Free Speech or Piracy

Congress has announced that it wants to create a bill that will attempt to stop piracy on the Internet and protect copyrighted content. How? The Protect IP bill would allows the entertainment industry to "block access to infringing domain names" and to "cut off funds to infringing websites." This basically means that sites with pirated content can be blocked and/or sued.

The Protect IP bill might help the entertainment industry, but it may also cripple the Internet's freedom. Sites like YouTube may be blocked because of pirated content. This means that even if one person on websites like these posts a pirated video, the whole site could be sued and/or shut down. The bill also gives a lot of power to the entertainment industry, whose sole purpose is to make money. Remember, unlike democratic government, that represents the opinions of the majority, private corporations represent themselves. So, basically, this bill gives non-government groups the power of the Internet. Sounds dangerous, if I say so myself.

Personally, I think this bill shouldn't be passed. Although at first this bill seems like a good idea, the Internet is just too open to be able to block specific sites without messing up other ones. The Internet may lose stability if this law is passed, which could mess up many sites, innocent or guilty. Though this bill is meant to affect only US-based sites, other countries could follow in the USA's path, and the entire Internet would be universally censored. Do we really want that?

Many websites are trying to fight back. Just type in "Internet censor bill," and a bucket load of protesting blogs and forums appear. The USA believes in the right to free speech, yet the government is trying to allow censorship. Sound hypocritical? If you want to express your feelings to Congress, simply join in some of the blogs that discuss the idea or sign a petition being sent to Congress right now. If we can stop Congress from passing the Protect IP bill, the Internet will be better off. I believe in free speech. Do you?

Choose the Right Fight

In life, there are things worth fighting for and things not worth fighting for. The line between these two choices is often blurred and hard to see. Luke Dowdney is trying to change that. He is a champion British boxer who while studying anthropology was shocked by the violence of gang wars in favelas (slums) in Rio De Janeiro. He saw children holding firearms and corpses littering the streets. Luke decided to start a martial arts and education program in 2000 called Luta Pela Paz, or "Fight for Peace" in Portuguese. Luke teaches poor kids martial arts skills and educates them in his recreation center.

Roberto Custódio has a dark history. His father was shot by a policeman over a woman in front of Roberto. He swore to avenge his father, and hoped Luke could teach him the skills to do so. Luke agreed to Roberto's request as long as he attended the educational courses. As Roberto became more skilled in boxing, his lust for revenge left him. The discipline and self-control needed for boxing taught Roberto the right things to fight for. He is now Luke Dowdney's right hand man in the fight for peace in the favelas. Roberto has won the gold medal for light welterweight boxing in Brazil and is likely to enter the London Olympics.

Luke Dowdney fought for peace by teaching people how to fight. Roberto Custódio fought for revenge on his dad's killers. Luke clearly fought for something everyone agrees is a good cause. Roberto, on the other hand, had a justified goal with good intentions, but not necessarily the right thing to do. Luke got Roberto to change his goal into something that is indisputably right: fighting for peace.

This story was inspired by an article in Sports Illustrated (dated September 26th, 2011).

To learn more about Luta Pela Paz, go to http://www.luta.co.uk/fightwear-blog/

LUTA Real Strength Film

They Should've Known Better

There is a big story on the news right now about the prolonged delay of the Dalai Lama's (Spiritual Leader of Buddhism and Tibet) visa to South Africa to visit Desmond Tutu (Archbishop of South Africa) for his 80th birthday. The visa's confirmation was delayed for so long that the Dalai Lama canceled his trip. Tutu was furious with his government for delaying the visa, claiming that the ANC (African National Congress) cracked under the pressure of the Chinese government (a big trading partner of South Africa and the oppressors of Tibet's freedom). Tutu explained in a press conference that "our government representing me... says it will not support Tibetans who are being oppressed viciously by the Chinese." He goes further, saying that "this government, our government, is worse than the Apartheid government because at least you were expecting [this kind of behavior] with the Apartheid government."

Tutu was furious with the ANC because South Africa had gone through the same issues that Tibet has, but they completely erase relationships with Tibet out of fear from the Chinese trade industry. The ANC should have sided with Tibet to show that they knew what there were feeling because they were in the same situation. Tutu makes it very clear he does not side with the government's choices by stating "Mr. Zuma, you and you government don't represent me. You represent your own interests."

I believe that Tutu is fighting for the right to represent himself. He doesn't not in any way want to be connected to his government's choices. Instead, Desmond Tutu announces he supports Tibet against the ANC's decision.

Quotes and information were supplied by the Guardian news website.

Found Poem

I believe that I've been infected by my opinions.
They have become my disguised uncertainty,
aggressively challenging my conviction.
They speak contrary beliefs,
things I don't want to know.
They oppose my personal wisdom,
and always question my authority.
And you have it too,
but for now they are invisible.
I fear for you,
because your tragic end is near.

