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This is News?

2006-05-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

Has the UN not been watching those sad commercials on TV ... you know the one's with the real ill African child with their ribs popping out.

I'm not an insensitive human here ... I have a point ... swear.

And here it is ... yesterday IOL reported "UN says Africa's children are undernourished"

Is it me or is the UN a good oh 2,000 years behind?

So ...

"A third of children in eastern and southern Africa are dangerously underweight and losing out on essential nutrition that will protect their lives and their ability to learn and develop.

This was according to a United Nations report released on Tuesday.

"Too many children in this region are trapped in a cycle of poverty," said Bertie Mendis, spokesman for the UN children's rights organisation, Unicef.

"Crippling progress on nutrition are underlying factors such as HIV/Aids and repeated infections, inadequate care."

I didn't know that we needed a UN report on this ... HELLO UN officials ... would you stop researching and maybe try DOING SOMETHING for once.

Technorati Tag: UN Africa

The Mistakes Keep Coming

2006-05-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

Malaria ... a pretty big problem ... no?

Well the World Bank once thought so at least, but now ... well that is an entire different story.

"In a withering commentary published online on Tuesday to coincide with Africa Malaria Day, the group accuses the World Bank of covering up a failure to pay promised funds and of backing obsolete malaria treatment in India.

In 2000, the World Bank promised to lend between $300-million and $500-million (between 1,8-billion and R3-billion) to fight malaria in Africa. However, critics say only a fraction of this has been paid.

The most disturbing fact... is that the Bank actually does not know, and at best guesses, how much it spends or loans for malaria, says the commentary, signed by 13 doctors, epidemiologists and public health academics."

This seems a bit crazy to me. Promise money yet never know if it was given or if it was how much was given.

Malaria may not be anything to worry about here in America, but come on let's not just think of ourself here.

"Malaria kills around a million people every year and at least 300 million cases of acute malaria occur each year, according to the UN's World Health Organisation, although experts suggest this is an underestimation. - Sapa-AFP"

The World Bank is supposed to help ... why isn't it!

Technorati Tag: World Bank

Thank You Oprah

2006-04-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

FINALLY, some media coverage! Yesterday none other than Oprah gave some countries such as Uganda and Darfur.

I almost never have time to watch TV, but I stayed in sick yesterday ... so I turn on the TV for once and to my surprise there on the Oprah show is the topic I care most about. And, guess what she really cares.

On her web page there is the post from Lisa Ling reporting on Uganda and a special report from George Clooney's account from Darfur.

I was blown away by the coverage given. A full hour dedicated to the serious problems in some areas of Afica. I mean my goodness ... it really is about time. And, beyond that it was real coverage not the sugar coated junk.

Thank you Oprah ... you probably did a million times more than the media has ever done.

Oh and by the way she also has a link to "What You Can do to Help"

Technorati Tag: Oprah and Afica

So it Takes the Treat of Oil to get Help

2006-04-24T19:51:00.000-07:00

Well citizens of The United States ... hopefully our gas prices won't sky rocket due to Chad. No need to worry ... now that they have said they would stop oil production our government is ready to help in any way possible.

I'm paying an arm and a leg to fill my SUV up with gas too ... and good for Chad, I mean that's a quick way to get American's attention right now, and you know what ... they need and deserve that attention.

Ok so here's the low down:

"A top United States envoy met Chad's President Idriss Deby on Monday to discuss insecurity in the West African country but appeared to make no immediate headway in a dispute that threatens to halt its oil output.

Chad has said it will stop its oil production at the end of April unless the World Bank unblocks frozen oil production royalties or an Exxon Mobil-led consortium in the country pays at least $100-million to circumvent the freeze.

The World Bank suspended loans to Chad in January and froze an escrow account containing Chadian oil revenues because it said the government had broken an agreement to ensure oil profits were saved for a long-term plan to fight poverty."

