Say goodbye to your private life with this facial recognition device already being put into effect in China.
This system makes me think back to the movie Fast and Furious 7 where everyone was after “God’s eye”. A device that hacks into all electronic devices with a camera on them and see’s through them. This device could have helped catch Bin Laden in the matter of hours, minutes even compared to years.
One of the first reasons China started using facial recognition is to have surveillance on ethnic minorities in their country. A word in America that would describe this is oh idk…. RACISM. Profiling someone based on the way they look to keep a closer eye on them.
Not only do they target Uighurs, but now have made a database for those with a criminal record, drug abuse, MENTAL HEALTH even.
I understand that they just want social control, but how much are they not telling us? What else are they using this system for? Pretty scary to think about.
Every program that is run on your phone, computer, gaming system has a source code which is basically the blueprint of how it will function. But what if something goes wrong in this source code, or what if you have an idea on how to improve the source code, how do you go about it?
If you’re not technologically savvy like me, then forget that prompt. If coding isn’t for you and doesn’t register in your head as easily, a closed source is more your speed.
With a closed source you’re not even given access to a source code so you don’t have to worry about it. If you run into a problem there’s only one person (the creator) that can really help and will get you an answer in a timely fashion.
With open sources, people who engage in that system have the ability to edit and manipulate the code, perhaps making it more efficient. “People can take that source code and create custom operating systems from it.” WordPress for example is an open source as you can create your own themes and layout of your website. Creating widgets and designing your website to exactly how you want it to look. But if you run into a problem it is harder to find support and will take a bit longer.
Every person who has a laptop has copyrighted… its inevitable. As stated in the lecture “every time you go online, your computer copies everything you do.” If you are guilty of copyrighting someone else’s work, you are guilty of infringement. Some ways that affect the extent that you commit this crime are exhibited in this article. “Whether it was used for a commercial or nonprofit purpose, amount and substantiality of the copied portion, and effect on the market of the work”(Morgan).
Some ways to avoid committing infringement is to simply ask for permission and give proper credit where it is due. Although not many people go to jail for this and simply pay a fine that ranges from $200-$150,000. If you commit infringement more than once, you can possibly look to 10 years in prison.
Now if you are on the other side and want to protect your work, you can submit a claim (register) for copyright. The rates online are around 35 dollars and you must include all authors, date of publish, contact info and who you allow to use that work (if any).
Originally my digital artifact was health, food and fitness. I had some struggles at first when trying to cover food just because of the way my meal plan worked and me living on a low budget. But after the feedback I received on my first video and Instagram post, I definitely believe I should make the extra effort to incorporate food and nutrition as a vital part of my artifact.
I for the most part have steered away from mental health as a part of my digital artifact because from what I’ve seen is that when people want to search fitness, they will. When people are seeking for help on their mental state, they want to hear it from a professional or someone who specializes in that line of work, not some gym rat.
My main platform I used at first was YouTube, but after broadening my horizons, Instagram is definitely better for traffic and exposure. My biggest regret with this digital artifact is focusing too much on the blog that did not get me feedback and getting a late start on Instagram. My tutor in class told me a great way to get more views on YouTube and it is by cropping a part of your video on Instagram and then having the link right there for the viewer to continue watching the video which is how an external source led me to gaining more views.
At first my DA was just to get people to start going to the gym, but now my page consists mostly of motivation. It’s not about getting people to try the gym, it’s about having people continue to go to the gym and incorporating healthy foods in their daily routine. Giving them new routines to try, new recipes to cook and also giving them an alternative to weightlifting (calisthenics).
My audience are people that are already somewhat motivated and want to join someone like them on their journey.
Funny you should ask that, I just cooked all 3 of those on my latest video!
Let’s jump right into it. Kangaroo Meat is a red meat but doesn’t have all those artery clogging side effects beef has. Instead this has more protein, less calories/fat and is a great source of iron and zinc. Not only is it great for heart health, but it also has omega -3s which is usually only found in fish. Additionally, it is cost efficient and ethical to eat because they are not farmed, but hunted. Kangaroo is a great source of vitamin b-12 (nerve and blood cells) , b-6 (neurotransmitters) and leaves you feeling full for longer periods of time.
