Topic - Assignment 3

I'm going to try to write my paper on the role of media and journalism. I'm going to try to compare today's media and journalism with the extremely government-controlled media and journalism of 1984.

Have an extra pumpkin? Then make a... camera! :NPR

Link to Article:
How To Turn A Pumpkin Into A Camera : NPR

Turning a pumpkin into a camera seems to be an off-the-wall idea. But, a pumpkin pinhole camera is possible. A pinhole camera is the simplest of all cameras. Basically a pinhole camera is a box with a tiny hole in it with a manually operated door to open and close the hole. You can't just cut a hole into a pumpkin though. There's lots of technical calculations and lots of testing to create a functional pumpkin cam.

Apple Brings Mobile Tricks to Macs; Refreshes Macbook Air : NPR

Link to Article:
Apple Brings Mobile Tricks to Macs; Refreshes Macbook Air : NPR

Apple and Steve Jobs once again woos the crowd with another release of new products. With the release of a new operating system "OS X Lion," Apple has finally brought the application market to their desktop and laptop computers. They also released a new "iLife" series, Apple's bundle of programs. The biggest release was the new Macbook Air. There are negative reviews already of the new Macbook. Are you one of Apple's fans? Or do you think it's just a bunch of shiny overpriced stuff?

1984 - Syme

The most interesting character so far, in my opinion, is Syme. He works with Winston at the Ministry of Truth, creating and altering publications to meet the specifications of Big Brother. At times, he speaks openly about the actual alterations he makes, calling a possible threat from the thought-police. Winston actually thinks that Syme is too smart.

Eventually, Winston notices that Syme disappears. He gets totally erased from existence. Winston even tries to look for his name on the employee list at the Ministry of Truth, but finds nothing. I think Syme is... well, was the most interesting character so far because he tried to stand up to Big Brother. He spoke out against the government, but his efforts failed.

Federal Deficit Hits Near-Record $1.3 Trillion In 2010 : NPR

Link to Article:

Federal Deficit Hits Near-Record $1.3 Trillion in 2010 : NPR

The numbers are in. The Federal deficit is now up to $1.3 trillion. That means we've borrowed 37 cents to every US dollar used in "helping" the country. But, to look at the positive side, the deficit total is down $133 billion from last year. Democrats say the deficit could have been worse if the government didn't step in to help out the country's economy. What do you think about the deficit? Have you noticed big changes in the economy?

1984 - So far...

So far, I really enjoy 1984. I feel that the whole society in the book is ran my propaganda and paranoia. People are always looking over their shoulder to see if someone is watching. There is a constant fear of being seen and, in the end, forever be forgotten.

Winston, the main character, works for a part of the government that alters subject matter of published works. He receives papers or publications that need to be altered to fit the needs of the government. He realizes that people must know about these changes, but no one can say they do. If someone does say something, they will disappear from existence.

Sometimes I find the book hard to understand, but if I keep reading I eventually get the point. When this was published, it probably scared alot of people because of the subject. Even today, it's a bit freaky to think that the government controls every single thing you do...

First Buyers of Nissan Leaf Get Trunkful of Perks : NYTimes.com

Link to article:
First Buyers of Nissan Leaf Get Trunkful of Perks : NYTimes.com

The Nissan LEAF
(Leading, Environmentally friendly, Affordable, Family car)

The first 20,000 buyers of the new Nissan Leaf received a ton of extras when they finally got their vehicle. Some only had to put a deposit of $99 down on the car. The car itself costs almost $40,000, but the freebies almost outweigh the hefty pricetag. From tax credits to free home chargers for the all-electric car are just some of the perks of buying this ecofriendly car. Buyers even received special technicians from Nissan to install the home chargers and personal phone calls from head executives to just answer basic questions. Do you think the huge pricetag is worth the effort to be ecofriendly?

Good vs. Bad Applications (Writing Assignment #2)

Link to Article:
Stupid Stuff Your Smart Phone Can Do : NPR
(Opposing side or view to Best App Ever : NPR)

My original article was about a blind man using his newly purchased iPhone to see colors around him. I found an opposing article about people purchasing "novelty applications." These novelty applications are anything from making fart noises to creating a fake crack appear on your phone's screen. The article has a very good point about how these strange applications say about the consumer culture and the digital age.