Blog Post #4: EOTO Project (CD's)

 Blog Post #4: EOTO (CD's)

(62+ thousand compact disc royalty-free images, stock photos & Pictures).

 

 

 

 

  The History of CDs

(James Russell (compact disk).

Computer Timeline writes that James Russell grew tired of his vinyl records breaking down after prolonged use. Due to his time at Reed College and his job as a physicist, he was proficient with digital data, and decided he would invent a way to listen to music without the use of a stylus dragging on the top of the vinyl record (James Russell (compact disk)). Thus, the CD, or compact disc, was invented in 1979 by James Russell. 

The idea of the CD was evolved through many different "looks" before designers settled on the shiny, circular one we use now, according to Digital Trends. This took over a year, when Sony and Phillips finalized the "red book" standard, which entailed, "a 120mm diameter disc bearing music at a resolution of 16 bit/44.1kHz" (Waniata). Although it was nearly perfected, the CD would not begin to be distributed full-scale until 1983. 

In 1979, Sony and Phillips began creating prototype CDs to show "technology enthusiasts" in both Europe and Japan. After many consumer tests, the company decided that "a thin, shiny and circular storage disc, which could hold about 80 minutes of music and could be put in a CD player to play music out loud" would be their best option (History of the CD: 40 years of the compact disc).

This so-called distribution would occur in Japan in October of 1982 through the CD player called the Sony CDP-101, and prices for this new technology went as high as one thousand dollars. Six years later, the CD surpassed vinyl sales, and then the cassette in 1991. CDs soon became the number-one way to to store and play music. They also were regarded as a safer alternative for storing music long-term due to the fact that they were smaller and less fragile than vinyl records.

(Dands' metallica collection - promos).

Around this time, the packaging for CDs began to change due to the fact that its current packaging was causing 18.5 million pounds of extra trash per year, and "due to public outcry" the packaging was changed to the ones we see now in compact, well-designed cases. They were originally in "longbox" cases which were "six-inch by twelve-inch casings of cardboard and plastic." CD cases were designed like this to prevent quick thefts as well as make it easier to flip through groups of CDs. But, they were redesigned and to continue to prevent theft, magnetized security stickers were added to the plastic "jewel-cases" (History of the CD: 40 years of the compact disc).

 

 

 The Impact of CDs 

 The invention of CDs changed how the world listened to and stored music. According to the College Media Network, 'The compact disc, AKA the CD, revolutionized the way music was recorded, produced, and presented" (Inventions That Changed Music: The Compact Disc). CDs, at first, only held music, but eventually graduated to holding videos as well. Through the use of Walkman, consumers could walk around with portable CD players, and the music industry liked the idea of, "More data storage and smaller surface area meant longer songs and more tracks per album" (Inventions That Changed Music: The Compact Disc). Radio stations were able to control music at a quicker pace, and CDs were now able to be used for promotional tools in a way that vinyls and cassette tapes were not.

Some problems that CDs solved were creating safer ways to store music, as well as promote music. But eventually, the way that CDs booted vinyls and cassettes, ended happening to CDs as well through streaming services. CD production hit an all-time record high in the year 2000, when a billion discs were shipped around the United States. But since then, CD sales have plummeted by 95 percent, due to the use of streaming services. 

But, since 2021, CDs as well as vinyls and cassettes have become more popular again due to collectors wanting to cherish "physical souvenirs" (How the Compact Disc Changed the Music Industry). 

In closing, I will always be the person who keeps the CD economy running. I have always purchased my favorite artist's CDs and I play them in my car, because thankfully I have a car with a CD player. There is just something so fun, for me personally, to collect CDs and listen to them. So, it makes me very happy to know that CDs are making a comeback, and I hope they continue to do so.

Works Cited

“62+ Thousand Compact Disc Royalty-Free Images, Stock Photos & Pictures.” Shutterstock, www.shutterstock.com/search/compact-disc. Accessed 29 Jan. 2024.

Dands’ Metallica Collection - Promos, www.metcollectors.com/dands/promos/promo_albums.html. Accessed 29 Jan. 2024.

“History of the CD: 40 Years of the Compact Disc.” Newsround, BBC, 12 Mar. 2019, www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47441962.

