UF Technical Writing

[itsanashakblog-blog]

https://soundcloud.com/anasha-kapasi

@chintyleruf @bribinion

[ferncamachoblog-blog]

Barry B. Benson

Poem:

I love to make honey,

I’m not in it for the money.

You humans don’t treat us right,

And for that I had to fight.

I fought to get it all our honey back,

Not realizing I put the ecosystem under attack.

Now I know if we all work together,

We’ll make the ecosystem much better.

I chose the character Barry B. Benson from The Bee Movie, because as a Food and Resource Economics major it was quite difficult to chose a film character that embodies this. However, Barry along with his film cover a lot of the issues that occur in not only the Food and Resource Economics industry, but also agricultural issues which fall under my college the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Barry was so infuriated when he first found out that humans are taking all of the honey from bees to resell at local grocery stores and super markets. He spent his time throughout the movie with Vanessa Bloome, a local florist, and together they fought to return all honey back to the bees. However, they did not predetermine the dangers it would cause to the ecosystem. As they took all the honey, bees no longer needed to pollinate flowers and all the plants and fruits no longer grew. This goes to show the importance that we play in agriculture. By using these natural resources as human we are able to keep the ecosystem going. However, we must use them in moderation any surplus or shortage of resources can cause short run or long run problems in the future. From an economist point of view, it is easy to take as many resources needed from the quantity demanded from consumers. However, this movie sends an important message that bees are endangered so we must take into account ecofriendly methods of breeding bees and acquiring the honey in the most humane possible way. One of the big themes we covered in class is ethical dilemmas. I chose Barry B. Benson because I think he is one of the greatest film characters to portray environmental ethical issues that us as humans can cause. He really puts us in the eyes of a small creature and goes to show what we do to them, such as killing bees through pollution or acquiring their honey and then killing them with toxic sprays.

[bribinion-blog]

I really like your poem. It shows the ethical dilemma that Barry B. Benson deals with in the movie. He wanted to protect the bee community but ended up hurting the ecosystem. He had to make a tough decision to save the ecosystem.  

[megstechwritingblog]

Dr. Dolittle - Veterinarian

Sent: July 17, 2001 To: [email protected] Subject: Logging Negotiations

Dear Mr. Potter,

I am writing this email to discuss your plans to cut down the forest. I know you and I have had our differences, but I really need you to hear me out. This forest is important for many different species of animals. If you cut it down, they will not have a place to live. As you know, one of these species is the endangered Pacific Western bear.  Now, if you read the Endangered Species Act, you would know that it is illegal to destroy the habitat of an endangered species.  Not only is it illegal, but it is also unethical.  Once that species is gone, we cannot bring it back, so it is important that we protect it. Currently, I am working on getting two of the resident bears to breed in order to help save their species. If you just give me the time, I can guarantee you I will get it done.   There are plenty of other ways to make money for your logging companies. In fact, my hospitals and I are willing to pay you if you agree to leave the forest completely alone. If you still want to cut down the forest, then we can negotiate how much land you can take. Hopefully you will understand that these animals have feelings too and we can come to an agreement. You can contact me at [phone] or reply to this email at [email protected].

John Dolittle, Veterinarian Dolittle Animal Hospital [email protected] [phone]

The character I chose is Dr. John Dolittle, a man who works as both a human doctor and a veterinarian.  He also has the ability to talk to animals. I chose him because I plan on becoming a veterinarian in the future and he values saving forests from being cut down. I am engaging with the course themes by writing a persuasive email to the owner of two logging companies.  Persuasive writing was one of the topics in our textbook and we also went over writing emails in class.

[state-of-being-happy-and-health]

I really enjoyed reading your post and remember loving this movie as a kid! I think your writing was very persuasive and fair when it came to finding an agreement about the forest. You used great information about the endangered species list and laws to defend your stance and offer a solution to the problem. It was a very interesting letter to read!

[bribinion-blog]

I like the professional email you created from Dr. Dolittle’s perspective. I think your email also addresses the issue of managing ethical dilemmas. Dr. Dolittle was trying to stop the logging companies from destroying the habitat of an endangered species, which is unethical.  

