New G.I. Bill worth every penny

Here is a link to the official Army story on the new G.I. Bill (S.22).  This puts teeth to the phrase “Support the troops.”

Here’s a link to the Department of Veterans Affairs site on the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008

As you may know, I like opinion writing.  There were several strong Op-Eds that brought needed attention to the debate over Veterans educational benefits.  They are here, here, and here.

And here’s some video about this issue:

Unfortunately, there was political back & forth on what seems to be such a simple issue–though debate is a key part of democracy.  A few blogs followed the politics of this bill.  Huff Post, Grassroots on Web helps GI Bill pass, Senators debate G.I. Bill .

If you know anyone who’s served since 9/11 be sure they are aware of the tremendous benefits of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.

Here is a FACT SHEET about the bill.  Enjoy!

Where else can you work for 2-3 years, leave your job, and get 100% of your tuition paid for with over $1,000 cash for living expenses?

Blogging while brown

While visiting the Jack & Jill Politics blog I read about the Blogging While Brown (BWB) conference that was held in Atlanta this weekend.

The following paragraph describes the origin and purpose of the BWB conference.  From BWB official website:

Whether it’s fighting injustice , debating racism in the media, serving as a new technology underground railroad of information or celebrating our best and brightest, bloggers of color are a vital and viable part of the blogosphere who aren’t afraid to voice their opinions on a number of subjects. Their readers are willing to mobilize for change. Bloggers of color are at an inflection point in the continued development of the blogosphere.
To that end, the Blogging While Brown Conference was born. Blogging While Brown is the first international conference for bloggers of color. For the first time this new generation of activists, entrepreneurs and new media content creators will step out from behind their keyboards and meet in person.

Needless to say I wasn’t invited nor aware of the BWB conference, before today.  Perhaps because I’m not among the “best and brightest” of bloggers of color?  I find it interesting that the BWB conference occurred the same weekend as the UNITY ’08.  In the future it would be nice to see BWB gain more clout and work with larger groups of journalists like NABJ or NAHJ.  Though it’s possible the BWB doesn’t see itself as affiliated with the standard world of old media?

The founder of BWB has several videos from the conference posted on her blog. I recommend the one from the bloggers who run Black Web 2.0.  Interestingly enough, Web 2.0 works the same way for black people as it does for others…shhhhh…don’t tell anyone.

I did find it interesting that many of the BWB participants were heavy users of Twitter (if you’re wondering “what the heck is Twitter?” click here).  I enjoy Twitter too, though my feeds are closed to the public.

Well next year there will be another Blogging While Brown conference.  If there’s not a scheduling conflict maybe I’ll attend.  I see myself as a blogger who happens to be brown.  Part of the concept of Naked Conversations is that a person can blog anonymously and say whatever they want because “no one wrote the official blogging rule book” it seems that BWB caters to potential weblebrities like those listed here, here, or here.  The fact none of the web celebrities are brown is a good reason to continue the BWB conference.

Me, I’m just a regular guy blogging for bloggings sake.  What about you?

Black Officers are becoming scarce

Lt.Gen Lloyd Austin welcomes Sen. Barack Obama to Iraq

A few friends sent me links today about the shortage of Black officers in the military.

LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer published a story (7/23/08) titled “After 60 years, black officers are rare”

A few months ago I wrote an Op-Ed that addressed the current recruiting woes; as a means to bring about conversations that will lead young people to consider military service.

The first version (More than ever, black men should consider military service) appeared in the Petersburg Progress-Index here in December 2007.

I updated it (Combating the Trends: Military Service Can Alleviate What Ails Black America) and it ran in the Richmond Times-Dispatch here on 1/27/08.

An excerpt from my RTD OpEd…

Additionally, I’m concerned by the rapid decline in black enlistment rates (20 percent in 2001 to about 12 percent today; officer commissions are down to 8 percent). This will result in a less diverse senior leadership in about 20 years, and fewer families benefiting from Army service.

