Advancing Intellectual Property into the Digital Age

Technology is growing at an exponential rate, but it is leaving the laws that govern the intellectual properties that come with it in the dust. Laws such as copyrights and patents still exist in a world of physical goods and services, not in the digital world. Court rulings and decisions on the matter are heavily influenced by the corporations, such as non-practicing entities, that feed upon these aging laws, rather than by those whose lives they could change. Are the corporations suffering? No, instead they are using these systems to stifle innovation, curb creativity and prevent a more rapid growth. They feed on the system like a leech. What can be done to pluck off the leeches and move on with technology? Change and fast. Well thought-out rules and legislation that are geared towards the future, not the past. The interest of the general public needs to be given priority and those corporations that cannot keep up with the laws that protect intellectual property will fall behind.

Privacy vs Publicity

People are unaware of the vulnerability of their publicly known information. Our personal habits, likes, and dislikes are more available than ever with technology.  Social media shows some of the most intimate aspects of our lives; aspects that others could use against us. Our trust is now requested rather than gained. Where do we draw the line between what we share or keep private? Penetrating eyes pry to know more about us than ever before; are we protecting ourselves? Most publish their life just to seek public acknowledgement, but, by doing so, ignorantly give hackers, manipulators, and impersonators their whole life. We, the technologically knowledgeable, must take a crusade to protect those we care about most and inform them. Cyber warfare is real and coming closer to home every day. A person could easily use your check-in at the nearby restaurant to rob your house, assault your loved ones or even you. A total lock-down, however, is not necessary, but precaution and education is beneficial. Every one that learns to search the web should learn its weaknesses and how to protect themselves. We cannot rely on the government to protect what means most to us because it may mean nothing to them. Availability of information is advancing at an alarming rate and we can stay ahead of it or have it sweep us away: a lost person in the sea of information. 

Is the Government Broken?

The government shutdown; what does that tell us? If they can't decide on something shouldn't we reconsider it as well. This shutdown should be a wake up call for us dormant Americans to realize that this is our country, our laws and our responsibility. Too often we put in the hands of the few the decisions that affect us. Those few, who are our representatives in government, don't know what we want unless we tell them. I, myself, am guilty of electing an official but then not actively following or watching decisions made by that person I elected. What good is a democratic government if we, the people, don't participate. Our active participation will hold the representatives we chose responsible for the choices and votes they make.


http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/08/votes-are-there-to-break-shutdown-but-not-the-will/?hpt=hp_t1

Twitter at General Conference

I found being on twitter to be very helpful and yet frustrating at the same time. It was very nice to have quotes that I might have missed in a lapse of thought or some key points reiterated. That was very helpful for me. I did, however, find the amount of negative or distracting comments as a irritation during the time I wanted to be spiritual. I think it's interesting enough that I will continue following during the next General Conferences or until I find it more annoying than helpful.

Genealogy, it's important.

At age ten, I lost my paternal grandpa; 16: my paternal grandma, 18: my maternal grandma, 21: my maternal grandpa, and 23: my own son. Families are and always will be the most important unit and group here on the face of the earth. When I think of my family, I can't help but love them no matter what they do. My son, parents, and grandparents mean the world to me so why wouldn't their parents and their grandparents matter. Genealogy is a binding of generations. It allows us to catch a glimpse of our relatives through our loved ones eyes, and to see how much they mean to them. I hope to learn more about my parent's grandparents, so that when they meet their great grandson they can be proud that I know who they are too. I hope we all can learn more about those that have done so much for us, before they even knew us.

Second Life or a Strangers Wife?

The worlds presented by Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs), such as the game Second Life, are like drugs, addicting and a way for Satan to pull us from the world that really matters. I believe that everyone needs an outlet to release the stresses and troubles of life, but fleeing to a world where there are no consequences is not the answer. It is, however, that pull of a care free life that gets so many people pulled into these games like a black hole. When I look at those games I see a fundamental flaw, they miss families, human interactions and joys that only real life can bring. They also cause people to neglect their real lives as they become more wrapped up in their easy online life. They forget about children, and those that depend on them, they forget about jobs and their future. All of this is because these games are built on lies, everyone lying about who they are, what they look like, you never know who each person you meet is and whether it is some strangers wife or husband or a total stalker. MMORPG's have become just one more way for us to be lost and distracted from this important mission we have here on earth and to be sucked into the lures of Satan.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/24/4698382/second-lifes-strange-second-life