How is Berea University in Kentucky managing to profit while all other higher education institutes in the nation are suffering huge cut-backs? Making tuition free, that's how.
Indeed, at Berea students don't pay a single dollar to earn a four year degree. Instead, they work 10 or more hours a week at a campus or service job, and make $3.80 per hour doing so. While Berea had to lay off 30 employees, or 5% of their staff, they still remain committed to free education and will not stop this unique public service.
These kind of innovative ideas for higher education are exactly what we need in this country. Instead of relying on public-funding, they run entirely on endowments and donations - an admittedly difficult balance but they've found a way to manage. Stories like these are very inspiring; in a time where the economy is in a recession and business across the world are losing vast portions of their wealth, "thinking outside the box" lead Berea to manage to profit instead of lose money. How many other kinds of business can change their business methods from the conventional to the innovative, and make profit while those around them fail? Berea serves as an example, that by opening our minds we can gain insight. This is a lesson that everyone could stand to learn from.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Post #19 - Assignment #15: Good Night and Good Luck
Good Night and Good Luck was certainly an interesting movie, albeit a bit slow at times. If anything, it proved that George Clooney can do more than just act (he directed the movie as well as starred in it). The entire film is shot in black & white, which added to the tone of the film and reminded the audience of the era in which the film is set.
A predominant theme, perhaps the predominant theme of the film was that of media responsibility, and told the tale of legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow's fight against Senator McCarthey's wild fear mongering during Cold War. The story sent a message that the media's job is more than just to entertain the masses, but rather to act as a public watchdog for the common good. Edward R. Murrow realized that television has the potential to inform and educate the public, and his spirit was alive in this film.
After a bit of web searching, I discovered some interesting things about the production of this film. For one, George Clooney was paid a total of $3 during the production of Good Night and Good Luck, $1 each for writing, directing, and acting in the film. Furthermore, he was denied insurance during the film due to injuries sustained during the making of Syriana shortly before GN&GL, so he mortgaged his Los Angeles home to make his film.
Overall, I'd recommend the movie to friends, primarily due to its factual foundation and the message of media responsibility it told. Edward R. Murrow was correct in his assessment that the media should act as a tool rather than as an opiate, and we as Americans have a lot to learn from this.
A predominant theme, perhaps the predominant theme of the film was that of media responsibility, and told the tale of legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow's fight against Senator McCarthey's wild fear mongering during Cold War. The story sent a message that the media's job is more than just to entertain the masses, but rather to act as a public watchdog for the common good. Edward R. Murrow realized that television has the potential to inform and educate the public, and his spirit was alive in this film.
After a bit of web searching, I discovered some interesting things about the production of this film. For one, George Clooney was paid a total of $3 during the production of Good Night and Good Luck, $1 each for writing, directing, and acting in the film. Furthermore, he was denied insurance during the film due to injuries sustained during the making of Syriana shortly before GN&GL, so he mortgaged his Los Angeles home to make his film.
Overall, I'd recommend the movie to friends, primarily due to its factual foundation and the message of media responsibility it told. Edward R. Murrow was correct in his assessment that the media should act as a tool rather than as an opiate, and we as Americans have a lot to learn from this.
Post #18 - Assignment #1: NBC Nightly News
After watching the NBC news at 6:30 the other day, the stories were ordered like this:
-H1N1 Virus Outbreak: The H1N1 Virus was continuing to spread, but it's virulence is suspected to be weaker than previously thought. Development of the vaccine a focal point of this report.
-Obama announces Justice Souter's retirement. NBC then went on to speculate as to who will replace the late-60's Justice, and showed some of the candidates. NBC believes it will be a hispanic woman who replaces Souter before the next Supreme Court term in October.
-Flooding in the American Midwest. Heavy rain and winds cause hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. Fortunately, trailers float.
-Cuba-US relationship warming up. Discussion on the possibility of lifting the embargo.
