Welcome & Course Approach Welcome to this review series! In each post, we’ll focus on core math skills through a structured, hands-on practice routine designed to build confidence and mastery. The format that follow, will be used consistently across the four blog posts in the series. The next ones will cover more advanced topics while still building on these fundamentals. Pro Tip: Keep a dedicated notebook for all handwritten practice. Revisit the signed number rules and percent conversions regularly—they appear in almost every future math topic. Let me know if you’d like me to adjust the wording, add more specific examples, generate placeholder images for the handwritten solutions/number lines, or create the next post in the series! How we practice: 1. Review the example note-taker (key concepts + worked examples). 2. Study old-school handwritten solutions (real student-style work showing common approaches and pitfalls). 3. Practice on blank versions of the same problems. 4. Complete the homework set. 5. Get instructor feedback. 6. Test yourself with the Google Forms quiz. This method combines clear explanations, visual/handwritten models, deliberate practice, and immediate feedback—proven to strengthen long-term retention. Topic:Build a strong foundation for algebra with this comprehensive prerequisite lesson on percentages. Learn to confidently convert fractions to percents, calculate a percent of a number, and work backwards to find the whole or the rate. Explore these skills alongside key algebra concepts and real number operations through clear examples, step-by-step strategies, and practical applications like discounts, tips, and proportions. ============= The example note-taker FOR this set of SKILLS NT_Selected Problems_R4 Skills Check Quiz Practice on blank versions of the same problems as solutionized below 'Old-school' handwritten solutions OldSchool_Solutions_Selected Problems_R4 Skills Check Quiz Practice on blank versions of the same problems. Homework Assignment: Complete the full homework worksheet (linked below). R4 Homework Get Feedback Submit your homework for instructor review. Common areas to improve: consistent sign rules, careful distribution, and double-checking unit conversions. Ready to Test Yourself? Take the short quiz on Google Forms: R4 Skills Check Quiz: MAT 112 Quantitative Thinking Review any missed questions using the note-taker and handwritten examples. Focus especially on showing all steps and checking your signs. Get Feedback Submit your homework for instructor review. Common areas to improve: consistent sign rules, careful distribution, and double-checking unit conversions.

#jronews Whether you’re a student, educator, or professional, mastering Google’s suite of tools can dramatically boost your productivity. The good news? You don’t need to spend a dime to get started. Here are some excellent free resources available right now. Google Workspace Learning Center. The official Google Workspace Learning Center is the most comprehensive starting point. Its Google Sheets section covers everything from quick-start guides and cheat sheets to advanced topics like data analysis, formatting, collaboration, and even generative AI tips. You can also find troubleshooting help and links to take Google’s own free online Sheets course. For those who want formal recognition of their skills, the site points you toward Google’s data analytics certification path as well. Key topics: Quick-start guides • Cheat sheets • Data analysis • Generative AI features • Troubleshooting • Free Sheets course • Data analytics certification LovesData Free Google Sheets Course If you prefer a structured, beginner-friendly format, the LovesData Free Google Sheets Course is an excellent choice. It walks you through the fundamentals — creating spreadsheets, importing data, formatting cells, and using essential functions like SUM, AVERAGE, IF, and VLOOKUP. The course also covers practical skills like filtering data, applying conditional formatting, validating entries, and building charts. By the end, you’ll have a solid foundation for managing and visualizing real-world data. Key topics: Creating spreadsheets • Importing data • Functions (SUM, IF, VLOOKUP) • Conditional formatting • Data filtering • Charts & visualization • Sharing & collaboration Why These Resources Stand Out Both resources are completely free and self-paced, making them ideal for busy learners. The Google Learning Center is best for quick reference and topic-specific guidance, while LovesData shines as a linear course for building confidence from scratch. Getting comfortable with Google Sheets and other Google tools is a worthwhile investment of your time — and with these resources, the only cost is the effort you put in. --- Sources 1. Google Workspace Learning https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282959 2. LovesData Free Google Sheets Course https://www.lovesdata.com/blog/google-sheets-course/ Assignments for MAT 112: Quantitative Thinking. Google Sheets Assignments Page

