Happy Birthday, Louvre Pyramid

This year marks the 20^th birthday of the famous pyramid at the Louvre museum in Paris, France. This giant glass structure has not only become a landmark for the museum, it is also a main entrance.

A report on NPR’s website marked this event.

Henri Loyrette, the president and director of the Louvre, is quoted, “When you ask the visitors, ‘Why are you coming to the Louvre?’ they give three answers: For the Mona Lisa, for the Venus de Milo, and for the pyramid”

Yet, according to the article, the pyramid was not always so warmly thought of. When its design was first proposed, many opposed the idea of “tampering” with the appearance of the landmark. And while some still complain that it is out of place, a modern structure amidst historic architecture, there are still more than 8 million people who come to the Louvre each year.

This article caught my attention because I had the opportunity to visit the Louvre four years ago. The overall trip to Europe, through Italy and France, was something I will remember always, and the finale in Paris, seeing the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Louvre only added to the experience. I love coming across bits and pieces about places I’ve had the chance to visit; in the pictures in this article, I got to point out where I had been and I remember entering the museum through the beautiful pyramid.

Happy Birthday!

The Blind Side

I’m not usually one for pitching a movie to this extent, but I saw this movie last weekend and was blown away. For anyone who has seen this movie, I’m sure would feel the same and for anyone who hasn’t, I strongly urge you to see it. (It’s one of those rare movies that’s actually worth the theater ticket).

Based on the true story of Michael Oher, “Big Mike” was taken from his mother by social services early in his life and placed with family members. Bouncing between family members, Michael eventually became homeless and was taken in and provided for by a family whose strong matriarch pushed him to reach his dreams.

Once of the most striking aspects of the film is the contrast between Michael and children who grew up just like him and how he turned out compared to the others. Michael was exceptionally gifted at sports, but had he not been given the opportunities he was given, there most likely would not be a Michael Oher story.

I wonder how many more Michael Ohers are out there, who the world will probably never get to appreciate those individual’s talents and capabilities. The tangled web of domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and child neglect is a difficult snare to climb out of. For this fortunate man, he had help from some very generous people and he climbed to success.

Digital Editing: How far is too far?

Our day to day lives are surrounded by two distinct exposures to human contact: people we see in “real life,” and people we see on television or in magazines. This presents two very different messages to us. On one hand, we see what we believe are real people around us, they look like a lot like the person we see in the mirror; yet, on the other hand, there’s the people on television and in magazines with flawless skin and slender waist lines. Thanks to digital editing, there is a constant disconnect between what we see in the mirror and what we see on a magazine cover.

Magazines and television are both meant to entertain, and in theory people like to see beautiful things; but at what point does the use of digital editing, such as in magazine images, go too far? At what point does digital editing cross the line between basic “cosmetic” touch ups to the sort of editing witnessed in the following video?

Whether we are aware of it or not, we form an emotional bond with the people that entertain us on television and in magazines; it can become difficult for some people when they realize that more often than not we cannot look exactly like a supermodel. What we consider to be “beautiful” is shaped by this exposure.

For some it may lead to a belief that if “that” is beautiful, and what he or she might see in the mirror doesn’t look like that, then he or she is not beautiful. With low self-esteem being an underlying cause for practically every mental-health disorder from depression to eating disorders, this becomes much more severe than some simple make-up re-touching.

The bottom line is this: we can’t look like the face on the magazine. Furthermore, we shouldn’t have to look that way, even if we could. Humanity is defined by its diversity, no two people (even identical twins) are exactly alike. Why should we all have to look one way, then? I find confidence, both in oneself and in one’s interaction with other people, to be far more beautiful than the dazzling magazines.

Toms: A Unique Company

I’ve only recently heard of the shoe company called Toms. They’re a relatively small company; their merchandise can be found solely at their website and they operate out of a single office location.

What is so unique about this company is how they clearly keep operating costs at a minimum. The reason this is unique is found in the mission of their company:

For every pair of shoes purchased, Toms donates a pair of shoes to a child in need.

This company offers consumers an opportunity to purchase a rather exclusive brand of shoe (its design not easy to miss) and help someone else out.

What’s their story?

“In 2006 an American traveler, Blake Mycoskie, befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by caring TOMS customers.

Since our beginning, TOMS has given over 150,000 pairs of shoes to children in need through the One for One model. Because of your support, TOMS plans to give over 300,000 pairs of shoes to children in need around the world in 2009.

Our ongoing community events and Shoe Drop Tours allow TOMS supporters and enthusiasts to be part of our One for One movement. Join us.”

culter jamming!

I thought I would share some neat stuff from one of my other classes. We have been learning about culture jamming. I'm sure we all know what culture jamming is but I found some neat ones and here's some we looked at for that class. Culture jamming is a great way to portray a different side to an advertisement or idea. You can shed light on the truth and take away the advertisers intended message and show the real message behind it.

who is the vice president?

I have a embarrassing story maybe proving how little some of us in the younger generation really know. My dad recently called me very upset saying I have a question I have to ask you. He said who is the vice president? Since I was caught off guard I ask what the heck are you talking about. He said he was watching something on TV and the camera crew was somewhere stopping young people on the streets asking them who the vice president was and then asking them who Angelina Jolie is dating. He was furious because hardly anybody knew that Joe Biden was the vice president but everyone knew that Brad Pitt was dating Angelina Jolie. I was amused myself by this so I went home and ask my roommates the same question. After a long time of ummmmm I know this wait wait finally they both were like I have no clue. Also I forgot to mention of course when my dad asked me I was stumped at first and only remember who it was because in my mind I pictured those Obama Biden signs that were in everyone's' yard. Why is this happening to our generation? So many people have completely wrong and negative thoughts of our generation because of situations like this. Is it selective memory, because honestly we have all heard Biden's name many many times or is it true that majority of us don't care about anything or anybody but ourselves (since we are known as more of a "me" generation). I think this could be a case similar to the "idea teen" seen through MTV that rarely exists but the media chooses to create that image of us young people. What I wonder most is why it doesn't bother us that people think of our generation so negatively?

the best jobs to have in years to come?

