The Physics of Music

Listen along with Lauren Sorrentino and Austin Smith as they discuss The Physics of Music.

Segments include:

1. TV Shows Involving Music
2. Student Musical Talent Feature
3. iTunes Top 10 Review
4.  Science Behind Music

Songs:
Whatcha Say- Jason Derulo
Moves Like Jagger- Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera
My Last- Big Sean
Boyfriend- Justin Bieber
Call Me Maybe- Carly Rae Jepsen
Wild One- Flo Rida feat. Sia
What Makes You Beautiful- One Direction
Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)- Kelly Clarkson
Better With The Lights Off- New Boyz
Safe and Sound- Taylor Swift

Special thanks to our live guests:
Brianna Merriman, who performed her original song, Hide and Seek
and Mr. Steve Godkin, who provided us with his knowledge of physics.

Here’s the link for the podcast, take a listen;
(At around 8 minutes, the group encountered a catastrophic disaster.  Please pardon their screams.)

 

Physics of Sports: Center Sports

Come and listen to Stephen Turner and Jake Rotolo’s “The Physics of Sports: Center Sports” to hear the lastest news on the March Madness tournament and other sports related news. We talk about Mr. Godkin’s experience with basketball and we talk with Mr. Rotolo regarding the tournament. Thank you to both of these men for their help.

Podcast can be found here.

Songs used in this podcast:

“My House” -Mic Nice

“Let’s Get Ready to Rumble” -Jock Jams

“Rock You Like a Hurricane” -Scorpions

“Remember the Name” -Fort Minor

“Fire to the Rain” -Adele

CHS’s Most Interesting

To learn about some of the most fascinating people at Communications tune into Taylor Hoskins and Valerie Saeger’s podcast, CHS’s Most Interesting. A special thanks to Austin Smith, Kevin Erskine, and Mr. Godkin.

Songs included in this podcast:

“Cinema” by Skrillex

“Til Kingdom Come” by Coldplay

“Dirty Little Secret” by All American Rejects

“Brighter Than the Sun” by Colbie Caillat

Foursquare Foils

In the age of social media, everyone seems to have the unending need to tell the world every little thing they do. This is part of the reason why I hate Foursquare.

Nobody Cares If You’re Buying Rolls

At a local supermarket, I was working the express line. The store was busy at closing time, for a Wednesday night. The lines were growing longer and longer. A man walked up to my till and I started ringing him up. Just as I was telling him the total, he cut me off and asked, “Where am I?” 

“Foodtown?” I replied, confused.

He then proceeded to check into the store, on his phone, holding up my line even longer. Stunned, I stared at him. I wasn’t even aware the store had a Foursquare account, much less people used it. Was he serious? Thankfully, he paid and left without further incident. 

What is it?

Foursquare is a smartphone app that lets users “check in” to a location and earn points. The more points a person has, the more discounts and badges they unlock. If they’re loyal, they can become mayor, and unlock even more discounts.

Why I Hate It

However, I don’t believe in bashing things until after I try them. I will admit, I downloaded the Foursqure app and tried it out a few times. Now, after three weeks of having it, I can honestly say that to me, Foursquare is:

• A time waster
•  Addicting
• A battery sucker
• Stalking for the new age

Why, you may ask? I’ll tell you why… 

A Time Waster

By the time the app loads, finds your location, gives you the long list of places to check in to (God help you if you’re in the city), and you find the place, if you’re in a rush, you’re already gone.  Or you can always hold up the express line at closing time and make your cashier deal with the angry customers after you.

An Addicting Pastime

The constant need to check in seems to be overwhelming to some people. While mayorship is meant to evoke competition, some people get a little too into it. After three days of having the app, I found myself thinking, “Damn! Forgot to check in!” and then realizing, “Wait, why do I care?” For me, it was such a hassle, I avoided the app altogether unless I was very, very bored.

A Battery Sucker

My phone battery only lasts for 12 hours. Less if I’m texting or on Facebook. Foursquare is running constantly, so my phone needs to be charged quicker. The constant notifications of where my “friends” checked in are always in my notifications bar, and honestly, I don’t want it there. Which leads me to my next point…

Stalking for the New Age

Foursquare is essentially stalking. If I really wanted to, I could drive to OMG Yogurt and meet my friend who just checked in there. Personally, I find it creepy that it gives notifications when friends check in. Do I really care that Brian was at the train station yesterday at 4:23 PM? No. Please stop with the notifications. However, if someone really wanted to, they could make an account and follow where he has been. Again, creepy.