Sweet potatoes are no longer just a food you eat on Thanksgiving. It is rich with antioxidants, vitamin A, fiber which few people get enough of on a daily basis and is great for your skin.
Lastly, did you know a green bell pepper is just an unripe red pepper? Pretty dandy right? They are low in calories and don’t spike your insulin level due to being low in glycogen. They also have antioxidants and increase your metabolism. Their vitamin levels are off the charts! Vitamin C – immune system Vitamin A – (skin and eyes) Vitamin E- (Hair and nails) Vitamin B6- (Decrease risk of breast cancer)
It doesn’t have to be the prettiest, but as long as you get the nutrients!
“The distinction between the ‘real’ and simulations has collapsed” (Baudrillard, 1981). A simple yet powerful quote that applies to this day and age more than ever.
Days aren’t as simple as they used to be. Nowadays everything we do, we look over our shoulders to see who’s watching us, to see who’s judging. Do we meet their standards? Is what we are doing acceptable behavior in the eyes of the public, in the eyes of society?
We cannot stop comparing ourselves to people who we perceive as popular or have their life together (we think). When we watch television and want to grow up to be a fictional character on a tv show that won’t even be relevant in a couple years, we are doing ourselves an injustice. We are not here on earth to be compared to anyone else or mimic other’s behaviors. We are our own person and should have our own values and beliefs.
I get I sound like I’m rambling and a bit cliché, but I’m guilty of it too. I can’t enjoy a nice view here in Aussie and not take a picture of it and post it on social media. Believe me I’m working on it, but we are all so set in our ways of post-modernism that we forget what it’s like to just be free of the internet and online presence instead of enjoying the moment.
Instead of experiencing hyperreality as we are conditioned to do, take a step back and absorb how precious life is and take it in how it is meant to be. Don’t be me when reaching the top of a hike or watching the sunrise!!
Calisthenics is a form of exercise that solely uses body weight. No weights, no machines maybe a couple poles here and there. Weightlifting on the other hand can use machines for resistance as well as dumbells, barbells etc. (Picking things up and putting them down)
So why do some people only train one or the other for the most part? Or favor one form of exercise and rarely use the other form? Well it all depends on your goals for your body and for your strength. When lifting using weights you’re almost guaranteed to gain more muscle quicker and have more of a “swole” look to you. When making calisthenics your primary form of exercise, you will look more cut, defined and definitely have longer lasting endurance.
Firstly, we’ll dive into the benefits of calisthenics. It is virtually free. You can do it almost anytime, anywhere as long as you have an adequate amount of space. “You gain functional strength, the type of strength that gets you through life.” Being able to pick yourself up and gaining more of an aesthetic look to your physique goes a long way with daily activities. Additionally, calisthenic exercises are easy to progress in and have so many variations that it is tough to have a dull workout. Not only can you progress in this form of exercise, but after a while it will also help you gain strength when doing weight training. With the improvement of your flexibility and stamina, one can only gain from this form of exercise.
The only drawbacks of calisthenics are that is common to reach a plateau which is why many people will also incorporate weight training after calisthenics. It is also tough to isolate certain muscle groups because you are engaging in compound movements for the most part.
Weightlifting on the other hand can help you put muscle and weight on quick. You can target specific muscle groups and focus on those that you want to grow at a more rapid rate. It also allows you to increase or decrease to amount of resistance you put on yourself as well as fluctuate the amount of repetitions you would like to do. Overall, to gain muscle quicker weightlifting is the way to go because you can target specific area, but it is a different strength from calisthenics. Some people can shoulder press 32 kilograms on each arm, but can’t do a handstand push up even when supported by the wall. The fact of the matter is that they are two different exercises and your muscles react differently to both.
I would advise to at least try to do weight lifting and calisthenics at one point in your life and have an overall balance of strength throughout your body.
Everything we view on social media has its own frame. A way it is perceived by the audience which can either be in a positive or negative manner. Framing can go hand in hand with salience which is the way a certain item stands out from the rest. A wise man by the name of Kenneth Cichon once tweeted “salience is all about perspective, seeing what they want you to see.” All of what we have learned so far especially with propaganda can all be tied in with framing. The technique of being brain washed by the media and forming the same opinions on a certain topic.
