The British still like us at least...Right?

In a summit of South American leaders, president of Venezuela Hugo Chavez spoke to other leaders about creating a military alliance against the "imperial" United States.
There has always been tension between Chavez and the U.S, who think Chavez is just an ally of Castro and supporter of left wing ideals. While Chavez thinks the U.S is a threat to the central America. Part of the alliance include Bolivia, Cuba, and Nicaragua.
It is bothersome to think that other countries feel like they have to create a military alliance in order to make sure that their countries are safe from the U.S. Is the fact that Venezuela is one of the top oil rich countries in the world have anything to do with the alliance? Does that make Chavez really paranoid or is there a little truth to his opinion?
People are very divided when speaking of Chavez, not only the views of people who live in Venezuela, but all over the world. So how does one get to the bottom of the controversy and find that facts? Unfortunately, with each side having a strong opinion about the other it is difficult to sift through the "facts" to find the truth behind this animosity.

South Park, ahead as always!!

Oh Trey Parker, only you could incorporate into a thirty minute episode the newest internet technologies that eventually save us from... the Brits? and Hillary Clinton's um... lets call it her bomb carrier. In the South Park episode titled "Snooze" Cartman is suspicious of a new student, Bahir, who is of middle eastern descent. Cartmen employs Kyle to check the new students background by using newer internet tools like myspace, facebook, mapquest, ebay, and blogging sites (link to scene). Kyle then teaches the CIA the newest way to find out about people online (CIA was using AOL), which inevitably uncovers the secret partnership of the British and Russians to take over America, and ends with the queen shooting herself in the head. It's South Park people, its gonna be ridiculous but as always, proves a damn good point.
The point is what Ms. Weisgerber told us the first day of class, that new internet technologies are changing the way people communicate and receive information. The South Park episode goes along with the fact that these technologies are so new that even the CIA didn't know! As we have learned about our class, its a very new course that is only apart of the curriculum in a handful of universities.
For me, alot of the stuff we are learning is completely new! I knew about wikis somewhat, but not the kind of impact they really have. And, she's right, blogging is addicting and I have found myself on the internet for hours reading different blogs about everything and anything interesting.
So watch the episode if you can, its pretty hilarious and somehow educational.

Getting to know your musicians!!!

Want to know whats really going on in Thom Yorke's mind? Or all the crazy stories from years on the road with Pete Townsend? Well, with the new addiction known as Blogging, you can. Many bands have started their own Blogs in which they communicate with fans on a daily basis. Fans are able to check out pictures and comments posted by the band that, without blogging, would not have been able to.
One of the first lessons we learned in class is that these new technologies (such as blogging and wikis) allow people to able to connect with others all over the world. But the most important use is that these new social medias allow you to be in control. Just like bands that have their blog sites control the information they give to their fans. In turn, fans are able to check out their favorite bands' sites, and for the first time, get to know the band as normal people!
One of my favorite bands is Radiohead, and on their blog site the band members blog a few times a week. They talk about a favorite pub, write a poems, and put pictures up from a night the band members got together, and they even let their blog guests know about secret shows that the band does around London (nicer if I lived there so I could be in the "know" and be able to get to it too!).
So, the point is that blogging allows people to get information that they might not been able to receive before as well as share information with others too! It's fun stuff, and pretty cool to get to know your fav band on a more personal level. Check em out and enjoy the wonderful world of Blogging!