In the last 5 years online universities have exploded in popularity. This leaves us with many questions to ask ourselves. Like how will online learning will replace traditional school buildings? How is this changing educational programs? Will all colleges and universities be compelled to offer classes online? Should all students be required to participate in online learning? Will online students be distinct and different from the students who pursue traditional classroom learning? These questions show how education programs are changing and the need for students to keep up with the changes.
Online learning is growing at an exponential rate and allowing students the flexibility never offered before. I do not believe that the traditional classes will ever be fully replaced by online classes. There will always be a need for a traditional learning environment for advanced hands on labs and classes where high instructor involvement is required. Classes will and are becoming a mix of both depending on the students needs working hand in hand to complement each other. Many companies and now having their employees complete their annual safety, Equal Opportunity and Policy reviews online. The military now has computer based training that allows members to complete their training anywhere in the world at the member’s convenience.
These classes require students to be self starters, motivated and very organized. Students must log in and to complete assignments, competed and respond to other students work and blogs while completing tests in the required time. Online students are forced to become more interactive than traditional students where they can choose to be an inactive member of the class and get lost in a class of 40 to 60 students. For high school graduates this change can to very overwhelming for procrastinators and students that needed constant reminders on due dates for assignments. This is however a very positive changes because the excuse of not having basic computer skills is now a requirement in all universities and most employers today.
I believe all universities will offer some form of online class in the next 5 years. Students must now use their computers to check their grades, register for classes and complete assignments. This is the next logical step in Universities moving towards the future. All students are already required to use a computer in one way or the other for classes now. While the amount of online classes required may be only required for introductory and orientation classes all students will use them.
Currently some students in some professions many be looked at more closely for having an online degree more and more people are getting them and their acceptance will continue to grow. While there will be some online schools that have a better reputation than others university accreditations will help students choose better schools while reassuring employers the quality of the graduates they put out.
The future is very bright for online students and universities in the next few years. If online schools continue to produce high quality graduates and offer students flexible and interactive programs more and more people will choose them. Will they ever replace traditional schools? I doubt it in my life time programs like nursing and architecture need a hands on approach that online classes are able to offer. Students will get all or some of their elective classes online but not all in the near future. Either way it will be very interesting to see how schools change from State Colleges to Ivy League Schools.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Food
America is the only country in the world where everything is someone else’s fault and then our government spends millions fixing problems due to lack of personal accountability. A prime example of this is the question should the government pass laws to regulate the types of food fast food restaurants serve? Right now a country with a record high national debt, poor public health care and third world public education system is spending millions of US tax payer’s dollars. The real question should be whatever happened to personal accountability?
Almost every national chain fast food restaurant now has healthy meal options on their menu. Subway has established themselves as a healthy alternative to normal fast food options but the consumer must choose that option. You can still get a Philly cheese steak sandwich with chips, cookies and a large Mello Yellow. That has three days worth of fat grams in one sitting. If I choose to eat one sandwich over another that is my choice and I must live with my choices. This goes for everything else in life it’s my personal responsibility. Should the government limit all vehicles so that they can only do 70 mph? You can kill a lot more people with a car than with an extra value meal at Burger King.
I’ve also had a Blooming Onion and Outback steak house with its 500% of your daily recommended fat allowance and loved it! They have salads on many other healthy choices on their menu but about once every other year that’s what I want. No one forces me to eat it and the restaurant is honest about how fatting it is but I still eat it. Our government has way bigger issues they need to deal with than regulating food. If they enacted sweeping change to the food industry for the good of their people what’s next my home. If I can’t get what I want a restaurant but can have whatever I want at home what to do these laws really do?
This seems like a very simple problem to address. If you make poor food choices on a consistent basis then you will be fat. You need to take personal responsible responsibility for your actions. If you kids are fat and they only eat junk and are inactive that is the parents fault and they need to take responsibility for that and quite pointing fingers.
Almost every national chain fast food restaurant now has healthy meal options on their menu. Subway has established themselves as a healthy alternative to normal fast food options but the consumer must choose that option. You can still get a Philly cheese steak sandwich with chips, cookies and a large Mello Yellow. That has three days worth of fat grams in one sitting. If I choose to eat one sandwich over another that is my choice and I must live with my choices. This goes for everything else in life it’s my personal responsibility. Should the government limit all vehicles so that they can only do 70 mph? You can kill a lot more people with a car than with an extra value meal at Burger King.