[bribinion-blog]

Dr. Spencer Reid

In the television show, Criminal Minds, Dr. Spencer Reid plays a Supervisory Special Agent with the BAU. Dr. Reid is a socially awkward, genius. He is able to remember key historical facts and details that help his team analyze symbolic clues. For example, in "Aftermath", Reid seems to be the only team member who notices Elle's odd behavior, and confronts her; he gets her to open up to him but it does not stop her from spiraling out of control. Dr. Reid’s life and career is far from normal. From his action packed career to his mentally ill mother, Reid has very eventful days. This is a poem written from Dr. Reid’s perspective:

My name is Dr. Spencer Reid,

I do good deeds for those in need.

I am very intelligent, have three Ph.D.’s,

you probably didn’t know that about me.

But my life is quite unusual,

The crime senses I see are very visual.

I analyze the crime scene and people’s mind,

Sometimes the unsub has DNA and clues that they leave behind.

I enjoy reading all types of books,

They help me catch the crooks.

As you can tell my career is far from normal,

My personal life is even more abnormal.

I can be awkward at times,

I have trouble fitting in with the society norms oftentimes.

My mother is schizophrenic,

I am worried because I was told it is genetic.

I want to help her get better,

There are many medications that I have to get her.

The medication doesn’t seem to help her at all,

Thinking of her condition makes me sad and want to bawl.

All in all my life may not be perfect,

But I would never trade it.

A Supervisory Special Agent has many ethical rules that they must follow. Ethical dilemmas is an issue in the professional field that we have discussed. Dr. Reid and his team have been in numerous ethical dilemmas throughout the seasons. It is important to deal with ethical dilemmas in a professional way.  

[itsanashakblog-blog]

Mental Illness in the Media

Mental Illness is a very important topic in the world and is constantly misrepresented in the media. Many people like to jump to conclusions when they judge people, especially people with mental illnesses. In reality, unless someone has a degree in psychology, the majority of peoples’ knowledge about mental illness comes from newspapers, television shows, and/or movies. Many studies show media is the number one source of the public’s knowledge of mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. 

Something that can be done to change peoples’ perception of mental illness is to encourage them to learn more about mental illness. There is an infinite amount of information on the internet about mental illness and the different types of illnesses there are and how each of them affects the person who has that illness. While this is one way for the public to learn about mental illness, another way they can get more knowledge about it is through meeting people who have mental illnesses and getting to know who they are so they can see past the illness. There are many people around the world that suffer from mental issues and illnesses and I think it is important for people to try and get to know who they are and understand that the illness is just a part of them and it doesn’t depict what kind of person they are. 

Since the media portrays mental illness as something that is wrong, it is easy for people to become stereotypical and negative towards people who have these illnesses. These stereotypes have caused people to view mentally ill individuals as incompetent and dangerous when that is not the case for most individuals who suffer from these diseases. I believe that as soon as people begin to see past looks, they will gain a better understanding of the person instead of having a stereotypical view of people with psychological disorders. 

[bribinion-blog]

I agree that mental illness is misrepresented in the media. The media portrays people with mental illnesses in a negative way but they are experiencing something that causes them a great amount of distress. It is important that people fully understand how mental illnesses affects people. 

[megstechwritingblog]

Invasive Iguana Reports

An issue in the wildlife field that has been misreported is the euthanizing of invasive iguanas in Florida.  There are high numbers of non-native green iguanas in the state of Florida that are destroying our native vegetation.  As a result, wildlife biologists are going out to trap and euthanize these large lizards. The best way to euthanize an iguana is with a captive bolt gun, however, not everyone has one on hand.  Therefore, the next best way to euthanize them is through blunt force trauma, which involves striking them in the head with a hard object.  If done correctly, the force will instantly kill the iguana.  This method has been approved by the American Veterinary Association and well as Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.  Biologists have been using this method to remove invasive iguanas for years so it shouldn’t be an issue.

