Closing out a long week...

No great strides in my journey this week, I am sad to say. Though, that may not be all together true. Yes, my journey is primarily one of weight loss, but I have forgotten, it is also about being happy and healthy… that is not merely weight loss. So, in that respect, I have actually done quite well this week, today being especially good. Work has been pretty slow, but, I am still bringing money home. I am definitely working tomorrow, but not sure about Saturday. I admit that I would love to have the weekend off to recuperate. I am getting used to having to be at work and on the road as much as I am. It’s a bit of a drive from my house to work, so I lose about 1.5 to 2 hours driving a day, depending on traffic.

But, even though I have not been the success at the gym that I have wanted to be, as of yet, I have been able to maintain the initial weight loss. I remain at 447 and have not gained or loss since that weigh in. I have been sticking to my “diet” (I hate using that word, but it is what most people tend to use, common nomenclature and all) and drinking massive amounts of water. I suppose that has been a help. I do need to get back on track with taking my vitamins and supplements, I really slacked off on that and I am really disappointed with myself about that. Tomorrow, I will start anew with the pills. I have also come to the conclusion that my all or nothing attitude has to be adjusted a bit when it comes to the gym, at least for now anyway. I had fully intended on working out 6 days a week with one day off… well, my spirit is certainly willing, but, my body is saying “oh… no, no, no…” And rightfully so, I mean really, you can’t abuse your body for so many years and then expect it to play ball when you come to your senses!

I am now going to work out every other day, no matter what. Starting either Tomorrow or Saturday. I am still a little on the sore side from earlier this week, and I think one more day of rest will prepare me for my return. I totally enjoy going and doing what I have to at the gym, I just need to convince my body that it is okay! I was happy to see that my blog has found its way, with no assistance from me, to other blog sites on the web. I don’t know how it is being found, but I am glad it is getting out there all the same. I would, however, welcome any and all suggestions on how I can better promote this blog and get more eyes to see it. I have tried a few things to no real avail except the one post in December when I had my record of 500 plus hits in one day. I have to say that I was a bit spoiled by that day, and have felt that my meager 15 to 30 hits on any given day is not so great, lol.

Once again, I am thinking seriously of pursuing a career in writing. I have been told by many, including a few people who I value their opinions very highly, that I should find a way to write for a living. I have been posting some articles on eHow.com and have really enjoyed that. I am looking for some opportunities to contribute to a few local publications if I can, even for free at first. I will be reviewing and writing a piece on the band “Particle Effect” after their show that is coming up in February. Info as follows: (Particle Effects is the band, and they will be kicking off open mic at Yeoman’s Road on Davis Island. 10pm Tuesday night on February 9th. at 236 Davis Blvd. Tampa FL. 33606. Mapquest it or GPS it. Come on out and support them, then hang out with them after the show.) One of the band members is a dear friend and former band mate of mine, Christian F. Rivas. I look forward to the opportunity to see them live for the first time, and to write what very well may be their first review. I will try to be as objective as possible, though, my bias may play into it a little. I am sure that it will be a great show! I am also still putting together some ideas for a book, I have a few working titles, but, I am going to leave the title until I am further into the creation of the actual main body.

Well, it is that time… I am tired and have a probable long day ahead of me tomorrow at the club. Please let me know what you are thinking and any of the aforementioned suggestions and/or comments are greatly appreciated!

Thanks to all of you for your continued love and support.

As always, take care and remember…

Every day is a chance to turn it all around!

- Kenny

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[Via http://kennyislosingit.wordpress.com]

Modern Technology Owes Ecology An Apology

Oh, people in the 21st century…(sigh). Anything anybody’s interested in these days are the new “pea pods” or “tea books”. Now, many a “mature” being may have come across these grammatical mishaps given to the fact that they still probably think Lincoln is in office. Well, as these oldies resist, the younglings are practically more than welcoming. As I have just learned, from personal experience, these younger generations have become frighteningly dependent on these great technological feats, spending hours on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc. Seeming to have some kind of hypnotizing component to it, technology is anything anybody cares about nowadays. What happened to curling up with a good ole book without a glaring light projecting from a digitally processed page? Or actually writing a letter and taking the time to send it, postage stamp and all instead of typing it up and sending it off in a matter of seconds?

Yesterday, because of complications with my WiFi network, I could not access the internet on my laptop. My frustration turned into hysteria which turned into me crying over not being able to check my Facebook page. Oh. My. God. I felt so incredibly silly afterwards, recounting my rant on how important it was that I check up on my page right that second. Not to mention that I had an audience as well, equipped with friends and family.

I suppose the “moral” of the story is that maybe one of these days you should trade up that eBook for an original (antique) copy of The Grapes of Wrath or that email for a piece of looseleaf and a pen. Bring yourself back down to earth, buy that horse and not that Prius.

“Western society has accepted as unquestionable a technological imperative that is quite as arbitrary as the most primitive taboo:  not merely the duty to foster invention and constantly to create technological novelties, but equally the duty to surrender to these novelties unconditionally, just because they are offered, without respect to their human consequences.”  ~Lewis Mumford

[Via http://aquavitae358.wordpress.com]

Twitter: Slightly less worthless now

If you don’t own stake in a tech company, work in media or live close to a downtown metropolitan area, you are excused from thinking that Twitter is an over-hyped leftover curiosity from the now retreating mobile phone Short Message System era. Seriously, what the hell is the point of “tweeting” text when you are no longer bound by SMS’s arbitrary character limit or lack of graphics? Anyone with a slightly smart phone (soon to be just about everyone) has access to MMS or robust social media applications.

I stopped using Twitter for anything in October after Facebook did some heavy updates to its Blackberry application, eliminating my desire to use the lightweight Twitter app for quick Facebook updates. Despite some excellent content finally appearing on the service (Fake AP Stylebook, Shit My Dad Says and Time Lost Batman), I was done with the whole concept. I uninstalled the Twitter app from my Facebook account, locked down the Twitter account and walked away. The only thing that has been appearing on my Twitter feed since then are the update notices sent out by this WordPress blog.

However, as I’ve been helping The Redhead update her blog and Etsy store over the last two days, I’ve reluctantly returned to Twitter to see how it has changed. Overall, it’s slightly less worthless than it used to be. Site performance has definitely improved, although it is after the holidays. I like the retweet button, the local trending topic sidebar and the lists function…but where the hell are simple things like Twitpic integration?

Facebook made massive design and privacy changes to its site to head off the slightest advantage that Twitter might gain from its freewheeling, open-door nature, but Twitter has done little to integrate the Frankenstein’s monster of off-site services that make its system even remotely competitive. Where can I find a comprehensive list of popular off site Twitter apps? How about an automatically scrolling list of tweets, saving me from having to refresh the static site for the latest? This is basic, basic stuff that hundreds of other web noodlers and ne’er-do-wells have cobbled together over the last few months, but they are not reflected in Twitter’s web site, the first place people go when their friends finally harass them into using the service.

[Via http://fuzzybuzz.wordpress.com]

Facebook Note from Sarah Palin on Women's Rights

From Sarah Palin’s Facebook Notes:

Women’s Rights Groups: Your Double Standard is Showing Women’s Rights groups, like NOW, commendably call out advertisers and networks for airing sexist and demeaning portrayals of women that lead to young women’s diminished self-esteem and acceptance of roles as mere sexed-up objects.

