My favorite:
This commercial puts things in perspective as only 18 years ago the internet was still a new and growing tool. 5th graders outline the prospective possibilities of the internet, which back then were only dreams, yet today make up a very present reality.
via 6 Vintage Commercials that Will Make You Smile – Goodnet.
Back by popular demand…
Arthur Dobrin writes:
We need to think harder about why privacy is important, what we mean by privacy, assess the various trade-offs and create public policies that reflect our values regarding the relationship between individuals and society.
The fear that the US will become a surveillance society is misplaced. It already is one.
The reality is that almost everything about you is already known, if not by the government, then by business. Every time you get on an airplane, you are scanned. Every time you search for a product online, the information falls into the hands of retailers who want you to buy their products.
We are instantly connected to the world—we talk, socialize, get the news, play, pay bills, state our opinions, research, shop. So it should be no surprise that the world knows everything about us in return. The flow of information goes in both directions…
via Big Brother Is Watching: What Did You Expect? | Psychology Today.
My friend Eric Kim at Twylah shared this most excellent TEDTalk with me yesterday. Watch it!
Here are the 5 questions that Adam Leipzig offers…
What do you think? Helpful? Overly simplistic? Tell me…
Here’s a bonus list of my ‘on purpose’ videos…
Live Life Quotes, Love Life Quotes, Live Life Happy
The guys over at the Minimalists have this thought to share:
This Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year: Black Friday. Retailers prepare months in advance for this dark day—preparation that’s meant to stimulate your insatiable desire to consume: Doorbuster sales. New products. Gigantic newspaper ads. TV, radio, print, billboards. Sale, sale, sale! Early bird specials. One day only! Get the best deal. Act now! While supplies last.
The Minimalists would, however, like to shed some light on this darkest of Fridays. It’s important to understand that consumption is an unquenchable thirst. Retailers and advertisers and manufacturers know this too well. And thus, they’ve invented an entire day designed to take advantage of your insatiable desire to consume.
The pernicious aspects of Black Friday are not few. The pandemonium of this day is a synecdoche for our consumer culture as a whole. On this day, people consume gluttonously without regard for the harm they’re inflicting on themselves. On this day, greed becomes ravenous. On this day, people live without real meaning, buying gifts to fill a void that can’t possibly be filled with material possessions.
Sadly, people participate in the rapacious nature of Black Friday in the name of a holiday, as if buying gifts was an ideal way to celebrate Christmas. But thankfully, you have options.
Instead of embracing Black Friday, you can Block Friday. You can refuse to buy material items for people to display your love. Rather, you can showcase your love, caring, and affection through daily actions—every day, not just holidays.
If you want to give gifts, why not gift an experience—a nice meal, tickets to a concert, or a sunset on the beach? After all, the best, most loving gift you can give someone is your time and undivided attention.
Will you join us? Will you opt out of Black Friday? If not, why not?
Source: Dark Friday | The Minimalists
I will opt out! I hate what Christmas has become and the stress that it causes by all the false expectations it creates. Give me Thanksgiving with family, food and gratitude and I’ll see you next year…
:-/
Live Life Quotes, Love Life Quotes, Live Life Happy
Gretchen Rubin shares this today:
Of all the changes in my daily routine wrought by my happiness project, one of the most fundamental is that I get up at 6:00 a.m., every day. And I get up at 6:00 a.m. every day, even on weekends and vacation, because I love it. I get an hour to myself, at my computer, before my family wakes up for the day. It’s quiet, the light is dim, and the world feels very serene.
I love this time so much that I would get up at 4:30 or 5:00 a.m., but that would mean that I’d have to go to bed at 8:00 p.m., and I just can’t live life that way. I’m fuddy-duddy enough as it is.
From what I hear, one of the most common happiness challenges is lack of time for something important.
People want to exercise, work on a novel, meditate, or read for pleasure, and they just can’t fit it into their day. I absolutely know the feeling.
But here’s what I’ve noticed. For many people, the end of the day is a pleasant interlude of free time, when work is done, the office isn’t e-mailing, the kids are in bed, and the TV or internet is at hand. It’s pleasant, so it’s easy to stay up late to watch one more episode of The Wire or to read the most recent article about Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson’s break-up or to do back-to-school shopping or to research the works of J. M. Barrie. And then it’s hard to get out of bed in the morning.” Get the rest here: How to Actually Create the Time for Something Important to You « Positively Positive.
I didn’t realize how lazy I had gotten over the summer until last week when school started again. Because I could be so flexible I was scheduling my bike rides for before dinner but when school started again my schedule was shot. Last week I struggled with moving my bike ride to early morning because a big part of me would rather drink coffee and read news to wake up that get on the bike. Today I decided the right comes first; no ride no coffee. Now THAT’S serious!!! I got tell you though, I really enjoyed it! If you’re struggling with setting the important things into your life read the rest of Gretchen’s article and get intentional about your life. You might also find wisdom in the story of ‘The Mayonnaise Jar‘…
Did you ever walk into a friend’s home for coffee and conversation and feel overwhelmed by the distraction of a big honking TV, right there in the living room, running some mindless show and competing for everyone’s attention?
Are you constantly worried about what kind of trash Junior might be watching at all hours on the TV in his room?
Is TV the dominant social presence in your home?
Are you afraid to limit your kids’ usage because you’ve tried to go down that road before and it was nothing but whining and complaining and breaking the rules?
If you answered “YES!”, or have any other TV issues constantly in the back of your mind, then it’s time to step up and establish manageable standards and limits in your home. There’s nothing to be afraid of, and a whole lot to look forward to once you get over the hump and introduce protocols that are fair and consistent.
Here are “10 Rules” from All Pro Dad that should help right the ship just in time for the summer break from school.” Get more here: 10 TV Rules You Must Have | All Pro Dad.
“Every time I see your face
My heart takes off on a high speed chase
Now dont be scared, its only love
Baby, that were falling in
I cant wait till tomorrow
This feeling has swallowed me whole
And know that Ive lost control
This heart that Ive followed
Has left me so hollow
That was then, this is now, yeah you have changed everything”
“What do I do when my love is away.
(Does it worry you to be alone)
How do I feel by the end of the day
(Are you sad because you’re on your own)
No, I get by with a little help from my friends,
Mmm, get high with a little help from my friends,
Mmm, gonna to try with a little help from my friends”
via WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS LYRICS – THE BEATLES.
Retronaut is a fun site that I track in Google Reader. Every once in awhile, I see something that makes me nostalgic like this ad. It makes me think about the passage of time and technology…
I’ll probably be thinking about missing out on the ‘next great thing’ on my deathbed. Sigh… :-/
Go to the source for more: Zenith Chromacolor TV, 1970s | Retronaut.
Funny commercials on an awkward topic! Now that I don’t really watch live tv, some commercials are even more entertaining…
Watching commercials on YouTube. Awkward or just pathetic?
Lately I’ve been on a country music jag on Pandora. This makes me laugh…
Bright, shiny objects! 
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