-Chrysler Bankruptcy Hearing
-FDA Recall on Hydroxycut.
-Pakistani troops clash with militants near Afghan border. 16 militants and 2 Pakistani soldiers fatally wounded.
-Crime rates in urban areas rising as economy weakens.
I thought the NBC news was informative, but the stories were a little out of order. I thought there should be more coverage of our wars abroad, because Americans tend to forget that we have citizens fighting and dying over there and the news programs aren't interested in publicizing this.
Also, someone who has read previous posts of mine would know that I believe the H1N1 Virus is being massively over-hyped, and is not nearly as big a deal as the media is making it out to be. Therefore, I thought it inappropriate to begin the news with a report on this topic. Other than that, I thought the ordering was not too out of line.
-H1N1 Virus Outbreak: The H1N1 Virus was continuing to spread, but it's virulence is suspected to be weaker than previously thought. Development of the vaccine a focal point of this report.
-Obama announces Justice Souter's retirement. NBC then went on to speculate as to who will replace the late-60's Justice, and showed some of the candidates. NBC believes it will be a hispanic woman who replaces Souter before the next Supreme Court term in October.
-Flooding in the American Midwest. Heavy rain and winds cause hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. Fortunately, trailers float.
-Cuba-US relationship warming up. Discussion on the possibility of lifting the embargo.
-Chrysler Bankruptcy Hearing
-FDA Recall on Hydroxycut.
-Pakistani troops clash with militants near Afghan border. 16 militants and 2 Pakistani soldiers fatally wounded.
-Crime rates in urban areas rising as economy weakens.
I thought the NBC news was informative, but the stories were a little out of order. I thought there should be more coverage of our wars abroad, because Americans tend to forget that we have citizens fighting and dying over there and the news programs aren't interested in publicizing this.
Also, someone who has read previous posts of mine would know that I believe the H1N1 Virus is being massively over-hyped, and is not nearly as big a deal as the media is making it out to be. Therefore, I thought it inappropriate to begin the news with a report on this topic. Other than that, I thought the ordering was not too out of line.
Post #17 - Assignment #8: Sean Hannity
Needless to say, there are ignorant morons on either side of the political spectrum. These are the type of people who impede productive political debate with insults, fear-mongering, and wild speculation, and Sean Hannity is just this kind of person. He single-handedly makes the entire conservative ideology look bad, and is "part of the problem" in America.
Below, I have attached a clip from an episode of his show, in which he tries to state that Barack Obama is anti-American, racist, and an anti-semite. His co-ancher, also a conservative but not a complete jackass, refutes this argument with common sense.
I really wish that people like Sean Hannity weren't given the airtime that they're given. It fuels the fire of political disparity, and divides the nation against itself. The brand of inflammatory BS that spews from his mouth on a daily basis makes me want to burn his house down.
Recently, Hannity's punching bag Alan Colmes left the show, and he was no better. He was the "token liberal" that Hannity could lay into and abuse on air, and make the left look ridiculous. Alan Colmes, a very small-minded individual with not a whole lot to say, was unable to defend his point of view, and therefore was consistantly slapped down by Hannity's torrent of illogical arguments and hate-filled rhetoric.
Moral of the story? Shows like this are bad for the country in my opinion. Sean Hannity should be shot out of a cannon into the Atlantic Ocean, and his show should be replaced by a show hosted by an intelligent conservative who can make a fair argument rather than spread lies and hate to Americans via their TV screen.
Below, I have attached a clip from an episode of his show, in which he tries to state that Barack Obama is anti-American, racist, and an anti-semite. His co-ancher, also a conservative but not a complete jackass, refutes this argument with common sense.
I really wish that people like Sean Hannity weren't given the airtime that they're given. It fuels the fire of political disparity, and divides the nation against itself. The brand of inflammatory BS that spews from his mouth on a daily basis makes me want to burn his house down.
