Blog Post #5 The Progressive Era

    

                             

    American society and law have been structured in a way where each individual is protected by a particular set of unalienable rights. Our entire lives have been set around these rules; establishing churches, building businesses, creating communities, forming movements, etc. Our country, however, was not always this way. The American government had to go through a lot of pushback and forth to both have their power and give some to the people. The era that this transformation mainly took place was the Progressive Era between 1897-1920. The main objectives of the Progressive Era and its movements within were addressing problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, immigration, and political corruption. The communities affected most by these issues were middle-class citizens who targeted political figures and employment bosses. 

    Though there were lots of things that needed changing, people most of all did not want to wage war. There was lots of pushback by the government and pro-WWI Americans that caused controversy throughout the nation, and those antiwar Americans who opposed the violence were persecuted and thrown in jail. Today, we now have the right to challenge and criticize our government punishment free- to an extent. Under the First Amendment, we cannot threaten the president or whistleblow if it puts the nation in danger. Along with other loopholes, 2022 by far has more protections for citizens than in the 1800s. 

                            

    Thanks to our handy dandy internet, we now have access to hear the latest news on everything at the tip of our fingers, but through censorship, some of those news stories are filtered or deleted as a whole. It is a tricky topic when it comes to government censorship because it comes dangerously close to being controlled like a communist government. We as Americans have a right to know what is happening in our country as well as the right to challenge it, but in 2022, censorship has now taken over as President Biden's publisher. 

                      

    There is a reason we have not been hearing all of the truth and juicy gossip that swarms The White House.  Having to seek obscure websites to hear about antiwar heads and whistleblowing news is the direct result of government censorship. During the Progressive Era, word of mouth and the press were how the middle-class voice was seen and heard. Today, it is much easier to catch and track a person through the internet and censor them or end their access to the web as a whole. It is evident that we are going through changes again as a nation due to the evolution of technology. Maybe we need a new Progressive Era to realign!

    

   

BLOG POST #6 EOTO Presentations

     After completing an EOTO project of my own, I had the opportunity to observe my classmates and learn about their technology of choice. One student, Nyare, decided to do his project on records. I thoroughly enjoyed his presentation both informationally and visually. 

    Vinyl records have been making a comeback in more recent years and have been trending with the youth. While some are used for their intended purpose, people have found alternative uses for them; wall decorations, art projects, tableside tops, shelves, and even coasters! Although the market has greatly declined since its initial release, they are still used as collectibles and are valued by consumers. I myself am a target audience member for all things records which is why I found this project so interesting.       

                          

                                                                                             

                                                

                                                                    

    I learned a lot of new things from this presentation, one of them being that the first vinyl was not made out of vinyl but out of vulcanite and shellac. As their popularity grew and companies were experimenting more, polyvinyl became the ultimately concluded material- hence the name vinyl. By 1910 records were the definitive way to listen to music. Most families had a record player and a vinyl set in their homes. The first vinyl stored six minutes of music on them- with three songs on each side. Some smaller records only held one single song and were sold this way- this is where the term “single” was coined in the music industry. 

    Due to the lack of technology for editing and recording music in the 1950s, artists, bands, and orchestras had one shot to get the track right when recording. Otherwise, the entire record needed to be rerecorded. By the 1960s, cassettes were now the new portable music trend. Considering the fact that you cannot necessarily carry a record player and listen to music on the go, cassette tapes soon became a fad of the 60s. 

    Records are so important to the music industry because they established common music terms we still use today like “single” “track” and “masters”, they helped develop fanbases for artists who did not do live shows and provided a more convenient way to listen to music for its time. I know I will continue to purchase and listen to my vinyl records!

Blog Post #4 EOTO

     Have you ever wondered where our greatest technologies have come from? Who thought of them and what was the reaction of society when this new invention emerged? For this blog post, we are going to explore the creation of the radio! 

    The first idea of the radio was invented by Guglielmo Marconi in the 1890s. The first version was called the wireless telegraph. In 1895 Marconi was able to send messages through Morse Code. The purpose of the invention was to transmit signals and messages to the navy overseas without the need for a physical messenger. As time went on, the telegraph progressed. By 1914, alternators could sustain a consistent broadcast wave powerful enough to transmit voices and music over the radio. Then by 1919 Marconi’s resources were sold to the RCA, which spawned NBC Radio, leading to talk shows and other entertainment programs to be broadcasted. By 1920 (the year that the radio we know today was declared to be invented) the Golden Age of radio was developed and soon enough radios were a must-have in every home in America. On November 2, 1920, station KDKA made the nation's first commercial broadcast. This date was chosen because it was election day. The power of radio was proven when people could hear the results of the Harding-Cox presidential race before they read about it in the newspaper. Here is the link to tune in! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC_mgp6BJtU

 Over time, the purpose of the radio changed from necessity to convenience to entertainment. 

