Friday, December 10, 2010

Shove it-Santigold

Shove it-Santigold

Brooklyn we go hard

We on the look for the advantage, we work hard

And if we seem to rough it up a bit

We broke but we rich at heart

Pull ourselves up now we won't choke

It's our time, put the lights on us



War tactics they make me sick

reel your heart in run away with it

Smile in your face, undermine your back

got guns for the strength they lack

So if you know another way

you can't look the other way

if you know another way,

tell them so right to their face



We think you're a joke

Shove your hope where it don't shine (4x)



I pay for what's called

eccentricity and my will to evolve

I hear them all say

that I got heart

but not everything that it takes



Taint my mind but not my soul

Tell you I got fire

I wont sell it for no payroll

Let 'em hold me down

I know if I know another way

I can't look the other way

I know another way

I'll tell them so right to their face



We think you're a joke

Shove your hope where it don't shine (4x)

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Compare/Contrast Essay- Final revised Version

Josianna Winnings
Professor Kerr
EN 101-5H4
10-20-2010

Military: Then and Now.
                Observing today’s military there are many elements that contribute to its evolution.  The military strives to stay cutting-edge with its technology and to stay modern with its approaches.  We’ve witnessed revolutionary changes throughout the years, some more effective than others and some still developing.  According to Peter Warren Singer, a Senior Fellow and Director of the 21st Century Defense Initiative at the Brookings Institution, “Mankind’s 5000 year old monopoly on the fighting of war is breaking down in our lifetime”(PW Singer on Military”).  The identity of weapons, soldiers and strategy are always transforming yet some factors never change and sometimes the new fails to surpass the old.
                Not only having the most advanced weapons, but having the most effective ones, is an important part of any military.  In our nation’s history we’ve witnessed the invention of shotguns, submarines, tanks, machine guns and atomic bombs. The creation of these systems has always been about going further, shooting faster, having a bigger boom and that still translates into today’s warfare with new technology . (“PW Singer on Military”). Examples of this new technology include fighter jets, missiles, and robotics.  The new technology being developed appeals to many because of its innovativeness, effectiveness, plus the fact that it’s more streamlined and has the potential to be safer than past weapons systems. The upside to our older technology is that much of it, like tanks, has been fined-tuned with larger supplies and various forms. These circumstances contribute to the weapons being more reliable and easily accessible. There are disadvantages to both new and old technology though that should be taken into consideration.  With newer weapons, just like when buying the latest cell phone, there’s possibility for malfunctions because of the new technology plus bigger price tags and less availability. On the other hand, older weapons have opposite concerns being that the technology may be outdated, therefore less effective. In addition, with mass production the older weapons have potential to be replicated.
                Any weapon, new or old, is useless without the soldier behind it. As technology changes, society changes and vice versa, therefore the identity of a warrior changes with the times. When reflecting on the history of soldiers in our military there’s segregation, sexism and discrimination. Those who were colored, homosexual or female used to have limitations in the military. The draft was also a significant part of the past when it was in effect from the 1940’s to the 1970’s used as a backup for manpower. (Powers).While it is still customary for men to sign up for the draft when they turn eighteen, it is currently not in use and the military is all-voluntary with more equal opportunities.  A time of change is happening as we speak with our soldiers and we continue to see progress. All races are now accepted and women have moved up from nurses into officer positions ("Facts About Women ").  Sexual orientation sensitivity has also progressed with the introduction of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy” (Murphy) where homosexuals are no longer dismissed due to their preference. With these progressions we are also reminded that we still have room for improvement being that women still aren’t typically seen in combat and sexual orientation is still a sensitive topic.
                With modern technology and soldiers being redefined, we see a change in strategy also. There was movie years ago about the Revolutionary War titled “The Patriot”. This movie demonstrated soldiers fighting in battle lines being that it was an effective strategy at the time.  Weapons in the past weren’t always as accurate, nor did they have much range so in battle soldiers would mass together for attacks (“civilwarhome.com”) which often resulted in many causalities.  Another shortcoming to how we’ve fought in the past is the fact that many wars were fought overseas which caused a disconnection between soldiers and their home life.  However, our military has been very effective in the past and with experience has become fine-tuned over time("infoplease.com"). There are some concerns with the new direction our military because of new technology and the costs behind them.  Also, as with any new inventions, there is a trial and error period before it can become fine-tuned and fine-tuning these new approaches with technology has become a competition. With our innovative new technology though, we have converted to covert approaches utilizing our long-range weapons. There is also less life risk with new unmanned devices resulting in soldiers having more opportunities to stay on base within the country.
    No matter what approach the U.S military takes, they strive to bring honor to our country through past and present efforts in weapons, soldiers and strategy.  It is clear that we have come a long way with the advancement of our military and it’s those cutting-edge advancements that help our country succeed.  It’s impossible to progress without developing innovations and while many past methods have been effective and are still practiced today, it is the progressions that will allow us to continue to be the top military power of the world. (aga)


