Google is taking over the world!!!

We are all familiar with the company, Google. Many of us use Google as our first attempt to find information on a particular idea or concept. The adage says that babies say goo-goo ga-ga, but everyone, adults and children alike are saying Google. Is Google taking over the world?

Many feel that instead of taking baby steps, Google has taken giant steps and is at the forefront of search engines and contiuously striving to be better at everything it can become a part of.

In the following CBS article titled, Google Wants To Be Your Hard Drive The Skinny: The "GDrive" Might Make Your Hard Drive Obsolete, But Would There Be Ads?, the story explains Google's idea to take over our hard drives:


I suppose we've known it all along: Google wants our brains. In the meantime, though, it will settle for our hard drives. The Wall Street Journal reports that the company is preparing a service that would let users store on its computers essentially all of the files they might keep on their personal computers, such as word processing documents, digital music, video clips and images.

Users could access their files via the Internet from different computers and mobile devices when they sign on with a password, and share them online with friends. Some of the storage space would be free, with additional storage allotments available for a fee. It could be released as early as a few months from now, according to some leaky people who declined to share their names.

Google already does some of this through its existing Web applications, but this service would tie everything together with a single search box. Other companies offer various Internet-based file storage services, but most have been slow to catch on. Some, like Yahoo's Briefcase, require users to go to a Web page and click through a few screens to upload a new file and set various limits.

For more on this article, please visit the following site: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/27/the_skinny/main3542366.shtml

Google has is always in the news because of its ability to continually create innovative ideas. It was recently in the news for getting into the cell phone market, offering google checkout, and has offered search engine applications, google scholar, blogger, maps, charts, documents and various other features.

In another article, Is Google spinning out of control? The search giant launched two ambitious alliances in as many weeks. I'm not convinced it can pull either of them off., the editor questions Google's ability to keep up with its own innovations and engenders the question, Is Google to large for its own good?

Read more about this article at the following address: http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/23/magazines/fortune/goog_outcontrol.fortune/?postversion=2007112513

Political Expression

Each year it is very interesting to see the new creative ways that presidential candidates choose to express/represent themselves. In the past candidates have used formal methods of pathos, ethos and more traditional campaigning techniques including using the media, phamplets, billboards, hosting rallies, forums, military tactics, snowballing, and celebrity .

With the introduction of the television, candidates were able to adress a larger audience and relate better to the public. Even if the candidates weren't able to campaign in particular areas, individuals were able to see them on the television screen and aware of their face in addition to their stance on particular issues.

Today, technology has had an increasingly productive affect on the choices of those interested parties. People can receive candidate information via text messages, blog, you tube, myspace etc.

Although technology has added new methods for campaigning, elections haven't done away with the outrageous aspects of campaigning. Please check out the following link that showcases a video created that explores the new video aspect of campaigns. (A citizen's crush on Barack Obama)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKsoXHYICqU

New technology has the potential to help make and break campaigns.

The Washington Post has set up a forum that allows voters to learn about each candidate and what they represent. The following link has information for each candidate:http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/

Supporters can participate in blogs that were set up by candidates. Clinton's blog address is http://www.hillaryclinton.com/blog/

Although candidates are able to give the perception that they are accessible through blogs, text messages, news, radio, television, and other forms of mass media, is the future president really going to be accessible to citizens and effectively address issues that are of public concern?

Candidates are able to reach out to the public through these various forms of technology , but they seem further out of reach than ever when the public faces controversial topics such as the war in Iraq, oil, gay marriage, and abortion.

Clinton and others may be on youtube, but are they really in the loop?

Costumes, Halloween & Creativity?--Desensitized for a day

Halloween is one of the most celebrated holidays of the year. It has been able to transcend differences such as age, religion and sex and allow individuals of various cultures to celebrate together.

Every year, there are news stories centered on the most popular costumes, candy, outrageous outfits, and parties.

It has come to my attention that although boys still have the traditional super hero, warlock, and sometimes humorous adult and scary costumes, girls have gone from scary to seductive and downright skanky.

At a Halloween store in college Park called Halloween Express, they sell sexy professional outfits for females ranging from nurse, police officer to schoolgirl outfits. Costumes tailored for women show more skin and have lost their scary side completely.

Another online posting acknowleges the fact that women dress seductively, but condones and congratulates their costumes saying, "Let’s be frank and honest here. This post really has no purpose other than to gratuitously display scantily clad women, so I won’t try to dress it up with witty or sarcastic remarks in an attempt to pretend otherwise."

In today's society the major idea behind the business is that sex sells. Women ultimately want to feel sexy and have bought into this concept and made the costume industy a booming business.