I have a fear of being that person I know who graduated with their bachelors or maybe even masters and they can't find a job! This scares me, majority of us are going to graduate college in enormous debt. We are furthering our education in hopes of having opportunities that otherwise wouldn't be available. I couldn't imagine going through semester after semester seeing my dream getting closer and then when it finally arrives left wondering what to do after graduation. This economy scares me and the times these days seem to greatly change even over one year. It's like that video we watched in class, how it said we are preparing students for jobs that don't exist to fix problems that we don't know are problems yet. We really have trust put into our colleges and universities that they will give us the guidance and education we need to attain what it takes to make it to the next level after graduation. I looked up the outlook for careers in a few years here's what I found

I found a great site that lists all careers expected education, salary, outlook over the next ten years. Check it out

http://www.bls.gov/oco/

exams over papers?

At the end of the semester I'm noticing something... I don't have one final exam but final papers in every class. As my friends from other colleges started coming into their week of finals they are saying the same thing, all papers! I'm wondering, do teachers know something that we don't? Personally, test are easier than papers mostly because the abundance of multiple choice and fill in the blanks. Then Ted said that we didn't want an exam instead of our final paper because it would be 100 questions like our quizzes, take home. Well, that still sounds easier to me! : ) Only because you're guaranteed to get correct answers and have the time to look them up. I started to think well our papers are like looking something up also so why am I feeling like papers are so much more work, not to mention they definitely are way more work for the teachers to grade? Then I realized our papers are making us become confident in ourselves as students. To look up the answer for a test out of a book or from your notes, you know you're correct because it's what the teacher said or what that really important guy from your book said. In our papers we can only use that kind of knowledge to back up our own. What we have to say is the focus and the pressure is on us. Hopefully we benefit from all this paper writing, I'm sure we will

Controversy Abroad

Recently there was a news story that sparked my attention. The story was that of the murder case where American, Amanda Knox was accused of killing her British roommate in Italy. Both girls were studying abroad in Italy two years ago when Meredith Kercher was found dead in her room with her throat slashed. Since this incident Knox and her former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito have been held in an Italian prison accused with murder. At the end of last week a trial was finally held and both were convicted of murder, Knox receiving 26 years in prison and Sollecito getting 25. There is much controversy in the case stating that there is no hard evidence to convict the two of such a large crime. Knox is known for a leading bit of a riskay lifestyle and was said to be into crazy sex and drugs. It is being said that when the Italians got word of this lifestyle they immediately did not like Knox and had already decided that she was guilty regardless of any evidence. Americans are in an uproar about this situation and feel as though Knox is innocent and did not receive a fair trial. Living in America it is understandable for people to want to stand behind a fellow American and fight for justice. It is hard to know though whether or not Knox is truly guilty. She might actually be guilty but because she is American people don't want to think that she is. It is hard to determine because it seems as the all of the news outlets are obviously biased toward America and Knox's innocence. The plan for Knox's future is to appeal the case and hopefully have better results in a future trial. At this point it is just hard to say what truly happened on that tragic day in Italy. I have included a link to a video about this incident for those of you who are unfamiliar with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM439vCS258

final blog

Tommy Gaston-

Ok so for my final blog I want to do another random thing. I’m sure all of you saw my digital story on the hunt and know by now that I am big into the outdoors. I was looking for an idea for my last story for professor DeSanto’s class and came across an interesting article on cougars in Missouri (Missouri Coalition for the Environment). For a long time many thought that they were extinct in our state and according to the article, sightings of these cats were placed in the same category as UFOs. But lately evidence has been piling up. Some people have caught video footage and evidence like poo and paw prints have proven they are back. No thanks to human endeavors (meaning no reintroduction plans, game reserves, etc) more and more sightings are taking place. This is significant because it tells us that not only are they surviving in the wild, but thriving and growing in numbers without human help. That does not mean however that we shouldn’t do our part. They are still endangered and need to be protected by law. Not too long ago, a pair of Missouri hunters was prosecuted for illegally killing one. Under the endangered species law in Missouri, the only time it is okay to kill one is if it is attacking a human. It is important to get awareness out about this magnificent cat and to convince local residents that keeping them around would be a beneficial addition to Missouri wildlife.

Well folks it has been a great semester. . . My email is sonofthunder2006@gmail.com if any of you want to contact me

Ok so one last thing before I go: here is tourettes guy, remember he is funny but curses a lot, enjoy

more on violence

I think I agree that there is a fascination with violence on television these days. One particular show that came to mind as I was reading Andrea’s blog was one of my favorites: Monk. It is a show about a detective with a severe OCD but it works to his advantage to solve crimes. The thing that stuck out to me was that if you watch it, when the murder scene happens there is often little if any intense music. I don’t know if this is simply desensitization to violence or simply playing the violence down. I think you could argue it both ways.

I think the trend will continue as long as these kinds of programs occupy most of the air time. Now that I think about it, if I were to turn the TV on right now there are virtually no programs on that do not incorporate some sort of violence. I can recall one time I was watching spongebob with my kid sister (yes I was watching spongebob) and it was an episode where he was trying to entertain a group of kids. Nothing worked until finally he accidentally hurt himself. The kids laughed and he said: “They seem to be amused by my pain.” He then proceeded to an afternoon of self inflicted torture to entertain the kids. Although this is just a kids show and this kind of violence doesn’t seem like a big deal, I think it tells us, like Andrea said, that there is a fascination of violence.

