Time for a new blog!!

I just noticed this blog was getting some action. I actually started it in January, and sadly, my last blog was written during the last few weeks of my last semester in college. I'm on a road trip now, heading north from Georgia. I stopped in Maryland for a rafting trip in Virginia. I met a few people, made some friends, had an interview and landed a position in D.C.!! Looks like my life is starting to get interesting, SO if you're interested, follow me on my new traveling blog @ Traveling Blue Cup (named after my favorite round coffee cup in the world I bring with me everywhere and eat and drink everything out of). 

The hair looks empty here, but I'm hitting the road to D.C.!

Thanks for Reading!!

Stranger Danger

Name: Brittany Lucero

Age: 22

Hair color: Dark Brunette

Eye color: Coffee brown

Weight: 126 lbs

Height: 5'3

Pet Peeves: Those who make noises when eating bananas, arrogant personalities, liars, carnivores...

What you are looking for in a life partner: Pants that fit

Describe yourself: fun, social, interesting, beautiful, PERFECT.

 When we think of online dating sites, answering simple questionnaires about ourselves comes to mind. We get to put our information out in online application form in hopes that somewhere, someone is compatible with us. We can manipulate our answers to be more appealing, or put so much detailed information to ensure we are facilitating a companionable match. Although you may not have noticed, both of these acts can be extremely dangerous. Today, I will take information I gathered from various online dating articles and warn you of the many dangers as well as tips to avoid being taken advantage of and catching a deceptive love match. 

It all began around 1964 at the World’s Fair. Foreign pen pals inspired the machine-generated matches. After a questionnaire was filled, it was submitted into a machine and out came a card with a like-minded person who too filled out a questionnaire. The technology was not all that great, but it sparked an interest for an accountant at the fair. He had a programmer friend at IBM who had heard about Operations Match, an online Harvard created, date maker. The two men got together and created a prototype; The next thing they knew, they had Project TACT (Technical Automated Compatibility Testing). It was New York’s first online dating service.

Today, we have millions of people using online dating services. In fact, according to Online Dating Magazine over 40 million Americans used online dating services in 2011. That many people spent over $1 billion in that year. That’s a lot of people and a ton of money. People are finding compatible matches.  Accorrding to Match.com, 17% of marriages in 2007 met on online dating websites. Keep in mind, sometimes with good comes evil, and if you want to find someone online, beware.

The University of Colorado Boulder's Leeds School of Business found that many of the dating sites’ metadata were not protected. This means that photos that you may post in your profile could be GPS tracked! That potential danger was eventually spotted and now being fixed by many sites; however, not all sites have complied to protect all your information. 

List of Websites that Expose MetaData

In addition to having your information not always fully protected, strangers, or “potential matches” could be predators. We have all heard about the Craigslist Killer, but there are others who could take advantage of you in other ways. For example, Albert Lovering pleaded guilty to 23 counts of theft. Man Guilty For Taking Advantage Albert acted like he was interested in these women romantically but over the course of his conversation, he manipulatively made these women believe he was in financial trouble. He gained over two hundred thousand dollars from these online dating victims.

People are not the only ones who can take advantage of you in the online dating scene. The online dating website Zoosk began releasing relationship advice, date discounts, and even, with the help of a behavior analysis, advertisements directed to those on the verge of a break-up that reads quotes about never ending love. That’s right; there’s an app! How manipulative!

With all of this negative information about how dangerous and scheming some of these sites can be, some sunlight shines. Not only have websites cracked down on privacy issues (including three major ones) and warnings to members concerning exposure about too much information, but also, PsychCentral listed the online liar characteristics to better help catch predators. Some of these characteristics include those members who avoid using the pronoun "I", those who do not have a lot to say simply because the  less they talk, the less likely they are to mistakenly contradict a lie. One interesting observation that should be noted is that men were more likely to lie overall, but women lied more about their weight. (Surprise, surprise...)

To conclude, when it comes down to it, online dating doesn't have to be calculating and entirely unsafe, as long as you're safe and aware of what to look for. If you are not educated about the true signs of a predator, ways company's could take advantage of the personal information you release, or the risk you are taking to make sure you don't end up alone and lonely,  your online dating experience may not be what it is QUACKED up to be. 

