Centro Goes Public

For all those who heard me whine about feeling left out because Centro chose not to publish a blog, I have news! Centro Guadalupano will be publishing a permanent version of the blog created as a private blog.

After I finish this post, I will begin to transfer all the blog posts to a public site for Centro Guadalupano. Proof positive that you can make change happen by moving foward! I think the blog will be very helpful and draw people to the organization.

His Rights are Important if Only to Save Mine

Step back and take a breath America! Take a good look at the national news media and tabloid journalism. News articles are written intending to get people in an uproar just to boost circulation. Take, for example, the Pink Slime issue. The reality is that all meat gets a puff of ammonia on it and this practice began in the 1970s. Consider the fact that the ability to use more of an animal killed for food should be a good thing. Very few news providers put these facts forward.

Another example, is the Zimmerman case in Florida. People were getting ready to form lynch mobs over the Trayvon murder, not realizing that this should ensure that Zimmerman is acquitted. Where in the United States will he be able to get a fair trial? America, please, we need to read a piece of news then step back and take a breath. Think about what you should do, and how you should interpret your news.

We want to ensure our legal rights are provided, yet we refuse to see that regardless of the circumstances, all people have a right to due process. When news is sensationalized to the extreme, we are potentially creating an injustice.

Journalists and news media need to be reminded that news is not supposed to be a drama or soap opera. It is supposed to be informing people of what is happening in the world.

Really, We Can't Even Trust the Red Cross!

Red Cross caught red-handed? On the Red Cross’s Blood Drive FAQ, it is stated that only about 2% of blood is discarded due to tests coming back positive or false positive for contamination.

However, after 9/11 the Red Cross destroyed almost 50,000 pints of excess blood because it wasn’t needed. Other blood centers were somewhat disgusted by what the Red Cross was doing, asking for continual donations of blood when obviously people were dead and blood wasn’t needed. The Red Cross freely admits that blood has only a 42-day shelf life before it is unusable. The Red Cross said the blood would be used or frozen in plasma for future use. Of 100,000 units, fewer than 10,000 made it into plasma.

It really makes a person wonder if there might be a better place to make a personal donation.

Another Wal-Mart Sleight of Hand

I really had a problem with Mainwaring using Wal-Mart as a good corporate citizen. Their practices have been questionable in many areas. Once more, Wal-Mart shows that sleight of hand is alive and well in America. Wal-Mart has launched a urban wildlife revitalization campaign in five major cities. It shows their concern for the environment.

However, what the public may or may not know is that Wal-Mart has been selling furniture since 2007 that was made from lumber logged illegally from habitats protected for Siberian tigers. When Wal-Mart got caught they promised to stop...by 2013. How much damage is being done, all the while people think Wal-Mart is helping the environment?

Two Wrongs Don't Make it Right

We need to learn that what is good for the goose in NOT good for the gander. As people may or may not know there is a viral video on the Internet that shows a bus monitor being harassed and verbally abused on the bus. As a result, a vacation fund was established for her, again on the Internet. It has collected $530,000 in only 36 hours. This is a wonderful outpouring. Once again, people rise to the occasion for wrongdoing. However, the children that made this video, and one innocent child, are now being attacked and harassed in turn. These children, where the oldest is approximately 13, are getting death threats over this incident. Yes, they did behave in a horrible manner. However, there is no reason for the public at large to form a lynch mob. Additionally, one of the children named, that also is receiving death threats, was NOT a part of the incident. In fact, he was never on the bus!

In this instance, calling people to action through blogs and video is not such a great thing. Most parents agree that if their child did something so ugly on a bus, the child would be punished. It really isn’t the place of the general public to “bully back.”

Personal Vent

I have come to the conclusion that a few issues with organization in blogs and true/false quizzes.

It is very difficult for me to be spontaneous in blogging. I want to think everything through and plan out how it will look, what the purpose will be, etc. Having a long list of blogs on various topics just doesn't coordinate with my mind. I know I like things sequential, and I can be spontaneous. Apparently, not in blogging, which sort of defies the whole purpose of many blogs. That being said, I have learned to enjoy some blogs. I've even started looking for blog information with different technology that I use...now that IS scary!!

My second vent is true/false quizzes. I really don't like them. I always think too deep or question the motive of the statement. Yes, I admit to paranoia where true/false quizzes are concerned. I always want to have a place where I can qualify my response. Does that mean I'd make a good politician?

Home 4 Life

Home 4 Life is a no-kill animal sanctuary located in the St. Croix Valley of Minnesota. They take on cats and dogs that are elderly, handicapped, ill or have behavioral challenges and provide them with shelter and medical attention for the duration of their life. They also do community outreach programs in the Twin Cities. This connects the dogs with people in nursing homes and hospitals. Home 4 Life is funded solely by donations. I ask you today to visit the site, browse some of the different animals stories, and consider donating your time or money to this wonderful organization.

Watch this short video to learn more

Donate!

Facebook Obsession

Facebook has become a household name around the world. People log on every day to post about their activities, likes, dislikes, and converse with friends. The social media site has a lot to offer users. It allows them to store pictures, create life time lines, listen to their favorite music, share videos, etc.

But who is really gaining here; Facebook users, or Facebook itself?

Every day users enter endless data about themselves into this social media site. It is scary to look at the future plans of Facebook and what they might be doing with this information. This video goes into more detail about the progression of the worlds most popular way to connect.

Wallerstein, Zen, Change

Immanuel Wallerstein  said "every little action by every person at every moment effects the outcome  .  .  ." in an interview about the end of capitalism. The outcome he was referring to was the economic/social-political system that will replace the current one.

This statement struck me, because I have heard so many others say something similar. Or at least I thought I did. I don't have the option of finding every quote referring to this and citing it but no matter. The information is more important than the source anyway, especially for these purposes.

Dan Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior, and other books once said that the one piece of advice he'd give someone when they are in need is "be here now."

