What is more important-- that blinking text on your phone, or the immediacy of the road in front of you? Unfortunately, the obvious right answer is not the one that many of us choose.
The answer is 'It can wait'. It being that text that takes your attention from the road. And so begins Iowa's campaign to raise awareness about texting while driving.
Iowa has joined the some other 28 states that are now enacting some type of ban on texting. Today is the first day of this law going into effect. However, according to those most invested in this law, the actual law is not really the concern. It is the people. Read: you!
In an associated press article in Bloomberg Businessweek, the Department of Public Safety Director said, "This new law is not about writing tickets, it is about saving lives. While law enforcement will enforce the new law, the focus is on changing behavior."
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The Fence
What can shift us? What can be the 'straw' on the proverbial (and rather abused) camel's back?
We all can think of a moment, or a person, or decision that has rapidly veered us from taking one path in life to taking the other.
The Butterfly Effect- a well-known cliche (or a bad Ashton Kutcher movie)-- do you buy it? Can a three hour conversation, one choice-- have everlasting repercussions? Not to wax poetic on existentialism, but ...
If you are sitting on the fence, what is most likely to affect you? Words? Your own decisions? The decisions of others?
We all can think of a moment, or a person, or decision that has rapidly veered us from taking one path in life to taking the other.
The Butterfly Effect- a well-known cliche (or a bad Ashton Kutcher movie)-- do you buy it? Can a three hour conversation, one choice-- have everlasting repercussions? Not to wax poetic on existentialism, but ...
If you are sitting on the fence, what is most likely to affect you? Words? Your own decisions? The decisions of others?
Foreign Concept: Relaxation
How do you relax?
I know this word may seem unfamiliar to you, but it is incredibly important. According to Mayo Clinic, stress is actually normal. It is an alarm system that can protect you and prepare you for fight-or-flight in a dangerous environment. However, if the alarm system does not 'turn off' than stress can lead to serious physical health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, ulcers, weight gain or loss. That is why this foreign word is so important: Relax.
Let's peek into the minds of our group once more, and check out how they tackle this strange, strange concept: How do you relax?
Nicole: Listen to music, go for a run or walk or sleep.
Neal: Exercise is the main thing. More competitive sports like raquetball where you can take out frustration. Sometimes just talking to someone, someone to listen. Also I heard of someone cleaning when they are stressed.
Katie: I clean when I am stressed. I also take long walks, or make to-do lists that get all of the ideas out of my mind and onto paper.
So there you have it! I urge you to take this simple and quick stress assessment. Answer the questions honestly, and find your own way to take off the pressure. If you need some ideas, check out the post to come for more relaxation techniques.
I know this word may seem unfamiliar to you, but it is incredibly important. According to Mayo Clinic, stress is actually normal. It is an alarm system that can protect you and prepare you for fight-or-flight in a dangerous environment. However, if the alarm system does not 'turn off' than stress can lead to serious physical health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, ulcers, weight gain or loss. That is why this foreign word is so important: Relax.
Let's peek into the minds of our group once more, and check out how they tackle this strange, strange concept: How do you relax?
Nicole: Listen to music, go for a run or walk or sleep.
Neal: Exercise is the main thing. More competitive sports like raquetball where you can take out frustration. Sometimes just talking to someone, someone to listen. Also I heard of someone cleaning when they are stressed.
Katie: I clean when I am stressed. I also take long walks, or make to-do lists that get all of the ideas out of my mind and onto paper.
So there you have it! I urge you to take this simple and quick stress assessment. Answer the questions honestly, and find your own way to take off the pressure. If you need some ideas, check out the post to come for more relaxation techniques.
A full plate: Contending that 'lazy' is simply 'crazy'
College is super easy, right? It's not like we have life decisions to make, 18 credits of classes to take a semester, a job, family, social life (or lack there-of) to think of ...
Psych!
Of course we do. And amidst the craziness that our very privileged age group gets to deal with, we must decide what is important. Or more important.