I’ve also had a Blooming Onion and Outback steak house with its 500% of your daily recommended fat allowance and loved it! They have salads on many other healthy choices on their menu but about once every other year that’s what I want. No one forces me to eat it and the restaurant is honest about how fatting it is but I still eat it. Our government has way bigger issues they need to deal with than regulating food. If they enacted sweeping change to the food industry for the good of their people what’s next my home. If I can’t get what I want a restaurant but can have whatever I want at home what to do these laws really do?
This seems like a very simple problem to address. If you make poor food choices on a consistent basis then you will be fat. You need to take personal responsible responsibility for your actions. If you kids are fat and they only eat junk and are inactive that is the parents fault and they need to take responsibility for that and quite pointing fingers.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a very important time of year for my family. It is a time for family to get together and really give "thanks" for what we have. We spend the day cooking and laughing and just catching up on all the pahhenings of the year. All the women spend most the day in the kitchen cooking and sipping wine while the men spend their time watching football. We all come and go chatting and chasing the little ones around and keeping them out of trouble and just playing. Dinner time is crazy, lots of tables and lots of food! Everything and anything you can think of, we eat it! After dinner is all the deserts, pies and candys of every kind. I usualy fall asleep so I don't have to help with the dishes but my mom finds me and makes me help but that's okay.... I love the holidays in general but Thanksgiving is one of my favorites.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
The 2109 family
The Family in the year 2109 will be very different from ours now. The true “family” started slipping away with the invention of the TV tray. As more and more cell phones and I pods, WII’s and other gadgets come about the more detached we become. Children sit at the table and text theirs friends, if they are sitting at the table at all. Parents and children aren’t talking because they can’t hear through their I pods, or over the big screen TV. Children are forced to grow up entirely to fast these days and I feel it will defiantly adversely affect our future as a family.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
community
Community to me is the people I share beliefs, interests, likes and have common vested interests. They are also about human interaction and building and maintaining personnel relationships. Some religious and social clubs can be very exclusive and secretive communities that can be hundreds of years old.
Communities in the modern world can range from communities of practice that large companies use to share best practices, protocols and up to date information about the company via the internet. There are tons of gaming communities where gamers from around the world can compete and work towards a common goal in many different gaming systems. In order for any community to survive it must bind individuals together in some pursuit of a common interest or goal. Today people can be involved in many different communities and never see or have any face to face contact with its members. This lack of physical contact seems to build bonds that can easily be broken or swayed. In small town communities usually everyone becomes part of your extended family and individuals have many people they can turn to for support. Today’s communities tend to lack loyalty and put individual needs before the group.
Social networking sites have opened the world to invite members to join communities around the world with the click of a mouse. While this may be lacking the intimacy of face to face interaction members can now explore the world and join communities that would have been impossible just 10 years ago.
Communities in the modern world can range from communities of practice that large companies use to share best practices, protocols and up to date information about the company via the internet. There are tons of gaming communities where gamers from around the world can compete and work towards a common goal in many different gaming systems. In order for any community to survive it must bind individuals together in some pursuit of a common interest or goal. Today people can be involved in many different communities and never see or have any face to face contact with its members. This lack of physical contact seems to build bonds that can easily be broken or swayed. In small town communities usually everyone becomes part of your extended family and individuals have many people they can turn to for support. Today’s communities tend to lack loyalty and put individual needs before the group.
Social networking sites have opened the world to invite members to join communities around the world with the click of a mouse. While this may be lacking the intimacy of face to face interaction members can now explore the world and join communities that would have been impossible just 10 years ago.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty on college campuses has always plagued modern learning intuitions. Today with the internet making plagiarism as easy as research students must make integrity choices for themselves. Universities have begun to push “honor codes” on students hoping to curb cheating by students. The effectiveness of this strategy remains to be seen and many believe that this is a clear indication that the nation’s moral compass is off.
In the military each branch of service has core values that help instill members with simple and clear guidelines for helping them become better soldiers and leaders. The first Air Force core value is “Integrity First” because integrity is the essential element or the foundation on which other values are built. This is important because military members represent our nation to the world and the poor choices by a few can become international incidents. Lack of integrity can lead to failure of the team or lives lost. On college campuses I believe that “honor codes” on campuses are not worth the paper there written on.
