Americans grapple with information overload due impart to the invention of the Internet, thus causing one to mix truth with falsehood. Over the last twenty years, Americans gave way to a technology that some regard as the “Information Super Highway,” allowing for the endless stream of news, blogs, and opinions that shape and mold Americans and the world beyond. However, this is causing many to disseminate and control the flow of information one receives; and with the onslaught of cell phones, e-mails and instant messaging attention spans are all but fracturing. Therefore, to compensate due to the overload many have what some are calling, “My Times Syndrome.”

The New York Times started “My Times” as a program allowing users of their website to garnish news that is of less importance, and create an account suitable for one’s needs. However, by using such a program it all but reinforces existing attitudes and prejudices pertaining to political, economical and social beliefs. The saying, “If it bleeds, it leads,” has not only enraptured journalists, but also the user of such programs, thereby reinforcing this syndrome.

Free speech has been an ancient struggle centered on intellectual freedom and the search for truth. John Milton’s Areopagitica laid the foundation denouncing censorship and helping to establish democratic right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Milton argued that instead of church and state imposing their censorship, society should allow a free and open market of ideas in belief that truth would ultimately prevail. He defended the free circulation of ideas to be essential for one’s moral and intellectual development, and that any attempt to prevent any false content is to undermine the power one will find within truth. However, controls upon communication media, that nonetheless promote censorship have advanced for at least three reasons throughout time; including monetary profit, message control reinforcement and technological necessity.

            In 1644, Milton believed and hoped that truth would ultimately prevail, and that by letting ideas compete, truth will inevitably emerge. Public discussion, as Milton states, is an important vehicle for the dissemination of ideas and ones thirst for knowledge. Learning, thus, is accompanied by disagreement and diversity of ones viewpoints. For many of the great philosophers of yesterday and today believe that free speech and the First Amendment protect ideas, therefore truth will win out. Today, a vast majority of the world use the Internet, which is the leading tool that allows for intellectual debate, news, and opinion to enlighten one’s quest for truth. A survey however, conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, found that Americans are no better informed today than twenty years ago.

Nothing more to comment on the fact that as an educated college student at

a school of 26,000… Most would agree- SPIKE SHUT YOUR FACE

What a fucking racist! I truly hate this mother-fucker! Get off your high horse you piece of shit.

You act like a punk ass who needs his ass kicked!

People who seek assisted births however believe that it is their right to pursue such practices. They are comfortable in knowing that they have chosen the appropriate egg for the right mother, and that cost is not a factor when pursuing such practices. Currently, assisted reproduction is not covered under most insurance plans. Therefore, the general tax-paying public usually will soak up the cost, thus creating fear and resentment for such practices. The general public fears that the types of reproductive technology will soon consume a vast majority of births, and that babies who are conceived naturally will be somehow inferior to those who have had technological births.

My opinion on the issue is simple; it is not natural. I believe that by producing techno-babies will create an inferiority complex for those who have conceived naturally. The facts given in the video and other studies show that one-third of all reproductive pregnancies are compromised. Various procedures now make it possible to intervene not only in order to assist, but also to dominate the processes of procreation. These techniques can enable man and woman to “take in hand his own destiny”, but they also expose him to the temptation to go beyond the limits of nature. I sympathize with those who can not reproduce on their own; however adoption would be the most sensible and logical way to raise a life this great Earth. When technology has created the perfect baby, the essence of natural birth will soon become extinct.

 

Technology and the Reproductive System

 

Making Babies, a documentary film, takes a critical look at the reproductive technology that has raised important questions surrounding the use of the costly, time-consuming, and perhaps dangerous processes of in vitro fertilization and related technologies. The video also questions ethical issues that challenge individuals confronted with their decision to use assisted reproductive technologies. Couples have turned to reproductive technology either due to physical ailments, disease, and/ or infertile reproductive problems. Other reasons include same-sex couples desiring a child or a mother seeking the perfect baby from the perfect egg. Reasons aside, the process and technology now employed for reproduction has sparked major debates questioning its validity.

