killa app paper 4

The revolution for note taking is evolving! Writers, scholars, and businessmen alike must look at yet another Internet based service, Evernote, and shout, “Finally! Why didn’t Google think of this already?” Evernote is a web-based service/software application that simplifies daily note taking. The service allows connectivity from different platforms, can be installed on both PCs and Macs, a mobile phone application or simply their website. Evernote provides an intuitive user interface that allows recording and accessing of notes from most web-connected devices, while keeping them all constantly in sync.

Evernote allows for a user to quickly store valuable information with the click of a button. It involves three simple steps of capture, recognition, and search. For example when a scholar is doing a research project on Pol Pot, one simply has to highlight all relevant information, click the Evernote button on the toolbar and the note is stored!(Reference Slideshow; Slides 10-13). Once a note is stored the library sync’s itself and data can be searched on any medium a user wishes, whether it be via web- access or mobile phone. There are multiple ways a user can get a note into Evernote. One can drag-n-drop, create, snap, clip, email, scan, record and even tweet a reminder into your notes which is pretty cool.

Evernote is yet another web 2.0 product to grow insurmountably in the last few years. The software was created by an independent, privately held company headquartered in Mountain View California. Born in October 2006, Evernote has made tremendous progress forward since its creation. The idea was grasped by Stepan Pachikov, the same founder as former “Parascript” and is an achievement to having founded multiple tools in a growing technological era. Evernote also includes the capability to recognize text from within in pictures thanks to Ritescript, a division of Evernote which allows for handwriting recognition and digital ink technology. Hopefully the future of this resource will be as promising as the functionality today, with more breakthrough recognition software from its Ritescript division!

This application is used by both Students and the business world alike. Evernote’s functionality includes a large spectrum of capabilities that allows a user to store virtually any thought, anywhere. Various ways people use the software include tasks and to-do lists, Store notes and organize research, clip web pages, snap a picture of whiteboards, log your favorite wine label when out to dinner our your local restaurant and even to keep track of contacts via business cards. In the business world it is hard to keep a list of contacts up to date. With Evernote a user is able to simply lay out all the business cards, take a snapshot and store it into their library. Evernote’s digital recognition allows for a user to then search through their contacts once the data has been indexed. (See Slideshow). Other common ways this tool can be used is to keep track of recipes, store music and software serial numbers, blog posts or even where you parked the car.

There are many helpful student oriented tools on the internet which are all made possible by web 2.0. Research has skyrocketed tremendously due to the growth of the internet and the ability to share information worldwide. Often the hardest task for a student is keep notes in an organized fashion. With Evernote every piece of information entered into the database is stored in an ordered manner. For example when a user clips a section of text from the internet, Evernote arranges it exactly as copied as well as includes the web source above to always have a point of reference.

Mobile devices also have the capability to incorporate Evernote software which expands the range of note taking. On a mobile device a user is able to snap pictures, text or even record voice notes and shoot them directly into your library. For example say you are walking down Jefferson Boulevard and you see an interesting add on the bus-stop which you want to blog about it when you return to your work station. Simply snap a picture on your mobile device, send the picture into your Evernote library and you are able to search for it at a later time. Currently Evernote only allows mobile devices which host windows mobile or the iphone to use its services. In terms of the future of this tool hopefully users will be able to download a blackberry application that syncs to a “cloud,” and that offers the same functionality as an iphone. This poses a problem for the business world which is overloaded with blackberries. I personally have a blackberry so don’t panic, there is a work around. Despite not being able to install Evernote onto your blackberry you can simply install the twitter application and send notes to your library via tweets. (See Slideshow; Slides 16-17).

Evernote’s key functionality is its ability to been store information from all mediums including applications such as Twitter or an email providers. Social bookmarking websites have become extremely popular as of late. Media websites such as Twitter are expanding its community of followers faster than the Tiger Woods can win another major. Non-the-less the ability to use twitter as a medium to store notes is an added benefit of Evernote’s versatility. A user simple has to follow “myen” on twitter; link the Evernote account with the twitter account and boom, a user can begin “tweeting” notes to one self. (See Slideshow; Slide 15 for visual). For example twitter allows for messages to be broadcasted to an individual’s followers. However you can also “tweet” privately by changing the setting from public to private. A user simple has to include “@myen” anywhere in the tweet and it automatically stores a copy in your database. Evernote also works in a similar fashion with note saving via email. Simply include “@myen” anywhere in the email and a copy is saved in your Evernote library. A Library which can be accessed virtually on any device making a user’s database available in anywhere!

FREE, FREE, FREE, FREE, FREE! That is the price of Evernote. This valuable resource is available for use for free which is quite remarkable in this day and age where even a mere trip to the library seems to cost you a penny here and there. Evernote does however monetize the tool by giving a user the option to upgrade his or her account for $5 per month/ $45 a year. The difference between the two versions is slight and I suggest going with the free version. If you are considering upgrading your account one of the advantages is boosting your monthly upload allowance from 40GB to 500GB which is quite drastic depending on how much uploading a user might inquire. Added benefits of a paid premium version also include SSL encryption, priority image recognition, and skipping the advertisements on the various columns. Unless you are using Evernote to its maximum potential and need the bonus 460GB storage, I recommend the standard version which has the same functionality minus the additional cost. (Reference slideshow; Slide 18).

What about the competition? Indeed Evernote’s main competition for note taking software is none other than Microsoft’s OneNote. When comparing the two resources I found differences right off the bat. First and foremost OneNote is not as appealing as Evernote aesthetically. OneNote’s user interface feels much like a Word doc while Evernote seems to have a more user friendly, itunes feel to it. In regards to the functionality both programs allow for text recognition however Evernote has much better workability. Evernote allows for handwriting/image recognition and auto-import, while OneNote does not include such features. Web clipping is much more accurate in Evernote compared to OneNote in terms of formatting and speed. The most important aspect which boosts Evernote superior to Microsoft’s OneNote is pricing. OneNote licensing fees can be quite costly running a single user roughly $75 per license while Evernote is absolutely free. Also let’s not forget with Evernote a user is able to access his or her library from virtually anywhere. (Reference Slideshow; Slide 19).

Excitement is an understatement when referring to the Evernote! I am hopeful that my readers will use this tool as a resource when researching political power around the world. I strongly believe that this tool is the most powerful web 2.0 resource I could introduce you, my readers to. This is a tool you can use not only in an educational setting but also in the business world and even in the social context. I encourage my readers to use Evernote in blogging, storing important notes, or simply remembering your favorite beer when out for a night on the town. Technology has boosted society forward in such great ways so please take this tool and never “miss a note again!”


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future impact of research

Research in the field of power and genocide prevention is ongoing. It never fails for new topics to pop up throughout the world political scene. A scene which demonstrates a constant shift of power and a struggle to obtain it. Regions such as the Middle East including Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel and Palestine are constantly in a power struggle. As long as the world goes round there will be a study of powerful people changing history.

In terms of a future impact of research it is very promising. In the field of genocide there is a large group of scholars who yearn to understand what triggers political violence. Researchers from all backgrounds include psychology programs are concentrating on unraveling genocide. Genocide has multiple pre-determinants such as setting, timing and crisis milieu as well as the psychological aspect of parallels of marginality. By realizing and uncovering the reason why people act the way they do; motivational triggers, the world will become a safer place.