What a ridiculous situation they’re getting themselves into now with their protest of CBS airing a pro-life ad during the upcoming Super Bowl game. The ad will feature Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow and his mom, and they’ll speak to the sanctity of life and the beautiful potential within every innocent child as Mrs. Tebow acknowledges her choice to give Tim life, despite less than ideal circumstances. Messages like this empower women! This speaks to the strength and commitment and nurturing spirit within women. The message says everything positive and nothing negative about the power of women – and life. Evidently, some women’s rights groups like NOW do not like that message.

NOW is looking at the pro-life issue backwards. Women should be reminded that they are strong enough and smart enough to make decisions that allow for career and educational opportunities while still giving their babies a chance at life. In my own home, my daughter Bristol has also been challenged by pro-abortion “women’s rights” groups who don’t agree with her decision to have her baby, nor do they like the abstinence message which she articulated as her personal commitment. NOW could gain ground and credibility with everyday Americans, thus allowing their pro-women message to be heard by more than just their ardent supporters, if they made wiser decisions regarding which battles to pick. They should call attention to and embrace the Tebow’s message, instead of covertly and overtly disrespecting what Mrs. Tebow, Bristol, and millions of other women have chosen to do (in less than ideal circumstances).

My message to these groups who are inexplicably offended by a pro-woman, pro-child, pro-life message airing during the Super Bowl: please concentrate on empowering women, help with efforts to prevent unexpected pregnancies, stay consistent with your message that for too long women have been made to feel like sex objects in our “modern” culture and that we can expect better in 2010. But don’t let your double standard glare so vividly as to undo some of the good to which you could contribute.

And CBS: just do the right thing. Don’t cave. Have the backbone to run the ad.

To the Tebows: thank you. America is listening. We appreciate you.

- Sarah Palin

[Via http://themoveright.com]

Pizza Hut's Intestinal Warfare

If you’ve ever heard me on the subject of Pizza Hut, it all boils down to this…  Pizza Hut = Gastrointestinal Distress.  I have no idea why.  I’ve heard the same thing from many other people when the subject is raised.  I know I’ve gotten into it on facebook not too long ago too.  I enjoy plenty of other pizzas from other chains & from the local shops, all with no digestional discomfort.

I wrote to Pizza Hut a long time ago… and this is all I had to say…

Hello Fine Friends at Pizza Hut,

Contrary to the belief held by your delicious pizzas, my intestines are not a waterslide.  Can you please instruct the   to not use my digestive system as a waterslide park?  It would be very much appreciated!

Gotta go!

-ERiC AiXeLsyD

world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com

Well, their answers back then were quite dissatisfying, and when I contacted them again via snail mail, my query went wholly unanswered.

Perhaps that’s why I waged another campaign of emails with a vengeance.  I looked up several Pizza Hut and Yum! Brands executives online, found the syntaxt of their respective companies’ email addresses, and fired off a few notes… as well as filled out the webform once or twice or so.

from ERiC AiXeLsyD world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com

to Scott.Bergren@yum.com

date Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 8:28 AM

subject Intestinal Warfare?

mailed-by gmail.com

Hello,

This isn’t about a specific incident, but a general observation.  There was nowhere in the webform to indicate that, so I had to seek out some email addresses. I find it quite rude that there’s no general inquiry area, or a contact email address.

As for the purpose of my missive…

I would like to know why your pizza treats my intestines like a water park.  Every time I enjoy your delicious slices of pie, I feel like I have swallowed a hurricane that’s trying to escape via my …well, I’ll leave that to your imagination.

I can assure you that I’m not lactose intolerant, but perhaps I’m allergic to something in your sauce or pie?  I don’t seem to have this problem with any other pizza places… chains or local.

Have any other customers written to you regarding gastrointestinal distress of any sort?  My cousin who works in a Pizza Hut in Ohio swears that they use a different sauce there, devoid of the same effects.

Thanks for your time!

-ERiC

The email address experiment seemed to be to no avail.  I’ve either been blocked by IT, spam filters, or wholly ignored.  But, it looks like I did get a bite off of the webform…

from Dave Kronenwetter Davekronenwetter@aurorahuts.com

to world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com

cc Ed Holt edholt@aurorahuts.com

date Thu, Jan 21, 2010 at 9:16 AM

subject Pizza Hut Incident Eric Aixelsyd

mailed-by aurorahuts.com

Dear Mr. Aixelsyd,

I was sorry to hear about your experience at the local Pizza Hut. Let me assure you that the ingredients used here in Pennsylvania are the same quality ingredients that are used throughout the country. In most cases our ingredients come from the same suppliers. The following website lists possible allergen & sensitive ingredients : http://www.pizzahut.com/Files/pdf/Updated%20PH%20Allergen%20List%2004.17.09.pdf This website includes our nutritional information: http://www.pizzahut.com/Files/PDF/Pizza%20Hut%20Nutrition%20Info%2010.12.09.pdf. Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions you may have and I will handle them personally

Sincerely,

Dave Kronenwetter

Area Coach

Aurora Huts LLC

412-897-6775

davekronenwetter@aurorahuts.com

Interesting.  Well, at least now I have two good contacts… but perhaps my query will take a more serous and inquisitive turn.

Upon viewing the interesting pdf linked to by Mr. Kronenwetter, I see that a bunch of items there are marked “prepared in common equipment and therefore may contain allergens” in the shellfish column.  I’m not sure exactly why this is, because I don’t recall any shellfish on the Pizza Hut menu, and especially since the items marked are oddly random and specific…  Garlic Parmesan wings, and no others… three different pizza sauces… 3 of the 4 Tuscani pastas, and breadsticks.

I can only assume that these things arrive at Pizza Hut pre-made, and may come into contact with potential allergens at the manufacturing/processing/packaging facility?  Oh well, perhaps I can figure out a way to address this in a goofy manner, yet still yield some positive and enlightening results.  I know that many people suffer from the pizza hut digestion demon, and I really hope it’s not just some sanitary/kitchen issues.

Perhaps this too must move into snail mail territory.  For some reason, most companies seem to treat a real live letter with more respect than an email.

I thought of Yum! Brands today as we watched Spaceballs…  In the characters Kernel Sandurz and Pizza the Hutt – both now Yum! Brands brands.  Would it be wrong of me to write to them and tell them that Mel Brooks is working on a new special edition of Spaceballs with more scenes, digitally inserted characters and creatures, and better re-vamped special effects… and that they’d like to include more Yum! Brands characters… like Captain Long John Silver and Taco Bell, and some droid sidekicks, A & W?

[Via http://aixelsyd13.wordpress.com]

Cut to the Heart

Acts 2:36-38 (ESV)

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

—–

In our immediate context, verse 36 is the summary of Acts 2:14-35. Peter is proclaiming to an audience of Jews (see 2:5)  that Jesus is in fact the Messiah, that He is not dead but resurrected and living, and that they did not embrace him but rather crucified him. Peter quotes from the Old Testament proofs regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit and resurrection. The Jews were cut to the heart by the Word of God and Peter’s apostolic testimony, knowing they were guilty and had greatly sinned against God. In a state of desperation cried out and exclaimed, “Brothers, what shall we do?” The first word of Peter’s reply?

Repent.

There are times when, as in Acts 2:37, God’s truth “cuts to the heart.” Your conscience informs you that immediate and desperate action must occur to remove sin that the Holy Spirit has shone His pure and holy light on. This is what happened to me tonight. Thanks to James Miller at my church, One Hope, for speaking the truth boldly and with humility from 1 John 1:5-2:1.

By the time you see this posted to Facebook, I will have begun a Facebook fast that will last until May 1st. God has led me in this direction for several weeks, and only finally tonight God grant the necessary brokenness to proceed. Here are the three reasons why this fast is taking place in order of significance.

