What I have learned  from today class: Social media and cooperation!

                It was wonderful  class  discussion about  social media and  big corporation. There were an arguments about  freedom on chose on what we eat, drink ......................against corporation responsibility  for what they produce to consumers.  Some of my colleagues  had this  idea of individual  freedom of chose equal to cooperation freedom, so they concluded that cooperation  can produce any type of product and service that's fit for their profit  in a free market system  because it's up to the  consumer to busy it or not . In other way, supplier has little or nothing to do with product and service quality intermes  of  general public safety  because  their main goal is to make profit. Thus, social media should support these cause for corporation to sell their product and service, and consumer to chose among these bad products( freedom of chose). The other my favorite  argument was,  social media can be used  as a tool for fighting cooperation to be responsible for what they produce to consumer, and there must  be  moral and legal obligation to  corporation who produce good and service for general public. if, for example, I want to open bakery that's unhealthy for  people , I should not be allowed to go out in the free market and compete to sell my product.

 

Study Breaks Down Social Network Demographics

By Stephanie Mlot

        February 15, 2013 12:56pm EST

 

Social-networking sites continue to hold the attention of most Internet users, especially women between 18 and 29 years old, according to a new Pew Research Center study.

About 67 percent of Internet users take advantage of Facebook, particularly those 20-something women, Pew found in a study that examined the demographics of the most popular social networks.

Twitter tends to attract African-American, urban residents ages 18 to 29, for example, while Pinterest is more often used by white women under age 50 with some college education.

Unsurprisingly, Instagram is popular with urban residents, as well as African Americans, Latinos, and women between the ages of 18 and 29.

Pew attributed the popularity of social-networking sites to the simple fact that Internet users under age 50 are likely to use social media of any kind. Still, the majority of users fall into the 18- to 29-year-old urban female category. But while sex and age play a large part in determining the demographics of the Internet, Pew found little distinction between education and household income.

Once broken down by individual network, though, the numbers begin to look a little different. Twitter has 16 percent of the social media market, with 20 percent of its users living in urban areas and 26 percent identifying as African American.

Pinterest, on the other hand, depends heavily on a very white upper-class society of women ages 18 to 49. Still in its infancy compared to its social-networking siblings, Pinterest attracts only 5 percent of men, 18 percent blacks and Hispanics, 11 percent of those with less than a high school education, and 25 percent of people bringing in $50,000 or less per year — a combined number that barely surpasses the 23 percent of those earning $50,000-$75,000 who use the service.

Even Tumblr, with only about 6 percent of the total social media interest, has an intense fanbase of young bloggers, ages 18 to 28 (13 percent). The site is split evenly between male and female use, and has little variation between education and location, though the majority of users tend to make less than $30,000 or more than $75,000.

The Pew Research Center conducted its survey between Nov. 14 and Dec. 9 among 1,802 respondents.

No matter which demographics garner the most interest in each social network, the entire genre is performing well these days. Get a closer look with the 365 Days of Social Media infographic.

The HOOT on Owls

Along side vampires, zombies, New Jersey, and high gas prices: OWLS have been trending across the United States over the last three years. I work with two live owls (they are permanently injured and pay rent by educating the public about the environment) and I am continuously boggled by the human perception regarding this species. Time to review.

1. No they cannot spin their heads all the way. Their neck bones would snap and send the head rolling to the ground if that were possible. That would not exactly be the best adaptation for survival.

2. Owl's want two things.  

A. Food and B. To be left alone <-- these are our training tools for program birds. 

Yes. We actually 'go away' to reward them for participating in training.

Owl personality is a lot like Oscar the grouch in his garbage can.

(When an owl makes eye contact with you please consider that the two of you are not having a special moment, but instead that the owl thinks you are sizing it up for dinner because you are staring it down like a hungry fox.)

3. Not all owl's are nocturnal. (Nocturnal = only comes out at night).
A lot of owl's actually like to sun bathe to get Vitamin D on those feathers!