“Inventions That Changed Music: The Compact Disc.” College Media Network, www.collegemedianetwork.com/inventions-that-changed-music-the-compact-disc/. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024.

“James Russell (Compact Disk).” Computer Timeline, www.computer-timeline.com/timeline/james-russel-compact-disk/. Accessed 29 Jan. 2024.

Miller, Kirk. “How the Compact Disc Changed the Music Industry.” InsideHook, 2 Mar. 2023, www.insidehook.com/music/compact-discs-changed-music-industry.

Waniata, Ryan. “The Life and Times of the Late, Great CD .” Digital Trends, 7 Feb. 2018, www.digitaltrends.com/music/the-history-of-the-cds-rise-and-fall/.

 

Blog Post #3: The Eight Values of Free Expression

(Watchdog Journalism).

What is the Watchdog Role?

The American Press Institute writes that "just over half (54 percent) think it's important that the press' act as a watchdog'" (Holding power accountable: The press and the public). But, according to the "Eight Values of Free Expression" from our constitution's First Amendment, one of the most critical is the "Check on Governmental Power" or the Watchdog Role of the American people and the press. The number of people who feel that the press has to monitor the government and call out the government for its missteps is dwindling. Even worse than this is the dwindling number of people who feel they also have the right to speak up about the government and make their voices heard. The American public believes that they have the right to question political figures, whether that be federal, state, or local, but only "thirty-four percent say that they are extremely confident they could question political leaders, thirty-five percent are moderately confident, and thirty percent are not too or at all confident" (Holding power accountable: The press and the public). 

 

The Watchdog Role of the media became highly prevalent during the 1960s when they began to "hold politicians accountable when they misbehave or try to deceive the public" (When did the media become a "watchdog?"). This was attributed to the Vietnam War and the public's reaction to the government's handling of it. But, this watchdog role has always existed in our American society, dating far back from the 1960s, and is known as one of the "Eight Values of Free Expression." 

The Division of the Watchdog Role

(Dog clipart images - free download on Freepik).

There is a split division between the American people's role in being watchdogs and our press. 

Firstly, the press is protected under the First Amendment and allowed to publish whatever they choose unless it blatantly violates the First Amendment. Most news organizations are private entities; thus, "they are free to promote whatever political, social, or economic view they wish" (The media's role as Watchdogs). Just as we learned about "prior restraint," there is also a concept of "prior review," which means that "news organizations cannot be ordered to let government agencies or officials review reporting before it is published" (The media's role as Watchdogs). This was how the American government found themselves in situations such as Watergate because the press was allowed to publish whatever they felt necessary to be shared with the public for the greater American good. 

Speaking of the American public, they also play a role in watchdog media. When they receive these pieces of information, they are allowed to have a reaction to the news they are receiving. This is how certain political leaders get voted out of office, or free and fair protests begin. It is all one big cycle of the American public keeping their voices heard and ensuring that their government does not become too big or too powerful.  

Real-Life Examples of the Watchdog Role

Back in the year of 2018, FBI Agent Peter Strzok was fired after text messages were leaked between him and a coworker discussing their dislike of former President Trump and, to make matters worse, exposing an affair between him and a female agent. You may think they are free to believe this way because of their First Amendment rights, but because Agent Strzok was working on the FBI's Russian collusion investigation, he was removed from the case and eventually fired from his job. The coming months were filled with congressional hearings and a sudden public distaste for the FBI. No one would have known of these illicit messages without the help of the American press' urge to keep all aspects of our government clean and the public's reaction that caused the government to, essentially, investigate itself to prevent a situation like this from happening again (Peter Strzok: How anti-trump texts ruined the career of the FBI's...). 

 My Personal Experience with the Watchdog Role

I felt that, for me, this was one of the most critical values listed for our "Eight Values of Free Expression" was the ability to "Check on Government Power" or the Watchdog Role. I spent much of my life being exposed to news in some format, and this has impacted how I view government and my beliefs.

 

In the past few years, I have witnessed how social media has impacted public perception of what is happening worldwide. I have seen my friends spread disinformation without knowing. The "Watchdog Role" is losing its power or abusing its ability to inform the American public when social media-based news organizations provide incorrect information and sway how they feel. 

