Sociological Perspectives On Social Networking Sites

Applying Sociological Perspectives Social networking sites - such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and, Pinterest, just to name a few - provide individuals with an online web of global networking that allows maintaining social ties with one another. Sociologists often ponder, How do these social websites impact society? Above all, this is the question that is the central focus shared by all three of the primary sociological perspectives (Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and, Symbolic Interactionism) when studying and performing research on the topic. Otherwise, the three paradigms of sociological theories are differentiating interpretations of how they perceive social networking sites. Namely, I find this subject intriguing because humans are perpetually seeking innovations intended to ameliorate the quality of life, and diverse opinions pertinent to the effect on the gamut of society and individuals within a community, is inevitable. Albeit, each perspective s view generated as a result of these social milestones, equally hold valid points. Therefore, while social networking sites provide a multitude of beneficial improvements to the world, there are just as many issues that arise, and all three sociological perspectives serve to complement one another in the comprehension of social media networks and the swayShow MoreRelatedSoc/100 - Applying Sociological Perspectives1063 Words   |  5 Pages Applying Sociological Perspectives Stephanie Ann Tombline SOC/100 May 30, 2016 Jennifer Hudgins Applying Sociological Perspectives Social networking sites - such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and, Pinterest, just to name a few - provide individuals with an online web of global networking that allows maintaining social ties with one another. Sociologists often ponder, How do these social websites impact society? Above all, this is the question that is the central focus shared byRead MoreHow Does Likes Plays An Important Role?974 Words   |  4 PagesToday’s generation thrives on social media platforms. We use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram everyday as a technology to promote ourselves through images, status updates and likes in order to be viewed by the public’s eye as likable. The sociological construct that I’ll be examining will be gender and how likes plays an important role in society of how we are perceived to be. Additionally, I’ll expand on how we use these technologies as a tool, that can bolster our image through likes and content thatRead MoreIntegration Of Ins tructional Technology Into Public Education1540 Words   |  7 Pagesof education out of Brigham University, Utah, examines technology as a tool for students but not as a form of reliance for teachers. This article also takes a look at the economic perspective of incorporating digital technology more frequently into the classroom. As well, this article takes a very sociological perspective and examines the way in which this upcoming digitalization of the classroom, which will provide a strong relationship to many of the course materials which will also will be includedRead MoreSmall Change: Why the Revolution Will not be Tweeted1744 Words   |  7 Pagescontribution of web-based social networking to the advent of progressive social movement and change. Gladwell’s bold declaration that the revolution will not be tweeted is reflective of his view that social media has no useful application in serious activism. Contrasting various elements of the â€Å"high-stakes† lunc h-counter protests in Greensboro, North Carolina in the 1960’s with the â€Å"low-stakes† activism achieved through social media, Gladwell concludes that effective social movements powerful enoughRead MoreSocial Media And Its Impact On Society903 Words   |  4 Pagespopularity of the internet has brought about social interaction to a level that was never witnessed before. The emergence of social networks has been increasingly popular. Social media network comprises of individuals from varied gender, religious, racial and ethnic affiliations. Primarily, social media networking is meant to foster interaction and sharing of various issues that people encounter in society. Following the functionalist sociological perspective, social media networks are characterized by eachRead MoreFactors Influencing Women to Engage in Prostitution Research Essay555 Words   |  3 Pagesactivities involved social networking, advocacy text-based videos, posters flyers, advocacy booth, a nd mascots. All pushed through except for the last two simply because of the time constraint my group mates and I encountered. Now, in conducting the whole governance project, the big question is, have I attained the ideal practice of citizenship? Yes and the first factor that proves my practice in citizenship would be that I looked at the problem from a sociological perspective. I tried to theorizeRead MoreSocial Networking Makes People Unsocial1629 Words   |  6 PagesSocial networking makes people unsocial Introduction Technology has grown tremendously over the last years. This growth has brought with it different ways that individuals can use to communicate and keep in touch with each other. Social networking is one technology that has allowed people to share, keep in touch, and communicate. Social networking has also had an effect on business, society, and politics. It has been adapted and embraced quite quickly, which has brought numerous changes to theRead MoreDoes the Internet Ruin Communications? Essay953 Words   |  4 Pagesdeemed them to be â€Å"different† or