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.