The John Tesh Blog

Are We Too 'Twired' To Think?

I love the the freedom of using the Internet.  But a recent LA Times book review made me wonder if there are drawbacks to being part of the cyber generation. 

I'll admit it . . . the title of this new book by Emory College English professor, Mark Bauerlein The Dumbest Generation: How the Digitial Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future, or Don't Trust Anyone Under 30, got me a little hot under the collar.  I don't like being called dumb.

The LA Times reviewer launched his article with a frightening evaluation of the Internet generation:   

In the four minutes it probably takes to read this review, you will have logged exactly half the time the average 15 to 24-year-old now spends reading each day. That is, if you even bother to finish. If you are perusing this on the Internet, the big block of text below probably seems daunting, maybe even boring. Who has the time? Besides, one of your Facebook friends might have just posted a status update!

I had to ask myself, "Are we really becoming too 'twired' to think?"  Is the quick gratification of instant messages, iChats and text messaging influencing our intellectual abilities?   

By the time we answer our emails, the messages on Facebook, MySpace and Eons, do we have much time to use the Internet for research? 

The crux of Bauerlein's book took me by surprise:  "The problem is that instead of using the Web to learn about the wide world, young people instead mostly use it to gossip about each other and follow pop culture, relentlessly keeping up with the ever-shifting lingua franca of being cool in school."   

The World Wide Web has become more of a social web than a web of exchange of information regarding the serious stuff of life.  In addition, if peers are only connecting with peers, they lose out on the wisdom to be gained by connecting more with older parents and teachers.   

Here are some ways we can keep from allowing the Internet from getting us too twired:

Continue to read books.  Book clubs are springing up everywhere. You can find them in libraries and on the Internet. Read the classics by Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo, Herman Melville and many more.  If anything, the digital age should be used to complement the age of book learning. 

There's nothing like sitting on the beach stretched out on a lounge chair, with the waves lapping the shore in the background, digging your toes into the warm sand while enjoying your favorite paperback novel. Don't allow the Internet to minimize your love for books.   

Use the Internet to learn about what is ultimately most important.  When The Dumbest Generation's author Bauerlein told an audience of college students, "You are six times more likely to know who the latest American Idol is than you are to know who the speaker of the U.S. House is," a voice in the crowd responded: "American Idol IS more important."

Now that we are in the midst of a presidential election, the Internet is a wonderful place to learn about our candidates:  Barack Obama and John McCain

Never lose the ability to do your own research.  Gone are the days when we would spend hours in libraries with books spread out over several tables, taking notes and comparing ideas. Now it's tempting to get hooked on a few favorite news websites and take what we read as gospel truth.

In contrast, our access to the Internet ought to challenge our thinking and we should not be so quick to click off something we don't agree with or does not seem interesting. Intellectually, we end up stagnating and only believing what we want to believe.

Stay on top of your grammar and spelling. If you look at many postings on the internet, you'll find a lot of a grammatical and spelling errors.  I drive my radio staff and webteam crazy to make sure whatever we place on the Internet appears literate and grammatically correct.  Poor spelling is becoming more and more acceptable on Internet postings and blogs. Are we on a slippery slope where illiteracy will be accepted more and more?

Regardless of the concerns about the impact of the Internet, I see young people using computers to stay on top of the latest news and to become more actively engaged with our culture.  Let's watch the warning signs and utilize the Internet to as a means to speed to smartness.

John
Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

To find out the best ways to keep your mind sharp and challenged, check out my new book, Intelligence For Your Life:  Powerful Lessons For Personal Growth.  You can purchase your copy of my book at your local bookstore or online at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.

Here's another example of a radio listener who had a chance to read Intelligence For Your Life:

Hi, John! I just finished reading your book, Intelligence For Your Life today. It's a wonderful book, and I plan to recommend it to many of my patients. I have the only private practice in my region for teens & young adults. I see many patients with Attention Deficit Disorder, and your comments regarding focusing on one's passion, slowing down, eating well, exercising, sleeping, and especially praying are perfect. The book is also written in a style that makes it so readable and fun to get into.  Thanks, and God bless you, Connie, and your family. Deborah (aka "Dr. PJ")

Have You Ever Considered Owning a Hybrid Vehicle?