â€Å"weird†. The Internet helps individuals overcome those barriers while socializing on the Internet. Most use social networking sites such as: Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. According to the supporters of social networking, these websites allow teenagers to socialize and make friends with peers they normally would not approach (Social Network Websites, n.d.). It seems their shyness melts away behind a computer scre en and they are able to have any identity they want, andRead MoreMalcolm Gladwell, Small Change: Why the Revolution Will not be Tweeted1508 Words   |  7 Pagescontribution of web-based social networking to the advent of progressive social movement and change. Gladwell bold declaration that the revolution will not be tweeted is reflective of his view that social media has no useful application in serious activism. Contrasting various elements of the â€Å"high-stakes† lunch-counter protests in Greensboro, North Carolina in the 1960’s with the â€Å"low-stakes† activism achieved through social media, Gladwell concludes that effective social movements powerful enoughRead MoreSocial Theories Are A Product Of Their Time1623 Words   |  7 PagesSOC104 Social Theories are a product of their time Alicia Bird Student Number: 4661230 Social theories are frameworks or paradigms used to examine social phenomena, it encompasses ideas about how societies change and develop. Methods for explaining theories include social behaviour, power, social structure, gender, ethnicity, modernity, civilisation, revolutions and utopias. These sets of ideas have never been accepted by everyone, although some may be more accepted than others. Social theories

Gender Reflection - 1078 Words

Journal Assignment 4 Throughout this class I have been interested to speak to someone about topics in this class that was not exposed to the material to see how much held true in day to day life especially in our youth. During this interview I realized how deeply seated the natural differences schema, gender policing, and gender roles are in our young children of our country. For this interview I talked to my cousin Clint. He is an 8 year old second grader who attends a Catholic private school in my hometown Cedar Rapids. During the interview it was very interesting to hear the things that he already had perceived about gender. First, the initial question I asked was â€Å"What behaviors will cause boys or girls to be teased for being like†¦show more content†¦After hearing this it made me connect this to the natural differences schema. Clint’s idea of girls is that they can not do the same things as boys as if that was some sort of just naturally occurring thing. As we made clear in class girls with the same practice as boys can achieve the same coordination and athletic talent. This answer from Clint clearly shows that at a young age we are taught of these natural differences between boys and girls and act on them as if there truly is a large difference between boys and girls. Next, I asked Clint â€Å"How do teachers treat girls and boys differently?† Clint explained that teachers usually are more aggressive to boys when they misbehave and when girls misbehave the teachers are more delicate. Clint also said that boys in gym class usually set up the equipment and are used in examples for activities more. He said that girls in class generally are the ones that do things like water the plants. This answer made me think about gender roles. Teachers are teaching the kids at such a young age that boys are to be treated more aggressively and girls are to be treated more delicately. This also screams gender roles also because the gym teacher having the boys do the physical work instead of girls and girls do the house work instead of the boys is just enforcing that into the childrens brains. Next, I askedShow MoreRelatedReflections On Gender On Science1544 Words   |  7 Pagesas the rules of arithmetic. We didn t want it to come out that way, but it did. Weinburg explains that science, like arithmetic is ultimately an objective discourse—free from subjectivity and emotion. However, in Evelyn Fox Keller’s novel Reflections on Gender on Science, she argues against science as being an objectivist ideology. She asserts that science does not encompass the complete truth, but is rather a perverted, masculine discourse. Keller critiques Weinburg’s assertions as faulty, whereRead MoreReflections On Gender On Science1652 Words   |  7 Pagesas the rules of arithmetic. We didn t want it to come out that way, but it did. Weinburg explains that science, like arithmetic is ultimately an objective discourse—free from subjectivity and emotion. However, in Evelyn Fox Keller’s novel Reflections on Gender on Science, she argues against science as bei ng an objectivist ideology. She asserts that science does not encompass the complete truth, but is rather a perverted, masculine discourse. Keller critiques Weinburg’s assertions as faulty, whereRead MoreGender Stereotypes as a Reflection of Women2463 Words   |  10 Pagesof tangible objects as they carry subtle messages and reinforces certain ideas subconsciously. Gender roles are underlying and recurring themes in these commercials and it is crucial to understand the development of the images media portray because they have a strong correlation with the society. As these forms of media dominate the industry, we have to be wary of how it validates and ascertains our gender perceptions, which governs the way we behave and expect others to behave. Commercials haveRead MoreGender And Sexuality Reflection Paper1898 Words   |  8 PagesIn the first reflection essay that I wrote