What videos did you watch over the past year? And what videos were the most talked about between you and your friends? The countdown for YouTube’s most-watched videos of 2009 ….
This is the first time videos have been ranked for a year’s end summary since YouTube’s beginning in 2005.
And the top five videos:
No. 1: Susan Boyle’s “I Dreamed a Dream” on Britain’s Got Talent, a talent competition. Susan’s YouTube video was watched by over 120 million viewers, worldwide.
Susan Boyle – Britain’s Got Talent: http://bit.ly/TnRKo
No. 2: “David after Dentist,” a video about a seven-year old boy who was recovering from a dental visit. The video was viewed by approximately 37 million viewers.
David After Dentist: http://bit.ly/1Srd76
No. 3: “JK Wedding Entrance Dance,” which I must admit I viewed for this first time today. It put a smile on my face! The background music was Chris Brown’s song, “Forever,” and showcased a fantastic routine by Jill Peterson and Kevin Heinz, joined by their bridesmaids and groomsmen.
JK Wedding Entrance Dance: http://bit.ly/Z7vMw
No. 4: Movie trailer for “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” – the video was viewed approximately 31 million times.
New Moon Movie Trailer: http://bit.ly/4aSC9
No. 5: Evian water received 27 million views with three versions of diapered acrobatic babies – roller skating to hip-hop.
Evian Roller Babies: http://bit.ly/VCy0C
“YouTube compiled a separate list of the year’s most popular studio-produced music videos. Rapper Pitbull’s “I Know You Want Me” was the category’s top draw with more than 82 million views, trailed by two music videos by teen star Miley Cyrus, “The Climb” (more than 64 million views) and “Party In The USA” (more than 54 million views).
Michael Jackson, whose shocking June 25 death made him the most searched subject on Google this year, also left his mark on YouTube in 2009. His name topped YouTube searches during the months of June and July and his 27-year-old music video, “Beat It,” logged more than 25 million views.”
Screaming commercials. And I have a list: Hughes Network, Majic Jack, Direct TV’s Commercials for Direct TV, NutriSystem (Dan Marino, etc. commercial), Teeter Hangups …. so I am pleased that today the House has voted to lower volume on noisy TV ads! Article from msnbc.com below:
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House votes to lower volume on noisy TV ads
Bill aims to stop commercials from playing noticeably louder than programs
updated 1 hour, 43 minutes ago
WASHINGTON – The House on Tuesday voted to level off the abrupt spikes in volume felt by television viewers during commercial breaks.
The bill — approved by a voice vote — is aimed at stopping TV ads from playing noticeably louder than programs.
“It’s very frustrating,” said Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va. “It’s an annoying experience, and something really should be done about it.”
Irritated by loud commercials, Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., drafted the measure after discovering it was a common complaint with the Federal Communications Commission.
Right now, the government doesn’t have much say in the volume of TV ads. It’s been getting grievances about commercial loudness for decades.
Correcting sound levels has its complications.
Managing the transition between programs and ads without spoiling the artistic intent of the producers poses technical challenges and may require TV broadcasters to purchase new equipment. To address the issue, an industry organization recently produced guidelines on how to process, measure and transmit audio in a uniform way.
The bill requires the FCC to adopt those recommendations from the Advanced Television Systems Committee as regulations within a year and begin enforcing them a year later.
Eshoo said the legislation would force the industry to comply with their own standards. “Volunteerism hasn’t worked for 50 years,” she said.
Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., addressed critics who have asked why Congress has to get involved in the matter.
“You can say, ‘Well, that’s fine. Just turn it off,’” Stearns said. “But it’s constantly an irritant when you have to do it. And we’ve got all the new bowl games coming up.”
An identical measure has been introduced in the Senate.
Some experts have said they are unsure whether viewers will notice much difference if the bills become law. Different volume levels can be part of storytelling. And some commercials may just seem noisy because they follow a quiet, intense scene.
As I am unemployed, and have been for what seems to be an eternity, the following article hit home. The biggest obstacle that I have had to overcome is a feeling of seeming worthlessness. Which is why I decided to create this blog. I find that it is giving me a sense of self-worth (albeit in a way I had not expected), and a way to constructively channel creative energy.
For those who are unemployed, I’ve included the following article to let you know that you are not alone.
