Diversity is something that makes our country so great. Everyone comes from different backgrounds that give them different experiences which make them different people. But when diversity isn't encouraged as it should be, people forget how important it is to embrace their differences and in turn forget they are different.
I am Puerto Rican, and you would never know. Although I never purposely tried to hide my family's culture, it ended up hazy and to the sideline of my "about me". I wasn't ashamed of my heritage, I just never embraced it as I should have because I was too busy fitting in. It wasn't un-cool, it just wasn't cool either. Because I couldn't fit it into my "cool/un-cool" category list, I almost let myself forget about it.
This video was such a necessarily refreshing reminder of how proud I am of my family's culture:
The Hispanic culture is sometimes thought down upon by society because of the associations made with poverty and violence. But to me, it is one of the richest and most diverse cultures. No two countries, no two indigenous regions, no two islands are the same. But what Hispanics do share is a certain pride for their roots that is unique to them. In spite of the struggles faced by their ancestors and the poverty many of their countries face today, these people are fighting to preserve their culture.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Monoliths and Innovators
The Agency Personality Map, as designed by Deborah Morrison, puts advertising agencies in categories according to size and work motivation. She calls the biggest and more traditional agencies Monoliths. Innovators are also on the bigger side but differ from the Monoliths in their work creativity.
How can I apply this concept to the Broadcast News niche?
I guess the Monoliths of the broadcast world would be the big news networks like Fox, NBC, CNN, and all of their local affiliate stations. These guys have been around for years, and although they are adjusting to the changing times, I wouldn't exactly call them creative. But that's the hard part. Creativity has little place in news; we are to report it, not create it. However there are some news outlets that have done well in placing creativity tastefully.
These aren't so much as news networks as maybe news-based shows. Like Lisa Ling's Our America and CNN's Latino in America with Soledad O'Brien. I see them as Innovators because they have taken hard news issues and put a real documentary twist on them, making the stories more personal and easier to relate to. Like many innovators in the advertising field, these shows are branches off of broadcast monoliths (networks). They provide a different kind of news to the new "creative class" generation.
How can I apply this concept to the Broadcast News niche?
I guess the Monoliths of the broadcast world would be the big news networks like Fox, NBC, CNN, and all of their local affiliate stations. These guys have been around for years, and although they are adjusting to the changing times, I wouldn't exactly call them creative. But that's the hard part. Creativity has little place in news; we are to report it, not create it. However there are some news outlets that have done well in placing creativity tastefully.
These aren't so much as news networks as maybe news-based shows. Like Lisa Ling's Our America and CNN's Latino in America with Soledad O'Brien. I see them as Innovators because they have taken hard news issues and put a real documentary twist on them, making the stories more personal and easier to relate to. Like many innovators in the advertising field, these shows are branches off of broadcast monoliths (networks). They provide a different kind of news to the new "creative class" generation.
Multiple Intelligences
I took this intelligence strength quiz that is supposed to tell me what my greatest strengths are, based on Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences. Or, more basically, which kinds of "smarts" I have.
Here are my results:
Logic/Math was my lowest, at no surprise to me. I've actually always done fine in math classes but never considered myself a very "logical" person.
Musical as my highest score comes as no shock either; it's always been a part of my life. I still rely on music for stress management. Which gets me into some trouble when I spend 3 hours playing guitar instead of studying for my MC495 test...
What did throw me off was my interpersonal skill score. I think I should have a zero there, or maybe like a 2 because I can recognize that other people exist. I honestly am lost when it comes to other people's emotions and behaviors. Unless someone tells me directly how they are feeling, it's all completely over my head.
I learned about this school in Georgia that focuses on the idea of Multiple Intelligences. It's called Edutopia.
I really like that. This school is not only finding a way to reach each student on their level of learning, but also showing them so early in life where their talent lies and encourages them to pursue it. But also, learning where your weaknesses are is important so the kids can learn to adapt their more difficult subjects to fit their best learning style.
Here are my results:
Logic/Math was my lowest, at no surprise to me. I've actually always done fine in math classes but never considered myself a very "logical" person.
