Flip The Truth

2009-09-14T22:22:00.000-07:00

By: Erik Medrano [@erikmed]

On July 1^st 2009, Microsoft's Bing community blog announced that a few thousand twitter profiles will be searchable on their latest search engine. The development is crucial to Bing's growth and popularity, as Microsoft beat Google and Yahoo to surfacing twitter profiles in this manner.

Unlike the exclusive contract Apple has with AT&T to monopolize the iPhone, Twitter has opened their API (Application Programing Interface) to the public. Any search engine could have capitalized on this development, making Bing's accomplishments a bit less honored, but the feature works and is indeed the first.

As promised after entering a Bing search field with “@cnnbrk”, Bing delivered the profile of CNN's twitter page at the top of the page, along with CNN's two latest tweet updates and three links taking users to the CNN twitter home page.

“We’re not indexing all of Twitter at this time… just a small set of prominent and prolific Twitterers to start. We picked a few thousand people to start, based primarily on their follower count and volume of tweets.” Microsoft Bing community blog

Impressive, but will this development pay off? In fact, all of Bing's efforts were questionable after the June 5^th launch not to mention the enormous campaign ad produced by agency JWT at a reported cost of over $90 million.

Microsoft's efforts to keep Bing rolling past Google will with out a doubt reward search users. More reason to keep the lovely free market economy we have doing what it's suppose to do: forcing competition and bringing out the best product.

Hope to give others hope

2009-05-16T05:27:00.000-07:00

I was on assignment with a nearing deadline and completely wasted my time interviewing a very private J & R Electronics employee. So far in my short career as a journalist I've been fortunate to only discover the outgoing personalities that have no problem confessing their life stories to a complete stranger.

Anxious and frustrated, I made my way toward the exit of the clustered Macy's on 34th and Broadway. "How could some one who sells such cool toys have such a dry story," I thought to myself?

Right in front of the exit I was greeted by two college aged security guards excited to get off and go out for drinks. "Hey man have a good night," the tall friendly security guard built for a D1 footbal position said to me.

I immediatly sparked up a converstation with these guys and the next thing I know Steve, the same one who greeted me, offered to help out with my assignment after he got off work. Five minutes later we walked over to Heartland Brewery on 34th and 5th for a beer.

Steve's hope comes from giving others hope. He claims "It doesn't matter where I go, I wanna make a difference in somebodys life".

With a BS in Criminal Justice, two minors in Psychology and Socialogy but little experience, there isn't much hope for Steve's dreams of becoming a police officer.

When Steve was was 11 or 10 years old he dressed up as a police officer for Halloween. "My friends and I had an expeirence with the cops that showed me that these people really care. The cops came by and asked how we were doing, if everything was going alright or if we needed anything... seeing someone helping a complete stranger told me, these people really want to make a difference".

Still, Steven made it very clear that while having a successful career would be nice, ultimately thats not where his hope comes from.

He will always have hope from helping the world become a better place.

Stupidity

2008-11-09T01:37:00.001-08:00

Stupidity. Unwilling or incapable of considering the relevant information.

I hate being called stupid. I hate it if anyone considers me to be stupid. To me there is a difference between acting in a stupid and silly manner, and actually being a person of stupid virtues. Some one of poor learning abilities is different than a comic character in a social setting.

Indeed the truth hurts and most of us don't want to face it. A wise man might tell you something like this: "Just because you don't want to believe something, doesn't mean its not true"

I'm sure there's plenty out there who convince themselves something for the sake of keeping their dignity and false sense of their world intact. No body wants to be laughed at and ridiculed, yet so many poke fun at individuals. Whether intentional or not they are prying at peoples insecurities like an opened wound.

Good Christians will always encourage us to be nice and sensitive to others. I always dismissed this as a lame and boring approach to treating people. Maybe I was stupid to not consider this argument earlier in life, or maybe I'm just stubborn to listen to others. I find it more satisfying to learn this lesson on my own through a genuine experience. If I was always so gullible to believe everything taught to me would I be a Christian or an Atheist, a republican or a democrat, a liberal or a conservative. Some truths just need to be flipped over and checked under our own individual supervision, and not by popular demand.