Until next time, thanks for reading!!!

we RIGHT it.

Citizen journalism is created when everyday people write the news. We decide what's important. We decide what gets disseminated. We become amateur journalists. You don't need a degree. You don't need a job. You don't even need any more than the basic tools- the internet and a collaborative news website. Doesn't that sound fun and easy? Well, it's no joke. It really is journalistic power right at your fingertips.

Because of Citizen Journalism, people from all over the world are exposing true situations that influence public policy. For instance, women in India are coming together and blogging about repression and the domination of men in their land. Commonly, men creep them out, especially on the streets. They stare, they harass, they say things under their breath. That would be uncomfortable to anybody, but it is a true problem there. They have even created advocates of this situation, and it all started through citizen journalism. The women would come together on forums and talk about the harassment, warn others which streets are filled with creepers, and even take photographs of these perverted men and display them on the website-for embarrassment. It may sound like a joke to us, but it is a real problem, and thanks to citizen journalism, Indian women are beginning to address the issue.

Even South Koreans are embracing citizen journalism, which, in turn, is making them more democratic.
How? Well, in a democratic society, it is for the people, by the people. In South Korea, an online magazine called OhMyNews is just that. They became more democratic after the speech abolition law was overrun by the Democratic Agreement of 1987. Now, magazines like OhMyNews can deviate from professional, include commenting systems, and everyone can participate.







<<Random Korean Man




Kids are citizens too.

In Brazil, children have even embraced citizen journalism. Newspaper clubs have allowed children to express themselves, their ideas, and their interest on paper. There are online newspapers where they can contribute, and they are given a chance to have a voice in a nation where exploitation and prostitution are not news to them.






So there may be a blurry line between professional and amateur journalism, but as long as the participatory culture continues, we will receive all kinds of news from all kinds of people.
Thanks for reading!

Tell ya about the Telly

Remember the 90s? When television was really popular? As a 90s kid, I remember watching 90s cartoons all morning (then all day, then all night) long with a bowl of cereal in front of me, and my jaw slightly opened as shows like Doug played in front of me. But when I had to take a wizz? I booked it! -So I wouldn’t miss a minute of Rugrats. Don’t judge me. You were probably one in the same...

(Remember being exposed to our first womanizer... )

So television played a semi-precious role in my life then, and as it turns out, it is still making its rounds. Most of us watch television online, at least some, and even if it’s not considered watching traditional television, we watch YouTube videos. Especially with those we subscribe to, we watch these videos in a sort of series. If we don’t like what we see, we insult them in the comments (like a bunch of harsh critics who probably couldn’t do a better job ourselves... or could we? And it doesn’t matter anyway, because they are slightly more concerned with writing a comment that is wittier or more offensive just to muster up some likes.) THE POINT IS: we get to control the media somehow. We can direct a plot, suggest ideas, submit photos or videos, or make our own TV series ourselves-free of charge.

While some of us were lying on our backs on the couch watching television, others were jumping into this digital age- setting it up for us. In the 90s, I was comfortable watching cartoon re-runs. Today, kids have more options, freedom, and technology to do with TV as they want. But let’s be honest, who do they really owe this too… The Japanese! That’s right. Back in 1992, the Japanese came up with the whole concept of HDTV. Sadly, because Japanese technology was ahead of the curve, for a brief time, the US couldn’t watch Japanese programming (OH NO!) Their technology was too good for ours! But instead of jumping on the Japanese bandwagon (to avoid Japanese electronic domination), we had to create our own.. Well, we finally got it right. As a result, we had more room for more channels, and a very rich picture. Then on February 17^th, 2009, as a unit, we officially made the switch to digital.

