Ajarn Donald's Blog

Brought to you by: TheBestColleges.org Social media is the perfect tool for mobilizing your friends and colleagues to take action on a cause you care about -- sending a letter to a legislator , signing up to attend a rally, or spreading the word through their own social channels. But -- in a world of high-priced consultants and slickly-produced viral videos -- how can an individual make a difference online? You can start by keeping three goals in mind. First, you want to use your time online to stay informed and connected to the organizations you care about -- the animal welfare group, the folks taking action on despotic dictators, the people providing malaria nets, and more. Second, you'll want to build your relationship with legislators or key opinion leaders you'll ultimately need to influence. And third, you want to build robust online connections with your friends and other like-minded individuals, so you can leverage their collective power when the right moment co...

By: BestCollegesOnline.com In recent years, there has been a much stronger focus at an academic level when it comes to pop culture . Society now has the ability through television and the internet to not only gawk at the strange things that happen in pop culture but to also interact with it in many ways. Even the President of the United States interacts with people onlin e. This infographic discusses the convergence that’s happening now and will continue to grow as pop culture and our ability to interact with it increases.  The Obama camp knows social media . They realize that Twitter is big and Facebook is bigger, but Reddit is the place that will generate real voters and get them to the polls in November. If  you’re not familiar with Reddit , you wouldn’t understand. The GOP isn’t familiar with Reddit, so they don’t understand. The most viral post on Facebook can generate thousands of views, though even well-shared posts have a challenge ever breaking 10...

The global community has come out in force for Earth Hour as social media has energized and inspired communities across the Middle East, Africa and Europe to unite for a common cause – the protection of the planet. From former war-torn countries to the great cities of Europe, Earth Hour is being celebrated by all walks of life as it offers an hour of inspiration to change our future to one that is sustainable. As ESA Astronaut Andre Kuipers is watching over Earth from the International Space Station, using Twitter to share photos of areas under threat like the Amazon, Nelson Mandela, the Former President of South Africa tweeted, "Let us stand together to make of our world a sustainable source for our future as humanity on this planet" #NelsonMandela #EarthHour”. Facebook has been used to coordinate Earth Hour in Kurdistan, Northern Iraq as well as in Libya’s capital Tripoli, which was run by nineteen-year-old Mohammad Nattah and Muhammad Bugashata.  Earth Hour celebrati...

Compiled by: Online Colleges Resource For more than two decades,  Michael Keathley  has been an active writer, editor, and educator. After completing a Master of Arts in Classics, additional graduate work in English and education, and overseas study in Macedonia , Italy , Greece , and Pakistan , he authored several monthly columns in international newspapers. He also wrote three books under the pseudonym  Michael A. Dimitri , as well as several hundred articles while working as a faculty member and administrator at various postsecondary institutions both on ground and online. His research interests include Macedonian Studies, Composition/Rhetoric, and online pedagogy. He is a frequent lecturer and presenter at national and international conferences. Join him on Twitter for more discussion at  @MichaelKeathley  or reach him on  Google+ .   At  BestCollegesOnline.com , we’re excited about guiding you toward challenging, satisfying aca...

Image via Wikipedia Image via Wikipedia Image via Wikipedia Image via Wikipedia Image via Wikipedia Chuck Norris (Photo credit: raggster ) Chuck Norris (Image via RottenTomatoes.com) What do you get the manliest man in the world for his birthday? A roundhouse kick roundup of Chuck Norris facts , that’s what. Today, meme king Chuck Norris turns 72, and to celebrate, we’re tearing through lead with our teeth, wrestling grizzly bears and drinking whiskey for breakfast. Just kidding. ( Or are we ?) The former  Walker, Texas Ranger  star is known for being the epitome of all that is manly, which the web has played off of for years — thus,  Chuck Norris facts  were born and soon turned viral. The facts include anything that has to do with his strength, tough attitude, superhuman capabilty or endurance. The meme has become so well-known, even  advertisers have cashed in on the action . Fun fact about Chuck Norris facts? According to  YouTube , the state ...