Whether or not you plan to buy one, gasoline-electric hybrid cars are the wave of the future.

Despite the promotional hype, many Americans are still a bit squeamish about driving this automotive new breed.  If we’re honest, we’re not even sure we know what a hybrid is.

A hybrid car is only a “hybrid” because it uses both a gasoline-powered engine and an electric motor to accelerate the car.

For example, the electric motor can draw energy from the batteries to accelerate the car. Also acting as a generator, it can slow the car down and return energy to the batteries.  The gasoline engines acts like any other engine. 

So a hybrid is a car where a gasoline-powered engine and electric motor work together to make this baby run!

For those who want more under-the-hood information on hybrids, check out How Stuff Works.

Will a hybrid car save me gas?  The last time I gassed up, the cost of regular fuel was over $3.00 a gallon.  The way I see it, any vehicle that saves us on gas is worth looking at. 

Hybrid cars, according to some resources get up to 60 mpg, due to their advanced aerodynamics, engine efficiency and tire technology.  The tires on a hybrid are made of a special rubber that reduces friction.

Will a hybrid car actually save the environment?
We all want to do our part on cutting back on fossil fuel emissions which pollute the air.  Due to its electric motor and batteries, hybrids have reduced gas emissions which mean less CO2 emissions -a harmful pollutant.

In addition, hybrid cars are smaller and their overall lesser weight increases its efficiency.

Will it cost more to maintain a hybrid car?
A further benefit it that there are low maintenance costs due to the electric motor and the batteries.

Every time you apply the brakes, the brake system stores some of the energy back to the batteries.  Also, the gasoline-powered engine can recharge the batteries.  Right away the electric motor is cutting costs despite the presence of a gasoline-powered motor -though it is smaller than a standard car.

Will the hybrid cost more than a regular car?
People often argue against purchasing a hybrid because of the greater cost compared to a non-hybrid car. The difference between some hybrids and a non-hybrid is about $2000.

Consumers once believed it would take years before a customer would “break even” on the amount saved on fuel costs.  Most recently, with the rising costs of gasoline, and with hybrid car prices dropping, it’s very likely you will recoup that up-front premium in just a few short years.

The government has added an incentive to purchase a hybrid.  For hybrid cars there’s a federal tax deduction: the tax credits can range from $400 to $3,400. 

Before you jump into a hybrid, take one for a demo spin at some of the car dealerships that make them.  You’ll find they drive the same as gasoline powered cars. The acceleration is just as efficient and they can cruise just as fast as a standard car. 

Bottom line?  Buy a hybrid- it’s the most fuel-efficient vehicle on the road. They’re also fun to drive!

John   
Email John: johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Don’t forget. My new hardcover book Intelligence For Your Life: Powerful Lessons for Personal Growth will be released March 11th.  You can pre-order my book before March 11th at half price and you'll receive a free concert DVD by just clicking here.

Will New Light Bulbs End Up Being a Headache?

Have you heard the news about the end of the light bulb?  The incandescent light bulb will be phased off the U.S. market starting in 2012. 

In its place will be a new bulb -a compact fluorescent (CFL) that will reduce electricity costs.  According to Fast Company, if each of the 110 million homes in America replaced one 60-watt bulb with a CFL bulb, enough energy would be saved to power a city of 1.5 million people.

Consumer Reports found that CFLs last 3000 hours before wearing out, compared to only 1000 hours for a standard bulb.

Unfortunately, not everything is perfect with this improvement on Thomas Edison’s invention.  There’s a dark side to the CFLs.

CFLs generate more heat than the standard bulb.  Experts advise that CFLs should not be used with recessed lighting, but rather in a lamp or fixture with a bit of space around them.  With recessed lighting, the heat from the CFL can be trapped and cause pre-mature burn out, according to National Geographic's Green Guide.