Video Games to TV

In addition to the gore of video games I have found another source of crime and gore that is quite appealing to many. All of the crime shows that are on TV today seem to be quite a hit. CSI alone has several different series. NCIS, 48 Hours Mystery, Cold Case, Without a Trace, the First 48 and so on. I am noticing a trend here, a fascination with violence. It is amazing to me in a country that prides itself on freedom and peace that violence would be so popular in multiple outlets. Now I must say some of these shows can be interesting to try and play detective and solve the case, but bottom line they are presenting a case of violence and ultimately death. Maybe it's because there is daily violence in other countries that the United States does not experience that leaves Americans feeling cheated. Maybe Americans just want to add some excitement to their lives. Or maybe they are just curiuos about police work. Whatever it is, it seems like the fascination is just getting larger and more widespread. It makes me nervous to think what will happen several years from now if this "addiction" continues at the rate it is now. Either there will be an over-population or criminals or cops, I would prefer the latter. Whichever it is, I think it is interesting that these crime related games and shows are so popular and have been for some time now.

25 to Life (Violent Video Game)

Growing up I didn't play many video games probably because when I was younger there weren't many "girly" video games out there. One game I did play though is Super Nintendo Mario. I think everyone can agree this is one of the greatest video games ever even though it is old school. I didn't feel violent while playing it even though I was throwing fire balls and killing different types of creatures to get to the next round. Today video games have progressed and have become more violent then the ones of the past. Video games like Grand Theft Auto have come out since then giving the illusion that stealing and shooting people is only fun. In Grand Theft Auto you can even commit suicide by jumping out of the helicopter. The main question remains, are video games going to far with violence? Today the Grand Council of Guardians have taken games off the shelves like the game 25 To Life. This is one of the most violent video games consisting of gangs and cops. The object of the game is killing and seeing what you can get away with. In the game you choose to be either a cop or a gangster. The whole game consists of blowing up things, picking up prostitutes, and shooting and setting cops on fire. To kids this is very realistic looking and is not always taken as a game. If i was much younger I don't know what I would think of this game considering what I did play at the time. Now that I am older I can distinguish the imaginary to reality but if I was much younger I'm not positive that I would. This is a clip I found on the video game 25 To Life. Enjoy!

Video Game Violence

After reading the last blog I agree that it seems that some people play video games way to much. I remember when I was in high school I would play video games anywhere from four to five hours a day, and this isn't even that bad compared to many other people I know. From all the stressors dealing with work and school now, I try to play just an hour a day, to try and find sometime in my day to relax. One major issue, other than the amount of hours people spend playing video games each and every day, is how playing violent video games contribute to violence in real life. For example, a man that was involved in a school shooting several years ago, would practice killing people through some of the violent video games he would play in his basement.

Growing up I played a wide variety of video games such as games dealing with different types of sports, racing, shooting, killing, etc. However I was never allowed by my parents to play Grand Theft Auto, because they thought the game took things too far, with all the real life scenarios the game entails. This game allowed for people to purchase drugs, witness extremely graphic deaths, high-jack cars, along with many other things. Playing video games similar to GTA growing up, I never felt like I ever became violent or felt the erge to act violent towards another person.

Although I think that there are so many other factors that may contribute to violence in society more than playing video games which display acts of violence, I do think however, as video gaming technology continues to get better, and as some parents may NOT monitor what it is that their children are doing and how this may affect their lives, that violence seen in video games may somewhat contribute to the violence some kids display towards others.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81bVWcjG0xs

No Games for Me

After reading the last post and noticing some of the references about video games it made me realize how I really am not a fan of them. I have never quite understood how people can play a game for hours at a time and not get tired of it. The only game that I used to like was the Sims. When I was younger the Sims was fun to play for a while but even that got boring after a while. Personally, I think this whole virtual world has gotten a bit out of control. It seems like people are spending so much time playing a game when they could be doing other things like work. I know that there are some people that do absolutely nothing except play games and I think that is really sad. It makes me nervous to think what this world will be like several years from now if the social interaction continues to decline. Just the other day in my English class two of my classmates were telling me that they had spent a total of 48 hours playing one game in the last 6 or so days. To me that is outrageous! I cannot imagine s video game being so fun that someone would want to play that much of it. Another thing that is scary is the violence that people are having because of something that took place during a game that they played. In one of my classes we were talking about situations that occurred between people as a result of something that happened in a game. To me that is crazy and ridiculous. For someone to get so mad about something that isn't real does not make any sense to me. I have included a link to a very brief story about a similar situation. I don't know what everyone else thinks but I think this is pathetic!



http://www.gamespot.com/pages/unions/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=27083248&union_id=19004

the virtual self

Ok so for this blog I want to do something random. I’m sure many of you are familiar with the popular m.o.r.p.g.’s (manual online role playing games) like World of Warcraft. We talked a little about them as a possible paper topic in class on Wednesday and the construction of the virtual self online. One of my favorite episodes of South Park deals with World of Warcraft and we can see the construction of the virtual self through the characters of South Park and the characters they play online.



If you ever get a chance to watch the whole episode I highly recommend it. There is one particular part of the episode where Stan’s dad is at the office and we see him talk about the way he built his avatar online. His exact words are “Outside I am a simple geologist, but in here, I am Falcorn defender of the alliance. . .” In the virtual world he made an avatar that was more muscular, better looking, and one that had an overall more interesting life.

This is also true for the main enemy that the boys are trying to defeat. At home the man is overweight, bald, and basically conforms to the kind of sci fi nerd that lives in his mom’s basement stereotype. In the game however he is strong, fast, and kills without provocation. Virtual games like WOW give the player is given the ability to gain power that they would not be able to gain without the game. The player can project the way they see themselves to the world often in a manner free of judgment from others since avatars can also include an alias name.