This essay is related to a lesson on the following link https://www.full-of-doubt.net/blank Check it out and take the online quizzes to test your knowledge #jronews In democracy, the “will of the people” should reflect collective preferences as accurately as possible. Mathematics offers compelling evidence that ranked choice voting (RCV) better captures this than traditional plurality voting, where the candidate with the most first-choice votes wins—even without a majority. Plurality often leads to vote-splitting and “spoiler” effects, distorting outcomes. RCV, by allowing voters to rank preferences, uses iterative redistribution to find a candidate with broader support, aligning more closely with concepts like the Condorcet winner (a candidate who beats all others head-to-head).  Pros of RCV include reducing wasted votes, encouraging positive campaigning, and minimizing the “lesser of two evils” dilemma, as voters can support favorites without fear of spoiling elections. It can also save costs by avoiding separate runoffs.  Cons persist: ballots can seem complex, leading to exhausted votes or errors; counting is slower and costlier upfront; and non-monotonicity (where ranking a candidate higher might hurt them) raises fairness questions in rare cases.  Videos from FairVote and Illustrate to Educate illustrate these dynamics clearly. Overall, empirical studies and social choice theory show RCV more reliably produces majority-backed winners and better represents voter intent than plurality’s simplistic tallies.  (Word count: 248) Works Cited FairVote. “What is Ranked Choice Voting?” YouTube, uploaded by FairVote, [link to https://youtu.be/gq7N2hmX9FI]. Accessed 30 May 2026. Illustrate to Educate. “Ranked Choice Voting Pros Cons.” YouTube, [link to https://youtu.be/Y47yDXmeNmY]. Accessed 30 May 2026. “Ranked Choice Voting Facts.” YouTube, [link to https://youtu.be/XXdmq_pTr8A]. Accessed 30 May 2026. McCune, David, et al. “Empirical Analysis of Ranked Choice Voting Methods.” Mathematics & Democracy Institute, 2025, mathematics-democracy-institute.org/empirical-analysis-of-ranked-choice-voting-methods/. Scientific American. “Could Math Design the Perfect Electoral System?” 2 Nov. 2023, www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-how-math-could-design-the-perfect-electoral-system/.

This was highly unusual for American cars of the era, which typically used front-mounted, water-cooled V8s or inline engines. It shared some conceptual similarities with Volkswagen and Porsche air-cooled designs but was a unique GM creation.  Key Unique Features • Air-cooled flat-six layout: Cylinders arranged horizontally in two opposing banks of three. No radiator or liquid cooling system—instead, it used a large centrifugal blower fan (driven by a V-belt from the crankshaft) to force air over finned cast-iron cylinder barrels and aluminum heads. Shrouds directed the airflow, with thermostatically controlled doors for temperature regulation.  • Lightweight materials: Two-piece aluminum crankcase, aluminum cylinder heads (with integral intake manifolds—one per side), and separate finned cast-iron cylinder barrels. The crankshaft (early versions) had no counterweights for weight savings.  • Rear-engine placement: Mounted behind the rear axle in the trunk area, contributing to a rear weight bias (which led to handling quirks addressed in later models). • Other details: Gear-driven camshaft below the crankshaft, hydraulic lifters with external pushrod tubes, two single-barrel Rochester carburetors (one per bank), and displacements from ~140–164 cu in (2.3–2.7L) producing 80–110+ hp (naturally aspirated; turbo versions went higher). Firing order: 1-4-5-2-3-6.  Here are some helpful visuals showing the engine’s layout and cutaways:

Optional subhead: Carney taps Saab-Bombardier surveillance jet for Arctic mission; up to 40 aircraft could be built in Canada. --- Lead Canada will buy Saab’s GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft instead of Boeing’s E-7 Wedgetail, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Wednesday at the CANSEC defense trade show in Ottawa, signaling a decisive shift away from reliance on American military suppliers (Reuters via Yahoo). Bridge The Swedish-built GlobalEye, mounted on Canada’s own Bombardier Global 6500 business jet, was selected over the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail and L3Harris’s Aeris X to anchor the Royal Canadian Air Force’s future Airborne Early Warning and Control program (Breaking Defense). Supporting Paragraphs Carney said the aircraft, capable of tracking targets on land, sea, and air at ranges up to 650 kilometers, will