3. Owl's may symbolize 'wisdom' in western culture, but also represents 'death' in Native American culture. A video shoot for publicity with one of our rescued owls was canceled at my facility because a native man that is normally assigned the task refused to participate on a project that included an owl. However, not all native or other cultures aligns owl's with negative connotation.

Meet the owls I work with for:

 

Barred owl was recently adopted from the Minnesota Zoo. He suffered injury when he was hit by a car 8 years ago. He was taken to the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota where they had to remove one of his eyes.

 

The northern saw-whet owl (often mistaken for a baby owl being the smallest owl in Minnesota) for reasons unknown suffered extreme damage to his wing. His left wing will not grow back to original form making this bird flightless.

We do not name these animals because we do not want the public to think that we are implying they are pets. Trust me. You don't want one of these at home (that would be illegal in the state of MN anyway.) However,  I will admit that we do have 'behind the scenes' names for them.
The barred owl came with his zoo name "Horton." For Horton's sake I hope it is a boy because the vet papers state: gender unspecified.  A while back I started calling the saw-whet owl Gookooko’ oo which is the Anishinabe Ojibwe word for 'owl'. But the staff never grasped the complicated prounciation and it morphed into what is now 'Goo.' Horton and Goo are not allowed to see one an other because the barred owl is a major predator of the saw-whet in the natural environment.

Care for one day of these birds involves:
- gutting and dicing dead mice/rats/gofers/chicks
- weighing the bird, checking it's feet and beak
- counting pellets (a ball of owl vomit)
- weighing what it didn't eat and weighing what it is going to eat
- vitamins
- misting feathers with a water bottle
- enrichment in the form of going for a walk outside
- Raptor Center visits
- Constant restructure and cleaning of their bedrooms
- and more...I am not going to keep typing this list. You get the point.

 

(Enrichment: Going for a walk in the forest with the human. 

It is not unusual for song birds to go ape at the sight of a human + owl predator mix.)

The interesting part is that I have to perform the care the exact same way I did each day before. In the same sequence with the same words and steps. Owl's depend on routine to communicate/trust their place in the human world. If a wild card gets thrown into the mix, thus breaking the routine contract of what is expected of my service to the owl, things will cease to operate smoothly.

The experience has been rewarding and I feel privileged to have learned a part of HOO they are.

Now your owl wisdom goes beyond a tootsie pop.


- Kimbo B. Tuna

"Adult" College Students

At 25 years of age, I am one of the youngest at my college Metropolitan State University. The reason why the majority is mostly middle-aged students - people in this country who typically work during weekday mornings and afternoons -  is partly because this particular university has most of its classes at night, Saturdays, and online. However, the trend nationwide over the past five years, including the community college I graduated from last year, is more and more Americans in their 30+'s returning, or for their first time starting, college. This increase of "adult" students in the college world is hugely due to the recession that started in 2008 and the newly massive availability of online classes, or both. More jobs are requiring college degrees but also, just like my new boss's situation of having a degree in advertising but now taking a Speech class also at Metropolitan State University, more career fields need people to have additional skills in other subjects other than their major, also that only formal education can give.

Skyrim Dragonborn Coming to PS3

Rise from the Ashes, my PS3 Bretheren!

As found on NeoSeeker, Bethesda has officially announced the long awaited release of their downloadable content for their 2011 Best Selling Game, Skyrim. Playstation 3 gamers worldwide were becoming impatient with Bethesda, who has taken almost a year to release any DLC for the console while releasing all DLC for the other platforms (PC and Xbox).

However, PS3 gamers will be pleased to hear that the DLC will be published rather quickly, with Dragonborn coming February 12, Hearthfire February 19, and Dawnguard February 26. These scatter of dates should give PS3'ers plenty of time to enjoy the content before being slapped with another one.

To make it even better, the content will be offered at 50% off for one week after release, so there is really no excuse for passing up on this DLC. Not to mention the elaborate detail and extended game-play that each pack offers.

Minnesota Kids Play Hard-y

Living in Minnesota makes us brave.
Living in Minnesota makes us resistant.
Living in Minnesota makes us stupid creative.