I remember hearing a Dharma talk at the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center one time in which the person giving the talk said the same thing. But, he took it to the next level bridging the gap between Millman's idea of being in the moment when in need and Wallerstein's idea that every moment and every action affects the entire system we live in. The MN Zen Center guy said that the way we change the world is by taking care of ourselves at every moment. He said that we need to be present, be awake, and this is how we change the world. When we do something as simple as closing the car door we do it with our full being.   

I've also heard and read Brad Warner (Zen priest, writer, blogger, musician) say a similar thing. I remember him communicating that when 911, or some such tragedy, happened, his teacher, Gudo Wafu Nishijima, went to Israel and began to teach meditation there. Idea being, that the more we are able to wake up to the present moment, the more we are able to function in a way that will reduce the risk of destroying the human race. So, we ought to teach the world this skill—Israel being as good as place as any to continue the teaching I suppose.

I think it takes a leap of faith to believe that the above people's ideas mentioned are correct regarding the benefits of living in the moment and being present—might be a stretch to say that's exactly what Wallerstein was getting at—but I also think there is some degree of evidence to suggest that our conscious mind should not always be trusted as the most intelligent aspect of our decision making body. Some researchers point out here that the subconscious mind is better suited for making complex decisions. Perhaps, when we are able to live in the moment we are free to let our subconscious mind more effectively peacefully live with others in the world.

Coming to a Mall Near You...

You know those annoying people that try to pressure you into taking a survey at the mall? That is going to be me next week. I work for a market research company. My job usually consists of making telephone calls to people that have signed up to do focus groups. Being at the mall, trying to "sell" people on doing a survey for $10 sounds like hell on earth to me.

Wish me luck.

Is the World Changing its Privacy Level?

Since the beginning of time there have been gaps in the opinions of older and younger generations. We all remember those arguments with our parents when they would tell us to put away the video games and go outside like they did when they were younger. Opinions related to music, leisure, and dating all vary from generation to generation.

According to the video Growing Up Online, there is yet another gap in the opinions of generations; this time having to do with privacy. It seems younger generations are much less concerned with privacy compared to older generations. Many link this change with the growth of the Internet.

The video highlights the negative effects this may have on Internet use, such as online predators having access to underage children's information. They cover the bullying epidemic and teen suicide as well.

Surely the effects can not all be negative. What are some positive effects of growing up online? Think about class discussions and how the Internet creates new ways to make social change.

Gay Agenda

After learning about RSS feeds and podcasts in class, I subscribed to Ted Talks.  I've learned many valuable new things by listening to these each day.  One of my favorite's so far is the video below about the gay agenda.  Remember this argument when you vote on the marriage amendment on November 6, 2012.

What's your Online Persona?

Comparing a person's online persona to the way they act in real life is quite interesting. It's true that people act differently in an online setting than they do in their personal lives, but why is this?

The world of online gaming is a great place to examine the ways people take on different personas. Online gaming creates an atmosphere close to that of anarchy. It's almost as if anything goes while playing. So are online games telling of how people would act if they lived in a lawless world?

Take a look at the article The 7 Biggest Dick Moves in Online Gaming for some examples on how players take on different personas to carry out schemes they would never follow through with in real life. They rob other players, destroy property, hire assassins, murder, and even spread disease to their fellow gamers.

Then read The Psychology of Cyberspace to tap into some possible reasons on why this alteration of self takes place. What personality characteristics do the players in the article display?

How do you present yourself online? Do you think that you are more or less inhibited? What are some positive and negative results of changing your personality for the Internet?

These are all great questions to ask as we all become more connected with the World Wide Web.

Affordable Health Care

Our health care system is indisputably flawed.  It’s increasingly expensive, convoluted, and frustrating.  I’m a Type 1 diabetic.  I pay a lot of money every month for doctor’s visits, prescriptions, and my health insurance.  I’m definitely a proponent for affordable health care. 

The best way to guarantee affordable health care to every individual in the United States is NOT to provide universal health care.  Health care controlled by the government would be a nightmare.  Imagine if legislators were the ones to draw the lines on what was absolutely necessary for your health. 

The best way to guarantee affordable health care to every individual in the United States is to completely get rid of health insurance all together.  I know it’s a scary thought, but it makes sense on many levels.  The John Stossel video below discusses some of the reasons why getting rid of health insurance would save us money.  

If getting rid of health insurance completely is too much of a stretch, what about being able to choose what you want to be covered for instead?  If given the choice, how many men would choose to pay for insurance that covers prenatal care?  How many menopausal women would chose a policy that included birth control?

As part of our health insurance premiums, we’re paying for coverage of things that we’re at absolutely no risk for, but we currently don’t have a choice.  This system could also potentially help curb behaviors that are harmful to your health.  Imagine if the cost of coverage for cancer was tripled by the risk factor of smoking?  Maybe people would reconsider some of their unhealthy habits if there were a price tag attached.      

I also want to tie the concept into what we learned in class this semester.  Health care is the largest industry in the United States.  If the government takes it over, we lose the capability to steer that entire industry to become more sustainable with the concepts we’ve learned.

CraftZine

What is Craft Zine ?

Find out about on here!

Social Media as a TOOL!

Please read it on my TUMBLR!

Same Old Arguments

                While aimlessly clicking my away around the internet at work early this morning, I came across an article that Fox News published. The article is an opinion piece written by communications consultant Jon Kraushar. The article is basically a simplistic rundown of all the ways that Obama has failed and is failing as a president and why it is time for a change from the current leadership.

                Now, I tend to agree that Obama has not been a very effective president and has failed to deliver on several of the grandiose promises he campaigned on. However, that is a completely different conversation. I think that Kraushar’s article is for the most part meritless. It comes off as petty.

                Kraushar discredits himself as soon as he starts listing his grievances against Obama, writing “You are out partying at Hollywood fundraisers while millions of people are out of work.” This is a complaint you hear often about politicians and presidents, but to suggest that Obama is more guilty of it than any other president in the past is ridiculous. Presidents spend a large amount of time at different fundraisers, black-tie events and other high profile “Hollywood” events. This is not something that is new. While it could be argued that sitting presidents do spend too much of their time on these types of things, it is by no means something that has just started with President Obama.

