Facebook and StudiVZ-distraction since 2004

Unfortunately, if they are on, I just can’t resist the temptation!. It is distracting people since 2004.
The social networking sites facebook and StudiVZ (german form of facebook). People who tell they only spend time on facebook better dont move to germany and open up facebook in red, the german StudiVZ, which is basically the same thing, just double the time you spend there and stalk around!
It was not until 2005 that Facebook became available to high schools. The guaranteed security of Facebook was reassuring (and it was free). I was sold, subsequently became addicted, and was instantly supplied with a focal point for distractions.
Facebook continued to consume people's ability to focus by expanding in 2006 when it granted anyone access above the age of 13 who had a valid e-mail address. Now you did not have to even go to school to become perpetually distracted.
As all Facebook users know, the relatively new feature of being able to chat with friends who are also logged on their Facebook pages creates the problem of having close to one hundred people to chat with every time you login. Now you can hop on to distract yourself with your friend's pictures or posts and there is a chance that you can end up talking to three to four people while you are browsing aimlessly and clumsily through endless walls and pages.
And even worse - Facebook does not just have to stay on your computer; you can take it with you on a Blackberry or an iPhone. Most of the time, it pulls your eyes and brain away from class and conversations. However, it is undeniably a great feeling when you have notification or friend requests, or even meaningless group requests. Because it keeps us busy and you dont even have to think about any complicated things. The perfect escape from the real world.
My question would be: Is there any way out? Will we ever be able to resist the distraction and actually start focusing on things in life that matter?

New security plans for 2010 World Cup

The South African Police Service unveiled plans to MPs today detailing how they aim to keep South Africa safe before and during the 2010 World Cup. The plans include the use of fighter jets, border patrols and security guards for each team.

The plans were put forward to the portfolio committee by Police Lieutenant General Andre Pruis. He also told parliament of the newly established Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee (ICC) - set up to work closely with foreign intelligence agencies and how they were prepared for any threatThe plans are extensive. fighter jets will be used to clear airspace before, during and after every match throughout South Africa and there would be a number of no fly zones in South Africa for the duration of the World Cup.

Cruise ships are also going to be escorted into South Africa from 12 nautical miles off the coast and trains coming into South Africa from neighbouring countries would also be monitored.
Pruis also confirmed that the police's Special Task Force, the Defence Force Special Forces, the Bomb Squad and the National Intervention Unit would be on standby at each game, with the defence force's Seven Medical Battalion ready to deal "with any possible chemical, biological and radiological threat".

Inside the stadiums will also include public order police, local and foreign security spotters and private security firms but the stadium security doesn't end there. Ten kilometre cordons would also be set up around stadiums with emphasis on on preventing domestic extremism including strike action and service delivery protests.

Each country has also been assigned a dedicated security liaison officer and the safety of each team is of huge importance. The ICC has been in communication with intelligence agencies and police in each country and a police member will 'co-ordinate all security activities of each team'.

Profiles have been created for each team and the team hotel. Routes to and from the stadiums with 'safe haven's have been drawn up and every potential threat has been anticipated.

Bottom line; South Africa should be safe and the eyes of thousands will be on you wherever you go in South Africa and if you are ever unsure - just look up and wave as South Africa will also be using quite a few satellites to keep an eye on things too.

Future Journalism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e23mInmBHNY

Check out this documentary, it tells a lot about journalism in the near future!
Speaking at The Nation/Campus Progress annual Student Journalism Conference, a range of student journalists reflect on the future of media. Where is journalism headed? What trends and technologies are changing the game? And with print in peril, is a career in journalism still worth it? Students from all over the country give their view of the changing media landscape, and the efficacy of current "J-School" curricula.

The NEW iPhone 4G in JULY 2010

I bought my Iphone in February 2008 and I gotta say: Now its starting to act weird. Ok I have to say, I dropped it a couple times and it looks very used now. But since a year my Iphone acts like an old computer, shutting down all of the sudden, the display has some issues with growing lines and it got slower over the years.

Now I am waiting to get the new Iphone in july. Lots of speculation is going around on the new iPhone 4g... in HD!! Official features will be revealed at the WWDC conference this June.

Verizon Wireless is currently testing a CDMA version of the iPhone 4G and Verizon confirms they are making network changes to bring the iphone to their network. The new iPhone 4g is going to be loaded with awesome new features like video chat, multi-tasking and extreme downloading.

But should I keep going with my at&t rate plan or should I switch to Verizon?
I recently got upset with at&t because their coverage is very bad.

Will see what verizon has to offer once it comes out.

Here is a preview on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTASTyPd1gY&feature=related

All-girl Stunt team claims first place

The Team USA All-Girl Cheer Team, which includes Hawai‘i Pacific University cheerleaders Lauren Loeb, Emily Myers, Savanna Sibley, Heather Turner, Chelsey Kannan, Stephanie Bibby, Brittany Barry, and Ashley Lewis, took first place world title at the 2010 International Cheer Union (ICU) World Championship in Orlando, Fla.

