Capitalize Me!

Child labor laws do not apply in certain circumstances: youtube/blog profits and street performers. There is a street performer who appears very young that croons to the many visitors that the travel industry attracts. I have seen this girl out at very early hours in the morning--the same hours that the drunk and disorderly are roaming the streets and the prostitutes, who everybody, including the cops, knows are prostitutes, are looking for customers. The young street performer's income must be very lucrative in order for her parents to have her in such an environment. 

The Youtube generation uses social networking and other media sites innocuously but are being criticized by the national media. It seems that the latest distraction is named Rebecca Black and she has a song titled, "Friday" that everyone is commenting on. I adhere to the old adage: accentuate the positive. . .and therefore, I will not critique the song. I think that those who make negative statements must remember that Rebecca is a child. She is probably not unlike other children who have fun being silly on Youtube. The thing that bothers me is that this, once again, is the bread and circus. Entertainment diverts our attention to the salient issues that the news should be broadcasting.

Corporate news is biased. I prefer Democracy Now over CNN, Fox, MSNBC and every other major news source. Democracy Now does not have the viral videos and other distractions that are used in the "news". Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez are exceptional journalists. They have maintained the journalistic integrity that other broadcasters: Fox News, has never had and will probably never know.  

Good news: At&t and Verizon have allowed calls and texts to Japan to be free until March 31st.

Click on the link for more information.

AT&T, Sprint & Verizon Offer Free Calls & Texts to Japan From U.S. [UPDATED]

Kanye West's "All of the lights" video

Kanye West, in my opinion, is one of the greatest artists in the music industry. The video for his single, "All of the lights," was released recently and it made me realize a few things. Youtube and other sites broadcasts music faster than television. I used to have to wait until MTV or another music channel broadcast the video, but now, the internet is my source for the majority of videos that I search for and watch. Also, it gives the individual the power to change the official video to one that matches their imagination and creativity. I was under the impression that the video was a tribute to Michael Jackson. The video begins with a child walking and candles. I liked this idea because apparently the video takes places in Chicago. The Chicago setting is significant because children have been caught in the crossfire of drive byes and other instances of gun violence. Candlelight vigils are often commonplace to bring awareness to the issue and to pay homage to the victims. I visualized the child walking to light a candle for one of the innocent victims killed on their way to school and Kanye showing candlelight vigils for Micheal Jackson, civilians, troops, an international level of the power of mourning. Reggie Doucet was shot by an LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) officer in January of 2011. His family and friends continue to get tattoos in his memory and question whether it was negligent homicide--on account of the LAPD. I did not know Reggie Doucet, but a friend of mine was very close to him. I would have expected Kanye to have planned this video to where it praised his mother, as well, who has passed on. I hope that someone on Youtube or another blog site can create a video that, in my opinion, lives up to the great song.     

Bullying

Bullying merits everyone's attention. This topic has been in the news a lot lately and even though I believe that everyone is, will be, or at one point in time was bullied, I do not believe that there is any way that the relentless bullying is justifiable. Technology has these bullies in constant communication with their fellow bulliers and their victims. Facebook and other social networking sites allow bullies to harass in writing and through the use of videos and pictures. I saw a special on the news about these people labeled "vultures". These vultures go online after a horrible or tragic event occurs and they post hateful messages about the hurt or deceased person. I cannot fathom who could be capable of such cruelty, but it occurs. At one point, Youtube had become a popular outlet for teens posting videos of themselves fighting and other horrible acts of violence. It is important for parents and other institutions to teach empathy. Classic literature, poetry, fables and other instructional materials can be utilized in the home or in the classrooms. Also, I believe it would help to examine what is the source of the anger and hatred in the actual bully. It is too easy to have sympathy for the victims of bullying, but we often ignore the pain and hurt inside of the bully. For instance, Perez Hilton was, in my opinion, a bully. He did not discriminate when teasing his victims. However, Perez was considered obese--at one point--and also had to be confronted with gay slurs aimed at him in the comments' section of his blog. It is easier to understand why it was so easy for him to be hateful and continue the cycle of hate, once his life is put into perspective.  Ideally, there would be an anonymous support source--such as a number that one could text in order to quell the pain of bullying. The schools could have some of the most popular and influential students in their school team up with the victims of bullies and help them feel comfortable at and outside of school. Pity only serves to stigmatize the victims. Bullying victims must overcome such adversity in order to help the next victims. My mother always told me, "Everyone gets teased. The prettiest girl, to the ugliest." I believe that to be true, but I also believe that it can be changed.