Did you try the Google Maps 8 Bit yet?

It is April's Fool time and Google released an original update for the occasion: an 8-bit version of oneof their famous feature, Google Maps. You can access this map by going to Google Maps and clicking on the 'try it now' link on the left of your page. You will then be redirected to a fully-functional 8-bit version of Google Maps. You can zoom in on your house or get directions for your next road trip. This new feature is humorously advertised a 'Google Maps on your NES' as a reference to the old 8-bit gaming system. Looking at the world in 8-bit is fun: familiar landscapes look like a map straight out of an old RPG.

This project is fun and original, and yet I cannot help feeling something disturbingly close to nostalgia. I miss 8-bit graphics, dial-up internet, black and white cell phone screens and game boys. Technology is evolving so fast we quickly forget about the products we desperately wanted and cherished because they are ridiculously out-dated only five years later.

Sometimes I wonder if I will sit down with my grandchildren and tell them what it was like to play video games on a 2D TV or how we had to use cords to go on the internet – and above all, I wonder if they will believe me.

New technologies are evolving so fast but we are still human beings and live slowly. Did we create a world too fast for us? I think 8-bit designs making me feel nostalgic is a problem: I belong to a generation known as the Millenniums and most of my memories are linked to products of a consumerist society.

Is attending the University Of Louisville a good choice?

The University of Louisville is getting a lot of attention as its basketball team is playing against Kansas in the March Madness tournament. If Louisville wins the competition, a large number of students will decide to enroll in this university, not realizing that winning a basketball competition has nothing to do with academics.

A university could spend millions on their basketball team and still be unable to provide quality accommodation for the students, hire qualified professors or buy equipment necessary to certain technical classes. And yet a lot of high school students will send out applications to Louisville because the university gained a good reputation through athletics. Marketing departments are aware of this and know sports should be an important part of their strategy. Students are encouraged to identify with the winning team, even though they are not going to attend a single game throughout the season.

Is identifying with your university a necessity? School pride can be fun and feeling like you belong is necessary in order to adapt to this new environment, which is sometimes a radical change, especially for young students out of high school. But you do not need to go to a prestigious university to feelthat way.

Students who want to attend Louisville University after watching the March Madness games need to realize they are not going to get involved in athletics and will get the exact same education and experience at a more affordable school. Actually, Louisville would not even be a good choice for a student interested in a degree Louisville is not offering or not funding properly.

Mirror Mirror: a new take on the Snow White myth

A new take on the Snow White fairy tales came out in the theaters today: Mirror Mirror. So far film critics seem a little disappointed with the movie. The acting isnot that great and director Tarsem Singh's style does not do justiceto the traditional fairy tale. The main interest of the movie is that it offers an original spin on the old fairy tale: the queen is telling the story and turns Snow White into the evil one. The audience is disappointed because everyone wants an evil queen: this is what Snow White is all about. We are supposed to identify with the beautiful young woman who is tyrannized by her jealous stepmother, whether we are watching the candy-coated Disney version or reading the original gritty story.

Why isn't this movie working? Because there is not only stories to tell, but a way of telling them. Snow White is a cultural landmark because we can relate to the story. From a psychoanalytical point of view, Snow White reflects mother-daughter relationships and coming of age, things we all know about even if we have no extensive knowledge of psychoanalysis. Disney turned Snow White into a 'princess', a character little girls want to identify with. I agree that the Disney version is filled with old-fashioned and patriarchal values I would not want to expose a child to, but I cannot deny it is a cultural landmark.

Mirror Mirror fails because it approaches a myth from an unfamiliar angle. We care about Snow White because we know the story and relate to it on different levels: it is a part of our childhood memories, of bonding with our own children and we probably relate to it on an unconscious level too. This new version is not a recognizable myth and does not have an audience because Snow White is not something we want a new take on, it is a myth that needs to be left untouched to conserve its a meaning, both on a personal and cultural level.

Easy Passover Recipes: sweet matzoh in under five minutes

Passover is coming soon and the Jewish community is planning on celebrating with delicious recipes. Whether you are Jewish or not, Passover is a great occasion to get your family together over a good meal. There are many different traditional or original recipes you could try; as long as you select something that corresponds to your skills. Here are a few easy matzoh recipes you can prepare in under five minutes.

