The Summer of Social Good "is ‘the first large scale online charitable campaign to raise funds strictly online through the power of Social Media and the Internet.’ The campaign is organized by Mashable and raises money for The Human Society, World Wildlife Fund, LIVESTRONG and Oxfam America," more...
Courtesy of Social Earth
Monday, June 8, 2009
Where are your kids right now?
A 14-year-old boy was brutally beaten to death near his suburban home May 30 by a group of teens claiming to be in a gang, according to a report by "Good Morning America" (GMA) today.
"He died on our street in suburbia where we paid $350,000 for a townhouse in a neighborhood where our shutters have to match our doors," Jenny Adkins said about the murder of her son, Christopher Jones, in Maryland. Javel George, 16, and an unidentified 14-year-old boy have been charged with the murder, according to GMA.
This violent crime in suburbia last week was committed by the hands of a group of young teens claiming to be a gang. I am prompted to reconsider what a gang really is, and how we can keep our kids safe from being victims or perpetrators of violence.
Most common presumptions are that gangs only exist in urban and low-income areas, they always include older teen or adult leaders, and your kids would never get involved in one. But in reality, a gang can happen at any age in any area, because it can start as simply as a small group of mischievous kids in a middle-class neighborhood looking for violent or destructive stimulation or entertainment.
This is an especially growing threat in an age where children are more desensitized to violence than previous generations were, because they are exposed it at a very young age through many romanticized and graphic cartoons, video games, movies and TV. Because of this, it is vital that parents remind their kids that those virtual and Hollywood realities are different from the one that they actually live in.
It can be very hard, if not impossible, for working and single parents to always know where their kids are, who they're with, and what they're doing. That is why it is so important to talk to them every day, even if it is only a short chat for a few minutes; even if they roll their eyes and whine.
Ask them about their life and acknowledge their accomplishments. If a child or teen feels like they matter at home, they are less likely to look for that recognition (respect) elsewhere; like in a gang.
Whether religious, atheist or other, remind kids about the importance of taking social responsibility, and respect for others, life and the law seriously.
Talk to them about their long-term goals. Where do they want to go to college? What do they want to be when they grow up? Youths who have an idea about what they want their futures to be, are less likely to commit crimes that will jeopardize that now.
Finally, never assume that a bully is just a bully. If your kid is being picked on or bullied, follow your instincts. Contact other parents, school officials or even the police if necessary. It is better to lose a little sleep to get to the bottom of a threat, than to get a dreaded phone call because that threat was real.
Stay concerned. Stay connected. Stay in control.
"He died on our street in suburbia where we paid $350,000 for a townhouse in a neighborhood where our shutters have to match our doors," Jenny Adkins said about the murder of her son, Christopher Jones, in Maryland. Javel George, 16, and an unidentified 14-year-old boy have been charged with the murder, according to GMA.
This violent crime in suburbia last week was committed by the hands of a group of young teens claiming to be a gang. I am prompted to reconsider what a gang really is, and how we can keep our kids safe from being victims or perpetrators of violence.
Most common presumptions are that gangs only exist in urban and low-income areas, they always include older teen or adult leaders, and your kids would never get involved in one. But in reality, a gang can happen at any age in any area, because it can start as simply as a small group of mischievous kids in a middle-class neighborhood looking for violent or destructive stimulation or entertainment.
This is an especially growing threat in an age where children are more desensitized to violence than previous generations were, because they are exposed it at a very young age through many romanticized and graphic cartoons, video games, movies and TV. Because of this, it is vital that parents remind their kids that those virtual and Hollywood realities are different from the one that they actually live in.
It can be very hard, if not impossible, for working and single parents to always know where their kids are, who they're with, and what they're doing. That is why it is so important to talk to them every day, even if it is only a short chat for a few minutes; even if they roll their eyes and whine.
Ask them about their life and acknowledge their accomplishments. If a child or teen feels like they matter at home, they are less likely to look for that recognition (respect) elsewhere; like in a gang.
Whether religious, atheist or other, remind kids about the importance of taking social responsibility, and respect for others, life and the law seriously.
Talk to them about their long-term goals. Where do they want to go to college? What do they want to be when they grow up? Youths who have an idea about what they want their futures to be, are less likely to commit crimes that will jeopardize that now.
Finally, never assume that a bully is just a bully. If your kid is being picked on or bullied, follow your instincts. Contact other parents, school officials or even the police if necessary. It is better to lose a little sleep to get to the bottom of a threat, than to get a dreaded phone call because that threat was real.
Stay concerned. Stay connected. Stay in control.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Dr. Martin Luthor King Jr. Sings "I Have a Dream"
The greatest threat to a better society is stagnant thought.
"I Have a Dream" song:
Courtesy of schmoyoho on YouTube
In this current age of political argument and blame, mud-slinging, fight between the red, blue, green and other Americans, it is easy to forget how and why our society has reached this point. It is difficult to predict how we could or should continue to evolve. There is no right answer; no wrong answer; no single answer- just ideas.
I think it is important to step outside of ourselves and take a view removed from the present. When the individual perspectives and ideas are jumbled and at odds with each other, then perhaps it is time to look at a bigger, more holistic question.
What dream do you have for your children?
"I Have a Dream" song:
Courtesy of schmoyoho on YouTube
In this current age of political argument and blame, mud-slinging, fight between the red, blue, green and other Americans, it is easy to forget how and why our society has reached this point. It is difficult to predict how we could or should continue to evolve. There is no right answer; no wrong answer; no single answer- just ideas.
