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Thearmysdaughter's facebook and blog are full of flaws, alot of them are mental blocks that are author/user centered. My pictures are crap quality, my profile picture is lousy, my computer skills are laughable, the important thing is that the heart is there. Even if I am privately reluctant about this endeavor, still I'm passionately attached to it.This project makes me cry because I did not realize how personal, it would and could become. I think I forgot somehow that my big Army years, are seven years that I can't even talk about, and shouldn't talk about. This inhibited access to my readers is not what I had planned on because I think those are the years I wanted to write about. The research I did for this blog reminded me that I am not the normal Army kid, and speaking to the masses pretending I am is so much more difficult than I imagined. I hope the message of the blog/Facebook page is clear none the less, I love our military and I am so proud of this culture. I wanted 100 likes out of this page badly, today I have 207. One of the biggest portions of this project was the TalkingPoint interview. That one hurt, the evening before the show, my dad recieved a call from a former troop whom he had mentored through his deployments and afterwards. This soldier came over for dinner often, and knew to run to my Dad at any roadblock or sign of turmoil. He called me Dad in shambles the night before the interview and my dad spoke to him well into the night about some of his afflictions and his personal struggle with PTSD. When this topic surfaced right before the interview I felt my Dad shrink down, in this life you'll be dumbfounded by how ironic life is sometimes.  I put my Dad into that situation with the interview, since then I have been sort of scared to even bring him up on my blog now, I don't like to see my Dad worried. My dad wouldn't look worried before battle, or staring the adversary in the eyes, I know that truly, but his worry shown over a fellow soldier just yanked my heart. That was something different. It wasn't something I haven't seen before, but still it's hard to see. I wouldn't do the interview differently, it taught me something special, and reminded me to not be so scared. Things will turn out fine, I don't have to prepare perfectly, and I need to have more confidence in myself because when I don't, it shows. Being an Army kid and putting my best foot forward has left me exhausted at age 22, I can't be outgoing and pour out confidence anymore like before. I have spent so many seconds trying so hard to be there that I've become the complete opposite and reverted to a unfounded shyness I do not recognize in myself. The outreach and messages and pats on backs with this project have shifted my perspective.


A neighbor from North Carolina, a neighbor from the hard years emailed me after she watched the show and it really got me. I forgot that people that knew me would see this. Her first email is the one I am going to share, the rest are just for me.

Hey Bette. I just wanted to say that I have been following your blog since the beginning and watched you on Talking Point today. I heard the host say that you are doing this blog as an assignment. I wanted to make sure I told you how great I think your blog is. It tells the story of us Army Brats in a way that most people can't understand. When your assignment is over I really hope you continue your blog. Our way of life is something that should be shared and our stories should be told! Keep up the good work and let me know if you ever want a guest writer!

All posts were a success, because they shared a little bit of the military life as I know it. And even if it didn't help someone else, it helped me through a hard transition. This blog is going to live a very long time.




Time for the number crunch!

My momma shared most everything, and she knows a ton of military mommas, so that was a great outlet, and she was so good about our TalkingPoint interview, she was on it for photos and sharing the link so people could watch it! She tagged me in a billion pictures, there was no way people could ignore them, and not be curious to watch me talk on tv. Ya know, like my grandparents and stuff... 

Inviting people was hard but it worked! I was nervous and apprehensive, most of the people you know don't get to see your writing, they simply see the "youre a babe" or "lookin great" comments you make, so exposing people to my writing was scary. But I did it, and I'm so so proud of the 200 something likes. 

The links for readit sites, or buzzfeed, with the "23 signs you're an Army brat" or "12 signs you lived overseas", those kind of shares did well, they got reshared and clicked on, with reaches in the thousands. It inspired me to one day spiff up my writing and be more clear like those sites.

The biggest disappointment is how big of a gap there is between men and women users. Whyyyyy such a female presence ?!?! Like where are the male troopies at?? 72% to 28%, that gap is enormous, which is why I started posting more photo-memes, guys seem to like those.

This puzzled me huge, the sites people got to my page that weren't on Facebook.... Ldsmatchups.com? Huh?