Students must make integrity choices themselves and signing a piece of paper at the beginning of the semester can easily become a distant memory when it is 3:00 a.m. and your grade for the semester is riding on what you have delayed working on until now. The choice on which path to take will be made on how you were raised and what you believe in. Not a piece of paper from the school. Dishonest or lazy students will not be deterred from cheating if their belief in completing school is more important than how they did it.
I do agree with students being clearly informed of the consequences of poor choices. Colleges that use Turnitin.com or Safeassign.com provide students with instant feedback on what they have submitted compares to millions of other sources. “Honor Codes” are only a small piece to curbing academic dishonesty but this need to be used in conjunction with clear consequences to cheating in anyway.
In the military each branch of service has core values that help instill members with simple and clear guidelines for helping them become better soldiers and leaders. The first Air Force core value is “Integrity First” because integrity is the essential element or the foundation on which other values are built. This is important because military members represent our nation to the world and the poor choices by a few can become international incidents. Lack of integrity can lead to failure of the team or lives lost. On college campuses I believe that “honor codes” on campuses are not worth the paper there written on.
Students must make integrity choices themselves and signing a piece of paper at the beginning of the semester can easily become a distant memory when it is 3:00 a.m. and your grade for the semester is riding on what you have delayed working on until now. The choice on which path to take will be made on how you were raised and what you believe in. Not a piece of paper from the school. Dishonest or lazy students will not be deterred from cheating if their belief in completing school is more important than how they did it.
I do agree with students being clearly informed of the consequences of poor choices. Colleges that use Turnitin.com or Safeassign.com provide students with instant feedback on what they have submitted compares to millions of other sources. “Honor Codes” are only a small piece to curbing academic dishonesty but this need to be used in conjunction with clear consequences to cheating in anyway.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Reality TV
Watching reality TV is the same principle as when you are driving down the street and you just can't help staring at the car wreck. Eventually people become desensitized to it however. These shows only tend to last a few seasons and then someone else comes along and makes a new show. Producers make these ridiculous shows because somebody will watch them, and there are so many to chose from. Shows such as Survivor pit people against others to win a prize, they lie to each other, they make pacts with other team mates or they become genuine friends. Then there are the shows Nanny 911 and the Biggest Looser. At least these shows offer some sort of help to the people on them and the viewer. The most pathetic of all are the many, many shows of washed up old famous people making fools of them selves, Rock of Love, Surreal Life, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, Run DMC's Runs House and the list goes on. They are watched because the public wants drama, they want to see other peoples problems so theirs lives don't look so bad. It is easier to make fun of other peoples lives than pick at our own. It is a prime time soap opera, it is a look at others lives.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Wind farms
Wind farms are being touted as a domestic and inexhaustible energy supply that is the wave of the future. Wind power is one of the fastest growing energy sources based on percentage. The demand for this technology is on the rise in European countries with US demand is slowly growing every year the future of these farms are looking bright. These farms are also very likely to have a major impact on economies and regional stability around the world. With the costs of wind farms falling and their efficiency improving the global impact can only be positive.
While the US is still lagging behind Germany in producing clean and safe wind power more and more wind farms are opening. The world's largest wind farm became fully operational on October 1, 2009 in Texas. This farm has 627 wind turbines creating 781.5 megawatts which is enough to power 230,000 homes. Currently a few problems with this technology exist like that power grids must be updated for this power and power lines must be run from the farms to the plants. This is going to cost tax payers millions of dollars to secure this for future generations. Before wind farms can be successful on a global scale their cost must continue to decline and become completive with other exhaustible energy sources. With current US government the cost to produce wind energy is now more competitive than ever provide the infrastructure is in place.
Wind energy has many advantages over other energy sources. It is cleans and inexhaustible facts that most people know and understand. Other advantages of equal importance this is a beginning point to the US becoming less dependent on other countries for our energy. While the cost to replace old energy infrastructure and building these wind farms will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars this is just a small percentage of the money we send overseas to countries that are not always our friends. If we invest in this for our future we are spending this money in house not only providing energy but jobs to Americans.
The US economy will see quick results in the US economy as this sector creates new jobs and keeps energy costs stable. This stability puts the US in charge of its energy instead of other countries in the Middle East or South America. This technology also provides the same benefits to other countries willing to make this investment. Africa is currently building its biggest wind farm in Kenya that will provide stable energy baron land. Wind farms also provide a limited treat of collateral damage from a terrorist attack and can be rebuilt and maintained quickly and easily.
