What would you do when technology fails?

David Parry was correct. Indeed this week’s reading, Heidegger’s “The question concerning Technology,” was probably the hardest and confusing 30 pages I ever read, not only during grad school but on my life. While reading this text, twice, I felt like I kept jumping back and forth on thinking that I understood what Heiddegger was trying to say to not having a clue of what he was saying. From the first couple paragraphs I understood that the purpose of this text was to question of what technology means. Heiddegger says that not because the definition of technology is correct it means it is true. So according to my understanding in this text Heiddeger explains his questioning process to be able to find the true essence of technology. To be honest I’m not sure how Heiddegger concludes that in his text. The one thing I did got out of it, is that technology is ever-changing.

Heidegger states, “Everywhere we remain unfree and chained to technology, whether we passionately affirm or deny it.” Society becomes more dependable of technology by the minute as technology evolves. I mean think about it for a second, how would you go on your daily life without the use of technology? Society relies in technology for the simplest tasks that allows us to survive. Technically is possible to cook without technology (no stove) but the truth is it would take so much time to do it 3 times a day that the entire way of living would take a 360 degree turn.  

I don’t think depending in technology is a bad thing. In the contrary, thanks to technology societies quality of life became much better. The problem in this dependency is that we have forgot how to do things without technology. I just think is important to understand that will technology fail, and when it does is not the end of the world. Probably it would be very hard to do most stuff without technology, but at least you can reduce the use of it. I’m not saying that we have to go back to the Stone Age, but at least know our options when something fails.

In the storage room in my closet my parents still keep their typewriter. When I was a kid they didn’t teach you how to use typewriters in school anymore, at least the school I went to didn’t. I had my first computer class at the age of six. It was one of those old computers where everything you type on the screen was on green. My parents didn’t buy a computer for the house until I was in the fifth grade. So through my elementary years I learned to use the typewriter. My parents made me use it a couple of times for school projects. Right now I really don’t know why I would have needed it; probably they just wanted me to turn in something more presentable. Honestly it was kind of annoying using the typewriter especially when I knew how to use a computer. Still it turned out to be a good thing. When I was in middle school the printer ran out of ink, and of course I was doing my homework last minute so my mother made me typed it on the typewriter. Good thing my teacher didn’t mind (probably because she was old) and it just was a minor project. Actually the last time I use a typewriter was about 4 years ago. I was over at my grandpa’s house and he wanted my help in typing some labels for his folders. Truth be told I did messed up a couple of times but at the end I got it right. My grandfather actually laughed at me because I didn’t know how to use them correctly, but at the same time he was surprised that at least I knew the basic idea of how to use it. If my computer were to fail right now, a typewriter would probably not be the best solution since it would be hard to post it online. Then again I can always type it up, go to Kinkos scan it and post it. It would cost money and take longer but is a solution. Still a solution that not many people could figure out. Certainly when technology fails on me I do freak out and even get upset, but I know that even for a while something may seem harder is not impossible to get it done.

At the end of the day technology has make our lives easier by getting things done faster and better. Without it the world would not be the way it is right now. The way society works evolves as technology evolves. In a way they go hand in hand. Stopping dependence on technology is basically impossible. And there is no harm in it. The harm is done by society not realizing that there is a way around when technology fails. After all technology did not invent technology, it was humans who created it.

www.art.com

In “The Work of Culture in The Age of Cybernetic Systems,” Bill Nichols writes: “During long periods of history, the mode of human sense perception changes with humanity’s entire mode of existence” (pg.222). Throughout the reading Nichols talks about different types of Art what they represent and how being able to reproduce them changes the significance they can have. Thinking about these I could not help but think how art is being transformed as the world shifts towards a digital age. Analog photography and digital photography, although in essence is the same practice, the transition to digital photography has changed the way society perceive the art of photography. The same has happen with film, society perceives film different as it has evolve from black and white to color, from silent to sound, and now as it changes in the digital age. Society depends much more in digital technology therefore our perception on how digital media is changing art has change as our mode of existence is changing too.

I think is safe to say the Internet has cause a 180 degree turn on the way society lives. Our way of communicating, of researching, of learning, of shopping, of entertainment, of leisure, etc. has been affected due to the internet. Society depends on Internet almost to a full 100%. Hence society perception of life has changed too. Given these it affects the way people see art or think of art. In a way, the internet has allowed numerous amount of people, who otherwise would have not, be exposed to art. True that appreciating a piece of Art through a screen is not the same than seeing the original (or even replica) of the piece at a gallery or whichever it location may be. Perhaps the only art that is not affected by this is film. Still learning about art through the internet gives you the tool of research at that precise moment. People not only have the chance to see how the art piece looks but they can simultaneous research the history of its piece. The way you feel by an art piece without knowing anything about it can completely differ from your opinion if you know how it came to be, or who made it, or other’s interpretation.