Contextual Analysis

I pulled the plug on my former topic for the Contextual Analysis, someone from the base I was stationed on contacted me and asked me to address a controversial book that had hit the streets and schools of Caserma Ederle. I started the research, and hit some roadblocks due to the official website being taken down. This approach was maybe a little different than what we were asked to do, but the context of this book hit a culture really hard and I couldn't ignore all the fuss that was hitting this book back. As a member of this culture, I was personally offended and that is quite clear within the text of my blog. With that being said, I wanted to highlight the idea that people were commenting on this matter, they contacted companies, they banded together to throw this book away, and they didn't brush it off... 

For a culture that is considered "invisible" on Wikipedia, they've sure been loud lately..... I gathered that as the importance of this assignment, people adovcating in a responsible way. This is my idea of a perfect example of such.  Go to my blog thearmysdaughter to read all about a stinky book that I don't like at all.

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A glimpse into the life of an Army kid, the perspective, the humor, the hurts, the triumphs and the way we understand a life is that always changing, Visit the blog of a real brat Thearmysdaughter via the Thearmysdaughter page.

Have you ever overheard Military jargon? Wondering what PCS means? Ask Thearmysdaughter, she'll shed some light on acronyms she's as familiar with as the back of her hand.

Sustainability can be conceptualized as an effort to achieve a balance between social, economic, and environmental goals. 

St. George: 

Suburban 

Growing population

Livable winters

Dixie State College turned Dixie State University (influx of college students transferring to a small school with better accreditation, while still boasting small school tuition prices) 

Close proximity to Vegas, comfortable drive to California and home to Zion National Park

Good area for experimentation. 

Commerce: Use education to inform people about creating a better balanced system of survival in St. George, use education to let people know that the law will start to buckle down on conserving. Officers can start to issue more wasteful tickets. (My brother in law just got a "waste of fuel" {speeding} ticket)  that name game verbiage alone is eye opening. This ticket was for harming the environment instead of putting the rest of the public in danger by going too fast. These tickets can all be sanctioned for use in creating a more sustainable city. Hold people more responsible using the law. If we overuse, not only do we have a high bill, but we also get a ticket. My brother in law has to fork over some dollars, and he also has to shrink back at the claim that he hurt Earth.
Rebate incentives for conservation efforts:
http://www.sgcity.org/departments/water/conservation/#tab-2

Energy: think about food waste, perishable goods often get thrown out in the fridge clean out every couple of weeks, keeping a stocked fridge means that there is a likely chance food will be wasted. Make more trips to the grocery store, keep a smaller fridge and see the amount of money saved on energy and grocery costs. Food goes bad before we know it and we end up wasting many of our grocery trips anyways. But what you will use over the course of three days , and monitor  what percentage you actually use. Just because a gallon is a better deal for milk doesn't mean you should buy it if you're only going to use half a gallon and then throw out the rest of it. Having a massive fridge sucks up energy, think about how expensive air conditioning is and then times that by a million and think about what it costs to run a huge refrigerator. 

Technology and development has improved these obvious versions of solar energy (almost throwing the idea that the earth will become obsolete and unlivable- but no worry you'll be able to tell what folks are loving our earth because their big ugly solar grids on top of their homes...)  new shingle solar panels created to look normal, and similar to ordinary shingles. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/im-getting-my-roof-redone-and-heard-about-solar-shingles/

Reduce the need to travel for business.. use this site to help you find communication avenues to avoid a face to face meeting.
http://www.techsoup.org/green-technology?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc-gg&utm_term=GreenApp&utm_campaign=GG_GreenTech

Economy:

creation of jobs

Dixie State University may not have harsh winters, but they do have hellish summers. We may benefit from a connected campus, a hallway or walkway that allows you to travel from building to building in an AC structure so you don't have to walk out to your car crank up your AC to avoid back sweat while you're walking up to the testing center. These walk ways wouldn't build themselves, and we might want to hit up some contractors and construction teams before the housing market kicks back up. We could buy/order local material through ACE hardware. 

