"Exploring Business" by Karen Collins.
It seems great at first, mainly because it eliminates the need for a student to buy the textbook by providing it complete and easy to read on their webpage, http://www.flatworldknowledge.com but my very first skeptical reaction was not surprising. The pages were filled with product placement! Yes, the book is about business - of course it will have real world examples; history is important. But the problem I was finding was that all of the giants listed within the pages (I say pages, but really it's a scroll down the screen) were being promoted, not exampled. Apple must be listed at least twelve times in the first chapter alone, and nowhere are they actually necessary for the thought to be complete. They serve no purpose by being in the sentences. Even eHarmony gets a plug!
But again, should I really have been surprised by this? A textbook industry with no market income must need advertising money, right?
So why isn't anyone complaining about it? A google search with any possible combination of the words "review," "Collins," "Karen," "book," "textbook," "exploring," "business," and various forms of the word "critique" yield no results except for promotion. So then I tried Yahoo, Askjeeves, Bing, and pretty much any other search engine I could find. Nothing. Normally, you put in a textbook with review of any kind, and you've got the entire (whichever) wing coming down on it. The fact is, somewhere somebody found something to blow the whistle on. But for some reason, "Exploring Business" is exempt.
So who's out there to say, "Hey! Be aware, the book you are about to read for your business class is full of unidentified ads which portray large companies in favorable light!" (not that this is really a surprise), and "Also it rarely cites information for claims of employee and consumer satisfaction in regards to said companies!"
Really, I'm just a sociology major ranting and raving about either the lack of coverage or the use of restriction over public vocalization, and that is my fault for coming to depend somewhat on search engines paid by big corporations (you'd think I would know better). But seriously.
Fail, Internets. Fail.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Aight ladies. And gents, you'll be happy too.
http://health101.org/art_cancer_breast_myths.htm
Apparently, now we have the truth. Wearing bras contributes to breast cancer.
Now, I know what you're thinking - but remember, it was laughable to think that cigarettes contribute to lung cancer once, too. And where does the term "hysterectomy" come from? Think about the Health and Pharmaceutical companies. Where would the "Search for the Cure" cancer industry get its money if we figured out the simple preventative measures? Similarly, all those "free mammograms" and other body-scanning procedures are actually processes in which unnecessary and harmful radiation is directed at one's body - in precisely the location that medical professionals are LOOKING for cancer. What exactly are we doing there? Look up the number of women saved by mammograms in comparison to the women harmed. I dare you.
I'll tell you about the bra thing though, before you get TOO head-shaky, "no no no, I know that's ridiculous" on me.
Bras restrict the lymphatic system. It's like sitting on your legs and making them numb. Restricting the flow prevents oxygen and other important things from reaching all of the parts of your body, and the same thing happens in the lymphatic system. If you're preventing the spread of nutrients and important interchanges in your body, parts of it will be severely unhealthy. Read the article linked at the top there, if you haven't. They're waiting on a study to be done about cysts of the breast and no bra use for eight weeks as a potential treatment.
Something I've noticed is that the Western world has become unbelievably ignorant of the effects of the things we come into contact with everyday.
Another example is milk. Since we're here, why don't I tell you another thing you "know" that isn't true. What's the number one slogan on milk ads? "The calcium in milk keeps bones strong and helps prevent osteoporosis."
Okay. You're not going to like to hear this, so I will start out with some background information first: Milk is designed to provide perfect nutrients and timed hormonal triggers in the offspring of the milk's producer. We as humans were not intended to consume the hormone triggers of baby cows. Even consuming human milk after approximately age four is pretty unhealthy.
Now, even if you won't believe that, I'm sure some teacher you've had has mentioned that "pasteurized" and "homogenized" milk/dairy products/etc. are "unhealthy." They may or may not have explained these terms, and you may or may not remember what they mean exactly, but you can look these up yourself if you'd like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasteurization and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homogenization_%28chemistry%29 , respectively. Once briefly discovering the loose translation of these words, you can see where I'm coming from.
The point is this: Milk is not healthy. I'll say it again. MILK IS NOT HEALTHY.
One more time? Okay. Milk is NOT healthy.
Are you over your initial reaction? Good. So back to that "Got Milk" slogan. Notice that they claim that the "calcium in" milk, instead of "milk" itself, is responsible for strong bones and osteoporosis prevention. They do this so they won't be sued, because they know it isn't true. True, honestly-good-for-you Calcium, which is actually found in vegetables, is great for keeping our bones healthy and promoting successful growth in children and adolescents.
Ready for the weird one? This'll throw you for a loop. Milk actually contributes to osteoporosis.
What am I trying to do here? What point am I trying to make?
Look some things up. Stop relying on television to provide you with the information you need. And don't forget that the largest known search engines are moderated by companies that rely on money from advertisements being clicked on.
Depression and ADD/ADHD medications are not the answer. Have you noticed that as a country, we're suddenly in "record numbers" of people with those "unnatural" qualities? What has been introduced recently in the environment of this population?
Commercials.
Let's see a show of hands - how many girls out there in the audience today haven't had a period in the last four to six months, have had multiple pregnancy complications, or severe breast tenderness? Do you know how many hormones you consume at every meal? I wonder if there's a correlation...
What substances exist in your home? Do you use cleaning agents? Plastics? Paint? How do you store your food? Do you know how much temperature effects man-made objects? What goes in your microwave?