Art itself has given a different perception about the world. Art has given the world an insight to the past and to other cultures.  Without it many aspects of society throughout time will have been left blank. Nichols writes, “This unique existence of the work of art determined the history to which it was subject throughout the time of its existence.” Art has provided us information to our past that has shape our futures. It has given insight to each other’s culture around the globe, perhaps making us more respectful to each other. This is where in my view the Internet has help art. The internet has given societies the doors to ‘visit’ other societies virtually without traveling thousands of miles and spending hundreds of dollars. It is true, like Nichols mentions, that no replica of a piece of Art, no matter how perfect, it would always lack its uniqueness og having been in its time and place. That doesn’t change the fact that without replicas Art could probably not have had the impact it has in the world.

The World Wide Web has become one of the three most defining words of this period in history. It changed how society lives. It gave society a new perception in life. The internet is causing a change on how art can be exposed which may also be changing the way is perceived/appreciated it. At times it might make it harder to be able distinguish what can really be consider art, but I think that it simultaneously cause the artist to try harder to capture the essence of their work in order to be able to portray their piece as real art. The most important thing is to be aware that the world is still shifting into the digital era, analog has not vanish entirely, so as this process occurs, art will be changing too. And somewhere down the road when the shift is complete all the art created throughout it will be part of the puzzle that explains what is that occur in this moment.

Roller Coaster Life

Here I am again. Last couple of weeks could be described as being a freaking roller coaster. For starters getting a week off from school after just 2 weeks of starting the semester was fun but feeling that I had so much time did not turn out to be a very productive few days. Extreme weather, cold or hot, is just not ideal for the mind.

Then Super Bowl weekend was awesome. Free Faith Hill and The Pretenders concert, and when I say free I mean it. Didn't have to pay for parking, food or drinks. Standing for 6 hours was a low price to pay for that night. Since the concert was part of CMT Crossroads series, we (Caleigh and I) were on national television. Not to mention that I got to see Jason Witten. He is in my top 3 of favorite Cowboys of all time. I took a picture and even got his autograph. Given that I didn't have paper I gave him my texas i.d. to sign. Caleigh was confused asking me why are you giving me your i.d. give something else. I had nothing except a 20dlrs bill and my credit card. I can live without my i.d. for a couple of weeks while I get a new one. Needed to update my adress anyways ha. Finally on Sunday we went to the NFL Experience. Its like a football museum with games. I just felt like a kid, thats always a good feeling. And it ended good with the Packers taking the Lombardi trophy. Not a real Green Bay Packers fan but close friends are big fans so I know that made them happy. I couldnt stand the Steelers beings champs again, sorry Dad. I know someone else who is a Steelers 'fan' but, well lets just say they might have to change teams soon, just saying it will help. Honestly, the only thing that could made this weekend better is if the Cowboys had been playing on Sunday and of course bringing a 6 championship! Guess have to wait another year for that!

Then there is the job situation. There is no situation really is more like the lack of one. At this point I got a call back from only one of the internships I applied for only to be told that they are going to keep my resume in file, since the internship had to be put on hold. For a moment there I thought finally! but no! So Caleigh and I decided to make money on our own. She has done a couple of websites in the past and I had done sales, the perfect combo! Also she has the new Canon T2i rebel, hence we can do photography and video work. Finally we are adding Social Media to the combo. Is still in the process of getting everything ready like logo, business cards, media kit but before we know it we hope to be making money and make the business grow.

Theres just so much I can write here. I mean theres so much I can share with the world, right? The truth is just I've been thinking a lot, making sure that the decisions I've made in the past and continue making are actually taking me down the right path to accomplish the goals I have set for myself. All this free time just makes me mind wonder of, somehow right now as I write these the only thing in my mind is menudo and I have not even been drinking. Sometimes I wish I could just know what I am supposed to do or how things are going to turn out, but then it will take the fun out of life. Is the same reason I like gambling: I never know what card I'm getting or where the ball is going to land in the roulette; is just an emotion I cant describe, I just love it. At the end what you loose doesn't compare to what you win.

A Text Response to "What is Mine is Yours" (Version One)

Consumption in a Plastic World

How much do you owe on your credit card? How many credit cards do you have? What percentage of your monthly income goes toward paying those credit cards? Do you even know how long will it take you to pay them back?

We all rely on plastic to afford what we want, even when we don’t need it. The advertising industry has succeeded it in converting an “I want,” to an “I need.” Credit cards are the solution to satisfy all those new things we want, and tell ourselves that we need, to justify the debt that often is dragged out for years, and eventually takes over our lives.

Is having all these material things become more valuable than any other aspect of our lives? People endlessly talk of how they are tired of working so many hours a week. The moment people suggest cutting back on their working hours, people don’t even hesitate to state that won’t happen. Their response is mostly, “Then I wouldn’t be able to afford the lifestyle I want.” People rarely say, “Then I can’t save up for my child’s college fund,” or “I can’t pay off loans faster and save some money on interest.” People all want nice things in life, no one likes a 20-year-old car, and everyone wants the newest item out on the market. But why is it that we have let all these brands persuade us into thinking that we need to have it all? Does all the advertising we see on television, print, or the web really consume our inner emotions? Even when people are aware that it is just a commercial, and you know they are presenting an item in an appealing manner, people still fall for it and begin to desire the product.