Works Cited
Aga, Clifford, . "top 10 nmilitary powers of the world." buzzle.com. buzzle.com, 2010. Web. Oct 2010. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/top10-military-powers-of-the-world.html>.
"Civil War Weapons." civilwarhome.com. N.p., 26112006. Web. 25 Sep 2010. <http://civilwarhome.com/civilwarweapons.htm>.
"Facts About Women in the Military, 1980-1990." feminism.eserver.com. EServer, 2005-01-19 . Web. 25 Sep 2010. <http://feminism.eserver.org/workplace/professions/women-in-the-military.txt>.
Murphy Patrica,. "Military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy Blocked in Senate." politicsdaily.com. aol news, 09 2010. Web. Oct 4. <http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/09/21/republicans-block-dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal/>.
PW Singer on military robots and the future of war." TED2009, . " ted.com. TED Conferences, LLC, 04 2009. Web. 25 Sep 2010. http://www.ted.com/talks/pw_singer_on_robots_of_war.
Powers Rod, . "Don't Ask, Don't Tell - The Military Policy on Gays." usmilitary.about.com. The New York Times Company, 05 05 2010. Web. 2 Sep 2010. http://usmilitary.about.com/od/millegislation/a/dontask.html
Powers Rod ,. "History of the Draft." usmilitary.about.com. The New York Times Company, 2010. Web. Oct 2010. <http://usmilitary.about.com/od/deploymentsconflicts/l/bldrafthistory.htm

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Compare/Contrast Essay

Outline: My second essay is in relation to my first topic of advances throughout the history of the military. I plan to compare the following factors of our past military to our present/future military: weapons, soldiers, strategy. I will thoroughly explain each category and their pros and cons then explain which is more effective.

Introduction: The military is ever-changing so they may remain cutting-edge with their technology and modernize approaches to today's world. Throughout history we have seen many revolutionary changes within the military, some more effective than others and some are still developing.

Weapons: Past: Shotguns. Submarines. Tanks. Machine guns. Atomic bomb.
 Present/future: Fighter jets. Missiles. Drones. Robots.
Pros of past: Fined tuned. Rapidly developed. Various types. Larger supply.
Cons of past: Outdated. Replicated. Limited effectiveness.
Pros of present/future: Effective. Innovative. Streamlined. Potentially safer.  Revolutionary.
Cons of present/future: Not widely available. Price. Developing technology. "Software glitches".

Soldiers: Past: Races used to be segregated. Draft was issued for men to sign up at 18. Women had limited positions. Prohibiting homosexuals.
Present/future: All races accepted. "Don't ask don't tell" proposition. Women in officer positions. No draft in use.
Pros of past: Necessary vacancies were filled by the draft. Socially "acceptable". Brought women into the work-force.
Cons of past: Insensitive/unfair to minorities. Dismissal of service due to sexual orientation. Sexist. Un-voluntary.
Pros of present/future: Voluntary, more equal opportunities. Socially "acceptable" to today's world. More fair. Utilizing the best candidates for the job.
Cons of present/future: Draft registration. Women still not typically seen in combat.  Homosexuals still not widely accepted.

Strategy: Past: Closer range. Large amount of soldiers. Massing together for attacks. Traveling overseas. Nuclear strategies.
Present/Future: Long range. Covert approaches. Unmanned devices. Staying on base.
Pros of past: Proven effective in many battles. Fine tuned. Widely practiced. Experience.
Cons of past: Causalities. Predictable. Long periods of time away from loved ones.
Pros of present/future: Less life risks. Innovative technology. More opportunities to stay within the country.
Cons of present/future: Trial and error with new technology. Unfamiliar with how it works. Competition of developing technology with other countries. Costs are a concern.

Conclusion: The U.S military continues to bring honor to our country through past and present efforts.  We have came a long way with the advancement in our military and it's those cutting-edge advancements that help us succeed. You cannot progress without making developing an advancement.  While many past methods have been proven effective and are still practiced today it is the present and future advances that will allow us to continue to be the top military power of the world.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Evolve

Who came up with the theory of evolution?

Is evolution or creationism more commonly accepted?

What is the difference between evolution and creationism?

Can evolution and creationism go together?(Could God have created science and evolution as a way for us to understand his creations?)

What evidence supports evolution?