Mix three eggs with cinnamon and sugar. Pour some matzoh mix in a large skillet along with your eggs. Cook until golden brown and flip it. Top your matzoh with bananas, yogurts, berries, pieces of chocolates or anything you like!

Melt a few pieces of chocolate in your microwave. Take a few pieces of matzoh, soak them in wine or grapefruit juice for a few seconds to add some flavor before you cover them in melted chocolate. Place your chocolate-coated matzohs in the fridge and serve when cold.

Cut a few apples into thin slices and place them in an oven pan. Pour matzoh mix, sugar and cinnamon on top. Bake for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees and enjoy this delicious Passover crumble.

These three recipes are incredibly quick and easy: have your children help you prepare them. All the ingredients are easy to find, but you should probably plan your Passover in advance. Remember what this holiday is about and celebrate it with your family: think of these recipes as a way of helping you out while you are busy with a job and with a lot of things to prepare at home, not as a way of cheapening this tradition.

Aubrey O Day cried on TV: she is human after all

Aubrey O'Day got a lot of attention after she shed a few tears on Celebrity Apprentice. Apparently, Trump decided to donate money to her charity and she had a strong emotional reaction – someone else made a comment about how her fake lasheswould fall if she cried.

We have an interesting theme here, with the fake eyelashes and the tears. Even if this comment is funny, it is also hurtful and very embarrassing. Crying is a normal human reaction to a lot of different situations we all encounter on a regular basis, and yet it is not acceptable to do it on TV. Crying does not correspond to the image of perfection people like O'Day are trying to establish by wearing fake eyelashes, design clothes and appearing on shows like Celebrity Apprentice.

Fame, success and popularity are granted to people who transcend human characteristics and look as close to perfect as possible. What the public see is perfect, but this perfection is achieved after hours in the make-up room, carefully placed lights, and a lot of editing. We all want to look like these people: we buy make up, get our hair done, and read weight loss or fashion tips based on their secret methods.

And yet we want to see our models cry – because we know we cannot look like them, we are still too human. We see them cry, and we realize they are just like us, still human under this coat of makeup and behind these white teeth.

I think we should not make fun of Aubrey O'Day for crying nor want to watch the video. We should show respect and remember she is human in spite of her appearance 

Jerry Lee Lewis marries his cousin - again

Jerry Lee Lewis made the headlines when he married his younger cousin back in the 1950s – he is getting attention again as his 7^th wife turns out to be his cousin's ex-wife. You might be wondering how many cousins Lewis has,but Lewis' new wife, Judith, used to be married to Rusty. Rusty is the older brother of Myra, Lewis' third wife who married him when she was 13. Are you still with us? At least Judith has no DNA in common with Lewis, which makes the whole thing slightly less disturbing.

Marrying people you are related to on different levels is disturbing, but remember that Lewis is from a time and place where that sort of things were perfectly acceptable. We find it disturbing because this is not what Hollywood is exposing us to, but marrying your cousin is legal in more states than same sex marriage is allowed.

It also makes sense that Lewis would want to marry within a close circle of people he can trust. He used to be a wild character and got in a lot of trouble in his youth: it is probably best if he stays among people who really care about his best interest. Besides, he is still making a decent income with his music: marrying someone he has known for years is the guarantee that this person is not after the money.

And in the end, does it really matter who Jerry Lee Lewis is getting married to? Marrying his 13 year old cousin was such a big deal because the girl was so young and Lewis was a huge star, but things are different know. The latest popular song he did was 'Pink Cadillac' in 2007, but didn't really hear anything new since then, and 'Pink Cadillac' was a surprising success after years of silence.

Katie Couric changes sides in the battle of the networks

Katie Couric jumps from one network to the other as a test of popularity: she is going to host 'Good Morning America' for a week, a show she once was in competition with back when she was hosting NBC's 'Today'. ABC wants to put her through this test before her talk show goes on syndication next fall. Will you watch Katie Couric on 'Good Morning America'?

I think the 'Today' fans will be disappointed to see Couric hosting the show they missed every day because they were dedicated to NBC. Fans have chosen to their favorite show and made it a part of their day – networks could at least show a little respect by not questioning these choices.