The Super Bowl is a perfect example of these actions. During every television show, people usually use the restroom, get food or drinks, change channels, or basically anything do anything that can be done in a two minute break. The Super Bowl is an exception; it is five hours of rare breaks from the television, or not even daring to change the channel. At the end of the night, the big winners are the commercials that made you laugh, made you feel inspired, made you say “that’s so cute,” or even say “I want that.” It is safe to say the advertising industry has successfully entered our minds and persuaded them to want the newest things no matter the cost. The sad part about it is that we think about these items and advertisements in our subconscious more than people care to analyze. It is so sad, that in fact, we lose sense of rationality sometimes, and focus on acquiring more and more crap that we don’t need.

Once upon a time, our love affair with credit cards started. There is nothing wrong with credit cards; they are useful in emergencies, and to pay for items worth thousands of dollars that would take the same amount of time to pay them off via credit card as it would to save up cash to buy them. The problem starts with irresponsible spending. When buying something, the price has to be reasonable according to your income. People seem to tune out of reality when using their credit cards. Buying something with a credit card includes different costs than the price you pay at the store, such as interest. There is a good reason why banks won’t give you a loan unless you can prove you have the money to pay it back. Sometimes it may seem like a stupid and even cruel rule, but the truth is that it is the most logical one. Why would you want to get a loan if you know there are no chances of you paying it back? Why would you want to drag that weight over your shoulders? It just makes no logical sense, but then most of the world has no logical, common sense.

There are a variety of reasons why having a full-time career eventually starts to seem like our full-time life. It feels like there is so little time left for ourselves. Is it really the forty hour week that prevents us from doing something else? Or is the fact that we are always thinking how much money we need to buy all the new technological gadgets coming out, that keeps us from actually getting out of the house and living?          

The book, “What’s mine is Yours: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption” by Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers talks about how the Kellogg Company decided to cut the working day from 8 hours to 6 hour shifts. That meant cutting paychecks, but it balanced out when the company increased the hourly wage. At the end of the day it turned out to be a win-win situation for both the company and employees. Kellogg’s production increased because the workers felt that their job hadn’t taken over their lives, so they actually enjoyed their job and it pushed them to work harder. Let’s say the workers hourly wage hadn’t been increased when their hours were cut, would that have really affected what they can afford to have a good life? Would it really been tragic, that perhaps instead of being able to get a new television every year, it was going to be every two years? Could having the newest television set every year have provided the worker with enough happiness that his production level would have increased as well? Although I do not have proof, I’m about 99.9% sure the answer would be no. As relaxing as watching television can be, it doesn’t compare to having time to yourself to pursue a hobby or spend time with your family and friends.

As tempted as we may be to get everything we want and think we need, we also need to learn to say no. The real tragedy does not rest in not being able to afford everything out there on the market; the real tragedy is having ourselves consumed by what has become out-of-control consumption. It would be hypocritical of me to say that I do not like buying new things, or that I haven’t used my credit card irresponsibly, or that I wish I could have certain items or the newest version of something I already have. However, the truth is that I have realized there is no keeping up with technology, so there is no point in me stressing out over trying to afford the newest laptop, iPod, cellphone, or camera. I now understand the need to practice smart consumer habits, and actually know what I’m buying and getting for my money. Most importantly, and perhaps what has become harder for our society to see, is this: yes, money brings a certain amount of comfort and can give us a better life, so it is important to work towards that, but owning everything just because we can is meaningless and can destroy us.

From Print to Blogging

“Many valued texts were barely preserved from extinction; untold numbers failed to survive.”-Page 16.

Thanks to print texts have been able to be preserved and evolved to digital media. Without print I will probably not be able to write this blog. Whether someone reads it or not, this blog will be out there in the world until I choose to take it out. Still, now we have the option of preserving any kind of text with a simply click on the upload button online.

The way I see it the invention of print opened the doors to today’s emerging media. Print not only gave men the opportunity to preserve and distribute its writings, but also the chance to see that writing could evolve from pen and ink to a keyboard and screen.

Emerging media is giving everyone a wider range of opportunity to everyone to expose and preserve its writings. In addition it seems like it has also increase the need to preserve as much detail of our lives as we choose as we post it online through Facebook, Twitter, etc.

True we have journals but unless some publishing company decides are worth printing it’s not going to be shown to the world or preserve for long. On the other hand, whether someone wants to read or not what you want to say, once online is there for the world to see. And the chances are that eventually someone is going to read it. Even if you delete it and try to pretend to be someone else, probably any know-it-all about the web will be able to retrieve it and/or trace it back to you.

At the same time I feel like emerging media makes it harder for texts that can become valuable pieces of literature/information to be noticed due to all that is posted on the web by the second. Yet it can also be seen as an easier form for people to succeed in their professional careers. It becomes a chance game where the worst text in the world may get the attention and recognition, and the greatest piece of literature ever written will never be read by no one except its author.