So let me think here $100 million to curcumvent a freeze ... WOW! that's a lot of money. Have a feeling gas prices will go up either way, if they stop production - less product, if the oil companies pay up - well really they'll carry that cost over to us.

But, on the bright side ... Good for Chad ... I mean talk about finding the sour spot and going for it. Then need the money more than the rich oil men do.

Technorati Tag: Chad Oil

Update on Pirates

2006-04-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

Ok, so the one big event that happend in Africa that the MSM covered ... you know that whole pirates attack US Navy ship off the coast of Somalia. But, just because the media covered the story still does not mean the government will do anything to help the problem.

"The United States has made no deal with Somalia to run anti-piracy patrols off its coast, an American official said on Tuesday, denying claims by the East African country's prime minister.

"There is no such deal as alleged," said the State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We haven't made any arrangement to patrol those waters."

Somalia's transitional prime minister, Ali Mohamed Gedi, earlier said he had secured a "milestone" agreement for US Navy ships to patrol the waters where an increasing number of merchant ships have come under attack.

I mean come on ... one would think that the US government would finally do something when the problem is "brought home"

I guess I just don't get it.

Technorati Tag: Update Pirates

Chad

2006-04-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

Well ... I guess when we (America) said "Never Again" what we really meant was "over and over and over again"

Yes, that's right it's happening and happening just too often.

This time ...

"Insurgents bent on ending Deby's near 16-year rule over one of the world's poorest countries launched their most daring strike yet on Thursday, slipping into the dusty capital at dawn before loyalist forces fought them off.

Chad, which says the fighting killed more than 300 people, has accused Sudan of backing the rebels and cut diplomatic ties with Khartoum on Friday, shutting its borders and threatening to stop sheltering refugees from Sudan's Darfur region."

This leaves so much question and insecurity in the nation of Chad. But, lets be honest it's not just Chad ... the whole nation is insecure.

And, yet again other nations are of no help.

"Chad has regularly alerted international opinion on the Machiavellian plan of the government in Khartoum," Foreign Minister Ahmat Allam-Mi told foreign diplomats on Saturday.

"We regret to confirm that the international community has closed its eyes to the unfriendly behaviour of Khartoum and has until now hesitated in condemning and taking sanctions against Sudan," he said.

This is really sad ... I mean at the very least the media should get these stories out, so maybe people could at the very least donate.

Technorati Tag: Chad Rebels

Cowboys vs. Indians?

2006-04-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

Remember the battle of the cowboys and the Indians over the western land? Oh the land wars have not ended. Scores are feared to be dead in Nigerian land dispute.

"Bloody fighting has broken out between two rival tribal groups contesting farmland Nigeria's central highlands, officials and witnesses said on Thursday.

Divisions between Plateau's rival ethnic groups are exacerbated by rivalries between herders and farmers, between Muslims and Christians and between locals and settlers, and the region is often torn apart by communal bloodletting.

The latest fighting erupted on Tuesday and has pitted the small Gamai and Kwalla ethnic groups against each other in a battle for land around the village of Nama in the Qua'an Pan district, 300km east of Abuja.

Experts estimate that around 20 000 Nigerians have been killed in various ethnic, political and religious conflicts around the country since President Olusegun Obasanjo's election in April 1999 marked an end to military rule. - Sapa-AFP."

Most of the people are dieing from machete cuts ... much like the Rwandan people did over 10 years ago.

I don't know if I can write down the sick feeling I have over this. Africa, every corner of it, needs our help ... or at least the acknowledgment of our Media. So ... maybe people would at the very least donate.

Seriously ... people are dieing as I type this ... it's a very sad thought ... but come on it's true.

Technorati Tag: Nigeria Deaths

Well it is What We All Fear

2006-04-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

The Bird Flu!!!

Ok maybe it's not in America, but is that all that we care about? Please say no. Because, for real, it's spreading and seems to be doing so pretty darn fast ... scary thought - it will be in America soon enough.