THINK about it. And before you start ignoring the ads on television and the computer, realize the number one thing that advertising executives love: The less you pay attention, the more your brain picks it up and the less defense you have against it.
Don't be outsmarted, and don't let your children be raised by media conglomerates. I'm tired of being discouraged by watching entire generations go right down the drain.
By the way, there's PLENTY more where that came from - like sunlight and cancer-causing sunscreen, the harmful effects of everyday plastics, and the fact that things like "There's no cure for cancer" and other commonly known "truths" are false. Did you know that the average life span used to be ninety-five, and now it's down to seventy-two? Do some research.
Oh, and restricting undergarments (and high heels) have nothing on cosmetics, hair dye, and the products you inhale while receiving a manicure.
Apparently, now we have the truth. Wearing bras contributes to breast cancer.
Now, I know what you're thinking - but remember, it was laughable to think that cigarettes contribute to lung cancer once, too. And where does the term "hysterectomy" come from? Think about the Health and Pharmaceutical companies. Where would the "Search for the Cure" cancer industry get its money if we figured out the simple preventative measures? Similarly, all those "free mammograms" and other body-scanning procedures are actually processes in which unnecessary and harmful radiation is directed at one's body - in precisely the location that medical professionals are LOOKING for cancer. What exactly are we doing there? Look up the number of women saved by mammograms in comparison to the women harmed. I dare you.
I'll tell you about the bra thing though, before you get TOO head-shaky, "no no no, I know that's ridiculous" on me.
Bras restrict the lymphatic system. It's like sitting on your legs and making them numb. Restricting the flow prevents oxygen and other important things from reaching all of the parts of your body, and the same thing happens in the lymphatic system. If you're preventing the spread of nutrients and important interchanges in your body, parts of it will be severely unhealthy. Read the article linked at the top there, if you haven't. They're waiting on a study to be done about cysts of the breast and no bra use for eight weeks as a potential treatment.
Something I've noticed is that the Western world has become unbelievably ignorant of the effects of the things we come into contact with everyday.
Another example is milk. Since we're here, why don't I tell you another thing you "know" that isn't true. What's the number one slogan on milk ads? "The calcium in milk keeps bones strong and helps prevent osteoporosis."
Okay. You're not going to like to hear this, so I will start out with some background information first: Milk is designed to provide perfect nutrients and timed hormonal triggers in the offspring of the milk's producer. We as humans were not intended to consume the hormone triggers of baby cows. Even consuming human milk after approximately age four is pretty unhealthy.
Now, even if you won't believe that, I'm sure some teacher you've had has mentioned that "pasteurized" and "homogenized" milk/dairy products/etc. are "unhealthy." They may or may not have explained these terms, and you may or may not remember what they mean exactly, but you can look these up yourself if you'd like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasteurization and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homogenization_%28chemistry%29 , respectively. Once briefly discovering the loose translation of these words, you can see where I'm coming from.
The point is this: Milk is not healthy. I'll say it again. MILK IS NOT HEALTHY.
One more time? Okay. Milk is NOT healthy.
Are you over your initial reaction? Good. So back to that "Got Milk" slogan. Notice that they claim that the "calcium in" milk, instead of "milk" itself, is responsible for strong bones and osteoporosis prevention. They do this so they won't be sued, because they know it isn't true. True, honestly-good-for-you Calcium, which is actually found in vegetables, is great for keeping our bones healthy and promoting successful growth in children and adolescents.
Ready for the weird one? This'll throw you for a loop. Milk actually contributes to osteoporosis.
What am I trying to do here? What point am I trying to make?
Look some things up. Stop relying on television to provide you with the information you need. And don't forget that the largest known search engines are moderated by companies that rely on money from advertisements being clicked on.
Depression and ADD/ADHD medications are not the answer. Have you noticed that as a country, we're suddenly in "record numbers" of people with those "unnatural" qualities? What has been introduced recently in the environment of this population?
Commercials.
Let's see a show of hands - how many girls out there in the audience today haven't had a period in the last four to six months, have had multiple pregnancy complications, or severe breast tenderness? Do you know how many hormones you consume at every meal? I wonder if there's a correlation...
What substances exist in your home? Do you use cleaning agents? Plastics? Paint? How do you store your food? Do you know how much temperature effects man-made objects? What goes in your microwave?
THINK about it. And before you start ignoring the ads on television and the computer, realize the number one thing that advertising executives love: The less you pay attention, the more your brain picks it up and the less defense you have against it.
Don't be outsmarted, and don't let your children be raised by media conglomerates. I'm tired of being discouraged by watching entire generations go right down the drain.
By the way, there's PLENTY more where that came from - like sunlight and cancer-causing sunscreen, the harmful effects of everyday plastics, and the fact that things like "There's no cure for cancer" and other commonly known "truths" are false. Did you know that the average life span used to be ninety-five, and now it's down to seventy-two? Do some research.
Oh, and restricting undergarments (and high heels) have nothing on cosmetics, hair dye, and the products you inhale while receiving a manicure.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Welcome to a Safe Place.
I got tired of complaining to a bunch of men about how sexism was just as bad as racism, sandwich jokes don't make you sound cool, and rape is not okay.
This is a place where we hold these truths to be self evident: That all men and women are created equal, that they are entitled to certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
This is a place where we hold these truths to be self evident: That all men and women are created equal, that they are entitled to certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
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