Consuming and the American Dream?

One of the first points Davila makes in the text is the role of the Hispanic media in the United States. Davila describes this role as “the venue in which US-based Hispanics can consume and experience Latin America from within the US context. Stations like Univision and Telemundo took what once a marginalized element of ethnic entertainment broadcast during off peak hours, to a national audience of Spanish-speakers across the country. This sent a clear message to advertisers: “we existed and we’re here to stay.” The establishment of Spanish language television, while seen as a victory for many, would lead to misunderstandings about people of Latin American heritage and their lifestyles.

First, who are Latinos and Hispanics? As the video pointed out, in the 1970’s the United States government developed a term to describe people of Spanish descent: Hispanic, as an easy way to categorize them as a demographic. This convenient social invention, created by the white-Anglo hierarchy, is the cause of many of the misconceptions of Latin American people. Advertisers could no longer afford to view Hispanic customers monolithically. This is because a large percentage of Latin American people identify based on country of origin rather than as Latino or Hispanic. These differences both broad and nuanced, are what has led firms to seek out specialized advertising agencies. These agencies such as Zubi Advertising, specialize in marketing products to Latin American consumers.

Second, the nature of Latin American Identity is key to Davila’s research. Going back to the idea that Hispanic is an invention of the white-controlled American government, then the homogenized view of Latin Americans is based on the predominantly Mexican programming of Univision and long held stereotypes like Frito Bandito, luchadores and Mexican cowboys, personified by the American-Mexican, former President of Mexico Vicente Fox. Or moreover, the positive Latin stereotypes that depict Latinos as cunning, able to outwit white adversaries, or use physical agility rather than physical strength to overcome an opponent. These examples further perpetuate the notion that Hispanics can all be lumped in together as one big spicy food loving, soccer playing, physically weaker to Anglos group. This is also apparent in the underrepresentation of Carribean Latinos in advertising campaigns

Recently I purchased the new 2K Sports video game on the National Basketball Association (NBA). It has the current rosters of all NBA team and even their minor league affiliates around the country. Using the controllers, players can allow the players to dribble, pass, and shoot the basketball and play actual games. The game is in high definition and uses motion captured from actual players when they play, so it is life-like. The makers of this game are able to translate each player’s characteristic moves and how they run up and down the court to make the game as realistic as possible. Even the crowd reactions are taken from actual games.

The game has a feature that you make up an imaginary player and start in the minor leagues and work your way up to an NBA team. You are able to choose your player’s physical features, how they dribble and even the shooting style is adjusted for your preference.

On a part of the game called “NBA Live,” you are able to see the current season’s player statistics, and the skill level of each player adjusts to their recent performance in the NBA. Even living rosters are updated into the game. For example Mo Williams is no longer in the lineup for the Cleveland Cavaliers because he injured his shoulder and will be out six weeks.

You can get this game at any store that sells video games. It cost 45 dollars now that the current 2010 season is halfway complete. The retailer told me that this was the most popular NBA video game that has been sold in recent years. I chose to post this NBA video game because I’m interested in sports and enjoy sports video games more than any other types. I would suggest this game for anybody who likes to have some competitive fun playing video games with their friends, without the guns and violence of some of the games out there.

(image credit: http://www.amazon.com/24-Season-Blu-ray-…)

In life there are real nationwide tragedies– and then there are tiny miniscule personal tragedies of no true consequence.

Similarly, there is real life and then there is television.

In addition to this, there are television shows that depict life in real time. When I say “shows” plural, I really mean one show and it is called 24. One small personal tragedy of mine (of no real consequence) occurred in the fall of 2007 when the Writers Guild of America went on strike, and the Screen Actors Guild followed suit, making it impossible for the cast and crew of 24 to work their magic. What resulted was a 20 month absence of Jack Bauer from broadcast television. Perhaps you, also, remember this time.

Again, for the record, I understand that there is a distinct difference between real life and just television. But this particular series had by this time become a part of my life, and its temporary cancellation was deeply (or shallow-ly… you decide) mourned. Until my dad said, “Sadie, lift up your head and behold, 24 on DVD” (it was something along those lines). So while there’s nothing like a new hour of the exhilarating series, re-watching episodes from seasons 1-6 held me over, and those box sets might be one of my best made purchases.

