No, this is not a post about Rush Limbaugh wanting President Obama to fail. This is my inner nerd coming out (take that as a fair warning).
Tonight, we, the Fordham College Democrats are hosting Ari Melber of The Nation magazine and he will discuss the role of New Media in the new administration. Researching the White House Office of New Media, just a little while ago, I learned that the White House has added a blog. At exactly noon (and four minutes before Barack Obama took the Oath of Office, I may add), the entire site changed from listing President George W. Bush to President Barack Obama (along with a complete redesign). The first post on the blog, which was posted at the same time the new website went live, the first blog post was also written, authored by White House Director of New Media Macon Phillips.
Looking at the blog, I saw that they posted a link to the corresponding RSS feed. Looking at the code of the feed, I saw that it was not an RSS feed, but, instead, an Atom feed. Simply put, feeds are web pages that can be subscribed to like a email newsletter, without sending an email. The difference between RSS and Atom feeds is the coding behind them. RSS allows for people to create custom frameworks, but must stay within certain parameters (like putting HTML in the pages). However, Atom feeds are meant to be more like HTML web pages with the modularity that comes with them. People prefer RSS feeds because they have been around longer, allow for more customization, and is the programming choice for podcasting. The RSS/Atom format war is not a big problem since systems like Feedburner allow for converting one type of feed into another.
Well, I emailed the White House about it (no joke, I really emailed the White House about how they got the feed type's name wrong) and who I would contact about a job or internship in the White House Office of New Media (assuming that is the name). I will see how it comes out. What can I say? New media is my thing (hence, my title).
Getting back to the White House and new media, Obama's campaign and presidency thus far has been shaped by new media. As we have all heard, Obama loves his Blackberry. He goes on Facebook, Twitter, (and I assume), YouTube, and other social networking and web 2.0 -user-generated web content (like this blog)- sites. Guess who also goes on those sites? Young people (us). By appealing to the people where they roam, of course you will influence them and get them to vote for you. People no longer want phone calls, they want Facebook messages. New media is here to stay and the Obama Administration knows it, they have a Facebook, they have a Twitter, they have a YouTube, they have a blog. (Wait, come to think of it, we have all of that stuff as well.) They know that to get the message out, you need to be where your constituents are; in this case, in front of a screen.
These sites have sparked debates over privacy issues, but what is there to really be afraid of? Like with how President Obama has always shown himself, we should be what is referred to for nerds as a WYSIWYG (pronounced "wizzy wig") -What You See Is What You Get. By showing our true selves, not just in politics, but in business, and relationships, we can get better results. You say to your boss "we should have a company outing to boost employee morale," the boss will likely do it; but if enough people suggest it, chances are, the boss will do it. The problem is that we all hide behind a veil (or, in this case, a screen -not to say, necessarily, that it is a bad thing) and say it to everyone but the boss. The boss finds out and thinks you are insulting his leadership and fires you. Now, this may be a simplistic example, but look at the deeper meaning. The boss has should realize that this is who he has as employees, he chose them and they do the work. If he does not cater to him in some way, work will not be done.
In the same way, President Obama realizes that he needs the average American to work with him. Whether it be writing to one's senators and congressman, or signing up for a new program, or even to just pray for him. But to do that, he must 1) earn the person's trust and 2) listen to what the person wants in order to cater to him or her. By going on his Twitter every night (as he does) or his Facebook, or what have you, President Obama can see what the issue of the moment is to you and I.
New media has not reduced the level of personal contact, but widened it. The only difference between talking to someone face-to-face and sending him or her a text message is the level of intimacy (which can be a make or break for some interpersonal relationships, but that is a whole other issue entirely).
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
No Condoms
Pope Benedict XVI has declared that condoms are not allowed and are ineffective to prevent HIV infection while on tour in Africa. The Pontiff says that the only true method for prevention is sexual abstinence.
Some may think that Benedict is keeping the same stance as Pope John Paul II; but, if one looks at his history, he or she would see that the current pontiff was a staunch liberal when he started in the magistarium (and got more and more conservative has he went up the proverbial food chain).
Benedict's rationale is that condoms only make the issue worse. Truth be told, he is right. If one thinks, oh, I'm using protection, I will be fine, they may use condoms as a crutch and neglect to think that there is still a chance of contracting HIV.
When approaching sexual education, one must realize that to prevent any issues, the best method is to be say (but educated on why).
