Clean Cut Media » Media

Bad Idea: eReading while Driving [Infographic]

cleancutmedia — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:03:27 +0000

Do you own a smartphone? A tablet? A eReader?
When do you usually use it? While in Bed? While Driving? While on the Toilet?

11% of eReader owners claim they use it while driving. 20% of tablet owners.

Nielsen came out with some research on how and when people use their mobile devices, from smartphones to tablets. Some of the findings are not surprising, but it’s interesting nonetheless. They surveyed nearly 12,000 mobile device owners. Take a look below at the infographic.

Mobile Web Usage Infographic

Original Mobile Web Usage Chart from Nielson

Mobile Web Usage – Quick Hit Statistics

While Watching TV: 70% of Tablet & 68% of Smartphone Owners
Have you ever wondered why the math never seem to add up on these statistical studies on media usage? How can children consume 7.5 hours of media day? 7.5 hours really? Adults consume 2-3 Hours a day online, 3 hours a day on TV, exposed to hour of TV ads. Don’t even get me started on time spend on Youtube, Facebook among other social sites. How does everyone have so much time!? I barely have time to go running (ok so it might be a motivation factor too).

The Answer? Apparently because people are consuming it all at once! 70% watch TV while playing on their tablet. I personally never do such a thing! Mainly because I don’t own a tablet… donations welcome, research purposes of course.

While Lying in Bed: 57% of Tablet, 51% Smartphone, 61% eReader

This seems very reasonable. Reading a ebook in bed perhaps, or in my case, listening to an audiobook in bed until i fall asleep. What is the latest book you are reading? Do you read in bed as well? Seems realistic and understandable… at least way more than…

While Driving: 20% Tablet, 47% Smartphone, 11% eReader!

This is a seriously disturbing statistics. 11% of eReader owners, read their eReader WHILE driving? A free life tip: if you see someone reading a eReader while driving, I suggest you immediately drive away from them. Texting and Driving is bad enough (16% of all fatal crashes are due to texting and driving), but eReaders?!

“Oh I’ll never get into an accident doing this. It’ll never happen to me.” Stop and think. Did any of those people who crashed, perhaps died due to texting think they would do so? I bet NONE of them did, yet it happened.

While in the Bathroom: 25% Tablet, 28% Smartphone, 17% eReader

No Comment. I am never touching other people’s smartphones, tablets or eReaders again. Get that thing away from me.

So where do you use your mobile devices the most?
Confession Time?

Little Poll for the Weak. Comment for the Strong. Both for the Awesome.
Vote, Comment, Come back in a few days to see the poll numbers.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Emailing in Bed, when Sick & on Vacation

Best April Fools Day Jokes Online

cleancutmedia — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:00:16 +0000

Best April Fools Day Jokes Online

It’s that time of the year again. April Fools Day. More and more, you can’t believe a single thing you read on the web. I love it. Last year we summarized the Best April Fools Jokes in History. The year before we actually posted a fake april fools post. This year we’ll just be adding a few more recent online april fool jokes of note. We only included the latest. See last year’s post to see a fuller list. Enjoy!

Starbucks Plenta and Micra Sizes

“Whether customers are looking for a large or small size, the Plenta and the Micra satisfy all U.S. and Canada customers’ needs for more and less coffee,” said Hugh Mungis, Starbucks VP of Volume. “Our size selection is now plentiful.”

Starbucks last year announced that in response to consumer requests for more sizes, that they would add two additional sizes. The Micra at 2 ounces and the Plenta at 128 ounces. The Plenta looks pretty much like a KFC Bucket. Awesome. This came after the announcement of the new size Trenta at 32 ounces which help give a bit of legitimacy. Check out the hilarious sizes below. April Fools!

Give me my KFC Bucket Latte

Google Chrome – Browse the Web with Sound

Now You can Experience the Sounds of the Web

Surfing the web when bored? Bored of surfing the web? Google Chrome last year differentiated itself by offering the latest plugin to add SOUNDS to your web browsing experience. It provides audio feedback depending on what you do and what you browse. April Fools!