With this research I am hopeful that society can prevent another genocide from happening again because life is too valuable. The future of power shifts do not look to become any softer in the upcoming decades however long term it looks like the seeds are planted and the world is headed in the right direction. Currently with the economic crisis impacting a multitude of countries worldwide it is a dangerous time. The world community must continue its search of understanding what causes genocide before it appears again. The world is on the edge at the moment as countries such as Egypt, Lebanon and areas of Africa are ready to explode. Despite the current situation I am hopeful for a world of happiness. No one can say it better than John Lennon, “All we are saying... is GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.”

open post 2

The power to be influential is unique on multiple grounds. The power to change history forever classifies an individual in another category. Gaining power can be a quick processes or can build in and of it self on a slow timescale. However when applying these same techniques to recognize power outside of humanity and into technology we can see the power of the internet emerging at a pace unheard of before present day. The internet has in fact been the most powerful technological invention of modern day.

With the internet people are able to collaborate in a variety of ways. Using social bookmarking sites such as Delicious or Diigo it seems that those who have the most readers are in fact the most powerful. A common characteristic of a power position is often the spread of a message. A message that will change the way people feel, think, act and operate. The internet has allowed messages to be transferred around the world a million times faster than old times when a telegraph was the only alternative.

Web 2.0 has created a powerful wave which is taking over life as we know it. Everything has been affected by the web in a variety of ways. People don't go on dates until they read their profile online, you can select your groceries and have them delivered, and malls have been replaced by online shopping. Society is becoming more and more powerful as people have to work less frequent to satisfy their needs, Is it a good thing?

The key feature which really sets the internet apart as the most powerful technological advancement of the last two decades is the information. As great scholars such as Richard Dekmejian point out, power is where the center of knowledge. The web has allowed for information to move across the planet with lightening speed. Any kind of information is available to an individual who wants to obtain it. People have become smarter do to the internet and it has transformed the world forever. Imagine life without the power of the internet?

TANK :)

open post!

The web is a like a tiger in a jungle; untamed and adventurous. As the web has evolved over the years since it creation, which today seems as if it were the stone age. The web use to be filled with simple tools and very basic needs. Now and days those needs have been advanced and people need to do work faster, fry's electronics is aware of this as anyone from the computer geek, to the occasional web surfer is rushing in to buy more RAM. With increased speeds came increased capability. A capability to create add-ons, advanced software's and applications which have become a tremendous resource to the average person.

Schools have complete had to change curriculum with the electronic boom. The Web has impacted all levels of education from pre-school to PhD programs. Software such as turn-it-in.com is needed to prevent plagiarism because such a difficult thing to do a decade ago is now as easy as 2 clicks of a mouse.

Web designers and IT specialists are creating new tools for society to use everyday. But is our life better with the evolution of resources such as Wikipedia, googlepedia or evernote?... It sure is easier! The newspaper is somehow becoming a thing of the past as every piece of daily life seems to have switched into the electronic world. A world that is ever growing and expanding faster than society can imagine. The future holds great development in the web-based world and widgets will continue to make every facet of our lives easier.

TANK

wikipedia.... the ultimate web 2.0 tool.

I have switched gears recently and decided that world leaders and their interaction are very often documented by web 2.0 applications. A common and often overlooked function is Wikipedia.org. This is a free encyclopedia which is constantly being updated and edited by thousands of volunteers worldwide. Wikipedia.org seems to be the LeBron of web 2.0 tools receiving 684 million viewers last year!
Power is what makes the world go round. World leaders can make the world ponder the influence of power. With the introduction of web 2.0 to the masses some years ago tools such as Wikipedia have offered a valuable source of information. For instance when a user searches for any powerful world leader they get an array of background information that is otherwise not known to the reader. This is of utmost importance as politics is a game of context and timing. One may never understand the way decision are made in present day without taking a look at the history of the subject. Wikipedia allows a user to quickly understand any topic, idea or world leader with the click of a button and has completely revolutionized learning in a web 2.0 world.
Wikipedia got its name from two different stems one being “wiki” and the other being “encyclopedia.” This unique term coined as “Wikipedia” is a transition from the ordinary “encyclopedia” to a new era web based application which incorporates collaboration for a higher standard of information. Wikipedia has been around since 2001 and is a online search portal created for optimal search experience. It is extremely user friendly in its setup of collaborative knowledge. Growing into one of the top reference websites throughout the world wide web Wikipedia is commonly referred to as a “life saver.”

You can use Wikipedia in a multitude of manners from quick searches to linking of terms. For example if you search for arguably the most powerful person in the world today, Barack Obama, a profile of the 44th president of the United States pops up. It breaks the page up into 9 great sections. Starting with an introduction on top and then detailed subheadings to follow. From his early life to his political career, including pictures, political opinions, family life and cultural videos. The profile for Barack is so extensive that it includes notes on the bottom half of the page to reference the information above as well as suggested further reading. It is remarkable how much knowledge one may obtain from a single web page.

In relation to world politics and analyzing power positions throughout the world Wikipedia plays a tremendous role. It allows a reader of a blog, news article, book reader etc. to add context to the information presented on the other medium of information. Context is perhaps the most important aspect of power. With Wikipedia answers are instant and within 5 minutes a topic can become familiarized and makes it appear as if you were the class nerd. It ultimately makes history a heck of a lot easier to understand without digging through piles of text. The last function Wikipedia does the best is provide further reading and links to sources for additional information. When an individual uses such an application research becomes easy and enjoyable. Politics is extremely complex but web 2.0 tools such as Wikipedia are making the world spin a lot faster and knowledge is flowing with the edit of a volunteer.

how useful are widget!?!

Widgets are incredibly useful tool that every blog must include in order to be complete. I found a handful of widgets all extremely useful to you my audience. The goal of my blog is not only to inform you about how important it is to have a smart leader in a political position but also to keep you updated on recent events. The blog has recent shifted gears like a 1970's hot rod.

Genocide's are the deadliest events the humanity has ever come across. It strikes emotions not only from non governmental organizations but with the world community as well. Understanding the root of genocide means comprehending the politics behind the position.

News is constantly changing; Political news is frequently being refreshed. With the help of a widget such as this one a research truly the latest news while being able to put this source on an accessible place. A widget can be added to not only a blog, but to a web site or any medium which allows add-ons. The widget I found was created by NDN. The functionality of the widget is very much like a You-Tube but only for political videos. My audience will be able to search for key words such as "President Obama's view on genocide," or "Human Rights Watch," which is also an added bonus. You would also find national organizations and a whole list of perspectives regarding the issue.

I am hopeful that once I add this to my blog and my readers will use it find further detail related to the discussion already taking place. If you need political news and you like the streaming video this widget is for you. My audience, with the help of this widget, will be able to understand the varying aspects that make genocide possible including leadership, game theory,and an assortment of causal factors. I would like to thank NDN for creating such a useful widget and I cannot wait to use it in the future.

widgetbox

There are many great tools to use which are all made possible thanks to web 2.0. Research areas have skyrocketed tremendously due to the growth of the internet. As i was looking upon widgetbox.com I was able to stumble across a political "video search widget." This widget was specifically designed for a user to be able to search for key words and tags in political videos. Whether you are looking for Obama's speech on the economy or political discussion about the health of the environment this widget is there to help you.
The "Video Search Widget" was created by News Distribution Network (NDN). They included a number of patent search methods such as voice recognition technology which allows users to search within videos to find keywords, people and issues.
This widget is composed of the largest collection of professionally syndicated video. It is a great source for those interested in politics to browse the web for news in the form of video. Video in itself offers a distinctive medium of news unlike radio. With video there is a visual aspect that helps a politician connect emotionally with his or her viewers. Transmitting a message is all about timing and appearance. Through the NDN widget I was able to view the most recent news on a personal level.
The idea of a widget is nothing new to the technological world. In fact it has been around for quite some time. For one reason or another I have never come across personally using a widget for informational use. Coming across a widget such as the News Distribution network political video widget is a steal! I will definitely add this widget to my blog so that readers can use it to keep up with the latest political news around the world.
News is constantly changing; Political news is frequently being refreshed. With the help of a widget such as this one a research truly the latest news while being able to put this source on an accessible place. A widget can be added to not only a blog, but to a web site or any medium which allows add-ons.
This widget is also great because it is like a You-Tube but only for political videos. Being able to search for key words is also an added bonus. For example if I was search for news on global warming and type that into the “search” field I would receive a whole range of videos from senators viewpoints on the issue to the president acknowledging the issues at hand and the possibilities that society can unfold. You would also find national organizations and a whole list of perspectives regarding the issue.
I am so excited to add this to my blog and hopefully my readers will use it to discusses further detail as to the material discussed in my blog. If you need political news and you like the streaming video this widget is for you. I would like to thank NDN for creating such a useful widget and I cannot wait to use it in the future.