CFLs have a shorter life span if not used properly.  Yahoo! Green warns not to flick the switch with the CFLs. Turning the switch on and off quickly shortens the life of the bulb.  The bulbs should be left on a minimum of fifteen minutes for each use. 

CFLs cost six times as much as the old-fashioned bulb.  According to U.S. News and World Report each cone shaped spiral CFL costs about $3.00, compared to $0.50 for a standard bulb.  However, a CFL uses 75 per cent less energy and lasts five years instead of a few months.   

CFLs contain toxic mercury. Yes, the toxic substance mercury is found in CFLs.  CFL manufacturers argue the old fashioned thermometer contained a hundred times more mercury.  That may sound comforting, but several concerns still crop up:

    • You’ll need to recycle your old CFLs. CFL producers warn us not to toss an old CFL into the garbage due to the tiny bits of mercury.  Instead you should be looking for a recycling center in your area.

    • You'll need to pay special attention if a CFL should break. Parade magazine advises if you break a CFL, open the windows and leave the room for a minimum of 15 minutes!  Once you come back, scoop up the fragments into a plastic bag and take it to a recycling center.

Despite the fact the amount of mercury in a CFL is very small - only 4 to 5 milligrams - special caution is needed when discarding a non working CFL.    

CFLs could cause migraine headaches.  Most people are not bothered by the flickering of a fluorescent bulb, but to the migraine sufferer the flickering can cause headaches, nausea and dizziness.  Since the CFLs use the same technology as fluorescents, there is major cause for concern.

In speaking with Kevin A. Kirschner, inventor of the NaturaLux™Filters, we learned his company is developing a special filter to be placed over the CFL to keep harmful UV rays away from migraine prone individuals.

Regardless, experts in this field believe there is no substantial data to suggest CFLs cause migraines.  However, from Kirschner I found out there are different kinds of migraines, and those afflicted with ocular migraines have a higher probability of being affected by the CFLs.

Regardless of the science that questions whether migraine sufferers will be affected by CFLs, the facts remain that some individuals may still experience health problems due to CFL exposure.

John

Email: johnsblog@teshmedia.com

To get your copy of my book, Intelligence For Your Life:  Powerful Lessons For Personal Growth, you can preorder it at half price before the March 11th release date. Plus you'll receive a free DVD of John Tesh Alive Music&Dance and I will autograph your copy of the book.  Don't delay. Order now by just clicking here.

 

Getting Rid Of Your E-Waste

Ever tried lifting a television set or a computer monitor only to learn it’s a lot heavier than you thought? 

Here’s the inside scoop:  these devices contain CRTs (cathode ray tubes) which have four to five pounds of toxic lead in them. That’s enough to throw out your back!

I know this information can’t ease your back pain, but I raise a crucial issue . . . e-waste. 

What in the world is e-waste?  E-waste includes TVs, computers, stereos, copiers, fax machines and cell phones that are nearing the end of their useful life. You know . . . the stuff we plop next to the garbage cans Thursday night hoping they’ll be picked up Friday morning.   

Many of these products can be reused, refurbished or recycled.

What usually happens with e-waste?  Parade Magazine reports there are more than 1.5 million tons of e-waste thrown into America’s landfills and incinerators every year instead of being recycled. 

When TVs and computers are dumped, lead from solder and the leaded glass screen - along with heavy metals like cadmium and mercury - seep into the groundwater.  Incineration of these products is not much better as it produces highly toxic ash.

Why is e-waste such a growing problem? The Environmental Protection Agency claims the United States generates more e-waste than any other nation. More than 4.6 million tons of it entered U.S. landfills at the beginning of this century and that will grow four-fold until 2010.

Some companies in their effort to save the environment have opted to store un-usable electronics. According to the California Integrated Waste Management Board, 75% of old electronics are in storage mostly because the uncertainty of how to manage the materials.

Now the worst news . . .

The toxins contained in e-waste, such as lead, cadmium and mercury, find their way into our land, air and water.

In addition, an estimated 50-80 percent of e-waste collected in the U.S. for recycling is exported to China, India or Pakistan, where workers taking apart the old machines handle toxic chemicals that pose serious health problems.

