Reflection

Overall, I thought all of the topics we discussed in class were quite interesting. The one that I found to be my favorite was the article entitled News Flash by Bonnie Anderson. I thought this article really portrayed and backed up my previous opinions about the news, Confirmation Bias. It is sad that news companies rarely can report things that they want, or good news. Almost everything that is reported is based on the interests of the owners of the organization and what is going to put the most money in their pockets. I think that it is sad that this is what our news on television has come too, but I guess it is just a way of life now.
My least favorite topics that we discussed in class were those regarding all of the high profile cases, i.e. Scott Peterson, Elizabeth Smart, the Ramsey Case. All of these things were one's that I felt I had seen enough of over my career of television watching. It was okay to learn more of the background regarding the case, but to me I felt it was all something that I had heard enough of over the course of the cases history's.
After seeing Louis give us the presentation of the Nancy Grace website and how to decipher the sites properly and effectively, I thought that would be something that I would like to see expanded on a little more in class. I thought it was pretty cool to learn that people actually are deciphering the web sites that people use to promote different things.
If I could teach this class, I think i would do everything the exact same. We hit on each of the major aspects that are out there in regards to media. We looked at everything in a constructive manner that left the door open for many different opinions and views. Overall, I thought the structure and material was great, and I would not change a thing.

WALKING TALL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WwuRZWEMQ4

One of my favorite movies to watch is Watching Tall, that has The Rock, or Dwayne Johnson in it. The movie is basically about how a war veteran comes back to his hometown when his service is completed. Upon his arrival he stumbles across a crooked casino that is ran by a buddy of his from high school. He also learns that the casino, and the people involved with it, are the one's that are pushing a majority of the drugs through the community.
I think this film represents several justice issues. The first being that kids around town are have easy access to drugs. The second is that because the owner of the casino has so much money, he has the local police department all on his side. It is hard to hold anything against the casino because the Sheriff of the town will find any way possible to throw any charges out. It really goes to show how in many small towns, money has a huge impact on the result of many things. People who are entitled to lots of money pay their ways out of trouble and continue their illegal actions. This issue is the main one I found to be represented in the film, and is one that I feel is still highly present in towns around the country. It is hard to serve justice properly if the process is influenced by those with ample amounts of money.

SONG

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Needle and the Spoon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFPaxK-q5gI

Thirty days, Lord, and thirty nights
I'm coming home on an airplane flight
Mama waiting at the ticket line
Tell me son, why do you stand there cryin'?
It was the needle and the spoon
And a trip to the moon
Took me away
Took me away
I've been feeling so sick inside
Got to get better, Lord, before I die
Some doctors couldn't help my head, they said
You'd better quit, son, before you're dead
Quit the needle, quit the spoon
Quit the trip to the moon
They gonna take you away
Lord, they gonna take you away
It was the needle and the spoon
I've seen a lot of people who thought they were cool
But then again, Lord, I've seen a lot of fools
I hope you people, Lord, can hear what I say
You'll have your chance to hit it some day
Don't mess with a needle or a spoon
Or a trip to the moon
They'll take you away
Lord, their gonna bury you boy
Don't mess with the needle
Now I know, I know, I know, I know, I know

This song is one that was written by one of the most popular groups of their time, Lynyrd Skynyrd. They were a group that faced adversity on a regular basis, and went through some of the worst things in life. This song, "The Needle and the Spoon" is one that I feel reflects on the justice issue of drug use. It talks about how a young adult is coming home after becoming addicted to drugs. The drug use is something that has messed the person up bad, and it is affecting their family life as well. I think that by putting this into perspective by such a popular group, it helped to convey the major side effects that drugs can have on people. It not only can tear them apart physically and mentally, but can also destroy families as well.

GUEST SPEAKER

In regards to the presentation given in class Monday, I thought the presentor, Katie Baird, did a good job. She was extremely knowledgable about the topic at hand, and made it interesting as far as relating it to her audience. I thought she presented many valuable symptoms that are essential for people to pay attention to whenever a friend or room mate starts demonstrating different behavior. Similar to her, I think it is a difference in keeping things a secret and having to bring it out to others to keep the person at risk as safe as possible. It is something to me that if it was not told, and something were to happen, I would feel guilty for the rest of my life knowing that maybe that incident of suicide could have possibly been avoided.
Overall, I came out of the presentation with a lot of knowledge gained. Understanding the importance of keeping a watch over people's behavior, and changes that may occur in regards to it, was one of the things I took to mind. Also, whenever someone may be frustrated, recommending to them healthy ways of venting their stress and anger is of vital importance.These things are definately ones in which I will watch for throughout my time here in college, and after college as well.