Does Couric really has a chance? On Monday, 'Good Morning America' will have exciting guests, movie director James Cameron and governor Nikki Haley while Couric will interview Camille Grammer, Eva Longoria and Rascal Flatts: these names are obviously harder to recognize.

CBS is approaching this battle of the networks with heavy artillery: the Monday edition of 'This Morning' will feature Oprah Winfrey. Couric is good, but she is no match for Winfrey.

Which network will you watching? Aren't these shows too similar anyway? I honestly can't tell the difference between 'Today' or 'Good Morning America' or any other similar morning show. It is obviously too early to discuss important news and to have interesting guests come to the studio. The audience is stuck at home with nothing to do: the time is perfect to get them interested in the other shows of the network by interviewing stars from these shows and to tell them what to buy in what is presented as a modern and exciting lifestyle. Does it matter if Couric is on ABC instead of NBC? She will be doing the exact same thing anyway.

Who are the Lottery Winners?

Three lucky winners ended up sharing the record-breaking $656 million Mega Millions jackpot. The winnersare from Illinois, Kansas and Maryland – each of them should receive about $100 millions after taxes, which is still more than enough to live comfortably. Winners have the choice between cashing out this amount or receiving a yearly payment for the next twenty-six years.

The identity of the winners is still a secret: these people need time to figure out what to do with their money, go on a spending spree and open up a few bank accounts.

What is best between the cash out option and the yearly installments? A huge percentage of the money goes toward taxes in both cases, but paying taxes on the yearly installments is slightly more expensive on the long run. However, yearly installments make it easier for the winner to manage the money and maintain a comfortable lifestyle. But what happens when thepayments stop? Most winners will spend the totality of their yearly installments to make house and car payments and not invest the remaining money in anything. After twenty-six years, these people will have a lot of valuable possessions but no real plan for the rest of their lives.

Cashing out a huge sum of money is incredibly exciting and could lead to unbelievable spending sprees. If a winner had enough sense not to spend most of their money on useless things, they could actually create a solid portfolio of investments to support themselves for the rest of their lives. This sounds like a much better option if the winner knows how to manage money or finds a trustworthy financial adviser.

We are still waiting for the Winning Lottery Numbers

The Mega Millions jackpot is currently estimated at $640 million. It seems like every American went crazy after the jackpot was not won last Tuesday and bought a few lottery tickets. A multitude of articles on lottery and gambling habits are appearing on the internet. Experts are claiming that buying lotterytickets is a waste of money and that the odds of actually winning anything are ridiculously low – but the $640 million jackpot is too much of a draw for everyone. Millions of people will probably be very disappointed before the day is over, unless no one wins the jackpot.

This frenzy makes me wonder, how could no one win the jackpot a couple of weeks in a row? Are lottery numbers really picked at random, or is the system rigged? If the system is rigged, the company behind Mega Millions found an excellent way to make a couple of millions every hour: let the jackpot grow and sit back as everybody rushes to the nearest gas station or convenience store to buy tickets.

We are probably going to hear a lot of more about Mega Millions after tonight, especially if who would instantly become the luckiest person on Earth wins it. Apparently, plans have been made to keep the identity of the winner a secret, at least for a few days. I hope the winner will be properly advised on what to do with the money and how to protect themselves. Stay tuned for more updates on Mega Millions after the drawing, and good luck to you!

The Giver vs. The Hunger Games

Lois Lowry’s classic young adult novel The Giver makes its apparition on the theater stage and is compared to The Hunger Games. How dare you?

Set in a dystopian society, The Giver narrates the coming of age of Josh and his realization that individuals are happier when they are free to make their own decisions and assert their uniqueness. I believe this is an important message young people should be aware of. The Hunger Games also has a valuable message, but the Hollywood production somewhat endangers the original message of the book by instantaneously turning young people into stars and perhaps by being misinterpreted as a sort of Battle Royal in some cases.

Both books are interesting reads, but the Hunger Games movie cannot be compared to the Giver theatrical production. First of all, the budgets are worlds apart. And second of all, the audience and the goals are very different too. The Giver is probably not as entertaining as a major Hollywood production because the accent is put on the content, not on the form. The Hunger Games is all about action, adventure, excitement and sometimes comedy. This is the perfect formula to attract teenagers. This is a box office movie with a future in DVD, Blue Ray and on Netflix. Young people are writing about the movie on Facebook and are anticipating the sequel.