for this class, I explained that while I have had a few classes on gender and sexuality, this class has really helped me further my understanding of the topics and has opened my eyes to many other topics and ideas that previous classes were not able to cover. This class really helped me understand other cultures views on gender and sexuality and how not all cultures view gender and sexuality as we do. One idea that I was able to really see and understandRead MoreThe Gender Difference Between Rumination and Reflection2643 Words   |  11 PagesGender difference between Rumination and Reflection Abstract This study examined the gender differences between rumination and reflection. Undergraduate psychology students (251 women with the mean age 22.08 and 94 men with the mean age 22.64) were each given a questionnaire to fill out as part of their course requirement. The aim of the study was to examine if there were differences in coping styles between men and women. The hypothesis women wouldRead MoreReflections on the Gender Wage Gap Essay1123 Words   |  5 PagesThe gender wage gap is a complicated issue that has persisted despite the Equal Pay Act of 1963 that promised equal pay for equal work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010, women on average earned 81 cents for every dollar men earned, creating concern among scholars, policy makers, and the press, and lingering questions as to cause (2011). While the wage gap has narrowed considerably in the nearly 50 years since the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, many contend that theRead MoreReflections On Gender And Science By Evelyn Fox Keller1405 Words   |  6 PagesIn Reflections on Gender and Science by Evelyn Fox Keller, Keller writes about the presence of masculinity, rather than femininity, in science. Keller begins makes it clear that, although there are significantly more men than women in the field, the issue at hand is not the lack of women working in scienc e, but the â€Å"attribution of masculinity to science as an intellectual domain† (76). This means the language, tone, and overall dominance. Keller states that this stems from the myth that masculinityRead MoreReflection Paper On Gender807 Words   |  4 Pages Understanding theories on genders requires one to explore the dynamics, integral issues as well as the procedure and philosophy describing the issue. One capacity of gendering is to process the muddled again into structures dualistic conventions. In fact, in what capacity may consider gendering as affecting various, transforming, and chatoyant introductions modify the ways we think about sex classifications, wants, sexualities, and subjectivity? What social and psychical increases may there beRead MoreMy Cultural Identity1173 Words   |  5 Pagesmicroculture but till this day it has had little to no effect on my cultural identity. My position in some microcultures challenges or frustrates me. The three microcultures in which I feel challenged or frustrated are race/ethnicity, gender, and age. I am not dominant in the race/ ethnicity microculture therefore it challenges me. Being a female with colored skin had brought many challenges along my life. For example, one evening at work a co worker was trying to turn off the lightsRead MoreGender Stereotypes as a Reflection of Women2453 Words   |  10 Pagesof tangible objects as they carry subtle messages and reinforces certain ideas subconsciously. Gender roles are underlying and recurring themes in these commercials and it is crucial to understand the development of the images media portray because they have a strong correlation with the society. As these forms of media dominate the industry, we have to be wary of how it validates and ascertains our gender perceptions, which governs the way we behave and expect others to behave. Commercials have been

Fashion Forecast and Product Development free essay sample

This practice is costing designers greatly as more advanced technology makes it possible to see high-quality copies appear in stores before the original has even hit the market. While it has long been the practice of the American fashion industry to knock off European designs, American designers did not copy one another. They registered their original sketches with a trade group called the Fashion Originators Guild, an organization that urged retailers to prohibit styles known to be knockoffs. In 1941, the Supreme Court held that the Guild was an unreasonable restraint-of-trade; the end of the Guild marked the beginning of the knocking off free-for-all that we are familiar with today began. It is now common for imitators to photograph the clothes in a designers runway show, send the photo to a factory to be copied, and have a sample ready within a couple of days for retail buyers to order. Since fashion collections are displayed in runway shows approximately four to five months before they are available to the public, this leaves the fashion impersonator plenty of time to get the copies to stores at the same time, if not earlier, than the originals. Designers assert that design piracy cuts into their longstanding franchise of uniqueness, lowers their sales volume, and ultimately removes incentives for creativity. Sometimes the same department stores that carry the higher-priced version of a garment will also sell the lower-priced knockoff, often under the stores private label. Knocking-off is widespread in the fashion industry and even those designers who fume over being copied are not above doing it themselves. Because of the speed with which designs can be recreated, it is not even always clear which designer created the