Lost

2008-11-05T14:14:00.000-08:00

I wanna give everything to the Lord. But than again I don't. Pride holds me back from admitting my fault. I know repenting even after knowingly sinning isn't quite enough for God's standard of Holy. Kinda makes me not want to be Holy.

I hate Christians some times, and I believe its perfectly normal for people to act this way (normal, not good, but normal). People hate God left and right, all day. The thought behind this is that God challenges us to live up to a higher level. This concept is still a new lesson for me to learn, and I will challenge it till the sun goes down.

Is it not enough for us to just love God, but not obey him completely? Why does God require us to be so selfless? Is it because he knows more joy will come of it for both him and ourselves, or is it because it displays purity in heart and spirit?

I'm still asking myself, is selfishness evil? And if it is than whats appealing for me not to be evil? Is nothing but joy and peace that you are doing the right thing, pleasing the Lord and pleasing others enough appeal for some body to want to be good and not care about themselves? I think I understand why we shouldn't want to be evil, but a drop of evil and selfishness could produce an interesting balance. I'm trying to challenge and question this truth that's instilled in me, searching for answers and a solution to my dilemma.

Don't you get so tired of being good all the time that you wanna be a little bad. If that's a demonic spirit, than that's a great excuse for Christians to hide behind. I'm more prone to think humans by design are selfish, and maybe the devil does pry at that selfishness.

All in all, if I was Adam I wouldn't be pleased to hear God tell me to not eat from the tree of knowledge without giving me an in-depth explanation. Yes, you will surely die is the ultimate explanation, but than why was Eve so easily fooled by the serpent? Couldn't God have given more thought to his explanation to these foreign visitors of his garden?

I don't find Adam and Eve to be evil people, or even completely foolish people. I almost admire them for being so curious. I find the untamed and rebellious spirit to produce some of the most beautiful works. Think of a world without questions. How many answers do you think you would come across?

Regent Student Political Debate

2008-10-30T20:36:00.000-07:00

Fiery and personal; a heated debate between Regent Democrats and Republicans took place in the Library Auditorium Thusday, October 30th. The first ever student debate here at Regent University offered an opportunity for students just 5 days before the election to sharpen their political views.

Sensitive topics such as abortion and Christianity were the initial platforms taken, but students quickly moved onto issues of the economy, foreign policy and the integrity of Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama.

The Question and Answer section of the debate rightfully brought out the boxing gloves as students challenged the debate panel to revisit the issues of race and the virtue of both presidential candidates.

Students congregated around pizza and soda after the debate. No blood was shed.

2008-10-27T21:05:00.001-07:00

Over 90 divided family members reunite on an American budget

By: Erik Medrano

Hacienda El Jaral, a local resort of Copan Honduras, was shut down on August 18^th, 2008, to host a special type of family gathering. With $12,150 American dollars, the Medranos of the US financed the reunion of 90 divided family members.

The exclusive gathering united nearly all-living members of Jose Domingo and his wife Elisa Cruz’s family.

In 1971 Jose Domingo Medrano migrated from the mountains of Copan Honduras to the capital of the United States. A year later he could afford to include his wife and four children on this immigrant story.

“Without my father’s migration to the US, there might not have been an event like this had he raised us in Honduras", Jose Manuel second born son of Jose Domingo commented.

Jose and Elisa Medrano dancing at the reunion.

Divided by 2296 miles, nineteen Honduran Americans traveled back to the mother land of Honduras. Some had visited in the past, but for those born in America this was a first encounter with a family they had never met.

“This trip in many ways completed my identity,” expresses Justin Medrano, grandson of Jose Domingo. “For all of my life I’ve constantly had to explain my father’s heritage without ever stepping foot in Honduras. Meeting the rest of my family at age eighteen only seems eighteen years late”.

As far as Honduran natives, four families traveled from the nations capital Tegucigalpa, three traveled from the city San Pedro Sula and eight families had a shorter travel from the city of Copan itself.

