Culture & Tech
Are There Mental Health Benefits to Joining Facebook Groups?
Small and large companies aren’t the only ones that bank on the convenience of the Internet. Obviously some of us who refuse to camp out in front of Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and any other stores opt to spend our money online to avoid the crowds. But as Cyber Monday has come to a close, some of us enjoy the comfort and convenience of the Internet for other reasons.
Everyone has a bad day, but some of us struggle with the lack of that “happy” gene more than others. According to a Huffington Post article by Michael Sigmen, approximately half of our happiness is linked to our genetic make up. How close are you to genetic happiness?
Wow, half is quite a chunk of our happiness pie, leaving the leftovers to be fractioned off to environment, circumstances and/or traumatic life events. If depression is more than a chemical imbalance and is actually deeply ingrained in our DNA, then what can we actually do about it?
The Internet is used for a number of reasons, only some of which have to do with viral marketing. Social media sites allow for individuals as well as organizations to connect with people from all over the world and share their individual brand. But behavior on these sites can run unchecked, which have literally given both social media and the Internet a bad rap. Lyrics posted on Facebook threatening to not only kill his wife but also kindergarten kids landed wannabe rap artist Anthony Elonis in jail for 44 months. Privacy, freedom of speech, an increase in social isolation, and a host of other number of issues arise when discussing social media and the potential negative ramifications. Read the rest of this entry »
Law and Injustice in Ferguson: Wilson Walks
I would think that if Darren Wilson were to be indicted then he would have been arrested by now. In paraphrasing, that’s basically what CNN news anchor Don Lemon explained based upon a couple of interviews conducted just minutes before the grand jury announcement, and it definitely made sense. This racially charged tragedy has definitely stirred a deep feeling of injustice and not only for those in Ferguson, Missouri. When it comes to race, things can often become complicated, especially for those of us who are mixed ethnicities. Some of us American mutts face more peculiar looks and questions than others who look more like one obvious ethnicity.
Justice is supposed to surpass race. It’s not just an ethical issue but also one that questions our moral integrity as a society. I believe the grand jury’s decision is unfair and I am not remotely comfortable with it. At the very least, as one who is unable to check just one racial box, it’s undeniably frustrating. I am often asked to pick between the options of “two or more races – not Hispanic,” “Hispanic” or Asian — but where’s the choice for Asian and Hispanic? How can it be in the U.S. melting pot that there isn’t a box for “two or more race including Hispanic?” And why does Hispanic even need to be specified? Some job applications allow for a “two or more races” box to be checked and leave out the “not Hispanic” part. For the most part, most job applications expect individuals to choose one ethnicity. If you are more than one race, you must choose one over another.
I am not sure how my ethnicity qualifies or disqualifies me from having the necessary skill set, education, and experience required to do a job. But, this is just one minor personal annoyance when having to deal with this touchy topic. People just hate talking about race.
The Bottom Line:
Officer Darren Wilson killed unarmed Michael Brown, shooting him six times. If Michael Brown was intimidating as Darren Wilson claims and was acting out or not cooperating with instructions. Why wasn’t a stun gun or other non-deadly methods used instead? Especially for someone who was unarmed? Prosecutor Robert McCulloch (who has been rumored to be extremely pro-law enforcement) made the bizarre, long and drawn out announcement. Where he proceeded to sound as if he was trying to justify how the verdict was decided. If this were a case involving two random individuals, someone would have been arrested by now. But, since it involves someone with a badge, it looks like the “evidence” shows that Officer Darren Wilson will get to go back to his job and his everyday life. Meanwhile, a grieving family and a community suffers through the loss of an innocent life gunned down.
What made the grand jury decide to believe some witnesses and discount others? Perhaps it’s true that those in law enforcement really do serve and protect their own. No, I do not agree with the riots, looting, and violence taking place that’s burning down the Ferguson community. However, I personally have family in law enforcement in New York and regardless I still honestly believe that justice was not served.
The Evolution Of Halloween
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Halloween was influenced by Celtic harvest festivals with a purpose to confront the power of death with humor and ridicule. Devout religious folk might blame paganism, but it was Western Christianity that initially celebrated All Hallow’s Eve. This was the day that Christians went to church and lit candles on graves in remembrance of the dead. Rather than costumes or candy, Western Christians refrained from eating meat on All Hallow’s Eve. Though, in the 19th century costumes would be revived and made popular by Scottish and Irish immigrants.
The Bottom Line:
As you dress your little ones and enjoy ‘trick or treating’ with family or friends at a costume party, enjoy the many influences that helped Halloween evolve into the fun celebration it is today.