In the 20s and 30s radio was booming and everyone wanted one in their home. Crystal radios were among the first radios to be used and manufactured. These radios used a piece of lead galena crystal and a cat whisker to find the radio signal. Crystal radios allowed many people to join the radio craze in the 1920s because they were easy to make from home. Prices climbed, and the RCA’s stock price went from $85 in early 1928 to $500 by the summer of 1929. Still, that did not stop the desire for every man woman, and child to tune in daily for news, music, talk shows, sportscasting, and more. 

The radio’s impact on the nation (and later the world) as a whole was immense. At first, radio gave Americans the ability to receive news of the war more quickly, rather than having to wait for the paper. Presidential elections, speeches by world leaders, and nationwide protests were transmitted from these radios into the comfort of American homes. This allowed for fewer crowds in the streets bending their ears for assembly or masses gathering to protest when people discovered they could get their message across without having to move. This solved the problem of having to wait hours and weeks to receive news. Motor vehicle companies hopped on the trend and soon enough Chevrolet was the first company to install radios in their cars!

When the war concluded, radio began to focus more on playing the music of the time. The "Top 40" in music became popular during this period, and as music and radio continued to rise in popularity, new forms of music such as rock and roll began to emerge. Not only did this help jumpstart the music industry, but it allowed for the rising of our first stars. Because of the mass audience radios attracted,  advertisers saw this as an opportunity for paid programming and commercials to hit the stations. The radio helped shape future communication technologies, bridge the gap between the government and public opinion, assisted businesses with advertising and competition, helped shape the music industry, and more!

    Not everyone, however, was a fan of this new radio system. Critics claim that radio killed patriotism and real participation in assemblies & protests where physical bodies are seen in the streets fighting. Another argument states that relying on the radio is just a passing fad that will kill the nation’s honesty through writing- fake news and unwanted opinions were now freely flowing through the networks. Writers expressed, “I have anticipated radio’s complete disappearance…confident that the unfortunate people, who must now subdue themselves to listening in, will soon find a better pastime for their leisure.”

Excerpt #1: Jack Woodford, “Radio: A Blessing or a Curse?” The Forum,

Live entertainment was also declining and slowly so were newspapers. Over time, science proved health issues connected to radio wave exposure.

    Still, these opinions did not waver about the incredible impact radio had on our world. 

Blog #3: Eight Freedoms of Expression

  

Thanks to our founding fathers, our country is built on a foundation of democracy and a set of freedoms. Because of this, people like you and I have the right to be writing articles such as this one! The First Amendment to our American Constitution gives us some of our most important freedoms; speech, assembly, religion, petition, and press. This allows the voices of the American people to be heard, read, seen, and listened to without backlash (when done constitutionally, of course.) The Eight Values of Free Expression delve into these rights more deeply and explain why they are so valued in our country and how they contribute to who we are as a society. 

 

To me, the most important value is the right to Protect Dissent. This value is important because it emphasizes how citizens have a strongly protected right to disagree with anyone that they please, as well as the government. It is encouraged to criticize the government; as it is viewed as a “patriotic duty.” I believe this to be the most important because this is where our voices will be heard. In most societies, questioning the government would result in a fine, jail time, or even death. Having not only the right but the encouragement to challenge our leaders with our needs and concerns is what makes the ideology of the “American Dream” so fascinating. Having this relationship with our government builds a bond between our leaders and our people- a sense of trust, stability, and safety is instilled knowing that we have the opportunity to coexist with a balance of power.

 

The value that resonates most with me that I find to be most personal is the value to promote innovation. Having open conversations on topics like sexuality, art, creativity, business, music, gender orientation, religion, and culture cultivates a more diverse and ever-growing society. Being able to express who you truly are through your social media posts, writing, apparel, movements, etc. awakens the spirit in people to become more open-minded and accepting. Together as a society in 2022, I think we have come so far in the past ten years alone about acceptance and expression. Celebrating pride month with parades, holding TedTalks about business goals and personal issues, posting mental health awareness on social media, and giving speeches about sexual assault are all dynamic ways that we can use our First Amendment freedoms to our positive advantage. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucmf4Epl0SI 

  The value I see in action most today would be stable change. The 2016 presidential election divided our country more than it ever had been before. The overturn of Roe v Wade caused an uproar among men and women across the nation. The BLM movement raised protests from ear to ear in the country. When angered people are not allowed to ask why, react, or challenge their government, it often turns to a violent overthrow or an attempt at war. However, when those affected exercise their rights to speak freely, assemble, petition, print, and pray, it leaves room for a more peaceful outcome. Keeping a “stable change” means maintaining control of those angered and allowing them to channel their anger in a way that avoids violence. It also makes it easier to monitor potentially dangerous groups who try to act secretively with bad intentions. It is in the government's best self-interest to allow its people to “vent” instead of pushing them away. Our usage of social media platforms to make our voices heard is one of the greatest ways the American people can reach one another. This theory explains how word gets around so quickly and why our society is everchanging. 