Who is mostly likely to believe in evolution?

How is the world predicted to evolve over time?

$-RICH-$

How are the wealthy portrayed in today's society compared to the past?

How does wealth effect a person mentally?

What professions have the wealthiest employees?

Why can a "designer" name make something so much more expensive?

How have the wealthy been effected by the recession we are in?

What is the average salary?

What describes a wealthy person in other countries?

How does losing wealth effect a person?

How does the quality of life compare to a wealthy person, middle class person, and poor person?

So Sick.

What are the different usages of the word "sick"?

Can mental illnesses make you physically sick and vise versa?

How did the slang term "sick" come about?

Is holistic or western medicine more popular world wide?

How has medicine changed through time?

What are the most common illnesses?

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Final Draft. Essay One.

Advances in the United States Military.
 The military has played a significant role in our nation’s history dating back to the 1700’s with the American Revolution (“fm.coe.uh.edu”) and more recently with the War on Terrorism. Currently, the United States has over 675,000 soldiers serving for our country and 49,700 troops in Iraq as of August, 2010("usliberals.about.com"). While we are unable to ever exactly know what the future of our military will look like, it is evident that the United States military, and the militaries of other countries, will continue to modernize their approaches.
     Military strategies and tactics have brought organization to our country’s military from early on and technology has always influenced them. While battles today are currently fought in a more covert way utilizing long range weapons and equipment, that is far from the case of battles in previous wars.  The Civil War, for example, had short range weapons such as muskets with less accuracy than today’s weapons. Due to those limitations of weapons in the Civil War, battles then were fought in close range and troops would mass together for attacks (“civilwarhome.com”). In World War One the tank was introduced and since then has become the most rapidly developed weapons system in the history of warfare. The French FT-17 tank during World War One set the design for modern tanks (Victor), in World War Two tanks became more fined tuned ("infoplease.com") and in the Gulf War tanks were able to fire reliably when moving at speed over rough terrain ("pbs.org").  Tanks continue to advance and be used in the military today.
     The future of technology in the military is widely discussed and the most popular topic trend seems to be that of unmanned devices and the advance of robotics (“popularmechanics.com”). The war in Iraq has used over 5,000 drones and 12,000 unmanned ground systems. It is said that where we are headed very soon is tens of thousands of robots operating in our conflicts (TED2009). These unmanned devices have been described as “the force of the future” and there are several countries developing military robotics, although the United States is currently ahead. The development of unmanned devices in our military is revolutionary, just like the machine gun and atomic bomb have been in the past. With these technological advances we will witness a change in the identity of a warrior. With the use of drones, a young pilot can go to war overseas without ever having to leave the country or risking his life.  There are disadvantages to these devices though that can potentially be dangerous.  One of the main disadvantages is the risk for a “software glitch” which could cause the robot to injure someone. This is a fear many are having with this technology because robots are emotionless and have the ability to kill the wrong target repeatedly. Research of unmanned devices is continuously developing along with ways that we can adjust war to life in the twenty first century.
     Not all advances in the military are technical. Integrating different races, gender, religion and sexual orientations into the military are now a standard thing although different categories, like homosexuality (Rod Powers) and paganism do still cause controversy. Even though the military is desegregated, women still only make up a small but growing portion of it. Currently the United States military is made up of about twenty percent women ("usmilitary.about.com"). Women have always been an important part of the military though, most notably as nurses in past wars, but many are now in officer positions ("feminism.eserver.com"). While a woman in combat is still not popularly seen, a women’s role in the military is no longer less significant than a man’s. With the advancement in technology, like unmanned devices, it is now about finding the right people with the right skills to achieve the mission, regardless of factors like gender.  It is predicted that the percentage of women, and other minority groups serving in the military, will continue to rise.
     Advances in the military, both weaponry and personnel, are ever changing and continue to be an important factor with war in the twenty first century.Lack of diversity in the military is no longer a thing of the past and what was once only in science fiction books are now the increasing reality of robotics in our military.  One thing has never changed though, the United States military continues to protect America’s freedoms at home and abroad, securing our homeland and defending democracy worldwide.

Works Cited.
"U.S liberal policies." usliberals.about.com. The New York Times Company, 2010. Web. 25 Sep 2010. <http://usliberals.about.com/od/homelandsecurit1/a/?once=true&>.

"Civil War Weapons." civilwarhome.com. N.p., 26112006. Web. 25 Sep 2010. <http://civilwarhome.com/civilwarweapons.htm>.
"tanks, military." infoplease.com. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 2007. Web. 25 Sep 2010. <http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0847801.html

Victor, Epand. "History of Military Tanks Of WW ." exinearticles.com. ezinearticles.com, 2010. Web. 25 Sep 2010. <http://ezinearticles.com/?History-of-Military-Tanks-Of-WW-I&id=446041>.