 

Stanford University wrote that "Democratic governments are now seized with the fact that digital information platforms have been exploited by malign actors to spread propaganda and disinformation, wreaking havoc on democratic elections and eroding trust in the digital information realm" (What to know about disinformation and how to address it). There are now people who place either zero faith in the press or those who trust them too much and do not discern what they are hearing. They ignore it or take it at face value.

 

I feel that this theory causes the "watchdog role" to become less potent in keeping our government honest when we cannot even be sure we are receiving the truth of what they are doing in D.C.

 

Works Cited

“Dog Clipart Images - Free Download on Freepik.” Freepik, www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/dog-clipart. Accessed 24 Jan. 2024.

“The Media’s Role as Watchdogs.” Freedom Forum, 22 June 2023, www.freedomforum.org/freedom-of-press/the-medias-role-as-watchdogs/.

Peter Strzok: How Anti-Trump Texts Ruined the Career of the FBI’s ..., www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/you-stepped-in-it-here-how-anti-trump-texts-ruined-the-career-of-the-fbis-go-to-agent/2018/08/13/eb1868be-9401-11e8-a679-b09212fb69c2_story.html. Accessed 24 Jan. 2024.

Team, API. “Holding Power Accountable: The Press and the Public.” American Press Institute, 17 Nov. 2023, americanpressinstitute.org/holding-power-accountable-the-press-and-the-public/.

University, Stanford. “What to Know about Disinformation and How to Address It.” Stanford News, 22 Apr. 2022, news.stanford.edu/2022/04/13/know-disinformation-address/.

“Watchdog Journalism.” The New York Times, The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/column/learning-whats-going-on-in-this-picture. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.

When Did the Media Become a “Watchdog?,” daily.jstor.org/when-did-the-media-become-a-watchdog/. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.

 Blog Post #2: The Supreme Court

(Free stock photos, pngs, templates & mockups).

 During my sophomore year of high school, I had to take two semester's worth of American History classes, and out of all the things I learned that year, the one that stuck with me was the legal case of Marbury v. Madison. I always remembered that the Supreme Court had an undeniable ability to set legal precedents and interpret the law like no other legal court on Earth can do. But, after watching these videos, I realized that I had misunderstood how the Supreme Court uses its power and how the American public has misjudged what the nine justices do. 

What I Learned About the Supreme Court

(Checks and Balances Image).

After watching the videos on the Supreme Court and reading through the article about the Supreme Court, I gained new perspectives on the court that I had not considered before. The first thing that stuck out to me was when the video stated that the Supreme Court's "power rests on public faith" (Comm3390 Supreme Court, pt. 1). I find this to still be true to this day because if the public does not have faith in or believe in the strength of the Supreme Court to adjudicate for the Constitution, then we have lost a pillar of our country. I feel like a lot of people saw that last summer when our current Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and there were widespread protests across the country and new calls to "pack the court." That entails disposing of the odd number of justices, nine, and creating an even number, which would politicize the court and make it harder to find fairness and no bias in the law. 

 

Something else that I enjoyed learning about in the video was Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's experience of presenting in front of the court for the first time. I can't even begin to understand how nervous she felt, but then she explained that it dawned on her, two minutes in, that she had their complete and undivided attention for thirty minutes. It made me feel grateful that we have a court in this country comprised of highly educated individuals willing to sit and listen to both sides for about an hour and then ask hard but essential questions to provide a fair and just ruling. Before watching those videos, I had yet to consider how long the process takes or the differences between the Supreme Court and a typical court. 

 

(William Howard Taft).

The final information I learned from the article was that a former U.S. president has served as a Supreme Court Justice. I had read about President Taft before, but I never learned that he was also a member of the Supreme Court. He must have been an extraordinarily admirable and well-respected leader to have been in both important positions.