FREDDY KRUEGER

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/editorial/freddy-krueger-copycat-found-guilty-of-murder-108069.html

When Halloween rolls around each year, television is full of movies that depict the classic horror characters such as Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Jason, etc. Since these people are considered to be some of the many faces of Halloween, I looked into whether or not there was a copycat killing or act that was done in regards to trying to be like one of the listed characters. I came across an individual in London who was responsible for killing 4 people in his quest to try and be like Freddy Krueger. His desire was to kill at least 10 people in a case of serial murders, which he failed at. He killed these 4 people, two men and two women, in a three day span. He also was said to have began faking a mental illness sometime before he committed the murders in order to help him in court. It was also said that he tried to fake out psychiatrists upon his arrest but failed miserably. The court had him locked up, however, in Broadmoor, a maximum security mental institute, where he proceeded to try and eat his arm off? He later was convicted of murder and was going to have multiple life sentences.
This particular case was one of which I felt to tie into our class in respects to the copycat effect. This individual told police that it was his desire to find out what it was like to be Freddy Krueger in the horror film Nightmare on Elm Street. This copycat incident is just one of many that occur throughout the world on a daily basis. It's just a shame that weak minded people can ruin the horror film industry by trying to be like the characters depicted in film.

RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4o-TeMHys0

When browsing around YouTube, I came across a man who was taking place in a debate for the governor of New York. Jimmy McMillan is his name and he is a representative of the Rent is Too Damn High Party. He basically talks about, in this particular clip, how children are starving everywhere, and parents are working multiple jobs to support them. I think that this guy is rather interesting in that he is an ordinary man who has most likely experienced some kind of the difficulty he discusses at some point in his life. He also discusses how many people are living on the streets because, like his party, the rent is too damn high. I know people in the audience thought the guy was a joke, but I think that may be half of the problem with society, we laugh at the things that should be focused on more and taken care of. Overall, I think the guy is awesome and I would love to hear him talk more about his unique party.

MOVIE

When watching the Bill Curtis movie, I was kind of bothered by the fact that people can be influenced as much as they were by movies. The one kid who popped into his classroom at school in the same way as the guy had done in the movie he had seen and proceeded to shoot a gun was terrible. I think, however, that many people have fantasized about doing such a thing, and by seeing it in the movies, it helps them refine their strategies. It also, I feel, gives them an excuse as to why they did such a thing. I think that by them blaming it on the movies, they feel as if it will posisbly help them get away with it, which it doesn't, obviously. Overall, it was an interesting movie, but i thought it was quite disturbing to see how mentally weak many people are in respect to being influenced by a business such as the film industry. 

COPYCAT SHADES

http://www.allinternetmarketing.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/nomar-garciaparra-dreams.jpg    notice in the pic. the shades he is wearing.

When I was a little kid, I loved watching Nomar Garciappara and the Boston Red Sox. Nomar was by far my favorite player, and by me still being young and starting to play baseball, I wanted to be just like him. Nomar was known for wearing his flip down sunglasses while playing. He could wear them flipped down during the late evening or when the sun was bothering him, but when he didn't have a use for them, he simply flipped them back up.

By seeing Nomar wear these shades, I thought it would be cool to copy him and get a pair for myself, thinking it would make me play better (which I should have known would have no impact on my play at all). Soon after getting my pair of "flip shades" a few of my friends followed suite by getting a pair. Overall, looking back on how Nomar Garciappara influenced me on getting these rediculous sun glasses, I laugh. My reasoning for getting these shades was absurd, but at the time, it sounded good.

http://www.trutv.com/shows/conspiracy_theory/index.html

I was sitting down this evening watching television when I stumbled accross Jesse Venturas new television show, Conspiracy Theory. Not only is this show shown on the television medium, but I found it quite interesting to note that much of the stuff he says can easily be contradicted. He goes on a hunt around the world to track down individuals who have information to back up his theories on things, or theories that he has heard about. By him doing so, I feel as if he is carrying out the confirmation bias because he is hunting down individuals that will back up the conspiracy that he is hunting. Not once did i see him find someone who disproved of the theory, everyone he found was promoting the particular conspiracy he was researching. For instance, I saw him trying to hunt down a guy to give his side of the story in regards to global warming being a way for many powerful people to make more money and take over the world. The only guy I saw him talk to was a journalist who came up with this conspiracy. Overall, I think the show is BS but the guy does have some interesting arguments to back up these absurd conpiracy theories.

