The US Embraces KPop Music

For the longest time, it has been difficult for Asian artists to penetrate the Western world. Success in America, for instance, continues to elude them as Americans, in general, won’t give them the time of day or have no appreciation for their music or artistry at all. But that was before. Thanks to technology and rapid globalization, diversity is more widely accepted now and people start to appreciate other cultures than people did in the past. If there is one particular trend that is taking the US by storm, that is KPop. If you look at the numbers, they’ve been making waves in music charts, radio plays, and even digital and actual album sales in various US states.

South Korea, in general, did very well in importing the Hallyu wave a.k.a. the growing globalization of KPop. There are KPop fans now all over America and in other parts of the world. Fandoms grow in number each year as KPop idols gradually become household names outside of Korea. Even the Billboard has been overtaken by KPop idols with BTS in the forefront having stayed in the HOT 100 for a month where they even won the Top Social Artist this year beating Justin Bieber and Selene Gomez who are undeniably among the top superstars in the US today. BTS also recently released their recent comeback with a mini-album “Her” that hit #1 on the iTunes chart in 73 countries. It is a feat that not all Western performers are actually capable of doing but something that the group has been known to do more often now. They keep on making and breaking records. The music video for their recent title track “DNA” was viewed over 20 million times during its first 24 hours of release.

When people talk about America’s impact on K-pop, they’re usually talking about the music. From boy bands to hip-hop to rock, the origin of K-pop’s sound is thoroughly American. But it’s also likely that American TV largely influenced the multi-medium’s emphasis on visuals, whereby dance, fashion and “concepts” are inextricably tied to the definition of K-pop.

According to Dr. Suk-Young Kim, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, MTV was first imported to Korea around the same time as the birth of K-pop. “In the mid-'90s when [father of modern K-pop] Seo Taiji and the Boys became sensational hits, that's when music videos also started gaining traction in the Korean consumer market,” she explains to Billboard over the phone. (Notably, one of the Boys, Yang Hyun-suk, later founded YG Entertainment, the Big 3 company that jump-started the careers of chart-topping K-pop acts like Psy, BIGBANGand 2NE1.)

(Via: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/7990486/korean-music-shows-mtv-trl-bts-history)

Many Americans join different fandoms of their idols and even got enamored with KDrama as well. In turn, this becomes a newfound obsession where fans can’t help but purchase related merchandise to make them feel closer to their idols. It is very clear now that Kpop has finally made it to US shores and they can only grow bigger and rise in popularity as they continue to break into the mainstream American entertainment scene.

BTS is once again proving their power as the top social artist; this time on Google. 

For the month of September, BTS ranked #7 on Google's most searched musical artist in the United States. Not only is BTS the only K-Pop act to make it on the top 20, but they've also ranked above popular Western artists such as Drake, Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Miley Cyrus, and more. 

The boy group's phenomenal comeback with the new album 'Love Yourself: Her' and title track "DNA" are the suspected factors that led to their domination on the worldwide search engine. 

(Via: https://www.allkpop.com/article/2017/10/bts-enters-the-top-10-most-searched-musical-artist-on-google)

KPop’s popularity and influence can be seen everywhere and this is most apparent in social media where they have proven to be tech-savvy and followed by millions of their most loyal fans. Indeed, their striking visuals and multitude of talents have captured the heart of many Americans and it only kept them wanting for more. An annual KCon or Korean Convention is done yearly now where Korean idols are brought to the US to perform and engage in various activities with their US-based fans. Without a doubt, nothing is stopping the Hallyu wave and the US will definitely be seeing more of these Korean acts mainstream as the cultural boundaries have long since been broken.

de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2postlinkde482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2 was first published to IPAction.org Blog

source https://ipaction.org/blog/the-us-embraces-kpop-music/

Recover Lost Data Of Android Users

There are generally just two types of the people in the world today, the few who are iOS users and the rest who uses Android gadgets. Apple fanatics would always say they deserve only the best and that iOS is the best there is in the land today but users loyal to Android might disagree. The latter says that iOS is too rigid whereas Android offers them the flexibility they want. Whether you are an iOS or Android user, you basically face the same issues all smartphone users do. The most notable of all has to do with data loss especially now that these handy smart devices can work just as good as any regular computer does and suffer from the usual tech glitches.