1) Purity. As a man called to shine as light into a dark world, I must be vigilant keeping my eyes away from impure images. I have not more than once looked longer than I should have at a picture – be it an ad or posted by a friend – which have led to impure thoughts. I would cover up these transgressions against God by saying that these sins were not as bad as the ones I used to commit while lost/a new believer; a little linger of the eyes here or there is OK. Jesus had a much different answer to dealing with sins committed with our eyes. He said:

Mark 9:47-48 “And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ “

The application for me as a believer is not that I am going to hell, but that sin is so great of an offense against God that it must be eradicated at any cost. All sin is an offense to God because He is pure and holy. When I think a sin is not so bad in God’s eyes, I have actually replaced the true God with a false god that will let me hold on to “lesser” sins. When this happens, and are aware of it, a huge shift in thinking (repentance) must take place. A lie has been believed for far too long if it starts to resemble truth!!

2) Self-glorification. There is no greater sin than that of pride. True believers must fight against this sin. Here is another area where I have let down my guard and sinned against God. I can’t give you an actual comparison of time, but I am sure that I have spent more time thinking about my status, exalting myself when people write what I like, and making sure my Facebook profile represented who I am to the world than crying out before God in prayer. Lecrae in his song “Go Hard” puts it this way:

Aw mayne we ain’t focused on the war / We just kickin’ it

Worried bout our image / And our space up on the Internet

One would be foolish to think that something that inhibits a major activity like prayer, something Jesus did constantly and urged his disciples to do often, is worth holding onto.

3) Wasting time/idling. Christians are to redeem the time given to them to honor the Lord as the days we live in are evil (Ephesians 5:16, Colossians 4:5). This sin is closely related to #2 due to the amount of time it takes to make my representation of my life as correct as possible. There is a tract about the cross that God has put on my heart to write way back in April 2009. It’s now January 2010. What happened? Satan is so deceptive.

—–

Therefore, I will be zealous and repent, like Jesus told the church in Laodicea to do in Revelation 3:19. I do not know what will happen on May 1st. Jesus may have come back by then! I hope to be purer of eye, more humbled before the Lord, and a better steward of my time. I may be a little more excited by this than I should be.

Well, that’s all for now, early morning ahead! Comments, as always, are welcome. If there are grammatical errors, please let me know – they tend to frequent these late night blog posts.

[Via http://repentandbelieve.wordpress.com]

How to Un-Share your E-mail Address with Pet Society

Did you have trigger-finger and clicked yes to this message without reading it?

If so, there’s a way to undo the damage. Go to the “Settings” link on the top right of Facebook. Click “Application Settings.”

Then find Pet Society in the list. Click “Edit Settings.”

Click on the “Additional Permissions” tab. Uncheck the box next to “Receive updates to my Facebook contact email address.”

It also looks like you can unsubscribe from any e-mails sent by Pet Society. While you’re at it, you may as uncheck the box, “Publish to streams.” This will prevent the application from blasting all your friends with constant reports of “Melody is now playing with her pet Muffintop in Pet Society.” No one needs to know about your game addiction, riiiight?

[Via http://petsocietyanonymous.com]

Fakta Website bagi Negara kita - Malaysia

Saya terjumpa suatu ranking yang menyatakan bahawa Facebook telah memenangi hati Rakyat Malaysia? Kenapa? Saya discovered yang Facebook.com menduduki ranking pertama dalam Alexa!

OpppS! Apa itu Alexa? Saya akan cerita dekat anda semua, jangan risau. “Alexa Internet, Inc. is a California based subsidiary company of Amazon.com that is known for its toolbar and website. Once installed, the toolbar collects data on browsing behavior which is transmitted to the website where it is stored and analyzed and is the basis for the company’s web traffic reporting.” Itu merupakan petikan dari wikipedia untuk syarikat Alexa itu sendiri. Ini bermakna, Alexa merupakan anak buah syarikat Amazon.com, syarikat retailer online besar di internet.

Dari statistik itu juga, saya lihat bahawa google.com.my – iaitu Google Malaysia dapat tempat kedua. Betapa besarnya Kuasa Google dalam internet di Malaysia..

Diekori oleh Yahoo! di tempat ketiga. Bagaimana dengan anda? Adakah ketiga-tiga laman web ini laman web paling banyak anda lawat sepanjang surfing internet? Kalau tiada, kita teruskan lagi carta kita dengan tangga keempat.

Juga Google, tapi google.com.. Fuuhh.. Betapa kuatnya influence google dalam Masyarakat Dunia. Untuk pengetahuan anda juga, mereka mendapat tempat pertama dalam ranking worldwide, juga di Alexa. Huhu. Kuat sungguh penangan Google ke atas kita. Sedikit info mengenai Google, pencipta mereka mencipta Google di bangku universiti. Dua orang muda ini ialah Larry Page dan Sergey Brin. Mereka telah menjadikan Google sebagai most powerful brand in the world. Moto mereka pula ialah “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”

Untuk lebih info mengenai ranking alexa untuk top sites in Malaysia, sila klik link berikut – http://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/MY

Sumber rujukan -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexa_Internet

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google

[Via http://immia.wordpress.com]

Where does one draw the line on social networks?

First:  I’m upset about Clemson’s ridiculous loss to Georgia Tech tonight – two sloppy performances, and we ended up on the losing end.  ‘Nuff said.

My question tonight is:  where do you cross the line w/respect to “friending” or “following” when it comes to business contacts? 

I’ll admit, I was really urked when my boss “friended” me on Facebook.  I felt backed into a corner… I couldn’t NOT accept him, for fear of retribution, but I really didn’t want to let him into my personal world, which Facebook represents for me.  Since then, several vendor contacts have requested to be my friend on Facebook.  Again, I like many of my vendor contacts, but I don’t feel the need to let them into that personal aspect of my life.  But, again…do I feel that I can “ignore” them, without hurting the relationships?  No. 

What’s your take on the protocol for “friending” or “following” WRT business contacts?  Please leave your comments, b/c I’m really curious.

[Via http://kerbehr.wordpress.com]

Meetup Rules: Taking Away the Social Video Fear Factor

Less than two weeks ago, Team Vpype created “Social Video” group on Meetup. Last week, we invited social video enthusiasts, Vpype early beta users and fans on Facebook to our first Meetup in Santa Clara, California at Techmart. The attendance was more than we expected. People came from all over the Bay area (Silicon Valley). Everyone got a chance to test Vpype’s live, video broadcasting capability and learn more about the company and our unique position in the social media /social video space.

For us, the Meetup gave us more insight into how our newest broadcasters will use Vpype to connect with their friends and family, and promote their businesses, events, expertise and opinions.

We had experts at the Meetup, who talked about the Social Video market and where we fit, and how we are different. Vpype Product Manager gave a tutorial on how easy it is to use Vpype. Computers (Windows laptops and netbooks and Macs) were set up with Wi-fi access with optional coaches (if needed) so that everyone could try a live, interactive broadcast during the Meetup.

We covered how to practice live broadcasting with only “you” as the starring broadcaster. We also disclosed a bit of information about our future and more about Vpype Live Broadcaster options, including future ones.

Our attendees were enthusiastic about the forming their own social video community. They finally have a social networking environment that allows them to do more with their computers’ built-in microphones and webcams.

