Monthly Archive for April, 2008

Grass roots appeal: the Finalists in MoveOn's 30s spot contest

Published on April 29, 2008 in Gen Y, Politics and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Below, I’ve posted some of the 15 finalists (my favorites) in the Obama in 30 Seconds contest hosted by MoveOn. What strikes me is how participatory political campaigns are now the technology is so readily accessible by anyone who is interested in getting involved.

Though MoveOn has been around since Bill Clinton’s impeachment hearings, polling was the best means of fielding member interest on different issues before developing phone and e-mail campaigns to press those chosen issues. There weren’t options to get involved in the creative process.

Now, while MoveOn still polls its members, content can effectively move from the bottom up. Members are creating messages that the entire organization votes on and moves forward with. I find it rather inspiring that over 1000 videos were submitted. More than 1000 teams volunteered their hours to the cause.

And I’m not alone. Over 4.7 million people (there are just 3.2 million members of MoveOn) narrowed down the entries to the final 15. Not every MoveOn subscriber votes, so there was expanded general interest in being part of the process. A time consuming process. At roughly 30 seconds, a piece an hour would allow you to vote on just over 100 videos, leaving time to enter your ratings. That hour would cover less than a tenth of the entries.

I expect in coming elections we’ll have the Limbaugh’s of the nation encouraging their listeners to give favorable markings to the least swaying videos, as a way to manipulate an open poll. But for now, progressive voters are embracing Obama’s rallying cry, “yes, we can!”

It Could Happen To You

Purple

They Said He Was Unprepared

Obamacan

Hope

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Stress and depression up in youth

Published on April 28, 2008 in Gen Y and Health. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

When I lived in Australia, I found myself overwhelmed at the grocery store. While the weekly farmer’s market was great for produce and chicken (if I remember correctly), I did venture out to an express grocery store for the random marinades, seasonings and rice mixes. Each time I made my way around the store, I passed through the chip and snack aisle, not because I eat a lot of potato chips (they’re actually pretty far down my list of junk food preferences). I used to stop just to contemplate the wide variety of chip flavors available to customers beyond the usual BBQ and salt & vinegar options. Despite being able to create steak & pepper or ham-flavored chips, do consumers really need that option available?

For young adults, life is increasingly like standing in the middle of the potato chip aisle. From education to entertainment to resume building experiences to technology, we face a tidal wave of choice. While adults are quick to point out that we have so many more options available to us, very few are teaching us how to handle having those options. Our response to these options is typically to try and tap them all, a direction that cannot be sustained indefinitely. And while our means of communication have exploded, the increasingly popular modes require less and less face time, which limits our interaction with those meant to provide support in our lives.

Thus, young people are more stressed than ever before.

In the survey, 45 percent of girls and young women reported experiencing stress frequently, to 32 percent of boys and young men. (MSNBC, August 23, 2007)

It doesn’t help that teens are faced with more standardized testing than ever, which determines everything from their own graduation and college acceptances to their district’s funding and their teachers’ pay.

The unsurprising corollary? A 2007 study of teens in the UK found:

A total of 27% of those questioned agreed with the statement: “I often feel depressed”.

In the Newsround survey many children said they felt under pressure from school, their classmates, and family expectations.

Seven out of ten said they felt the need to “look good”, and were on a diet some or all of the time.

In the US, similar numbers are reported with 20 to 25 percent of teens experiencing “major depression” before they turn 18

We eventually learn that we can’t be all things to all people, so it’s impossible to do everything all the time. How do we encourage youth to prioritize and take advantage of the most relevant opportunities, instead of trying to do all of them, especially in an age of multi-tasking that drives stressors more than ever before?

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Random whining: I can't attract a man in my own age bracket.

Published on April 27, 2008 in Gen Y and Health. 0 Comments Tags: , .

I love working out. There’s nothing like the endorphin afterglow following 40-60 minutes of cardio.   Despite living in Los Angeles where all sorts of outdoor fitness is available, I’m primarily a gym rat.  I turn on my iPod and rock out for the duration, mouthing the words to my most-fitness friendly tracks.  Yes, when I’m working out, I invent music videos to busy my brain while my legs are in motion.   It’s the only time during the day, the intellectual part of my brain gets bumped to the side lines, which is probably why I work out every day; my brain needs the break.

I don’t really pay much attention to who else is at the gym. I’ve been going to the same gym for almost 2 years now, and the only people I recognize are the ones who come to my mat pilates class on the weekends.  The rest of the bodies are all interchangeable.

Today, I nearly toppled off of the eliptical cross trainer.  Trying to balance a 1.5L bottle of water, an ipod and a magazine as I stepped down, was not one of my better decisions.  But I managed to right myself, despite both hands being full, without dropping anything or breaking my neck. In my peripheral vision, a man appears to almost come to my rescue before I righted myself.