The show has since resumed regular broadcasting and added a seventh season to its repetoire. If you want to see the story from beginning to present, you can obtain all seven seasons from Amazon.com for $179.99. I understand that this is just not very economical, so you could buy individual seasons at your own pace from $8.95 to $20.48 used or new from $14.99 to $39.99 (depending on which season you buy). Season 7 was the first to be released on Blu-ray at $42.99 new or used from $34.18. If you prefer to buy in person as opposed to online (if only because you do not want to wait for it to ship following its release date), any of these seasons are regularly available at WalMart and Target, occasionally going on sale for $19.99 a piece.

There is no official retailer’s warning, but I will have you know that it is highly addictive, so you are going to want to reserve a weekend before you begin watching. Even though I have this show to thank for many wasted hours in front of a television, I have chosen to recommend this item because, jokes of personal tragedy aside, this really is one of the best shows on television, unique in its concept and execution of plot. The real star of the show is not Kiefer Sutherland, who skillfully portrays Federal Agent Jack Bauer, but the real time format. Each hour long episode represents one hour of Bauer’s hectic life ridding the world of evil. With 24 episodes, one season represents one full day of Bauer’s adventures. If you are thinking it sounds boring, well, you don’t know Jack.

Terrorist plots, the threat of nuclear weapons, kidnapping drama, assassination attempts, the struggle to maintain meaningful personal relationships, and more loom over not only Jack Bauer, but also his coworkers, family, and friends. The characters work together to protect civilians, keep the country safe and bring the day to an end by just about any means necessary. While it is not necessarily realistic in that Jack Bauer almost always gets stellar phone reception and can drive across Los Angeles in 10 minutes, the show does engage real issues such as the ethics involved in torture and the politics involved in waging war or maintaining defense.

Ultimately, if it’s worth Jack’s time, it’s worth your time! Forget real life for a while and go get you some Jack.

When we were younger we all imagined our first car and how cool we were going to look behind the wheel.  But who has ever imagined themselves driving in a cupcake? Well, thanks to Neiman Marcus, you can do just that!

Who wouldn’t love to ride around their neighborhood in a cute and colorful car that is modeled after a cupcake?! This car can only be found at Neiman Marcus, where they allow for customers to indulge in exclusive products such as this. Of course it will cost you, the car costs a steep $25,000 and it can only go up to a maximum of 7 mph which makes it safe for kids to use. This car has a 24-volt electric motor and is run by the use of a heavy-duty battery.

The cupcake car also comes with a matching hat! You even have the ability to chose your favorite toppings to accessorize the car and you pick the flavor. I can’t think of anyone who would not be satisfied riding down the street in a cupcake car. Yes, it’s true you may get a few stares, but honestly as you pass by you will only be seeing looks of envy on their faces as you ride off. Once I saw this product I fell in love, I will never be able to afford such a purchase nor do I think that I would use it to actually take me places, but if I ever receive a cupcake car in the future I will proudly park it in my driveway for everyone to see.

Even though a cupcake car may not be a reasonable purchase for most people, I think we can all agree that our childhoods would have been just a little bit better behind the wheel of a cupcake car. So if you find yourself wondering how to spend that $25,000 you just happen to have laying around, I think I have found your next purchase.

Neiman Marcus is known for the outrageous products that are in their Christmas Book however, no other product has made me smile as much as this.

Here is a hilarious video with David Letterman test driving the cupcake car.