Admit it, losing your data is one of your biggest fears as a tech user. Even smartphones aren’t immune to this problem. You can easily lose all the files: contacts, messages, photos, and other multimedia files stored in your smartphone device because of problems you didn’t expect for like the device getting broken after a terrible drop, submerged in water, reformatted, etc. Imagine the feeling of losing months, or possibly years, of memories stored as digital files in that tiny sleek device. Then, you might also lose track of the people you know especially if all these data won’t be recovered at all.

To most people, one of the most crucial subsets of data is business and personal contacts. By default, Android syncs all the stored contacts in Google Drive, and even the ones you delete will not be permanently removed from the device’s memory.

To retrieve your contacts, just go to the Google Contacts website, click ‘More’ and then the option named ‘Restore Contacts.’ A list of options will be provided to you. Choose the timeline to which you like to roll back, and all contacts saved in that period will be restored on your phone.

While most Android users rely on the Windows operating system for their everyday computing needs, Mac OS X users can use Disk Drill 3 developed by Clever Files, which is fully compatible with Apple machines. The recovery process involves scanning your phone’s memory and SD card for deleted files to retrieve.

Android data recovery software programs are easy to use and simplified for most users. Plus, the desktop versions work much better when compared to apps.

(Via: http://www.tgdaily.com/web/audience/7-tools-that-help-you-retrieve-deleted-data-from-your-android-phone)

If you ever encounter or found yourself in this unfortunate situation, the best way to deal with this issue is to seek the assistance of a professional to ensure you don’t do more damage and still be able to salvage your now missing files. If you can’t afford to pay for one and you think you somehow have the technical know-how to remedy the situation, you can try any of those apps that are considered the most in-demand android phone data recovery tool because they are the most user-friendly.

Recovering deleted or lost data from an Android device is not something difficult to be done. You just need to follow the right steps and you will end up getting back all the files that you lost.

First of all, you will need to install a reputed data recovery application on your Android device. This is the most crucial steps because the app you select would determine whether you are going to end up with positive results or negative results. Therefore, you should carefully go through the online reviews and determine an app to be used. If you don’t have time to conduct a research for an Android data recovery tool, you can simply go ahead with the app that we suggested above.

When you have an Android data recovery tool installed on your device, the process of getting back your deleted files is pretty much self-explanatory. To begin the data recovery process, you will need to run a scan. Time taken for the scan would vary based on the amount of data to be browsed and the overall performance specs of your Android device. However, you will be provided with a list of all files that can be recovered at the end of the day.

(Via: http://www.tgdaily.com/technology/mobile/how-to-recover-deleted-videos-on-android)

Sometimes, common sense can go a long way when recovering lost data from your Android smartphone. Just don’t do anything rashly until you have enough time to analyze the situation and think about your next steps. Don’t make the situation more complex by causing more damage to your already lost files. Follow the indicated data recovery steps for your device and there is a big possibility you can get them back after some time. Just make sure to do your research well and choose the best recovery app you can get your hands on. The apps included in this article have good reviews too, so you may eventually use them when the situation calls for it, which is hopefully not soon.

The following blog article de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2postlinkde482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2 is courtesy of The IPac Action Blog

source https://ipaction.org/blog/recover-lost-data-of-android-users/

Medical Marijuana: The New Painkiller

Not all types of pain are the same. Just like everyone has a varying level of pain tolerance, different health conditions trigger different types and intensity of pain as well. Simple cuts and bruises do not necessarily require you to take a painkiller but some do depend on how big and deep the affected area is. Bur for chronic pain that just won’t go away, patients often get hooked on the painkillers they are taking. The sad part here aside from the obvious addiction is that the dosage of their medicine had to be constantly increased as they become used to its effect and their tolerance to it likewise increases.

Here comes medical marijuana to the rescue. For quite some time now, people have been raving about the positive impact of medical cannabis to patients suffering from certain medical conditions especially the ones who suffer from chronic pain. Since medical marijuana became famous and have even been legalized in certain states, more people want to give it a try and it has consequently resulted in a decline in painkiller use.

Legalizing medical marijuana is controversial. Physicians have not always prescribed controlled substances wisely, as a look at our narcotic epidemic confirms. But marijuana is much safer than narcotics and, according to a recent study, might even save us money, by reducing people’s need for other, often more expensive medications.

Most notably, marijuana can be an effective part of comprehensive pain management. Millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain, caused by a wide range of disorders — inflammatory arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome and metastatic cancer, to name a few. Many medications that are used to manage such pain are expensive and carry substantial risk of substantial side effects. Marijuana can help alleviate pain, thereby reducing the need for those other medications.