Could influence more students to attend Dixie without being scared of the heat come August and July. Students may stay for summer time which would allow for Dixie to offer more classes and the apartment buildings here to not sit vacant for the hot months that students return home. 

Create a sustainability resource center at Dixie where students can learn more about creating a less wasteful community. Like the University of Utah http://sustainability.utah.edu/resource-center/
and adopt some of their current practices within housing here at DSU http://housing.utah.edu/life/sustainability.php

Transportation- use non-conserving citizen ticket revenue to line the bike paths with solar panels along the side edges of the path (it's a double whammy of safety, by providing solar charged lights along the path, and contributing to the power grid). http://www.sgsunsmart.com/energy.php This is a link to a pre-existing solar company in St. George and the power generated specifically on December 4th, include this in the curriculum for schools, teach students how to read and understand a chart like this. They won't ask you that dreaded question, "why do I need to know this?" (um because do you want to live on earth? okay then this is your future) Look at how much CO2 isnnnn't output because of solar energy.

Personal solar energy panels for households.  FAQ for the Rookies like me!
All highlighted portions are copied from http://www.sgsunsmart.com/faqs.htm St. George Energy Services Department 2008.

(Commerce/Economy)

1. Why is there no federal tax credit?
   This type of program is so innovative that legislation on a federal level has not been created yet

(Commerce/Economy)

1. Why is it only available to people living within the St. George city limits?
   The bill that was passed to make this program possible was for a municipal project so the tax credit is only available to St. George residents

(Commerce)

1. Why did St. George choose solar?
   St. George looked at all of the renewable sources of energy and performed multiple studies; it was determined that, due to the weather and the landscape, solar was the best choice.

(Commerce)

1. Are there any fees after I pay the initial fee?
   No, only monthly credits on your energy bill!

(Commerce?)

1. Why should people participate if there is not a good return on investment?
   There is a return on investment, but not a financial one. By participating in this program you are investing in your community.

1. It seems kind of expensive, why isn't it cheaper?
   Each unit is priced to cover the cost of the equipment and installation. The city is not making any money off of this project; all of the savings go to the purchaser. By having a solar farm of this size the purchaser benefits from the economies of scale.

Education: 

Teaching the newer generations how to farm (not on the Fb FarmVille app), how to grow a cucumber and water tomatoes. At school they can include agriculture into the curriculum. Instead of reading about photosynthesis they can watch it occur as they watch a radish seed sprout. 

If you want people to utilize various types of recycling, captivate them and generate interest using social media. Make YouTube videos to educate them, or show them how to install lowflow shower heads, don't expect them to stack on more bills by having them installed in their homes. Don't just send someone a letter with recommendations for how to save a few bucks, be interactive. Show you care by really putting in the effort. Flood twitter with conservation and sustainability concepts that people are going to see over and over, so much so that they will think of them when they are leaving their home and don't turn down their A/C. The television commercials that display apps that allow you to turn off lights while you are away from your home  

Contextual Analysis Rough Draft

Hand held devices have changed the game, I can look up how to style the perfect messy bun through a six minute tutorial on Youtube, while I'm in the bathroom trying to look like I'm not trying too hard.

These how-to videos and lyric video have sharpened up and now everyone is used to getting their dose of secret style tricks, or easily watching a math whiz teach them the tricky Pythagorean theorem since they can't understand their professor's foreign accent. They Pinterest and Facebook during class hours relying on Youtube for a step by step how to later on, during crunch time (aka, before 11:59pm when homework assignments and quizzes are due).