Who actually goes to the theater to see The Giver? Not teenagers. The audience will probably mostly be fans of the book or parents taking their children to see a play.

Is Zimmerman lying about being assaulted?

 A new controversy sparks in the Martin case as a video of Zimmerman in handcuffs is released. Zimmerman claimed to have shot Martin in self-defense after being brutally assaulted – yet the video apparently does not show enough damages to his face. A former co-worker of Zimmerman also spoke against him and denounced his violent behavior that eventually lead to Zimmerman losing his security guard job back in 2005. Is this element relevant to the case? Zimmerman had anger issues seven years ago – does this mean he should be denied the right to defend himself?

Zimmerman’s brother answered to these accusations by saying that Zimmerman’s nose is obviously broken and swollen on the video of his arrest. It would make sense that his own brother is trying to support Zimmerman as much as possible.

There is no bad guy or good guy in this case – there is not use in making Martin appear as an innocent teen and in turning Zimmerman into a blood-thirsty racist murderer. Obviously, the two men fought and Zimmerman shot to end the fight. Martin threatened to kill Zimmerman according to a witness, and Zimmerman was following Martin in spite of the police force’s advice, according to the recording of his 911 call prior to the shooting. They both committed mistakes and displayed violent behavior.

Do you think this new material proves that Zimmerman is guilty? Should he be charged although there is no evidence against his self-defense claims? I think this case has gone way too far in term of racial interpretations and that the two protagonists are yet to be accurately portrayed in the media.

The Mega Millions frenzy continues...

No one won the Mega Millions jackpot last Tuesday and more people keep buying tickets before today’s draw. The jackpot has now reached $540 million, an absolute record. What would you do with that kind of money? I think most people are having a hard time realizing how much money this jackpot represents.

Yesterday, 1.3 million tickets were being sold per hour in New York. This jackpot has sparked a real frenzy over the game, but what are your chances of actually winning this jackpot? An American household spends about $500 every year on these games, which is a huge amount considering this is not a good investment. For about $500 dollars, most households could invest in a good insurance policy or even place their money in stocks or bonds. If a household decided to save up for a few years, larger investments would be possible.

Buying a lottery ticket is fun and the expense does not seem very important. But if you started saving the money you usually spend on these games and place in a jar, you could have a nice bundle by the end of the year. Do not think of putting this money aside as missing out on a possible jackpot; you could play ten lotteries every single day for the rest of your life and never win anything.  This is how bad the odds are. Do the smart thing and save up your money, even though I agree it is hard not to spend a couple of dollars and daydream about these $540 million.  

Bohemian Rhapsody and drunk driving

Robert Wilkinson became an internet sensation after posting a hilarious video of himself singing Queen’s classic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in the back of a Canadian police car. Wilkinson was arrested for drunk driving in Edson, Alberta and was shown the video documenting his intoxicated state when he questioned the charge. The video quickly became a sensation on the internet; it is hilarious but Wilkinson is actually doing a good job, both with the lyrics and the instrumental parts of the song.

Wilkinson uploaded other videos of himself on the internet, but none of them were as funny as his interpretation of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Even though this incident is hilarious, it also raises concern about drunk driving; this man was intoxicated enough to sing in the back of a police vehicle and not remember it until he was shown the video.

The main problem with drunk driving is that everyone agrees it is stupid – and yet everyone thinks they are able to stay focused and drive even though they are drunk. Drinking slows down reflexes and impairs judgment: there is no way you should be driving after even a glass of alcohol, even if you feel like you still have all your reflexes. And if you are drunk enough to sing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, I hope your friends would be kind enough to take your car keys away from you.

The best way to avoid drunk driving is to make plans in advance. Find someone who can give you a ride or crash on your friend’s couch instead of planning on driving home.

Jennie Garth's divorce and the end of the nuclear family

Jennie Garth is apparently getting divorced from her husband Peter Facinelli. Who are these people? Jennie Garth starred in Beverly Hills 90210 and later appeared on Dancing with the Stars in a desperate attempt to come back under the limelight. Facinelli starred in the Twilight movies. This couple has been together for 11 years and has three children; their divorce is getting a lot of attention from the press right now.