I think it is important to step outside of ourselves and take a view removed from the present. When the individual perspectives and ideas are jumbled and at odds with each other, then perhaps it is time to look at a bigger, more holistic question.
What dream do you have for your children?
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Body Image vs. Body Appearance
This video was a response to Dying to Be Thin: Anorexia (College Health Guru)
Courtesy of College Health Guru and YouTube
Courtesy of College Health Guru and YouTube
11 Useful Internet Aps
Rocketboom Tech correspondent Ellie Rountree shows Tweetdeck, CoTweet, Adium, and more favorite productivity applications...
Courtesty of Rocketboom and YouTube
Courtesty of Rocketboom and YouTube
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Woman DNA tested as 2 people
A birth defect causes a woman to conceive children with DNA unrelated to her own:
Friday, May 1, 2009
Obama at American Idol?
President Obama on American Idol? Maybe. Read about it.
Hmmm, swine flu stuff v. Hollywood...
Impressive?
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
News Wars...
In 2007 the PBS show Frontline produced a multi-part series "News War" which investigated many facets of news as it adapts to changing media outlets and demands. Although the series is old by common standard, its content is still very, very relevant. I highly recommend that you follow the link and view some or all of it. It is split up into short bits (5-10 minutes) that make it easy to choose whichever part interests you most (a news-personalization concept that I will pry another time). This blog is a reflection and response to "Part 3" (segments 16-25) which focuses on the changing relationship between the Internet, news-consumers, news owners and traditional news media.
This response is my perspective based opinion (very inclined to change; given new insights), and I highly encourage you to give me yours. I would like to get comments and suggestions about what you, consumers, bloggers, journalists, media users, think about this new era in news.
Traditional news has reached a point where survival is becoming increasingly dependent on its ability to branch out across multiple media. Traditionally, news was what you needed to know combined with what you wanted to know. It was organized, fairly weighted information for the consumer to digest and act upon. Reporters were not the "face" of news, they were the medium through which it was provided to the public.
In this era of citizen journalism, instant feed information, celebrity journalism and multi-media sourcing, "news" is blurring and shifting with "entertainment" because the line between need and want is blurring and shifting.
Traditional journalism is dying because the demand and respect for it is fading, its resources are declining and, as the "Murrow" generation is slipping away, fewer journalists are entering that role. Newspapers are especially affected in two fronts: Money and demand.
Traditional consumption is declining because budget-cuts are reducing the quality of newspapers, people are turning to multi-media sources that are easier to control and personalize, and the "Murrow" generation is shrinking.
Advertisers are shifting their money to the web because it reaches more people and is cheaper. As newspapers become publicly owned, stocks holders are driving higher profit demands and budget cuts than in the past.
Traditional news will always have a place, it will be controlled more by consumers. Consumers want the news choices they want, when they want it, and nothing else. Most news sources have already begun the shift to on-demand availability, and those who do not will struggle to keep-up and eventually sink or swim.
I'm not exactly sure when this "news war" began, or when it will end. Advertising and for-profit-ownership have played the largest hand for the longest time, and they became really influential when the standard of journalism "as a public service" faded. Then the consumer demand for news shifted more when the Internet stepped in and offered consumers the control over when, what, how and through whom content is provided.
The news used to be controlled by the news sources. Now it is controlled by advertisers, profiteers, celebrities and most importantly, YOU. With the Internet, you can create news and post it from anywhere about anything. You don't need a degree in journalism, or a production or publication crew or an editor. You can post whatever you want, and no one can stop you.
Consumers are controlling supply and demand. If the demand is not met, consumers have the power to change the supply, by creating their own. This is evident in the increasing influence bloggers have over mainstream media. Bloggers and citizen journalists have a place in journalism. They are becoming the checks and balances of mainstream media, like it is of government and business. Could this be because mainstream media is no longer run as a public service but as a business for profit itself?
Bloggers are useful, but they, as a whole, are not a reliable, consistent and unbiased medium. Each individual has an agenda, which is not necessarily centered over journalism; which is good. Comment is very important too. However, it is often difficult for a news consumer to discern a unbiased journalism blog from a commentary one, especially when they are presented in a "news" format.
Consumers may want what they want- and they should get it. But someone has to make a point to inject some of what they need too. Traditional news sources will have to find a way to adapt to this new era, but they will also need to maintain their truth-telling integrity. Perhaps, with its freedom from the control of advertisers and public ownership, citizen journalism networked through trained citizen editors is an answer. Is it possible?
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Twitter takes over the world, one site at a time...
We Twit, We Tweet, We simply can't defeat, The twitter Witter Dream!
Video feed courtesy of Rocketboom
Video feed courtesy of Rocketboom
Monday, April 27, 2009
Rocketboom catches Second Life at the first Virtual Journalism Summit
Philip Rosedale of Second Life sits down with Rocketboom in Pullman, Wash. at the first Virtual Journalism Summit at Washington State University.
Video complements of Rocketboom.
Second Life is a virtual world similar to The Sims; only it is a live world where each person visiting is represented by an avatar, so you're always interacting with real people rather than game simulated ones.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Darwin vs. Sweet Baby Jesus
Ever wonder how religion evolved?
Evolved, I say? Rubbish! Evolution BAD!
Damn you Darwinians!
(Don't pay attention to all those other religions over there; they don't count because they don't have a Bible!)
It began with sweet baby Jesus of course!
...or did it?
Watch Jared Diamond's take, then tell me yours.
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