Surgery... without cutting??

As I was reading The New York Times I came across an article written by Denise Grady entitled Weight-Loss Surgery, No Cutting Required. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/21/health/21weig.html?ref=science) This immediately caught my attention, surgery without cutting?  I read on, and discovered that this groundbreaking surgery entails the surgeon feeding a stapler down the patient’s esophagus and stapling the stomach from the inside. 

            However, what I thought about more is what exactly made this patient need the weight-loss surgery in the first place.  The obesity epidemic in this country is truly disheartening.  The fact that, as a country, we are creating “ground breaking” surgeries to make people less fat is a little pathetic.  According to the article, “About 15 million Americans are morbidly obese, meaning their body mass index — a type of weight/height ratio — is at least 40 (overweight begins at 25).”  Why is America eating itself to death? 

            There needs to be something done with this epidemic.  The news talks about all the plans of action that are creating better gym classes and healthier meals yet seems as though the only thing that is being created is more life saving surgery for the increasing number of obese people in America.

Sir Elton John

This man truly has changed my life.  Why?  That’s a really amazing question, I have no idea.  I have never met him, although it is my dream to.  In fact, the closest I've ever been to Elton John was when I saw him in concert at the Verizon Wireless Center in Manchester, New Hampshire.  I was quite far away.  

 

I guess I have somewhat of an idea; it is the songs he writes.  Why?  I'm not one hundred percent sure.   They are all very catchy.  However, one of my favorite songs, Rocket Man seems to have no deeper meaning, at least that I can find.  It is just a happy song, one you can belt out in the car with the windows rolled down when you're all alone.  Yeah, one of those songs, we all have them.

 

The list goes on, Benny and The Jets, I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues, Crocodile Rock.  I could sing those songs over and over again.  But I think my love for Elton John goes further beyond the catchiness of his chord sequences.  I think it has to do with what he is trying to say.

 

Now I have no idea what Elton John would say to me if he read this.  I could be completely wrong.  But I guess this is more about what Elton John means to me…

 

The lyrics he writes are true.  He writes what he feels and what I all feel and what we all feel at one time or another.  I guess I feel as though he writes for the hopeless romantic in all of us.  We know the words he sings by heart because we relate them to our own lives whether they actually relate or we just wish they did. 

 

“And I guess that's why they call it the blues

Time on my hands could be time spent with you”

                                                               --Elton John

                                                  I guess that's why they call it the blues

 

When I hear this song I think of all the people I love and the ones I miss.  Elton John just hits the nail on the head with his lyrics and sending them straight to the heart, as corny as that may sound. 

 

Maybe that is my problem.  Maybe I am too “corny-romantic” loving, but oh well I love what I love.  And the expression of these feeling, I will go as far as saying, have changed my life.  I guess, I feel as though I have a connection with Sir Elton John on some level, or maybe all people in general for that matter. 

 

Perhaps the most amazing song is, Your Song.  It just embodies every magical thing about Elton John and his songs.  He has created the standard for love songs, mostly because they are so realistic.  These songs are just so amazing because they can speak to everyone and only one, which is why Elton John has had such an impact on my life.  Be it a love song or one to sing with the windows down, Elton John never fails to create the perfect musical experience.

 

“Hope you don't mind that I put down in words

How wonderful life is while you're in the world”

                                                                --Elton John

                                                                               “Your Song”

2 Billy Sim 0:12

I am currently reading Sex, Drugs, and Coco Puffs, by Chuck Klosterman.  Each chapter is a short tid-bit of something that Klosterman is cynical about, be it The Celtics vs. Lakers long time rivalry, MTV's The Real World, or even discussing Pamela Anderson's sex symbol status.  Chapter 2, entitled, Billy Sim 0:12, was one that I found very interesting.  He discusses the diabolical nature of the seemingly innocent computer game: The Sims.

For those of you who have never played this game, it is basically a simulation of life.  You design your sim, name it whatever you like, create its personality, dress it, buy a house, and then attempt to live a successful life.  Now personally, I went through my phase of playing this game in about the 6th grade.  It seemed innocent and fun and the time and I have still believed so until I read that chapter in Kloterman's book.

He describes the addictive nature of the game and one's ability to ignore the reality of their own life to fulfill the life of their sim.  The Sims is a game that is completely based upon economic and material gain.  The main objective of the game is to make your sim happy.  And the only way to make your sim happy is to buy it stuff.  So, this computer game that the children of America are playing are teaching them to be materialistic.

Klosterman points out the obvious flaws in the point of this game.  There is first of all no way to 'win.'  And children spend their hours escaping their own lives to try and buy thing for their sims.  This material based game is twisting priorities of our youth and should not be played.