Andy's Comments

PSA

2004-12-08T22:30:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to you PSA:
Don't Let This Happen to You

Email Censorship

2004-11-18T00:06:00.000-05:00

Erin Coughlin-Email Censorship

There is really no use in banning email censorship. ANYONE can sit at their computer and packet sniff. With a small amount of they can reconstruct any message. The only way to have “sort of” secure email is to encrypt it. This encryption though is usually in the form of RSA. RSA’s security is based on computational difficulty. The Factoring problem has no known solution in polynomial time. Thus it takes a really long time to factor anything. However, there is no proof that there is not a polynomial time algorithm to factor large numbers. Thus if one is created or exists already RSA will very easily be able to be hacked.

An problem has already surfaced with many servers that store passwords using MD-5 encryption because an algorithm was discovered to solve the encryption.

Chicago is the Best

2004-11-17T21:11:00.000-05:00

Lizzie Westhouse-Chicago is the Best

I will have to differ. I think that most people think where they come from is the best. I mean every place has wonderful things to offer so who really is to say one place is the “best.” Perhaps it is the best for one or many person, but not the best for everyone.

Epidictic Rhetoric and Rhetorical Situation

2004-11-17T15:50:00.000-05:00

The three types of rhetoric are forensic, epideictic, and Deliberative.

Forensic: This type of rhetoric is the proving of what happened. It uses words to aid ones case in the proving of something that is uncertain in the past. For example it is used to proof the guilt or innocence in a trial.

Epideictic: This type is used to place blame or praise to someone. It is used to draw attention to one quality or another of a person. For example these may apply to the presidential campaign because both Bush and Kerry would have PSA’s to attempt to point out each others strong points and weak points.

Deliberative Rhetoric: This is the type of rhetoric used when faced with morally significant questions. For example should we put a family member into the nursing home. There is no “right” answer, but just a difficult decision. Thus, this form of rhetoric is used to compare pros and cons as well as swaying other parties to agree with your side of view.

The American Dental Association puts out various PSA’s in order to help promote dental care. They have a specific series geared toward children. They are available in English and Spanish to help broaden the audience that it will appeal too. While it may not seem apparent that this is attempting to reaffirm core values, it is. Health care and respect for ones body is important for the youth of America to understand. The ADA is hoping to emphasize this with their public service announcement.

Cleveland is the Best

2004-11-16T16:15:00.001-05:00

Brian Mulcahy-Cleveland is the Best

See statement for Lizzie’s blog.

SUV’s Taking Over the World

2004-11-16T16:15:00.000-05:00

Jason Vardner-SUV’s taking over the world

With the high cost of fuel is it really worth having an SUV just to be trendy? I think not. If you have a legitimate purpose for needing one, then by all means get one. However, I think most people just want to live the good life and look “cool” driving SUV’s.

Rhetoric and Science

2004-11-16T14:39:00.000-05:00

I think that rhetorical strategies are best exemplified in sound proof. There is no “proof by character” etc, however you must present your facts in such a manner that they are appealing to your audience.

For example, you can not come out and say no your plan wont work because of x, y and z reasons. No, instead one must present it in such a manner so that it is not offensive. This is more applicable to small group, science and business. However, because that is the area we are working in it is the most relevant.

I think this is where the proper balance lies between style in fact. Ultimately the facts provide the basis, but the style determines the acceptance.

Fight For Change

2004-11-15T22:04:00.000-05:00

Grant Picarillo-Fight For Change

Interesting blog. I tend to think more about America and what needs to be down in the home nation. Its interesting to think about what can and should be done in 3rd world nations.

The VersiChip

2004-11-15T21:11:00.000-05:00

Charlotte Garden-The VersiChip

Human identification and tracking is a very scary thing. I think that having a chip implanted for medical reasons is one thing, but if it comes down to being because of identification and tracking that is a problem. We have a right to privacy and I feel this invades us and could give the government entirely too much control over our personal lives.

Persuit of Truth

2004-11-15T00:47:00.000-05:00

Owen Smillie-Persuit of Truth.

This blog provides some interesting food for through. However I am wondering weather he has considered any scientific proofs (or well as accurate as they can be) of God, or at least the relation to god and science.