In my view blogs, social media, and websites in general are just an evolution of print. It is satisfying people need for instant information, preserving as much information as they feel, and is even giving them an easier and cheaper way to share their own writings. Perhaps, or at least for me these is the most interesting part of what emerging media is offering us today. When Print started it was a few that had access to it and read it. For some time whoever was able to read will share whatever was printed to the rest of the people in their households or community. It was only a few people that were able to write to have something printed. Even if you got something printed, being able to distribute it was a whole new story especially with wars around the continent and censorship from governments and religion. Now a days there is still censorship, but the internet makes so much easier to get information across the world even against the will of governments. In addition you don’t have to be a skilled writer to post something online and get noticed. Most of the times is just being able to get your idea (no matter how genius or stupid it is) across in a way that is appealing to rest of the world.  

All in all print changed the way the world worked. The way every society communicated gave a 360 degree turn towards literacy. Today we face a new 360 degree as emerging media preserves infinite amount of writing for an unlimited amount of time (most of the times). What started to distribute literature and news has evolve to the people exposing their whole life’s in the web. Print may be starting to become obsolete in some sense but we can’t deny that without it I would not be writing this blog.

Break in Mexico or Break from Mexico

*I wrote this article when I was at UTEP for the online magazine Borderzine.com which is part of the Communication Department.

From the windows of several buildings at The University of Texas at El Paso students can see the houses of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. These days a glance from a safe distance is all they usually get because crossing the border can be dangerous.

On February 26, 2009 all UTEP students received an e-mail from the university President’s office under the heading “Mexico Travel.” The e-mail contained a memo from President Dr. Diana Natalicio written last October when the U.S. State Department issued the first travel alert to Mexico.  It now included a new alert from the State Department, which read, “While millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year, violence in the country has increased recently. It is imperative that travelers understand the risks of travel to Mexico.”

Since last year, drug dealers in Mexico have been at war with each other and the Mexican government. According to the travel alert, “Mexican army and police confrontations with drug cartels have resembled small-unit combat.”

Mexican authorities have reported over 1,800 deaths just in Ciudad Juarez. Other cities around the country have also seen a significant increase in violence since last year. To deal with the violence, the Mexican government has deployed troops to several cities including Juarez.  Freshman Luis Larios who went to his hometown Durango for Spring Break said, “I do not like having soldiers around the city. I understand they are there to help but at the same time I’d rather they were not there.”

This situation affects both countries especially persons living near the borders. UTEP's Marketing Professor, Dr. Donald Michie says, “Is not a good situation for us in the border we have a relationship with Juarez on a regular basis and we are not maintaining this relationship during this period of time. People are too unsettled to cross the border and that is having a tremendous impact economically and socially.”

In the memo Dr. Natalicio said, “Such collaborations are consistent with UTEP’s mission and with the opportunities presented to us by our unique U.S.-Mexico border location, and we are confident that they will continue to grow and prosper in the years ahead.”

 “We have not stopped people from going over there. What we have encouraging people to do is be more cautious and go when it is actually necessary.” Assistant Dean of Students Catie McCorry explained regarding university-related travel to Mexico, “There are no new protocols they are being reinforced.” Regarding the State Department’s travel alert, McCorry said, “If they hadn’t issued the alert there would be concerns from both sides.”

The travel alert comes just a few weeks before “spring break” season comes and thousands of U.S. students prepare to go to the beach for vacationing. For years students had picked Mexican beaches over American ones, now with these alert students have to make the decision if Mexico is the best decision. “The purpose of our message to the UTEP community was simply to heighten awareness of, and provoke careful thinking about the situation in Mexico before someone chooses to travel there,” Dr. Natalicio said.

Mexico might seem to be a good travel destination given the value of the dollar against  the peso but at the increasing violence makes it much less appealing. Junior Civil Engineering Iskra Rodriguez, a Midland, Texas native said, “I wanted to go to Mazatlan for Spring Break it was going to be fairly cheap, but my parents did not think it was safe for me to go. I have been to Juarez just a couple of times this semester  and I do not feel as safe as I used to.”

The U.S. consulate in Ciudad Juarez encourages travelers to use the State Department resources such as like registering travel plans on their website. Gordon Duguid, Acting Deputy Department Spokesman said, “We recognize that we have a consumption problem in the U.S. But we are working with our partners to try and solve the problem of cross-border narcotics trades, which are a problem for us all.”

In a recent interview, Mexican President Felipe Calderon blamed the United States as the major consumer of the drugs Mexican cartels produce and for allowing weapons to flood into Mexico.

Luis Adrian Sosa from the Mexican Consulate in El Paso when asked if tourism has been affected since last October when the first Travel Alert was issued said, “In 2008 Mexico received more than 22 million tourists which is almost a 6% increase from 2007; a vast majority was from the United States. In general all tourists most have their proper precautions and use of common sense in any trip to a foreign country including Mexico.”