            Kraushar goes on, “Your spending is out of control while taxpayers are out ever more money to fund your bailouts and handouts for special interests that are special to you.” Again, he is not totally off-base to say that spending by the government is out of control. However, this is a problem that existed before Obama took office. Obama took over in the midst of the worst economic crisis we have seen since the Great Depression. He was not the one who started large corporate bailouts for banks and financial companies. To place the blame for the American economy squarely on him is ridiculous.

            Kraushar does present some valid arguments. However, I was turned off to him immediately because he led with such cheap, unfounded claims that were simply meant to get a reaction out of people. It really devalued his opinion. The beauty of America is that you are allowed to write articles like this if you are unhappy with the president. However, it would better serve the writer to come up with some fresh, valid points as opposed to the same tired, old ones.

Two Reasons to Support Universal Healthcare

It's not hard to make a case for universal health care. We can argue about the nitty gritty details on how it ought to work, but let's not. Let's save that argument for another day. Right now, I'd simply like to argue that all people ought to have health care. Two reasons back my argument: (1) we pay for health care one way or another, so let's admit that and budget for it, and (2) our dependence on costly health insurance discourages people from venturing out on their own away from companies able to provide health insurance.

If I get hit by a car and lack health insurance, do you think that a hospital is going to help me? Yes, of course it will if the practitioners there want to honor their Hippocratic Oath or if they practice in a region that has a good Samaritan law requiring them to do so. So, who pays if I don't have insurance or the money to fund the care? We all pay. One way or another, you and I pay. We pay the bill with the money put toward taxes, or we pay it in increased medical bills or some other way. Let's just stop kidding ourselves, and cover everyone's medical expenses from the get go.

Still hesitant or outright opposed to universal health care? Well, consider the more important issue: dependence on costly health insurance discourages people from venturing out on their own away from companies able to provide health insurance. This is a problem for several reasons: it discourages entrepreneurship, it hinders the arts, and it persuades people to avoid taking extended periods of time for themselves, or traveling.

Entrepreneurship is important but often those wanting to spend all of their time developing a new slurpy machine, for example, are put off by the fear of losing their ability to pay for health insurance. The loss of better slurpy machines is a real tragedy but what's worse is the loss of art.

Those who wish to sit in the woodshed practicing the horn all day in order to serve society with the much needed healing touch of live music are often unable to do so if they want to make sure they and their family have adequate health coverage.

Sometimes ya just need to "get away from it all" for a few months and hit the reset button. At times, this is one of the few ways to gain the clarity needed to navigate one's life. This can be done traveling or staying put. World travel has additional benefits.

Canadians travel throughout South East Asia, Europe, Africa, anywhere, and  they do so, with the security of knowing that they have coverage. I believe that traveling to different parts of the world changes the way that we see the world and interact within it. This is an increasingly important transformation giving the ever shrinking world. Not to mention that often, it's a lot of fun, it's a good way to meet cool people, and ya can't beat the food.    

   

Insta- WHAT? Instagram?

Do you want to know what INSTAGRAM is?
What does it do?To find out more check out my TUMBLR.

Is the Bullying Hysteria Warranted?

                All over the news today is another report about middle school kids bullying. This time though, the victim is an adult who was acting as a supervisor on their school bus. Bullying has become the latest buzzword when talking about the youth of America today. Suddenly, everybody is claiming to be a victim of “bullying.” According to news reports and a popular documentary, bullying has become arguably the leading problem facing middle school and high school age children today.

                That being said, I went through grade school. I went through junior high. I went through high school. Bullying is not a new thing. Kids have been being cruel to one another since the beginning of time. It is what kids do and there is nothing that can be done to change this. By no means do I condone bullying or anything of the sort. Being a victim of this type of abuse as an adolescent can have a permanent impact on somebody. I think that parents and administrators should be doing everything they can to prevent bullying from taking place.

                I have one simple question though, is bullying really more prevalent today than it was years ago? Or are we just much more aware of it because of the form it is taking. I have not been able to find any reliable statistics on the matter. I personally am inclined to believe that the percentage of kids being “bullied” has been near the same since the beginning of time. I simply believe that bullying has taken a new form with the advent of social media and the internet. Now kids are publishing and documenting their bullying online,  which thrusts it into the spotlight.

                What are your thoughts? Does anybody know where I can find good statistics on the prevalence of bullying today?

Flash Mob at Time Square, NY

I will be darned!  Twenty years with Wells Fargo and I had no idea how hip my employer was.  I just found out that there is an actual Wells Fargo Flash Mob, really!  I also found a couple of company blogs, and a new initiative under way to implement a blog for each of our TMNs ( Team Member Networks), which I mentioned  once in class, such as the Asian Connection, Latino Heritage, etc.  This is a great way for team members to stay connected, really, really cool and the best part? I can be a part of it now because...I can! Thank you Andrew!   

Freedom of Speech: Becoming Free Again?

Recently there's been a debate on whether or not America has "too much" censorship going on - be in on TV or Radio, on the internet, or (God forbid) on public streets. Perhaps this may be taking a turn for the better with the Supreme Court ruling that off-the-cuff cursing or nudity is not something that the FCC can fine for. Hooray, freedom!

But wait. If you live in a certain Massachusetts town, you can actually be fined $20 for swearing in public. Sounds like a really old law, but it's been changed so they can actually fine someone for it. Boo, censorship.

What is this country coming to? Since when is it against the law for me to say a certain word, or speak my mind about something I care deeply about? Why can't I, in a country formed around freedom, actually be free to do what I want? Will it hurt anyone else if I smoke in my car? What if I don't wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle?

The United States has something called the Bill of Rights, which lets us do certain things (one of which is to speak freely). I think we're slowly sinking into a hole where we'll find ourselves not able to dig out. Soon, I won't be able to say "fluffycat tubesock" without getting a slap on the wrist. Is the quote pointless? Absolutely. However, if I want to say it, I think I'm entitled to.

