Catchy Titles

In an effort to capture a larger readership, I have been trying to work on my ability to attract attention with just the blog title. Mind you, that still means I need to retain attention within the blog, but that will come next. First, I just want to trick you into reading my ramblings. So I've been roaming the web looking for catchy titles so that I will learn how to better attract attention to my own blog.

None does a better job of this than the video I embed below. The title got me interested immediately and then the picture (people dressed as polar bears) made me click and listen to the movie. In the end, I actually want to make some notes about this movie and my thoughts that surround it. I think this is characteristic of many activist groups - they are much better at capturing the attention of the public and blinding their reasoning with wittiness and emotions. This all starts with a title.



First off, congratulations to the group for capturing my attention and getting your point across. While your point lacks originality, the costumes are definitely a nice change from the nude protesters that frequent my own industry. But then I have to ask you, what exactly makes this a peaceful protest? You have trespassed private property, stormed control of the companies machinery and then locked yourself to the equipment. Does this really mean the protest was peaceful, just because you didn't assault the workers?

And then the locks. Nothing quite like a New York City bike lock to imply you mean to stay hitched for a while. I don't think there is a cause in the world for which I would lock my nice in a grip like that to anything. It's not that there aren't causes that I firmly believe in, it's that there is no way you'll catch me willingly placing myself into a position of such weakness. And as a final thought, I offer this video as a counter-point to why Polar Bears are going extinct. Thanks Gail!

Why I love the Columbus Zoo

Amanda and I went to the Columbus Zoo on Saturday. I had previously planned with Mom to go with her, Amanda, and Jacob for my birthday and after calling Mom to tell her about how awesome the new polar bear exhibit was I realized that in all the hullabaloo that surrounded this week's crazy schedule, I had totally forgotten to figure out the zoo time with Mom. Instead, Amanda and I went alone (Dear Mom, we are still going, and once again I'm sorry I forgot.). This in itself was also good because as a newly married couple we are very short on alone time. Between her job and our school, we haven't gotten much time to do all the things we thought we'd get to do once we were married like weekends in or evening walks to enjoy the sunset. Instead we've been just taking each day at a time and supporting each other through what we call "life".

We didn't spend a whole lot of time at the zoo due to the necessity of getting back to see the Buckeyes pull off the victory over Illinois in what is always a conference struggle for OSU and then Liz, Chris and Jeremy came over to see the Spartans pull off a great and unexpected win vs. Wisconsin. I can't even believe that MSU is now 5-0, and it happened the first year that I wasn't there as a student.

As you'll be able to see from a few pictures I'm putting at the end of this blog, the new polar bear exhibit consists of a much more natural-appearing habitat for the animals. The brown bears are moved into this exhibit with a more expansive pen and a waterfall into a fish pond. The polar bear exhibit is similar but with a fun new twist. Visitors can go underwater and watch the polar bears as they swim around. Very few visits to the zoo can rival Amanda and I standing underneath the water exhibit, looking up at the polar bear swimming over us. I'm posting the picture and definitely plan to enter it in next year's county fair. I absolutely love it, and witnessing the beauty of God's creation is exactly why I love the Columbus Zoo. Thanks Amanda for going with me this Saturday! :)