A tribunal serves the purpose of serving justice to a member of society who has committed crimes against humanity. Cambodia’s genocide is a distinctive case which takes a whole assembly of members who participated in the genocide. In terms of justice, it is served when the tribunals sentence all of the leaders who carried out the orders of Pol pot as their leader. The question on the floor of many scholarly authors is how we can prosecute these murderers with few evidence besides the testimony of eye witnesses.

One author Preez, Wilhelmus Petrus Du in his book Genocide: The Psychology of Mass Murder talks in depth regarding what these guards were thinking as they stood by and both physically and mentally tortured the estimated two million plus victims. The author, a psychologist of human behavior, presents his findings on the motivation behind Mass Murders. The book that discusses the relationship between genocide and the psychology behind the act. The author seeks to unravel the questions of why people commit the crimes that they do and what is the intent behind their action. It builds on what takes place behind the minds of these leaders. It also puts genocide in an interesting context by framing it as something of the present day and not something of the past.

This portion focuses on where the future of genocide is heading for the world communities. It is extremely important to understand why genocide has happened in the past in order to solve the upcoming dilemmas of the future. The author concludes his thesis by demonstrating that there is a method to this madness that society must look to unfold. I would like to pose the question of the psychology of serving justice and how society should deal with these murderers. The psychology behind forgiving and serving justice would take the idea of tribunals to a new level. By analyzing what truly affects those who took the lives of so many is the important goal and ultimately what punishment serves revenge.

Another recent issue came up with the recent tribunals of the Khmer Rouge leader known as “Duch.” He was a leader who oversaw the main torture prison known as Tuol Sleng. The author Grant Peck of a recent article from the associated press discusses how disabled victims feel about the tribunal. As the article goes on it discusses the hardship of the victims to view the murderer who caused so much harm to their families. The ease comes because this time the victims see “Duch” being persecuted.

The biggest stronghold of the recent arguments being documented by scholarly Authors is the evidence being brought into these trials. For the most part authors focus on the ability to bring evidence into the trial to convict those who are indicated.

Michael P Scharf is the author of “Tainted Provenance: When, If Ever, Should Torture Evidence Be Admissible?” this article also focuses on the evidence being brought into the tribunals in the case of Cambodia. He talks about torture evidence not being allowed into the tribunals to prosecute leaders. This author is just another example of the continuing argument surrounding prosecution. None of these authors push it one step forward and debate whether or not justice is ever served from these tribunals, Only time will tell.

implications of argument

Do tribunals really work? In the case of Cambodia the tribunals seem to be serving the only glimpse of revenge society and better yet humanity can ask for. After genocide has already occurred there is not much one can do as the lives have already been lost, the hearts have already suffered and the culture has already been destroyed. Analyzing all aspects of genocide and pre-determinants is key to the process of “justice.” Justice can never be more served for the victims of a genocide if future genocides are prevented from ever occurring.

In the case of monstrous leaders, society has seen the worst of leadership through Cambodia’s recent history. A nation at the hands of a brutal destroyer who changed history forever can never forget the events that took place under the Khmer Rouge. Revenge in this scenario is an interesting question to ponder. Cambodian society desperately tries to forget and move on from what took place three decades ago. In fact Cambodia’s history in a sense relies on justice being served and the country moving on to a more prosperous future. Although revenge is a served in these tribunals it is the key for a better Cambodia and one step forward in moving past the history and preventing genocide in the future.

Posing the question of whether or not tribunals serve justice or not is the not the best approach but if often the argument. The fact is that there are not other alternatives. War crime tribunals are the only solution to serve revenge for a genocidal leader.

trbunals. justice or revenge?