Some may think that Benedict is keeping the same stance as Pope John Paul II; but, if one looks at his history, he or she would see that the current pontiff was a staunch liberal when he started in the magistarium (and got more and more conservative has he went up the proverbial food chain).
Benedict's rationale is that condoms only make the issue worse. Truth be told, he is right. If one thinks, oh, I'm using protection, I will be fine, they may use condoms as a crutch and neglect to think that there is still a chance of contracting HIV.
When approaching sexual education, one must realize that to prevent any issues, the best method is to be say (but educated on why).
2 Things I Do Not Get
- Conservatives cling to Barry Goldwater, yet forget his liberal stance on social issues like how he was pro-choice on abortion, pro-civil rights, pro-gay rights, and against forcing religion on people.
- Ronald Reagan (multi-part):
- He came up with the 11th Commandment (Thou shall not speak poorly of a fellow republican), but Reaganites never follow it.
- He was a major part of the Religious Right, yet was not religious himself.
- His own kids (with maybe the exception of Michael) hate him, yet he is found to be pro- Family Values.
- Barry Goldwater, his mentor, could not stand him.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
CDA Site
This evening, I learned that we, the Fordham College Democrats (Rose Hill) did not have a page on the College Democrats of America site. So, I took it upon myself to create one. I have had a lot of experience with the site's social networking system and I can say that it is a great tool to connect with other college democrats. You all should join, the url is below.
http://partybuilder.collegedems.com/page/group/FordhamUniversityRoseHill
http://partybuilder.collegedems.com/page/group/FordhamUniversityRoseHill
My Ram Opinon That Was Not Published
Having read the point-counterpoint two issues ago and the article by Jayme DeSocio in the latest issue of The Ram, I did not understand why nobody saw the good that having wi-fi in the Ram Vans could cause.
I am a commuter from Brooklyn (a part that taxis will travel to) and I am involved with the College Democrats and PRIDE Alliance, so I leave campus some nights as late as 11 PM. I do not like having to wait up to 20 minutes for a D train, so I take the Ram Van down to Lincoln Center.
I have an iPod Touch (think iPhone without a phone while having the addiction power of a BlackBerry) and I survive on it –I listen to music, play games, even check train schedules on it. I am also neurotic about checking my email (when I am in the library, I can typically be found at a computer with my flash drive plugged in and my copy of Thunderbird Potable open). So, my iPod Touch is my life.
Coming home about a month ago, after I arrived at Lincoln Center, I went to check my email on my iPod Touch. I go to the screen to choose a network and I see “Fordham I-Van.” I ask myself what that is and I realize that the Ram Vans now have wi-fi.
I have just recently become web liaison -Fordham IT speak for webmaster- for the College Democrats and PRIDE, so after meetings, there is usually a need to update the Facebook group or Google Calendar or send out necessary emails. Without the wi-fi, I would be up until 1 or 2 am just doing this work after I take care of my personal needs.
I take the Ram Van after dark, and, since I lack night vision, I cannot exactly do my reading for class for the next day at that time. Luckily, my iPod Touch has a backlight, so I can do some work, albeit extracurricular.
Before the wi-fi, I would find myself wasting my time playing solitaire or watching the passing scenery on the West Side Highway. Now that I have Internet access on the Ram Van, I can do necessary projects, send out emails, and Facebook stalk my friends.
Now, faculty can post assignments and staff can send out emails. This improvement to the University will allow the school to run more efficiently.
Though wi-fi in the Ram Vans may look to be an improper use of University funds since the campus does not yet have complete wireless Internet, people should take note that this is a big help for the students, faculty, and staff of Fordham University that need to be connected to the web at all hours (like most of us are now)
(Note: I wrote this originally on my iPod Touch.)I have just recently become web liaison -Fordham IT speak for webmaster- for the College Democrats and PRIDE, so after meetings, there is usually a need to update the Facebook group or Google Calendar or send out necessary emails. Without the wi-fi, I would be up until 1 or 2 am just doing this work after I take care of my personal needs.
I take the Ram Van after dark, and, since I lack night vision, I cannot exactly do my reading for class for the next day at that time. Luckily, my iPod Touch has a backlight, so I can do some work, albeit extracurricular.
Before the wi-fi, I would find myself wasting my time playing solitaire or watching the passing scenery on the West Side Highway. Now that I have Internet access on the Ram Van, I can do necessary projects, send out emails, and Facebook stalk my friends.
Now, faculty can post assignments and staff can send out emails. This improvement to the University will allow the school to run more efficiently.