To learn more about Vpype Live Broadcaster, click here; and to get on the list for future Vpype Meetups, please visit us on Meetup (http://www.meetup.com/social-video)

[Via http://socialvideoceo.com]

Coming of Age – Generation Next

5/13/08

Have you ever woken up and come to the realization that your generation is, well just is? For the last month I have been more perceptive to my online and television surroundings and have come to find that Generation Next is all over the place. We have become of age, many of us our in our late twenties early thirties. We are no longer the Next Generation but the Now Generation. In a 2005 article Newsweek called us baby boomers with MBA’s.

Growing up we saw older generations taking charge in politics, broadcast & cable news, entertainment and so on. However, with today’s growing age of cheap and shelf producing web entertainment, Generation Next Now has over come any ageism and created a new world of media.

The creation of podcast, blogs and vlogs has provided our generation an outlet that other generations at our age were never able to experience. After the start-up debacle you would have thought our generation would have stepped away from the information technology highway and walked down the road of safe and secure corporate America, like our parents and their parent before them. Not our generation, instead we stopped reassessed and tried again; we shall not be beaten or discouraged.

Self expression has seemed to follow our generation since childhood. Different styles, different views and a wide verity of ideas pouring from us. Instead of waiting until we grew up, we begin to express ourselves like our parents had in the 60’s. Our roll models were those who stood up for what they believed in, they protested the Vietnam War, they volunteered for political candidates and created a decade that will always be remembered. As the children of baby boomer’s it seems we are following in our parents footsteps.

With the war in the Middle East (Vietnam), the increasing gas prices (70’s gas crises) and job opportunities scarce, Generation Now has found a way to create and maintain their own road to success.  The creation of new job titles, becoming a consultant right out of college, contributing commentators on cable news and CEOs of online companies is the world Generation Now has created for themselves. As our parents sit in their corporate offices amazed by the generation proceeding Generation X, the baby boomers second set of children seem to be making their way in the world.

What will come next for Generation Now? With the increase popularity of vlogs, webtv, online business opportunities and the continue growth and determination of the generation, anything could happen. Generation Now has proven to be fighters and survivors in a world of countless change. With the creations of Napster, Myspace, Facebook and youtube this generation will continue to amaze and bring to light new media outlets that will not just entertain but possibly change the world of politics, higher education and countless avenues that haven’t even been discovered yet.

[Via http://buzwriter.wordpress.com]

Monday Fuck #1

Fuck Nina Simone. Fuck white collar crime. Fuck Iraq. Fuck animation. Fuck politics. Fuck 1991. Fuck Mafia Wars. Fuck the FBI. Fuck wizards. Fuck cocaine. Fuck fucking. Fuck Nosepass. Fuck cookies. Fuck 1,2,3,4. Fuck fedoras. Fuck love. Fuck Brooklyn. Fuck Aunt Suzie. Fuck wordpress. Fuck advertising. Fuck lemons. Fuck the ctrl key. Fuck poorley written fanfiction. Fuck Kathy Selden. Fuck life as we know it. Fuck my mother. Fuck honesty. Fuck condoms. Fuck rent boys. Fuck religion. Fuck 4am. Fuck sleeping.

Fuck everything.

[Via http://fuckthefollowing.wordpress.com]

When Your Cell Phone Dies...

You never realize how much you depend on those silly things until they don’t work. Actually mine isn’t dead. My cell provider is “experiencing an outage in my area.” The chat representative online can’t tell me when service will be restored either.

I’m not really complaining. I don’t mind how quiet it gets at home sometimes. The kids are old enough now to keep themselves occupied during the evening hours  if they’re home, and quite frankly, I feel a little less “needed” as they’ve grown. I’ve encouraged their independence; so if anyone is to blame in all of that, it’s me. I never wanted my children to grow up feeling as if they had to depend on another person to help them make their way in life. The only person we should ever truly be dependent on is Jesus.

So, why is it that now when my phone is on the fritz that I’m feeling a little more isolated than normal?

I have plenty to do. Between getting started on Etsy (announcement coming later this month), crocheting, writing freelance for a couple of websites, working full-time, being a mom & a wife…well, you’d think I’d feel plenty needed & I’d crave more isolation just to keep some of the chaos at bay. I guess most of the time I do crave that isolation and feel comfortable with the silence – or just the background noise of a movie I’ve seen more times than I care to count (The Mummy Returns is currently playing on my DVR.)

Mostly what’s bothering me tonight is the feeling that if I wanted to communicate with someone, my options are limited. Can’t find the home phone - again – we keep losing it since no one ever calls the plain old landline anymore – and since we lost it, the battery is shot & I can’t even page it. I don’t chat much online either. Something about all that typing & waiting to get a response makes it feel too stilted to me. I know my kids are much more comfortable with electronic “talk” than I am, so they think it’s silly to actually use a phone for talking…I’m so last week – or maybe last century – as my daughter would tell me.

So, I sit in the silence & wait for the service to come back on. Maybe I’ll go to bed early. Maybe I’ll check out Facebook.

Maybe I’ll just wait for the phone to ring.

[Via http://sandrascrochetcrafts.wordpress.com]

Cranking on the old table saw

Santiago Miguel Wallace | Create Your Badge

Got the painting complete….still have to assemble and construct more frames.

Done with this round of constructed and painted hive bodies

[Via http://wallacefamilyapiary.wordpress.com]

Unique Promotional Offer - 10% off with Facebook Screenshot

We’re looking for help to get as many people as possible exposed to our new line of commercials.  If you’re reading this than I’m guessing you’ve already seen them.  We’re hoping to get our name out there and get some greater awareness of what we offer.  With as much help as we can muster we are hoping the videos go viral and people who have never been to BKB get some idea of what we’re all about.  To encourage this we have come up with a unique promotional offer.  Simply post the video on your Facebook status and printout a screen shot.  Come in to BKB anytime with that printout/coupon and receive 10% off any purchase.  Hopefully our loyal customers and supporters will help out and we can get as many eyes on the videos as possible.  Hope you enjoyed the videos and stay tuned for more recipe video clips coming.  Subscribe to our channel and receive email notification anytime a new video is posted.

[Via http://bkbrino.wordpress.com]

Facebook Resources

As is the norm for academic research on novel technologies and phenomena, it seemed like we waited ages for quality research about Facebook using user-generated data instead of self-reported usage data. I was recently steered toward two sites that may be useful for staying informed about the latest trends and data analysis using Facebook:

Facebook Data Team, a group of researchers at Facebook who handle the collection, management, and analysis of Facebook data

Overstated, a blog by Cameron Marlow, an in-house researcher at Facebook whose research focuses on “various aspects of online communities including the diffusion of information across online social networks, access to information and social capital, and the incentives that impact social media production.”

These sites might generate interesting new ideas and reveal relevant trends that could improve our exploration of the effects of Facebook on political behavior and the transmission of political information. For example, it seems that there was a trend among Facebook users who supported the idea of health care reform to post a very specific status message this fall, leading to a sharp increase in the use of the word “health care” in status messages (much beyond the increase observed during the 2008 election.

[Via http://humannaturegroup.wordpress.com]

winter is long

So yeah, here is that ”longer blog post” I referred to in yesterday’s “welcome to my new blog crib” post   And rumor has it there may be other bloggy peeps looking to make a blog software switcharoo and join me here…ahhh once again, I am a trendsetter

So first off, how about those Jets?  Wasn’t sure how their chances would be yesterday, as I’m sure the Bengals gave them last Sunday’s game just so they could choose their first-round opponent, so to say.  And there was some sloppy playing yesterday, but it all came together in the end.  (And I just also have to mention that Mark Sanchez is good eye candy )  So they take on San Diego next week…can they repeat the magic?