And life moves on. Kids have it easier, more options, and more freedom, clearer pictures, usable technology... la la la. Even if they are watching their form of traditional television on the couch, American Idol is about to announce their winner, and the kid just realized that all that water is really making him have to go. He snatches up the clicker, hits PAUSE, takes his time to go to the bathroom, washes his hands, stands on the scale, lingers in the hallway, grabs a drink from the fridge, maybe even an apple (yeah right) and slowly, eventually, sits back down, gets comfortable, and pushes PLAY. Yes, the new reception introduced pausing television too, fast forwarding and rewinding are other benefits- especially when it comes to commercials. Sure I miss those days as a kid where troubles were insignificant, summers lasted forever, and cereal never got old, but when mom wanted help with the groceries and my TV show was on without an option to pause- nope, I’d trade that in a heartbeat.

Thanks for reading!!

Collaboration Nation

Change. It jingles in your pocket everywhere you go. When you get enough of it, you slip it in the slit and receive your delicious and never nutritious candy bar. This entry is not about that kind of change. The change I am going to talk about is the powerful word we commonly hear in this day and age. We seek it, we elect officials we feel can bring it, but what if I told you that drastic change has already occurred beneath our fingertips? Still don’t know exactly what I’m talking about? It’s about free knowledge, collaboration, and the way businesses are creating business. It is all changing, and for those businesses who are not adapting are kind of SOL…

So what does this all mean? It means small businesses and individuals have more say in how things go down in this economic society. We are starting to encourage individualism by emphasizing collaboration. If that doesn’t make sense, let me break it down. People are coming together for a common goal. The individuals involved are not required to contribute, but through voluntary action, they are bringing their strengths to the table for the group as a whole to reach that common goal. What’s best? Everyone gains the benefits!!

That’s not the only benefit. There is also no talk about a hierarchy of power. The control is either dismissed or dispersed among the members. Let’s face it. Old school businesses use to be run with intimidation, controlling leaders, a small number of members collaborating, and that was business. But today, collaboration is open to the world to participate in. More people, more thoughts, better ideas, and better outcomes- the future.

Not only that, with information about businesses easily accessible, there is a transparency that defeats closed source businesses. It forces businesses to be open, honest and just in the way they do business or else they risk losing business due to their dishonesty or unethical decision-making.

Businesses aren’t the only ones who understand the benefits of collaboration. Even teachers are actively using it in the classroom. In fact, the professor whose class this blog is for uses collaboration and seeks the benefits. As couples or even small groups, my classmates and I split up the readings and lead the class in discussion. Everyone is required to read and discuss when the time comes.

We gain a better understanding of the material, sometimes more insight than the material even provides, and we get to escape the hierarchal, sometimes pretentious, lectures from professors who only give one sided perspective and knowledge on a particular subject, without acknowledging all the minds around them (and BOREing us all the same!) So for this personal reason, all though is seems like the natural direction most of society is going in, I am FOR collaboration. 

noPUNintendo

We don’t really think about it, unless you are just enthusiastic about your obsessions, but video games have come a long way. I never knew it until recently that video games began as a way that the government could play out how real life attacks could go down. Then somehow, video games grew into a subtle way to waste our time, get us focused on winning at some imaginary competition between you and the computer. Then, between you and other players.

Nintendo was a personal favorite of mine growing up. I have two brothers, one older and one younger. The best way to bond, outside of playing sports, hide-and-seek, or swinging on the tire swing in the backyard, was to play some good ole Nintendo. This included Mario Bros, Zelda, then on to Pokemon and it's many wonders.. oh so many others. But why are these games so amusing?

Well for one, representation. This includes visuals, music, effects, control devices,…etc) Two, responses. This means we get to control the avatar. It’s pretty cool when we can jump off a building and survive!! Or die and have two more lives to go. Brilliant. Then, there are the rules that structure our video gaming lives. All lives need structure that defines your possibilities, so you know just how high you can go. Lastly, what’s better than the randomness of video games? No games are exactly alike. It’s like rolling the dice and being able to go our own direction with the way we play it.

Video games have not only grown in popularity, they have grown in perplexity and complexity as well as become more like a life simulation. Video games, like Second Life, is so similar to life, that one can work, make money, buy a home, grab coffee, converse with people, shop, and so much more. A lot of players do more in their virtual lives than they do in their real ones.

