Monday, December 12, 2011
The Death of Bin Laden
According to the New York Times, there has been a possible turning point to the war in Afghanistan. After a whole decade of fighting in the war throughout the Middle-East, and Afghanistan, U.S troops have finally found Usama Bin Laden hidden in a city in Pakistan meant for hiding people. During an era of terrorism (which includes all the attacks before, and including 9/11 in New York and Washington), Bin Laden was one of the most wanted men in the history of the world as he was the leader of both Al Queda, and basically all of the terrorist attacks within the last two decades. According to Barach Obama, “justice has been done” (New York Times). He also stated that Bin Laden has been “Al Quada’s leader and symbol” (New York Times). This was a time of serious triumph in the U.S as many people throughout D.C. and New York City have waved the American flag, and sang the Star Spangled Banner many times. However, the impact that Bin Laden’s death has on Al Quada is currently unknown. For that reason, a senior Pentagon official decided to warn American citizens of any travel outside the U.S. At the same time, it was very important that Obama had plenty of troops in the Pakistan area to ensure safety from any possible attack. One thing that I really hope is for no more tragedies caused by terrorists to occur especially because Bin Laden is deceased.This was very exciting news and I hope that it stays this way
Fatal Worcester Fire
http://www.boston.com/Boston/metrodesk/2011/12/worcester-firefighter-killed-apartment-building-collapse-second-recovering/odg25gQJjWhhaT1Sap4FRI/index.html?camp=obinsite
On December 8, a firefighter named Jon D. Davies, was killed in Worcester when he was going into a burning house to try and find someone who was trapped inside. The building collapsed before he was able to make it out. But the part of this story that upset me most was that he went into this fire to save a life and not only lost his own, but there was no one else found inside the house. It's hard to see someone die for there job but its even harder to see someone die on false pretenses. Another aspect of the story that's even more troubling to me is that the owner of this house had, "refused to fix code violations, including structural defects in the building’s foundation and the repeated failure to permanently solve a rodent problem." Also, Davies was also scheduled to get married on New Years Eve and has three sons, two of which currently serve in the military. My deepest thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Davies who died at 43 years old. I had no connection to this particular family, but I couldn't help but sympathize with their tragic loss and think their must have been someway to have avoided this from happening? It's terrible to think that this man may have lost his life for no reason. I hope that Jon D. Davies is remembered for his bravery and courage.
Casey D'Eon
On December 8, a firefighter named Jon D. Davies, was killed in Worcester when he was going into a burning house to try and find someone who was trapped inside. The building collapsed before he was able to make it out. But the part of this story that upset me most was that he went into this fire to save a life and not only lost his own, but there was no one else found inside the house. It's hard to see someone die for there job but its even harder to see someone die on false pretenses. Another aspect of the story that's even more troubling to me is that the owner of this house had, "refused to fix code violations, including structural defects in the building’s foundation and the repeated failure to permanently solve a rodent problem." Also, Davies was also scheduled to get married on New Years Eve and has three sons, two of which currently serve in the military. My deepest thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Davies who died at 43 years old. I had no connection to this particular family, but I couldn't help but sympathize with their tragic loss and think their must have been someway to have avoided this from happening? It's terrible to think that this man may have lost his life for no reason. I hope that Jon D. Davies is remembered for his bravery and courage.
Casey D'Eon
Developing artificial intelligence systems that can interpret images
This article was a very interesting read. The article profiles Antonio Torralba and his work into the field of artificial intelligence. Recently, Mr. Torralba developed systems that allowed artificial intelligence to recognize individual objects within a scene based on the context of those objects. For example, this new technology would allow artificial intelligence to recognize things like magazines on top of a coffee table or a toaster on a countertop. I believe this new technology will benefit us both in the short term and in the long term. In the short term, this technology could allow for more searchability of images on the Internet or other databases. The technology would recognize individual objects in the scene and then proceed to tag the image according to the bigger picture of the scene. For instance if you needed to find a picture of a cat juggling in front of a house with white shutters, you could simply type into a search engine using this technology “cat juggling house white shutters” and the results are far more likely to be accurate than without this technology.
On the other hand, another benefit of this new technology could be in robotic applications. Being able to recognize objects in the room could allow for robots to have more situational awareness. The robot would be able to use this technology to recognize where in a house it is or to locate a specific object in a room and use it to complete a task.
Whatever the purpose, this new technology is sure to impact us as any other new technology does; slowly and behind the scenes. It’s these emerging behind the scenes technology however that drives the digital revolution that we find ourselves in the middle of.
Eric Weiss
Kevin Lunsmann, U.S. Teen Kidnapped By Filipino Militants, Free After Five Months
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/10/kevin-lunsmann-free_n_1140685.html
Reports from yesterday, December 11, 2011 tell of a 14 year old boy by the name of Kevin Lunsmann, a resident of the united states, who escaped the jungles of the Philippines and the holding of a Filipino terrorist organization. The boy claims that he had escaped his captors by telling them that he was going to take a bath in a near by stream, and that is when he made a break for it. He states the he survived the harsh conditions of the forest by climbing trees for coconuts and on candy bars he had stolen from his captors. The boy was kidnapped while on vacation to the Philippines with his mother and his cousin. The while group had been captured, and the mother was released after two months and the boy's cousin had escaped last month when Filipino army forces approached the encampment. There have been many accounts however on the teen's escape. The military forces originally had told the media that the boy was released. Then they claimed that the boy was rescued after a gun fight with the terrorists. But finally, people were able to get the story directly from Kevin. The United States ambassador Harry Thomas has said that the boy will be reunited with his family. Thomas also states, "In this holiday season nothing makes me happier than knowing that an innocent victim is returned to his family in time for holiday celebrations. I also want to acknowledge the courage of Kevin himself, and his family, throughout this long ordeal." This whole situation only shows that there is always hope when times are darkest. Kevin is the portrayal of a living hope that one can survive under the harshest elements. He used his quick wit and was able to gain the trust of his captors and used that to his advantage. He is a shining example of the human intelligence, and is a credit to his family and to him self. Now he and his loved ones can live peacefully knowing that they are all safe.
-Jay Souweine
Reports from yesterday, December 11, 2011 tell of a 14 year old boy by the name of Kevin Lunsmann, a resident of the united states, who escaped the jungles of the Philippines and the holding of a Filipino terrorist organization. The boy claims that he had escaped his captors by telling them that he was going to take a bath in a near by stream, and that is when he made a break for it. He states the he survived the harsh conditions of the forest by climbing trees for coconuts and on candy bars he had stolen from his captors. The boy was kidnapped while on vacation to the Philippines with his mother and his cousin. The while group had been captured, and the mother was released after two months and the boy's cousin had escaped last month when Filipino army forces approached the encampment. There have been many accounts however on the teen's escape. The military forces originally had told the media that the boy was released. Then they claimed that the boy was rescued after a gun fight with the terrorists. But finally, people were able to get the story directly from Kevin. The United States ambassador Harry Thomas has said that the boy will be reunited with his family. Thomas also states, "In this holiday season nothing makes me happier than knowing that an innocent victim is returned to his family in time for holiday celebrations. I also want to acknowledge the courage of Kevin himself, and his family, throughout this long ordeal." This whole situation only shows that there is always hope when times are darkest. Kevin is the portrayal of a living hope that one can survive under the harshest elements. He used his quick wit and was able to gain the trust of his captors and used that to his advantage. He is a shining example of the human intelligence, and is a credit to his family and to him self. Now he and his loved ones can live peacefully knowing that they are all safe.
-Jay Souweine
Arizona Immigration Laws to be challenged by Supreme Court
http://www.washingtonpost.com/supreme-court-to-hear-challenge-of-arizonas-restrictive-immigration-law/2011/12/12/gIQA4UYepO_story.html
Today on Monday, December 12th the Supreme Court decided they were going to take the court case regarding the legality of the immigration laws passed by Arizona in the past year. These laws have sparked a lot of other states to try to pass similar laws and it seems as if before any other state does so the Supreme Court needs to decide the legality of the legislation.