Are we really just lazy? Or is it that we have so much on our 'plate' that we have a hard time allotting value.
Family> Friends> School?
Biochemistry>English>Extracurriculars?
Facebook>School>Job?
How do you prioritize your life? And where does 'self' come in?
Psych!
Of course we do. And amidst the craziness that our very privileged age group gets to deal with, we must decide what is important. Or more important.
Are we really just lazy? Or is it that we have so much on our 'plate' that we have a hard time allotting value.
Family> Friends> School?
Biochemistry>English>Extracurriculars?
Facebook>School>Job?
How do you prioritize your life? And where does 'self' come in?
Under Pressure
Pressure- exams, papers, meeting new people, obtaining loans, building a resume, dealing with choices that will affect one for a lifetime. Pressure (literally and figuratively) is all around us. And how we deal with stress and pressure can sometimes define our lives.
There are multiple ways of dealing with stress. Option one - avoiding pressure- by setting up a schedule, setting priorities, and not procrastinating. But for most college students, this is an option that is unattainable due to our deep desire to be lazy.
That leaves us with the other option- coping with our stress. How we choose to cope with our stress can impact our health and our future. We can let the situation control us, and run away from the problems by smoking, zoning out for hours in front of the TV, over-eating, or drinking to excess. Or we can control the situation and go work out, savor a warm cup of coffee or tea, or listen to music.
Prioritizing expenses
Everything is expensive. But, it is really interesting how we prioritize our expenses.
For example, I am ridiculously proud of the fact that I have changed from a 'Grande mocha, skim milk, whipped cream' on a shameful twice a day basis ($3.55 a pop) to 'Grande cafe au lait, skim milk and honey' ($2.20 a pop) on a twice a week basis.
Despite my willingness to dole out the cash for coffee, I will not buy new shoes unless absolutely necessary, and I am still carting around the same tattered $14 bag from Borders.
Similarly, I have watched people pay 6 or 7 dollars a drink (times 3... 4... 5... 9?) at the club and not be willing to split a cab at 5 dollars a person. Or, spend $150 to $200 dollars on textbooks, but then skip every class.
What are priorities based on when it comes to your wallet? I heard someone say once that the way we spend our money shows where our hearts are at-- Do you think this is true? How do you prioritize your expenses? How do you determine what is important to you? Is it based on risk, habit, necessity? Discuss!
For example, I am ridiculously proud of the fact that I have changed from a 'Grande mocha, skim milk, whipped cream' on a shameful twice a day basis ($3.55 a pop) to 'Grande cafe au lait, skim milk and honey' ($2.20 a pop) on a twice a week basis.
Despite my willingness to dole out the cash for coffee, I will not buy new shoes unless absolutely necessary, and I am still carting around the same tattered $14 bag from Borders.
Similarly, I have watched people pay 6 or 7 dollars a drink (times 3... 4... 5... 9?) at the club and not be willing to split a cab at 5 dollars a person. Or, spend $150 to $200 dollars on textbooks, but then skip every class.
What are priorities based on when it comes to your wallet? I heard someone say once that the way we spend our money shows where our hearts are at-- Do you think this is true? How do you prioritize your expenses? How do you determine what is important to you? Is it based on risk, habit, necessity? Discuss!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
So how can we relate these Quickfire Queries?
The actions we take in everyday life have a big influence on our individual worldviews. As we previously discussed, the talents we dream of, what makes us happy, stores we would like to open, and our experiences in consumer environments help us to think about how we see the world.
Once we discover the common and diverse views of our generation, it will give us a better understanding of how others think. This will allow us to reach out to the audience in the most effective ways possible. However, in order to keep up with the changes around us we need to be in constant search for understanding.
"The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding" - Leonardo da Vinci
Once we discover the common and diverse views of our generation, it will give us a better understanding of how others think. This will allow us to reach out to the audience in the most effective ways possible. However, in order to keep up with the changes around us we need to be in constant search for understanding.
