Murders, emergencies, kidnappings....

what makes the CSIs, Grey's Anatomy, ER, Without a Trace, Scrubs and the many more medical and police dramas so darned popular? (And why are we addicted?)

What do I read? A lot.

I realized I forgot a couple of sites that are helping me through the election season. These are: Real Clear Politics, the National Journal and the Hotline (both journals purchased by the college that employs me), On the Issues and Plan for Iraq by Joe Biden. Lastly, I also have been checking candidate websites which are too numerous to name. If you look at my blog, you will see what reading this much does to the psyche.

What do I read? A lot.

Well, let's see, on any given day, I read blogs, websites, magazines, newspapers, novels and emails. I also listen to NPR, which is a little like reading in that I take in a huge amount of information. Sometimes I feel completely overwhelmed by the amount of information available to me online, in print and otherwise.

Let me take you through my reading day. For the morning bus and train ride, I generally listen to my IPod and read The Economist or some sort of news magazine. Once at the train station and waiting for my next bus, I read the Boston Metro, a skinny, free, and local newspaper. At my office, I stream either WBUR-Boston or WRNI-Rhode Island, my local NPR news stations. Throughout the day, I may check in with the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Providence Journal, , NPR, the BBC or CNN on the web. Don't worry, I very rarely check all of these papers in the same day. Usually, just a couple. At the gym during my lunch hour, I either continue reading The Economist or I pick up my latest novel depending on how saturated I feel. Throughout my day, I also read a fair amount for my job. These include list serves and blogs about content management systems (CMS Watch), redesigning websites (Pebble Road) and search engine optimization (Jakob Nielsen UseIt). On my bus to the train station, I usually have a stimulating conversation with Dave, my lovely bus driver, about going back to school, politics, art, pornography, censoring, and much more. This prepares me for a relaxing train and bus ride home when I return to my novel du jour which I continue to read until I fall asleep.

For rest and relaxation sites when I truly feel oversaturated, I indulge in The Superficial, Television Without Pity and of course, some Youtube videos or Very Funny Ads.

Of course, there are also television shows and some human interactions that occur throughout my day and evening....just so you know.

Negative Campaign Ads

This year's election has been downright dirty. Whether candidates are running for Governor, Mayor, Attorney General, the Senate, the House, or any other open offices, they have certainly utilized the media to air their opponent's dirty laundry. Instead of using campaign ads as a forum to summarize the plans of the candidate, the ads are used to outline the negatives of their opponent. And no subject is taboo. Sex, drugs, indiscretions of family members, skin color and so much more are fodder for the opponent.

As a voter, when I see the commercials, I get angry. Yet again, politicians neglect to inform me of how they will be different. Candidates fail to explain what they hope to do while in office or their general philosophy for decision making. When I see negative campaign ads, it makes me wonder if this is a person for whom I want to vote.

If you get The Economist, check out "Negative Campaigning-Attacks ads in America" from October 5th

The Washington Post also has an interesting article

Negative Campaign Ads

Negative campaign ads seem to be the main theme of the 2006 elections. Do they affect how you vote? How and why?

You Tube and Google-Giant Merger

Google and You Tube are my buddies. I mean, I refer to them as if they were people I hang out with on a regular basis. "Yeah, that Google, he told me the most hysterical thing about how shrimp have walking legs and swimming legs." Or, "you would not believe what You Tube showed me today. Have you seen the political ads for Vernon Robinson? Man, You Tube really blew me away with that one!" So, to me, it just makes sense that my two good friends, Google and You Tube, would get along so well that they want to work together, too.

On a more serious note, I wonder if Google may be stretching too far. On the one hand, Google will help fund You Tube, a site that was having trouble gaining revenue from adverts. Google can help protect You Tube from lawsuits and such. On the other hand, Google has blogs, email, search, maps, calendars and so much more. They want to organize the world's resources in one long, but fell swoop. At what point do they go from being an innovative industry leader to a hoarding industry giant? I am just not sure.

On a total side note, Google does feed its employees delicious foods. In CA, they have chefs cook fresh lunch for the Google employees and in other satellite office, they have lunch delivered. I hope the You Tube guys get some sweet, free food!

Do you feel like an engaged citizen?

Sometimes I am not sure I know what it means to be engaged citizen. I grew up loving the music and culture of the 60s and 70s, watching documentaries like Eyes on the Prize and others showing bra burning, shootings, sign carrying, boycotts, singing with arms linked and much more. My parents, grandparents and older friends shared their experiences of working with Dr. Martin Luther King, becoming conscientious objectors and attending rallies—much of this by their mid-twenties. To me, these people were politically engaged, taking action to support their beliefs.
In my mid-twenties, I have kept up with the news through NPR, the Times, the Post, The New Yorker and other such means. When I hear or read something I don’t understand, I seek out the answers. During elections, I watch the debates and try to visit each candidate’s websites to understand their positions. But I have encountered two issues that make me second-guess my political engagement: I have trouble acting on my beliefs because I am not sure I ever really know what is going on and, even if I did feel confident in the information I received, I would not have the first clue how to go out there and change things.
In sum, I would say I am an engaged citizen in that I care and seek to understand what is happening in the world around me but my inability/unwillingness to take action as a voter in a democratic nation disappoints me. I feel that I am somehow neglecting my duties by keeping quiet. Perhaps I use these excuses as a cop out, preventing me from acting on a conviction and then having to admit I am wrong, should that be the case. Or, perhaps the world has changed and activism no longer affects the world as it once did. Either way, what good is it to know and to feel strongly about current events if I don’t do anything about it?

Question du jour:

Do you feel like an engaged citizen? Do you think most people your age are the same? Why or Why not?

Amy's Response
Mel's Response