For a long time the Obama administration has frowned upon the laws passed by Arizona and had tired to repeal the laws in the state courts. However, the courts disagreed with the administrations review and so no decision was ever met about the case. Since then Arizona's government, as well as several others that support the laws, have passed laws to prevent the Obama administration from committing any other lawsuits against the states government. This lead up to today where the Supreme court finally decides to take up the case.
My opinion of this whole situation is in favor of the Supreme Court. Now where I do believe there should be serious immigration reform, I believe Arizona's Laws are both unjust and unAmerican. Therefore the fact that the Supreme Court is taking up a case gives there a chance of repeal of the laws. However, even though the laws may seem morally wrong and constricting of freedom they are not actually unconstitutional. Therefore, I don't believe they will repeal, however I am not an expert on the matter and therefore cannot say that for certain.
Today on Monday, December 12th the Supreme Court decided they were going to take the court case regarding the legality of the immigration laws passed by Arizona in the past year. These laws have sparked a lot of other states to try to pass similar laws and it seems as if before any other state does so the Supreme Court needs to decide the legality of the legislation.
For a long time the Obama administration has frowned upon the laws passed by Arizona and had tired to repeal the laws in the state courts. However, the courts disagreed with the administrations review and so no decision was ever met about the case. Since then Arizona's government, as well as several others that support the laws, have passed laws to prevent the Obama administration from committing any other lawsuits against the states government. This lead up to today where the Supreme court finally decides to take up the case.
My opinion of this whole situation is in favor of the Supreme Court. Now where I do believe there should be serious immigration reform, I believe Arizona's Laws are both unjust and unAmerican. Therefore the fact that the Supreme Court is taking up a case gives there a chance of repeal of the laws. However, even though the laws may seem morally wrong and constricting of freedom they are not actually unconstitutional. Therefore, I don't believe they will repeal, however I am not an expert on the matter and therefore cannot say that for certain.
Virginia Tech's 2011 Shooting
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/12/virginia-tech-shooting-funeral.html
“It happened again?” Like many other people, that was my first reaction to the news of the shooting at Virginia Tech last thursday. Ross Truett Ashley, a student at the school shot campus police officer, Deriek W. Crouse, for no apparent reason. He then killed himself. This event brought the public’s attention back to the shootings on April 16, 2007 on the same campus. The gunman, Seung-hui Cho single-handedly killed thirty-two people on that day, making it the deadliest rampage made by an individual in history. The students don’t want these shootings to define their school. I have sympathy for them. Innocent people have been killed at the hands of their own peers. That’s wrong on so many levels. The instability of two individuals became the insecurity of hundreds of students and their families. For no reason at all. There are far more than thirty-three victims here. And the terror and grief goes beyond those two days. Now the school has a reputation that it doesn’t deserve and the students have to live in fear at their own school. This is all because of two kids that decided to take away the future that these victims were building for themselves. These kids don’t deserve to be part of the daily news’ body count. It’s just wrong. I don’t know what else to say.
-Daniel Xavier Tierney
“It happened again?” Like many other people, that was my first reaction to the news of the shooting at Virginia Tech last thursday. Ross Truett Ashley, a student at the school shot campus police officer, Deriek W. Crouse, for no apparent reason. He then killed himself. This event brought the public’s attention back to the shootings on April 16, 2007 on the same campus. The gunman, Seung-hui Cho single-handedly killed thirty-two people on that day, making it the deadliest rampage made by an individual in history. The students don’t want these shootings to define their school. I have sympathy for them. Innocent people have been killed at the hands of their own peers. That’s wrong on so many levels. The instability of two individuals became the insecurity of hundreds of students and their families. For no reason at all. There are far more than thirty-three victims here. And the terror and grief goes beyond those two days. Now the school has a reputation that it doesn’t deserve and the students have to live in fear at their own school. This is all because of two kids that decided to take away the future that these victims were building for themselves. These kids don’t deserve to be part of the daily news’ body count. It’s just wrong. I don’t know what else to say.
-Daniel Xavier Tierney
5 Situations That Are Secretly Terrifying For Awkward People
http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-situations-that-are-secretly-terrifying-awkward-people/
Daniel O'Brien never fails to entertain as the senior writer at Cracked.com, a website dedicated to humorous columns and articles. One of my favorite entries of his from 2011 is "5 Situations That Are Secretly Terrifying For Awkward People." In the article, he examines five different scenarios that are uncomfortable for socially inadequate individuals. Not only are his observations very accurate, but he also tells them with a hilarious angle and experience.
I always look forward to Dan's upcoming work for Cracked. His style of writing, while hugely entertaining, also has this sense of superiority to it. Perhaps this is because of his position on the board of columnists on the site. That almost too confident style apparent in his articles allows him freedom in his writing, which opens up new creative doors and usually makes it more enjoyable. He writes this way because he can, and he's well aware of it.
This particular piece hits a little too close to home, unfortunately. As I read "5 Situations That Are Secretly Terrifying For Awkward People," I became increasingly concerned at how well I could relate to every point O'Brien was making. Now, this undeniable truth that I'm an awkward human being wasn't just sprung onto me at this point. There was no sudden clarity. The concerning part is that Dan O'Brien is able to literally recite my inadequacies in the form of a five thousand word comedy article for the internet. I suppose we can all relate to some of the things here, so it's okay. Let's all be awkward. Together.
Cullen Ryan
Daniel O'Brien never fails to entertain as the senior writer at Cracked.com, a website dedicated to humorous columns and articles. One of my favorite entries of his from 2011 is "5 Situations That Are Secretly Terrifying For Awkward People." In the article, he examines five different scenarios that are uncomfortable for socially inadequate individuals. Not only are his observations very accurate, but he also tells them with a hilarious angle and experience.
I always look forward to Dan's upcoming work for Cracked. His style of writing, while hugely entertaining, also has this sense of superiority to it. Perhaps this is because of his position on the board of columnists on the site. That almost too confident style apparent in his articles allows him freedom in his writing, which opens up new creative doors and usually makes it more enjoyable. He writes this way because he can, and he's well aware of it.
This particular piece hits a little too close to home, unfortunately. As I read "5 Situations That Are Secretly Terrifying For Awkward People," I became increasingly concerned at how well I could relate to every point O'Brien was making. Now, this undeniable truth that I'm an awkward human being wasn't just sprung onto me at this point. There was no sudden clarity. The concerning part is that Dan O'Brien is able to literally recite my inadequacies in the form of a five thousand word comedy article for the internet. I suppose we can all relate to some of the things here, so it's okay. Let's all be awkward. Together.
Cullen Ryan
Why Does if Feel Important to Like Rap (As a Jazz Fan)
I recently read the article “Why does it feel Important to Like Rap? (As a Jazz Fan)” On NPR’S A Blog Supreme Written by Patrick Jarenwattananon where he analyzes the influence that hip-hop and R& B have on modern jazz music. Jarenwattananon became interested in this topic after reading a list of the Top 100 Eclectic Albums of the Year. This list did not include one Hip-Hop album. After scanning through the list myself, which include albums from jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman to rock musician Eddie Vedder, I too found myself asking the same question as Jarenwattananon, how can anyone, despite their musical tastes, ignore today’s hip-hop?
Jarenwattananon then decided to focus on hip-hop’s influence on modern jazz—two genres that have always been regarded as almost polar opposites. The writer, however, convincingly points out that there are many similarities between the two styles of music. Both are blues based, and they are both forms of African-American popular music. Additionally, many of today’s hip-hop artists incorporate elements of jazz in their music. I witnessed this first hand when I saw rapper Mos Def play at the Newport Jazz Festival with an entire horn section and several improvised solos interspersed in his songs. One of the main points that Jarenwattananon stresses in the article is that the majority of modern jazz musicians under the age of 40 grew up when hip-hop was everywhere. Therefore, whether these musicians actually appreciate the music and acknowledge its impact, it has influenced them and their own music in some way.
Additionally, Jarenwattananon seems to place the future of on the jazz musician’s ability to embrace hip-hop. He states that if these musicians want to develop a larger audience, they must make their music more accessible. They must provide a bridge from hip-hop to jazz.
