'Military officers' use stolen valor to make seductive Facebook contacts

Purple Heart is offered for valor, something some people steal

Carol Forsloff--Several times over the past few weeks I have been contacted by middle-aged men in officer's uniforms, complete with medals and paraphernalia and pictures attesting to high rank, which is likely another attempt to win over a woman's confidence fraudulently by using fake ID that could get the fellows prison terms.

The early news reported on The Today Show via Rossen Reports that men using military uniforms and wearing medals in the real world is a frequent occurrence in the confidence game about getting a woman's affection and more.  The more is often the money.

Why people disguise their identities with avatars on social media sites

Twinky Avatar is one of the sites where people can create their own avatars and use them on social media sites

The move of folks to have avatars to represent themselves has taken over Facebook with more and more people using cartoons or pictures of shrubs or flowers as representing their images.  It's one thing to take on a persona as a real cartoon or new character for fun, but some say it's for their personal security, while others use it as a way to increase their social connections without disclosing who they really are.

 Facebook is not alone in the practice of individuals using avatars rather than pictures of themselves for identification.  Zing.com began with some hoopla, where people could build their own pages, with posts, pictures, full articles and a range of possibilities, but it did not have the momentum Facebook has now.  Furthermore a site called Second Life has used avatars where people can build a second self that can be and do almost anything.  The imaginary world becomes more comfortable than one's own in some instances, as the avatar is able to disguise what the real person looks like and how he or she really behaves.

This is a different process than creating a Mary Poppins character or a Peter Pan who flies with children or an Uncle Remus who tells children stories.  The new way is to use a picture to hide one's own image for some just for fun but for others because of anxiety about security and safety issues.  As Facebook expands its reach, how much more risk is caused by what it does vs. the entire Internet process that is being abused ?

While some people are concerned about Facebook's expansion and believe in having restrictions, many of these same people support people like Julian Assange who exposes everything right down to the government's underwear with the Wikileaks business, that many people believe is the practice of free speech.  Some people also use violent speech, epithets and insults, and those who see their page find only the word "ask" in relationship to their location, relationships or anything that would identify them even as a known person.  The lack of openness  people say they don't like is found acceptable on social media which is in some ways hypocritical in that what people want from others and from their government is often not practiced individually.

Melanie, a 50-something executive  says, "I use a flower as my image because I don't want people to see how I really look.  I'm getting a little overweight, and to tell you the truth I'm a little embarrassed about it."

Yet Melanie sees many people daily in the course of her business.  She has also been featured in several brochures, picture included.  Still she resists showing herself as she really looks on social media.  "Is there a lack of honesty in this approach," she is asked.

Melanie admits to worries that might be unrealistic.  Part of it is vanity, she admits.  "I just can't find the picture of me I like," she says, adding, "Besides I don't like people following me.  Perhaps these reasons are true for many people.  But for others it is a disguise that serves special social needs as well.

Many people worry about their personal security and therefore reduce information that might lead to people knowing really who they are, where they live and what they do.   At the same time they want other people to identify themselves.

But how often does it occur that Facebook users seek personal information in order to be abusive?  Sometimes the one who states they use an avatar to protect their security may in fact be doing it in order to elevate themselves in some area as having expertise in a fashion where it cannot be verified.  Then those who are duped into believing the personality behind the mask is indeed an expert become the protectors of that identity so that anyone questioning the identity of the person, or the expertise, is overcome with abuse for daring to doubt.

This is particularly true when the avatar is a sexy image that can be used to entice the unsuspecting users into believing the person behind the image is truly as beautiful as portrayed.

The facts really are that the Internet provides the best and worst of times for users and abusers alike.  Social media is part of our world and in many ways a world apart.  We are able to create social groups, expand those groups in areas of special interests and even use our groups to build ideas or to protest.  And there are those who fear their personal involvement in a social media group may be discovered by an employer, a spouse or any other significant individual who may be opposed to that involvement.

Avatars are fun for most people who use them.  It is, however, the fact they are misused that can create issues for everyone when face to face contact is absent and only a cartoon takes its place.

Internet lynching grows in power and influence

A Westboro Baptist Church demonstration

The Internet has been one of the great ways of uniting people and events, allowing instant communication around the globe. Doctors can watch each other perform operations and even be guided by one another in the process. Businesses can sell goods. Consumers can buy almost anything. All of this and far more has been brought by the Internet, but even as it has been a force for good, it has allowed the baser influences of the world's cultures to thrive, recruit and influence and become virtually Internet lynch mobs.



The South Poverty Law Center documents the story of Hal Turner. He is described as a neo-Nazi who has used websites to harass, threat and intimidate and developed a following. He is said to have slandered those he considered enemies whom he suggested be killed. In 2007 he gave the names, addresses and phone numbers of the six African American teens in Jeena, Louisiana who were at the time facing punishment involving a fight at a high school. The fight followed an incident where white students had labeled a tree in the schoolyard as whites only and a place for lynching. Turner's website called for “Lynch the Jena 6!" He also wrote that Mexicans should be shot and killed as soon as they cross the border.



When judges in Brooklyn and Chicago were perceived to have upheld local handgun bans, Turner responded by posting photographs of the judges along with identifying information that included addresses and phone numbers and was said to have intimated they be killed. He was arrested, tried, found guilty for making illegal threats, and lost in the Circuit Court of Appeals in July of 2013.



Turner is one among many who has used the Internet to attract attention to topics that are controversial and negative. Others use it specifically to build a following and to recruit members to carry out certain objectives. In the United States, according to the SPLC, right wing militia groups have grown dramatically as a result of the Internet, while “aboveground” groups have diminished in numbers because of the violence people have found in them. But the underground has flourished.



There are also those in the Christian right who have offered terrorist conspiracies and hate speech. One of these is the Christian Identity Religion, with leadership like Robert McCurry, an identity minister. He was reported to have told a crowd of 500 people who came to hear him in a large conference in Missouri that “war rages in America. The enemy is not coming. The enemy is here,” then added later, “God has ordained that his people be a warring people---Lord of Hosts means Lord of a mass of people organized for war.”The Internet had allowed the growth of the Identity Religion so that it continues to flourish.