This week I’m attending the UNITY ’08 conference of journalists in Chicago. I certainly hope to find great earned media opportunities so we can buck the current trend on enlistment and officer commissionings. One of the solutions for retention and mentoring of officers is The Rocks, Inc. Great generals like Colin Powell, Julius Becton, Johnnie Wilson, and others have benefited from the two-way mentorship opportunities in the Rocks.

What do you think about the news reports? Were you aware that the #2 General in Iraq is African-American?  Does is matter if we have a diverse force?

The military truly values diversity and all of us as Americans have a stake in this fight. I believe education of the general public is a great start to increasing our accessions. Let’s go!

ADVISORY: I’m NOT a military recruiter…but will put you in touch with one if you want

UPDATE1:  Here’s an article from a DoD source that paints a positive picture of opportunties for minorities in the military.

I visited…Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Boule

Ethel Hedgeman Lyle key founder of AKA

What an awesome sight?!  I visited a few events at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated 100 year anniversary convention in Washington, DC.  Photos and video TBP.

Official dubbed the Centennial “Boule,” here are a few links about the event from the major publications:  The Convention. The March. The Barbie.  The Record-setting banquet.  The Michelle Obama acceptance and a blog post about it.

Video of the March here from FOX5 WTTG.  More media aggregated here.

This post will be updated later…after I download my pics and upload a bit of video

Factcheck: The military embraces blogging

RUMOR:  The military does not allow servicemembers to blog.

FACT:  The military embraces blogging and even runs a few blogs on the .mil domain (See examples of official blogs, here, here, here, here)

Military bloggers provide the Naked Conversations that much of the general public can benefit from.

I found it really interesting that my Social Media classroom blog run by Professor Garrett Graff is linked to a large Military blog.

I agree with Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, IV that the military should embrace blogging (and other Social Media).  Caldwell was previously Senior Spokesperson for Multi-National Force–Iraq (MNF-I).  His current duties include serving as Commandant of the Command & General Staff College.  He has published a policy letter that encourages blogging on .mil and commercial websites.

Caldwell’s views on the importance of internet/social media (as outlined in the policy letter):

Interactive internet activities are an essential part of our responsibilities to provide information to the public, usher in a culture of change within our Army’s officer Leadership, Development, and Education and support military operations.  Leaders within the Army need to understand the power of the internet and leverage as many communications means as possible to communicate what the CAC is doing and more importantly to “Share the Story” of those serving in uniform and highlight the incredible sacrifices they and their families are making.

Here is one of the blogs from a classroom of Army Majors.

In fact the Army has accounts at twitter, youtube, and flickr.  Though they don’t have many followers, subscribers, contacts, respectively; consider these sites a sign that Senior Leaders are embracing social media.

UPDATE 1:  I just found this link where Pete Geren, Secretary of the Army says:

Senior Army leaders have fallen behind the breakneck development of cheap digital communications including cell phones, digital cameras and Web 2.0 Internet sites such as blogs and Facebook, Army Secretary Pete Geren said at a trade conference on July 10. That helps explain how “just one man in a cave that’s hooked up to the Internet has been able to out-communicate the greatest communications society in the history of the world — the United States”.

Blogging in Mozambique

Quick Trivia:  What’s the name of currency in Mozambique?  Read on for answer…

Flag of Mozambique

Mozambique is the 35th largest country in the world and is located in Southeastern Africa.  Portuguese is the official language of Mozambique and is primarily used by bloggers there.

There are several English language blogs related to Mozambique:

• Fresh Prince of Mozambique is a new blog maintained by an employee of the Peace Corps who is spending a few years in Mozambique.  He provides excellent descriptions of life in a village from an American perspective.

Speaking of goats, the other day I was forced to hold my pee because a goat had found iots way into our outdoor bathroom. I didnºt want to be rude to I waited for him to finish.  -Fresh Prince

• Bloggers Alex and Kory are former Peace Corps workers who have posted several photos of their experiences in Mozambique in 2006-2007.
• Another Peace Corps veteran, Alex, blogs about her experiences teaching in Mozambique.  One of her most engaging post is a compilation of essays written by 8th Graders about their losses in Cyclone Jokwe.
• More interesting Peace Corps bloggers are here, here, here, and aggregated here (disregard the dates listed at link).