"Egypt has found its 12th case of human bird flu, Health and Population Minister Hatem el-Gabali said in comments published late on Monday."

Twelve cases in humans since just March, and yes ... even three deaths.

"The deadly H5N1 strain has so far killed three people in Egypt, according to the government. A further five have made full recoveries and four remain in hospital.

The disease, which has killed at least 109 people worldwide, has spread rapidly since 2003 from Asia to Europe, the Middle East and Africa."

While Bird Flu right now mainly affects animals, many scientists fear the disease could mutate into a form that can pass between humans, sparking a pandemic. And, I ... like most people I know ... am scared!

This sounds bad - I know - but honestly IF I am going to get this disease please let me get it early while the Tamiflu while there is still some.

And what is even worse is that the disease starts out in poorest area of the world ... yes I know it has a lot to do with sanitation ... still it's sad.

Technorati Tag: Bird Flu

Rwanda

2006-04-09T09:13:00.000-07:00

In 1994 the worst genocide since Hitler, arguably, took place in Rwanda. What was worse about the situation was that the whole ordeal could have easily been prevented if the West would have paid even the slightest attention to it ... the media did not even blink an eye when well ove 100,000 people were slaughtered by there friends, neighbors and even family members.

Now well over ten years later UN officials worry that when the West said "Never Again" they really just did not mean it.

"Twelve years after the Rwanda genocide, nations still seem unwilling to commit the troops and money that would be needed to stop other mass slaughters of civilians, a top UN envoy said n Friday.

Governments have repeatedly promised "never again" in the years since the Holocaust and the 1994 Rwanda killings. They have gotten better at nurturing peace processes, but are still reluctant to do much more, said Juan Mendez, the UN special adviser on prevention of genocide.

'My sense is there's the same kind of wariness," Mendez told a news conference. "'Let somebody else do it' is still very much in place."

We're facing some serious problems not only in Rwanda, but we are facing problems much like this all over the world, mostly Africa, and sadly it is ignored by not only our media but also our government and the army.

They need our help ... are we that unwilling?

Technorati Tag: Rwanda

Money is the True Root of Violence?

2006-04-05T14:04:00.000-07:00

Violence in Africa could be attributed to The struggle for survival and competition for limited resources leads to various forms of antisocial behaviours, including violent crime," says Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.

"Poverty and underdevelopment, social disruption and the disintegration of social fabric are the main factors underlying many social challenges facing our communities today, including violence and injury."

"It is clear that violence is a growing public health concern. It poses a great challenge to the already burdened health system," she said.

"The struggle for survival and competition for limited resources leads to various forms of antisocial behaviours, including violent crime," she said.

So it all comes down to this ... my last few blogs have been about nothing but Africa's problems, and of course wondering why our American media or any Main Stream Media for that matter does not cover them ... and we thing it all comes down to only the struggle for survival and competition for limited resources.

I respectfully disagree ... and here I will remind you of Rwanda. Rwanda had nothing to do with survival (except the Tutsi trying to survive the Hutu rampage) or competition for resources. Instead it was more focused on jealousy. Why were the Hutu's jealous ... because the Tutsi's were given all the power positions since the Belgians claimed them to be the upper crust.

Technorati Tag: Money Africa

Citizen Journalism Story - "The Day After the Shoal Creek Flood"

2006-04-03T16:16:00.000-07:00

Last week I pretty much swam out of my house when Shoal Creek, which is across the street from my house, rouse twelve feet in less than one hour. The pictures on the side bar show some of the damage "The Day After the Shoal Creek Flood."

The permanent residence (I'm a renter) are more than worried. Not only did the clean up after the resent flood cost us a lot of time and money, but even stronger storms are predicted for the next few months ... yeah ... more time and even more money. There are plans the city could follow to fix this problem for the community, but it's not going to happen ... they would rather us spend our money instead of putting a little of theirs forward.

This was not the first Shoal Creek flood ... but more importantly it won't be the last to tear our cute little community to peices.