Helping St. Louis

I do agree with everyone else that there are many people that need help around the holidays and in winter in general. Yes there are homeless people that do need help, but there are also people who do have homes but who can’t afford heat or food, who do also need help.
One of St. Louis’s top non-profit organizations is Heat Up St. Louis. Heat Up St. Louis is partnered with the Rams Football Team, Schnucks, Hardees, Best Buy, and several other local businesses. They raise money for needy families in St. Louis that cannot afford heat in the winter. They also raise money for families who have extremely high medical bills who have to choose between electric and food.
In the summer this organization is called Cool Down St. Louis. This helps families that cannot afford air conditioning in the hot summer months.
Since its inception more than 45,000 people have been impacted with their energy assistance needs in 2002, and 2003 alone. Others counties currently being serviced may not be listed in this presentation. The charity has received more than $750,000 in combined donations in its first few years.
Heat Up St. Louis also hosts fundraising events year round to raise money for the organization. They have “nights out” at sports events, festivals, fashion week, etc.
You can donate money through mail, phone, email, or on their website. Any amount of donations is accepted. Their website is http://www.heatupstlouis.org/.
Another organization that helps with warming up St. Louis, is Warner’s Winter Warm-up. Ex-Rams football player, Kurt Warner, and his wife, Brenda, run this organization. They collect winter coats for the needy. There are drop off places everywhere. To find the closest one to you visit http://www.kurtwarner.org/warmup.html.

How can we help?

So since we are still talking about ways in which we can give back to others I thought about this really cool thing I learned about through my public speaking class. We had to do a speech to persuade someone to act and a girl did hers about these shoe box donations that happen around Christmas time. I know many of us wonder what we can do to help being college students with not a lot of money. An organization called Samaritan’s Purse is doing a shoe box drive. What you do is take a shoe box and choose whether you want to make your box for a boy or girl and around what age. You write that on the outside of the box and then put simple toys/supplies in the box. The best things to send are things that often to us have no value because to us it's a necessity. Hygiene things like toothpaste and socks or things like flashlights and batteries. Markers and other school supplies are also good ideas of what to put in there. By filling the box with inexpensive things you may feel as though you aren't doing much but to these children you are not only giving them things they need but you are giving them the feeling of Christmas. The excitement they feel from receiving something that’s personally to them on Christmas is such joy. I remember when I first moved away from home. That Christmas I got things like pots and pans, silverware, towels, and dishes. I was so disappointed and bummed out because to me this stuff was boring. After participating in things like this I realize that the Holidays are a time to be thankful and give to those who are in need. I found a video on Samaritan’s Purse website of a little boy who opened his shoe box and his reaction compared to mine that Christmas was enough to make me want to help. If you are interested in doing this here’s the link explaining the project and the boxes can be brought to local churches.

Helping out others this holiday

Giving during the holidays is especially important because giving is what the holidays is all about. Not everyone has gifts under a christmas tree or even a family to be with for the holidays. Those that do have these things are very lucky and should appreciate it. Some people have no family to celebrate with and are just lonely, while others don't have enough money to buy nice things for there kids because they are just making enough to keep a roof over their head. Other children don't have a family and are in foster homes not expecting to have a christmas. This holiday season I want to encourage everyone to get out and do something. Whether you are dropping a few dollars in the coin bucket outside Walmart or donating a few toys to donations at the grocery store, doing something little can make a big difference. To end world hunger would cost around 30 billion dollars. Did you know global military and arms trade expenditures hit high at about $1 trillion annually. Approximately $540 billion is spent by the United States alone. Recently was the $700 (and growing) billion housing bailout bill? This means, 4% of the Wall Street bailout would end world hunger Although the government spends a lot of our taxes on things we would not like it to be used, we are also part of the problem. US residents of the waste about 20 billion worth of food every year. That translates to about $31.7 billion U.S. dollars. Everyone can help this situation out by doing something this holiday season.

Economy Affecting The Holidays

As Christmas of 2009 gets closer, it still seems that the economy is showing no real signs of improvement, as many people remain without jobs. Those who find themselves without jobs are finding the expense to purchase Christmas presents to be extremely difficult. To avoid spending money on multiple gifts and spending high dollar amounts on a single person, people instead are making homemade gifts, playing secret Santa, or even putting spending limits on presents for one another. As a result of having a bad economy, more and more people the past few years are trying to do whatever it is necessary to cut back, such as purchasing fewer decorations to place on the outside of their homes to avoid having high electric bills from the displaying of Christmas lights. Another thing people are having to do is celebrate by themselves with their immediate family, rather than spending the money to travel to be with their extended families like in years past.

As a result of the economy, it seems that many people are trying there best just to make it through the holiday by trying to save as much money as possible, along with trying to avoid the great sales and discounts that many companies are offering. In many families, especially mine, Christmas is a time to experience great family traditions. It seems though that the traditional Christmas that so many families are use to experiencing is slowly drifting away.

More on the Holiday Season

I agree that helping those in need and remembering to be thankful for those around us has been a more and more forgotten aspect of the holiday season. With all the deals and sales that capitalist America has come up with, holidays like Christmas have become very commercial. few can see this evident in the fact that at least one Wal-Mart employee is killed every holiday season. Especially now with Thanksgiving just around the corner it is important to remember those less fortunate than ourselves. Maryville University as a community has a philanthropic mission through the Maryville Reaches Out program. Like Adriana said though, it is important to keep things reasonable.

For example my church (St. Louis Family Church) has a food drive going on where you can spend eighty dollars to fill a couple of grocery sacks full to give a local family a nice Thanksgiving. It is a reasonable price and if you don’t want to give the full amount there are envelopes in for the offering where you could label it “food drive” and just put in like ten bucks or something.

Speaking about the true meaning of the holidays this reminds me of Albert Pujols’ campaign to bring Christ back into Christmas. Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All is the message for his campaign. He wants to remind people that above all else Jesus Christ is the most important part of Christmas, not finding sales or filling your Christmas wish list. You can check out the story at KPLR11.com.