Musical as my highest score comes as no shock either; it's always been a part of my life. I still rely on music for stress management. Which gets me into some trouble when I spend 3 hours playing guitar instead of studying for my MC495 test...
What did throw me off was my interpersonal skill score. I think I should have a zero there, or maybe like a 2 because I can recognize that other people exist. I honestly am lost when it comes to other people's emotions and behaviors. Unless someone tells me directly how they are feeling, it's all completely over my head.
I learned about this school in Georgia that focuses on the idea of Multiple Intelligences. It's called Edutopia.
I really like that. This school is not only finding a way to reach each student on their level of learning, but also showing them so early in life where their talent lies and encourages them to pursue it. But also, learning where your weaknesses are is important so the kids can learn to adapt their more difficult subjects to fit their best learning style.
One of the many things I do averagely...
Amature song writing has been one of my greater distractions lately. I figure I might as well throw one on here to fill some space.
This one is pretty self-explanatory and predictable (but hey, isn't that how Taylor Swift made it?). I left the continent for half the year to go run around South America with a flipcam and my hair to the wind. My boyfriend, although always supportive, wasn't so happy when I turned a 4 month trip to a 5, then 7 month extravaganza.
This one is pretty self-explanatory and predictable (but hey, isn't that how Taylor Swift made it?). I left the continent for half the year to go run around South America with a flipcam and my hair to the wind. My boyfriend, although always supportive, wasn't so happy when I turned a 4 month trip to a 5, then 7 month extravaganza.
This is my apology:
Happy National Coming Out Day!
In honor of National Coming Out Day, or as my friends at BornLikeThis.org call it, coming in. BornLikeThis.org was created by 6 very brave young men from NYU who want to give hope to youth who are dealing with the same obstacles these boys face, being a part of the LGBT community. Their heart-rendering testimonies brought me to tears as they each shared their own "coming out day". Some were kicked out of their homes or disowned by their families. Eduardo told how it was through his strong and supportive friend group that he was able to cope and move on to a successful life he is proud to live. Realizing that not everyone has friends like Joe or Johnny in his/her life, these boys have come out online to give their support to struggling LGBT youth around the world.
Their mission is simple: you were born like this. This is not just a phrase to them, they call it a "thought revolution". Striving not only to change the way the world views the LGBT community, but more importantly, Joe, Johnny, Colin, Eduardo, Adam, Zaneta, and Stephen want to change the way LGBT youth view themselves.
So here's my challenge to you this Coming Out Day: come in to your own skin. Accept and love yourself, find what makes you, you and embrace it. Today go out and celebrate yourself, whoever or however you may be. And while you're at it, give a little shout out to the people who have inspired you to do so.
Thanks, Born Like This. Today I've been inspired.
My Brothers and I marching with the Born Like This boys and the Delta Lambda Phi Fraternity in the 2010 New York Pride Parade.
Their mission is simple: you were born like this. This is not just a phrase to them, they call it a "thought revolution". Striving not only to change the way the world views the LGBT community, but more importantly, Joe, Johnny, Colin, Eduardo, Adam, Zaneta, and Stephen want to change the way LGBT youth view themselves.
So here's my challenge to you this Coming Out Day: come in to your own skin. Accept and love yourself, find what makes you, you and embrace it. Today go out and celebrate yourself, whoever or however you may be. And while you're at it, give a little shout out to the people who have inspired you to do so.
Thanks, Born Like This. Today I've been inspired.
My Brothers and I marching with the Born Like This boys and the Delta Lambda Phi Fraternity in the 2010 New York Pride Parade.
15 Songs to a Better Day
Here are a list of songs I've complied that will put you in a better mood. I chose songs that represent the seven stages of grief and then ended with a go-to happy song. This will turn any bad day around!
