. I told him, "If you win the Spelling Bee tomorrow, you might get off restriction." Well, Damian took the challenge to heart. Right after he was awarded the trophy, he headed straight towards me. I was thinking he was coming to give me a big hug for helping him study for the last 2 months..... but no. He stopped in front of me holding the trophy and said, "Mom, we have some business to discuss."
That is such Damian. I guess it motivated him.
(Yes, he did get off restriction.)