 

The fact that a big company has gotten so many willing participants to give their location away online is very Big Brother, in my opinion. In all honesty, nobody truly cares that you bought cat food and rolls at Foodtown. Please put down the smart phone for a minute, and think before you check in.

 

Do you have Foursquare? Why do you check in?

The Physics of Concert Survival

Tune in to Jess Anastasio and Jenn Alonso’s “The Physics of Concert Survival” to learn tips, tricks and etiquette when it comes to attending a concert. Jess and Jenn discuss what to wear, where to stand, upcoming events and much more.

A special thanks to Jared Caprioni for his commentary.

Songs used in this podcast:

“Everlong” -Foo Fighters

“In Da Club” -50 Cent

“Houdini” -Foster the People

“We Can Make the World Stop” -The Glitch Mob

“Kiss My Lips” -Borgore feat. Dev

“Some Chords” -Deadmau5

Why Just Say It? Show It.

It appears social media is entering a new realm, one with TwitPics, Facebook albums, and foursquare muploads.  Pictures are only enhancing the way we use social media.  Plus, it requires no reading whatsoever.

To see what images really brought to the social media table, I recently joined the growing scene of Instagram and since then, have never been more addicted to an app.

http://instagr.am/

First Impressions
When I first joined back in the summer of 2011, I’ll admit, I thought Instagram was pretty pointless.  I uploaded maybe three pictures that summer, but really had nothing to do with them after that.

The second time, I think I installed the app for a day before I realized it was just “taking up space in my phone.”  But that’s also before I knew how to create folders on the iPhone so…

Third Time’s a Charm
About a month ago, I installed the app again, seeing that a few of my friends had an account.  I enjoyed Instagram this time, but I was just doing it for myself.  I “liked” other peoples’ pictures that appeared on the “popular” tab and even started taking some of my own artsy shots.

At that point, though, it was just something fun to do to enhance a good image I just happened to take on any given day.  It wasn’t until I started following other users that I really got an idea of what this site was all about.

Instagram and Social Media
One of the first few groups I started following was PhotoMafia, which is an account for people ages 13-25 looking to be in a photography-loving community.  And that’s when I realized that this is what social media is all about, making connections.

PhotoMafia’s main feature is that it issues certain photo contests for its followers to enter and it is growing to be a very successful account.  I wanted nothing more than to be a part of the action.

I joined the group, made connections with the founders, and have been promoting their account and uploading my own pictures ever since.  It has really given me a sense of belonging and even motivation to go out and take the best picture I can.

I definitely suggest trying Instagram.  It might seem useless at first, but in my case, once I found a niche, my social media ways changed for good. 

What’s your take on this image-based social network?

The Physics of Bamboozle

Learn all you need to know about the upcoming Asbury Park festival with Jess DelVirginia and Sarah Gleason in the Physics of Bamboozle. Sarah and Jess discuss dates, performances, and get an array of opinions from the student body at Communications High School. 

 

A special thanks is owed to Mr. John D’Esposito, the original founder of the Bamboozle festivals. Sarah and Jess would also like to thank Mr. Godkin, Mr. Moran, Mr. Bengle, Colleen Sullivan, Summer Russo, Emily Frazee, Matt Baker, Mike MaGovern, and Jill Caravella. 

 

Songs used in this podcast include: 

“All the Small Things” – Blink182

“Best Day Ever” – Mac Miller 

“Dance Inside” – All American Rejects 

“Donald Trump” – Mac Miller 

“Cinema” remix – Skrillex 

Bianchi Social Media Plans

Michael Bianchi, former sous chef to Mario Batali, is looking to open three new Italian restaurants in the northeast.  He has recently endured a bitter divorce with Carla Giovenetta and is looking to replenish his bank account.  Michael Bianchi is searching for a social media team to help spread the “Bianchi Trattoria” brand globally.  He has listened to several proposals by different social media teams and here is a summary of the pitches so far:

The Five “W’s and How”

The teams all suggested social media plans to attract new customers, establish a loyal customer base, and create strong customer relations.  Establishing professional connections will be a must throughout this social media journey.  In today’s society, the largest social media platforms include Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.  Additionally, blogs and podcasts will be vital to get the necessary message out to the target audience.  Suggested trattoria locations ranged from the Jersey Shore, New York City, and Philadelphia.