Social media facilitates communication among groups of individuals in a crisis. It also helps to organize groups all over the world. In fact in Egypt during the Arab Spring, social media allowed protesters to communicate and organize. The same has been true during other demonstrations or uprisings around the world. During times of disasters, social media has allowed victims to contact sources of assistance and for service organizations and community groups to extend outreach efforts to those in need.



But social media also abounds with hate speech. Some hate groups develop, grow and multiply in places like Facebook, Twitter and Google. Although these sites prohibit hate speech and threats, it is not uncommon to see inflammatory speech on comment threads and threats made as well. Right wing groups have grown by more than 66% during the period from 2000 to 2010, so they number in excess of 1000 in the United States.



Dr. Andre Oboler has dedicated great effort to combating online hate. He has fought against online hate against groups of minorities in Australia and established The Online Hate Prevention Institute. He says this about hate speech in social media: “Mainstream social media platforms facilitate hate speech when they don't stop it. Social media networks have a very powerful communication platform and if they allow it to be used for evil effectively, then that puts the public at risk. When it's out there in the public sphere it puts more people at risk to accepting the hate, and also deciding that the hate is just a normal part of the discussion. This leads them to being people who just stand there, accept it and don't say anything, and that sort of harmful behaviour becomes normalized.”



All sorts of media platforms on the Internet are used to spread the message of hate, according to The Leadership Conference. Anti-Semitic rhetoric and racist comments are made in the comment section of online media sites. It is there that readers themselves become radicalized, foster attention to hate, and promote following a violent form of response to those events and individuals who are the targets of hate. This includes not just those groups who argue about handguns, Second Amendment rights, and immigration, the popular topics that arouse hate speech. It also includes radical animal rights individuals and groups who use hate-filled rhetoric to rail against government groups, private organizations and individuals concerning their treatment of animals. The comment sections of online sites allow readers to vent their views in such harsh ways, that some newspapers have had to close down the comments sections.



Video-sharing sites like YouTube are also platforms for hate groups and individuals to offer their ideas and to recruit members.  This way members actually see and hear the information and thereby find some sort of intimacy and connection with those whose ideas seem attractive but who may not overtly reveal the violent nature of their messages.



Oboler's remarks about the development of hate groups on the Web offer us a summary of the risks of the Internet, as a power for good or evil. Just like the mobs of yesteryear, people gather in large groups and are led by opinions that may be wrong and hurtful. The problem becomes, as it has before, that some people join the harsh and negative style, even the hate itself, as others simply ignore it and say nothing. Both, as Oboler reminds us, will make acceptance of the hate behavior as normal and in that fashion will facilitate its growth.

New world 'neighborhoods' offer more chances for rebellion or peace

 

Protest

Carol Forsloff---In the ancient world, if a man opposed the leader of his tribe, he had two choices.  One was to leave the group and forage for food and survival without the support of a group,  which often meant death from being without the physical comfort and safety of a community. The other was to kill the tribal leader, and that would be difficult in areas of isolation where interdependence was key to individual life.  Limited communication meant there was little possibility of finding and being included by another group.  Individuals relied on one another, bringing about stability that facilitated the development of civilized societies, that the expansion of modern communication can either solidify or destroy.

The new technology allows us to talk over phone lines to people in many different parts of the world.  Often we don't have to be tethered to a desk to make a call, and we also have the capacity to not only hear someone speak but to watch individuals and large groups interact.  Our tribe no longer consists of a small village of people but instead offers us the opportunity to interact with millions of people.  We can watch what happens in one part of the world, and even if our personal circumstances may be somewhat different than what we are see occurs physically far away, the close interaction we have with people through the Internet means our neighbor is perhaps a whole continent away from where we live.

That closeness that evolves from the Internet can mean very positive human growth.  Doctors can observe each other in the treatment of patients and advance their skills.  Musicians can collaborate on a piece of music and don't have to rely on finding artists in the local community.  But that new neighborhood also means that we begin to identify with one another in negative patterns as well as positive ones, which means increased opportunities to adopt the patterns of protest that occur somewhere else.

Revolutions have been with man for centuries, but in the ancient world it could take years for one tribe to learn the status of another. Indeed for many groups the remoteness of villages and the relatively small number of people relative to the geography of the earth meant many people only knew the members of their own tribe.  An uprising within a group could be risky indeed if a rebellion was unsuccessful it would mean a gradual death by being exiled and facing environmental dangers alone or an immediate execution as punishment.  The modern world, however, allows man to observe others, find commonalities and adopt similar methods to express resistance and to rebel and to make preparations for that rebellion by enlisting the participation and support of people far away.

The Internet allows people to watch a revolution in Egypt, then turn the channel and see protesters on the streets of Seattle and move on to find people demonstrating against their governments in Asia.  The revolutionary group cries out for a change of leadership, and those same cries are echoed somewhere else, even if it is only just an echo, without a sound foundation to rebel.  We see the world as the neighborhood, and often the images foster feelings that promote strong responses.  So revolution can spread from one area of the world to another much faster when it is fueled by the prompting not just from one's close companions but neighbors thousands of miles away who can't feel the heat of the conflict but are quick to participate vicariously.  The armchair warriors can join the rebellion or start one of their own.  They can also bring easy answers to complex problems that can mean irrational rebellion that soon begins to spread.

Social media like Facebook brings people together who support or oppose certain causes.  It also means that when a revolution occurs in one country, supporters can be gathered among the members of communities around the world.   We see groups rebelling against a President somewhere, and it seems the problem is ours, even when it may not be.

In February 2014 rebellion is taking place in Venezuela, Syria, and the Ukraine against the backdrop of smaller and larger conflicts in other areas of the world.

While many people see modern revolutions and climate change as signs of the end times,  it may be that these patterns are part of the response to man's own behaviors in relationship to a new form of technology that has changed what the world now means to many.  It can mean expanding revolution or world peace, as the capability of learning from each other grows.

False beliefs about immunization risks present challenges to world health

Flu vaccinations

 Carol Forsloff------A maintenance man came by to do the regular furnace check up and maintenance in an apartment, mentioning how glad he was to be back at work having had the flu for several weeks.  He said, "You know, I got the flu shot in the morning, and that night I got the flu?  Wonder if you can get the flu by getting that shot?