This can be a true answer for global energy needs but we must invest in it now. While this cost to utilize the winds full potential will be cost heavy in the beginning we are spending this money now anyway and killing our planet at the same time. Wind energy allows us to cut our dependence on foreign fuel while helping the environment and bolstering our economy. The potential to wind power is enormous. U.S. winds could generate more electricity in 15 years than all of Saudi Arabia's oil, without being depleted.
While the US is still lagging behind Germany in producing clean and safe wind power more and more wind farms are opening. The world's largest wind farm became fully operational on October 1, 2009 in Texas. This farm has 627 wind turbines creating 781.5 megawatts which is enough to power 230,000 homes. Currently a few problems with this technology exist like that power grids must be updated for this power and power lines must be run from the farms to the plants. This is going to cost tax payers millions of dollars to secure this for future generations. Before wind farms can be successful on a global scale their cost must continue to decline and become completive with other exhaustible energy sources. With current US government the cost to produce wind energy is now more competitive than ever provide the infrastructure is in place.
Wind energy has many advantages over other energy sources. It is cleans and inexhaustible facts that most people know and understand. Other advantages of equal importance this is a beginning point to the US becoming less dependent on other countries for our energy. While the cost to replace old energy infrastructure and building these wind farms will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars this is just a small percentage of the money we send overseas to countries that are not always our friends. If we invest in this for our future we are spending this money in house not only providing energy but jobs to Americans.
The US economy will see quick results in the US economy as this sector creates new jobs and keeps energy costs stable. This stability puts the US in charge of its energy instead of other countries in the Middle East or South America. This technology also provides the same benefits to other countries willing to make this investment. Africa is currently building its biggest wind farm in Kenya that will provide stable energy baron land. Wind farms also provide a limited treat of collateral damage from a terrorist attack and can be rebuilt and maintained quickly and easily.
This can be a true answer for global energy needs but we must invest in it now. While this cost to utilize the winds full potential will be cost heavy in the beginning we are spending this money now anyway and killing our planet at the same time. Wind energy allows us to cut our dependence on foreign fuel while helping the environment and bolstering our economy. The potential to wind power is enormous. U.S. winds could generate more electricity in 15 years than all of Saudi Arabia's oil, without being depleted.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
There are many appeals to both the left and right wing. Everything seems to be all gloom and doom and someone else's fault. Each side masterfully uses a variety of persuasion techniques to stir emotion, outrageand action by the readers. Both sides have their similarities and differences each seeking to gain your trust and your vote on Election Day. Both the left and right organizers of these blogs seek to inform readers about what their political parties are doing to help their constituents and why they are far better for the country than their counterparts. Both love to lay the blame for our problems on each other rather than always voicing constructive solutions and bipartisan solutions.Each attacks each other for attacking them and cry outrage when anyone disagrees with them. Each of these blogs are clearly Republican orDemocratic and both focus on their parities first and what's right or best for the country second. The major differences found of these blogs seem to big the redistribution of wealth. Democrats want everything for everybody. Healthcare, homes and money while Republicans want to be able to keep everything they earn.
The Daily Dish features a blog called "Those Useless, Spineless,Rudderless Democrats" uses repetition to undervalue Democrats efforts while another blogs provide many reasons why America is in the mess we arein today. This includes everything from high infant death rates, a poor economy, and an out of control deficit. There is an endless amount of blogs slamming the Democrats. The same can also be said about the Democrats talking about the Republicans. They use persuasive techniques including the same ones listed above as well as many comparisons and agitate and solve.The Daily Kos provides up to the minute updates of the state of the nation and says that a favorable opinion of President Obama is growing and that the nation is beginning to recover under Democratic leadership.
Blogs from both parties consistently use persuasive techniques to sell themselves just like advertisers do to sell a product. They use repetition and comparisons to sell themselves and explain their actions while showing the alleged failures of the other party. Like everything else you cannot believe everything you read online. Differing views can be found in everything involving politics and if readers are not getting the whole story they can easily are pulled to one side over the other.