Uganda Child Rebels

2006-04-02T13:16:00.000-07:00

Well it's a crazy world I tell you. The more I read and study about Africa the more I am appalled that the Main Stream Media completely ignores their serious situations.

Imagine a region where Lord's Resistance Army rebels abduct children and carry out attacks ... yep ... that is Uganda's 'terror' situation, which the UN humanitarian affairs chief Jan Egeland says is "terrorism of the worst kind anywhere in the world."

The threat of these rebels is so large that people are currently moving out of their homes and to camps ... the only place where true security is provided.

Ok ... wait ... let me explain this situaion a little better. Almost two million people have been displaced during 20 years of civil war, and in addition to to living in camps, which are often appalling conditions, in attempts to escape attacks by the LRA. Their children are taken from them and turned into one of the many rebels who displaced the family in the first place.

Sad.

Technorati Tag: Rebels

Africa Panel

2006-03-29T20:06:00.000-08:00

Last weekend The University of Texas was host to several panelist who discussed many many problems which the African people face.

The Africa Conference opened my eyes to the many different issues the area faces ... I feel like I really tried to keep up prior to this session, however, I never thought about the issues of housegirls, child trafficking, widows and prostitution .... honestly I was only following the massive genocide and such.

I know that every area on earth has its issues and problems ... but why does the main stream media continue to ignore the massive problems of Africa ... why are these peoples every day battles not on the front page of every news paper ... what happens around the would DOES affect us here in America.

For example ... child trafficking is basically a current day slave trade ... and YES some of them are exported to ... shhhhh ... America. And, what about prostitution (yes, we have the same issue) ... however the man that presented this argued that prostitutes serve an important issue in society.

It was really the most interesting and informative 2 hours of my life. There is so much more going on in Africa beyond war and genocide ... and the area really needs people to be informed so that something can be done.

pirates ... in 2006?

2006-03-23T11:08:00.000-08:00

Thought pirates where a thing of the past, and now only exist in movies? Yeah me too! Unfortunately, we're WRONG.

Thirteen suspected pirates involved in clashes with the US Navy off the Somali coast on Saturday have been captured. The US Navy reported an exchange of fire between two of its ships and the suspected pirates. One person was killed and five wounded in the incident.

Hijackings and piracy have recently surged off the Somali coastline. The area has become one of the most dangerous in the world for piracy since warlords ousted Somalia's former ruler in 1991 and divided the country amongst themselves, and then turned on each other ... so Somali has had no effective central government since (ie ... coast gaurds are not patrolling the waters ... sort of helps the pirates efforts).

Earlier this month, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said pirate attacks were hampering efforts to bring food aid to Somalia, which by the way is currently in middle of the worst drought in decades -- thus they need the food.

So, on Monday seven African leaders reviewed efforts to restore peace in Somalia and Uganda and attempts to resolve a festering border dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Now I know that the America press DID cover the pirates vs. the US Navy, but really did they tell the WHOLE story?

2006-03-21T17:48:00.000-08:00

Liberia, you know that country America set-up, is now trying to work toward justice for those whom they say committed acts of genocide.

"Monrovia - Liberia's security agency briefly detained three associates of former president Charles Taylor after President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said she had requested he face a war crimes trial, a government minister said on Saturday." - IOL

It is sad, however, that the US government has done slim to nothing to help out in Liberia's attempts to re-build after more than a decade of civil war.

Former President Taylor has been in exile in Nigeria since 2003 ... of course Liberia's current President, Johnson Sirleaf, asked Nigeria to hand him over, but the government denied their request.

So how does a government re-build after genocide mixed with civil war if surrounding governments will not assist? And, of course America, the country that set-up Liberia in the first place is so wrapped up in Iraq that the rest of the worlds conflicts don't even make American press.

