Politics in the Local News?

Tonight, I watched the NBC Local News at 11:00pm. While there were many stories covered throughout the half hour, only one, count em, one, was of a political nature. Now, you might say that this is normal, since it is the "local news." This may be true, but why do we need stories about how to find discontinued makeup? (Oh, and ladies, if your favorite shade of lipstick is no longer in stores, try beautyencounter.com haha). The only story about politics was about John Edwards and allegations that he spent some of his campaign money improperly. I agree that if you want stories about politics, anyone could just turn to CNN or Fox News and find some there. I do feel however that the local news should cover some more things about local government happenings. NBC did cover a few similar stories that CNN and Fox did today, such as the never ending Swine Flu, and the Dallas Cowboys training camp incident. They did however, place a more local spin on the Swine Flu outbreak, mentioning the reopening of the school in Queens where the first cases of Swine Flu were discovered in the US, and how the NYC Public Health Lab is testing for Swine Flu to help alleviate the backlog of tests that need to be done by the CDC.

What is good about the local news is that I heard stories that I never would have been exposed to. I mean, without watching tonight, I never would have gotten the warning about raccoon ringworm in Brooklyn. Plus, I now know what the weather will be like for the next fews days, and I can plan to play tennis accordingly. As discussed in class, it seems like the local news likes to cover subjects such as house fires and small robberies. An apartment in Newark burnt down, leaving hundreds of people homeless. Five men were also arrested in Long Island for breaking into dozens of cars and stealing Ipods, cell phones, and navigation systems. There was also a story about the International Reggae and World Music Awards in Queens, and the 2nd Annual Newark Hall of Fame Ceremony, where musician Bon Jovi and former Senator Bill Bradley were honored. And of course, there was a decent amount of sports coverage (about the last 10 minutes of the show).

Overall, the local news needs to cover more local politics, and focus less on entertainment and sports. If I want to look up sports, I can just check out Sportscenter. But hey, at least the local news isn't partisan.

An example of the kind of stories run on the local news. For those of you who love pineapples...

The Big Two

Usually, I am not an avid viewer of Fox News. Sometimes I'll watch it if my roommates have it on or if I am flipping through the channels and see something interesting, but for the most part, I'll watch CNN if any TV at all. My main source for news is through the NY Times, both in print and online. I will also glance through blogs such as The Huffington Post and Politico and read the Wall Street Journal from time to time. While I try to absorb a good mix of different types of news, I am undeniably persuaded by media partisanship to some extent everyday...and so are YOU!

But today, I sat down, coffee and Easy Mac in hand, and watched both CNN and Fox for an hour each. Both stations covered some of the same stories, including the Swine Flu outbreak and how the Italian car company Fiat, who recently acquired Chrysler, wants to purchase a part of GM also. CNN obviously enjoys covering the Swine Flu, as they discussed the issue for about five minutes. They gave up to date statistics on the amount of cases in the US and worldwide, and then had an interview with a member of the CDC stating that the virus may hibernate in the summer. Fox had a much shorter segment on the flu, where they discussed how Mexico's Swine Flu cases are leveling off, which could mean the outbreak is not nearly as serious as initially thought. CNN also covered the collapse of the Dallas Cowboys training camp facility in Texas due to strong storms there.

Fox News covered some stories that CNN failed to mention, including the flash flooding in the Philippines which has left many people homeless, and about Citigroup and how they may need to raise at least 10 billion dollars in capital to stay afloat. They also covered a story about alcohol bootlegging that is occurring on Navajo Indian reservations, and how alcohol contributes to violent crime on these reservations.

When it comes to politics, both channels definitely put a partisan slant on their stories, with Fox News being the bigger culprit. They ran a story about how Obama should not blame former President Bush and his administration for the problems he faces with the country since his first 100 days have passed. They said that Obama was playing the "blame game," and that he will use this excuse later on down the line if the economy does not improve. On the other side of the spectrum, CNN ran a story about "the week ahead" for President Obama, which included mention that he will be visiting three foreign leaders this week. They also discussed David Souter's exit from the Supreme Court, and the challenge Obama faces when choosing a predecessor. The buzz is that President Obama will likely choose a woman to accompany Ruth Bader-Ginsburg or someone young so that they will remain on the bench for years to come.

Obviously both channels see Mr. Obama in a different light. Where is objectivity in news coverage? While a little partisanship is alright, people need to be able to decide for themselves how to think about political issues. Fox News is blatantly partisan and they know it. CNN says they are more balanced, but in reality they lean more to the left. Maybe we should all watch international news a bit more, such as the BBC, because they are much more neutral. Or maybe we need a mix of different types of media to get the full picture. As long as our news media outlets are owned by huge corporations with their own agendas, partisanship will be the norm in most forms of news.