"Frontline:the Gulf War." pbs.org. WGBH educational foundation , 2010. Web. 25 Sep 2010. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gulf/weapons/m1.html>.

TED2009, . "PW Singer on military robots and the future of war." ted.com. TED Conferences, LLC, 04 2009. Web. 25 Sep 2010. http://www.ted.com/talks/pw_singer_on_robots_of_war.


Rod Powers, . "Don't Ask, Don't Tell - The Military Policy on Gays." usmilitary.about.com. The New York Times Company, 05 05 2010. Web. 2 Sep 2010. <http://usmilitary.about.com/od/millegislation/a/dontask.html>

"Women in the United States Military." usmilitary.about.com. The New York Times Company, 2010. Web. 295Sep 2010. http://usmilitary.about.com/od/womeninthemilitary/Women_in_the_United_States_Military.htm


"Facts About Women in the Military, 1980-1990." feminism.eserver.com. EServer, 2005-01-19 . Web. 25 Sep 2010. <http://feminism.eserver.org/workplace/professions/women-in-the-military.txt>.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Rough Draft.

Advances In The United States Military.
     The military has played a significant role in our nation’s history dating back to the 1700’s with the American Revolution and more recently with the War on Terrorism. Currently the United States has over 675,000 soldiers serving for our country and 49,700 troops in Iraq as of August, 2010. While we are unable to ever exactly know what the future of our military will look like, it is evident that the United States military, and the militaries of other countries, will continue to modernize their approaches.
     Military strategies and tactics have brought organization to our country’s military from early on and technology has always influenced them. While battles in today’s society are currently fought in a more covert way utilizing long range weapons and equipment, that is far from the case of battles in previous wars.  The Civil War, for example, had short range weapons such as muskets with less accuracy than today’s weapons. Due to those limitations of weapons in the Civil War, battles then were in close range and troops would mass together for attacks. In World War One the tank was introduced and since then has become the most rapidly developed weapons system in the history of warfare. The French FT-17 tank during World War One set the design for modern tanks, in World War Two tanks became more fined tuned and in the Gulf War tanks were able to fire reliable when moving at speed over rough terrain.  Tanks continue to advance and be used in today’s military.
     The future of technology in the military is widely discussed and the most popular topic trend seems to be that of unmanned devices and the advance of robotics. The war in Iraq has used over 5,000 drones and 12,000 unmanned ground systems. It is said that where we are headed very soon is tens of thousands of robots operating in our conflicts. These unmanned devices have been described as “the force of the future” and there are several countries developing military robotics, although the United States is currently ahead. The development of unmanned devices in our military is revolutionary, just like the machine gun and atomic bomb have been in the past. With these technological advances we will witness a change in the identity of a warrior. With the use of drones, a young pilot can go to war overseas without ever having to leave the country or risking his life.  There are disadvantages to these devices though that can potentially be dangerous.  One of the main disadvantages is the risk for a “software glitch” which could cause the robot to injure someone. This is a fear many are having with this technology because robots are emotionless and have the ability to kill the wrong target repeatedly. Research of unmanned devices is continuously developing along with ways that we can adjust war to life in the twenty first century.
     Not all advances in the military are technical. Integrating different races, gender, religion and sexual orientations into the military are now standard thing, though different categories, like homosexuality and paganism, do still cause controversy. Though the military is desegregated, women still only make up a small portion of it, but a growing portion. Currently the United States military is made up of about twenty percent women. Women have always an important part of the military though, most notably as nurses in past wars, but many are now in officer positions. While a woman in combat is still not popularly seen, a women’s role in the military is no longer less significant than a man’s. With the advancement in technology, like unmanned devices, it is now about finding the right people with the right skills to achieve the mission, regardless of factors like gender.  It is predicted that the percentage of women, and other minority groups serving in the military, will continue to rise.
     Advances in the military, both weaponry and personnel, are ever changing and continue to be an important factor with war in the twenty first century. Diversity in the military is no longer a thing of the past and what was once only in science fiction books are now the increasing reality of robotics in our military.  One thing has never changed though, the United States military continues to protect America’s freedoms at home and abroad, securing our homeland and defending democracy worldwide.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

PW Singer on military robots and the furture of war

I thought I would share this interesting video on the topic of my first essay.
http://www.ted.com/talks/pw_singer_on_robots_of_war.html

Tell Me Something I Don't Know.