The Right Thing To Do

Eric Holder was ruled in contempt of Congress this week due to his not being fully forthcoming with regards to "Fast and Furious". This NY Times editorial writer seems to think that the contempt ruling was a "pointless partisan fight", in which he accuses the GOP of trying to make a pretty serious situation nothing more than political jockeying in an election year. I don't feel like he's on target. Think about what we're trying to find here: The *top law enforcement officer in the land* is possibly hiding facts from the American public, in order to save face.

What about getting the truth? What about cutting through corruption? It's okay to "maybe" be corrupt in order to not get caught? I think I deserve to know what exactly happened, and the President's last minute "executive privilege" order only solidifies the fact that there's something to hide. Why can't our politicians start working for their constituents for a change?

Eric Holder Contempt: Political or Warranted?

The debate over US Attorney General Eric Holder's conduct with regard to the Fast and Furious gun-running scandal has gotten much attention over the last few weeks, and a few days ago, the House Committee voted (along party lines) to hold him in contempt of Congress. This means that the House now gets to weigh his fate. The problem in all of this is that it's very obviously a partisan issue, in a very heated election year. On one side, the Democrats believe that the actions on the part of the GOP-controlled committee are just part of a political "witch hunt" - a smear campaign on Obama and his party. On the other side, the Republicans feel that Eric Holder is very obviously hiding something, and the public has a right to know the truth.

My personal feeling is that there is obviously something going on here. While this isn't necessarily "news" to anyone, the point is that someone, on one side or the other, has an agenda that does not have the people's best interests in mind. Be it safety or national security, someone's lying - someone's hiding something. Why aren't we allowed to know the truth? Who's hiding what from us?

Nina V. Fedoroff wrote an op-ed last year for the New York Times called "Engineering Food for All." She raises some important points in her piece: a growing population, climate change, hunger, and food costs.

She basically believes that genetically engineered (GE) crops are the answer to feeding a growing population, on a planet that's climate is increasing to heat up. She may be right. The problem is that she presents no evidence whatsoever showing that farming GE food is cheaper or more productive.

She also contradicts herself to a degree by saying that GE crops resistant to certain pests require less pesticide. This is good for the environment because, according to her, "toxic pesticides decrease the supply of food for birds and run off the land to poison rivers, lakes and oceans." She then points out that "the rapid adoption of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant soybeans has made it easier for farmers to park their plows and forgo tilling for weed control." What Fedoroff fails to mention is that because of the plants resistance to herbicide more is used causing more run off which as she points out is bad for mother nature.

The other problem that people who argue along the same side of the line with Fedoroff always forget to mention is that GE foods may be the cause of the increased number of allergies we are seeing our children afflicted with but we just don't have proof yet. It's obviously almost impossible to prove that something is not bad for you because you can't prove a negative. It is irresponsible, however, to release, into the environment and peoples food supply, something that could be causing health and environmental issues without a substantial benefit. Especially without peoples consent.

One final note. It's one thing to use potatoes to grow spider webs—the proteins found in spider webs to be specific. We don't eat spider webs and their use, say material used to create a bullet proof vest for a police officer, is fairly simple. Mixing the genes of bacteria that is resistant to herbicides with the genes of corn and eating it is very different. As Michael Pollan points out In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto there are 25 antioxidants in a sprig of thyme. We still hardly hold a vague idea of how the complex synergy of properties within each piece of food we eat interacts, nourishes, and poisons our bodies. We ought to save the experimenting for the laboratory.

Senator Lindsey Graham's Twitter page (The analytic post)

Last Friday, President Obama made a policy change allowing young illegal immigrants who entered the United States as children, to stay in the US, if they meet certain requirements. The nature of the policy, and the fact that the president passed it by executive decision, has caused reaction from republicans and democrats. I wanted to find some of the criticism of this policy and I stumbled on Senator Lindsey Grahams twitter page. He is quite the active tweeter.

Graham uses his page to slander Obama in any way possible. But whats funny I did not see one tweet from him suggesting how to fix any of the problems. You take a look at his tweets yourself and tell me your reaction... Lindsey Graham Twitter page

Yoga vs. Christianity

I have been going to Bodyflow classes over the last year. Bodyflow combines Yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi in an hour long workout.  My newfound love for this routine causes me to suggest others to try it.

One day, I got a response I wasn’t quite expecting. “I don’t do Yoga because it goes against my Christianity.” I was taken aback when I was told that Yoga, if done incorrectly, can cause demons in the body.

I don’t consider myself to be religious, so I was unthreatened by this. But it interested me that an exercise could be thought of as a breach in Christianity.

I found this website and was surprised to read there is a wide range of people who firmly believe this.

Yoga practiced in gyms is so Americanized that it doesn’t seem to have the same Buddhist religious roots as traditional Yoga. In my opinion, Yoga practiced at your local YMCA might as well have a different name slapped on it because it is not technically Yoga.

If practiced without prayers or meditation, how would it be considered un-Christian?

However, it’s a personal choice whether or not you deem practicing an exercise a sin. I guess if it is, I am going to hell with amazing flexibility and range of motion.

Grow a Better Community

Looking for a way to get involved with your community? Joining or starting a community garden is a great way to do this.

A community garden is any piece of land gardened by a group of people. Members are able to work together, growing flowers, vegetables, spices, and other plants.

These gardens have awesome benefits to the public. Participating in such an activity will stimulate social interaction, encourage self-reliance, improve the look of a neighborhood, produce food, conserve resources, and promote exercise. Check out this website to find even more ways these gardens can improve your community.

It is important to be a proactive citizen, so start at home. Search for a community garden in your area. Or do you already have experience with growing locally? Share these thoughts and experiences with others interested below.

All Star Game or All Popular Game?

