Splenda: A better alternative to sugar?

by Tiffany Rider

Splenda is a product of McNeil Nutritionals, LLC, who are, according to Splenda's website, "committed to developing innovative nutritional products.... that provide important health and lifestyle benefits to consumers."

Splenda is an artificial sweetener containing sucralose, a chemically-created sweetening agent. There are many people who believe that artificial sweeteners are better for the body, such as Splenda, but many others believe that agents like sucralose are harmful. According to Splenda's website, sucralose has been on international markets for over 13 years. Just because a product has been on the market for a long period of time does not prove it is healthy. This is the same with FDA approved products; if you look into the history of the FDA you will see why.

Here is an opinion on Splenda by physician and author Dr. Joseph Mercola :



For those who oppose artificial sweeteners and aspartame, an alternative is stevia. To learn about stevia, check Stevia.net out.

Myanmar: Bloggers fight back

By Matt Sun



Citizen journalism has taken a new turn in influencing world politics.

Ever since the first clash occurred between the ruling Myanmar junta military and protesters, video feed and pictures of the confrontations were published by major news sources. However, a majority of photos and videos weren't taken by well-known journalists, but bloggers who feel that the "world needs to know what's going on," said Benjamin Valk, a student who sent a video to CNN.


In the wake of global scrutiny, the military government cut off Internet connections in Myanmar in hopes of reducing the flow of information to those living outside the country. Blogs based in Myanmar suddenly went dark, however other bloggers vowed to keep fighting.

One popular blog, http://ko-htike.blogspot.com/, operates out of London and has kept the world on its toes with its up-to-the-minute reporting of events unfolding in Myanmar. Pictures of violence used against protesters can be seen and videos are featured on the site.

With more confrontations expected between the military and civilians, many Internet users can only hope more civilians will continue to feed us with videos and pictures of the events unfolding in Myanmar.

Childrens Machine

About three days ago I was watching Dateline NBC while I was getting ready to go to a friends birthday party when something caught my eye. There was a new computer that has been created called the X0-1, previously known as the $100 Laptop and even as the Children's Machine.

These computers have been designed to be distributed throughout the world to children in remote locations, in order to provide the children with the access to knowledge.

Although the computers are not able to handle Windows, these rugged, low-power computers contain flash memory instead of a hard drive and use Linux as their operating system. Mobile ad-hoc networking is used to allow many machines Internet access from one connection. They are solar powered, and they eat meat.

As of now the computers cost about $188, however they are trying to bring the price down to $100 by the end of 2008.

Say Farewell To the Pyramid

By Bloody Navel and Dirrrty Girl Scout

Yesterday CSULB officials met in a closed session to discuss the fate of the Pyramid. Citing financial reasons and cultural indifference, they unanimously voted to replace the pyramid with the much-anticipated rec center.

Original blueprints for the rec center were revised following a series of student complaints regarding lack of parking. According to an inside source, rather than approaching the parking situation head-on, school officials opted to bribe students with a flashier gold-plated rec center.

To further boost school spirit, the rec center will be modeled after a Goldmine theme. Mine shafts will replace hallways and lockers rooms will resemble covered wagons. A 50-foot model of Prospector Pete will stand triumphantly at the entrance greeting students and visitors. Engineers are currently developing a way for the model to swing a pick-axe from side to side. The statue can be seen from the intersection of Palo Verde and Atherton.

"This is as much of a surprise for us as it is for everyone when we were asked to start building the rec center so early," Said Javier Santiago Jesus Mendoza Gutierrez Soto Arroyo Pollo Arroz Enchilada Smith, one of the engineers on the rec center team. "What's even more surprising is the 50-foot monolith that we were ordered to build as well."

Possible plans for the pyramid were discussed at the meeting to include integrating with the new rec center. Other options include auxiliary parking and a new dorm complex. One official suggested turning the pyramid into a cube, which he claimed would be more aesthetically pleasing.

Students have met this change of plans with mixed emotions.

"We're already a joke in the CSU system," Said Rebecca Walters, an Anglo-studies major. "Mine shafts will not make it any better."

"I would much rather have a blue cube than a pyramid any day," Said Daniel Murphison, an architect major. "I would decorate it with glue and macaroni."

Although opinions have varied on the project, construction will commence at the end of the school year. As a result, next semester's fees are expected to rise another 30 percent.

