I wanna be a YouTube Star!!...or do I?

        It's crazy how quickly someone can become famous nowadays. Take for example Justin Bieber. A couple of years ago, he was just a kid on a street corner playing his guitar and singing, and no one knew who he was. Today, he's rich and extremely famous (especially among pre-pubescent girls). And it was all because he had videos up on YouTube and Usher had watched them.
        I myself have a YouTube channel, where I post videos of myself singing. I haven't had much success with it, and haven't received much views, but then again, I'm really not doing anything to get myself out there. And to be honest, I don't really care. In fact, I don't want to be famous. It completely takes over peoples' lives. The reason I post videos is because maybe somewhere, someday, I can make someone smile and brighten up their day.

Here's the link to my channel if you want to check it out: http://www.youtube.com/user/3litka

Privacy Issues

        It's sad to admit, but I'd never read the Facebook Privacy Policy before I had to do my final essay for MDSB61. And once I read it, I was completely shocked! I knew Facebook had security issues, but I never knew the extent. I had no idea that so much information was available to third parties and that Facebook does not own, control, nor is it responsible for any of the applications available like the Honesty Box. And people who have used any application on Facebook before will know that it can't be used until you agree to let the application have access to your profile. Honestly, I'd never thought about it before and just clicked accept right away because I figured, "Well Facebook already has my information, so I guess it's OK," without realizing that I was allowing third parties to view my content. And who knows how that content was used, for what purposes, and how long it was stored in the third partys' databases.
         I also had no idea that Facebook doesn't guarantee that a user's content will not become publicly available. It's a scary thought. I don't want my private information, that I share with my friends, to be made public! Although I don't have any content that is 'inappropriate' ('cause I'm a good girl :), content has the potential to be taken out of context if one does not know the background information, and I wouldn't want people to have preconceived notions about me, or have the wrong impression.
         Even though I am concerned, I know I'm not about to give up my Facebook account anytime soon. It has become a very important tool for communication and social interaction. But I think the first step to protecting the privacy of users is to raise awareness. Also, I believe it would help a lot if Facebook made it impossible to download other users' photos (only view them). That would at least put my mind at ease about any of my photos becoming public.

Hey, I'm Vlogging here!

Is TV dying? I sure think so. Slowly, but surely. Nowadays, everything is online. News, social interaction, books, articles, music, and now even reality shows. Anyone who watches the Shaytards on YouTube will agree. The Shaytards are probably the cutest, sweetest, craziest, funniest family of six I have ever seen. The Shaytards have been uploading a video EVERYDAY now for over TWO YEARS, and have over 800,000 subscribers, myself included. To hide their identity, each of the family members has a YouTube name that they use: Shaycarl, Mommytard/Katilette, Sontard, Princesstard, Babytard, and Rocktard. They also have a Great Dane named Malachi. Does it get any awesomer than that? I think not. Just watch their videos.
So it is the end of TV? Not yet, but it's gettin' there! Who needs TV when you can watch all the Shaytard videos you want at anytime you want on YouTube??
Link to their channel is below:
SHAYTARDS

Distractions, distractions, distractions...

I couldn't even start this blog without getting distracted by YouTube! Seriously, what is that all about?? Is it lack of self control? I wrote about StumbleUpon earlier and talked about how you need self control in order to use it responsibly and not get distracted from other things you ought to be doing. Well, I definitely feel like I am immensely lacking in that area. But I think the internet itself has led me to this point (not that it isn't my fault that I let it get there). Everything is just so readily available. It's right there, at the click of a mouse (that is, if your internet connection isn't a snail). If I randomly wonder about something, like how the British monarchy works, or what the Prague skyline looks like at dawn, I simply Google it. Or if I randomly feel like watching a cute kitten falling asleep or some funny bloopers, I just go on YouTube. 

