Elizabeth Byrne 2/26 post class

After studying for today's test, and having a lot of time to think and talk about the readings we have done - the question of reality still seems crazy to me. I am watching the Travel Channel about various modern cities through out the world and Las Vegas is one of the eight "modern wonders of the world". Personally, I had no idea that there were cities that were ranked as "modern" cities. While watching the show I thought back to Dr. Rog's story about Yellow Stone National park and the volcano in Vegas. The show talks about how much money is put into building such things as the volcano and other attractions such as Treasure Island (involving explosions and sinking ships). In an earlier post, I questioned the thought that we have decaf coffee and milk without fat just to satisfy the desires of our culture. After further thought, I do think that our country puts a lot of money into making our culture happy with what we want to see. The family who left Yellow Stone National Park was more satisfied with seeing a fake volcano. I think that with technology today, our culture has decreased in its love for nature and for "real" things. However, the question of real takes me back the difference between original and authentic.

Another thing that I have been learning about on The Travel Channel is the new Eiffel Tower. I don't know much about Las Vegas, but I certainly did not that there was a second Eiffel that is "better" than the first. Due to technology, the one in Las Vegas is more advanced than the original in Paris.

There is also a hotel (i forget the name) in Vegas that could stack 7-8 747 airplanes in it. It has the brightest light on top of along with that of the one on the Great Wall of China. Both of these lights can reach up to outer space.

Las Vegas was described as "a town that will always be on the cutting edge of enginering marvels"

I related this episode of The Travel Channel to Jenks article relating to various types of architecture. Las vegas has various building and attractions that either looked something but were used for something else. Or the Eiffel, which does not represent the same idea's that it represents in Paris. Still leaving with the question- what really is "reality"?