Yes.. I know I know.. I will catch up when I can.
But for today, I would like to share the most recent article I have been working on (in tomorrow's Technician).
Preface*
Generally when my Editor's change my article, I fume and call them idiots. I mean.. I wrote it.
But today, I make an exception. While in several spots, the sentence structure becomes a little awkward (notably in paragraph 1 and 2) -- the article as a whole was significantly improved. Not by changing any one word in the article, but by altering the sentence positioning. Hats off Jane, you one up-ed my own article.
I hope you enjoy.. the article.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
My most recent article..
I know I have been woefully neglectful of this blog recently. Mostly because I have a lot to write between my journalism class and my work for the Technician (I burn out when I think about blogging).
That said.. I swear I will catch up this weekend when I have some free time.
For now, enjoy my latest article in the Technician.. LINKED HERE.
That said.. I swear I will catch up this weekend when I have some free time.
For now, enjoy my latest article in the Technician.. LINKED HERE.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Israel-Palestine
The rough copy of the op-ed I am working on...
Would you sit by?
Russell Witham
Senior Staff Columnist
On Sep. 11th, 2001 at 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into theNorth Tower of the World Trade Center
Would you sit by?
Russell Witham
Senior Staff Columnist
On Sep. 11th, 2001 at 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the
In the following hours, a stunned American public watched as iconic symbols of our nation fell to rubble.
We stared in disbelief at the headlines the following morning, more than 9,000 of our friends, loved ones, and countrymen had been killed or injured.
The following week President Bush addressed our grieving nation, “Our enemy is a radical network of terrorists, and every government that supports them … They will hand over the terrorists, or they will share in their fate.”
Sound familiar? It should.
Over the past eight years, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has launched thousands of rockets into
As Travis Seymour, junior in international studies, informed us in Tuesday’s Technician, “[under international law]
Mariem Masmoudi, junior in political science, wrote on Tuesday, “Hamas militants comprise a small percentage of the many people [who have been affected].”
If this is truly the case, if Hamas does not represent the sentiments of Palestinians. Then kick the militants out of
Julie Abdelrahman, junior in textile and apparel management, said that she is proud to, “be from a nation that will never give up and never surrender.” Additionally saying, “This is not about Hamas … the Palestinian people are fighting for freedom, as once did the American people.”
Maybe Ms. Abdelrahman is recalling a different struggle than I. But according to my texts, the American Continental Army fought the British in an effort to defend the ideals of the American people, not to us them as human shields.
Has
But the completely uncontrolled rocket attacks of Hamas into
When the military wing of Hamas no longer operates,
Until then, the actions of Hamas will continue to cause the destruction of
How many more Palestinians must die for Hamas?
Friday, January 9, 2009
Can you believe they pay me for this?
When I walked in, I was actually really nervous. The shirt I was wearing felt like it had shrunk and the newsroom seemed incredibly arid for a November day. Then from across the room, a young Asian kid, about 6 inches shorter than I approaches me (Apparently he noticed the obvious deer in the headlights).
It turns out I had just been introduced to the Viewpoint Editor of Technician. Unassuming and genial, Paul and I took a seat and he told me that of course I could write for the Technician. He didn't want a writing sample or proof of English literacy, but he did want my signature on an I-9 and W-4.
I mentally stepped back and was like... what? They want to pay me.. Me.. a Mechanical Engineer, who is just figuring out the distinct difference between 'to' 'two' and 'too'.
That day I resisted and said I would rather work on a Volunteer basis.
As Christmas break came and went I realized that my bank account total was looking rather pathetic. Sheepishly, I approached Jane -- the new Viewpoint editor -- and asked her if I could possibly be paid.
Apparently, as before, all I needed was to fill out a few forms and voila! I was now being paid by to produce content for my College newspaper.
We should make a few things clear first.. Technician is an independent newspaper in the sense that our budget does not come from the University but comes from advertising dollars. We collect so much advertising money that we can not only afford to be printed by the News & Observer (Raleigh's newspaper), but actually pay our staff. Something I felt not as bad about buying into when I realized just how much time it takes me to write my weekly, sometimes bi-weekly, column.
It doesn't change the fact that I would do the job for free. But it did cause me to think of something my journalism professor once told me in his office.
"When I was young, and they told me they would pay me to write. My specialty became anything they wanted a story on. I would do correspondence, I would write about just about anything my editor wanted, because he would pay me to do it."
While I am not really regulated at all, and as a Senior Staff Columnist now, I can write about anything I want. I love the point he made. They want to pay me to write? Me?
It turns out I had just been introduced to the Viewpoint Editor of Technician. Unassuming and genial, Paul and I took a seat and he told me that of course I could write for the Technician. He didn't want a writing sample or proof of English literacy, but he did want my signature on an I-9 and W-4.
I mentally stepped back and was like... what? They want to pay me.. Me.. a Mechanical Engineer, who is just figuring out the distinct difference between 'to' 'two' and 'too'.
That day I resisted and said I would rather work on a Volunteer basis.