I found this article personally informative because I have never thought of the connections between hip-hop and modern jazz. These two genres seem to constantly be at odds, but in reality they are very connected. I think through this article, Jarenwattananon begins to realize the “next phase” of jazz music. Just as the 60’s and 70’s brought about the fusion of jazz and rock, the 90’s to present will bring about a similar fusion between this improvisation based “academic” music and the more popular hip-hop of the time.
-Sean McGurl
I recently read the article “Why does it feel Important to Like Rap? (As a Jazz Fan)” On NPR’S A Blog Supreme Written by Patrick Jarenwattananon where he analyzes the influence that hip-hop and R& B have on modern jazz music. Jarenwattananon became interested in this topic after reading a list of the Top 100 Eclectic Albums of the Year. This list did not include one Hip-Hop album. After scanning through the list myself, which include albums from jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman to rock musician Eddie Vedder, I too found myself asking the same question as Jarenwattananon, how can anyone, despite their musical tastes, ignore today’s hip-hop?
Jarenwattananon then decided to focus on hip-hop’s influence on modern jazz—two genres that have always been regarded as almost polar opposites. The writer, however, convincingly points out that there are many similarities between the two styles of music. Both are blues based, and they are both forms of African-American popular music. Additionally, many of today’s hip-hop artists incorporate elements of jazz in their music. I witnessed this first hand when I saw rapper Mos Def play at the Newport Jazz Festival with an entire horn section and several improvised solos interspersed in his songs. One of the main points that Jarenwattananon stresses in the article is that the majority of modern jazz musicians under the age of 40 grew up when hip-hop was everywhere. Therefore, whether these musicians actually appreciate the music and acknowledge its impact, it has influenced them and their own music in some way.
Additionally, Jarenwattananon seems to place the future of on the jazz musician’s ability to embrace hip-hop. He states that if these musicians want to develop a larger audience, they must make their music more accessible. They must provide a bridge from hip-hop to jazz.
I found this article personally informative because I have never thought of the connections between hip-hop and modern jazz. These two genres seem to constantly be at odds, but in reality they are very connected. I think through this article, Jarenwattananon begins to realize the “next phase” of jazz music. Just as the 60’s and 70’s brought about the fusion of jazz and rock, the 90’s to present will bring about a similar fusion between this improvisation based “academic” music and the more popular hip-hop of the time.
-Sean McGurl
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Teen, 14, Escapes After Being Held Hostage for Five Months
I was amazed reading this article by ABC NEWS about a boy who had escaped after being held hostage in The Philippines for five months. He was vacationing with his mother in The Philippines when him, his mother, and another family member were captured. After a couple of weeks his family members were let go but he was kept. One day he convinced the people who had captured him that he was going to take a bath in the stream; instead he ran away and made it to a nearby village. He was saved. Being captured for ransoms is said to happen quite often in this country.
It must have been terrifying to be this boy’s family and friends. Not knowing where he was, if he was okay, or if he was even alive, five months must have seemed like a lifetime. Kevin Lunsmann, 14, is now looked at as a hero, not only for surviving but for wandering through the jungle for two days and finding civilization. I’m sure this was a terrifying task for such a young boy but obviously it paid off. This situation which first started off so tragic has become a victory because not only has this boy reunited with his family; but Warren Richard Rodwell, 53 of Australia was arrested and charged of being a leader of these captors. They are being accused of holding others as well. So this situation has kind of ended bittersweet because thanks to this boy, hopefully others will be found.
-Angeli Hajali
It must have been terrifying to be this boy’s family and friends. Not knowing where he was, if he was okay, or if he was even alive, five months must have seemed like a lifetime. Kevin Lunsmann, 14, is now looked at as a hero, not only for surviving but for wandering through the jungle for two days and finding civilization. I’m sure this was a terrifying task for such a young boy but obviously it paid off. This situation which first started off so tragic has become a victory because not only has this boy reunited with his family; but Warren Richard Rodwell, 53 of Australia was arrested and charged of being a leader of these captors. They are being accused of holding others as well. So this situation has kind of ended bittersweet because thanks to this boy, hopefully others will be found.
-Angeli Hajali
http://www.npr.org/2011/12/10/143502066/dozens-arrested-in-occupy-boston-eviction
While searching the web I came across an article claiming that the last of the Occupy Boston movement had been completely wiped out of the area. At first I couldn't believe what I had read, cause only a few weeks early i had actually been to Boston and spent some time in that very encampment. The people who I had talked to while there had all seemed very adamant about saying there through out the winter creating a permanent campsite. Even though the police came and arrested dozens of protesters, they still kept the same morales and their beliefs and were “very accommodating” to the officers. The entire protest lasted just over ten weeks, and an estimated 100 to 150 protesters lived there permanently This caused public authority such as Mayor Thomas Menino to believe it to be to unsanitary forcing him to send the cops in shutting down the protest. Compared to other occupy protests the occupants were lucky that it ended in the way it did. In city’s like New York and San Francisco the protests ended violently with numerous accounts of violence and public disturbance. Though this protest did not last as long as expected, I still believe it made an impact on a majority of americans causing them to think and become more politically and economically aware.
-Dylan Comeau
While searching the web I came across an article claiming that the last of the Occupy Boston movement had been completely wiped out of the area. At first I couldn't believe what I had read, cause only a few weeks early i had actually been to Boston and spent some time in that very encampment. The people who I had talked to while there had all seemed very adamant about saying there through out the winter creating a permanent campsite. Even though the police came and arrested dozens of protesters, they still kept the same morales and their beliefs and were “very accommodating” to the officers. The entire protest lasted just over ten weeks, and an estimated 100 to 150 protesters lived there permanently This caused public authority such as Mayor Thomas Menino to believe it to be to unsanitary forcing him to send the cops in shutting down the protest. Compared to other occupy protests the occupants were lucky that it ended in the way it did. In city’s like New York and San Francisco the protests ended violently with numerous accounts of violence and public disturbance. Though this protest did not last as long as expected, I still believe it made an impact on a majority of americans causing them to think and become more politically and economically aware.
-Dylan Comeau
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Home Since Forever
(© WENDY MAEDA/GLOBE STAFF, The Boston Globe)
I woke up at noon to no alarm, I hadn’t been setting it anymore because I didn‘t have the best sleeping pattern after my mom died. I hardly got sleep anymore. It was my day off from class, and I thought I’d do some shopping for the house and then head over to my grandmother’s with my brother since I promised I'd see her about 16 hours before. Thirty-two minutes after I woke up, strangely the doorbell rang and I heard my cousin walk up the stairs. My brother let her and my Aunt in, they walked into my room crying and said, “Grammy”.
There was an accidental fire set to my grandmother’s home at around 2am in Methuen, Massachusetts. The home she cherished, the same home my grandfather built, my mother grew up in, and the one that each member of the family lived in at one point was destroyed. It was home to all of us. It was the one part of the family that stayed secure. And the one woman who held the family together, and me for that matter, didn’t get out in time, and she was so close to the front door. Otis, the dog that meant the world to her, lay 20 feet away in the living room gone as well.The article says that the fire most likely started in the kitchen, but it was not definite. All I could picture was that no more than seven hours before, I was standing in that kitchen making her crack up. The kind of laughing that makes your life worth living, where you cross your legs, hold onto whatever’s closest to you and laugh until no sound comes out anymore, as the tears run down your face. I loved when I made her laugh like that. There was honestly nothing better to me, in the world, than seeing my grandmother genuinely happy. She said something about me getting too tall as she always did, and smacked me in the stomach lightly and said, “Stop growing,” as I shrank down to her 5 foot frame and pretended to see the world from her view. I opened cabinets, looked out the window above the sink and looked her straight in the eyes and said, “Man, this is tough.” She laughed so hard, she thought it was one of the greatest things, and said, “Yeah, tell me about it!,” as well as, “Don’t make me pee my pants!” After we laughed for a little more, I told her I had to get going. I said bye to Otis and gave her a huge hug, kissed her on the check and said, “I love you,” and she did the same. She walked out onto the porch with me, I went down the stairs to the driveway and unlocked my car and she laughed at me for locking the car in “this neighborhood”. She closed the porch door, waved through the glass window, laughed and shook her head as she turned back into the house. I pulled out of the driveway and knew I’d be back tomorrow as I promised, which didn’t get to happen.