Go to the following link to see how others feel about the change in womens' Halloween costumes: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://internet128.com/images/slutty-carhop-costume.jpg&imgrefurl=http://internet128.com/index.php/archives/2007/02/&h=374&w=500&sz=98&hl=en&start=16&tbnid=CuBHmX8k5MjVlM:&tbnh=97&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3DHigh%2Bsociety%2Bhalloween%2Bcostume%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den

Although gender roles and stereotypical ideals that exist in the social realm are exaggerated on this day, it is somehow accepted and overlooked. Take a look at the stereotypical image of a black male smoking a blunt, with overexaggerated facial features and a kniited cap. If this mask was worn any other day, there would be lots of phone calls Halloween is a holiday that can be celebrated by everyone and ironically people celebrate and find humor in things that would normally be seen as racist, sexist and many other thngs. If we as a society are mentally prepared and somehwat desensitized at a level where we can find humor in these ideals on one day, why are these things such a big issue when the holiday has passed?

Hip Hop-- rhythmic expressions

Music has always been a form of creative expression and a source of entertainment. Music was used as a form of story telling and a way to express social and cultural changes within communities. Recently, hip-hop has taken form as a tool for individuals to creatively express the self and different perspectives of the world.

Hip-hop has transformed since its birth in the 80s and has faced several criticisms by different forms of media and the public. Hip- hop is synonymous to the fundamentals of jazz with its improvisational form. As jazz has transcended generations, hip-hop has transcended culture and has become a culture of its own. It is popluar in its birthplace the U.S. and throughout the world in various countries.

As blogging has become prevalent as a way for citizens to share information, the internet has also provided a forum for ordinary individuals to share and express themselves through music. Internet sites such as youtube and myvideokaryoke allow individuals to publish media online.

Rap has become commercial and is used in various ways to express an idea or product. Check out the following link that shows a Mac vs PC rap---http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkrn6ecxthM

Youtube was recently sued by Viacom for $1 million for alleged copywright infringements, but the company still continues to be one of the most popular internet sites. Individuals post things from music videos to actual news events.

Many rap artists have claimed that hip-hop is dead (Nas), but artists like Common and Kanye West continue to bring back the true legacy that the art began with. The following link showcases a video from Common's new single "I want you":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AG31zw1Dlw

Artist Big Boi, of Outkast used his music to express his dislike toward the media. In his song, "Hollywood Divorce," he said, "journalists that’s quick to misprint public and private business then retract back for deaf ears and think it’s dismissed."

Some news publications have correction pages, but some individuals criticize their efforts to right a wrong because the corrections don't get as much space/publicity as the original news or headline.

Rappers aren't the only individuals who have reportedly harbored ill feelings toward the media--many ordinary individuals are reluctant to speak to the media for fear of being misquoted. In an ironic way, ordinary individuals have been able to use the internet to report their own news and sing their own tunes through online blogging sites like youtube and google.

With shows such as "American Idol", "America's Next Top Model," Ice T's Hip Hop Academy, and other reality shows--reality and elements of ordinary life have been misconstrued and individuals have attempted to take the jobs/occupations of others into their own hands.

Tony Parker, point guard for the San Antonio Spurs even tried his hand at rapping and released a rap album as did many other athletes and celebrities who attempted to explore other interests.

Take a peak at one of Parker's music videos by clicking on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkrn6ecxthM

Next, maybe mc's may take a stand and try to do our job as well? If the media doesn't have public trust, who will accurately inform citizens of relavent issues? Everyone is trying to do the job of journalists, but journalists need to do better reporting in order to keep the profession alive.

Art as a form of creative expression

Art is one of the oldest forms of creative expression. Egyptians and individuals from earlier civilizations used it to tell stories and express their culture. Today art is used various forms of media--film, print and online versions. One form of art known as printmaking now has its very own showcase at the University of Maryland located in Cole Field House. David C. Driskell is the artist and former University of Maryland professor to whom the center is dedicated. The center showcases various forms of printmaking with themes of nature, african art and color at the center of its design. The following link shows some of the various exhibitions housed at this new center: http://www.driskellcenter.umd.edu/evolution/Prints.php .

Creative Expression-A virtual world

The College of Journalism at the University of Maryland recently signed on to be a part of a virtual college experience. The program is called Second Life has several other educational institutions involved and will allow the college to explore new forms of media and education through this virtual realm.

With the college's involvement in the program, it will serve as a new form of creative expression through a virtual world. It will also allow individuals to explore media in an innovative way.

Creative Expression

There are several creative outlets that individuals can seek out on a daily basis. Poetry, painting, reading and drawing are just a couple of the many ways individuals can use activity to further enhance their minds.

The new technology age has allowed writers and individuals who would like to be able to publicly express themselves critically through the use of weblogs. This weblog or blog, as most people are familar with is even being closely compared to the business and field of journalism.

Individuals are not only allowed to further their creativity, but allowed to do it on a large scale through use fo the internet.

Citizen media is also possible through the use of media blogs.