Jon Stewart vs. Katie Couric

Let me just say this now...I love The Daily Show and I think that Jon Stewart is hilarious. I've been to live tapings of the show on many occasions. I try and watch his show a few times a week if I'm not busy. While he is not the best source of news for people, if you already have an existing knowledge of current events, his show is absolute gold. He is able to put a funny spin on the serious news that we watch everyday. Now I know some people think that the show is stupid and has no point, but I feel it does get younger individuals involved with what's going on in the world. At least if they are not going to pick up a paper, they have some sort of background on current issues. Like discussed in class, the show may make people more interested in politics and such and encourage them to read the newspaper or watch other news sources. I'm glad that people like Jon Stewart exist, and can bring us the lighter side of the news.

I watched The Daily Show the same day as the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, which is posted below. Many of the topics discussed in the CBS news were also covered on The Daily Show, with a comedic spin of course. For example, Stewart mentions the Swine Flu and how the government is trying to shy away from using the term "swine flu." This is because the pork industry feels it may hurt their sales...they want the flu to be called the hybrid flu. He makes a joke that this would hurt the auto industry and their sales of hybrid cars. After this, he makes reference to VP Biden's gaff about air travel, and how out of sync VP Biden's comments were to President Obama's message to the people to just practice good hygiene. He also mentioned the Obama press conference, something the CBS news did not. Stewart makes fun of the major TV news outlets (MSNBC, Fox News, CNN) and how they perceived Obama and his first 100 days (the video is below!)

Then John Oliver, one of Stewart's colleagues (who I also find funny), had a random story about a group of scientist who are recreating the Big Bang. He interviews one of the scientists, and hilarity ensues. Calling him an evil genius who will end up destroying the world, he then interviews a high school science teacher to prove his point that the experiment will go wrong. While it is very silly, it gives us something different than the normal news that we see all the time.

Like all of these entertainment shows, there was an interview with a celebrity. Tonight, it was with Hugh Jackman, the huge star who was there to promote the new X-men movie. While nothing political was discussed, there were some funny moments, like about how Jackman's son (who is 8) uses his dad to pick up girls, and his experience hosting the Oscar's and singing with Beyonce on stage. I'm sure that these celebrity interviews attract many viewers, just as any of the late night talk shows do. Another hilarious Daily Show! Keep the jokes coming Jon!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Obama 101
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis First 100 Days

The CBS 2 News With Katie Couric

On Thursday, April 30th, I watched the Evening News on CBS. The top story of the night was of course about the Swine Flu outbreak. While this was not the first story mentioned in the broadcast, it had the most airtime and people interviewed about it. The first story highlighted was about the Chrysler bankruptcy, which was the big topic of discussion on most of the major news channels throughout the day. Couric talked about how Chrysler was going to be restructured, not shut down completely, as the auto industry is a vital part of the American economy, and accounts for about 1 in 10 jobs in the US. The Italian automaker Fiat will own a majority share in the company, which could mean more fuel efficient cars, as Fiat is known for. Also, President Obama forced out Chrysler's CEO, the second time he has done this to a top executive in a company.

Next on the agenda was the Swine Flu, and Vice President Biden's interview, where he once again said something that he should not have. Maybe President Obama could give him some speech lessons. Biden went on to say in the interview how he would not let his family fly on airplanes or ride the subway, both confined spaces, in fear of catching Swine Flu. This statement obviously could cause people to panic and avoid air travel and other means of public transportation altogether, when in reality it is perfectly safe at this moment. Also in the Swine Flu segment was an interview with the Center for Disease Control about a Swine Flu vaccine, and if needed, how long it would take to produce. While the government has not given the green light yet on producing a vaccine, the CDC says drug makers could have one out as quickly as the fall.

Later in the program, there were some less pressing issues discussed, such as the crazed Dutchman who tried to run his car into the royal family during a parade. There was also an interesting piece about American cigarettes and how they are deadlier than cigarettes in other countries due to extra additives in them. These extra chemicals are shown to contribute heavily to the greater death toll from cigarette use in the US than in other places. The final story of the night, involved a man in his seventies who would be racing in the Kentucky Derby. Not trained as a jockey or anything, he randomly purchased a horse and trained it. Overnight, he became a success story, and now has hopes to win the derby. Inspiring, isn't it (blah!)?

You can watch the story of the old man and his horse here.