For the last few years, it’s been no secret that the MLB All Star Game has been something of a joke. For those of you not baseball savvy, players get to the Midsummer Classic by a fan vote that starts early on in the season. For me, when I hear “All Star Game”, I think of the league’s best players coming together to show each other who’s boss. At this point, it’s just a popularity contest. For instance, Joe Mauer is completely popular, but has done close to nothing to help his team win, yet he’s still second in ASG voting for AL catchers.

In my opinion, the players should be voted in by the managers or the numbers. Perhaps the All Star Game would be more successful if actual *all stars* were playing? Perhaps it’s time for all of us to start making phone calls in an attempt to get this fixed, if not for us, for baseball in general.

What do you think? Sound off below.

Beer Me

Last Saturday, I volunteered at the 4^th Annual St. Paul Summer Beer Fest at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.  This isn’t the kind of volunteering that makes you feel like you’re helping humanity.  It’s the kind that makes you feel like you’re saving yourself the $40 admission fee and getting a free t-shirt. 

There were over 103 breweries (26 from Minnesota) handing out free samples and engaging in all manner of shenanigans.  The organizers of the event were discussing the explosion in the craft beer industry over the last few years.  According to a recent article in the Star Tribune "Craft beer sales soar in Upper Midwest", 10 new craft breweries have opened in Minnesota since 2010.  Several more local brewers plan to open taprooms or brewpubs in 2012.

The increase in craft beer sales in the upper Midwest was 16% last year, greater than both the national average of 15.1% and the growth on the West Coast of 13.3%.  Although the upper Midwest growth in craft beer consumption is slightly above the national average, the craft beer revolution is still a national phenomenon.  The Brewer’s Association reports that 1,989 craft brewers were in operation in the United States for at least part of 2011, which is the largest number since the 1,880s.  Craft breweries also exceeded 5% volume share of beer for the first time ever in 2011. 

The increase in craft beer sales represents more local employment and more great choices for beer consumption.  I’ll drink to that!

Trafficking in Human Persons

It is estimated that there are currently 27 million victims of human trafficking.  Today, the State Department published its annual "Trafficking in Human Persons Report".  This report includes not just sex slavery but also other forms of labor trafficking (such as those who are forced to work in brick factories).  It is not just a compilation of facts and figures, but also a great resource to help understand what trafficking is and how it affects people.

Many people, when they think of trafficking, think of SE Asia in particular.  In that region of the world alone, it is estimated that there are over 11,700,000 people in slavery.  But, even in the United States, there are also still slaves.  It's easy to believe that when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, that we just don't have that kind of thing here anymore.  But, in reality, there are more slaves in the United States now than any other time in history.  The US is a Tier One country, which means it meets all of the minimum requirements put forth by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA).  (This is based on the governments efforts to prevent trafficking and not the size of the problem within the country.)

The United Nations has defined what trafficking is here.  Their theory is based on The Act (what is done), The Means (how it's done) and The Purpose (why it is done).  It is a broad definition that was done intentionally to allow for countries to adopt it and use it within their legislation.

There is so much that can be said about forced slavery and human trafficking.  It is not something that can be used as an everyday headline.  If we learned every day how many people had been sold or abused as a result, we would become immune to it and accept it as commonplace.  But, that doesn't mean we shouldn't be aware of it's existence.

From Farm to Table

The acronym CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, which translates into local farmers getting  together to preserve the quality and integrity of the food supply as well as the environment, while strengthening  the local agricultural economy, according to the CSA Minnesota site. In my opinion, the recent deterioration of our food industry calls for a sustainability revolution that must involve a commitment from public, private, and government entities. We can no longer allow multinational conglamerates like Con-Angra, Walmart, and Cargill to monopolize the food industry and eradicate our local farms.

CSAs fulfill many roles. For example, the term sustainability  refers to a method of harvesting that these local farmers use which prevents the depletion of natural resources. Furthermore, the use of harmful fertilizers and pesticides contribute to the deterioration of the food supply and it is dangerous for human consumption. For these and many other reasons, CSAs will only use organic methods in their agricultural approach instead of chemically derived ones.  Another purpose of these CSAs is the presevation of local food diversity, also kown as slow food. To illustrate this point, hundreds of years ago there were countless variaties of tomatoes. With the introduction of food standarization, those numbers have been greatly reduced and if we continue on the current path, complete the extinction of many more variaties is in the horizon.  

Community Supported Agriculture organizations offer the oportunity to shorten the distance our food  travels“from farm to table”. There are many benefits to doing business with and supporting the work of CSAs. From consuming healthier, more diverse, better tasting foods, to helping preseve the local family farm, to sending a message to the  multinationals: stop influencing government laws and in the process, wrecking our food supply for  profit!

 Join the sustainability revolution!! Check out the CSA Minnesota site.    

Capitalism for a Cause

There are many websites out there that are looking to raise money for one cause or another.  They ask you to donate, email, send cards...just help them out.  But, there is a new form of raising money that I really appreciate and support - Capitalism for a Cause.

There are for-profit companies that have started up for the premise of raising money.  Some of them partner with non-profit organizations.  Others have their own donations that they make, straight from the company.

We, as consumers, purchase products.  A portion of that money we spend goes directly to a 'cause'.  Sometimes, it's intentionally because we support what they are doing.  But, it may also be because we like what they're selling.

For example, the company WeWood makes wooden watches.  And, for each watch that is purchased, they plant a tree.  They also work with sustainability and all watches are created with no toxic or artificial material.

There is also Tom's shoes.  Great shoes, by the way!  But, for each pair purchased, they donate a pair of shoes to a child in need.

At FEED Projects, their goal is to feed the world.  They build their donations into the cost of the product that consumers purchase.  They fight hunger and malnutrition here in the United States and around the world.

But, perhaps one of my favorites is Sevenly.  Every week, for seven days, they choose a charity, design a t-shirt/tank top/hoodie and sell it.  Just for seven days.  For each item sold, they give $7.00 to that charity.  It is so simple.  To date, they have raised over half a million dollars for various charities and they have only been around for a year and a half.

