Stumble upon StumbledUpon!

Ok so it’s no longer a secret. People are starting to find out about the next big step in social media StumbledUpon is like a big social media slot machine. It is a discovery engine that lets its users (stumblers) find things across the web according to their interests and preferences. SU is not considered a search engine because when you use them to search, you are not looking for a particular subject rather any information the site can find about your topic. I find this way of searching actually fun because you are not scrolling through numerous pages hoping to find information you can use.

The SU community relies on ratings, the more “hits” a site gets, the better the rating it gets the site. Information that gets a lot of thumbs-up and high ratings will be shown to lots of Stumblers.Content that either doesn’t get voted for or receives thumb-downs will be shown to fewer Stumblers. The profile of the users that either thumb content up or down also effects how well the submission does. Newly submitted content passes through the “classification engine” before it is entered into the system. I feel that this is my absolutely favorite way to search about my favorite topics. I also use this site when I am doing research, and trying to get ideas for speeches.

What is "Framing"?

Framing is what the media tells us what to think about and how to think about it .In my PRSS class we learned how a “framed” issue is deciphered, and how a public receives the message. Dr. D introduced us to George Lakoff, a cognitive linguistics who explores the science of the mind. Lakoff believes that 98% of our thinking is unconscious, and that the brain makes decisions for you that you are not consciously aware of. An example of framing is how the military presents their message to intrigue individuals to enlist. The American government does this every time we have a major war to gain support for their efforts.

             When trying to gain support for war the government framed the nation as a family, working for one cause. They wanted the America people to adapt "The Nation as Family" ideal, so that they will embrace the war as a patriotic duty. The government utilized the process of Echo Chamber. The idea of an echo chamber plays on repetition, If we hear the same language over and over we will think more and more in terms of the terms and frames of that language. This lead to the iconic poster of Uncle Sam calling our young men and women into action. This made Americans, feel like it was their responsibility to help out. Another way to frame a message is by "The Power of Storytelling". Humans by nature adapt a message when it is presented as a story. Storytelling is the essence of human thought and communication. It provides

the framework for fragments, and reveals their meaning. 

Are trees still necessary for paper?

When is the last time you handwrote a letter?

Or opted for the paperback text when an eBook was available?

Technology has provisioned a way for us to rely less on natural recourses. In a day in age where everyone owns a laptop, tablet, Smartphone, or access to a desktop, our reliance on paper is dwindling.

The word paper is derived from the Egyptian word papyrus. Papyrus is a palm tree looking plant that is made primarily of grasses and leaves, not wood. Before the 20^th century it was the primary source of all the paper products in the world. According to Ecology.com “nearly 4 billion trees or 35% of the total trees cut around the world are used in paper industries on every continent.” On top of this grueling number add the fact that each year tons of highly toxic chemicals such as methanol, hydrochloric acid, and formaldehyde are released into the air and water from paper mills all over the world. These chemicals release into the surrounding environment, and air and expose not only humans; but plant and wildlife also.

Of course we have grown accustomed to having it, so how do we lower our dependence on it?

Paper made of plants and grasses requires less processing than wood-derived paper. Plants such hemp and switch grass can be grown almost, and make excellent paper. The process of making paper out of these plants is also cheaper than wood pulp.

So, why do you think we are still using wood for paper?