Media — Humanitarian
The media has so much power over the influence of people. Has an inconceivable global reach that can positively and negatively impact society as a whole.
Unfortunately, sensationalism in violence, sex is what sells. Therefore, that is what we are shown most. The media provides what the audience wants.
Will we ever be able to evolve to a higher state of mind, a higher being and use the media for positive global humanitarian impact?
Being a person known for my grandiose ideologies, wanting to save the world yet held back by the fact of only being a student. Granted the power of one is very mighty which is why I feel it’s important to do whatever we can. My Communication 10 class has brought new perspectives and made me even more cognizant of the importance to expand one’s mind and not be easily persuaded.
The internet since it’s inception has evolved a lot in good and bad ways. Unfortunately a google search gives you millions of results and one has to make the effort to truly inspect the information we are provided with and realize what is “the truth”.
How can we use this powerful tool of the media for the greater good? In search for some ideas I ran across this website and liked what they are all about. Using media to bring to light suffering, injustice and give a voice to those that don’t have one. Thereby having a positive impact on the society.
Google The End of The World As We Know It..
Google’s latest bold initiative is entering the fiber-optic business, broadband. It plans on delivering 1 gigabit-per-second, in plain english that breaks down to 20 times faster than the current residential-to-the-home connections offered in the US.
Aiming to provide a truly robust network, 100% faster internet speed!
Can you imagine being able to download a full length movie in 5 minutes?
Great news is they plan on keeping their pricing competitive with the current broadband companies. I’m excited to see how this will roll out and see the continued evolution of technology!
Google truly an innovator and leader in it’s industry. Curious how this will impact it’s droid phones.
A book I’ve been interested in checking out but have yet to is: ‘Googled: The End of the World As We Know It’. Now I’m even more compelled to read it. It’s amazing the impact Google has had on us as a society and now with the inclusion of residential broadband.. they are truly reshaping our society!
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/think-big-with-gig-our-experimental.html
Brainwaves.. Amazing! ? You decide..
Over the years, as a relentless individual striving to always better myself, I read all kinds of different knowledge I can get my hands on to expand my mind.
Few years ago, I came across some interesting information regarding the neurological structure of our brain. Interesting to learn about the different electrical activities our brain goes through and how each brain wave is best for different tasks.
Everday prior to beginning studying, I watch the following brainwaves youtube video that helps me get focused, alert & ready to study!
Watch it, with an open mind and see if it has any effect on you 
**Really great for when you’re brain is fried, it’s finals and you still have to keep going!**
Here is a breakdown of all 5 different brain wave states:
College Scholarship.. Yes please!!
Unfortunately we are living in a society where going to undergrad and graduate school is quite expensive. Besides, the high costs of education there is the opportunity cost a student endures. Economics has taught me about opportunity cost: The cost of an alternative that must be forgone in order to pursue a certain action. Breaking that down, if a student goes to school full-time it makes it difficult to work full-time, therefore their opportunity cost is the amount of money they could be earning at a full-time job.
As a student I can relate and in researching scholarships came across this interesting array of “unique scholarships”.
Gotta love the internet and the endless information available!
**This is a picture of a couple that was award the duct tape scholarship**
List of most “off beat scholarships”:
- Starfleet Academy Scholarships
- http://academy.sfi.org/student/scholarship.shtml - Evans Scholars Foundation Scholarship
- http://www.evansscholarsfoundation.com/
*Only for those who have golf caddied - Milk Mustache of the Year
- http://www.bodybymilk.com/sammy_scholarship.php - American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarship
- http://www.afsascholarship.org/
*Only for high school students gradating this year.. - The Kor Memorial Scholarship
- http://www.kli.org/scholarship/
*Another Star Trek inspired scholarship - United Daughters of the Confederacy Scholarships
- http://www.hqudc.org/scholarships/index.html - Tall Clubs International Scholarships
- http://www.tall.org/scholarships.cfm
*WHAT? This by far most amusing & odd - Stuttgart Duck Calling Scholarship
- http://stuttgartarkansas.org/index.php?fuseaction=p0004.&mod=45
*ANOTHER WHAT?? — How good is your duck call? - Society of Vacuum Coaters Scholarship
- http://www.svc.org/SF/SVCFoundationSchol.html - Duct Tape Prom Dress Scholarships
- http://www.duckbrand.com/Promotions/stuck-at-prom.aspx
*WHAT x3 — Would you go dressed to prom having entire outfit made out of duck tape? - National Potato Industry Scholarship
- http://www.nationalpotatocouncil.org/NPC/programs_scholarshipprogram.cfm
*Love potatoes & want to help the industry — You can get about $5k.. - Left Handed Scholarship
- http://www.juniata.edu/services/news/index.html?SHOWARTICLE+17 - NRA’s Y.E.S. Scholarship
- http://www.friendsofnra.org/National.aspx?cid=580
*Hmm.. Could be of interest.. LOL - Candy Technologists Scholarship
- http://www.aactcandy.org/aactscholarship.asp - Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead
- http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=education_contests_tf
Read full article/slideshow here — http://www.cnbc.com/id/34862217/?slide=1
Enriched Living
I read an amazing article a dear friend forwarded me.
You can read it here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/opinion/24kristof.html?sudsredirect=true
Reading this article reminds me of the importance of living an enriched life, with less materialistic items and more intangible items. Over the past few years, having downsized from a house, I’ve learn to live with much less. I admit, being an ex-shopaholic, it was difficult to donate as much as I have. It’s nice to think of the positive impact those excess items are having, in the lives of others. Granted my donations have consisted of clothes and shoes, but it’s something.
