Marking Period #4

Airport Security- the New York Times
By: Jonathon Alcorn
According to Alcorn of the NY Times, the 9/11 terrorist attacks were catalyst to an extensive and expensive expansion of Homeland Security-with the creation of the Transportation Security Administration (or TSA). However, the invasiveness of the modernized security has faced scrutiny, due to full body pat downs, as well as the legitimacy of the new system. Terrorists, such as Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, have proven that radicals are still able to board planes. The system has also squandered tens of millions of dollars on faulty technology that actually fail to detect some explosives.

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/a/airport_security/index.html?scp=2&sq=tsa&st=cse

Security Screening Program to Expand- the New York Times
By: Tanya Mohn

This year is displaying the opening of PreCheck, a security program intended to speed the screening process for frequent flier United States citizens who volunteer information about themselves. These travelers won't be subject to removing clothing or approved liquids from carry-on bags when they pass through security lanes. The travelers are referred to designated lanes as well. The TSA has developed the new mindset “that most passengers do not pose a threat to security,” said John S. Pistole, the agency’s administrator.


http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/security-screening-program-to-expand/?scp=4&sq=tsa&st=cse


*Relevancy and connection with research: Over spring break I am flying to New York- which reminded me of the hassle of going through an airport, as well as visiting Ground Zero. These articles both relate to my research, and prove that even today the effects of 9/11 terrorism continue to change security. Additionally, they prove that the fear of terrorism is slowly dying- proven by the decrease in flier control and invasion. The articles show the chronology of the after effects of 9/11, beginning with extremely heightened fear to a depreciation in fear, as seen with the decrease in security alert. The articles also show that many aspects of the TSA can be challenged today- including the financial loss, discrimination and invasiveness of the program.

Marking Period #4

SOPA and PIPA: Just the Facts

Jared Newman

In this article, columnist Jared Newman elaborates on the negative attention that the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act are receiving. Newman addresses what the bills intended to do: stop online piracy and halting copyright infringement internationally in the media, as well as counterfeit consumer goods and medication. These proposed bills would fight infringement by: requiring Internet services to block domain names, and requiring Internet services to halt associations with infringing websites. Many opponents of the bills believe that the alleged acts will provide little protection against false accusations. I believe that this article may be relevant to my research paper because it provides insight into what the bills would actually do if passed, and what the opposing sides' views are pertaining to the bills.


http://www.pcworld.com/article/248298/sopa_and_pipa_just_the_facts.html

Marking Period #4

In Fight Over Piracy Bills, New Economy Rises Against Old- Jonathon Weisman, New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/technology/web-protests-piracy-bill-and-2-key-senators-change-course.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&sq=PIPA%20and%20SOPA&st=cse&scp=10

In Jonathon Weisman's essay, the New York Times' columnist addresses the transformation of an old to new economy, where individual citizens are rising up against government legislation. Websites, such as Reddit, Google, and Wikipedia blocked their websites in protest against internet restrictions. Due to widespread protests against the PIPA and SOPA bills, prominent supporters of the bills eventually waned. “The problem for the content industry is they just don’t know how to mobilize people. They have a small group of content makers, a few unions, whereas the Internet world, the social media world especially, can reach people in ways we never dreamed of before."- John Feehery.

The proposition of these two bills greatly impacts modern lives, including myself, because I was born into a technological revolution, where the internet and media dramatically impact my life. With the imposing PIPA and SOPA bills, millions of internet users will no longer be able to access certain web pages- we essentially will be losing our world wide freedom due to government suppression.

MARKING PERIOD #3

COLUMNIST: GAIL COLLINS of the NEW YORK TIMES


Article #1: An Early Holiday Hangover
In this article, columnist Gail Collins comically addresses the controversy between political parties, as well as the church, concerning Planned Parenthood and other topics related to sex and abortion. Collins envelops her topic with the aura of the holiday season, contrasting the light hearted atmosphere of the holidays with the darker environment of disapproval and political objection. She addresses the issues in order from least to most important: beginning with Planned Parenthood funds and activists, and ending with the problematic relationship with the Roman Catholic Church and the newest insurance plans that cover the cost of contraceptives.

*Writer's position: Women have a right to control their reproductive lives.
*How her position is communicated: "Dog on the roof," unconstitutional security bills, use of current political issues/rights, incorporation of holidays- "Jingle Bells."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/opinion/collins-an-early-holiday-hangover.html?_r=1&ref=gailcollins

Article #2: Housebound for the Holidays
In this article,  columnist Gail Collins evaluates the dilemmas between rivaling political parties, mainly concerning fiscal issues related to taxes, Social Security, and Medicare. She approaches the subject in a humorous matter, addressing the unfair favor of Republicans towards the rich, and stating that "nothing can ever get done," that is, compromises can never be reached in politics. To enhance her point, she compares the rivalry to war movie, Braveheart, to show how out of control the situation has gotten.


*Writer's position:
*How her position is communicated:


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/22/opinion/collins-housebound-for-the-holidays.html?ref=gailcollins

Article #3: Remember the Alamo
In this article, columnist Gail Collins assesses the speedy pass of a two month extension of a popular tax cut, and analyzes its connection to the famous Texan Alamo. She claims that either the "valiant" Republicans in the House would be remembered fondly, or that the government is actually allied with the people. She states "I digress" to allow her audience to come to their own conclusion, and ultimately concludes that the moment an old idea is questioned, fighting will occur between parties, including presidential nominations.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/24/opinion/collins-remember-the-republican-alamo.html?ref=gailcollins