Things You Should Know on Facebook

Facebook has become a way of life for most people. Placing information and photos on the internet has become second nature to many individuals. People do not think twice to post things such as “Trip to Florida for a week!” or “Home alone, nothing to do.” Sure, it seems harmless, but the internet has become a source of information for anyone who wishes to obtain it. I may be talking about the worst case scenario, but what if someone is creeping on your Facebook page because your information is available to anyone? I thought an article that I came across while looking on MSN.com was very informational and helpful. The article titled 10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know. Discussed what every Facebook user should know and be aware of when he or she is using the site. The article consisted of a list that outlined the basic things to be aware of such as:

1) Use your lists to organize who can view your profile and information
2) Remove yourself from Facebook search results
3) Remove yourself from Google or other search engine searches
4) Avoid unwanted photo or video tags
5) Protect your photo albums
6) Prevent stories from showing up in news feeds
7) Protect against publishes by applications
8) Make your contact information private
9) Avoid embarrassing wall posts
10) Keep your friendships private.

The article itself is very informational. Facebook can be a good or bad thing. I would recommend each individual that uses Facebook to visit title and review your personal settings because obviously the list I made does not discuss how to. Once I saw the article I immediately changed mine. Don’t get me wrong, Facebook is a great way to stay connected to friends and events, but most of one’s information should stay private.

Many users are careless as they post their lives on the site daily for anyone to see.

Personally I don’t care if you dyed your hair, got drunk last night, or hooked up with some guy or girl. It’s almost sad how technologically advanced we have become, yet most people are unaware of how available their information is to whoever may wish to see it. Some users have gotten smart and experimented with their settings, but many individuals have not. When will people learn that it’s not cool if you have 1,000 Facebook friends, 15 of them being good friends and the remaining 985 from high school, college, or people one has met at a random party. Of course it’s entertaining to see someone I know head down in a toilet, passed out with marker on their face, or jumping from a roof, but we should all think before posting these sort of things online. Carelessness can mean not being accepted into school, not receiving that scholarship, or not receiving that job you thought you had in the bag, or for that matter it can mean being kicked out of school, losing that scholarship, or losing a job among other things. People need to think twice about what they are doing on the Internet, not just Facebook. Most people know not to give out their credit card number to a foreigner who calls so why can’t we learn to not give out basically the same information on the Internet?

Moral of the story: be responsible, don’t be careless, and remember IGNORANCE IS NOT AN EXCUSE.

Ebay is Great, If You Know What You're Doing

Ebay is a great place to find anything one wants. When I say anything, I mean anything from Mr. Potato Head to a new car. You can buy an item dirt cheap or pay out the rear end. It’s all up to the bidder to decide. Oh, and did I mention anyone can make money selling on Ebay? You won’t find another site where you can sell an item that will reach countless amounts of buyers. You can sell an item for maximum profit and Ebay only gets a small cut. Personally, I love Ebay. I love checking for various things such as cars to TVs. I’ve also bought and sold many items and made decent money doing it. I don’t like to hear how an individual got taken on Ebay or how they had to pay a ridiculous amount for something that costs $10. Maybe if people were just honest, we wouldn’t have to worry about sob’s trying to steal our money.

It’s pathetic what people are resorting to just to make a buck.

I wish users didn’t have to worry about scams on Ebay. Honest, hardworking people lose their money every day to individuals that haven’t worked a second in their lives. Of course, half of the problem on Ebay is not recognizing scams or being aware of certain policies. I’m not sure if I consider some products scams or just false advertising. For instance, a while back I wanted to buy a new ipod online for much cheaper than retail. I thought I had found one, as the picture for the auction seemed to be almost identical. When I had bought the item and received it, it was merely a compact mp3 player that did not look much like the auction’s picture or what it had described. It worked decently but it was made poorly. I suppose it’s mostly my fault but sellers should make it completely aware to buyers that it is not an actual ipod, in this particular case. I guess I should have also been aware that you get what you pay for. This is just one example of how people get taken every day. Buyers think that they are getting something they are not. It is obviously the buyers’ responsibility but seller credibility has to be present also, which Ebay has been improving. Ebay also has many auctions that seems like other Internet scams; if it seems to good to be true, it probably is. I’m glad I didn’t lose much money on my first auctions but many people do. People need to realize that some sellers have costs that one may not consider such as shipping charges. I’ve seen flat screen TVs sold for hundreds less than retail price but when combined with shipping, the TV costs just as much as a TV in the store that comes with a warranty to boot or even more!

