What was that?

        One of the most annoying things ever is when I'm talking to some one, explaining this elaborate situation or story, adding detail and emotion, and only when I have finished speaking does the person whom I've been speaking with say, with a confused tone, "What?!" 
        Usually this kind of thing happens when I talk with some one that I don't know very well. Most of the time if we know a person, we also know their comprehension level, and we communicate with them accordingly. Some times we come across people that speak english, but the talk, often times feels like they are speaking in a foreign language. (Yo se como hablar en espanol, a la vez, no todas las personas que estan leyendo este poste sabran como leer en espanol.)
      If we wish to be effective communicators then we need to understand how to speak so that everyone will understand what we are trying to say. The better we become at communicating ideas in such a way that others can easily understand, the better the results will be.
     Check out the Youtube video below to see an exaggerated idea of communication and how people can hear and understand only certain types of speaking styles! Let me know your extreme cases with communication comprehension.




Youtube Video: I wish to report a burglary 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOK8rvumChE&feature=feedrec_grec_index

The short video is about Ken Blocks Ford Fiesta that he plans on using for the Monster World Rally. The video targets other racers as well as younger audiences with their hip Sponcers. The comercial is designed to grab the viewers attention with the desirable looks of the New Ford Fiesta, as well as the music. The commercial then states the Rally America championship schedule.

Jazz Bear Fight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF5W7hy1WvI

In this video the Utah jazz mascot get into a fight with a Cleveland cavaliers fan. I think this is a good example of non verbal communication and how people sometimes react to it. The jazz bear was holding up a sign that says im a loser. Mascots cant talk so it was completely non verbal but the guy got angry and ended up started a little fight with the jazz bear.

Communicating with YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M50s9vlMtMM&feature=related

This clip is supposedly a letter from 8 year old "Billy". In the letter its talking to President Obama about his friendship with Rev Wright. Billy goes on to say that Rev Wright talks bad about America, then says President Obama you said your still friends with him. Later in the letter he says Rev Wright talked bad about you, and you said you weren't friends with him anymore. Billy's finally sentences said are you not friends with Rev Wright because he talked bad about America, or because he talked bad about you? To me this was an interesting form of communication because this 8 year is basically calling out the president on something. It shocked me to see this but his communication seemed to get across some minds with of 300,000 hits for an 8 years letter to the president. 

Silent Night 911

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xtZrVV7kq8&feature=related

This is kind of a religious video but religion has a very large impact on society and when its expressed through social media that impact becomes even greater. This is a slide show of photos of the 911 World Trade Center Attacks. These picture communicate a very powerful message that can move one to tears. The other part of this video is the dialog and silent night playing in the background. The voice is imitating God and how he was everywhere that day. With the families of loved ones in the towers, in the towers with the loved ones, and all over the world. The video ends with how God is always waiting for us. He waiting for us to grow change and reach out for him. Or just to do something good in general. Be a better person and the be there for someone else.

Do you mean it?!

In the John Cleese Film, "How to Irritate People," we are introduced to many techniques of irritation. The majority of the techniques had to do with communications, both verbal and non-verbal. In the "Am I Fussing You?" segment of the film we see a couple that are at a restaurant out for dinner and their conversation is full of mixed meanings.
There are times when we communicate with quite the opposite intentions than what our words and actions portray. For example, John in the film is overly concerned for the comfort of his date, Connie, while Connie is perfectly fine. As the conversation continues, his pursuit of assurance of Connie's comfort, turns into an irritable situation for her. This ultimately is met with the desired results of John. Watch the film to see what happens!

The moral of the story: If a conversation seems kind of odd, odds are, that there is an alternative motive beneath the communication.

Click to view Youtube Video

Social Networks

Whats the deal with social networks? Everyone has them, and yeah they are neat, but some people take it too far. Think about it... some people put all their information on them. By all I mean everything!!! They put announcements to everything they are doing, people even are send wedding invites threw social networks. What happened to the classic paper picture invite? You can get updates threw your cell phone, and keep up with everything that is going on with your friends throughout the day. Some people even update pictures and relationship statues other day! I guess the saying its not official until its on Facebook is true.