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The intent of a monstrous genocidal leader’s psychological outlook on life must be analyzed prior to the justification of killing. Pol Pot traumatized the Cambodia people for decades to follow. Reminisce of the Khmer Rouge still strikes chills in native bones as they remember brutal times where 1 in 4 people died from starvation. Pol Pot stripped the essential rights to life, a civilized food source and took away any hope from a higher being by eliminating religion. Article II of the Genocide convention defines genocide as the intent to destroy either a national, ethical, racial or religious group in whole or in part. Pol Pot was able to exercise their pathological belief which they assembled during their youth due to the marginality of elites in their regime. He bared witness to the pressures of the crisis environment and were enticed to project a solution onto society which would change history forever. The adolescent experiences of Pol Pot induced a sense of paranoia, marginality and hatred which enabled him to use mass autocracies to carry out genocide on a targeted group. Those who commit crimes against humanity are often tried at a tribunal only to allow a small portion closer for the nation of those who have suffered.
Pol Pot created a lower class revolution in hopes of saving his people and revitalizing The Democratic Kampuchea. As Prime Minister Pol Pot’s agrarian ideology resulted in 1.5 to 3 million native Cambodians dead. He was the main architect of the brutal Khmer Rouge which carried out the genocide. In order to understand the root of the Cambodian Genocide one must identify Pol Pot’s influences as an adolescent and compare them to his actions as a leader. These events motivated him to implement a radical public policy to carry out terrorism against his own state; genocide.
Saloth Sar who later became known as Pol Pot, never forgot his family roots raised in a poor, rural village in Cambodia. He grew up with the social norm that, “Rich or poor everyone tilled the fields, fished the river, raised children and propitiated the local spirits.”(Kiernan 2002: 9). Pol Pot exercises this ideology as Prime minister for the foundation of the lower class agrarian revolution. “A people’s war is the most effective touchstone for distinguishing genuine from fake revolutionaries…The countryside and the countryside alone can provide the … bases from which the revolutionaries can go forward to final victory.”(Short 2005: 160). Starting at year zero and working from the bottom up will cleanse Cambodia for the better. A people’s revolution that would in turn devastate the group it intended to benefit.
Tribunals are often the way that political leaders accused of war crimes get tried. During these “truth ceremonies” it is extremely difficult times for the families of loved ones who have parished. The question then becomes are these tribunals working, and do they really serve justice? In the post-genocide period society is so distraught of the events which have taken place that there seems to be no outlet for justice. A life sentence, an execution, even a cry for apology acceptance does not bring back the valuable lives which were lost at a murders hands. In the case of Cambodia, one must ponder the question of when is justice served if it ever is? The crimes against humanity were so immense that the trauma is often difficult to overcome even centuries later.
Justice is much deeper of a problem. Genocides leave traces and impact society years after the even has already occurred that there seems to be no sense of solution to fix it. Pol Pot and the brutal Khmer Rouge were in power for around 3 year and have left a mark 10 times as great. Even when these tribunals take place and justice is served, as it has been throughout American history with a legislative system, it does not bring closer to the nation. Cambodia experienced the worst side of humanity the planet has ever seen and continues to suffer to this day. This brings up the question do tribunals really work and are they bringing justice and revenge to the people who need it the most? The answer to this is not whether or not tribunals work because it seems to be the only traditional solution, rather it would come with an alternative. There are no remedies that will reverse the acts that occurred more than 3 decades ago, not monetary, prison sentence or otherwise.
Often times genocides are heavily influenced by colonial powers. They enter the region, dominate and leave drawing political borders through cultural lines. The colonial French changed the infrastructure of Cambodia which opened the doors for foreign businessman. Roads, Railroads and were developed throughout the countries two largest cities of Phnom Penh and Battambang. Pol Pot stood witness to the indigenous rice economy being surpassed by the Chinese and Vietnamese economic boom in the cities creating a sense of marginality for Pol Pot and his Cambodians. As Saloth Sar was discouragement from speaking his native tongue coupled with the political changes taking place in the country, sparked his nationalism. In 1942 he laid witness to protests taking place in Phnom Penh to, “[To] the brutality of the French occupying forces and their presence in Cambodia.” (Koopmans 2005: 15) This was the first time Saloth saw the immense power of the Cambodian people resisting to be dominated culturally, physically and socially.
The Khmer Rouge’s motto stated “To keep you is no benefit, to destroy you is no loss… taunting the civilians by claiming only to need a few million in order to create an agrarian utopia and to completely revitalize Cambodia. (Fletcher 2008: 157). Fear which Pol Pot learned from Mao made his policies extremely effective and allowed genocide to onset the nation. Pol Pot witnessed the impact of communism’s prevalence during his studies in Paris. The Soviet Revolution was urban based while the Chinese Communist party leaves the idea of Marxists city revolution and pushes the masses to the countryside during “The Great March.” China was a huge source of weapons and monetary wealth at the hands of Pol Pots destiny. He would later use the Moaist concept of communism as a means to “save” the Cambodian people.
Pol Pot’s mentality of self reliance which he learned from his youth only worsened the situation by refusing humanitarian aid. Not until the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia had the world population realized what had taken place inside the state. Pol Pot fled with the remainder of his regime towards the Thailand border for shelter until Vietnam withdrew six years later. Pol Pot assassinated the successor to the Khmer Rouge regime for attempting to make peace with the new government along with eleven members of his family. He was later arrested by the Khmer Rouge and sentenced to house arrest where he died.
Leadership can be seen as the root to the pre-determinants of genocide. In the cases Pol Pot his early life experiences added to the list of historical antecedents resulting in genocide. examining each case closely a connection can be made which sparked the paranoia of each to label a certain group a political enemy. Pol Pot had a pathological obsession to execute psychological revenge on ethnic groups within the state as a backlash for the regime downfall
Once a leader psychologically has an auto genocide mindset it can become extremely dangerous. In the case of the Cambodian Genocide, Pol Pot Identified a portion of the states own people and classified them as political enemies. Not only did he identify the upper-middle class as political enemies but his misperception also led to the deaths of 1.5 to 3.0 million people. “Pol Pot never stepped from the path he chose to follow in the 1950’s and never spoke in detail about the price the Cambodian people paid to be subordinate to his vision. (Chandler 1992: 187). It is tragic that one mans hopes to save a nation turned and carried out the exact opposite by destroying a quarter of its population in the form of mass genocide. This case study is exactly what pathological leadership does to a country, society and ultimately to genocide.
One man’s vision cannot being to explain how much the nation of Cambodia suffered and continues to suffer to this day. Is there such a way to take revenge against a man of this caliber. Can humanity ever accept him as millions of innocent people were at the hands of a limitless pathological leader.
One may never understand what truly causes an individual to implement destruction of a group as its public policy. By analyzing genocidal leaders from a psychological standpoint brings insight as to what triggered that leader to carry out genocide. War crime tribunals are the common way to convict a murderer and bring justice to society however it does not always work. In relation revenge can never be taken against those who commit the worst crime against humanity, genocide, because a single life does not substitute for all those who were lost. History portrays through the cases of Pol Pot that fear, paranoia and marginality during adolescent stages of life create monstrous murders when given capacity to totally wipe out opposition in violent interactions. The world must look to Raphael Lemkin’s Law and reinforce the meaning of “Never Again” as humanity cannot forget the past and lay witness to another genocide.
Works Cited
Bellaigue, Christopher D. "The Terminated." The New York Times 4 Feb. 2007.
Chandler, David P. Brother Number One : A Political Biography of Pol Pot. First ed. Vol. 1. New York: Perseus Books Group, 1992.
Margolis, Eli J. "Trauma and the Trials of Reconciliation in Cambodia." Georgetown Journal of International Affairs (2007): 153.
Fletcher, Martin. Breaking News : A Stunning and Memorable Account of Reporting from Some of the Most Dangerous Places in the World. New York: Thomas Dunne Books, 2008.
Kiernan, Ben. The Pol Pot Regime : Race, Power, and Genocide in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge, 1975-79. New York: Yale UP, 2002.
Koopmans, Andy. Pol Pot ( Heroes and Villains). First ed. Vol. 1. New York: Lucent Books, 2005.
Maguire, Peter H., and Columbia University Press. Facing Death in Cambodia. New York, NY: Edinburgh UP, 2005.
Picq, Laurence. Beyond the Horizon ( Five Years With the Khmer Rouge. Trans. Patricia Norland. First ed. France: Thomas Dunne Book, 1989.
Short, Philip. Pol Pot : Anatomy of a Nightmare. Boston: Henry Holt & Company, 2005.

Justice

Are leaders accused of war crimes getting the justice they deserve? Since President Obama closed the prison in Guantanamo Bay after he took on the position of president there has been a lot of talk of who have committed war crimes. Through my research for an earlier project I have focused one aspect on the Khmer Rouge, the Cambodian political party which was led by Pol Pot, the vicious genocidal leader. Quite Often it is not only the central lead figure who should be accused of crimes against humanity. To be quite honest the individuals who accompany the ranks surrounding the genocidal leader are as guilty, if not more guilty for allowing it to carry out.

The Khmer rouge was a political party with a vision that spread like wild fire. It was a movement which would change Cambodia's future. Pol Pot can be credited with the absolute power to kill absolutely; genocide portray. But one of his top militants which goes by the name of "dock" was identified hiding in Northern-Cambodia and is up for tribunal trials in the United Kingdom. After so long he can only beg for mercy as he sits in a bullet proof segment of the court waiting for his verdict.

If you watch someone committee a crime and not attempt to prevent the occurrence you are as guilty as the individual who acted. "Dock" is credited for a small share of the war crimes of the entire genocide but none the less is as guilty as the monstrous leader Pol Pot. Three decades later it is quite the opposite; he lies powerless at the hands of mere innocent people determining his future. The jury has a very sensitive job as many victims’ families await the verdict of the man who took their loved ones sentenced to Phnom Penh's notorious Tuol Sleng torture centre.

The crimes have already been committed and the only thing which remains are the memories of those who perished. The next question becomes justice... or forgiveness?
Do the families who suffered along with their loved ones forgive the man who carried out such a devastating event. Is justice better served in a prison sentence, and execution or an apology? "Dock" looks to the victim’s families and states, "I ask for your forgiveness. I know that you cannot forgive me, but I ask you to leave me the hope that you might."

Hope can only save a murder to a certain extent. Can the families of those who suffered really forgive and turn the other cheek of the man who made them suffer so severely. So when is justice really served… if it ever is? These questions are at the heart of the push to stop and prevent genocides from happening across the world. All countries, citizens and governing bodies must unite on this one cause because pro-active prevention is the only way to serve justice. Humanity is served justice for each and every live that is saved from the hands of a genocidal leader.

