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Interview Noam Chomsky MIT Thesis Interview

Jul 21

I MET HIM!

Couldn’t have asked for more… definitely a proud moment of my design career, a sure elevator to my thesis, and more importantly, the opportunity to meet and interview Prof. Noam Chomsky for my Graduate Design Thesis.

Photo by: Bev Stohl, Prof. Noam Chomsky’s PA and TA Location: Prof. Chomsky’s Office, MIT, Cambridge, MA

I am currently working on distilling the interview with Prof. Chomsky but I’ll make sure I keep posting extracts from the interview as I move forward with my thesis.

Couldn’t thank enough… Phil Hamlett, the Graduate Director of the School of Graphic Design at the Academy of Art University for his constant support; Michael Kilgore, my thesis adviser for pushing me, preparing me for this interview and Bev Stohl, Prof. Chomsky’s PA and TA for arranging this interview.


1
Jul 20

THIS GUY JUST DOES IT…

Rupert Murdoch, also known as the media mogul, is all over the news since the past 2 weeks or so.

For those of you who are not fully aware of his whereabouts around the world, take a look at this interactive infographic by Al Jazeera.

Infographic link: Murdoch’s Media Empire


2
Business Plan Thesis Website Process

Apr 24

REALITY CHECK

Never in my wildest dreams I had thought that I would be making a real business plan/model for any school project or design thesis alike.

A website is going to be a crucial part of my thesis and so writing down a business plan for the same is imperative. Covering details on how the website will operate, what marketing strategies it will embrace and where the resources will come from is going to prove extremely beneficial in the long run. This business model will keep modifying as I move ahead with my thesis but for now I feel pretty confident about it.

Having researched how businesses work and operate for weeks now and then making a model for my own thesis website, I have realized how important it is to take into account every facet and every detail of any taken endeavor.

A special thanks to people at Google News (and their blogs and forums) and my friend Philip Jones, an MBA graduate from Yale University on giving me first hand tips and suggestion on how to approach start up ventures and reading recommendations.


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Don't Ask Don't Tell Female soldiers Iran Military Assualt Women Assault SF Gate Article

Apr 17

THE WALL OF SHAME

This is going to sound too unbelievable to be true, but it’s not.

What a shame. Period.

The Department of Defense estimates that more than 19,000 service members were raped or sexually assaulted in 2010. Lives are being ruined. Rape kits are being discarded after a year or less, often without the DNA testing necessary for conviction. This runs counter to standard practice in the civilian justice system. Victims can’t access treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder because records of their assaults are destroyed. Due to a military culture heavy on retaliation and light on prosecution, only 13.5 percent of the victims report the rape…

…and the U.S. holds pride about sending thousands of veterans to Iraq and Afghanistan to “serve” their country.

This monstrosity is not new. The Pentagon has largely ignored the recommendations of 18 reports on sexual assault and rape in the military over the past 16 years.

The Congress said “We should focus on more important issues because America is at war.” I beg to differ. Shouldn’t the U.S. tackle this problem upfront because they are fighting abroad?

I have my own point of views about the military in this country but division and strife within the ranks will hurt their ability to defeat the enemy. In addition to this, we all know that military service is one of the nation’s highest callings. As a country, they should not allow violent criminals to taint the honor of these armed forces.

Again, this is a national disgrace and the longer it goes unaddressed, the Congress becomes a helper in this crime.

SF Chronicle Article: Rapes of women in military ‘a national disgrace’

These issues need to be brought to the limelight. This appalling business has been occurring since 16 years…who knows it could be even more than 16 years. Have to applaud the media, the people in authority and the people who possess power for not letting this come to the surface for so many years.

It’s about time people…

More articles from the past that have gone unnoticed:

TIME Article: Sexual Assaults on Female Soldiers: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Salon Article: The private war of women soldiers

AlterNet Article: Female Soldiers Treated ‘Lower Than Dirt’

Recommended Reading FYI: The State of the American Woman


2
Waiting for Superman Zainab Rupawalla Letters form an Equation

Apr 17

WAITING FOR SUPERMAN

Zainab, my friend from India who is also a comrade at the Academy of Art University is building a thesis on reinforcing English language education in the public schools of Bombay, India. In her research and case studies, she has identified that students with less(and low) English speaking/writing skills face income inequalities inspite of the same education qualifications as a English speaker.

Being an Indian, I know the gravity of this problem and I can say that this topic holds a lot of water.

Check out her thesis blog: Letters form an Equation

zainabrupawalla:

An extensive review of public education system in The United States and handful of efforts that have made a difference.