Global Media News

Website Tracking the New Watergate?

Be careful where you go, what you do, say, or search...someone may be watching.  And it's probably happening right now.  Website tracking goes on supposedly to target specific marketing to you.  According to PC World, "Some of the information sent back by tracking cookies includes information that could be used to identify you. As Stanford researcher Jonathan Mayer has pointed out, many sites deliver personally identifiable information (like email addresses) as part of the referring URL sent back to Web trackers."  In the digital world of Facebook and Google Street View, does this even phase people?

"Watergate" was a political scandal in the 1970's and shorthand for a, "tumultulous time in America and its enduring impact," according to the Washington Post.  The cover up involved the FBI and the CIA.  Thanks to some gutsy journalists that didn't give up, light was shed on plenty of corruption and the President of the United States resigned.  Have the people learned from that situation?  Is History repeating itself?  When it comes to social networking or shopping, it is almost accepted that you may be tracked.  But when can it cross the line?

According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, "Free speech is only as strong as the weakest link."  It's true and even the strong links get regulated or attacked swiftly by the government.  Websites like Wikileaks provided an anonymous platform for people to share documents that have been hidden from the people's view.  Hundreds of thousands of confidential documents related to all countries were exposed.  Unprovoked violence was exposed.  Revolutions were put in motion.  After someone exposed one of their sources who was in the US military, the government took the site down by pressuring the companies that handled their donations.  A man who supports the organization but is not associated with them had a truck that had Wikileaks painted on it.  He was recently arrested near the Occupy Wallstreet movement in NY on some petty charges and his truck was confiscated.  New York Magazine recently published and article about this missing Wikileaks truck.  Now no one knows where his truck is.  The man believes it has something to do with the Secret Service.  Could be.

Also according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the FBI was sactioned for lying about the existence of surveillance records.  Should the government have full access to your identity?  According to Network World, "the FBI is about to roll out a nationwide facial recognition system with a goal of matching a name to every unidentified face in photos."  Yes this can be used to protect the people but it also can give you the chills.  I feel like we have to check for bandaids on the back of each other's necks.

Is it legal for government organizations to collect this type of data?  Is the land of the internet fair game or are these practices of collecting your information invading your right to privacy?  Check out the latest news on these watchdog sites: https://www.eff.org/ & http://epic.org/ and get back to me on what you think.  Fight the power.

 

 

 

 

 

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."

"It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong."

- Voltaire

Status Updates: Relationships and the New Media

Relationships Online: Friends, Lovers & Spouses

 Relationships are changing because your lovers, friends  and family all busy networking online.  This week will ask how our relationships are changing in this digital age.   Here are this week's topics:

• Developing Friendships Online
• Online Dating
• Marriage and the Internet
• Relationship Advice Online
• Facebook Relationships

In Two Weeks:  "At War: Terrorism, Security & Surveillance"  

Listen to our webcast streaming live every Thursday @ 11am EST.

Can't listen live?   Our  next webcast will be posted by 2:00pm, Thursday, December 1.

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Online gaming and Relationships

 

 

            In this digital age many people have begun to look for relationships online. Sites such as EHarmony and Match.com have had a surge of users looking for love from the comfort of their computer. Even with matchmaking sites online, many people have begun friendships and even relationships through online gaming.

            Online games such as World of War craft may be a better place to find a relationship then most popular dating sites. Match.com has a little less than 2 million registered users, while World of War craft has 12 million players. The number of people, who are playing online games, exceeds many online dating sites. What World of War craft provides that no dating sites can is something that two or more people can participate in together. People do not have to look at pictures, read “about me” bios and do not have to send emails to get to know one another. In role playing games users can interact while roaming the online world of the game with one another. People are already meeting someone with a common interest, which are video games.

            Online games are offering users a new way to interact, Ramona Pringle, an interactive media producer and a professor of new media at the Ryerson School of Image Arts in Toronto describes it as; “It is a really primal experience. It’s about survival. It’s about needing someone.” This is something that cannot be offered in the “real world” it is a way of bringing people together, that only an online game can offer. Many people think that the online game world mainly consist of men, which is wrong as Stephanie of the New York Time Points Out “More than 40 percent of online gamers are women, and adult women are among the industry’s fastest growing demographics, representing 33 percent of the game-playing population — a larger portion than boys 17 and younger, who make up 20 percent, according to the Entertainment Software Association, an industry group.” People have even proposed to one another via World of War craft

 

They're Watching You

 

Are you comfortable surfing the internet in the privacy of your own home?  Chances are there is some sort of website tracking going on in order to target specific marketing to you.  According to PC World, "Some of the information sent back by tracking cookies includes information that could be used to identify you. As Stanford researcher Jonathan Mayer has pointed out, many sites deliver personally identifiable information (like email addresses) as part of the referring URL sent back to Web trackers." 

