WhatsApp impact

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-02-21/wireless-carriers-shrug-off-whatsapps-33-billion-impact#r=rss

The use of "WhatsApp" has only grown. WhatsApp is a smartphone application that is free, and costs ninety nine cents after one year of use, and allows for its users to text (sms) to others. This application will do to texting what Skype did to the video-messaging world. Although the consumers are much more happy, and get to talk more with more people, many telephone companies are hurt. According to this article, the application cost carriers around thirty three billion dollars in losses just this past year. It is also estimated that by 2016 the overall "damage" will succumb to fifty four billion dollars in losses. This application's effect and more importantly power is what prompted Facebook to acquire it for nineteen billion dollars. The stock market was much affected by this trade. On that day, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Vodaphone, Twitter, and Blackberry both had a rise in shares and a rise in trading. Vodaphone even completed the sale of its Verizon stock (forty five percent of the company) on February twenty one. No one knows the future of our communication platform, but it is clear WhatsApp is onto something, but not long before Facebook or other powerful company buy them off.

Nature

Yesterday, (Saturday, February 24, 2014) I had the pleasure of going on a little hike by myself. At Brand Park, the trails are easy, making it preferable to look at the surrounding nature. The spot I decided to sit down at was an oasis type spot surrounded by plush greenery and trees from above. When I sat down, I smelled a sour yet natural stench coming from the wall of green in front of me. The dampness of the leaves was very apparent. The swaying of the trees along with the swish ans swosh it made was very relaxing. There was no food to taste, nor did the floor seem appetizing. I started thinking about the purity of nature, of how it is so different in every corner of the world, yet each has its own beauty. I sometimes forget to apply this realization to people around me, and to the people I meet, because I allow the negative to cloud the positive. The fact that people might have had trouble not checking their phones is also troubling, because they check their phones everyday, and yet they do not get to enjoy nature once (due to the fact they were checking their phone).

Switzerland votes immigration

Organizations like the European Union, the Russian led Customs Union, the United Nations, and the African Union all (although claiming otherwise) clearly infringe on the sovereignty of nations. Maybe those organizations encourage globalism and unity, but nationalism ceases to be the guiding spirit of all political agendas. It is astonishing that the minute and infinitismal sense of nationalism is starting to grow back. In Switzerland, the country's legislature  started to limit Immigration. The European Union has open borders where any citizen from a European country can go country to country with ease. This recent bill limits Switzerland's ease of access to get within its borders. Basically, the Swiss government does not want other European citizens, particularly Muslims, to easily cross and stay within its borders. This is not a particulary progressive nationalist spirit. It is simply biggotry and racism. What modern country bases its political agenda on religion and ethnicity? That is correct, most countries. The United States, Russia, China, England, France, amd all other major superpowers are the most racist nations of them all. Hopefully, mankind will not continue on this unfortunate path that does not move towards a good and hopeful future but returns us to the hate of the past. These issues cannot be solved, but will always have ways to lessen the degree.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/swiss-vote-to-limit-foreign-workers-captures-growing-european-fears-about-immigration/2014/02/10/e0dfd354-9254-11e3-b3f7-f5107432ca45_story.html

The Movie vs. The Book

The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio fell short of my expectations. The movie itself was based on a novel that did not meet my expectations. The novel's story line is considered a classic among American modern literature. This fact is hard to accept. Plots like the Great Gatsby's are ridiculous and too hard to believe to be real. But, when critiquing the movie I distance myself from the fact. This movie's biggest success is the soundtrack. Jay-Z's lyrics, Florence's melodies, Lana Del Ray's wonderful voice, and the depth and etiquette of the Brian Ferry Orchestra are completely revolutionizing in the music industry. The cast was somewhat powerful and yet weak simultaneously. Leonardo DiCaprio completely captured the essence of Jay Gatsby. Carraway's character became the focus of the movie, but the book did a good job of balancing the attention between Gatsby and Nick. Daisy's character was not played well. Mulligan did not quite capture the essence of Daisy, but changed the character completely. The use of the pathetic fallacies came to light, but were underplayed and subtle. This movie was boring and dull, and was a mix of successes and failures. The cast and crew tried their best, but their best was not good enough.

Legalizing Marijuana

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/09/marijuana_n_4756468.html

The legalization of marijuana in regards to medicinal use and recreational use is a very wide and controversial debate. Many American citizens advocate for full recreational use. The relaxing and feel-good effects of marijuana are felt by thirty three percent of all teenagers. President Barack Hussein Obama along with other prominent celebrities, politicians, and mainly musicians have expressed their positive views about recreational marijuana use. Today, out of all fifty states only two have legalized marijuana use for recreational purposes. Marijuana use has clearly become more of an accepted part of American culture. Most research on Marijuana, no matter what side it supports, has been questioned. Whether Marijuana has been beneficial to one's health is questionable. This article by the Huffington Post argues that twelve more states will most probably allow Marijuana to be used for recreational purposes. Among these states is the home-state of the author of this blog post- California. California is known for a high concentration of marijuana inside its borders. Many, many individuals feel marijuana dumbs down the already uneducated and not so bright population of the United States, particularly the youth. Others claim that marijuana use has more positive effects, especially in regards to medicinal and relaxing methods. Whatever the case may be, as this article reminds, marijuana use is becoming a bigger part of American culture and will medicinal use and recreational use will continue to be more allowed.

Super Bowl of Human Trafficing

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/opinion/the-super-bowl-of-sex-trafficking.html?_r=0

Human sex trafficking is a sad, sad truth, the unfortunate reality that humans living in this society must face. Innocent, naive young women and sometimes men as young as ten years old get forced into prostitution. Human trafficking is clearly one of the saddest occurrences that happen on a daily basis throughout the world. According to news sources like Reuters and CNN, the biggest and highest rate of human trafficking occurs at events like the Superbowl, the World Cup, and major sporting events. This theory makes sense. High masses of partly drunk crowds all too focused on statistics and numbers to pay attention to their physical well being. There is a high chance of being lost, and better yet not being tracked among the thousands who go to these much anticipated events. This article by The New York Times brings up the fact that there is no statistical evidence to support these claims. The Global Alliance Against Traffic for Women report that there is no statistical rise in human trafficking numbers to show a significant and conclusive piece of evidence to support this theory. The data is not there, but being forced into prostitution especially after that Seattle win is something no one can imagine can happen...Yet it does.