Twitter

The overall consensus among groups involving Twitter was that the overall purpose is to respond to customer feedback regarding questions and concerns.  Twitter will also allow Michael Bianchi to show his customers daily specials and links to his recipes and coupons.  Michael wants to have a community atmosphere similar to “The Cabin” restaurant where “there are no strangers, just friends you haven’t met yet.”

Facebook

Relating to Twitter, groups also agreed that Facebook would allow the “Bianchi Trattoria” name to expand around the globe.  It will allow people to visit the fan page and explore what other customers are saying about the restaurant.  A few groups suggested that there should be a unique page for each store location, and that idea is still being tossed around.

LinkedIn

Several groups exchanged the idea of hiring employees with the use of LinkedIn.  This eliminates extensive interviews because all the pertinent personal information is already pronounced on their own pages.  In addition, a few groups proposed the idea that Bianchi use his ties with Mario Batali on LinkedIn to promote his brand more successfully.

“Super” Customers and Podcasts

“Super” customers was a popular topic in the social media campaign presentations.  Some groups wanted these people to be featured on the Facebook home page, and others proposed that they receive special discounts on their meals.  Other groups suggested that these customers would be featured on future podcasts to promote Bianchi’s name.  Another common example was that a free dessert would be given to “Super” customers on their birthdays.

Strategically Placed Ads

Groups pitched the idea that ads could be placed on billboards, but they generally shot down the idea because of the crazy prices.  Instead, the teams wanted to use social media to have free advertising.  Regarding Twitter, promotional tweets could be retweeted.  On Facebook, “Bianchi Trattoria” fan pages could be shared.  This free advertising is the best way to go.

Customer Feedback

When it is all said and done, customers are the most important part of a business.  This is why the panels today introduced the idea of having surveys placed on the Facebook fan page and designated areas on Facebook and Twitter to leave both positive and negative feedback.

How Do You Solve A Problem Like Carla?

The groups had a lot to say about Michael Bianchi’s ex-wife, Carla Giovenetta.  Carla has been making accusations about Bianchi using horsemeat in his restaurants.  She also accused him of killing her mother in order to steal her recipes.  The common responses among the groups were to try to make a positive out of a negative situation.  They all discussed the likelihood of Carla still being bitter about the divorce and making up lies about Bianchi out of spite.  One group pointed out that Michael Bianchi did not want to disrespect a few customers and ordered horsemeat specifically for them.  In the end, the customer is always right, and without customers, there is no business.

Conclusion

Overall, Michael Bianchi was provided with several proficient proposals to choose from.  Each group did a nice job portraying their unique social media goals.  It will be a tough decision for Michael to make to narrow the field down to one.  I will leave you with one final question: What else would you include in a social media plan to help Michael Bianchi’s chain of northeastern Trattorias become as successful as they can be?

Save money…For us.

The point of business is to make money. It’s a simple fact and one that everybody knows. One cannot blame a company for trying to increase profits or trying to prevent losing money, but one can blame them for the way in which they do this. Many large companies partake in some non ethical ways of preserving their assets. Wal-Mart is one such example.

"Oh you wanted to save YOUR money?"

Wal-Mart has created a reputation for itself though the actions they have taken to preserve their profits. One of the most common ways of doing this is cutting costs. In worker’s salary. Wal-Mart pays their workers, on average, 25% less than if the employee had the same job at another store. This may result losing out on a few thousand dollars at the end of the year, especially if the person in question is only a part time employee. In addition to this, workers also face problems with health care.

Workers have a usual wait of 6 months at a Wal-mart store while the average for retail stores is about half of that time. It is understandable to have a waiting time for employees, considering there is a high chance of a worker leaving, but having a wait time of twice the national average is a bit much. Even when workers get health care, it may not be worth it.

Costs of healthcare for Wal-Mart workers can cost over HALF of the salary they earn. This means that the approximate $20,000-$22,000 a full-time worker will earn throughout the year will be cut in half. And when the national value line for poverty for a family of four is $21,000 they might as well brand you bum with their logo.

