Wednesday, November 30, 2011

10 Reasons People Are Unhappy With Their Landline Phone

Telephone landlines into the home or business have been around for a long time, long enough to have given us many reasons for being unhappy with them. Here are 10 reasons that people give for disliking their landline phone.

  1. Expense. Local telephone landline service is a monthly expense that many folks are tired of having to pay. With the predominance of cell phones, a number of people are deciding that paying for that monthly service is something to be done away with.
  2. Asking for Help. Trying to get help with a bill or a service problem from some of the landline service companies can be a little bit like pulling teeth without an anesthetic, only it takes longer. Those endless minutes stretch into fractions of hours spent on hold. People have been driven to distraction waiting for the only person that can actually help them.
  3. Long Distance Plans. If you believe the advertising, there are a lot of really good, really simple long distance plans available. Most people have finally learned not to believe the advertising. The plans are almost always more complex than advertised, and virtually never as inexpensive as they’ve led you to believe before signing up.
  4. Contract Bundling. “What do you mean I have to buy your internet service and alarm service and pet walking service in order to get the best price? I don’t even have a pet!” Sometimes it feels as if you’re being blackmailed to pay for multiple services, when all you want is to be able to call 911 for an ambulance after the stroke that their so-called service department gave you while not solving your billing problem.
  5. Limited mobility. Ever forget that you’re on a landline call and walk out to the mailbox, only to find that you’ve lost the signal on an important call? Now you have to call that person back and either lie, or admit to having forgotten which phone you were using.
  6. Fax Machines. Ever answer the phone, just to find that you’ve been called by a fax machine? That annoying sound of maniacal electrons would simply be ‘annoying’, if it wasn’t always coming through at maximum volume. It can be loud enough to hurt!
  7. Answering Machines. How many times do you try to listen to a message that your answering machine has garbled beyond intelligibility? Beating the recording unit with the handheld unit doesn’t seem to help, does it?
  8. Telemarketers. Need I say more?
  9. Wrong Numbers. There is little in life more frustrating than running from the shower with nothing but a towel around you, slipping on the kitchen linoleum and stubbing your toe while tripping over a chair, only to pick up the phone and get yelled at because some guy’s delivery pizza hasn’t arrived yet.
  10. Interruptions. The cliché about phone calls always coming as you’re sitting down to a meal or right at the most dramatic moment of a television show or sports event, is a cliché because it’s true. It’s been suggested that this is a conspiracy between the phone company and satellite surveillance companies, to delay calls from being completed until these moments, but that may simply be paranoia creeping in.

These are the 10 most cited reasons that people are unhappy with their landlines, so this must mean that people are in love with their mobile phone service, right? Well, from reports we’ve heard, there may be another 10 frustrations to report about, soon.

Taken From Landline Phone Service

10 Things you Should Know About the National Broadband Plan

In 2009, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began the process of what would come to be known as the National Broadband Plan. Its purpose is to map out the future of America through a strong technological infrastructure, namely broadband communications. The plan essentially is to provide broadband access throughout the United States, thus strengthening the nation’s economy and education system, among other things. In this article, we will address some lesser known aspects of the plan. The following are ten tings you should know about the FCC’s National Broadband Plan.

  1. Timeline – The aim of the Plan is to increase the available terrestrial broadband spectrum by an additional 500 Megahertz. This is scheduled to be done incrementally, and ultimately reach that goal by 2020.
  2. Mobile – Of that 500 MHz additional spectrum, 300 MHz will be made available just for mobile use. That portion will be within the 225 MHz to 3.7 GHz range and is expected to be available within 5 years of the Plan’s commencement in 2010.
  3. Cost – Estimates of the price tag on Plan implementation are as much as $350 billion. There is ongoing debate as to how much of this amount will be paid for with tax dollars.
  4. Dig Once Legislation – In an effort to coordinate, and reduce the installation cost, of fiber networks with ongoing construction or roadwork, the FCC has proposed a Dig Once bill. This legislation would require states or municipalities that receive federal Department of Transportation (DOT) funds to notify local fiber operators at least 90 days prior to scheduling any projects involving digging.
  5. Health IT – One of the benefits of the Plan the FCC proposes is for individual health records to be accessible to patients, in digital, machine-readable format online, “and at a reasonable cost”.
  6. Public Safety – Another significant proposal within the Plan is the creation of a nationwide interoperable wireless public safety communications network. To date, this stage of the plan has been virtually stalled at the starting gate.
  7. Spectrum Auctions – As a means of distributing spectrum, the FCC proposed the idea of voluntary auctions, wherein TV broadcasters could raise revenue by selling off unused bandwidth. This has to a significant degree resulted in a twofold problem: 1) Broadcasters are not all willing to sell off valuable bandwidth, and 2) auctions are no guarantee that the bandwidth will go where it is most needed.
  8. Digital Literacy Corps – With 100 million Americans without access to high-speed internet at home and another 18 million living in areas where there is scant, if any, broadband available, the FCC proposed that a publicly funded corps of volunteers be developed who can provide training in digital literacy. An example of this concept was provided by the ongoing success of NetLiteracy.org.
  9. Education – Citing the the music industry and video and book publishing as examples, the FCC recommends the establishment of standards that would make it easier to locate, share and license digital educational content. This proposal was to have taken effect by March 2011.
  10. Mapping Progress – A National Broadband Map is available online, which you can use to locate where broadband is available in your area, and from which carriers.
Taken From Internet Service Providers