How much do we truly need in life to live off? There is global starving and if we learn to work cohesively towards a better world we can finally make progress which we are all hungry for.
I have always felt very grateful for all that I have, even though at the present moment it’s not much. I’m a full-time student focused on rebuilding my life. From a young age, I’ve felt compelled to help others by volunteering and helping those that I can.
There are so many people born into poverty and not given the hope, the chance for a better life. If your current situation in life does not allow you to live with less, if possible volunteer your time to a cause that inspires you. Time being the most valuable resource we all lack, volunteering it, becomes a selfless act. Afterwards you will experience the rewarding, “feel good” from volunteering and knowing you were able to positively impact the life of someone else. Hence the experience will be intangible better than anything you could have done or purchased.
What could you live without that would help others?
Beer with fast food.. ???
As Economics teaches us, beer is a recession proof good. Even though beer is an “inferior good” to a “luxury good”, wine for example, the beer industry continues to prosper if anything even more in economic downturns.
On CNBC I read the following article and found it shocking at first, than amusing, than genius! A true capitalist sees an opportunity and goes for it!
Love the quote in the article–
(“The only thing Americans like better than cheap, crappy food is cheap, crappy beer!” quips Luke Livingston, author of Blog About Beer.com.)
As the article states, Burger King & Starbucks will be offering beer at some select locations.
I wonder will adding beer to the selected locations dramatically impact revenue at those locations? The article states, that obtaining liquor licenses is a difficult thing. Nevertheless, I wonder if this will become an epidemic and beer will be available at all fast food spots? As we’ve seen businesses are always copying one another to make sure they are not left in the dust by competitors. Will this than create an even more “lush” society?
This article was interesting on many levels. I really enjoy how the author discusses the fundamental to a strong, thriving business: Staying true to your vision. So many businesses panic, once sales are not ideal and start trying all these new ideas straying from their original core business concept. Rarely do you hear of this working, especially if it was a successful well-known company, such as Starbucks. Will Starbucks survive with the addition of beer?
Link to article: http://www.cnbc.com/id/35101637/
Technology.. To the moon?!?!
I ♥ technology!!
Amazing to reflect how far we’ve come along as a society in terms of technology. Television was invented in 1929 and we’ve made many advancements since than. Where will technology take us next? To the moon?!?! Indeed, if you have the money you will be able to travel to space in the near future thanks to the companies Virgin Atlantic, Blue Origin and Space Adventures.
For now you can visit American Museum of Natural History and go to the moon for much less! This is a very cool video my friend sent me while visiting AMNH in New York City.
Marriage.. Better for who?
I was pleasantly surprised by CNBC the other morning when I saw the following video. It’s interesting to hear that men are marrying more women who financially earn more and are higher educated.
Note-worthy facts:
- Men still out earn women but the gap is narrowing – US Census Bureau.
- Pace of women out earning husbands – quadrupled since 1970
- During this recession 10% men lost their jobs & 8% women lost their jobs
- Wife better educated 28% in marriage
Seems there is starting to be a role reversal. Don’t hear much about housewives. Makes you wonder how many househusbands are there?
What is great as that in today’s society anything goes! If you want to be a career woman/man and also take care of your house you can. Anything is possible with hard work and relentless dedication. I plan on being a career woman and having a family.. some day
Must admit the sound of a cleaning lady to do the work that nobody wants to definitely sounds appealing!
Another interesting fact about women, on average women live longer. Men you gotta catch up, women are just getting stronger day by day. Is it because as a gender we have that gene within us that pushes us to work on ourselves and better ourselves? Hmmm..
*Embeding of video does not seem to be working so please go here:
Gotta ♥ Creative Commercials
The following commercials are for Centraal Beheer which is an insurance company in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands. Centraal Beheer is famous in The Netherlands for their campaign of TV commercials.
Interesting to note all commercials have style:
- Short in length
- Attention grabbing
- Hilarious
- Simple slogan ” Just call us “.
None of the commercials talk about the insurance company, instead they show you crazy scenarios. In my opinion these commercials are genius!
Each commercial is so unique and captivating that they will not easily be forgotten. Rather they’re so entertaining you’ll be talking and sharing with others, thereby creating attention and providing possible new customers for the insurance company.
The first one is by far my favorite! Every time I watch this I’m literally screaming with laughter and almost falling out of my chair!
This second video was banned due to gay and lesbian controversy.
Getting Fit with wii?
In today’s day in age people are becoming lazier and more sedentary. It seems there is never enought time in the day to get everything done. Therefore staying healthy and in shape is put last on the priority list.
Many blame our current health, obesity status on the electronic world we live in. This can be seen in the younger generations as they are indoors more: playing video games, on the computer, etc. In lieu of enjoying the outdoors and playing games outside like previous generations.
In 2006, Nintendo released the gaming console, Wii. This takes video gaming to a whole new experience! Instead of sitting down players are standing. While playing you burn calories and can build up a good sweat.
The other day I came across an article weighing the pros and cons of Wii. Interesting to read the findings. I would summarize the findings of the article using the known saying “T0 each his own”. Wii is a great way to boost your fitness from the comfort of your in own home. Clearly playing Wii isn’t as physically challenging , therefore less effective than a workout at the gym. However, in this recession economy it’s a cheaper option and definitely better than not working out.
Here is the article I read:
missoquendo