Though wi-fi in the Ram Vans may look to be an improper use of University funds since the campus does not yet have complete wireless Internet, people should take note that this is a big help for the students, faculty, and staff of Fordham University that need to be connected to the web at all hours (like most of us are now)
(Note: I wrote this originally on my iPod Touch.)
I am a commuter from Brooklyn (a part that taxis will travel to) and I am involved with the College Democrats and PRIDE Alliance, so I leave campus some nights as late as 11 PM. I do not like having to wait up to 20 minutes for a D train, so I take the Ram Van down to Lincoln Center.
I have an iPod Touch (think iPhone without a phone while having the addiction power of a BlackBerry) and I survive on it –I listen to music, play games, even check train schedules on it. I am also neurotic about checking my email (when I am in the library, I can typically be found at a computer with my flash drive plugged in and my copy of Thunderbird Potable open). So, my iPod Touch is my life.
Coming home about a month ago, after I arrived at Lincoln Center, I went to check my email on my iPod Touch. I go to the screen to choose a network and I see “Fordham I-Van.” I ask myself what that is and I realize that the Ram Vans now have wi-fi.
I have just recently become web liaison -Fordham IT speak for webmaster- for the College Democrats and PRIDE, so after meetings, there is usually a need to update the Facebook group or Google Calendar or send out necessary emails. Without the wi-fi, I would be up until 1 or 2 am just doing this work after I take care of my personal needs.
I take the Ram Van after dark, and, since I lack night vision, I cannot exactly do my reading for class for the next day at that time. Luckily, my iPod Touch has a backlight, so I can do some work, albeit extracurricular.
Before the wi-fi, I would find myself wasting my time playing solitaire or watching the passing scenery on the West Side Highway. Now that I have Internet access on the Ram Van, I can do necessary projects, send out emails, and Facebook stalk my friends.
Now, faculty can post assignments and staff can send out emails. This improvement to the University will allow the school to run more efficiently.
Though wi-fi in the Ram Vans may look to be an improper use of University funds since the campus does not yet have complete wireless Internet, people should take note that this is a big help for the students, faculty, and staff of Fordham University that need to be connected to the web at all hours (like most of us are now)
(Note: I wrote this originally on my iPod Touch.)I have just recently become web liaison -Fordham IT speak for webmaster- for the College Democrats and PRIDE, so after meetings, there is usually a need to update the Facebook group or Google Calendar or send out necessary emails. Without the wi-fi, I would be up until 1 or 2 am just doing this work after I take care of my personal needs.
I take the Ram Van after dark, and, since I lack night vision, I cannot exactly do my reading for class for the next day at that time. Luckily, my iPod Touch has a backlight, so I can do some work, albeit extracurricular.
Before the wi-fi, I would find myself wasting my time playing solitaire or watching the passing scenery on the West Side Highway. Now that I have Internet access on the Ram Van, I can do necessary projects, send out emails, and Facebook stalk my friends.
Now, faculty can post assignments and staff can send out emails. This improvement to the University will allow the school to run more efficiently.
Though wi-fi in the Ram Vans may look to be an improper use of University funds since the campus does not yet have complete wireless Internet, people should take note that this is a big help for the students, faculty, and staff of Fordham University that need to be connected to the web at all hours (like most of us are now)
(Note: I wrote this originally on my iPod Touch.)
Monday, March 2, 2009
CPAC 2009 Discussion
For some reason, I decided to watch Ann Coulter's CPAC speech. I just do not understand why the rallying cry of the conservatives is to attack liberals. Meanwhile, liberals' rallying cry is the issues that they believe in. Can't the conservatives do the same or are they just so self-conscious that they need to look better than the liberals when they do many more criminal activities (Newt, Delay, Larry Craig, need I say more?)?
Some of the things said by Coulter were:
Some of the things said by Coulter were:
- Chris Matthews and Keith Olberman are lap dogs to Obama (and what was Fox News to Bush?)
- Jesus had more executive experience than Obama (what about Palin ruling over the Crystal Meth capitol of Alaska?)
- Obama is Muslim (still with that?)
- Democrats finally won an election in 2008 (what about 2006?)
- Germans liked Obama and they have a good track record on choosing leaders (wow, that is really racist)
- Obama has been compared to Lincoln and Reagan since there are no good democrats for him to be compared to (his policies have also been compared to FDR)
- Carter is an example of how not to be President (what about Grant or Coolidge?)