The hilarious part is that the sounds are ridiculous and often really annoying. You can still find it here: Google Chrome Sounds – Try it out, let us know in comments what you think!

Google Translate for Animals

You think Google Translate is awesome? Did you know Google had come up with Google Translate for Animals?

This application recognizes and transcribes the voices of animals for most common species. Best part is all the fun videos. Below is an intro, and one of the fun additional videos. Enjoy. The actor in the second one is hilarious. April Fools!

Videonuze – In Unprecedented Deal, Google and Apple Team Up to Privatize the FCC

Videonuze came out with a hilarious post that Google and Apple has bought out the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). The FCC is the government agency that usually governs the media & broadband business sectors. It also helps controls the rules and regulation of business transactions. Here is an excerpt below. Funny piece. April Fools!

VideoNuze has learned that Google and Apple have teamed up to privatize the FCC in a transaction preliminarily valued at $42.5 billion. Though the U.S. government is already widely believed to be controlled by corporate interests, this is the first time that a formal deal to transfer ownership of a government agency has been contemplated. The deal has far-ranging implications for the media and technology industries, not to mention for American democracy. VideoNuze has gained exclusive access to the details.

…In a follow-up interview, Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs added further detail, “I was sitting in my office micro-managing the legal weenies on this HTC lawsuit aimed at gumming up the Nexus One’s rollout when my iPhone rings with Eric’s caller ID. Ordinarily I wouldn’t even answer that back-stabbing, lying sack of you-know-what’s call but I wanted to rub his nose in our big legal plans. So I nonchalantly answer the phone, ‘What’s up dirtbag, looking for some more of Apple’s product ideas to steal?’ And he’s like, ‘yeah, whatever, look, here’s why I’m calling.’ And then he proceeds to tell me about this cockamamie scheme that he and those two Doogie Howser co-founder dorks of his have come up with, to privatize the FCC.”

Full April Fools Article

Google – Official Australian Google Maps Version

Google announced the Australian Google Maps will not be customized to Australian speak. See the hilarious changes below. Yea it was April Fools.

Directions
“Chucka U-ey” – Execute a U-Turn
“Hang a Right” – Make a right turn
“Fang a Left” – Make a left turn
“Hit the frog and toad” – The road
“Hoof it” – Walk
“100 Clicks” – 100 kilometres
“Not within Cooee” – Not close by
“Down the road” – Unspecified term indicating distance

Driving Styles
“Hit the anchors” – Brake, now
“Flat chat” – Going very fast
“Hoon” – Fast, irresponsible driver
“Bingle” – Car accident (not Lara)
“Bogged” – Stuck
“All over the shop” – Veering across lanes
“Rough as guts” – Car needs a tune
“Bag em up” – Smoke the tires
“Drive like my Grandma” – Going too slow
“Amber Gambler” – Runs orange lights
“Sunday Driver” – Poor driver.

Try this on Your iPad...

The iPad Fit Series

Not all that funny, but the picture is hilarious so just for kicks.
Try this at home. (if you weight 30 pounds).

Google Gmail Motion by Google

A bonus April Fool’s Joke from this year! Since lot of people are enjoying this newest one from Google, check it out below. If you are confused whether this is real or not, no worries, Google did notoriously come out with Gmail on… you guessed it April Fools Day. I think Gmail still exists today…

Try out these various moves! It work's!

Want to see More April Fools Jokes?

Check out last year’s Best April Fool in History Post
The year before that we had our own April Fools Post Here.

What are some other good April Fools Jokes you know?
What is the best Aprils Fools Joke you’ve seen or done?
Which one is your favorite?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

‘The Adjustment Bureau’ – Fate vs. Free Will

cleancutmedia — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 01:30:16 +0000

Have you seen the Adjustment Bureau?

The Adjustment Bureau is a science-fiction, romance hybrid film featuring Matt Damon as David Norris, an aspiring politician aiming for the senator seat of New York who meets a mysterious ballet dancer on the night of his defeat. This brief encounter was orchestrated by agents from the Adjustment Bureau, a Bureau that constantly controls the fate of people’s lives. These agents intervene to guide people in the path they are intended to follow. Unfortunately things don’t go as planned. Through this story, the film touches on the theme between free will and predestination.