Now that I have had more experience as a buyer and seller, I can understand what both sides want.

Using Ebay can be fun and simple if an individual knows what he or she is doing. If I were a first time user, I wouldn’t jump right in and buy a 1,000 dollar item. I would buy something less expensive, as in my case, and see the results. One might be surprised on how good or bad the experience was. I can attest to not reading all the fine print, most people don’t although I think it’s an important part to knowing what one is getting oneself into. If you’re buying, don’t expect to buy a brand new lcd TV that retails at $1,299 for $400; that just doesn’t make sense. On the other hand, if you’re selling an item, don’t expect buyers to pay full price for an item that you are trying to sell. I guess the moral of the story is that one needs to be aware of what he or she is getting him or herself into before he or she buys or sells a particular item. Good luck to everyone and happy bidding!

Fast Food:Convenient, Tasty but Unhealthy

I’m tired of people griping about how bad fast food is for me.

First of all, I know that it is not good for me. Second, I know that it is also expensive. Third, I do not talk about it because it makes me hungry. Of course fast food isn’t healthy; it’s too delicious and fulfilling to not be. Anything that is 89 cents and fills me up is too good to be true. And of course a four dollar meal with a double cheeseburger, fries, and a large soda isn’t good for me either. I’m sure most people have heard of the expression, you get what you pay for. Well, at most of the fast food establishments you do get what you pay for. You pay for food that is overpriced and that could last decades. Alright maybe not decades, but McDonald’s fries could maybe go the distance. For those of you who have seen Supersize Me, you’ll know what I’m talking about. For those who haven’t, you should already know, and if you don’t, surprise, fast food is packed with so much sodium and other things we don’t know about, that it can last much longer than non supplemented food. The movie shows a man who eats nothing but McDonald’s three times a day, for a month. The man’s health takes a turn for the worse and he almost dies! Sad to say the movie kind of made me hungry….

Fast food tastes great!

Of course it does, do you think fast food establishments would try and sell consumers food that doesn’t stimulate our taste buds and have us salivating at the very mention of value meal? Personally, I eat fast food two or three times a week and that takes a toll on my wallet as well as my gut. As good as it tastes, I often wonder what it does to my body. And if you’ve seen Supersize Me, you know for a fact that it can make you sick and even kill you. As I sit here and write this gripe, I am drinking a soda as it often accompanies a meal from a fast food establishment. I can’t believe how terrible these things are for my body but how good they taste!

I think I can actually hear myself getting fatter!

I’m almost certain that I’m addicted. Considering the fact that I run out of breath when I walk up a long flight of stairs sometimes, I’m pretty convinced that it’s because of the nectar of gods, or Mountain Dew as some of us like to call it. I feel dumb for griping about something that I don’t like but like at the same time. Does that make sense? Who cares, it’s getting me to the 500 words I need. Well, if you look at it that way, it’s a nice day outside and the lake looks beautiful. Considering I’m in South Dakota and there’s no wind, it’s a good day!

I just hit 500 words.

Back on track; fast food tastes great and it’s expensive. Duh! If I eat fast food two or three times a week, that’s anywhere from 5 to 30 dollars depending on how hungry I am, and if I make it a combo meal, value meal, or whatever you want to call it. That’s roughly 1,500 dollars a year in the worst case scenario! Maybe I shouldn’t eat out so much. That’s funny because I’m sitting here and lying back as my laptop rests on my leg and stomach ha! What a reminder! Maybe I won’t eat out as much and save some money and pounds on my body. Ha, who am I kidding!? I love the convenience and how good it tastes, just not the feeling after eating a Big Mac meal.

The verdict: fast food is expensive and unhealthy.

Why do I pay someone to inadvertently kill myself? Well, cheers to good marketing you pricks! I know, I know, you don’t have to tell me twice! McDonald’s fries are the bomb. STOP TELLING ME THAT FAST FOOD ISN’T HEALTHY, I KNOW! I’M GOING TO EAT IT ANYWAY SO LET ME EAT IT IN PEACE AND LET ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT MYSELF WHEN I DON’T HEAR THAT! Well, Happy eating!

P.S. Baja Mountain Dew is the true nectar of gods.

America’s Growing Pile of Debt

America’s debt is ridiculous.

