Something Fresh...

In a world that is so interconnected that distance poses no obstacle to communication, inventing a new style of writing, photography or fashion can seem overwhelming and to some extent, pointless. Keeping up with the evolving trends is difficult enough, let alone creating something that is all your own. Technology is revolutionizing the way we interact as a global community. We no longer have to turn on the television to catch up on the latest news. We now turn on our monitors instead. And with so much instant access to this information, ideas evolve much more rapidly than ever thought possible.

            Inventing a totally new idea is becoming unachievable. But what we need to realize is that rather than inventing something new, we need to reinvent something that was once old. Take an idea that is obsolete, and mold it until something fresh is created. Throw order to the wind and step across the boundaries of, “normal.”  To achieve success in an area, which has been un-explored, we must be willing to take the necessary risks. We must contain the courage to let go of everyday thinking to turn out extraordinary results.

            Times are changing quicker than ever, which only presents us with more opportunities to add our own changes to the list. We cannot put forth apathy and let others do the work for us. In a world that relies on teamwork to advance towards the future, a lack there of could subsequently be dangerous to our roles as citizens and human beings. Every player has to do his or her share to help substain homeostasis- a balance on the tightrope we call “order.” People like Mark Zuckerburg, Larry Page, and Sergey Brin help keep us balanced as we advance in time as well as technology.

            Our next feat is arising to the test of meeting the standards set by these great minds. As we turn the page of time, new names will appear that represent the pioneers who forged into territory that was once unconquerable. Today the future is unclear to us. Tomorrow… well that may change.

                                                                                                            Ryan Pastircak

Opportunity is everywhere

 
   So today I figured out that as long as you have your camera with you at all times, a great picture will prevent itself to you. This is what I found at school...

    I don't want to give away the model's name, so we'll just call her Star. Star had a pair of sneakers that I just couldn't pass up. She turned the top of her shoes into and art canvas, turning her ten little piggies into two little monsters. I just thought that this could prove to you that opportunity really is all around us.

The Beatles

    
    I can’t count how many times I have restarted this article, never getting past the introduction. It seems to me that it is impossible to take a band that was as great as The Beatles and describe them in a single sentence. Winning a cluster of awards including multiple Grammy Awards, Academy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and many more, The Beatles are not a group that can be summed up with a few thought out lines and maybe a quote or two. That would be impossible and insulting to Mr. Lennon, McCartney, Starr, and Harrison. They were such a complex group with so many ground characteristics that makes them stand out from among all other artists.
    Officially starting in 1962 after a long search for a permanent  drummer, The Beatles were quickly recognized by their shows in bars and clubs. A man by the name of Brian Epstein witnessed them in action and was hooked, Epstein was a local record shop owner and he knew talent when he heard it. The band was introducing a new sound to the public that had never ben heard before. They were the first to ever express their issues through their music. The Beatles gave their opinion about political, social, and worldwide problems through their songs. No group had ever done this before. It was considered taboo during this time. Epstein took a chance that was not very risky at all and offered to become The Beatles manager, setting up shows and working out deals to bring in as much money as he could for the group. Although, as The Beatle’s popularity grew wider, finding a show for them to partake in was not a very difficult task.
    Something that was also revolutionary about The Beatles that they stood up against segregation. For those of you who are historically savvy, you should most likely be aware that the Jim Crow Laws legally segregated African Americans from Caucasians until the laws were finally repealed in 1964. During the time in which the laws were still in place, The Beatles made certain that nobody was segregated during their concerts. They believed in equality for all and that no man or woman should be judged because of the color of their skin. This was a very rare thing to see during this time. In the 60’s, much of America was separated between black and white. This was common even after legal segregation was no longer an issue. So to see a group of people that were willing to sacrifice their reputation as a band in order to stand up for what they believe in was extremely rare and noble. Not only did The Beatles bring people together through their music, but they also tried to physically bring people together and try to teach the world that the color of their skin doesn’t change the contents of their hearts.
    The Beatles were one of the few bands that cared about what went into their music. With every lyric, they sent out a message of peace and love to all. They have changed popular culture and cultivated music into what it is today creating, ‘Rebellious,’ music that allows artists to speak their mind through art and music. They had made changes in the industry that still have an affect on music, even to this day. Though there is much more to The Beatles, the message that this piece is sending is simple. Even if you don’t appreciate their music in the way that many people do, live by the message that they do. Accept people for who they really are. Don’t separate yourself from another just because they aren't like you. We all have our flaws and we need to realize that nobody is perfect. Being a high school student is hard enough, so what gives us the right to make it even harder for anyone else?