And yet, these people are nobodies. Jenny Garth’s name was probably familiar to everyone when Beverly Hills 90210 was still running, but why is her divorce getting so much attention today? Perhaps seeing her on Dancing with the Stars recently made people realize how well she had aged and how happy she was in her relationship while Facinelli clapped and supported her throughout her performances. Was this only an illusion? And why do we care so much if this couple is getting a divorce?

I think seeing people consider happy and successful get divorces and fail at keeping their families together makes us feel better about our own families. No matter how hard we try, it is always hard to communicate with each other, forget about our arguments and find things we can all enjoy together. The number of single parents is increasing and most people get married more than once. Are traditional family values a thing of the past? We are having a hard time accepting that the nuclear family is no longer the norm and blame ourselves for failing to reproduce the models established by previous generations. Watching successful people fail too is only a small consolation.  

Is 19 Kids And Counting relevant in today's society?

The Duggar family has nineteen children and apparently more to come. The mother, Michelle, does not believe in overpopulation and does not think there can be such a thing as too many children. While most parents struggle to raise one or two children, the thought of having so many children is simply frightening.

Is it healthy for children to grow up in such a large family? It seems like the parents would have a hard time keeping track of what is going on with each of their child and creating a strong emotional bond with everyone would be difficult. Budget would be a huge problem too.

The real issue with this family is that they are on TV. The Duggars have their own reality show, their own website and their very own homemade laundry soap recipe. I understand they have to pay the bills and feed their children, but this kind of exposure is very questionable.

Are the Duggards freaks, or are they trying to foster a new model? The content on the website does not look genuine at all. The Duggards support Rick Santorum’s campaign and Michelle has enough time to update her blog every week. I think the Duggards are getting so much attention because they seem so out of touch with everything. Our society has evolved so far away from traditional family values – and yet the Duggards are still here with their Christian values and nineteen children. Are we actually gaining anything from watching their reality show? It is a nice break from the usual representation of the modern family, but who can actually relate to the Duggards?

Bobby Rush wears a hoodie and asks for justice

Republican Bobby Rush made the headlines after wearing a hoodie and a pair of sunglasses while delivering an address to the Congress. He was escorted out of the House after asking for a complete investigation of the shooting of teen Trayvon Martin.

Has this case gone too far? The police already made their report public and are ready to move on. The death of a teenager is always a tragic thing, but nothing can bring him back now. Instead of asking for justice, we should focus on establishing communication and easing the racial tensions.

Wearing a hoodie is a strong symbol, and showing support to Martin’s community is a good thing – but there are other ways to do it. Mourning the teen’s death is the right thing to do now. Asking for justice or for the capture of Zimmerman is not going to solve anything: this is only going to lead to more violence. The case involved two more innocents as movie director Spike Lee tweeted the address of an elderly couple by mistake, believing he was revealing the location of Zimmerman.

I admire Bobby Rush for his boldness, but there is no need in creating more tensions. Asking for justice is slightly ridiculous now that a complete police report has been released and shows that Zimmerman shot in self-defense – although he was out of line and should not have been following Martin.

I think this case needs a few pacifists to get involved and talk about unity and tolerance between races. We need a strong counter-point to the New Black Panther Party and to violence.

Spike Lee tweets the address of an elderly couple by mistake...

The McClains had to flee their home when movie director Spike Lee re-tweeted their address by mistake, believing that Zimmerman was hiding there. The elderly couple is not related to Zimmerman and had to go to a nearby hotel for their safety.

Apparently, Spike Lee thought it would be a good idea to re-tweet this address so that Zimmerman could be arrested and turned to the New Black Panther Party against the $10,000 reward. So many things bother me with this action; I don’t even know where to start. First of all, Zimmerman shot Martin in self-defense. Even if Martin was completely innocent and Zimmerman had committed a racial crime, how can his capture by the New Black Panther Party be a good thing?