Don't even get me started on Facebook and Twitter. Everyone knows everyone's business; what someone had for dinner, what party someone went to, who broke up, who got together, etc. It never ends. I don't think I was ever as curious about other peoples lives (nor so informed) until I discovered Facebook. I don't even have to talk to a person for years but know what's going on in their life. 
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining that it's there. The internet is an immensely valuable resource that allows us to do things we were never able to before. One example is the recent Japanese earthquake. News organizations posted Tweets almost as soon as it happened, since many news organizations such as CNN already had representatives in Japan who had experience the earthquake. Because the news and information was so quickly distributed, aid from other countries was able to arrive more quickly. Even now, there are Tweets coming in every few minutes or so, updating on the situation with the nuclear power plant. Google has been particularly helpful in providing the person finder. Of course this is only one, and very recent, example. The internet has been a highly valuable tool, particularly in sharing and distribution of information.
However, the distraction issue still exists. For me, at least. I've tried setting boundaries for myself in terms of how many times a day I go on Facebook or YouTube. Once, I decided I'd only go on Facebook twice a day, not more than 15 minutes at a time. I know, it isn't a dramatic boundary, but I was trying to be realistic. This only lasted about a week. Then I had a mini-epiphany. I shouldn't have to set boundaries. I should know when to stop. It's all about everyday, moment-to-moment decisions that I make that will add up in the end. So I should be asking myself, "What am I doing right now, and how will it be for the greater good in the future?"


 

"Hey, What you up to?" "Oh, just Stumbling..."

             It's 12:12 AM as I write this, and I'm supposed to be sleeping by now, but what am I doing? Stumbling. That's right, Stumbling.  I discovered StumbleUpon by accident on Google one time and decided to check it out. It took me a few minutes to sign up, but after I did, it just blew my mind. Basically how it works is there are different categories you can check off; they are topics and you chose those that interest you. For example, I checked off music, Christianity, culture/ethnicity, travel, photography, writing, crafts, and many others. After I checked off the topics that interest me, I just clicked on the top left of the screen where it says 'Stumble'. And that's how it begins. The fascination. The wonder. The adventure. Suddenly a whole new world has been opened up to me, and showed me things possible with the internet I never knew before. The site searches through millions of web pages to find those relevant to your topics of interest. You can browse by category, and even by videos within those categories. Then, I discovered the "Like" button. Whenever you 'StumbleUpon" a page that you really like, you click 'Like', which helps to narrow down future 'Stumbles' to sites more relevant to your particular interests, and even tastes within those interests. It also allows you to be able to return to the websites you favored. Also, if you don't like a site that you 'StumbleUpon', you can click on the thumbs down sign at the top of the screen. This helps 'StumbleUpon' to better see what your interests and tastes are, so it would only lead you to sites that you would love. 

             Needless to say, this site has definitely been a source of distraction for me. Whenever I'm bored, or whenever I'm supposed to be doing work but I don't feel like it (which is most of the time…I'm trying to change that mindset), I go on StumbleUpon. It's now definitely up there with YouTube and Facebook for me. In fact, I feel a bit guilty for sharing this site with anyone, because I wouldn't want others to have another new source of distraction that will keep them from doing important work, since I know that many people (especially youth) have a problem with distraction and/or procrastination. However, simply can't not share, because although it can be an immense source of distraction, and time flies by really fast when you're 'Stumbling', it can also be an amazing source of inspiration and motivation.

             I found sites with StumbleUpon that I never would have otherwise found on my own. Many amazing photos that just blew my mind, motivational ideas, inspirational quotes, and videos. The possibilities are endless. One of the things I've been able to do as a result of using StumbleUpon is become more inspired to make crafts. I once 'StumbledUpon' a site that was a directory to instructional craft blogs. As a result, I made several handmade crafts myself, one of which was a bouquet made using coffee filters, acrylic paint, straws, and masking tape. It turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself. And I wouldn't have even thought to make something like that if it weren't for StumbleUpon. It also lead me to many useful resources. For example, I recently 'StumbledUpon' a site called KnowWord.org. It is an interactive game which I have found is very useful in the aid and motivation of expanding one's vocabulary.The game works by giving the player a definition of a word, and the first letter of that word. The time limit is one minute, and the player must identify as many words based on definitions in that minute as possible, by which you earn points. You can also create an account and compete against other players. And because it's so fun, you don't even realize how much you're learning.

             Those are not even a fraction of what one is able to find through StumbleUpon. I think one of the major issues with distraction is self control and will power. If one is able to exercise those qualities, StumbleUpon is an amazing resource. So for those of you with a strong sense of self control and will power, happy Stumbling! But for those of you lacking in those areas, I'd recommend to work on them before trying StumbleUpon, because once you try it, you can never go back.