After jamming everything into my bag, peripheral vision man sticks a hand out and asks for my name.  He’s Tom.  He commented that he’s seen me around the gym a few times, and  I have the “best vibe” when I’m working out, which, to me, is highly complimentary.  I say something about the music video running in my head while working out, and how I like to block everything  and everyone out when I exercise (hint, hint).

Tom follows up, asking if I like “motorcross sports,” which is about the moment the warning bell dings, and I realize someone is actually trying to pick me up at the gym.  “No, I’m really just a gym rat.  The gym is pretty much my only extra-curricular activity these days. Sorry.  But you have a great day.” And I exit stage left.

Despite the fact I wasn’t remotely attracted to Tom, I still feel a bit guilty.  I know I can be intimidating; my friends have told me so about their first impressions of me. Tom worked up the nerve to approach me anyway.  And I feel bad I’m not interested.

Tom has probably already hit on another chick at the gym, yet I feel guilty.  But I’d also like to know why a guy under 35 can’t make a pass, is that too much to ask for?

One friend suggested I’m at the gym at the wrong time of day; is there a right time of day?  I know about Sunday evenings at the grocery store.  Are there other times and places I should be aware of?

When is enough enough? Enhancing mental agility

Published on April 27, 2008 in Health and Society. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

As it is, we’re frequently challenged to be the best, if not better, than we can be.

I went to an Ivy-league university for my BA. Each fall the senior class looks at the stats of the incoming freshmen, and the seniors look at each other and acknowledge if they had applied to join this class instead of the one they would graduate with, they probably wouldn’t have gotten in. The bar is raised just a bit higher every single year.

Overachievers routinely double or triple major, while juggling internships and extra-curriculars, but every fall the freshmen class seems to become that much more elite. To keep up that kind of achievement, some students are turning to off label use of ADD medication to keep stay sharp.

And it’s beginning to trickle over in the the work world.

Nature ran an informal poll on its website regarding off-label use of brain-enhancing drugs; 20% of their scientist and researcher community reported using such drugs, with Ritalin being the most popular choice.

It’s worth reading the posted comments beneath the Wired Article, as well as its follow up, as they offer a variety of opinions from those chained to these meds for actual medical conditions to those who believe you do whatever it takes to have an edge over your competition.

Billy Mahoney wrote that

Many of histories greatest scientists and artists took stimulants to do their work. This is nothing new…and is to be expected when more of the population is performing more cerebral work. If you’re a mediocrity and you want to stand out and do something interesting, this is the way it’s done folks. Plain and simple. Nobody cares that you are more dedicated to work than the other guy. Nobody cares that you go the extra mile. All they want to see is spectacular results

In Context says

I want to be all I can be and caffiene, the most commonly used psychoactive drug in the world, is the only way I can achive my goals. For some people, ritalin, antidepressants or nootropics may be their caffine.

The only moral dillemas are (1) legal users of cognitive enhancers (eg. ritalin) gain an edge over fellow undergraduate or graduate students or coworkers or in their equivalent position who do not have access to cognitive enhancers (eg. ritalin) due to legal reasons controlling the distribution of the substance and (2) insurance helps pay for some cognitive enhancers (eg. ritalin).

But what kind of precedent does it set when 1 in 5 professionals in a given field are taking drugs to do their job. Those seeking careers in scientific research are some of the nation’s best and brightest to begin with, and their natural brilliance is not enough. What does super-human job performance mean for the rest of us? Is an authentic life experience, in which we each acknowledge and nurture an individual’s unique gifts, an impossibility?

We are on a slippery slope when any segment of the population is medicating to be better than human, as if we are machines to be rewired and upgraded. When does generic community-wide condoned/required use of such medications become an inevitabilty?

neoken wrote

If I have to stay drugged in order to “enjoy” and perform something, then no thanks. It makes some sense if your cramming for a test in college, but just going about doing your job? Change jobs if you can’t focus. . .

I’d have to agree with neoken, there would be something very wrong with my situation if off-label drug use was my best option for being efficient and effective at my job.

Do you think off-label drug use should be an open and acceptable practice, or is it pushing the limits of Darwinism?

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It's a big ice cream week

Published on April 26, 2008 in Health. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Ben & Jerry’s is featuring their Annual Free Cone Day on Tuesday, April 29th, celebrating the 30th anniversary of their company.  I for one am a fan of Ben & Jerry’s not just for bringing me Phish Food, Cake Batter, and Creme Brulee flavored ice cream, but for commitment to community and corporate social responsibility.