(Via: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterubel/2017/10/24/more-medical-marijuana-less-narcotics/#7837830078e2)

In a way, the reduction in painkiller use means fewer people are relying on these drugs in the management of their pain and they now have a more organic alternative to pain management that delivers the same result minus the adverse reactions. Unfortunately, the problem with marijuana use it is still a bit challenging to monitor usage and medical experts may not always tell who uses it properly and when does abuse begin. Remember that there are generally two types of marijuana, the ones loaded with THC and the other with CBD. The latter is used in medical cannabis preparations but there are still some variants that mix both compounds inside one preparation. THC is common on recreational marijuana and induces the natural high weed is known for.

Some medical marijuana patients in Illinois say the drug has allowed them to reduce or eliminate their use of other prescription medication, a new study reports.

The study by DePaul and Rush universities was small, with 30 participants, and involved only those who volunteered to respond to the topic, so researchers conceded the results might be biased in favor of marijuana. But it's believed to be the first peer-reviewed, published research of medical marijuana patients in Illinois.

And it provides direct anecdotal evidence of what has been suggested by previous studies, that marijuana may contribute to reduced use of opioid drugs, lead author Douglas Bruce said.

"One of the most compelling things to come out of this is that people are taking control of their own health, and most providers would agree that's a good thing,"

(Via: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-medical-marijuana-illinois-study-painkillers-met-20171008-story.html)

There is no point in downplaying or ignoring the beneficial effects of medical marijuana because we all know it is good for our health when used properly. Nowadays, weed growers breed CBD-rich marijuana to meet the rising demands for medical cannabis as more and more states and countries outside of the United States recognize the potential of marijuana in promoting health and wellness.

There are different forms available in the market today. Some are sold as pills while there are cute gummy bear types that one can easily mistake for a sweet treat. Along with its growing popularity, the demand and sales for marijuana smoking related accessories spike up and many individuals learn the different ways marijuana can be used depending on the need.

The following blog article de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2postlinkde482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2 was originally published to https://ipaction.org

source https://ipaction.org/blog/medical-marijuana-the-new-painkiller/

Towards The Direction Of Personalized Healthcare

There have been many breakthroughs and innovations in the field of medicine. The healthcare system that we know of today is incomparable to the medical practices observed and practiced decades to centuries ago. But let’s admit it, things are better the way it is now than it was before. If you watch old films or documentaries that show the medical practices in the past, you’d be shaken at the agony patients had to endure in the name of science.

Some think that the science of medicine that we know of today will be here for good but we are badly mistaken. We only have room for progress and at the rate things are going, technology has a lot to do with the direction medicine is taking and we can only aspire for better things to come our way.The medical practice today all boils down to patient assessment through the symptoms exhibited by patients, which may be interpreted differently depending on the physician and sometimes, underlying conditions can trigger different symptoms that will lead to misdiagnosis. Then, personalized healthcare will definitely be a welcome reprieve for all of us. In fact, it may also be the key to reducing morbidity and mortality rates that are constantly going up because of our unhealthy modern lifestyle.

Imagine a future in which, rather than using symptoms to identify a disease, your genes, metabolism, and gut microbiome inform how your individual health is managed. This is the vision of precision medicine.

Traditional medicine uses symptoms to diagnose diseases, and drugs to treat these symptoms. But precision medicine aims to turn this concept on its head.

By identifying the factors that predispose a person to a particular disease and the molecular mechanisms that cause the condition, treatment and prevention strategies can be tailored to each individual. 

So, how do we get from traditional to precision medicine? Advances in genetics and molecular analysis techniques have been a deciding factor, as has getting patients involved with managing their own health.

(Via: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319875.php)

Treatment will no longer be based on a patient’s symptoms but take a more tailor-fit approach that analyzes your genes, metabolism, and essentially the biomolecular makeup of your body. It is what precision medicine is all about and this can be turned into a reality with the help of the right technology. Eventually, it will empower patients to manage their own health. The question now is whether everyone can afford to enjoy this more tailor-fit approach to healthcare or will this be a privilege that only a select (rich and affluent) few can only afford?

Whether offering tips on basic genomic facts or exploring the practical implications of precision techniques for hospitals and health system, the MINC toolkit is meant as a "starting point for healthcare providers who want to promote genomic integration into practice to benefit their patients,” said Laura Lyman Rodriguez, director of the division of policy, communication and education at NHGRI.

It can help nursing leaders care for patients who are undergoing genomic testing and treatment and better prepare their workforce for fast-emerging clinical applications, she said.