Minnesotan's love to talk about the weather. In this state the season 'winter' creates as much gossip as a Kardashian.

This winter's drama:
A mom on Facebook decides to console others about her child being sent out to recess in -10 below.

Some say: "It never mattered when we were kids and we ended up just fine, Minnesota kids are tough"
Others say: "I'd bring up this issue with the school board"

I work for a facility that does outdoor programming with kids. Programs will continue rain or shine as long as it is not severe. I asked one teacher at my facility the temprature they refrain from going outside in the winter season and she said 0. I asked another teacher that runs a different program in the same facility and he said -10 below. They both thought they were speaking for the same school district policy. So what defines severe? What IS the standard?

According to Minnesota, it depends.
For the rest of the United States the confusion about playing in the cold persists.

Perhaps someone should ask the children for the answer.
If they are having a bad experience is it worth it? If their outdoor clothing isn't appropriate and they spend that time miserable, what perceptions of the outdoor world are we teaching them?

I say: Give them options!

For instances where this may be out of your control (like school) Dress your kids like you would dress yourself. You know, as if you were actually going to be forced to be outside and play for a significant amount of time. This is not your thin winter outfit that you support with running from building to car, car to building. If you imagine yourself not playing and instead complaining about how cold you are, the way you may be complaining about policy, just think how much happier you would have been had your parents prepared you with useful winter gear (not just the cute crap). If your kids are complaining ask yourself what you may need to provide them with that they don't currently bring. Do better.

As far as the mom on facebook, maybe it's time to change school districts (yeah right) OR invest in a 'bundle cold kid' kit. <-- You could patent this idea if you can create it.


For tips on how to keep your child warm this winter check out 10 Cold Weather Safety Tips for Kids.


- Kimbo B. Tuna


P.S. Let us not forget the kids at the bus stop.
(I had a long walk home from school, I have no pity for them.)

Are Social Media Tools Making Us More Human?

Do social media make us more human? First of all, what does it mean to be human? Literally, every person alive is human—we are Homo sapiens that live with a mind, soul, and spirit—and a conscience that guides us from decisions to behaviors.  

Many of the decisions we make are based on personal and comfort preferences.  For example, technologically savvy people tend to use social media with smart devices to communicate. For those who are not so technologically savvy, they tend to avoid social media. Instead, they use twentieth century conventional tools such as telephones and letters to connect with others in remote places. Nevertheless, each of these communication tools mentioned, whether it is a smart device or a conventional communication tool, it allows the user to engage in in-depth conversations about people’s feelings, ideas, and interests with other like-minded or not-so-like-minded people.

Because I know we are as human as we will ever be in our physical bodies with our intangible minds, souls, and spirits, I believe some thought leaders are asserting that social media is making us more human because more people have the opportunity to enter into dialogues that articulate our human interests, thoughts, and feelings; thus we are connected with others in greater numbers.

Based on the concept of the book We First by Simon Mainwaring, niche or self-interest conversations going unchecked by the moral and ethical checks-and-balances of a healthy conscious, could, in effect, be nothing more than Me First behaviors running awry; whereby, individuals are more inclined to address their personal needs rather than their needs as members of a global society. In contrast, would it be more human to adapt to We First behaviors; whereby, individuals are proactive humanitarian supporters of not only their personal concerns and needs but also those of others in the cosmos?

As we enter into more conversations using social media tools such as blogs, mini-blogs, chats, podcasts, video-casts, smart mobile devices, and other tools, they may or may not bring about enlightenments and behavioral changes. However, as we create more dialogues using them, it makes us better advocates and communicators of our feelings, ideas, and interests. Thus, to determine whether social media discussions make us more human, we need to agree upon what contributes to more human-like behavior. Is it based on quantitative multi-dimensional articulations or qualitative behavioral interactions?

I would think human behavior is determined by quality in terms of a conscience with a purposeful mind, soul, and spirit that chooses to act in ways that align with the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Consequently, do social media make us love more; share more joy and peace; be more patient, kind, generous, and gentle; and practice more self-control with others? If it does, then social media is making us more human. 

Linda Williams

Where did blogging come from anyway?