And now that the new year has started…yeah winter really seems long…everything seems long(er).  Last week was the first 5-day week I worked in awhile and it just killed me   Well not really.  Though of course, the week cannot pass by without incident…well, besides being in an all-day training session for an online reporting tool and feeling so unproductive for one day, there’s a quasi-crisis on one project (thankfully was not my fault, and did not get fingers unfairly pointed at me!) and then I had to save someone else’s ass, who doesn’t follow directions when being told “re-map yourself to the new shared drive and don’t use the old one.”  Friday couldn’t come soon enough…

And on that running thang, I got my new orthotics in and have started breaking ‘em in…not sure if they are drastically different from my old ones, but they do feel good and seem to be better made.  And my PT is starting to kick my ass-literally-with squats and lunges…I think I am gonna have a chronically sore butt for the next few weeks

And a topic that I’ve mentioned briefly before, but just feel like raising the question again…what is the etiquette on family members being friends/keeping in touch with ex-boyfriends?  Like do I have any reason to feel bothered by the fact that my ex-boyfriend (who I havent spoken to in forever) is Facebook friends with my brother and I see him posting comments on my brother’s status?  (I give it 2 weeks before he friends both my parents…)

The weather is supposed to get into the 30s this week!!  Break out the running shorts…

[Via http://nyflygirl.wordpress.com]

News Roundup: One Tree Hill, 90210, The O.C. and More

• TVByTheNumbers.com is speculating which CW shows will be renewed next year. Stay tuned for my own take in a few days.
• Bethany Joy Galeotti (Haley, One Tree Hill) confirmed that she is now on Facebook.
• Elizabeth Harnois (Shelley, One Tree Hill) is one of the stars of Miami Medical, a new show starting in April on CBS.
• AnnaLynne McCord (Naomi, 90210) is starring in the film Gun, alongside 50 Cent.
• Beverly Hills 90210 is mentioned in this article on The Simpsons celebrating their 450th episode.
• Southland, starring Benjamin McKenzie (Ryan, The O.C.) and Michael Cudlitz (Tony, Beverly Hills 90210) has its TNT premiere Tuesday night.
• Both Kerr Smith (Jack, Dawson’s Creek) and DC get cute mentions in this article on Life Unexpected.
• James Van Der Beek (Dawson, Dawson’s Creek) will be on at least eight episodes of Mercy beginning January 27, which also stars Michelle Trachtenberg (Georgina, Gossip Girl).

[Via http://teendramawhore.com]

Refreshingly Fun: What we've been doing with Pepsi

You’ve probably seen the billboards and bus ads by now, but in case you weren’t aware, we recently launched the digital side of Pepsi’s new Hit Refresh campaign. MTV are pushing it on television, we’re running it here on the ‘net.

It’s pretty cool, a mash-up of Pepsi re-inventing their image and placing a huge focus on digital marketing the combination of which turned into a Twitter based scavenger hunt, with the prizes coming in the form of cold hard cash. Well, not cash so much as 101 slick little EFTPOS cards loaded up with $250 each.

A brief run down: the refreshment company employees (known as Pepsi Refreshers) make their way out into the world, choose an obscure location in a well populated Australian city, and then start tweeting out clues about where they are from the Pepsi Australia Twitter page. We’ve rigged it so that game playing, money lusting, Pepsi fans can also catch these updates on the Facebook Page, or at the Hit Refresh site, in order to more effectively race each other to the prize.

This is excellent because the entire thing can essentially be run from a smartphone, an easy thing for a Pepsi Refresher to have on them at all times. Plus, the players themselves aren’t tied into any particular service in order to keep up with the clues. It’s infectious, interactive, and incredibly efficient – social media at its best, really.

Creative mastermind Toby Caves really took advantage of the fact that APIs and widgets basically rule the internet now, and the main campaign site grew into a deliciously crafted overview of everything that’s happened, and is happening in the competition at any given time.

The latest clues are fed in from the Twitter page, Facebook fans are prominently displayed, a schedule and Google powered map let people know which cities the Refreshers are going to pop up in next and the Winners Gallery shows off all those lucky sods with their fancy new free money cards. It’s all ruled over by an explanatory Flash header, and coated in a vibrant blue that only exists between shades of Pepsi and Twitter.

Speaking of those cards, we feel like they’re a bit of a win. Based on the global Refresh campaign posters and candy colour palette, they seem a bit more recognisable and fun than straight up cash in your hand while still being just as usable.

Stamped with the new Pepsi globe logo, we’ve also slapped some helpful thematic suggestions for spending the well won dollars. Things like style, scene, and so on – after all, if you win a prize you shouldn’t be using it to pay your bills (unless you really need to, then it’s ok). As a general rule though, prizes are fun, should be used for fun, should be spent on your self, and we wanted to encourage that.

We wanted the prize cards to be like the campaign, simple, effective, fun and it feels like we nailed it.

No, it’s not modest or polite to rave on about oneself, but this is a pretty exciting project for us, and the response so far has been amazing, so we thought we’d throw out a few more details and see what you all think.

Check out the campaign, hit us up in the comments and let us know.

[Via http://amnesiablog.wordpress.com]

This Blooming Thing

Turning the page:

The leisurely planting of artificial crops and plants on Facebook has inspired a more fulfilling and refreshing hobby – growing blooming things in my backyard. There is more joy in bringing true beauty to my living space than virtual farming. My mother inherited my grandmother’s green thumb, and has a thriving home garden. Without a doubt, there is some latent floral capacity waiting for me to discover. It truly is satisfying to see colours popping in my potted garden.

Here are a few illustrations of the blooming things in my backyard.

A refreshing way to start or end an outstanding day! KK

[Via http://klassikurlz.wordpress.com]

10 Ways to Get Serious About Social Media in 2010

10 Ways to Get Serious About Social Media in 2010

10.  Discover your brand. My what? Yes, your brand. Be certain you are consistent with your brand – whether it is management of content, colors, or culture – be sure there is continuity across all channels.

9.    Don’t Be A Bad Date. Social networking is centered around a couple of things. And guess what? It’s not all about YOU. It’s about listening. It’s about interaction. It’s about feedback. It’s about insight. It’s about your clients. Most importantly, like any other part of your business – it is built on relationships.

8.    Social Media is not the Supreme Medium. You can not rely solely on any one marketing segment. Industry indicators show that numbers are projected to rise, in some cases significantly for 2010 and beyond across various other channels such as Outdoor, Direct Mail, Public Relations, and National Cable TV.

7.    Develop a marketing plan and budget. Stick with it, and be sure to market yourself through channels that you can manage and measure your ROI.

6.    Don’t know your fan from your follower? Stick with what sets you apart from the pack.  Are you an entrepreneur?  Didn’t you go into business because of a skill, service, or product that is unique? Focus your energy in those areas, do what you do best and let a true marketing expert handle your social media.

5.    Define measurable objectives. If you aren’t going to measure it, why do it? Would you just open your bank account for a free-for-all without knowing where your money is going?  No, that’s why we all love debit cards and online banking. Use the same school of thought when pursuing social media and any marketing objectives. If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.

4.     Don’t get left behind. Is Social Media a fad? No. Is it going away? All signs say no. Quit waiting for the right time, or the perfect tool, or the next network. Do you know what is happening while you wait? Everyone using social media is driving traffic to their websites, increasing Google rankings, increasing revenue, and receiving key feedback from clients on ways to improve their products, services, and client interaction.

3.     Be open-minded. Just because you hate texting or facebook, that does not mean your target customer does.  Don’t let the small things hold you back. Jump in with both feet.