The Failures of No Child Left Behind

On the front page of the New York Times today, there was an article about how the controversial No Child Left Behind Act is not closing the achievement gap between white students and minority students. I was glad to see such an article on the front page of the newspaper, as it touches upon an issue that the public normally would not be exposed to. Media today does not cover stories such as these, mainly because the public craves entertaining stories (short attention spans anyone?), and stories about education, human rights, and other similar topics are branded as too "boring" for most people. I'm sure that a story about the No Child Left Behind Act would never be seen on the local news stations, and rarely on CNN, Fox News, and the like.

This was a great article that highlighted some of the problems with No Child Left Behind, which was passed into law in 2002. One of the main goals of NCLB was to try and level the wide achievement gap that exists between minorities and whites. The law made schools focus on their minority populations by defining racial groups and keeping track of their achievement. Before the law, most schools only kept track of average student performance, which did not recognize the disparities between whites and minorities. Studies show, however, that No Child Left Behind has not closed the education gap, as test scores for minority groups are still are not up to par with what the law set out to achieve.

With all this debate behind NCLB, the Obama administration will have to rethink the law and make fundamental changes for it to be successful in the long term. Adjustments such as distributing quality teachers evenly to schools in affluent and poor neighborhoods, and to raise national academic standards will hopefully help solve our nation's education gap. As I have stated before, it is important for the U.S. to have quality schools and educated students if we are to compete in an ever changing world. While former President Bush may have had good intentions in creating NCLB, there was not enough thought and proper funding put into it. This is not all entirely his fault, as the events of 9/11 had an effect on the priority level of NCLB. Hopefully once the economic crisis is subdued somewhat, President Obama can reform the education system and reverse some of the policies made by No Child Left Behind.

For anyone that is interested...a short interview with President Obama about his thoughts on No Child Left Behind.

Us Poor Schools Need Funding Too!

I agree with Steve and his post that there needs to be greater accountability in schools when it comes to how money is spent. It is wonderful that the stimulus package sets aside 13 billion dollars to go towards disadvantaged children. It is important to our economy that every child receives a quality education. This will lead to a more skilled and educated workforce, and help our economy in the long haul. Unfortunately, many states and municipalities often take federal money that is desperately needed to fund these high need schools and use it for other purposes. They are performing a grave injustice by handing over much of this money to more affluent, higher performing schools. Why should these schools receive more funding than schools with a higher percentage of disadvantaged children?

There needs to be a device put in place to monitor how states and localities are dividing up monies for school districts. Like the auto or banking industry, maybe there should be a "watch-dog" to ensure each school is receiving the proper amount of funding. While I am sure that there will be loop-holes in the reporting requirement, it will hopefully curb some of the inequalities in school funding. Like Steve stated in his post, better bookkeeping practices need to be put in place so the differences in salary between teachers in high poverty versus low poverty schools can be seen. Maybe then, the salaries of teachers in these low income schools will be increased, attracting quality teachers.

I urge you to contact Governor Corzine and tell him that New Jersey's high need communities should be receiving equal, if not a greater amount, of educational funding. Let him know that there also needs to be supervision by the state on the municipalities to ensure the money is going to the proper place. Call his office and speak to one of his staff members at 609-292-6000 or email him through his website.

Mickey Mouse Teaching English?

The Wall Street Journal published an article a few days ago about Disney's new business in China. It seems Mickey Mouse and friends are teaching children how to speak English. This is a smart move on Disney's part, since the foreign language business in China is worth over two billion dollars, with over 300 million Chinese studying English annually. And with the English language teaching market expected to grow in the coming years, it seems like Disney will be profiting from this new endeavour for awhile. They already have a Disneyland set up in Hong Kong, stores all over the country, and have made a few movies in China, however, government regulations prohibit them from starting a television channel or from distributing their entire movie collection in the country. There is already the possibility of a new Disneyland site in Shanghai, and if all goes well, Disney plans on opening more English language schools in the main cities.

But is this just a marketing push, or is Disney really genuine about teaching kids English? Disney says that their intentions are of the latter, even though kids are exposed to everything Disney in the classroom and in their homework. Kids can earn various Disney merchandise as rewards for good work. Flashcards, CD's, and books all feature Disney characters. Since I will be going to China this summer to teach English, I applaud what Disney is doing, but at the same time am critical about it because it is without a doubt a huge marketing ploy. Disney just wants to brainwash kids into buying their products in a market which is not very exposed to Disney as of present. Why does China need Disney English schools? There are already tons of these schools in China right now. I just hope Disney doesn't corrupt Chinese society like it did to the US.