So to those who are unemployed, sending out resume after resume with not even one call back, surviving interviews with never a peep back from the company, those who have swallowed what little pride is left to work “wherever,” and those whose hope is dwindling …. I truly empathize. But we still have a choice: To continue to hope, or to throw our hands up and wallow in misery. Please feel free to post on my comment and the following article.
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Poll reveals depth and trauma of joblessness
Unemployment causing major life changes, mental health issues for millions
By Michael Luo and Megan Thee-Brenan
updated 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
More than half of the nation’s unemployed workers have borrowed money from friends or relatives since losing their jobs. An equal number have cut back on doctor visits or medical treatments because they are out of work.
Almost half have suffered from depression or anxiety . About 4 in 10 parents have noticed behavioral changes in their children that they attribute to their difficulties in finding work.
Joblessness has wreaked financial and emotional havoc on the lives of many of those out of work, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll of unemployed adults, causing major life changes, mental health issues and trouble maintaining even basic necessities.
The results of the poll, which surveyed 708 unemployed adults from Dec. 5 to Dec. 10 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points, help to lay bare the depth of the trauma experienced by millions across the country who are out of work as the jobless rate hovers at 10 percent and, in particular, as the ranks of the long-term unemployed soar.
Roughly half of the respondents described the recession as a hardship that had caused fundamental changes in their lives. Generally, those who have been out of work longer reported experiencing more acute financial and emotional effects.
“I lost my job in March, and from there on, everything went downhill,” said Vicky Newton, 38, of Mount Pleasant, Mich., a single mother who had been a customer-service representative in an insurance agency.
“After struggling and struggling and not being able to pay my house payments or my other bills, I finally sucked up my pride,” she said in an interview after the poll was conducted. “I got food stamps just to help feed my daughter.”
Foreclosure woes
Over the summer, she abandoned her home in Flint, Mich., after she started receiving foreclosure notices. She now lives 90 minutes away, in a rental house owned by her father.
With unemployment driving foreclosures nationwide, a quarter of those polled said they had either lost their home or been threatened with foreclosure or eviction for not paying their mortgage or rent. About a quarter, like Ms. Newton, have received food stamps. More than half said they had cut back on both luxuries and necessities in their spending. Seven in 10 rated their family’s financial situation as fairly bad or very bad.
But the impact on their lives was not limited to the difficulty in paying bills. Almost half said unemployment had led to more conflicts or arguments with family members and friends; 55 percent have suffered from insomnia .
“Everything gets touched,” said Colleen Klemm, 51, of North Lake, Wis., who lost her job as a manager at a landscaping company last November. “All your relationships are touched by it. You’re never your normal happy-go-lucky person. Your countenance, your self-esteem goes. You think, ‘I’m not employable.’ ”
A quarter of those who experienced anxiety or depression said they had gone to see a mental health professional. Women were significantly more likely than men to acknowledge emotional issues.
Tammy Linville, 29, of Louisville, Ky., said she lost her job as a clerical worker for the Census Bureau a year and a half ago. She began seeing a therapist for depression every week through Medicaid but recently has not been able to go because her car broke down and she cannot afford to fix it.
Her partner works at the Ford plant in the area, but his schedule has been sporadic. They have two small children and at this point, she said, they are “saving quarters for diapers.”
Shame, embarrassment
“Every time I think about money, I shut down because there is none,” Ms. Linville said. “I get major panic attacks . I just don’t know what we’re going to do.”
Nearly half of the adults surveyed admitted to feeling embarrassed or ashamed most of the time or sometimes as a result of being out of work. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the traditional image of men as breadwinners, men were significantly more likely than women to report feeling ashamed most of the time.
There was a pervasive sense from the poll that the American dream had been upended for many. Nearly half of those polled said they felt in danger of falling out of their social class, with those out of work six months or more feeling especially vulnerable. Working-class respondents felt at risk in the greatest numbers.
Nearly half of respondents said they did not have health insurance , with the vast majority citing job loss as a reason, a notable finding given the tug of war in Congress over a health care overhaul. The poll offered a glimpse of the potential ripple effect of having no coverage. More than half characterized the cost of basic medical care as a hardship.
Many in the ranks of the unemployed appear to be rethinking their career and life choices. Just over 40 percent said they had moved or considered moving to another part of the state or country where there were more jobs. More than two-thirds of respondents had considered changing their career or field, and 44 percent of those surveyed had pursued job retraining or other educational opportunities.
Joe Whitlow, 31, of Nashville, worked as a mechanic until a repair shop he was running with a friend finally petered out in August. He had contemplated going back to school before, but the potential loss in income always deterred him. Now he is enrolled at a local community college, planning to study accounting.