2.    Don’t be paralyzed by the fear of Brand Suicide. Mishaps happen. Having the proper resource in place to respond to a misguided communication effort is key.

1.    Bah Humbug. Quit counting fans and followers like they are pennies that will immediately impact your bottom line. If that is what you are using social media for – stop. You missed the point.

[Via http://evansmediagroup.wordpress.com]

Тракюрл

Тази социална медиен мониторинг инструмент от ORM експерт Анди Бийл песни почти всеки елемент от онлайн медии, от блогове, RSS фийдове и Tweets, за изображения и видео. Trackur дава възможност не само за разговори ипотпал марка, но също и оглед на увеличаване или намаляване обема на разговора. По този начин потребителите могат да бъдат известявани за всяко шпайкове в бръмча от даден продукт започне или отрицателно събитие. Плюс това, Trackur предлага анализ на всеки сайт, се споменава срок да бъдат наблюдавани, която позволява на потребителите да се прави разлика как влиятелни този сайт е. Месечен абонамент за проекта Trackur до $ 18 на месец.

[Via http://ipotpalex.wordpress.com]

More shocking & disguting revelations from your serving staff...

I wish I was done.  Perhaps this blog will wrap up all of my current thoughts on the subject.  Thanks for hanging in there, my friends.  And, I have received some comments on Facebook at Pittsburgh Beat, please comment here too!  Thanks to Trista & Dave for not being shy.  If you have no idea what I mean, this is a follow-up to my last two posts…

• A little background on my shellfish allergy before I write my next rant of a blog…
• Don’t ever eat anything anywhere anytime.

You may want to read those 1st.

The first article/slide-show that I’d like to tackle is also called 20 Secrets Your Waiter Won’t Tell You and linked to from one of the articles as 20 More Secrets Your Waiter Won’t Tell You. Apparently originality is lost here.

I’ll tackle the most appalling slides here..

What You’re Really Swallowing

In most restaurants, after 8 p.m. or so, all the coffee is decaf because no one wants to clean two different coffeepots. I’ll bring out a tray with 12 coffees on it and give some to the customers who ordered regular, others to the ones who ordered decaf. But they’re all decaf.

—Charity Ohlund

Ridiculous.  What’s so hard about telling people of this policy, or cleaning an extra coffee pot?  Don’t they have dish washers for this kind of thing?  Any kind of secrecy is just wrong.  Granted, the opposite would be much worse for someone with a sensitivity to caffeine… but according to this  butthole, it happens quite regularly.  Is it too much to expect to get what you order?  Really?  I work hard for my money just like you, and ought to get what I want when I spend in your workplace.

What We Lie About

If you’re a vegetarian and you ask if we use vegetable stock, I’m going to say yes, even if we don’t. You’ll never know the difference.

I like that this is from someone anonymous.  Whoever you are, please take comfort in the fact that you are one of the lowest forms of human life on the planet and that there are not too many out there worse than you.  You’re sick.  You have a mental illness of some sort or a form of antisocial personality disorder… specifically the following symptoms:

• Apparent lack of remorse or empathy; inability to care about hurting others
• Tendency to violate the boundaries and rights of others
• Disregard for the safety of self or others
• Persistent attitude of irresponsibility and disregard for social rules, obligations, and norms

This is a serious illness, and I implore you to seek help.  This is just completely unacceptable behavior towards your fellow man, besides not doing your job correctly or with any sort of pride or responsibility.

I’m certainly not a vegetarian.  In fact, serve up any animal that’s not shellfish, an insect, or  having an opposable thumb, and I’ll most likely eat it or at least try it.  I love red meat… and white meat too… but there is not much better out there meat-wise than a nice steak, roast, or even a burger.  PETA annoys me to no end.

Still, I respect their life choices, life style, and dietary needs.  I have several friends and acquaintances that are vegetarian or vegan.  It doesn’t matter if their diet is because of personal choices, dietary needs, religious beleifs, or allergies. If I know they’re coming to my house for anything or if I’m taking food to a common event with them… I go out of my way to make sure that the food doesn’t contain animals or animal products.  Over the past few years, I even learned about things that I never thought of as animal products like gelatin-free sour cream.

I harp on the allergy thing because it affects me, but someone out there may have a severe allergic reaction to beef or chicken… and if the stock was made from fish or shellfish and someone lied to me about it… well, I might not be around to complain.

I just can’t imagine that in this day and age that anyone would think lying about something like this was acceptable.

What You Don’t Want to Know

Now that I’ve worked in a restaurant, I never ask for lemon in a drink. Everybody touches them. Nobody washes them. We just peel the stickers off, cut them up, and throw them in your iced tea.

—Charity Ohlund, Kansas City waitress

Explains why I’ve gotten so many lemons with stickers on them in my iced teas.  Aren’t there health codes or inspectors out there?  I’m vehemently against big(er) government, but I would gladly pay higher taxes for inspections to be more frequent and with higher penalties.  In fact…  I’ll sign up to do them at an incredibly reasonable price.

What You’re Really Swallowing

Skim milk is almost never skim milk. Very few restaurants outside Starbucks carry whole milk, 2 percent milk, skim milk, and half-and-half; it’s just not practical.

—Chris

Skim milk is gross, but…  Again, why with the dishonesty?  Why not just tell people you don’t have skim milk, then let them make the decision if they want it or not?  I’d leave a bigger tip if my server was honest with me about something like that.

What Drives Us Crazy

The single greatest way to get your waiter to hate you? Ask for hot tea. For some reason, an industry that’s managed to streamline everything else hasn’t been able to streamline that. You’ve got to get a pot, boil the water, get the lemons, get the honey, bring a cup and spoon. It’s a lot of work for little reward.

—Christopher Fehlinger, maître d’ at a popular New York City restaurant

Wow.  I love hot tea, but don’t order it out much.  From now on, every time I feel a waiter or waitress is treating me poorly, I’ll be sure to add to their aggravation and order this.  Also, I find it funny that this is from a maître d’.  Shouldn’t they be held to an even higher standard?  And again…  I don’t care what it is… if it’s on the menu, I should be able to order it, and it should not affect your attitude or opinion because… buh-bahhh… IT’S YOUR JOB.

What We Want You to Know

In many restaurants, the tips are pooled, so if you have a bad experience with the server, you’re stiffing the bartender who made your drinks, the water boy who poured your water, sometimes the hostess, the food runners, and maybe the other waiters.

—Christopher Fehlinger

This isn’t common knowledge by now?  Surely everyone knows someone who works at a restaurant.

What You Need to Know About Tipping

The best tippers tend to be middle-class or people who have worked for everything they have, not the really wealthy or the kid who inherited the trust fund. Which is not to say that we mind if you use coupons. But when you do, tip on the amount the bill would have been without them.

—Judi Santana

Makes sense… people at about your level who work for all that they have.  The coupon thing makes sense.  Save a few bucks on the restaurant’s dime, not your server’s.

Well, those articles led me to Frothy Girlz where I looked for an apparently old blog post that keeps coming up to annoy the writer.  I didn’t find the original post, but I did find a gem entitled In The Weeds: There’s a Food Allergy Community? Really?.

People just love them some communities.  I mean, they must.  After my Reader’s Digest piece was picked up by both the Today show and Msnbc.com, the “food allergy community” opened up a peanut and gluten-free can of whoop ass on me.  Some scolded me for not caring if their children died, others asked for a full retraction and apology to the community, and others reminded me, again, that they could die.

Who knew there was a food allergy community?  Can you imagine the poor restaurant that is chosen for their weekly meetings?  The waitress nervously approaches the chef with an order the size of the Bible with all the special notes and codes and the words “COULD DIE!!!” hand written on half the tickets.