I know you guys have probably heard this a lot and I don’t mean to sound cliché when I say this, but this holiday season, no matter what you celebrate or if you celebrate, I would like to encourage you to reconnect with family and friends as well as renew your faith.

And don’t get me wrong I don’t mean to shove gospel down anyone’s throat but for me Christmas is a big deal. Not because of the presents (even though they are great), but about the coming of my Savior Jesus Christ. He came not to be served but to serve, to seek and save that which was lost. Here is a cool video that means a lot to me, I hope you all enjoy it.

Giving to the Needy

I think that especially during the Holidays it is important to help out those in need. I think that during all the hustle and bustle of the season people often forget to think about others who have nothing. That being said I think there are some good ways to go about helping people. During the Holidays there are often several drives going on. At the local malls there are always large bins collecting toys for children in need. The bell ringers for the Salvation Army provide a great opportunity to give to the needy. If everyone that came out of stores donated the coins they got from their purchase, the Salvation Army would be able to make a huge difference. Other great places to help are with food drives and clothing drives. Currently at Maryville there are several drives going on. There is a tree in the DUC with ornaments listing Holiday wish lists of families in need. There are bins all around campus collecting food. Soon (hopefully) there will be boxes scattered around collecting peanut butter and jelly for those who do not have any food. With all of these great opportunities within reach I think that people can really make a difference this season for all those who need help. Whenever I see a food drive or something going on I feel instantly compelled to donate food. It makes me think that because I can afford to buy food I need to share with those who can. It also makes me think that if I were in need of food I would desperately want someone to help me out. These days in this economy financial stability is so unpredictable and so I try to keep in mind that I could just as easily be begging for food myself. This Holiday season many are without food that have never had to worry about it in the past. These are not necessarily just bums on the streets anymore. Many people who are suffering have had job, and good jobs at that. Unfortunately, in these tough times so many have lost work and need to the support of others more than ever. I think that it is important to keep in mind whenever you see a food drive or toy drive that people are desperately in need.

Helping the homeless

When I think about living in California and the vast amount of homeless people I wonder if this has anything to do with why I don't give every person I see here in St. Louis money or some sort of help. I'm on the other side of the fence where if I don't give at least a dollar to someone I see I feel extremely terrible for the rest of the day. My friends always voice to me how dangerous this is and all the ifs? Now I not completely irrational such as if it's late at night or I'm walking to my car after work I'm of course not going to stop and give someone money because I feel that is more dangerous than rolling down my car window and a four way intersection during the day. I think back to be a child and my dad being the same way. Every time he seen a homeless person he would give them money and I guess I learned to do the same. Moving to L.A I realized wow I will be broke if I give every person I see money. There were days you would see at least 20 homeless people and if you went downtown you would see even more. They had little areas where 30 or more would all sleep and hang out. I began to become desensitized to the feeling of guilt I had for them. I would see signs that said, I'm not going to lie I just need another hit, or I would watch somebody give someone money and as soon as the person pulled away the man would be in the store buying liquor or cigarettes. Then I wonder is it even our business what they do with the money we give them? Do we really think they should save up for weeks and weeks just to buy a new outfit or groceries or do we really think they should save up for months to be able to deposit on a place to live? I feel like those things aren't realistic because to better themselves fully they need more than just our dollars here and there. They need a shelter and a great program like people below have been speaking of to help get their life on track. Coming back home to St. Louis I don't like to completely ignore the fact that these people are standing outside my car so if they are "selling" something like candy or something small I will give them money because I feel like they are doing a little bit more than begging and they also don't seem as dangerous. I wish I could give every person I see a home cooked meal and help to last a lifetime but in this day we just can't. It being so close to the Holidays there is a lot of great things we can do in St. Louis to help. I found a site that list over 20 different programs and organizations here in St. Louis that could use our help. I was shocked at home many things we can really do to help. CHECK IT OUT

Operation Food Search

I agree with how sad it is that St. Louis has such a high percentage of homeless people. Not everyone can help each one individually but there are some things you can do to help a majority of them. At my old high school, Lutheran South we would have a Faith in Action day every semester. This meant that two days out of the school year the whole school would go to different sites throughout the St. Louis area and help out those in need. The first time I went my group went to the School of the Blind and helped clean up and paint the old rooms to get them back into use. Another time we picked up trash throughout the city and helped people get their cluttered yards cleaned up. After going on these two sites I thought I had seen a lot, that was until my group went to Operation Food Search. This organization is huge with over 1,000 volunteers and has so many things they do to help out many different types of people in different situations. Operation Food Search helps feed over 100,00 people (half of them children) each month with over a million pounds of donated (nutritious) food. They have helped out so many family's with not only food. One of there most important projects is operation backpack. This is what my group did when we visited Operation Food Search. Did you know that 85% of public students in St. Louis rely on free or reduced price meals during the school week but come to a empty fridge on the weekends. This program gives the children a backpack on Fridays filled with nutritional snacks and food. The children keep the backpacks all weekend and return them on Mondays so the cycle can continue. If anyone is wanting to donate food or money to an organization, I highly recommend this one.

help available for homeless in st. louis

Ok so I can see the problem with the homeless in terms of the cycle of poverty. Sometimes people will stay in a bad situation because that is all they know. In terms of the psyche this can be a hard hole to climb out of and many were not always in that hole to start with. I looked and found an online news report from ksdk on the homeless population in St. Louis. One of the psychologists from the St. Patrick Center in St. Louis said that the cycle of poverty can in some ways be a self fulfilling prophecy. For some people there has never been a drive for success created.

Growing up I always saw my parents working their fingers to the bone and their drive to achieve was unsurpassed. So for me it is kind of hard to understand how someone can have no motivation. For me hard work comes naturally and I often feel guilty if I am not working or doing something.