12:55 P.M. It hit me! That sudden pang of hunger that afflicts every living being sank in and I knew it was time to fill up my own personal tank. I was stuck at a red light in the middle of town square, surrounded on all sides by post offices, libraries, antique shops, and cute little European-style cafes. The latter were filled with the sweet aromas of baked bread and freshly brewed coffee. Yet, down several blocks, a more alluring scent grabbed my attention. It was fast food. No, I was never really a fan of many chain restaurants. I always found their food to be greasy and fake. Yet this was Five Guys, the home of authentic potatoes, peanuts, and burgers. My favorites from there were always the bacon cheeseburger, which came at a fair price of $5.89, and the much needed side of French Fries, which came packed into a styrofoam cup at $2.69. Yes, it may sound somewhat unhealthy, and on a regular basis, it most likely is. But when I first discovered this place, I was not only blown away by the succulent taste, but pleased by the note on their menu which indicated that drinks came with free refills and another which noted that the French Fries were “cooked in pure, no cholesterol, tasty peanut oil.” Also, the nutritional charts displayed that all menu items contained zero grams of trans fat, an unwholesome ingredient which the “food police” had recently targeted. So for me, that was it. I was hooked. Granted, I didn’t eat here everyday (that would give me a heart attack after a week or two), but every few weeks or months, I enjoyed bringing home a nice, slightly greased bag of hearty, well-cooked burgers and fries. It is a rich, satiating treat from time to time…definitely one worth noting. I encourage the rest of you (besides those who are vegetarians and vegans) to go out and purchase one of these heavy meals when you have (literally) the stomach and the time for it. It’ll delight your taste buds and cover you for several days worth of meals to come.

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Last weekend my roomie and I went to Central Park and visited out favorite store, Target. While there there are certain things we always look at: food, stationary and movies. So when browsing through the movie section I saw the “Funny Girl” DVD.  I love musicals and old movies, and I really like Barbra Streisand, so I picked it up, wanting to know more about this particular movie. “Funny Girl” is a movie about a girl who wants to be a star, but at first nobody pays attention to her because she does not fit into their stereotype of “beautiful.” What ends up winning over the theatre managers is her humor. Streisand’s character becomes famous and eventually tours with the Ziegfeld Follies, a very famous show in the 1920s. During the movie she meets the love of her life, who unfortunately has a gambling problem, and they get married. Her husband eventually goes to jail and their marriage breaks up, so the ending is pretty grim. Barbra won the Oscar for this role in 1968 and her hit song “People” comes from this movie.

The movie intrigued me enough to buy it. When I got to the register I found out the movie was only $7.50! I also had a Target gift card, so technically the movie did not cost me any money. When I got back to my dorm room I studied the movie case closer, and saw that if I went to a particular website, I could get a free movie ticket! So now I own a great, classic film and I have a free ticket (worth up to $12) to go see “Dear John” which comes out February 5. All in all, not a bad day at Target.

Snoring can be a problem, especially if you have a roommate, good thing I don’t have a roommate. As a lifelong snorer I wish I had considered buying these earlier. I know they had always been around I personally do not like stickers or band aids or anything of that sort, especially on my face. Their slogan is “Breathe better, sleep better”. I did breather better, so I suppose I slept better. Having trouble sleeping is one of the most annoying and most difficult things to deal with. Sleep is something that affects you throughout out your day, so getting the proper amount of good sleep is something that is necessary and the Breathe Right strips can make that happen. Breathe Right can be purchased at Wegmans for $9.99. I would say at least go to Wegmans, even if you are not looking for Breathe Right, it is gigantic. The package I bought contained size small/medium which is said to fit 75% of noses. It did fit mine. The strips open your nose and allow you to have better air flow. The strips have a little bounce in them so when you stick them to your nose they open your airways. They can be used when you have a congested nose, deviated septum, or just a problem with snoring. Now this product does contain latex, so if you have any allergies to latex you should not use this product. The best way to remove these is the old band aid trick; just rip it off as fast as you can. It does not hurt after you pull it off and it does not leave any residue, which was one of my concerns. I am not sure if they are all like this or just the ones made for sensitive skin. If you had to use these every night you may not have much skin left on our nose but at least you will be able to breathe better. They are reasonably priced considering you get thirty in one pack for ten dollars. If my allergies were acting up I would use them again, but it is not necessary for me to use them every night.

Be Careful…Its sharp!!!!

With a tagline like “Cut like you write” it should offer the ultimate in cutting control. Made for cutting out small embellishments for scrapbooking, but I’m going use it for my wargaming miniatures. I have used all kinds of precision knives in modeling, but with the added control this knife offers I am able to craft closer around corners and break pieces off the sproules with no damage and less need for touch-ups than before. I would recommend this knife to any model, wargaming or craft enthusiast. At a mere $4.98 from Target, it’s also a great bargain!