Embedded in the man's questions are several misconceptions about the flu shot.  These days, in fact, those misconceptions are being reinforced by bloggers and people posting on Facebook, many of them using information that is not medically sourced or part of some conspiracy theory regarding government control.

People claim that the flu shots actually have a type of poison that is far more deadly than the flu itself.  Others maintain you can get the flu, from an influenza shot, while others claim that by encouraging people to get the immunizations one is aiding and abetting governments and other groups in the control of innocent citizens by getting them sick or creating fear where there is no rational reason for it.    For example, some Pakistanis spurn polio vaccinations because of the belief the immunizations from the West are offered as a means of controlling the under-developed nations.  And some bloggers go so far as to claim that those journalists who write about immunizations and offer the recommendations from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control as agencies of credibility are aiding some sort of "enemy" influence, either of control or to manipulate people for some ulterior motive.

These kinds of stories circulate to the detriment of a vulnerable world population where certain diseases have been spread by one person in contact with another who has not had immunizations.  Furthermore there are whole countries that resist immunization, and some of these countries have citizens traveling abroad who then expose others to whatever viruses are present in those countries.

Those who repeat these stories fail to examine the credentials of those offering the information.  In an article by someone making a false claim about influenza, the reader should observe there is no reference as to the source, author or references to support the claim that immunizations caused the Spanish influenza epidemic in 1918.  Yet it occupies a page on the Internet that someone will cut and paste and forward to someone else, or offer as credible evidence on Facebook to support an opinion that folks should not get immunized.

Scientists also tell us that diseases are increasingly resistant to protection because new strains of these diseases develop.    Furthermore new diseases can emerge as populations move onto lands with few inhabitants who have natural immunity from diseases in their communities.  Then with large population growth more people have contact with these diseases.  In addition the indigenous people are exposed to diseases for which they have no protection, and many die.  This occurred in the case of the Hawaiians, who had not been exposed to diseases of the West,  then died in great numbers after being exposed  to these diseases by settlers from the West.

But here are some of the facts that are most important for the protection of everyone.  First of all, the flu virus offers a protection and not a guarantee.  It reduces the potential of getting sick; it does not totally eliminate that potential.  Second, it has long been established that the flu immunization does not cause influenza.  And finally the form of influenza that can become fatal is of great consequence to scores of people.  In past centuries many thousands of people died from strains of diseases before immunization.  Now many of these diseases have been sharply reduced because modern medicine has offered protection from them.

Finally those who believe that the government is specifically causing a scare in order to control others is part of a long-standing practice of offering negative material, believing people will be drawn to it; and the individual offering it consequently thought of as somehow smarter or superior to health agencies for knowing something different or standing up on behalf of the people.  Often the facts used by these people who negate the value of immunizations use medical groups or individuals as evidence for their claims who do not come from recognized medical groups or who may not even be licensed to practice medicine in the developed world.

The maintenance man is one person among many with misconceptions about immunizations, but many of these misconceptions proliferate through false beliefs repeated over and over.  To claim that because a child or anyone has the flu in spite of having the flu shot as evidence that the shot is useless is a claim that refuses to recognize, or even mention, how these immunizations are offered:  as a means to reduce either the severity of the illness or to minimize one's chances of getting the disease.  It is much better than the alternative, which in the case of the more virulent strains, is death.

These false beliefs, world health experts tell us, are serious challenges to world health.

Can you post a picture of someone on your Facebook page without his/her permission?

                                                               Facebook

A Facebook friend just posted a picture of you online where you were drinking at a wild party, with a hat on your head and what you consider is the stupidest look on your face?  Does this violate your rights in any way, or is this the kind of thing you just have to overlook, grin and bear it?

It turns out that in many states it is against the law for someone to post a picture of another person online without his/her permission, particularly if it is used for business purposes.  Each state, however, has its own statutes regarding this.  Although most people don't know what to do in the case of a picture being posted without permission, it is said to at least pose the question, with the answer estimating that it's not a good idea.

Most posts are entirely innocent; nevertheless, if someone doesn't like a picture, he or she can ask that it be removed.  If it isn't, there could be a violation of copyright law or perhaps defamation.

In the case of the media, the law has some protection when the picture is relevant to the material and can be evaluated as such under Fair Use provisions.

You don't need to be a celebrity for a copyright infringement to be possible.  And in the case of defamation, loss is often the measuring stick to assess what the damages might be, if any.  In each case, experts tell us an attorney should be consulted.

The question about a picture and copyright law was recently asked by an individual, and Attorney, Ray Beckerman,  responded, "There is a New York statute which prohibits using someone's likeness for trade or business purposes without their permission. It is Civil Rights Law Section 50."

It seems that under these conditions fall under business purposes, but it's reasonable when there is a question to contact an attorney and to check the state law, as every state has its own conditions for violations of law.

Questions and answers about the law can often be answered in forums, discussion or online sites.  Most of these sites also encourage readers to check with a professional before making a major decision, however.  That is true of Justia.com.

The Internet is a gold mine for finding answers to a myriad of problems, including medical and legal ones.  Medical sites like WebMD and The Mayo Clinic offer general information as well as question and answer sections on various diseases.  People are able to find some of their answers, but these sites also encourage consultation with a physician.

The law and medicine are complex arenas, however the ordinary person can find a good deal of reference material related to one's personal situation.  And in the case of posting a picture on Facebook without the person's permission, use good judgment and ask.

Modern medicine can replace the heart, other organs, but can it replace the mind?

                                                                      Ray Kurzweil

Gordon Matilla---In the world of modern medicine, many things are possible.  Doctors can transplant hearts, offer prosthetic limbs to those with severed legs, and can diagnose complex diseases, but can scientists replace the mind?

Ray Kurzweil is a well-known futurist whose ideas have often been found quaint by some and embraced by others.  His latest book maintains the digital brain and mind is in our future.

Kurzweil's latest book,  Tendencias 21, is on the New York Times best seller list.  Kurzweil maintains that in only a few years the reverse engineering of the human brain will be finished and that by the year 2029 artificial intelligence will actually be developed to the point where it will be superior to human intelligence.  His book examines how people think, then presents a model of the neocortex and raises his theory of mind, looking at the brain and its evolution.  The brain has evolved and so has technology, with the latter capable of bringing superior intellect to advance technology even further.