“Thank God for Julien,” is what my grandmother would always say before she would tell a story about Julien Plourde, her next-door neighbord. Plourde said, “She was a sweetheart. We were all very close. She was a good woman, a good neighbor, a good friend,” and I know he meant that. I’ve known Julien my entire life. He’s always been the next-door neighbor that took care of Grammy. Always there when she needed him, and the only person on the street she would talk to about my mother’s death thirty-seven days prior to the fire. He came to my mom’s funeral, sat next to me during the mercy meal and I cannot thank him enough for being there for my grandmother at all times. I am forever grateful for him. These are the kind of things the article didn’t mention. He wasn’t just a longtime friend, or a next-door neighbord. He had become part of the family.
Thankfully, this article points out how energetic, friendly and generous she was and stays faithful to that. I chose this one out of the others because of that reason, and of course because Julien commented in this one. Other articles list the value of the home and other irrelevant speculations that downgrade the purpose of the story, to honor her and Otis. Some also have other pictures, but they're incredibly hard to look at. Plus, I talked about a memory in the kitchen, and this shows it the best view, the right hand corner. I can vouch that she most definitely was what this article described. She was incredibly important to me and my family. She was the only person I could talk about my mother’s death with. She was always there for me and my family when things got hard, even other people including her neighbor Valerie whom she opened her home to when her house caught fire in November of last year. I will always be proud to call her and spoiled-rotten Otis, who ate better than any of us and got more “cookies" than anyone could imagine, my family. My grandmother was one of a kind. She had a very loud personality and she said what was on her mind, without remorse, and without filter. My family and I were talking the other day about her and we just thought, of course Grammy would make the news and papers when she died. It was just the kind of person she was and I will always love her for being her.
- Kristen Carraher
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Animals Run Wild
I was on my way to school when i first heard the story of animals escaping from a zoo in Ohio. Now, this is not something you hear everyday so I had to actually turn up the volume on the radio for the once in a great while. I sat there in traffic with this huge smile on my face listening to this story that I could not help but find funny. When I finally decided to switch the station to find some actual music this story was being told on pretty every station I encountered. This is not a story that is suppose to be funny, or amusing but is actually quit sad when it comes down to it.
On October 18th 56 exotic animals escaped from a zoo in Muskingum County. 49 of these animals were killed, one was never found, and then the remaining six animals were rescued by officers. As for the owner of this zoo he was found dead in his house. It was assumed that he had let all of these dangerous animals out of their cages before taking his own life. However, the animals he had caged in his house were the only ones never let loose. Overall, it is just so sad that due to somebody letting all of these beautiful animals out - a baboon, three leopards , three grizzly bears, three monkeys, three wolves, three mountain lions, six black bears, eight female lions, nine males lions, and eighteen tigers- that so many animals had to be hunted down and killed.
As I heard this story the thing that made me smile was hearing about such an odd story and imagining driving down the street or looking out my windows to see exotic animals just roaming freely. Due to all of this schools had to be closed down. Then, the surrounding highways had signs up saying "Exotic Animals, drive slow, stay in the vehicle". The thought of just driving down the highway and reading these signs just seemed like the funniest thing to me, but at the end of the day it really is not that funny when you think of all the innocent animals killed because Ohio did not have the animal rescue teams necessary for the job. Moral of this story, Ohio needs to get some rules on regulating the sale and ownership of such animals because at this point in time there are no rules.
This story to me deserved to be considered one of the best writings on the webs simply because of the story itself. It is an amusing piece that definitely catches your attention. This was one of the rare stories you do not hear about often because if does not happen often and that alone made this piece stand out from others I have read.
-Britney Villafane
On October 18th 56 exotic animals escaped from a zoo in Muskingum County. 49 of these animals were killed, one was never found, and then the remaining six animals were rescued by officers. As for the owner of this zoo he was found dead in his house. It was assumed that he had let all of these dangerous animals out of their cages before taking his own life. However, the animals he had caged in his house were the only ones never let loose. Overall, it is just so sad that due to somebody letting all of these beautiful animals out - a baboon, three leopards , three grizzly bears, three monkeys, three wolves, three mountain lions, six black bears, eight female lions, nine males lions, and eighteen tigers- that so many animals had to be hunted down and killed.
As I heard this story the thing that made me smile was hearing about such an odd story and imagining driving down the street or looking out my windows to see exotic animals just roaming freely. Due to all of this schools had to be closed down. Then, the surrounding highways had signs up saying "Exotic Animals, drive slow, stay in the vehicle". The thought of just driving down the highway and reading these signs just seemed like the funniest thing to me, but at the end of the day it really is not that funny when you think of all the innocent animals killed because Ohio did not have the animal rescue teams necessary for the job. Moral of this story, Ohio needs to get some rules on regulating the sale and ownership of such animals because at this point in time there are no rules.
This story to me deserved to be considered one of the best writings on the webs simply because of the story itself. It is an amusing piece that definitely catches your attention. This was one of the rare stories you do not hear about often because if does not happen often and that alone made this piece stand out from others I have read.
-Britney Villafane
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Internet Censorship
November 16 appeared to be a seemingly routine day, that is until I logged onto Facebook after classes. I noticed a lot of people posting and sharing links warning others about the new bill in congress that is currently being debated. This new bill is about the U.S government censoring the internet, or completely shutting down sites all together. This bill is very important for the future of certain websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr because these websites allow users to share their thoughts almost completely uncensored.
This bill is not a new idea though. The Motion Picture Association of America brought up the idea to congress in 2008 when the association became nervous of movie pirating. And in 2009 with the Cybersecurity Act which allowed the government to access anyone's online forms/ records without a warrant.
As you can imagine, this is causing and uproar for many. It comes across as a violation to our 1st amendment as United States Citizens. The internet has become a way of life for everyone. It is used every day and helps with everything from big business' sharing files to friends reconnecting. But according to Sen. John Rockefeller, "Would it have been better if we’d have never invented the Internet." That is probably the stupidest thing I have ever heard. The internet has done so much for us and has allowed us to advance in technology and education immensely. Sure people break the law on it and make threats toward governments, but you can do that without the internet as well.
-Paul Poremski
http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/11/16/us-contemplates-unprecedented-internet-censorship-bill-proposes-web-site-closure
This bill is not a new idea though. The Motion Picture Association of America brought up the idea to congress in 2008 when the association became nervous of movie pirating. And in 2009 with the Cybersecurity Act which allowed the government to access anyone's online forms/ records without a warrant.
As you can imagine, this is causing and uproar for many. It comes across as a violation to our 1st amendment as United States Citizens. The internet has become a way of life for everyone. It is used every day and helps with everything from big business' sharing files to friends reconnecting. But according to Sen. John Rockefeller, "Would it have been better if we’d have never invented the Internet." That is probably the stupidest thing I have ever heard. The internet has done so much for us and has allowed us to advance in technology and education immensely. Sure people break the law on it and make threats toward governments, but you can do that without the internet as well.
-Paul Poremski
http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/11/16/us-contemplates-unprecedented-internet-censorship-bill-proposes-web-site-closure
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Blindness Not Enough To Sideline California Teen
http://www.npr.org/2011/11/06/142031957/blindness-not-enough-to-sideline-california-teen?ps=cprs
At first I was looking at blog entries about the Penn State scandal to write about, but then somehow I found this article about a boy who plays high school football. This isn’t just any typical boy though. Tim Howell, a fifteen year old who plays center, is blind. I found the story to be very inspiring so I thought it would be a good idea to share it here on this blog.
Tim Howell was diagnosed with cancer as a baby and after a year of radiation and chemotherapy, he lost both of his eyes. Most people would be discouraged by this, but not Tim. Ever since he was little, he has been achieving what most think is the impossible. He learned the alphabet in Braille when he was only in preschool and now as a sophomore in high school he’s on the junior varsity football team. He is treated like everyone else when he is on the field too. At times he can take some hard hits, but compared to what he has been through, he is used to taking hits as they come. Even though he is not given any slack, his teammates are always there to help him. Simple verbal cues can help a lot for Howell such as where he needs to be before the play starts or where the ball is.