The Daily Dish features a blog called "Those Useless, Spineless,Rudderless Democrats" uses repetition to undervalue Democrats efforts while another blogs provide many reasons why America is in the mess we arein today. This includes everything from high infant death rates, a poor economy, and an out of control deficit. There is an endless amount of blogs slamming the Democrats. The same can also be said about the Democrats talking about the Republicans. They use persuasive techniques including the same ones listed above as well as many comparisons and agitate and solve.The Daily Kos provides up to the minute updates of the state of the nation and says that a favorable opinion of President Obama is growing and that the nation is beginning to recover under Democratic leadership.
Blogs from both parties consistently use persuasive techniques to sell themselves just like advertisers do to sell a product. They use repetition and comparisons to sell themselves and explain their actions while showing the alleged failures of the other party. Like everything else you cannot believe everything you read online. Differing views can be found in everything involving politics and if readers are not getting the whole story they can easily are pulled to one side over the other.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
movies
The film industry today continues to re-invent itself as technology and the world population advances and becomes savvier. This is the only way the film industry will remain a viable art form. Some movies now are all about the special effects and action with the plot added seemingly afterwards. These movies cost hundreds of millions of dollars like “GI JOE” that give the viewers a visually amazing movie but not much else.
Movies I’d recommend to others would be according to what they were in the mood for. If they wanted action/adventure then the new “Star Trek” is at the top of my list even if you did not grow up watching the movies or never saw them on TV this movie really gets you rooting for the characters in it and how they got started. If you wanted horror I enjoyed “Drag Me To Hell” it was not overly gory but it is very intense and full of surprises. Watching the person I went with react to the movie was almost as enjoyable as the movie itself. The experience of going to the movie is what keeps me coming back to my favorite theater.
Going to the movie in a theater is always an experience sometimes good and sometimes bad. In a theater you lose control of the sound, temperature, volume and other movie goers. However if you want to be the first to see a long awaited movie you must go see it in a theater. More and more theaters have high definition movie theaters with amazing sound and comfortable stadium seating. These updated theaters will go a long way in securing theaters survival in the future. Older theaters are in danger of losing customers if they cannot offer a better picture and sound that are now found in homes with HD large screen TV’s found in most homes now.
Movie theaters have had to adjust to customers demands of high quality sound and pictures while providing this in a clean, safe and comfortable environment. Taking a family to a movie today is expensive and consumers want their monies worth. The internet, DVD’s, Blue Ray and On Demand movies will cut into the theaters bottom line but the film industry will adapt and cater to where the largest profits are. While movie theaters will survive they will have to continue to upgrade themselves to offer the highest quality product to consumers with lots of options.
Movies I’d recommend to others would be according to what they were in the mood for. If they wanted action/adventure then the new “Star Trek” is at the top of my list even if you did not grow up watching the movies or never saw them on TV this movie really gets you rooting for the characters in it and how they got started. If you wanted horror I enjoyed “Drag Me To Hell” it was not overly gory but it is very intense and full of surprises. Watching the person I went with react to the movie was almost as enjoyable as the movie itself. The experience of going to the movie is what keeps me coming back to my favorite theater.
Going to the movie in a theater is always an experience sometimes good and sometimes bad. In a theater you lose control of the sound, temperature, volume and other movie goers. However if you want to be the first to see a long awaited movie you must go see it in a theater. More and more theaters have high definition movie theaters with amazing sound and comfortable stadium seating. These updated theaters will go a long way in securing theaters survival in the future. Older theaters are in danger of losing customers if they cannot offer a better picture and sound that are now found in homes with HD large screen TV’s found in most homes now.
Movie theaters have had to adjust to customers demands of high quality sound and pictures while providing this in a clean, safe and comfortable environment. Taking a family to a movie today is expensive and consumers want their monies worth. The internet, DVD’s, Blue Ray and On Demand movies will cut into the theaters bottom line but the film industry will adapt and cater to where the largest profits are. While movie theaters will survive they will have to continue to upgrade themselves to offer the highest quality product to consumers with lots of options.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Images
The most meaningful image for 2.1 billion people worldwide is the symbol of the cross. It is the symbol of the Christian god sacrificing his son to save mankind. This image is instantly recognized worldwide in jewelry, home decoration and on churches. Christianity is the world's largest religion that comprises many different branches and denominations using the symbol and the image of the cross to show how God loved the world. Jesus was crucified on the cross free of sin to allow Christians to ask and receive forgiveness for their sins. Wars have been fought to protect and spread Christianity using the image of the cross rally strength and support. The story of Jesus dying on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins will always be connected to the cross.