be “key” to detecting and deterring threats across the Arctic (CBC). Military officials have previously indicated Canada intends to acquire roughly six of the surveillance jets. The decision is widely viewed as a test case for the Carney government’s broader policy of diversifying away from U.S. defense capability. “The days our military sent 70 cents of every dollar to the United States are over,” Carney declared, noting Boeing’s E-7 has been plagued by delays and cost overruns (The Guardian). The industrial package sweetened the deal: Saab has committed to building, maintaining, and upgrading the jets with Canadian partners, with Carney indicating up to 40 GlobalEye platforms could be assembled domestically over 15 years, supporting more than 3,000 aerospace jobs (Philippe Lagassé). Conclusion No contract has yet been signed — Saab has been named “preferred supplier” while negotiations proceed (AIN). The outcome may also foreshadow whether Saab’s Gripen-E fighter eventually displaces part of Canada’s existing 88-jet F-35 order from Lockheed Martin.

There are a number of platforms that can be used to measure the conversations that are out there for one’s brand on social media. I have read so much about how social media can help promote a brand, but yet I still feel overwhelmed by it. It is mentally crushing to say the least. For some reason I am reminded of Walt Whitman’s poem; “If you want me again look for me under your bootsoles. You will hardly know who I am or what I mean, But I shall be good help to you nevertheless And filter and fiber your blood. Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged, Missing me one place search another, I stop some where waiting for you” (Whitman, n.d) In the spirit of this discussion, I offer my own prose… If you search for me, look on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and especially YouTube. Type in #JROspace and you will find me. 😊 Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged….go to the search bar on one of the social media platforms before mentioned and you will eventually find me. Sorry…feeling a bit weary from work, I thought I would offer up an analogy and have a little fun. Whitman aside, I have been playing around with search engine optimization (SEO) for the last couple of months for my blogs, webpage, YouTube videos, Twitter posts and Pinterest. I started using the hashtag #JROspace to track my progress. Below is a link to my webpage so you can get an idea of my sideline campaign to help improve our education efforts here in the United States. http://johnrozean.wixsite.com/mysite I am trying to get conversations going about this topic. I am very concerned about the current failing education system here in America. Solis and Breakenridge state that the keys to social media success are conversations or threads by keyword, traffic, leads or sales, calls to action, engagement, relationships, authority, education and participation, perception, registrations, membership, and community activity (Solis & Breakenridge, 2009, p 249-251). At this point I have to agree, but my project is still a work in progress. References Solis, B. & Breakenridge, D. (2009) . Putting the Public Back in Public Relations: How Social Media is Reinventing the Aging Business of PR . Pearson Education . Upper Saddle, N.J. 2009 Whitman, W. (n.d.) . Leaves of Grass . goodreads.com . retrieved August 3, 2017 from https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/126235-if-you-want-me-again-look-for-me-under-your #socialmediametrics #modelrockets #matheducation #JROspace #socialmediaconversations

Pondering this question, I found it important to go back to the basics of metaphors. I found an article “Metaphor Examples for Kids,” to help me get started. The article states that metaphors are “used to make a comparison between two things that aren't alike but have something in common.” The article lists 69 “Kid-Friendly Metaphors.” Here are my top five out of that list; The classroom was a zoo. Life is a rollercoaster. The world is a stage. He is a night owl. You are my sunshine. (YourDictionary, 2017) In my quest, I also came upon this article by Alex Bigman who provides several examples of photographs that communicate metaphor without photo manipulation. I am including three of my favorite metaphors that Bigman provides in his article. (Bigman, 2014) (Bigman, 2014) (Bigman, 2014) References Bigman, A. (2014) . A guide to using photography as metaphor in graphic design . blog . 99deigns. Retrieved from https://99designs.com/blog/tips/a-guide-to-using-photography-as-metaphor-in-graphic-design/ YourDictionary (2017) . Metaphor Examples for Kids . retrieved July 29, 2017 from http://examples.yourdictionary.com/metaphor-examples-for-kids.html #metaphor #metaphorinphotography #photomanipulationandmetaphor

