Check The Source?

Hey, just had a peculiar incident today. I was having a conversation with a friend when the subject came to a story about a riot or something of the like. My friend said that he knows how exactly the event happened because of a family member that was there. However, his version of the story did not match up with the police report that he told me was written out. To sum it up, the police report did not match the family member's report, and most likely, the report was written by the police was written by an office clerk or something. My friend later said that the only reason no one takes his version of the story seriously, is because he heard it from someone related to him.

My question is: Does being related to a witness who passes the story to you make the story less plausible than someone who wrote it from an authority figure, like a police officer? People generally tend to disbelieve something that someone heard from a family member because the familial relation might have skewed the truth, or so I have heard.

Look at This!

This is just for fun. I found this picture when I was surfing the web and it reminded me of the summer reading. It shows just how much newspapers and magazines are becoming obsolete and how technology is taking over our lives and is affecting young children just as well! Okay, that's it.

Two Pieces of Interest

Sorry.   I'm an addict I guess because I'm back.  Reading the Sunday papers often sends me back to the computer to check something out or to share with my peeps.

One of my favorite sections of the Sunday New York Times is "The Week in Review" -- as you might expect, it's an analysis of the news that has unfolded over the past week. It's like the Sunday morning news shows, but without the bluster, puffery and blow-hardiness, carried with commercial messages about pain relief, medications for depression, and the mid-range hotel chains that dot the nation.  Free continental breakfast! Anyway.

The cover story today opens with a reference to a Wired magazine story last week that proclaimed that The Web is Dead, and then, within the next 100 words, mentions both McLuhan and Postman.  You KNOW my intellectual tail started wagging.  A cup of coffee, and open window, beautiful music, AND a smart story about the evolution of technology?  Please.  Here's the link to the story, if you're interested.  I found it a good read. 

I Know I Said We Were Going Quiet

You don't have to say anything...but I just listened to this story this morning as I am cleaning house and doing laundry, and of course I thought of you.

Also, Kevin C., last night my friend Carlos told me that the guy who leaked the information to the Wikileaks guy is in jail, and the Wikileaks guy himself is missing, or hiding -- whereabouts unknown.  I have not confirmed this information yet, so this is strictly anecdotal.  All I can say is that Carlos pays close attention to the news and is usually a reliable source of interesting tidbits, but his also occasionally full of baloney, so if the story matters, I do check for more traditional journalistic sources...(see, Jimmy D?  You can cite a friend, but you have to offer qualifications, if any.  Mine doesn't have many, so I had to disclose that.)

Signing Off for Summer

AP Juniors, thank you for the 327 threads and countless comments -- I've enjoyed reading and writing with you this summer.

I want you to really think about what we've done:  all of us, working with the same texts, have created a living document that is unique among all previous classes and all classes to come.  You have put your own stamp on the texts through your insights, questions and ruminations, doing the necessary work that makes your education your own.  I'm proud of this summer blog! 

I also want you to appreciate how much better we know each other after having gone through this together.

We are closing up shop out here for now; I'll be removing people from the blog who did not post or turn in notebooks.  The blog is changing its identity from a summer homework free-for-all to a classroom blog. So, let it go quiet for now.  Focus on enjoying your last days of summer; get some sun, get some rest, read the paper, read a novel, finish your other homework...and to the extent that you are able, get off of the computer and go for a walk somewhere beautiful.

I'm starting a ritual this Sunday of an early morning beach walk, and I've made a promise to myself to continue this ritual throughout the school year, clear or cloudy, hot or cold.  (Rain -- meh.  We'll see.  I don't much like getting wet if it's also cold.)  It's my happiness appointment, and I vow to keep it.

The word childhood has acquired a new meaning

It seems like I may be the only person who believes and thinks the young children of today's society act or at least intend to behave as adults. It is possible you may agree with my points of view too. As the older sister that I am, I notice these things among my siblings and their friends. At a young age, the majority of the young population has already obtained a knowledge concerning adult life situations, which should not pertain to them. By this I mean, the once innocent children we knew are learning things associated with sex, drugs, and alcohol. Notice I am not saying everyone is. Remember, my only intention is to share my thoughts and opinions with my classmates. Years ago when I was in sixth grade, no one thought of creating myspace and other public accounts, well of course, most. Everything now is just so different and changed. Means of media and communication convey these unreal thoughts through the television, magazines, and radio. We are at fault for referring to these ideas as definitions of reality, just like Postman states in Media as Epistemology. Now it is much easier for a child to learn a variety of facts not suitable for his or her age group just by simply turning the channel with the remote control. In my opinion, I ask myself: what are young boys and girls doing wearing clothes "in style", which are better presented on older people. Young girls out there, where are your floral print dresses? A childhood in one's life only exists once. The television portrays a certain image of beauty; it is normal being human, to pursue that realization and make it true.

New Politics

I find the road that current politics have taken in our country quite astounding. The transformation that was made came with little time. With recent years the quick sure change of politics into show business came. Politics in the U.S. has become of more a beauty pageant if anything than a race concerning the interest of the population these public officials are running to represent. Campaigns in recent years have now been focused on how the Official looks in the publics eye rather than there standings on actual political issues. The most shocking par is that if any issue is brought up it is most always brought by a superficial backing. These "issues" often have to do with how the public will perceive this persons image not there standing on political issues.