Although UTEP exchange student from France Laure Bouyssonnad said she understands why the U.S. issued the alert she says,” I think that it would increase the bad image people have of Mexico whereas it is a wonderful country to discover with a really friendly population.” Bouyssonad has visited Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua and Monterrey since last August and said she felt safe at all times.

How much the travel alert will affect tourism in Mexico is yet to be seen. The alert intends to inform travelers of what they might face in Mexico, but ultimately each individual must decide  whether or not to go.

 “It’s true; there are places where you have to be careful, but a lot of the information is just the media” Nestor Ramirez said about the Travel Alert. Ramirez who has an organization called “Tripping” organizes trips during Spring Break to Puerto Peñasco and Mazatlan, he says “Tripping” offers all kinds of traveler insurance and only takes students to places he knows they are safe. When asked if he feels this situation has affected tourism Ramirez answered, “It has really affected, I have sold one-fourth of what I used to: many people think that going to Mexico is going to die and is that is simply not true.”

Adicto a la Receta

*I wrote this article for the Spring 2010 issue of Minero Magazine (Bilingual) at UTEP. I was Assistant Editor as well.

Todo empezó con un visita al dentista.

            Despúes de una cirugía en la que le extrajeron las muelas del juicio, Joe Velarde salió con una receta para un medicamento del que no tardó en hacerse adicto: la vicodina.

“Me encontré a mí mismo tomándome y tomándome estas pastillas”, dice Joe Velarde, graduado de UTEP en Comunicación y Creación Literaria. “Simplemente disfrutaba la sensación. Era como con ninguna otra droga”.

Joe llegó a gastar hasta 200 dólares a la semana para consumir un promedio de nueve pastillas por día y mantener una creciente adicción alimentada por poblemas personales, estrés y sobrecarga de trabajo. Las pastillas eran su evasión.

“No me podía despertar en la mañana sin tomarme las pastillas”, dice Joe. “No quería, tenía miedo de los sintómas de abstinencia”.

En el verano del 2008, Joe llegó a su peor momento. “Un muy buen amigo murió de sobredosis. Encontraron todo tipo de pastillas en su cuerpo”, recuerda Joe. “Estaba ultra deprimido, en ese punto me sentía muy solo, me di cuenta que estaba perdiendo contacto”.

            De acuerdo a estadísticas más recientes del National Institute of Drug Abuse cerca de 48 millones de personas (mayores de 12 años) han usado drogas médicas o narcóticos por razones no vinculadas a problemas de salud. Esto representa aproximadamente el 20 por ciento de la población estadounidense. 

            En un sondeo hecho en 2004, el mismo instituto encontró que 9.3 por ciento de los jovenes en el grado terminal de la preparatoria habían consumido vicodina sin receta médica, mientras que un 5 por ciento reportó usar oxicodona, lo que colocó ambas drogas de prescripción más utilizadas entre los adolescentes.

Diana Apodaca, vocera de la Agencia Federal Antidrogas en El Paso (DEA), dice que el consumo ilegal de narcóticos es una tendencia creciente. Para combatir el problema, la DEA no sólo se ha encargado de educar al público sino también ha creado equipos especiales para  combatir la distribución ilegal de narcóticos.

Hay varias manera de conseguir narcóticos, pero las más comunes son tres:  a través de amigos y familiares: por lo que es conocido como doctor shopping, cuando la persona va con doctores diferentes fingiendo un problema de salud para conseguir la receta y finalmente, las farmacias que ilegalmente operan via el Internet.

            Joe intentó conseguir pastillas vía Internet, pero le resultó imposible a pesar de que parecía algo fácil de hacer. También intentó hacer doctor shopping con dos médicos diferentes, pero sólo consiguió drogas no narcóticas . Encontró la solución entre la gente con la que convivía. “Era tan fácil como preguntar,” dice Joe. “De hecho creo que es la droga que he conseguido de manera más fácil. Después de un tiempo estaba en todos lados”.

             Los opioides, analgésicos para el dolor, son los narcóticos más abusados. El Departamento de Salud de los Estados Unidos reporto casi 180 millones de recetas de medicinas que continenen opioides. Primero esta la hidrocodina (vicodina), utilizada para la tos y como analgésico para aliviar dolor moderado e intenso. Otro opioide que es consumido es la oxicodona, que también se utiliza para aliviar dolor.

“Los opioides son depresores. Tienen un efecto suave, pero te hacen viajar… sientes tu como en letargo. Incrementa los niveles de dopamina en el cerebro y eso te aletarga”, dice Ricardo López, consejero de la clinica de pacientes externos del centro de rehabilitación Aliviane. “Como sea que la persona comienza su adicción, es progresiva, una adicción siempre es progresiva, no va a mejorar, solo va a empeorar”.

López explica que este tipo de adicción por lo general evoluciona de algo físico a algo mental. Comienza con algún dolor del cuerpo pero luego la mente interviene cuando el cuerpo crea una tolerancia. “Se va a desarrollar”, dice López. “Si tengo dolor en mi rodilla y empiezo a tomar vicodina, primero va a ser por el dolor, después de un tiempo voy a tomar más y más hasta convertirse en algo psicológico”.