We can sometime be surprised at what is available to purchase that will help to save the world.  No matter how small our individual efforts, when combined, they can make a huge impact.  And, how fun is a watch made out of wood???

What you say matters

When we, as common people, go online to vent about our day or complain about a person, that information goes out into the world and then has the ability to influence other people.  But, what we also have to remember is that it matters what is said and how it's put out there.  Because, the possibility that whatever you post, tweet or blog about may become a part of your 'permenant record' on the web could have consequences.

According to this article, with this type of communication you become the publisher.  And, as such, are bound by the same laws as the big media outlets.  In my mind, I am such a small person and have such a small presence on the web.  But, you just never know.

Back in the old days, somebody could rant and rave and complain for days and not have any impact.  They would be sitting in their rocking chair at home, yelling at the television about how that show was awful or that commercial was stupid.  If they were more ambitious, they could write a letter or make a phone call and have their voice heard that way.

Now, if we get upset by something, we go online.  We post mean words to somebody's Facebook page.  We complain to a company website about their product or advertising.  Granted, we still may yell at the television, but maybe now, we're on Skype and that yelling could be posted on YouTube before the rant is even complete.

As a publisher, we do have the option to remove the posts from wherever the rant occurred or apologize.  But, of course, there is always the chance that someone else happened upon what you said and decided to share it with the world.  It is now, potentially, in a permanent place in the world of social media.

Are Student Loans the Next Financial Bubble?

A few months ago, my husband's friend predicted that the next financial bubble to burst is going to be the student loan bubble.  And I have to say that sadly I agree with him.  I've always been taught that an education is the most important thing, that student loan debt is good debt:  unlike buying a Porsche or a new pair of Jimmy Choo heels. 

Here's the sticking point though:  The kind of high-paying job nessesary to be able to afford said car and shoes (or even a run-down two bedroom shack) generally requires a college degree.  And these days college educations don't run cheap either.  My friend Melanie just started her first year of vet school at the University of Minnesota.  She's going to graduate with $200,000 in student loan debt, probably more when you consider tuition hikes.  Melanie will be paying off her student loans for the rest of her life. 

When you combine the amount of student loan debt necessary to get a bachelor's degree (and I'm not talking ivy league univeristy degrees) with the high unemployment rate and the horrible economy, it's only a matter of time before something has to give.  What's even worse, according to an article I found on the web, student loan debt can't easily be erased by filing for bankruptcy.  To me it seems kind of ridiculous that someone who spends years running up excessive credit card debt because of poorly-made choices can get bankruptcy relief, but a college student, who incurs debt getting an education, can't. 

Don't Be Fooled by Politicians

The debate over gay marriage has been dividing people across the country for years. While there have been some victories for those who support the right of same sex couples to be married, they are still in the minority across the nation. However, attitudes seem to be shifting as the younger generations come into their own. Just last month, many people celebrated a “monumental” announcement by President Barack Obama who came out and voiced his support for same sex marriages.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am not a person who is very politically active. I stay very informed of current events and politics, but I do not have strong opinions about many issues including gay marriage. One constant political theme I do have a strong opinion about though, is the consistent disingenuous behavior of politicians and their continual treatment of the American public as morons.

Obama's latest announcement is just another example of a high profile politician making a cheap play to garner more support before an upcoming election. I find it offensive when politicians do stuff like this. Obama clearly does not really care about same sex marriage. He denounced it in his previous presidential campaign. He did not speak up in favor of it until now, as he jockeying for position against Mitt Romney coming into election season. He only made his announcement after having his vice president announce his support a few days earlier to see if there would be any negative windfall.

This is not a condemnation of Barack Obama. He is by no means the first politician to lie to the American people and expect them to believe it in an attempt to gain votes and he definitely won’t be the last. It is not a condemnation of the gay marriage movement, in fact I don’t see why same sex marriage isn’t legal.  This is simply me asking everybody to please stop and think next time a politician tells them something. Think about the context. Think about the politician’s history. Think about the situation and possible benefits for the politician.

The only way to put a stop to politicians treating us like we are fools is to quit accepting their B.S. like fools.

What Social Media Mean to Me

As we are all well aware after participating in this class, Social Media forms are incredible tools that have limitless potential. Social media very well could be the medium that leads to a new social movement and changes the landscape of capitalism and the world as we know it. As Professor Carlson taught us, we really can use social media to better the world.

While I do not disagree with that opinion, I am personally not all that interested in changing the world. For me, social media have made the world a better place for one simple reason. They are the perfect tool for any hardcore sports fan like me.

Sitting around watching the NBA Playoffs last night, I realized just how different my big game viewing habits are today from what they were just a year or two ago. I was relatively late to the Twitter scene, setting up my account at the end of last summer. However, I immediately realized just how many people were on Twitter and just how much information and fun I had been missing out on.

 As I am watching any game that is taking place now, it is guaranteed that I will have a laptop or my iPhone in hand and on Twitter.  It is an incredible experience to share the big game experience with thousands of other people in real time, commenting and giving opinions and witty banter about what we are all witnessing. I have made a habit of having ongoing Twitter conversations with a group of long time friends who have all dispersed to different areas of the countries. It allows us to share an experience with one another that wouldn’t have been possible before the advent of social media.

 As I said, I am a pretty large sports fan and tend to fall into the category of “stat geek.”  Twitter has allowed me to take this to the next level. I follow upwards of one hundred different sportscasters, journalists and personalities on the local and national level. I love reading the real time insight, opinions and perspectives that they offer during and following sporting events.

I realize that Twitter and Facebook can be used to supplement any activity, no matter what your interests are. It is easy to find other people commenting on events that you are interested in. Sports just happen to be my primary interest. I think that this is realistically the biggest impact that social media are going to have on the majority of our lives. While we may go on to use social media to help make a change in the world, most people will simply use it to better their own experiences.  For this reason, I think that social media are of the utmost importance.

