Weekly Written Analysis Assignment 5-1

One of the biggest popular culture artifacts is Mickey Mouse.  Mickey Mouse has been known for years to not only children but adults as well.  Mickey is known as a cartoon character and then became an icon for Walt Disney World (Wikipedia, 2011).  Mickey was created in 1928 by Walt Disney (Wikipedia, 2011). 

            Walt Disney wanted to create a character that would make people laugh and that they would remember.  Mickey first made his debut in the cartoon Steamboat Willie in 1928 in which the company celebrates Mickey’s birthday (November 18, 1928).  Mickey became known to everyone as an icon.  Walt had envisioned opening an amusement park in Florida with Mickey Mouse being the theme but passed away before it happened.  His brother Roy took over the plans and opened the park on October 1, 1971, dying two months later.  The company continued to develop the park and run the company the way the Disney brothers had planned with Mickey Mouse becoming the focus.

            Who would have imagined that an icon from so long ago would still be a popular culture icon today.  Millions still visit the Walt Disney World today to visit the famous mouse.  Mickey makes you forget about everything except happiness even adults.  You do not have to a kid to like or enjoy Mickey Mouse.  I am an adult and still like to collect Mickey Mouse and go to Walt Disney World.  I just went this past March with my husband and when they say it is “the happiest place on earth” it is true.  Something about meeting Mickey Mouse just seems to make everything a happier time and brings out the child in you.  It is icons like this that will probably continue through generation after generation. 

References

Wikipedia (2011). Mickey Mouse. Retrieved June 18, 2011from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Mouse

Wikipedia (2011). The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved June 18, 2011 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Walt_Disney_Company. 

Weekly Written Analysis 4 Assignment 4-1

It is that time of year when everyone wants to look good in their bathing suits.  They are working on their tans before going to the beach on vacation.  Thank goodness for the invention of the tanning bed for those of us with busy lives.  The tanning bed was invented by a German scientist Friedrich Wolff in the early 1970’s and brought it to the United States in 1978 (Zimmerman, J., 1999-2011).  He is who the company Wolff system tanning beds is named after.  They are a very popular tanning bed system. 

            Wolff discovered that the tanning effects of UV light caused him to create specialized lamps so those using the tanning beds would get an even tan all over (Zimmerman, J., 1999-2011).  The creation of the tanning bed saves us from spending hours upon hours out in the sun to get the tan that we desire to have.  To achieve the desired tan you would only need to tan twenty minutes a day three to four times a week.  You can also use a tanning lotion that will help accelerate your tan while keeping your skin healthy. 

            While most people believe that there is nothing wrong with using a tanning bed others disagree.  A lot of people think that tanning beds cause cancer.  Tanning beds do not cause skin cancer anymore than any other UV exposure.  It seems like anymore whatever we do can cause cancer.  Because of this tanning beds have to follow strict regulations and have imposed a “sin tax” on each session purchased.  The “sin tax” is a ten percent tax that the consumer has to pay on top of any other taxes.  The government is trying to discourage people from tanning because they believe it is harmful.

            It is great that the tanning bed was invented and has been very popular every since.  It is quick and convenient for a lot of people’s life styles. Who would have thought that we could get a tan by lying in a bed of lights for twenty minutes a day?  I personally think that it was a great invention. 

References:

Zimmerman, J. (1999-2011).  Who Invented the tanning Bed?  Retrieved June 11, 2011 from: http://www.ehow.com/facts_4870207_who-invented-tanning-bed.html.