Links of the week

Photo of the week:

HUSL Today Week at a Glance:

MONDAY
Quote: You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find humor in anything, even poverty, you can survive it.” -Bill Cosby
Sharing is Caring: 7 Jobs to Skip College for. http://husltoday.blogspot.com/2010/07/sharing-is-caring-7-jobs-to-skip.html
Music Monday. http://husltoday.blogspot.com/2010/07/music-monday.html

TUESDAY
Quote: “Everything in life is connected somehow. You may have to dig deep to find it but its there. Everything is the same even though its different. Somehow everything connects back with your life. The faces in certain places may be different, but the situation is the same. Irony is a hidden factor that creeps around us in life, letting its presence felt only after it has left. Picture back to a year ago and the situation you were in. Look at how things are different yet somehow everything it still in someway cognate. Everything connects together to form the balance of life, to maintain structure. Change is and always will be inevitable, but everything is relative, and all the moments and times in your life will come back around again, you just might find yourself on the other side of the coin. Things are always changing, as fast as everything stays the same.” -Unknown


Wal Mart introduces new smart tags for individual products. Are they protecting their inventory or have they found a new way to invade our privacy? http://husltoday.blogspot.com/2010/07/walmart-introduces-smart-tag-are-they.html

Wal-Mart introduces Smart Tags. Are they protecting their inventory or invading our privary ? http://husltoday.blogspot.com/2010/07/walmart-introduces-smart-tag-are-they.html

BP will say HELLO Robert Dudley and GOODBYE Tony Hayward on October 1! http://husltoday.blogspot.com/2010/07/bp-will-say-hello-to-robert-dudley-and.htm

WEDNESDAY
Quote: “We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” -Frederick Keonig


THURSDAY
Quote: N/A.
Call me Ferris Bueller because I'm taking the day off. http://husltoday.blogspot.com/2010/07/call-me-ferris-bueller.html
Music News. One step closer to Kanye. http://husltoday.blogspot.com/2010/07/music-news-one-step-closer-to-kanye.html 
Evening Giggles. http://husltoday.blogspot.com/2010/07/evening-giggles.html

FRIDAY
Quote: "Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it's holy ground. There's no greater investment." -Stephen Covey
Is Facebook evil? (Dont shoot the messenger) More Facebook antics and 5 rules for every YP to follow online. Check it>>>http://husltoday.blogspot.com/2010/07/more-facebook-antics-5-online-rules-for.html
Music Break. http://husltoday.blogspot.com/2010/07/music-break.html

And now for the news!!

Political News:
Wikileaks published over 90,000 documents it says are Afghan war records. http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/26/whats-in-the-wikileaks-documents/?hpt=T1

Howard Dean accuses Fox News of being racist. Thank you Captain Obvious! http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/?fbid=obE1yvJNxba

Legal News:

Khmer Rouger survivors angry over sentence of convicted war criminal. http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/26/cambodia.khmer.rouge.verdict/index.html?hpt=Sbin

New York settles Sean Bell lawsuit. http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/07/27/new.york.sean.bell/index.html

Credit reports. Love em or hate em you must keep track of them. http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/110062/pay-off-your-balance-each-month-your-credit-report-may-not-show-it?mod=oneclick

  

Music Break

We can all use a little mid day(ok its not mid day yet) inspiration. Consider this my effort to inspire you to finish the week strong!

Take a moment and give thanks for who you are!

Sidenote: I know this is not the full video, but I enjoyed this one. Check the whole song here.

More Facebook Antics & 5 online rules for EVERY Young Professional

Lets make a long story short:
Security concerns over Facebook have been raised yet again after a security consultant collected the names and profile URLs for 171 million Facebook accounts from publicly available information. The consultant, Ron Bowes, then uploaded the data as a torrent file allowing anyone with a computer connection to download the data.

Simon Davies a representative of the U.K.-based privacy watchdog Privacy International accused Facebook of negligence over the data mining technique, according to the BBC. Facebook, however, told the British news service that Bowes actions haven't exposed anything new since all the information Bowes collected was already public.


Check out the original story and source here.

I'm reaching my whits end with Facebook. Its a necessary evil when you're in the blogging business yet the powers that be at FB continue to invade our privacy and collect information on us without so much as a warning. I would not have such an issue with them collecting information if they put a sort of "blast" on the site the same way they did when they wanted people to create those redonculous custom domain names i.e. Facebook.com/husltoday.