The problem is, that news companies have been titling their articles as something along the lines of “scientists are bashing iguanas’ heads in Florida.” USA Today even titled their article “Bashing iguana heads: Florida Researchers smash reptiles for project.”  These titles are completely false and make the situation far worse than it seems.  Wildlife biologists are not bashing the iguanas’ heads in, they are hitting them in the head only once and the lizards shouldn’t feel any pain as they will be killed instantly.  They are also not doing this for a project, they are doing this because green iguanas are an invasive species and are causing harm to our ecosystems.  These articles have triggered attacks on wildlife biologists and other scientists by animal welfare/rights groups.  The attacks have made it harder for those in the wildlife field to do research on animals, and has put the University of Florida under fire because fifteen of the researchers work in UF.  People read the titles instead of reading the whole article and believe that this is a very inhumane way to treat animals. In reality, blunt force trauma is the one of the most humane and common ways to euthanize a lizard, and should not be unnecessarily controversial.

[bribinion-blog]

The news reports definitely misreported the euthanizing of the invasive iguanas in Florida. New reporters like to create news that appeals to people’s emotions even if it incorrectly depicts an issue or action. The news stations should be reporting how the wildlife biologists are saving the ecosystem. Instead, the news stations wanted to appeal to the animal rights activists. 

[bribinion-blog]

The Flint Water Crisis

In 2014, a state of emergency was issued for Flint, Michigan because of the high levels of lead in their drinking water. The high levels of lead in the drinking water was a result of improperly treated pipes for the backup water source, which is the Flint River. After the water source in Flint, Michigan was changed to the Flint River, city officials realized that the water was severely contaminated with lead from the aging pipes. Lead contamination is an important issue because high levels of lead can be toxic for the body. Lead-contaminated water can produce health risks such as anemia, cardiovascular effects, and reduced kidney function. Over 10,000 children have experienced elevated blood- lead levels. The contaminated water has also affected pregnant women and their babies. Four years later, Flint’s water has met the federal guidelines, but there are still lead pipelines that flow through the city. In addition, there are issues of the water containing high levels of bacteria because the city cannot maintain chlorine levels. Recently, the state of Michigan decided to stop providing Flint with free bottled water, since the water meets federal guidelines. Although the water meets federal guidelines, the citizens of Flint do not trust the water. City officials project the pipes to be fixed no sooner than 2020. If this is true then Flint, Michigan will not have a clean water source for 6 years or more.

Originally, new stations were reporting on the Flint River crisis. However, reporters have not reported that after 4 years Flint is still without a clean water source and will no longer be providing free bottled water. Consuming high levels of lead-contaminated water is a big health concern for public health scholars. Although the Flint water crisis has not been reported on as much in the recent years, public health scholars and city officials are working to improve the water source for Flint, Michigan.

[evanwlove-blog]

The Myth of Detox Tea

Detoxification, or detox, has been wildly advertised as the new option for losing weight easily without any effort. Presented in the form of tea, the “detox” is performed by flushing out any harmful substances in the body as well as losing fat without having to work for it. Many consumers who have not been educated in the field of exercise and nutrition fall prey to the myth of being able to lose weight without any effort. They just simply have to drink a tea and they will get the body they want.

This is not the case however. What actually happens is that the weight-loss teas that are being advertised usually contain ingredients that have diuretic or laxative effects. This results in a loss of weight, but not from fat burning, but from water loss and rapid waste loss. The drinks are unnecessary in the first place because the human body already has numerous natural process that cleanses, or “detoxes”, the body.  Many of the teas and drinks have been proven to be ineffective as there is no natural way to lose body fat, other than consistent exercise and the right nutrition, essentially burning more calories than consumed.

The weight-loss beverages business has gained much popularity due to the average consumer’s mindset of wanting the best with the least amount of effort. Consumers see the attractiveness in the teas because the only “work” they have to do is lose weight. Many consumers are unaware of the safe and truest way to burn fat and lose weight, but the tea companies thrive on naivety.

I have chosen this meme because it exemplifies the truth behind detox teas. Consumers believe they will easily lose weight from a simple drink, and might see quick results. However, consumers are usually left unsatisfied in the long run due to already existing poor habits and quickly regain their lost weight back before they even know it.

[bribinion-blog]

The Detox Tea definitely fools consumers into thinking that they can lose weight without having a good diet and exercising. Many times consumers want a product that will help them lose weight immediately. Sometimes consumers do not want to put in the extra work necessary to achieve their goals, so they buy products that say you don’t have to have a good diet and exercise. 