As Team USA’s contenders in the All-Girl Group Stunt competition, HPU’s All-Girl Stunt Group took first place. The stunt group consisted of Sibley, Myers, Loeb, and Turner.

“Winning the Gold for the All-Girl Premier was an amazing feeling,” Sibley said. “I can’t even begin to explain the emotions that were going through my head. This has not only been an experience of a lifetime but it is something I will carry with me as one of my greatest accomplishments. It consisted of a long and strenuous two weeks but now with it all said and done, it has been more than worth it.”

HPU Cheerleaders were specifically selected and invited to be part of the 24-member Team USA to represent the United States at the ICU World Championship. Cheerleaders from all over the U.S. are represented on Team USA. The ICU World Championship showcases the top cheerleaders from more than 60 nations from all continents.

HPU has long been known for having the most outstanding Division II Cheer and Dance teams in the nation. Immediately following the 2010 National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) and National Dance Alliance (NDA) Championships in Daytona Beach, Fla., on April 9, the HPU Cheerleaders traveled to Georgia and practiced for two weeks prior to the ICU competition on April 23 in Orlando.

The HPU Large Co-ed Cheer Team has won eight straight national titles (2003-2010). The HPU Small Co-Ed Cheer Team has won four consecutive national titles (2005-2008). The HPU All-Girl Cheer Team won its first national title at the 2009 competition. The HPU Dance Team has won five consecutive championships, totaling six titles overall (2004, 2006-2010).

Homeless plan splits community

Students attending the HPU Downtown Campus know about those people who hang out all day at Fort Street Mall with no place to go: The homeless. They ask for money and they seem to need help to get off the street.

The City of Honolulu and the Catholic Church are backing “The River Street Project” under the concept of “Housing First” for homeless.

They plan a 100-unit residence on city property, at River Street and Vineyard Boulevard, three blocks from the HPU campus.

The project would provide permanent shelter to homeless people with mental illnesses or drug problems and provide treatment. About 60 units would go to the homeless and 40 to the mentally ill.

The project has generated strong community opposition. About 200 Chinatown residents showed their opposition to the project at a March 28 rally.

On April 25, a rally will be held to support the project, starting at the Lady of Peace Cathedral on Fort Street Mall at 1 pm. The rally will start with a prayer service and then participants will march to the River Street site.

“I would encourage everyone who cares about homeless people in Hawai‘i to come to this rally to show their support for a “Housing First” River Street Residences, solution which has proven to work in helping homeless people get off the street and become stabilized,” said Marya Grambs, Executive Director of Mental Health America of Hawai‘i.

Supporters say this kind of project has helped homeless in Seattle and other big cities on the mainland, but many in the Downtown and Chinatown communities strongly oppose the plan.

“It is the right project in the wrong place,” said Victor Lim, owner of McDonalds on Fort Street Mall and chairman of Fort Street Mall Business Improvement District, adding: “This particular area has a lot of churches, and schools with young children”.

Since the medical treatment for the homeless in the planned apartments is strictly voluntary, people in and around Chinatown are concerned about their safety. Lim suggests building those units rather in industrial areas to not attract even more homeless people to downtown that could lead to increasing crime.

“There are security issues involved,“ says Karl Rhoads, State Rep for D-28th (Pālama, Chinatown, Downtown).

Patrick Downes from the Catholic church of Honolulu, who supports the project, said:

“This project will actually make the situation safer. Homeless people who are already sitting on the sidewalks will be put in residences and get
treatment.”

Ash cloud in Europe- millions of air travellers stranded across Europe

When I was reading the news a few days ago about the vulcano erruptions on iceland, I wasnt worried at all. As long as nobody gets in trouble due to lava I thought there wont be any affection.

Now, I am actually concerned by only this ash cloud. It pretty much is the reason why thousands of flights from and to Europe were cancelled and millions of air travellers stranded across Europe.

Europe's three biggest airports -- London Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt -- were closed by the ash, leaving passengers stranded across the world as a global flight backlog built up.

My friend from Germany who is visiting right now and was supposed to fly out from Honolulu to San Francisco with a connection flight to Frankfurt, Germany, was not possible. Also some of my friends in South Africa are stranded or can not get a flight from Spain back to Berlin.

It is the biggest airspace shutdown since World War II, air traffic had controllers warned that the cloud was likely to cause fresh travel disruption.

Justifying the widespread airport closures aviation officials have explained that airplane engines could become clogged up and stop working if they tried to fly through the ash.

Even our German Chancellor Angela Merkel was stranded in Lisbon, Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva in Prague and a UN Security Council delegation cancelled a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo that would have flown out of Paris.