No to Reality TV

2004-11-14T05:22:00.000-05:00

Kira Bates - No to Reality TV

Kira’s blog is very clear. She is not a fan of reality TV because she feels it portrays a negative image on minorities. I personally don’t watch too much reality TV because I much rather prefer living my own reality. So, I can’t really comment.

Right and Wrongs of Baseball

2004-11-11T16:50:00.000-05:00

Jon Chesky-Right and Wrongs of Baseball

I feel that Jon does a fine job on portraying his likes and dislikes of the American past time. He shows us a manner in which the game can be rectified to be put back to its previously well respected status.

Controversy Surrounding Sex Education

2004-11-09T00:05:00.000-05:00

Controversy Surrounding Sex Education -
Krista Reese

This blog provides good insight into the need for sex education. It is improbably to think that people will be convinced to have or not have sex simply because of something said in school. I have to agree that it is more important to provide the information to allow students to make wise decisions rather than forced ones.

Stasis

2004-11-08T16:56:00.000-05:00

In the art of persuasion a concept of Stasis becomes an issue. That is to say one must decide when a topic is worth being discuessed. What is the point at which it must be debated? So many things we take for granted such as the fact that we must eat dinner. There is no point in debating if we will eat because we will eat in order to stay alive.

However, the death penalty comes up for debate quite often. The point of stasis for this is when do we as Humans have a right to take peoples lives? Or even what rights do we have to judge and punish people?

This point of a need for debate is Stasis.

For more information see: Stasis Theory

Commonplaces and Topic

2004-11-08T16:11:00.000-05:00

A Common place is a way of adressing a given idea so that it direclty "hits the heart" of the reader. Its purpose is to make people empathize with a given argument. For example "If Kerry is elected all the verans will suffer." This is an area that is sensative to the USA. We care about our vererans, and by associating thtem by suffering the audience is more likely to empathise with them.

A Topic is the particular type of commonplaces. They are conjecture, degree, and possibility. Conjecture is basicly making inferences based on present knowledge. Degree is exagerating to what extend the commonplace will affect things. Possability is stating things that are possible if a given event or topic occurs.

The Vincentian Center is an organization strongly against the Death Penalty. The very first sentence is a common place asserting that if you are for the death penalty then you are also against God. This is a sweeping generlzation of degree. It targets the heart of the religious community to get the point across regarding death penalty.

Study Abroad for a Semester

2004-11-08T12:15:00.000-05:00

Karin Effland - Study Abroad for a Semester

This site makes me want to go abroad for a semester. Just looking at the pictures makes you think of fun, relaxation, not to mention good food. This is complimented by excellent descriptions her own experiences and what benefits one may have by studying abroad. Nice work.

Drinking Age and Alcohol

2004-11-06T12:39:00.000-05:00

Drinking Age and Alcohol
Breed Randall

The title of this blog is misleading. It seems designed to talk about the contravery of a drinking age but rather seeks more to enlighten of what are risks and problems with drinking. He does a good job countering the argument however that the drinking age should be raised further because of such behavior, and rather presents it in a picture that shows that raising the drinking age is part of the cause of the binge drinking mentality.

Cricket – Ramanan Krishna

2004-11-01T12:41:00.000-05:00

Cricket – Ramanan Krishna

All round Ramanan presents a good blog. The color scheme matches most of his images. He also gives a good informative description of the game of cricket. I feel enlightened of the subject

Proofs

2004-10-25T09:03:00.000-05:00

This past week I had an interesting experience with the art of persuasion. I went to California to present my research where I came into contact with many different professors who had greatly differing points of view on how to produce software.

Currently, there is a generally accepted practice, however there is much debate as to what the future of software engineering will be. My presentation was supporting one way of specifying software components. However, many people don’t necessarialy agree.

As different groups of people were coming to see my presentation, I found myself modifying my arguments so that I was less likely to run into conflict, and strengthen my arguments.

However, I think that in order to be persuasive in a scientific field the techniques as mentioned in class do not necessarily apply. While telling stories might help, it is very hard to relate to an emotional experience about software. Honestly, people feel passionate about their work and point of views, but this is not a result of some tragic experience, but rather a time investment they have made in their own points of view.

Thus, the most powerful tool is logic. The presenter must be able to, above all else, construct a logical argument and present it with confidence. Without logic and results all else fails.