Topio my Topic

The topio is a valuable tool when doing research. It provides a basis to brainstorm prior to writing any solid form on paper. It gets the mind thinking of ways the paper can mold into but gives the author the freedom to enter any realm relating to the topic. In whole the topio is a fun exercise for writers to expand beyond the original thought process and create brilliant art in text.

There are multiple different categories of a topio. The following is a breakdown in relation to my brainstorming: the different categories allow for a wide range of ideas to flow interconnected of the main topic. By approach the pre-writing phase with a topio it results in similar outcomes to a bubble exercise. Non the less it is a fun exercise which makes the writing process more interactive and adds new elements to simply “writing.” Going beyond the norm is what draws readers to a brilliant writer.

Topic: Genocide. Genocide has been taking place in the world as long as human civilization has lived in a communal setting of a ruler and the ruled. Genocide has left its mark on the history of the world and is a direct result of what happens when leaders have the capacity to carry out their will amongst the “ghminde” (followers) without objection. The concept of a harsh ruler is what legitimizes rulers by striking fear into the hearts of the ruled. There is another dimension to genocide that needs to be revealed relating the psychological profile of the ruler to his or her actions.

Subtopic: Killing to create power. Do leaders kill based on their insecurities of losing legitimacy? Or do leaders chose to kill to feel more powerful? Does psychology and experience in the youth of these leaders really affect the way they rule in the future? In regards to leadership one cannot be thought the essential of becoming a good leader; it is the environmental setting which naturally produces this outcome. However the experiences one draws in the young stages of life do dramatically impact a leaders ability to responsibly govern a country.

The next category to stem my topio from would be value. What is the value of a ruler versus the value of the people he or she commits genocide against. The value of the human life is by far the most important and sacred thing in this universe. The world must try to prevent genocides from taking place in the future. Does the message set forth through mass killings fear the public that they will simply obey the suppressive ruler? The value of obedience seems to come into play. The value of culture that is so often tried to be destroyed via the acts of genocide. A group of people, a sense of pride, an identity targeted.

Contrast is another branch of the expanding topio. Killing is in the natural setting of the universal. Is it simply survival of the fittest? Or does the aspect of value bring human life more than just a small thing in the greater aspect of the universe. Why is genocide so different than other types of murders? What is the differences between the genocides which have already taken place.

Cause and effect aspect of the topio has a lot in common with change. Both dimensions can go hand in hand in relation to the topic of genocide. First off What causes leaders to want to kill. What is the motivation which triggers their psyches’ to snap. This is a great question that psychologists such as Eric Erickson strive to answer. The elements of what causes a leader to use his autonomy to carry out mass murder have been linked strongly to childhood development. Rejection as a child, seclusion and revenge in the adolescent stages often cause those who obtain power to become brutal and overcompensate for past experiences.

The effects of genocide are devastating. It attempts to destroy and whole group of people, its culture, traditions and ways of life. Genocide has the biggest effect of changing the course of history. In the case of the Armenian genocide it has set back the Armenian race hundreds of years as a large majority of the “successful,” educated, top elites were massacred. The Cambodians were also heavily hurt by the vicious hand of Pol Pot. The effects of genocide are too large for the world community to sit back and watch as leaders abuse their power and use it to harm the nation they stand to represent.

My Pageflakes Tour! Paper # 2

Welcome to the tour of my very own pageflakes! As we all know research projects are perhaps the most academic and tough form of writing due to the research that goes into building a thesis. Countless hours can be credited specifically to the “research” aspect of the paper and discovering content to support your topic. All the research typically creates piles and piles of papers which frequently equates into a mess in my past experiences. The discovery phase of the writing process can require a majority of preparatory work but that stack of papers can be simplified via a few web shortcuts such as pageflakes.

Pageflakes is a site which allows you to create a personalized web page based on a compilation of widgets that are aggregated together. These widgets can be used in all sorts of ways such as RSS feeds, web page inserts which allow a mini browser strait on the page, key blog posts or simply a sticky pad! My page flake includes all of my accumulated research such as my annotated bibliography which was created with the help of two other awesome tools (zotero and citeline). Although My page flake encompasses my Diigo soul mate, my bookmarks and an array of useful widgets it is easy to navigate as each category contains a subheading directly above!

Active Searches introduced a whole new medium of web based research for me. My page flake also includes two useful widgets labeled “universal news search,” which is preloaded to genocide and the “universal blog search” pre-set to world leaders. These two flakes can be considered the most useful tools because they are update fresh events to my research pool. The tools provided access to peer related blogs which brought a different light to the research compared to books or scholarly articles. For example using the universal Blog search flake I was able to find an article on "Islam and the West: lines of demarcation", a blog post discussing the different cultural settings of the Middle East ideology. Ideas such as radicalized Islam and war crimes in Darfur stemmed into a plethora of valuable substance for my research. I do see these two little tools adding brilliant material to my research which I would have never been introduced to otherwise!

When web based research tends to get overwhelming the solution is RSS feeds. My page includes multiple RSS feeds, which can be located on the lower left hand column. I found these flakes to be very helpful as multitudes of information is “transmitted” back to one “headquarters," or page. The RSS feeds I incorporated such as AP political news, Obama HQ, and CNN world news all eliminate the multiple tabs open on my browser. Under the RSS subheading I included an assortment from my blog roll, most notably Caterwauld and Coyote discussing genocide on BlogSpot. This is my favorite part of the page because news is constantly refreshing. If the page lacked RSS feeds I might have missed the world protests to Sudan’s President touring Darfur after his arrest warrant by the international tribunal.



Since web based research seems to be a black hole of never-ending websites it is vital to keep access to those that add depth to your research! One interesting website I linked on my page is “This American life,” which is an organization which produces weekly podcast discussing the state of American politics. I included a web flake to the United Human Rights page because what happens amongst a country is not always transparent. Through this website I was able to get more information on Pol Pot and Talaat Pasha, two powerful leaders which committed the ultimate crime against humanity and acted as “genocidaire.” I often related back to the United Human Rights page which aims for genocide prevention across the globe by documenting the events vividly. These sites offer a backdrop for my research and draw a more comprehensive understanding of why leaders act the way they do.

If you take a look at the right column of my page flake you see a web page link to my annotated bibliography. The formation of my bibliography was done with the help two tools I recommend for any individual doing research, Zotero and Citeline. Underneath the annotated bibliography a viewer will find two Fun flakes to add character to my research. In that section include a World clock flake to track the time in countries around the world as genocide news surfaces. I also added a sticky note tablet as well so the viewers of my page cast are able to write useful notes on my page. What is really cool about this sticky pad is that if the viewer is also a member of pageflakes they can drag the sticky tab onto their page with all of their notes still intact. Very cool feature if you’re surfing for depth to your research through other pageflakes on your topic!

Last but not least my page includes a dedicated section for the individual who shares the same bookmarks and interests, my diigo soul mate. This tribute portion of the page includes an RSS feed to her bookmark page as well as a web flake linked to the blog post on my soul mate. My blog is also displayed in the page flake beneath the soul mate section as a reference for viewers that are interested in the topics I have open for discussion. This will allow readers to follow my blog and hopefully include it in their own research!

Research can often seem overwhelming and difficult to manage. With sites such as pageflakes a user is able to reduce expected complications in the research process significantly. Web sources are not the best substance for research papers however the web does offer an enormous foundation of information. When using Pageflakes it is like looking at the thirty different content sources conglomerated into one making the process a lot of fun!

tour!

