A semester’s worth of expressing my opinions on my class-mandated blog has come to an end. Now it is time for me to validate my hard work and convince my professor to assign me an A for the course.

My first real editorial discussed Obama’s first year in office. I began the semester by making a clear argument in my blog, stating that Obama has a large job to do and still has a lot of time to do it, providing a link to a supporting article.

My arguments continued to the strengthen, including more supporting facts and links as the semester continued, with opinions on California’s effort to legalize marijuana, Canada’s community of indie rock artists, and dozens of others.

All of my blogs offered clear, concise and easy to follow opinions with supporting facts and correct grammar.

I included multimedia elements in my blogs, such as photos and videos, but I will make the claim that in an opinion journalism writing course the argument, grammar, format, and clarity of writing should take precedence over online elements. After all, online journalism is another course designed to tackled these things separately.

Additionally, there is the matter of the in-class presentations and factual blogs. Beginning with How to Use (and not use) The Colon, I completed each of these using reliable sources which provided relevant factual information to my classmates. Again, the focus should be placed on the writing in each of these blogs, but I do believe that my presentations were equally informative.

Above all, it is my work ethic that should stand out when determining the grade to assign to my work. All of my blogs were posted within the one week deadline and I did not miss any class meetings.

Another semester in Veazey Hall has come to a close. Leaving opinion journalism behind me, I hope to have A on my transcript reflecting the skills I take with me as an ever-evolving journalist.

Whale Wars is a television show on Animal Planet in which founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Paul Watson and his crew attempt to deter Japanese fisherman from harming whales.

The use their fleet to disable whaling ships, destroying over $1 million dollars of nets and one of their own speedboats worth $2 million. They use water cannons, flashbang grenades, and stink bombs to deter the enemies of the animals they protect. The crew has been labeled by pirates as some, but have never been convicted of a criminal charge or caused harm to another human.

The ethics of their actions have been called into question. Is it okay to take a questionable route to save a life? The Japanese fisherman are killing endangered whales, and the crew of Whale Wars just want to prevent it. Are they justified?

Greenpeace believes that their actions are not warranted. They believe that conversation is more efficiently spread through peaceful policy discussions, calling Watson’s actions “morally wrong” and counter-productive to the cause. Greenpeace’s reaction to Sea Shepherd’s aggressive tactics has prompted a response from Watson calling Greenpeace, “Yellowpeace” implying cowardliness.

It is true that whaling has done great harm to the ocean’s ecosystem. The blue whales of the Antarctic are at less than 1 percent of their original abundance, despite 40 years of complete protection, according to Greenpeace. But terrible conditions in the ocean do not justify unethical human actions. It is best to put real effort into achieving international protection laws, and enforcing these laws, that can protect the species.

My Twitter page has been all a-tweet over the past week with news of the new Arizona immigration law. The law makes failing to carry immigration documents a crime and demands that police question anyone who they suspect of being an illegal immigrant, and allowing police to detain these individuals. Several people have compared the law to those of Nazi Germany which required Jews to carry papers or be arrested

The harsh legislation has already received a huge backlash. Students are withdrawing from Arizona universities and Los Angeles City Council signed a proposal that would call for the city to refrain from conducting business with Arizona. Obama has stated that this law will lead to harassment of Hispanics and Mexico has issued a travel advisory for its citizens when traveling through the state. But even more interesting is that bands are boycotting the state.

I saw it on my Twitter feed first and read about it in the news later, my favorite band, Stars of Canada’s Montreal (yes, this band has several contributing members of Broken Social Scene that I wrote about some time ago) have stated that they will not play in Arizona in their upcoming tour because of the law that they deem unfair.

Stars has been posting their grievances in beat poetry and grammatically incorrect obscenities for close to a week now and it seems that they have gotten under the skin of some of their fans, but one thing is certain: they’ve opened a floor for discussion of the bill on the popular social networking site. People are chiming in and Stars seems to be replying, even evoking a dissenting response from fellow Canadian band Fucked Up.