More Than Meets the Eye

The movie Good Night and Good Luck may seem like a movie about CBS reporter Edward Murrow and how he successfully was able to bring down Senator Joseph McCarthy and his Communist "witch hunt", but in fact it does so much more than that. It makes the viewer question what news should be all about, and what they should cover. Do we want our news to be all about "entertainment", or do we want reporters to actually keep us informed about world events and politics and actually make us think (omg the horror, the horror!). It also brings up issues of censorship in the media. How much should media be censored? Is it for our own protection, or should we have a right to know everything that is going on? These are some of the issues the movie brings up through its hour and a half run time.

We need more reporters like Edward Murrow nowadays. Despite pressure from his superiors to not pursue the story on McCarthy and Communist accusations from the government, Mr. Murrow stood his ground and did what he knew was right. He wasn't some "crazy liberal" as some people deemed him for calling Senator McCarthy out...he saw injustice occurring in our government and did what the duties of a reporter should be. If it was not for him, how long would it have taken for someone to take down Senator McCarthy? Who would have had the courage to stand up to him? What is annoying is that many people knew that what McCarthy was doing was downright insane...many compared it to the Salem Witch Trials of the late 1600's. I feel that most news we see today is very light, containing little substance. Investigative reporting is rare today, partly because it is seen as "boring" to most of the population. Sorry that investigating the genocide in Darfur isn't as entertaining as The Biggest Loser or American Idol.

I hope that this movie makes you think about the changes in our news media today, and what effect it may have on the quality of news reporting.

Fox News...Fair and Balanced? Sean Hannity Doesn't See It That Way

Sean Hannity. Conservatives love him, liberals despise him. No matter how you view Mr. Hannity, there is no denying the fact that he has a popular show that reaches millions of people everyday. With fellow Fox News anchor Bill O'Reilly, they are seen as two of the main right wing voices in America today. While Fox News states that they are "fair and balanced" when covering issues, shows like Hannity's totally contradicts this claim. Hannity is proud to be a conservative and does not hide the fact that he disapproves of the Obama Administration and their policies. He brings guests onto the show that reinforce his views...that liberalism is destroying the country and its values, larger government and taxing will make our economy worse, and that voting in Obama and the Democrats into power was a horrendous choice. While I do not agree with his opinions, people like Sean Hannity do have a purpose in network news. His show can work as a opposing view to shows like MSNBC's Countdown with more liberal-leaning host Keith Olbermann. A description to what I viewed in last night's episode of Hannity is posted below.

In last night's show, Mr. Hannity began with interviewing Dr. James Dobson, who had just recently resigned from Focus on the Family. Mr. Dobson went on to rant about how America is losing the culture war for a good ten-to-fifteen minutes. With the shift in power from the Republicans to the Democrats in our houses of government, morality is being sacrificed in issues like marriage, the unborn, and others. He went on to describe that Obama, although he calls himself a Christian, knows nothing about Christian values. At the end of his segment, Dobson triumphantly acknowledges that the Republicans will regain power and bring back a sense of morality to the country. During the interview, Hannity, of course, has to butt in with some negative comments about Obama (mentioning his ties to Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers-why is he still bringing up things mentioned in the campaign?).

After the Dobson interview, Hannity moves on to criticize the Obama administration some more. He targets Obama's recent nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. There has been some controversy over the campaign contributions she received while governor from a doctor who provides late term abortions. He is one of the only doctors in the country who provides such abortions. Hannity called it dispicable that Ms. Sebelius, someone who opposes late term abortions, could accept money from a doctor who performs such acts. Finally, before I turned off Hannity due to boredom, he went on to totally bash Al Franken, the Democratic nominee for Senator in Minnesota, who has been in a recount battle for the Senate seat with the incumbent, Republican Norm Coleman. The courts have decided that Franken, after the recount, is ahead by over 300 votes and is officially the winner. Hannity starts this segment titled "liberal translation," where he takes quotes by Franken and translates them into their actual "liberal" context. Then, Hannity goes on to explain how Homeland Security is targeting "right wing" extremists as potential trouble, and that their description of "right wing" extremist is about the same as a regular conservative. Oh Sean Hannity...maybe instead of criticizing the Obama administration and so called "liberals," you should make points about how to improve the Republican party.

NPR on Same Sex Marriages-Tell Me More Segment

This week, Vermont passed a bill removing the ban on same sex marriages in the state. This was seen as a huge victory for the gay community. Many see this decision in Vermont as the gateway for other states to follow suit and allow same sex marriages. Now everybody knows how controversial this issue is in our society today. Many people see it as a moral and religious issue, stating that the sanctity of marriage is between a man and a woman. Gay individuals see it as their right to be able to marry the one that they love. NPR covered a story about the decision, and the possible impacts it may have on the issue of gay marriage in the United States.