Not too long ago, the United States of America’s debt surpassed 13 trillion dollars. Yes, I said 13,000,000,000,000. Once you look at the numbers, it doesn’t look so bad right? Well that’s true, but that’s also a bunch of zeros. While checking my email this morning, I noticed an article on MSN.com titled The National Debt: What 13 Trillion Could Buy. The article provides comical relief to the realism of America’s debt. The article states that the debt will be greater than America’s GDP in 2010 and that the debt figures out to be roughly 42,000 dollars per citizen. At the rate of the median pay of 41,056, America’s 139 million workers would have to set aside 3% of their income for 76 years to pay off the debt. The article also goes on to discuss ten things that the 13 trillion dollars could buy if it weren’t debt. Here is the list of what America could buy with 13 trillion dollars:

1) 9 32gb iPhones for the world’s 6.8 billion people
2) 128 million Telsa Roadsters for 128 million lucky people
3) 309 million one dollar items a day from McDonald’s for 115 years
4) Yale room and board ($190,000/ 4yrs on average) for 68 million people – 91% of America’s 18& under population
5) 65 million new homes, median home value currently being 198,500
6) 11 first class trips from Washington D.C. to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for America’s 309 million population
7) A movie a day for every person in the U.S.A for 14 years
8) 10 years of around the clock, on call medical help for 928 million people, or the population of the United States could be covered for 30 years
9) British Petroleum’s 20 billion set aside for cleanup could be paid 600x over
10) America’s 309 million population could spend the next 60 years at Disney World

Now, I’m not sure about the rest of everyone, I could certainly use 9 iPhones; one for business, one for pleasure, one for…..the internet, one for a dog toy I guess? I’m not sure what to do with the other 5. Now, I know this is just stating how bad America’s debt is growing to be, but I’d like to see more real world applications such as #4 or 8. I’d like to see what we could do for social programs not how much McDonald’s we can buy; although it sure makes me hungry! Who knows, McDonald’s is probably paying the author to write it in. Anyhow, America’s debt is turning into a very serious issue; not that it wasn’t before, but it seems to be growing exponentially.

What are we going to do as a nation to solve this problem? Surely we can’t continue to borrow money that we can’t pay back. We are practically owned by countries such as China because of the ridiculous amount of money we owe them. If our debt surpasses our GDP, how are we going to pay off our debt? Of course we could always borrow money to pay off our debts. Oh wait, we’ll still owe money, so what are we going to do? That’s why we have economists, financial analysts, and amazingly smart other people. Each individual will have their own style, and of course there are going to be individuals that don’t like that style, but I think people should look at it this way: it’s not like the people in charge are trying to screw America over. They are doing their best to change what others have dug us into. People expect results right away. People need to understand that these things take time. We can’t change the economy instantly.

We’ll figure it out, America has endured much worse.

Ivy League, Ssshhpivy League

An article on msnbc.com titled, “Ivy League degree no surefire path to success,” discusses how an Ivy League degree can achieve a person success. Like the article’s author, Eve Tahmincioglu, states, “The prestige of an elite degree is hard to deny.” This is most certainly true, no doubt about it. The individuals that have graduated from these particular schools have earned their bragging rights. I just don’t like the fact that some people think because an individual has and Ivy League degree, that it means guaranteed success. Let’s step out into the real world. All employees of a company have to work hard enough that their boss feels that it is necessary and beneficial to the company to keep them on. Sure, many successful people have elite education backgrounds.

What ever happened to hard work?

The article discusses how an individual may receive instant credibility, which I don’t think should be the case. If anything this article goes to show how individuals shouldn’t receive instant credibility if their morals are in the wrong place. I am a very trusting individual by nature, but if I were to hire someone for my company, I would verify each individual’s information carefully. Moreover, I would look into the individuals past work experiences. Past work experience will not only tell about what they may know firsthand, but also provides insight into their work ethic. I know I’d rather have someone who has gotten their hands dirty in a sense to someone who has sat behind a desk all their lives. Now, I’m not saying that certain people don’t deserve even a glance, I’m saying that I want to hire the most fitting individual. I strongly believe that one’s success depends on his personality and people skills.

Who are you going to hire, the shy man or one that can sell a snow cone in a blizzard?

I enjoy meeting new people and my job in customer service allows me to do that. I can always tell who is having a good or bad day, who is not enthused to be here, or someone that just is a prick. I strongly believe that people with negative and unreasonable attitudes will not make it far in life. I took a general business class last year which surveyed various businesses and outlined what various employers look for. If I am not mistaken, the top three things employers seek are experience, personality, and then grades. It just goes to show how businesses work. If you have a creditable diploma, such as that from an Ivy League school, congratulations you’ve worked hard but it doesn’t mean instant success. I heard a quote one that stated “success is a journey, not a destination.”