Do we have have complete free will or are things predetermined?

First time director George Nolfi tackles this interesting topic of free will versus fate with this adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s short story “The Adjustment Bureau.” George Nolfi is best known as the screenwriter of “Oceans Twelve” and “The Bourne Ultimatum”. In an effort to promote discussion over this topic of free will (and of course promote the film), there has been heavy national outreach to colleges and Christian churches.

Director George Nolfi Speaks!

Below are excerpts from an interview with the director at “Big Hollywood.” It gives us a nice window into this theme of free will versus predestination through the eyes of the director:

BIG HOLLYWOOD: How were you drawn to this subject matter? Were you just a fan of Philip K. Dick, or was there a spiritual element?

GEORGE NOLFI: I’ve long been fascinated with the question of how much we control our own destiny or how much we’re controlled by larger forces. When I think of that question it’s not explicitly theological, though I think that’s one of the answers. I studied philosophy in grad school and it intertwines with theology. Is it social forces, like what family you’re born into, or God’s plan for you that shapes your life most? We’re set on a path by something much bigger than ourselves, and yet we also know we have choices and that they matter.

BH: Are you spiritual or religious yourself, and if so, how did that tie into the project, and if not, how did you find a grasp on this and did you realize this would resonate with Christian audiences in addition to secular ones?

GN: I’ve not talked about my personal views because of this reason: I want the movie to be viewed by people whether religious or not or whatever religion they are. I want them to engage with the central question bringing their faith and views and grappling to the table. So when they leave, the question of how much of your life is handled by outside forces and how much by you is key, and that has been around since the ancient Greeks. I just want to have people have a great time at the movies in a romantic thriller with a sci-fi tinge to it all, leaving with their own questions brought to the table.

As a kid I’ve been interested in this issue. I studied it in college and graduate school, and studied various ways people grapple with that. My own family background dealt with it as well. I was also fascinated with the problem of evil in theology and if there’s a higher power that’s all powerful, benevolent and all knowing, then why do bad things happen to good people?

I think that for religious people period, but certainly Christian audiences, it is a part of their daily life to engage in discussions of why are we here. I don’t think that necessarily people who are completely secular deal with those issues, but I think it’s almost impossible to be a religious person without struggling with this issue. It’s ultimately a movie about a character going through character changes. It’s a thriller, a sci-fi tinged one, and hopefully you’re on that ride. But it does have these issues, and i thought it would have extra interest to those who struggle with it on a daily basis.

Free Will vs. Fate

Full disclosure here. I have not seen this movie. I don’t have any plans on seeing this movie. The science fiction aspect draws me, but the romance part does not. But I did want to note it here because I am curious what kind of impression people will walk away with.

For those of you who have seen the movie, what impression do you leave with?
Is the movie objective or do you walk out feeling one way or another?

Do you personally believe life is completely “free” or pre-determined?
If so, why? Do you believe just because you feel it’s true or do you have a good logical argument?

Social Networks Help or Hurt Social Interaction?

cleancutmedia — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 20:14:56 +0000

Impact of Social Media on Real Life Social Interaction

The impact of social media on actual live social interaction really cuts both ways. Yes it does open a venue in which people can hide behind their computer, interact through online personalities, and perhaps under-develop their social abilities. It’s so much easier to comment or like someone’s post or post up updates about your own life. But in the same time, it does open a venue in which friends can interact more often which in itself can lead them to hang out more in the real world and keep up with one another when you probably wouldn’t have done so in the real world to begin with. There are many arguments and reports that go both ways, and I am certain it’s not black and white as many arguments on both sides are valid.

Social Mythbusting Report

One such study was released by ExactTarget and CoTweet, which showed the large social networking sites are not having a negative effect on face-to-face relations. Note the claim is face-to-face relation, not necessarily negative effects in social ability or personal development or any other topics that are tempting to drag into the conversation.

The study consisted of studying a series of focus groups of 44 people as well as a survey of 1,506 US citizens. The research showed that among people who report they’re using Facebook more than before, 27% say they hang with friends in person more often as well. 13% say they hang out less. A full 60% said there is no significant impact whatsoever. The trend is even greater amongst Twitter users showing 46% say they hang out with friends more while 7% said less.