The Vermont decision was the first time that the legislature approved a bill on same sex marriage and not the courts. The legislature also overturned the governor's veto of the bill. NPR had NYU Law School Professor Kenji Yoshino speak about the Vermont decision and the impact it may have on gay marriage in America. He saw the passing as extraordinary, as the bill passed through both houses of the legislature with 2/3rd's of the vote. This decision showed that there are some states with a political majority supporting gay marriage. It was also important because it went beyond allowing civil unions between gay couples, but legalizing the right to marriage. Probably the most significant impact the decision will have, according to the professor, is for other states to reevaluate their laws against gay marriage. Currently, 29 states have constitutional bans on gay marriage. If more states consider gay rights and pass similar laws to that of Vermont, it may put pressure on the states that are reluctant to make changes. President Obama, however, is not in favor of legalizing gay marriage nationally, but is in support of civil unions. A heated debate indeed...only time will tell whether or not we will see marriage rights for the gay community in the near future.

21 Ways to Serve America

I had to post this article just put out by Time Magazine about 21 different ways to volunteer your time to make the United States a better place and to help those that are less fortunate. This article came out in light of the recently passed Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which will create more opportunities and incentives for all Americans to serve and do their part. The bill largely targets the youth to participate in more volunteer activities, by helping fund service learning programs in many colleges and universities across the nation. Grants will also be given to states and various non-profit organizations to fund national service in low income areas. Issues that will be addressed with this money include education inequality, access to health care, clean energy, and economic opportunity. The bill even is looking for individuals aged 50 or over to volunteer their time and skills.

I encourage you all to get involved and give some of you time to helping others. We all have the power to make an impact and bring about positive change in our country. Even if it is just one weekend a month, you are making a difference.

Check out the Corporation for National and Community Service website to discover ways in which you can help!

The Empire State Building Goes Green

The Clinton Climate Initiative, part of the William J. Clinton Foundation, announced today that they will be working with the city of New York in making the famous skyscraper greener and more efficient. Buildings contribute up to 80% of greenhouse gas emissions in some cities. With Mayor Michael Bloomberg by his side, President Clinton said that the Empire State Building will undergo an energy-saving retrofit to improve building efficiency, reduce its carbon footprint, and save on utility costs. This will be accomplished by replacing the windows with high efficiency glass, redesigning the heating and cooling systems, and improving lighting efficiency. With these changes, it should reduce energy use by 38 percent.

The William J. Clinton Foundation, where I am currently interning, was created by former President Clinton after he left the White House. The foundation works with a variety of different issues, from making HIV and AIDS medications affordable for people in Africa, battling climate change, eliminating childhood obesity, and creating sustainable growth in Latin America. What he has done for people all over the world is amazing and I can stress enough the respect I have for President Clinton and his dedication to helping others.

This video gives a good overview of how the Empire State Building is going green.

Life After Newspapers

The Washingotn Post today had an op-ed piece about what newspapers will be like in the future if they even survive at all. Michael Kinsley argues that the newspaper industries missed out on a lot of opportunities over the years, such as creating a social networking space. This struggle the newspapers are in now can be blamed partly on the newspapers themselves, along with technical advances like the internet where people all over the world can access the newspaper for free. Nevermind the fact that newspapers on the internet saves millions of trees from being cut down. Unfortunately, for those who love reading your print version of the paper every morning with coffee before work, soon this practice may become a thing of the past.

Kinsley presents a few ideas that could help sustain newspapers and keep them printing for years to come. One of the suggestions presented is that newspapers should become nonprofit organizations. This is much different than the way the newspapers are controlled now-by large corporations that own many different media outlets and/or other industries and are out to make PROFIT. In the future, the newspapers could start charging a fee for people to view the paper over the internet. These are some of the solutions people are bouncing around in efforts to save newspapers from the internet giant. Do we "bail out" the newspapers too? While I think newspapers in print form are important and do help in keeping the public informed, this does not mean that we should be giving billions of more taxpayer money towards saving them. Companies come and go every day, and the same goes for newspapers. The ones that are the most competitive and innovative will survive through this transition from print to the internet...others will not. This is capitalism!

Even if the newspapers go under, there will still be news, and people will want to know the news. I welcome this change from print to online media, as it will bring about innovation in the way we get our news.

Rethinking Water

There are many things that we all take for granted...like water. In many countries all over the world, access to clean water is very limited and can have detrimental health effects to the people drinking it. The list of diseases that stem from dirty water is enormous. A large amount of countries struggle everyday with the fact that they may not even have access to water at all. for those in the developing world, gathering water for cleaning and cooking may be a day long process of walking for miles to the nearest water source. Many people in the US do not take this into consideration when taking 30 minute showers, or not repairing a leaking faucet. And why do we need to drink bottled water? Our tap water is perfectly fine! We are way too spolied.