Truth is ever more confusing in today’s world. An acquaintance of mine posted this picture of a couple of the fast food market place’s top burgers – comparing what is advertised and what is reality. That picture has had a significant impact on me over the last couple of days. It has disturbed me greatly and left me sick to my stomach. That picture demonstrates how truth can be distorted in an environment driven by profit motives alone, without regard to traditional ethical boundaries. As I am writing this, I am sitting in a bar and grill and am being bombarded with images on various TV screens – four of them to be exact, strategically place around the establishment to maximize consumer viewing. Sports, social media, the stock exchange – whatever your chosen distraction to the truth is, misleading information is being freely offered by the highest bidder for you to consume. It is 1984 all over again, Yogi Berra would probably say, offering a variant of his famous quote. Some might say that Winston Smith knew nothing about propaganda. Had Winston experienced 2017, he would have thought that 1984 was a weak year for conflicting messages being delivered by an absolute elite. 2017 is the new 1984. “Ignorance is bliss,” said Thomas Gray. What makes us ignorant? Distractions, plain and simple. That distraction could be as complicated as your home loan that you struggle to pay from day to day or as complicated as the photoshopped images of perceived goddesses in the local fashion magazines who are no more divine than you and me. Yet we aspire to these things. We are driven by these un-acquirable images and messages. Bombarded by these messages we fail to stop and think. We fail to consider the absolute truth. We fail to see the truth. All we can think about is that juicy, delicious image of a flawless hamburger. The truth is wealth is being accumulated by a select few – taken from the poorest of the poor. Corporations are requiring more from us, and contributing less to us. An elite 1% has taken over our economy and is slowly taking over our minds. “Truth is self-evident” wrote Thomas Jefferson, however what is the truth is slowly being faded into the oblivion of our own ignorance – paid for by big business and those who profit from our hard earned dollars. “The truth shall set you free,” it is written in the apostle of John. But just like the advertised version of the two famous burgers, our perception of the truth is suffering due to a blurring of the facts as we are distracted by the mundane and unimportant – yet overly fascinating to us. Hmmm….I am in the mood for a burger. #WinstonSmith #propaganda #mediamessages #distortioninthemedia #JROspace #ThomasJefferson #YogiBerra #ThomasGray #Truth #Truthinmedia

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states that electronic and information technology that is used by the Federal government be accessible to people with disabilities. While it does not necessarily apply to all private sector websites, it points out legitimate concerns that everyone should consider when developing websites and mobile applications, as many of the 508 guidelines can make websites easier to use for not only the disabled but also the general audience. But before discussing the broader implications of greater access, it is important to provide some background on Section 508. The essence of the Rehabilitation Act forbids discrimination within Federal agencies on the basis of a disability. Section 508 specifically deals with making technology systems accessible in a variety of ways in that the information can be accessed through activation of more than just one of the five senses. For example, video that is only visible may not be accessible to a person with visual impairments or an audio file is most likely not accessible for a person who is deaf or hard of hearing. In addition, individuals with disabilities may need certain types of software or other peripheral devices to access certain types of media (Justice, 2009). Paragraph 1194.22 of Section 508 deals with “Web based intranet and Internet information and applications.” The paragraph includes 16 guidelines – subparagraphs “a” to “p” – that a webmaster or application designer will need to adhere to. Subparagraph (a) states that a “text equivalent” must be available when “non-text elements” – that is an element that is not presented in text including images, audio clips, and graphics – are presented on the site or application. Subparagraph (b) states that “equivalent alternatives” must be presented along with multi-media presentations. Equivalent alternatives include; captioning or audio descriptions that accomplish the message purpose by communicating analogous information in sync with the multi-media presentation. Subparagraph (c) states that material that is presented in color must also be presented without