Different Impacts: The Culture of Alcohol and Cell Phones

Drinking and the use of technology is part of our culture as Texans and as Americans, but what happens when driving is added to the equation? Do these leisurely activities become more than we bargained for, and which one of these activities might be more detrimental to the public’s safety?

The Austin Police Department has alerted various other Austin news sources that the number of traffic fatalities has increased from 8 in 2012 to 15 already in 2013. Back in 2011, KXAN (Austin news and weather) reports that a woman in her early 20s, Gabrielle Nestande, was arrested because of a “deadly hit-and-run” with a woman on the side of the road. Last Thursday, a jury convicted Nestande of criminally negligent homicide, a charge punishable up to ten years in prison. The jury pardoned her for being intoxicated the night of the crash and setting an alarm on her phone when she swerved. The fact that Nestande escaped from alcohol related charges makes some sense, but this trial should’ve set the standard for banning the use of cell phones while driving.

The state of Texas has relatively loose drinking laws in my opinion, allowing those under 21 to drink with parental supervision. In Las Vegas, Nevada, those that are underage can’t so much as take one foot off the main carpet that winds through a casino because alcohol is served in all areas except for that main carpet. Since my grandparents live in the Reno/Tahoe area (near many casinos), I was often scolded by casino employees for veering away from this “safety carpet”, even though I was just trying to explore. Texans grow accustomed to being around alcohol, and it can’t be assumed that our state has more problems with underage drinking than other states. My point is that Nestande was of drinking age and under the legal alcohol limit, so there was little for the jury to discuss regarding the possibility of alcohol charges.  

Nestande looking away from the road during the exact time of the crash is a key factor in explaining why she didn’t see the woman that she hit. In theory, cell phone use physically and mentally diverts a person’s attention away from the road, while mild intoxication is simply a mental distraction. However, Texas continues to allow its drivers to use cell phones, so the number of traffic fatalities will most likely continue to increase. If the Texas government would put more of a premium on safety and ban the use of cell phones while driving, maybe we would be able to avoid yet another increase in traffic fatalities for 2014.

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/breaking_news/nestande-is-guilty-of-criminally-negligent-homicide

MUSIC-a broad term with simple goals

Let’s use music videos for example. What do they say about us? What do they say about our parents? Probably the same thing thanks to MTV’s continuous stream of videos in the 80s and the mass variety of videos that we stream through YouTube today. It seems crazy to think that we have something that is a substantial part of our lives in common with our parents, considering we use their texting struggles and other everyday technological struggles as comedic relief. Despite the drastic change from low to high resolution phones, computers, and camera screens, it is not technology that gives music videos their natural prestige. Music videos and music as a whole is able to transcend time and even space because of the personal connection and sense of “escape” that it provides.

Mr. Kenny Chesney represents the epitome of personal connection and “escape”, capturing the delight and attention of his STADIUM SIZED, country music loving audiences. Chesney’s ticket sales alone may certainly speak for themselves, but his appearance at countless preshow tailgates and relaxed persona truly makes people feel as if they can put their worries on the back-burner, at least for a couple of hours.

Getting to see Chesney in concert in Austin, one of the many locations on his 2005 “The Road and the Radio” tour, convinced me to make the best of my experiences and to get excited about them. Moving from one school to another had not been an easy transition for me at the time, but I soon realized that it didn’t have to be the end of the world. This sand-filled beach vacation had not only been an “escape”, it gave me insight on my own life. At the end of the night, audience members in the front row to the notorious “nosebleed” sections all had memories to bring home with them.

There was something about Chesney’s lively stage presence and putting a premium on his fans having a good time that made me feel important, as if my choices from then on could actually have an impact on the world in some small way. How does music make you feel? How do you choose what music to listen to?

Analysis: Reality TV's Effect on Viewers

To me, watching these shows makes me feel like I am in a dreamlike state because I return to watch new events unfold every week and understand the casts’ lifestyle, yet there is no personal connection. Is it unhealthy to be involved in lives that are not our own? Should we be more productive, or is this time just a well-deserved break from our own realities?

I used the very first post on two different blogs to find a deeper purpose behind reality TV shows, as opposed to getting acquainted with one TV show in particular. Both of the blogs have very similar blog titles and mention the concepts of “money” and “instant fame”, yet the first post title is lackluster.   

“Conclusion” http://advpopculture.wordpress.com/

The simple claim that reality television has a “strong influence” on viewers is relatively successful, despite its short length, mainly because the blogger provides an ethos appeal right away and gives that person recognition by citing them. One of the author’s peers, Marcel Danesi, shares that the lure of reality TV lies in the fact that they are unscripted and therefore, “fun” to predict. Throughout their blog, the author describes their writing approach as a “popular culture lens of representation”. Through this vivid imagery or pathos appeal, the reader is encouraged to continue reading this blog and is curious as to how the author thinks these TV casts can represent today’s culture.

“Money and Fame” http://ramizapopularculture.blogspot.com/

The author’s idea that reality TV shows draw “millions” of ordinary people in because the cast members are “ordinary people” as well is probably a bit more convincing than the “Conclusion” post because the author’s personal anecdote or ethos appeal gives this second post more of a tone. The author refers to themselves as a “reality T.V. junkie”, giving the post a friendly feel because they are telling the audience a secret. We may be able to infer that people who religiously tune into reality TV, much like the author, is the intended audience. Explaining why “simplified, dumb people get lots of cash” with the example of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, makes this harsh statement appear much more logical. Since Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is a reality show based on “trivia” questions, contestants are partly earning money based on ability rather than just plain luck.