Stalker

After reading this weeks article "Facebook to make mobile users download Messenger" on CNN.com it made me more aware of how advanced the US is with mobile and social technology compared to other countries. Facebook has made it so mobile users are no longer able to use the messaging feature via the Facebook application. Each user will have to download Messenger to their mobile device in order to chat using Facebook on their phones. This article brought to my attention that Messenger is very similar to the app called WhatsApp. WhatsApp is a texting app that is used mostly overseas costing 99¢ per year. Applications like this take away from basic mobile to mobile texting because now we are able to get a text to someone quickly almost anywhere in the world. But is that a good thing?

Social media has come a long way and is now incorporating overseas text messaging and the use of Skype or other video chat application out there. We are able to communicate with people at all times in a matter of seconds. Convenient? Yes, especially for people with family and friends in the military or sent away for work. However, I do believe it can be invasive.

This past month I have been dealing with a "cyber stalker". This is a man I've never met who lives in Saginaw. He has been creating fake email accounts with my name, calling my phone hundreds of times a day, trying repeatedly to hack into many of my social media accounts, creates fake accounts on social media to try to add me on Facebook, texting me from many different phone numbers and email accounts daily, sends inappropriate Snapchats, and the list goes on. I have been to court, talked with the state police, and he has a PPO out on him, however, I'm told there is nothing that can be done because it's all cyber communication and the police say "their hands are tied".

Because of new application being developed everyday and allowing for people to hide behind their computers to communicate with people anywhere at any time can be scary. I believe that certain social media sites can be invasive because they will post exactly where you are located at the time of the post. Nothing online is hidden which is how this man found my phone number, social media accounts, and email addresses. It's nice having ways to communicate overseas and to people across the US but I believe we spend too much time trying to stay in touch with people via technology.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/15/tech/social-media/facebook-messenger-app/index.html

SeaWorld, OSHA, & Orcas

This week I decided to talk about SeaWorld's appeal of the safety citations issued by OSHA. After the incident with Dawn Brancheau being eaten alive in front of a live audience four years ago by Tilikum, one of SeaWorld's killer whales, they shouldn't even have to think twice about risking the safety of their trainers – but they are. 

I should start by saying I am completely against SeaWorld and how they keep wild animals (orcas and dolphins in particular) in captivity. I am a huge animal lover and I believe they should be free.

Orcas are wild killer whales that are suppose to live in an atmosphere a million times larger than what they are provided at SeaWorld. They are wild animals and are unpredictable which is one great reason as to why I believe SeaWorld trainers should always be out of the water or have some kind of physical barrier between themselves and the whales. OSHA declared changes to be made after Brancheau's death stating they must keep barriers between trainers and orcas at all times. SeaWorld has been fighting since then to keep trainers in the water interacting with the orcas. I have done research on SeaWorld, Tilikum, and orcas in general for about the past year. Orca's are not typically aggressive animals which leads me to believe Tilikum eventually had had it and was lashing out when Brancheau was killed. That can happen with any wild animal, especially wild animals in captivity not living in their normal environment. This is why I disagree with SeaWorld as a whole and I'm very happy that OSHA denied SeaWorld's appeal for the safety of the trainers. I do however, wish something more could be done about the captivity of wild animals.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/11/us/seaworld-ruling/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Grab Your Boots

This past Wednesday the weather was absolutely beautiful and definitely couldn't be wasted away by sitting inside. My friend Vinnie texted me telling me to meet him at his house and to bring boots I could get dirty. I didn't have to think twice about this...It was gorgeous outside and I'm always up for something new so I grabbed my black and white rain boots and headed over to Douglas Street. I was driving but had no idea where we were going I was given turn by turn directions as we made our way west of Mount Pleasant. There was a small dirt road that he told me to turn on and when I did I finally saw a sign that read "Deerfield Park" – I was pumped! I love nature and being outdoors so this was the perfect way to spend my afternoon on such a beautiful, sunny day. This was my first time ever at Deerfield Park, Vinnie on the other hand has been there hundreds of times before. Once we parked and started walking back into the woods I was in awe of how pretty the river, sun, and trees were. We walked a ways back on the path passing other couples, families, and groups of friends; some with dogs and others just out enjoying a nice walk like we were. After walking for awhile Vinnie took me off the main path and we walked down this large hill in the woods towards the river where there was this tree that had fallen over half of the river and was stuck there. He started balancing across this fallen tree telling me to follow but I was terrified of falling into the freezing river. I eventually sucked up enough courage to balance on this tree to sit above the river with him. We had a lot of fun and it was great being outside for a few hours away from the town and being able to enjoy nature.

Blog Assignment 1 -Week 3

I am posting a picture of my dog, Paige, because I have trained dogs for 5 years in a 4-H obedience class and I love to train dogs. I am no longer involved in 4-H and haven't been for awhile, however, I've had people contact me since I've been in 4-H to help them train their dogs. I have trained in obedience, agility, and showmanship. Animals (especially dogs) have been a love of mine my whole life and I enjoy working with them. I love all dogs but I especially love pugs, bulldogs and French bulldogs. All dogs have different personalities. Some may be easier to train than others while some take a long time to grasp what you're trying to teach them but to me it's just that more exciting when they finally do get it. I also enjoy the dog owners reaction after I've been working with their dog and seeing how happy they are with their improvements. It's just a very rewarding hobby that I have always loved doing.  

Reflective

I really enjoyed working on the ICRH client project. I learned a lot about homelessness and social media. Working with ICRH and basically starting from scratch gave me a perspective on how quickly social media can change how people get involve. It is also interesting to see how social media plays such a large roll in today's society and how people get involve. People rely so much on social media to stay in touch and keep updated on the latest news. Social media also help raise more money by having the option to donate on the social media sites. I also think meeting with the ICRH board members and having to attend different meetings. I think that meeting with them outside of class gave us a sense of what the real world will be like with a full time job. It got us more comfortable and use to working with outside people (not just other students). This was a great experience and I really enjoyed this class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_tvyP2UGck&feature=youtu.be&hd=1

Thanksgiving and social media

I just wanted to take a minute to reflect on how I noticed social media and cell phones in gerneral have affected people so much. In particular, Thanksgiving I noticed how much people use their phones to communicate with people via text or social media. I was with my whole family but I didn't feel like we were all together.  People on Facebook, Twitter, and texting while others are trying to talk to them and just being rude.  A majority of this was from my younger cousins but I find it amazing that my aunts and uncles were not doing anything about it. I feel like family time is family time and  people don't need their nose in a phone for the few hours they're with family. I know this was not only my family that experienced this. I got on Facebook later that night and I was surprised by the number of people who posted pictures of food and family. It's great to share all tbat but I feel like it can wait. It's sad how much each individual depends on his or her phone these days. We all need to stop and be grateful for the people around us instead of worrying about what the people are doing who are not with us.