original and which designer simply copied it. This discussion will explore how protection of fashion works fits or does not fit into the current intellectual property law framework in the United States. The overall organization of this discussion is a systematic consideration of possible protection for works of fashion under copyright, patent, and trade dress law. This discussion will encompass not only the current state of the law, but also proposals for reform, such as an amendment to the Copyright Act to protect fashion works. The central question is whether fashion design is an art worthy of protection or a craft whose practitioners can freely copy one another. In an industry where many designers come out with similar looks each season and where inspiration is said to be in the air designers and the thriving knockoff industry are fiercely debating the issue. Another key question: whether knockoffs actually benefit the industry as a whole. Copying, some argue, propels the fashion cycle forward by creating popular trends that encourage designers to move on to the next big idea. In what they call the piracy paradox, law professors Kal Raustiala of the University of California, Los Angeles, and Christopher Sprigman of the University of Virginia argue that copying makes trends drench the market quickly, driving the fashion cognoscenti to search out newer looks. If copying were illegal, the fashion cycle would occur very slowly, if at all, While they admit copying can harm individual designers, they say Congress should protect industries only when piracy stymies rather than encourages innovation. Despite the apparent unsuitability of copyright protection to works of fashion, commentators are often confused by the anomalies in copyright law under which fashion accessories, works of architecture, and computer chip designs are eligible for copy right protection. Some argue that since copyright has already been extended to protect the aforementioned items, copyright may be the best legal tool that fashion designers have when fighting design piracy. For example, Robert Denicola has argued that it would be more consistent with the legal principles of intellectual property law to draw the line of copyright with respect to arguably useful articles by shaping whether, in the process of creating the item, the designer focused primarily on aesthetic or utilitarian consideration. Such a test would to a great extent improve the odds that works of fashion would be ranted copyright protection, as most fashion designers are concerned with the aesthetic rather than the functional aspects of their clothing. The specific extension of copyright to fashion works would have many advantages for designers. First, a copyright owner may seek an injunctive remedy to prevent the impersonator of his or her design from making and selling copies of the original. Second , copyright law allows for the imposing and discarding of the infringing items. Third, the copyright owner can recover damages, either actual or statutory, and also profits. Finally, the copyright owner may be able to recover court costs and attorneys fees. This last remedy is especially important in fashion design cases, as it allows small new designers to take on big manufacturers whose greater power and financial resources would otherwise be an intractable obstacle. Despite these advantages to fashion designers, an amendment to the Copyright Act for works of fashion is not likely to be passed soon. As one commentator concisely stated that the current situation of the legislators and courts has a great deal of trouble seeing past the utilitarian function of a piece of clothing. While industrial designs have been the subject of repeated bills, Congress has explicitly excluded fashion works from these bills. For example, while the Design Anti-Piracy Act of 1989 would have protected original designs of useful articles against unauthorized copying, the bill would have barred apparel designs composed of three-dimensional shapes and surfaces with respect to apparel. According to one commentator, this exclusion has no basis in any discernible principle. It was added to help still the vociferous opposition of retailers to the bill. In this current climate of judicial and legislative hostility, copyright protection will probably not be extended to specifically protect fashion works. Fashion seems to be an industry particularly ill-suited to legal restrictions against copying. Copying or borrowing or reinterpreting is prevalent at every level of the fashion industry. When a lower-priced designer knocks off a higher-priced designers clothing, the copy may be a huge success because it offers more value for the price. But it is the higher-priced designers who are copying each other. Fashion designers labors over their finished product just like any other creator or inventor. It takes hours upon hours of careful effort until a dress with just the right cut or a purse with the perfect design is complete. Why should this hard work and effort not grant the person behind the creation some level of security, allowing them to collect the benefits of their labor? As a matter of Public policy it is generally believed that copycats are good for the economy. The claim asserts that preventing copyright for fashion eliminates the possibility of a monopoly by providing the consumer with lower priced knockoffs. Furthermore it is contended that knockoffs really promote business for the designer by creating a market for a style of fashion. But do we believe this actually? And whats wrong with having a monopoly on fashion? When a consumer spends thousands of