When it comes to social networking or shopping, it is almost accepted that you may be tracked.  But when can it cross the line?  According to the McGill Daily, "The Privacy Commissioner of Canada has publicly criticized plans to bring back legislation that would expand the legal tools of the state to conduct online surveillance."  How far is too far?  Should the government have full access to your identity?  According to Network World, "the FBI is about to roll out a nationwide facial recognition system with a goal of matching a name to every unidentified face in photos."

Is the land of the internet fair game or are these practices of collecting your information too invasive?

 

 

Creativity: Art, Music, Property & Piracy in the Digital Age

 

Digital Revolutions in Creativity and the Arts

What does it mean to be an artist in the digital age?   New tools of creativity and new means of distribution are revolutionizing the creative life.  Here are some of the topics we are exploring this week:

• Pixar and Animation
• Virtual Museums
• Music Video
• Music Distribution:  Will streaming platforms kill the MP3?
• E-Publishing & the E-Book

Next Week:  "Relationships: Friendship & Sex Online"  

Listen to our webcast streaming live every Thursday @ 11am EST.

Can't listen live?   Our  next webcast will be posted by 2:00pm, Thursday, November 17.

Subscribe Now!

Shush In The (Virtual) Museum!

 

Art allows people to see into the soul.  The digital revolution is transforming the traditional way people have been experiencing and interacting with Art for centuries.  Today people can experience Art through a virtual worlds (like second life) and virtual museums. 

Some people barely have enough time to even make it through the drive-thru anymore.  So is this virtual world only for the serious Artists and critics, or is there a real value in education?  Families interested in enriching their children's lives may turn virtual for safety, price, and convenience.  You can review a review of the "best virtual musems" on manofthehouse.com.  Starting right here in New York, the first showcased museum they have is The Smithsonian.  Could a huge museum like The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History benefit from going virtual?  Could this increase business for them or are they giving the cow away for free?  Either way, the demand for virtual activities seems like it will continue to increase.  Maybe they realize they must be part of that movement, or get left behind.

Is creating an avatar and creating and interacting in a virtual place Artistic or is it play?  People spend a lot of time and money to continue to have and/or improve this experience.  There are virtual societies of people who can openly choose who they are or want to be.  They can communicate what they want and to whom.  They can do this anonymously, sort of.  It's no longer the same physical experience.  What may have stopped someone physically or emotionally before, they may now find more opportunities exist.  There are also fakes and dangers with sharing information.  But does Art in this digital world still touch the senses the way it was meant to?

 

  

 

Art has been coveted as far back as history has been recorded.  Caveman paintings are believed to be a form of communication, spiritual expression, and/or tradition according to Wikipedia.  Wiki also tell us that Renaissance Art was perceived as a rebirth of ancient traditions, with parallels from many aspects of society including Philosophy, Literature, Music, Science, and Government.  What is this obsession with Art?  Art can be so many things, even more so now with the digital revolution.  But what is Art? 

 

Leonardo Da Vinci said, "Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art."

According to wikipedia, "Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items (often with symbolic significance) in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect."

"The secret of life is in Art," said Oscar Wilde.

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time," Thomas Merton.

 

The traditional way people have experienced Art on a large scale has been through Museums, Architecture, and Culture.  Even the words that I can transform into links and you can click on, transforms the way you can see what I see, brings you closer to the ideas I'm trying to get across, and at the same time gives you information you can digest yourself to make your own observation.

The way the world interacts with Art and Creativity is completely altered by the digital revolution.  Can that be Art itself?  Or are we losing something special that Art used to be?

Relationship, Love, and Sex Advice

You can find all sorts of information and advice on the internet. If you are unsure, don't know or want reassurance about a relationship, love, or sex problem, you can easily search and find a helpful answer. The internet has allowed people with no one to talk to, to get helpful information from experts and people with experience.

A popular web site called Girls Ask Guys is a user base site that allows people to ask other people or search for answers to questions referring to things like flirting, dating, relationships, break-ups, behavior, etc.

"Have you ever wondered what pick-up lines have actually worked on a girl or why a guy never called when he promised he would? Have you ever liked someone from a distance but didn't know how to talk to them? Have you ever wanted honest advice about dating, romance and love or candid answers about intimate issues or embarrassing situations? GirlsAskGuys is your source for getting answers to all of these questions and more!"

 On Web Md, an expert opinion site states love is apparently part of a healthy diet. Topics like sex, love, virginity, relationship skills, better sex, sex & family, happy couples, infidelity, sex & age, and birth control are provided with expert opinion.

"Whether you’re single or married, footloose or committed, if you’re an adult, sex and intimate relationships are probably a major part of your life. Use this guide to get facts and tips on sexual health, better sex, dating, commitment, infidelity, senior sex, birth control, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and more."