http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html#Christianity
In the Southern US the image of the rebel flags stirs emotions of hatred, pride and history. During the Civil War southern states that left the union wanted their own flag. The Confederacy adopted the rebel flag, also known as the “Southern Cross” to represent the rebels that succeed from the union. Your white southern boys see this as part of their history and feel this image represents their rebel youth. Young black boys have learned through their elders of the pain and suffering their ancestors endured as slaves and the south’s fight to maintain slavery under the rebel flag. This image stirs intense feelings on both sides for and against the image this flag represents. Stories of pride, heritage, hatred and discrimination are all linked to this image of the rebel flag and vary widely depending on the color of your skin.
http://arebelflag.net/
http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html#Christianity
In the Southern US the image of the rebel flags stirs emotions of hatred, pride and history. During the Civil War southern states that left the union wanted their own flag. The Confederacy adopted the rebel flag, also known as the “Southern Cross” to represent the rebels that succeed from the union. Your white southern boys see this as part of their history and feel this image represents their rebel youth. Young black boys have learned through their elders of the pain and suffering their ancestors endured as slaves and the south’s fight to maintain slavery under the rebel flag. This image stirs intense feelings on both sides for and against the image this flag represents. Stories of pride, heritage, hatred and discrimination are all linked to this image of the rebel flag and vary widely depending on the color of your skin.
http://arebelflag.net/
Thursday, September 17, 2009
war reporters
During the early days of the Iraq war—think back to 2003—“embedded reporters” were allowed to travel with U.S. troops into battle and do reports from locations in the combat zones. Do some research into this reporting and give your opinion about the appropriateness of reporting news in this manner. Why was this done? Should this have been allowed? How do you think the soldiers felt about reporters “tagging along”? Cite some actual reporters and describe their reports (don’t forget to cite sources). Have war-reporting techniques changed in the current war coverage?
Having embedded reporters with U.S. troops during war is a double edge sword. It does allow the world to see how the U.S. handles itself during contingency operations and gain national and international support for our actions. This can also provide our enemies and potential enemies a valuable insight for our tactics, responses and equipment. They can also twist and distort this information for propaganda for their cause.
I do believe that this is a good limited practice as long as it is properly monitored by military public affairs. I know that clearing every story before it is released is considered censorship but if it saves soldiers lives and does not negatively affect morale I feel it is valid. Embedding reporters can also distort what is really happening on the battlefield when they transmit inaccurate information. “In 2003 the embedded reporters transmitted inaccurate information correspondents for several news organizations reported seeing a convoy of up to 120 Iraqi tanks leaving the southern city of Basra, and most news outlets reported a large troop movement. However the next day, a spokesman for the British military said the "massive movement" was really just 14 tanks.” 1
Being a soldier myself I know how we love to tell our story because we are very proud of what we do and the people we serve with. Journalists are given limited training on what to expect and know the rules they must follow in order to not become a burden to the units they are assigned to. Journalists cannot give specific details of locations, disclose classified information or outline the future plans of their unit. These “baby sitting” tours are usually limited in duration to just a few weeks at most to limit the impact. For those that stay longer they become part of the team and are looked at as part of the family. Some critics believe that this closeness makes it difficult for journalists tell their story objectively if their safety is in the hands of the soldiers they are reporting.
Former BBC reporter Martin Bell stated about his experience that “Embedding' journalists... has brought warfare home to us as no war has been brought home before”. 2 This does however come at a high cost. As of October 2008, 153 journalists have been killed in the line of duty in Iraq since 2004. On April 2003 Julio Parrado and Spanish reporter was killed by a missile that severely injured several members of the unit he was reporting on. Unit members described him honest, genuine and a true friend. Parrado’s newspaper stated he had reported how fond he was of them too.3
War-reporting techniques have changed in the current war coverage with satellite phones and computers that allow communication in real time almost anywhere in the world. The military closely monitors who they allow in the field with our soldiers and set clear rules for their reporters. The U.S. and the world have also come to expect access to instant information on both the home front and the front line. I doubt that is going to change anytime soon.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june03/embed_3-27.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2885179.stm
http://fieldnotes.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/29/1607519.aspx
Having embedded reporters with U.S. troops during war is a double edge sword. It does allow the world to see how the U.S. handles itself during contingency operations and gain national and international support for our actions. This can also provide our enemies and potential enemies a valuable insight for our tactics, responses and equipment. They can also twist and distort this information for propaganda for their cause.