This story was inspiring to me because despite all of the odds Tim faces, he still acts like a typical teenage boy. We can all learn a lesson from Howell. Not only has he made the football team, but his ultimate goal is to make varsity and even possibly play in college. He doesn’t let his disability stop him from doing anything.
Rachel Bullard
At first I was looking at blog entries about the Penn State scandal to write about, but then somehow I found this article about a boy who plays high school football. This isn’t just any typical boy though. Tim Howell, a fifteen year old who plays center, is blind. I found the story to be very inspiring so I thought it would be a good idea to share it here on this blog.
Tim Howell was diagnosed with cancer as a baby and after a year of radiation and chemotherapy, he lost both of his eyes. Most people would be discouraged by this, but not Tim. Ever since he was little, he has been achieving what most think is the impossible. He learned the alphabet in Braille when he was only in preschool and now as a sophomore in high school he’s on the junior varsity football team. He is treated like everyone else when he is on the field too. At times he can take some hard hits, but compared to what he has been through, he is used to taking hits as they come. Even though he is not given any slack, his teammates are always there to help him. Simple verbal cues can help a lot for Howell such as where he needs to be before the play starts or where the ball is.
This story was inspiring to me because despite all of the odds Tim faces, he still acts like a typical teenage boy. We can all learn a lesson from Howell. Not only has he made the football team, but his ultimate goal is to make varsity and even possibly play in college. He doesn’t let his disability stop him from doing anything.
Rachel Bullard
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Troy Davis Executed After Stay Denied by Supreme Court
http://abcnews.go.com/US/troy-davis-executed-stay-denied-supreme-court/story?id=14571862
Dominique Haskins
Focus inward - Focus outward
http://baseballbytheyard.blogspot.com/2011/09/focus-inward-focus-outward.html
In any sport, athletes are always trying to create and edge for themselves. Athletes always want to be one step ahead of the other players. In simplest terms, they just want to be more prepared. When I came across this blog post I thought it took a complex idea and put it into words, which many people struggle to do. One of the most important parts of sports is the mental game. Your mental state before and while you compete can change the entire outcome of a competition. Whether it be outside influences, or the athlete getting in their own head, mental focus is crucial to a strong performance. Outside distractions consist of fans, coaches, and anything externally which causes the player to direct their focus anywhere but the game. Many players develop a calming strategy to keep their heads in the game. An example of this is Evan Longoria, a baseball player for the Tampa Bay Rays. When up to bat, Longoria will undo his batting gloves and then strap them on again to create a fresh start. He also fixes his eyes on the leftfield foul pole to calm himself. Considering that Evan Longoria is an extremely talented and successful baseball player, he is proof that these techniques can be used at any level. Longoria is a huge supporter of mental focus strategies, and feels they are necessary for a team to capitalize on all their strengths.
The other type of distraction is internal, or “getting in your own head.” These are often more dangerous than the external ones. When you are putting more pressure on yourself, and doubting your ability, the player is setting themselves up for failure. Not only does this idea relate to athletes, but it is something that everyone can benefit from. Being mentally prepared and focused for any situation is beneficial to everybody. The way this article is written is, it uses baseball as an analogy to explain and important idea. Mental preparation is most commonly associated with athletics, but people fail to realize how important it is to everyday life. I feel that everyone who reads this post can benefit from the information, whether it is using these new techniques to allow yourself to be the most prepared in any given situation, or if you do mentally prepare yourself already, this information will put into perspective how much affect these mental focus strategies can have on a person.
For me personally, I love coming across mental preparation information because it develops an entire new aspect of sports for players. It is an important part of competition, and it can be game changing when your team is struggling, and the level of play needs to be turned up. My experience so far in college athletics has been short, but in this small amount of time I have developed a deep respect for the mental aspect of sports, and life in general. Open you mind to these ideas, and watch your performance exceed what you even believed was possible.
(For more on the information of mental training I highly recommend watching this video on Evan Longoria’s mental approach. http://vimeo.com/6153913 )
-Ariana Darcy
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Controversy of Pledge of Allegiance in Schools
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/controversy-of-pledge-of-allegiance-in-schools.html
The writer Priya Johnson starts of with a brief history of the Pledge of Allegiance and how it was founded. She then goes in deeper and talks about how the words "under god" in the pledge actually have started some controversy in some of the states. Before she says anything about any different type of religion she goes into talking about what the phrase "under god" could mean to different people. Whether its the belief in monotheism, which is belief of one god or supreme being, or even that there is a higher power guiding the country in the direction we want. She brings up a survey of how many Christians there are in the US and how its plummeted in the years past, she also surveys how much the Atheist population has grown. Lastly she talks of how people "forced" to say the pledge feel its a violation of the 1st amendment.
I chose this because its a topic that I had the choice of researching in class and its also something that's been kind of eating at my brain since. I don't understand why we're in America and we're all American citizens and we're questioning a phrase that's been given to us to help establish pride in our country. People have died and are dying right now for are flag that we pledge to. Every time we oppose that phrase those people probably are giving us a mean look. We need to just accept it and move on, we're a country with bigger problems than this. That's what people don't see. Johnson wrote in a very clear way, she didn't criticize anyone for their belief, she simply just informed people that there was a matter that some people believe need to be heard and explained it in a clear cut way.
Evan Giannakas
The writer Priya Johnson starts of with a brief history of the Pledge of Allegiance and how it was founded. She then goes in deeper and talks about how the words "under god" in the pledge actually have started some controversy in some of the states. Before she says anything about any different type of religion she goes into talking about what the phrase "under god" could mean to different people. Whether its the belief in monotheism, which is belief of one god or supreme being, or even that there is a higher power guiding the country in the direction we want. She brings up a survey of how many Christians there are in the US and how its plummeted in the years past, she also surveys how much the Atheist population has grown. Lastly she talks of how people "forced" to say the pledge feel its a violation of the 1st amendment.
I chose this because its a topic that I had the choice of researching in class and its also something that's been kind of eating at my brain since. I don't understand why we're in America and we're all American citizens and we're questioning a phrase that's been given to us to help establish pride in our country. People have died and are dying right now for are flag that we pledge to. Every time we oppose that phrase those people probably are giving us a mean look. We need to just accept it and move on, we're a country with bigger problems than this. That's what people don't see. Johnson wrote in a very clear way, she didn't criticize anyone for their belief, she simply just informed people that there was a matter that some people believe need to be heard and explained it in a clear cut way.
Evan Giannakas
Friday, September 30, 2011
The Smugness of the Recovered Christian
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/taylor-glenn/the-smugness-of-the-recov_b_979764.html
The piece of writing I found is a bog post by British comedian Taylor Glenn. In the post Glenn is giving her experience of deciding that she no longer agrees with her former Christian views. She starts by mentioning that she almost felt a sense of freedom. She felt like she could do anything and not be judged or have it matter. Glenn then starts to mention how smug she became when she gave up Christianity. She had so much pride in the fact that she was atheist. And she would even go as far as to make fun of, and turn her nose up at people who weren't atheist. Glenn finishes her blog post by talking about her recovery from the smugness. She realizes that her smugness was unnecessary, and that she shouldn't have acted that way. Of course Glenn still holds her opinions about religion, but she now lets other people have their own opinion without judging them or letting her pride get the best of her.
One of the reasons that I chose this blog post was because I felt like I could relate to it. I had a similar experience to Glenn. I also had a point where I questioned my faith. And, just like Glenn, I had a weird, almost smug attitude about the whole thing. I think her writing was easy to relate to. I also liked the writing style, and I felt like it added a lot to the writing. The part of Glenn's post that stood out to me the most was her tone. I felt like it was easy to get a sense of just how smug and sarcastic she really was. I like that even though she's talking about a problem she had, she still manages to keep the tone pretty light, and not too serious. Because the word choice is so informal, it helps keep the tone light. Another part of Glenn's writing that I like was that she never tries to sugar coat her experience. She's not afraid to just tell her story like it is, and I have a lot of respect for the fact that she is truly honest to herself and her readers.