Famous and trusted television doctor, Dr. Phil offers a load of advice on this subject on his website. Dr. Phil offers advice concerning marriage, family, dating, communication, sexuality, and divorce. In one of his articles, "Dr. Phil's Rules For Dating", he descirbes thinks like:

"Are you aware of the first impression you make? People react to how you present yourself. If you're carrying baggage — insecurities, fear, desperation — people can tell. When you feel the pressure of time, you can make mistakes, overlook important details, or misjudge someone. "

Pottermore What? Ebooks good or bad?

 The end of Books? The digital revolution is on the rise there is a question to be asked who will come out victorious the paper mill or the hard drive. According to the New York Times article Math of Publishing  Meets The E- Book by Motoko Rich traditionally a author would have to submit a manuscript to a publish company that would then read it and decided whether or not the content was suitable to be published. This process could take years.  The rise of Electronic books has changed everything. Electronic books allows authors to self publish their books and this gives the writer unlimited creativity. The popular invention of Amazon, Kindle, and many other tablets that offers electronic books is part of today's digital revolution.

According to the Huffingtonpost the present digital revolution is transforming the functionality of books.  Amazon’s new Kindle allows anyone to directly publish a book for free by simply uploading their material.  This gives authors the freedom to express their creativity. They no longer have publisher judging or editing their work.  Readers finally will get to appreciate their favorite author’s works. Amazon allows writer to set their own prices and they receive direct payment. Ebooks are usually sold for a cheaper price then the printed copy.  This could be a problem for authors and publishers.

In the Wall Street Journal article it dicusses how The Harry Potter book collection has sold millions of traditional books and has been on the best selling list for months.  The successful author has decided to join the digital movement; however she does not allow her books to be sold through the kindle or any other electronic bookstore. JK Rowling has created her own interactive web site called Pottermore.  Pottermore is the only place where Rowling books can be electronically downloaded.

According to the Times Pottermore is decribed as,

"the site immerses users in the boy wizard's world, combining elements of computer game, social network and online store. Rowling says it includes 'information I have been hoarding' about the books' characters and settings."

Amazon is the world’s largest bookstore, selling both physical books and electronic books. As the digital revolution progress so does Amazon attempt to stay on top, with their new kindles direct publishing only keeps them ahead. Some authors love these new electronic books others do not, because the books are sold for less.

The Social Family: If We Play Together Will We Stay Together?

At Play: Family Life in the Digital Age

Our homes are connected and over-flowing with digital toys and gadgets    So many screens, so many apps, so many messages to respond to . . . 

What is the impact of all these distractions and electonic demands on families and children?   

For our seventh webcast of the season we are exploring the transformation of the American home and family in this digital age. 

Here are some of the topics we are exploring this week:

• Interruptions:  Are all our devices disrupting the home?
• The Networked Child: Social media & the family
• Internet Dangers:  Screening our kids from online obscenity
• Massively Multiplayer Online Families:   Gaming, children and the American family

Next Week: "Creativity: Art, Music, Property & Piracy"  

Listen to our webcast streaming live every Thursday @ 11am EST.

Can't listen live?   Our  next webcast will be posted by 2:00pm, Thursday, November 10.

Subscribe Now!

The Digital Window To The Soul

Art allows people to see into the soul.  The digital revolution is transforming the traditional way people have been experiencing and interacting with Art for centuries.  Today people can experience Art through a virtual worlds (like second life) and virtual museums.  So is creating an avatar and creating and interacting in a virtual place Artistic or is it play?  People spend a lot of time and money to continue to have and/or improve this experience.  There are virtual societies of people who can openly choose who they are or want to be.  They can communicate what they want and to whom.  They can do this anonymously, sort of.  It's no longer the same physical experience.  What may have stopped someone physically or emotionally before, they may now find more opportunities exist.  There are also fakes and dangers with sharing information.  But does Art in this digital world still touch the senses the way it was meant to?

 

  

 

Art has been coveted as far back as history has been recorded.  Caveman paintings are believed to be a form of communication, spiritual expression, and/or tradition according to Wikipedia.  Wiki also tell us that Renaissance Art was perceived as a rebirth of ancient traditions, with parallels from many aspects of society including Philosophy, Literature, Music, Science, and Government.  What is this obsession with Art?  Art can be so many things, even more so now with the digital revolution.  But what is Art? 

 

Leonardo Da Vinci said, "Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art."

According to wikipedia, "Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items (often with symbolic significance) in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect."

"The secret of life is in Art," said Oscar Wilde.

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time," Thomas Merton.

 

The traditional way people have experienced Art on a large scale has been through Museums, Architecture, and Culture.  Even the words that I can transform into links and you can click on, transforms the way you can see what I see, brings you closer to the ideas I'm trying to get across, and at the same time gives you information you can digest yourself to make your own observation.

The way the world interacts with Art and Creativity is completely altered by the digital revolution.  Can that be Art itself?  Or are we losing something special that Art used to be?