1. Shock and Denial:
The Denial Twist, The White Stripes
Denial, Sevendust
2. Pain and Guilt:
Ms. Jackson, Outkast
Nobody's Fault But Mine, Led Zeppelin
3. Anger and Bargaining:
Why Not Me, Ludacris
Gone Forever, Three Days Grace
4. Depression, Reflection, Loneliness:
How To Save a Life, The Fray
It Ends Tonight, The All-American Rejects
5. The Upward Turn:
Getting Better, The Beatles
Make You Feel Better, Red Hot Chili Peppers
6. Reconstruction and Working Through:
Gives You Hell, The All-American Rejects
So What, Pink
7. Acceptance and Hope:
Try, Try, Try, The Smashing Pumpkins
Something To Believe In, Bon Jovi
*8. Get Happy
Beautiful Sunday, Daniel Boone
Here is the playlist on YouTube: 15 Songs to a Better Day Playlist
1. Shock and Denial:
The Denial Twist, The White Stripes
Denial, Sevendust
2. Pain and Guilt:
Ms. Jackson, Outkast
Nobody's Fault But Mine, Led Zeppelin
3. Anger and Bargaining:
Why Not Me, Ludacris
Gone Forever, Three Days Grace
4. Depression, Reflection, Loneliness:
How To Save a Life, The Fray
It Ends Tonight, The All-American Rejects
5. The Upward Turn:
Getting Better, The Beatles
Make You Feel Better, Red Hot Chili Peppers
6. Reconstruction and Working Through:
Gives You Hell, The All-American Rejects
So What, Pink
7. Acceptance and Hope:
Try, Try, Try, The Smashing Pumpkins
Something To Believe In, Bon Jovi
*8. Get Happy
Beautiful Sunday, Daniel Boone
Here is the playlist on YouTube: 15 Songs to a Better Day Playlist
Should we all reconsider Columbus Day?
This isn't kindergarten anymore when we believed the fairy tale about Christopher Columbus who discovered our land and broke bread with the natives. We know better. We know about the genocide which can be considered one of the worst in our people's history. This man we are honoring slaughtered, raped, enslaved, and more basically, wiped-out an entire race of people.
Without him, yes, our world would be a much different place than it is today. Who's to say whether the loss is worth the gain? I can't speak for that. But I can speak up against the crimes he committed and I can spend Columbus Day in remembrance of the lost cultures instead of in honor of a villain.
Here are some places you can go to learn more about the native cultures that were lost as a result of Christopher Columbus' arrival:
The Nation Blog
Caribbean Native Languages and Cultures
Wikipedia: Indigenous People of the Americas
Indian Cultures
Monday, October 10, 2011
Battle of the Sexes
I decided to poll a few friends of both sexes as a little experiment. I asked each of them individually to say out loud whatever first popped into their head upon being read the above list of words. I was surprised by how similar the results were, I even got "ball sack" and "short skirt" from the girls. I am interested to see if perhaps there would be a bigger difference if, instead of boys vs. girls, I had done college students vs. parents or any socio-economic variety similar to that. Or even northerners vs. southerners might have given me more of a difference.
To argue against one's self
Since I am actually against acts contributing to global warming, for the purpose of this post, I will be arguing against the before-mentioned. Playing the part of my smart-ass, conservative father, here are my views supporting global warming:
(read: southern accent)
Who will need a beach house in Florida when year-round summer is just years away?! And all them pretty girls will save an ass load of money on those cancer boxes! This global warming deal is clearly win-win. You see, these left wing brain-washers are trying to take away our freedom to drive tractor trailers and keep those 'skeeters at bay with aerosol cans. I can't even tell ya who's slim enough to fit in one of them smart cars, that just ain't healthy. Those are communist cars you know. Hitler himself designed them and sold them to Castro right before he passed. They've got little radios in them stuck on that damn CNÑ. All the Cubans went crazy from it and that's why they keep drowning themselves in the ocean. I hear all this shit-talk about saving the penguins but they don't give a rat's ass about their own southern comi neighbors, some humanitarians right?
There's a little thing I like to call streamlining. Now it ain't pretty for everyone involved but it's a proven business technique. You just let-go all of the workin' folks that are holding your business back and, yeah a few tears hit the dirt but, the company runs more efficiently after. Global warming will do just that for the United States. Once those socialist, Obama-loving, states like New York and California join the little mermaid under the sea, we can get back to what true America is all about. Sweaty white folk in big trucks. That's the America I'll fight to preserve. And that's why I will stay strong in my stance for global warming.