“When everything went bad, not that I didn’t have a choice, but it made the choice easier,” Mr. Whitlow said.
Formal, informal safety net
The poll also shed light on the formal and informal safety nets that the jobless have relied upon. More than half said they were receiving or had received unemployment benefits. But 61 percent of those receiving benefits said the amount was not enough to cover basic necessities.
Meanwhile, a fifth said they had received food from a nonprofit organization or religious institution. Among those with a working spouse, half said their spouse had taken on additional hours or another job to help make ends meet.
Even those who have stayed employed have not escaped the recession’s bite. According to a New York Times/CBS News nationwide poll conducted at the same time as the poll of unemployed adults, about 3 in 10 people said that in the past year, as a result of bad economic conditions, their pay had been cut.
In terms of casting blame for the high unemployment rate, 26 percent of unemployed adults cited former President George W. Bush; 12 percent pointed the finger at banks; 8 percent highlighted jobs going overseas and the same number blamed politicians. Only 3 percent blamed President Obama .
Those out of work were split, however, on the president’s handling of job creation, with 47 percent expressing approval and 44 percent disapproval.
Unemployed Americans are divided over what the future holds for the job market: 39 percent anticipate improvement, 36 percent expect it will stay the same, and 22 percent say it will get worse.
Animals making tools: Octopus and coconut Shell / Crow Makes Tool / Raven Smashes Nut
Animals that make tools: In this post is the now famous octopus that snatches a coconut and runs with it, a crow that makes tools, and a raven using traffic to smash a nut.
Octopus runs with shell …. which means that another animal is intelligent enough to use tools! (think quickly to the crow and raven …. videos of crow making tool and a raven cracking a nut are below the octopus)
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Australian-UK researchers have found that a veined octopus has tool-using abilities. The researchers observed it carrying coconut shell halves, and assembling the two halves into a shelter. This sophisticated behavior adds the octopus to the list of animals that use tools, a list that was once thought (by humans) only to include humans.
Please see Current Biology, 12/14/2009: “Defensive tool use in a coconut-carrying octopus.” [Current Biology, Volume 19, Issue 23]
“The use of tools has become a benchmark for cognitive sophistication. Originally regarded as a defining feature of our species [Homo sapiens], tool-use behaviours have subsequently been revealed in other primates in a growing spectrum of mammals and birds.”
The article continues by sharing that if the octopus only one half, will turn the coconut shell half over and hide underneath it. If they have two halves, then they will assemble the two halves into its original coconut form (as a ball-like structure) and hide inside it.
A Raven letting traffic smash the nut open …..
SNL’s “Palin 2012″ “Sarapocalypse” on Countdown with Keith Olberman
Writer’s note: If you are fortunate to have an avian veterinarian diplomate within a relatively close distance, you are one lucky person! I have actually driven a total of six hours (three hours each way) to have my birds treated by an avian diplomate. I initially located this veterinarian when Amigo was diagnosed with aspergillosis (aspergillus [mold]). The first veterinarian I took her to, when she had not yet been diagnosed with asper, came back into the examination room to tell me that she had an 80%. Of what? Of dying. I then immediately drove to one of the top rated avian veterinarians in the city (my usual avian veterinarian). After examining Amigo, he gave her a 50% chance of surviving. The veterinarian began her treatment by prescribing Amphotericin B mixed with Saline solution (nebulized), and Ancobon mixed with Lactulose (administered orally). I decided to further research asper, and within a few days I contacted a top avian aspergillosis expert, Dr. Pat Redig, Co-Founder and Director of The Raptor Center / University Minnesota – Minneapolis. Dr. Redig suggested that Amigo would benefit from using Itraconazole, a fungicide. Amigo’s current veterinarian refused to change the medications, stating that he was “comfortable” with the medications he currently had her on. I then contacted World Bird Sanctuary and spoke with Walter Crawford, Executive Director, in hopes of locating a veterinarian that was more familiar with aspergillosis. I explained that per Dr. Redig’s suggestions, Amigo needed to be placed on a more aggressive treatment plan. Walter put me in contact with two veterinarians who worked at the sanctuary. Amigo was finally placed on Itraconazole. It was also decided to continue nebulizing Amigo with Clotrimazole and Saline solution, which had been prescribed by the prior avian veterinarian. In the interim, friends that had recently lost their African Grey to aspergillosis told me about Dr. Ken Welle, an avian diplomate. They told me that Dr. Welle had an 80% success rate in the treatment of aspergillosis. The following day I put Amigo in my car, and took off for Dr. Welle’s clinic. After examining Amigo, Dr. Welle told me that we could get her through this. And we did. Amigo was treated for aspergillosis for approximately four months. Amigo was pulled off of Itraconazole on December 13, as liver problems were suspected. Amigo was tested again for aspergillosis and liver problems on December 15. Samples for aspergillosis testing were submitted to the University of Miami. The liver test results indicated that indeed, the fungicides were beginning to effect her liver. I was notified of the aspergillosis test results on December 20. Antigens were negative, antibodies positive. The test results proved to be a wonderful Christmas present!