Plus this is only for full-time workers. Part time workers have to wait a full year to receive any healthcare. Most part time workers will stay for a full   year which means that the Big Boss doesn’t have to pay. Managers are told to keep as many part time workers as opposed to full time workers in the store to further limit the amount of health care the company has to pay. Or they may just take the money back anyway.

An employee from Wal-Mart got into an accident with a large truck resulting in permanent brain damage for the worker. The family received $700,000 dollars for medical treatment as a settlement from the truck company, leaving about $420,000 after all legal fees. After a few years Wal-Mart sued them for $470,000 for their health care because a small line in the employee’s contract gave all money awarded won in damage belonged to them. While this is technically legal, it was the equivalent of them giving a child a toy, just so they could take it back.

Wal-Mart uses many work-rounds to cut costs. By limiting the amount of full time workers and relying on the fact that they will receive new applications for part time replacements they have negated a large amount of the healthcare costs that would have otherwise been imposed on the company. Wal-Mart has a lot of issues regarding their employees, making its reputation not a good one. The issue regarding healthcare is only one of such issues. A list of some of the issues can be found here.

So tell me. How would you stop mistreatment in the workplace?

KONY 2012: Charitable or Crooked?

On Tuesday evening, I, like much like the rest of the Social Networking world, was introduced to KONY2012. I immediately jumped on board after I found out about the terrible things going on in Uganda and The Democratic Republic of Congo, all led by one monster- Joseph Kony. I was besides myself when I heard the statistics of 30,000 children abducted, and more than 2.1 million people displaced. I knew in my heart that it was something that needed to be stopped.

Overview

As an overview, according to the website, 
http://kony2012.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/
The KONY2012 goal is to stop Joseph Kony, to make him famous so that he can’t hide anymore while committing the horrible crimes he has been doing for 26 years without being stopped.

The 30 minute video introduces us to Jacob, a Ugandan boy who was taken into Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army. We also meet Jason (the creator of the video) and his adorable son, Gavyn. The video, which we watched in class on Wednesday, had about 1.8 million views when we began watching it. Half an hour later, it had over 7 million views- less than 24 hours after being released onto the internet. At the writing of this blogpost, it was at over 67 million views. It was truly inspiring how quickly people jumped on a good cause.

On Tuesday, I went straight to InvisibleChildren.com and purchased a KONY2012 bracelet. I “signed” the petition saying that I support the cause to capture and stop Joseph Kony.

This was all on InvisibleChildren.com

Trouble in Charity Paradise

Wednesday afternoon, a tumblr page went viral, and slowly began to change the opinions of people all over the internet. Visible children takes a critical view on the KONY 2012 campaign, highlighting the fact that only about 32% of money donated actually goes towards the cause. The rest goes toward video production, travel expenses, and employee salaries.

http://visiblechildren.tumblr.com/

Invisible Children’s Rebuttal 

On Thursday, Invisible Children came back with a statement that their cause is to raise awareness, and not so much money for the cause. They posted a list of their expenses on the KONY2012 website, showing that they really had nothing to hide. They also stated that they follow the 1/3 1/3 1/3 system, and give 33% to the cause, 33%to rent and company expenses (videos etc.), and 33% to employee salary. Some people weren’t too happy that the tops of Invisible Children were making six-figure salaries.

Uganda Responds

Yet another response came out on Friday, when a 1st generation American girl, whose parents came straight from Uganda, posted a video on Youtube. She said she asked them about the entire situation, and they stated that popular opinion in Uganda is that Kony has been dead for almost 5 years. They said that the Lord’s Resistance Army was barely a threat anymore. She was not thrilled about people jumping on a bandwagon before being fully informed first.

You can watch the video here: 

Overall, there is constantly developing information about the subject. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and are still free to contribute to the cause.

The video encourages taking 3 steps to action:

• Sign the pledge to show your support
• Get the bracelet and the action kit (though you may have to wait a while since shipping is backed up, and could take about a month)
• Sign up to TRI to donate a few dollars a month to keep the contribution going.

Another thing you can do, is join a group that is going out locally and “Covering The Night” by hanging up KONY2012 posters all over our towns, on April 20.

So tell me, are you guys still for or against KONY2012, do you think it’s still a noble cause or a scam because of Invisible Children. Please leave comments and start discussions!