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The US military is developing software that will let it secretly manipulate social media sites by using fake online personas to influence internet conversations and spread pro-American propaganda. A Californian corporation has been awarded a contract with United States Central Command (Centcom), which oversees US armed operations in the Middle East and Central Asia, to develop what is described as an "online persona management service" that will allow one US serviceman or woman to control up to 10 separate identities based all over the world. The project has been likened by web experts to China's attempts to control and restrict free speech on the internet. Critics are likely to complain that it will allow the US military to create a false consensus in online conversations, crowd out unwelcome opinions and smother commentaries or reports that do not correspond with its own objectives

This site gives a good overview of cell phone use by Canadian drivers. 66% of Canadian drivers believe that using a cell phone while driving is a very serious safety issue. In Canada, Alberta has the highest rate of cell phone use, while Nova Scotia has the lowest, according to statistics published in 2008.

This website offers a rubric of the gun laws that are held by each state as of April, 2000. This information is used to help educate the public on gun crime, control, and enforcement. With this information, it is hoped that it would be used to prevent further crimes, injuries, and death caused by inappropriate gun use.

The article describes how we are will to show our lives on social media for anyone to see not realizing how much is not private. Then talks about how upset we get when the Government is looking at us.

wow this article really opened my eyes to how much I use and rely on social media without considering the all risk.

It is amazing how much information people put out there. At work, we have to take compliance courses every year. Just last year, they added a couple of modules on social media, and what is expected of you in relation to the information about work that you put out there.

This article talks about the Law of Unintended Consequences. The internet has existed for less than 20 years and now it is apart of everyone's daily lives. It happened so fast, and has such a huge impact its hard to tell if it is a good thing or if it is actually harming us. Now more people are stepping back and really looking at the impact it is having, and realizing that in some ways it isolates us rather than brings us together as a society.

Gun laws sparked due to the shooting in Connecticut. Many mass shootings have happened, yet the second amendment does allow us to bear arms. This site gives charts and examples on how many firearms were owned in a year and the number of homicides for a very controversial topic.

Why do mass shootings occur more frequently in the United States than other major democracies? This Backgrounder examines select countries. It is shown that the possession and use of violence with a gun is more common in the US rather than in most other countries.

This site shows that the majority of Americans support a ban on cell phone use while driving, even when the driver is using a hands-free cell phone. According to a poll released in 2010, proponents for such a law outnumber opponents by a margin of 63-34.

AP and PEW discuss how Americans feel about using their cell phones during various events, including driving to school, work, etc. The article goes deep into the personal feelings of each person on cell phone use.

Curtailing antibiotic use in agriculture It is time for action: this use contributes to bacterial resistance in humans. Antibiotics are arguably the single most important and widely used medical intervention of our era.

We have all seen people using their cell phones while driving, whether it be talking on them or texting. Several states have passed laws to ban using cell phones while driving knowing those who do so are at a higher risk for causing or being in an accident. Even though it may seem more safe to use your blu-tooth while driving, but numerous studies have suggested that drivers who use their cell phones in any way while driving, still poses a danger to themselves and other people on the road.

"With so many resources online, many students are using it as a valuable resource for academic research these days. And it's mostly valid-there are plenty of scholarly and legitimate websites out there that can provide valuable information. But you will have to cite your sources correctly if you want to use information you found online in your papers."

In an argumentative essay, a reader might come across some of the following uses of transitional words and phrases.

The US is now offereing free birth control to women in need. Now women who need check ups or anything like that they will not have to pay a co-pay or any out of pocket expenses for that matter.

This article discusses the ethics behind banking the blood from a baby's umbilical cord and using the stem cells to treat sick people. It informs us that the blood from one cord is only enough to treat one patient and that, as the demand for cord blood increases, the ethics behind the storage and usage of cord blood may become compromised.

Arguments focusing on the personal rights and freedoms of drug users. Poses questions about if it is a person's right to decided what to put into thier body and if it is the same thing as a person's right to decide to participate in a dangerous sport or activity.

This was a really interesting article! I never would have thought to parallel drug use with sports. However, I guess it makes sense when you think about the amount of athletes who use steroids to boost their game.

This is a memorandum from President Barak Obama on his expectations for The Freedom of Information Act. He expects everyone to be accountable for their actions as well as make sure they are honest about them. When questioned, all information must be presented according to the act, but if any nondisclosure is used, it should not be used to protect embarrassment or failure.

While many are protesting Twitter's new censorship attempt, they are not seeing that it will actually help preserve freedom of speech in the US rather than censor it. The only countries that would be held to the certain censorships are ones that request it per religious, historical, or cultural reasons. So, freedom of speech on Twitter will be opened up in the US rather than restricted by the international growth.

Polygamy is a battle of both religion and rights for both types of people who are for or against polygamy. The author states the history behind the laws against polygamy as well as the battle between Reynolds and the US for it to be allowed due to the religious beliefs of Mormons. Reynolds was convicted and charged for polygamy, which in turn, ended it everywhere in the US; especially in Utah. Several times, the Reynolds Law has been challenged, but those who have challenged the law have failed.

Some freedoms may come at the expense of others. It is being said now, by ATF and federal law, that anyone who is known to be using or addicted to any drug that is illegal under federal, not state law, cannot purchase a weapon. This includes individuals who are medicinally using marijuana. Laws are still unclear as to what the consequences are for not admitting to using the drug when purchasing a weapon.

The article on this site seems to suggest that cell phone use while driving does not substantially impair drivers. It advises against legislation to ban cell phones while driving. The article states that there simply isn't enough data yet to prove that cell phone use causes accidents.