Yahooooooooooo!

I enjoy Yahoo! news because it allows me to stay up to date with current events at my convienance. The site is well organized and appealing to the eye. When I am not reading or viewing realistic stories, I head for the not-so-important, funny, crazy, or outrageous stories. Yesterday on Yahoo, there was a video clip showing a pro soccer star who was about to score -got too excited--slipped--and slapped the ball into a net for a handball. This is not important news, but if it wasnt for yahoo, I would have never seen it! Yahoo, and other sites like it, truely help connect the world.

Anti Social

I think that using too much media technology makes us (as a generation, population) less sociable in face-to-face situations. I used to use AIM so much that I went from a one-finger typist to being so efficient I could be a stenographer. But, as my typing and short-hand skills increased I feel that my social skills plummeted. When AIM became popular I was at the age where social skills and people should be sharpened finely tuned. However, I feel that for my generation, media entities like AIM, e-mail, facebook, and text messaging leave our face-to-face people skills out of practice. If you got nervous on the phone why would you call someone when you could text them? If you get shy or nervous talking to teachers why would you go to their office when you could e-mail them. As much as this technology makes our life easier, it makes other parts of [at least my] life harder.

Pornographic Content Airs on Local Station

This chapter is very timely for me because just this past week, the local station in Medford, where I live, was in some hot water for airing a provocative sex-advice show at 8pm. Town officials were disgusted with the pornographic images and conversations that were being aired at a time where children could have been watching.

This channel is usually airing shows that the whole family can enjoy (but probably wouldn't). Sometimes there is a local artist on giving painting lessons for kids and other times theres the old guy who likes to read the newspaper to the TV and thinks hes Wolf Blitzer. Because this station usually attracts children or the elderly, it's sexual content was not welcomed.

The solution to this problem was to force the creator of the show to air the show after 10 o’clock. In a case like this, it is obvious that some regulations need to be instituted for the sake and reputation of an entire city.

Dr. Oz

On the Dr. Oz show today, he discussed the harmful effects that can occur for people who use too much technology. Oz gave a great explanation on why tasks such as typing and texting can have harmful effects on the body. He even said that our hand muscles weaken in some places because we fail to use them (ie the muscles used for handwriting are different than those used for thumb-texting). Other side effects of using too much technology include lower back pain, headaches, and carpal tunnel.

If you feel that technology runs your life, check out the Dr.'s advice on how to cut back in order to prevent or lessen the effects of too much technology!
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/technology-diet

Star Studded TV

I realize that celebrity's have always been the forefront of entertainment news and I get it- they are the rich, beautiful, skillful people that everyone wishes they could be. I was desperately trying to find something to watch on TV last night and it seems all I could find were shows like Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, Extra, etc. Why do we care so much about what coffee shop Kate Gosselin went to or Brittney's new body?

Needless to say I ended up watching good ol' Jeopardy.

Celebrity Jeopardy, of course.

Going Paperless

With the 'going green' trend picking up speed everyday there always seems to be some new way to lessen your impact on our planet. The new media technologies that we have become so used to today (computers, the internet, iphones) have at least had a hand in giving us the opportunity to use less paper. I used to get pages upon pages of bank statements in the mail and when I realized I rarely look at them (I look at the online version) I "went paperless." This function allows us to get the same information we would have anyways and saves us from household clutter and wasting paper. Other ways media tech. has helped us go paperless are evident in the use of online magazines, newspapers, e-mail, and countless others. I especially enjoy not having to print 25 page papers when they can be submitted electronically. Even if you don't necessarily care about wasting paper (which you should) going paperless helps keep you organized. Give it a shot.

Three Cups of Tea

My mother just finished reading the NY Times bestselling book 'Three Cups of Tea.' From what she has told me about the book, it is hard to not get inspired by it. The book reveals the poor conditions in Pakistan and Afghanistan for school aged children, especially girls. The main character of the book (which is a true story) is still working to build proper schools for boys and girls in these countries to offer an alternative to terrorist training camps.

While I haven't read it yet, I was intrigued when my mother shared with me the fact that the back of the book had a page about what to do if the book inspired you. It suggested that readers either go to the books website to purchase copies (so proceeds can support female education in these countries), blog about it to spread the word, and rate the book on amazon.com. I think its amazing how something as far away from modern media technology as a book has transcended the norm and has grown to incorporate the growing social media and internet-dependent society we exist in.

Texting While Driving

Cell phones consume our global society and have an infinite number of benefits. They make it easy to communicate with all of our contacts and have stretching the boundaries of media technology farther than anyone in the time of Alexander Graham Bell could have imagined. Like anything else, with great innovation comes great problems. In my opinion, on of the largest problems cell phones create is a driving distraction. While most people with cell phones can be found guilty of talking while driving, the people that feel they are good enough to drive while texting (with their eyes completely glued to their phone and not the road) are putting other ,people in danger.

The point of text messaging is to deliver messages to people that are not usually considered 'important' enough to make a phone call. If the text message isn't urgent why risk the lives of you, the people in your car, and all of the other people on the road. There are so many things that distract drivers but this media frenzy is another that can be added to the list.