Much of that artificial intelligence is already on the horizon.  Science may not have the brain reproduced, but there are ways to fashion programs that can test mood and meaning of what a person says and does.  Facebook hopes to harvest this information from their online social media site.  It hopes to learn everything it can about you, and that can help its advertisers, its business associates, and help plan its network's future as well as the future for everyone who interacts with it.  Zuckerberg layed out his plans today, in some details, letting the world know that what we think and do is something Facebook wants to use to offer its users more than it already does with its present offerings.  They intend to do that not just about what is said on Facebook but even the types of photos a user posts.

And for those who want to keep up with the latest in Artificial Intelligence and sort through the research as it unfolds, an online site offers journal articles for the man or woman who wants to keep in the know and to use human intelligence and the human brain to understand what might be the replacement for both, according to futurist thinking.

Employer has legal responsibility when sexual harassment extends to social media

[caption id="attachment_18834" align="alignleft" width="124"] Facebook[/caption]

Gordon Matilla---Significant torment develops from sexual harassment, an emotionally-charged act. Social media further complicates matters and allows the problem to spread into wider and wider areas, therefore causing more widespread and intense abuse.  In many cases, as it extends the workplace, employers can be liable for some of what happens..

Social media provides new outlets for workplace interactions to occur, some of which can be negative and harmful. As of March 2013, there were more than one billion active Facebook users. Nearly 700 million of these people post at least once daily. With so much interaction, the workplace boundaries have become blurred. It should also be noted that employers can be held liable for some of these problems of sexual harassment..

What is sexual harassment? Generally, if an individual, or a group of people, exhibit unwelcomed sexual behavior towards another, it constitutes sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is not confined to one specific act. But can include a number of behaviors, that include, but are not limited to, the following:

- suggestive behavior
- sexual jokes or questions
- physical contact
- offensive gestures

Sexual harassment does not have to be explicitly sexual in nature. The conduct must simply be directed toward the targeted individual because of his or her gender. Sexual harassment is gender neutral in the sense men can harass women and women can harass men, and members of the same sex can sexually harass one another.


An attorney tells us there are two types of sexual harassment, quid pro quo and hostile work environment. Quid pro quo sexual harassment occurs when an employer demands sexual favors from a subordinate under the threat of job-related consequences, such as job-retention, promotion, or performance reviews. Hostile work environment sexual harassment involves situations where the victim's employer(s) or coworker(s) acts in such a way that the inescapability of their improper conduct makes the victim feel uncomfortable because of his or her sex, thus making the work environment "hostile." This commonly occurs as the result from ongoing physical contact or inappropriate comments.

Social media has expanded the confines of the workplace and home boundaries, so a given employer must realize employees are digitally connected. Therefore an employer can be held responsible if an employee is being harassed by a coworker whether in the office or in the digital world.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube allow sexual harassment, as employees have the tools to post offensive words or pictures about one another. They can also be involved in cyber-bullying. An employer has the duty to address this problem when it occurs.

Employers can request information regarding their employees' social media accounts if a sexual harassment claim is made. Employers can't ask for access to social media accounts for employment purposes but does have the right to act wisely in stopping sexual harassment.

Social media platforms foretell the future through examination of worldwide events

Communication device for social media contacts

Editor--Can we tell the future by watching and reading Facebook or Twitter? Some folks believe we can and that in doing so we can create better avenues for dealing with problems by knowing each other, our wants and needs better.  But how does this happen?

Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels tend to record our moves, our likes and dislikes and our online behavior.  Internet research tells us that social media is a tool to help better comprehend and anticipate human behavior.

"It is undeniable that social media (provides) an extremely rich source of information, and it makes sense to exploit that data to make predictions or forecast future trends of offline phenomena," says Daniel Gayo-Avello, who is among the guest editors for the current issue of Internet Research.  "There are also measurable differences in the way that credible and non-credible (social media) messages spread. Special measures can be used to filter out those messages that are not trustworthy."

Gayo-Avello goes on to say that statistical methods combined with social media data can help build predictions models.says the studies also suggest that using statistical methods, in which external (but scarce) data is combined with social media data to build a predictive model, can be a promising approach.

"Up to now, a number of different scenarios-such as (those related to) the economy, politics, health or event detection-have been studied with varied results. For instance, prediction of flu and other epidemic outbreaks seem to be reasonably predictable on the basis of user-generated content," says Gayo-Avello. "Social media can be used to at least predict the present. It can be used as a proxy measure for variables that cannot be measured in real time on a general basis, such as unemployment rates or public opinions on a number of issues."

 Bill Balderaz, president of Fathom Columbus,  notes his company uses social media to predict certain outcomes, including the most recent presidential elections.  They correctly predicted who would win.

"Social media is the largest, fastest and most uninhibited focus group ever created. (The Internet Research studies) demonstrate that knowing how consumers feel is a predictor of how they will behave," says Balderaz, who's confident his firm can accurately predict everything from stock prices to climate change based on social media conversations.

"It's not as hard as you would think," says Balderaz. "We use historical data correlations to predict the future. We analyze social media patterns going back years, then we correlate social media conversations with real events."

So it is possible to predict the future using trends on social media.  So while participants wonder how their personal information and habits are used, perhaps some of it will end up with good intentions, like predicting an epidemic enough in advance that people can get medicines and help in time.

Sheriff alleged tasering of youth reflects heavy-handed approach to justice in Texas

 

[caption id="attachment_21112" align="alignleft" width="300"] Taser[/caption]

Gordon Matilla---"Eventually, school officials called for EMS and N.N. was airlifted to St. David's Medical Center, where he immediately underwent surgery to repair a severe brain hemorrhage and was placed in a medically induced coma. "N.N. remains in a coma, and has not been able to communicate with his family since his hospitalization." The lawsuit brings attention to the problem of using tasers to control children at school.