10 Most Shocking Retirements in Sports History

Many athletes have short-lived careers, and when they do throw in the towel, it isn't always on their terms. Injuries, age, and decreased performance are some of the common reasons athletes retire. But every so often, some athletes pull the rug from underneath fans, players, and coaches and surprisingly call it quits. Here are 10 of the most shocking retirements in sports history.

  1. Barry Sanders

    Hall of Famer Barry Sanders surprised everyone when he announced his retirement in 1999. Sanders was in the prime of his career when he called it quits because he had lost the desire to play. The news broke the hearts of football fans around the country, who wanted to see Sanders break the all-time rushing record.

  2. Yao Ming

    Legendary basketball player Yao Ming shocked the world when he announced his retirement in July 2011. The 7-foot-6-inch Chinese athlete had been suffering from foot and ankle injuries and underwent surgery to repair a broken bone in his left foot in 2009. His injuries only got worse and Yao decided to retire from the game. The gentle giant was one of the most internationally known athletes, especially to come out of China.

  3. Michael Jordan

    Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. After nine incredible seasons, the beloved Chicago Bulls player made a shocking decision to retire. What fans didn't know is that this wouldn't be the last time they'd get to watch "His Airness" score on the court. After a short stint with minor league baseball, Jordan returned to the NBA and would retire two more times before ending his basketball career in 2003.

  4. Pat Tillman

    NFL player Pat Tillman surprised fans when he decided to retire from football at 25 years old and enlist in the U.S. Army with his brother Kevin, who was MLB-bound. Tillman finished out the 15 games of the 2001 season and turned down a $3.6 million contract offer to play for the Cardinals for three years. Sadly, Tillman was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2004.

  5. Magic Johnson

    Magic Johnson took fans, players, and coaches by surprise when he announced that he was HIV positive in 1991. Following this revelation, Johnson decided to leave the NBA, but returned for the 1992 All-Star Game to some players' dismay. Magic retired a second time, but came back in 1996 to play 32 games for the Lakers before bowing out for the last time.

  6. Bobby Orr

    Hockey superstar Bobby Orr saddened hockey fans around the world when he announced his retirement in 1978 at the ripe age of 30. Orr was an unbelievable skater and a gifted scorer who revolutionized the defenseman position. The two-time Stanley Cup champion and Norris Trophy holder was plagued by a devastating knee injury that eventually caused him to call it quits after nine incredible seasons.

  7. Kirby Puckett

    Kirby Puckett was a legendary baseball player and a heavy hitter with an impressive 2,304 hits, 1,085 RBIs, and a .318 batting average. Puckett shook the sports world when he said his goodbyes to baseball after discovering irreversible damage to his retina.

  8. Bjorn Borg

    Bjorn Borg took the tennis world by storm from 1973 to 1983. Borg holds the record of being the only person to win Wimbledon and the French Open in the same year for three years in a row. Despite winning 11 Grand Slams, Borg no longer found tennis fun and surprisingly retired at the age of 26.

  9. Sandy Koufax

    Sandy Koufax was one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history with an impressive 2.76 ERA, 2,396 strikeouts, 137 complete games, and 40 shutouts. Unfortunately, Koufax had chronic arthritis in his elbow, which caused the Hall of Famer to call it quits in 1966 at 30 years old.

  10. Jim Brown

    Jim Brown was a legendary NFL player who left his record-breaking career with the Cleveland Browns to focus on his acting career. Within nine unbelievable seasons, Brown managed to rake in a total of 15,459 yards and earn Rookie of the Year in 1957. Brown's retirement announcement took everyone by surprise, especially since he was only 30 and was at the peak of his health and performance.

Taken From Top Online Colleges

10 Vacations Where You Have To Go Low Tech

It’s hard to relax and enjoy your surroundings when your smart phone is constantly drawing you back to the virtual digital world. Some people are so addicted to their technology that they need to find a place where they are forced to detox. With an increasing number of vacation destinations advertising their high-tech capabilities, it’s getting more and more difficult to find a place where you can get unplugged. If you need to find a place to get away from your computer, phone and television, here are 10 vacations where you have to go low tech.