From the Honduran American generation the five children of Jose Domingo and Elisa Cruz, along with one other cousin, financed this exquisite festive. Together they paid $7,150 for the family’s travel expenses. Another $5000 of the budget paid for two days accommodation and food.

The oldest family member at the reunion was Jose Domingo’s brother Julio Medrano, at eighty-three years old. The youngest, a mere 45 days old, was Isabelle daughter of Rene Medrano.

“The beauty behind this trip was that for so many years our relatives in Honduras hosted us and took us into their homes when we came to visit,” explains Jose Manuel, son of Jose Domingo. “This was the first time anyone could afford to gather almost all our parents living relatives together in one place”.

Power and Politics

2008-10-19T22:31:00.000-07:00

Are we suppose to strive for positions of power? Do we always have to answer to those in authority? How can I become successful and avoid this game of power and politics? Is it possible?

I just want to create art, be successful and own my own company. However, I need people and I need to one day be in an authoritative position, so how is it possible to avoid power at all?

Its frustrating and complicated, but in the end I pray it will all be worth it.

I can not avoid dealing with people.

If I don't get involved, than why am I here at Regent?

Lord right now I want to pray that my plans are according to you. I want to pray that I'm not doing these things with Regent and RUC because of my own personal differences. I pray even if I am, that I learn from this experience of potential mistakes or you stray me away from making the mistakes altogether. Either way, if you're okay with me doing this, than I'm gonna need some tools. I'll need to learn how to submit. I'll need to learn how to convince these people my intentions are pure. And I can't do that alone, I need you Lord to help me here. I don't want to expose these people for being wrong, but a side of me does. I don't wish to ruin them, but Lord its hard for me to just step back and watch. Who am I to be this voice of truth and authority. Make it feel right about what I am doing Lord, and help me not corrupt my intentions. There is this huge possibility of corruption, and I don't want to do something I would regret. Whatever my next step is, actually please just give me guidance. Give me guidance in all I wish to do, with school with RUC with the Founders with church, with Chapel. I'm messing up Lord, all of those things. All of the projects I have a heart to be a part of I'm messing up. And I feel its all because people are stopping me. I don't know how to control them and affect their thinking. And maybe they’re not, and its me, but I fear those who will say I’m not holy or good enough to do these great things at Regent. Maybe its me who feels im not good enough. Maybe I’m letting the devil make me feel I’m not good enough.

People will think this and that about me. I hate what people think about me, you know this. It wouldn’t effect me so much if I didn’t care about my school and was just here getting by, not getting involved. That’s why I hate politics and power. I hate the uncomfortable feeling that people don't like me or that people are trying to find the worst in me. Being under a microscope, in the spot light, with people waiting to see me make a mistake. It’s a deep issue I need you to help me out with PLEASE. I need to get over it in order to do these great things I have a heart for. I don't want to sin right now. I don't want to sin tomorrow Lord. I love having this relationship with you, but I really wish I can do some great things as well. If you're okay with me doing them than please help. If you think I should just chill, waste time and money in my opinion, than I'd actually be okay with that. Help me feel free, because right now I feel completely limited.

Thank You.

Redskins Triumph over Browns 14-11

2008-10-19T20:44:00.000-07:00

Honduran Revelations

2008-08-04T11:12:00.001-07:00

First off, I can't get this niche of a revelation out of my mind so here goes. I'm here at my Tia Julia's house and she lives with her 2 daughters and their children. One daughter, whose name I just neglectfully forgot, has a son named Julio. The kids only 3 years old but hes not shy and timid like so many other young kids I've met here in Honduras. Anyways, I can tell he's the king of his whole domain because theres no other kids his age around and he hasn't had much interaction with other boys his age also. So this kids the man, real cool and playful, but you can tell when he gets irritated. Kinda that terrible twos theory psychologists have explored.

