The "Beauty" of PLastic Money

Gift cards convey the message that the contemporary American society is losing its desire to be personal with one another; convenience is much more simple. This then leads outsiders to assume the same. All of these assumptions are even anticipated by producers. I will admit that I too believe in the convenience of the gift card. I have often heard people worrying about what gift to get someone. Out of a desire to make the gift purchasing process easy, my response has often been “give them money or buy them a gift card.” Therefore, I am in no position to condemn the "all mighty" gift card, but I can be truthful and admit to its alluring gesture to simplicity.

Nearly all stores and even pharmaceuticals stores such as Duane Reade, CVS and even Wal-Mart sell gift cards. This is simply because a gift card is the perfect “one-size fits all” gift in which you cannot go wrong. One can even create a “personalized” gift card from websites such as, www.giftcards.com. Gift cards have become a source of convenience and are essentially the best gift to get anyone. It is a piece of square plastic that has money attached to it for the recipient to spend on whatever his or her heart desires. It requires zero worry about buying a gift that the recipient already possess, or that does not fit. Most of all, no one ever complains when he or she receives money. So maybe the idea of the impersonal gift card is not so bad after all.

"Is Google Making Us Stupid?" -Nicholas Carr- (Abstract)

Nicholas Carr states that for him the net seems to be chipping away at his capacity for concentration and contemplation (p.20). To further this claim he suggests that our ability to interpret text, make a mental connection when reading deeply and without distraction, has disengaged (p.22). To enforce such claims he withdraws statements from colleagues, authors and scholars whom have admitted to having the same experience. One in particular creates scientific proof that these experiences are all valid. James Olds, professor of neurology and director of the Kransow Institute for Advanced at George Mason University, is quoted saying "the brain has the ability to re-program itself on the fly, altering the way it functions." From this Carr agrees, myself included, that we take in the qualities of those technologies (p.23).

With this conclusion the reader can further analyze this information and conclude that our brain will begin to act as the Internet does and call for things quickly. This then leads to a state of laziness and decrease concentration. Our life, our minds and our way of thinking has been altered by the Internet. This has happened in such a way that we can no longer do something as simple as reading a book because our minds have been so weakened. We can neither focus nor properly analyze the book and discover its deeper meaning. So I believe one can go forward from the question "Is Google Making Us Stupid," to the question "Is the Internet making us lazy? Unfocused? Or All of the Above?"

"Is Google Making Us Stupid?" -Nicholas Carr-

In a way, yes google is making us stupid. It is decreasing our patience levels, attention spans, comprehension of material and increasing our need for immediacy rather than quality. Information is right at our fingertips and therefore we no longer need to indulge in extensive research or to even consult professionals. This has its positives however, we no longer have the desire to read or think because we can just "google it." Getting used to doing this can also cause us to become lazy. I do not exempt myself from any of these, but I do acknowledge the problems of a "Google" generation.