[gittastuff-blog]

Memez

For newly fitness guru’s or athletes who are not very knowledgable in the world of nutrition and fitness, it it very easy to believe and follow many of the advertisements from major companies telling you what’s healthy. In hopes of losing weight, many newly accustomed fitness people look for ideas and information in places that are not very scholarly. Today, instagram fitness models are followed by thousands and are paid a lot of money to advertise products not backed up by science. Ranging from waist trainers to hunger suppressing lollipops, many of these products are not very helpful towards attaining any suspected goals. Yet, sadly due to the lack of a drive to research scientifically-backed information or tips many customers are unaware that these “magical” products don’t actually help. I created this meme in order to symbolize the mockery of “organic” and “non-GMO” protein powder since many of these companies will slap on these empty titles that don’t really mean much in order to catch the attention of customers who have been drilled with the fact that organic is better. This is also a mockery of the customers have little knowledge of the industry and believe things like gluten free, organic and vegan are much better for you and will automatically make you lose weight. More experienced fitness people understand just because something says low fat or a diet says you should cut out carbs, doesn’t necessarily means it true or you should follow it. In order to know what’s right from you, visiting a nutritionist, a professional training or even a doctor could put you on the right path to achieving you goal.

[evanwlove-blog]

Instagram fitness models are all over the place now. Many of them advertise products and supplements without having any educational background or in-depth understanding of nutrition. There is a lot to learn about the human body and exercise, and anybody who wants to start exercising should really start researching themselves so they do no fall into fitness schemes.

[bribinion-blog]

When I saw the meme, I immediately thought there can’t really be “Pea Protein Powder”. But the reality is that many people who are new to the weight lifting lifestyle get scammed by different gimmicks that say they can help them build their body. Many Instagram fitness models endorse products that say they have numerous benefits but they don’t. It is definitely important to do research about the product and the ingredients in it because you never know what you are putting into your body. 

[bribinion-blog]

Expensive Pharmaceuticals

I choose to comment on the fact that adults and elders pay a large amount of money for their prescriptions and over-the-counter pills because it is monopolistic and inhumane. The meme shows how pharmaceutical companies overprice prescriptions that are beneficial for many people. Many adults and elders believe that their insurance will cover most, if not all of their cost for their prescriptions. However, they get blind-sided by how much they have to pay. This has been a steadily growing issue within the medical and pharmaceutical fields. Many people take prescriptions for their pain and health problems. They have been prescribed the pills because it can help improve their health conditions, but the price limits many people can afford it. In the recent years, the costs of the prescriptions have increased tremendously. For example, Sovaldi which cures Hepatitis C is currently priced at $1,000 per 400- mg pill, despite its 90% cure rate. The expensive pricing helps the pharmaceutical company but it drastically hurts the elderly who need the pills to help improve their health conditions. It has been found that people over sixty- five years old spend more than three percent of their income on prescription drugs. The percent is even higher even considering over- the- counter prescriptions. Countless adults and elderly people have been put in predicaments where they have to decide if they really need the medication because they can’t afford it. When people can’t afford life- saving medication, they do not get to express their important unalienable rights- life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[bribinion-blog]

Mechanics of Shooting a Free Throw

The Mechanics of Shooting a Free Throw

The term “free throw” originated in 1891, when James Naismith created the game of basketball. Free throws are a chance to add one to three points to your team’s score without anyone trying to contest the shot. The term “free throw” breaks down into free and throw. Free (adj.) is defined as a person: not or no longer in servitude or subjection to another; having personal, social and political rights as a member of a society or state. The word throw (n.) is the act of twisting or turning; the fact or condition of being twisted; a turn or twist around, or to one side. Sometimes in a close game, teams will foul a low free throw percentage shooter to prevent the other team from scoring any points. The winner of a basketball game could depend on players making free throws therefore, being successful at free throws is very important. When practicing free throws it is important to focus on the form, rhythm, aim, and timing. Ultimately, if players master the mechanics of shooting free throws, they will be able to make them with ease and lead their team to victory.  