This experience has convinced me that there are some situations that need the advanced knowledge and expertise that only avian diplomates can provide. I truly doubt that Amigo would have recovered from the fungus had I not put her under the care of an avian diplomate. And those that question my belief on this subject will never change my mind.
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Finding an avian veterinarian that you trust and are comfortable with should be a top priority. When I moved to Idaho this was a somewhat daunting task, being accustomed to having a choice of high quality avian veterinarians from which to choose from. Based on the fact that I knew few people in this area, I hit the Internet searching for avian veterinarians in this area. I jotted down the veterinarians’ names, and then did another search on each name I found, looking for any comments that were posted on the web. To me, educational background of any veterinarian is most important - followed by good comments from the public. At that point, I made a trip to each of the clinics. I was looking for clean facilities, and an opportunity to talk with the technician assistants and the veterinarian, if possible. In addition, I did a tour / visual inspection of the clinic noting items, such as if there were incubators setup for birds, did the tech assistants seem comfortable handling the larger parrot species? Does the veterinarian spend quality time with the clients during appointments? Is the clinic clean? How does it smell? How long are scheduled appointments with the veterinarian? Don’t be afraid to ask to see the avian examination room(s), recovery area, and the surgical area of the clinic. Ask yourself if you would want your bird, perhaps in a life or death situation, receiving medical attention at that clinic.
Set up an “interview” appointment with the veterinarian. After all, he / she will be responsible for providing medical care to your bird during a possibly critical situation. Spend time asking questions that you may have regarding his/her services, expertise, experience and cost estimates.
I will also suggest that every bird owner check the emergency animal clinics around their surrounding area. Some emergency clinics do NOT accept birds (even though a bird is displayed on the outdoor sign, or the name of the clinic is “All Pets.”). If you are suddenly confronted with an emergency involving your bird, and the avian veterinarian’s clinic is closed, you will have no time to go through the telephone book listings in an attempt to find an emergency avian veterinarian. You could ask your regular avian veterinarian to recommend an emergency clinic that accepts birds and has experience with treating them.
At the point in time when you finally find an avian veterinarian that you trust, schedule a “wellness” appointment for your bird. During the initial appointment, the following tests should be performed:
1) Physical examination
2) Fecal Parasite Check and examination of droppings
3) Fecal and Choanal Gram Stain
4) Chlamydia Testing
5) Polyoma Virus Testing
6) Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease Testing
7) Complete Blood Count
8) DNA Sexing
The results of these tests will provide information that will not only be beneficial to your bird’s overall health, but will supply a baseline for comparison during other visits.
Always remember that your bird is the patient … do not be afraid to ask what you feel may be “stupid” questions, and even questions about what your veterinarian has just told you! You are responsible for keeping your bird healthy. You.
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Watching the Castration of Obama
I was overwhelmed by the potential that I saw displayed in Obama. Change. Hope. I believed strongly that as a country, this is what we needed. A breakaway from many years of the Bush administration …. I viewed Obama as “new blood.” And this is what I anticipated for our country.
Now enters the fight of the passage of Health Care Reform.
I feel as if I’ve watched Senators, whose wallets and bank accounts are lined with the money of the insurance industry, slowly and craftfully castrate Obama into a head bobbing figure, stripped of the pride and ideas he initially had. To think that House Senators would indignantly close their ears to the wants and needs of the “majority” makes me question why we call this government “democratic.”
And to think that Obama, the LEADER of this country, has put his tail between his legs and WATCHED. And he chosen to do NOTHING to prevent this.
Please find Olberman’s Special Comment of 12/16/2009.
Part 1 of 2
Part 2 of 2
from → Etc. Thoughts