Best and Worst, Part 5

The Best
This is one of the best websites I found with information concerning the ITC revolution taking place in Afghanistan. It is the Asia and Far East page from the USAID government website.

• Is the content credible? Yes. It is from a U.S. government source.
• Is the content current? Yes. The articles are updated daily.
• Is the content useful? Yes. A wide range of topics are covered, and while only some are useful from my perspective, they are filled with information and details that other sites do not provide.
• Is the content interesting? Yes. They are presented in an article format and provide pictures and resource-rich content.

The Worst
I would not call this the worst website on the subject, just a bad representation of the project that is taking place. This is Microsoft’s PressPass page dedicated to Microsoft’s work with the UN Development Programme in which they are providing services to nations such as Afghanistan to help integrate communication technology into the Afghani way of life.

• Is the content credible? Yes, it is from Microsoft.
• Is the content current? No, it has not been updated since it was originally posted.
• Is the content useful? Somewhat, it gives me an idea of what the program is designed to do and a quick outline of what they are planning, but a project of this magnitude could have a whole site dedicated to it.
• Is the content interesting? Yes, I plan on highlighting this program in my research paper, but the press page gives me little information on the program. Also, the material is displayed in a press release format with no graphics whatsoever. All of the material on the page for Afghanistan is pasted below:
  
  Microsoft and the UNDP are partnering to support the reconstruction of an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure in Afghanistan. Through Microsofts Unlimited Potential program, the partnership between Microsoft and the UNDP in Afghanistan has begun to address the urgent requirement for technology skills and investment. As it moves forward, the program will begin to encompass a wider segment of society, until basic computer literacy begins to filter through the workforce and beyond.
  
  With a train-the-trainer program also initiated by the Microsoft Unlimited Potential program to support the basic curriculum and training of the community technology and learning centers (CTLCs), the objective is to keep a steady flow of fresh knowledge filtering through from visiting experts to the UNDP trainers, then through to civil servants studying to their colleagues.
  
  Starting from basics such as "Using a Mouse," the program soon unearthed a number of talented and determined Afghani youth who quickly became trainers for the program. Many of these young people had been trained and employed in surrounding countries, and had recently returned to play their part in the reconstruction of their country.
  Through various UNDP partner organizations, Ministry of Womens Affairs, Ministry of Communications and other centers throughout Afghanistan, people are receiving IT skills training. An estimated 11,500 individuals will receive training through this partnership within the first year.
  

Best and Worst, Part 4

The Best
This is one of the best websites I found with information concerning the ITC revolution taking place in Iraq. It is the Iraqi news page for the LA Times. It carries many articles about Iraq, several of which have information on ITC.

• Is the content credible? Yes. The LA Times is a credible news source.
• Is the content current? Yes. The articles are updated daily.
• Is the content useful? Yes. A wide range of topics are covered, but only some are technology articles.
• Is the content interesting? Yes. They read and look like any article would from an online news source.

The Worst
This is one of the worst websites I found with information concerning the ITC revolution taking place in Iraq. It is a blog claiming to be about technology and societal issues in Iraq, but mainly focuses on the two as separate things, and even then only touches on the subjects. Most of the posts about Iraq quickly turn to bashing the Bush Administration and only offer opinions without relevant links that support the information.

• Is the content credible? No, just a blogger’s opinion with no supporting links.
• Is the content current? Yes, he posts pretty regularly
• Is the content useful? No. The majority of the articles have nothing to do with the technology angle and focus more on the blogger’s opinion of the Bush Administration.
• Is the content interesting? Not really.
  

Best and Worst, Part 3

The Best
This is one of the best websites I found with information concerning the ITC revolution taking place in Afghanistan. It is the homepage for the Afghanistan Times, which is written in English and published by the World News Network.

• Is the content credible? Yes. The World News Network is a credible news source, reaching 12 million visitors daily.
• Is the content current? Yes. The articles are updated daily.
• Is the content useful? Yes. A wide range of topics specific to Afghanistan are covered including pages dedicated to stories about technology.
• Is the content interesting? Yes. Although the individual article sites determine how they are displayed, most of them are up to the standards a user would expect when viewing an article online.