Maryville H.S. Shooting: One of Six School Shootings in Six Months
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There have been six fatal school shootings during which innocent victims were killed in the past six months within the United States. However, there have been a total of 15 school shootings in as many months. Of these documented incidents since May, nine of the shootings lead to injuries and no deaths. One of the 15 shooting was death by suicide (a bullied 14 year-old Lamar Hawkins killed himself in a middle school restroom). Since January 2014 there have been a total of 39 school or university related shootings, as a result of which some combination of injury, death or both was reported. Not all are student related. One incident involved a knife-wielding man who was shot and killed on the San Jose University campus. Two of the 39 documented shootings since January were fatal marital spats. One man murdered his wife in a school parking lot and then later turned the gun on himself. 33 year-old Michelle Wilcox also suffered the same fate as she was shot and killed by husband Antonio Wilcox behind a Miami preschool. One other student, Zachary Leyes, like Lamar Hawkins decided to take his own life.
No other country experiences this type of violence amongst its youth. This seems to be unique to the United States. Why? Is it the deterioration of family values? Could it be as simple as a desire to commit copy-cat murder? Perhaps.
But in today’s incident, the school shooter was reportedly NOT bullied by peers. However it is rumored that popular freshman Jaylen Fryberg might have been publicly taunted via social media regarding his relationship, or lack thereof, with a female love interest. Regardless, what is unanimously reported is that Jaylen was a popular, well-liked, football player and had been recently crowned “Homecoming Prince.” It has been revealed that he just came off school suspension after fighting with another student. Now, older tweets by students are surfacing and various news sources and student witnesses claim that Fryberg apparently asked the girl out but she basically rejected him. As a result, he shot and killed her, wounded four other students and ultimately took his own life. Perhaps, Jaylen Fryberg had difficulty dealing with rejection and humiliation.
1.) October 24, 2014,
Maryville, WA
Maryville High School Shooting
Four injured, one dead not including the killer (Jaylen Fryberg) who shot himself.
2.) October 3, 2014,
Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School (Parking Lot)
One dead (18 year-old Eric Dana Johnson Jr. was arrested alive).
3.) September 10, 2014
Lake Mary, FL
Greenwood Lakes Middle School
One dead (14 year-old Lamar Hawkins shot himself in the school bathroom).
3.) June 10, 2014
Troutdale, Oregon
Reynolds Oregon High School Shooting
One teacher injured, one student dead not including (15 year-old Jared Michael Padgett) who shot himself.
5.) June 5, 2014
Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Washington
Two injured, one dead. 26-year-old Aaron Ybarra is currently being held at King County Jail.
6.) May 23, 2014,
Isla Vista, California
Six injured, six dead not including the killer (Elliot Rodgers) who shot himself.
Bottom Line:
Are kids so fragile in the 21st century that they can’t deal with bullying, not being liked, being unpopular, or a relationship break-up or rejection? No matter how “well adjusted” youth or kids today might appear? Fryberg was NOT the typical isolated, bullied, 14 year-old with a history of mental illness. Was he mentally unstable? Well, to do what he did I would say so. However, no one expected this from a popular kid. Though, he was overly excited when his parents decided to buy him a GUN for his birthday, one that he was rather proud of, as he gloated with a picture via Instagram. Perhaps parents ought not to buy their kids guns, and guns should not be so readily accessible to our youth today. Above all else, we need to seriously consider MANDATORY parenting classes in hopes to instruct parents, as well as educators on how to teach healthy coping skills to vulnerable/fragile/mentally unstable teens and young adults.
Video Killed the Radio Star But Can Breathe Life Into Your Brand
Is it truly necessary to continue to spend hundreds, if not, thousands of marketing dollars for a pricey commercial spot during prime time? For major billion dollar companies, it’s a no brainer. They can afford to have a rather lofty budget set aside for an all inspiring cinematic commercial shot at some exotic location. Hey, whatever it takes to get you into that brand new 2015 vehicle.
It’s frightening for many of us to realize that many youth today will never know a time before the Internet. Truth be told, most of us can admit that regardless of what generation we’ve been born into, we now can’t image doing without the Internet.
Back in 1992, the Internet was limited to large companies such as the European Organization for Nuclear Research that launched CERN, which will go down in our history books as the very first website launched. Now days, anyone can create their own website. Simple template-based tools such as Wix and WordPress.com allow anyone with browser access to create a professional site without needing to know a lick of code. Read the rest of this entry »
Writing With Hope 