color in such a manner that the communication remains the same. Subparagraph (d) requires that information be presented in such a manner as to not require a stylesheet. Subparagraph (e) necessitates the use of “redundant text links” when an active server image map is used. Subparagraph (f) requires the use of client-side image maps as opposed to server-side ones. Subparagraph (g) requires the use of row and column headers when using data tables. Subparagraph (h) extends the guidelines on data tables in that they are required to have two or more logical levels of row or column headers. Subparagraph (i) requires that frames be identified in such a manner as to foster clear identification of the frames. Subparagraph (j) states a flicker range frequency requirement for web pages between the range of 2 and 55 Hz. Subparagraph (k) requires that a “text-only page” be provided for a website and update in sync with the main page. Subparagraph (l) requires that “scripting language” be used so that the website complies with assistive technology. Subparagraph (m) mandates that a link be provided to a required applet or plug-in in a situation where such a program is needed to access the website content. Subparagraph (n) requires that when a form is offered on website, that that form can interface with assistive technology designed to help with filling out online forms. Subparagraph (o) states that a method must exists so that the website or application user will be able to skip repetitive navigation links. Subparagraph (p) requires that the user be alerted and given adequate time to respond within any time limitations (GSA, n.d.). Similarly, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) were created to help those with disabilities better access websites. The WCAG has 12 guidelines that are similar to those of Section 508. A few key points add to the discussion of what web developers should considered when creating web pages. Figure 1 outlines the guidelines. Figure 1. (Henry, 2017) As one can see, the WCAG guidelines break up accessibility into the categories relating to perception, operation, understandability, and robustness. I like how the guidelines express concerns about how content should be “presented in different ways.” These guidelines also put accessibility into perspective when pointing out that functions should all be accessible from the keyboard and that content operate in “predictable ways” (Henry, 2017) When one analyzes the WCAG guidelines, one can begin to see how they can benefit general audiences as well as the guidelines require that websites communicate using a variety of senses. Much work has been done in the education field that focus on better methods for teachers to communicate ideas to their students – appealing to a variety of senses to improved information processing. Studies have demonstrated that by appealing to a variety of senses, teachers can help students become better receivers of the information presented in class. Ways that multiple senses activation improves learning include increased concentration, better focus, heightened awareness, and increased brain function just to name a few (Hidden Angel Foundation, n.d). “Using multiple senses allows more cognitive connections and associations to be made with a concept,” states educator Anna Pitts in a HowToLearn blog (Pitts, 2012) The Harvard Business Review recently published an article that concludes that multi-sensory communications can facilitate more effective marketing tactics (Harvard Business Review, 2015). “In business, we need to make sure that we are tapping into as many of these senses as possible so that we can really connect with our audience,” writes Britt Michaelian in Huffington Post business blog (Machaelian, 2013). The major implications of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 508 are that material be accessible. Accessibility means communicating messages through activation of more than just one of the five senses. Academic and business research demonstrates that good communication appeals to more than just one of the five senses. For these reasons, the application of the Section 508 and the WCAG can be helpful for communication efforts with not only the disabled but general audiences seeking information on websites, and for these reasons such guidelines are important considerations for any web designer who wishes to communicate effectively. References GSA (n.d.) . Quick Reference Guide to Section 508 Requirements and Standards . retrieved July 24, 2017 from https://www.section508.gov/content/learn/standards/quick-reference-guide Harvard Business Review (2015) . The Science of Sensory Marketing. March 2015 . retrieved from https://hbr.org/2015/03/the-science-of-sensory-marketing Henry, S. (2017) . Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Overview . website . March 10, 2017 . retrieved from https://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/wcag Hidden Angel Foundation (n.d) . Multi Sensory Environments: The Benefits . retrieved July 24, 2017 from http://www.cdhaf.org/multi-sensory-environments-the-benefits/ Justice, U.S. Department of (2009) . A Guide to Disability Rights Laws . July 2009 . retrieved from https://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm#anchor65610 Michaelian, B. (2013) . How to Engage the 5 Senses of Your Audience for Increased Sales . Huffington Post . April 27, 2013 . retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/britt-michaelian/how-to-engage-the-5-sense_b_2759495.html Pitss, A. (2012) . Learning Is Multi-Sensory: How To Engage All The Senses So Children Really Benefit . HowToLearn . December 13, 2012 . retrieved from http://www.howtolearn.com/2012/12/learning-is-multi-sensory-how-to-engage-all-the-senses-so-children-really-benefit/ #Section508 #multiplesenses #WCAG #communication

In health care PR, the biggest issue is HIPPA. I believe that health care facilities and professional communicators want to post pictures or testimonials of satisfied customers in their websites and publications, but at the same time the patients may not wish their picture or testimonial be published on the website. According to the Dysmorphology Subcommittee of the Clinical Practice Committee, American College of Medical Genetics, as relating to patient photographs, “In each case it is not only prudent, but necessary for the patients’ protection and interest that appropriate consent be obtained” (Dysmorphology Subcommittee, 2000). In my experience, patients tend to not want to be photographed while they are in the hospital. While working as a photographer and magazine/newspaper editor while in the Army, I was often tasked to write a story to promote the availability of flu shots or other health care concerns. Gathering consent as a photographer is a bit of a cumbersome event. I have to admit that on occasion I posed while one of the photographers took a shot of my arm being poked or my person being examined. Close ups of these types of things seemed to work best. On another occasion, I posed while my belly was being measured for a physical fitness exam. I supposed that this was pushing the limit on journalism ethics, but too often it proved to be difficult to arrange or happen to show up and find a legitimate patient willing to have their picture taken in a certain medical situation. After all, in many cases the task for the assignment was given late and deadlines were always looming. However, these are very simple situations. What about stories on STDs and other possibly embarrassing scenarios? These are very important informational pieces that are vital from an informational perspective. Perhaps in these cases one could do without a photo, which I must admit I have done in certain publications in newspapers and websites. But back then, over 10 years ago, one’s story always suffered when it didn’t have an accompanying photo. Creativity in this realm was often the key. For one STD story I took several “artsy” shots of some pamphlets on the topic and with some condemns lying around. I think one of the photographers who worked for me once took a shot of a nurse appearing to be handing a condemn to the camera. But even still, this is still a light subject area. What about cancer patients or other terminal issues that have a profound impact. It might be hard to get consent. I’ve never been tasked with such photos, but I can see the importance that it would have with certain facilities – especially where an organization wants to spread awareness to drum up support for a particular program. As I started this discussion, consent is the best way to go. I spent some time talking about how deadline crunches and being forced to come up with something on the fly that pushed the ethical boundaries of truth. For those reasons, it is important to plan out these photos well ahead of time so that the photographer has time to get the consent they need along with all of the other requirements of such thing. The eHealth code of ethics clearly lays out the guiding principles that address “sets forth guiding principles under eight main headings: candor; honesty; quality; informed consent; privacy; professionalism in online health care; responsible partnering; and accountability” (Rippen & Risk, 2000) The National Press Photographers Association lays out several guidelines when it comes to photojournalism. I am including below in image of 9 of the NPPA guidelines. (NPPA, 2017) Of particular note is #1, that is that a photographer should be “accurate and comprehensive” when photographing subjects. Also involved in this discussion is #2, that is an avoidance of staging photographs. One also can not overlook #5, where