Who is the average terrorist in the U.S.? Many people, erroneously correlate terrorism with Muslims. All muslims are terrorists, except for 94%. This is the title of an article which looks into this topic more in depth. The following article shows actual FBI statistics of the various terrorist attacks, by date and type of attack and also explains which groups (if they can all be lumped together) are the perpetrators.
Check it and see what you think:
Not-all-terrorists-are-muslims/
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Yorba Linda Anti-Terrorist Protest? or anti-muslims?
Last month I was going to go to an even organized by ICNA relief in Yorba Linda, with the purpose of raising funds for women's shelters and to fight homelessness and hunger in the U.S. I was so busy with readings and school work that I had to decline.
Apparently, this event was protested by an group of tea party members that allegedly were trying to keep 'terrorism' out of Orange County. I wonder if they have research the statistics of the average terrorist in the U.S. (which would not be an Arab). I was really shocked to witness the amount of hate in a place so close to my home. I have had my kids live in this community and I guess I didn't realize how much intolerance and hate is found here now.
Apparently, this event was protested by an group of tea party members that allegedly were trying to keep 'terrorism' out of Orange County. I wonder if they have research the statistics of the average terrorist in the U.S. (which would not be an Arab). I was really shocked to witness the amount of hate in a place so close to my home. I have had my kids live in this community and I guess I didn't realize how much intolerance and hate is found here now.
Fake Psychologist Uses the Web for Sick Purposes
Fake Psychologists Story
THe other day, I heard on the radio about a man (former INS agent) poses online as a fake psychologist and convinces women to sexually molest their own children. He admits to the charges and states that he used a picture of a handsome man and promises a date to these single mothers.
This is really relevant to our discussion this week on identity and deception. Don't people realize that the person behind the online texts could be anybody?
THe other day, I heard on the radio about a man (former INS agent) poses online as a fake psychologist and convinces women to sexually molest their own children. He admits to the charges and states that he used a picture of a handsome man and promises a date to these single mothers.
This is really relevant to our discussion this week on identity and deception. Don't people realize that the person behind the online texts could be anybody?
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Stand Up for Education
On March 14, 2011, Fullerton College Associated Students, Faculty and other staff are standing up in solidarity to support education against budget cuts, pink slips, and fee increases in the state of California. There will be a press conference followed by a rally. They ask that people wear read to show solidarity. It is amazing how many classes are being cut and how much this has negatively impacted students. If you would like to participate, here is the information. Please help spread the word.
Where: start at Fullerton College and march to Harbor Blvd. and Valley View at6 Assembly Member Norby's Office.
When: March begins in the middle of the Fullerton College Quad at 2:50pm and will proceed to mapped route.
Where: start at Fullerton College and march to Harbor Blvd. and Valley View at6 Assembly Member Norby's Office.
When: March begins in the middle of the Fullerton College Quad at 2:50pm and will proceed to mapped route.
Monday, March 7, 2011
A Postmodern Culture of Simulation
Sherry Turkle's article Who Am We? states that we are "moving from a modernist culture of calculation toward a postmodernist culture of simulation" (p.1) This follows some of the earlier readings we had about the human need or desire for transcendence. As I mentioned in earlier blogs, I think the amount of time and interaction we have online has affected the way we conceptualize our world. One of Turkle's subjects referred to this as "now real life itself may be just one more window"(p.1). It makes sense that as we spend more of our time and devote more attention to online activities, our patterns of thought change.
People go on MUD's to seek or construct a life that is more rewarding that their real life. Even the notion of "real life" is arbitrary, because the online experience is real to those who experience it. Stewart was a very interesting example of this. He was a physics student with many health problems who took on an online identity named Achilles who had all the characteristics Stewart lacked. Stewart however, does not see this as role playing, but as revealing a "better version of himself" (p.6). I think the problem arises when the virtual reality comes face-to-face with the physical reality and we see ourselves as we really are, physically anyway. Stewart experiences this at the end and reports feeling worse about himself (p.7).
The question of cross-dressing and gender-bending was quite interesting and I wondered about the deep motivations to do so. Yet what I found most fascinating was the question of cybersex and fidelity. I was interested in the different reactions women have about their spouses having a virtual affair. I also felt conflicted about this, on the one hand it is not a "real" physical affair, but can we say that it is not real?
Turkle states "technology is bringing postmodernism down to earth itself; the story of technology refuses modernist resolutions and requires an openness to multiple viewpoints" (p.11) This is at the heart of the argument. I think postmodernism invites us to really question the boundaries of reality in our culture infused with technology.