Since the beginning of Stars’ Twitter vendetta against Arizona’s immigration law, they’ve changed from declaring that they will boycott the state in its entirety to challenging their fans to plans a protest concert in the state for them to attend. A tweet posted on April 30 says, “is it possible that protest and boycott are both effective tools? one thing is for sure. read this bill. it’s very very frightening.”

Music in protest is nothing new. Think back to the 1960s when Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and Pete Seeger used their music to cause an uprising in the American people during a time of unjust war. Music evokes emotions and lyrics evoke thought. When used on a large scale music in protest can bring about change by opening up a dialogue on the corruption at hand.

The members of Stars have good hearts. They see a problem in Arizona’s legislation and believe that they can do something to change it; that belief in itself is powerful. Stars have already raised awareness about the discriminatory law, using the power in their music to further open dialogue will encourage action to take place and make the cries of protest on their Twitter profile validated in the realm of reality.

Immanuel Kant was a German Enlightenment philosopher, most famously known for his moral philosophy. He argued that we could discern moral laws just as we perceive laws of nature.

Kant’s basis for his work in moral philosophy is deontological ethics, or the belief that the ethics of an action lie in the duty behind the action rather the consequences. He argued that our reasoning capacity is what enables us to act morally, and because liberty enables us to act on our reasoning, we have a primary duty to respect this capacity in every human being. According to Kant, people deserve respect because the are human beings with capacity for reason, not because of what they do or who they are. This universal moral obligation requires that we treat individuals as ends in themselves and never as solely as a means to attain other goals, as this would undermine a person’s autonomy and rationality. This leads us to Kant’s theory of the categorical imperative.

The categorical imperative evaluates the motivation behind an action and can be broken down into three maxims:

1. A person acts morally if he/she believes this action would be right for everyone at all times
2. Conduct is moral if it treats others as an end in themselves instead of an end to a means
3. A person acts morally if he/she acts as though his/her actions were establishing a universal law governing similar situations

“Nothing in the world—indeed nothing even beyond the world—can possibly be conceived which could be called good without qualification except a good will.” – Immanuel Kant

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Source: Plaisance, Patrick L. Media Ethics: Key Principles for Responsible Practice. Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications, 2009. Print.

Although it will be exactly one year before I can put on a graduation gown, become part of the sea of blue sitting on the field at Paulson Stadium, wait for name to be called, march across the stage, and demand recognition for my accomplishments over the past four years, I believe it is necessary to prepare the world for my entrance into the job force now.

As a rising Georgia Southern University senior, I feel that my coursework in journalism gives me the perfect theoretical understanding of journalism, as well as having provided an outlet for practical application. I have studied media ethics, developing my own professional code of ethics, providing a foundation for which all other work is done. My coursework has allowed me to study several different forms of journalism including broadcast news reporting, investigative reporting, and opinion journalism. Each course has provided me with a broader understanding of the journalism industry as a whole. I have written countless articles about newsworthy events on campus, conducting interviews with professors, students, and members of the community, in my attempt to present every side of each story that I write.

In addition to my work in different areas of written reporting, I have also mastered multimedia elements of modern journalism. I studied photojournalism shooting portraits, features, events, and developing photo story based on the efforts of a local soup kitchen. Through participation in this class I have developed an eye for “the moment” photographers seek when looking to capture the news through still photos while also mastering the technical settings of the camera. By combining my understanding of the importance of content and technology, I am able to produce a photo that is able to communicate alone or by complementing a written article. Furthering my understanding of the multimedia aspects of today’s journalism industry, I shot video for two courses using the programs iMovie and Audacity to edit content. Understanding the complexities of photojournalism and video reporting makes me a valuable asset to any newsroom.

My knowledge of the journalism industry is also supplemented by my studies in political science. Studying judicial processes, feminist politics, international studies, and public administration provides a background knowledge that is valuable when reporting on politics. This understanding allows me to be an important part of a newsroom beyond general assignment reporting, but giving a basis for beat reporting on local government.

The knowledge that I have gained in my three years thus far at GSU will only be expanded in the upcoming year, as I still face completing my internship at the Statesboro Herald and my practicum with The George-Anne Daily. The combination of my knowledge of different types of reporting and my mastery of multimedia skills, along with my political science background, makes me an incredible asset to any news team.