Joe sabe lo que siente una persona cuando no ha consumido drogas. “El sentimiento cuando una persona se queda sin pastillas es espantoso”.

Los otros dos tipos de narcóticos que son comúnmente abusadas son depresivos y estimulantes. Depresivos normalmente son recetados para problemas de ansiedad, pánico, insomnio y estrés. Entre los más usados se encuentran el Xanax y Valium, que van a relajar y tranquilizar a la persona. Los estimulantes son recetados para tratar déficit de atención y narcolepsia. Abusar de estimulantes como Ritalin y Adderall provocan que la persona este más activa de lo normal.

Los medicamentos para la tos o gripe que pueden ser comprados sin receta médica también están siendo abusados por miles de adolescentes de secundaria y preparatoria. En su mayoría esos fármacos contienen dextrometorfano que puede causar alucinaciones. López comenta que los adolescentes están organizando lo que se llama pharm parties, en las cuales cada persona lleva un medicamento y todos son colocados en un tazón. Después cada uno se toma lo que agarre del tazón.

“Los estudiantes universitarios toman Ritalin para enfocarse en sus clases, mantenerse despiertos toda la noche para estudiar para los examenes y querer aprender todo en un momento”, dice Pamela Flores, consejera practicante de Aliviane.

López dice a los pacientes primero hay que ayudarlos a entender porque su adicción es algo que tienen que sobrellevar, “Tenemos que poner las consequencias junto al problema del abuso y ellos tienen que conectar los puntos”.

 Después de meses y meses de estar bajo el constante efecto de las pastillas, Joe decidió que no iría a un centro de rehabilitación, pero al mismo tiempo, aceptó que tenía que confrontar su problema por retomar el rumbo de su vida. “Estaba viviendo una mentira. Estaba engañando a mucha gente, incluyendo a mí mismo”, dice.

El proceso no ha sido nada fácil ya que es una constante lucha contra el deseo de querer tomar una pastilla.

 “La pesadilla no era tanta cuando estaba drogado. La pesadilla es ahora”, dice Joe, quien ahora tiene que lidiar con los efectos de la abstinencia, como son cólicos, problemas intestinales, noches de insomnio, depresión, ansiedad y paranoia.

 Ya son aproximadamente ocho meses de sobriedad, pero Joe no sabe cuánto tiempo más durarán los efectos, aunque sabe que tiene que lidiar con ellos día a día. Sus padres, su novia y muchos conocidos que pasan por el mismo problema lo han ayudado a sobrellevar su adicción, pero Joe dice que hay otro factor sumamente importante. “Lo que me ha mantenido alejado de las pastillas es mi creatividad”, dice Joe.

Joe reconoce que su adicción a las drogas le causó algo mucho más importante que la pérdida de dinero.

“Deje de escribir para cualquier tipo de periodico. Solía tener un gran pasión por el periodismo y la perdí”, dice Joe. “Aún la tengo y a veces pienso que perdí grandes oportunidades”.

Hoy Joe dice estar agradecido por tener la oportunidad de seguir adelante con su vida, pero sabe que la sombra de su adicción lo seguirá siempre.

 “Desafortunadamente el antojó nunca desaparece”.

25 Years of Love: Making a Difference

*I wrote this article when I was at UTEP for the online magazine Borderzine.com which is part of the Communication Department.

A quarter of a century ago the Ronald McDonald House of El Paso opened the doors that would become a welcoming beacon for hundreds of local families in their darkest times.

During the March 24 celebration ABC News anchor Estela Casas said, “This is such a great testimony to El Pasoans and this community to have been able to build such a beautiful place.”

Eight-year old Eduardo — everyone calls him Lalo — plays around with his friends, does his homework, watches TV and refuses to eat his vegetables just like every other kid his age. It is almost impossible to believe that he was two-and-a-half years old when he was diagnosed with leukemia. He has been through so much and yet he has kept his smile and despite constantly fighting for his life. When he and his family came to El Paso they found more than just a place to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. They found a home: “Es un lugar muy acogedor, lo que te dan aquí no lo encuentras en otro lugar.” Estela said. “Cuando el niño estaba en el hospital me decía que ya se quería regresar a la casa Ronald.”

Six months before finishing his treatment in Chihuahua City, the cancer came back. Doctors sent him to receive treatment in Torreon, Coahuila. Every week, Lalo and his mother, Estela, took a bus for his chemotherapy appointment. For 10 months doctors tried to get him back to remission.

Once again the cancer returned and the only hope for five-year old Lalo was a transplant. There were no donors in Mexico, but Estela and her husband would not let that obstacle prevent them to keep fighting for their little boy. They arrived in El Paso on October 3, 2006.

