My TWEEPS

For one of my TWEEPS I chose Tony Horton exercise and Fitness Consultant. Over the past 17 years Tony has helped millions of people from stay at home parents, military personal and celebrities change their lives and alter their bodies through multiple motivational work outs. Tony Horton attended college at the University of Rhode Island in 1976 and that is were he became in tune  with fitness. Tony has a massive 200 million in sales and an impressive library of fitness programs such as the highly used P90X, Power 90, One on one with Tony Horton, Power half hour Tony and the kids, (for kids ages 5-12) Tony and the folks, (for senior citizens) and Great Body Guaranteed. The "Master of Motivation" has been featured in national publications such as Men's fitness, People, Self,and  Woman's Health. He has also appeared on national television programs CNN, NBC, and CBS. Although he has written only one book titled  "Bring It"  I look forward to reading it. His experience as a comedian is also show through in his videos he isn't that funny, but it takes your mind off the pain while you are there sucking wind.  In the future when I am ready I will upgrade to the the P90X2  I enjoy doing the videos they make me feel good about myself and motivate not only in my living room but also in life. As Tony always says "DO YOUR BEST AND FORGET THE REST"

For my Second TWEEPS I chose  of national syndicated show  "The Clark Howard Show" on  HLN  on Saturdays and Sundays.  He also gives consumer advice  on products that help us save money in this recession. Clark also has a nationally syndicated radio show with his popular radio program, Howard empowers his Clark Howard viewers to make smart financial decisions in all aspects of life with the promise to help them "save more, spend less and avoid getting ripped off!" Howard is based in CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta.
Clark attended American University in 1976 with a B.A.  in Urban Government. He also attended Central Michigan University.Were he went on to receive his Masters of Business Administration degree. Howard's career has included stints in both government and private sectors. He was employed by the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He launched a travel agency in 1981 that grew into a chain with locations across metro Atlanta. In 1987, he sold the company and retired at 31 years of age.
In 2011, Howard published his timely ninth book, "Living Large in Lean Times," a New York Times #1 Bestseller, which followed 2007's "Clark Smart Real Estate" that addresses relevant issues in today's mortgage crisis. His "Get Clark Smart in 2002," and "Clark's Big Book of Bargains" in 2003, also both charted on the New York Times Bestsellers List.
 Howard's Web site hosts a forum called "Clark Stinks!" for people who disagree with his advice.Once each week, Howard's executive producer reads him posts from the "Clark Stinks!" for him to respond to on-air.

Fads and Trends

In my pop culture class we must focus on what is a fad and what is a trend. I only try to keep up with tech trends and sports trends. So this was a bit of a challenge  for me. For some of the fads I used my kids influences, because I seem to be the one always buying them that new fad.

Fad One:

 The kids in my neighborhood are really enjoy these Beyblades. . The series focuses on a group of kids who form teams with which they battle one another using highly powerful spinning tops called "Beyblades". The manga was adapted into three different anime series that aired from 2001 until 2003 on TV Tokyo. The series returned to TV Tokyo in 2009 with the launch of Beyblade: Metal Fusion, a new series featuring a new cast and Beyblade system. So my kids will move on too something else and it will cost me more money. I love my kids.

 Trend one:

Lego's are a trend because they have stood the test of time.Lego came to the market in1947, Since it began producing plastic bricks, the Lego's Group has released thousands of sets with a variety of themes, including town and city, space, robots, pirates, trains, Vikings, castle, dinosaurs, undersea exploration, and wild west.Over the years, Lego has licensed themes from numerous cartoon and film franchises. These include Avatar: The Last Airbender, Batman, Ben 10, Cars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Prince of Persia, Speed Racer, Spider-Man, SpongeBob SquarePants, Star Wars, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Toy Story. Doing this guarantees the immortality amongst toy creators. I played with legos as a kid and my kids play with legos, I don't think they will going  anywhere.

Fad two:
  
Ab Lounge
Last we checked the “lean back” wasn’t exactly for the abdominals. But if the sight of a flimsy lawn chair just makes you want to bust a move, go ahead, get your crunch on! (No money-back guarantees, of course.) This was a fad that came fast and went even faster. It promised quick results in no time flat. It never really took off, but if you really want on I am sure u can find one at a yard sale or craigslist.

Trend Two:

With the U.S being considered one of the most O beast nations, most would have just past this of as just anther exercise fad. It is not Tony's videos have sold all over the world and following of in the millions. P90X is a 90-day program that combines a variety of exercise techniques including strength trainig, cardio,yoga, plyometrics, and stretching. The program consists of a nutrition guide, fitness plan, calendar and series of DVD videos featuring Horton as instructor assisted by several male and female fitness models who demonstrate a variety of techniques. For workouts that require weights, for example, one of the models demonstrates the exercise using elastic resistance bands. The models also demonstrate some moves at lower and/or higher levels of intensity. P90X provides a fitness test to determine if the program is suitable for an individual. If you take a look at the infomercial you can get abetter understanding.http://www.fatlossblogger.com/p90x-informercial/ 

Fad Three:

Skinny jeans I am happy to say are a fad, but they just haven't left the fashion seen. Slim-fit pants or skinny jeans have a snug fit through the legs and end in a small leg opening that can be anywhere from 9" to 20" depending on size. Other names for this style include pegs, drainpipes, stovepipes, Asian tight-pants, cigarette pants, skinny pants,insolent pants or skinnie. I don't sport skinnie jeans, becaue i wouldn't be able to handle the restriction the obviously offer.