How much connectivity is too much?

   In today's world, our lives are run by technology. From the time we wake up to the time we go to bed, it surrounds us. We are constantly checking our email, Facebooking, faxing, texting, IMing, downloading, paying bills, looking up info,(Google-ing) there is just so much out there for us to spend time with. It can be the greatest thing in the world if we can learn to use it right. We can accomplish tasks much quicker, catch up on our news, talk to old friends, make new ones, anything you want to do can be done with the techno innovations that are being developed. So what I've decided to do is break down some of the things that I see out there that can be very useful, while at the same time hurtful.

YouTube-
                  Yes, the video site that has anything and everything on it. Plan to spend just a few minutes here, and you can easily end up spending much more than an hour browsing through the thousands of videos it holds. But there are so many benefits to it. I try to use YouTube to my best advantage every chance I get. From catching up on some photography tricks (I recommend the Chase Jarvis Channel) to getting some help on my Geometry homework, YouTube's database is full of helpful videos. Yet in my opinion, it can also become a procrastinator's heaven. So proceed with cation.

Facebook-
                  This is possibly one of the most famous domain names of the twenty-first century. When Mark Zuckerberg took his chances to create this, he hit the jackpot. Becoming the youngest billionaire at the age of twenty, Zuckerberg has made a name for himself as one of the most controversial people in the U.S. Though the views of him may vary from person to person, it is undeniable that what he has created is a social network that has some of the greatest advantages AND disadvantages. Facebook seems to be everywhere now. You can have it on your phone (even if your phone doesn't connect to the internet) on your iPad, laptop, PC, and now they are making cars that will read newsfeeds to you! There seems to be no escape. If you have a computer, it is likely that you own a Facebook account. But this connection to the world can be taking us away from our physical lives. It is a virtual drug because it is as addicting as one. It gives you a sense of power to have so much information at the click of you mouse. When it comes to using your Facebook, just be sure to know when so much is too much.

Myspace-
                  Okay I'm not going to lie, Myspace has become increasingly obsolete in the past two years. So many people have made the switch to Facebook that it seems tho be a ghost town. But I thought that it should be included because it was one of the enablers to the younger generation being hooked to their monitors. I was about 12 when I first logged on to www.myspace.com and I was an addict ever since. It was so new to me, knowing what my friends were always doing, always talking to someone. I hadn't had a cell phone yet so this was like gold. 

Texting-
                 This seems to be the biggest one. Especially with the, "Y," generation.  Everywhere you go you will see a phone connected to our hand. It seems to be an epidemic. They even have commercials on T.V asking us to put the phone down while we drive. There is just something about having someone to talk to all the time that makes life better! But it puts us in danger at the at the wheel when textig and driving. We are so addicted to texting that we can't put it down for the 15 minutes that we are driving to town. So lets put down the cell phone down for a little bit and talk face to face.


PSP/iPod Touch/DS-
                  Basically what this is, is all potable gaming systems. This seems to be most popular among adolescence. I always see these little kids running around playing them everywhere they go. When I was a kid all I had was my brother and a Gameboy Color. That was the greatest thing ever! But I guess that they have their benefits though. By being around this technology can prepare them for the future. It is obvious that technology is the main factor of the future and being around it can adapt them to what is in store for them.

   So those are my thought on some of the things that can be good and evil at the same time. Tell me if I missed anything.