“El doctor nos dijo que el caso del niño era muy difícil porque tenía 100% de células cancerosas.” Estela says as she goes on telling her son’s touching story. Lalo spent another 10 months in El Paso waiting for a transplant. “Cada día era más difícil para el niño. Aquí en El Paso estaba recibiendo quimioterapia de investigación.” Estela explains.

Finally in August 20th, 2007 Lalo and his mom travel to San Antonio where he received his transplant on September 4th of that same year.  But his fight does not end there.  Estela says, “Su trasplante fue muy difícil porque tuvo muchas complicaciones.” Lalo had to have lung surgery two weeks after receiving the transplant.

The months after the transplant were very tough. His mom explains he did not walk at all and he had to have an I.V. in order to be fed. As the months went by, Lalo started to walk, although at the beginning he tired quickly. Doctors had warned Estela he might develop asthma. But Lalo was strong and now he can run up and down and all around the house.

Lalo and Estela came back to El Paso in February 2008 to continue with his treatments. Today doctors constantly monitor. Thankfully he is already cancer free.

The mission of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of El Paso is to provide a home away from home to families of seriously ill children receiving medical care in El Paso, and to find support programs that directly improve the health of children in the area.  Executive Director, Jennifer Albrecht said “25 years means that this community has been supportive of our service to children and families for a quarter of a century.  It means that they truly believe in our mission. It means that we have made a difference and will continue to make a difference in the lives of thousands of families each year.”

The celebration was held at the house where volunteers, staff, board of directors, friends and the families from the house joined to toast for everything that has been accomplished and for what is still to be accomplished. During the toast the stars of the show were presented, “These are the kids that make it all worthwhile,” Casas said.

For the past twenty-five year the house has helped over 2,500 families. Night and Weekend Manager Dora Serna said, “You know we are doing the right thing, when we receive letters or visits from the kids, all grown up, and see how they overcame a dreadful illness and became people of good.”

House Manager Irma Chavez-Rodriguez has been part of the house for all of its twenty-five years. She first started as a volunteer then became weekend manager and now she is the house manager being in charge of everything that goes on in a daily basis. She says, “the most important part of our success are our volunteers and Board of Directors who donate countless hours on behalf of the house.”

Parents most prized possession are their children and when their children have to battle a life-treating illness they will go wherever they have to go to make sure their child is healthy again. When that place is away from their hometown the Ronald McDonald House is the place those families turn too to find some peace. Another mother of a child helped here is Cintia Vega, “Yo tenía que tener al niño en el hospital aquí en El Paso, pero yo no soy del Paso. La casa me ayudo a poder tener al niño aquí recibiendo su tratamiento. Es un lugar muy bonito donde se puede convivir, es un lugar muy alegre,”  she  said.

Albrecht said, “We have made a difference and will continue to make a difference in the lives of thousands of families each year through the work that we do through our programs: Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, Ronald McDonald Family Room, RMHC Scholarship Program, Outreach, and Pharmacy Fund.”

The first El Paso Ronald McDonald House opened in March 1st, 1984 after two years of hard work by its sponsors. The first three-story Victorian style house was located on Montana Avenue and could host up to seven families. In May 2002 the doors to a new house opened at the corner of Stanton Street and California Avenue. This house hosts up to 10 families at a time charging a small donation of $10 a night. They have access to a kitchen, two dinning rooms, two living rooms, a quiet room, a playground, and laundry facilities.

The first Ronald McDonald House was opened in 1974 in Philadelphia by the joint effort of the Philadelphia Eagles football team and the Philadelphia McDonald’s owners and operators association. Today, Ronald McDonald House Charities operates 280 houses in 331 countries, which means there are over 7,000 rooms available per night for an ill child and his/her families.

The future looks bright for the Ronald McDonald House, Albrecht said among their goals is add another Family Room in El Paso and one in Las Cruces; and the addition of a second house at El Paso is also a possibility.

Twenty-five years are just the beginning for the Ronald McDonald House Charities El Paso. Chavez-Rodriguez said, “I have had the privilege of being touched by the lives of so many courageous children.”

A Frame of Reality

“Digital photography appears to complicate and even to mock the desire for immediacy that traditional photography promises to satisfy.”

For this blog I chose to base it on this one statement the author makes for one simple reason: I keep getting contradicting thoughts every time I think of its meaning. At least in my head I feel like my thoughts are fighting each other. Hopefully as I write it will actually make sense and I’ll be able to reach an acceptable conclusion.

Thought number one: The purpose of photography, whether digital or analog, is to show a moment in reality. Some people may ask what about photo-shoots? Aren’t they staged? Even if it is a photo-shoot, the photo-shoot was a real moment in life.

Thought number two: Digital photography is making the pictures even more real. As the technology advances cameras seem to capture detail and color in a way that improve the quality of the picture hence making it even more real.

Thought number three: I simply don’t see digital photography mocking the desire for immediacy that traditional photography intends, but I do see why it appears to complicate it.  True, digital photography seems to give more reasons for the audience to raise the question, is this picture real?