(read: southern accent)
Who will need a beach house in Florida when year-round summer is just years away?! And all them pretty girls will save an ass load of money on those cancer boxes! This global warming deal is clearly win-win. You see, these left wing brain-washers are trying to take away our freedom to drive tractor trailers and keep those 'skeeters at bay with aerosol cans. I can't even tell ya who's slim enough to fit in one of them smart cars, that just ain't healthy. Those are communist cars you know. Hitler himself designed them and sold them to Castro right before he passed. They've got little radios in them stuck on that damn CNÑ. All the Cubans went crazy from it and that's why they keep drowning themselves in the ocean. I hear all this shit-talk about saving the penguins but they don't give a rat's ass about their own southern comi neighbors, some humanitarians right?
There's a little thing I like to call streamlining. Now it ain't pretty for everyone involved but it's a proven business technique. You just let-go all of the workin' folks that are holding your business back and, yeah a few tears hit the dirt but, the company runs more efficiently after. Global warming will do just that for the United States. Once those socialist, Obama-loving, states like New York and California join the little mermaid under the sea, we can get back to what true America is all about. Sweaty white folk in big trucks. That's the America I'll fight to preserve. And that's why I will stay strong in my stance for global warming.
Here's to the crazy ones
People put so much effort into fitting in that everyone forgets to stand out. We weren't born to assimilate the way we do, that is something we've been taught. This teaching starts day one of our lives; when a little girl is wrapped in pink and a little boy in blue. Girls are given dolls and boys are given trucks. We are handed scripts to live out and it takes little convincing until we are more than happy to do just that. Whatever happened to the days when the box held more hours of fun than the toy inside? Do parents realize when they make their child change out of his superman outfit and into his school clothes that he is learning? He is learning that he must wear certain clothes to be acceptable, that when he is not in the clothes that the other kids are wearing he is not fit to attend school. And then they wonder why ten years later their daughter insists on wearing a $100 pair of jeans... or why she bullied an old friend who wore last season's shoes.
So who's going to stand up against society? Who is going to compliment the kid with the mohawk or cheer on the anime club? Who will encourage people to break the rules and make their own? Anyone? Bueller... Bueller...
I don't know that people ever will. At least not enough to make a real change. But maybe that's the point. What's a rule-breaker without a rule to break? Or rebel with no force to rebel against? Maybe society is set up this way to see who the real geniuses are, the ones who can see what they aren't being shown. Everyone has the potential to be creative, but it takes more than potential to make it in the creative world. You've got to put yourself out there, you've got to be willing to fail over and over again, you've got to be ridiculed, you've got to accept the disapproval of others. The ones who make it through that, the ones who spend their whole lives being their own biggest fan, the ones that do what it takes without fear of consequence, those are the crazy ones.
Dear blank, Please blank
Dear John Deer,
Your tractor is not that sexy.
Sincerely,
Then Penguins
-----------------------
Dear Chick-fil-a cows,
You don't see us in McDonalds commercials. I thought we were all in this together. Backstabbers.
Sincerely,
Chickens
-----------------------
Dear kid with a magnifying glass,
This is called an ant farm, not a slaughter house.
Sincerely,
Ants
-----------------------
Dear PETA,
How'd ya get that blood? We say spare us and let them wear the mink.
Sincerely,
Pigs
-----------------------
Dear Hipsters,
Thanks for bringing graphic sweaters back.
Sincerely,
Bill Cosby
-----------------------
Dear cheerleaders,
When your bow is smaller than your head you can join the club.
Sincerely,
Athletes
-----------------------
Dear Bento,
You just named your restaurant "lunchbox".
Sincerely,
The Japanese Language
-----------------------
Dear calories,
Please stop shrinking my clothes while I sleep.
Sincerely,
Girl
-----------------------
Dear Frat Pledge,
See you in eight weeks.
Sincerely,
Your pride
-----------------------
Dear FedEx,
Place the package in the shade.
Sincerely,
The Gingers
-----------------------
Dear Columbus,
Thanks for "discovering" us.
Sincerely,
The Natives
-----------------------
Dear drunkass,
See you later.