Issues with Social Media Report

Of course let’s keep a few things in mind before we just consume anything and everything media tells us. If we didn’t we wouldn’t be Clean Cut Media!

First, the CoTweet is a social media management tool, meaning it benefits from good press for social media. If Facebook came out with a report saying users of Facebook tends to have more friends and happier lives, you would take it with a grain of salt right? Same here. I am not questioning their validity of the data, but when you conduct experience but are hoping for a specific result – it can have an impact on the methods that are used to carry it out.

Secondly, the data was gathered from people who are using Facebook and Twitter more than before. Let’s say you love watching NFL football, and over time you watch it more and more because you are getting more invested in your favorite team. Let’s say a study was conducted to determine if you have become more violent because you watch more NFL. Let’s be honest with ourselves, most likely, we wouldn’t be inclined to agree to that. Why? Because we like the NFL. We want to do more of it. We don’t want something to say what we do is bad for us. This is a huge factor in the discussion over violence with video games. If you like playing violent games, you are less likely to agree violent games make it more likely that in a strenuous situation that you may resort to violence. Seems like the same argument can be made for social media. You love facebook? You’ve been using it more and more? Your mom questions that it’s making you a social fart, that your skin color is getting pale, and you are becoming more distant – you would argue that point. “I am more aware of what my friends are going through.” “This let’s me grow closer to them.” “It gives me stuff to talk about.” “It’s fun.”

What are your thoughts?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

This is obvious an interesting discussion. What are your thoughts on this matter?

Does Social Sites like Facebook, help or hurt social interaction?
In what ways?

Is Halloween Candy Poisoning & Blades True? Or is it Media Hype?

cleancutmedia — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:00:42 +0000

A Blade was Found in my Child’s Halloween Candy!

Everyone knows the story. Some kid found a blade in his snickers bar. Some other kid found a needle in his 3 musketeers. Now every mother and father is called to check all the candy a child receives before allowing them to eat it. Check for open packages. Check for sketchy pieces of candy. Your child’s life might depend on it!

Is it true? Was Candy Poisoned in Halloween?

Fact: During the poison candy scare in the 70s and 80s, almost every incident of blades, needles or poison in candy was found to be a hoax. A deliberate hoax by the child in question. Several experts have done extensive studies and reviews of past reports in order to determine this fact. In fact up until the year 2000, there hasn’t been a single proven incident where a child was injured by Halloween candy from a stranger.

So then what are the candy horror stories that were true?!

In 1970, a 5 year old boy in Detroit, fell into a coma after consuming his uncle’s heroin. The family tried to cover it up by claiming the heroin was in the Halloween Candy. FAIL.

In 1974, Timothy O’Bryan in Pasadena, Texas died after eating a cyanide-laced Pixy Stix. But further police investigation revealed that the boy’s Father, Ronald Clark O’Bryan had premeditated this murder in order to claim life insurance money. To hide his attempt, he had also given the Pixy Stix to his daughter and three other kids. Luckily the other kids did not eat the Pixy Stix. Ronald O’Bryan was convicted of murder and executed by lethal injection.

There is a pattern here. It was not by some psycho trying to poison kids for fun. These incidences that spurred the Halloween scare were more due to their family then some random candy bar. In fact Ronald O’Bryan used the urban legend to try to cover up his own crime. Yet it’s become an urban legend, but how?

Media Hype Creates an Urban Legend

Though these incidences were clearly either false, or family neglect, or a premeditated murder, the media ate these stories up. All throughout the 1980s, these stories were circulated and given considerable attention. News outlets pumped up these stories especially during the Halloween season because it grabs everyone’s attention especially the concerned parents. Often news would break before the claims are investigated and when found to be a hoax, it was rarely followed up.
Thus it is no surprise that there was a growing concern amongst the parents and this one sided coverage created a mass panic. By 1985, a poll by ABC News/Washington Post showed that 60% of parents feared their children would be injured or killed by Halloween Candy.