In honor of World Water Day, which just passed a few days ago, I encourage you to watch this video, and maybe it will make you appreciate your water just a little bit more and think before wasting it.

Oh What a Time to be in London!

Riots! Arrests! Chaos! Sounds like a prison break or something, doesn't it? Fortunately, all the prisoners are still locked up, but sadly, these words are being used to describe the scene in London over the past few days leading up to the Group of 20 (or G-20 for short) summit. It brings together leaders from twenty countries with the largest and strongest economies in the world. The topic of discussion?...How to solve the global financial crisis. Many of the protestors there decided not to get out of hand and express their beliefs in a peaceful manner (I guess these people would rather not receive a truncheon blow to the face). I can only imagine the crazyness that is going to ensue tomorrow, when the G-20 summit officially starts up.

President Obama today held a press conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in attempts to gain support from the international community for his plan to stimulate the economy. He stated that the United States may no longer be able to support the world economy, and called upon other nations to revive growth in their home markets to compensate for US losses. While this was going on, the French and the Germans held a press conference of their own, with French President Nicholas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel calling for stronger global economic regulations that could reach inside the United States. While they did not blame the United States directly for the global financial crisis, both eluded to the fact that "the crisis didn't actually spontaneously erupt in Europe."

Meeting Queen Elizabeth and giving her an Ipod (what was he thinking?) may be all fine and dandy, but President Obama needs to think long and hard about how he is going to convince the international community that his stimulus package will work. If he doesn't come up with some answers soon, expect more criticism and snide remarks coming from the French side.

America's Next Top Model: The First and Last Time That I Will Watch This Show

I have to say that this was the first time that I had the chance to watch "America's Next Top Model." I previously have not had any interest in watching the show, as the topic of modeling is not all that exciting to me. I came into the show with a predetermined notion that it was going to be sleep-inducing, uninteresting, and just like every other reality TV show that I've hated over the years. After watching the show, I found that my predictions were true. I also found that this show has a negative effect on the socialization of girls, with its views on how women in our society should look and the notion of beauty. Unfortunately, women today are influenced everyday by the media and are told how they should look. In our society, being "beautiful" means being skinny and using too much make-up. All of the girls in the show are very skinny (some are very unhealthy looking), and have perfect skin, hair, etc. Now I am sure that many young girls are watching this show and are getting misconceived views on how they should look. They should really have a modeling show with a diverse set of women, who all have different body types. This would send women a much better message...that everyone can be beautiful in their own way!

Excuse me, but I think I'm going to try and retrieve the brain cells I just lost from the past hour and watch something of value.

Pop Singers and Feminism

A recent post on the feminist blog Feministing highlighted the ignorance of some female pop singers and their ideas on feminism. It also talks about how these celebrities could really have an impact since they are so known throughout the world and have huge fan followings. The statement made by Lady Gaga about feminism shows just how much she does not know about the subject. Just mentioning that some feminists are "man haters" just feeds into the stereotypes that feminists want to break away from. I also agree that Katy Perry used her sexual orientation to sell more records, when she could have been using it to make people more aware about GLBTQ issues.

You would think that with all the recognition and fame that these singers have, they would want to use it in a meaningful way. Young women from all over are looking up to these singers, listening to every word that comes out of their mouths, whether in their lyrics or through interviews. If Lady Gaga actually educated herself on the subject of feminism a little bit, she could have a major impact on the lives of women and how they see themselves. Katy Perry could easily be a spokesperson for the GLBTQ community instead of using them for her own personal gain. While their statements make it seem like they are supportive of female empowerment, their celebrity status makes them afraid to stand up for the principles behind feminism (because the media has portrayed feminism and people who are feminists in a bad light). Sorry Lady Gaga, but "just dancing" won't solve all the problems women in society face today.

An interesting video about how men perceive feminism.

Twitter: A Useless "Fad" or Useful Tool?

Twitter. People are going crazy over this thing. Celebrities, politicians, and millions of average people all over the world are using it. Keeping people updated about what you are doing every second of your life is all the rage in today's society. Your friends can know how you are feeling and where you are going in no time, just by looking at your Twitter post. Some people may think that Twitter is an amazing social networking tool, part blog, part chat room, just about as amazing as the invention of the wheel. Others may think that it is for people who either have nothing else to do with their time, want to make themselves seem important or busy, or want to stalk celebrities and the like by knowing their every action. No matter your opinion, Twitter is quickly becoming the new internet phenomenon, like Facebook and Myspace.