Maria Acosta has sued Bastrop County, the school district and a county sheriff named Randy McMillan. McMillan is a school resource officer who allegedly tasered Acosta's son following an altercation at Cedar Creek High School. Acosta claims two girls had been fighting, and her son had intervened to break up the fight and stop it from becoming worse. When McMillan arrived, however, he told Acosta's son to step back. She said her son obeyed the officer and did so with his hands in the air, but the sheriff Tasered him anyway, causing the son to fall and hit his head on the floor. While he was unconscious he was put in handcuffs and medical assistance was delayed, the mother maintains.

Languishing in jail from February until June was 19-year-old Justin Carter. His father said he was making a joke on Facebook, arguing with a friend over a video game called “League of Legends when someone said, “'Oh, you're insane. You're crazy. You're messed up in the head. Justin's father said his son had responded, “Oh yeah, I'm real messed up in the head . I'm going to go shoot up a school full of kids and eat their still-beating hearts.” This the father said was simply a sarcastic comment and a joke, not a real threat. Yet Justin was put behind bars facing the potential of years in prison for terrorist threatening which is a felony that could theoretically bring a sentence of up to eight years.

He was released on bond when an anonymous donor provided bail. He was allegedly beaten up while in jail.

 

Texas has its problems with prisons, with a highlighted report about the conditions for teenagers in the State's jails. Research has noted Texas to house too many teens in adult jails, under conditions that facilitate violence and lack of supervision and controls. There is also criticism of authorities for being particularly heavy handed with juveniles.

 

 

 

Twitter, Facebook founders changing political, social landscape

[caption id="attachment_4168" align="alignleft" width="300"] Facebook[/caption]

Leanne Jenkins----Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, has formed an alliance with Marco Rubio, Republican Senator from Florida who is often cited as a potential Presidential candidate, in order to reform immigration, as this newest foray into politics offers insight into the power of social media giants in framing political and social issues.

Zuckerberg was reported by Political Moneyline as working extensively with Rubio with his political advocacy group running ads in conservative areas.  The ads encourage voters to support a bipartisan Senate bill on immigration.

What would that bill include and what are the dimensions of immigration reform?  While Rubio has a Hispanic heritage, many of his positions have reflected conservative Republican ideas on what reform might be, many of which are in opposition to former President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama have conceived, especially in the area of a path for citizenship for illegal immigrants.  Rubio's political positions are here, as related by On the Issues:

Immigration is a human issue AND a law & order issue. (Mar 2013)

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  Leave immigration to feds; 50 sets of laws is worse. (Jun 2012)

  
  

  
  


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  English is de facto official language; let's recognize that. (Jun 2012)

  
  

  
  


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  AZ ant-immigrant law demands papers like "police state". (Jun 2012)

  
  

  
  


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  OpEd: Claimed falsely that parents fled Castro in 1959. (Jun 2012)

  
  

  
  


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  Legal status, but not citizenship, to migrant's children. (Jun 2012)

  
  

  
  


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  GOP DREAM Act: visas for going to college or military. (Apr 2012)

  
  

  
  


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  AZ law may unreasonably single out some citizens. (Apr 2010)

  
  

  
  


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  Don't count illegal immigrants in the 2010 census. (Apr 2010)

  
  

  
  


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  Allow children of illegals to pay in-state college tuition. (Mar 2010)

  
  

  
  


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  No amnesty in any form, not even back-of-the-line. (Mar 2010)

  
  

  
  


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  Oppose amnesty in any reform. (Feb 2010)

  
  

  
  


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  Opposes granting amnesty to illegal immigrants. (Sep 2010)

  
  

  
  


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  Supports full implementation of current border security laws. (Sep 2010)

  
  

  
  

While Zuckerberg has expanded his interests into conservative politics, Twitter founder Evan Williams has been creating and expanding social media sites, that initially included his creation of Blogger, which he sold to Google, then Twitter and now a social media site called Medium.  His ventures are aimed at changing the news, especially to encompass the public both as customers and as creators.

Both Williams and Zuckerberg's creations have changed the landscape of communication and help to facilitate change through their ventures.  While Williams politics are not as public as Zuckerberg, he is located in San Francisco, one of the progressive's best known havens.

Puffsky is the intellectual's version of Facebook with no babble or cat pics

[caption id="attachment_17295" align="alignleft" width="259"] Puffsky will be joining this group[/caption]

Gordon Matilla---If you’re a member of Facebook, you are likely use to getting status updates like “I’m going to fix my hair now” or a picture of someone’s cute kitty, but there’s one site that has been launch that won’t allow that and is “the thinking man’s network,” Puffsky.com

The site declares, "The sky's the limit for your intellect and social life."

Los Angeles software developers have put together a network for the intellectuals who are tired of fluffy talk, whether that is the inane updates that mean little to the rank and file or some picture of a pair of a new pair of shoes or someone’s favorite pet.

Here’s what the CEO of Puffsky.com has to say about his social media site and the rules of engagement: “We all love to get social online,” said CEO Calvin Nguyen.  “But these days I find I’m combing through a lot of mindless babble and pointless material to find the stuff that’s important.  Smart people tend to be busy.  They want to see and discuss consequential things happening in the world.  They don’t always want to hear about your new pair of slippers.”

Puffsky is like Facebook and Twitter and encourages spontaneous writing, but it also requires that that writing be linked to news or a current event.  Users can then comment and rate each other’s comments.  Accumulating votes allows users a way to gain testimony to their intellectual skills and other personal abilities

“More thoughtful discussion,” Nguyen said with good humor, “less brain cell death.”

 

Bandwagon effect impacts beliefs on Facebook, Snowden, Zimmerman events

[caption id="attachment_19560" align="alignleft" width="300"] bandwagon[/caption]

Carol Forsloff----What’s the “in crowd” thinking today and how can I fit in?  The bandwagon effect pulls hard on the crowds who waited for the George Zimmerman verdict and fret over Edward Snowden and his status as traitor or hero.  How much of this response is the bandwagon effect, and what is it, according to social science experts?

The bandwagon effect is described as  “the more people come to believe in something, others also "jump on the bandwagon" regardless of the underlying evidence. The tendency to follow the actions or beliefs of others can occur because individuals directly prefer to conform, or because individuals derive information from others.”