Samples of Hyped up False Alarms

There are many stories out there that added to the hype. Helen Pfeil of Greenlawn, NY was a housewife who was annoyed by trick or treaters, made up joke treats to give to teenagers. She gave out dog biscuits, steel wool pads, and ant poison buttons, meanwhile telling the kids that these were joke treats. She was charged for endangering children.

Another report found traces of strychnine in a box of sunkist fun fruit dinosaurs. It was reported by the New York Times, but later the suspicious powder was found to be corn starch. New York times would later print an update to the article, but not before the manufacturer of Fun Fruits destroyed 9400 cases of the product. Unfortunately most remember the destruction of the products, not the followup.

There were several other incidences where doctors or the police announced their suspicions about tampered candy creating a mass stir and hysteria as the media warned everyone about crazy poisoners on the loose, only later to be revealed that the cause of the illness or death was due to some other means.

Trying to Debunk the Halloween Candy Myth

Below is an excerpt from 1989 Article in the Los Angeles Times. The article interviews Joel Best, a professor of sociology at California State Univeristy, Fresno who have been trying to debunk this urban legend.

“We checked major newspaper from throughout the country from 1958 through 1988…”

Well, they found a total of 78 cases and two deaths. Further checking proved that lamost all of the 78 cases were pranks. The deaths were tragically real, but they, too, were misrepresented in the beginning.

The prank, he said, were all of kids – after years of hearing similar stories – inserting needles or razor blades into fruit, not realizing (or maybe realizing) how much they frightened their whole town.

“My favorite,” Best says, “was the kid who brought a half-eaten candy bar to his parents and said, ‘I think there’s ant poison on this,’ They had it checked and, sure enough, there was ant poison on this,’ They had checked and, sure enough, there was ant poison on it – significantly, on the end he had not bitten,” Of course, the youngster had applied the poison himself.

Best has tried mightily over the years to destroy this particular myth, but obviously to no avail. “It’s the old problem of trying to prove a negative,” he says.

Urban Legend – Halloween Candy Lives On

Unfortunately despite the lack of evidence and a very low likelihood of this ever happening, the Urban Legend lives on. Having said that, because of the Urban Legend, one can’t help wonder if some psycho out might be more likely to do it…

Just becareful.

Did You Know 92% of Toddlers Are Online!

cleancutmedia — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 21:00:33 +0000

92% of US Toddlers have Online Presence!

The Internet security firm AVG, recently released a study of 2,200 mothers across the revealed that 81% of children 2 years or younger have some form of online presence! How much has the internet grown that 4 out of 5 kids are online so early on in their life. Online presence could mean anything from an uploaded video of their child, some photos up on the web, or in some cases a full profile on a social networking site.

Some Quick Statistics:

81% of children have online presence before the age of two.
92% of US children
73% of European children

23% of have an online presence BEFORE THEY ARE BORN

Wait What? That is right. 23% of parents share images from their prenatal sonograms on the web. In the US, this jumps to 33% of parents. This means the children are on the web before they are born!

% of Children with Sonograms Online

37% in Canada
33% in US
14% in Western Europe
14% in Japan

I find it surprising Japan isn’t hire on this list considering how modern and progressive the country tends to me with technology.

What other things do babies have!

How about these statistics?

7% of babies & toddlers have an e-mail address
5% have their own profile on a social network

How spooky would it be when you try to open a facebook account only to discover you are already on the web. And your parents have been posting cute, embarrassing pictures of you since.. you were born?

Why Do Parents Do This?

70% – Wanted to share with friends a family (understandable)
22% – Wanted to expand the content on their social networking profiles (ok – I can see that)
18% – Merely mimicking their peers (some things don’t change with age)

Can’t You Remove Online Photos & Information Later?

Only 3.5% expressed concern about the amount of information that would be available about their children in future years…

Well consider this- most 30 year olds have an online footprint stretching back 10 to 15 years. That is amazing in itself, but these children will have an online footprint – for a longer time then they have lived!