I'm not asking you to pledge to Oprah that you will never text while driving (or you could...)But think about it... what if you killed someone in an accident because you were texting someone something like "yo, whats going on tonight?"

The Virtual Classroom

When I tell people that I go school two days a week they assume I’m part-time. I happen to be a full time student and just squeeze all of my classes in two days so that I can continue to work on the other days. When people inquire about how I am able to do this I smile and say –online classes =]. Some people have this thing with online classes; they think I’m enrolled at the University of Phoenix Online or something (an unaccredited school that you basically purchase your “diploma” from). Some people don’t seem to understand that classes on the internet are just as challenging and important as classes that you sit in. I think this can be blamed on the generation gap between me and the people who have these comments. To some the internet is for fun and games, but to me the internet means work! I wonder if this attitude will change someday and people will give you as much “credit” for being a working student who takes online classes as someone who never has experienced an online classes. Online classes are definitely convenient but they are in no way necessarily easier than regular classes because of their nature. An essay is still an essay, a reading is still a reading, and class participation might even happen more often online than in the classroom.

Nothing in the 'fridge, guess I'll have to order take out...

Social Networking media entities like Facebook and Twitter have become so popular that they are beginning to develop their own socially acceptable rules. I was reading a girly magazine the other day and there was an article about common things that people feel the need to post on their FB/Twitter page that clearly break the laws of “we don’t care!” , “join the club,” and “too much information.” I don’t have the article on hand because I read it at the gym but it was pretty funny-and sadly very true. It gave examples of the crimes people commit like posting “There’s nothing in my fridge, settling on PB&J for lunch.” This comment of course breaks the “we don’t care!” law. Then there are other people who complain about something stupid—for lack of a better word: “Up since 5am and have so much work to do!” –“join the club” applies here. And then there are people who tell you things that you never wanted to know. Ever. For instance, why they broke up with their boyfriend, how they are officially done being sick, etc. This article was hilarious because of its content but I really do get annoyed with the minute-by-minute updates people post. I guess that’s the point of these social media sites but when one person posts so much garbage that all you see is their name and everything they’ve done in the past week on your home page-enough is enough!

Commitment Issues

I know that there are many shows on TV right now that people are addicted to. Maybe I'm just picky in terms of choosing a show to follow through its entire season. I don't think I have ever actually watched a show from its pilot episode to its season finale. Many people I talk to and most of my friends are huge fans of a show (ie Grey's, Survivor, 30 Rock)...and I like some of these shows but there is just something in me that doesn't have that TV commitment.

In an attempt to get over my commitment issues, this past week i tried to watch the first episodes of the new shows Parenthood and The Marriage Ref. I was so disappointed with the storyline of the former and the lack of humor and content of the latter that I doubt I'll watch another episode of either of these. Was anyone else disappointed with the pilots of these shows? The advertisements for them seemed funny and enticing but I was left high and dry by the end of viewing them.

Facebook's Many Faces

I logged on to facebook the other day and my homepage looked weird. Must be this whacked-out Dell that never works! So I pressed "Refresh". Nothing. "Refresh". Nothing. Aw man! They changed the layout of facebook again!? I think it looks weird and is harder to navigate. I was just getting used to the last update. Maybe I'm not a frequent-enough facebooker but I cannot seem to keep up with the changes. Everything seemed fine before, no? I understand they made additions and changes but why can't everything stay put? The original facebook was clean, simple, and easy to follow. Now you have to know what certain symbols mean (like the people, the dialog boxes, and the world in the upper left hand corner). I'm sure I'll get it all just in time for them to change it again =].

Valentine's Day

My boyfriend and I, l (and every high-schooler in America) went to see the movie Valentine's Day on Valentine's Day. I thought the movie was cute, funny, and perfect for guys and girls. This movie succeeded because it targeted young adults (especially those who were looking for something to do on V-day).

This movie was somewhat unique because its plot/name was specifically linked to its release date. The movie obviously wouldn't have done as well if it was released around Thanksgiving instead. It reminded me of the Halloween movies that are usually released the week before Halloween. (October 25, 1978 was the original release date of the first Halloween movie,-thanks IMDB.com-.)

But anyway, I was happy to see a full! movie theater -and experience the torment of wondering if the show would be sold out. I have found that movie theaters are refilling their seats again and I hope the trend continues.

Underpass Singer

This is a bit odd but--Has anyone seen/heard the BSC student that sings in the underpass that divides the campus? At the end of the day on my way home from school I usually walk past this girl singing in the echoing tunnel that divides the campus.

HER VOICE IS AMAZING.

Maybe she is waiting to be discovered? My first thought when I heard her was that she should try out for American Idol. It's funny how I so quickly related the sight and sound of this stranger to a media outlet. It's like my brain is hardwired to translate everyday occurrences into media-related terms.