Is there really any value in using Twitter? Some would say yes. They argue that it is a great way to pass on breaking news quickly. The attached article states that the Hudson River plane crash was first reported by someone who witnessed it and "tweeted" their reaction. It can also be a handy tool if you need advice on something. Your followers may be able to give their two cents on a certain topic once you "tweet" it. Of course, Twitter lets your friends know what you are doing, which can be useful when setting up meetings or get-togethers.

Others would say that Twitter is pointless and has no value to anyone. Critics agree that Twitter, with its limited options, is just a fad and will not have the staying power of facebook or myspace. While facebook can be seen as a networking tool, Twitter exists just for people who are bored and need something to occupy themselves. Who really needs to know what others are doing throughout the day (especially people you do not know personally?) Now I can not say that all Twitter users do this...some actually "tweet" insightful, informative, and useful things. Maybe Twitter needs to mature for a little bit and improve on its base. Only time will tell whether or not Twitter will survive in the social networking scene.

Graduation Approaching=Job Hunting=I Want to Crawl Into a Hole

This will be many college students come May!

So, graduation is quickly approaching. As of tomorrow, there is about 50 days until the commencement. I have mixed feelings about graduating. One part of me is really going to miss Ramapo and all of the people that I have met here. Throughout my years here, I have done so much...from studying abroad in Australia, interning in London, working for both Senator Hillary Clinton and former President Clinton, and going on two service trips during spring break. I guess you could say my four years here have been pretty awesome! Another part of me though, is very concerned about not being able to get a job when I graduate. With the economy tanking more every day, the job market is hurting. Unemployment rates are rising at an alarming rate. Jobs that college kids may have been able to get, those entry level positions, are being filled by 40-somethings who were laid off from their previous employer. Of course they would be hired over someone fresh out of college with little experience. It is scary to think that these conditions may well continue into the next few years, unless there is a miracle and there is a quick turn-around (which will NOT happen!)

While I have a few prospective jobs, such as teaching abroad in China, or possibly thinking about joining the Peace Corps, it is still a worry. I've just recently been starting to hardcore apply to jobs here in the US. Luckily, I have a few interviews lined up, so hopefully they may lead to something. I am also hoping that my internship with the Clinton Foundation may lead into a position there, which would be so convenient. Even though I am stressed about it, I know deep down that I will find something that I will enjoy doing, even if it means leaving the US for awhile until the economy improves!

My Spring Break in Guatemala!

These were my soccer buddies!

While many students choose to relax on the beach or party it up in places like Cancun and South Beach, I spent my spring break volunteering in the small community of Cajola, Guatemala. I've been all over the world throughout my years in college, but this would be my first time in a "third world" country. The trip consisted of 6 other Ramapo students. During the week, our main objective was to paint one of the schools there, and to run an arts and crafts projects with the children in the community. We were also able to experience the culture in Cajola, and interact with the people in the community. Being a Mayan community, it has a very rich and unique culture unlike any other. Many of us spent our free time playing soccer and baseball with the local children. Of course, the children absolutely adored us and were so grateful for all of the attention. While there was fun and games during the trip, there was also a more somber tone to it. The people of Cajola live their lives in constant struggle and poverty everyday. They live in small shacks with limited resources, and not enough money for healthcare and barely enough money to feed their families. The government of Guatemala ignores this small, poor town and lets its people live in poverty. If it actually saw how great the people of Cajola were, maybe something would be done.

I was just glad that I had the opportunity to spend a week in this amazing town and make an impact on its people. I hope that many other Ramapo students in the coming years get the chance to help Cajola, and then maybe they to will feel the love I have for the small, poor, Guatemalan town.

The Huffington Post...Your One Stop Shop For All That is News!

Today, I am going to talk about one of my favorite blogs that I regularly read, The Huffington Post (I have it on my "Bookmark Bar" on my mac!) I enjoy reading it because it covers many different topics, from politics, to entertainment and business news and events. It is a great way to get a good grasp of the major news topics of the day quicker than picking up the newspaper and sorting through all the different sections. Not only does the blog link to other news sources, there are also a handful of guest bloggers that give their two cents on different topics. The layout is easy to maneuver and getting to the articles you want to read is an absolute breeze. Throughout the pages are big, bold, catchy headlines, videos and pictures to get the reader's attention. Usually I will read the NY Times or their website if I have some free time on my hands, but most of the time I am very busy and have limited time to sit down and read lengthy articles. Now i have to admit, the quality of writing is not that of the NY Times, as it does not go into as much depth because the posts are shorter than a normal news article. However, if you choose so, the reader can easily read the entire article if more information is wanted, just by clicking on the hyperlink. Compared to other blogs I have looked at, this one is especially polished and "fancy" unlike the simpleness of others like it. I recommend The Huffington Post to all of you who are strapped for time and want a quality source of news quickly.