The Worst
This is one of the worst websites I found with information concerning the ITC revolution taking place in Afghanistan. It is an RSS feed for articles written about the topic of Afghanistan and technology, so I thought it would be a valuable site. The reality is that most of the articles have nothing to do with the topic.

• Is the content credible? Yes, multiple news sources are
• Is the content current? Yes, articles are updated daily.
• Is the content useful? No. The majority of the articles have nothing to do with the technology angle and focus more on top news stories from the region.
• Is the content interesting? Somewhat, but does not fulfill my purposes of visiting it.

What issues have you encountered in incorporating a blogroll and web filtering into your own weblog?

The main issue that I had in creating a blogroll was that I don’t read many blogs. I read a couple for entertainment purposes, but have only just begun to look at blogs dealing in my research topic, of which there are very few. Actually setting up the blogroll was simple (www.blogrolling.com), but finding content that I feel comfortable enough with to vouch for in my blog has been difficult. I do think the blogs that I link to do have value, and although all don’t lead to a blog specifically about my research topic, they are entertaining nonetheless.

The web filtering portion of the assignment was much easier for me because I have been actively involved in researching websites for my topic. I feel much more confident directing any readers to these sites because I have more familiarity with them than I do the with the blogs on my blogroll.

What problems or issues have you encountered in reading blogrolls on various weblogs?

The inherent problem with blogrolls is that they, by definition, are links to blogs that the author of another blog reads and likes. If I am looking for a comprehensive view of an issue and I am reading someone’s opinion on their blog about it, the links they are likely to provide me are links to other blogs that support their arguments. While most informed people know this going in, it could create a problem for the less informed, or even deny people the opportunity to see the other side’s point of view. It’s healthy and enlightening to read different people’s opinions on the same idea. It’s very easy to succumb to the rut of staying on the websites that don’t challenge your thinking, and if you keep to the blogs that link to one another this can easily happen. Blogrolls, like blogs, have to be taken with some perspective in mind. The writer is steering the reader in the direction that they want them to go, and it is important to realize this going in.

How does technology ease or make difficult the dissemination of information?

Whether we are talking about the advent of radio, TV, the internet, or features such as RSS, technology makes staying informed easier than ever. However, if a person is not up on the latest technological advances in each of these media forms (or wealthy enough to have access to them) it can make keeping up difficult. The latest and greatest in radio is subscription satellite service, TV has practically become all-digital and will soon move to an all-HD format, high-speed internet access is a must if you want to use all the new features that seem to come out or change weekly. People who are “behind the times” now will only see the digital divide grow and grow.

In America, the answer is to educate children early in their elementary school years about how to use technology and to foster an environment that makes them want to seek out and learn more about new technology. The alternative is to create two classes in America, those in the know and those in the dark. The digital divide will become the information divide as technology is used more and more to disseminate information.

Best and Worst, Part 2

The Best
This is one of the best websites I found with information concerning the ITC revolution taking place in Iraq. It is a site that compiles and provides links to articles from various media outlets and groups such as the World Bank that concern my research topic.

• Is the content credible? Yes. Because the site contains links to articles by various reputable, and well known news outlets, as well as some obscure ones. It is not filled with opinion pieces.
• Is the content current? Yes. The articles have dates ranging from 2002 to last week, and the site is updated as new articles are written about the topics.
• Is the content useful? Yes. A wide range of topics and specifics are covered that fall under the umbrella of emerging technology in Iraq. It content is accessible and useful for a number of different audiences.
• Is the content interesting? Yes. Although the individual article sites determine how they are displayed, most of them are up to the standards a user would expect when viewing an article online. The interface of the main page is simple and succinct, providing the article title, link, and the introductory paragraph.

The Worst
This is one of the worst websites I found with information concerning the ITC revolution taking place in Iraq, and embarrassingly, it belong to their embassy.

• Is the content credible? Yes, but there isn’t any (which in a way illustrated the problem, I guess)
• Is the content current? No, the last time stamp is dated April 2004
• Is the content useful? No. There is very little information, and none of the links work. Here is the list of nonworking links:
  New Projects Iraq Websites American websites
• Is the content interesting? No. Not enough information or specific details.

Best and Worse, Part 1

The Best
This is one of the best websites I found with information concerning the ITC revolution taking place in Afghanistan. It is a site that compiles and provides links to articles from various media outlets and groups such as the World Bank that concern my research topic.