"Jump on the bandwagon" is also a term that is frequently used to define similar behavior, dating back from "jump on the bandwagon"  comes from events in 1848 when Dan Rice, who had been a popular clown, entered politics, using his bandwagon as he toured to secure votes during his political campaign.  Now that bandwagon effect is often talked about in politics, music and social media, where people respond to something in the way they see their social group, or favored group, to respond.

Facebook shares have increased in value over the past few days.  More and more investors will follow because of that bandwagon, but experts warn against responding immediately when there is a sudden rise in a stock, or the market as a whole.    Instead most experts remind us that values that increase can also plummet in the same direction, so that steady gains and hedging as well as diversifying is a better trend to follow, going against that “bandwagon effect.”

Edward Snowden appeals to the hero instinct in many young people, who see someone who dares to be different and will do and say what he needs to in order to keep the light on stage.  The response by many is to circle in groups, defining boundaries, exchanging social media highlights and responses, based upon that hero or traitor notion.  But a perusal of the usual and customary Facebook feed finds far more folks cheering on the fellow who is continuing to have international appeal for boldness and escape and standing up against the government.  That response has been a bandwagon effect.  In fact it has been said by writers of the Daily Beast his actions have inspired European youth to train as spies.

And if you are African American or an educated Northerner it is likely you run with the crowd that seeks signed petitions declaring inequities in the George Zimmerman trial.  Zimmerman was acquitted of charges against him for killing an African  American teen.

While we examine our finances and our feelings about news events, it is important to understand the bandwagon effect and how it may deter making an appropriate assessment of a given event.  How we respond often is governed largely by two factors:  your own beliefs and the beliefs of the group in which you belong or hope to become involved.  And once you make up your mind instantly after something happens, it will be hard to change it, given the additional fact that most people will continue to believe a falsehood that agrees with their beliefs even when the truth is made evident.

These are the pros and cons of social media for youngsters

Sonali Chauhan — As social media has become an inseparable part of our life, it accompanies us from casual communication to fix serious business deals. Social media can prove beneficial to raise the market share of your company and can help youngsters to share knowledge. Youngsters can make their best out of it, but should be used with a pinch of salt. Here are some pros and cons of social media.

Mutual understanding

The friendly atmosphere is a  must at home. The bondage between parents and youngsters should be spacious enough to discuss the new happenings in their lives. Parents must have knowledge about their friendships at social sites like Facebook, Orkut, Skype etc; many cases of exploitation come into the limelight because of the hazardous friendships grow in the  social networking without any authentication and consent of their parents. Teens who are complete strangers to each other join parties, organize trips – which lead to some sort of coarse consequences as some people with evil intentions to harm humiliate others. Parents should step forward and make necessary rules for the protection of their kids.

Causing physical unfitness

Social media is becoming a powerful distraction which makes their involvement almost nil in the physical activities. Even at the  initial stage of their life, when they should be energetic all the time. They are transforming into lethargic, couch potatoes as they like to spend their spare time playing video games, listening music, and watching movies online instead of participating in any outdoor games. At a very young age, they have to wear spectacles because of continuing interaction with the computer screen. They are losing their stamina and becoming victims of uneven diseases. It's even affecting their intelligent quotient as they are not involved in the intellectual activities like quiz, brain maths to sharpen theirs skills.

Ocean of knowledge

Social media is an ocean of knowledge. It will be a great help to complete project work, make the assignments unique and interesting. Students can go to any limit for sharpening their skills. Nowadays, students are learning international curriculum. So they can make their doubts clear with the help of internet. Students can obtain particular assistance while joining online coaching sessions. They can start the preparedness of the entrance exams, which they have to clear just after their final examinations to proceed their career further and take admission in their favorite stream. Social media is more than enough to serve their curiosity. There are social sites where teens share their notes and help each other. Such activities also teach a student how to work with coordination at workplaces.

In a nutshell, social media sites are not teenage stuff, as they are very immature emotionally and can’t take mature decisions. They usually feel very humiliating and depressed when they find that the person on the other end was not sincere like him or her. Youngsters are becoming poor at moral values because of social media as they sometime get involved in bad company and take part in immoral behavior unwillingly under the influence of their friends.



About the Author

Sonali runs a website regarding the impact of technology on different aspects of life. 

Peace through music achieved as model for politics and culture

Carol Forsloff — A musician on Fandalism, Dwayne Chelini, recently made a comment, as he listened to a video. That comment, "Peace through music", rings especially poignant, as no other way has worked so well on a site that brings musicians together from all over the world.

You may be one of those people who sees the postings all over Facebook, on many comment threads through the news feed, and get messages that come the same way as the games. But Fandalism is not a game. On this site, one can hear the kind of talent often not found on "the tube." In fact, many people who are busily interacting, collaborating and learning from each other, using music as a vehicle, say they are seldom watching television anymore. And unlike other social media sites, Fandalism encourages people not only to be interactive on the Internet through its site but allows people to find each other in local areas as well. The key word is "collaboration", as folks learn about each other, then make their plans to travel somewhere to actually perform music with someone they just met through sharing enjoyment of music.

Television abounds with talent shows, but some have age restrictions, such as American Idol. Others have token age restrictions, where there is an unwritten rule to focus on the up-and-coming as opposed to the polished elder in music statesmanship. Not so on Fandalism where folks of all ages meet and share music. The young man who plays heavy metal rock often ends up listening and appreciating old folk music tunes, as the older musician of the folk music generation comes to appreciate the elaborate guitar patterns produced by young folks.

The barriers of nationalism, racism, and sexism dissolve in a sea of music, something that could be emulated in ordinary life. The dictum "Say something nice" is reminiscent of the adage that says if you can't say something nice about someone, say nothing. For that is the model on Fandalism. Any negative comments become instructive through private messages. But the atmosphere of mutual respect and kindness means that even those instructive comments come wrapped in the package of respect.