Research projects are perhaps the most academic form of writing. However the research that goes into building the thesis of the paper is often overlooked. Countless hours can be credited specifically to the “research” aspect of the paper in terms of finding facts to back up your topic statements. Hours upon hours of research creates piles and piles of papers which frequently turns into a mess in my experiences. Although research papers require a majority of preparatory work it can be exciting and that stack of papers can be simplified via a few web shortcuts such as pageflakes..

Page flakes is a site which allows you to create a personalized web page based on a compilation of widgets. These widgets can be used in all sorts of ways such as RSS feeds, web page inserts which allow a mini browser strait on the page ( awesome) or simply a sticky pad. My page flake includes all of my research work such as my annotated bibliography created with the help of two other awesome tools (zotero and citeline), my diigo soul mate and useful blogs supporting my thesis.

My page flake also includes two useful widgets under the active searches flake. The Universal news search which is preloaded to politics and genocide and the universal blog search which is set to world leaders. These two flakes are continuously updated and bring fresh events to my research. This tool can be considered the most useful because it adds new research to the list. Being able to find blogs related to my topic is always a great source to utilize and to add peer related depth to my research. This provided a foundation for information that added a different light to the research from books or scholarly articles. For example using the universal Blog search flake I was able to find an article on Islam and the West: lines of demarcation which was an blog post discussing the different cultural settings of the middle east and perhaps the rest of the world against western civilization. Ideas such as radicalized Islam and accusations of war crimes in Darfur add substance to my research. I do see these two little tools to add amazing insight for my research which might end up being easier than I predicted.

My page flake includes multiple RSS feeds, which can be located on the lower left hand column. These flakes I found to be very helpful due to the multitudes of information being “relayed” back to my page flakes. There are many times where research tends to get out of control which surfing the web for relevant information. The RSS feeds that my page incorporates such as AP political news, Obama HQ, NY as well as LA times and CNN world news all eliminate my browser having 10 tabs open. In the RSS section I also included some from my blog roll such as Caterwauld and Coyote blogs which add insight on politics and world leaders via blogspot. This is my favorite part of the page flakes and possibly the resarech because news is constantly being updated. IF I had not included my RSS feeds I wouldn’t be updated on Rush Limbaugh making a mockery of himself as he tries to bash President Obama or Sudans President touring Dafur after his ordered arrest by the international tribunal.





Some interesting websites that I included on the page are This American life, which offers helpful weekly pod casts regarding the political discussion and the state of American politics. I also added the flake of the Democracy Now pod cast, which relates well to the link of this American life. Both pod casts offer backdrop for my research and add a comprehensive understanding of leaders and American foreign policy. What happens from within the country itself is not often revealed but can be seen through the actions of President Obama and his interaction with World Leaders. I also included a web flake to United Human Rights page on Pol Pot and the Cambodian Genocide. In the process of compiling research on world leaders who turn against their own people such as Pol Pot and Talaat Pasha I often related back to the United Human Rights page which did a fabulous job documenting the events and aim at prevention across the globe to genocide.

If you take a look at the right column of my page flake you see a web page link to my annotated bibliography. This bibliography was done with the help of Zotero and Citeline and very useful for my bibliography. Underneath the annotated bibliography a viewer will find two Fun flakes to add character to my research. In that section are included a World clock flake so I can see the time in countries around the world as news pops up. I also have a sticky note tablet as well for the public to be able to add useful notes from my page. What is really cool about this sticky pad is that if the viewer is also a member of page flakes they can copy that notepad onto their page with all of their notes still in tact. Very cool if adding some depth to your research from other relevant page flakes on your topic!

Last but not least my page includes a section dedicated to my diigo soul mate and it to be somewhat of a dedication section for the individual who shares the same bookmarks and interests as I do. This tribute portion of the page includes an RSS feed to her bookmark page as well as a web flake linked to my blog post on my soul mate. My blog is also linked to the page flakes beneath the Soul mate section as a reference for views that are interested in the topics I often have up for discussion. This will allow readers to follow my blog and stay in touch my blog hopefully will someday be included in someone’s research!

Research can often seem overwhelming and difficult to manage. With sites such as page flakes a user such as me have done is able to reduce expected complications significantly.
Web sources of information are not the best substance for research papers however the web does offer an enormous foundation for relevant information. I mean when using Page flakes it is like looking at the thirty different web pages compiled into one… what can be simpler than that!

extra resources :)

In order to have a successful academic paper one must get multiple resources other than that of materials found on the web. As I add to my resource bullpen these sources expand on my topic and add new elements to the dynamic relationship of opinion and factual evidence. I found this source via an academic search portal known as Lexis Nexis.

Short, Philip. Pol Pot : Anatomy of a Nightmare. Boston: Henry Holt & Company, 2005

Philip Short is a brilliant author that looks in dept into one of the worlds most vicious leaders; Pol Pot from Cambodia. This man devastated his his nation by turning against his own. This source will add an immense amount of detail to my paper.

Another great source that I stumbled upon was that on the Armenian genocide. Genocide has plagued the world seen throughout history and continues today. The Armenian genocide is one that is often overlooked however 1.5 million Armenians have died.

Akcam, Taner. From Empire to Republic : Turkish Nationalism and the Armenian Genocide. First ed. Vol. 1. New York: Zed Books, Limited, 2004.

Akcam analysis the genocide from and interesting perspect; that of the Turkish nationalist side from the Ottoman Empire and also the side of the Armenians. It is a very interesting point of view and will be a great source of research information that will add depth to my top of writing.


An extra 2 sources for documentation and later usage:

Chandler, David P. Brother Number One : A Political Biography of Pol Pot. First ed. Vol. 1. New York: Perseus Books Group, 1992.

Sarafian, Ara. United States Official Records on the Armenian Genocide : 2004. Ed. Ara Sarafian. First ed. Vol. 1. New York: Gomidas Institute Books, 2004.

new research sources : )

Research is one of the most interesting parts of writing. Through research experiements a scholar is able to find new sources of information which can be applied and referenced during an essay. These “sources” tend to be places where readers can look for verification… in fact what is a paper without sources?... should society take our “word for it.” In this day and age where copyright infringments are so common and plagerism is a devasting issue hitting the educational system across the world, sources are arguably the most important part of the essay!

In doing some research I found two very good books related to my topic. The first book I found was by an author named Martin Fletcher Breaking News: A Stunning and Memorable Account of Reporting from Some of the Most Dangerous Places in the World

. This author was quite cynical in his writing but had great depth. The book was in reference to genocide and what people do once their power turns fatal. This idea for my paper came from the idea that society always looks at what good leaders have done to leave their mark. But what happens when the good turns bad and a leader takes his ultimate power to destroy its people. One leader that distinctly caught my eye was that of Cambodia’s head chief, Pol Pot. This man was vicious and committed genocide against the people of Cambodia. This book can be summarized by one line… “To keep you is no benefit, to destroy you is no loss” As sad as that is Fletcher describes this act as something that happens throughout the world and continues to happen today.
The next book that I found research for in the terms of genocide was related to psychology of the act…. In total why do people commit the crimes that they do?... what is the intent behind their actions? This books written by Peter du Preez labeled “

The Psychology of Mass Murder

” discusses what takes place behind the minds of these leaders. It also puts genocide in a good context by framing it as something of the present day and not something of the past. As I briefly looked throughout the entire book Preez did a fascinating job on the later half of the book. This portion focuses on where the future of genocide is heading for the world communities. It is extremely important to understand why genocide has happened in the past in order to solve the upcoming dilemmas of the future. There is a method to this madness that society must look to unfold and uncover. Through grasping a better understanding of what took place in the minds of these leaders, we may be able to save the lives of millions at the hands of corrupt leaders globally.

republicans caught my interest?!?