- Over history, Democrats' reputation goes down while Republicans' go up (trying to think of a rebound to that one, I have realized that history, depending on who does the storytelling, can be equal-opportunity in negative/positive views of people)
Stimulate My Mind
At CPAC last weekend, there was a universal hatred of President Obama's bailout/economic-stimulus plans, sparked by comments by Rush Limbaugh. They all fear that the nation will become socialist. Do they realize how wrong they are?
While writing this post, I have been watching ABC's World News Tonight. They discussed this very issue. Yesterday, both Republican Chairman Michael Steel and House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (VA) have distanced themselves from Limbaugh. Rush, today, attacked them saying that they cannot say that they represent the Republican party if they do not share his ideals. Is he serious (or just back on his pain medications so he can go golfing)? Just as this blog (nor I) does not represent the views of the Democratic Party, I doubt that Rush Limbaugh represents the GOP. I would like Mr. Limbaugh to find another person in the United States that agrees with EVERY SINGLE ISSUE as him. The United States (nor any political party) represents the views of every member, but is a plurality of a set of common ideals.
I pray that all of these lovers of partisanship will learn that nothing works with partisanship, but coming together on issues that we do agree on.
- This is a temporary program. It is not meant to last
- Technically speaking, the government has always been socialist - Congress cannot pass laws that benefit only one person, laws are meant to help the most amount of people.
- Do they really think that the government wants to take over the banks? The only group that can do less with repossessed houses than the banks is the government.
- We must do something. Iceland has gone down the tubes, do you want the same to happen to the United States. At least Obama is trying to do something. When Obama was coming up with the stimulus plan, he did ask for Republican input. A certain College Republican that shall go unnamed says that those Republicans are, in fact, RINOs. At least, they are doing something than just sitting back and watching the nation itself fail.
- After this economic situation, what will the Rush complain about next? Gays in the military? FOCA? He doesn't seem to be complaining much about that right now.
While writing this post, I have been watching ABC's World News Tonight. They discussed this very issue. Yesterday, both Republican Chairman Michael Steel and House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (VA) have distanced themselves from Limbaugh. Rush, today, attacked them saying that they cannot say that they represent the Republican party if they do not share his ideals. Is he serious (or just back on his pain medications so he can go golfing)? Just as this blog (nor I) does not represent the views of the Democratic Party, I doubt that Rush Limbaugh represents the GOP. I would like Mr. Limbaugh to find another person in the United States that agrees with EVERY SINGLE ISSUE as him. The United States (nor any political party) represents the views of every member, but is a plurality of a set of common ideals.
I pray that all of these lovers of partisanship will learn that nothing works with partisanship, but coming together on issues that we do agree on.
2009 Speaker Series: The Minds That Move The World
Yesterday, I learned about the the "2009 Speaker Series: The Minds That Move The World," which is a political speaker series throughout the next two months at Radio City Music Hall. Speakers include (separated by date):
Humorous Perspectives, Serious Issues (March 9)
Humorous Perspectives, Serious Issues (March 9)
- Ann Coulter
- Bill Maher
- Anderson Cooper
- Arianna Huffington
- D.L. Hughley
- Mike Huckabee
- Janet Reno
- Alberto Gonzales
- John Ashcroft
- Charlie Rose
- Karl Rove
- James Carville
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Limbaugh Calling for Obama Failure at CPAC Keynote Speech
At the conclusion of this year's CPAC, (which was attended by Fordham's own College Republicans) Rush Limbaugh once again called for Obama's failure in the White House. Devastated after the November elections and bankrupt of new ideas, Republicans are turning towards Rush as the "intellectual force and energy" behind the party. Yet with Rush at the helm, the Republican Party would only be driven down towards minority-fringe status--oblivious to the rest of the country and devoid of any real political power.
Limbaugh and his fellow right-wingers fail to realize that 80% of the country is behind Obama's economic plans. The American people are looking for government assistance in this economic crisis, and, with Republicans offering nothing but opposition, Obama offers a convincing plan to get the country back on track after eight years of mismanagement.
Although Limbaugh's speech carried on an hour longer than expected and was met with repeated standing ovations, Rush continues to unnerve the few levelheaded Republicans that actually have America's interests at heart. Republican Whip Eric Cantor admits that "I don't think that anyone wants anything to fail right now," but with Santorum, Delay, and Malkin all calling for Obama's failure, it's pretty obvious that Rush's Republican Party is not thinking about the American People: it's just intent on revenge.
I think that after eight years of failure, we could all use a little success.
Click the title for the link.
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