it is pointed out that a photographer should not intentional impact or modify the image captured. And finally, #6 clearly points out the limitations of editing images. From my experience, this issue goes to the question of enhancing vs. manipulating images while working with them digitally. I view enhancing images as acceptable behavior while manipulating images as ethically unacceptable. I view enhancing images involving such things as; Adjusting the brightness or contrast of an image Dodging of burning an image Cropping an image to suit the needs of the publication or other reasons of enhancement Using a filter on the image I view manipulating images to be such things as; Changing the content of the image. To me, changing the content of the image involves a lot of things. This would include removing blemishes, body fat, shadows or adding or deleting things such as power lines or other structures, things or people. This could also include things such as making the sky appear more azure than it really is. Putting two or more images together or cutting and pasting things into the image also fall under this category. A Photo Review article does a really good job of addressing many of the ethical issues involved in image manipulation. It points out that an image should unswerving in “perspective and geometry” along with pointing out many of the things discussed thus far in this post (Photo Review, 2017). The Department of Defense lays out several guidelines that are very specific about where the line is drawn between enhancement and manipulation. I am including the following paragraph from DoD Instruction Number 5040.05, Alteration of Official DoD Imagery Photographic techniques common to traditional darkrooms and digital imaging stations such as dodging, burning, color balancing, spotting, and contrast adjustment that are used to achieve the accurate recording of an event or object are not considered alterations. (DoD, 2006) With today’s digital imagery, manipulation is getting way to easy, but it appears that we have come to expect it. I feel that further, more specific guidelines in this area are needed so as to more accurately reflect the integrity of photographs, especially when considering images taken in the very sensitive field of health care information. References DoD (Department of Defense) (2006) . DoD Directive 5040.05 . Alteration of Official DoD Imagery . retrieved from https://fas.org/irp/doddir/dod/i5040_05.pdf Dysmorphology Subcommittee of the Clinical Practice Committee, American College of Medical Genetics, Cunniff, C., Byrne, J. L. B., Hudgins, L. M., Moeschler, J. B., Olney, A. H., … Figone, C. (2000). Informed consent for medical photographs. Genetics in Medicine, 2(6), 353–355. NPPA (National Press Photographers Association) (2017) . Code of Ethics . retrieved July 23, 2017 from https://nppa.org/code_of_ethics Photo Review (2017) . Ethics and Editing . tips . retrieved July 23, 2017 from http://www.photoreview.com.au/tips/editing/ethics-and-editing Rippen, H.& Risk,A. (2000) e-Health Code of Ethics (May 24). J Med Internet Res. 2000 Apr-Jun; 2(2) May 24,2000. doi: 10.2196/jmir.2.2.e.

This weekend I read the op-ed piece in the USA TODAY by John J. Pitney, a professor of government at Claremont Kenna College who from the age of age 13 has done a tremendous amount of work for the Republican party. It seems that he has lost faith in his party. He writes, “I knew from the start that I could never vote for Trump. He’s a mashup of the sorriest parts of Republican history: Herbert Hoover’s trade policy, warren Harding’s incompetence, Charles Lindbergh’s dictator worship and Joseph McCarthy’s dishonesty” (Pitney, 2017). I too have lost faith in the party, but that was somewhere around the weapons of mass destruction stuff and the Dick Cheney era. Don’t get me wrong, the Democratic Party is equally lousy. Hillary Clinton was probably the worst candidate to ever be offered up, even worse than Trump according to the American people. The two-party systems sucks, but I do not have the means or the method for getting a third party going. That is up to our leaders, who apparently like the status quo and appear to want to continue offering up shitty candidates every two to four years for us to choose from. “I don’t disparage those who voted for Trump,” writes Pitney. And neither do I. Many of my closest friends have made that choice, and quite frankly I don’t blame them and neither does Pitney. “Economic change has left millions of working Americans behind,” Pitney continues. “They think an increasingly affluent professional class pushes them around. Voting for Trump was a way to push back. I get it,” Pitney concludes. Pitney points out that parties are “tribal.” I call this brand loyalty. Brand loyalty goes a long way in America whether you like Fords or Chevys, Republican