Multimedia

The internet has created a forum for all kinds of crazy people to express their crazy ideas very easily, to the masses. If you browse around youtube.com or myspace.com you can find some pretty wild stuff, but the new technologies introduced to journalists has not been all bad.
This fact is especially evident in the field of Photojournalism. The internet has completely changed the face of Photojournalism making the job description include: taking photos, recording sound, being literate in flash, and being very good at all of them.
Photographers at every major newspaper are producing slideshows that bring you into a story. they will usually have one or two photos printed, but have about a two-minute slideshow, with audio of the same story online.
A newspaper that is setting an excellent example is the LA Times. By viewing the Photographs portion of the website, http://www.latimes.com/news/local/photography/ you can check out a variety of different slideshows by a variety of staff photographers, and the slideshow of the "Week in Photos."
Rick Loomis uses the slideshows brilliantly to capture personal moments, and give you shots that can almost explain the entire scene without cutlines, or audio, but having them adds to the experience.
A story can inform you. A photo can make you understand a story. But a slideshow can change your perspective on an issue. They can make you feel that you have actually lived through an experience. In Rick Loomis' "Saving the War Wounded," he documents the hours of a soldier's life immediately following being wounded in Iraq. The slideshow will make you realize what people are going through everyday while we complain about parking, homework and cell phone reception.
Another photographer, Don Bartletti, takes on the always controversial topic of immigration, but from the perspective of the border patrol, and the immigrants, in "Border Crossing."
You can always find slideshows on the LA Times website along with the NY Times and mostly any other major publication. Even the Bakersfield Californian's website has slideshows by awesome photographers like John Harte, Casey Christie, and Felix Adamo at http://www.bakersfield.net/photography/slideshows/.

Chris Croker to get TV Show?

What is it with our society today? Anyone that goes on youtube and makes a scene can recieve their own tv show?

That's right folks. Crying Britney fan Chris Crocker was approached today with an offer for a TV SHOW!

On top of being offered this, he's been on such TV shows as Good Morning America, Maury, and Jimmy Kimmel live.

This is just devestating to the field of journalism. Apparently, the new way to get noticed is to put a video camera in front of your face and ball like a baby over somebody who doesnt even know you exist.

here is the article about Chris' possible TV gig:

http://smallscreen.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1357690.php/Britney_guy_Chris_Crocker_may_get_TV_show


Ashley Brown

The Cost of Journalism

It seems the trend with online journalism is to pay for interviews and footage. TMZ.com is one website that has created a lot of buzz for their exclusive audio of O.J. Simpson. The website also features exclusive photos of Britney Spears, Kate Moss and Courtney Love. These types of stories attract a younger demographic that doesn't read the newspaper or watch the news.

TMZ.com is willing to pay for stories which allows them to gather exclusive content unavailable to other members of the media. But is it really journalism if you are paying for a story?

Online news websites,with the abilty to post a new story at any time, make it harder for print and broadcast to compete. Other online news websites share this abillity, but it seems that people are drawn to exclusive content. Unless print or broadcast journalists decide to pay for exclusive content, their ability to compete with online news websites will continue to diminish.

Shawna Abbott

Videos

By Raul Reis

Again, if you have access to a video camera and have something interesting to say, don't feel shy about starring in your own videos, if they truly add something to the story you're working on. I'm thinking specifically about the groups that are working on stories focused on new products, like the intelligent table. Besides using the company's own video snippet, you could also show us how the table works, with a "personalized" tour of the gadgets... Just a thought.

Multimedia

By Raul Reis

Yesterday, I was talking in class to some of you about the use of video and other multimedia tools to enhance your stories. I wanted to post a link to a collection of multimedia stories on the New York Times web site, to give you a clearer picture of what I was talking about.

http://nytimes.com/pages/multimedia/index.html

Take a look at their use of slide shows and video. While you're at it, take a look at David Pogue's videos on technological innovation. Pogue is the NYT's tech innovation columnist.

Also, as I mentioned to one of the groups yesterday, check out CNET (cnet.com) for their short videos on different new products and gadgets. They do a great job of using video to show new products and compare similar products in the same price range...

The Future of Print

In light of the NY Times canceling their online subscription service I got to thinking about the future of newspaper print editions, or at least the current format we are accustomed to. While many people get most of their news today from online sources I think the majority of that group is our generation.

My father, for example, who has written for various national newspapers still subscribes to a few and reads them in print form, but how many young people still do?
Where does it go from here? Will this generation make the formers way of reading the news obsolete?