dollars on a purse or a dress that others will recognise as a Louis Vuitton or Versace, they should be able to enjoy the exclusivity that comes with such a purchase. Knockoffs steal from the consumer of their exclusive right to enjoy a specific product. There are policy based arguments behind the governments resistance to providing a copyright for fashion; ranging from the dislike for creation of monopolies to improving the market. If the designer believes another person infringed his copyright, he could sue those who sell or manufacture the design in any federal court. Those found guilty would face fines of 250,000 or $5 a copy, whichever is greater. To read more articles on Textile, Fashion, Apparel, Technology, Retail and General please visit www. ibre2fashion. com/industry-article. If you wish to download/republish the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the Article Source. Also, you have to make it hyperlinked to our site. About the Author Fibre2fashion has emerged as a distinctive B2B platform for global Textile, Apparel, Fashion and Retail and allied industries. Fibre2fashion. com offers business solutions, new s, articles and information that help to survive and sustain in the most hostile and competitive business environment. Posted by  Adinda  at  11:59 PM Trendy clothes for the season Fashion stylists should have a genuine interest in fashion in order to succeed. They should have an eye for style and keep abreast of the latest trends in the fashion industry. Some stylists have a degree in fashion, while some just learn from experience. There are some fashion schools which offer courses in styling. Stylists should enjoy shopping. They should be detail-oriented. They should have an idea of different colors and shades, different body types and the fit of different materials. They should know what colors suit what skin tones and what material and style would enhance what body type. They should love to experiment and should have the ability to present traditional things in unusual and trendy ways. They should be able to bring out the best in their client. Over and above this, they should have excellent interpersonal skills as they are required to interact with a number of people from models to lighting technicians and photographers. They need to maintain relationships with a large group of people. If you think it is exciting to work with models, experiment with accessories and garments and be paid to shop, think again. There is a downside to the job of a fashion stylist too. First and foremost, fashion stylists usually work freelance and there is no job security involved. Of course, once stylists prove themselves and get established in the industry, they do not have to worry about this aspect. Initially, a stylist might have to work as an apprentice for an established stylist or work for free. Competition in the fashion industry is cut-throat and stylists have to make their own mark in order to succeed. The nature of the job entails working long and irregular hours. Working with celebrities who have a demanding schedule makes it difficult for stylists to plan for a social life or a holiday. Moreover, there are other problems like putting up with the attitude of ‘stars’ and working around their schedule. The stylist has to go through a number of catalogues, fashion magazines and stores to be aware of the in things. In a world where trends change almost every day, this is a very hard task! In the midst of all this, the stylists themselves have to look good all the time and have a distinctive style of their own A stylist usually has to manage his or her business independently and handle various aspects such as keeping a record of various things, handling udgets, receiving and making payments, maintaining contacts and other administrative tasks. The work of a fashion stylist requires a lot of planning. Attention has to be paid to every minute detail. One of the biggest challenges faced by fashion stylists is building a balance between their own opinions and the client’s requirements. They should be neither too submissive nor too overbearing. They should be able to present their opinion in a way that does not offend the client. In spite of certain shortcomings, fashion styling is an exciting career option for people who love fashion. More and more people are realizing the importance of overall image building in boosting self-confidence, which would in turn reflect on the person’s interaction with others. Thus, the number of people turning to fashion stylists is on the rise all over the world. Electric Ladyland is an online clothing store and looking for some exposure for our new lines. We specialize in Rock amp; Republic Jeans, True Religion, and much more. Our catalog moves fast and we have photo shoots every 2 weeks for the new lines. Posted by  Adinda  at  7:42 PM Labels:  electric lady land,  jeans,  kids fashion,  men clothing - Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Watch Trends As well as dictating how this years watches look, the traditional trend also affects how they function. Sekonda, Police, Accurist, and Rotary are all in on the action; Automatic movements are back in fashion, and no wonder an Automatic movement eliminates the need for a battery, as the watch is powered by the movements of the wearers arm. This seasons Guess collection will feature timepieces with a fly-back movement. For a real touch of old-world appeal, try Citizens minute-repeater watch which chimes to audibly mark the time. Watch houses have wholeheartedly embraced the current return to traditional values. Jewellery has seen a real renaissance in vintage