Technorati Tag: Libria

Big Steps in Africa

2006-03-10T11:43:00.000-08:00

In February of this year Africa took a large step forward to help protect women. It's called "One in Nine, which was newly formed campaign centered around the support of Khwezi (not her real name), the woman who filed a rape charge against Jacob Zuma."

As Black Looks reports, "The aim of the campaign is a call to action on sexual violence against women in South Africa where only one in every nine cases of rape is reported. Where according to POWA (People Opposing Women Abuse) a woman is raped every 26 seconds. Some of the actions people can do are:
1.Discussing and sharing information on this case and sexual violence generally
2. Becoming informed and informing others about sexual rights and their place in confronting the crises of sexual violence in this country
3. Adding your voice to the call for legal reform to the Sexual Offences Act."

This is HUGE! For those that don't know ... Africa has an extensive history of genocide, which includes rape and abuse to wome, and often times happens with no punishment to the wrong-doer.

However, now one hears things like: "Most importantly, when a woman is raped and she finds the courage to speak out, SUPPORT HER!"

People this is amazing ... but it is NOT what you would hear about on the mainstream press ... what would you hear?

“idland”, the blog of an international development worker somewhere in Southern Africa,has a serious bone to pick with a recent New York Times article on pediatric AIDS in Lesotho. (The detail of his critique suggests that the blog’s author may, in fact, be a health worker somewhere in Lesotho… or simply really knowledgeable about medicine in southern Africa.) He offers a nine-point guide to writing “a Times-quality article on Africa”, which includes gems like “When the facts don’t seem grim enough, make them seem worse through thoughtful omission” and ” Buy into the Bono/Sachs story that the only good work being done is by international charities, and the only issue is funding”. Add these nine suggestions to Binyavanga Wainaina’s “How to Write About Africa” and soon everyone will be able to oversimplify and condescend, not just visiting journalists!
- Ethan Zuckerman's author of "my hearts in accra"

Iraq Civil War?

2006-03-04T14:06:00.000-08:00

If history has anything to say about Iraq breaking into a civil war ... it would say "I do repeat myself."

Bob Schieffer
News Busters - Wednesday s Early Show on CBS carried a segment on Iraq emblazoned with the headline Iraq Civil War. The worry that Iraq is about to tip over into an all-out fight between the Sunnis and the Shiites has been thick in the media since.

Wait is that two different ethnic groups the Sunnis and the Shiites ... does anyone remimber the not so media covered genocide in Rwanda between the Tutsi and Hutu ... it didn't work out so well for the Tutsi.

However, in that war America was not present when the really needed to be. But, lets be real here ... when governments go through major changes different groups of people are going to have different opinions. It's really just a fact.

And, unfortunately in several past instances ... it just has not worked out so well.

So ... will it work out this time. I say the best thing Iraq has going for it (so the Civil War might not happen) is American media attention. Now they only have to hope they keep it.

Technorati Tag: Iraq Civil War

The big Bush trip

2006-03-02T13:45:00.000-08:00

MSNBC reported online that Bush’s trip to India draws attention in U.S.
"When President Bush heads to India on Tuesday, few people in the United States will be paying closer attention to the trip than the nearly 2 million Americans of Indian origin."

I could not disagree more ... this trip is of extream importance.

(by the way ... did you know that the location of his speech had to be changed 3 times due to threat of riot? ... It's true)

Ok .. back to my point ... as LiveJournal wrote today reported here by the BBC, shows that the US can indeed engage with major third-world nations in a positive and constructive manner.
But it really begs the question: why can't this be done with Iran?
Iran also has nuclear ambitions, and has every right to pursue atomic energy. At the end of the day, it's still the best option we have to counter the incresing threat of global warming." -By Other Means

But ... beyond all of this I have to ask ... why can the media NOT report on nations when our president is not on their soil? I believe it is really important to know what is going on in our fragile world ... and honestly I worry that I will never know the whole story until the whole event is over, and then it will just be too late.

