Au'Pearce

Welcome to the Beautiful World of Au’Pearce

  • Checking on the 2020erz

    www.youtube.com/watch

    Hi all. Just checking in to make sure

    Everyone ok and staying focused on what matters.

  • Instagram Newbieeeeeeeee

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    This girl has just signed up for Instagram. please follow.

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  • Thanks+Giving 2020

    Is it Happy Thanksgiving? For some yes, but for most, no

    Today most of us sit around our dining room or kitchen tables with friends and family, and some alone, giving thanks for being alive, COVID-free, or winning the battle of the COVID infection. These are great thanks, as this year, 2020, has ascribed us to some of the biggest life challenges we’ll ever face and never saw coming. Being forced into isolation and quarantine has heightened some deep-rooted mental and psychological issues. People worldwide have lost their homes, loved ones, jobs, and their only source of income. We have seen increased racial tensions and intentions and injustices. We have seen the POTUS behaving irresponsibly, selfishly, and ill-mannered when it came to public order and getting ahead of the spread of a deadly virus. But let us not point fingers, as we are all responsible for ourselves and well-being and should never look for anyone to make a determination of whether we should behave responsibly when it will result in saving lives, mainly your own and those close to you.

    Image Source: Google Images

    Today, a great deal of people assemble around dining tables with distant friends and family members laughing, joking, and speaking about how they’ve dealt with a trying year and how they were able to pull all of their resources for the purposes of survival. Some afforded the ability to travel near or far. Well, there are some persons that did not have reserves to begin with, and these are the persons that are suffering the most. Yes, even middle-class persons who never thought in a million years that they would experience a sense of destitute, have now come face-to-face with impecunious experiences. The entire situation is not their fault, as it is not the fault of anyone, well maybe it is, but that is beside the point, as we did not ask to be placed in this situation. If we were given the option, I am sure a hundred percent of the world would have checked or penciled in the NO-opt out box. However, becomes the situation was not optional and the boxes has been checked for us already, we have to live out this situation and pray and behave in ways in which will be come out on the life side of this pandemic. 

    Information and Communicative Technology and Socialization, and ThanksGiving

    It is thanksgiving, and many people are still allowed to physically interact with loved ones without risking the transmission of the coronavirus or being asymptomatic. Well, at least most of us, those of us who are abiding by the social distancing and social gathering rules. Technology has been our best friends until now, whereby we have all become dependent on digitized information communicative technologies to socialize ourselves and communicate with others. However, some persons are not provided with the advantages of using digital technologies. In most cases, this is due to affordability issues, inaccessibility to robust broadband connections and other materials, or are uncomfortable in using innovative gizmos and gadgets. This is mainly true for older adults whose preferred method of communication is person-to-person. In using technology today for the purpose of communication and socialization, it may be a bit intimidating or overwhelming. Or it can be seemingly exciting, given that they have developed a certain level of comfortably and digital literacy.

    Image source: Google Images

    Moreover, when older adults receive the necessary support or training from younger generations to assist them with their use, namely their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, or others, this can be an exceptional benefit to increased well-being and the reduction of senses of loneliness, boredom, and isolation.

    Image source: Google Images

    Technology is everywhere. Everywhere you turn and look, people, mainly younger generations, are using technology to communicate. Yes, this is to even communicate with senior adults in their family or otherwise. If grandparents or older parents have technologies, such as smartphones or email or using social networking sites, family members can share and post daily activities and sent mother, father, grandmother, and grandfather a text message to say, “Happy Thanksgiving.” This is true even for great-grands as people to have longer lifespans.

    FaceTime has probably being used in 2020 more than it has ever been. Just this year, I had no idea of what Microsoft Teams were until a few of my doctoral learner colleagues and I started to regularly connect as a way to motivate one another. We have started to use this tool to stay focused and overcome stressors and mental strains associated with life and the doctoral iterative processes.  It has been an outlet to speak about life in general.

    image Source: Google Images

    ICTs and socially-oriented technologies (SOTs)have become our best friends, but for some, their worst enemy. Most of the tech-savvy persons, mainly young generations and some older adults, those educated, have the capacity to implement workarounds or fix small glitches, while others are not, making them want to toss their phones or computers out of the window. 

