Figmentations

Interesting how in the same day that there is an article on the MSNBC website that describes how Rupport Murdoch is further expanding his media empire there is also an article on how bloggers are trying to form a union. In my mind, at least, this definitely juxtaposes two entirely different communication outlets apparently pursuing a similar endeavor, though for vastly different reasons.

With Murdoch trying to expand his reach to be more international, and also to expand his coverage from financial news into general news, one can only wonder about the amount of concentrated power that one person can control, wield and influence here.

Bloggers have the hope of being at least a partial antidote to this concentrated growth. But let’s consider that maybe we need both bloggers and big media. Especially if they can each be “checks and balances” of the other. Doesn’t each portray a distinct point of view worth evaluating?

We’ve all seen how bloggers and user-supplied video sites can develop enough viewership to become news stories in the traditional media outlets. A blogger has other tools, too, such as RSS, SEO, and sites like Digg, to build his audience and get his message out. Once a blogger has his fan base, doesn’t he also wield a mighty sword in getting his message or agenda across? The blogger however has the blogosphere and netiquette to keep him honest and hold him accountable for any undisclosed special interest leanimgs he may have. The TV and print media viewers can do their own voting, too, but with their wallets in deciding whether or not to purchase/read/view the mainstream media stories.

Bloggers can hold the media moguls accountable. And the traditional media outlets will report on what the most popular bloggers, podcasters, and videographers are doing, too. Let’s instead put our focus on education and Internet connectivity, so that the people can be a better judge of good information and biased/unbiased points of view. After all, it is no secret about which newspapers, radio announcers, etc are left-, right-, middle-leaning, etc.

I personally love the grassroots-type of movements that are able to get enough momentum to cut through the mainstream. I’d like to see bloggers and “grassrooters” work on a more informal and impromptu banding together as needed to establish enough critical mass to get an actionable message across when the time and situation calls for it, kind of like the “flash mob” concept depicted in an early CSI episode. However, it must definitely be centered around some solid ethical standards for it to be effective and orderly.

Social activism is more and more popular these days. We have George Clooney active against Darfur; Bono and Company’s Red campaign; etc. With so much publicity about making a difference in the world, and millions of dollars being raised, it still feels like the problems of the world aren’t getting better. So, while the momentum is building, complacency is still lurking very close by.

The latest cause that caught my attention was hearing Katie Couric talking about the humanitarian crisis growing in Iraq, especially around the shortage of water. How can we make a difference, simply by trying. Organizing as many people as possible, whenever possible.

Let’s keep all media outlets open, but be aware of which can help us for the cause we are seeking help for. Case in point, consider the story about Anita Roddick the former Body Shop owner who sold her company so that she could take a meaningful stand on issues that are important to her.

“The campaigns that profitable public companies like the Body Shop can back—the ones that don’t upset the balance sheet—just aren’t the radical types of messages that I’m interested in today.”

Check out the Five For Fighting Videos, as well as their site WhatKindOfWorldDoYouWant.com that describes itself as follows:

the first MUSIC video community site that gives back! You can make and upload your own video and you can help raise money by watching videos and supporting the sponsors at the end of each clip.

This particular food is good for you, then it’s not. We’ve heard this many times in the news before. Ok, so now they say there isn’t enough evidence to show that tomatoes have the cancer prevention ability that was once thought….and drinking alcohol may not be bad for you since they now believe that brain cells don’t die and keep growing throughout our lifetime…and bottled water is not as safe as tap water since the FDA has lower safety standards than the EPA…and more evidence mounts that soda (in it’s current form) really can be bad for you.

Now this last fact, about soda, I kind of just stumbled upon by accident when clicking through a link stating that there are FiveThings That Are Worse Than Global Warming. (Of course, that is if global warming really exists or not. But that’s another post for another day…)

Now the thing about soda doesn’t really surprise me too much. Given all the chemicals in soda it just doesn’t seem like it could be good for you. But the food industry isn’t saying that. And even my doctors tell me there is nothing wrong with diet soda, that it’s actually the first thing recommended for diabetics. But at the same time, there are enough references out there that suggest otherwise; some of the “facts” out there are as follows:

• Recent news reports state that Sodium benzoate, a preservative in soda, can cause cellular damage by attacking the mitochondria in DNA
• Aspartame/Nutrasweet (in diet sodas) causes you to crave carbohydrates, thus diet sodas cause you to gain weight
• Aspartame/Nutrasweet breaks down to a poison at over 86 degrees (and may be a potential cause of Gulf War Syndrome).
• Sucralose also breaks down into a pesticide-like chemical.
• Carbonated beverages are highly acidic which makes the blood less alkaline which then leads to calcium depletion as the body works to neutralize the acidity. The increased phosphorus from soda consumption, as well as caffeine, also contributes to calcium loss.
• Carbonated beverages also deplete oxygen levels in the blood, as the less alkaline blood loses its negative electrical charge, thus causing red blood cells to stick together thus inhibiting blood flow.
• Caffeine causes dehydration.

