Power Law Distribution

1.  The “power law distribution” or “long tail” phenomenon, as seen in behavior online on the Wikipedia, suggests that the concept of an average user of wikipedia is meaningless. Support your answer: how do you think a local, “JMU only” version of the Wikipedia would compare to the worldwide version? Would it be very similar? Higher quality? Less quality? Why?


Wikipedia is worldwide and has a wide range of diversity. JMU honestly does not have that. The only similarities is that all of JMU would have their ideas and facts that they want to put on their. Many people would continue to pile on information about a subject or topic. How the two would differ, a JMU only version lacks size in comparison and would not have the same ammount of contribution. There a small age range of contributors unless alumni can be a part of the JMU only version. I think that would help.  There are a lot of intelligent people who know there stuff here at JMU but I think the quality would be lower because who is checking the credibility of what is put on there? and I believe we would be a little biased depending on our views of what we put on our version.

Scratch

2. After reading the article about Scratch and exploring the Scratch website, what are some observable benefits in creating a space to share student work?

I feel that Scratch is amazing. I have never heard of it before reading this article. Scratch is great because you can be creative and create whatever you want from stories to animations. It is good for young children to be expressive and be able to be social with others while learning computer skills. This is a site where you can have fun and learn at the same time. It isn’t like other social networking sites where you upload pictures and videos and comment, you have fun of Scratch playing games and such things being creative. I believe all schools should use Scratch for students to learn more in computers, mathematics, editing, interdependence, creativity and having fun.

Wikis

Some important parts of the presentation is what is a wiki. A Wiki is a page where anyone can edit or create a new page on a wiki website using a blank web browser. They also promote topics and are linked together by people like a very large open blog to the world. There was HyperCard to connect using it for groups of people for meetings and share things which was created by Bill Atkinson for Macs. This was the creation which led to wikis. There is more other wiki sites to use that are free and CAN share and organize for companies. Wikipedia is the largest encyclopedia and is no where near complete.

Patriot Act

Some news reports have suggested that the Bush administration used the USA Patriot Act to look at the e-mails of American citizens without a warrant. What’s your position if this was indeed the case? Should citizens be willing to give up their privacy? Does it bother you to know that your online communications are very potentially semi-private instead of private?

In my opinion the Patriot Act was used irresponsibility and only used in a way to completely diminish the American publics privacy. America is seen as a country where people are free and able to do as they wish as long as they don’t over step the boundary of the law. Unfortunately, this is not the case anymore. The Patriot Act pretty much gives free reign for the Government to invade the privacy of the people they are sworn to protect. They are taking away American freedoms set aside by our forefathers. I don’t believe that we as Americans should give up our privacy for an overzealous expedition by the president of the United States. In the age that we are in now when technology is in everything we do it would be ridiculous for electronic or “online” communication not to be protected. If this law is to continue to be enacted in the manner in which it has been in the past then as an American society we might as well kiss our freedoms goodbye.

Protection

1. If your mother uses wifi at home to send you e-mail, and your home network is not protected by WEP or WPA, what reasons would you suggest to her for enabling one of these two protocols at home if the liability of reading those e-mails still exists once her message leaves your home, on it’s way to school?

Without these two, it leaves the network available and unprotected to other people. Another person  can access to the wifi and be able to connect and access the emails without a firewall to protect your private information. Without these securities you will be prone to sharing all your information you think is private wirelessly.

Olanzapine

The official website for the drug Olanzapine probably didn’t mention the fact it might cause diabetic symptoms in patients. Another website obviously did. Commercials on TV now are required to mention possible side effects. Should drug companies be required to come clean about situations like the one with Eli Lilly’s Olanzapine in their commercial websites? Why or why not?

I believe drug companies should inform the general public of potential side effects. I believe the small print on the bottom of a commercial should be enough information for consumers. The real side effect information should be discussed by the patient's physician. Commercials are there to generally inform potential patients on their options for their drug of choice, but in order for the proper drug to be used, a doctor should decide based on patient history, general wellness and severity of disease. Doctors should be aware of well documented studies from the drug companies and make the best decision on a case-by-case basis no matter what the medication. Ultimately, it is the power of the physician to prescribe the correct drug; commercials and advertising are not to blame.