One problem with the cycle of poverty can be trauma. In the online report there was a veteran who returned to St. Louis and had a tough time returning to civilian life. He found his only comfort in alcohol and drugs until he fell into a slump and spent most nights in an abandoned lobby tripped out on drugs.

The economic downturn is also partly to blame for the current growth in the homeless population. KSDK reported that many St. Louis residents are losing their homes due to loss of income, fewer jobs available, etc.

The St. Patrick Center in St. Louis is one of those places where the homeless can go to get help but only if they are willing to help themselves.

Here is the link if you guys want to watch the video

http://www.kmov.com/localnews/stories/kmov-stlouisnews-081008-shared-stl-homeless.f44ae693.html

Beggers or Con Artists

Often when people sue it is basically just another way to get money. These days a lot more people are in need of money and they are going to drastic measures to get it. Have you ever seen people standing in intersections begging for money? These people are called panhandlers. Often, they stand around at the same intersection day in and day out. Just yesterday I saw two people standing in the same intersection but on opposite sides of the street. In the time that I was sitting at the red light two people gave the man money. I don't know how you all feel about this but I have a hard time justifying donating money to a panhandler. I have these preconceived notions that all panhandlers to is take the money and dig themselves deeper into their hole of poverty. I have often wanted to bring them food but am afraid to do so. As I was on my way to Starbucks I was tempted to buy an extra coffee for the man but I could not bring myself to do so. This could just be me being scared but I cannot bring myself to donate to the cause of a panhandler. Donating to charity is something that I am very passionate about but for some reason I find this to be drastically different. I realize that there are many many people out there who actually do need the help. Unfortunately, too many people beg for money when in reality they need help instead. I don't know how it is in other places but in St. Louis County it seems that the same people beg on the same corners every day. Always seeing the same people discourages me even more from giving them money. To know that these people are not doing anything to help themselves makes me kind of mad. I would like to see a decline in the amount of panhandlers that stand on corners. I don't know what the solution would be but it is getting ridiculous.

Has America become "Sue Happy"?

Speaking of being sued and copyright…I recently wrote an article for Dr. Barb DeSanto’s class about Dr. Mark Lombardi (Maryville President) being sued by his former employer.
First off, I used the word “scandal” in my article and Dr. Barb informed me that I could be sued just for using that word.
I think it’s stupid that everything you say or do in everyday life can get you sued and paying fines and going to jail. I agree with Kim, I think it’s starting to become ridiculous what people are getting in trouble for these days. Kim talked about how Disney sued that daycare because they had Disney characters on the wall, I think that’s outrageous. Disney clearly has enough money, so why sue a small day care center over something that silly?
I googled on the internet just to see what kinds of stupid things people and companies sue each other over. Here’s a few interesting ones I found…An iPod user sued Apple over hearing loss…A man sued his church after his house was destroyed by Hurricane Hugo and was called “An Act of God”…People suing McDonald’s because it made them fat…A man was arrested, while in jail he sued himself for the stupidity of doing the crime and allowing himself to get arrested. He sued himself for 5 million dollars.
Since he was a ward of the state, he asked that the state pay the 5 million on his behalf…A woman bought coffee at McDonald’s, spilled it on herself and burned herself, she sued McDonald’s…
Has America become “sue happy”? YES. YES. YES. People need to quit being lazy, get decent jobs and quit blaming others for stupid things and trying to sue them and get money that way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xsGqtjuPaM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ouV-4_epko

Ellen Degeneres Being Sued

After reading the last post I was very interested because I watch Ellen Degeneres all the time and had no idea that she was being sued. I can't believe that they are taking it this far and sueing her when all she is doing is promoting there music. It makes me mad because all she is doing is promoting their music. Im sure a majority of people could have bought the songs after hearing it on her show. This reminds me of Disney and how they sued a Day Care center for millions because they had Disney characters on their walls. Companies that go out of there way to ruin other peoples lives and take there money for really no reason makes me sick. Ellen Degeneres does not deserve to be sued for promoting their music. In the Day Care case I don't think it was right to sue them because kids love Disney characters. This promoted Disney movies to the children at the Day Care and encouraged the parents of these kids to show them these movies. I got on YouTube to see if I could find a news video of what all happened and I found this really funny news video kind of like The Onion. They are pointing out how it is stupid of them to sue Ellen when the show is promoting their music. The video goes back and forth with whether they should have sued or not and one of the guys in it is pretty funny.

Copyrights- DeGeneres Show Is Being Sued

The producers of The Ellen DeGeneres Show are being sued by some of the world's largest recording companies (Warner Music Group Corp, Sony Corp's Sony Music Entertainment, Vivendia SA's Universal Music Group, autednd EMI Grup), for using their songs without permission. The show is distributed and produced by various divisions of Time Warner Incorporated, all of which are co-defendants in the case, and although Ellen's name isn't specifically named in the lawsuit, her company is. The lawsuit states that the show has used more than 1,000 different songs illegally, without acknowledging the record companies first or receiving the proper licensing to play the songs. Most of the songs the show has illegally used are played during Ellen's popular introduction by a DJ during the beginning of the show.

The lawsuit states," As sophisticated consumers of music, defendants knew fully well that, regardless of the way they rolled, under the Copyright Act... they needed a license to use the sound recordings lawfully."

In a statement made by Warner Bros Group Corp, they said they had been working with the labels for "many months" to resolve the issue of how the songs will be used on the show, "after years of a good working relationship between the parties. It is unfortunate that the record labels have resorted to filing a suit over a straight forward business dispute which the show has always been prepared, and remains willing, to resolve on a micable and reasonable terms."