As more and more people the world over gain access to computers and the internet, print media as we know it may totally change. Imagine turning on your computer every morning to a daily downloaded copy of your local news, weather and sports, emerging from your printer and ready to read.

The need for a tangible copy to read on the go may never totally disappear but as technology brings everything closer to our fingertips at a push of button the existence of the news in paper form, could.
-- Tucker Savoye

Britney's crying fan

I am as disappointed as anyone when it comes to watching the demise of such young promising entertainers like Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears. However, I found the video of the crying Chris Crocker posted on YouTube.com after another failed Britney comeback at the Video Music Awards, to be extremely disturbing.

I was watching The Today Show, and to my horror, they were actually giving him an interview. I mean honestly, don't they have a political race or some other worth while human interest piece to follow? Even their "Where in the world is Matt Lauer" bit, which is also a waste of my morning, is more stimulating. At least I am able to learn something by it.

Can you believe that Chris Crocker had gotten so many hate e-mails and death threats that he would not even disclose his location. Talk about someone wanting their 15 min. of fame.

How sad that our society today can care so much about such a stupid...let me emphasize the word STUPID...video posted on youtube.com? I dont understand why we are giving that kind of psychotic behavior so much praise and attention. I am so over all these people gaining fame by rehearsing such stuts and posting them. I'm over it...I'm over him and I am extremely over Britney Spears...come on...she deserves it!!!

By Krista Hartford

Old Guard vs. New Order: the Changing Face of Gaming, Part I

By John Denny


Titles such as Sid Meier's Civilization 4 have revolutionized video gaming as we know it.

It wasn't so long ago that video games were considered a simple diversion, something to distract the children. Adult gamers were seen as eccentric and quirky, and the idea of professional gaming or the game as an art form was dismissed out of hand.

But now we see games coming out that sometimes have the development budget and fan following of a blockbuster movie. Current franchises such as Pokémon, Rainbow Six and Final Fantasy have millions of dedicated players. Games like Bioshock, F.E.A.R. and Metal Gear Solid have graphics that play out like an interactive show with the player as the main character. Game soundtracks rival those of movies. Racing and sports games are almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

It's a far cry from the days of saving the princess.

The next generation of games promises to be even more astounding. Over the course of this series I'll take a look at the changing face of gaming over the years. I'll begin with a look back at innovation in the gaming industry up to the present day, follow up with a look at the future of gaming, and end with a look at how these changes affect the way that gaming is perceived and its effects on the industry.

Strap yourselves in, kids, it's going to be a bumpy ride...

Wow....

The Chris Crocker video from YouTube is disturbing....


Lauren

Facebook and trash news, revisited!

Can I go back to Facebook?? Is that allowed? I’m sorry, I just started reading everyone’s posts and I just wanted to put some thoughts down...

Facebook - I didn't realize how commercial it was getting either. That actually took me by surprise. I didn't really get into Facebook until well after everyone else did. I remember sitting in a freshman comm class playing along while everyone raved about it. I wasn't a MySpace user either until my two best friends moved away and it was just easier to communicate that way. But by the time I got really into Facebook, it was already open to more than just college students, which is what I was promised. People could start registering with high schools and now you can join any network you want in any city I suppose. I guess it's just Mr. Facebook wanting to expand his publics, which now include everyone under the sun. Anyone who wants one can have one! Where there is a will, there is a Facebook. It sucks that limited profiles can be seen from outside sites. What the heck? It’s a tad unfortunate that what once seemed like an innocent networking site (WHOA, remember Friendster, guys??) is yet another way for someone out there to make money off of our demographic – the computer savvy teenage/college kids. Haven’t we (or our parents) given them enough money from iPods, Sidekicks, and Nano pets? I mean, Nintendo Wiis?! We are the target of many American markets. The world is at our fingertips, for a price, of course. Do we love or hate being the cash cow? So, they’ve opened up Facebook to the public to gain more popularity and revenue, what’s the next step? How could they possibly get more money? They start charging the kids! Okay, that’s extreme. But regardless, once they start making me pay for my MySpace or Facebook account, it’s over. And by that I mean, I’ll probably just delete my accounts. But I don’t think they’ll miss me.