"The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding" - Leonardo da Vinci
Quickfire Query 3
For most, what do you think is a preferable consumer environment?
Katie: When someone asks to help but then lets the customer shop. Places that have volunteer workers are the best, they're there because they care.
Neal: An environment where the customer can ask for help if they need it and aren't bothered by a million questions from associates.
Nicole: A friendly environment where service people are not pushy. A place where associates are not discussing irrelevant issues and actually pay attention to the customer.
Innocent Bystander: Somewhere that has something new and different.
Katie: When someone asks to help but then lets the customer shop. Places that have volunteer workers are the best, they're there because they care.
Neal: An environment where the customer can ask for help if they need it and aren't bothered by a million questions from associates.
Nicole: A friendly environment where service people are not pushy. A place where associates are not discussing irrelevant issues and actually pay attention to the customer.
Innocent Bystander: Somewhere that has something new and different.
Quickfire Query 2
What are 5 things you think someone in our generation would want out of life if they could only pick 5 to make them happy?
Innocent Bystander Sucked into Our Discussion:
1) Good Health.
2) Community.
3) Mobility.
4) Being able to understand or interpret the world around them.
5) Purpose.
Neal:
1) Intelligence.
2) Company-- someone to spend the time with.
3) Challenges- they make your life interesting and exciting, they keep it from being dull.
4) The ability to teach, to pass down what you know.
5) The ability to make your own choices.
Nicole:
1) Friends and family.
2) Love and happiness.
3) A job that they enjoy.
4) The ability to travel.
5) A place to call their own, like a garden.
Katie:
1) Travel the world, to see and experience and taste culture.
2) Knowing people, and being truly known. Loving people, and being truly loved.
3) To live surrounded by and in a place that inspires them.
4) A chance to create.
5) To heal in some way damages that have been done.
Innocent Bystander Sucked into Our Discussion:
1) Good Health.
2) Community.
3) Mobility.
4) Being able to understand or interpret the world around them.
5) Purpose.
Neal:
1) Intelligence.
2) Company-- someone to spend the time with.
3) Challenges- they make your life interesting and exciting, they keep it from being dull.
4) The ability to teach, to pass down what you know.
5) The ability to make your own choices.
Nicole:
1) Friends and family.
2) Love and happiness.
3) A job that they enjoy.
4) The ability to travel.
5) A place to call their own, like a garden.
Katie:
1) Travel the world, to see and experience and taste culture.
2) Knowing people, and being truly known. Loving people, and being truly loved.
3) To live surrounded by and in a place that inspires them.
4) A chance to create.
5) To heal in some way damages that have been done.
Quickfire Query
If you could open any type of store in the world, what would it be?
Nicole- travel agency and scrap-booking store
Katie- charity/coffee cafe.
Neal- habachi grill and sushi bar
Innocent bystander- specialty sweater store
If you could learn one talent, what would it be?
Nicole- become a poly linguist
Katie- become the medical MacGyver
Neal- to learn how to play the violin
Nicole- travel agency and scrap-booking store
Katie- charity/coffee cafe.
Neal- habachi grill and sushi bar
Innocent bystander- specialty sweater store
If you could learn one talent, what would it be?
Nicole- become a poly linguist
Katie- become the medical MacGyver
Neal- to learn how to play the violin
Quickfire Queries
As you can see, our little group has bonded over moonlit nights, hot cocoa, and singing to each other. Psych!
Okay, so maybe we bonded over discussions on empathy, 'The Smackdown,' and the realization that life is fragile.
However. There is always more to learn, isn't there? And the more we learn, the more we will be open and willing to discuss. The more we are willing to discuss, the more ideas and then . . .
Ideas-> Action-> Change!
(Or. We will just become frightened by the knowledge . . . Pandora's Box?)
On that lovely note: Quick Fire Questions Begin
Okay, so maybe we bonded over discussions on empathy, 'The Smackdown,' and the realization that life is fragile.