I am a child of the 1990s. I am one of the children who proudly donned a slap bracelet, plaid T-shirt and pair of acid wash jeans, all while dancing to the Spice Girls. But most importantly, we are the children who grew up listening to the environmental message of Captain Planet.

In the beginning of the series Gaia, the spirit of the Earth, formed a team of Planeteers to protect the Earth from pollution and destruction. Gaia’s character is god-like in that she can appear at anytime she wishes, but her well being is dependent on the state of the planet. The Planeteers are given the task of protecting the Earth and ultimately, Gaia’s health. Each Planeteer represents one of Earth’s different elements (plus the element of heart), when they combine their powers they summon Captain Planet. When he is summoned by the Planeteers he always shouts, “By your powers combined, I am Captain Planet!” Returning the ring that summoned him, he always states, “The power is yours,” leaving the Planeteers and the audience with a sense of duty to protect their environment.

Captain Planet is the ultimate ethical superhero for children. He protects the planet, teaches environmentalism, all the while shape shifting flying, and using telepathy to conquer his destructive enemies! Not only does Captain Planet defeat his enemies in the traditional superhero-like fashion, but he also uses the power of nonprofit organizations and monetary grants in the realm of reality to conquer the evildoing polluters who threaten the planet. In 1991 Ted Turner, the creator of the Captain Planet series, formed the Captain Planet Foundation from the proceeds generated from the television show. The foundation provides an opportunity for children and schools to apply for grants to fund their ideas that would better their environment by presenting the ideas to Captain Planet. Grants are usually given between $25 and $2,500 and must involve children between the ages of six and 18, include adult supervision, focus on hands-on involvement, and promote an understanding of environmental issues. In 2009 recipients of the foundation’s grants established 39 outdoor classrooms and recycled over 12 tons of waste.

In 2007 the Captain Planet Foundation received the right to syndicate the cartoon, allowing the message of protecting the planet and respecting the environment to reach a new generation of children. Captain Planet may be retired from filming new episodes, but he is still active in promoting environmental awareness in children. A superhero never quits.

I am writing to express my concern about the lack of 30 minute parking near Lakeside Cafe. Many students on campus, and those who live off-campus, have meal plans that disappear if they are not used. Lakeside offers some the best dining options on campus, but it becomes a hassle to eat there at times when there is no other reason to be on campus. If a student has a parking permit for a parking lot near the Nursing Building, the process of parking and making the trek to and from that parking lot almost makes the meal plan not worth it. Lakeside also has several restaurants, including Wrapsody Grill, that would attract business from members of the community if it were made more accessible.

I am proposing that Parking and Transportation re-purpose the parking lots either across from the Forest Drive Building or behind the IT and Carroll Buildings to contain an adequate number of 30 minute parking spots. It would also be feasible that parking spots for smaller time periods, such as 15 minutes, be created in these lots.

Making Lakeside more friendly to students will increase the amount of revenue generated for the university, make the establishment more attractive to the community, and decrease the number of wasted meal plans.

Thank you,

Nicole Wiley

Public financing involves economics concerned with paying for governmental activities and the administration of those activities. This financing can be achieved through taxation, government borrowing, or asset sales. Choosing how to finance government activities depends on the distribution of wealth inside a nation and the efficiency of the nation’s market.

Taxation is the central part of public financing and is necessary to fulfill governmental obligations, especially in a welfare state. It is used to raise revenue, reduce income inequalities, and draw money away that would go into the market creating a rise in inflation.

In a democracy the government imposes and enforces taxes, but society decides how the tax system should be organized. “No taxation without representation” is a prime example of this view manifesting in American Revolution political philosophy. Citizens elect officials who create tax legislation.

A conservative view of public financing that attempts to justify taxation states that no one should be excused from paying for government because they will come to believe that the government is costless to them and demand more government services. Social democrats argue that higher levels of taxes are necessary to fund public services like universal health care, education and welfare, while most libertarians favor minimal taxes to protect individual liberties.

