Why Netflix is Amazing (CM)

        I'm sure most of you have heard about Netflix, the online site where people can watch TV after paying for a membership. I found out about Netflix around a year ago when my brother bought a membership. After a while, I realized just how amazing Netflix was. You see, I'm not much of a TV watcher. I'd rather sit down and watch a nice movie, or watch certain series' that catch my eye. In my situation, I feel like it would make life so much simpler to just stop paying for the TV network at my house and switch completely to Netflix. I only watch about three channels, so why pay for thousands that I will never care to even look at? Netflix has so many advantages. While a TV company may charge $80 per month, Netflix is currently $7.99 a month. I would rather not pay so much money for channels I may never watch. Not to mention, while TV plays shows at certain times and you have to navigate around commercials every ten minutes, Netflix allows people to watch anything straight through whenever they want. Also, rather than waiting for the right episodes to play, Netflix organizes its TV shows in chronological order, making it easy to simply go through the series in order and without rewatching things you have already seen. Some people may argue that TV is essential because of the news, which you can't really watch on Netflix, but it is easy to simply find a news channel online. Most news companies offer live streaming and frequent updates on current events.
         I love Netflix because you can use it anytime of any day. My family and I used to have Doctor Who marathons when everyone was home (which doesn't happen very often). This would have been difficult with just normal TV because we would have had to record a LOT of episodes, not to mention we don't even have the channel. Well, I also love to watch movies with my family, and Netflix gives us a variety of movies. I think the reason Netflix is better than television sets is that it is easy to use, full of variety for everyone, and simple. You find a show you want and press play. On TVs, you have to find the right channel at the right time, or record something ahead of time, still filled with commercials.
        I would not say that TV should be replaced by Netflix, but that many people (including me) benefit more from something like that rather than normal TV. Well, I'm done rambling on about Netflix now. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts!

Stories of Nature (CC Post)

        As soon as we started reading Into The Wild, I was hooked. The idea of someone abandoning everything they have in life to live out in nature alone and without many supplies is very extraordinary to me. As I read, I keep thinking about how hard it would be to just let go of everything you know in life. Imagine leaving your family and friends and not telling them what you are going to do, choosing to live secluded from the rest of the world. It would be nearly impossible to get even that far. So, when I think about what McCandless did, I am impressed at his will to survive out in the wild. I'm not sure I would go so far as saying that it was a good idea, but it is an amazing feat.
        While I read about McCandless's craving for nature, I can't help thinking about A Walk in the Woods, which I read last summer. It was a story about a man (Bill Bryson) who wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail, so he entered The Smoky Mountains National Park and tried to fulfill his goal. However, although he hiked for his love of nature, his story was very different than McCandless's. While McCandless abandoned everything - his family, his education, his life - Bryson was better prepared. He still could not connect with his family on the trail, but at least they knew where he was, what he was doing, and that he loved them. Also, he was careful to carry provisions for the hike on his back, including food, a sleeping bag, and strong hiking equipment. He also was following an actual path, rather than deciding to simply enter the wild with no solid plans.
        Although their stories have their differences, I can't help relating Bryson to McCandless. They both decided to take a break from their everyday lives and spend some hardcore time in nature. Both were gone for months on end, and neither regretted the overall experience. Acting on a love for nature, they followed a path in life that would strengthen their spirits and give them an understanding for the amazing world around us that is often forgotten. Through inner strength and the endurance needed to survive out in nature, both Bryson and McCandless followed their instincts to take an unforgettable hike through the wild of the world outside.