or Democrat. But what are conservative values anymore? What the hell are all these Russian connections? And why is Trump the poster child for the common man? Who knows these things? I certainly don’t. We are continually misled by politicians who don’t have our best interests in mind. Clinton didn’t give a shit about us, but neither does Trump. What concerns me is this apparent distancing that is occurring between the Republican party and conservative values. When I say these values, I am not referring to fiscal policy. I am referring to the values of decency, good Christian kind of shit. From what I remember about Jesus was that he cared for the sick and the poor. The current health care bill that is being offered up seems very un-Jesus-like. Another thing that concerns me goes to the quote provided by Pitney from Sen. James Buckley during the Nixon investigations. He points out that a country’s people will eventually begin to adhere to the values of its leaders. Bill Clinton gave our teenagers a way to remain virgins by providing the blowjob as he claimed that it was not “sexual relations.” Trump’s administration and his spin masters seem to want to give us the “truthful hyperbole” as an excuse for outright lying. Are these are newly adopted values as Americans? I hope not. Pitney, J. (2017) . I was a GOP stalwart until Trump: It is painfully evident that his sorry brand will stick to the Republican Party for years. USA TODAY . July 14 -16, 2017 . p 7A

This post is focused on using goals, strategies and objectives for public relations initiatives. Proper planning of PR initiatives begins with a strategy. According to Robyn Walker, there are three steps to the strategic process in communication. In her book, “Strategic Management Communications,” Walker explains these three stages as; 1.) Identifying the purposes of the communication, 2.) Analyzing the audience, and 3.) Considering the context and selecting a channel of communication (Walker, 2015). These are definitely things to consider when developing a strategy. But it is first important to understand the difference between strategies, goals, and objectives. Mikal Belicove does a good job of explaining this variance in his Forbes article “Understanding Goals, Strategy, Objectives And Tactics In The Age Of Social” He points out that a goal “is a broad primary outcome” expanding on the fact that goals are insignificant without their supporting strategies and objectives. Belicove explains that a strategy is “the approach you take to achieve a goal” and an objective is the “measurable step you take to achieve a strategy” (Belicove, 2013). Kim Harrison, on the Cutting Edge PR website, blogs on the topic as well. She points out that goals and objectives have many benefits in PR. She states that they help with expectations, provide clarity on what is planned, and help with quantifying results. Harrison defines goals as “the means to express the end points towards which effort is directed.” She explains objectives as “subsets of goals and should be expressed in concrete, measurable terms” going on to point out that objectives are “something that can be documented; it’s factual and observable” (Harrison, n.d). Throughout their book, “Putting the Public Back in Public Relations,” Brian Solis and Deirdre Breakenridge shed light on the negative attitude that many business leaders have about public relations. They elaborate on the fact that many of these leaders feel that PR doesn’t work. Solis and Brekenridge point out that just isn’t the case. They feel that good PR is a credible for of third party endorsements, leads to effective communication, influences opinion, increase brand exposure, builds a positive reputation, creates a media presence, and enhances brand loyalty (Solis & Breakenride, 2010, p 8). These are all great things that PR can do, but without proper planning, execution and measured results, it may all be for naught. For these reasons well written and planned out goals, strategies and objectives are a necessary and a vital endeavor for PR professionals to engage in. References Harrison, K. (n.d.) . Setting goals and objectives makes your PR planning more effective . Cutting Edge PR . retrieved July 16, 2017 from http://www.cuttingedgepr.com/articles/prplans_set_goals.asp Mikal E. Belicove (2013) , Understanding Goals, Strategy, Objectives And Tactics In The Age Of Social . Forbes . September 27, 2013 . retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikalbelicove/2013/09/27/understanding-goals-strategies-objectives-and-tactics-in-the-age-of-social/#16b8fa534c79 Solis, B.; & Breakenridge, D. (2010) . Putting the Public Back in Public Relations . Pearson Education . Upper Saddle River, N.J. 2010 Walker, Robyn (2015) . Strategic Management Communication for Leaders . 3rd Ed . Cengage Learning . Stamford, CT