As Christmas break came and went I realized that my bank account total was looking rather pathetic. Sheepishly, I approached Jane -- the new Viewpoint editor -- and asked her if I could possibly be paid.
Apparently, as before, all I needed was to fill out a few forms and voila! I was now being paid by to produce content for my College newspaper.
We should make a few things clear first.. Technician is an independent newspaper in the sense that our budget does not come from the University but comes from advertising dollars. We collect so much advertising money that we can not only afford to be printed by the News & Observer (Raleigh's newspaper), but actually pay our staff. Something I felt not as bad about buying into when I realized just how much time it takes me to write my weekly, sometimes bi-weekly, column.
It doesn't change the fact that I would do the job for free. But it did cause me to think of something my journalism professor once told me in his office.
"When I was young, and they told me they would pay me to write. My specialty became anything they wanted a story on. I would do correspondence, I would write about just about anything my editor wanted, because he would pay me to do it."
While I am not really regulated at all, and as a Senior Staff Columnist now, I can write about anything I want. I love the point he made. They want to pay me to write? Me?
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Science.. If you wanted to call it that
I was on my way to bed and had just popped two Advil PM's but first I felt inspired to put a little piece of information out on the interwebs (albeit one which is incredibly well documented).
Sometimes it is odd being an engineer (even a half baked one like me). We tend to take an interest in the obscure as though it were a ritualistic enterprise.
That being said, and after this thoroughly awkward and long winded introduction I present to you.. the glass of ice cold Pepsi sitting on my desk.
Don't be fooled now. This is no ordinary glass of Pepsi. Take a closer look..
(At this point you are presented with an approximately 8 inch tall glass filled three quarters of the way with Pepsi cola [born in New Bern, NC] and ice).
End of story.. That is of course assuming that you are a normal individual.
I on the overhand, am staring not at the semi brown caffeinated liquid but at the transparent one on the outer orifices of the glass.
The casual observer would go.. OK miracle man, you've discovered Condensation.. What's the deal?
The deal is the miracle that is condensation..
First you have to have water vapor in the air. An odd thought at first, but when you think about a humid afternoon it begins to make more sense that we are not simply breathing in hydrogen and oxygen but a myriad of other gaseous substances.
These vaporous water molecules must then pass by the cooled glass (which must remain below the dew point of water) and condense into liquid against the surface.
The massive collection of these now liquid molecules is what we see on the glass as liquid water.
Amazing right..
OK, maybe I am the only one who finds this remarkable in any way shape or form. But I will simply attribute this to my highly documented craziness and socially unacceptable behavior -- allowing me a peaceful night's sleep under a blanket of radiant Sufjan Stevens melodies.
Sometimes it is odd being an engineer (even a half baked one like me). We tend to take an interest in the obscure as though it were a ritualistic enterprise.
That being said, and after this thoroughly awkward and long winded introduction I present to you.. the glass of ice cold Pepsi sitting on my desk.
Don't be fooled now. This is no ordinary glass of Pepsi. Take a closer look..
(At this point you are presented with an approximately 8 inch tall glass filled three quarters of the way with Pepsi cola [born in New Bern, NC] and ice).
End of story.. That is of course assuming that you are a normal individual.
I on the overhand, am staring not at the semi brown caffeinated liquid but at the transparent one on the outer orifices of the glass.
The casual observer would go.. OK miracle man, you've discovered Condensation.. What's the deal?
The deal is the miracle that is condensation..
First you have to have water vapor in the air. An odd thought at first, but when you think about a humid afternoon it begins to make more sense that we are not simply breathing in hydrogen and oxygen but a myriad of other gaseous substances.
These vaporous water molecules must then pass by the cooled glass (which must remain below the dew point of water) and condense into liquid against the surface.
The massive collection of these now liquid molecules is what we see on the glass as liquid water.
Amazing right..
OK, maybe I am the only one who finds this remarkable in any way shape or form. But I will simply attribute this to my highly documented craziness and socially unacceptable behavior -- allowing me a peaceful night's sleep under a blanket of radiant Sufjan Stevens melodies.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Do you remember when we still could afford recycling?
Every day it seems that something new is being dragged the way of the dinosaurs due to the global recession. Corporate jets, The Rainbow Room, Polaroids, Arena Football, Circuit City, Linens n' Things, Sharper Image, Bear Stearns, WaMu, DHL (seriously, its no longer going to operate in the U.S.), RENT and Hairspray. The story is ever unfolding and seemingly never ending.
One you may not have heard of yet but probably will soon.
Recycling?
No, how could recycling ever go out of style in a society acting so pompously 'green'.
The simple answer is that recycling on a corporate level is not driven by the common good. Recycling exploded for years because a private entrepreneur could literally make millions by turning old cardboard into recycled cardboard. Today, that is no longer the case.
In a twisted turn of events, but something which should not come as a surprise, cardboard is not as valuable as it once ways.