  1. Dry Camping in an RV – Amazingly enough, you don’t need to go to the ends of the earth to find a place with “no signal”. Traveling with an RV, especially in the deserts of America’s southwest, you can do what is called dry camping or boondocking. There are millions of acres of BLM land well out of range of cell and TV towers. There you can relax and explore, but still have all the comforts of home.
  2. Grand Canyon – If you’re just following the crowds on the rim of the Grand Canyon, you’re still going to have digital access to distract you from the spectacular view. However, if you travel deep into the bowels of the canyon, there are places like Phantom Ranch. It takes some doing to get there, but its well worth it to travelers who want to disconnect with technology and reconnect with nature.
  3. BWCA – The Boundary Waters Canoe Area on the Canadian border of Minnesota is the ultimate low tech vacation. You not only have to leave your technology behind, but also any motorized vehicles. Since everything has to be carried in, nobody wants to pack a laptop. AT&T wanted to put up a cell phone tower near the edge of the BWCA, but was prevented from doing so.
  4. Fishing – Avid fishermen know that the best way to get unplugged is to go fishing. The best lakes and rivers with the biggest and most abundant fish are in remote areas far from any digital technology. Even if the cell phone works, you can’t fish and tweet at the same time. If you try, your fishing buddy is likely to throw your phone in the lake. Water and digital technology just don’t mix.
  5. Alaska – Another U.S. destination that makes it easy to go low tech is Alaska. Most of the vast wilderness of our biggest state is impossible to populate with cell phone towers. It doesn’t take much research to find places like the Ultima Thule Lodge where you can be transfixed by the Northern Lights display instead of a video one.
  6. Canada – That’s 5 unplugged destinations and we haven’t even left the country yet. Similar to Alaska, Canada also has vest expanses of wilderness to get away from technology. You can go camping with a tent 50 miles from the nearest store or book a vacation at one of their many fly-in resorts.
  7. Mongolia – For travelers who want a more exotic location, there are very few cell phone towers in Mongolia, so it’s pretty easy to go low tech there. You won’t get any signal at the Three Camel Lodge where you can stay in a traditional felt tent used by the local nomadic herders.
  8. Anquilla – In order to take temptation away from digitally addicted travelers, the Arawak Beach Inn in Anguilla locks up their digital devices upon arrival. They don’t want Blackberries and laptops distracting their guests from the relaxing vacation this Caribbean island has to offer.
  9. Grenadines – If you need a place to get away from it all, go to Petit St. Vincent in the Grenadines. There you can hide from digital distractions and enjoy the beauty of another Caribbean paradise. Dig your toes into the white sand beaches and live the life of a hermit if you so desire.
  10. Belize – There are certainly many vacation destinations with digital access in Belize, but the Whipray Caye Lodge is on a private island and is non-wired by design. There the topic of conversation among the guests is not the latest viral video, but the catch of the day.

No HD digital display can match the beauty of nature itself. We could all use some low tech time to relax and reflect. Instead of looking for the hotel with the best free WiFi, find a place where the only blackberries around grow on bushes and are delicious to eat. Take a moment to unplug and unwind where the only things tweeting are the birds.

Taken From DSL Service Providers

10 Financial Tips for Single Parents

Parents have the hardest job in the world, and those who do it alone truly deserve a medal. An added challenge of single parenting is handling the finances. Living on one income makes budgeting, and saving for your little one's future even more difficult. The good news is that you're not alone and financial freedom is closer than you think. Here are 10 financial tips for single parents.

  1. Talk to your kids about money

    If your children are old enough to understand the value of money, then it may be in your best interest to talk to them about it. Airing out the family's financial situation can give kids a better idea of where money comes from and where it goes. Opening this line of communication between you and your kids may foster a better understanding of spending, budgeting, and saving so that they can contribute to the family nest one day.

  2. Track your spending

    As a single parent, you have to be even more cautious of your spending and how it impacts your family. Single parents are advised to track their spending by keeping a written or digital ledger of their purchases. Once you know how much you're spending and where it's going, you can better budget your money and start investing wisely.

  3. Save on child care

    Child care is expensive, and some single parents simply don't want the added costs. If you're not going to get child care, then you're going to have to make some adjustments to make it work. First, ask family and friends if they can watch your children while you're at work. If this doesn't work, then you may need to change your work schedule, or split the duties with a trusted child care provider to cut the costs in half.

  4. Get tax breaks

    Single, working parents who use day care can catch a break with the Child and Dependent Care tax credit. Parents are allowed to deduct up to $3,000 for one child and up to $6,000 for two or more children who were cared for. This tax break is a lifesaver for many single parents who use day care services to help them balance their busy lives.

  5. Manage and stay out of debt

    The last thing you need to compound your financial troubles is getting into debt. Living on one income is most certainly tough, but single parents have to make wise financial decisions to avoid falling into debt. If you're already in debt, take care of this problem right away. This may mean taking on another job to pay off your current debt, or resorting to debt consolidation or debt settlement.

  6. Save for retirement

    Don't forget about yourself! Single parents should continue to save for retirement so they have enough money to live on when they stop working. Even if you're a young parent, it's never too early to start setting money aside for retirement and planning for your future. Parents who live on a limited income are advised to put more money into retirement and emergency funds than in college savings because their children will likely qualify for financial aid and scholarships. There's no such thing for retirees.