Sincerely,
Your dinner
Your tractor is not that sexy.
Sincerely,
Then Penguins
-----------------------
Dear Chick-fil-a cows,
You don't see us in McDonalds commercials. I thought we were all in this together. Backstabbers.
Sincerely,
Chickens
-----------------------
Dear kid with a magnifying glass,
This is called an ant farm, not a slaughter house.
Sincerely,
Ants
-----------------------
Dear PETA,
How'd ya get that blood? We say spare us and let them wear the mink.
Sincerely,
Pigs
-----------------------
Dear Hipsters,
Thanks for bringing graphic sweaters back.
Sincerely,
Bill Cosby
-----------------------
Dear cheerleaders,
When your bow is smaller than your head you can join the club.
Sincerely,
Athletes
-----------------------
Dear Bento,
You just named your restaurant "lunchbox".
Sincerely,
The Japanese Language
-----------------------
Dear calories,
Please stop shrinking my clothes while I sleep.
Sincerely,
Girl
-----------------------
Dear Frat Pledge,
See you in eight weeks.
Sincerely,
Your pride
-----------------------
Dear FedEx,
Place the package in the shade.
Sincerely,
The Gingers
-----------------------
Dear Columbus,
Thanks for "discovering" us.
Sincerely,
The Natives
-----------------------
Dear drunkass,
See you later.
Sincerely,
Your dinner
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
What makes gay marriage so "gay"?
Today, I went and had a really pleasant "straight" lunch. The parking lot was pretty packed but I managed to park my car, "straightly" of course. I walked "straight" in and ordered my sandwich "straight" with a coke "straight" up.
Please.
I don't understand what makes gay marriage so "gay" that it requires the addition of "gay" to regular marriage. We use the word marriage in multiple contexts without adding prefixes. Music and lyrics are married in the creation of a song, they are just married not musically married. Glue marries two pieces of paper together, they are just married not stickily married. So why can't two people of the same sex be married and not just "gay" married?
The goal isn't to give gays equal rights, it's to make gays equals. A person is a person and that's that. When we put people in categories a hierarchy is created. But when all people remain on the same playing field, labeled "the human race", who's to say the differences between each person grants them more or less access to their rights?
Don't ask don't tell? More like don't ask because it doesn't matter. I don't seek my identity in my sexual orientation, and my brothers don't either. I'm tired of people being separated from society once they are open about who they are and who they love. Separate is not equal. I'm sorry, but did we not already cover this issue a few decades back? How many times do people have to be oppressed for us to learn this same fucking lesson? Dammit conservatives! Get your noses out of the church's ass long enough to smell the rose that is real life! It's quite refreshing out here in the world, please come join us.
Please.
I don't understand what makes gay marriage so "gay" that it requires the addition of "gay" to regular marriage. We use the word marriage in multiple contexts without adding prefixes. Music and lyrics are married in the creation of a song, they are just married not musically married. Glue marries two pieces of paper together, they are just married not stickily married. So why can't two people of the same sex be married and not just "gay" married?
The goal isn't to give gays equal rights, it's to make gays equals. A person is a person and that's that. When we put people in categories a hierarchy is created. But when all people remain on the same playing field, labeled "the human race", who's to say the differences between each person grants them more or less access to their rights?
Don't ask don't tell? More like don't ask because it doesn't matter. I don't seek my identity in my sexual orientation, and my brothers don't either. I'm tired of people being separated from society once they are open about who they are and who they love. Separate is not equal. I'm sorry, but did we not already cover this issue a few decades back? How many times do people have to be oppressed for us to learn this same fucking lesson? Dammit conservatives! Get your noses out of the church's ass long enough to smell the rose that is real life! It's quite refreshing out here in the world, please come join us.
You might as well be deaf.
You might as well be deaf. Some might say that is true for most any student who is bored by school classrooms, but it is especially true for those who don't speak the same language.
