HW 36: Beta Pod's Gabcast

http://www.gabcast.com/index.php?a=episodes&b=play&id=8538&cast=49707&autoplay=true

HW 35: A letter to my Readers

All throughout the last semester, we spent time writing all sorts of blogs and discovering new things about technology that I never even knew about. Before coming into this class, the only time I ever heard about "blogs" was on My space, but I never actually used them, so I didn't know much about them, and now, I have my own blog. I've learned so much about mass media, technology, and just how much of a way blogging is used for communication. It is a way for people to express the way they feel and not worry about what others have to say or think. Which is what I feel the best about. I love that I can just write about how I feel about the reading and everything else we've dealt with and I don't have to worry if it’s right or wrong. I'm really sure what someone could learn from my blogs because there my opinions, but I hope that someone will gain some sort of knowledge from them. I haven't really decided if I’m going to keep my blogs or not because I’m not sure if they are something that I want to keep around. I don't think blogging is something that I’m going to stay with, but it is something that I’m glad I did. It is not something that I would have started on my own, and I don't think it will be something that I will continue on my own.

HW 34: Responding to Riverbend, "Cultural Literacy"

In Baghdad Burning, Riverbend talks about the role that gold plays with families. "Gold is a part of our culture and the roll it plays in 'family savings' has increased since 1990 when the Iraqi Dinar began fluctuating crazily" (Riverbend, 100). People were converting their money to gold, as ways to make items for sale, because the value of gold was something that wasn't going to change. Before the war hit, Iraqi's were withdrawing all their money to get gold. What I found most upsetting about this part of reading was when Riverbend talked about how troops took money from people's homes because they didn't think people like "that" owned gold.

In Iraq a garden isn't complete without a palm tree in it. "In the winter months, they act as 'resorts' for the exotic birds that flock to Iraq. We often see various species of birds roosting between the leaves, picking on the sweet dates and taunting the small boys below who can't reach the nests" (Riverbend, 103). There are more than 300 different types of dates, with all different characteristics, and have all different uses. They are used to make "dibiss", syrup that is eaten. "Khal" is also produced, olive oil that makes great seasoning. "Palm trees have represented the rugged, stoic beauty of Iraq. They are a reminder that no matter how difficult the circumstances, there is hope for life and productivity." (Riverbend, 105)

HW 33: Responding to a Podcast

The first video pod cast I decided to write about was "Iraqi teens work the help their families" found at http://aliveinbaghdad.org/2007/10/15/iraqi-teens-work-to-help-their-families. This pod cast talks about teens in Iraq manage to want to help their families out despite all that goes on. They interview children of all different ages between the range of 11-17 and others. It talks about what its like for children living in the Iraqi world. Its hard to listen to what these kids have to say and how determined they how to help their families out, when they have so little. I know for my personally when I was little I loved helping my parents out with things but now it doesn't really occur to me, and for these kids it is a continuous thing and something that they want to do. One of goes to work every morning where its suppose to take 30 minutes but it takes an hour, just the determination of the fact that these kids put their lives at risk.

The next video I chose to write about was found at http://aliveinbaghdad.org/2007/08/20/syria-child-artist-dreams-of-return-to-iraq. Muhammad is a young boy artist who loves to draw, and started drawing before he started school. His father taught him how to paint and sketch. He likes painting thing from "Iraqi reality"; his dad first realized his talent when he was only four years old and living in Baghdad. He says, "Baghdad represents everything to me", because it was born there, it is a very important part of him. I really enjoy the fact that he is so young and yet really enjoys what he does and has such inspiration in his life to keep doing something he loves.

HW 32: Responding to Riverbend (Sep.19th-Oct.5th)

I chose to write about Akila Al-Hashimi. In the reading, on page 75 it opens with talks about someone attempt in taking Akila's life. She was leaving for work when two pick-up trucks open-fired on her randomly. People surrounding heard the gunshots and people around began shooting at each other. Akila was a member of the Iraq council and according to Riverbend, she meant well. What I found really interesting while reading this is something that Riverbend said, which was "no female is safe" (Riverbend, 75). Riverbend talks about how some people may have had a bitterness towards her and that maybe there was some sort of warning in which things could have been prevented if more people were there protecting her. It's interesting to see how people are so easily judged there because they aren't following a religion or aren't a certain sex.

HW 31: Responding to Riverbend

When doing the assigned reading I was interested in finding out a little more about who Ahmad Al-Chalabi is. In page 44 (Riverbend) it talks about how Chalabi "has finally achieved the epitome of his political aspirations". Chalabi is from a family of secular Shittes and is seen as being very optimistic. Chalabi is an Iraqi politician and the leader of the Iraqi national congress. He is the "Black Horse" that the United States wagered. He stood up for the Iraq liberation act. Most of the information that I found out was stuff about who he was and what he does and has done as a leader for the Iraqi people. This has to do with what were reading in the book right now because since he is an Iraqi leader, he obviously is an important role in what’s goes on in Iraq and has power over things, so its important to know who he is. The link that I found information on Chalabi gives some backround on him and then goes further into an interview. She talks about how she stays up to date with all his interviews and what not, which I find is important to know more about because, there’s a reason that she stays with them, and its probably a good one.

HW 30: "Citizenship and Responsibility"

Today, Thursday, November 8th I attended the "Citizenship and Responsibility" symposium. The opening speaker, Katrina sweat is the daughter of Tom Lantos, the only survivor of the holocaust that serves in the US Congress. Tom came to the United States after the Second World War. Katrina spoke a little bit about her father, whom she referred to as her "hero". In 1980, Tom ran for congress, later to introduce legislation, making him an honorary citizen of the United States. He spoke about how as he grew up, him and his siblings were taught that they were expected to make the world a better place. One thing that he said that I found interesting, yet at the same time I wasn't sure exactly what he meant by it or what his point was, was "men and women understood freedom was possible". He then refers to the famous quote "All men are created equal", but he makes a point by saying that this did not stop them from owning slaves, and how no one said anything including women. One thing that I found most interesting out of all the things he mentioned talking about so much US history and all, was that we are "living at a time where the image of the US is at an all time low", he speaks about how the United States forgot all the positive things that have been done and now only remember the negative. In the end Tom speaks about how our forthcoming president, has two responsibilities, one being that he must bring everything together, and secondly they must rebuild prestige and respect for the US. What I loved most was his dedication and he wanting to make things better for everyone in the United States with such determination should really inspire people.

HW 30: Citizens Gone Wild (Tuesday)

On Tuesday, November 6th, I went to the symposium "Citizens gone wild" (slideshow) by Nancy Tobi. Nancy openly spoke about democracy and her feelings towards it. She was born in Lexington Mass, which is known as "the birthplace of American Liberty". She is the founder of http://www.blackboxvoting.org/, which can give you updates on the latest news in Mainstream News Reports, or information with the latest elections, voting rights, etc. The slideshow that Nancy showed was about the two different voting techniques that are used. Diebold is a machine counting method with the votes, whereas the other technique was just hand count, which is pretty self-explanatory, where each voted was hand counted. 81% of New Hampshire uses the counting software. Nancy talks about how the government takes its power from the people, and she made that very clear that the power came form the people, and that in order for the government to receive it then they needed to be open to the people. I found Nancy’s speech to be interesting because she seemed determined to make a change, I quote her when I say, "There is sunlight at the end of the tunnel". What she says shows that she still has hope and if you look at things in those certain was they you'll eventually get there with enough determination.