 

Thanks for grabbing a cup o’ Joe with me here at CoffeewithCarmela and for taking the time to be present while we get a better understanding of our freedoms and how they are put into action in our everyday lives!

Blog #2 Supreme Court

 The history of the United States Supreme Court dates all the way back to the 1780s, which in retrospect, isn’t too long ago. Being the highest federal court in the country and the head of the judicial branch of government, it is a system that has been drafted and reviewed numerous times since its birth. The responsibility of the Supreme Court is to decide what is or is not deemed constitutional, and to check the other branches’ actions. I believe the most notable thing about the court is its responsibility to ensure the American people the promise of equal justice under the law and to function as guardians and interpreters of the Constitution.

Reading up on the history of the Supreme Court and its functions has taught me some new things. One thing I did not know about the Supreme Court was its circuit courts. Although it was once abolished, I feel as though the idea of traveling and rotating judges was a good intention to show care and equal opportunity to cases and to the country as a whole. It proves to be informative to the judges as well as the courts and helps to avoid bias or repetitiveness. The most surprising thing I learned about the Supreme Court was that there have only been just over one hundred justices in American history. When you do not know much about the court, they seem larger than life because of their power, and with that mentality comes numbers.

As the video went on, I really realized how the Supreme Court is simply full of ordinary people with just a heightened knowledge of our country’s history. The justices talk about how humbling it can be to be a part of the court, and how it can take 3-5 years to get comfortable in the role. No matter how much knowledge you have, you are always learning more and more in the world’s greatest judicial system.

Blog #1: Top 5 Resources for News and Information

We all receive information from different resources and in different forms. Whether it is sitting down and drinking a latte with some friends or turning on your television, we are all informed in different ways. When figuring out where to look, sometimes it just depends on what you want to learn, and other times, if you are biased, it's about what you want to hear. As a student who needs information quickly, simply, and reliably, here are my top five resources for local, national, and international news and information.

The Washington Post is an all-American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It has an immense international audience and is most popular in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. The Washington Post covers all things political and government related. It is a good resource for me because it directly encompasses all necessary information on American news without bias. The Washington Post is straight to the point and explains the headline with important details and quotes, and its reliability is crucial to the lives of American citizens. All stories come directly from reporters’ observations and closely involved witnesses. I recommend the Washington Post to people because they update their stories in a timely manner and have been gifted numerous awards for their credibility.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/ 

The New York Times is a news source based in New York City that covers live news, investigations, political topics, and local reports daily. 

Living in Queens, New York myself, I am located near a New York Times printing facility. 

I have always gone straight to the Times paper and news sites for my articles because they give very thorough reports and go into depth on the topics being covered. 

Their investigative writers are committed to their role in answering any questions readers may have through their stories. 

Especially during the peak of COVID-19, the NY Times was the most dependable news source for me to get any updates on mandates, restrictions, and quarantines. 

https://www.nytimes.com/ 

NBC’s Stay Tuned is a news source that reaches its audience through a series of short videos on social media. Savannah Sellers, Gadi Schwartz, and Lawrence Jackson are the young, relatable hosts of the show. The short newscast – just two to three minutes – is accessible for me on Snapchat. You can watch the shows twice a day during the week and once a day on the weekends. The newscast covers national and international news, politics, and more. I like this show because it is cutting-edge, quick, and to the point. The news anchors film themselves in a “vlog” style manner which makes them approachable to youths. They use understandable language and explain the important news in the world in simpler terms. This way, youths can be included instead of out of touch with the world around them. https://story.snapchat.com/p/8bb879c7-45c0-499c-bb3c-7a3d0e229301/202547771973632  

Wired is an informational platform that covers technology news and provides informative content in a fun format; they use infographics, videos, and even links to full articles. Wired is a great modern resource to use to learn about technological advancements and innovations. They even have celebrity guests in their videos and articles to keep things interesting. Wired doesn’t solely give straight tech marketing, though. They also provide articles that incorporate science and music culture and interview ordinary people for their extraordinary stories. I like this resource and recommend it because it is a glimpse into how our future is advancing day by day in more ways than just through using our cell phones. https://www.wired.com/ 

The Telegraph is the UK's No.1 quality digital news brand. 

The Telegraph has a team of journalists who publish a daily edition covering news, politics, and opinion. 

I found out about The Telegraph through Snapchat news. 

It has weekly stories with international hosts that spill all about the economy and political/ social state of the UK. 

I like to read about this news and believe it is important to learn about places other than America for comparison and contrast. 

It helps put everything into perspective. It is an accessible and sophisticated yet modern-style newscast, and I recommend it to people of all ages. 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/