MEDIA

When reading the article based on media and information that the public receives, I noticed many forms of information bias that I had learned my Freshman year here at JMU. To me the bandwagon effect is one of the most common forms of information bias. If people hear their friends, or other's who are important to them ranting and raving about something, they are more reluctant to jump on and agree with everythign they say. The confirmation bias is one that I also find to be quite familiar in that many people, when arguing with another person, always resort to some sort of information to back up their claims. Another form is the base rate fallacy which I feel is pretty common. People, in regards to base rate, think that their experiences over rule the facts and figures that have been studied for years preceding. Each person who experiences something experiences something that is entirely unique. The result can be similar to what was researched, but the factors leading up the to result can be quite different. Finally, cognitive dissonance is basically based on teh fact that if it proves you wrong, you disprove of it. People cannot stand being wrong and think it is only their way, when other facts are presented that disprove them, they disregard it immediately.

In one particular situation, I used the bandwagon effect in regards to the situation pertaining towards President Bush some years ago. I had no clue what was going on, but everyone else was not approving of his actions, so I jumped on and agreed. I know now that this was wrong, but I can still say that I shamefully took part and jumped on the Bandwagon.

Finally, I think that a Department of Information would be a good idea. I know there are a lot of provisions that would have to be made in order for it to be effective, but I think that if the government really cared about honest news and the truth, time would not be a problem to make this effective and put it into motion.

ANOTHER LAWNMOWER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95qZtwJNjxk&NR=1

Since I did my last free blog on a guy on a lawnmower, I thought of another incident in which a man on a lawnmower was arrested. The guy's name is Steve and he has several videos on YouTube of him getting arrested while driving drunk on a lawnmower. In this particular video, the Internet is showing a video of just one of several interesting and absurd things that cops see everyday. Steve is shown driving his lawnmower down the road where he is pulled over by a police officer. The officer tells Steve to cut the lawnmower off, put his cigarette out, and pour out all of his whiskey that he was drinking. Steve gets off of the lawnmower and puts his cigarette out and gives the officer grief for having to pour out his new bottle of whiskey. He then gets back on his lawnmower, tells the police officer "I am not going to jail today," and starts to drive off. The officer then tases Steve and apprehends him. This video to me was just another funny incident that is portrayed on a type of medium where justive prevails. Even though it may be halarious to watch, I am sure it gets quite annoying for officer's who repeatedly have to put up with absurd types of behavior such as this.

SOUTH CAROLINA GUNMAN

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/09/22/south.carolina.school.devices/index.html?npt=NP1

In this particular case, a young kid walks into his school in Conway, South Carolina where he proceeds to walk into the school police officer's office. After talking with him a little, the kid pulls out a gun on the police officer. The officer wrestles the kid to the ground and they fight over possession of the firearm. During this scuffle, the kid fires a shot, missing the officer, and hits the wall consequently resulting in shrapnel hitting the officer in the face. The officer finally gains possession of the firearm and detains the juvenile. The school is then evacuated, which then leads to school officials learning of potential bombs being present throughout the school. The police then called in the bomb squads and extra help to try and find these bombs, which later lead to them discovering several pipe bombs. Because of the discovery of these objects, the police then carried out a search warrant on the kids home where they discovered things that would be used to create a pipe bomb, backing up their previous discovery. Charges in this case have still yet to be determined, and the case is still open to investigation.
I found that this article was similar to the reading from last week in that it was another example of the media only broadcasting terrifying events. It was something serious enough that the news stations knew it would get some numbers, which most likely led to them reporting on this story.
In the development of this case, however, I feel as if the media will report on every negative thing they can find to try and persuade all of the listeners of a guilty verdict. Although the article provided every bit of information I needed to come to the conclusion that this kid was the one, and that he intended to cause lots of harm to his classmates, and other school memebers.
I also feel as if this case is one that is more entertaining to its viewers. People love seeing terrible events on the news, which go right along with what we have gone over in class, so I find that the news companies only posted it so they could get the numbers, which in turn would make them the money. I only wish I knew what many of these news companies were thinking, and I wish they would report on every situation of this magnitude no matter the circumstances.