People go on MUD's to seek or construct a life that is more rewarding that their real life. Even the notion of "real life" is arbitrary, because the online experience is real to those who experience it. Stewart was a very interesting example of this. He was a physics student with many health problems who took on an online identity named Achilles who had all the characteristics Stewart lacked. Stewart however, does not see this as role playing, but as revealing a "better version of himself" (p.6). I think the problem arises when the virtual reality comes face-to-face with the physical reality and we see ourselves as we really are, physically anyway. Stewart experiences this at the end and reports feeling worse about himself (p.7).
The question of cross-dressing and gender-bending was quite interesting and I wondered about the deep motivations to do so. Yet what I found most fascinating was the question of cybersex and fidelity. I was interested in the different reactions women have about their spouses having a virtual affair. I also felt conflicted about this, on the one hand it is not a "real" physical affair, but can we say that it is not real?
Turkle states "technology is bringing postmodernism down to earth itself; the story of technology refuses modernist resolutions and requires an openness to multiple viewpoints" (p.11) This is at the heart of the argument. I think postmodernism invites us to really question the boundaries of reality in our culture infused with technology.
Smart vs. Dumb Cell phones
I've had my cell phone for a while now and I was successfully resisting the temptation to switch. My cell phone had the ability to go online but it was painfully slow. My partner who has an iPhone, would poke fun at mine saying "maybe when your phone grows up it may be an iphone." When ever I looked up directions or the GPS, it would take for ever to load.
So I decided to get a Smart phone, only to realize how non-smart I am about this technology. I was amazed to how much the phone can do. My 13 year old son called me and was telling me about the apps we could download (he got one too, and learned to use it in a day!). I didn't even know what an app was. Anyway, though I'm happy to have the phone, I feel frustrated with the amount of time it will take me to learn how to use it. Then I realize how much time we spend using these smart phones and I wonder if all that time is wisely invested (or what seems to me as wasted). Not to mention that the battery runs out pretty fast when you use the phone for all this other stuff. I often wonder, have really become so dependent on technology? I remember a time when one could go through the day without a cell phone or the internet.
So I decided to get a Smart phone, only to realize how non-smart I am about this technology. I was amazed to how much the phone can do. My 13 year old son called me and was telling me about the apps we could download (he got one too, and learned to use it in a day!). I didn't even know what an app was. Anyway, though I'm happy to have the phone, I feel frustrated with the amount of time it will take me to learn how to use it. Then I realize how much time we spend using these smart phones and I wonder if all that time is wisely invested (or what seems to me as wasted). Not to mention that the battery runs out pretty fast when you use the phone for all this other stuff. I often wonder, have really become so dependent on technology? I remember a time when one could go through the day without a cell phone or the internet.
The Death of My Facebook?
After more problems than satisfactions, I decided to pull the plug on my Facebook account. This experience is similar to the attempt to quit smoking. People say, "I really want to quit, this is not good for me, it's a waste of my time and money" yet we find ourselves unable to stop. I was wondering if being on Facebook was becoming an addiction. I always told myself, I'm never on Facebook. Then, I started actually counting the time I spent daily and the number of things I was neglecting, just "por metiche" as we say in Spanish. Just driven by the curiosity of what other people are doing or saying. Then, I would also find myself in situations where I talked to some people more than I should, about things I shouldn't, in other words, I would get caught in some "chisme" that caused me more headaches than needed.
Anyway, for now at least, I decided to quit Facebook and apply my free time to homework, and work. I think this blog will help "wean me" off the addiction of social networking.
A dear friend of mine recently took on a pseudo name and changed her Facebook to an gender-neutral name and kept only thirty something from hundreds of friends. This really got me thinking about the meaning of social networking and meaningful relationships. I decided I'm not ready to do this, as it may be hard for me to pick just a few friends (I'm so darn indecisive) and would feel bad. So for now, I would really like to get your views on this. Many of my Facebook friends read this blog, so please let me know what you think.
Anyway, for now at least, I decided to quit Facebook and apply my free time to homework, and work. I think this blog will help "wean me" off the addiction of social networking.
A dear friend of mine recently took on a pseudo name and changed her Facebook to an gender-neutral name and kept only thirty something from hundreds of friends. This really got me thinking about the meaning of social networking and meaningful relationships. I decided I'm not ready to do this, as it may be hard for me to pick just a few friends (I'm so darn indecisive) and would feel bad. So for now, I would really like to get your views on this. Many of my Facebook friends read this blog, so please let me know what you think.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)