Form

The form of the wrist, arms, and legs are important when shooting a free throw. The wrist, arms, and legs should reach almost a 90° angle in order to minimize effort and maximize strength so the ball can reach the basketball goal. B.E.E.F. is a common acronym used to describe the proper shooting form. B.E.E.F. stands for balance, eyes on the target, elbows aligned and follow through. When basketball players are about to shoot a free throw, they line up their foot of their dominant shooting hand with the basket. The other foot is placed shoulder-width apart so they can remain balanced. Players keep their eyes on the target, which is the back of the rim on the basketball goal. The player’s elbow should be aligned with the basketball goal similar to how the player’s dominant foot is aligned with the basket. If their elbow is not aligned, then their aim will be off. The last step in B.E.E.F. is to follow through by flicking the wrist and holding the form. When players take a shot, the ball should be in front of their face. However, some players on the professional and intermediate level shoot free throws underhanded. Shooting underhanded is not the correct form and it requires players to put more effort and concentration into their shot. A free throw should be effortless.

Courtesy of: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/basketball-shooting-resource-11210323

Rhythm

Free throws can produce a feeling of anxiety within players. When there are hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people watching you take free throws, pressure and anxiety can build up and cause players to miss free throws they’ve made a thousand times in practice. In addition to the noise of the crowd, players can become distracted by the other team, the referees, the coaches’ instructions and their own personal thoughts. Therefore, it is important that players shoot a free throw while they are in rhythm. In order to find their rhythm, many players will come up with a short routine to do before they shoot a free throw. There are various actions that players do to create their free throw routine. Some players take a couple dribbles then pause. Others spin the ball in the palm of their hand. Sometimes players come up with more creative routines that are out of the ordinary or gives a tribute to their family. Essentially, the purpose of creating and practicing a routine is so making a free throw becomes automatic, by building muscle memory. If a player puts too much thought into their shot it will cause Analysis- Paralysis, where they analyze every single action. Research conducted by Georgia Southern University and University of Tennessee Sports Psychologists found that players that used their free throw routine have a higher free throw percentage than those who did not use their routine.

The rhythm when shooting free throws is considerably different than when shooting a jump shot. When players are shooting a free throw they have time to recollect themselves and concentrate on just shooting a free throw. When players are shooting a jump shot, they have to maneuver around players to find a spot where they can quickly put up an accurate shot. Additionally, many players have to shoot jump shots off balance, so they have to rely more on the strength and aim of their upper body.

Courtesy of http://www.basketballtraininggrounds.com/free-throw.html

Aim

Before the addition of the backboard in 1904, players did not have any support to help make shoots. Players had to shoot rainbow shots where they aimed at the back of the rim and the ball would only touch the net, more commonly known as a “swish shot”. Today, players still find it easier to shoot free throws where they aim at the back of the rim. In addition, most coaches teach their players that it requires more coordination and concentration to shoot a free throw that hits the backboard. Instead, coaches teach players to try to make swish shots because it requires less coordination and it is easier. Researchers, Larry Silverberg and Chau Tran, proposed that players should shoot the ball at a 52˚ to make a perfect swish shot free throw. Furthermore, they found that aiming at the center of the basket or at the backboard made it more difficult to make a free throw. Players also aim at the back of the rim when they shoot jump shots. Certain places around the basket are easier if you try to shoot a "swish shot". Larry Silverberg and Chau Tran found that the 52˚ rule can be used to make swish shots from any point within the three-point line.  

Courtesy of: https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure

/sports/a7552/basketball-physics-the-anatomy-of-the-free-throw-7556633/

Timing            

Players only have ten seconds to shoot a free throw, therefore it is imperative for players to remain cognizant of the time. Many players have lost the chance to shoot free throws because they were unaware of the time. It is important to pay attention to the referees because they are the gatekeepers of time when you are on the court. Referees keep the time when you are passing the ball inbound, in the backcourt and most importantly when you are taking free throws. Referees begin to count out ten seconds as soon as a player is given the ball. Although players should pay attention to the referees, they should also keep a mental count of how much time they have to shoot the free throw.

Courtesy of: https://avcssbasketball.com/basketball-referee/

Ultimately, free throws are an easy way for players to add points to their teams’ score if they can master the mechanics of free throws- form, rhythm, aim, and timing.  