I’m disgusted by the cavalier attitude here.  I can’t imagine being a parent with a small child that had to deal with this.  It’s bad enough when it’s my own problem.  Yes, there’s a bunch of us out here, and we’re growing more vocal day by day.  Why?  Any more, it’s the small groups who have to power.  Wait until we start referring to ourselves ans a minority, and our right to eat out in comfort a civil right.  Wow, could we ever abuse that if we got it out at the right place and time to the right politicians.

I have dealt with a lot of food allergies in my serving career, and I care, I really do.   Every case was handled with extreme care.  I would go talk to the chef, who would roll his eyes and then have to stop the line and talk to every cook.  I then had to stop and tell every other server, busser, and assistant to make sure not to touch any plates at table 53 without washing their hands of any and all potential allergens.  She could die!  Meanwhile, the restaurant is completely packed and crazy and this person has put her LIFE in my hands and I have to trust – no, SHE has to trust – that all 95 people who could possibly come in contact with her or her food will completely sanitize their hands, the silverware, the plates, and the very air she breathes of any and all peanut dust.

A chef rolls their eyes?  That’s sad.  I think they’d get into the business wanting people to love their food, not die from it.  Sadly, in with the rest of this, she’s right on.  It should not be solely the responsibility of the server.  Restaurants everywhere need to be made aware of the inherent dangers of cross contamination in food preparation, cooking, & serving.  People suffering from severe food allergies are a small percentage of the population, narrow down the allergy & it’s smaller still.  I run into people that aren’t aware of allergies or their possible severity all the time.  Some people are taking steps to correct this, many others will be needed to join in & raise awareness.

But it’s too much for you, allergen sufferer, isn’t it?  I mean, if you could truly die, how do you throw caution to the wind and hope that your 12 reminders have done the trick?  Balls, you.

Yes, balls me.  Again, you have to weigh this against the social pressure to dine out, and desire to be like everyone else.  It’s much more than just the allergy that’s bothersome, and who doesn’t like to dine out every once in a while, especially in a place that doesn’t have a drive-through or a mascot?

That blog contained a vlog from this guy, who at best needs kicked in the teeth.  I can’t really go point-for-point because I don’t really feel like typing out transcripts.  If you’re interested in seeing what I mean, check out Would You Say “No Butter” to Julia Child!?.  He speaks of how I shouldn’t eat out because I can’t trust anyone but him… even though he’s an ass.  He does make one good point saying that people saying they’re allergic to things when they just don’t want them in their food is doing nothing but trivializing it for the rest of us.  But, “Anonymous waiter in Hollywood, CA”, don’t pass the buck, you’re still the arrogant bastard here.  Yes, I get it, you say things for shock value and to gain new readers… like I just said you need kicked in the teeth.  I’m sure you’re fine with that though, & enjoy the reaction.  If you’re teaching us to be better customers, who’s teaching you to be a better waiter?

Apparently people complaining upset the “In The Weeds” writer, and she posted another blog, again venting…

1)  From Shellshock: “Wow. The author is going to kill someone with the attitude towards allergies. I guess the terms anaphylactic shock and death are words not found in the author’s vocabulary.”

I covered the topic of food allergies already, but again, if you can DIE from someone messing up your food, you might as well ask your waitress to perform your next open heart surgery.  It’s really the same risk.  I’m not insensitive to your plight.  I’ll do my best.  But it really sucks that you could die.  Because if the Mexican kitchen workers don’t understand what I’m saying about “anaphylactic shock”…. damn.

Again, why not do your part and suggest to the owner/manager/chef that everyone be trained on food allergy awareness?  No one’s asking you to perform open heart surgery… we’re just asking you to be clean.  That’s all.  Don’t let dirty stuff touch clean stuff. Shouldn’t that be in practice anyway?

I mean this stuff is genius…

Education | For Food Industry and Service Professionals

• Labeling
• Allergen Control Plan for Food Processors
• Tips for Food Service Establishments
• Welcoming Guests with Food Allergies
• Food Allergy and Cross-Contact Restaurant Poster
• Chef Card
• Food Allergy Training Guide for College Food Services
• Food Allergy Training Guide for Hospitals

To prevent allergic reactions, individuals with food allergies rely on accurate ingredient information and safe food handling procedures. The material in this section will provide food industry and service professionals with the information they will need to safely prepare, cook, and serve food to a guest who has food allergies.

Would that really be all that difficult?

Well, maybe I have one more blog left.  One dedicated to tipping… and my take on it.  I really hope to hear from some people in the industry about that one.

[Via http://aixelsyd13.wordpress.com]

China arrests over 5000 in porn crackdown

China has arrested over almost 5400 people in 2009 in its latest Internet pornography crackdown, calling the new tougher policy a key piece of China’s “state security.”

In the last month, the Chinese government began offering up to 10,000 yuan (about $1500 USD) to anyone who reported sites featuring porn, and 9000 sites were taken down alongside the arrest of 5394 citizens.

For 2010, China says it will “strengthen punishment for Internet operators that violate the laws and regulations…severely punish operations that have serious problems with harmful information”.

“Purifying the Internet environment and cracking down on Internet crimes is related to long-term state security,” added the ministry, via the AFP.

While the number arrested may seem large, it is important to note that China has 338 million Internet users, and thousands of porn sites and operators remain active today.

Porn, certain Google searches, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are all blocked in the nation.

afterdawn.com

[Via http://mindmapsza.wordpress.com]

10 Resolutions You Can Do for the Philippines While Sitting Down (part 1 of 2)

By Niña Terol-Zialcita

Last year I published a list of “7 Resolutions You Can Do for the Philippines While Sitting Down.” This being a new year, a new decade, a great round number, we’ll expand our list a bit to 10.

We learned in 2009 that the Internet and social media have become VERY powerful tools for demanding transparency, accountability, and better service from our public officials. What was once hidden and private (i.e., the Hayden Kho-Katrina Halili sex video scandal) was ripped wide open and escalated to the level of a Senate investigation. When the worst storm in decades hit our country, we used our mobile phones and social media to help send rescue and relief where it was most needed. (We also discovered that Metro Manila had only 13 lifeboats to use for emergencies!) When the forces of evil attempted to bury their monstrous deeds with a backhoe, a mobile phone helped avert what would have been the biggest, most horrifying cover-up of that decade.

Now, with the ubiquity of Internet access, WiFi-enabled mobile phones, and cheap computers, we have absolutely NO EXCUSE to not be online. Here’s how we can make the most of it this year.

1. Make the most of FREE information online. Researching for information online is not only useful if you’re a student. It’s also great if you want to get ahead in your job, scout for business or freelancing opportunities to earn more cash, earn a scholarship abroad, or be a better parent, or simply make your daily life a bit better with self-help and self- or home-improvement tips.

Some websites I love in this department: ChangeThis, TED, WhyNot? Forum, Entrepreneur Philippines, EntrepBuff, Hungry People, BabyCenter Philippines, ParenTIN.tv and The Daily Om, just to name a few.

2. Be in the know. While it can be fun to be updated on celebrity chismis, it’s even better to be in the know when it comes to current issues. It makes you look smarter and increases your rankings on the social strata. PLUS, it helps make you a better and more responsible citizen.

Some blogs and websites you can check out are: Blogwatch.ph, PCIJ, Good News Pilipinas; the blogs of Jim Paredes, Manolo Quezon, and Ricky Carandang; and Philippine Blog Awards winners and finalists such as  Virtual Journals , The Professional Heckler, TonyoCruz.com, and Pagod Ka Na Ba Maging Si Juan.