  7. Save for your kids' college education

    Saving for college is difficult for anyone, especially if you're a single parent. You may not be able to save enough to pay for their entire schooling, but every little bit counts. The earlier you can start setting money aside for college, the more you'll be able to help them out. Depending on your family income, your children may qualify for financial aid, scholarships, and work study programs that make college much more attainable.

  8. Find free things to do

    There are plenty of fun activities to do with your children that don't cost a dime. Single parents should partake in free activities like going to the park, attending museums during free hours, camping out in the backyard, and playing board games at home. Not only are these activities cost-effective, but they are fun for the whole family.

  9. Live within your means

    Although many Americans do not live within their means, it is crucial for single parents to do so. Living within your means is very doable, but it certainly requires a great deal of discipline. If you can no longer afford your car payments or your mortgage is becoming a major financial burden, then it may be time to downgrade to a less expensive car or move into a more affordable apartment. Just as you teach your children the difference between needs and wants, you have to explore the same question when it comes to living within your means.

  10. Create an emergency fund

    Parents know that accidents happen, but not everyone is prepared for the costs that come from these unexpected events. One of the best ways to protect your family from being completely wiped out in an emergency is to create an emergency fund. Although this amount varies from person to person, single parents should try to save as much as they possible can because they are supporting themselves and their children. When creating your emergency fund, consider different emergency scenarios and how much they would cost and give some thought to your job security. But most importantly, don't touch that emergency fund unless it's a real emergency.

Taken From Online Degree

40 Best Books About Human Rights

It may be something of a cliché, but college still stands as a period when many discover the world outside themselves. Professors, other students and special guests might very well introduce them to some of the injustices committed everywhere from their own neighborhoods to the furthest nations. Human rights obviously cover a far wider expanse of issues than room allows for here. But the following 40 can certainly help a budding (or even experienced!) activist either get started or better hone knowledge!

Genocide and Civil Rights

  1. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown

    Hear about the American's mass murder of the continent's indigenous peoples straight from the marginalized tribal leaders and citizens themselves.

  2. Night by Eli Wiesel

    The Holocaust may not have been the largest genocide in the 20th century, but it certainly stands as the most infamous. Eli Wiesel's harrowing memoir Night offers up a first-person glimpse at the gruesome realities behind the walls of concentration camps.

  3. King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild

    Read all about the ways in which the eponymous Belgian royal ravaged the African continent and almost singlehandedly screwed up its peoples – actions which hold some nasty repercussions even today.

  4. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Step into the mind and actions of one of the American Civil Rights Movement's most impassioned activists, hopefully gaining some valuable lessons in how to approach major injustices without violence or hate.

  5. Gandhi: An Autobiography by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

    Another sterling glimpse into the philosophy of nonviolent resistance, this time from one of the men responsible for freeing India from cruel British imperialism and exploitation.

  6. The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang

    First-hand accounts and documentations of Japan's brutal massacre of China's then-capital collide here, shedding light on an oft-overlooked genocide occurring around the same time as the Holocaust.

  7. We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We will be Killed with Our Families by Philip Gourevitch

    For three months, Rwanda's Hutu tribe slaughtered the Tutsis thanks to sick government encouragement and support. This nauseating but necessary read gives voice to the minorities crushed beneath senseless sanctioned violence and might inspire many up-and-coming human rights activists.

  8. Gulag by Anne Applebaum

    While the Allied Powers were battling it out with the Axis, Josef Stalin – one of their own – was guilty of the very same genocide they were trying to prevent. Gulag takes readers inside Soviet concentration camps, where political prisoners, the convicted and anyone the totalitarian ruler didn't like found themselves tortured and executed to keep the citizenry in fear-fueled subjugation.

  9. The Turner Diaries by William Luther Pierce

    Look, this is undoubtedly a sick, stomach-twisting novel, but for human rights activists promoting equality, it might prove a valuable insight into the enemy's mind. Although about racism, the bigoted perspectives white supremacist leader William Luther Pierce (pen name "Andrew MacDonald") can be applied to any hateful individuals persecuting others for senseless reasons.

  10. Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler

    Read The Turner Diaries to understand the deranged minds behind smaller-scale acts of hate, discrimination and injustice; read Mein Kampf to understand how hell happens comes to happen a national scale. Adolf Hitler was undoubtedly one of the 20th century's nastiest monsters, but learning exactly how his mind worked might very well help prevent another like him from gaining power.

Slavery and Sex Trafficking

  1. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass

    The harrowing, dehumanizing truth of American slavery comes to eloquent life in this inspiring memoir of rising above abuse and bondage.

  2. Sex Trafficking by Siddharth Kara

    Sex trafficking brutalizes and objectifies hundreds of thousands of children and women (occasionally men) worldwide every year – often right in front of unsuspecting citizens.

  3. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs

    For female slaves, servitude all too frequently meant sexual abuse in addition to physical. Although this memoir takes place in America, those from other countries likely experienced (or experience) similarly horrific marginalization and exploitation as well.