Will all the information that are posted be available in the future years as the few 3.5% parents were concerned about? I’ll solve the mystery right now. YES. Once content goes on the web, it’s pretty much there forever, no matter what you try to take it away. It is very important for parents to think carefully about what kind of information they will be sharing about their children online. It will follow them for the rest of their life. Anyone can see it. Friends? Job Hiring Managers? If they ever become politicians or someone high profile – all of it will be publicly available.

What are your thoughts?
How much presence does your children have?

Take the poll below, and give us your thoughts in the comments!
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Emailing in Bed, when Sick & on Vacation

cleancutmedia — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:00:19 +0000

Doing Business in Bed, when Sick & on Vacation

How often do you check your work email?
Every day? Every couple hours? Every hour?

As internet access becomes more available everywhere from cafes to bookstores to the booming smartphone market, checking email has become almost second nature for most individuals.

A recent survey by Harris Interactive conducted in the US and in the UK, showed that for Americans, 72% of the people check work email during non-business hours, 19% check emails in bed, and a whopping 50% of the people check email during vacations or day off.

Email Statistics

Here are some of the US emailing stats laid bare:

72% of people check work email during non-business hours
19% check email in bed (21% of men, 16% of women, 31% of 18-34 year olds)
50% check email during vacations and days off
42% of Americans check work email when sick at home (26% in UK)

Of those checking on non-business hours:

27% check because they are expected to provide quick responses (20% in UK)
37% are afraid they may miss something important (45% in UK)

How often do you check work email?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

About The Email Survey

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Xobni from August 5th to 9th, 2010 among 2,200 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

James Cameron Shooting “Avatar 2” 7 Miles Underwater?

cleancutmedia — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:27:35 +0000

Some interesting news.

James Cameron Shooting Avatar 2 Underwater?

James Cameron is planning to shoot some of Avatar’s Sequel 6.8 miles under water…

|| James Cameron is going to do what? ||

Why would James Cameron do such a thing when he could easily do it through CG and special effects? James Cameron has always had a passion for exploring the deep having shot deep sea documentaries such as Aliens of the Deep and Ghosts of the Abyss. This time he may be eying the $10 million X-Prize.

What is the X-Prize Award?

The X-Prize is a $10 million award given to pioneers in scientific exploration. The previous prize was given to develop a manned spacecraft. This new prize is to be given to the first private crew to be able to make manned dives to “Challenger Deep”, the deepest known point on Earth. The last time explorers visited the Challenger Deep was some 50 years ago by Jacques PIccard and Don Walsh.

|| It's all about the Money Folks. Bling Bling ||

Why Shoot Avatar 2 Underwater?

|| NO! Get out of Pandora! Stop making these War Movies! ||

Does James Cameron really need $10 million dollars? Probably not. But as someone who has a passion for deep water exploration, it would not be a surprise if he tries to hit two birds (Fish?) with one stone. Avatar 2 is reported to be set in the oceans of Pandora and thus figures to include a lot of underwater footage.

Most may laugh at such an endeavor, but James Cameron has experience with deep water exploration and was the creator and or director of the two most successful films ever in Avatar and Titanic. The former making almost 2 billion dollars at the box office. You would figure if James made it down there, he would take some great footage to be used perhaps both in his film as well as future deep water exploration documentaries.

What are your thoughts?

Taking Virtual Game Girlfriends to Real Resorts?

cleancutmedia — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:00:48 +0000

Lovely Town of Atami full of Virtual Couples?

OMG: This was my reaction to this:

The recently released version of the game “Love Plus, players can visit 13 real, physical locations with their.. virtual girlfriends? Wait.. what?

A beach resort in the seaside town of Atami about 60 miles southwest of Tokyo, started to target young men who play the game Love Plus. What is Love Plus? It is a virtual sims game where you play as a high school boy in a relationship with a high school girl. The point of the game is maintain and build the relationship. The game became big news when a 27 year old Japanese became so engaged (pun fully, and sadly intended) staged a full on wedding watched by thousands of people online with his virtual fiancée.

Blending the Virtual with Reality

So what is the OMG for? The recently released version had a new feature. In a partnership with the city of Atami, the players can visit 13 real, physical locations and find 2D barcodes where they can scan to signify taking their virtual girlfriends to these location.

