Controversy over Nobel Peace Prize

The Nobel Peace Prize winner, Liu Xiaobo, is one of the many peace prize winners who have been detained or imprisoned while winning the peace prize. Xiaobo has been convicted of subversion against the Chinese government and sent to prison for 11 years. He is the 2010 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his use of nonviolence in his attempts to regain his fundamental human rights.

According to the article, the Chinese government has blacked out all announcements of the winning by this man. The government says that Norway should not have awarded the prize to Xiaobo because of his revolutionary acts against the country. China is threatening to cut ties with Norway.

In my opinion, the press freedom of China is very limited and that China is overreacting in their attempts to cut ties with Norway. It is very apparent that China's press is NOT free. After consulting Freedom House, the website shows that China is labeled as not free for press freedom.

I feel as though Xiaobo earned the prize fairly and accurately represents what Nobel wanted in his will. According to the article, Alfred Nobel left in his will, those who advocate "fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."(yahoo news) Xiaobo was a part of the Tiennamen Square Protests and has been a political advocate of many other things, and seems to be a good candidate to win the prize.

article:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/nobel_peace_prize

Juror released over facebook status

This is a somewhat older story, from August I think, but I feel like it should have earned more spotlight than it did. A juror in a Michigan trial court was released because of her facebook status while off from a day of jury duty. She stated on her status “gonna be fun to tell the defendant they’re guilty.” SERIOUSLY! Even though the girl may have been young, you have to take court seriously. Jury duty could be a joke for some, but someone's life is in your hands, even if it is a matter of 2 days in jail or several years. I feel like the girl did not take her duty seriously and she should be punished for playing around and posting things on facebook. I feel that this story should have been broadcasted or shown more than it was, just to set an example for others that the judicial system is serious. Seems that this story is more newsworthy than it was given credit. The defendant was found guilty in the case, but her mishap could have created many problems if the status wasn't caught.

Here's the article:
http://newsone.com/nation/associatedpress4/facebook-status-gets-juror-dismissed-gonna-be-fun-to-tell-the-defendant-theyre-guilty/

"I'm You"

Regarding Christine O'Donnell's "I'm You" commercial, she seems like a crazy nut. If I were running for an important office, I would never say things in the manner she does. After listening to her message, I confirmed in my head that I would never vote for her. She doesn't seem confident whatsoever. Saying "I'm You" seems elementary. Her message would have come across much more professionally if she would have said "I'm Human" or something to better relate to the constituents that she is trying to reach...
I would have to say that Christine O'Donnell's way of marketing her campaign, and basically marketing herself, was the wrong choice. It does not create a distinction from her opponents, except in the fact that she looks silly and unprofessional.
I honestly don't understand why she says "I'm not a witch, I'm you." It seems like some petty slogan that worked out for her negatively. Just watching things like this, I wouldn't even want to see what her platform is because the way she picks how she wants to portray herself is silly and unprofessional. Hope I didn't push any buttons with anyone, but the way people have reacted so far I don't think I will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGGAgljengs&feature=player_embedded