  4. Slavery: A World History by Milton Meltzer

    Over the span of 608 pages, Milton Meltzer explores the horrors of slavery from around the world, including forced labor camps. He peers more into the past, however, and only lightly touches upon the horrors committed more recently.

  5. Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex Slave by Sibel Hodge

    Though fiction, author Sibel Hodge interviewed former sex slaves in order to paint the most realistic portrait possible. What results is a heartbreaking novella capturing the hopelessness, desperation and degrading horrors heaped upon innocent women and kids around the world.

  6. Not for Sale by David Batstone

    Today's global slave trade – oh yes, darlings, it still happens – keeps some of the world's largest corporations running. Not for Sale chronicles the hows and whys behind the terrors and discusses solutions for ending the inhumanity.

  7. Ending Slavery by Kevin Bales

    Like the title says, Kevin Bales' book outlines what individuals at all levels of society and in every afflicted nation can do to make sure no other humans end up treated like cattle.

  8. Girls Like Us by Rachel Lloyd

    An activist and former exploited sex worker blends memoir and manifesto into one necessary human rights read. Now the founder of a nonprofit focusing on rescuing girls from degradation and manipulation, she discusses how her terrifying experiences eventually led to discovering her life's true calling.

  9. A Crime So Monstrous by E. Benjamin Skinner

    These days, more enslaved individuals exist than in any other era, and they end up in neighborhoods around the world, even those in supposedly "enlightened" nations. Journalist E. Benjamin Skinner delves deeply into this underground world and exposes the myriad hypocrisies and greedy personalities what keep it going.

  10. The Slave Across the Street by Theresa Flores

    In a seemingly unassuming, upper-middle-class Detroit suburb, the author lived a truly terrifying life as a sex slave without anyone – not even her parents – ever knowing.

Women's Rights

  1. Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks

    For all its successes, even contemporary feminism often struggles with addressing the needs of women of color. bell hooks looks at the movement on narrow and broad scales alike, offering up a case for more inclusive activism.

  2. Stop Street Harassment by Holly Kearl

    Between 80% to 100% of women worldwide experience public sexual harassment and "mild" assault (like groping), and yet few law enforcement officials ever intervene. This important study peers into institutionalized misogyny and what needs doing to make sure women can enjoy public places alone just as often as their male family and friends.

  3. Feminism without Borders by Chandra Talpade Mohanty

    Women in more economically deprived areas of the world notorious for horrific human rights violations often end up left out of the feminist discussion – despite needing the movement's support most of all. Human rights activists must learn how to create more welcoming, heterogeneous spaces, and Feminism without Borders might prove a valuable starting point.

  4. Whipping Girl by Julia Serano

    Females don't have to be born with an XX chromosome structure to be considered women. Discussions regarding equality should include transwomen in the mix as well, and Julia Serano explains the biology and sociology behind their frequent shunting. And why, of course, such attitudes just aren't right.

  5. Do They Hear You When You Cry by Fauziya Kassindja

    Although kaika, or female genital mutilation, existed as the norm in her Togolese village, Fauziya Kassindja refused to take part and fled the country mere hours before the ceremony. But escaping one particular atrocity didn't necessarily mean a life free of discrimination, marginalization and stereotyping, either.

  6. The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir

    Women's rights activists should get to know their feminist history, which issued forth a call the action decades before the movement's second wave finally crashed.

  7. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft

    This feminist classic chastised "Western" society for its perceptions that women exist as delicate, inferior creatures and the ingrained actions perpetuating such hogwash.

  8. The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan

    Journalist Betty Friedan almost singlehandedly kick-started feminism's second wave with her in-depth exploration of the emotional, infantilizing prisons in which postwar American housewives felt themselves trapped.

  9. The Veil and the Male Elite by Fatima Mernissi

    Explore how the life of the prophet Mohammad and his views towards women clash with some (though by no means all) contemporary Islamic sects. This sociological work examines the faith from a feminist perspective, drawing up ideas as to making the more unequal corners quite the opposite.

  10. Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

    Women's rights activists with a particular affinity for all things literary might want to pick up this popular memoir (rife with classic novel critique!) of forbidden education amongst some of the world's most socially suppressed women.

Workers' Rights

  1. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

    The Jungle may be fiction, but the journalist-cum-novelist's modus operandi revolved around very real examples of immigrant exploitation in America. Unfortunately, more readers wound up shocked (and understandably so!) by the super duper nasty depiction of substandard food processing.

  2. Workers' Rights as Human Rights edited by James A. Gross

    Everything one needs to know about this anthology can be found more or less in the title. Read up on how human rights activists must also consider employee safety and fair wages in their activities and why so many tend to overlook even the most egregious violations.

  3. Autobiography of Mother Jones by Mother Jones

    Once hailed as "The Most Dangerous Woman in America," Mother Jones passionately fought for the rights of industrial workers – particularly children – brutalized by the careless, thoughtless profiteers valuing money over basic humanity.