I do believe that this is a good limited practice as long as it is properly monitored by military public affairs. I know that clearing every story before it is released is considered censorship but if it saves soldiers lives and does not negatively affect morale I feel it is valid. Embedding reporters can also distort what is really happening on the battlefield when they transmit inaccurate information. “In 2003 the embedded reporters transmitted inaccurate information correspondents for several news organizations reported seeing a convoy of up to 120 Iraqi tanks leaving the southern city of Basra, and most news outlets reported a large troop movement. However the next day, a spokesman for the British military said the "massive movement" was really just 14 tanks.” 1
Being a soldier myself I know how we love to tell our story because we are very proud of what we do and the people we serve with. Journalists are given limited training on what to expect and know the rules they must follow in order to not become a burden to the units they are assigned to. Journalists cannot give specific details of locations, disclose classified information or outline the future plans of their unit. These “baby sitting” tours are usually limited in duration to just a few weeks at most to limit the impact. For those that stay longer they become part of the team and are looked at as part of the family. Some critics believe that this closeness makes it difficult for journalists tell their story objectively if their safety is in the hands of the soldiers they are reporting.
Former BBC reporter Martin Bell stated about his experience that “Embedding' journalists... has brought warfare home to us as no war has been brought home before”. 2 This does however come at a high cost. As of October 2008, 153 journalists have been killed in the line of duty in Iraq since 2004. On April 2003 Julio Parrado and Spanish reporter was killed by a missile that severely injured several members of the unit he was reporting on. Unit members described him honest, genuine and a true friend. Parrado’s newspaper stated he had reported how fond he was of them too.3
War-reporting techniques have changed in the current war coverage with satellite phones and computers that allow communication in real time almost anywhere in the world. The military closely monitors who they allow in the field with our soldiers and set clear rules for their reporters. The U.S. and the world have also come to expect access to instant information on both the home front and the front line. I doubt that is going to change anytime soon.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june03/embed_3-27.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2885179.stm
http://fieldnotes.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/29/1607519.aspx
Friday, September 11, 2009
Propaganda is defined by the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary as the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, cause, or person. Propaganda is a very effective tool against your enemy if you know how to reach your target audience and can elicit a response from them. Propaganda is all about perception and what you can make people believe. It is used by everyone in politics and in every public affairs office to put a positive spin on themselves and negative one competitors. Al Qaida uses Al Jazeera and the internet to spread their propaganda against the West by showing the death and destruction of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan regardless of who really caused the damage. Terrorist organizations are having no problems recruiting new members to support their agendas no matter the cost so it propaganda is working very for them. During the last Presidential election examples of both good and bad propaganda were used by both parties. Obama’s family history and Palin’s daughter’s pregnancy were used to try to sway public opinion for the other candidate sometimes very effectively. It did work for President Obama much better than Senator McCain in swaying voters. An even more current example of how propaganda is used for both good and bad is the national debate for universal healthcare for everyone. Both sides are only pushing the facts that support their claims and leaving out a lot of relevant facts like true costs and current success and failures of the healthcare option. The outcome for this is still very much up in the air. Propaganda can be a very effective tool in waging war or in politics and even at work to spread information to ensure the desired outcome with your audience. It can be used for good and bad just like a loaded weapon.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Where I like to write
Well we will see if this works!! I can set up a blog but don't know how to actually use one.... As far as where I like to write, I cannot honestly give you a place. Where ever I am and can get a chance to sit for a few minutes is where I write. Perfect example, right now!! I am hiding in old office right now trying to do my homework and not wake up the spiders before I go on another mission!!! When I am home which is very rare, I do all my writing at the dining room table so I can watch the kids that I nanny and help both of them do their homework at the same time.
I am not a great writer and have only written papers for school but I have learned that it can take me hours to write a three page paper. I absolutely and not the type of person that can "free write". I am very research heavy. I will spent the majority of the time looking up info then color code it in my paper for when I go back and cite it. I also have a very vivid imagination.
I am not a great writer and have only written papers for school but I have learned that it can take me hours to write a three page paper. I absolutely and not the type of person that can "free write". I am very research heavy. I will spent the majority of the time looking up info then color code it in my paper for when I go back and cite it. I also have a very vivid imagination.
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