Already, even before the global turn down, most recyclers had stopped accepting all non paper or cardboard products -- take plastic or glass for example. Everything else was just put in a landfill like regular old trash. The only reason cardboard and paper survived was that the profit margins were still decent on selling the recycled products.
Today, the story is sadder. Most recycling programs in small to mid size communities are facing a dark future as demand for the recycled byproducts dwindles.
As a result of the lowered demand, the private entrepreneurs are charging cities more and more for the recycled materials they accept for processing (basic supply side economics). Eventually, and this has already happened in many areas, it actually becomes more cost effective to dump the materials in a landfill than to pay these private contractors to take it.
Hence, many cities are dropping their recycling programs altogether, citing financial concerns.
Back to the dark ages it would seem..
At the current rate, our children will have to ask.. what is recycling?
Seriously.
One you may not have heard of yet but probably will soon.
Recycling?
No, how could recycling ever go out of style in a society acting so pompously 'green'.
The simple answer is that recycling on a corporate level is not driven by the common good. Recycling exploded for years because a private entrepreneur could literally make millions by turning old cardboard into recycled cardboard. Today, that is no longer the case.
In a twisted turn of events, but something which should not come as a surprise, cardboard is not as valuable as it once ways.
Already, even before the global turn down, most recyclers had stopped accepting all non paper or cardboard products -- take plastic or glass for example. Everything else was just put in a landfill like regular old trash. The only reason cardboard and paper survived was that the profit margins were still decent on selling the recycled products.
Today, the story is sadder. Most recycling programs in small to mid size communities are facing a dark future as demand for the recycled byproducts dwindles.
As a result of the lowered demand, the private entrepreneurs are charging cities more and more for the recycled materials they accept for processing (basic supply side economics). Eventually, and this has already happened in many areas, it actually becomes more cost effective to dump the materials in a landfill than to pay these private contractors to take it.
Hence, many cities are dropping their recycling programs altogether, citing financial concerns.
Back to the dark ages it would seem..
At the current rate, our children will have to ask.. what is recycling?
Seriously.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Katrina vanden Heuvel, I cannot stand you
As I sit here watching the year in review on 'This Week with George Stephanopoulos', I cannot help but think of how lost my country is.
Are you serious? A 1 Trillion dollar stimulus this February.
Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor of The Nation, makes it sound like 1 Trillion dollars is nothing. Trying to lead us to believe that we need to just give away all that money, saying that it would be a crime not to.
Meanwhile, George Will and I are sitting here with out jaws down around our mid section as we try and comprehend this foolhardy thought process.
Please, someone, anyone. Explain to me how spending roughly 7 percent of our country's GDP is going to help grow anything but the national debt.
And oh yea, BTW, in case you haven't been paying attention. The people who are spending this money in a ridiculous attempt to save their hides won't be the ones paying it off.
My classmates, my brother, my cousins, myself -- we are the ones who will be paying for this. For years to come, we will be suffering these 'stimulus packages', as our floundering economy falls farther and farther behind.
And to the Republican's of the current Congress.
Why are you not kicking and screaming? This is everything your party is about. The principle tenet of conservative thought is to spend less money and reduce the size of the federal government. Putting trillions of dollars in the hands of a handful of rich Congressman does not sound like the way to reduce spending.
Tax less.. Let the people spend their money and stimulate the economy. Sound familiar, its fiscally Conservative thought. For Christ's sake, if you want people to spend more money and stimulate our economy don't give tons more money to corporate giants. Try cutting payroll taxes in half -- something which will actually put money right back in the people's pockets.
I really do cry for my future, because it is in the hands of people who seem to have no ideas but to throw money at the problem.
God help us.. gah..
Are you serious? A 1 Trillion dollar stimulus this February.
Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor of The Nation, makes it sound like 1 Trillion dollars is nothing. Trying to lead us to believe that we need to just give away all that money, saying that it would be a crime not to.
Meanwhile, George Will and I are sitting here with out jaws down around our mid section as we try and comprehend this foolhardy thought process.
Please, someone, anyone. Explain to me how spending roughly 7 percent of our country's GDP is going to help grow anything but the national debt.
And oh yea, BTW, in case you haven't been paying attention. The people who are spending this money in a ridiculous attempt to save their hides won't be the ones paying it off.
My classmates, my brother, my cousins, myself -- we are the ones who will be paying for this. For years to come, we will be suffering these 'stimulus packages', as our floundering economy falls farther and farther behind.
And to the Republican's of the current Congress.
Why are you not kicking and screaming? This is everything your party is about. The principle tenet of conservative thought is to spend less money and reduce the size of the federal government. Putting trillions of dollars in the hands of a handful of rich Congressman does not sound like the way to reduce spending.
Tax less.. Let the people spend their money and stimulate the economy. Sound familiar, its fiscally Conservative thought. For Christ's sake, if you want people to spend more money and stimulate our economy don't give tons more money to corporate giants. Try cutting payroll taxes in half -- something which will actually put money right back in the people's pockets.
I really do cry for my future, because it is in the hands of people who seem to have no ideas but to throw money at the problem.
God help us.. gah..
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