CRASH

http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/21/source-9-killed-in-helicopter-crash-were-americans/-CNN
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38723377-MSNBC
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/09/21/nato-says-service-members-international-coalition-killed-helicopter-crash/-FOXNEWS

In an article that I was tracking over the three news sources, there was a terrible helicopter crash that occurred in the Southern region of Afghanistan. In the crash, 9 people were reported dead. In the FOXNEWS article, they had stated that the incident happened in the Southern region of Afghanistan. It also stated that a rather large number of Americans were involved. No reports of enemy fire were included to attribute to the crash, but it was stated that a Taliban spokeman had told the press over the phone that they were responsible for the crash, which, as was later followed up, was complete B.S. It was said that the Taliban often exaggerate things to give themselves credit for certain incidents. The total number of deaths that was reported by FOX was 524 U.S. and NATO soldiers compared to 504 killed last year, making this year the deadliest since the war started in 2001.
In the MSNBC article, the same bits of informantion were reported, just on a much smaller scale. The difference I found in the article before, FOXNEWS, was that on MSNBC they said the crash occurred in the Southeast region of Afghanistan. This website was, in my opinion, focused more on the political side of things that were going on that would later have an effect on the War in Afghanistan.
Finally, the CNN article was quite similar to that of the MSNBC and FOX. They, similar to FOX, said that the accident happened in the Southern region of Afghanistan, also differring from MSNBC. They, however, contradicting FOX, said that 517 troops had been killed in Afghanistan this year, compared to FOXNEWS' 524.
Overall, I found that the news sites were trying to report the same story, but many of them had their small differnces. I feel that they were trying their best to help signify the fact that the War in Afghanistan is still as dangerous as ever, and that however good some news might seem, there is still a lot of work left to do. I also feel that this story is important to society, because these people died fighting for their country and that many people need to hear of their great sacrifice. To some, it may not seem as important as many of the policy issues that effect the war, but I think it is rather important and is something that should be shared with anyone, and everyone.

STOLEN LAWNMOWER

http://www.thecoastalsource.com/mostpopular/story/Man-Arrested-Driving-Stolen-Lawnmower/ts_vlK_GWE-TPoanvfV-uA.cspx

For my free blog entry, I thought I would try to find a story that was rather funny, but yet was posted from a media source. The story I stumbled upon just so happened to involve an individual who I had gone to high school with. He always was in trouble for doing some of the dumbest things, so when I saw this, I thought this particular incident was probably a highlight of his criminal career. This particular individual was pulled over at 4 o'clock in the morning on Highway 17 (a pretty major highway in North Carolina). The officer said something had looked suspicious which is the reason he pulled him over. This reason makes perfectly good sense because the guy was driving a stolen lawnmower, on the interstate, at 4 in the morning, with a stolen television in his lap. The officer asked him some questions, and the suspect gave him false information. The officer later found out that the subject had 9 outstanding warrants in Virginia, was involved in several burglaries around the area he was apprehended, and was also carrying a hatchet (?) and brass knuckles. Needless to say, I am glad he didn't try to lead the police on a high speed chase, because I don't think he would have stood a chance.

SERIAL KILLER

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20013334-504083.html

I recently heard a terrifying story on the news of an alleged serial killer on the loose. The fact that is most striking is that 3 of his stabbings have been in Leesburg, VA. This particular individual is allegedly responsible for stabbing 16 individuals around Flint, Michigan, five of which ended up dying. This article, like many on serial killers, focuses merely on the serial killer himself. They say he is an individual carrying a knife who is a white male, in his late 20s or early 30s, 5 foot 11 inches tall to 6 foot 2 inches tall and weighs approximately 180 to 210 pounds. Some of his survivors have stated that, once again, he was a white male, muscular, with light colored hair, and that he was seen driving a green and gold SUV resembling a Chevy Blazer or a GMC Jimmy. The survivors also said that the individual approached them in desperate need of directions or in desperate need of help with his broken down car, where he then stabbed them and fled. The article also states that 7 different agencies, the Leesburg Police and the police of Flint, Michigan along with the FBI are trying to solve the cases. It also states that 14 investigators are going along to try and apprehend the suspect before he strikes again. As far as this crazy individuals victims, the attacks around Flint, Michigan targeted male subjects approximately 17 to 60 years of age in which all but two of the sixteen victims were African Americans. As far as the Leesburg, VA victims go, 2 were African American males while the third was a teen age Latino with a dark skin complexion. All of the victims in both places were said to have been alone at night. As far as the motivation for the crimes go, authorities are said to be unsure that the motif for this individuals activities are racially based. In my opinion, I think it is quite obvious that race is a determining factor in the predators mind of deciding on who he targets. The authorities are also liable to have already came to the conclusion, but at the time of the article they were unsure.