Undoubtedly there is significant lobbying going on here. Michael Moore and OpenSecrets.org points out the amount money spent on the lobbying of politicians by the health care sector. The food industry can’t be that much different. Politics definitely complicate things. Will there ever be facts that are simply facts? Or, do “facts” not exist any more thus every scientific study can be spun one way or the other depending on whichever results you want them to support?

The Fourth of July signifies different things to different people. Some of the following references probably strike a chord with you…..

• We’ve got the traditional fireworks, picnics, hotdogs, and apple pie.
• We’ve got the classic educational School House Rock Videos .
• We’ve got the regular fireworks broadcast, like the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks.
• We’ve got the usual online video tributes and emails, such as this Happy Independence’s Day Greeting from Godaddy.com .
• Then there is the less serious events of the day, such as the Competitive Eating contests.

Let’s look a little closer at this last, less serious, yet equally controversial, topic…

So, let’s find the balance. Let’s enjoy the events of the day. And let’s also take (at least a few minutes) to appreciate our liberties and human rights, which at least on paper, are considered to be inalienable:

In the 1776 United States Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson famously condensed this to: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. . .”

I initially meant to post this to my other blog at HMH-Designs-Online (which I also did do), but since I posted through Digg.com, I decided to leave a copy here, too.

Finding creative ways to catch other people’s attention is important to anyone aspiring to make a difference in the world around them. So, enjoy these business card designs. Let me know if you get inspired!

A gallery of lots of good looking business cards from some design agencies… you may even score a few good email & phone numbers from the cards.

read more digg story

Now there is proof that “Doing Good” or “Paying it Forward” has multiple benefits, both physical and mental. Check out this article on “Your Guide to Never Feel Tired Again“:

“Do some good. Acts of altruism can lend a little pep to your step. In fact, one study in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior found that volunteer work can boost your energy in six ways: It enhances happiness, life satisfaction, self-esteem, sense of control over life, physical health, and mood. Find short- and long-term volunteer opportunities at volunteermatch.org and charityguide.org. “

Consider this….

Hilarious how Stephen Colbert points out that Shaquille O’Neil has a TV program focusing on helping children lose weight while also being a spokesperson for Pepsi and Burger King. That part of the clip ends with; “You can’t have your cake and tell kids to not eat it, too.”

read more | digg story

It is said that we are all where we are supposed to be. And, that we should respect other people, like the Golden Rule of “do unto others…” even if we don’t always agree with others’ viewpoints. So, based on those concepts, it is clear that we all play our own role in this life. For example, take recent controversial headline reports such as the following…

Paris Hilton bumps Michael Moore from Wednesday’s Larry King Live line-up to be on for Friday night instead. Some are outraged that the Paris story is getting prevalance over the national healthcare crisis! But, truth be told, the Paris issue is more fleeting (not more important than) the healthcare crisis (which will be in the headlines quite a bit over the next couple of years at the very least – as it should be). Not such a dramatic bump in scheduling anyway if we look at the fact that it actually puts Michael Moore’s interview on the same day as his ‘Sicko’ movie debut. Not such a bad thing for him or his movie.

This movie is Michael Moore’s attempt to bring attention, in his way, to the health care crisis in America. According to an NPR report:

Many times people want to make a difference in the world but don’t know how.

On 43things.com, you can find over 4,600 examples of people that have signed up as wanting to “make a difference.” The featured story under this tag shows how one person saved someone from committing suicide by shedding enough hysterical tears to show them they cared. Another post under this heading references the following YouTube video which cleverly talks about: “what do teachers make”:

Make your difference in your way. Be proud of it. But don’t let yourself fall victim to any “end justifies the means” theories. Consider the efforts of the ‘Robin Hood’ Banker who (illegally) transferred money from the wealthy customers’ accounts to the needy customers’ accounts. He saw the outcome he wanted to achieve. His cause was noble. But his means of achieving it nullified his desired outcome; he is now serving a three year prison sentence and is out of a career. Do it your way; do it ethically; and your outcome will speak for itself.