Congratulations to Parry Aftab!  She was selected as McAfee’s new Internet Safety Advisor.  I have participated with Parry on a variety of panels with Parry and I wish her the best of luck in this new role.

 

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/081015/20081015005550.html?.v=1

Chesapeake Police Department were called to another crime where someone was stealing handbags from Dillards and selling the hot items on Ebay.  This been an ongoing trend happening to Ebay.

 

Here is the full story.

 

http://hamptonroads.com/2008/08/theieves-turn-online-auction-sites-move-stolen-goods

I received a phone call this morning from the Denver Post.  Supposedly, there was a small hiccup late last night when a Cheyenne, Wyoming Police Officer John Gay gave a presentation to 9 – 12 graders.

 

In a method to scare students about inappropriate pictures posted on their Facebook and MySpace profiles, Officer Gay instituted a liberal presentation style which some parents have claimed was to extreme.

 

The reporter told me directly that Officer Gay showed some Facebook and MySpace pages to the students.  Instead of using generic photos or those with the faces cropped, Officer Gay elected to identify specific students at Windsor High School.  He went on to directly state that some of the student photos were “slutty” and “sleezy.”

 

To add salt to the wounds, he then communicated that he shared some of the high school student photos to sex offenders who were serving time.

 

I spoke to Windsor’s Principal Rick Porter.  He is really upset about the situation and hopes to rectify the situation by bringing in a different internet safety education group.

 

This is a lesson learned for all internet safety experts that use fear to teach students.

 

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_10264945

Michael Clark is accusing pastor Steve Nixon of sending inappropriate text messages to his wife and other parishioners wives.

 

Wednesday, before bible study, Clark whipped the pastor with an air hose.  He says he wanted to stop any communications before it got out of hand.

 

http://www.wlbt.com/global/story.asp?s=8882268

i-SAFE launched a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) with Olympic Volleyball Champions Misty May and Kerri Walsh. 

 

 

Now that is going for the Gold!!!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h-02kTA_JA

http://www.isafe.org

 

Kids everywhere are not only craving the new Nintendo Wii but also the new videos on YouTube showing people around the globe playing their Wii’s,  There is only one (Wii) little problem!  These videos don’t concentrate on the Wii’s gaming (assets) instead they like to show off others people (assets).  If you know what I mean?  Wink Wink

 

Go check them out.

 

Why every guy should buy their girlfriend Wii Fit.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v31qxrXsxv0

 

Why every guy should NOT buy their girlfriend Wii Fit.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AryF2uvO86Y

Human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, harbouring, or receipt of people for the purposes of slavery, forced labor (including bonded labor or debt bondage) and servitude. It is estimated to be a $5 to $9 billion-a-year industry.

 

The United States has made important strides in confronting the reality that human beings continue to be bought and sold throughout the globe.  Here is a website that helps record instances of human trafficking across the globe. 

 

http://www.slaverymap.org

4Chan is the initiator of almost all Internet Memes.  What is an Internet Meme?  An internet meme is created when a person, company, product, or musical group is promoted on the Internet for its pop culture value.  Then the online media explodes making it viral when millions of eyeballs learn of its existence.  This cascading effect crosses multiple user-generated sites where the content is plagiarized, mocked, and parodied.

 

So why the fuss?

 

Unfortunately – event though middle and high school students are embracing technology and the history of media – they are being exposed to inappropriate online content.

 

Here is a true life story that happens pretty readily among teen relationships.

 

A child buys World of Warcraft plays the game and is introduced to an Internet Meme icon – Leeroy Jenkins.  If you have not heard of Leeroy Jenkins here is a quick wiki page.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeroy_Jenkins

 

After visiting the Wiki the child goes to YouTube to watch the video.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAooq7e0gg0

 

After watching the HILARIOUS VIDEO!!!  Yes it is funny.

 

The child reads the comments about Internet memes and or does a search where they learn that Leeroy Jenkins like most Internet Memes started at 4Chan.

 

http://www.4chan.org

 

4Chan has an amazing story about the creator but we will save that for another discussion instead we will focus on what is happening on playgrounds and in between halls in states like Iowa and Missouri where most of the calls have initiated thus far.

 

4Chan has a very internet native interface and sometimes it is difficult to follow for the average parent.  What is concerning parents and school administrators is the inappropriate content and discussion occurring outside the 18+ areas.  It is very common to find porn, cursing, and scam promotion in these areas.   

 

Surprisingly, 4Chan has done a complete circle and again kids are having discussing amongst their friends about 4chan’s latest online humor, porn, and scams.

 

It is an interesting online internet meme circle and it will require education to help students to understand this process.

This is a crazy story!!!

 

Tim McLean on the evening of July 30^th was beheaded on a Greyhound Bus.  The 22-year-old Canadian who was going home after working as a carnival worker was simply sleeping when a knife entered his body.

 

To add to the horror of this story a scammer set up a Facebook and a PayPal account where people could donate money to ‘cover funeral costs’.

 

Here’s the catch!!!

 

Tim McLean’s family had already set up a donation program to cover his funeral costs and it was not through PayPal but a different banking institution. 

 

Now Tim McLean’s family is having to deal with two tragedies.  My deepest condolences go out to his family. 

 

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080731/Manitoba_bus_080731/20080731?hub=TopStories

BullyPolice.org is a non-profit organization advocating for anti-bullying laws.  They also provide therapy for bullied children and their families. 

 

By working with legislators at a National and State level they can advocate for common sense laws.  Their goal is to provide parents and bullied children with resources so they can have a safe and secure online environment within their schools and homes.

 

The site is not very visually friendly but the resources are great!

 

http://www.bullypolice.org