Trend Three:

The Hoodie on the other hand is been here decades. The hoodie took off in the 1970s, with several factors contributing to its success.Hip Hop culture.developed in New York City around this time, and the hoodie's element of instant anonymity, provided by the accessible hood, appealed to those with criminal intent. Today Hoodies come with a wide range of designs from local companies to professional sports teams. Long live the HOODIE!!http://www.altrec.com/the-north-face/womens-half-dome-hoodie

Fad Four:

Planking: Not many see the point of laying – abs squeezed, arms tight against your side, head down – on benches, garbage cans and cars. But that is the point.  While planking might seem pointless, it is an entertaining was to use your imagination, utilize your surroundings, have a good laugh and get a good abs workout! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRHnTFesv7c

 Trend Four:

Break dancing will never fade, it has embed itself into the pop culture and will always be here.

Fad Five:
 I know a lot of wish it wasn't so but American Idol  is on its way out! Posting the lowest rating ever this season Fox is not sure it will bring it back next season. Sorry I was never a fan. I believe it popular enough to were I don't need to post a link. YOU ALL KNOW WHAT IT IS!!.

Trend Five: We all have been caught watching reality T.V. I and my family enjoy some reality shows like SHARK WEEK on The Discovery Channel. We are all captivated by its raw nature. That is what keeps use coming back. We could get on a plane and go there, but we would be leaving the safety of our homes. We would prefer to just see it. On the other hand seeing some reality experiences  could also motivate us to go there. It is all how we choose to act upon it.Reality T.V. Has been here a very long time and has grown into entire networks and movies. As long as we keep watching they will keep filming.

THEN

The person I chose for the "Then" part of this quest was my mother, Barbara. She grew up in the late 60's early 70's and that is the part of her era and trend I asked her about in my interview. In 1973 she graduated high school and many things were popular to her culture.

Pet rocks sound absurd today but in the early 70's everyone either had on or new someone who did.  It was a pretty simple idea. Most of the teens then like most teens today didn't want a whole lot of responsibility. The pet rock was ideal for them. If the responsibility was overwhelming the rock also came with a set of instructions. Today we have Farmville or Pot farm.  Just have to do it electronically.

My mother's parents were very old fashion and believed in making their own clothing. One in particular was using gunny sacks to make dresses.  Although this picture shows a dress a lot shorter than her parents would have liked, you get the general idea. If she  received clothing she learned to sew in order too prolong its use. When it got older or couldn't be take out anymore it became a hand-me-downs to her younger sibling. They didn't waste anything back then and recycling something was a big part of life for them. Today we recycle bottles, metal and glass. We may do for money but mostly we do it to save the planet.

When my mother was on her own while still in high school she had two jobs and supported herself. What ever my she had left over that didn't go to bills she got to spend a little on herself. She bought herself a pair of Bell Bottoms. She took very good care of them and only wore them after school, because most women wore knee length  dresses to school.

Big hair was popular as my mother grew up. It has come back in and gone back out again. Now it is a matter of how you like to wear your hair. I still see kids and adults with the Afro. This style of hair was part of a generation of people who went against the grain to fight for what they thought was right. Today we still let our style define us. We were taught from earlier generations to stand up for what we believe in. It still holds true today as we see the 99% protest against the 1%

Polyester clothing was new to my mothers era. It was already in carpet in most homes. Manufacturing clothing from it provided cheap means of dressing up . It could be used in many designs that appealed to the popular culture. It really caught on during Disco.  Today polyester is still widely used and has made way for other new synthetic fibers such as Nylon. We as consumers today are wearing things that are more natural, but most still look for affordable.

NOW

One thing that influences me is music that tells a story. I have always found it gets my attention. It can tell a fictional story, but the best songs too me come from history. It could be about a person, a place or an event that took place. My favorite group that tells stories in their music is Old Crow Medicine Show, album name Tennessee Pusher. They have a story in every song for all kinds of moods. When I travel Like to listen to this album. When I leave and listen to their music in my car a feel much better once I get there.

Comedy is the second popular thing I like to listen too. When I don't feel in the mood for music I like to listen to Bob and Tom in the morning. They have short skits that sometimes pertain to current events. I love it when they make fun of celebrities and sports personalities. In the mornings I am tired once I get my kids off to school and need a little comedy  pick me up. It helps me to set the mood for the rest of the day.

 The smart phone is the next selection of my aspect of pop culture. It just does everything. It almost makes me God-like. If I don't have the answers, it is only a search away. Who ever came up with apps is a genius. I love the GPS features that never lets me get lost.(AS LONG AS I HAVE SIGNAL) If i don't have signal I can always turn on the Wi-Fi  and make calls search the web and order those concert tickets.

My son and I love NFL football. It is a time when we get to shed our normal routine for some full unadulterated madness of yelling at the T.V. (no swearing please) and jumping around the living room like a bunch of crazed animals when our teams does well. there is also the yelling when they don't do so well. It has its ups and downs. I feel it is the best kind of therapy when bringing a father and son together. He enjoys it as much as I do, and knows more about the players than anyone I know. I gives more things to talk about with the rest of our family who are big fans.

I know not everyone likes adult swim. I would never let my kids watch it. I however am not a kid. Well maybe a big kid. I enjoy watching this channel because it takes me back to my childhood when I would have too fight to watch the cartoons of the day. Not only do i get to watch old cartoons, they put a hilarious spin on them. I only wish i could have come up with the idea. My favorite show is Robot Chicken. They us all the old likenesses of the cartoons from the 80's and some new cartoons and make parodies of them. Plane and simple it just takes me back.  

http://youtu.be/NHoInYQSF6E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHoInYQSF6E&feature=g-upl&context=G2ac81e1AUAAAAAAAAAA