  4. Sweatshop Warriors by Miriam Ching Yoon Louie

    Part expose on exploited immigrant labor, part feminist manifesto, Sweatshop Warriors celebrates the women of color responsible for spearheading awareness campaigns fighting unsafe working conditions. Many (if not most) of the individuals featured have themselves experienced these hazardous spaces firsthand, sharing their frequently head shake-inducing stories here.

  5. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

    This investigative reporter earned a bevy of attention after spending a year and a half working nothing but minimum-wage and low-paying positions. Despite what so many politicians claim, earning so little honestly doesn't provide enough to meet most basic needs – particularly when supporting a family.

  6. Free the Children by Craig Kielburger and Kevin Major

    Free the Children founder Craig Kielburger's life receives a thorough summary here, chronicling his standard suburban childhood all the way through his activism. His work takes him around the world fighting for the rights of kids worldwide crammed into inhumane employment situations.

  7. Before Their Time by David L. Parker

    Both startling photographs and heartbreaking stories relay the horrific reality of kids and teens suffering from backbreaking labor inside cruel conditions and abuses. What makes the phenomenon so awful is the amount of legislation protecting their basic human rights that so often go entirely ignored.

  8. The Fight in the Fields by Susan Ferriss and Ricardo Sandoval

    Get inspired by Cesar Chavez's heavily influential unionizing of farm workers (many of them immigrants) screwed over by the American companies taking advantage of them.

  9. The Struggle and the Triumph by Lech Walesa

    Dockworker-turned-Polish-president Lech Walesa held illegal union meetings while his country floundered under Soviet rule. Learn all about the Solidarity movement and hopefully find some kernels of encouragement here.

  10. Slaves to Fashion by Robert J.S. Ross

    The fashion industry's notorious abuse of sweatshop labor is pretty common knowledge these days, though most people sadly seem to not really care who makes their clothes. Hopefully picking up this book will encourage compassion and a more humane, safe, and equal living for thousands (if not tens or hundreds of thousands) of workers worldwide.

Taken From Accredited Online Colleges

10 Reasons Kids Shouldn't Eat Boogers

You might think that this would go without saying, and maybe it should, but in light of recent developments we feel it necessary to reiterate: Kids should never eat boogers. Sadly, despite our best efforts for a booger-free nation, this trend continues. We cannot sit idly by and watch a generation of American youth pay through the nose for our own failings. This scourge we now confront, mind you, is nothing to sneeze at. Parents, you may choose to believe it’s a passing fad; but we’re here to tell you, it’s snot.

So for those of you who need further proof, here are 10 reasons why your kids shouldn’t eat boogers:

  1. Boogers are an entry drug. – Just as marijuana or alcohol can lead users to experimentation with harder drugs, booger-eating frequently escalates to shared booger-eating, booger raves, and binge boogers. From there, it is but a small step for booger-eaters to graduate on to anchovies. The horror. The horror.
  2. There go all my defenses. – Just what do you think those little nose-snots are doing there in the first place? Why they’re protecting your little snot-nose, that’s what. And from what? From him inhaling foreign debris like dust and bacteria, that’s what.
  3. Ingredients – So when little Timmy starts mining for nose nuggets, guess what else he’s doing, Mom. He’s not only opening up his nasal passages and lungs to all sorts of infections – he’s eating boogers that are filled with them too.
  4. Save room for dessert. – Did you know that the human nose and sinuses manufacture up to 2 liters of snot, per day? That’s a godawful lot of between-meal snacking if you ask us.
  5. Children are starving in Africa. – So we’re not, like, suggesting that you make a care package loaded with boogers to ship overseas; but how can you expect to help eliminate world hunger when you’ve got your fingers up your nose?
  6. Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis – Yeah, you bet it sounds scary. And if your kid keeps digging for nose candy, he’s liable to puncture his nasal cavity and wind up with a case of this. Are ya feelin’ us now, booger boy?
  7. Nosebleeds – In addition to that nose cavern rhomboid thing, your little ones are risking other issues like nosebleeds, which could lead to anemia; or something called nasal septal perforation. That’s just a fancy term for digging a hole right through your nose, while probing for snot snacks.
  8. Blood Pressure – Considering the high percentage of salt content in the average snot-ball, we’d venture to guess that a steady diet of same would create some hypertension issues for Junior at some point. Not to mention for you too, the moment you discover that the kid’s high school yearbook photo shows him two-knuckles deep into a booger harvest.
  9. Mucophagy – That’s the clinical term for picking one’s nose and eating the schnoz oysters. It’s also the term used to describe the feeding on mucus of fishes or invertebrates, a common practice of sea lice, for the love of God. That just can’t be a good thing.
  10. How good can it be, really? – If there were any value or pleasure to be derived from booger-eating, trust us, Madison Avenue would have latched onto it ages ago. You would be seeing “Booger. It’s What’s For Dinner” ads during Super Bowl half-time; X-Men would have included Mucus Man in their ranks; McDonald’s would have been offering Tater-Snots with happy meals for years now, and Ben and Jerry would already have ice cream flavors called Booger Tracks and Snot Swirls.
Taken From Au Pair