Technorati Tag: Bush Trip

Big Money in hopes of big return

2006-02-21T11:24:00.000-08:00

50 million .... wow! I don't know if I count that high ...

Yes, that is how much the newspaper industry is spending to attract advertisers. So ... of course I have a few problems with such a high dollar investment.
1. Why invest so much money in the same thing ... why not try to grow and develop with a bit of that money?

2. People are starving in the world ... and our media spends this much money on something, which I don't think will ever "die."

3. Could that money not be put toward journalist salery (we make bellow the poverty line, and I sorta think that maybe the qaulity of work would go up with the qaulity of life)

As Jeff Jarvis said, "I agree with Rafat: If they took a fraction of that money and invested in experimentation and development of new ideas, it would pay off a lot more than this."

The newspaper industries $50 million to convince advertisers that it’s not dying, trumps the $40 million the magazine industry is spending to the same end.

We're in a changing world ... and newspapers are NOT keeping up ... I think this investment just proves that.

Technorati Tag: Newspaper 50 million

losing a media war?

2006-02-18T18:42:00.000-08:00

Hum ... Ok

Not sure how my mind is wrapping on this one. The BBC reported that the US 'is losing media war to al-Qaeda'

So now swaying public opinion is part of "our" war? Here is my problem ... the media is supposed to inform ... you know work FOR the people.

If what Bush meant by, "The longer it takes to put a strategic communications framework into place, the more we can be certain that the vacuum will be filled by the enemy," that our spin has to come before theirs ... we have a problem!

I can understand that our "enemy" may spin things so that America falls in the bad, and yes I also understand that there is a need to put the TRUTH out there ... I just hope that it is the truth we are giving the people.

I have to say this has a bad feeling ... I just hope it is for the greater good.

Technorati Tag: Media War

When hunting one may get hurt

2006-02-15T12:23:00.000-08:00

Alright ... I'm fed-up. This world has a million huge problems that the press is currently ignoring, but do not fear we will receive the most current updates on the VP hunting accident at a constant rate AND it will be the TOP story of every news cast and for that matter the FIRST story online.

Do I think they should have come foward with the story ... of course. Yet, I keep in mind that every person/organization has their reasons.
And ... yes there are a million rumors going around of such reasons.

I'm just so sick of every time I turn on the TV or open a News Paper it's all about Cheney ... I mean ... of course I worry about the man shot, and I hope nothing but the best for him. But, let us be 100% honest here, ALL hunters know that their hobby/spot comes with risk. Shoot any time there is a gun in anyones hand there is a risk.

However, with those risks in mind these men are choosing this ... around the world their are people being truely hunted with guns and nobody is asking them to come forward and give a little talk.

Like I said before I hope nothing but the best for the man shot ... I do have a heart ... but with hunting comes risks. I had hoped that people took greater concern in the things that really mattered in the world ... Like our war in Iraq, or the anarchy in the Horn of Africa country ... I mean you name it, but seriously people are facing some real hard times right now and all America can wrap its mind around is a hunting accident our VP was involved in because he didn't come forward until the next day.

Ok ... It happend ... update us on the mans condition but move on from the Cheney side of it.

Technorati Tag: Cheney Hunting

Privacy in America?

2006-02-12T14:38:00.000-08:00

Is it really too much to ask for a little privacy in the FREE country?

When Google first came saying they would not share customer information with the government ... I applauded them. But now this:

Electronic Frontier Foundation: Google Copies Your Hard Drive - Government Smiles in Anticipation: Google today announced a new "feature" of its Google Desktop software that greatly increases the risk to consumer privacy. If a consumer chooses to use it, the new "Search Across Computers" feature will store copies of the user's Word documents, PDFs, spreadsheets and other text-based documents on Google's own servers, to enable searching from any one of the user's computers. EFF urges consumers not to use this feature, because it will make their personal data more vulnerable to subpoenas from the government and possibly private litigants, while providing a convenient one-stop-shop for hackers who've obtained a user's Google password.