styles, and this trend is now moving into the world of watches. We love the old-fashioned, country gentleman charm of the watches coming out in 2007, with individual touches like skeleton faces, so that you can see your timepiece at work try Rotary for classic styles, or get something a bit more edgey from Police. If you are really into the traditional look, you might even consider an eye-catching pocket watch. A diamond-set watch is a fabulous accessory; half jewellery, half timepiece. Everyones getting involved, including well-respected watch houses like Accurist, Citizen and Sekonda. Sekonda is offering two diamond-set watches this season, each featuring seven genuine gemstones. H. Samuel has two exclusive collections; one is from the fashionable high street brand Oasis and the other, Rotary Rocks, is a new collection of three stunning diamond-set watches from Rotary, a brand known for its distinctive combination of traditional and modern styling. A diamond-set watch will give you the perfect combination of the unmistakable dazzle of diamonds, and the understated cool that shows you buy diamonds all the time. A diamond watch is a great gift for a friend too, and this summer theyre set to get affordable. Dont forget, that a sixtieth birthday or wedding anniversary is traditionally marked with a diamond, so this could be the prefect present. Its not enough for a watch to just look good these days; it has to feature the latest scientific processes too. Watches this summer are shiny, metallic beauties, created by ion-plating. To achieve this, metal in a vapour is essentially fired at the watch and forms a strong layer around it. This gives a shimmering, metallic patina to the watch, transforming it from a functional piece of equipment to an individual accessory. Police is leading the way with this trend check out their striking timepieces. DKNY, Guess and Fossil are other big names with ion-plated watches in the works watch this space. As always, your guiding style star must be what suits you. Those of us blessed with slender, willowy wrists would look fabulous in elegant ewellery-inspired pieces by chic, ultra-feminine designers like Anne Klein. Try a delicate bangle watch, or a charm bracelet from Citizen with an adorable watch trinket attached. If you have heavy wrists, make the most of it with an equally robust timepiece. In recent years, Fossil has made a name for themselves with gorgeous chunky cuff watches, with tactile, worn leather straps for both men and women. They also specialise in unusual, f unky designs which tap into the current trend for vintage style. If you ladies want to make a splash this summer, try going out wearing a gorgeous mens watch. This look has the same charm and careful carelessness as a girl in her boyfriends shirt. Brands such as Diesel and Police design fantastic watches with unisex appeal; they look stylish and sophisticated on a guy, and striking and fashionably oversized on a girl. Red straps are huge for autumn/winter. Big or small, you need to get one of these on your wrist. These scarlet accessories are perfect to add a splash of colour to the smart monochrome outfits that are bang on trend this season. DKNY, as usual, are right at the front of this trend and remember that red straps are big news for both men and women. As usual, you can count on Oasis to be right at the cutting edge, with eye-catching red straps available at affordable prices. Gold-plated watches just arent good enough any more. Its got to be pure, solid gold. There are three major brands in this area right now Accurist, Rotary and the specialist Sovereign. Again, these are perfect gifts treat someone special to a gold watch if you want to impress with understated style and remember that a fiftieth wedding anniversary is Golden, so why not mark the occasion with something special? HIRSCH Artisanal leather watch bands are handcrafted one by one, in a process consisting of more than 60 steps. Fine reptile leathers are punched, seams are sewn, varnish is carefully applied. The Classic Collection offers unique leather watch bracelets made in HIRSCH Rembordier Technology. All leather watchbands are Sauna-Tested and Water-Resistant. Some watch straps in the collection are even 100m Water-Resistant and are provided with the HIRSCH No Allergy System. The designs in the Bijou Series constist of matte or shiny metals, classical forms, elegant showpieces or modern combinations of different materials. The HIRSCH Sparetube System allows to adjust the bracelet to the individual size. The Solo Collection stands for functional watch straps, clear forms and innovative materials proving that a sporty design is compatible with complete wearer comfort. Posted by  Adinda  at  10:00 PM Labels:  watch - Saturday, February 24, 2007 what celebrities and other fashionable people will be wearing this spring, plus trends to avoid Although temperatures dipped below freezing in parts of the country today, a peek in stores and on websites nationwide revealed that spring is definitely in the air. It’s also most definitely on the minds of fashionable people everywhere, so start thinking about what looks are hot for spring and which ones will work for you. Whether you’re revamping your entire wardrobe or just reviving it with a few key pieces, here are the top trends that celebs, models and other A-listers are sporting this spring†¦plus a few trends that are so over you must avoid them at any cost. †¢ Wide-leg jeans. After all the hoopla over the skin tight skinny styles, models and celebs like Halle Barry, Regina King, Penelope Cruz and Kate Moss are sporting a wider-legged style this spring.