A Post titled , “Republicans Ruin Hope for Change,” off of the Vanity Fair blog really sparked my interest for a few reasons. First off, the republicans who all except a few strongly hold a grudge against Obama… for reasons we can suspect to be his excess spending but most importantly his defeat of John McCain…. pulled every string to not pass the stimulus package. It is this type of non-bipartisanship that is ruining this country and will only did the hold deeper. HA! Second if anyone is to be pointing fingers it is the entire world at the Republicans as they bared witness to their Texas, farming chief president Bush.

Washington is faced with this problem of parties going their own separate ways. A democracy has institutionalized a free party system but it takes cooperation on both sides. There will be no forward progress if both the democrats and the republicans don’t cooperate and push forward for a better America.

Politicians are such cleaver people… during the election John McCain would not stop talking about Bipartisanship… now look at him… not only does he oppose almost everything Barack Obama is doing in the White House but he has also encourage his fellow Republicans not to vote with him. It is time for each American to stand up for our country and try and solve these problems as one body. Regardless of party lines lets try and resolve the issues at hand and reclaim our name as the United States of America.

Social Bookmarking "SOULMATES"

Love is in the air… I can feel it with my heart, my soul, my political views…. Love is in the air… Right around the corner from valentines day I found a new “partner” who shares the same interests as me. It was as if I was searching on e-harmony for months at end. Rather I was using a simple Diigo toolbar… HA! After some time of searching for a “soul mate” I used a social booking marking tool to help find that special someone… and let me tell you guys… she is quite a gem for you readers as well.

Social bookmarking sites, although they all seem to be the same, they can be very useful. I certainly used dabbled around a few to find my “soul mate” or should I refer to her as a tremendous resource. So after some time of careful digging I surely found a needle in a hay stack. This blogger shares multiple similar interests to my political and controversial viewpoints. Hopefully I can relay this resource to you readers as well through my own blog which can be the “coffee shop” for interested readers.

Tags are a way for the whole immense World Wide Web to suddenly become connected. With tags bloggers are able to search for key words in text all across the web. Simple tag a word or phrase and any time that “tagged word” pops up you get it highlight and strait to your front door as if it is the L.A times on a Sunday Morning! In reference to my “soul mates” tags we share multiple similar interests…. almost 500 public tags… like “lifelines” as they allow a reader to take hints on the scavenger hunt across the web. It is some what of a guider on this research journey with no end in sight. But my soul mate and I have numerous similar interests as shown in our tags. For example my “gem” tagged Obama, McCain, Terrorism, terrorism, politics, power, communism, attack, counterattack etc. All of these tags represent an interest that this individual is interested in discovering ideas on. It is fascinating how tags can be used as adjectives describing ones own character!

My Soul mate is just great… Not only does she have all political relevant tags set up, but she also has great news source from around the world. CNN, BBC, ABC, CNET, NPR and multiple others are great sources of information which are tagged. Another great feature I found form this bloggers tags are that she always tagged one thing but also tagged the antonym to that word. This symbolizes a greater understanding of the whole picture and opinions from both sides of the story… Very open and liberal… p.s that is one reason I chose her to be my soul mate! The tags are organized with a strategy… Tag all aspects and synonyms to a word as well as any other relevant tag which might add an opinion to the topic. The tags are set up in a way which is broad but then goes in depth as well. For example my “soul mate” tagged terrorism, but then also tagged Osama Bin Laden, Al Qida, attack, Counterattack, Islam etc. As broad as terrorism can be there are also tags which strictly target one subject obtain a comprehensive understanding.

Bookmarking is another key way to grab attention to your blog but also can be used as a resource to have as a reference. My “soul mate” bookmarked a whopping 905 websites. These websites ran anywhere from African news… to Obama’s theories… to you tube videos on business/economic ethics. The bookmarks are also very broad in relation to topics but incorporate an immense number of specific topics such as Sarah Palin Websites… not that Sarah Palin should even have a website! By my “soul mate” does leave comments and is active on a number of these sites.

My “soul mate” is not only a tremendous resource to my but also my fellow blog readers. If I go directly to my counterparts blog labeled, “Power and Control” you can see that the links on the right hand side are very informative. All sorts of blog posts from Russia and China interactions to Economic turmoil, to Oil prices in the Middle East affecting political relations. From leadership to Hamas… my “soul mate” way not too far away thanks to social bookmarking tools. This resource is an absolute diamond in the realm of leaders and power relationships!

blagorama ( Revised for portfolio )

hello world!

Nixon, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Roosevelt, Kennedy and Obama have all assumed tremendous amounts of power throughout history. A history which demonstrates that for better or for worse a crisis milieu allows a leader to project his or her message onto society and captivate a culture. Hi my name is tank and my niche is analyzing the politics of power. The purpose for the creation of this blog is to take a deeper look at how some of the world’s most powerful leaders use their position to impact society in a positive or negative manner as well as to educate the masses on integral dimensions of leadership. For example leaders come to power in crisis times, much like the economic recession today but the ability to transcend the masses forward separates the bourgeoisie from the preliterate in reference to political theorist Karl Marx. Power can be cruel in the hands of a “Hitler,” hopeful when used by “Obama,” viscous in the case of Cambodia but also a blessing when delegated to a president such as “Roosevelt.” It is integral for people of all societies to become knowledgeable in about the power that governs because ultimately the rulers make decisions which impact our lives on a daily basis.

This blog is aimed at drawing awareness to the concept of “power” and analyzing what leaders do with it once they have risen to the top. By discussing charismatic leadership the blog will focus on a variety of rulers ranging from Franklin Roosevelt all the way to disastrous murderers such as Hitler. Today America has elected another charismatic, President Obama, and the world community is excited to see how he responds to the crisis thrown in his lap. Charismatic leadership is arguably the most interesting to study for scholars simply because of how fast he or she may gain committed followers such as the Obama supporters who rallied to get him elected.

The basic element of power fluctuates both radically and gradually depending on time. For example society allows a leader to hold large amounts of power in times of crisis with the hope that he might make a change for the better. However power is also taken back from leaders and transferred to institutions when the dust settles, where it gains traditional legitimacy. At the end of this blog I hope to educate my readers and fellow blogger's about the relationships of power and identifying when it is appropriate or wrong to use it. This blog is meant to be aimed at the general audience and any world citizen that wishes discuss the politics of leadership.

Power is everywhere and the goal of this blog is to bring awareness to who has the power and what that individual or group does with it. In times of crisis leaders, such as President Obama, become immensely powerful. History repeats itself as leaders such as Mussolini, Lenin, Stalin, and FDR are all products of crisis situations. Each leader listed above shares a similar trait which allows them to be categorized together however each individual left his mark on the world in a dramatically different way. Despite all being rising to power in the middle of a crisis milieu, once in office each used his power in a distinct manner setting him apart from the rest. Society must be aware of this and learn from our mistakes. Some leaders use their power wisely and it becomes a blessing for the world community, while others such as HA!... President Bush… makes wrongful false judgments and the nation weeps.

My blog will entice society to take a deeper look at which leaders are justifying their powerful positions in a positive manner. Throughout this blog I hope that this series of writing will create questions and teach individuals to gain a deeper understanding of who is ruling the most powerful countries in the world. This blog will be written for the perspective of a skeptic and a citizen observing the course of political leadership past, present and future.

A Profile Blog! Is Obama the Most Famous Living Person Ever?

Dee Dee Myers served as White House Press Secretary for the first two years of the Clinton administration. Myers in association with the Vanity Fair is the author of the blog Power and Politics. This blog is kept up to speed with current affairs, as blogs are posted on a regular basis. Her writing is frequently viewed and can be noted by the number of reader comments. Within just a couple of days the blog received almost 200 comments, which is a heavy response in my calculator!

