Economic Lifestyle

I interviewed Robert Hudson, who is both my teacher and a licensed architect. As of now, I am majoring in Architecture, and I do not intend on changing my major. I enjoy him as a teacher with his enthusiasm about the profession, even if it is only Intro to Architecture, so I figured he would be one of the best individuals to interview. He was very informative and answered every question with interest. He was very informative about the current pay salaries for architects, how the economy affects the profession, and how I should be preparing now for this profession.

According to most architects, it is one of the lowest paying professions. If I were to work for a medium to large size firm, I would be able to make about one hundred thousand dollars. I could also possibly make more, if I were to own my own successful architecture firm. As a graduate with a Masters Degree in Architecture, I would start with a pay salary of forty-thousand dollars and then work my way up. With the current economic issues, it is very difficult to find a job as an architect, because building begins with architects and not many buildings are being planned or built at this time. Therefore, the profession is partially dependent on the planning and construction of buildings, no matter the economic issues at the time.

One of the main ways to get involved and prepared for my profession, according to Mr. Hudson, is to sit in on the juries of the graduate students and to go to the many lectures held for graduate Architecture students. I should learn as much as possible about the profession and about portfolios, by asking questions and being present to many events. He also said to make myself known at the Architecture School, in order to get people to remember my work or just me in general. He also enlightened me about how he became an architect for the enjoyment of it. Money and hard work did not matter to him, because he enjoyed the work he was doing and still does, so I also am not going to worry about the money or the hard work. I rather enjoy the work I do every single day of my life.

"End"

My ecological footprint went from 5.2 to 5.0 planets, within twenty-four hours. I was more conscience about the amount of paper I used throughout the day. I also did not print as much information off the Internet, instead I read the information off the computer. I did not drink water or any other product out of plastic bottles, instead I used my own washable water bottles. I recycled a bunch of paper, which is of no use to me anymore. I reduced the amount of trash by using my own cups instead of plastic or styrofroam cups. In a lot ways it was more cost effective to live with a reduced ecological footprint, because I do not have to replace cups and plates. I also did not have to use more paper or ink during the twenty-four hours, so I saved money on having to buy ink sooner. I did not drive anywhere, so I saved money on gas and did not affect the environment. I did not change my eating habitws, because I like the food I eat. I believe it was one of the main reasons my ecological footprint was not reduced more.

"Start"

Ecological Footprint: 5.2

"End"

I always knew I would have difficulties, if I was not able to use communicative technology on a daily basis. I did survive the past twenty-four hours without the radio, cell phone, TV, and the Internet. I am, however, upset I missed my favorite TV shows and had to have my mother tape them for me, so know I have to wait until this weekend to watch them. I never really listen to the radio, unless I am in driving. Therefore, I did not have much difficulty not listening to it, because I do not drive often, since I live on campus. My cell phone, obviously, was very difficult to go a whole twenty-four hours without using it. I do have to admit I had to use it once to get a hold of my mother, but other than the one incident I did not use my cell phone. Not using the Internet was only difficult, because I had to use my school email to get in contact with my advisor, in order to make an appointment about summer class. Other than my school email, it was not very difficult to keep from using my other email account, myspace, and facebook. I do not use them very often anyways, because they are really just to keep in touch with my friends at other colleges. I have no idea how individuals went all day without being in contact with their family or friends through a phone call or text messaging. I do not know how individuals use to meet up for lunch or find one another at a mall, in order to have a day out of the house or away from work without the use of cell phones. I also do not know how individuals kept in touch with their friends from high school and college as they graduated without sources such as email or facebook. It had to have been difficult to meet with teachers or for teachers to get in touch with their students without email or even the Internet. The TV is one of the forms of entertainment I use as a way to relax after hours of homework, because I love watching my favorite TV shows. I do not know how people entertained themselves without TV. Even though I love to talk, I do not like to talk to my mom and dad as often as I probably would have to, in order to keep from being bored. If I had to live without the Internet, a cell phone, and a TV, I do not know what I would do with my free time or how I would keep in contact with my family and friends. It would affect the way I live my life very much so, and I do not think I could live in the state. I do, however, believe if I were to grow up not knowing about cell phones, TVs, and the Internet, I would not have difficulties adjusting to the state. It greatly effects all of our lives in today's society; it does, however, effect our generation more than the past generations.

"Start"

Beginning of 24 hours with no technology....

Biggest Challenge

One of the biggest challenges my family and I will face during the next four years will be finances and the economic issues plaguing our country. I just recently turned eighteen, and I can't find anyone to give me a credit card, in order to begin my credit. Eventually, within the next four years I would like to get married, buy a house, buy a car, and support myself and my family, but I will be unable to do this if I am not able to build credit slowly or be able to receive loans. Even students loans are hard to come by this past year, and USF has lost almost half of its lenders. I also don't understand how college students like myself are going to be able to pay back loans, if they are unable to find a job to even support themselves during and after college. My parents have been trying for the past month to get a loan, and they have had some success but still have not succeeded in securing the loan. If my parents, who have had no issues before in securing a loan, are having difficulties receiving a loan, I do not believe I am going to be able to receive a loan and neither are most college students for homes and other aspects of life. To be honest the banks are the ones who screwed up by allowing inidivudals to take out loans in hundreds of thousands of dollars, who were not making enough money to pay the loans back. I believe it will take a lot longer than 4 years for our country to turn itself around, because it took us many years to get this way. I also know the economy is constantly changing, and in a lot of ways, we got ourselves to this point. People were spending money and swiping their credit cards, but they were unable to pay them off. The government always spends money more than most would like, but this is not all the governments fault. It is us as inidivudals wanting luxuries of life, which most of us are unable to afford, at least at the moment. I hope for not only myself and my family but for all the families in this country suffering economically, we are able to get ourselves out of this economic crisis.

Thesis Ideas for Paper #2

True Crime: Streets of LA
First Idea:

I could discuss the use of Chinese Triads, the Russia Mafia, and the North Korean People’s Army in the game, in order to depict a fiction storyline used to entertain the players of the game. The associations of these group with the city of LA, however, are portrayed in such a way for the player to believe these organizations are terrorizing and destroying the city with their terrible crimes. It also depicts America as needing to be saved from the rest of the world, with these three organizations representing the world. The game uses realistic racial tensions, even though they are not actual occurrences, to make the game more enjoyable for the player, who is playing an LA cop.

Second Idea:

Through research, I have found the game has three alternate endings, based on how the player uses his power as a cop to receive justice in the streets of LA. Based on the ending the player comes to, he is able to realize whether or not his actions as a cop during the game were truly ethical, in order to find justice against the crime in LA. The player has to make the decision to stay a good cop or turn into a bad cop due to his actions throughout the game, and this allows the game to be more realistic with the player being able to decide his own fate. It also has many ethical issues, because if the player decides to be a bad cop in order to get through each trial the station gives him, he will end up killing each individual involved in the crime, instead of stunning them or beating them up.

Third Idea:

Violence is obviously an ethical issue with this game, because there are many types of it, throughout the game. There is road violence in the game, and the player, as the cop, is able to steal cars from common everyday citizens, is able to run pedestrians over or hit them, and is able to use the siren of the cop car to get everywhere without any stipulations. There is also weapon violence, such as the player being able to shoot any inidivudal without them committing a crime, and the player is even allowed to have shoot outs in the middle of the street where there are many pedestrians. Throughout the game there is even beating violence, where the cop is allowed to beat the inidivudals involved with a crime, without him getting in trouble with the station.