The Federal Reserve System is the central banking system of the United States. It was created by the Federal Reserve Act in 1913 mostly as a response to bank runs and economic panic of the early 1900s. The Federal Reserve System has grown and its responsibilities and powers have expanded since it was originally conceived by Alexander Hamilton in 1791.

The First Bank of the United States:

Alexander Hamilton lead a movement creating a central bank, the First Bank of the United States in 1791. The Bank was headquartered in Philadelphia, but had branches in other cities, performing basic banking functions such as accepting deposits, issing bank notes and making loans. The Bank’s charter lasted twenty years, but was not renewed out of fear of its far-reaching influence.

The Second Bank of the United States:

In 1816 a the Second Bank of the United States was chartered. The Bank ran until 1836 similarly to the way that the First Bank of the United States did, although this time the bank had significantly more capital and more influence.

President Andrew Jackson feared the Bank’s concentration of power and recommended that its charter be allowed to expire. Drawing public support, the charter expired and America’s central banking was carried out by state-chartered banks with no federal regulation. Inadequate bank capital, risky loans, and insufficient reserves injured the banking system.

The National Banking Act of 1863:

The National Banking Act of 1863 created the Office of the Comptroller of Currency, which issued national banking charters and examined these banks. The banks were now held to capital requirements and required to collateralize currency notes with holdings of United States government securities.

The legislation did little to save the banking system as there was still no central bank. America’s economy was becoming more complex by the end of the 19th century, making the banking system critical.

Creation of the Federal Reserve:

In 1908 Congress the National Monetary Commission, which called for a National Reserve Association.

In 1912, the Housing Banking and Currency Committee held hearings to examine America’s banking and financial resources. The Committee decided that America’s banking system was in the hands of a “money trust,” an “established and well defined identity and community of interest between a few leaders of finance… which has resulted in a vast and growing concentration of money and credit in the hands of a comparatively few men.”

In December of 1912 the Glass-Willis proposal was submitted and approved by President-elect Wilson. The plan called for the creation of twenty or more privately controlled regional reserve banks, instead of one central bank. Wilson approved of this idea, but insisted that the creation of a central board to control the work of the regional reserve banks be created.

The Federal Reserve Act of 1913:

The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 “Provided for the establishment of Federal Reserve Banks, to furnish an elastic currency, to afford means of rediscounting commercial paper, to establish a more effective supervision of banking in the United States, and for other purposes.” The Act called for a Reserve Bank Organization Committee that would divide the nation into between eight and twelve Federal Reserve districts each containing one Federal Reserve City.’

Read more at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

A German play, The Visit tells the story of Gullen, a town in economic troubles anxiously awaiting the return of former resident Claire Zachnassian (Carol Thompson), a billionaire who they hope will have sympathy for the town. She offers the town one billion marks for the life of Anton Schill, who she accuses of ruining her life. As the play carries on the story of Claire and Anton’s past develops, showing the audience that her motivation for his life is self-justice. The burgomaster of the town (Geoff Carr) refuses her offer on behalf of Gullen, but Claire states that she will wait, as if implying that she knows her offer will come to fruition. Anton watches helplessly as the town buys extravagant things on credit, while fearing that Claire’s money will pay for his friends’ and family’s purchases. The importance of Anton’s life compared to Claire’s offer is taken to a vote before the town, and ultimately greed rules.

Put on Georgia Southern University’s theater department, the performance was slow-moving, but I don’t believe this to be fault of the actors, rather the story. As it is written the plot develops slowly, allowing the back story of Claire and Anton’s relationship to develop. Claire also carries an entourage with her and each character has an importance in the development of her life as a billionaire. The play has its moments of humor and action, but overall its a process to watch.

Although the development of the plot may be lacking, but the performance of the actors was fantastic, especially for local theater. I will be the first to admit that theater is not my expertise, but I would like to think that I have seen enough to be able to distinguish poor acting from good acting. The actors had enthusiasm, nailed their accents perfect, made their characters believable… Even if the story seemed to drag at times. Passionate acting makes this poor story forgivable.