I'm somewhat disturbed by the greed showed by these music labels in suing The Ellen DeGeneres Show for the free promption of their music. I understand the show illegally used such music, but the show is highly viewed worldwide, and it was a great way to promote these songs, as millions of people have downloaded the songs they've heard from watching the show. Perhaps these music companies could have gone about this situation in a different way, and still alow for the show to play its music without having to go through a lawsuit.

more on social networking

The latest blog was really cool. I definitely think that the newest trend in social evolution in our society is the online networking site. Millions of people log on everyday to see what their friends have posted on their facebook walls and to check their status on myspace. I know some people who use multiple websites to keep in touch with others or to just kill time. I have a buddy who makes new friends and actually goes out to physically meet these people (whether or not that is the smartest idea I don’t know).

These sites are fascinating to me; I guess in part because I don’t use any of them. I will look occasionally just to see if any old friends have an open page just to see what they are doing. These websites are becoming more and more popular because of the demanding and hectic schedules of American life. I wrote an article about it in the school paper if any of you care to hear more.

But Whitney pointed something out that I feel is very true and needs to be addressed. People can and often do go overboard with social networking. I found a very interesting article online about Facebook Addiction Disorder. The author in this article makes a prediction that a new field of psychological study will involve addiction to networking websites. The author’s friend checks her facebook page dozens of times a day. In the car in traffic, at the office, at home, etc. I believe this is a growing issue and it is one of those things that can happen to anyone.

Found this video online; one of many that describes some of the signs of a facebook addict.

Social Networking

I kind of decided to do a random blog post because so much has been done on the last few blog post subjects. I actually decided to so mine on social networking in today’s world.
A social network is basically a person who comes together with other people, usually with something in common and can be socially involved with one another.
There are many different kinds of social networking sites. The more popular sites are YouTube, Blogster, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, AIM, Bebo, Classmates, Flickr, LinkedIn, Xanga, etc. These websites are all aimed toward a different audience.
What suddenly made social networking sites such a craze? According to some statistics I found, time spent on social networking sites has tripled over the past year.
People are so drawn to these websites because why? They are easy to use, free, and keep you “in touch” with everyone in a single click. Social networking sites have also now become a means of meeting people. Social networking sites remove the normal barriers of time and distance. People also love themselves. These sites are ways to put YOUR opinion and information out there for everyone else to see, and comment on.
It seems like every new social networking sites comes out of nowhere and is the new “it” thing for a while, until people move on to the next site. Social networking sites have become the equivalent to teens hanging out at the mall a few years ago. Social networking sites are predicted to go just as fast as they have come.
It’s getting a little ridiculous though. I’m one of those Facebook “addicts” for sure, but even I know when enough is enough. When I get on Facebook and see my GRANDMA’S updates status, I realize that it’s gotten to that point. I mean, yes I love keeping in touch with everyone, and seeing what everyone is up to, and I refuse to get rid of it, but all it really causes is drama. But there are a lot of good things that do some out of social networking sites, not all are like Facebook and Myspace. People blog about things they care about and are passionate about.

www.youtube.com
www.facebook.com
www.myspace.com
www.twitter.com

Benefits to Working for the Union

Now I'm not for or against working for the union, but I do however see both the positives and negatives that deal with working for the union. Since the last blog talked about some of the negatives that come with working for the union, I wanted to discuss some of the benefits that come with working for the union.

Some positives that come with working for the union include guarantee wages, health benefits, a secure pension, and a better work environment. Guarantee wages is a great benefit to have as it lets employees know when they are up for their next raise, along with letting employees know what they can expect to earn throughout their career with the company they work for. Having health benefits is something that many people are looking to recieve from there employers, as more and more employers are refusing to offer their employees such benefits as a result of our expensive health care system. Having job security is also a benefit to working for the union. Non union workers can be fired or the conditions of a particular employee can be changed at anytime for almost any reason. Although all these benefits are not always guaranteed, and as our economy struggles more and more every day, perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to try and get a job working for the union.

History has shown that when unions are going strong, health coverage strengthens, wages go up, and pensions improve. But when unions are weak like they are today as a result of our current economy, it puts our communities, families, and jobs, all in danger.

I know this video goes against what I was saying, but I thought it was a great discussion that shows the positives and negatives of having unions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSlFzdH8Xj4

Unions Causing More Issues

After reading the last blog it sparked something in my mind about unions. Throughout high school and even today, when I look for a job a union is something that I want to avoid. There were several jobs in high school that I would have enjoyed doing but I didn't want to belong to a union. For example, I thought that being a checker at a grocery store would be an okay job so I decided to check into it. Before I picked up an application I talked to one of my friends who was currently working at a local grocery store. His initial reaction to the thought of me wanting a checking job was not a positive one. He told me that he worked for a month before he saw any kind of paycheck. By the time the initial union membership fees and other fees were taken out it was a while before he actually got any money. Once the initial union dues were paid he had continual deductions taken out of each paycheck in addition to taxes and such. I was immediately turned off to the idea of working at a grocery store after this. The thought of money being taken away from me that wouldn't be at a different job sounded like a horrible idea. Needless to say, I never applied for the job.

Another instance that came to my mind was about a time that my sister-in-law's father's small business dealt with union issues. There was some work that needed to be done on the business, and seeing that it was small he decided to higher non-union workers. Somehow union officials got wind of this and had a fit. The day that the workers showed up to repair the business, union picketers also showed up. They were trying to convince the public not to use the business' services because they did not higher union workers. Being a small business it is just not practical to pay the additional fees of hiring union workers. Because this is such a prominent small business, no customers were lost because of the picketing. However, for some businesses this is not the case.

I have included a video from YouTube about unions taking money from paychecks and things that they fail to do. The video is an instructional video for new Walmart associates.

more on competitiveness the union

So the conversation we’ve had recently points out that America has seemed to have lost much of its competitive edge in the world today. I can recall many economic discussions from my workplace and from Professor Bruce Welz at St. Charles Community College.

I guess this is a touchy subject but I’d like to get some feedback on this blog: UNIONS.