• Is the content credible? Yes. Because the site contains links to articles by various reputable, and well known news outlets, as well as some obscure ones. It is not filled with opinion pieces.
• Is the content current? Yes. The articles have dates ranging from 2002 to a few months ago, and the site is updated as new articles are written about the topics.
• Is the content useful? Yes. A wide range of topics and specifics are covered that fall under the umbrella of emerging technology in Afghanistan. It content is accessible and useful for a number of different audiences.
• Is the content interesting? Yes. Although the individual article sites determine how they are displayed, most of them are up to the standards a user would expect when viewing an article online. The interface of the main page is simple and succinct, providing the article title, link, and the introductory paragraph.

The Worst
This is one of the worst websites I found with information concerning the ITC revolution taking place in Afghanistan, and embarrassingly, it belong to their embassy.

• Is the content credible? Yes, but there isn’t any (which in a way illustrated the problem, I guess)
• Is the content current? No, just a blurb written who knows when.
• Is the content useful? No. Here it is in its entirety:
  Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is an increasingly powerful necessity for participating in a globalized world. ICT describes the use of various technologies among which are the internet, the telephone infrastructure and broadcast media that make information and communication services available to a wide range of users. Web portals e.g. are extending to government the business concept of 7 x 24 x 365 (being available seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year).
  In regards to the Embassy of Afghanistan, promoting transparency, enhancing the flow of information, improving the delivery of basic services and increasing the productivity of labor are only a few of the possibilities which ICT offers.
• Is the content interesting? No. Not enough information or specific details.

My Blogroll Explained

From the Beat Croft, Shetland Isles

Tom Mortan is a radio personality for the BBC in Scotland. He’s also an avid cyclist, which is what really interests me about his blog. I’ve love cycling and I’ve visited Scotland, but never cycled in Scotland, and his blog provides some insight to his experiences doing just that. The Scottish country side is absolutely beautiful and his pictures really capture it well.

My Boring-Ass Life

Kevin Smith is a filmmaker from New Jersey living in Hollywood. Some of his films include Clerks, Chasing Amy, and Dogma, and he has a core concentration of fans that cannot be rivaled by any other director in Hollywood. He is also one of the most accessible famous people that I have ever seen. A friend of mine has done some camera work for him and turned me onto his blog. It is pretty vulgar, but extremely entertaining.


Paul Shirley’s Road Ramblings

Paul Shirley is a benchrider for the Phoenix Suns NBA team (at least for now, he’s always on the cusp of being cut). He is also an excellent writer and has a knack for capturing the details of life in the NBA that can’t be seen by watching superstars slam dunk on TV. He is a humble guy, and a way better writer than he is an athlete.

Healing Iraq

This is a photoblog by an anonymous photographer in Iraq. He never identifies himself on the site, and provides only this quote for non-photo content "It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of what he was never reasoned into." Jonathan Swift. I just recently came across it, and really enjoy seeing pictures from Iraq that are not blood and guts or something on fire, which is about all you can see on the news. I like how lets the pictures speak for themselves, but you have to take the photographers word for his translation of the signs written in Arabic.

Google News

Google News is where I now get all my online news. I love the look and feel of this site and have moved away from USA Today.com and CNN.com because of it.

Best and Worst of the Web

For each day this week (Monday-Friday), I will be posting a best website and worst website as they pertain to my topic of research, the growing technology in post-war Iraq and Afghanistan. The four standards by which I am measuring whether a website qualifies as a “best of” or “worst of,” is as follows:

• Is the content credible? Who owns the website and creates the content? Is it from a credible source such as a government agency, media entity, or person with specific knowledge (and credentials) about the subject matter? Or is it from someone with no impartiality, with conflicts of interest, or is it simply an uniformed opinion piece?
• Is the content current? Are specific dates given for articles? Is the website updated regularly? I’m not interested in information that is old and outdated.
• Is the content useful? Does the website give us news or simply rehash existing materials? Does the content give and overall view of the situation as well as specific details? Is it useful for multiple audiences or are only experts or beginners allowed for?
• Is the content interesting? Does the website present the material in a way that facilitates learning and interest? Features like photos, lists, and graphical elements capture the audience’s attention and illustrate points in a way that text cannot.