IRB Round 1 Post 3 (Engadget)

http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/28/lady-gaga-silences-her-twitter-account-for-charity/

This quick post talks about how a group of celebrities, including Lady Gaga, have teamed up in a charity movement called 'Digital Life Sacrifice'. This movement will raise money for the Keep A Child Alive charity. How does the movement work? Well, all the celebs in the movement will sign out of Facebook and twitter on world AIDS day (Dec. 1) and stay out till they've raised one million dollars. Now, the article has the same questions I do. How is this supposed to raise money, and do these celebs know the meaning of 'sacrifice'? I'd much rather just donate to the foundation then donate knowing i'm granting someone I don't like the ability to social network. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the thought, but i feel that there are much better ways this can be done. This blog agrees with my sentiment. ( http://theblogfrog.com/1322951/forum/67207/digital-life-sacrifice.html )

IRB Round 1 Post 2 (Time)

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2032811,00.html

This article talks about how the use of media, especially radios, is vital to winning the "information war" in Afghanistan. For some time, the Taliban has been using radio to spread propaganda to the Afghani people. The article states how this medium is so vital to the Taliban that many civilians are threatened if they don't tune in. In response Nato and U.S. forces have more actively mobilized the information front, distributing reverse-propaganda and setting up a radio station, with DJ Karimullah, who appears to be very good at winning over the hearts and minds of the people. I personally feel that this is a step in the right direction, but i have my concerns. I feel that if DJ Karimullah is allowed too much freedom with what he says, the concept could backfire. At the same time, this goes against our American belief of free speech. Radio Free Europe seems to agree that this is a step in the right direction, as they have joined the movement. ( http://news.antiwar.com/2010/09/17/radio-free-europe-joins-afghanistans-information-war/ )

IRB Round 1 Post 1 (lens)

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/14/if-photojournalism-is-dead-whats-luceo/

This article talks about how Neil Burgess declared photojournalism dead ( http://www.epuk.org/Opinion/961/for-gods-sake-somebody-call-it ), and how the continued success of the 'photo cooperative' Luceo Images ( http://luceoimages.com/ ) is a counterpoint to that standpoint. Mr. Burgess believes that photojournalism is dead because "no one is putting money into it" and instead feels that photography is just a supplement to a writers story. The author of the Lens post, James Estrin, questions this view, and presents Luceo Images as a counterpoint, saying that their success proves that photojournalism is alive and kicking. Personally I agree with Mr. Estrin, I believe that photojournalism is still very much a part of mainstream culture. I feel the magazine "National Geographic" is a great example of photojournalism, and Kurt Mutchler from said magazine agrees. ( http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2010/08/18/129284174/madagascar )

Websites and Blogs I am Following IRB

http://www.engadget.com/
http://www.time.com/time/
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/

Blogs:
http://acarminatienglishblog.blogspot.com/
http://campbell428.blogspot.com/
http://timenglishblog.blogspot.com/

Online Reading

I do a moderate amount of online reading. What I read most online is the news, both local and national. USA Today is my primary national news source, and 6abc is my primary local news source. I also follow forums for the Wissahickon Robotics team, and one that my friend started.