REGGIE BUSH STORY

I recently tracked the story of Reggie Bush and his Heisman being taken away on the day of September 7. On this particular day, there were several reports that the Heisman Trophy Trust had decided to take away his Heisman Trophy, and to leave his spot for the year vacant. The report, that was originally posted by Yahoo Sports, and which is what I had read on the LA Times website, later turned out to be false. As I read up on the situation on the FoxNews and CNN websites, they reported that a spokesman from the Trust had actually came out and said that the allegations made about the Trust having come to a conclusion were completely "FALSE." I thought it was quite amazing to have read these different major media companies and to see just how much their stories were different. I also made sure to read up on the matter on the same day to compare the stories that were coming out. The CNN website, along with that of FOXNews, both had the same bit of information because they had come into contact with the Chairman of the Heisman Trophy Trust and had, as far as I know, gotten it directly out of his mouth that no decision was made. The LA Times was different, however, in that they didn't research the information they had read and had basically posted it as it was stated on Yahoo Sports. This particular event is one that I thought really complied with what was asked for us to do on this particular blog.

DEVIANT WEBSITE

http://www.fartinginpublic.com/

When searching for a site that promotes a deviant activity, I was able to locate one devoted to farting in public. While the act of farting is not deviant to society, being that everyone does it, doing it in a public place with people around is against societies norms, because people don’t walk around passing gas in public. On this site, it appears to be something that a true amateur threw together. There is no color scheme or heading. All of the captions and writings that are on it are in no way, shape, or form classy. The purpose of the site is to jokingly hear people’s stories of different places where they expel their gases, and to also partake in a surve.  While the purpose is for telling stories about people pooting, there are also several other things that are available. Tips and techniques, related links, stories, and the survey tab are all things that are available. Overall, I think that this site is humorous in many different ways. I do, all jokes aside, think that people should have enough manners to know not to do such a thing as pass gas on certain people. Others have different views on certain activities such as the one this site promotes, and that is passing gas.

CENSORSHIP IN THE MEDIA

I got this from a New York Times online article.

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/on-screen-smoking-down-but-still-high/?scp=8&sq=censorship&st=cse

In an article I read on the New York Times website entitled, On Screen Smoking Down (But Still High) by Stephen J. Dubner, the one aspect of media is heavily criticizing the television medium and censorship in a positive way. In regards to television, it is in a way applauding the idea of censorship in that it has kept the number of smoking scenes seen in movies to a lower number than was reported in a 2005 study. Researchers are said to believe that by this reduction of tobacco incidents in many of the main movies that are presented each year, there will be a sharp reduction, or at least of some kind, in the number of adolescent smokers. In my opinion, I think that the people censoring the movies have their heads in the right place, but there are other factors that get children to begin smoking, such as parents. I believe that seeing someone smoking or using a tobacco product in a movie has little effect on what children decide to take part in. I do, however, think that by some kids seeing their parents use, they want to be more like them and see taking part in it as being okay. Overall, I think the ideas and the reduction in numbers is good, but I do not think it will have the impact, or affect, on preventing kids from smoking that many people think it will.  

Media Fast

I chose to do my media fast on Friday, September 3, because I was going to be traveling and would not have access to as many media opportunities as I would on any other day. As I woke up to begin the day, I spent all of my time packing and getting my things ready to go. While driving, I caught myself twice trying to listen to the radio and quickly cut it off. By driving with no radio, I was able to think about the school work that I have piling up and concentrate on my driving. I received one phone call, however, but it was from my boss asking me some questions. Upon my arrival to my destination, I talked with my friends for hours. We then left and went to the store where not much media was involved except the occasional store music, which I do not classify as music at all. Overall, I thought that by doing the media fast, my cellphone and television were the hardest to be without. I also thought that the fast made me feel as if I was a caveman living in a time with no modern day necessities.

Media in a Day

During the day of September 1, I experienced the Internet for several hours. The times for this went as follows, 10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m., 3:00 p.m.-3:45 p.m., and 8:25 p.m.-8:45 p.m. Also, I had to partake in my daily dosage of sports on television which ranged from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.  and 8:45 p.m.-10:20 p.m. When I was not watching television or on the internet, I was reading for classes and texting. I texted numerous people from the time I woke up to the time I fell asleep. I also listened to music while I was driving to a meeting at 4 o'clock that day and back that evening. In all, it totaled around 15 minutes.