While browsing the web I found a site that college kids are blogging on--a site where the writers are informed and unafraid to speak out on important political issues.
Bipolarnation.com is dedicated to bringing hot political topics into the spotlight and offering insightful comments on the current political arena. All the bloggers are college-aged.
While the layout of the site has something to be desired, certain elements really did impress me. Beyond the content and style of writing which I gave two thumbs up, the site also features political cartoons, useful links and discussion boards.
I give the site's creators a lot of credit because it's extremely difficult to be a college student, stay informed on the latest topics and keep a website running all at the same time. Kudos to them, because the site has an ambitious mission and is doing a great job of informing the public.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Divided We Fail
Another political inspiration hit me when I was watching television--a commercial for a website called DividedWeFail.org.
I truly believe the message that the site conveys is one of the most hopeful and heart-warming political communications yet. It shouldn't matter what our political leanings are, because we are all Americans and despite what we may think, we all have the same problems looming over us.
The website's overall mission is to unite every American and move them to action. We are tired of talking and in need of solutions and results to America's major problems--health care and financial security.
HOW THE SITE COMMUNICATES
What I loved most was the television commercial the organization has on the left banner advertising the site. It features extremely well-known celebrities like Dakota Fanning, Morgan Freeman, Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix telling Americans to step up to the political plate. I highly encourage you to check it out.
This site is fantastic because it's sponsored by the AARP (attracting an older and retired American demographic) but it has youth-focused features like videos, news feeds, and links to myspace, facebook and youtube.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
For Every 2 Steps Back, There's 1 Step Forward
You may be shocked by what I'm about to say. Democrats--beware, Republicans--listen up.
I'm actually IMPRESSED with the White House.
Browsing through Bush's hokey home page and the rest of the White House website is something that I always wanted to do, but never had the chance. To the White House web designer's credit, the site looks fabulous. The graphics are amazing, the content is well chosen, and all the news bites support Bush 100% (no easy feats).
But the thing that truly surprised me the most is that the White House has a page solely dedicated to podcasts. The audio clips are mostly speeches made by the president, or snippets of interviews, but props to the web technicians who had the ingenuity to include such a forward-thinking element on such a conservative website.
As I've said before, America's youth are drawn to web innovations. They're naturally attracted to websites that cater to their needs as the first Net-generation. New web tools like podcasts, video clips and flash animation are just some of the many innovations that America's youth looks for in a site.
Podcasting will open up many new avenues for the White House to communicate by. Whether this will have a positive or negative impact on the Net-generation is still to be seen...
I'm actually IMPRESSED with the White House.
Browsing through Bush's hokey home page and the rest of the White House website is something that I always wanted to do, but never had the chance. To the White House web designer's credit, the site looks fabulous. The graphics are amazing, the content is well chosen, and all the news bites support Bush 100% (no easy feats).
But the thing that truly surprised me the most is that the White House has a page solely dedicated to podcasts. The audio clips are mostly speeches made by the president, or snippets of interviews, but props to the web technicians who had the ingenuity to include such a forward-thinking element on such a conservative website.
As I've said before, America's youth are drawn to web innovations. They're naturally attracted to websites that cater to their needs as the first Net-generation. New web tools like podcasts, video clips and flash animation are just some of the many innovations that America's youth looks for in a site.
Podcasting will open up many new avenues for the White House to communicate by. Whether this will have a positive or negative impact on the Net-generation is still to be seen...
Helping America's Youth--Fraud or For Real?
With all the controversy surrounding the current presidential administration and the upcoming elections next year, it's easy to forget about the first lady.
To be honest, I haven't heard nearly as much about Laura Bush as I did when Hillary was in the White House. Perhaps this is due to the fact that George Bush's time as president has been heavily laden with dramatic world events, or it could be because I just have not paid much attention to the first lady.
After perusing her website I fell upon a noteworthy cause she has been championing--Helping America's Youth. The cause is dedicated to advancing America's youth in the areas of education, community service and responsible citizenship.
The site is fantastically designed, and really draws the attention of the reader. It is definitely an organization that knows how to use web communication to its fullest potential. Exciting features of the site include webcasts, e-newsletters and a community guide so you can aid the foundation in your own area.
The mission and meaning behind Helping America's Youth sends a message of hope and caring. I would very much like to believe that Laura Bush has her priorities straight when it comes to this nation.
However, becoming disillusioned with the current administration has certainly made me skeptical of all things attached to George Bush...and unfortunately, this includes Laura's seemingly noble cause. We must ask ourselves, is this site just another example of the "perfect time for a photo op," or is the political figure behind the operation truly genuine?
To be honest, I haven't heard nearly as much about Laura Bush as I did when Hillary was in the White House. Perhaps this is due to the fact that George Bush's time as president has been heavily laden with dramatic world events, or it could be because I just have not paid much attention to the first lady.
After perusing her website I fell upon a noteworthy cause she has been championing--Helping America's Youth. The cause is dedicated to advancing America's youth in the areas of education, community service and responsible citizenship.
The site is fantastically designed, and really draws the attention of the reader. It is definitely an organization that knows how to use web communication to its fullest potential. Exciting features of the site include webcasts, e-newsletters and a community guide so you can aid the foundation in your own area.
The mission and meaning behind Helping America's Youth sends a message of hope and caring. I would very much like to believe that Laura Bush has her priorities straight when it comes to this nation.