A Russian musician, Andrey Onishenko, shares his balalaika. A Pakistani, Haider Hashimi, eloquently through music shows the international flavor of rock. A Swede, Thommy Johannson, sings bunches of  songs,  American style and in the modern way, with international tones and flavors.  A composer from the United Kingdom, Jason Yates, collaborates in writing music with an American, Darcy Jeavons. A musician from Brazil, Cassiano Perieara Viana, reminds us that good music compositions can come from many countries. An older man,  Angelo Marinosci, stirred lifelong in the delightful stew of folk music, finds ways to interact with young singers, like Lisa Gill, with the consequence that the music produced is of superior quality. Two elder statesmen of music, Staffan Fenander and James Watts, offer music from nearly every genre with consummate skill. A young Japanese woman, delightfully known as Yum, offers support to everyone with her ability to organize and produce music. A musician with the total package of singing, playing instruments, and production, Sticky Sugar Hopkins, also known as Yawroc, brings together a diverse group from many nations to make a difference in music. And then there are the fans and friends, like John Lunn, someone who isn't playing music by facilitating those peaceful and supportive manners that can serve as a model for everyone. It is happening now.

It is that model for peace we might examine. Fandalism  is first set up to be that way. What if our politicians walked under a doorway inscribed "Say something nice" before taking their seats in a Congress? What if national leaders met to discuss some terrible catastrophe and collaborated so that the result was far better than anyone could produce individually. These are superior lessons. So the next time you see a link that speaks of some music video, remember this might be the way to something good, such as peace and understanding, something that happens in few other ways in our modern world. Peace through music is possible. Give a listen, and you will find yourself drawn into that same attitude, and perhaps the message will spread so more people will sing as opposed to shout or shoot.

New social media music community, Fandalism, leads in establishinginternational bonds

[caption id="attachment_14661" align="alignleft" width="111"] Ukulele - among the many instruments played on Fandalism[/caption]

Carol Forsloff — While politicians the world over make bold promises about uniting folks within their various countries or speak of their abilities to make better relationships with others, Philip Kaplan's Fandalism is leading the way in doing what others have not. Music, as the universal language, is establishing bonds that go beyond local borders and human conflicts in ways that truly work toward making the world a better place.

As American politicians in 2012 prepare for a heavy Presidential campaign and international experts grapple with the internal wars and conflicts in countries around the world, Fandalism is making a difference in building relationships. How does that happen and what can governments and others learn from a music community that can enhance relationships in other ways?

Kaplan initiated Fandalism, a musical community website,  approximately six months ago. His backgrounds in computer programming, business development, and music (he's a drummer) provided the foundation for his putting together a unique site that was initiated as a Facebook application. But unlike the games and other activities on Facebook, Fandalism goes further than simply creating fun activities to encouraging new talent and supporting musicians in their collaboration efforts and their relationship-building. It is also truly democratic, as the master musician with a list of music credits starts like everyone else in securing a fan base and offering music others can appreciate or not. Popularity hinges on talent, relationship-building, and the belief that all musicians who are sharing their music are providing a personal gift to others. In this type of community, the 70-year-old country musician from the Southwest, who may have been closeted for years, makes friends with the 18-year old violinist in Asia with mutual appreciation and sharing.

Fandalism announces itself as a site for musicians, but it also has audience members who support and encourage the talent on the site.   Two of these people, John Lunn and Suzanne Morgan, have fostered much of the cooperation and collaboration that has occurred. But the musicians interact in positive ways with each other, and that's likely because Kaplan wisely set up his site to deflect the negative that occurs with many social media networks. As an example, the comment section clearly states that one should say something nice about the video or audio clip. This prompts people to think and act pleasantly and positively with their first response to musicians. It sets the stage for people to look for the good in each other. And that good is found easily, because many of the musicians are talented beyond the ordinary.

Cooperation, collaboration, and appreciation occur also among disparate groups and individuals who might otherwise neither find each other nor find areas of agreement for initiating a relationship. Music, however, does this. More than half a million members and counting consist of entertainers from every country on earth, including those places where there is serious conflict and war, such as Syria and parts of Africa.  The musicians include classical masters and country music artists, the young and the old, guitars, violins, pianos and every form of musical instrument, and people of all races, nationalities and cultures, all figuratively joining hands with their music. And they are succeeding where the politicians and protest groups have failed.

Folks may speak randomly of music as a universal language, but Fandalism's inner workings and philosophy go beyond that language to intrinsically establish human bonds that rise above the commonplace. It is also reviving old music while introducing the new in a listenable and enjoyable way.

While world leaders grapple with communication problems and conflicts and politicians squabble over their issues and other social media groups sometimes cater to the inane or the political argument, Fandalism is doing what others cannot in making people feel good and work together in developing something special. And for that, those who know it are grateful.

New application allows users to send voice messages on social mediasites

[caption id="attachment_4168" align="alignleft" width="300"] Facebook[/caption]

Carol Forsloff - In these days of gotta-haves, the latest application lets folks send prerecorded voice messages to friends.  The application is called UWhisp and interfaces with social media sites.

In these days where many people use applications such as Facebook and Twitter,  some folks like to hear the sound of a friend's voice, so this new application which becomes a widget on the user's browser allows people to record and play messages. It was invented in Spain by four graduate students from the School of Informatics.  According to Gizmag, the application has been available for about three weeks, with both a basic, free version and a paid-for one that has more of the bells and whistles.

Whereas the new devices enable users to communicate, experts remind us that social media itself has its advantages and disadvantages. First, the issue has to do with time, and how much of it the user spends on social media, then tasks and ventures go by the wayside as users join more and more networks and spend more and more time maintaining contact with great numbers of people. In fact, many experts caution about this. So a voice mail system can allow people to send messages personally in a fashion that may reduce the time necessary for interaction. The use of a voice dictation system, also helps.

One of the big disadvantages of social media is its lack of personal, direct contact, face to face, which means that people lose the nuances of body language and other communications. A voice, however, allows for increased personalization of messages that can help bridge the gap between the impersonal and a more direct interaction. Most experts tell us that even the best devices need to be channeled appropriately to the user's time and need, because to be locked in social media as the primary source of social interaction is limiting.

In the meantime, scientists and entrepreneurs continue to find ways of improving communication in social media that will be effective and useful for everyone.

Dreams of Our Mothers

[caption id="attachment_15257" align="alignleft" width="221" caption="Women working"][/caption]

Carol Forsloff --  Today's mothers are unique, as "the hand that rocks the cradle" may be difficult to identify anymore with the new families struggling to decide who and what mother is.