In case you were wondering, this is how the future will look (According to Microsoft)

Microsoft's Vision for 2019

My boyfriend is doing a case study for one of his business classes on Microsoft's vision for the year 2019. Not surprisingly, according to this projection, media will be even more a part of our lives in the future than it is right now. This video suggets that Microsoft is confident that in only nine short years most of the items we use will be digitalized and touched screen. In my opinion the most amazing innovation in the video is the digital card that loads a person’s credit cards, library cards, membership cards, boarding passes etc. This will cut down on the number of items we will have to carry in our purses/wallets.

It's amazing how technologies that once seemed so far-fetched are now coming to fruition.

Computer Genius or Regular 6 Year Old?

Today at work (I'm a nanny) the six year old girl I watch asked me if she could go on the computer. I said yes but figured I'd watch her to see what she could possibly do on the Internet. Much to my surprise the six year old had a better handle on navigating the Internet than some of the adults I know. She wanted to hear songs, and knew how to get to her parents' itunes. She wanted to watch a video and new how to get to youtube.com. She wanted to play a game and knew exactly which websites to find them at. I was highly impressed with her ability to effectively use her computer. I have heard the saying that kids know more about *turning on the TV* *using the computer* *using a cell phone* etc., but I couldn't believe that this little girl had such a handle on her source of media.

“I am sometimes a fox and sometimes a lion. The whole secret of government lies in knowing when to be the one or the other.”- Napoleon Bonaparte

All this Discussion Board talk about FOX News got me revved up!
Before I continue I would like to explain my opinion on the matter. Then, of course, I will start rambling.

I consider myself “fair and balanced” (pun intended). I honestly can say I am neither left nor right on the political spectrum. I’m like the flag that is tied to the middle of the rope in a schoolyard game of “tug of war.”

Now on to the rambling:
Just for the heck of it, I decided to dictionary.com “fox.” I know what a fox is and I know what it means to call someone a ‘fox.’ Definition #3 says “a cunning or crafty person.” Hmm. I wonder if Rupert Murdoch dictionary.com-ed “fox” before he chose the word to represent the integrity of his “fair and balanced” news station.

I’m not saying that FOX is the only news station with an outlandish political slant [they all do]. I’m just saying it’s the only one with an ironic name.

One thing that bothers me when the FOX News conversation arises is the stubbornness of people on both sides of the issues. Some people feel whole-heartedly that FOX News is legitimate and that it is not capable of broadcasting slanted journalism. Other people feel whole-heartedly that FOX News is illegitimate and unfairly distributing skewed information. Perhaps the truth lies in a mix of both? And in the realization that FOX is not the only guilty party in the world of news stations.

53 Hours a Week- That's a Full Time Job

I read an article (http://news.cnet.com/8301-19518_3-10438088-238.html) recently about the new numbers of how much TV kids watch and how much time is spent using other forms of modern media-computers, cellphones, etc. I knew the numbers where high, but not this high. The article says that "8- to 18-year-olds "devote an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes to using entertainment media across a typical day." That adds up to more than 53 hours a week." The last time I checked, that's a regular week of full-time employment, plus a few hours over-time pay!

Now I'm not suggesting the eight-year old kids in this study should go out and find jobs, but WOW, that's a lot of media!

If instead of :

tagging their friends on facebook
TIVO-ing an episode of Desperate Housewives, or
texting their friends that are in the same room as them,

kids were slightly physically active, it would probably make a dent in the obesity epidemic or increased rates of juvenile diabetes.

I don't mean to sound like a "Debbie" [Downer, from SNLhttp://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/clips/debbie_downer_thanksgiving_dinner/1179439], but in some ways, media does more harm than good.

Political Media

Media is [more than] a major component of the average American's day-to-day life. This 'fact' is hard to dispute. However, recently I have come to realize how much of a role the media plays in internal politics. Anyone would agree that the media has positively and negatively influenced people- from pressuring girls to want to be skinny and guys to be built, to empowering people to get off the couch and call ITT Tech- but I feel that the media's higher power exists in the way that it influences the American public, voters, in political matters.

The commercials, or should I say the montage infomercials, that have been suffocating my television screen for the past month about the race for the Senate seat are a great example of the power that media has. Between Scott Brown's "I drive a truck" commercials and Martha Coakley's "but is his truck going in reverse?" commercials, it is clear to me that the media has too heavy a hand in important political decisions. In other words, in a [sad] world where people depend solely on the television and political commercials for their voting information, a good commercial could literally change the political path of a country. Call me crazy but I propose that political commercials should be outlawed during elections. The only purpose political coracles fill is to slant the opponents perspective, name bash, and misinform. I do not recall one Senate race commercial in the past month that supplied the audience with cold hard facts about the issues that matter most to the state of Massachusetts.

I happened to like the neighborhood Coakley used to film her commercials in. I live in it.
I also happen to dislike trucks.

Does this mean I should vote for the commercial I like better?
No.
But I do believe that, consciously or subconsciously, people do vote for the guy with the same truck as them and for the woman who lives down the street.

Effective media can change the political direction of a state, and in the case of this week's Senatorial race, can change the political direction of an entire country.