The Future of Advertising!

I thought this idea was really cool. GE Energy has designed a 3D, hologram advertisement. I believe this is the start to a whole new branch of advertising. More than a regular commercial or print ad, they have made their advertisment interactive, interesting, and, most of all, memorable.




"GE Energy (GE) has come out with a unique online ad, to promote its Smart Grid windmill technology.

When you log onto GE’s site, you can do this yourself pretty easily. Basically, you print out a special marker that looks like a solar panel, activate your computer’s webcam, and then point the marker so it faces your webcam. The smart grid should automatically open up on your screen, and you can even blow into your computer’s microphone to make the turbines spin faster. The Augmented Reality ad also has a solar energy option.
So who helped GE make this ad? The site says that the Augmented Reality ad is powered by FLARToolKit’s open source code, using Flash. We’ve reported on this digital hologram technology being used in the gaming and toy world. But it also makes for really engaging online ads. We just hope the folks at Crispin Porter + Bogusky don’t use it for a creepy Burger King ad."

Siestas

Europe does it right. They walk everywhere, eat just the right amount, drink wine everyday, and take siestas. Most countries in Europe take a 2-3 hour break in the workday afternoon. Stores shut down, the streets get quiet, and people take naps. There is nothing wrong with this concept, America. We are so driven and constantly trying to get ahead, we forget to take care of ourselves. I wish America could slow down every once and a while and just take a siesta. It would make people less grouchy, more efficient when they return to work, and overall, I believe, society would be happier. In fact, I would really like a siesta right now, but I have to get ready for class...

My Biggest Fear

As my classmate/roommate and I scrupulously searched for a case to watch in the Dallas County Courts for my Forensic Psychology class, I ran into my biggest fear. Let me first preface this with the fact that I know this is an irrational fear and I do not mean to offend anyone by it. I am sure my friends don't believe that I am actually scared of this, but I am. By no real explanation, I am deathly afraid of little people (or midgets, but I recently found out that is a derogatory term). As I know they are people too, I get incredibly scared. My adrenaline starts pumping, my heart starts pounding, my breath gets quick... its bad. Today, I opened a door to a court room where a very frustrated, quick little man was rushing to a hearing. Firstly, I stopped in my tracks. Secondly, I was scared shitless because on top of being little, he seemed to be in a huff. On the inside, I completely freaked out, but on the outside, I was able to hold myself together until he got far enough away that he would a) not come back, or b) not hear me. I really need to fix this, but I don't really see that happening any time soon. 

Spring Break

Spring Break is right around the corner for SMU! I am so excited. Many of my friends are going to the coast, Mexico, or Europe. Because I am going away all summer, I felt I really wanted to spend some time at home. I decided, to make a fun spring break, I would drive home. One of my friends is going to join me because she has never seen the southeast. I was mapping out options last night of ways to drive back. I thought it would be really fun to drive along the coast, but that of course added like 6 hours to an already 15 hour long trip back to Greenville, South Carolina. I have now narrowed it down to two options. 

1. Drive to Nashville, then Knoxville to see my Dad and cousins there. Then drive to South Carolina. Then drive to Charleston for a night and then Atlanta for a night, and then back to Dallas. 
2. Drive to Atlanta, then to Knoxville, then to Greenville, then to Charleston and back to Dallas.

I just wish I had an extra four days so we could make some really cool stops. I really want to find cool things like, "the worlds biggest toothpick" or "the country's biggest ball of yarn" to visit along the way. I also want to come up with a fun "To Do List" for the trip that would make things more interesting. I am now in the process of making a playlist of music to listen to along the way. 

Rachel's Challenge

Tonight I went to a program called Rachel's Challenge. Rachel Joy Scott was the first person shot in the Columbine High School shooting in 1999. A few months before she was killed, she wrote a paper for school titled "My Ethics/My Codes of Life." One of her many writings states. "I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same." She lived her life trying to be kind and compassionate to others. She wanted to make a difference in the world. The challenges given by the program include:

1. Eliminate Prejudice by looking for the best in others
2. Dare to dream - set goals and keep a journal 
3. Choose your influences - input determines output
4. Kind words - small acts of kindness = HUGE impact
5. Start a chain reaction with family and friends (tell those you love how you feel and what they mean to you)

I felt the program was very well done and has a wonderful message. I personally have adopted many of these "challenges" into my life already, however, it was very helpful to remind myself to think about how I treat others. I have always had a personal belief that "you are the average of the people and things you surround yourself with," which I think is echoed in the program. What happened at Columbine High School was horrific, but I am continually amazed by the positivity, such as Rachel's Challenge, that can come out of very negative situations. 

Grades

I hate grading, I think it is silly. I am in college. I am here voluntarily to learn and I believe too much emphasis has been put on grades themselves. I understand that grades should be a reflection of your learning, however, as a person with learning disabilities, my knowledge is not reflected in my grades. People who learn normally do not understand how difficult certain things are, like reading, for me, for example. I want to learn, not worry about tests. I know that it would be hard to keep students learning without tests, but I also think it may reversely help students to remember that they are in school to learn, not to get grades. 

Procrastination

Because I didn't spend a significant amount of time on this topic in my previous "all-nighter" post, I felt it necessary to give a list of things to do when procrastinating...

1. Clean your room
2. The Wikipedia Game
3. Watch TV shows
4. Play video games
5. Sleep
6. Exercise
7. Organize 
8. Plan your life
9. Fill out job applications (but never actually turn them in)
10. Brainstorm
11. Talk to people
12. Go to Cafe Brazil for coffee
13. Listen to music (then have a dance party)
14. Eat excessively
15. Facebook
16. Check e-mail
17. Shower
18. Shop online
19. Bubble bazinga 
20. Skype 

J Words

My sorority sisters and I have found it exceedingly fun to come up with "j" words and turn them into "y" sounds. For instance: 

• jiggy - yiggy
• james - yames
• journal - yournal
• jog - yog
• jonathan - yonathan 
• joke - yoke
• jelly -  yelly
• job - yob
• jerk - yerk
• jimmy john 's - yimmy yohn's 

You get the idea...