This blog is academic, professional and powerful as it is in association with Vanity Fair, one of the nation’s biggest Magazine’s. It encompasses roughly 75 different contributors to the full blog, which looks in depth at different sub topics under power and politics. Writers such as Christopher Bateman and David Friend are two knowledgeable authors which all add something very different to the genetics of the blog. By approaching the posts with a sense of media coverage as well as fact based reports flavor is marinated into the blog. In doing so “Politics and Power” draws a lot of attention from people who are interested in politics but from a creative side and ultimately people who want to voice their opinion.

Perhaps the most recent leader attracting an assortment of bloggers is President Obama. The world’s most fascinating leader to enter the scene is Obama, who is attempting to transform the definition of American politics and reconstructed the position of power. One man has inspired the nation and instilled pride in American citizens as another-blog post states:

I cannot describe the feeling of satisfaction.

President Barack Obama’s charismatic personality, morals and charm has made him arguably the most famous person the world has ever seen! The fact is that he can relate to the average American on a personal level. The real question then becomes, what makes the world communities salivate at the mouth like one of Pavlov’s dogs when they hear this man speak? The answer is that power draws media and Obama is using it to his advantage. For example Obama has attended the Tonight Show with Jay Leno once as a candidate and is scheduled to be the first President of the United States to attend the show while in office.

The 44th president of the United States of America has risen to power at a time of crisis. As we all know tumultuous times place extreme amounts of power placed into the arms of leaders. This blog comments:

Obama is not accomplished yet.

Barack is called to be a savior as only Jesus knows how the world will get out of this economic hole society has been digging for quite some time. How long will it take?... Will we ever get out?.. Will Obama be considered our messiah by time re-election hits? It is quite remarkable that he has left no footprints, no good works, no great achievements, or profound achievements however he has assumed the highest position in the most powerful country in the world. Has America and possibly the world placed its future in the hands of hope?... HA… as we know our new president did write the book Audacity of Hope!

Dee Dee Myers blog strongly correlates with the blog “Power to Influence” based on the theory that people who rise to power in times of crisis not only receive unlimited amounts of power to act but are also beloved. Obama who has not spent enough time in office to make a so called “change” as he so vividly used during his campaign, however he is looked upon with capacity to make an impact. By bringing hope to this land of opportunity he may very well be the most famous person the world has ever seen. One cannot forget that not too long ago in a country “colored” individuals were not allowed to eat at a restaurant. Powerful positions draw awareness, especially in Barack’s case due to the concern for the future. The world waits to see how America will act as a leader or as a disruption to the global community.


The blog “Power to Influence” is based on the theory that people who rise to power in times of crisis not only receive unlimited amounts of power to act but are also beloved. Obama who has not spent enough time in office to make a so called “change” as he so vividly used during his campaign, however he is looked upon with capacity to make an impact. By bringing hope to this land of opportunity he may very well be the most famous person the world has ever seen. One cannot forget that not too long ago in a country “colored” individuals were not allowed to eat at a restaurant. Powerful positions draw awareness, especially in Barack’s case due to the concern for the future. The world waits to see how America will act as a leader or as a disruption to the global community.


By reading this blog it allowed me to include a hint of sarcasm into my writing which was never a prior outlook on leadership. “Politics and power” does bring a sense of powerful marks on history and how society portrays world leaders.

Boy, Washington sure is hopping these days!" Obama Cocktail Hour: President Ready to Seal the Deal.

Americans are now viewed with a sense of dignity and politics is changed in this country. Charismatic presidents such as Barack have the ability to leave a great mark on civilization for the better… we’ll just have to wait and see!


Personality vs. Honesty


CREATING DRAMATIC VOICE IN YOUR WRITING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT TO ATTRACTING READERS. By creating a sense of personality through bolder words a writer, thinker, philosopher, or blogger can express character and personify a sentence. In a blog titled Watch TV Sitcoms, the author writes in a sarcastic form, which makes the topic of discussion brilliant to read. For example the title of the blog Watch TV Sitcoms has nothing to with what the author tends to focus his topic posts on. The title inadvertently attracts an uncharacteristic audience, which soon gets lured in like a fish out of water and indirectly creates a power situation!

In a post title, “The Most Powerful People in the World,” the author is reflecting on the recent Vanity Fair top 50 most powerful people in the world. The first line goes on to state:

Like usual, they came out with bullshit that I don't agree with.

Bold words for a seemingly powerless person who decided to start blogging. The author later goes on to discuss who he feels are the most powerful in society. By switching viewpoints and discussing a testy time for shareholders:

Today, the stock market vomited… And it was all caused by idiots. Those idiots are the most powerful people in the world.

With sarcasm and honesty he is correct. By using words such as “vomited” it paints a picture in the minds of readers as something horrible. To top that, the following sentence continues to show strong language by pointing out that the people who caused the downfall of the stock market are idiots. Quite frankly, often the most powerful people are those who don’t have enough time in day to count their money nor what to do with all of it. This author does address this issue of powerful people with serious skepticism. This blogger continues his skepticism by listing Vanity Fairs choices for top 50…

Really? These are the most powerful people in the whole world?. If I haven't even heard of you, how the hell can you be the most powerful person in the world.

The author’s voice is brilliant as he denies the people “listed” as top 50 most powerful in the world because he has never heard of them. This is a flashing red light for a reader to question their outlook on powerful people. The idea that power comes in all shapes and sizes, careers, races and regions of the world are clearly pointed out in this post as money often leads to power. This blogger is SCREAMING at his readers to contemplate who society as a whole considers to be powerful, when in fact they are only as powerful as we allow them to be. While expressing opinion with this type of writing he really engages the audience to think as he is being as brutally honest as Simon Cowell from American Idol!

To end the post the author discusses the individual who tops the chart of the most powerful in the world… Mr. Putin from Russia… the country Sarah Palin can see from her house porch!

There is no doubt that Putin is a tough guy…He spent $10 million to kill a guy who he didn't like. And last month, he shot a bear. That man is a psycho… But then again, Dick Cheney shot a person…Well, sort of - he shot a lawyer.

Being blunt can bring the dullest of the audience to their feet. This author inspired viewers with his honest writing which is hilarious and quickly makes a reader add this to his or her blog roll. Who are the most powerful in the world? Not only is power relative to who is judging it but it is also in the hands of some of the most corrupt, money hungry, crazy individuals.

In another post by the same author, “If a tree fell on Barack Obama would anybody Hear it?” The sarcasm continues…

Mr. Citizen George W. Bush left Washington DC with his head held high; that is the only way he can see shoes being thrown at him. And Dick Cheney was on a wheelchair. He broke his back trying to lift the price of oil.

In scrutinizing the last administration to leave the white house the audience can see that once a leader assumes power he or she can either make the most of it or be the ridicule of all jokes. Jokes such as the Dick Cheney example above make the serious situation of rising oil prices at the expense of others into a clever reality. By not addressing President Bush as “President” but rather a citizen, this blogger uses indirect voice to downgrade him and take away his recognition. Following that line with the shoe comment puts the cherry on top by bringing up the mockery the Arab world made of our ex-President.

He also ordered the CIA to close their secret prisons… Seriously, even Obama does not know where the secret prisons are. And people are complaining that Obama didn't say the word faithfully in his oath… Bush said the oath and you can see what kind of a job he did.

In comparison to the last post this ends with a critique on the position of power. The author is bringing up how corrupt powerful people really are. This blogger used sarcasm to his advantage by taking a serious incident such as the Presidential inauguration and jokingly making it seem as if it is not as important as a viewer may feel. Society knows that leaders do not always turn out the way they are presented to be.