Spike Lee, a man who has directed many movies and is considered as a cultural icon, should know better. He endangered an elderly couple by mistake, but what if Zimmerman had actually been hiding at the address he tweeted? I think the New Black Panther Party has absolutely no right to take justice in their own hands – actually, capturing Zimmerman would probably be considered as a terrorist act. And secondly, Zimmerman already shot a person in self-defense. The man has a gun and knows how to use it: it would make sense that he is ready to defend himself should anyone try and make a citizen arrest. Anyone who showed up at the McClains home was in danger.

The McClains are suing Spike Lee, and they have my support. Stay tuned for more updates on this case.

Is Aerosmith making a comeback with Anchorman 2?

The movie Anchorman 2 is about to come out and Aerosmith is announcing the release of an album of the same title. Should rock bands be doing soundtracks for movies? The classic AC/DC songs featured in Iron Man 2 worked pretty well, but what about new songs? Queen creating a soundtrack for Flash Gordon was definitely not their  best album, but it is true that the movie was probably not quality material to work with in the first place. The same thing is true with Queen and Highlander, although 'Who wants to live forever' was pretty good.

I am waiting for the album to come out until I decide whether or not Aerosmith is still a good band - but their latest performances and Steven Tyler’s appearances on American Idol were definitely a disappointment. Most Aerosmith fans wanted Tyler to talk about rock music and give advice as a performer – we got country music instead.  Even Tyler looked bored out of his mind during most performances.

Could this be a new start for Aerosmith? I am not expecting much from the Anchorman 2 movie: part was decent at the best, and I don’t see how a sequel could be any better. Perhaps Aerosmith could have chosen a better movie to make a comeback. Even if the music is good, the album will always be associated with a low-quality comedy. Does Aerosmith need to get publicity through the release of the movie? Actually, exposing a new generation to their music through this music is a smart move, since they have been pretty much forgotten for so many years.

Do we need a Neighborhood Watch?

The movie Neighborhood Watch is coming out while the details of the Trayvon Martin case are still fresh in everyone's mind. It seems like everyone is determined to use the release of this movie as a way of questioning neighborhood watch programs. Too bad for the producers of the movie, but they truly chose the worst time possible to release it. Waiting a couple of weeks would have been a much better option, unless they hoped getting more attention through this controversial debate.

Are neighborhood watches necessary? Even if a neighborhood watch is inefficient, it gives peace of mind to the people involved and to other members of the community. If people are ready to join a neighborhood watch, they are concerned enough about their safety to need this kind of protection mechanism.

Things are different if a neighborhood watch is active and efficient. Should citizens take justice in their own hands? Police officers go through an intensive training program before joining the force: can citizens be expected to perform similar tasks without following a more comprehensive training program? Let's suppose that every neighborhood watch member is capable of making good judgments all the time: this activity is still too dangerous. Individuals who decide to take justice in their own hands without being properly trained to deal with sometimes violent conflicts are putting themselves in danger.

Neighborhood watch members are supposed to contact the police if they notice anything suspicious and to let trained officers deal with the situation, but as Zimmerman's behaviorshows, this is not what is happening.

The Black Panther Party does not back off after release of police report

Apparently, the New Black Panther Party still wants Zimmerman. A police report recently released shed light on the difficult case of the shooting of Travyon Martin. The African-American youth was shot by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman after assaulting him. Zimmerman apparently shot in self-defense, although he followed the youth because he believed Martin was suspicious.   

Before this police report was released, media portrayed Martin as an innocent teen, which lead the New Black Panther Party stepping in and offering $10,000 for the capture of Zimmerman. After the release of this new report, the party is not backing off and still calls for a citizen arrest of Zimmerman. I previously questioned the funding of the New Black Panther Party, but apparently they have managed to raise $1 million from famous artists and athletes.

Zimmerman obviously committed a mistake when he followed Martin against the advice of the 911 operator he called to report Martin’s suspicious behavior. He put himself in a dangerous situation and probably ended up shooting to defend his life – does that make him a racist? There have been some rather racist comments about the case, especially after FoxNews contributor Geraldo Rivera mentioned that wearing a hoodie was a bad choice. Did Zimmerman assume Martin was suspicious because of his hoodie? Martin ended up assaulting Zimmerman, probably because he had something to hide from the watch captain: the hoodie or the race do not make any difference.

I sincerely hope no one takes the New Black Panther Party on their offer or we will end up with a new episode in this series filled with misguided racial tensions.