A slide that stuck out to me during the lecture was “to frame is to select some aspects of a perceived reality and make them more salient in a communicating text, in such a way as to promote a particular problem definition, casual interpretation, morat evaluation, and/or treatment recommendation for the item described.” This shows that when communicating something through the media, one aspect of the topic is emphasized and concentrated on more so than the others. The aspect in which the media wants you to focus on is more prominent and has more opinions surrounding it.
Because frames are the bias you associate with a certain topic, it is already engraved in your brain. Before even seeing what the topic is, you naturally already have an opinion on it making it very tough to break that ice.
We all have our demons, some may have more than others. The intensity of these demons vary from person to person. BUT it is our responsibility to minimize the effect they have on us as people. We all go through different shit in our lives, but what makes you the person that you are is how you cope with and overcome these struggles.
I have tried numerous methods in the past to deal with anger, sadness, grief, failure etc. It wasn’t until I found fitness that I actually figured of something productive to occupy myself during tough times. It sure beats punching everything in sight just to feel something…. leaving you to feel even worse than when you started.
The reason fitness is so crucial to your mental health is because it allows you to set goals for yourself. It allows you to look forward to doing something in the day. It makes you push past barriers and become a better version of yourself. The biggest thing with working out for me is the actual workout. The pressure on your muscles, the shortness of breath. That is what I look forward to everyday. Yeah, you might have something tough thats on your mind, but then it is up to you to make your workout even tougher than that. So for those 10-20 seconds in the middle of your set all your worries go away and that is the only thing you are focusing on. All your energy and focus is on something else for a change.
The further and more consistently you push yourself the better results you’re going to get obviously physically but more so mentally. Then it starts going in full circle because the better you look physically, the better you will feel mentally.
Don’t get me wrong though, looking good physically is much more than lifting weights or doing cardio. How well you look and feel I believe is 70% in the kitchen and 30% in the gym.
When you eat healthy you start picking up good habits like cooking, waking up earlier, being more productive. Let me run you through this scenario… You wake up early in the morning to eat your breakfast that you will cook because it is cost efficient. You have the whole day ahead of you. You go to the gym, get your stress out. Drink a lot of water. You eat your next healthy meal. Now its only 12 o’clock and you’ve been through the bulk of your day and time is on your side. You have the entire day to clean your room, organize your drawers, do homework etc. You don’t feel such a need to lay down all day because you’re full of energy, your endorphins are high and your mood is better.
Food has such a strong effect on your mood and lifestyle it is actually ridiculous. Start making slow changes such as replacing chips with an apple, or soda with water. It is such a contagious habit that once you start doing it all your meals will slowly incorporate all the nutrition your body needs. Give it a try and let me know how your daily routines change for the better!
Memes are a part of our every day lives unless we live under a rock… with no technology…. in the sahara…. 10 feet under.
Memes can be made out of everyday things, people or objects. They change the way that we think and can make us bias without even realizing it. One of the first memes that I saw and realized that they can really do damage are tide pods. Something that started as a meme/challenge took the internet by storm and encouraged people to try and eat laundry detergent.
You wouldn’t think people would be stupid enough to try it, until they do. Some people make me worry about the longevity of humanity sometimes. This caused to be such an epidemic with so many people ending up in the hospital that Tide paid professional football player Rob Gronkowski to make an ad with them telling people to only wash clothes with tide pods and not eat them.
Another popular meme…
This time a person, Alex from target. Just a regular dude trying to do his job and some random takes his picture. Don’t get me wrong, guys a good looking dude but he’s no Zac Efron or Brad Pitt, you picking up what I’m putting down?
After his picture went viral he would have girls come to his work to see him and follow him after he would get off his shift. It even went as far as people writing to him “Alex from Target, I will find you and I will kill you.” Someone even leaked his parents PRIVATE information.
Although the fame must have been nice at first, it got old and dangerous very quickly and I’m sure if he can do it over again, he would’ve called out of work that first day someone took that picture of him.
Kenny's Blog 