You can't ruin it for everyone!

A Win for Free Speech Online
Published: January 26, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/opinion/27tue2.html

This is a New York Times editorial about the Supreme Court refusing to save the Child Online Protection Act, which protects children from sexually explicit online material. Their decision was based on the reason that the law tried to infringe too much upon constitutionally protected free speech. The New York Times editorial board agrees with the Supreme Court on this issue, allowing free speech to prevail.

Overall, I thought this editorial was very well-written, and it is certainly evident that the editorial board did a sufficient amount of research on the topic. The editorial includes several references to previous cases involving this issue, as well as some of the decisions made by the Bush administration. I definitely agree that the Child Online Protection Act infringes upon free speech, which is protected under the Constitution. As mentioned in the editorial, there are other methods that can be implemented to avoid children coming across sexually explicit material online. Parents can use filtering software that will keep indecent material away from their children, but will not infringe upon free speech rights for everyone else. It's all about compromise.

Obama Supporters Show True Colors...Not Green

Sprucing up our front yard

THE WASHINGTON POST

Friday, January 23, 2009

http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/01/23/0123mall_edit.html

This was an editorial from the Washing Post, found on the Austin American Statesman website, about the deterioration of the Mall. Obama's inauguration only further brought to light the state of the Mall, and millions of dollars are in consideration to renew the look of the Mall. I thought this was a good editorial, short and sweet. However, I think it should have condemned more the people who left tons of trash on America's front lawn. So much for Obama supporters being "green. As far as the editorials format. I thought it was easy to read and understand; starting with a statement followed by an Obama quote. Then the editorials opinion with supporting background information for the argument. And then ending with a line that worked well as the title of the piece. Well done.

Palin files lawsuit over Beluga whales

Suing the Belugas

The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/opinion/29thu3.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

The editorial criticizes former (vice) presidential hopeful and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on a lawsuit she filed seeking to remove Beluga whales from the endangered species list.
The piece makes the claim that Palin along with convicted felon Ted Stevens want the whales removed because of proposed industrial projects in the region they inhabit.
I think the editorial is concise, and spot-on. Environmental issues are always tricky to advocate because they are situations in which no actual person (technically everyone) wins yet one physical entity/corporation loses.
One problem was the length. I feel that the situation is so ludicrous that Palin could have been roasted for much longer. I wish the author would have cited specific examples of proposed developments in the region in question.

-Allen

Writing on the blog or Who the heck are you?

Name: If you signed up for the blog using a name not easily recognizable as your name, please type your name at the top or bottom of your post, as a byline would be typed. Otherwise, I won't know who the post is from and won't be able to give you credit.

Each post should have a headline. Make it creative, interesting and appropriate for a media publication.

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(Yes, you know that if you are looking at the blog, but in the event you print this out to use as directions, it might be handy to have the blog URL.)

How to Blog

You will be invited to the blog via an email sent to your Texas State email account.

Click on the link in the email and accept the invitation. You must create a Google account to access the blog. If you already have a Google account (gmail, etc.), you may use that account. If you don't, then use your TX State email to begin the process to get a Google account, following the steps outlines on the screen.

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