Catherine Giunta
The piece of writing I found is a bog post by British comedian Taylor Glenn. In the post Glenn is giving her experience of deciding that she no longer agrees with her former Christian views. She starts by mentioning that she almost felt a sense of freedom. She felt like she could do anything and not be judged or have it matter. Glenn then starts to mention how smug she became when she gave up Christianity. She had so much pride in the fact that she was atheist. And she would even go as far as to make fun of, and turn her nose up at people who weren't atheist. Glenn finishes her blog post by talking about her recovery from the smugness. She realizes that her smugness was unnecessary, and that she shouldn't have acted that way. Of course Glenn still holds her opinions about religion, but she now lets other people have their own opinion without judging them or letting her pride get the best of her.
One of the reasons that I chose this blog post was because I felt like I could relate to it. I had a similar experience to Glenn. I also had a point where I questioned my faith. And, just like Glenn, I had a weird, almost smug attitude about the whole thing. I think her writing was easy to relate to. I also liked the writing style, and I felt like it added a lot to the writing. The part of Glenn's post that stood out to me the most was her tone. I felt like it was easy to get a sense of just how smug and sarcastic she really was. I like that even though she's talking about a problem she had, she still manages to keep the tone pretty light, and not too serious. Because the word choice is so informal, it helps keep the tone light. Another part of Glenn's writing that I like was that she never tries to sugar coat her experience. She's not afraid to just tell her story like it is, and I have a lot of respect for the fact that she is truly honest to herself and her readers.
Catherine Giunta
After the Maestro
Shortly after James Levine announced his resignation as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, I found this article in the Boston Globe. After reading it, I felt a more heightened feeling of what it is like to be involved with emotions on this level. I was intrigued by the reference to "Lenny", aka, Leonard Bernstein, the famed composer and conductor who passed away shortly after conducting a program at Tanglewood, the Summer home of the Boston Symphony. Why would an orchestra be pining for someone dead to lead them, when there are many fine conductors alive and well? Something that most people fail to realize is that the music director of a symphony orchestra is not just a random person on the podium waving a stick, there is, among the best music directors and their orchestras, a very real and very powerful emotional connection. This makes the truth so much more tragic. People could see that there was clear potential for a very intense relationship between Levine and the BSO, but it was brutally curbed by Levine's health. Who will replace him? No one can answer that right now, as we need to do some soul searching and find the right persona to lead the BSO, as opposed to a quick solution. Such personas are scarce nowadays, and getting scarcer. With the growing cultural recession, Orchestras are in peril, and really, all of the more notable music directors are taken, or wouldn't fit with Boston. It will be an arduous journey, as finding the right music director takes time, strife, and lots of effort. As someone who aspires to be the Music Director of a symphony orchestra someday, I feel that if I want to be the best figurehead I can be, I must take steps to ensure my good physical and mental health, and always maintain longevity in music and in my soul.
-Benjamin G. Ruesch
Aspiring Maestro
http://articles.boston.com/2011-03-13/ae/29348148_1_music-director-bso-officials-conductor
-Benjamin G. Ruesch
Aspiring Maestro
http://articles.boston.com/2011-03-13/ae/29348148_1_music-director-bso-officials-conductor
Deformed Puppy, Rescued from Trash, Learns how to Walk by Laura T. Coffey
As I was searching the web I stumbled upon an article that caught my eye. I saw a cute little picture of a puppy on my homepage and I thought I should check it out. Little did I know that I would find an article about the brave story of a thrown away animal left fort dead that conquered all odds and made a full recovery thanks to the kindness of a single person. This story touched me as it would any normal persson and I thought it would be good to share with the rest of the internet world.
In the article, a woman by the name of Erica Daniel, had encountered a man with a trash bag. The trashbag however seemed to have more than just trash in it. It appeared that it was moving and squirming. She asked "what's in the bag" and he replied, "don't worry about it." But after consistently questioning the man he finally just gave her the bag and went on his way. Erica looked in the bag and found a puppy that was just sprolled out as if it were dead. The puppy apparently had swimmer puppu syndrome. Erica took the puppy in as her own and raised it back to perfect health with no reward in return other than knowing that she just saved another life forms well being. Her selflessness should be remembered and embraced by all.
The way the article was written was quite interesting. At first the author introduced the person, Erica Daniels, and described a little about her. Later on she introduced the puppy as a part of Erica's world. I was expecting it to be the other way around. And the final icing on the cake was the ending. Like all good stories you always leave the reader wanting to know more and in the end of this story, Coffey does just that. Erica Daniels was asked if she was going to keep Harper, the puppy, and she responded I'm not sure yet, I want to give her up for adoption but I'd hat e to see her go. Written like a true artist.
This article has truly touched me the way a sad sappy story should. It starts off with a terrible tragedy and then builds into this wonderful plot of an attempt at rescue and finally the taste of sweet success. It makes me think of what a modern day hero is and I see Erica Daniels as fitting under that category.
Ryder Corey
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44617504/ns/today-good_news/?GT1=43001
In the article, a woman by the name of Erica Daniel, had encountered a man with a trash bag. The trashbag however seemed to have more than just trash in it. It appeared that it was moving and squirming. She asked "what's in the bag" and he replied, "don't worry about it." But after consistently questioning the man he finally just gave her the bag and went on his way. Erica looked in the bag and found a puppy that was just sprolled out as if it were dead. The puppy apparently had swimmer puppu syndrome. Erica took the puppy in as her own and raised it back to perfect health with no reward in return other than knowing that she just saved another life forms well being. Her selflessness should be remembered and embraced by all.
The way the article was written was quite interesting. At first the author introduced the person, Erica Daniels, and described a little about her. Later on she introduced the puppy as a part of Erica's world. I was expecting it to be the other way around. And the final icing on the cake was the ending. Like all good stories you always leave the reader wanting to know more and in the end of this story, Coffey does just that. Erica Daniels was asked if she was going to keep Harper, the puppy, and she responded I'm not sure yet, I want to give her up for adoption but I'd hat e to see her go. Written like a true artist.
This article has truly touched me the way a sad sappy story should. It starts off with a terrible tragedy and then builds into this wonderful plot of an attempt at rescue and finally the taste of sweet success. It makes me think of what a modern day hero is and I see Erica Daniels as fitting under that category.
Ryder Corey
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44617504/ns/today-good_news/?GT1=43001
Don't Skip: Schools Waking up on Absenteeism
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44704948/ns/today-education_nation/#.ToXSis2iVqA
I found this article and it caught my attention because I remember absenteeism being a problem almost every year from middle school throughout high school. Waking up in the morning is especially difficult for teenagers because we like our sleep. Most teenagers can sleep until noon and even later, so having to wake up at 6 or 7 in the morning is brutal. Yes, we could go to bed earlier and plan ahead to make sure we get enough sleep, but even then, I feel like 6am comes way too early. Also, I know that there are people out there who are night owls and just can not bring themselves to go to bed before 11 o'clock. When I was in high school, I used to help in the main office during my lunches. Everyday, there was an attendance sheet for who was absent and who had been tardy on that particular day. Of course, out of curiosity, I would sneak a glance at it every so often. It was very surprising how many students missed school or were late on a given day. It was more than I thought.
It always annoyed me when teaches would say how important it was to be in class and be on time. I never realized what they were trying to teach us until I got to college. Every class does count, so if you miss even one class, you could have missed some very important information. Announcements are made and key points are made about whatever subject that class may be for. You never know what you are going to miss. Also, it is probably even more common for college students to be late or miss class because they have overslept. In high school, I know many people whose parents had to wake them up every morning, so they just got into that routine. Well, at college, you are on your own and have to wake up by yourself. It is your own responsibility to get yourself out of bed. So, I think the idea of having a celebrity wake you up is a very clever idea. Waking up is never "fun," but having someone famous yelling at you to get out of bed could be both comical and helpful. It also may teach teenagers that going to class is in reality very important because if you want to be successful in whatever career you choose, you must be knowledgable in the information needed to succeed.
-Bridget Meehan
I found this article and it caught my attention because I remember absenteeism being a problem almost every year from middle school throughout high school. Waking up in the morning is especially difficult for teenagers because we like our sleep. Most teenagers can sleep until noon and even later, so having to wake up at 6 or 7 in the morning is brutal. Yes, we could go to bed earlier and plan ahead to make sure we get enough sleep, but even then, I feel like 6am comes way too early. Also, I know that there are people out there who are night owls and just can not bring themselves to go to bed before 11 o'clock. When I was in high school, I used to help in the main office during my lunches. Everyday, there was an attendance sheet for who was absent and who had been tardy on that particular day. Of course, out of curiosity, I would sneak a glance at it every so often. It was very surprising how many students missed school or were late on a given day. It was more than I thought.