If you’re on Twitter (and you SHOULD be), follow these Twitterers for great updates and insights: @ancalerts, @inquirerdotnet, @gmanewstv, @mlq3, @jimparedes, @juliusbabao, @parenTIN, @momblogger, @mindanaoan, @gangbadoy, @wheninmanila, among many others. Scout around the Twitter universe and find your favorites.

3. Be a more vigilant citizen. Use your social networks and your mobile phone to help others in times of need and also to report government irregularities. Nowhere was the power of Pinoy social media more apparent than during the onslaught of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. Twitter and Facebook became our means of connecting to the authorities and of asking for urgent supplies and services. Google Spreadsheets became en vogue as people learned how to use a database to input and track life-saving information. Now that we have learned some very humbling lessons from this experience, plus a few horrifying ones from the Ampatuan massacre, let’s use what we’ve learned to more responsible and more responsive netizens.

After all, the Internet is the epitome of a truly democratic and empowering social space. Why not translate our online experience to help build a more democratic and empowering Philippines?

4. Know more about the 2010 candidates. Speaking of democracy: there’s the May 10, 2010 elections. With so much at stake for our family’s and country’s future, let’s not just rely on ads and our current perceptions in deciding on whose name to shade in our electronic-friendly ballots. Browse the candidates’ websites to get in-depth information about their profiles, use Google search to see if they’ve been involved in any scandals or corruption cases. Read blogs to see what other people think. Read online news to see where your candidates stand on certain issues. Know their platforms. Know about their history and character. Know about the people around them.

Canvass for a candidate in the same way you canvass for a great mobile phone—know its features and benefits, know how it can help make YOUR life easier, make sure there’s a connection between your values and the candidate’s platform, and make sure you’re electing someone who’s sulit in the long-term. (You don’t want someone who looks good now but who is actually unreliable and untrustworthy.)

Some candidate portals to check out are: Political Arena and YouthVotePhilippines.

5. Support a candidate (or candidateS). If you’re sick and tired of the old trapo ways and the old trapo names, then help elect fresh faces with fresh insights backed by solid principles and track records. And since many of these candidates have neither the money nor the machinery to launch massive ad campaigns, then they will need the help of volunteers like US to gather much-needed resources and communicate their platforms to more people. Let’s remember: TAYO ang taumbayan, TAYO ang pagbabago!

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Niña Terol-Zialcita authors the blogs Changemakers Philippines and The Art of Changemaking. She is a political communicator by day, a poet by night, and a social advocate everywhere else in between. Find out more about her on www.ninaterol.com and Twitter.

[Via http://changemakersphilippines.wordpress.com]

Rating my Predictions for 2009 - Looking 2010 - KFed and Britney still not together. .

Image by Express Monorail (vacation) via Flickr

• Many Newspapers continue to struggle those that have high debt levels will consolidate, retrench through bankruptcy, or good old liquidation. .continue trend of starting to limit home delivery or not produce “physical paper” and go with pure web strategy like the Christian Science Monitor.

B – Right on this “old” media is dead . . release of new ereaders like Apple’s ISlate or whatever it is going to be called. . continues to kill physical newspaper companies. . Amazon will release a color screened Kindle by year end. .

• Yahoo gets bought – Maybe News Corp, maybe Disney, probably Microsoft. This train wreck has got to end. (What was Jerry Yang and the board thinking when they rebuffed multiple offers from Microsoft?)

B- – Microsoft tried then did search deal. . .whatever next party is over . . Google has won. .

• Facebook blows away MySpace Already happening MySpace is the Yahoo toFacebook’s Google . . .Niche social networking like Linkedin find place and start to chip at dominance of “general” social networking sites.

A- – No brainer

• Android becomes more prominent Google’s open source smart phone OS challenges major phone Operating Systems with the exception of Apple’s Iphone.  Google releases smart phone with major carrier that is free and is supported by advertising. Android powered Netbook released by year-end

B – yes and no . . before my time with free Google phone but will eventually happen

• Iphone becomes more dominant moves into second spot behind Nokia for the most handsets shipped 2009. Apple release Iphone nano smaller, more compact, cheaper

B- – no Iphone nano but keeps whipping more and world best-selling smart phone

• Twitter becomes hottest and most prevalent new social networking technology

A – yep right on

• RFID technology begins to take hold in retail starts to supplement bar code technology to enhance retail experience. .ie checkout and inventory control. Huge shot in the dark without Wal-Mart this will never happen this is an idea whose time has come but will probably be pushed out a few years.

D- Wrong too early. . buy some more time will happen. .eventually

• Google tries to make big social networking push (again) via its own technology or through a variety of in house development and key acquisitions (Twitter)

F- Still struggling in this area. .no key deals

• New Apple products will include Netbook, New Mac Mini, and Iphone Nano

D – Tablet coming

• Hottest Retailer – Justice

B – yep for tweens -but these are probably hotter. .  Aeropostale . .Hollister. . Pacsun. . Juicy Couture. .really like  Forever 21 and Tilly’s

• Big Three turns into Big Two Ford has legs, Chrysler has no value with the exception of Jeep division and Hemi technology, GM who  knows  . . . but if they were smart they would jettison US operations and focus on international.

B – Chrysler now owned by Fiat, GM is a shell and Ford by far the strongest and still has legs

• Real Estate market through most of the US gets worse before it gets better no recovery until spring 2010 at earliest. Although I do see Obama administration switch some focus of bailouts from big companies to homeowners who are in danger of foreclosure.

A – Obama administration stepped up with tax incentives and low interest rates. .

• Brittany and Kfed reconcile and become greatest husband-wife team since Sonny and Cher

F- Sorry . .what can I say. .

Predictions 2010

1. Location aware technology becomes huge. .  serving up ads and social networking . . to name a few . .Twitter and Facebook location aware posts going to happen this year. . providers will know where you are and serve up some really cool . .apps and services
2. Hottest Retailer. . Slow Growth . .Privately owned but very cool store. . Tilley’s . . . Southern California cool. .combined with discipled financials and expansion strategy. .
3. Green  continues to be hot. .  Solar cheaper. . Chinese manufacturer’s continue to make cheaper and cheaper cells squeezing other manufacturers. .wind is big. .  solar will be bigger. .
4. e-commerce continues to grow . .but. . .consolidation starts happening. . would love to see Amazon buy Ebay. .but may have anti-trust issues. . Amazon continues to dominate and make good acquisitions like Zappo’s this year.. . will continue to grow. .  nobody can beat Amazon online including Wal-Mart. .  this year. .  after 2010 . .look for Wal-Mart going straight at them. .
5. Google phone coming sold directly by Google over T-Mobile network . .Motorola and other partners not happy but no other alternative. .  continue to get beaten in smart phone market by Apple
6. Apple in US brings in other partner for network other then ATT. . I say Verizon. . total long shot is Sprint Nextel. . which in turn may be bought by Comcast in 2010. . maybe T-mobile gets bought by Google. .maybe antitrust issue but would be very cool. .and allow Google to deliver universal WiMax type of service to United States. .
7. Google Chrome OS released . . Chrome browser continue to take market share. . hurt Microsoft and Firefox but biggest casualty will be Safari and MacOS . . this year
8. Apple tablet released. . Color screen Kindle released. .eventually be two horse race between Apple and Amazon. . in tablet. . ereader category
9. KFed gets back in action. .  gets back in shape and cleans up. . and reconciles with Britney. .

Happy New Year. . .

[Via http://scotttesta.com]