Anyway my point is little Julio has lived a very selfish life up until now. Not that its his fault, but everything in his world has pretty much revolved around him. His mother is great and I know she teaches him the usual catholic Latino family morals and all. Besides that though, the kid is pretty free and loving. What makes me sad is that this won't last long. I dunno if school has the same affect on all kids, but I know its gonna change him. Right now he has and gets everything he needs, and has a blast doing it. Just look at the smile on his face 24-7. Kids great. But I wonder, how will a new social environment alter Julios sense of utopia. Its fully necessary as education always is, but I can see now how parents fear public or even private institutions and keep their children sheltered at home. I use to criticize the fearful parents, making them feel cowardly and over protective. I've always tried to see things from both sides of an argument, but just being around Julio makes my perspective on homeschooling a whole lot different.

In conclusion, I'd say send Julio to public school. His character is strong, and he´ll do just fine as long as his home life doesn't change too much. It's a mere tragedy to erase a child's perfect state of peace. But the end result of a sheltered young boy in a mans body could be more tragic. It's a battle field out there in the real world. We're expected to live happily, with true peace and a successful career. Pressures of the real world tell us to get money drive nice cars and sleep with attractive women. Pressures of religion tell us to live holy and worship an omnicent being instead of ourselves. Happiness looks more attractive on the real worlds side, but maybe the spiritual side can offer a greater level of peace. When you think of all this big scale problems a young boy has to face becoming a man, I know I want to prepare mine for it all. Give him the world, because it's where we live and who we are as humans. Let the tiger run out of its cage first, and when it comes back, its stronger faster wiser. I'm sorry, the judgment of an experienced man who's been there is in a whole bigger favor than the judgment of a man whose only been taught to not experience the world.

Political Activism

2008-06-02T22:53:00.000-07:00

So many of the youth in my generation have decided to "leave the politics to the politicians". So many choose to stay uninvolved with the issues that affect our nation and the world around us. I use to think ignorance was the most contributing factor to this refusal of activism. However I realize theres the select few who remain neutral for understandable reasons. It's not always that the youth feel they can't make a difference, and its not that they don't feel they need to make a difference.

I was talking to my coworker today and he told me GAS PRICES and oil isn't an issue he worries about. In his opinion the cost of gas will continue to rise, and instead of getting riled up and pissed off at White America and greedy Middle Easterns my wise coworker has a laid back solution to the issue; faith that GOD will provide enough for him to get enough GAS to get around, faith that GOD will provide enough money to pay the GAS and faith that GOD will provide others with fuel for their vehicles.

Before my coworker could replace the pump after filling up his own vehicle he was approached by a man holding an empty gas can. Maybe it was his conscious, maybe it was the LORD, but the next thing he knew he was filling that man's gas pump with 4 dollars worth of over priced gasoline. The man made it home, and my co worker was only short 4 dollars. Maybe faith in the LORD is all we need, and it isn't every ones fight to bring gas prices down. Leave it to those who are responsible for politics. If it is our calling as college students the LORD very well may rather we focus on our present environment and people around us. Like the prayer of Jabez, enlarge your territory and touch others lives. Can life really be this simple: treat others how you wish to be treated?

Spoken Word

2008-06-01T22:47:00.000-07:00

Tupac said It's just him against the world, all by himself with nothing to loose. We as men take it upon ourselves to face the harsh realities of life all by ourself. I feel Tupac though. I try and take on the giant world all on my own as well. The Truth when I say its a struggle.

A boxer once said "The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done" (Rocky).

All I'm saying is life IS a bitch. You don't need me to tell you life doesn't care if you're ready for it's nasty low blows. The Truth is life is easier with a partner to take on the relentless waves of stress. The Truth is conquering a battle against a big opponent like the WORLD takes a team. I've given up trying to fight the system of life all by myself. As much as it hurts me to lay my pride down and ask for help, I feel that much more of a man when I can say I went to Jesus for help. Jesus is my homeboy, and when I needed him he was always there. We know how difficult life can be at times, but like Rocky said "it ain't how hard you hit; its about how hard you can get hit" Rocky's just a fictional character we all know, but theres truth in what he had to say. Keep fighting the battles of life, theres strength inside you to do it. Believe that Jesus wants to help you though. You can do all you dream in life all on your own, but you won't have peace. But if you get sick of the fight, which you will, just know theres a real G out there who can help you out, wants to help you out, and all you gotta do is show some love and pay your respect to a cool ass savior.