They should focus more on keeping everyone easily informed without having to find out from secondary sources after the fact. The info put out should be straight forward and specific about the information that is at risk of being collected and shared. I especially find their backdoor tactic of sharing information indirectly obtained on you from your less than tech savvy friends who do not have private profiles downright preposterous. This means even if your information has been made private, if your friend has not made their info private the info spies can go in and get intel on you anyway.Wouldnt that defeat the purpose of making your info private? Seems like someone wants to give people a false sense of security about the info they choose to share online. If you ask me, your info is never really private on Facebook.

Find out the 5 online rules when you read the rest.

Out the door...inspirational quote to start your day

Good morning friends!!! Thanks for stopping by! Here is today's quote:

Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it's holy ground. There's no greater investment." -Stephen Covey

I know today is Friday and I know you may be rushing to cross everything off of your list for this week. What I want everyone to understand is that self growth takes time and patience. Everything will not happen overnight. There will be setbacks. You will get discouraged. Have patience with yourself and give yourself the opportunity to learn about yourself. Have faith in yourself and learn to accept that life is a journey not a destination. Truly live to embrace and improve your imperfections while allowing your strengths to speak for themselves. 

Love!!

Image source: http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/articles/health_tools/biomed_neuragen_nerve_pain_slideshow/getty_rm_photo_of_man_walking_on_hot_coals.jpg

Evening giggles

I know I said I would take the day off, but Antoine Dodson made that impossible. My duty as a blogger is to share my joy. Hence, the clip below.



If you cannot find humor in this, I'm not sure there is a way to make you happy. 
Watch the video
Giggle
Watch it again
Giggle
Share your joy

Call me Ferris Bueller...

...Because I'm taking the day off. Yesterday left me mentally drained. I worked so hard that I could barely think straight. Its so difficult for me to admit this but I need to take a day off. Like most days we take off, this one was not planned. I'm taking this day to do a few housekeeping things. I apologize about the inconvenience and I promise to resume regular posting tomorrow.

Love!

Music News: One Step Closer to Kanye

Anyone who knows me (I hate to start statements like this) knows how much I love Kanye and all of his antics. Although 'Ye is often unpredictable, rude, disrespectful and downright out of line, when he is around I know I will be entertained. He recently stopped by Facebook headquarters for somewhat of an unplugged performance. Watch below:





He also joined twitter recently and is on his way to a million followers in less than 2 days. Follow him if you so desire @KanyeWest follow @HUSLToday while you're at it. Say what you will about 'Ye but he is gifted and talented. Are any of you fans of Kanye West?

Out the Door...Inspirational Quote to Start Your Day

Good morning all! Below is today's quote:

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” -Frederick Keonig 

Sometimes on a journey to accomplish our goals we forget to stop and appreciate the things we already have. Regardless of the last time you took time to do such a thing, right now is the time to do it. If you have both your legs, feet, arms and hands appreciate that. There is someone right now fighting to keep both of their legs. Be greateful and appreciate the fact that you are sane enough to read these notes because there is someone who cannot. Be thankful for all of the opportunities that have presented themselves to you regardless of whether you took advantage of them. Be thankful if you have a roof over your head and surviving family members. Take the time to appreciate what you have today and use it asmotivation to build upon it.

Sidenote: Since its hump day you now have permission to do a happy dance. Here's a song. Thank me later.

Love!

BP will say HELLO to Robert Dudley and GOODBYE to Tony Hayward

Image source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCY78wp8UUisE8MNcJZ5hBv-f9gyIIDWh78PUsDxq1E1i21TEi_NT8yPNSRV_Lh2hkiXydC9FmmGDTD8I3MYDauVoQc3l2g6uCAXD9JAwv-KMxpxChNH9YblQNpTWneXEykelQBzymXwuv/s320/hayward.jpg

If all goes as the press releases claim, Tony Hayward will step down as BP CEO on October 1, the company announced Tuesday, amid ongoing outrage over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Robert Dudley, a long-time BP employee with more than 30 years in the oil business will replace Hayward. A chemical engineer by training, Dudley was put in charge of the day-to-day leadership of the Gulf Coast clean-up operation in June.