It always annoyed me when teaches would say how important it was to be in class and be on time. I never realized what they were trying to teach us until I got to college. Every class does count, so if you miss even one class, you could have missed some very important information. Announcements are made and key points are made about whatever subject that class may be for. You never know what you are going to miss. Also, it is probably even more common for college students to be late or miss class because they have overslept. In high school, I know many people whose parents had to wake them up every morning, so they just got into that routine. Well, at college, you are on your own and have to wake up by yourself. It is your own responsibility to get yourself out of bed. So, I think the idea of having a celebrity wake you up is a very clever idea. Waking up is never "fun," but having someone famous yelling at you to get out of bed could be both comical and helpful. It also may teach teenagers that going to class is in reality very important because if you want to be successful in whatever career you choose, you must be knowledgable in the information needed to succeed.
-Bridget Meehan
Thursday, September 29, 2011
What Do You Think?
I stumbled across this blog "Why I Bother to Get Married at Age 40" (http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/josey-vogels/marriage-later-in-life_b_935078.html)while researching just what type of blog would intrigue me. Call me crazy, but I was looking at a blog about the royal wedding, and was linked to this one. I read through it and was intrigued by Vogels’ narrative of her experience with the events leading to her wedding and a brief time after, but the real thing that made this blog memorable was her closing line.
Josey Vogels chronologically narrates the story of this part of her relationship, starting with her own doubts about the whole point of getting married, especially at her "ripe old age" of 40. She thought originally (prodded on by a friend and by her sister’s mother-in-law) that marriage was “just a slip of paper” and that all it did was tie you down legally and financially and set you up for a divorce later.
Vogels then moves on to tell how her viewpoint on marriage began to change, though slightly. After she and her soon-to-be-husband were engaged, she found a thrill (almost a girlish giddiness) in telling complete strangers that she was getting married. And she was fascinated by their responses. Passers-by offered congratulations and added to her bewilderment.
Then Josey explains the inquisitive state she found herself in. What made complete strangers want to share in her happiness? Why would some people spend so much on one day just to throw away all those memories after a few years? Was there any sacredness still attached to marriage? Or was it passed off as a hassle for some or an excuse for a big party for others? Even on her own wedding day, Josey admits, that they just did what felt right and she couldn’t explain why they did it. She and her fiancé just chose to get married…because.
Not until the end of the blog are her feelings revealed. She is still unsure about why exactly she got married, but she felt a sort of finality in her relationship. She found that a piece of paper isn’t what makes a marriage a marriage, but the fact that you are officially in a relationship with someone, with more authority than just a Facebook update. Vogels still finds it difficult to define exactly what it is that feels so different but she ends with what I consider to be a great closing statement. She asks the reader to consider their own viewpoint on the topic she wrote about. It causes the reader to actually ponder what they read instead of just letting it wash over them and ebb away with the next thing they read.
-Megan Lusdorf
This War Can Still Be Won
The piece of writing that I selected offers an incredible outlook into a topic that has become a hot button issue in national and international circles. The article revolves around the author, Fernando M. Lujan, who is an Army Special Forces officer that has recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan. He vividly describes the situation that he and his team encountered and how the reality of the situation is often a far cry from what higher-echelon government figures and media convey to the public on a daily basis.
This article struck a chord with me personally when I first read it because I have been in similar shoes to the author’s. I have served in Afghanistan with a Special Forces team and have embedded with Afghan military forces. I have slept at tiny outposts, eaten local food and stayed up late speaking with Afghan soldiers. So to me, the fact that this person so clearly has been involved in the non-glamorous aspects of service abroad generates even more credibility on his opinions. His description of his life while deployed truly resonated with me and instantly served as a sort of bona fides as someone who is worth listening to.
Lujan paints a bleak picture on the outlook of the war in Afghanistan at present from the point of view of the “policy wonks, politicos and academics.” He serves to discredit their conduct and opinions on the war with a sort of ad hominum attack by claiming that while the aforementioned policy wonks are “sipping their Starbucks, a few mutter the word ‘unwinnable." He goes on to explain specifically why he feels this bleak outlook on the current state of violence in Afghanistan is certainly not most accurately portrayed by those that are located near a Starbucks. He and his Special Forces team, called an Operational Detachment-Alpha, or ODA for short, served right alongside our Afghan military partners and were involved in everything from training courses, to eating dinner and on into operational missions. Lujan and his team are clearly better qualified to comment on what specifically is occurring at the ground level and he does not shy away from doing so.
Lujan offers up an opinion on the war that I have not often heard. Typically most discussion on the war includes conversations just as he has described with people muttering 'unwinnable.' But he paints a picture of a nationalistic sentiment that has grown exponentially and of a sense of security that has spread throughout the civilian populace. I haven't been to that country since 2010 but if the feeling on the ground is as he describes, than I am proud to hear that a tangible product, so to speak, has begun to develop.
This article is applicable to this blog because by being published in print and online it serves to spread a first-hand account of a conflict that the average American has heard so much about, but usually only when filtered through second-hand and highly biased sources. Here is a real-time account from the front lines of Afghanistan as told to you by a veteran Special Forces officer. Regardless of what your personal thoughts may be on the war or our involvement, I think it is important for everyone interested to hear what is called in military circles as ‘the ground truth.’
- Mike Hubbard
"The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence" by Tom Fadial
Fadial Tom, “The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence”: http://erraticwisdom.com/2010/04/04/the-ethics-of-artificial-intelligence
Fadial Tom, “The Ethics of AI: Part One”: http://erraticwisdom.com/2010/04/05/the-ethics-of-ai-part-one
Fadial Tom, “The Ethics of AI: Part Two”: http://erraticwisdom.com/2010/04/18/the-ethics-of-ai-part-two
Fadial Tom, “The Ethics of AI: Part Three”: http://erraticwisdom.com/2010/06/04/the-ethics-of-ai-part-three
This series of blog entries is a surprisingly potent philosophical journey. Written by Tom Fadial (or “Thame”), the author of a seemingly personal blog entitled erraticwisdom which deals with a small gamut of subjects ranging from philosophy to web design, “The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence” is a series of questions (and proposed answers) about what some of the ethical implications that humanity's creation of artificial intelligence entails. Don't be deceived by the fact that this blog's author also writes about web media and graphic design: the thoughts described in these four posts probe fairly deeply into a subject that humanity is collectively coming closer and closer to facing (while still retaining an acceptable degree of accessibility).
A couple of preliminary notes: to be fair, I do not have much prior knowledge on this subject, and so I write that these works probe “fairly deeply” into these subjects loosely. I imagine that these blog entries hardly scratch the surface when lined up against other literature on the subject, but of this I am unsure. Secondly, it should be noted, I think, that the comments on these blogs are very much worth reading—a good deal of insight into not only the author's perspective but on the (often well-composed and articulated) thoughts of others may be gleaned from doing this.
Again, I feel it necessary to stress that this is a subject matter with real-world implications, whether or not those implications are immediate. As the author writes, we are given a rare opportunity with a subject like this to mull over the ethics of our actions well before we take them, not after we are already seeing their effects. Fully-conscious artificial intelligence may very well be a possibility within the foreseeable future. These articles raise a great number of questions that I believe we should be asking ourselves:
> What differentiates consciousness inside of a man-made machine with that inside of an organic body? Is there any ethical difference between them? Should they be treated differently, and if so, why?
> Is it ethically acceptable to create fully-conscious artificial beings with the intention that they do our bidding? Even if they are not created to carry out specific tasks, is it right for them to be our experimental subjects? If so, is it acceptable for us to experiment with humans—and if not, why?
> Is it ethical to create or give birth to something that may wish it had never been brought into existence? If not, how does one explain the propagation of humanity?
> If a race of intrinsically more moral beings were created by humanity, what would the purpose and value of the Homo sapien (then of less “worth” in contrast to the new race) be?
