Assignment #1

To blog or not to blog?  Technology has affected the way we function since the invention of the wheel but now more than ever an atypical revolution is taking place, one that does not call for rioting on the streets or setting cars on fire but for frequent information logging and rather succinct prose: blogging. Blogging has become the weapon or poison of choice for many people who are not only unsatisfied with the coverage, or lack thereof, that the mainstream media gives to issues affecting their lives, but who are also pleased to have found perhaps their only legitimate source of freedom. For Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez her blog Generacion Y does both.

A Citizen Journalist, Yoani Sanchez dedicates the majority of her blog posts to the domestic and international political events that are affecting Cuba. After being shut out of the intellectual polemic that took place in Cuba two years ago, philologist Yoani Sanchez became a renegade by way of blogger and has since managed to garner followers from all over the world. Focusing on Cuba's present reality and the discontents of her generation, she documents, among other things, her frustrations and questions about the country's current state.

The advantages that this unusual medium provides are anonymity, speed, simplicity, two way communication, cyber-continuity, and cost effectiveness. Blogs allow the bloggers to conceal their identity for safety reasons, for example, and to have the information be available as soon as it is done; the set up of a blog is also relatively easy when compared to the burdens of the printed word, and most of all, blogs allow the reader to not only ask question but also receive answers. The internet is a tool that also keeps the information online for unlimited time and space, meaning that the material can gather attention from the international community at various stages. Last but certainly not least, blogs are inexpensive, which means that just about anybody can make one.

Although Yoani is one of the few Cuban bloggers who doesn't resort to hiding her identity, she takes as much advantage as she can of all the possibilities the blogosphere has to offer. As a first-hand reporter she writes about the particular events that she goes through and as described by author Jill Walker Rettberg, Yoani is also a gatewatcher since she links other stories and videos related to her areas of interest. Her blog is raided by the Cuban government and she has recently become the victim of persecution. Without ever mentioning the word 'democracy', Mrs. Sanchez gives her testimony on issues that the government won't allow the mass media to report on. And the buzz that her somewhat irreverent blog has caused has even gotten the attention of President Obama. Clearly she is unto something.

Alas, not everything that shines is gold. Major setbacks of blogs are that the bloggers themselves, unlike professional journalists, are most likely bound to be subjective which leads to their credibility being questioned. On the same note, authenticity can be faked and the lack of official training can mean, as Andrew Sullivan suggests, that readers may know more than the bloggers themselves. In the case of Yoani Sanchez, it can be problematic to solely rely on her blog for information about Cuba because of how subjective it is. Lacking the resources that a journalist may have, it is also difficult for her to infiltrate the civic localities where the action is taking place. The bottom line is whether the information being reported is mainly based upon facts instead of opinions and when it comes to Citizen Journalists that line may get much too blurry for most people's comfort. In the end the real question readers should ask themselves, it seems, is to believe or not to believe?

Turkey Day

Ahh, thanksgiving, my absolute favorite holiday. Christmas is cool but I don't really get gifts anymore because according to my family I've crossed the santa-stage treshold and I am officially too old for that and have been for a while, New Year's is really not that great, 4th of July is nice too but it more often than not requires a lot of work if you are really into seeing the fireworks, which I am, and then you have thanksgiving, a day dedicated to eating and being thankful. How great is that? I love that we live in a country where we've made that a national holiday. And then of course there's black Friday which seems inescapable this year (can you say 'Best Buy'?).

My mom's making the turkey this year, which my sister has named Pablo for no apparent reason and we're spending it a my aunt's. The turkey is really the only traditional item we have on the table since most of the other food is typical Colombian food. Because I can't cook I promised I would get dessert so I'm buying my favorite cold stone cake and I might try making flan (or not). I am so looking forward to it not only because you get to gobble up so much food and unabashedly put weight on but also because I genuinely enjoy the feeling of meeting up with family and enjoy each other's company for the sake of having a decent meal together. In a year as hard as this one I am thankful for still having a job and for having the supportive family I have been blessed with.

What are you thankful for?

Let's get physical

I finally got to register for classes last Friday and I'm pretty excited about it. Now, it's not because I'm taking micro-economics (oh god, no!), or because I'm taking three more classes for my major even though I was done with it last semester, but it's really because I'm embarking in a new kind of field, that of karate! Even though I seem fit I'm actually in terrible physical shape; I don't exercise or eat healthy, and I get dizzy spells all the time. The doctor says it's vertigo, my mom says I might have a neurological disease...mothers, always exaggerating. I think it's just annoying.

Anyway, I was reviewing my history of phys. ed. classes and so far I've taken regular old gym, fencing (what-what), yoga (not as relaxing as I thought), and tennis (just as bad as I thought). I read the reviews for the professor and apparently he's not only going to be working us to the pulp but also making us learn a substantial Japanese vocabulary. Not that I have a problem with that. The only thing that does bother me is that it's a Friday class, and so it kind of makes me feel like I'm back in High School because I haven't had gym or a Friday class since I graduated. Let's just hope senioritis doesn't ensue or I might have to kick its ass.

Popping cherries

Today had a couple of firsts; not only am I writing my first blog, but I also turned 21 during one of the most uneventful days ever. Though unlike most people I wasn't particularly looking forward to it, I just hate having my birthday fall on a weekday. I mean, as if getting older wasn't enough, right? Anyway, I'll introduce myself briefly by letting you guys know that I live in Long Island City, a place as uneventful as today, but I work in Elmhurst, which is a little deeper in Queens. For the past three years I've been a receptionist that has to do a little bit of everything at a small law office but I don't complain because I feel I've learned a lot. Currently I'm a senior in Baruch and I'm hoping to graduate next May with a Political Science degree. On that note I hope you guys are ready for more Mike Bloomberg as all the precinct numbers state he will stay put, whereas Governor Jon Corzine (D) of N.J. will be conceding his office to Chris Christie (R). Good news or bad news? I guess only time will tell.