BP said Hayward will receive a year’s salary amounting to $1.6 million but further details of his severance package were not disclosed. Given his recent performance, compensation experts say he will probably not receive the lucrative cash bonuses or stock awards given to many outgoing executives at comparable U.S. corporations.

According to BP’s most recent annual report, Hayward amassed a pension worth nearly $17 million in his 28 years of service, which is expected to be doled out in annual payments of more than $900,000. It is unclear however, if Hayward, who was born in 1957, will be eligible for retirement benefits before he turns 60 years old.

Wow! It seems like Hayward wont be struggling when he leaves, unlike the people affected by the big MESS BP made in the gulf. If my predictions are correct, aside from anniversary stories and checkups on the gulf every blue moon I think the hype will die down in less than 2 years and Hayward will be able to live his life like a normal person because no one will care to hear about it anymore.

Its the nature of Americans. Its hard to keep our attention no matter how terrible the disaster may have been. When was the last time you heard a story about the Tsunami victims, people affected by the Enron scandal or the earthquake in Haiti? When tragic events happen, our media pounces on every opportunity to capture golden footage but as time passes so does our attention span. Unfortunately, the media attention and the empathy of Americans lasts as long as sand in an hour glass.

Your thoughts??

Walmart introduces the "Smart Tag." Are they protecting their inventory or invading our privacy??

Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) is putting electronic identification tags on men’s clothing like jeans starting Aug. 1 as the world’s largest retailer tries to gain more control of its inventory. But the move is causing a ruckus among privacy experts.

According to USA Today and the Wall Street Journal, the roll back giant and one stop conglomerate has created a new “smart tag” that uses a radio frequency to send a signal to everything you buy. Wally world will reportedly begin testing smart tags on men's clothing next month -- including jeans, underwear and socks -- in an attempt to gain more control over its inventory. The removable tags can be read from a distance with scanners to let workers know what sizes are running low on the shelves and tell what items are in stock. They could also ostensibly help combat employee theft.

The tags work by reflecting a radio signal to identify products. This technology is not new, dating back to the 1940s, but is generally used in warehouses, not on individual products.

The individual garments, will have removable smart tags that can be read from a distance by Wal-Mart workers with scanners. In seconds, the worker will be able to know what sizes are missing and will also be able tell what it has on hand in the stock room. Such instant knowledge will allow store clerks to have the right sizes on hand when shoppers need them.


One fear is that Wal-Mart would be able to tack movements of customers, who, in some border states like Michigan and Washington, are carrying driver's licenses that contain RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags to make it easier for them to cross borders. Even worse, the data it retrieved from your license can give them access to other sensitive personal information (Why didnt anyone tell me this?).

Although Wal-Mart boasts about the efficiency of the new smart tag, Katherine Albrecht, director of a group called Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering says “This is a first piece of a very large and very frightening tracking system”

Albrecht fears that retailers could scan data from such licenses and their purchases and combine that data with other personal information. She also says that even though the smart tags can be removed from clothing, they can’t be turned off and can be tracked even after you throw them in the garbage, for example.

Wal-Mart officials said they are aware of privacy concerns but insist they are taking a “thoughtful and methodical approach.”

Of course they have to be thoughtful and methodical! They have to downplay the potential of their "smart tags" to reveal information you never wanted revealed in exchange for a deal on 10 pairs of socks! Then again, if they get reckless and lose control of the situation they risk losing their base. Pause. Many of the people who shop at Wal-Mart shop there because they need to save as much money as possible. *This* ladies and gentlemen is a nasty catch-22. As much as they would like to, many people simply cannot afford to boycott wally world. How many other places can you buy frozen pizzas, socks, baby diapers, simply lemonade, electronics and jewelery all while getting your car serviced?  As America's leading retailer Wal-Mart has set the standard for so many shady business practices. If this program proves to be a success, we can say hello to BIG brother, LITTLE brother and the whole BROTHER family because it will be much easier to track our every movement. I dont feel too comfortable purchasing a pair of socks that could give away my whereabouts without my permission. Does anyone else feel like the movie Enemy of the State is more fact than fiction?



Their new slogan should be: Save Money. Let us invade your privacy. Live Better.

What do you think? Are Wal-Mart's new smart tags an invasion of privacy? Weigh in...