So what are we to do with unwanted e-junk? 

You may have heard the mantra, “reduce, reuse and recycle"? This applies when it comes to taking care of unwanted e-waste. 

    •Reduce the amount of e-waste through good maintenance of your product. You can do a lot by actually fixing an electronic product.

If you have an outdated TV set, keep it operational. You can always relocate it to another room other than your media room.  A great place to watch the TV news is the bathroom . . . while taking a bath, of course.

    •Reuse electronic equipment that is still functioning.  Donate any working equipment to a school or nonprofit organization. I’ve seen banks ask customers to contribute their old cell phones so they can be sent to soldiers in Iraq to be used to call home. 

    •Recycle the components than cannot be repaired.  What if your stuff is broken and useless? Find out if your state has an e-waste disposal program.

Here’s one more option. Send your worn-out products back to the manufacturer.  According to Parade, many corporations - Dell, Apple and Sony - will take back their products. You might have to pay for shipping.  Not a bad price to pay to keep our environment healthy.

John

Email:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

To get your copy of my book, Intelligence For Your Life:  Powerful Lessons For Personal Growth, you can preorder it at half price before the March 11th release date. Plus you'll receive a free DVD of John Tesh Alive Music&Dance and I will autograph your copy of the book.  Don't delay. Order now by just clicking here.

What To Do When Approached by a Homeless Person

We really have little idea what to do when we encounter a homeless individual asking us for money.

It’s especially hard when we’re stopped in our car at an intersection, and out of the corner of our eye we notice a scruffy-looking person holding a sign in our face, “Please Help!”

Out of confusion we entertain choosing one of the following responses:

“I’ll look the other way and pretend not to see him. Maybe the light will change so I won’t make eye contact.”

“I’ll roll down the window and say ‘good morning’. It’s better than ignoring him.”

“I’m going to tell this lazy good-for-nothing to go out and look for a job.”

Honestly, we’d rather stuff a check into an envelope and send it off to a service that aids the homeless.

One major obstacle that prevents us from wanting to personally help the homeless is our suspicious attitude towards them:

•This person’s trying to scam me. Sure, there are people who would take advantage of our compassion. Nevertheless, if we guard ourselves against every person in need, we may end up with hard hearts towards destitute people with legitimate needs.

•This person’s going to use the money to buy drugs or alcohol. Addiction is a problem for many homeless people. Yet even the addict needs to eat and take care of his legitimate human needs.

•This person might be dangerous and harm me. Yes, there are many homeless people who are mentally ill. However, those individuals begging on the side of the road are also taking chances of being hurt by angry motorists. Statistics show the homeless are more the victims of violence than the perpetrators.

It may help if we got a bigger perspective on the homeless issue. We can start by familiarizing ourselves with some heartbreaking statistics compiled by several organizations such as the National Coalition for the Homeless, Homes for the Homeless and the Institute for Children and Poverty:

• Nationally, there are more than 750,000 homeless people on any given night and only 250,000 spaces available in shelters.

• Between 25% and 40% of the homeless population are employed.

• The primary causes of homelessness are domestic violence, lack of affordable housing and poverty.

• More than 1.3 million children are homeless.

• The average age of a person who is homeless in the United States is nine years old.

So what do you do when someone begging for money approaches you?

Experts advise it’s not the wisest choice to offer cash since the money could be used to feed a drug habit.

A better solution is to keep a grocery bag in your car containing items for homeless and hungry people.

Items to include in this bag are:

•Dinty Moore/Hormel meals
•Granola bars and prepackaged trail mix
•Vacuum-sealed bags of tuna
•Travel sized toiletries – soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush and washcloth
•Plastic wrapped napkins, forks, knives, salt and pepper
•Bottle of water or juice
•Toilet paper
•A bag of socks– ever wear a single pair for
several days?

Of course, taking this course means you’ll have to engage the homeless person. A simple “God bless you,” as you hand them an item is always a good way to go.

For additional suggestions, check out the justgive.org website and read their article on “Thirty Five Ways to Help the Homeless.”

John
Email: johnsblog@teshmedia.com