Recently, Hannity's punching bag Alan Colmes left the show, and he was no better. He was the "token liberal" that Hannity could lay into and abuse on air, and make the left look ridiculous. Alan Colmes, a very small-minded individual with not a whole lot to say, was unable to defend his point of view, and therefore was consistantly slapped down by Hannity's torrent of illogical arguments and hate-filled rhetoric.
Moral of the story? Shows like this are bad for the country in my opinion. Sean Hannity should be shot out of a cannon into the Atlantic Ocean, and his show should be replaced by a show hosted by an intelligent conservative who can make a fair argument rather than spread lies and hate to Americans via their TV screen.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Post #16 - Assignment #9: NPR has a hopeful outlook on the future of the H1N1 Virus
In a recent report on the National Public Radio, there was a very hopeful air about the future of the H1N1 Virus that has had the world in fear. (I refuse to refer to it as the "swine flu" because it did not come from pigs, nor is it transferred from pig to human.) Indeed, NPR announced that the flu virus did not have genes from the deadly 1918 strain, and shows fewer signs of deadly virulence than the previous influenza viruses that developed into epidemics had. If this is the case, then H1N1 is significantly less likely to develop into an extremely fatal version of the virus, and if it does have that potential than at very list it will take more time to mutate, giving disease control organizations more time to develop a vaccine.
In another hopeful note, NPR claims that the progress toward this vaccine is already well on its way, and the first stage, isolating the virus, is already complete - just days into the outbreak. Now, bioresearchers will attempt to manipulate the virus's genes and make it weak enough to be killed by the immune system before it incubates, but strong enough to survive the process of the vaccination. Once this is done, the adapted H1N1 virus will be passed along to manufacturers, who will begin to mass produce and distribute the vaccine after clinical trials are done.
"We have no doubt that making a successful vaccine is possible within a relatively short period of time," says a member of the World Health Organization who has begun research toward finding said vaccine.
This all sounds great. However, I will point out, like I stated in a previous post, that I do not believe this virus to be anything more than the standard seasonal flu, and I believe it will go away in a relatively short amount of time without causing too much damage. A vast majority of the cases of H1N1 infection have been very mild, and only the very young, the elderly, and individuals with a compromised immune system need be concerned - just like any other influenza virus.
In another hopeful note, NPR claims that the progress toward this vaccine is already well on its way, and the first stage, isolating the virus, is already complete - just days into the outbreak. Now, bioresearchers will attempt to manipulate the virus's genes and make it weak enough to be killed by the immune system before it incubates, but strong enough to survive the process of the vaccination. Once this is done, the adapted H1N1 virus will be passed along to manufacturers, who will begin to mass produce and distribute the vaccine after clinical trials are done.
"We have no doubt that making a successful vaccine is possible within a relatively short period of time," says a member of the World Health Organization who has begun research toward finding said vaccine.
This all sounds great. However, I will point out, like I stated in a previous post, that I do not believe this virus to be anything more than the standard seasonal flu, and I believe it will go away in a relatively short amount of time without causing too much damage. A vast majority of the cases of H1N1 infection have been very mild, and only the very young, the elderly, and individuals with a compromised immune system need be concerned - just like any other influenza virus.
Post #15 - Obama hopes to replace Souter by October
Today Obama stated that he would like to replace Souter by the start of the Supreme Court's next term in October, and he would like to replace him with someone who shares the President's "respect for constitutional values." (Also, in reference to my previous post, the writer of this story in the Associated Press made a point of quoting Obama as saying "him or her" in regards to who he will fill the seat with. What gives?)
Souter is relatively young by Supreme Court standards, with Ruth Bader Ginsberg in her mid-70's and Justice Stevens reaching almost his 90th year. Ginsberg has stated that she will continue to serve on the bench into her 80's, despite a recent bout with pancreatic cancer.
Also, Arlen Specter, who recently jumped ship from the Republicans and joined the Dems, said a surprisingly enlightened thing when he announced that he would like to see more ethnic and gender diversity on the Supreme Court. I never thought I'd agree with the man on a topic of civil liberty, but he's right. I am forced to wonder if he is just pandering for votes though...