However. There is always more to learn, isn't there? And the more we learn, the more we will be open and willing to discuss. The more we are willing to discuss, the more ideas and then . . .
Ideas-> Action-> Change!
(Or. We will just become frightened by the knowledge . . . Pandora's Box?)
On that lovely note: Quick Fire Questions Begin
Round 3: Round-up
Equations- they help us understand the world around us or simplify concepts. In this case, we used them to help spread our message. In our next session, quickfire queries, we will discussing what moves us- our drives, interests and passions.
Round 3: E=MC2
E= MC2
See, you just THINK that this is the brilliant equation by a one Mr. Albert Einstein (you may have heard of him?)
However, you are quite mistaken.
Instead, this is the basis of the final Smackdown equation in my arsenal. It is the most epic, the most life-shatteringly simple but elegant formula you will ever see.
Everyone is safe= Making Choices 2 protect
See, you just THINK that this is the brilliant equation by a one Mr. Albert Einstein (you may have heard of him?)
However, you are quite mistaken.
Instead, this is the basis of the final Smackdown equation in my arsenal. It is the most epic, the most life-shatteringly simple but elegant formula you will ever see.
Everyone is safe= Making Choices 2 protect
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Round 2: Vote on Results
Getting closer to the gold!
“Gold medals aren't really made of gold. They're made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.”- Dan Gable
Personally, I think the results will top anything ever seen in the boxing world . . .
Stay tuned, it's about to get intense.
“Gold medals aren't really made of gold. They're made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.”- Dan Gable
Personally, I think the results will top anything ever seen in the boxing world . . .
Stay tuned, it's about to get intense.
Round 2: An Ode to Rap
When you're on the road
there's a certain code,
you must follow
so you will not wallow--
in regrets
from taking bets,
with your life
we don't want no strife.
So I'm here to say
in your car today,
you should pay attention
so there will be no tension.
Your morals will be glad
when you get back to your pad
all in one shape
and your car isn't surrounded by yellow tape.
So please listen to me
to have a life filled with glee.
Make good choices,
so another day you will see!
there's a certain code,
you must follow
so you will not wallow--
in regrets
from taking bets,
with your life
we don't want no strife.
So I'm here to say
in your car today,
you should pay attention
so there will be no tension.
Your morals will be glad
when you get back to your pad
all in one shape
and your car isn't surrounded by yellow tape.
So please listen to me
to have a life filled with glee.
Make good choices,
so another day you will see!
Round 2: Do you have the power?
Can you...
Drive the drive,
Ride the ride,
and
Walk the walk?
All while trying not to talk,
or look at the sidewalk chalk?
Whether you are driving, riding, or walking, distractions can happen. How can you prevent them?
Walk the walk?
All while trying not to talk,
or look at the sidewalk chalk?
Whether you are driving, riding, or walking, distractions can happen. How can you prevent them?
Round 1: Vote on Results
Okay guys, Round 1 of the Smackdown Challenge has gone down... What do you think? Which equation is the ultimate safety ?
But wait . . . there is more! Best out of three?
May the victor be victorious!
But wait . . . there is more! Best out of three?
May the victor be victorious!
Round 1: Ultimate Equation for Driving Safety
Safety belts
+
Attention
-
Texting
-
Alcohol (and other substances)
-
Messy Food
-
Loud Music
-
Creatures in the Road
= A Safe Driving Experience!
Choose this equation, and there is the potential of the following:
- Keep yourself and buddies safe.
- Avoid fines.
- Avoid breaking the law.
- Avoid angry parents/ loved ones.
- Invest in your future!
- It is a 'win-win' to drive safely.
*For photo credits, click on word portion of equations
SMACKDOWN
Nicole, Neal, and I are going to have an epic smackdown of equations.
(To be read in a macho voice:)
Which components added together make up the best traffic safety formula?
Which equation will be the most epic of them all?
Let the games begin!
(To be read in a macho voice:)
Which components added together make up the best traffic safety formula?
Which equation will be the most epic of them all?
Let the games begin!
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