Please Stop Wasting my Tax Money

                I am not by any means a politically active person. I tend to fall on the conservative side a number of issues, but am fairly apathetic about a number of “hot button” issues that seem to get people worked up. You will never catch me outside carrying signs and chanting like an “occupy Wall Street” idiot.

                However, there is one ongoing issue that has been annoying me for years. This issue was again in the headlines today. Roger Clemens was acquitted of all of the obstruction of justice and perjury charges that he has been battling for the last five years after testifying in front of a congressional council investigating the usage of steroids in professional baseball.  Now that the federal government has failed to convict Clemens on any charges, I am hoping that they will realize it is time to stop. Stop embarrassing our federal government. Stop wasting everybody’s time. Most importantly, STOP WASTING OUR TAX DOLLARS ON INVESTIGATING STEROIDS IN SPORTS.

                The past decade has been riddled with accounts and accusations of the rampant usage of performance enhancing drugs in professional sports, mainly Major League Baseball. The nation’s baseball fans have seen numerous big names and legends shamed by failed drug tests or accounts of their past use. Being a huge sports fan, I can understand the disappointment felt by fans everywhere finding out that the game they love and the players they idolize are tainted.

                However, this is a Major League Baseball problem. Baseball is a game. It exists solely as a form of entertainment. It is not a matter worthy of the federal government spending extensive time and resources on it. It was bad enough that congress held a series of hearings about five years ago to gain an understanding of the extent of use throughout the league and gain knowledge of potential users. It didn’t end there though.

                After their hearing accomplished absolutely nothing, they went on to pursue drawn out investigations and trials against both Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, who have become the “faces” of the steroids scandal. Both of the investigations lasted upwards of four years and featured multiple trials. At a time when our nation is in a financial mess and facing an astounding amount of debt, our federal government was spending tens of millions of dollars trying to prove that two washed up baseball players lied to them about using steroids over a decade ago. Who the hell cares?

                I hope that they take the latest jury’s verdict for what it is. They are not just saying acquit Roger Clemens. It is bigger than that. The jury speaks for the rest of the nation, saying quit with the whole crusade. It is time to give it up and get back to doing some real work for the tax payers who pay your salaries.

http://www.isteroids.com/blog/congress-continues-steroid-investigation-waste-of-time/

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2012/06/roger-clemens-verdict/1

Higher Expectations for Corporations Online

As we all know, corporations have turned to social media because of the incredibly vast marketing possibilities that exist. Social media provide easy, inexpensive and nearly limitless access to huge markets of current and potential customers. Customers are constantly being exposed to a barrage advertising messages on Facebook, Twitter and any other site they may frequent. Corporations are permitted to contact consumers whenever they would like on social media.

                However, social media are a two way street. An article by Marisa Peacock offers in interesting look in the mindset of consumers while they are trying to contact corporations on social media. The article cites a study conducted by Maritz Research. The study concludes that people are equally as likely to use social media to vent about grievances with a company as they are to share their positive experience with friends and give credit.  However, an overwhelming amount of the people who reach out to corporations through social media had never received any sort of response. The majority of people reported that they did not even expect a response while of any sort while they were posting.

                I think that it is time for us as consumers to start to hold corporations to a higher standard when it comes to responsiveness through social media. Corporations are now using social media as a platform to increase revenue, both through extensive marketing as well as online purchasing forums. If this is to be an extension of their “offline” business, they should be held to the same level of customer service. It would be completely unacceptable for a customer to call into a corporation to address a complaint, just to have the phone call go unanswered. I do not think it should be any different while dealing with corporations on social media.

                I think that it is time for customers to change their expectations of corporations and stop giving them a free pass on social media. As I said, communication is a two way street. If we are going to allow them to endlessly market to us online, we should expect them to increase their receptiveness to our communication in return.

Donating used items

I'm not a very materialistic person, I don't spend a lot of money (mostly because I don't have any money to spend) but even if I do it is on things that are important right now like food, school, and daily necessities. I usually think it is ridiculous when people always need to next new, better, hotter items on the market, but yesterday I caught myself being pretty hypocritical.

I was driving with my sister and I was complaining about how much I hate my car. I drive an old '95 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight Royale. It's the car I got back in high school and it's basically something I'd classify as an old grandpa/grandma car.

It's not that I hate my car because it's in bad shape, or it doesn't run well, it actually runs just fine and is in pretty amazing shape for a 17 year old car. I don't or should say didn't like it because I thought it seemed embarrassing because everyone around me seems to be driving really nice brand new or practically new cars.

My sister basically opened my eyes and told me not to worry about getting a car, that I should be thankful for what I have and be happy that it gets me from point A to point B, and that a majority of people don't even have cars.

I thought about what she said and started researching places that I would be able to donate it to once it gets into bad shape or once I save up enough for a new car.

I found a few organizations that take your donated cars and use them towards good causes. These are a few I've found:

• Kars 4 Kids
• Cars For Breast Cancer
• American's Car Donation Center
• Cars Helping Pets 

 These are just a few of the places I've found, there are many more online.

As many of you know, it's not just cars that you can donate, it's clothing, furniture, books, etc. I feel like the bad economy has stopped us from donating though. A lot of people turn to places who take old items and turn them into cash.

My hope is that when the economy turns around we will go back to donating to help the less fortunate.

What are some of your favorite places you donate used items to?

All the more reason to buy local

Well, this image may end up being a bit hard to read, but if you squint your eyes, you will be able to see that all of these food, beverage, and household supplies are coming from 10 giant corporations.

I thought this image seemed fitting to the theme surrounding our class this semester. It is one thing to read about the giant corporations and how much they own, but it's another to see it with your own eyes.

We now have the tools to educate others and go up against these corporations and support our local businesses. I know I'm going to try and take what I've learned in this class and put it to good use. We've watched a ton of YouTube videos made by people just like you and me who are going up against these corporations and are doing very well (the US Bank story, Carrotmob, etc..)

This year, I've planted my own garden and go to the St. Paul Farmer's Market every Saturday morning to buy fresh produce, breads, and other goodies.

