Our thoughts on:"I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I'm not."-Kurt Cobain

In this special blog both Michael and I, Caroline, are going to be sharing our thoughts in this quote: "I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I'm not."-Kurt Cobain. We chose this quote because it spoke out to us and it was inspirational. This quote signifies that its better to be yourself and not act or be someone else. Especially in this time, many young kids fall into a scene where it is "cool" to be a part of. Originality doesn't exist anymore.Younger kids look up to the older crowd thinking that it's the right way to fit in. These kids are lying to themselves, it's better to be who you are, then to pretend to be something you're not.
Everyone is different and special in their own way. It's okay to be yourself because it shows people that not only are you true to yourself but to others as well. Our opinion is, we prefer to be someone who is themselves rather than wasting time with a person who lies to themselves. We believe that peer pressure drags people into something they are not. In  a way society changes people, some people want to fit in, and the only way for them to do that is to go in the bandwagon and follow what everyone else is doing. Commercial advertisement plays a massive role with peer pressure. It pressures anyone to look or act a certain way.

Sincerely,

Michael Salcedo & Caroline Gentile

Disney Movies on YouTube?!?!

Walt Disney Studios has made a deal with Google to show their movies in YouTube. It includes all of the movies at the starting price of $1.99 and it has a 48 hour renting period. The movies are also from Dreamworks Studios and Disney-Pixar.This includes all of their classics and their most recent favorites. 

Exel: The Simple and Handy

During our lessons about Exel, I have learned a lot. At first, I thought Exel would be a difficult concept to understand but it turned out to be the complete opposite. The most I learned about it was how to make equations to receive my data faster. In Exel, there are several shortcuts and data you could use to make your project or organization fast, easy, and worry-free. I have to admit though, when you first begin using Exel it may be a stick in the mud, but as you practice using it more often it would come naturally. Personally, I enjoy using Exel. I get my work done faster and I like how simple it is to use. Not only do you do tables and input data but in Exel you can do so much more. For example, you can make graphs about your data and average or sum everything by a click of a button (or two depends on what you’re doing). So far, my class has only covered a little more than the basics. This is craving me to discover more about Exel and its mysteries. If you were stubborn like me about Exel, give it a try. Exel is a great tool that is useful and very handy in life. 

Network Neutrality in my Perspective

Now a days not a lot of products or advertisements are neutral. Most companies are corrupt and advertise or favor certain products over the internet or where ever. Network neutrality regulates various telecommunication networks. The goal of network neutrality is to make everyone and everything on the internet equal; no one should obtain preferential treatment at the cost of others. It prevents/prohibits Internet service providers to block or malfunction websites that belong to their competitors. In other words, net neutrality keeps everything open for everyone; no filters, no blockage, and no restriction. 
An advantage of network neutrality is that it continues competition within the companies and prevents monopolization or any form of one company managing the whole board. Network neutrality would  also end illegal activities and frauds that are attributed on the Internet/web. I strongly believe the internet should be open for everyone and there should be no restrictions. When we pay for the Internet, we expect the whole varieties not just certain sites.     

Kids with smartphones!?!?!?!

I found an interesting article on Google this morning, "Kids with smart phones: What's the right age?". Throughout the article it was demonstrating a survey that 1,066 parents took. There were three separate surveys for the parents: smart phones, cellphones, and basic handset. Only 66% of the parents believed a child should have a smart phone until they are at the age of 16. 54% of the parents believed that children should receive a regular cellphone at the ages of 13-15. 25% of parents believed children under the age of 12 should receive a basic cellphone.

This has been an issue (for me) seeing children with a cellphone/smartphone. I really don't see the point of a child having a cellphone in the first place. I understand it should be used for "emergencies", but we all know that's a lie. In my opinion teenagers in high school should have a cellphone because we are the ones who stay after class or go over a friend's house more often than the younger kids. I never had a cellphone when I was in elementary or in middle school, I got a smartphone when I was in 10th grade. When I pick up my cousin from elementary school, she tells me that all her friends have cell phones and she feels left out. I feel sorry for the poor girl but the truth is, they don't need a distraction from school right now. For children at a young age I believe that they should be focusing on school more than smart phones or cellphones.
http://gigaom.com/mobile/kids-with-smartphones-whats-the-right-age/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OmMalik+%28GigaOM%3A+Tech%29

What is a cover letter? What is a cover letter's purpose?