Releasing a music video isn't sufficient anymore, everyone wants to stay ahead of the game and feel special. (Our generation is like that, a pinch of entitled, slightly trophy seeking, and of course madly self centered as evidenced by the alarming number of selfies that hit the web daily before 9am). People want to feel like they are getting singled out and treated right (they are trying to make the most of their bought data perhaps? or their 500$ plus cellular devices).  So naturally entertainers try an make their fans feel included by releasing a behind the scenes "making of" video. It still does not wake people up to the idea that makeup helps, things are staged, choreographed, and basically these celebrities are fed by their assistants. But the behind the scenes allows people to pretend like they were there and extend the satisfaction that a very rehearsed crafted music video brings. The what to watch popular page of Youtube's main page showcases videos titled, "Woody Harrelson 1989 Monologue (SNL)", "Hollywood Documentary: Johnny Depp", "Fifty Shades of Grey" (Official Trailer HD), and Jim Carrey giving people bowl cuts on Jimmy Kimmel. You can access almost anything through Youtube. Is it any surprise that the Utah National Guard was thrown into the lion's pit for the content they participated in that ended up on Youtube?

Everyone uses Youtube, for the most part, that's even where Ellen Degeneres finds half of her guests on her talk show. The main goal on Youtube is to generate views that sometimes result in a Like or Dislike, thumbs up or down, but the main ticket is views. I contributed to those views when I first caught wind of a controversial Youtube video linked to the Utah National Guard. Bad press for the military? Yikes, once that fire is lit, there's no defusing it. Same goes for many stories that are prematurely reported on, throwing out word of mouth before facts are clear and available.  Don't even get me started on fine print retractions. Damage done. Reporters and their halfhearted apologies.


Camp Williams Utah National Guard Base https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aopM_BdYg0U


The point of this is that the entire Utah National Guard was not involved in this project, in fact in the video you rarely see uniformed soldiers. This video launched an internal investigation, that may have been reported to ease the public but then again it creates a panic, how did the base commanders and high ranking officers not know what was occurring on their own base, that is supposed to be heavily patrolled and trained soldier surveillance? It leads to the assumption that people looked the other way when they saw this activity taking place, that does not help the public view when the military is under the scrutiny of the media lens.

Not only half dressed women operating artillery and vehicles, but the fact that this brought attention to Utah as well. Perception of Utah and it's people varies but a common compliant is that the people are judgmental. The public was able to point the finger back at Utah with the surfacing of this story,



"Your tax dollars at work ladies and gentlemen" (abcNEWS.com New York 2:26) Ouch, buuuuurn.
He's not wrong, but this incident casts shade on the whole establishment, frustration from the public who wants more from their government and by more they don't mean more clips of bikini clad women hanging out with soldiers. It was for a good cause unfortunately doesn't suffice in this case, and I'm sure the word getting about about this calender is the silver lining that they are leaning on. I hope the fact that the calender got a lot of recognition was worth demotion and an investigation on these soldiers records. Think twice about that internet stuff everybody, if you don't want people to see it, DO NOT VIDEO IT.

Clairvoyant

I watched these documentaries knowing this question was coming.
Patriot or Traitor.
This question is meant to be either or, and probably simple.
Gauge what you personally hold more important.

Freedom or Privacy.

The problem is it's not about me.
I operate in a unique mindset, where I have been raised to do what is best for the Army, who represents America. This scores me as unwavering supporter of my government. My example has always been my dad who I have never heard utter a single negative comment about his Commander in Chief (President). You could call that naive, but loyal sounds better to me. Yay for propaganda!

We're talking about a nation that does not give a shit about their privacy.
They dispel every gosh thing in their life on the internet.
Why do they care about privacy all a sudden?

On written record Edward Snowden is a liar.
On written record the Government is a liar.

Edward Snowden signed a non-disclosure agreement indicating he understood that he was agreeing that he would never reveal the content associated with the NSA.

If your signature doesn't mean anything why is this still a thing?
By that point alone, Edward Snowden belongs in prison.
In this aspect, I'm unsure why there is even debate, did his agreement say that he could whistle blow or did it say he could never reveal the content of the NSA? Because you cannot do both.

Read the privacy agreements, these companies under scrutiny probably told you in some undecipherable way that they were breaching your privacy, using and sending you information to a third party, the GOV... You probably said yes. Even if you didn't mean to.


The U.S. Government falls under the U.S. Constitution as well of the Bill of Rights indicating that the Government is limited. They lied, so I expect the people, if they care so badly, to overthrow the government.. Follow through. Send these men that violated the Bill of Rights to prison too. You'll quickly discover that will not happen, the people do not care enough.