Dan Gillmor wrote, "Is the convenience worth the potential for invasion of privacy? Not in my view."

I mean honestly, what happend to saving your information and taking it with you?

There are a lot of people out there that would love to have all this information ... Do you/we really want to just hand it over to them?

My opinion ... NO!

I mean who knows what they want my information for and what they will do with it ... I don't think that these companies or the American Government should be able to do this.

It's getting real old. Where will this stop? Is there an end ...

I'm scared.

Is the truth ... true?

2006-02-07T11:07:00.000-08:00

So here is a question for everyone: Is the truth true? What is the truth?

For me this was very black and white/yes and no ... that is until this morning. How much of the story needs to be told for the WHOLE truth to come out?

Ok, so here is my story ... I'm sitting in my broadcast class this morning waiting for class to start and talking with the professor and other students. When I brought up the blogging vs. jouralist situation. My professor wanted my opinion ... I told him that I think both are needed in todays world and that I don't think I've wrapped my mind around it enough to have a whole opinion ... Ok blah blah blah right ... well the professor then said that he thinks the one problem with blogs is that there is no gatekeeper for the truth.

WOW! At first I agreed, but then I asked him do you think we're are telling the whole truth when we present our quick 1:30 stories. It's just not possible.

"Ronald Grover of BusinessWeek profiles an "entertaining" trio of left-leaning commentators called the Young Turks who produce, on a relative shoestring, a webcast out of LA that boasts about 100,000 viewers a week and has led to syndication deals with Sirius and others. Says Grover: "They represent what could constitute traditional media's worst nightmare: the ability to bypass gatekeepers and bring a message directly to a niche audience tired of the same old stuff they're getting elsewhere." the Corante Media Hub wrote.

I think that people in general have different ideas of what the truth is.

We will always short change someone or something. So with that in mind ... why don't we give the people exactly what THEY want.

News worth noting, this is great for giving the polical left what they want, and I am sure there is plenty for the polical right. BUT, what about ME! What about giving us center folk what we want ... I'm not in the center because I don't care to pick a side or I'm just stupid. I'm in the center for a lot of reasons:
1. I have ideas on both sides
2. I hate polical parties in general
3. I don't think that every person in one party is the same (they can't be)
4. I actually do my research before I vote

For my those other moderates out there if found ... Maverick Views:
Shooting from the hip and aiming somewhere near the center.

rel="tag">truth.

What is "offensive"?

2006-02-05T10:55:00.000-08:00

Let me start with the fact that I have no idea if I'm taking two sides on one issue here. So, if I am give me credit for being open minded ... please.

But I'm back on the cartoons depicting Mohammed and daring to criticize or question topic. On the BuzzMachine, Jeff Jarvis said, "I have complained often that America has become a culture of offense, where anything that might offend anyone now must not be said." And while I respect his opinion I respectfully disagree this time.

I agree that, "The principle of free speech ... are all about offending people," said JennyD. But, I stick with my last post in saying that the media is not here to offend people it is to INFORM us.

People out on the streets protesting can say whatever it is they want, and they can and will offend us. However, when I see these same things on TV, in the newspaper or even magazines I AM OFFENDED! I get over it ... but let me be honest I don't like to feel made fun of.

Sure it is up to me what I read, see and hear, but in the common media place I just do not expect to be approached in such ways.

I am not, myself, a Muslim, but I do think that out of respect for all religions, and people for that matter, that these cartoons should find their way out the door.

However, that is not the end of this conflict Jeff Jarvis also notes that, "Some Muslims are boycotting products from the countries where the cartoons have been published and rioting and burning European embassies; others in the community are questioning this behavior."

Come on "we the media" if we're going to cause that type of problem there is something wrong and if "you, the media," are so adamant to stick with a cartoon as to cause rioting ... I think you are pathetic.

UPDATE
Technorati Tag: Muslim+Cartoons

freedom of the press???