The debate seems to rage on about whether or not workers unions are a good thing. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not preaching one way or the other. I have relatives that were part of workers unions so I understand the importance to have them. On the other hand as a student of business I have seen the other point of view that unions have the ability to hurt a company’s competitive edge.

When my mother worked for the phone company she pretty much had to fight to get paid. “Yes, I did not receive my paycheck.” “Oh sorry I guess it got lost in the mail.” After not receiving her paycheck and the company’s reluctance to help resolve the situation my mother gave the union a call and got her check within the week. Unions have helped many workers avoid exploitation by their employers but the argument these days is that unions are helping employees exploit their companies.

Professor Bruce Welz said in lecture that he had taken a tour through the GM Motor Plant and told us about an interesting scene. On one section of an assembly line a recent innovation had made a two person job a one person job. Yet according to union policy it was a two person job. In the room he witnessed one person working on the line while the other was sitting down reading a magazine. After one worked a while they would switch off. Both were being paid for a full day’s work but only working half a day.

I believe the problem is that unions treat the company (the establishment) as their enemy and are reluctant to be flexible when trying to reach a compromise. On the other hand without them many companies would strip their employees of many benefits and reduce their pay buy significant margins.

Where do we tow the line?

Evolution of Techology

I was going to make my blog random and discuss the video in Whitney and I's case study but the last blog went straight to my point. So thanks, I guess : )! Anyway this is the video Whitney and I used for an example on our Case Study relates to our case study and the last blog in many ways. We found it on YouTube and thought that it went good with our presentation because it shows not only how we the United States have advanced but how other countries have advanced as well. It discusses how the world is always changing and there are always new opportunities coming along. An example of this is what we talked about in class with jobs. When we graduate there will be thousands of new jobs that did not exist this year. This is a good thing but can also be frustrating when trying to plan your major for something that doesn't even exist yet. This video relates to our presentation on the inventions side because it gives an idea that inventions are invented daily and most of the time they are made by mistake. An example we used of this was the internet which was originally invented for the military as a way of staying and touch and today is now one of the most common things that people us today. Now the internet is used by individuals, business and pretty much everyone that has a computer. Here is the video if you wanted to watch the rest since Whitney and I didn't have time to finish it in class. I suggest that you watch the whole thing because it is very interesting

Asia's competitive edge

It is true that Asia is going to be the next leader of the world in many different arenas. The sheer will and mentality of the Asian psyche reflects this less than new trend.

I have personal experience in examining this psyche. In high school I took the Chinese foreign exchange student to prom and had the opportunity to examine what made her tick.

As a student in our school she was very aggressive compared to the rest of us. My last semester was mostly blow off classes to coast the remainder of my year. She on the other hand took four college credit classes and entry level French and Spanish (both of which were being taught to her in English when her English was still shaky). I remember talking to her host mother and she told me that the Chinese culture in general has a drive that its American counterpart does not.

The Japanese auto markets are a testament to Asian ingenuity. For the past several years Japanese car makers have innovated both in process management and personnel training and company culture. I can recall an interview with a former GM employee who worked in quality control. To make a long story short the plant manager sent the defective car down the line and the employee felt that his job was pointless because his voice was ignored. After the plant went into a joint venture with a Japanese firm everything changed. Workers opinions were valued and quality control became a top priority.

On a stronger note most economists say that China, not the US will be the global powerhouse in terms of economic strength within the next two decades. The world of business is evolving and if American firms are going to survive then they must evolve with it.

Japan's Education compared to the U.S

I started thinking about how everyone was talking about what the U.S has or doesn't have compared to other countries.

I found something really interesting comparing in detail Japan’s educational system compared to the U.S.

“This document presents a comparative analysis of education in Japan and the United States. The report explores differences between U.S. and Japanese culture. While the United States may be characterized by its diversity, Japanese culture is distinctive in the extent of its uniformity. Japan, moreover, has a highly centralized educational system; U.S. education is extremely decentralized. Education is compulsory in both countries, until age 16 in most U.S. states, and until 15 in Japan. While many students in the United States work or participate in other activities, Japan tends to view schooling as a student's job. Japanese students face a longer school year and a more rigorous, government controlled curriculum than do their U.S. counterparts. In Japan, teaching is a more highly respected and rewarded field than it is in the United States. There are major attitudinal differences concerning schooling in the two countries. The United States tends to emphasize students' abilities, while the Japanese place greater emphasis on persistence and personal responsibility. From the Japanese system, the United States can learn: (1) the true value of taking education seriously; (2) the need to raise academic standards; and (3) the ability to spend wisely on education.”

http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/13/a7/47.pdf

I highly recommend that if you have the time, to read the whole thing. It talks about how it all begins with Japanese culture having deep roots in Confucian ideas and values, with a large respect for learning. In Japan they are taught how to conform to social structure where as in the U.S we test the boundaries and pursue our own wants and desires. The U.S is characterized by our individualism and we hold high our countries freedom of individuality. Our life pursuits are more often spent on personal endeavors only thinking about our own well being and happiness. In Japan the harmony of the society as a whole. An interesting point the author made was about our geographical differences. Japanese live in an area equivalent to the size of California while the U.S has wide vast amounts of land to build a society in. The openness of our land makes it better for experimentation, moving around, being open to new ideas, and growing individually. The crammed society of Japan learns from early on that life is easier to get along and share common values and outlooks on things. There are so many other things that set us apart including our families and the way we are raised. In America discipline is nothing compared to that of Japanese culture. Children in Japan are taught at a very young age to respect and listen to their elders. They are influenced by their family more than anything else. Here in the U.S it’s as if children are more influenced by their peers and in some cases parents aren’t even around enough because of jobs which leads to us not wanting to listen or respect their authority at a young age. We learn how to take care of ourselves and form our own opinions. The paper I read is really interesting and shows how the U.S really needs to raise their education standards to change where education falls on Americans priority lists.