Video games might entice video gamers to become more violent in the real world, or at least have more violent thoughts. I’m not sure if this is true, but often times we overlook the positives about a particular subject after a tragedy happens (like boy shoots friend after playing World of Warcraft- made up scenario), but there are things to look forward to in the newer games. They are interactive and becoming so general in appeal that families with members of all ages can enjoy the same game together. Although people fear that parts of the digital culture separate us, which it may in other ways, video games, like the Wii, bring families together as I see it. The family X whom I have mentioned before in previous posts, may not spend a lot of time together throughout the day, but if Wii Dance is hooked up, they are all in the same room shaking their hips and moving their feet, laughing together. For this reason alone, I think video games should not get the bad rep that they’ve been given.
If you'd like to play old school mario, click this link: I will take you there! Mario Game

Thanks for reading!

Nostalgia

Nostalgia brings you back to a time where things were different, and we usually feel they were better. Midnight in Paris, the new Woody Allen film, stars Owen Wilson’s character who, at first, believes that Paris in the 20s was a better time. He gains criticisms from his fiancé, her parents, and some friends of his. In the end, he concludes that we all look back at previous periods of time with optimism and disdain on our own present time. We are great at misconstruing the past to make it seem happier, brighter, where candy bars only cost a nickel.

In these days, we give the subject of nostalgia a slightly different meaning. In this case, nostalgia is directed to a time where technology was either not imperative or even completely nonexistent. We look back at the time where kids played outside, parents spoke to their children at the table, and eye contact was made throughout the day- without interruptions of phone calls, distractions from computers, and without wires hanging from ears to drown out the sound of everyday life. We look back and say, these times were better. But were they really better?

I’m not so sure reading a book at a playground is much different than texting on your blackberry at a playground- both cases are distracting you from watching your child!! But the direction this world is changing in, technology is growing in distraction. It’s becoming more interesting to lose yourself in than just a fascinating novel. Should we deem those who get sucked in the technological distraction as “bad parents”? Pretty sure it is a lot more complicated than that.

In one case, the X Family attends their son’s basketball games. Many times, during one of the kid’s basketball games, the little sister plays on her Kindle instead of watching the game. If it weren’t for her Kindle, she would still be equally distracted reading a book or playing with other friends, which she does as well. She’s seven, so that’s okay. The parents, much older than seven, always neglect phone calls to watch their son play games, but mostly because missing something, like a shot, would seem like missing out on an important priority, their son and his self esteem.

Their mother works a lot and is at the top of her particular company. She stays home to work, and the children are just starting to understand how important her job is. The mother’s motive, when she is home, is to get work done and that is all. She likes the luxury and convenience of staying at home, but it is clear in her mind that she has things to take care of. It is a bonus that in between conference calls, she can squeeze in a question of, “How was your day,” or “How did you do on your math test?” Also, being able to see her kids a little, rather than being completely alienated from them at the actual office, is a plus. She neglects her phone during dinner, and it doesn’t seem to really faze her.

It wasn’t until recently I noticed withdrawal symptoms when she was away from her technology. Her new computer crashed with some important documents on it. She not only had to get them recovered, she also had to send her computer away to get fixed. It was miserable for her. The computer wasn’t just a source for work, it was how she spent her leisure time. Instead of taking her kids to try on clothing or buy new shoes, she simply orders them online. The kids are always checking the doorstep for new packages. She really knows how to online shop. The kids get anxious when something is ordered and it doesn’t come in right away. They are so use to instant gratification these days.

Anyway, after her computer crashed, she talked about her computer with me, how she missed it, how she couldn’t do anything without it. We spoke of it at the table before I went home. (We never really talk for more than a few minutes- with eye contact anyway.) Because she didn’t have her computer, we could talk about places to travel to, her children and the funny things they say, as well as life stories from the past. These things almost never happen. It was nice. She even asked to borrow Macbook to browse through vacation rentals and destinations. In all, there was more human connection and great conversation. So maybe she wasn’t physically shaking without her pc, but you could definitely tell she was behaving differently. 

Thanks for reading!