    Still Thankful Even in the Midst of the 2020COVID Pandemic

    What I am thankful for today and for the rest of my life is being healthy and happy. This year alone has shifted my thinking to be more optimistic and to have a positive outlook on life. I have become more humble and have started to choose my affiliations, and lack thereof, more carefully. I have decided that only if you can add benefit to my life will I engage; otherwise, it will be time wasted. I have decided that I will give back. I will speak up and give voice to the voiceless, overlooked, and underserved. Today, and from here on out, I will challenge myself to be better and to do better. Life is worth living, as it does not matter what you have or what you can get. It is more about being in a happy place and space that starts with you.

    I am extremely grateful for the new people that have come into my life for the good, mainly those from an academic standpoint and those who have provided me with the opportunity to become a better me, professionally, personally, and academically. I no longer care about materialistic things and have decided that what I have, big or small, I will make do. I give kudos to the naysayers, the negative prayers, and the haters who have only added fuel to my fires, thus causing my rocket to reach unbeknownst heights. Other things that I am personally thankful for are:

    Image Source: Google Images
    • My children
    • My husband
    • My immediate friends and family
    • My mental and physical health, even when it vetoes.
    • Life challenges and complexities that make me a stronger and better individual.
    • Technologies and social media outlets. Just imagine the world had there not been ICTs or SOTs. This has been the primary communication source for those infected with COVID and their death beds, who had to say their last goodbyes to their loved ones.
    • I am thankful for mental health professionals, as there has been a dramatic increase in mental health cases in 2020 alone. This is for those who have sought help or refused treatment due to the stigma associated with mental health treatments.
    • I am thankful for prayer. A lot of people have turned to the graces of God as a way to fight this pandemic. People who have not prayed or said thank you in a long time will open their mouths and hearts to give thanks to the heavens above.
    • I am thankful for others’ kindness and giving back to communities, the known and the unknown.
    • I am thankful for life’s happiness, love, joy, respect, and positive environments and energy.
    • I am thankful for making this far in 2020 and will continue to pray that I make it past 2020, as we know, most of us will not.

    A SPECIAL THANKS!!!

    I wish to give a special thanks to all essential workers and those who have put themselves at risk and stood on the frontlines to protect others. Thank you to all persons in the medical, legal, and food industries and others that ensure people are getting proper care, necessities, and nourishment. I especially want to thank those who have gone above and beyond for making sure that no one went hungry for thanksgiving and all of the days before, as well as those to come. This is especially true as millions of people are jobless, which has led to homelessness and shortages of food for themselves and their families.

    LET’S NOT FORGET ABOUT OUR SENIORS AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

    Paying attention to those persons most vulnerable is essential. It is undoubtedly that the world continues to age, and more people are living longer these days. People with existing medical conditions make them more susceptible to contract the covid virus, whereas consequences could be deadly. That does not mean that they should be ignored. They should be embraced.  When it comes to enjoying thanksgiving, there may be opportunities where social distancing is not possible. So, even you feel that it’s mandatory to spend time with vulnerable populations, the best thing is to be mindful and eliminating any chance that they could be exposed to the coronavirus, given that you have been, are affected, or is asymptomatic, not knowing that you are positive. Millions of people have traveled, and medical professionals are anticipating an increase in positive tests and deaths. But, looking at the situation as a whole, is a turkey dinner or stuffing to die for? Whatever your decision, be grateful, be thankful, and nevertheless, be blessed.

    Image Source: Google Images

  • Joe Biden & Kamala Harris wins 2020 Presidencial Election.

    Talk about GO BLUE!!! Not the University of Michigan where I am an alumnus, but to the Democratic Presidential Candidates and all of their supporters.

    Biden 290 to Trumps 214 and still counting.

    Joe Biden, declared the 46th President of the United States (POTUS).

    President of the United States Joe Biden

    Who said a third time is not a charm. Running for the POTUS twice before in 1988 and 2008 and lost both election, Biden will now run the White House, come 2021, sitting in the Oval off with his feet on the table, smooth the most expensive cigars. Kidding, or not. It was a long and anticipated race.

    Back presidency runnings and not winning the first two attempts, in 2008, Biden was selected by Presidential Candidate, then Barack Obama to be his running mate as VPOTUS, only for them to win the election shortly after. Now, in 2020, JB has taken full leaderships and has brought Kamala Harris along for the ride. The first African American female to ever serve as VPOTUS and to have the FIRST MALE make history as well.

    Biden born in 1942 in Scranton, PA is married to Jill Biden and has a son Beau, Hunter, and daughters Ashley and Naomi, all of who worked in the democratic candidacy to achieve such defeat.

