Craig Ruvere

10Apr 2015 by CJ

Technology and anxiety – an unnecessary stress

In the April 2015 issue of Marketing News, there ran an article entitled Digital Disruption and the Death of Storytelling. Penned by Molly Soat, it featured professor and media theorist Douglas Rushkoff, and his thoughts on human connections in our personal lives, our businesses and our governments. One question asked of Rushkoff was: Q: What are the dangers of leading people into certain behaviors with digital technology? His response is an eye-opening revelation many of us probably never think about. “A: It’s dangerous for people, for companies and for governments alike. It’s dangerous for people in that they end up in an always-on, constantly pinged reality. They end up living to catch up with their Twitter feeds and their Facebook news, and all of the e-mails and phone calls, and…

08Apr 2015 by CJ

Time means different things depending on age

Life & Living, Youth

There are 24 hours in a day; seven days in a week; 365 days in a year. Yet quite ironically, we still never seem to have enough time for everything life demands of us. The late Malcolm Forbes once comically quipped, “There is never enough time, unless you're serving it.” I remember as a young boy, time seemed infinite. Even when I was attending college, juggling my courses, extracurricular activities and an internship, I somehow managed to find time for everything. But today with each passing year, I find it more and more difficult to find the time required for not only the things we need to do but the things we want to do. I hear myself continuously saying, “I’ll make time tomorrow.” Sound familiar? My greatest fear however,…

06Apr 2015 by CJ

Listening is an art few have mastered

Life & Living

Growing up I was always a little chattier than most, which was duly noted on my grammar school report cards. Even today I just talk, talk, talk – an asset I suppose when you have a blog to support. But as I’ve recently discovered, not everyone is interested in being an active listener – especially when the conversation pushes the limits of one’s comfort zone. Some are simply unwilling to discuss matters that are challenging or confrontational to say the least. And as often is the case during such conversations, the active listener suddenly tunes out. Ask yourself, what type of listener are you? Are you the kind of person who only likes to hear themselves talk – paying little attention to what others have to say? Does your attention…

27Mar 2015 by CJ

Voting for hate – Pence shows Indiana’s discrimination

Information & Education, Life & Living

On March 26th, Indiana’s Governor, Mike Pence, signed into law a very controversial bill called “The Religious Freedom Restoration Act”. From The Huffington Post: “The Religious Freedom Restoration Act would allow any individual or corporation to cite its religious beliefs as a defense when sued by a private party.” In short, it protects and allows businesses to pick and choose who they want to do business with based on the teachings and beliefs of their religion. I don’t know about you, but I’m growing tired of cowardly religious fanatics hiding behind their faith in order to support, and in many cases, propagate discrimination against other, undeserving human beings. The fact of the matter is just because your religion “says” something, doesn’t mean it’s true. We are all free thinking adults,…

23Mar 2015 by CJ

Old photographs are a treasure chest of memories

Life & Living, Love & Relationships, Youth

I’m sure we all have them – photographs of ourselves taken by semi-professional photographers chronicling our outward progression in life. For most of us they were taken in school, or at the local Sears store - posed perfectly for grandparents everywhere to proudly display in ornate frames around their house. In my basement lives an old shoebox my mother bestowed upon me. Inside are years of such photographs - haphazardly arranged with no real order. Looking at them now is laughable from the fashions I wore, my bowl haircut or those awkward pubescent years I wish I could forget. But beyond all the poses lives something I consider infinitely more important. Real-life, casual pictures capturing moments we oftentimes forget. They’re snapshots of reality – holidays and birthdays, fun times swimming…