However, becoming disillusioned with the current administration has certainly made me skeptical of all things attached to George Bush...and unfortunately, this includes Laura's seemingly noble cause. We must ask ourselves, is this site just another example of the "perfect time for a photo op," or is the political figure behind the operation truly genuine?
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Indecision 2008
THE DAILY SHOW
For any normal, semi-informed, politically inclined person aged 18-24, The Daily Show is the place where you get your humorous political news.
Featuring the hilarious Democratic host, John Stewart, the Daily Show pushes the limits of what's appropriate, politically correct and reasonable. Simply put, this wacky news show is genius. America's youth watches it, loves it, and may even learn something useful from it in the process.
ELECTION 2008
It has become tradition on the Daily Show to host a newscast on the evening of presidential elections. The upcoming presidential election has aptly been named Indecision 2008 after coverage in '04 began this trend with Indecision 2004.
The website is addictive because of it's witty humor, satirical outlook and it's ability to appeal to a younger audience who's tired of the boring ho-hum election coverage.
The site and the Daily Show in general are guaranteed to generate interest on a massive scale for the '08 elections. I'm a huge fan of the Daily Show and after witnessing Indecision 2004 live, I know that I will be glued to Comedy Central when the elections roll around.
For any normal, semi-informed, politically inclined person aged 18-24, The Daily Show is the place where you get your humorous political news.
Featuring the hilarious Democratic host, John Stewart, the Daily Show pushes the limits of what's appropriate, politically correct and reasonable. Simply put, this wacky news show is genius. America's youth watches it, loves it, and may even learn something useful from it in the process.
ELECTION 2008
It has become tradition on the Daily Show to host a newscast on the evening of presidential elections. The upcoming presidential election has aptly been named Indecision 2008 after coverage in '04 began this trend with Indecision 2004.
The website is addictive because of it's witty humor, satirical outlook and it's ability to appeal to a younger audience who's tired of the boring ho-hum election coverage.
The site and the Daily Show in general are guaranteed to generate interest on a massive scale for the '08 elections. I'm a huge fan of the Daily Show and after witnessing Indecision 2004 live, I know that I will be glued to Comedy Central when the elections roll around.
John McCain for President?
REPUBLICAN WHO?
After an exhaustive search for Republican candidates running in the 2008 presidential election, I finally discovered one of the only noteworthy conservative hopefuls...Senator John McCain.
*I would just like to note that I found it interesting how difficult it is to find the Republican candidates for this election on the Web--I'm not sure if it's due to the fact that the Democratic candidates have been receiving more coverage, or they have more prominent websites, but something is definitely wrong. If I don't even know who is running on the Republican side, how am I supposed to be informed for the 2008 election?
SHOCKED AND DISAPPOINTED
My Google search for John McCain yielded two websites. Upon viewing both, I was shocked and appalled...but for different reasons. See if you can guess which website is the real deal, just by looking at the name.
1. http://www.electjohnmccain2008.com/
2. http://www.johnmccain.com/
Now check the websites out...one is the real John McCain website and the other is a phony site making fun of his campaign.
Looking at the names, you might never have guessed what sort of politically opinionated cesspool you were stumbling upon. It's important to note that site #1 actually popped up first in a Google search for John McCain and his presidential election.
LOSING VOTERS
If site #1 sounds more credible just by looking at the name, AND it is showing up first in a search engine's list of sites for John McCain, it's not farfetched to believe that McCain may be losing voters.
The phony site has gory Iraqi war pictures, photos of McCain with Bush and a sarcastically written blurb on the sidebar containing messages that bash McCain's Republican attitudes.
I know that if I was on the fence regarding the 2008 presidential election, this site would certainly steer me away from McCain. I wouldn't even bother to try and find his real website.
Even voters that do see the senator's campaign site will be gravely disappointed to note that the first thing visible at the top of the page is a smear campaign against Hillary.
Maybe I don't feel so bad about McCain losing voters after all...
After an exhaustive search for Republican candidates running in the 2008 presidential election, I finally discovered one of the only noteworthy conservative hopefuls...Senator John McCain.
*I would just like to note that I found it interesting how difficult it is to find the Republican candidates for this election on the Web--I'm not sure if it's due to the fact that the Democratic candidates have been receiving more coverage, or they have more prominent websites, but something is definitely wrong. If I don't even know who is running on the Republican side, how am I supposed to be informed for the 2008 election?
SHOCKED AND DISAPPOINTED
My Google search for John McCain yielded two websites. Upon viewing both, I was shocked and appalled...but for different reasons. See if you can guess which website is the real deal, just by looking at the name.
1. http://www.electjohnmccain2008.com/
2. http://www.johnmccain.com/
Now check the websites out...one is the real John McCain website and the other is a phony site making fun of his campaign.
Looking at the names, you might never have guessed what sort of politically opinionated cesspool you were stumbling upon. It's important to note that site #1 actually popped up first in a Google search for John McCain and his presidential election.
LOSING VOTERS
If site #1 sounds more credible just by looking at the name, AND it is showing up first in a search engine's list of sites for John McCain, it's not farfetched to believe that McCain may be losing voters.
The phony site has gory Iraqi war pictures, photos of McCain with Bush and a sarcastically written blurb on the sidebar containing messages that bash McCain's Republican attitudes.
I know that if I was on the fence regarding the 2008 presidential election, this site would certainly steer me away from McCain. I wouldn't even bother to try and find his real website.
Even voters that do see the senator's campaign site will be gravely disappointed to note that the first thing visible at the top of the page is a smear campaign against Hillary.
Maybe I don't feel so bad about McCain losing voters after all...
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