The Government will argue that this was all done in an effort to protect the people of this nation.
Edward Snowden will say that this was all done in an effort to protect the rights of this nation.

Okay Edward, protect our rights while simultaneously releasing information that we were/are spying on the German chancellor? Hurt our relations with the Germans? Sure, why not it's not like we haven't had enough wars with them already. What's one more. Consequently, this has caused several other countries to really wonder, weakening our alliances. Would you still argue that this was done for the greater good? Where's the give and take? Take our freedom and privacy and put it to work and in action, exercise it, while giving the rest of the world dangerous information?

Germany already knew we were spying on them, why would you show evidence to confirm it?
The public already knew that the Government was watching them, everything they did, WHY provide evidence to confirm it?

In the back of my mind, because I'm not a politic crazed patriotic heartless drone, I recognize Edward Snowden as someone who spoke out against the majority. (This could be because I have been studying the Spiral of Silence Theory in Comm 1050) I want to believe that had I been in Nazi German in 1900's that I would have resisted the German Government and spoken out, and fought against them. I want to believe that if i had been on the same bus as Rosa Parks that I would have chosen the right, and opposed the adversary. I wouldn't argue that these instances relate precisely to the Edward Snowden uprising, to be honest I really kind of believe that he has an immature idealism. I will commend his bravery, America is a bitch to go against. Bullies suck, but life is life and really the Government is not trying to control you, they are trying to protect you, HOW is the blurry aspect. Edward's intent is genuine. And I'm inspired by his ability to explain and expound on this breach in an non-egotisical way, I really do believe he did it because he thought he was empowering his (at one point) fellow Americans. It's easy to ascertain that he is no longer considered an American citizen.

The only time I've ever really believed a politician ever is when President Bush was in office. {Professor Young I can just see you boiling} I've never seen a more vulnerable man in my life than he post 9/11. He was broken that his nation, his brothers had suffered. In fact, any time I hear his voice I feel the whole event all over. My tender heart swells when I hear his voice. He was broken that such a wrong had occurred. I genuinely believed him when he said that America would be okay. After, before, the politics... whatever. That's my one and only united believing connection to the Government. The rest, irrelevant. I just do what the President says and if every fiber of my being says a situation is wrong, and that there is no good resulting from it, that is when I will ruffle my feathers and make some noise. The government ignoring my privacy? Mmm, I'm good its all on my Facebook  forever anyway. Have at it.

Both the U.S. NSA and Edward Snowden are relying on a what if argument.
Snowden arguing that it may not have significance to you immediately, but one day the Government may rain down on you for something, and they will be able to use every intel they have accumulated over the years against you. They have a case on you prepared and ready in the chance that the opportunity arises.

The U.S. NSA is banking on the what if of look at what we could potentially thwart with our research and intel, look what we can try to stop from happening. "We are ready we have it all.. " We have your back, we'll find the enemy. We are watching.


I hope Snowden likes Russia.




And I mean that, in a polite loving neighborly way.
Thanks for thinking of me Ed, unfortunately I think that I pick the NSA.
Pointing out the obvious, Snowden you will now go down in history for telling people what they already know.
Hey Ed now that you're in cohorts with every other nation but America, tell your pal Germany not to be pissed! (even though they are spying on us right back) You may have been trying to stand up for us USA folk, but you handed some mighty powerful folks the dagger to make a big mess.

Undecided

I'm doing my analysis on the Utah National Guard's youtube video behind the scenes footage of a shooting of a calender, which they have been heavily scrutinized and reprimanded for. Would the culture of the state that they created this footage in have anything to do with the widespread coverage of this event. How do people even know about this? YOUTUBE.

Or I'm doing my analysis on the Ebola outbreak and the U.S. sending military forces to help treat those affected in Africa, also touching on the debate of whether or the returning troops will have to face mandatory quarantine in Italy for twenty-one days. Should they just get to go home after deployment, shouldn't we trust their medical precautions while they are there. However, the last thing we need is for the public to be aware that the U.S. military brought Ebola back home.