This poem is a bit random and has no clear message because of the fact that it is the jumbled from another poem. The poem does suggest that our opinions are sometimes our worst enemy, because we think we know so much and act like know-it-all's. I found it difficult to create a clear message without having the same idea as the original poem.

The Fight for Facebook

Mark Zuckerberg, a 35 year-old Harvard graduate, is one of the richest men in the world. How? Facebook. Originally a college online photo directory, Facebook has travelled all over the world and has made Zuckerberg's personal wealth a whopping $13.5 billion! His riches came with a price, though; many people have sued for ownership of Facebook. This, along with the popular blockbuster The Social Network, has given Zuckerburg a bad reputation.

We sometimes forget that Zuckerburg created Facebook in college, and that everybody does crazy things at that age. I think the reason behind picking on him was because of his success; people want to find a way to steal his riches. The Social Network gives Zuckerburg a "snide and sarcastic in a cruel way" personality. All this has weighed down on Zuckerburg's shoulders, yet he just brushed it off and kept on growing.

Zuckerburg did what he thought was the right thing, even if others didn't agree. He has made mistakes, but he didn't let it get in the way of his work. Zuckerburg has pushed through all the bullying and has made it through the maze with money to prove it. You don't have to like Zuckerburg or agree with him, but you have to admit, he has found a way to the top.

My New World Blueprints

If I had to organize a pioneer journey to a fresh planet, the one characteristic I would wish for would be the control of communication between citizens of the new society. Although this sounds harsh, it is actually very effective in practice. Humans have a natural urge for jealousy when they see others who have something they want. Limiting communication between different communities chokes jealousy and adds focus to the task given to the community. Dividing the people into groups that compliment each encourage people to work their hardest. A capital with government workers would be surrounded by towns that export one major resource. This society would act like a well oiled machine. Unfortunately, this system of government does not appeal to many people.

Response to The Lottery

Questions for the Short Story:

1) What would you call this story? (Title) Why?

I would call this story the lottery because it is the main issue in this booklet.

2) What did you think was going to happen? What clues in the text led you to think this?

I had a feeling the person who got the black dot would be killed. I thought this because of the lack of excitement of the villagers in the story.

3) How did you feel when the end of the story was given to you?

I didn't know the booklet didn't have the ending, so I had no feelings about the ending.

4) How did you feel when you were handed the mystery paper? What did you think was in it? did you follow the instructions? Why/ why not?

I felt curious when I was handed the paper. I thought it would be involved in some game during class to show what the villagers felt like. I waited until I got home to open the paper because the teacher told me to!

5) How did you feel about the black box and the black spot/ blank paper? explain.

The black box gave me no emotions, but the black dot on my paper scared me a bit because of the villagers reaction to it during the story.

6) How did you feel when you read the end of the story? Explain.

The ending made me feel depressed and horrified that this village's tradition involved killing people with a cruel game.

7) Were your predictions correct? How did you feel about that?

My predictions were correct. I had kind of wished that they weren't because the story would've been a lot more happy.

8) What would have helped you to make a better prediction?

My predictions would've improved if I had known we were making them, instead of being given doubt until we reached home.

9) Why did the author leave these voids in the story?

I think the author left unexplained parts in the story to add suspense.

10) Explain the power of the void in this experience:

a. No title/ author information

Made the story seem like it was written by the villagers.

b. No ending

Added mystery to the outcome of the lottery.

c. Text clues and foreshadowing throughout the story

Made you image the story more than it was told.

d. Mystery paper

It made me think about what the villagers had felt like.

e. Delayed ending

I didn't know about the delayed ending.

f. Anything else that created tension and conflict for you...

N/A

DomiKnow Profile

DomiKnow is a way to find one's profile. A profile is a way to show which side of your brain is dominant. The right side of the brain is Gestalt, or the creative side of the brain. The Left side of the brain is the logical side.

I learn best when I sit in the back of the room so I can stand and move around without disturbing others. I am a natural auditory and kinesthetic learner, so using my ears are vital during class. Metaphors and examples are good ways for me successfully complete problem solving questions. Because my ear receives information more accurately than my eyes, closing my eyes is no disadvantage as long as my ears are pointing toward the speaker.

I need to move constantly in order to release stress and grasp the concept. I also need to be reminded to use step by step learning because my profile focuses on the main idea and forgets how to get there. It is important for my teacher to explain the future use of the knowledge given to me in order for me to accept it.

The strategies that would help me in my learning are brain gym activities, such as lazy eights, cross crawl, and three dimensional art. I become focused while moving my hands or legs in a repetitive pattern.

I would like my teachers to know this about me because many educators all over the world do not realize that one school plan doesn't work for the every student. We all have different brains and ways of learning. The best way for teachers to crack open our will to learn is to relate to the student and create a way of teaching them best by understanding our profile and preferences of teaching styles.