(Via: http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/tool-helps-nurses-smaller-hospitals-start-practicing-precision-medicine)

Precision medicine is already here. While it is not generally practiced mainstream, there are certain smaller health institutions that practice it to help medical experts (the health team) gradually get used to this approach in the clinical setting as well as provide inputs to the medical experts who are still continuously improving this practice. After all, technology continues to innovate and introduce a better way for us to do things. You just need to keep an open mind because things will definitely change more often than we can keep up with these updates but if it means saving people lives, then we’ll just have to be flexible enough to accept these changes and enjoy a better quality life that isn’t always highlighted by sickness or death.

de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2postlinkde482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2 is courtesy of The IPAC Blog

source https://ipaction.org/blog/towards-the-direction-of-personalized-healthcare/

The Frightful Five And Internet Innovation

The mere existence of the web has ended an era and started another; one that is defined by mindblowing technologies and a different way of life. Imagine what life in the 70s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s were. If you weren’t personally living through these times, it is quite hard to relate to, right? Even when you watch old TV shows and movies, seeing how people lived during these times will make you wonder how they survived without getting bored to death. Yes, boredom is something that the Internet has virtually rendered irrelevant. How can you even say that you are bored anymore when you can do lots of things on the web and you won’t mind the hours ticking by.

If you think about Internet innovation or the continued advancements on the web today, America is almost always at the top of people’s mind because most big tech companies are found here. However, experts have noticed how these very same big tech brands seem to be dampening the Internet’s progress, thereby preventing the growth of small startups from stealing a piece of their pie. After all, business comes first. We may have seen many of the major breakthroughs made their debut on American soil but big tech brands end up monopolizing the industry in general.

There are multiple reasons why countries like the U.S. have accounted for the bulk of the world’s internet innovation over the past few decades. Simply put, the U.S. is an attractive market with a common language, common currency and common regulatory policy supporting private infrastructure investment, including wireless and wireline networks delivering internet connection. This is not the case in the European Union, where innovators have to contend with 28 nations, 24 languages and 17 currencies.

The U.S. is indeed an innovation hub. However, it’s on the verge of losing this advantage if it continues on with overregulation and doesn’t guard against piecemeal internet policy frameworks.

(Via: https://www.aei.org/publication/ensure-internet-innovation/)

If you look at the World Wide Web today, there are five companies that stand out among the rest whose power and influence spans continents and we'll call them as the frightful five. In a world like ours today that is defined by technology, smart gadgets, and the Internet of Things, it is easy to easy how these companies have built their empires that even governments pale in comparison to the extent of their ability to dictate society, our way of life, and the future of mankind. What many of you are not aware of is that these companies also own a bunch of other businesses that roughly got everything else covered that matters in this planet making it doubly harder for other businesses to thrive.

So what makes them frightful, first of all, is that they are very, very big. And they play a huge role - they all play sort of huge roles in our lives kind of personally and at a kind of society-wide level. So if you live kind of a modern American life, it's impossible to, you know, to live without all of them for most people. And more than that, they sort of are being asked to do and they kind of know more about us than any corporations in history. They're more - they've become kind of more like governments than companies with the amount of money they have, with the kind of power they have over democracy in society.

We're seeing that with the way that, you know, news on Facebook and Google affected the election, with their impact on the economy, you know, the way they're disrupting kind of how retail works, with their impact on jobs and inequality. And eventually, you know, they're all working on artificial intelligence. And their technologies will affect probably most of our jobs. Most of the ways that people make money now are going to be changed by technologies that these companies make.

(Via: http://www.npr.org/2017/10/26/560136311/how-5-tech-giants-have-become-more-like-governments-than-companies)

How do they trump innovation then, one might ask. Well, by dominating the market, they limit the opportunity for small businesses to prosper or for them to even have a fighting chance to get their names out there. The irony here is that they make money every single time these smaller businesses use their online platforms while the average entrepreneurs struggle to make ends meet and rise above the endless competition. You don’t even have to look far to understand how this monopoly works. All you need is to simply check out the web. There are many smaller tech businesses in there, true, but they still need to get their business heard using any of the frightful five as platforms. They may make money but the five still makes the most money as they earn from other people’s success as well, thereby killing not only innovation but these businesses as well.