 

 

 

The Importance of the Supreme Court

If there is one thing to be understood about the Supreme Court, it is that it is vital to this country. It contributes to our system of checks and balances and keeps the U.S. Constitution at the forefront of our country's laws. The most important takeaway for me was that as the Supreme Court grows older and hears more and more cases, this becomes its advantage. The justices learn from their past rulings, and the importance of the Constitution becomes even more prevalent. In the interview with A.E. Dick Howard, they state that they have "200 years of history, of detachment, in which we can see the folly of some ideas, the wisdom of others" (Comm3390 Supreme Court, pt. 1). The nine justices continually learn from previous or overturned legal precedent, and this helps them use the Constitution and learn from what the Founding Fathers intended our country to stand for.

A Surprise from the Supreme Court

(Comm3390 Supreme Court, pt. 1).

 The most surprising takeaway from the video I got was the sheer volume of petitions the court receives each year, and they only end up hearing a small portion of them. A lot of pressure falls on deciding which cases they feel have validity, and it makes me wonder if that causes them to overthink situations or regret their decisions later on. I guess it would be impossible to know if you made the right decision, and they just have to hope that they are doing their jobs the best they can and upholding the Constitution.  

 

In Conclusion

In closing, I learned a lot from the two videos and the article, and it also helped me gain a new perspective. I respect how hard they all have to work to garner that position and how they are always at risk of public scrutiny, but they must remain firm in their beliefs, stay without bias, and uphold their Constitution. When watching the video, it was nice to see how they all have mutual respect and get along well outside of the "work" setting. I also enjoyed seeing how open they are with the work they have to do and letting the American people see how their processes work. There is a total show of transparency. I always thought very highly of the Supreme Court, but after watching these videos and reading the article, I find their work interesting.

Works Cited

“Checks and Balances Image.” Newsela, newsela.com/. Accessed 21 Jan. 2024.

“Comm3390 Supreme Court, Pt. 1.” YouTube, YouTube, 11 Sept. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWRoXYRsaeo.

“Comm3390 Supreme Court, Pt. 2.” YouTube, YouTube, 13 Sept. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca8qSuWxcG8.

“Free Stock Photos, Pngs, Templates & Mockups.” Rawpixel, www.rawpixel.com/. Accessed 21 Jan. 2024.

“Supreme Court.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/us-government-and-politics/supreme-court-facts. Accessed 21 Jan. 2024.

“William Howard Taft.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 4 Dec. 2023, www.britannica.com/biography/William-Howard-Taft.

 Blog Post #1: My Top Five Sources of News and Information

   Ever since I was young, I remember eating breakfast before school while my mother put on the seven o'clock morning news or my father came home from work and immediately put on the national news. I found that my parents' habits would come to help later on in life when we had Model UN teams in eighth grade, and I was the only one who knew who the Secretary of Defense was or when we had current events discussions in high school. But, at the same time, I have watched, in a way, the downfall of the news. It has become heavily scrutinized from all sides, and the term "bias" is thrown around like a football. Because of this, I have become more picky about staying educated through the news, especially when I am away from my parent's daily habits and television in general. These are my top five sources of news and information.  

#1: The Today Show

 (Free Vector Logo Today Show).

One of the first memories I have relating to the news is watching The Today Show at 7 am every morning before school. The opening sounds of the show could probably wake me from a dead slumber. I enjoy watching The Today Show because it takes you through all the current events in a timely manner. They cover all the most important national and international news, pop culture, and local weather by 7:30 am. Most syndicated news shows, nowadays, will spend an hour just discussing one topic, such as politics or war, and for someone who does not have much time for news during the week, it is easier to get it all in quick bites and then research further on something I want to know more about or do not understand. I recommend The Today Show because it is a lively program with more than just news. On Halloween, they do skits and even show new recipes or shopping deals later in the program. It is quite nice to just leave on in the background and it will keep you well-informed and entertained at the same time. 

#2: Fox News

(File:Fox News Channel logo.svg).

This channel was typically my parent's news outlet of choice towards the end of the day. I am not the biggest fan of this channel because I find it highly biased if I watch it live. There is a more comedic "late-night" show at 10 pm that is more enjoyable, but it is also not news-based. If I go directly to their website, I can find more news than they typically report on-air. I like this form of news because their website is easy to navigate, and similarly to The Today Show, it gives me a solid start to research current events that I would like to stay informed about. Fox News has interesting sections about AI or True Crime if readers do not want to learn about politics. There is a common misconception that when you watch the news, it has to be boring, but the news can become very interesting if you diversify what you are reading about or where you are reading it. I recommend this website if you want to gain a new perspective or learn something new that you can then choose to research elsewhere, but at least you have learned something new.