The classic image in "Leave It to Beaver" is not the American family of today.  Today's mother is apt to work outside the home and have little time to have all the neighborhood kids over for the day.  The new world of busy mothers means children are more and more requiring technology to be tethered to the family, as opposed to the dinner hour when everyone gathers around the table to chat about the day.

In La Grande, Oregon and other small towns like Natchitoches, Louisiana one can still find mothers doing the same things they used to but paying for it with their lives.  Mothers now die like fathers do on the open roads of life and have the tensions of the work world.  But a small town means families that have remained in the town remain close emotionally as well.  Yet that is changing as well.  Emotional or physical estrangement from many causes has created distances far greater than yesterday's mother found.  What's worse is the question:  Who is the mother?

These days mothers are stepmothers, big sisters, auntie or the neighbor next door or even the Facebook mom who nurtures everyone.

So what are the dreams of the mothers today, as in the past the responsibility was to care carefully, play with the child and provide guidance for major life directions.  Today's mothers dreams of having the time to do that and hoping that, despite a unique relationship that may not be tied to a birth of a child,  they will be identified with motherhood in the same way.

Today we will attend a funeral of a stepmother with a family wrenched apart by clashes with the deceased woman's new boyfriend and the step-family, as the children's father had been married twice.  So the children have had to make shifts in their lives to accommodate new relationships after a divorce or death.  The natural mother of the adult children is seldom mentioned in the mix, as the grown children continue to identify relationships.  And the answer to "who is the mother" becomes complicated.

For all those women who have children, have cared for the children of others, who watch over children in the work world or who take the time the time for a little mothering on a street corner of a child's life, congratulations, as new life has been poetically identified as not just the physical but spiritual renewal.  Congratulations to all those who offer that kind of relationship and to all mothers who have dreams of a better world for all of us.

Facebook addiction: take the test

[caption id="attachment_4168" align="alignleft" width="300"] Facebook[/caption]

Carol Forsloff - Here's another addiction to worry about: Facebook.  It seems that there is now a test to determine whether you are or aren't one of those with an unrelenting craving that sometimes you can't control, which is, of course, the nature of addiction.  What's the test and what does this say about the rest of us?

I admit it.  I am on Facebook every day.  I also have a lot of "friends" and that's a serious sign of issues, unless there's a reason.  For me, as a journalist, Facebook is one of those places where networking is important.  But I also peek in and see how my friends are faring, and I admit to a venture here and there on non-friend pages, just to check out what's going on in the never-never land of those I hardly know or don't know anymore.  Some of these have become non-friends and non-relatives through time and distance.    Lots of folks do that, the experts say.  That's the way of the world, it seems, at least the way of the world on Facebook.

I'm also addicted to something else on Facebook, and that's not just writing but music as well.  The new application, Fandalism, has taken off seriously and in some ways might just outpace YouTube.  If it does, some of us will be truly happy for that, as YouTube has become not just a place for musicians and visual artists to strut their stuff but a dumping ground for the absurd and sometimes the very bizarre, as well as the tamer "inappropriate."

Fandalism can be very addictive, if you like to play music.  If you like to listen to it, it can also be addictive, as there are some seriously good musicians.  One of them is Yawroc Sticky Hopkins, that I have written about, and Nancy Burridge, of the super voice.  But there are others as well, and when the site brags it has many of the world's best musicians, you can take that claim seriously, as there are some seriously fine folk on Fandalism, who perform as well, and often better, than those on "America's Got Talent" or its counterparts like "Britains Got Talent" just over the pond.

But Facebook is the parent of Fandalism, parent in terms of the new child becoming a strong connection for people, likely as addicted as those who play games.

So what's the test to determine addiction?  So here's what Kurzweil's publication reports:

 Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale test, developed in Norway, offers the following scale to determine addiction..

Do you (1) Very rarely, (2) Rarely, (3) Sometimes, (4) Often, or (5) Very often:

• Spend a lot of time thinking about Facebook or plan use of Facebook.


• Feel an urge to use Facebook more and more.


• Use Facebook to forget about personal problems.


• Try to cut down on the use of Facebook without success.


• Become restless or troubled if you are prohibited from using Facebook.


• Use Facebook so much that it has had a negative impact on your job/studies.

After adding these up, your full score correlates with your addiction level. Did you score “often” or “very often” on at least four of the six items? You’re a Facebook addict.*

So it isn't just the Internet or the computer that takes our time.  It is also social media.  On the other hand, some people use the site to master their music or to show off their work in various ways.  However, you use, it, experts say, excessive use can cause problems with sleep and bunches of other issues---like who is going to do the dishes or take out the garbage while the other guy is fixed with eyes on the screen for Facebook.

News readers increase but not through Facebook and Twitter

[caption id="attachment_4361" align="alignleft" width="128"] Tablet computers[/caption]

Carol Forsloff - More and more people are reading the news, as  technology expands  Internet reach and reader options throughout the world; but social media is not the top source for news as thought.

The Pew Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism surveys the state of the journalism world, taking a look at what drives traffic and what readers want.

What Pew researchers have found is that sources like Facebook and Twitter may add to traffic, but only nine percent of users get their news recommendations from these social media sites.  Facebook leads Twitter as a source for finding news material.

As devices for reading news material expand, readers continue to turn to traditional news sources for their reading about contemporary events.  This does not mean they do not read just the mainstream press, the big boys like the New York Times.  But the reader is more apt to do a search for material or find those outlets that present news material in which they are most interested.  Traditional media continues to appeal to most news readers.

So what’s the best method of securing website traffic?  Unique, well-written material remains high on the list of SEO experts and others examining the issue of Internet growth and user behavior as the best method of increasing readership.  A forum post summarizes what many technical support staff and website experts tell us:  “Write quality, original content. Ensure that Google can see it and make sense of it. Update regularly.”

Readership is up, across many venues, because of technology.    And despite the concerns that the reading public simply wants the hit-and-miss sensational material, a good many are looking for substantial material that appeals to their interests and that they find unique.

While news organizations worry about losing readership, the problem is less the competition with social media than the actual number of sites that offer news.  Still reading as fundamental is being presented across the platforms of technology, a way to provide more and more people with opportunities to learn.