Thought number four: I always thought that part of photography was to be able to capture the necessary depth to convey the audience of its realism in despite of just being a piece of paper (picture print)?

In today’s world I just don’t see how it is possible to achieve immediacy in mediums like digital photography, television or film. Still I don’t think that is an excuse for the artist not to try to achieve realism while capturing the picture. Photography has evolved a lot since it started, especially in its availability to the consumer. Basically anyone can afford and use a camera. Sure it won’t be a professional nor will everyone become an amazing photographer, but the basic concept could be understood. In terms of altering the picture, software’s are available to anyone that has access to some computer. Yet, that doesn’t give the right to the artist to alter the photograph in order to alter the truth with the purpose of deceiving the audience.

From my point of view digital photography is able to reach immediacy with or without alteration. Photographs that are intended to capture the reality of the moment maybe alter to actually accomplish that intention. There is a difference when the pictures are alter to make a person look different, add something to the picture, or remove something form the picture. In those instances the picture will portray deceiving moment of reality when the picture was taken. Now most of the times is easy to tell these alteration occurred, but when they are not easy to tell is when it affects the trust audiences have in digital photography.

I think, like in everything, due to the misuse of the new technology in media that becomes available it affects the validity of what is done right. No matter what people are going to raise questions whenever new technology arises, and that is valid I think it helps in improving the technology and maintaining its credibility as well. When photography started theorists argue in favor of it by saying it had the objectivity painting could not have. That’s true; the camera captures exactly what your eyes see. Of course you choose what you see, but that doesn’t change the fact that what you capture existed. This is where digital photography and all of its tools available to alter affect the art of photography. With alteration the picture wont necessary show something that actually existed, and due to that the picture loses it realism therefore losing it immediacy. At the same careful alteration can actually help achieve in showing a more perfect picture of something that existed. Fixing the color or light in pictures most of the times is not done to change how it actually looked but to get the exact same look. Due to different reasons a picture can come out different in color than the color in the moment the picture was taken.

Now when alteration is used with the purpose of the audience being aware of it like the example the author gives of the work Truth and Fiction I don’t think it makes digital photography less real. The artist makes it with the purpose of showing its audience a hidden reality that perhaps couldn’t be photograph, or it wouldn’t be as powerful. Here the artist is making its audience aware of how he has altered the picture and with which purpose. He never intended for the audience to believe his pictures were real. I think this work shows how digital photography is giving this art ways to portray realities that sometimes are just hard to capture in a moment. It’s almost like digital photography is giving us the chance to create metaphors with images just like with words.

All in all I don’t think digital photography is trying to mock the traditional promise photography promise to give to its audience. I understand why it makes it more complicated. But then again all the media in the web, has complicated every old media. Is just part of media evolving and all these questioning and complication are probably the best thing that could have happen because it forces any new media to be used for more good than bad.  Digital photography has given the artist new tools to capture the most incredible moments in time. It is in the artist to seize the reality of the photograph and continue with its art or to alter so much it just becomes a lost/forgotten photograph.

Icy road to the Super Bowl

Over two decades after being born, and having lived in 4 different cities on Feb 1, 2011 I finally got to experience a REAL winter storm. For the second day in a row I'm basically stuck in the apartment, classes have been cancel, the temperature is below freezing, the roads are covered in ice and in top of it we keep getting blackouts that can last from 15-45minutes. In the bright side of things now I know that I can survive real bad cold weather. Perhaps I need to learn how to appropriately drive in icy roads. Anyways since I real cant go anywhere, and yesterday I did absolutely nothing I think today I should do some homework. It also seems like a good idea to do some work in important projects: commercial and business.
It is necessary to mention Caleigh's heroic act in "rescuing" me and helping other people in our 3 hour long adventure in the road. Truth be told I didn't need to be rescued since I was in my apartment with food and a heater, not in an accident in some road. I guess you could say I needed to be rescue because I couldn't get out of my apartment's parking lot to make it to her place. An average 40 minute round trip drive turn into almost 3 hours. Not only due to speed but because people cars kept getting stuck in the middle of the street. Luckily Caleigh had salt in the car  and actual experience driving in icy roads. She helped people move their cars out of the way and get traffic going once again. Before getting to her apartment we stopped at Tom Thumb to get groceries. The parking lot was like an ice skating rink. Important to mention I suck at skating, any kind of it. It took me forever to make it inside the store. In the way out Caleigh suggested I should hold on to her waist instead of walking. Ended up being a good/fun idea!
The weather is still bad and it looks like it won't get better until Saturday. Honestly I don't mind the weather I'm kind of liking it. Note to self: buy better gloves and a jacket asap. The main reason I want to be able to get out on the street is to go to the NFL experience theme park, and go out to Cowboys stadium for all the Super Bowl action! I'm sure the NFL thought there will be no weather problems by having a Super Bowl in North Texas. Well, Mr. Goodell now you know Texas weather is bipolar!

P.S. I just wish this snow will be better so that I could build a snowman. I feel like the only way I could have fun right now is if my dog Maggie was here and I had a sled.