> Is it ethical to create a form of artificial intelligence that does not commit evil? Does this infringe on said life form’s freedom? Is it even conceivable to create such a thing? After all, “evil” is often relative—what many think of as bad deeds are often committed out of apparent necessity, or for some apparently good cause. Programming a perfect moral code may well be impossible!
> “Freedom is a necessary part of being human, as it allows for individual decisions towards good or evil, but what about evil itself, is it too a necessary human component? Can we know what it means to be good (and to make the necessary individuating choices) if there is no contrasting evil?”
> Why is it important that this prospective race of AI be composed of “individuals”? Why would a race with certain weaknesses in some entities be more favorable than a race of perfect beings? Is it unethical to purposely create a being with weaknesses (for doing so would surely increase their suffering in some way)? What is the true value of individuality, and life on a whole?
Fadial's writing raises these questions and many more. While his writing does include a few grammatical errors, I find that on a whole it is well-done and enjoyable to read. Each time I review these entries, the issue becomes clearer to me, and my opinions on the subject shift slightly. Some of my current conclusions in reaction to Fadial's words are as follows:
Firstly, Fadial comes to the conclusion that it would be unethical to create fully-conscious beings with artificial intelligence because it would violate Kant's categorical imperative (which basically states, in part, that humans [and other fully-conscious beings, for this argument] are to be treated as ends in themselves and never used as the means to achieve an end). In other words, it would be unethical to use these artificially intelligent beings as tools just as it is unethical to treat humans as slave labor. My objection to this is that we do not necessarily have to treat these beings as means to an end—is it objectionable to create them for the simple benefits of doing so? If it is objectionable, then how does one justify propagation of the human race, or how is that different? Further, I'm sure that at some point in the process of developing fully-conscious artificially intelligent beings we will be able to create machines who are able to carry out our needs without having a conscious mind. I can imagine very few situations when it would be necessary to have a fully-conscious robot do our work for us. This still leaves the issue of whether or not it is ethical to use beings with AI as experimental subjects unaddressed: to this I have no real answer. Perhaps with their fully-informed consent, it would be permissible. I would imagine that in the creation of these new forms of consciousness we would discover most of what we are curious about, and that experimentation on them after the fact might very well be unnecessary.
Secondly, the author seems to think that the invention of a race composed of completely moral artificial beings would render humanity obsolete, and that the only possible end result of doing so would be the end of the human race. This does not seem like a logical conclusion to me. He doesn't provide a very thorough explanation as to why this situation would bring about the end of humanity, but to me this seems like a false dilemma. Fadial seems to posit that this race would completely replace humans, without even acknowledging the idea that humans and the new race could interact in harmony. Although I'm sure that the weaving of entities with AI into Earth's culture would raise many, many dilemmas, I see no reason why this equates to the end of our species. A race of perfectly moral beings surely would not willfully eradicate us, anyhow—although there are undoubtedly dozens of science-fiction stories that tell otherwise.
Although I do not completely agree with Fadial's conclusions on this subject, I applaud him for raising the matter in a thoughtful (yet digestible) way. This is a subject that we should begin to think about now, far before it becomes a more immediately potential reality, for its implications are broad. Discussions such as this one involve many hypothetical situations about a time far in the future, but there are timeless questions of principle that we can start asking now, before it's too late. I hope that reading these articles was as stimulating for you as it was for me, and I encourage you to ponder these matters for the sake of what our futures may hold!
- Sean Adam Boucher
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The Social Revolution in America: Spotify’s Influence on Social Media
Since Spotify’s original release on October 7th, 2008, it has grown to be one of the largest music-distribution websites of it’s kind. Based in Sweden, Spotify works much like a DJ at a party; you can listen to whatever song comes on next, or you can request to hear a certain song or artist. This is what makes the software so great. Spotify allows you to look up and listen to an artist’s entire album before you buy it, allowing you to search all of the music you want without the consequence of having to pay for it. The unlimited feature of Spotify allows you to branch out your musical tastes, and not listen to the same five bands over and over again because you bought their CDs.
The above article talks about Spotify’s recent merge with Facebook at the F8 Conference. Spotify broke the 10 million member mark on September 15th 2010 and has been growing steadily since that point. Prior to July 2011, Spotify was only available in Europe. Since then, it has been released in the US and Denmark, in addition to several European countries. Facebook’s F8 Conference was held on September 22nd, 2011, and during this conference, Spotify and Facebook signed a merger agreement. The agreement stated that all Spotify users must own a Facebook account in order to continue using Spotify. This recent change created two sides on the matter: those in favor of the change, and those who use other social networks who were severely opposed.
The merge made the two networks virtually seamless. Facebook now includes a synchronization feature that allows you to use your previously stated interests to browse music selections similar to ones you have already liked. Also, users who choose to share their interests who are also Facebook friends will appear in a window on the Spotify app. This allows you to not only browse your own interests, but also see what your friends are listening to at the time, allowing you to branch out your musical taste and find new bands to listen to. As both a Spotify and a Facebook user, I am in favor of the change. It not only synchronizes the two networks, but allows you to use one log-in for two social networks.
Since the merge on September 22nd, Spotify has gained over 1 million members. That’s almost 170,000 new members each day. But, with the changes came privacy issues. As a default, the Spotify app will post your recent listening habits on your Facebook wall for all of your friends to see. Most people don’t realize that the feature is easily disabled, and quickly jump to the conclusion that their privacy is being breached. As the author of the article puts it, “if you don’t want your Facebook friends to know that you occasionally listen to the Spice Girls: disable the Facebook notification option in your Spotify player.”
As a fan of the recent changes and an avid listener to music, it’s nice to see such a great concept being synchronized in the social media that we use everyday.
-Patrick Rowe
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sample Entry: "Wendell Berry's Sacred Environmentalism" by Mallory McDuff, Ph.D.
Mallory McDuff, Ph.D., “Wendell Berry’s Sacred Environmentalism”: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mallory-mcduff-phd/wendell-berry-religious-environmentalism_b_954902.html
I enjoyed reading this blog entry by Mallory McDuff, Ph.D., and I’m glad to have the chance to share the link with you. Her entry appeared just this weekend on The Huffington Post, one of the most widely-read blogs on the internet, and it was specifically categorized under “HuffPost Religion” on this site. McDuff’s essay focuses on an upcoming visit to her college by noted writer Wendell Berry. She describes her excitement about Berry’s visit, suggesting that she shares his Christian approach to conserving our natural resources through an embrace of “local economies” and through the pursuit of sources of renewable energy.
I like this entry for several reasons. One reason is admittedly personal. Berry is a writer who is aligned politically and religiously with many of the writers that I have researched: Christian activists who have viewed their faith as closely related to their political views. I have been interested in Berry’s work casually for a few years now, and I was excited to come across this piece about his writing and his involvement with political causes. My initial interest in this entry was rooted in its similarity to other works that I read regularly, but the interest only grew from there.
McDuff’s writing style is polished, interesting, and open. I like the way she shares personal details about her family life while also exploring the work of a writer and asserting that his work is worth our attention. She writes with a great sense of focus on Berry’s political activism, while still including phrases that sound almost conversational. Take, for example, her last sentence, which reads, “Now, I think it’s time to plant that kale.” Her entry covers some of Berry’s recent activist work and suggests that she and her students are finding ways to pursue his Christian environmentalist goals. While reading her words, I could imagine her sharing her love for the work of Wendell Berry in front of a group of colleagues.
The writing style found here makes McDuff’s piece a worthy first entry on our course blog, which is intended to showcase the best online writing published in 2011. Her entry is brief but it is filled with interesting ideas about the reasons that Christians and other people of faith should take an interest in conserving the environment. She makes good use of the rhetorical situation provided to her by The Huffington Post, which is generally considered a left-leaning website that reaches a wide audience. Perhaps the audience even includes members of a growing subgroup of American Christians who are taking an interest in environmental activism and conservationism. While she hasn’t included any links to related websites in her entry, she does show a good awareness of the conventions of blog writing, using brief paragraphs and a slightly informal tone. Overall, I was very impressed by McDuff’s piece, which enhanced my interest in The Huffington Post and my interest in the work of Berry all at once.
-Prof. LeBlanc
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