Reality Show Winner Elected President

The new political reality show “Independent” will utilize MySpace and YouTube auditions, and it may influence the 2008 presidential elections.

Does this thought frighten you? It should!

Although the concept of this new reality show is an exciting and innovative use of the Internet, the winning “prize” has a lot to be desired.

According to a recent Reuters story, “Mark Burnett, the producer who popularized reality television, and Internet social network MySpace will unveil a new reality TV and Internet series that aims to groom one young politician or community leader to represent young America.”

The winner of “Independent” will receive $1 million that they can use to launch a new political party, donate to a political cause, or enter the U.S. presidential race.

Is this really a prize worth winning? I don’t think so.

First of all, it would take a lot more than $1 million to successfully start a new political party. In theory, it could be done. But as the Green Party demonstrates, creating a new political party is much more difficult than winning a reality show.

Next, if you win $1 million on a reality show, why should you have to donate it to anyone?

Finally, would the winning representative of young America meet the minimum age requirement and even be eligible to enter the presidential race?

"The whole point of “Independent” really speaks to what young Americans want," the British-born Burnett said. "If you look back, the (political) system was supposed to work this way."

This brings me to my nightmare.

Let’s suppose that “Independent” energizes the young voting base and the winner actually does get elected president. Do we really want the winner of a reality show running the country?

Stick with the tried-and-true formula Mark Burnett. Give the money to the winner and let them fade into pop-culture history like most of the other reality show winners. If they are really destined to become president, let them earn it with their talents and experience. Such a course will make them a much better leader.

The temporary fame and fortune of a reality show should influence pop-culture, not American politics.

Technology Aids VT Students and Families

My thoughts and prayers for the last 24 hours have been with the faculty, staff, students and families of the Virginia Tech family.

While scouring the major news sites for information of yesterday's senseless acts, I realized that technology played an integral and useful role in the tragedy.

Students and staff used cell phones and text messages to contact their loved ones to let them know that they were safe. When the cell phone network was overloaded, many people turned the fun-Net into the Useful-Net by posting messages on their Facebook and MySpace pages.

I am glad that technology played such a prominent and useful role in the senseless tragedy. Technology does, after all, have many good and positive qualities.

Hopefully school and government officials can use these examples to organize technology resources that can help the community in this type of situation. My suggestions are:

• Improve cell phone and computer networks to handle traffic spikes during an emergency.
• Educational and government organizations should develop, publish and publicize electronic communication plans for emergency situations.
• Educational facilities should organize cell phone groups to rapidly send message alerts to a campus community.
• Use the Emergency Broadcast System to send alert messages to the community.
• Use digital highway signs and digital billboards to broadcast alert messages.
• Encourage the use of Web pages, Facebook and MySpace as a communication vehicle for notifications.

It is my sincere hope that another tragedy like this will never occur. If it does, hopefully technology can be used to save lives or relieve the fear and worry of parents, family and friends of those involved.

Text Messages Trump Hallmark Cards

Are the halcyon days of guilt induced Valentine’s Day purchases from Hallmark numbered?

Today’s teenagers are either too cheap to buy cards and candy, or they are smarter than most adults and see through the marketing campaigns that have led consumers to spend nearly $14 billion this year on Valentine’s Day purchases.

This year my wife and I added approximately $100 of our hard earned money to the national total spent on Valentine’s Day gifts. My wife received a beautiful flower display from Locker’s, and I received some of my favorite candy.

Boring? Probably. But, this is fairly typical of what folks in our generation do on Valentine’s Day.

But, times have definitely changed because technology has made Valentine’s Day a real-time celebration. My sixteen year old daughter received several loving text messages from her boyfriend. She also showed me the sweet, caring thoughts that he posted on his MySpace page.

What a clever way to earn relationship points! Why didn’t I think of that?

The virtual thoughts that he sent were more personal than standard card fare and touched her in a way that a store bought card could not. Apparently taking the time to write your own verses has merit to the younger, more sensible generation.

Although text messages, virtual greeting cards, and posted love notes are not physical gifts, I believe that the emotional investment in these messages can far outweigh the sentiment found in cards and flowers.

Today’s teenagers have the right idea. I think that using technology to convey their personal feelings is akin to the age-old romantic tradition of writing love letters to your sweetie.

While some deride virtual messages as cheap or uncaring, I believe that the people who send them are merely using the current technology to convey their feelings. If people did not use modern technology for love notes, we would all have stacks of stone tablets or papyrus scrolls from our sweetheart stacked in the closet.

The only difference between virtual messages and greeting cards is that you need a jump drive to store them instead of a cardboard box or hope chest.

I would rather receive a touching e-mail that was written just for me than open a card that thousands of other people are also receiving. Personal messages are just more…..well…..personal.

Hallmark, your days are numbered. The Me-generation may be greedy, but they have definitely got the right idea about romance.