The Internet

The Internet has become a very highly used form of communication, information and more. As a globally used resource, it can be used by almost anyone; the Internet is a great resource, but is it overused by some people? How much time do we really spend on the Internet? And how is it used?




Canadians are some of the highest users of the Internet in the whole world! Canada, India and the United States are some of the top users of the Internet. Although Canada is much smaller in population compared to some other countries, Canadians still log an average of almost 44 hours a month as of a survey from 2010- a lot more than any other country of the same population!















Believe it or not:

• Canada dominates the use of many popular sites: we rank first for the frequency of use of online banking, Wikipedia, and YouTube





• British Columbia accounts for 13% of Canada's online population, Ontario at 38% and Quebec at 24%
  
  




• Two-thirds of the world's Internet population visit social networking or blogging sites, almost 10% of all the Internet time, according to a new report





• 99% of the Canadian youth report that they have used the Internet a some point
  




• Almost 8 in 10 youth say they have Internet access at home
  

The Internet is used for social, educational, business purposes,etc. Many of the networks have several purposes; Facebook is one of them. It is used by businesses and companies as a way of being well connected to the community or area that is serves. It also helps people to connect and reconnect with people as much as possible.


Internet may be a somewhat newer resource, but users range in age from youth to seniors. As everything becomes more and more based on technology, people rely on the Internet for many of their services, work and even as just a way to use/take up time. The fact that movies, music, the news and more can be viewed on the Internet, means that more people are just using the Internet and not making much use of the radio, television, magazines or reading newspapers as much.

How much time do you spend on the internet? Do you spend hours on Faecbook and YouTube while doing homework every night? Is the amount of time you spend on the internet more or less than the average Canadian?

Food for thought as you spend time searching the web!

Advertising in Sports

After the game at one of the press conferences that are normally held, something odd occurred.

One of the workers was doing a sound check and a set up of the desk with the championship on it, as well as an Adidas Mavericks hat that said "champions" on it. He was out there to move the hat into "perfect position" for the camera. He was at that task for a good 2 minutes at least, with the camera on, shifting a hat from one spot to another, as well as changing the angle that the hat was facing.

Now, I understand that there are a ridiculous amount of sponsors in sports like Gatorade, Nike, Adidas etc, but I am getting annoyed more and more by the fact that we need to see that logo of a product. A cup is always conveniently placed facing the camera, for all our eyes to behold.

I also understand that these companies are sponsors for a reason, and that in the contracts they sign with the NBA, it's written in their to advertise that way. I'm personally not a fan of this, and believe that these companies wouldn't have a problem selling their products if the logo wasn't in my face 24/7.

Who's message is it anyway?

Have you ever felt like a walking billboard?

You might be thinking, "um... what?"

Have you ever noticed how many advertisements surround you on a daily basis? Take a moment to look up from your computer screen, look around the room, are you

at home in your room with posters on the walls, at school with your bag on your desk and you're staring out the window or even just look down at your t-shirt.

Is there a logo or symbol of some sort?

I bet there is.

We no longer seem to care if we are being used by a company to sell their product for them. How often do you look around on your way through the halls at school and notice a brand name sprawled across someone's chest?

Which one's do you notice the most?

Do they look different...

Or the same?

The part that is really amazing is how often products are the same, the only difference is the brand name, whether it is aero postale, abercromie or holister people go out of their way to purchase clothes that look the same as the next the clothes at the next store over.

It is as if people are settling for a brand name instead of choosing to create a personal style. It is everywhere, on your t-shirts, on your jeans, even on your bags. Have you noticed your shopping bags lately, the new reusable bags with large spread logos as an upgrade from a regular plastic bag with the logo in giant letters. It is even on your pants, mainly women's pants with giant labels across the booty of the pants because companies have determined the back side as the most noticed part of the female body, only when you are walking behind them of course. Once you see them from the front the strategy changes to focus on the chest of a person. Does this demonstrate a positive outlook on our bodies? That you only get attention for a few reasons one being what brand you wear and two for what you allow others to see. That isn't a positive image for anyone.

Even the messages on clothing can be taken to the extreme

What does this tell you?

That you're a cool kid when you spend a Friday night at home with a cup of tea and a good book or that you should be out drinking until you can't think straight. Which option sounds more appealing and exciting.

Now think it over a second time, which one will you regret the following day and which will you remember. If you hadn't thought about it a second time, what would you take away from this t-shirt.

Are they all the same answer, for some it might be and for others it may change.

Think about this, is it right for us to be wearing someone else's message; is that any different from putting on a mask.

You be the judge, but judge carefully.