There are also a few blogs from Mozambicans that have been translated from Portugese to English:

• Probably the most interesting, especially to me as a Social Media student is a blog posting where citizen journalists cover a riot–organized by SMS text messages–in Maputo.
• The diary of a sociologist blog by Carlos Serra covers:

a bit of everything: sociology (specially rapid-intervention sociology), philosophy, day-to-day, profundity, superficiality, irony, poetry, fragility, strength, myth, exposure of myths, emotion and reason -Carlos Serra

Final thought:  Every source I could find, cites internet usage in Africa at less than 4% of the world’s internet usage vs. 14.3% of the world’s population.  However, it is growing by over 1,000% each year.  Therefore, I expect more indigenous blogs in the future.  Oh and about that Mozambique money, it’s called the New Metical. Oh yeah, did you notice their national flag has an AK-47 on it?!

Should the media cover military funerals

Fired Arlington National Cemetery Public Affairs officer

Hopefully my 18 month academic lobotomy at Georgetown will ensure that I make sound decisions when I graduate and embrace the media.

Recently the Public Affairs director at Arlington National Cemetery was fired for honoring a fallen Soldier’s family’s request to allow media at their loved ones funeral.  In April, one funeral was reported on by Dana Milbank in the Washington Post.  Today he has a full article about Gina Gray getting the “boot”.

In small towns across America there are monuments to honor our fallen Soldiers.  Remembering those killed in action is a necessary to keep the civilian citizenry engaged in the sacrifice Service members make while they “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic.”

Attending the funeral for Second Lieutenant Lisa N. Bryant at Arlington National Cemetery is an event I will never, ever forget.  I saw a similar event depicted on Army Wives and was touching but not quite the same.  The Soldiers of the Old Guard caissons platoon are among our Army’s finest ambassadors.  Their story and the story of the heroes who make the ultimate sacrifice on battlefields should be told.

I won’t speculate on any families reason to have media at a funeral.  What I do know is we celebrate our fallen heroes all the time.  Just a few weeks ago there many hours of live coverage of Tim Russert’s funeral and; Metro (Washington’s mass transit system) had it’s highest number of passengers during President Reagan’s state funeral.

This is all interesting to me.  There’s a balance between policy and free press.  Here’s an example of conflict between the two.  Most often the military has a hamonius and mutually beneficial relationship with the media.

What’s your opinion?  Have you ever been to a military funeral?

Wikipedia is wacky

This is a response to my classmates post on wikipedia

On Antibloggergirldc’s blog she posted about her wikiscanner report on the Indy Racing League.  In her findings the changes to the IRL wikientry were made by a few people.  It’s interesting, but make sense that most of the changes and discussion were centered around “controversy.”  Here are her observations:

Because some of the IRL edits were so old and have since been updated, I found more interesting comments on the IRL discussion and talk page. It started out much as I might expect: “I was looking at Wikipedia today and decided to see what they had on the EARL. The article wasn’t sufficiently negative, so I made some changes.” Another editor responded that “someone else might want to respond to that.”

The back & forth about controversial topics she cited was interesting.  But just look at the obsession with conflict in American culture.  Just think, everyone in America knows who Paris Hilton is, however, I doubt anyone can name any significant work she’s done.  But, she seems to always be involved in conflict and people keep watching.  Seems I’m rambling a bit…

…back OT…I agree with the current trend to reject & denounce the use wikipedia for citation on news articles and scholarly works.  Public Relations guru Steve Rubel agrees with me and asks these questions on his blog:

…when journalists cite Wikipedia articles, what happens when the facts they reference from the wiki entries change (assuming they do)? Do the reporters go back and update their articles? The news reports call more attention to the articles, potentially opening up a can of worms each time they source WIkipedia.

Here are more examples I found of rejecting & denouncing wiki as a source:  History department bans wiki; Professors reject wikipedia ; though this professor at a California University allows limited use of wikipedia.