It’s creative idea and it does help the local businesses but… it is a creepy step into blending the virtual with reality. Think about the couple who had neglected their real child while raising a virtual one. Where one starts, the other ends.

The game Love Plus, created by Konami Digital Entertainment, released last September has sold nearly 430,000 copies. More than 2,000 players have already visited Atami since the campaign launched in July.

… so what are your thoughts?
do you think engaging in these games will have any effect on the person’s management of real life relationships?

EA’s Medal of Honor – Play as the Taliban

cleancutmedia — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:21:37 +0000

EA’s Medal of Honor – Play as the Taliban

EA’s Medal of Honor is one of the most successful and well known first-person shooters available. In October 12, the latest rendition is due to be released but with a twist – it takes place in Afghanistan and in multiplayer mode, you are allowed to play as the Taliban.

Wait, what kind of video game allows you to play as the Taliban and shoot U.S. Soldiers?
Don’t we still have soldiers still in Afghanistan?

Hope I Don't get a Mask Tan..

Playing as the Enemy in Video Games

Playing as the enemy is nothing new in video games. Playing as part of the mob, or in games like grand theft auto – playing as criminals killing cops and innocent civilians. Playing as the enemy in war games is also nothing new.

Point of Contention – It’s an On-going Conflict

The point of contention with this game is that it is being released while US Soldiers are still in Afghanistan. It is an on-going conflict with many families who have loved ones still still serving overseas. No one argues against games placed in WWII or other long passed wars, but the fact that this game takes place in a current war, has stirred quite a bit of controversy.

Question: Bad Form or Fair Game?

Is EA in bad form to try to take advantage of current history to sell games or do you feel it is completely fair game (pun intended)?

A Gold Star Mother Meredith came on Fox & Friends to express how she and many other people have with this title. She
how it is disrespectful especially to families who are losing their children in the war. Meredith herself lost her son in Afghanistan.

“We’ve just come off of the worst month of causalties in the whole war… and this game is going to be released in October. So families who are going to be burying their children are going to be seeing this… I just don’t see that a video game based on a current war makes any sense at all. It’s disrespectful.”

Even the British Defense Secretary Liam Fox had a lot to add to this controversy.

“[It is] shocking that someone would think it acceptable to recreate the acts of the Taliban against British soldiers.”

“At the hands of the Taliban, children have lost fathers and wives have lost husbands.”

“It’s hard to believe any citizen of our country would wish to buy such a thoroughly un-British game. I would urge retailers to show their support for our armed forces and ban this tasteless product.”

[Note that no British Soldiers are actually explicitly in the game. Dr Fox is alluding to attacking ISAF troops in the area of central Helmand where British troops are operating"]

Current Conflicts vs. Old Conflicts

I still remember vividly the tragedy of 9/11. I still remember how horrible and painful it felt to witness such an horrific event. I also remember in a moment of random thought how long it would be before people started to pump out movies on this matter. Movies on WWII are abundant but they all came out years after the wars have long passed. The images from “Saving Private Ryan” or even movies like “Pearl Harbor” would have been excruciating for anyone remotely connected to the war or those who were in it. No one would dare make a movie on 9/11 right away, but how can you know when it is ok? Several movies came out later depicting the conflict but since some time of healing had passed no one flinched.

So the question again is..

Is EA in bad form to try to take advantage of current history to sell games or do you feel it is completely fair game (pun again! gag me,)?

What are your thoughts on this matter?
Please do not just say “it’s just a game” or “so and so is a retard” or “if you don’t like it don’t play it”. These are not arguments, it’s a bit of a cop-out and often demeaning.

The question is whether the timing of this game (clearly for the sake of profit) is in bad form or if it’s legit.

An even deeper question if you dare:

Why is it that we aren’t all that offended at video games in which the purpose is to go around shooting down other human beings?
What does our desensitization to violence and games such as these, speak about our culture?

I think the answer to these questions are more disturbing than any of the debate over this game.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Are You Addicted to the Internet? Statistics. [Infographic]

cleancutmedia — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:25:34 +0000

Are You Addicted to the Internet?

