This story was originally published on L.A. Youth.
Distractions are all around us—Facebook, YouTube, texting, TV. It’s sometimes so overwhelming that it can be hard to focus on homework. So we challenged these teens to do their homework without distractions for three days. They were allowed to take breaks to do things like check their Facebook, go on YouTube, talk to their friends or watch TV, but they couldn’t do those things while doing their homework.
By Moviz Dar 18, Hawthorne HS
I usually come home after school and eat, sleep for one to three hours and then watch videos on YouTube. I promise myself that I’ll start my homework the next hour but it never happens. I do my homework from 9 p.m. until midnight. I knew that starting my homework at 9 was bad because I wasn’t getting all my work done.
On the first day of the challenge, I deactivated my Facebook account and put my phone on silent. My brain was telling me every second that I had to log onto Facebook and reply to text messages I assumed I had. But I was able to resist. I finished my economics homework in half an hour. I usually take two hours. And I finished all of my homework one hour earlier than normal and got eight hours of sleep. Even though I got homework done faster, I felt like I was stuck in a cage and being forced to do it.
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The power of text messages and social networking sites in political communications was proven during President Obama’s campaign. People continue to spread change only this time the issue is immigration reform.
The Center for Community Change in Washington, DC created a text message network managed by the Reform Immigration for American campaign (RI4A) in order to better communicate with people. The company noticed that most Latinos don’t have access to email, blogs, or internet but do have access to phones. The Huffington Post quoted Rachel LaBruyere, Deputy Online Director of RI4A about their new texting network. "Text messaging is a tool that's immediate enough to drive calls quickly, but also sophisticated enough to build a much larger network, which enables ongoing action and cultivation of engaged activists. Texting from a mobile network makes it possible for the community to quickly respond in real time when President Obama or another legislator makes a controversial or important comment about immigration reform."
Here is an example of a text message:
“Immigration Alert:1000's of Haitian undocumented immigrants risk deportation 2 Haiti. Call Obama, ask 4 Temporary Protected Status NOW! 866-930-3396 Pls Forward"
Their goal is to send a text message no longer than 160 characters including spaces. It’s short and simple and according to them effective. RI4A also uses text messages to organize events.
Currently there are 12 million undocumented people living and working in the United States and according to Diego Graglia from Feet in 2 Worlds Obama is walking a thin line with Latinos.
“Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D.-Ill.), who last year introduced an immigration reform bill in the House, is even calling for Latinos to punish Democrats and Republicans alike at the polls this year, saying that if the issue sees no action before April’s Congressional recess, it won’t be addressed at all in 2010.Gutierrez told the Mexican news service Notimex, the reform movement should set a March 21 deadline for the Democratic administration to get the issue started.“If the issue is not broached by that date, the Hispanic vote will have to reflect on the idea of a punishment with a vote of absence in the next elections, so that our power and importance are felt,” he said, in a statement that was reported in Spanish by the wire service.”
If politicians want Latino support then immigration is the way to obtain it. I know President Obama is busy with health care and fixing the economy, but kids continue to be taken from their parents. This is an issue that needs some attention.
If you’re a tech freak like me than you are paying a close attention to the CES 2010 —Consumer Electronics Show-- in Las Vegas. Nearly all of the leading technology companies come to introduce their newest products each year at CES, making it the biggest technology-related trade show in the country.
I thought I've seen technology at its peak when I heard of 3-D TVs or Verizon's new phone Droid, but I was wrong. At CES companies like Samsung and Panasonic showed off their newest product like the biggest 3D HD TV to thinest TV ever made.
Check out videos of those and more after the jump.
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Technology is making it harder for someone to cheat—just ask Tiger Woods. According to The New York Times, texting may just be the new lipstick on the collar. Senator John Ensign of Nevada was caught cheating via text messaging. Texting is so convenient—yet harmful if not used properly.
Divorce lawyer Mitchell Karpf told NY Times that, “By the time someone shows up with a handful of texts, there is no going back.” There is no more,“my friend’s friend said she saw you with this girl.” Now the evidence is on a phone. Lawyers have seen an increase of divorce cases where text messages were used as evidence. The American Bar Association is now offering marital lawyers seminars on how to use evidence such as text messages or social media sites to prove their case.
A word of advice, don’t think that by simply deleting your text messages from your cell phone memory, you’re safe. Text messages can be obtained through cell phone companies. AT&T saves text messages for 72 hours while Verizon stores them for 5 days. The safest way and most obvious way to stay out of trouble is not cheating—duh.
Previously:
Apps are taking over the way people function—at least when it comes to shopping. There is an app for Black Friday. For just $2.99 you can have a map of your favorite mall on your phone—making your Black Friday shopping much easier.
“Mall Maps - You Are Here, a portable database of mall floor plans, store lists and other information intended to help shoppers avoid some headaches this holiday.” via CNN Money
The app has maps for 1,000 malls nationwide. Your shopping experience will not be the same. But this isn’t the only app that can help you during Black Friday. Dealcatcher.com recently launched a new free iphone app called TGI Black Friday.
“The app, which boasts over 8,000 Black Friday deals from major retailers, is aimed more directly at bargain hunters.”
There is one more app that caught my eye—this is the one I would use. It’s free and it’s using Google’s Android mobile operating system—it’s a price comparing app:
“The app allows users to scan the barcode of an item with the phone's camera. It then pulls up listings for that item at competing retailers with prices and reviews.”
The number of people shopping this Black Friday is expected to increase by 16 percent. A study done by the National Retail Federation reports that 57 million people are expected to make their way to the stores to compare to the 49 million people last year. The survey also mentioned another 77 million people who will wait after seeing the weekend deals.
It’s apple season, again. The fruits of the labor of Apple Computer is apparent; the products keep on coming. People jump with excitement when they hear the word “new”. When a new CD comes out, everyone downloads it ASAP. Theatres are crowed from wall to wall when a new movie is released. Each time Apple Computer comes out with a new device, customers stand in endless lines just to get their hands on the newest gadgets. Read more...