Here are the links to the St. Paul and Minneapolis Farmers Markets:

St. Paul

Minneapolis

Can you think of some other great local businesses to support in effort to send a message to the giant corporations?

If you can, please share!

Minnesota marriage amendment

As some of you may know from my previous blog post, I am very interested in the Minnesota marriage amendment and the vote coming up this November.

I wrote an article about this topic after going to a panel discussion on campus. You can read my article here.

For me, the most interesting point of the panel discussion was when one of the speakers was explaining the confusion some voters may have with the language that voters will be seeing when they go to the box.

This segment from my article will help me explain my previous statement.

"On the overhead projector behind Fraser was the actual language from the two parts of the bill that the legislature passed. Section One that will be put into the constitution will add the words, “Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota.” Section Two is the language that will be printed on the ballot and put in front of the people. It reads, “Shall the Minnesota constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?”

Upon conclusion, Fraser stressed the importance of understanding that the question is supposed to reflect the words being put into the constitution but may or may not actually reflect it in full. “It is important to actually find out the words that will be added to the constitution, because that is the real change. If people vote yes on the question, it is the language above that will be added.”"

Basically, people who are for same sex marriage want to vote NO, and people who are against same sex marriage want to vote YES on November 6. The confusion is brought in because NO sounds very negative, and if people haven't been educated about the question and the language being used on the ballet they may end up voting the opposite of what they actually stand for.

I think it is very important that we educate people about this possible confusion because it would be a tragedy if all the people for same sex marriage voted YES because they think it sounds positive.

So far, I have personally put a bumper sticker on my car that states "VOTE NO, Don't limit the freedom to marry." I also try to post and share stories on my Facebook on a weekly basis about the language and the act.

Here are some other articles I have found that have to do with the language on the ballot.

• Wording matters on ballot questions like the marriage amendment
• Video series explores stories behind marriage amendment vote
• Basic information and frequently asked questions regarding the proposed marriage amendment

These are just a few of the articles I have found online. There are many more out there.

So my overall question is, do you agree that the language makes it confusing for voters to understand what they are actually voting for?

And please, educate others and inform them that the language on this ballot is confusing, we wouldn't want people voting the wrong way.

Summer classes: Are they for you?

This is the first summer I have ever taken classes in my life. I thought it would be no big deal but I quickly realized that taking 8 credits this summer means I have to sacrifice my usual summer routine (of relaxing and partying. Haha).

Please do not take this post as just me wanting to whine. I will be graduating this spring because of these summer classes and I am grateful for that. I just wish I had more insight on what it takes to make it (successfully) through summer classes. After six weeks I have come up with these tips:

1) Make sure to schedule any summer vacations around important due dates (or be prepared to do class work on your vacation).

2) Summers nights and weekends fill up quickly, so make sure to schedule time with yourself to get assignments completed.

3) Work on assignments outside! I often sit in my backyard and work on homework. This way I feel like I am still enjoying the summer sun.

Do you guys have any tips?

Darkness Vissible

     
           During the course of our Social Media class,  terms like Corporate Responsibility and Transparency were discussed quite often. For this reason, coming across this article,  was extremely well-timed. I found this article on the Corporate Responsibility Megazine site. Almost immeditely, the title of Darkness Visible grabbed my attention. Perhaps, because when I think of something “good’ I tend to think of light, not darkness, and since this article’s author was trying to convey good,  the title appeared to be somewhat conflicting with the purpose. Justifiably intriged, I had to read on. 
            The article highlighted  the top 100 least transparent companies from a total of1000 publicly traded organizations. This completely involuntary audit did not meassure important topics such as energy conservation programs or health spending accounts offerings. The only standard measure used was disclosure. Whether these companies conducted good practices or not was not the question. The only thing these companies had to do (but clearly did not) in order to avoid being on the “Black List” was to disclose their practices, according to the article.  

            Although noble in its intent, the article gave very little details about the actual questions included in the audit process and even less of the companies in question, none of which sounded even remotely familiar to me. This creates a disconnect between the audience and the content. I feel that in order to compel individuals to act or get involved there must be some sort of link  or connection that lacks here. Although the author is trying to inform readers of a very important issue, he does not include adequate information for the audience (me) to get the sense of urgency that he might have been trying to convey.          

General Mills and the marriage amendment

Now don't get me wrong, I am absolutely, 100 percent going to vote NO in November against the proposed marriage amendment. I've actually put a lot of time into keeping up with the issue, and am trying to intern to work for the vote. 


That being said, yesterday I saw a status on the Minnesotans United for All Families Facebook page that said: 

"RELEASE: Fortune 500 giant General Mills took an historic stance today in support of all Minnesota families by formally opposing the constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the freedom to marry for committed gay and lesbian couples in Minnesota." 


I thought this was fantastic and 'liked' the status. Then this morning, I was scanning the St. Paul Pioneer Press website and found a article written about the same status yesterday. The article was titled: General Mills comes out against Minnesota marriage amendment.


I loved the story and the whole concept of a huge Fortune 500 company publicly stating that they oppose the act, but I wish the writer, Tom Webb would have kept something out. Reading the article, Webb states:


"But like most corporations, it also has tried to steer clear of public controversies like the marriage amendment, which is passed by voters in November would place a ban on gay marriage into the state constitution. That poses a special risk for highly visible corporations like General Mills, which has mainstream consumer brands like Betty Crocker, Yoplait yogurt and Cheerioes. Gay marriage opponents organized a boycott of Starbucks after the Seattle-based coffee chain said it would oppose a similar amendment on the ballot in Washington state."

I understand that a big Fortune 500 company taking the stance that they have is going to cause controversy. I also understand that as a news writer you are not really supposed to have a bias, you are just supposed to state the facts, but I wish in this instance he would have left the above portion out. People are going to stir up controversy whether we give them the idea or not. It just seemed to me like he was trying to predict what is going to happen.

Now you can totally disagree with me and that's okay, this is just my opinion. What are your opinions about the way this article was written?