Where did blogging come from anyway?

One of my neighbors handed me his business card and noted he was on WordPress.  "That's cool," I responded, but I really didn't have a clue what WordPress was.  I just figured it must be really important and complicated.  Not so much, it turns out.  So, here I am writing my very first blog in the universe and am thinking, what would someone reading this want to learn?  Why of course, it came to me, when and how did blogging come into vogue.  What is its real purpose?

 I let my fingers do the walking and did a little research.  Care to participate in a little pop quiz?  What do Jorn Barger, Peter Merholz, and Evan Williams have in common?  They were all instrumental in coining the term "weblog" which became "we blog" and finally shorted to simply "blog" taking on the form of verb and noun.  Blogging in its earliest form started off slowly in1983 and raced to popularity in 1999 with the introduction of hosted blogging tools.

Blogs are written for as many reasons as there are blogs.  Some people write about a subject near and dear to their hearts (think dogs), others for advancing a cause (I am an author and want to sell books), and others perhaps to gather support for a political party.  There is a wiki site which lays out the History of Blogging and will provide you with lots of interesting information on how blogging can be used to advanced a We First mentality. 

Happy blogging!

Robin

The biggest 'Deal' of the year on 'Stuff'

"Can I help you find something?" says the aggressive store clerk.

Answer options:

A. Without making eye contact reply "No thank you, I'm just looking."

B. Walk faster and pretend you didn't hear her because your anxiety is climbing. Can't risk engaging in conversation. She might try to give you 'buy this' advice about the living room she is imagining all wrong.

C. Or my new line "I heard you have a lot of STUFF. Just looking around at STUFF today. I see you have sparkly STUFF. I will start there." That usually stops the chase. 

My brain was human once. I used to question why. 

Why must I make my bed in the morning if I have to fix it for sleeping again in the evening?

Why does green have the same taste regardless if it is lettuce, grass, broccoli, or the lilac bush foliage I stole and ate from the neighbors yard?

Why is that squirrel dragging a hot dog bun up a tree?

I need to mention that these questions were not from recent years.

Then in my adult life, I obtained a job that afforded me extra funds. This gave me access to making the thoughtless decision to hand it over to stores like PierOne Imports and Bed Bath and Beyond. In return, I am blessed with a bunch of crap that only makes sense in one season. Usually the season that is on sale and currently over. By the time that season rolls around again I have no idea I own said item after tucking it away. No one compliments my stuff by the way, because my design ability is also crap. So much for bragging rights.

I can't shake this ferret like impulse.

Ferret impulse = must have, must hide, must hoard.

Even after crap stuff is obtained it never satisfies. 

The ferret will strike again and here's why.

I present to you. The story of STUFF.

This is obviously outdated (2007), but there is a video series that continues to reveal the deal behind stuff that is ongoing.

Calling all ferrets - comment below and suggest what other stores I should stay away from during this time of great addiction...or which ones I should shop at next. *COUGH COUGH*

Hoping to gain control of consumption through the power of questions,

- Kimbo-B-Tuna

Social media beyond facebook and twitter

When most of us when we hear the term social media we only think of facebook or twitter. A few people may include youtube and vimeo in their definition. I doubt many people include other forms of media beyond these narrow definitions. Social media is much more than a facebook page. 

Foldit is a video game that is a prime example of this broader definition. Foldit was created by the University of Washington to see if a world wide community of gamers could play and collaborate to solve medical problems. The gamers work alone or create collaborative teams to solve puzzles and researchers use the puzzle solutions in their work.



The objective of the game is to fold proteins and get as high a score as possible in the process. The solutions with the highest scores are analyzed by scientists to see if those solutions can be applied to solve real world problems. One such problem was the M-PMV retrovieral protease that had stumped the medical research community for 15 years.  When the problem was put on Foldit a collaborative gamer group found a solution in 10 days.

Social media can be much more than drunken pictures on facebook or a celebrity twitter feed. Social media can gather people from around the world and use any media type available to solve real world problems. This is exactly what the Foldit community does, and it's done with a video game.