John Milton Essays - Sonnets, When I Consider How My Light Is Spent

John Milton On his blindness John Milton was born in 1608 to a Puritan family. During his service to the Commonwealth, in 1652, Milton became blind and it became necessary for others to share in his labors. His blindness occasioned one of the most moving of his sonnets, "On his blindness," written in 1655. It records his fear that he will never be able to use his God-given gift for poetry again. Yet God may demand an accounting of his righteousness. And his entry into Heaven will depend upon how well he has used the gifts that God gave him. The sonnet ends with Milton's acceptance of the fact that what God wants of him is obedience and resignation. He can then serve God even if he cannot write poetry, for "they also serve who only stand and wait." The most effective of the personal sonnets is #19, usually called "On his blindness. "This allusion to his blindness is the first of many in his poetry. When I consider how my light is spent When I judge how my ability to see has been taken away Ere half my days in this dark world and wide, After I have only lived half of my life And that one talent which is death to hide Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent This is based on the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) in which the unprofitable servant was punished for burying, not using, the talent his master had given him. Milton is pondering whether he will be punished for not using his ability that is useless and will weigh down his final judgment. To serve therewith my maker, and present My true account, lest He returning chide, Milton cannot serve God by using his ability to see and now he must face God in his "true account" of being blind. And if God was to reprimand Milton because he has not served God well he will say the following: "Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?" I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need Either man's work or his on gifts. Who best bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. Milton wonders, now that blindness has fallen upon him before half his working life is spent, whether God will still expect him to use his talent. Milton now says that with patience his murmur of spite against God, "Doth God..." will be avoided. And patience replies: God does not need men to serve Him nor to serenade Him, whoever carry His burdens without complaint, serve him finest. The term "mild yoke" is a double-entendre. The "Yoke" blindness as the burden, is not so bad a punishment. Proof that the punishment of loss of sight was not as bad as conceived was that Milton, while blind, continued to accomplish what most people who are privileged to see cannot do, to write to well-known epic poems: Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. The second meaning is that one should bear God's burdens (yoke) in a mild manner and not complain of the suffering and serve God as best as one is able. His state Is kingly: thousands at his bidding speed, And post o'er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait." God is kingly and omnipotent. Thousands serve Him at His beckoning. Milton is answered with the idea that there are angels of contemplation as well as of action; similarly, some men may serve God best who humbly accept His decrees, waiting in faith on His will. Patience replies that while God does not really need "Either man's work or his own gift," He wants obedience and resignation. Thousands of angels serve Him, but men "also serve who only stand and wait." There are many scriptural passages that Milton may have had in mind, such as "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him" (Psalm 37:7). This poem appeals to me because Milton says that at first he was concerned that he would not be admitted into heaven because he did not serve God, but later he concludes that one may go to heaven through faith in God. I can apply this to my own life and serve God with the abilities that I have, but even if that fails, I can always serve God with my faith. Milton saw himself as the prophet who had failed, the man of the Lord to whom no one listened, that he completed the epic