What to do about Iraq

Recently, President Obama told the nation his plan about what to do in Iraq, a war that has been ongoing since 2003. At Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, in front of many of our servicement, he announced the withdrawal of combat troops by August 2010 and all remaining troops by December 2011. As promised during the campaign, the President has devised a detailed, well thought out plan to end the mess that is the Iraq war. Not only that, his plan was able to gain support from both Democrats and Republicans. I am glad that President Obama decided on a gradual pull-out from Iraq, because an immediate one may have made conditions in the country that much worse. The troops that will remain in Iraq after August will have a much different focus than the troops do in Iraq as of now. They will be more of a transition team, set up to train Iraqi security forces and protect American personnel in Iraq. After more than 4,000 deaths in Iraq at a cost of more than 600 billion dollars from American taxpayers, the majority of Americans have had enough of this drawn out, badly strategized war.

Check out President Obama's speech below!

"Franklin Delano Obama?"

One of my favorite columnists that I read on a regular basis is New York Times' Nicholas Kristof. I find his insight on issues as very informative and thought provoking. Just by glancing at the title of this article, I knew I had to read it, since I am very supportive of our newly elected President Obama and I also consider FDR to be one of the greatest leaders of our time. We persevered through one of the most difficult economic times our nation had to endure and held strong throughout World War Two because of his strength as a leader and his innovative ideas. Many consider him one of the best Presidents of all time. With the economy in shambles, President Obama is using his charisma and leadership abilities to get the American people on his side and to work towards fixing the economy over the next few years. He also shares another hope for the future that Roosevelt had-the hope for a national health care system for all Americans.

The arguments for and against a national healthcare system are numerous. Proponents of universal healthcare argue that everyone deserves a quality health care regardless of income, and that Americans would be a much healthier and longer living population if we had such a system. Opponents argue that going down such a path would lead to socialism in our society. Taxes would increase substantially, and that the quality of our healthcare would decline. When 46 million people in our country live each day without health insurance, something is terribly wrong. How can the most powerful and wealthiest country in the world have so many people without it? As Kristof states in the article, the people of Europe have a higher life expectancy than Americans. It also has a negative effect on our economy and on businesses. When American companies have to pay to provide healthcare to their employees and foreign companies do not, it leaves us behind in competitiveness. So not only is instituting a national healthcare system a moral obligation, but given the state of our economy and business, it may be wise for President Obama to put healthcare on the forefront of his agenda. If he can achieve this, President Obama just may have a place among the great Presidents throughout American history.

Tree Hugging or Smart Science?

Today, I was searching different blog sites, when I stumbled upon Gristmill, an environmental blog which provides news and commentary about the most recent environmental issues affecting us today. While reading the blog, I stumbled upon a very interesting post regarding President Obama's trip to Canada to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Part of the meeting agenda was to discuss climate change and ways to fight the ongoing problem. Now the issue of climate change has been heavily debated for years, and with former Vice President Gore's movie An Inconvenient Truth, it has been given more public exposure. Scientists and members of academia have been fighting over what is fact and what is fiction (sometimes very aggressively). According to Gristmill, the "clean energy dialogue" between the two heads of state really did not provide any real answers as to how either government would deal with the energy and climate change situations in the short term. While there were discussions about investing money in new technologies, many environmentalists want to hear more from Obama and his ideas.

As part of the recently passed economic stimulus bill, the US has allocated 3.4 billion dollars towards reducing carbon emissions and environmental protection. This is a vital step towards cutting the United States emission rate, which is considered the world's largest emitter along with China. The money will hopefully be used towards finding new energy technology which we are in desperate need of. Not only will this investment produce new jobs in clean energy, we may be taking the first steps in halting the progression of global warming. I applaud Obama in recognizing that global warming is a pressing issue, unlike the previous administration (who did not want to look at the facts and chose rather to ignore it completely). Lets just hope that the environment does not get taken off the agenda, when more and more people are struggling in the US.

The First Post!

My name is Chris Doyle and I am a senior at Ramapo College. I am currently taking a class called Politics and the Media where I am making a blog and updating it regularly about different issues. Throughout these next few months, I will always try and give a brief overview of certain issues and then give my honest opinion on it. Keep checking back regularly for updates (new video, photos, posts, etc) and I hope you enjoy my blog! If you have any suggestions for the blog, leave me a comment!