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

TRAVEL AND HEALTH NEWS: Mexican Human Rights Activist Shot Dead; About 45,000 deaths have been blamed on the increasing drug violence since late 2006

TRAVEL AND HEALTH NEWS: Mexican Human Rights Activist Shot Dead; About 45,000 deaths have been blamed on the increasing drug violence since late 2006:

'via Blog this'

20 Best TED Talks for Students of Social Media

As a student of social media, you undoubtedly know the impact that social media has had on the world. You have the opportunity to see it live in action every day and learn more about its history and future through your studies. TED talks can expand on that, giving some of the brightest minds in the world of social media and beyond a platform for sharing their views and insights, which can offer excellent learning opportunities for you. Be sure to check out these TED talks for a unique look into the world of social media.

  1. James Surowiecki: When social media became news

    In 2011, we’re all pretty familiar with the impact of social media on the news. When a plane crashed into New York’s Hudson River in 2009, it was a Twitter user who broke the news. And social media frequently makes news, including when it accelerated the uprising in Egypt this year. But back in 2005, social media was not as prominent as it is today, and it took a tsunami for social media to earn its status as an equal player in news-gathering. In this talk, James Surowiecki discusses the 2005 tsunami, and what he believes is the pinpointed moment that social media really showed off what it could do in the news, as YouTube videos, blogs, IMs and texts shared the news and personal stories from the storm.

  2. Howard Rheingold: The new power of collaboration

    The beauty of social media is that it’s not created by any one person. A Twitter timeline or Facebook news feed would be pretty uninteresting if it was just one friend or company that you could tune into. Rather, social media is made up of many different people, collaborators working alongside each other, and sometimes together. Howard Rheingold explores this idea of collaboration online, as well as its future in participatory media and collective action. Specifically, Rheingold takes a look at how Wikipedia really reflects our natural human instincts to work as a group.

  3. Stefana Broadbent: How the Internet enables intimacy

    The Internet gets a bad rap for making people closed off, and sometimes, it’s true. Take any teenager that spends hours locked up in their room, eyes barely moving off the computer screen. Or the young social media mavens who can’t put their smart phones down long enough to have a real-life conversation with the people they’re dining with. Certainly, online communication offers a way to shut out the real world if you’d like to, but Stefana Broadbent believes it’s doing the exact opposite. In Broadbent’s research, she shows that communication tech actually offers a way to improve upon intimacy. Watch her talk to see how through online interactions, we can cultivate deeper relationships, as well as bring love across distance and workplace barriers.

  4. Clay Shirky: How social media can make history

    Social media offers a unique way for the masses to have a voice. In countries where the news media is often controlled by the government, real news doesn’t always make it out, and a "top-down" control of news means that citizens in repressive regimes may not be able to share their stories. In this talk, Clay Shirky discusses how citizens can use Facebook, Twitter, and texts to bypass censors and report on real news.

  5. Erik Hersman on reporting crisis via texting

    During a crisis or disaster, phone lines often go down, but texts may still go through, giving people on the ground the opportunity to share what’s going on without ever actually talking to someone on the phone. In this talk, Erik Hersman discusses Ushahidi, a Google Maps mashup used in Kenya following the 2008 elections. The tool allowed Kenyans and outside observers to report and track violence using cell phone texts, potentially saving lives while also reporting the news and growing awareness. Watch this talk to see how it worked, and how it’s evolving to save lives in other countries.

  6. Johanna Blakely: Social media and the end of gender

    In the past, demographics have been fairly straightforward and easy to read, giving media and advertising companies a simple view of audiences. But with social media and online use, demographics are becoming increasingly harder to track. Media researcher Johanna Blakely discusses how the growth of social media and number of women using online tools has impacted demographics, and how they’ll change the future of media.

  7. Seth Godin on the tribes we lead

    According to Seth Godin, the rise of social media has also given rise to a revived human social unit from the past: tribes. Mass marketing is being increasingly edged out by organically formed tribes of people who share ideas and values online. In this type of social grouping, Godin argues, ordinary people are given the power to lead, as well as make big change. Watch his talk to see how it all works and why you should be taking advantage of it.

  8. Seth Godin on standing out

    In a world full of creators, how do you make your one tiny voice stand out among the masses? First, you watch this TED talk from marketing guru Godin. In this talk, Godin explains why people typically ignore ordinary stuff, and what exactly gets our attention. Specifically, Godin discusses why bad or bizarre ideas really stand out, even doing better than boring ones. If you really want to find out how to make your voice heard in social media and beyond, be sure to check out this talk.

  9. Adam Ostrow: After your final status update

    Students and fans of social media likely have a pretty lively social media presence. Your virtual personality is made up of your status updates, tweets, photos, and comments, and it’s all stored in the cloud. It stays alive because you keep it going, continually updating with your latest activities, but older activities live on as well in the cloud. Like a book read long after the author’s death, your social media presence may live on even after you’re long gone. Watch this talk from Adam Ostrow to learn about what happens to your social media personality after your final status update.