The article de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2postlinkde482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2 Read more on: The IPac Action Blog

source https://ipaction.org/blog/the-frightful-five-and-internet-innovation/

The Dark Side Of Substance Abuse

People often associate substance abuse to the abuse of illegal drugs that give its users an unrealistically high that consequently messes up with their brain and over time with their life. Doing drugs is cool at first. After all, mostly cool people do it. It gives the user a false sense of belonging as they continue to have pot sessions with fellow drug addicts who have lost their sense of direction and reality. It might be fun at the beginning as you relish in the unnatural high these illegal substances bring you but wait until their undesired effects kick in and you’ll regret doing it at all. Drug users look terrible physically as they are no longer able to look after themselves and they look like wasted versions of who they once were.

For years, we have seen drug junkies ruin their lives as they can’t seem to break away from their nasty habit. Drug addiction does not discriminate. It will not spare you from its bad effects whether you are a famous personality or just an average Joe. Celebrities have fallen out of the limelight and weren't able to stage a successful comeback after succumbing to illegal substances. Some even died either by suicide or because of an accidental overdose as they may also take other prescribed medications in conjunction with their drug use that unknowingly became a lethal combination that took their lives away. (more…)

de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2postlinkde482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2 was originally seen on The IPAC Blog

source https://ipaction.org/blog/the-dark-side-of-substance-abuse/

Why You Need To Learn Coding Now

The world is changing. That cannot be denied. If you just look around you, you’d notice how more advanced our society has become and tech gadgets seem to be sprawled all across town, even in the comforts of our own homes. There is even one or two inside your pocket and your whole world probably revolves around the use of smart technology because that is likely what the rest of the population does. Everybody is so active online that it has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for people whose technical expertise lies in the use of computers and anything tech-related.

If there is one skill that will prove handy in the years to come, it definitely has to be related to technology especially in the use of computers. Wherever you look, some sort of tech device is running a business, office, institution, or even in your own home. We need to learn to adapt to all these changes if we don’t want to be left behind because sooner or later, technology will run the world (as if it is not already doing it now). And if there is another skill you should master or at least know about, it is coding or computer programming. The possibilities are endless if you finally figure out how computers work from the inside and it can work to your advantage when expanding your career options.

A whole new tongue – the language of computers – will be what separates the educated from the ignorant masses of tomorrow. Understanding how to write code for computers is already becoming one of the most highly prized skill sets anyone can have in the global economy. Here’s why:

1. Code rules everything around me, cream get the money

All major tech companies, from Google to Facebook, aggressively compete to hire gifted young coders. In the Silicon Valley area, for example, some reports suggest engineering graduates from Stanford University expect their starting salary to be nothing less than $100,000-120,000.

“It’s fair to say that for school-leavers looking to maximise their potential income, few other skills open the door to as many well-paying and varied careers,” says Prof Rory O’Connor, head of the school of computing at Dublin City University.

(Via: https://www.irishtimes.com/business/innovation/coding-will-be-the-most-important-skill-in-the-future-1.3233019)

Learning the language of computers is no longer just a second-thought for many but a priority given that today’s world is highly reliant on these modern contrivances in getting things done. There are other reasons why coding makes for a great new skill to learn aside from its practical applications in life. For instance, it is that universal language spoken by all that knows no boundaries or prejudices. It’s what you know and is capable of doing that matters not who you are.

Computer science courses for children have proliferated rapidly in the past few years. A 2016 Gallup report found that 40% of American schools now offer coding classes – up from only 25% a few years ago. New York, with the largest public school system in the country, has pledged to offer computer science to all 1.1 million students by 2025. Los Angeles, with the second largest, plans to do the same by 2020. And Chicago, the fourth largest, has gone further, promising to make computer science a high school graduation requirement by 2018.

The rationale for this rapid curricular renovation is economic. Teaching kids how to code will help them land good jobs, the argument goes. In an era of flat and falling incomes, programming provides a new path to the middle class – a skill so widely demanded that anyone who acquires it can command a livable, even lucrative, wage.

(Via: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/sep/21/coding-education-teaching-silicon-valley-wages)

There is a major downside, though, to the popularity of coding class/courses as it will eventually produce a large number of coders who’ll be looking for a job and we all know how the law of supply and demand works, right? The lucrative salary in this industry today may significantly go down if there is a surplus of skilled workers capable of doing the job at a lower income range.

If there is another positive note we can highlight about this aggressive initiative to educate the youth of computer technology is that it ensures they are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to meet the demands of our modern world and survive no matter the odds.

The blog article Why You Need To Learn Coding Now is available on The IPAC Blog

source https://ipaction.org/blog/why-you-need-to-learn-coding-now/