The Gibson Class

A Gibson guitar is what many think of when one asks about the peak of guitar manufacturing. However, at ranging at $1000-$15000 grand a piece, one would ask if they're truly worth it. An Epiphone Les Paul Standard is anywhere from $400 to $600, about 10-15% of the cost of its Gibson counterpart, at $4,000. They are made by the same company, have the same inner cavities and same hardware, excusing the pickups. Epihpone pickups are $50 ea. Gibson pickups are $100 each. Somehow, I don't see how that becomes the criteria for a $3500 price hike.

The price creates a certain social class; if you are to own a prestigious instrument like a gibson you are to have mastered your instrument. The prices are increased further, because people will pay with their first born in order to become a part of that class. And as the price hikes, the exclusivity increases, making the class of higher and higher stature. One gibson guitar, named The Citation, has one pickup, and one volume knob. (most electric guitars have atleast two pickups, volume knobs, and tone knobs for each. This guitar, is literally the bare minimum of guitar manufacturing and versatility. While you would expect a guitar of this type be priced less than $300, this guitar prices in at $30,000. 300 year old Stradivari violins don't cost that much. This is little more than a polished garbage pile. This guitar is the epitome of materialism-based class structure, a piece of pretty wood that was so expensive that you're too scared to ever use it, only for the most 'elite' of collectors.

Teen Targets

Teens have been used as targets for many different produces from make-up to clothes, face wash to school supplies... Trying to bribe us with promises of love, happiness, confidence, beauty and popularity. Using these techniques to lure in teen buyers is bad enough, but when manufacturers deliberately use them on a product that has proven to cause harm or death, potentially shorten or take away the live of innocent teenagers, that’s criminal! Introducing the cigarette manufacturers.

Cigarette manufactures have been researching the fads and trends of today’s teens and using this information against us. Selling a product that could potentially shorten innocent lives; now thats just outrageous! They are using many different techniques to lure teenagers into buying their products that have a slim, glamourous and intriguing packing. They do whatever they can to appeal to the teenaged market.

Some cigarette companies add menthol to their cigarettes which decreases the smell on their clothing and breath, making it easier for teens to smoke without their parents getting suspicious. Unfortunately, adding menthol to tobacco causes the nicotine to get to the brain faster increasing the addictive potential of a cigarette. (The faster nicotine binds to the nicotine receptors in the brain, and releases dopamine, a hormone that makes you feel pleasure and satisfaction, the higher the potential for addiction.) Their manufacturing techniques make it easier for teens to cover their acts of smoking cigarettes.

Not only have they hidden the smell of cigarettes, they have also camouflaged the packaging.

Is it just coincidence that this package looks like and i-pod? Giving teens confidence that they can successfully hide their smoking will increase teen buyers. They have also made cigarette cases in the shape of mascara containers, chocolate bars, a deck of cards and designer Louis Vuitton clutches to help teens conceal their cigarettes from their parents and guardians. Pretty ingenious on their part!

Where as a regular pack of cigarettes contains 20 cigarettes for around $10, cigarette companies have created mini pack of 4 or 5 cigarettes. I suspect the reason for this is two - fold, again to target teens. Firstly, the small packaging is easy for teens to conceal and contains the perfect amount of cigarettes if they are only planning to smoke at a party or on the weekend with their friends. Secondly, the small packages are a low, affordable price of $3.00, which just happens to be the same price of a bag of chips and a can of pop. These people have thought of everything! Luckily, the government has rallied to stop advertising on the radio, television and magazines in Canada. It is also suing the British Tobacco Company for the health care costs due to the harmful effects of smoking.

Not only have they made cigarettes affordable, accessible and easy to hide from their parents, they have also made them more interesting, tasty and enjoyable by adding crazy flavours. Making the cigarettes have yummy and fun flavours like strawberry, bubblegum, chocolate, peanut butter and jelly, tropical passion and mint would make the smoke more pleasing to us teens instead of just the nauseating taste of cigarettes. They say they are not targeting teens, but when we look at how they have added the above elements into their products it makes that statement laughable. Of course they are targeting teenagers, they have thought of absolutely everything to reel us in!

Unfortunately, nicotine is the most addictive substance on the market. More addictive than marijuana, cocaine, and alcohol. Starting to smoke cigarettes before the age of 18 predicts a higher rate of addiction in the future. Since these ads are targeting teens, they will get them started young causing them a lifetime of negative health effects in the future, including cancers, lung disease (COPD), and heart disease.Trying to seduce you into buying a product that will harm you in the end is murder! Doing this to children is infanticide!