2006-02-03T19:02:00.000-08:00

Wow ... where do I start ... this one might be a little hard.

Freedom of the press is one thing that is very important in this country, but how free is the press really ... I mean in legal terms the press is "free", however, is the press free in society ... really free?

Romenesko qouted Nelson Sigelman saying, "When freedom of the press and freedom expression are under fire as they are now across Europe and the Mideast, it's no time for major US news organizations to play it safe."

But lets be honest, the media does have to watch what it sends out to society. It is the job of the media to stay UNbias, and to me these cartoons sounds A LOT on the distasteful side.

Don't you think that our world has enough racial opinions ... do we really need to add to those by publishing some silly cartoon in American papers.

The Muslims are sitting on-top of a hot fire ignited by the Western world ... I don't think that they are wrong in protesting such cartoons against them as a people, a religion and a race.

The media is NOT here to publish the racially changed!

2006-01-29T16:35:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it ... yet another Journalist reaps the Consequences of the Iraq war.

If you have not heard yet Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt, reporting for ABC, were injured by a road side bomb in their constant attempt to get the story.
Woodruff & Vogt Balanced Risks "With The Need To Report The Story"

As we already established ... I'm a journalism student. Thus, I too have the constant desire to get the story. It is sad that people are being killed everyday over there, but as Jeff Jarvis said, "We’ll never know but one wonders whether they were attacked because they were reporters taping at that moment."

Although I know that IEDs are not are not highly technical devises, and it would hard to target an invidual with one ... I just find it hard to believe that yet another Journist in Iraq just so happend to hit one.

It's hard for me to say ... It is time to pull out, move on, and count our losses (which is A LOT) because I'm scared that we are in far too deep, but honestly is our plan just to stay there untill the end of time because I have not seen any improvement ... actually it seems like things are just getting worse.

I'm so thankful for all the efforts of all our military all over the world ... but I'm also glad that I don't have anyone I care about over there. It's easy to feel bad when a public person gets injured in the middle of war, but when it's someone you know and care about ... honestly I just don't know ... I've never been there, and can only imagine.

Edward Copeland reports, "both are out of surgery now and in stable condition and should be flown to the military's German hospital soon."

media blog

2006-01-26T21:52:00.000-08:00

I'm a journalist talking about the role of media in the blogger world ... conflict of interest ... ok ... maybe.

But, honestly what's the media supposed to do ... yeah ... inform the public, and if that public is online blogging then YES they need to join in, be a part of the "new world", and change with the viewers wants and needs in their news ... this IS the viewers world after all and we (the viewer) should know all/more about it no matter how we get that information.

That being said, what happens when the media makes mistakes and we're here to comment on it? I'll tell you what happens ... the Washington Post lived it.

If you have not heard ... hears the short of it. Comments overwhelmed the Post when Howell wrote, falsely, that Jack Abramoff "had made substantial campaign contributions to both major parties." Corrections where made, however, "we" showed little mercy and continued to post negitive out cries. Finally the Post felt they had to remove the article.

Alright ... so it sounds like I'm taking the side of the media (oh no not the devil media) ... I've already said I'm bias! Here it is Journalist ... we're people too ... we make mistakes (yeah we're allowed) but we CORRECT them ... Here is the shock ... I'm not on the side of the media ... I'm on the side of the media KEEPING UP.

The media is trying to keep up with the new technology and while they provide our news ... yes it's important they get it right the first time ... I understand, but are we ALWAYS right in our jobs or for that matter anything in life.

If you try to answer yes .... GET A LIFE

I just hope that the media (including me, a Journalism student) learn to edit, edit, and re-edit. One word can really change the whole meaning ... It is our responsibility to get it right ... no matter what.

Dan Gillmor - Washington Post Fixing Comments, not Killing Them

lets get going

2006-01-25T07:43:00.000-08:00

Hi and welcome aboard! I'm brand new to this so please give me a little slack and feel free to help me along ....