    Kamala Harris to serve as the FIRST BLACK Vice President of the United States (VPOTUS)

    Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris 2020

    Kamala Harris, now a previous U.S. Senator of California. She is a wife, to now the VP FIRST MAN of the United States, Doug Emhoff. They have two beautiful children Cole and Ella. Kamala Harris has made history and she will in history books from here on out, regardless of who writes them or how honest or dishonest they are. First Black VPOTUS will always remain her title, the same goes for her husband as being a FIRST MAN.

    Some people felt that it was not going to happen and that is ok. While millions of voters voted for Biden and millions of voters voted for Trump, Biden won the popular vote by millions. Why? Because voters showed up and showed out this year. The same way they did when President Obama ran wining for two consecutive years. Its a given that Biden will have an eight-year term, as long as voters are consistent and methodical , come next election in 2024.

    Someone has to win and someone has to lose. Those are the rules of the game.

    President Trump 45th POTUS 2016-2020

    The 45th POTUS is still claiming victory even after the polls have closed and all ballots have been counted. Failing to admit his defeat, he continues to bash voters and states to say they are illegal voters or committing fraud. He continues to fight and now wants to get the Supreme courts involved to make it official that, yes, he has lost the 2020 presidential election. I means its there in black and white, all over the television, internet, and all social media sites. His Republican Party has even told him to give it up, but that is no in his nature. He will continue to fight for the next four years and may run again for presidency in 2024.

    But what’s done is done and there is not retracting it, I don’t care how many times ballots are counted. Joe Biden and Kamal Harris are President and Vice President Elects of 2020, with Pennsylvania making it official.

    So, Who Really Won the 2020 Presidential Election?

    If I can be frank, The People. The people who are for, against, or indifferent to the runners or winners. People of the U.S. fail to realize how much power they have, and it is not until 2020 that they realized how much power they actually had. If we want something done, we don’t depend on leaders, we take responsibility to get things done. For example, if we’d taking full responsibility to wear masks, social distance, and do what was necessary, there would not be an upsurge in COVID-19 infection rates. But who am I to judge.

    Image Source: Google

    Most people lack uncertainty as to how things are going to get done, if they will get done or when. Taking control of the WH is responsibility, and President have to make sure their staff members are there to serve the public and not his ego. A small percentage of Americans are worried about tax increases, that’s how the rich stay rich, but whose to say if that will change. If it does change it may not be as dramatic as they think and may create a path for the lesser-than to have a come-up. Some people say that being selfish or having a huge ego is what made them rich but that is not necessarily true. Some people received handouts from family members, friends, or others to get to where they are today. Yes, some people also sacrificed, starting from nothing, and gained wealth, but just image how long it took, how many sleepless days and nights they went through or how many subordinates helped them accomplished their goal.

    For most they forget about the little people. People who did not have a vision or guidance in life or those who knew no better. Those who were on the cusp of coming up but life happened.

    Ok, I am getting off topic. I just wanted to say that the wait is over and the United States is no longer President-less, as Joe Biden now serves as the POTUS along with Kamala Harris, VPOTUS. We will accept them wholeheartedly and know that American voters, intentional and silent, are the reason for this massive achievement. It is the voters that must continue to make a difference in the world that we live in to stop police brutality and inequalities. Just like most took a stance to put into office who they saw fit. The same people must also take a stance to assist in decreasing the digital gap and to increase the availability and access to resources and services and not wait for people to give it to you. Just like some feel as though they took the presidency, take and stand up to inequality, where every person in America is given a fair chance and not discriminated against based on skin color.

    So, in summation, all we can do is congratulate the winners, Biden and Harris, and know that we all did what WE thought was right, voters and nonvoters. No harm. No Foul. The Presidential Election of 2020 has concluded and I am sure that the winners deserve some much needed rest after their weeks celebration and going into a New Year 2021 with the highest Title of any man or woman can earn in the U.S.

    Congratulation Joe Biden.

    Congratulation Kamala Harris.

    Congratulations to you as well Donald Trump.

    Best of luck to you all. May you enjoy your lives come 2021, as it will be a cumbersome transition.