Outline: I am setting forth to write about the topic of war, more specifically advances in military tactics and technology. I hope to inform my audience about growing technological advances such as robotics in the United States military and of the growth of women serving in the military.

Introduction: The U.S military has been around since the 1700's and currently has more than 675,000 soldiers serving. The military is an important part of our nations history and of the present with currently 49,700 troops in Iraq.

The influence of technology in the military: Civil war had short rage and less accurate weapons.  World War One introduced the tank.  World War Two fine tuned the tank.  In the Gulf War tanks became more reliable and advance. The war in Iraq began to utilize drones.

The future of technology in the military: Unmanned devices are predicted to be the future of the force.  Many countries are now developing military robotics.

Women in the military: Women have always played a role in the military.  Women were first recognized in the military as nurses but now can serve as officers.  Women make up about 20 percent of the U.S military adding diversity. Originally the military was most welcoming to straight white men but is now accepting of all races, gender, religion and sexual orientation.

Conclusion: Advances in the military, both in weaponry and personnel, are ever changing. It is predicted that the number of women in the military and other minority groups with continue to rise. It is also predicted that with future unmanned devices a pilot would be able to go to war without ever leaving the country.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Brooklyn

Home to Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, Notorious B.I.G and more, how has this iconic New York Borough influenced rap culture?

Brooklyn has the motto "Een Draght Mackt Maght" which translates in Dutch as "In unity there is strength".  How do you view this statement?

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

War/Military Tactics

How has changes in philosophy and technology changed military tactics over time?
-Technology has changed philosophy with it's advances.  In Civil War times weapons were less accurate, therefor battles were in closer range and troops would mass together for the attacks.
www.civilwarhome.com/civilwarweapons.htm
-In the first World War tanks were introduced. In World War Two tanks became more fined tuned.
www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0847801.html
-In the Gulf War tanks were able to fire reliably when moving at speed over rough terrain.
www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gulf/weapons/m1.html
-The war in Iraq utilizes drones which are predicted to become the way of the future. Military robotics are being developed in several countries.
www.ted.com/talks/pw_singer_on_robots_of_war.html
Men in my family have experienced these advances over the years.  My great, great, great grandfather was in the Civil War, my great grandfather was in World War One, my grandfather was in World War two, and my father was in the Vietnam War.


Do you believe something as hectic as war can really be organized?
-In my opinion, yes. Military tactics and strategy give direction and coordination in war. Some examples of strategic and tactical maneuvers are: penetration, envelopment, defensive-offensive maneuvers, and turning movements.
www.molossia.org/milacademy/strategy.html



What advances in the military do you predict to see over time?
-Increase in the use of robotics such as drones. With unmanned devices a pilot can go to war without ever leaving the country. Unmanned systems have been described as "the future of the force".
www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/robots/how-to-robot-military-revolution


Can war actually bring peace?
-In my opinion, yes. I view some of the outcomes of World War Two to be an example of this.



Is there a pattern in history of what causes war?
-From my observations it seems as if wars are fought over control.  Control over economy, territory,trade, and independence are examples of causes or central factors of various wars.
www.joshuagoldstein.com/jgeconhi.htm


Could have any wars been avoided?
-Vietnam is a "no winner" war.  The U.S.A lost about 58,000 lives and billion of dollars.  Vietnam lost millions of lives and the Liberation Front disbanded a year later.  The majority of people in Vietnam still live in poverty in their communist country.
http://www.vietnamvets.com/
-The war in Iraq could have been avoided if given more time to further inspect for weapons of mass destruction.
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/6438127.html


In general, how do people view war?
-There is no one answer to this question because everyone has different beliefs and experiences on the topic.


How do other countries/cultures view war?
-Again, everyone has their own personal beliefs so it would be hard to generalize.


What positive outcomes have came from war?
-Advances in weaponry
http://www.worldwarii.org/
-More women joining the workforce in result of World War Two.
www.nps.gov/pwro/collection/website/rosie.htm
-Prosperity in economy
http://schools.nycenet.edu/region5/ms210/www_two/ww2effects.html


How does war influence culture?
-World War Two has played a major role in society through media.  Literature, movies, and even video games all make reference to this war.
www.associatedcontent.com/article/104807.the_influence_of_world_war2_on_modern.html


Do you believe a woman is just as significant in the military as a man?
-Yes! It's not about gender but about the right people with the right skills to achieve the mission.  Women bring diversity to the U.S military currently making up about twenty percent of it.
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/womeninthemilitary/women_in_the_unitedstates_military.htm


Are there more peaceful approaches other than war?
-Some examples of other approaches to war include: sanctions, negotiating, and diplomacy.