[chintyleruf-blog]

UF College of Dentistry

Platform: Facebook

Handle: UFDentistry

The UF College of Dentistry Facebook page is a great resource that allows people to stay up to date on what is going on in the world of the UF College of Dentistry as well as have their questions answered about the actual clinic. Their Facebook page has over six thousand followers and posts almost everyday.

Immediately when you click on to the UF College of Dentistry Facebook page, you are greeted by a large cover photo of the students in the DMD, Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry, Class of 2018. On the left side of the page you are provided access to general information about the page and clinic, reviews, photos, videos, and more. The middle of the page gives a little peek of what a few of the main sections, from the left side of the Facebook page like reviews and photos. Following the previews of those sections, it flows into the actual posts of the College of Dentistry. On the right side of the Facebook page, it showcases information about the actual dental clinic, the community of people that interact and follow the UF College of Dentistry Facebook page, and some other Facebook pages related to the College of Dentistry.

The Facebook page does a really good job of combining information about the actual dental clinic side of the UF College of Dentistry and events stemming from the educational side. The page is very neatly organized which allows for easy access to any information that someone could be looking for. Within two clicks from the UF College of Dentistry Facebook home page, you are able to find upcoming events that the Dental School is affiliated with, photos taken from any previous event with the Dental School, or even make an appointment with dental clinic to have your oral needs taken care of.

The Facebook page provides a straightforward and simple way to find just about any information you could need about the UF College of Dentistry.

[bribinion-blog]

The University of Florida Dentistry Facebook page provides their readers with various information, from upcoming events to research and articles. Their posts are short and concise which made it easy to read the text quickly to understand what the post is about. I like that in almost every post they included a picture or video that did not take away from the important information.  

[sundrysanvidge-blog]

UF Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society

Name: Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society

Social media platform: Facebook

Handle: @ufwildlifesociety

[bribinion-blog]

After looking at the UF Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society Facebook, I agree that they do a great job at presenting information to their followers. The posts are very intriguing. As I looked through there page, I saw various attention grabbing pictures of animals that made me want to read the text to understand what was going on. There Facebook is balanced and they provide a good contrast between the amount of posts with text and posts with pictures. 

[bribinion-blog]

UF College of Public Health and Health Professions

I observed the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions’ Facebook (@UFPHHP). They are constantly keeping their followers updated with upcoming events, the latest research and people receiving awards and recognition. They incorporate numerous pictures and captions into their posts. Within their posts they keep the caption short and concise, so their followers can read through the caption quickly and understand what the post is about. Also, if the post is a collage of photos the main pictures that you see are attention grabbing and make you want to explore the other pictures to see what is going on.  I noticed that the organization does not interact with their followers. Many colleges and organizations will post polls asking people what type of events are they interested in, however this college does not do that. Despite the lack of interaction, the College of Public Health and Health Professions’ Facebook provides intriguing, attention grabbing material.

In one post, the College of Public Health and Health Professions is shining a light on one graduate receiving his Ph.D. in Epidemiology. The graduate wanted to think his mother for her hard work and dedication. The post showed a picture of him with his mother at the graduation along with a poem that he wrote for his mother. The post drew my attention because graduation is such as exciting time where you are celebrating your hard work and commitment to education. Furthermore, the picture and poem also grabbed my attention because it created contrast from the rest of the post.

The University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions is able to grab their followers’ attention by adding contrast between the text, images, and videos. The contrast makes the readers want to learn more about post and what other things are going on in the college.

[adamhochberger-deactivated20210]

Silicon Valley, S3E10, “The Uptick”

In the previous episode of Silicon Valley, the application that the team developed had fairly daily user numbers for the amount of downloads, indicative of an app that would not last well for investors. However, there was an uptick of users which sparked some hope in the group. This uptick, rather than being created through organic users, was obtained through a click-farm that one of the employees, Jared, had paid to inflate numbers (for confidence purposes).