On another note, the Kanye vs. 50 cent crap drives me crazy. I felt a lump rise in my throat when I got my new issue of Rolling Stone in the mail a couple of weeks ago. For those who haven’t seen it, its Kanye West and 50 Cent facing off (individually photographed and Photoshopped in that pose, I’m sure), with the headline – “Who will be the king of hip-hop?” As a hip hop and not a hip pop fan, I was devastated. Is it REALLY between these two guys? Seriously? I can’t believe that made news. I would have rather revisited the heartbreak of the 9/11 tragedies this past Tuesday. It means a heck of a lot more to me than the record sales of two hideously overpaid entertainers. I would've paid more attention if the rivalry meant so much to the two men because all of their proceeds were going to a cause to make the world a better place. Why don't we hear about either of those two men, or Britney, or Lindsay, or Ryan Seacrest doing something awesome for the world that they don't benefit from? Why doesn't THAT make news? Oh, cause they don't do anything awesome for the world that they don't benefit from? Or at least, not enough? Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and say they have to get their own problems solved first. Like how to get the diamonds out of their vacuum cleaners, or the twenty dollar bills unclogged from their kitchen sinks.

-Vanessa Castle

Satellite radio

Xm Satellite is a technology that is improving radio all over the world. Many people like Satellite because there are no commercials. It is very conveninet for companies who need to play music over and over. So instead of having to pop in a cd every now and then they go with Satellite and they never have to worry. Many drivers as well get upset with all the talk and commercials so with the Satellite they are able to go to certain stations and listen to music nonstop. They dont get annoyed with the breaks and when they are stuck in traffic they have something enjoyable to listen to. It is a new innovation that is being used all over in offices, cars and many other places. With technology improving they way it is pretty soon we wont need to get upset over anything.

Oh the IDOLS we look up to...

It truly amazes me at how much Americans are so "obsessed" with the media they are fed. A lot of these posts have been about Britney Spears so I am going to use that as my starting point since I have no clue what to do.

If you think about it, average people go through horrible stuff everyday. Drug addicts, deaths, divorces and many other things all happen daily, yet no one hears about how three kids died in a car accident. Instead they read about how Lindsay Lohan was pulled over because she was drunk and does coke.

In my opinion American media needs to focus more on global topics and stories on everyday news. I wonder, are we so "obsessed" with celebrities that the media reports on it to crave our needs? Or does the media feed these stories to us to make us somewhat brainwashed in the fact that some may watch EXTRA or Entertainment Tonight over their local news stations? It makes me wonder... Paris Hilton got so much media for going to jail, does that mean it will be the "cool" thing to do and young girls will rebel to be like Paris? Obviously there is a bit of a trend considering Nichole Richie has to serve time- and Lindsay Lohan, well she is another story.

I just hope that people start to question whether or not the media is making them crave entertainment news, or if it is what people really want.



-Kara Bautch

Critical Thinking

In response to "Does the convergence of media decrease the quality of news by allowing "sub-news" to make it alongside "mainstream" news?"

I think the wealth of information provided by the Internet is fascinating. Allowing "sub-news" to run alongside "mainstream news" is a bit scary and could decrease the quality, but that's the Internet, a vast world where anything can happen. But I worry about who reads, interprets and believes the information provided. Along with this technology boom, critical thinking should be implemented in elementary schools and classes should be mandatory in Jr. High and above.

John Synco

Leave Britney Alone! - Media Convergence in our Culture

By Matt Sun

The video of a teary-eyed teenager defending Britney Spears was sucked from its Youtube home three days ago and splashed onto different sources of media including CNN, Perezhilton.com, "The View," and international publications.

In just three days, the face of 19-year-old Chris Crocker was seen at least 5 million times and received over 70,000 comments.

Whether its the confusion of what gender this kid identifies with or the zealous dedication he exhibits for Britney Spears, one thing is clear: Convergence of media has allowed over 5 million viewers to actively share, comment, and analyze (basically ridicule) Chris Crocker and his crocodile tears for Britney.

Does convergence of media decrease the quality of news by allowing "sub-news" to make it alongside "mainstream" news?

Facebook Shmacebook

This relationship the general public has with Britney Spears, her cellulite and whether or not she was on Valium during her MTV VMA's performance is three clicks beyond ridiculous. Yes, she looked very unbecoming in her underwear and yes, her erratic behavior is worrisome, but when does the serious media turn a blind eye to the glaring flashes of the paparazzi cameras? The argument of the media simply feeding the masses what they want, i.e. celebrity gossip, is as legitimate as the argument that the egg did precede the chicken. If people want to read about her shortcomings as a lip-syncher, by all means, pick up an entertainment magazine or go to the countless websites which cater to that community; but the fact that news sources are providing the masses with infotainment rather than hard news is only perpetuating our society's obsession with the rich and the famous and the witnessing of their triumphs and utter failures.
With this in mind, I was shocked when just a few days ago, on September 11, people were discussing the Kanye vs. 50 Cent war in every single one of my classes and there was absolutely no mention of the other event that most people associate the date with. Granted it's been six years and granted, it's a topic that does not rouse joyful emotions; yet, I was still surprised by how consumed people were by the record sales of two entertainers over a terror attack that has altered aspects of our everyday lives. Infotainment seems to reign supreme and in case anyone was wondering, according to CNN.com, Kanye is indeed beating 50 Cent.