For a news package I am working on, I have interviewed high school students who do not speak english. I was volunteering at a local high school when I noticed a couple students in the back of the classroom who kept silent. At first I didn't think much of them, as I was never the type to speak up in class myself. But soon I noticed that they were actually paying close attention but to the actions of other students and not to the instruction given to them by the teacher. These students would stare blankly at their desks until they heard some sort of action which would cause them to look around the room. It wasn't until then that they would mock the action of the other students, whether it would be to open a book, stand in line at the door, or start to write.
After that class I asked the teacher about the students' behavior. She told me they were not english speakers and didn't understand anything she was saying. My question is, why the hell are these kids in this class? The teacher ignores them because she doesn't speak spanish and can't answer their questions or give them instructions. These poor kids just sit there and do absolutely nothing. I approached one boy and, in spanish, asked him about the class. He couldn't even tell me what subject he was taking. He opened up to me, explaining how he basically felt like an idiot sitting like a dumbass in that classroom where he tried his best not to appear out of place. I don't know how our education system which isn't supposed to be leaving any child behind (thanks Babs) is allowing these kids to gain nothing out of their education.
How do we solve this? Teach these kids some damn english! They get all their core classes in their native language but take non-core classes in english. Why not teach them their basic english and then teach them all courses in english? I studied in South America and went with a very basic understanding of the language. After being thrown in real college classes with spanish speaking students and professors, I became proficient very quickly once my grades were put on the line. If I had been spoken to in english I would have never learned any more than how to order a beer. You learn what you need to and really nothing more. You put the kid's well-being on the line and they will learn real fast, because they won't have much of a choice. We've got to give these kids a little help here, not just babysit them. That's how we create productive citizens. And isn't that our goal?
My "How To Lose Friends and Alienate People"
While I'm not the least friendly person on the planet, I am certainly in no competition for Miss Congeniality. Being as motivated and goal-oriented as I am (not), I give all (some) my energy to my specific focus. This sticks true to my life-long goal of having the least number of friends as possible while remaining high enough on the social totem pole to be above those who go to Panera alone to read the Twilight Saga.
(I'm still recovering socially from that period in my life. I actually drove to Panera, walked in, and realized how obviously inappropriate it was to be this publicly friendless. So I walked across the street to Barnes and Noble and purchased my very own copy of the literary novel "Twilight". At least I figured I'd look an academic this way.)
Having friends is really a tricky sitch. They are whiney, needy, and ask too many personal questions like "What shampoo do you use?" Who gives two shits about my shower habits?! Pervs. Get your heads out of my bathroom, please. Now, to help you all eradicate these life-suckers from your "friends list" I'll share with you my fool-proof system of how to be a completely unattractive possible conversationalist while severing ties with all existing people who care slightly about your well-being.
Let's get started.
1. The earmuffs. I wear giant blue head phones over my ears whenever I leave my room. They are usually plugged into nothing. This does three things for you. First, you appear hipster enough for people to avoid direct gazes. Second, the obvious appearance of the head phones signifies you are unable and uninterested in any sort of commentary. This will give you the ability to ignore all requests for you to pass the salt at the dinner table. Next, if one chooses to look closer to see the dangling cord you're tripping over, and realizes you can hear them and are actually ignoring them purposely, you will look like an even bigger asshole. (Gold star for you!)
2. The shades. Sunglasses are worn for as long as possible throughout the day. I will wear them outside, inside, in the rain, while eating, up until the sun has been down for one hour. Working in more or less the same manner as the headphones, sunglasses will make you seem less approachable.
3. The head-nod. You must greet all people, even friends of yours, with only a slight nod of your head. Your friend will approach you asking numerous annoying questions ranging from "how are you?" to "whatcha up to?". When you shoot down their conversation opener with a simple head-nod, over time your friend will be discouraged enough to cease all attempts.
4. The walk-by. To show all your friends that they are of no interest to you at all, you must apply the "walk-by" tactic to your archive. You find a room where all your friends are gathered, the TV room works well, and you walk through it without showing that you give any notice what-so-ever to those who are in attendance. Passing by without so much as a greeting will most certainly show your superiority and thereby obviously sending the message to your friends that they are of no interest to you.
Following these four simple rules are golden keys to success. With this knowledge you have the perfect tools to "lose your friends and alienate people".