 

#3: The Daily Mail 

(Colorado Women's Health: University of Colorado). 

As much as I enjoy staying current on current events, I also love tabloid information, like who wore which designer at an awards show or which celebrity couple broke up. I remember there was a mix-up at our post office one year, and we got People Magazine for a few months, which I loved; my mother did not as much. Every morning, when I check my Snapchat, I scroll through the Daily Mail widget for about ten minutes. I rarely find something extraordinarily informative or valuable to discuss in a conversation. However, sometimes, I find it pleasant to read less severe topics or topics that are more interesting than particularly informative. They do sometimes have current events when they are incredibly current. For example, when the murders happened at the University of Idaho last year, the Daily Mail would run articles regarding emerging details about the case, or they run stories about former President Trump's trial. I recommend The Daily Mail to anyone who wants to stay informed about topics such as pop culture or true crime. Unfortunately, if you want to find a news source with solid journalism, it would not be The Daily Mail. They will take small details from important news and report on that, but if you want the whole story, you must read elsewhere. However, if you want to fulfill your tabloid craving, The Daily Mail is for you!

#4: My Parents

(Stock images, photos, vectors, video, and music).

(Stock images, photos, vectors, video, and music).

(Just for immediate clarification, this is not an actual image of my parents.) My parents have kept me informed since I was a child, as I have written about for my first two sources of news and information. When I am away at school, they will send me news articles on topics they think I should know about, or when I call to talk to them on the phone, my parents will tell me about the local news at home or what they heard on the national news at night. They both believe it is crucial to stay in the know when I am away at school, and they do not want me to fall into a state of naivete just because I go to school behind a fence. I like this way of gathering information because it helps me stay educated and keep some semblance of home routines when I am away from home. I recommend talking to parents or other family members to stay informed about the news if you feel too busy to tune into live TV or read online, which is understandable. An easy way to supplement this is to talk to family members and learn something new.

 

#5: Social Media

(Free stock photos, pngs, templates & mockups).

My final choice for gathering news and information is ranked last for a reason. I know this is a highly disreputable source, and I typically do not seek out my information from here, but if you stay online for long enough, you will find news. I will see friends repost information or spread awareness on their accounts, which will prompt me to learn more about it, but I rarely trust social media to give me the whole story. What I enjoy about learning about current events through social media apps such as TikTok or Instagram is that it can make the topic more amusing. However, this should not be the only news source and should probably be a last resort. I recommend social media for information or news if you wish to spread awareness about a topic or are already well-informed about worldly events.

 

 

 

 In closing, these are my top five sources for news and information. Most news should come from recognized news outlets, and a proper understanding of current events comes from diversifying your sources and talking to others to understand what is happening in our world. In the coming years, the news outlets I like to get my news from will shift, which is okay as long as I stay informed. Social media will always stay last unless social media drastically changes, but for now, it is widely acknowledged that misinformation runs rampant there. 

Links:

“Colorado Women’s Health: University of Colorado.” Colorado Womens Health, 2 Aug. 2022, coloradowomenshealth.com/.

“File:Fox News Channel Logo.Svg.” Wikimedia Commons, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fox_News_Channel_logo.svg. Accessed 20 Jan. 2024.

“Free Stock Photos, Pngs, Templates & Mockups.” Rawpixel, www.rawpixel.com/. Accessed 20 Jan. 2024.

“Free Vector Logo Today Show.” Today Show Logo, Vector Logo of Today Show Brand Free Download (Eps, Ai, Png, Cdr) Formats, www.logotypes101.com/logo/today-show-5. Accessed 19 Jan. 2024.

“Stock Images, Photos, Vectors, Video, and Music.” Shutterstock, www.shutterstock.com/. Accessed 20 Jan. 2024. 

https://www.today.com/

https://www.foxnews.com/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.html

https://www.instagram.com/?hl=en

https://www.tiktok.com/explore