People believe that the desire to reproduce is one that is guaranteed, thus leading physicians and laboratories across the globe to seek the perfect technology in the quest of best reproductive process. Couples turn to technology for a multiple of reasons. Largely, women and men seek assistance to due disease, reproductive problems, and/or past medical conditions affecting the mothers. Other conditions such as diabetes, heart problems or severe high blood pressure may prevent an otherwise fertile woman from carrying a baby to term. Therefore many seek to have a child through technology, sadly though one-third of all reproductive births are failures. Hence, people begin to express their legal and ethical opinions when compromised births occur from reproduction.

Currently, there is no specific legislation on artificial insemination. However, the ethical issue raised by many is simple, technology is not natural. Interestingly in the video, the physicians and those involved in the reproductive industry were not opposed nor moved by any ethical issue that might otherwise jeopardize their business. The vast majority of Americans including those worldwide believe that birth is natural, and that to manipulate birth using gene splicing or manipulation in any manner is compromising ones faith, their higher power, and/or natural order of the human species.

  On behalf of PETA and other animal right’s movements, the views I am about to express may not align with all. That said, I am a proud member of PETA, and hold strong views against animal testing and the use of animals for sport.

   However, I must state that there is a large misconception that PETA is a fanatical, anarchist movement that seeks to make man and woman vegan dietitians. PETA has brought many issues to headlines across the globe that otherwise would have been swept under the rug and forever forgotten. I am an understanding individual who will listen to all sides of an issue before making a solid judgement about a particular issue, and my judgement on Eight Belles death deems unworthy and unacceptable in mediating the problem.

   The Eight Belles issue is one that I feel very saddened by, and as I stated in my last post there is no humanity in whipping, beating, cutting hooves, or euthanizing an animal that could have otherwise been rescued.

   PETA is not the monster! Individuals who accept the use of animals for testing and sport are the real monsters. PETA is an outlet for many, including myself who feel there is no where else to turn to express our emotions to such cruelty. We are all animals… We live and breathe the same air.

   For once, I would enjoy seeing a pussy-ass jockey hop on the back of another jockey…then whipped and beaten for the name of the almighty dollar.

www.peta.org

 As a proud member of PETA and an advocate for animal rights, the death of Eight Belles at last week’s race in Kentucky has struck another nerve within my soul. Humans have a choice! The vet and owner of the horse had a choice for Eight Belles… Life or Death? They choose death, and by doing so they have choosen the role of ”A Higher Power.”

 Humans bear the fruit of this great planet, but we are not alone. Non-human species struggle everyday to niche themselves in a world that has corrupted the landscape that once held much beauty. Many say beauty is in the eye of the beholder; but Mother Earth is our beholder. Humans are corrupt, and taketh they do. Life, liberty, justice,… war. The war on Non-human species!

 Eight Belles choice; though beaten, whipped, and trained for winning, would have been to live a fruitful life after the recovery.

Yes, Belles would have recovered from the injuries!

So, in closing and quoted from the documentary Earthlings… “We are all created equal. Don’t tell me that I will spoil your dinner, don’t tell me while I’m eating.” Because TRUTH hurts!