  • Breast Cancer Awareness Month – October

    I know that the month of October has passed, but it is never too late to support a great cause. And a girl has been extremely busy. When thinking about it, I think that the month of October 2020 has been my busiest month thus far. From attending my second Doctoral Residency, which I will post about later, to writing and presenting for three (3), yes three conferences in the same month. However, I must say, I never understood what sleep deprivation and “hell week” meant until the week of October 18, now I know and wish this on no one, but a girl has to do what a girl has to do. No regrets on my part. Here were are into the month of November and I am still trying to catch up on my rest. Go figure.

    The month of October, is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM). Many of use, almost every human being knows someone who has known others who have gone through this scary experience. It is an experience that is nondiscriminatory and have the tendency to lead a person down a narrow path, hence challenging the mental and physical states of the persons diagnosed with the disease and those person the like and love.

    Source: Google Images

    I must say that breast cancer is nothing to take like. In most cases, it has been labeled as a terminal disease for both men d women. Breast cancer is something that can be treated in its early stages, eliminating the disease altogether or sending the patients into remission. It is not a rare disease and has been for centuries. Even women in their early 20s have been diagnosed with breast cancer, so detection and affection are not based on age demographics. Most women are told that they need to get a breast examination, i.e., mammogram, after 40. However, being that some women attract this disease in earlier years of their life, why has the Cancer Societies or the Center for Disease Control (CDC), not lowered the recommended age for scanning or early detection. If they did, it can save many headaches, heartaches, and lives—and nonetheless doctor visits and money.

    Source: Google Images

    Yes, it is said that it is a hereditary or genetic mutation related to most young persons attracting this ailment. I am not challenging sciences or statistics, but this is not always the case. Some women and men who attract this disease do not have any family history of breast cancer or any other cancer, so they feel no need to get early testing. It is not until they experience malfunction or irregularity in their bodily chemistry, which can result from soreness or lactation and even a lump.

    But what happens when individuals, women, and men are diagnosed with breast cancer or any cancer for that matter, that is considered beatable? THEY FIGHT!!! They fight with the support of friends and family and other support systems to ensure they come out on the positive end of this potentially deadly diseases.

    Source: Google Images

    Fighting cancer will elicit great complexities. From overtaking mental capacities and thinking processes. In some cases, it can deter your decision making. Depending on your support system it can send you into frame of mind of giving up and letting cancer take you out without a fight.

    For so many years and with the invasiveness and omnipresence of technology, I often wonder why scientists have not developed a cure for cancer. Is there one out there, they are not willing to share? I mean what’s the deal. Yes, cancer is a huge moneymaker for scientists and physicians but is not releasing the cure worth a human life. We are losing humans that deserve a chance to live. Yes, it is up to God, as well as a person’s self-determination that will keep them alive, but they wholeheartedly put their trust into science and their physicians.

    It is a wonder how cancer is not an airborne disease, as it can only live on living flesh, unlike COVID, but that is another story in itself, as I would like to pay homage to October, Cancer Awareness Month, and how millions/billions of people worldwide support the cause.

    Most people may asks the question of what are some of the ways to reduce the chances of getting breast cancer. I must admit it is not an easy feat and most people already have it before they know they do, or are tested.