Now, you ask, “Majorman, didn’t you just make your own original wikipedia entry on The Rocks, Inc. and significantley revise another biographical entry?” Yes, I did.  And you can use them as a good source because they have numerous citiations that will link you back to articles, official websites, and other websites.  I recommend you check the “history” of the wikipedia entry to determine if there are wacky wikipedians who wreck entries.

FLASH: Cheap airline tickets

Just heard about this website.  Info about it here, here, here.

Compete for your seat.com

Let me know what you find out.

Airplane is one of Majorman’s favorite movies

Wikiscanner Report: Susan E. Rice

Rice and Obama

So I chose a person I admire for this Wikiscanner report.  Susan Rice, PhD, foreign policy expert.

Some of you are thinking “what’s wikiscanner?”  Well here’s a description from the Wikipedia entry on Wikiscanner

WikiScanner (also known as Wikipedia Scanner) is a tool created by Virgil Griffith and released on August 14, 2007,^[1][2] which consists of a publicly searchable database that links millions of anonymous Wikipedia edits to the organizations where those edits apparently originated, by cross-referencing the edits with data on the owners of the associated block of IP addresses. WikiScanner does not work on edits made under a username. The Associated Press reported that Griffith wanted “to create minor public relations disasters for companies and organizations [he] dislike[s].”^[3]

After randomly going through a list a people I admire (General Odierno, Gov. Sebelius, General Vince Brooks, General Petreaus, Pacman Jones, Papa Smurf), I settled on Susan Rice who I met in person in November 2007.  I was curious to know what those who created her biography page on Wikipedia.

HERE ARE SOME FACTS/STATS ON SUSAN RICE’S WIKI PAGE:

Creation Date:  4 August 2005

Last Modification:  22 June 2008

# of Modifications:  80 Total

# of Modifications tracked by wikiscanner:  25 (thru 2 February 2007)

WHO IS EDITING? Perhaps as a testament to her foreign policy prowess, Susan Rice’s page has been edited by IP addresses throughout the world.  Wikipedians from New York, Washington DC, Washington state, South Africa, Austria, Thailand, Texas, Colorado, Georgia, and New Mexico have made revisions to the page.

OKAY, SO WHAT WAS INTERESTING?

• Well, it seems Dr. Rice began her career by working at McKinsey & Company–prior to the invention of the internet (I wonder if Chelsea Clinton has returned to her job there?).  The good people at McKinsey wanted to make sure everyone knows that by adding:

“She subsequently worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, the global management consulting firm.”

• October 25, 2006:  They also took efforts to remove controversial information about Dr. Rice’s positions and accomplishments at the State Department.  Click here for controversy.
• April 26, 2007:  The editor from Vienna, Austria vandalized Susan Rice’s page and this was visible for over 30-days!!!

• May 29, 2007:  The anonymous person from Georgia deleted the salacious accusation that Susan Rice:

“Served the Fatal cup of Tea that killed the acclaimed winner of of the June 12 Nigerian Presidential election Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola .”

CONCLUSION: Using the wikiscanner on Susan Rice’s page I was able to determine that there is good & bad with an encyclopedia “anyone can edit.”

Good:

• New information beyond standard press releases and corporate bios (Over time the name of Dr. Rice’s secondary school and employment history has been expanded.  Those are linked internally to other wikipedia pages)
• Real-time changes are made to entries (Dr. Rice’s page includes information that she is currently an adviser to Barack Obama’s campaign)

Bad:

• Unscrupulous wikipedians can vandalize pages with the absolute worst of accusations that are totally baseless
• Unsuspecting researchers (commonly students) can encounter vandalized entries and use them in subsequent publications.  This is even more hazardous in the age of citizen journalist

READERS:  If you’re interested in learning more about how wikiscanner works feel free to leave a comment.  Be advised new scans are being conducted this summer.  Read the Wikiscanner FAQ.

I’m increasing my blogs visibility

<a href=”http://technorati.com/claim/izepayxar7&#8243; rel=”me”>Technorati Profile</a>

Tonight I’ve added a Social Bookmarking widget and now Technorati.

Happy Independence Day!!!

I like this photo…

Here’s their guy…Click here to see why I agree.