  10. Nicholas Christakis: The hidden influence of social networks

    There’s no denying that social networks can be influential. With event notifications to news stories, people get their news these days from others around them, and what they see is absolutely impacted by what the people in their social network share. Nicholas Christakis discusses how social networks can spread traits, including happiness and obesity, from person to person. Watch this talk for a fascinating look into how social networks can impact your life and even change your personality.

  11. Evan Williams on listening to Twitter users

    One of the greatest things social media has taught us in recent years is that the knowledge of crowds can be more valuable than you might think. Given useful and agile tools, people can take an idea and do amazing things with it, things that its creator may not have ever imagined. Twitter is one such tool, and co-founder Evan Williams offers great insight into the knowledge of Twitter users. In this talk, Williams takes a look at how Twitter exploded in size, and specifically, how its growth came from unexpected uses that were invented, not by Twitter itself, but by Twitter users.

  12. Alexis Ohanian: How to make a splash in social media

    In a world of inane Internet memes including Hamster Dance and Rickrolling, how can you possibly make sense of what ultimately rises to fame online? Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, explains how web stardom works in this quick talk that highlights the rise of Mister Splashy Pants, a humpback whale who is Internet famous. If you’re interested in social media marketing and meme-making, this is essential viewing.

  13. Paul Lewis: Crowdsourcing the news

    With social media, the next big news story might just be broken by you. Just about every cell phone can record video, take photos, and upload it all to the Internet, turning every Twitter stream into a potential 24 hour news channel. Reporter Paul Lewis shares this talk that explains the future of investigative journalism through crowdsourcing.

  14. Eli Pariser: Beware online "filter bubbles"

    When you get the news from carefully selected news sources of your choosing, whether they are Twitter feeds, Facebook pages, or blogs, you are creating a filter for yourself whether you realize it or not. By following news outlets that typically only report the news you want to hear, you’re essentially avoiding all other news, and you just might be missing out on important information. Eli Pariser discusses this phenomenon, which he calls a "filter bubble" that may keep people from getting exposed to information that could challenge or broaden their worldview. Watch this talk to find out why this is very bad for democracy and our future.

  15. Rebecca MacKinnon: Let’s take back the Internet

    Social media is so prominent, it sure seems like people rule the Internet. But the hard truth is that there’s a growing struggle of freedom and control online, and your rights to free speech and connection may be challenged. In this talk, Rebecca MacKinnon discusses this struggle, and discusses how we can design the Internet to have accountability and freedom rather than control for a better online future.

  16. Wael Ghonim: Inside the Egyptian revolution

    The Egyptian revolution, which rocked the world and further proved the worth of social media as a powerful tool, showed us that by using the right resources, "the power of the people is stronger than the people in power." Egyptians shared their story through social media networks, giving power and voice to everyday Egyptians. Wael Ghonim is one of those Egyptians, but he is also a Google executive. He created a Facebook page to memorialize a victim of the regime’s violence, and helped jumpstart the entire democratic revolution. Watch his talk to get the inside story, and learn more about how social media gave an incredible gift to Egypt.

  17. Seth Priebatsch: The game layer on top of the world

    With Facebook and Twitter capturing our social lives online, pretty much everyone is familiar with the "social layer" that exists on top of the real world. But Seth Priebatsch believes we’re not going to stop there, adding another layer that’s already in progress: the "game layer." This new layer is set to have a great impact, reshaping education and commerce through behavior-steering game dynamics. Watch Seth Priebatsch’s talk to learn more about this new "game layer" and how it may impact your life and education.

  18. Ethan Zuckerman: Listening to global voices

    The world wide web is, in all reality, world wide. Yet for so many of us, we fail to listen to the entire world online, typically just listening to people who are similar to ourselves. Personal preferences, communication barriers, and technical difficulties often make it difficult for online users to get stories from the entire world, but Ethan Zuckerman thinks we should be able to change that. Watch his talk to learn about how you can open up your Twitter to stay on top of the news in languages you can’t even read.

  19. Mena Trott on blogs

    These days it seems like everyone has a blog, from cats to possibly your very own mother. Anyone can become an icon and news outlet with enough compelling content and marketing savvy, and now that blogging is so prominent, it seems that we sometimes take for granted the incredible gift that this freedom of speech really is. Mena Trott remembers a day when blogging was just getting started, because as the creator of Movable Type, she is the founding mother of the blog revolution. In this talk, Trott discusses her realization that we can build a friendlier, more connected world just by giving people the ability to share their lives and passions online.

  20. Yossi Vardi fights local warming

    While Mena Trott takes a look at the value of blogging, Yossi Vardi takes a look at the dangers of it. When using a laptop, men in particular experience what Vardi calls "local warming," something that you should be worried about. Watch his talk to find out exactly what he’s talking about and what you can do to protect yourself.

Taken From Best Colleges Online