On another sad note, at this very moment, the news just again mentioned Britney Spears. Seems like a slap in the face.

By Kendra Fujino

Facebook shocker

By Raul Reis

It's sad that Facebook is going more commercial, but what really shocked me was the fact that to do so, they will provide access to millions of posts, pictures, files, creative fiction, music, and everything else people had been posting as "limited", never expecting them to become widely available...

That goes to show that you have to be really careful when you use social networking/blogging sites, including this one we're using now. In essence, by posting pictures and personal files, the way I do on "shutterfly.com", for example, we're waiving our copyrights (and a big chunk of our privacy). I guess this is one huge downside of the Internet and technological innovation...

Facebook, etc.

Touching on the facebook blog post, I can't believe that. I did not know they expanded so much. I was against myspace for a long time until my friend introduced me to Facebook saying "Oh, it's so different from myspace. It's not as creepy...etc." So voluntarily, my friend set up a facebook account for me. Little did I know that facebook was going to expand so much to basically turn into myspace with a different name. That scares me now that you don't have to be a registered college student to be allowed on facebook but just someone from the general public with a e-mail address. The internet allows you to search basically anything you want and if you are able to search people who are on facebook through a google search, I think something needs to be done about that.

Facebook also has its positive points too throughout the creepiness that has evolved around it. I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain last semester and traveled all throughout Europe for 5-6 months. It's funny how little I collected e-mail accounts compared to facebook accounts. EVERYONE is on facebook that I met all throughout Europe. If I had a nickel for everytime I got asked, "Yeah we should exchange e-mails....wait, do you have a facebook account?" It has allowed me to keep in touch from people who live in Texas all the way to Sweden. I think it is cool because it is a very casual way to keep in touch with someone and actually lets you keep in touch with them because you can look at pictures they posted and keep up with their lives.

There are so many applications to use on the internet today that allow you to keep in touch with people. There are so many messenging services available now, and what is good about them is that they are free and easy! A really cool thing that I was introduced to when I was over there was Skype. You can use it like a messenging service, or you can speak through the computer by calling someone using it like a phone. If someone else has a Skype account (again, its free and easy!) you can speak to them for free with headphones or a microphone. It's a great alternative to talking on the cellphone because if that other person lives in another country, chances are you are going to pay a huge bill or you are going to have to keep purchasing calling cards.

The internet has really progessed with all these applications. I am so glad to been introduced to these things because it makes it possible to have friends in other countries and not have to wait for e-mails, etc.

By, Lauren Darmody

Facebook

Facebook, in the sad tradition social networking sites, is going commercial. Starting in early October of 2007, Internet search engines will be exposing the name and picture of 40 million of its users. By allowing outside web surfers to see the limited profiles, Facebook execs think they can attract more users to sign up and join the network, and raise the price floor for their ad space.

The end result: more revenue. It's a depressing incentive for the big brass to 'open the community' to more users.

Facebook used to be the private, homey-er alternative to MySpace. It began as a place for college students to keep old friendships and make new ones, and has since been perverted into another ad-plastered website for people to build up their friend count.

It's a sad stage in the development of social networking sites. If they ever really started as true 'communities', they'll only de-evolve into audience mongers for corporate advertisements.

Click here to see the article by Jon Swartz from USA Today.

Post by Andy Franks

Welcome to our blog!

This is a blog about innovation journalism, posted by future innovative journalists! Our goal is to discuss technological, scientific, economic, political, artistic innovation; how innovation is covered by the media; and how WE cover it.

This is a collective blog. It is the product of 30 university students (and one instructor) who are currently trying to find out more about innovation journalism, innovation in general, and how to do a great job covering it.

Our posts will cover the gamut from our thoughts and views on innovation to the stories we are currently working on. Since this is a collective effort, readers will find here a very eclectic, creative style. Please feel free to add to the discussion with your own comments.