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You may be asking what on earth is A snuggie but I would respond to yo, where have you been in the past year. The snuggie is only the hottest new blanket/fashion craze to have swept the country. For those who are unaware of this product I will enlighten you. The snuggie is a simple idea in theory but is in reality a fiendishly genius product. Most people who have converted to the snuggie have founding themselves asking the question “why didn’t anyone think of this sooner?!!!!” The snuggie is the perfect combination of a blankand a piece of clothing. It drapes around whoever wears it and is guarented to fit snugly, hence the name. Never more will you have to struggle with awkward blankets that only ever leave you covered and only leads to disagreements between who gets what portion of the blanket. Then snuggie is made to fit the contours of your body and And now the whole family can enjoy the benifits of a blanket without anyone being left out. You can purchase the snuggie through thier main website but the product is also available in most home goods retailers. Just the other day I saw an entire section of the wall-mart dedicate to housing the snuggie. the snuggie is priced at a very reasonable $19.95. Because its the winter season the snuggie is perfect at combating those drafty dorm rooms and cold apartments without being tied to your bed or having to carry around a bulky blanket. There is noe way however to prevent any ridicule you may revieve as a result of wearing the snuggie.

This is my step-dad wearing his favorite flannel shirt while cooking at the mountains.

     This past week I began planning for the annual trip my family takes to the mountains over President’s Day weekend every year.  While it is three weeks away, I always scour my closet early to make sure I have all of the necessities to ensure the perfect, frosty getaway.  As I ran through the checklist in my head—boots, snow pants, vintage ear-muffs, check check check; I realized there was something I had left at home that had to make it into my bag before I headed away from Fredericksburg towards the West Virginia border: my bright red flannel shirt.  Within 5 minutes I was obsessively dialing my mother’s number. 

“Mommmmm,” unfortunately, I was whining, but at the moment I was incredibly distraught. 

“Whaaat?” She mimicked me.

“I-I- I-forgot-my-flannel-shirt-at-home.”  My words melted together and poured from my mouth like batter from a bowl–thick but just fast enough you couldn’t distinguish them.  I could hear the TV broadcasting the evening news and the conversation of silverware as my mother searched through a kitchen drawer.  She attempted to decipher my blurb.

“You forgot what?”  I heard a cork screw.

“RED FLANNEL!”  I exclaimed, imagining her cringing as she poured her daily glass of post-work wine.

“I’m on it—I’ll put it in my bag right now for the mountains.”  

“Thank youuu.”  I exhaled.  I love my mother.

     Moments like that are when you can truly tell I am my mother’s daughter.  She, as with the rest of my family, knows the importance of that nurturing piece of fabric, warm and protective against the invisible bite of winter.

     Which is why I believe everyone should own a quality flannel shirt.  Versatile (the perfect work shirt, hiking shirt, lounge shirt, sleep shirt), comfortable, American, and fierce; yes, everyone should own a piece of flannel.

Flannel was a hot commodity this past year in fashion, and those luscious plaid prints popped up in a variety of stores, from the traditional retailers L.L. Bean and GAP, to the unexpected such as Victoria’s Secret, H&M, and the new millennium’s version of the Limited Too, Justice.  The rugged look was popularized in the late 80s and early 90s by the grunge bands that emerged from the Pacific Northwest with original tunes and a retro look.  Groups like Nirvana and Pearl Jam rocked the stage wearing the shirts and kicking back, giving their fans a new image for a new era.  In the new millennium flannel has appealed to both the hipsters and the preps, finding its way from Goodwill aisles to the windows of Macy’s in New York.  While I am sure every store offers a lovely deal, I prefer to stick to the classic fashions, where the scents of a roaring fireplace and crisp pine infuse your head the moment you simply spot the store. 

     L.L.Bean, GAP and Eddie Bauer all offer quality shirts in a variety of sizes and colors. Currently, L.L.Bean is selling their Men’s Scotch Plaid Flannel Shirt for $29.50. This “Bean Value” boasts “high quality Portuguese flannel” and a “roomy fit.”  It is also “yarn-dyed” to prolong those rich colors year after year. But if one for Dad or brother isn’t enough, you can browse the children’s selection or even glance at GAP for a flannel shirt with a bit more flair.
     Complete the outfit with a pair of jeans, khakis, leggings, or a skirt and you are good to go. Flannel is perfect for the blue-collar day on the farm, relaxing evening in, or a strut in high fashion on Rodeo Drive.  It is something every American consumer should own.