www.peta.org    or  www.isawearthlings.com

A special thank you to www.dnj.com  Daily News Journal   A Murfreesboro woman was able to fight off a suspect who attempted to steal a diaper bag from her on May 2, according to police reports. Crystal Green, 28, said she was loading her kids into her car outside of her Greenland Drive home when she was approached by a man in his early to mid-20s. “At first I just said hello to him,” Green said. “He said hello back.” However, Green said the man kept getting closer and closer to her vehicle. “My first thought was that he was trying to steal my car with my kids in it,” Green said. “Then I saw him grab my diaper bag and I started chasing him. I didn’t know until later that the bag had my keys and debit card inside.” Green, approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, gave chase to the man, approximately 6 feet tall, who stole her purse. She caught up with him while he was attempting to cross a fence. “I’m not a prissy girl,” Green said. “I fought him.” Green said she and the man fought for possession of the purse, and she pleaded and begged the man to give it back. “I said ‘all you have is some diapers and some formula,’” Green said. “‘Give it back!’” The man responded by punching her in the stomach, Green said. The scuffle caused the man to dump all of the contents of the diaper bag out. Green’s boyfriend, Abiye Obunge, then got involved, she said. He was inside the home when the incident began. Green said her young daughter ran in and told her dad what was happening. “My boyfriend chased him all the way out to the hospital,” Green said, referring to Middle Tennessee Medical Center, just a few blocks from her home. Murfreesboro Police spokesman Kyle Evans said police are actively investigating the case. “People should be on the lookout for persons matching the suspect in the case,” Evans said. “If they see him they should call police. People can also call Crime Stoppers at (615) 893-STOP (7867) if they have any information about the crime and wish to remain anonymous.” According to Murfreesboro Police reports, Obunge ran after the subject and began fighting with him. He stopped when he saw the suspect try to reach into his short pockets, as if he had a weapon. Obunge told police he never actually saw a weapon. Law enforcement officers usually advise private citizens to refrain from chasing after criminals if the citizens are no longer in immediate danger because of the potential for criminals to use weapons in such situations. Green was able to recover her property and no injuries were reported as a result of the scuffle. After it was all over she called police. Now Green and her boyfriend are planning to move Smyrna. “Our lease is up on June 1 and we are getting out of Murfreesboro because it’s so unsafe here now,” Green said. “This use to be a little college town, but now it has big crime problems, like Nashville.” In the meantime, she said she wants the robber to know something. “I would like for him to get what he did to me three times over,” Green said, referring to the punch in the stomach. “If he ever comes back here, he will get it.”

“GM lauds tech features in outreach push for OnStar,” discussed General Motors communications team’s attempt at reaching broader audiences with their OnStar feature in their vehicles. There plan is to unveil their potential updates at the Consumer Electronics Show. The new updates will be used to target the broader audience they hope to capture, mainly a more “tech” driven and safety conscious consumer. The potential first feature that really exemplifies that is that they are expanding their emergency location service to their subscribers’ cell phones. In addition, they are hoping to add a stolen vehicle slowdown function, which allows police to cut power to a stolen vehicle and prevent a high-speed chase. GM is hoping that the new OnStar features will help differentiate them from the other automobile manufacturers at the North American International Auto Show. The messages of the different shows they have will be customized to match current trends in the auto industry. This includes the growing trend of blogging and GM trying to forge stronger bonds with bloggers. There hope is to target parenting blogs, which deal with auto safety, and tech blogs. The real function of these shows however, will be to clear up any misunderstandings and to highlight the capabilities.

Hunter S. Thompson has been a fascination to many. His life, antics, and journalistic skill is fun and scary. The life he lived was strange, but his antics are not.

      Almost always writing in the first person, Thompson flirted with the border between fiction and fact and threw out any attempt at objectivity. His style became known as ‘gonzo’ journalism and made him a cult figure.

He shot to fame in 1966 after the publication of his book Hell’s Angels, the story of his relationship with the then-feared motorcycle gang.

Thompson made his drug and alcohol-fueled antics and clashes with authority the central theme of his work, challenging the conventions of traditional journalism and creating a larger-than-life outlaw persona for himself along the way.

The book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegasis the apocryphal tale of a wild, drug-fuelled weekend spent in the desert gambling hub of Las Vegas by the protagonist Raoul Duke, a thinly disguised version of Thompson.

Thompson claimed at the time that the book and its tales of LSD use were accurate examples of gonzo journalism but later admitted that some of the events in it never took place.

But the stories of his heady experiences earned him a popular reputation as a wild-living, hard-drinking, LSD-crazed writer bent on self-destruction.

The book became the basis for a 1998 Hollywood adaptation, starring Johnny Depp as Thompson’s alter-ego, Raoul Duke.

In 1970, Thompson ran for the office of Sheriff in Pitkin, Colorado, campaigning on the “Freak Power” ticket. He lost by a handful of votes.

His other works include Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ‘72, a collection articles he wrote for Rolling Stone magazine while covering the election campaign of then-president Richard M Nixon.

Thompson became such an icon that cartoonist Garry Trudeau based the wild character of Duke in his “Doonesbury” comic strip on him.