The internet is a tool we use in our every day lives. We use it to look up information, we use it to communicate, we use it to socially connect with others, we read the news, play games, and sometimes simply waste hours on end watching youtube videos or reading pointless articles. There is a good chance you used the internet in some form within the last few hours whether to check mail or browse to kill time.

So the question to ask is – Are you addicted to the internet?

Check out the cool infographic at the bottom of the post about internet addiction and use below. Also take our fun poll afterwards!

US Residents considered regular Internet Users: 68.9%
Find it hard to stay away from internet a few days: 13.7%
Conceal non-essential use from family and friends: 8.7%
Relationships suffered as a result of excessive use: 5.9%

1 in 8 individuals show signs of problematic internet use

Time Spend Online per Month (Sept 2008): 22 Billion Hours
Time Spend Online per Month (Sept 2009): 27 Billion Hours

Internet Use in the Workplace

67% of employees admitted using internet for personal reasons during work hours
60% of companies had disciplined employees for inappropriate internet use
30% of companies had fired employees due to inappropriate internet use

Internet Usages

Online Shopping: 24%
News: 23%
Pornography: 18%
Gambling: 8%
Auctions: 6%

Internet Activity on the Mobile Phone:

63.2 Million access news or information on their phone each Month
22.4 Million access news or information on their phone Daily

Usage Breakdown:

9.3 Million – Social Networks
5.5 Million – Entertainment News
3.3 Million – Finance
3.1 Million – Movie Information
2.5 Million – Business

Internet Addiction Infographic

:: Click it to see full size ::

Please Vote on our Fun Poll

Also come back to see how the results stacked up if you are one of the first to vote!
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

The Now Generation by Black Eyed Peas

cleancutmedia — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:30:41 +0000

Take a look at the Lyrics from the song “Now Generation” by Black Eyed Peas.
This is from Black Eyed Peas’ 5th Album called “The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies)”

Descriptive of our Generation?
Read the Lyrics below. Share your thoughts.

Now Generation by Black Eyed Peas

We are the now generation
We are the generation now
This is the now generation
This is the generation now
I want money

I want it, want it, want it
Fast internet,
Stay connected hit eject
Wi-fi, Podcast
Blastin’ out a SMS
Text me and I text you back
Check me on that iChat
I’m all about that http
You’re a PC I’m a Mac

I want it
Myspace and yourspace
Facebook is a new place
Dipdive and socializin’
And I’ll be out on cyberspace
Google is my professor
Wikipedia checker
Checkin’ out my account
Loggin’ in and loggin’ out

Baby, I want it now
This is the now generation
This is the generation now
We are the now generation
I want, I want, I want it now
I want cold hard cash
I want, I want, I want it now

And I just can’t wait
I need it immediately
And I just can’t wait
I want it immediately
Cause’ the time can’t wait and
I sure can’t wait
I ain’t got no patience
No, I sure can’t wait

Not today

We are the now generation
We are the generation now
This is the now generation
This is the generation now
I want money
I want cold hard cash
I’ll take your dollar and your euro
And go and have a blast
So take your debt and your credit and
Stick it up you’re *** and do it now
I want it now

Big money
Give me more money (Yea I want it now)
I need cash and I need it fast (I want it now)
Quick in a hurry like your name is Flash (I want it now)
You make me wait and I’mma whoop yo’ *** (I want it now)
I want it now baby (Now)
I want it (Now)
I want it (Now)
Fast Rapido, Really quick like Torpedo
Need for Speed is my Credo
You need to feed this Negr-ito
Send it while your brother vote
Rapid like a Thunder Bolt
Activate it rock the boat
Just …[please fill in]… rock the hope to
Now
It was the now generation

And I just can’t wait
I need it immediately
And I just can’t wait
I want it immediately
Cause’ the time can’t wait and
I sure can’t wait
I ain’t got no patience
No, I just can’t wait
Not today
Expediate, No time for Procrastination
Expediate proove my situation

*For those who want to give it a listen – here it is below. Note there are two bad words in the lyrics.

What part of the lyrics can you relate with?
What part of the lyrics really stood out to you?
What part of the lyrics really stood out to you?