The main issue that arose in this episode and main ethical concern would be if new investors were interested in the application only due to the rise in the fraudulent numbers. To maintain the social integrity and honesty of their company in the Valley, Richard opted to come clean with the investors over the numbers, even if their image was deteriorated to avoid any future legal issues. This is a very prevalent concern in the tech industry due to the heavy value placed on statistics and the numbers that can differentiate one application or program from another. There are also personal ethics involved in this decision since even the idea to present false information to receive funding for something has some serious implications in terms of the self and what you value in your daily life. In this context, it is important to remember not only what is legally required, but also socially in the event that people feel betrayed if they bought into something that is built on falsified claims and statistics. 

Overall, this episode of Silicon Valley shows the inner conflict that can occur within the head of a project where there are personal and social ethics involved in a decision. It gives great insight into what would be the best option, even though it does not provide any immediate benefit since ethics are often not recognized until they have negative associations. 

[bribinion-blog]

I have never seen Silicon Valley, but it seems like an awesome show. I agree the there is an inner ethical dilemma for the technical team. They want to sell the application to the investors but they don’t have enough users. I believe they did the right thing in the long run. Although they were probably upset because they lost investors they showed integrity which is important. 

[gr00k-blog]

Sports Casting in Brockmire

Brockmire is a drama comedy that follows the fall and then attempted rise of Jim Brockmire a Major League Baseball sports announcer who has a major breakdown live on air after his wife commits adultery all while keeping track of and reporting the game (link above). This can help show some of ethics that doing such a job and the mental aspects and hardships that creating, portraying, and maintaing a persona can entail.

As someone who wants to peruse sports casting as a career and a radio DJ I understand and can relate to the pressures that are portrayed within the show. The first thing I was told when I became a DJ is that “no matter how bad your day is; be happy. I don’t care if your dog died just be happy and energetic for your listeners.” This can help explain as an example to the pressures that are standard in the industry and how you are expected to perform and be a friend to those who listen to you no matter what you’re going through, which in my opinion Brockmire shows in detail and well.

Brockmire is reinforcing the mental stereotypes and the gray area of ethics that the teams, businesses, and cooperation’s place on announcers and casters. Brockmire may have reinforced the ethics and stereotypes but by bringing it forward to the public in relatable or understandable ways it is shedding light on an issue that may have been left in the dark. This allows for the public to see and understand the mind and lives of casters which helps redefine them as humans and not a robotic play by play machine.

In closing Brockmire reinforces the ethics and stereotypes of the Casting world but by doing so may help them to be destroyed as more and more people see and can call out these possibly unethical standards.

[bribinion-blog]

I’ve never seen Brockmire, but it sounds like a very interesting show. I agree that Brockmire is reinforcing the professional ethics of the radio/ casting industry. Jim Brockmire follows the ethical standards even though he is dealing with a major situation. Even though its a tough situation, he can’t let his emotions show in his work or he could lose his job.  

[bribinion-blog]

NCIS: Los Angeles S9 E23,24

In Season 9 Episode 23-24 of NCIS: Los Angeles, Director Mosley made several reckless decisions that challenge the concepts of professional ethics, after her team found that Spencer Williams, an illegal gun dealer and the guy who kidnapped Director Mosley’s son, had fled to Mexico. The first incident that challenged professional ethics is Director Mosley’s illegal interrogation. Director Mosley took the suspect to one of her private interrogation rooms instead of handing the suspect over to ATF. During the interrogation, Director Mosley physically assaulted the suspect while he was hand-cuffed. Director Mosley’s interrogation did not follow the proper protocol for interrogations. Agents are not supposed to assault the suspects in order to get information from them. Furthermore, she failed to hand over the suspect to the proper authorities. Director Mosley used the information obtained from the illegal interrogation to find that the suspect and his accomplices have been communicating with Spencer Williams. Director Mosley threatened her computer tech agents to illegally tap the phone of Spencer Williams. After the agents were able to find incriminating information, Director Mosley was not able to present the information to the FBI because all of the information was obtained without a warrant. Director Mosley challenged the professional ethics by not obtaining a warrant before tapping the phones. Throughout this episode Director Mosley was facing an ethical dilemma. She was trying to balance her personal ethics with her professional ethics. She wanted to get her son back at any cost even if it meant putting herself and her team in a situation that could jeopardize their lives and careers. Essentially, Director Mosley challenged professional ethics by obtaining information illegally and putting her and her team’s lives and careers in jeopardy.