Ben & Jerry’s is founded on and dedicated to a sustainable corporate concept of linked prosperity.  Our mission consists of 3 interrelated parts:

Product Mission
To make, distribute & sell the finest quality all natural ice cream & euphoric concoctions with a continued commitment to incorporating wholesome, natural ingredients and promoting business practices that respect the Earth and the Environment.

Economic Mission
To operate the Company on a sustainable financial basis of profitable growth, increasing value for our stakeholders & expanding opportunities for development and career growth for our employees.

Social Mission
To operate the company in a way that actively recognizes the central role that business plays in society by initiating innovative ways to improve the quality of life locally, nationally & internationally.

Find a shop near you for a free scoop on Tuesday.  Would it be wrong to visit more than one Ben & Jerry’s location on Tuesday?

If you’re busy on Tuesday, Baskin-Robbins is hosting 31 cent scoop night from 5-10pm on Wednesday.  In return, make a donation to be contributed to local fire fighter charities.  Even if you leave just a buck behind, that cone is still half price.

McCain video: No, You Can't. . .Know

Published on April 24, 2008 in Politics. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

This video comes from Barelypolitical.com

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What to do what an ex's trinkets?

Published on April 22, 2008 in Shopping. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Recently launched ExBoyfriendJewelry wants to become the clearinghouse for all the post breakup relationship remnants.

a site where you can buy/sell/trade and blog about all of those little reminders in your jewelry box that make you wonder “what did I ever see in him?”, or “where have all the cowboys gone?” You set your own price. You get it off your chest and out of your sight. . . Here’s the story, you don’t want it and he can’t have it back

In a NYT piece today, one of the sites founders described her inspiration

“You went through this hell, through that relationship to get this piece of jewelry, so you deserve something for it,” said Megahn Perry, 30, an actress and a writer who said she came up with the idea for the site last fall while eating a pork chop and thinking of her former husband. Her engagement ring and vintage wedding band are offered on the site.

It’s a unique twist on clearing out old to make room for the new, but do the stories about these baubles help or hinder their chances of finding a new home?

Blondie181 is selling a 2.32 carat white gold engagement set for $4500.

When I was younger I made the mistake of putting the ring on one of my credit cards while he paid it off. Well stupid me because when he decided to cheat on me for over a year I got stuck with the ring and the bill….:(

FreeFromFrank is offering up a necklace and ring from Tiffany & Co for $200 after finding out her boyfriend was married.

I always wanted Tiffany jewelry from a boyfriend. Well, I finally got my wish but with some drama. Turns out he bought the same exact pieces for his WIFE! Doh!! He was married. She’s the one that told me all about it the day she called my office freaking out. Rightfully so! I’m glad those days are in the past. I would like to pass these pieces on to someone that can enjoy them. I send them with much happiness from moving on with my life. Treat yourself or maybe a friend?? :)

I like a great deal as much as the next woman, but I’m not sure the bad juju of a failed relationship is the free gift I want with purchase.
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masturbation cuts cancer risk. . . in men

Published on April 22, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

I’m growing very fond of the BBC’s science reporters. They find all the most interesting studies to report on. According to new Australian research, masturbation is preventative medicine for men.

They found those who had ejaculated the most between the ages of 20 and 50 were the least likely to develop the cancer.

The protective effect was greatest while the men were in their 20s.

Men who ejaculated more than five times a week were a third less likely to develop prostate cancer later in life.

Why, you ask?

The researchers suggest that ejaculating may prevent carcinogens accumulating in the prostate gland. . .

But animal studies have shown carcinogens such as 3-methylchloranthrene, found in cigarette smoke, are also concentrated in the prostate.

Conservatives who continue to thrust a celibate, rather than abstinent or sexually-responsible lifestyle, on youth are going to have to edit the section on the dangers of masturbation.

Yes We Can Parody

Published on April 22, 2008 in Entertainment and Politics. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Update:

The above video comes from LA comedy troupe The Public Service Administration.

Here’s a CNN report on the spoof.

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MoveOn's Obama Ad Voting

Published on April 22, 2008 in Politics. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Voting for finalists in the latest 30s spot contest hosted by MoveOn.org has begun. I’ve been going through the entries for about 40 minutes. Some of the best ones (in my humble opinion) thus far:

All the Colors of America

E Pluribus Unum

The Voice of America

Judgment Matters, Period

Spark

Vote 4 Generations

Overall, there seems to be a strong emphasis on Obama as a metaphor for the American people. In electing Obama, we would be choosing to lift up ourselves. The focus is less on the candidate, than how we view ourselves through the eyes of that candidate’s potential Presidency.

Normally, political ads are very candidate-centric, so it’s interesting to see what user generation inspires.

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