There are several people who confuse a cover letter and a resume. Do you know the difference? I read recently about what a cover letter is and what information is supposed to be included. Before I reach the topic of what has to be included into a cover letter, why not differentiate a cover letter and a resume. A cover letter is used to grab someone's attention to become interested in your resume; and a resume gets you an interview or an acceptance to a job, university/college, etc.
The format of the cover letter should include three important and valid concepts: why you are writing, what you have to offer, and how will you follow-up. A minimum this cover letter should be about a page or less, but the more concise and direct is better (short and sweet, but not too short). In "Why you are writing", make sure to specify your job objective and include enthusiasm. In "What you have to offer", make sure to list your abilities and how they match to their qualifications. Also include your skills and how they help solve problems and how your skills can adapt. In "How will you follow up", conclude by restating your job objective and inform the employer how they can reach you. Or you can be direct and ask for a interview but, be sure to call in a couple of days (maybe to next day, so the employer can take you seriously).
Some key tips to a successful cover letter is: font size should be at least 10, include: name, address, email and phone number. Also put your skills and unique qualities out there so it can grab the person's attention and persuade the reader to take a closer look at your resume. Another huge help for a cover letter is to use powerful action verbs to emphasize your skills, interests, and abilities; don't forget to be clear and direct in your cover letter. 
So there you have it, you can now use these key concepts and create a powerful cover letter. 

Do You Have What it Takes to Become a Language Pathologist?

A career that I consider would be outstanding and very inspirational be a Language Pathologist. Another way this career is described as, is a Speech Therapist. This career does take place in the Healthcare category/field. This is very inspirational because in a way you give back to the community and to children in need. Of course there are requirements to be worthy of becoming a Language Pathologist. You need to have at least two years of experience, obtain a Master's degree in Speech Language Pathology, Special Education, IDEIA 2004 (Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004), ASHA (American Speech and Hearing Association) Certification, Learning Disabilities, Autism, Down Syndrome, CP. 
A Language Pathologist interacts with children who have disabilities, accurately evaluate performance abilities, develop treatment programs, train staff, and recommend schools districts to parents. The approximate salary a Language Pathologist receives is about $40,000 to $90,000 (it may vary in the location or company you work for). A location where a Language Pathologist is needed is in Kaiser Permanente; Woodland Hills, CA. Kaiser Permanente is a well known hospital that reaches out to the community and is one of the leading Health Care Organizations. It has excellent quality and it helps the community. 
I chose this career because it sounds very interesting and very inspirational. To me a career that i find satisfying and full filling would be to give back to the community and to the people in need. Once when you obtain any knowledge of any career you have to put it to use for the greater good. A speech therapist sounds like a perfect option for me to choose my career. It pays well, I get to help out children in need, and I give back to the community. It seems like to me more and more children who have any type of disability are ignored or their parents/family are ignorant; we need more people to help these children out and surpass their disability. I'm sure there's more careers out there that not only fit my standards and interests but also yours. 

DC Comics Now Going Digital

Looking up for a new article to blog about, "DC Comics Doubles Down on Digital" caught my eye. DC Comics has been around for about 70 years and is in need of new readers. Since our economy has been dropping as the days go by, this has been affecting everything. Comic book stores have been closing due to this recession;  DC Comics needed a way out. Since technology is blooming and just about everything deals with technology; DC Comics decided to launch a Free Comics Page on the iPad (not all comics are fee). There's lots of free classics on this app: Justice League, Flashpoint, Superman, Mr. Terrific, just to name a few. Not only if you have an iPad you can download this marvelous app but it can also be used on an Android app (to see if your device qualifies check out dccomics.com). Since its launch last week, DC Comics has become and remained the biggest publisher of comic books to this date. Now almost everything is either pirated or not its original content; DC is using methods to prevent this misfortune. Going digital help comic book stores sell these comics on their webpage. DC Comics is planning on releasing the "new 52"; which is more comics for us geeks.

When I read this article, I was astonished. DC Comics going digital and we can now read free comics. This was unbelievable, where can you find a place to read some of your favorite comics (other than a book/comic store)? This is a huge boost and advance for this vast company; I say it is a clever move since everything now is on the internet and technology based. This is a disadvantage for some people who do not own an iPad but for those who do have the privilege to this app. Catching up with technology does save an important company like DC Comics.

http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-20103013-12/dc-comics-doubles-down-on-digital/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20 

My thoughts of "The Internet of Things"

Earlier this week my Computer Literacy class and I read an interesting article called "The Internet May Soon Include All of the Things Around You". The main point of that article is that people are now using small chips to track down any of their belongings; from pants to fruit. This article left me with the curiosity and the thought of how technology is changing the future. There was this phrase that kept on popping out throughout the article: "The Internet of Things".
"The Internet of Things" is a simple idea but the concept of it is a little difficult. There is this small chip that transmits radio waves and can be tracked by a special device. You can track them on your cellphone, computer, or anything electronically. At first this articled scared me; what scared me was that it transmits radio frequency waves. The first thought that went to my mind was: "Isn't this hazardous?". As I continued to read this article it became amusing and how these chips can do some good. These chips can be tracked by farmer's and by consumers to know where the fruit came from and when its about to be spoiled. It makes life simpler for some people.
This article does have pro's but it also has con's. This makes life simpler for people who are irresponsible. Sure we can all tag our belongings and leave them wherever we want, but doesn't that effect our organization and our responsibility to look after them? There is nothing right or wrong about this article; what matters is that technology is advancing and we should too.