    • Eat Healthily. Eating healthy does not have to cost you a fortune. It seems that gluten-free or organic items are more expensive these days, making it extremely difficult for people who want to eat healthily. Eating healthily can mean eating a well-balanced meal with vegetables and proteins. No, they don’t have to “organic” even though it would help, but if you eat the next best thing when funds are scarce of meeting the requirements to eat gluten-free or organically.
    • Exercise and stay active. Even if it means walking around your hour or block. It does not take a gym or home equipment to be active. What were people doing to stay active before gym memberships or trainers became part of society? They walked and ran.
    • Keep stress and anxiety at its bare minimum. Yeah, this is hard due to most of our current circumstances. Studies have shown that exercise and eating healthy, the first two elements described, can reduce stress levels.
    • Avoid tobacco products and e-cigarettes. Tobacco has been linked to lung cancer and other forms of cancer. To reduce the chances of contracting lung cancer, scientists are saying not to smoke, as, for most, this is a method to reduce stress and anxiety, but they are saying reduce the amounts of tobacco smokes or chewed/snuffed daily.
    • Avoid sun overexposure. We all love the sun. This means more icecream and outdoor fun. For some of us, like Nevada and Arizona states, the sun can become extremely intolerable, getting to the 120-degrees. The sun means more time spent at the beach sunbathing, wearing little to no clothing, and driving with the windows or tops down our vehicles. Sun has been linked to a great source of Vitamin D, to increase happiness and attitude. Sun and summer months have also been linked to aggression and problematic behaviors. When it comes to sunbathing or spending too much time in the sun even to get a tan, gardening, or engaging in outdoor fun or other activities, too much sun penetration can result in skin cancer. Scientists have recommended reducing extended exposure to the sun for those who have been diagnosed with other forms of cancer.
    • Early and Regular Imaging and Screening. Some individuals are born with genetic traits or mutations of cancer. This means that men and women from their generation have been diagnosed with various forms of cancer, and the gene is passed through generations. It could go back as far as parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents, and so forth. I’m sure you get the ideal. This is from the biological mother’s and father’s side. It is highly recommended that those interested in these mutating genes get early testing, as early as their 20s, and yearly tests for the rest of their lives. This preventative measure can save lives. This does not necessarily mean that only persons with these types of inherited genes should be tested, as if and when individuals, male or female, of any age, even 20s, feel as sense of breast discomfort, lumps, or discard, they must contact their physician and get tested immediately. I must say, there are some things that we cannot control to avoid attracting cancer, as it sneaks up on use like thief in the night and we don’t know that we have it until it has revealed some noticeable symptoms or lumpy landmarks on our body. However, given that cancer is detected at early stages, in most cases, it can be cured, even if it means getting breast surgery to have the source of cancer removed entirely.
    • Know the risks. Knowing your risk can be a lifesaver, not only for you but for those around you. Breast cancer or any form of cancer does not only affect the person diagnosed with the disease, but it affects all persons in their social circle. Knowing the essential causes of cancer and avoiding cancer-inducing lifestyles increases personal well-being, life satisfaction, and outlook on life in general. Knowing the risks is essentially knowing family history and age at which testing is needed. Know your body rhythms.

    We must remain cognizant of how breast cancer affects individuals. We must continue to support those who have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer and those who are in remission. Cancer is a life-altering experience and depending on a person’s outlook on life, optimistic or pragmatic, one can mentally overpower the detriments that cancers elicit. For those with a pessimistic or negative attitude, it can cause them to go downhill, tumbling fast.

    Even though breast cancer is down since 1989, according to the American Cancer Society, this does not mean that men cannot get it. This is especially true for individuals who have inherited genetic mutations and have had family members diagnosed with any form of cancer, even if it was from cigarette smoking or tobacco, exposure to toxic chemicals, an unhealthy lifestyle, or too much sun exposure. Men can get breast cancer as well, just at significantly lower rates than women.

    Source: Google Images

    MEN. MEN. MEN.

    Men, you are not out of the woods. The American Cancer Society found that approximately 2,620 men have been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and of those 520 died. Some of the risk factors are related to, but are not limited to, aging, family history, inherited gene mutations, klinefelter syndrome-this is a congenital condition diagnosed at birth (YXX or additional X chromosomes), exposure to radiation or toxic chemicals, high alcohol consumption, liver disease, estrogen treatment, obesity, and testicular condition-undescended testicle; mumps as an adult, or having both testicles surgically removed. Research has also found that while men have a lesser chance of getting breast cancer when compared with their women constituents, black men are a higher risk when compare to white men which seeming results in the acute prognosis (see link for more details: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer-in-men/about/key-statistics.html).

    Preventative Measures for men:

    • Limit alcohol intake
    • Eat healthy, exercise, and stay physically active
    • Know your risk when it comes to family history and genetics.

    All of these preventative measures as similar to those aforementioned. Cancer can be prevented but in some cases it is inevitable. We just need to know how to sustain a healthy lifestyle, have a positive outlook in life, reduce our levels of stress and anxiety, and avoid excessive tobacco intake and sun exposure. In the event that individuals are diagnosed with this potentially disastrous disease, we must fight the fight together and support one another as it is one of the major sources of successful healing.

    • Source: Google Images
      Source: Google Images

  • Digital Humanities Conference Presentation

    Hi all.

    Recently I have been a busy girl. I have started to engagement a more academic level as to put my education to use. I told you all before that I was started to shift gears. The gears are shifting. I have participated in the International Conference of Digital Humanities, and would love for you all to provide me with feedback.

    Please see link below.

    I have also participated in the International Conference of Education Technology and Computers (ICETC) and will share link once conference has concluded.

    http://digital.humanities.lcir.co.uk/angela-pearce/

    Please comment on video post and provide feedback.

    Looking forward to participation by in 2021 session.

    Angela