I am happy for Souter that he is leaving the Court. He has long been on record as someone who hates Washington D.C., stating that "I have the world's best job in the world's worst city". He will depart home to his "beloved" New Hampshire, and kick up his feet after many long years on the bench. Good for him. I am eager to see who Obama will replace him with.
Souter was one of the four dissenters in the Bush v. Gore decision in 2000, and has come to be known as a reliably liberal vote on the Supreme Court. I hope to see Obama replace him with an individual of similar ideological makeup, because a balanced Supreme Court is essential in this country, and the Supreme Court is one justice away from being staunchly conservative. Surely Obama and the Democrat dominated Senate will not confirm an individual who is far to the right, but if Souter was replaced by a conservative we would see a Court dominated by this ideology, and the Supreme Court should never be strictly conservative or liberal.
Souter is relatively young by Supreme Court standards, with Ruth Bader Ginsberg in her mid-70's and Justice Stevens reaching almost his 90th year. Ginsberg has stated that she will continue to serve on the bench into her 80's, despite a recent bout with pancreatic cancer.
Also, Arlen Specter, who recently jumped ship from the Republicans and joined the Dems, said a surprisingly enlightened thing when he announced that he would like to see more ethnic and gender diversity on the Supreme Court. I never thought I'd agree with the man on a topic of civil liberty, but he's right. I am forced to wonder if he is just pandering for votes though...
I am happy for Souter that he is leaving the Court. He has long been on record as someone who hates Washington D.C., stating that "I have the world's best job in the world's worst city". He will depart home to his "beloved" New Hampshire, and kick up his feet after many long years on the bench. Good for him. I am eager to see who Obama will replace him with.
Souter was one of the four dissenters in the Bush v. Gore decision in 2000, and has come to be known as a reliably liberal vote on the Supreme Court. I hope to see Obama replace him with an individual of similar ideological makeup, because a balanced Supreme Court is essential in this country, and the Supreme Court is one justice away from being staunchly conservative. Surely Obama and the Democrat dominated Senate will not confirm an individual who is far to the right, but if Souter was replaced by a conservative we would see a Court dominated by this ideology, and the Supreme Court should never be strictly conservative or liberal.
Post #14 - Assignment #12: Why I Love Feminists
Feminism is a relatively young doctrine of social thought, and it is one that I would label as "progressive". Like anything, feminism can be radicalized and that is when it gets a bad name, but feminism at its core is a good thing. We as human beings need feminism, because women like anyone else need to be treated as equals. In many ways women can be viewed as the superior sex; after all, a village with 99 men and 1 women would soon die off, whereas a village with 99 women and 1 man would result in the next generation, and one very tired man.
However, the reason I love modern, American feminists is because of blogs like this. They always manage to search in every minutae of American culture and come up with petty, minor oversights linking certain individuals or publications to sexism. In this blog, the feminist writer points out that when women play ultimate frisbee, the New York Times files it under "Fashion & Culture: Fitness", but when men play ultimate frisbee it is filed under "Sports". Is this an example of inherent sexism in the writers of the New York Times? Could be. Who really cares where its filed? Its frisbee. Can we please put the petty bickering aside? The world has enough problems, we don't need to make mountains out of the proverbial molehills.
However, the reason I love modern, American feminists is because of blogs like this. They always manage to search in every minutae of American culture and come up with petty, minor oversights linking certain individuals or publications to sexism. In this blog, the feminist writer points out that when women play ultimate frisbee, the New York Times files it under "Fashion & Culture: Fitness", but when men play ultimate frisbee it is filed under "Sports". Is this an example of inherent sexism in the writers of the New York Times? Could be. Who really cares where its filed? Its frisbee. Can we please put the petty bickering aside? The world has enough problems, we don't need to make mountains out of the proverbial molehills.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