I have no idea...

Between Blog, Face book, Email, Specific Schooling or Job Websites I can't seem to get a break. I personally feel as though the Internet is cluttered... With every new web page posted on the Internet comes a new way of how to maneuver around the site. I feel as though everything not within the Internet is organized and somewhat self explanatory... For Example, While ordering a burger at burger king, I know I have; to go to the cashier, order my burger, stand to the side of the counter, and after a view moments I will have received a hamburger. That's true with any fast food restaurant. Versus the Internet that feels as though every web page needs a new way of creating passwords, or a new "fast and easy" way of moving through and around the web page. It leaves me frustrated trying to figure out every web site that I need to get through In order to accomplish a single project. I don't know, maybe I'm just not as intelligent as everyone else. Either way I find serving the Internet more of a hassle than entertainment.

Lebron James Rises Above

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdtejCR413c

Lebron James made a fairly controversial choice this last NBA off season of leaving his first NBA team the Cleveland cavaliers and joining with the Miami heat and 2 other all-stars. His decision and motives were put into question and many of fans were very critical. I liked his NIKE commercial because it was really a jab back at a lot of people who thought he should have stayed in Cleveland. He makes several statement in this advertisement referring to the things that people were saying about his choice(Ex. Should I be who you want me to be?). Lebron James made his own choice. Social Media played a very large role in intensifying and/or diminishing the negative attention he got from his fan base and critics.

Social Media and Tim Tebow

Everyone has heard of Tim Tebow, the college sensation from Florida who has taken the world by storm. He has been featured on everything from ESP to MTV. Communication has been a huge key in his success because without it not many people would know who he is. Internet, phone, television, and general social media have greatly benefited Tim and will continue to benefit sports athletes.

Link: See Tim Tebow in action at gatorhighlights.com

What in the word?

A simple study of the 'English Language' brings many question to mind with one in particular, "What in the word where they thinking?" For example who said it was ok to let words have multiple, completely different meanings? For example: 'Desert' by its self, just looking at it, could have more than one meaning and also be pronounced in more than one way.
I'll give you a sentence and I'm not even a judge! "The man choose to desert his dessert in the desert." How about the word 'dove?' When we saw the first albino pigeon, we decided to name it while watching it dive from some towering object down to the ground, and said, "did you see that, that bird just dove from that object.... hey lets call it a dove, but we should pronounce it differently so people don't get confused, how does 'duv' sound?"
Similar to that many other words, names and contraptions have been added to the English Language. I ask myself where were all the teachers and mothers when Webster set in stone our dictionary and made it so we have so many mixed pronunciations and meanings of the same words?
If you would like to see more of these types of English confusions go to the web page cited below and have some kicks and giggles. Leave your thoughts and other words that you find just as disconcerted!
I Shall leave you with one last thought from the web page: "If a vegetarian eats vegetables What the heck does a humanitarian eat!? Why do people recite at a play, Yet play at a recital?" 


Web Page: Aha! English Language

Language... Enjoy it.

I feel as though Stephen Fry's message of, 'simply enjoy language for what it is and what it gives us as a society,' is targeting not only English speaking people but all speaking peoples. I feel as though he wishes people to just give language a break, and not try and show off how much one individual knows of language by cutting down an others speech or broadcasting. All in all I feel as though Mr. Fry just wishes for more people to take an interest in language but keeping a cool head about it at the same time.

Stephen Fry on Language

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7E-aoXLZGY

Stephen Fry, known for being a well spoken man, made a video about how people don't enjoy language anymore. He mentions how people these days get enjoyment out of everything except words and the only people who are concerned about language care about the wrong things. People have written Stephen Fry trying to get him to join their cause about changing "five items or less" signs in their local grocery stores because it isn't correct. Stephen fry comments on how these people try to show off and tell people how language "should be," while these people have never truly enjoyed language. Everyone speaks their own different version of English depending on where they are from or how they were raised. Stephen Fry states, "There is no right language or wrong language anymore than there are right or wrong clothes." What is important to him isn't grammar and punctuation it's the love a desire to appreciate language for what it is.