Success is earned, not given.

The next time someone you know thinks that just because they have a certain history or a certain piece of paper, that they are guaranteed something, give them a reality check. This can be said for all sorts of things: success, love, money, faith.

I believe that life is a journey. God guides me as I go and decides what is to come.

Earning something is more fulfilling that haven it given. This can be said for all sorts of things: success, love, money, and faith for instance. Work hard, treat others how you want to be treated, love God, and enjoy life! You don't need a piece of paper to tell you your worth.

Van der Sloot is a [insert your own adjective describing a murderer here]

After looking on msn.com’s homepage for recent news, I noticed a video article concerning Joran Van der Sloot. After watching the short video clip, I decided to write this week’s gripe over the subject. Over the past couple weeks I have been hearing more and more about the pathetic man and the supposed murders he has committed. It seems now that he has been charged with aggravated murder and robbery in Peru in which he may only receive 15-35 years. The article discussed how if Van der Sloot was charged in the United States, he could receive the death penalty. It seems Van der Sloot likes to target women to which he can take advantage. Reviewing the video, it seems that Van der Sloot acted with terrible ferocity and anger as he murdered the woman in Peru. The twenty-two year old man may be subject to prison which has been described as “hell” by the local peoples. My dad used to work in a minimum security prison which wasn’t a walk in the park for any of the inmates so I can only imagine what a poor maintained, crowded, and less staffed facility would be like. I cannot wish anything up Van der Sloot. I despise these kinds of people. The ones who prey on the weak, defenseless, or those who invoke fear to achieve their own agendas are all pathetic. This murder goes to show how there are pathetic men in the world that have to beat up and take advantage of others, or women in particular, to feel better or gain for themselves. Murders, pedophiles, rapists alike, and any other categories I cannot think of now are all pathetic and disgusting. No mortal human being has the right to take anything from another man or woman, especially his or her life, which is up to God. I pray that God will judge Van der Sloot, and I am curious to see how it ends up. We’ll have to see how this pitiable man ends up when he is in prison as I have been told that inmates have more despise for those like Van der Sloot than I may have. I hope that the United States, Aruba, and Peru will collaborate to figure out the best possible solution to his sentencing. I understand why Peru would want to sentence the man as he seemed to already have confessed to the murder there, but if he could receive the death sentence in the United States, then maybe he should. I would rather see a charged, trialed, and convicted felon rot in prison for the acts he or she has committed. When I say charged, trailed, and convicted, I mean rightfully charged, and proven for the crime as mistrials and wrongful convictions happen. Some may say that I don’t argue the other viewpoint. Your right, I don’t. He could get 15-35 years, or he could be out in less than that. That’s basically like saying, you killed someone, now you have to stay here for this long, but then you can leave. If you think a man who has confessed to murders and can be proven to them, should not be charged and tried should walk, then I’m open to a discussion but pack a lunch and dinner. People hate Van der Sloot and they should for what he has done. I know that God will ultimately judge him and that’s that.

Article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/37656343#37656343

Image: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/06/11/peru-sloot-holloway.html

First Day of Class

Hi Everyone,
My name is Matt Doerr. I am a 19 year old student from Yankton, South Dakota. I am enjoying Missouri very much and all it has to offer. Missouri Southern State University is a nice school where I mainly enjoy the attractive campus and personable class sizes. It is a fun way to meet new people and participate more interactively. Currently, I just finished my freshman semester and it flew by! I am an Accounting major although I have thought about various degrees such as Education or Marketing. I currently am a member of the Accounting club and attend regularly. I would like to join PBL/DEX club in the fall to network and improve my social skills. Outside of the classroom, I try to stay active as much as possible although I find myself feeling lazy throughout the week. I enjoy playing baseball, softball, basketball, golf, and frisbee golf among other sports, lawn games, and activities. Hanging out with friends, playing video games, going to the lake, and watching TV are also hobbies of mine. Some other facts that you would not know: I have a beautiful girlfriend of 3 ½ years, I like snow, Jesus is my Lord and Savior – he is not my homeboy, and the Minnesota Twins are my favorite MLB team. I look forward to meeting the class and having a successful and fun semester!