WEEK 10 BLOG FORUM TOPIC

Looking back to the response I gave on the Forum for Week One, my goals for this class were as follows: I want to be proficient in AP style, learn how to correctly prepare for interviews and stories, and know how to be concise.

If nothing else, I have improved on AP style writing. Before this class, I had not had much exposure to this style – using MLA for the most part. I have found it to be concise (another goal of mine) and have enjoyed learning it. I didn’t do too badly on the quizzes, and it came easily, so I’m assuming this is a good thing.

There were many tips in class on interview preparation, which were very helpful to me. I now know to write out the basic questions I have before an interview, but then really listen to their answers and pursue those. The ideas that they spout out are usually more helpful than the answers I plan to get.

I definitely learned how to be concise. It was actually difficult to switch from this point-by-point style, to the never-ending flow that some of my other classes required.

Although I didn't improve quite as much as I would have liked, I had every opportunity to do so, and I know more a hell of a lot more than I did before. Overall, I am happy with the tools I can take away from this course.

WEEK 7 FEATURE WRITING BLOG FORUM

1) I didn’t end up writing the profile, so I had no one to contact for this first topic. For topic two, however, I can hardly narrow it down to the two most important things I learned from him. Stephen King was certainly full of good advice.

I’d have to say that his emphasis on reading is warranted. If you don’t read other people’s work, not only are you missing out on inspiration and new ideas, but you also aren’t getting in the mood for writing.

“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut.”

Going without books means you are less likely to have stories in your brain, and words on the tip of your tongue in a time of need.

I always feel more creative when I am exposed to others’ creativity.

The second thing I found helpful was that he believes that research shouldn’t overshadow the story. 

It’s so true! Too many times I have started on a story, and when I need to stop and research something, I get carried away. I spend copious amounts of time dredging through the facts and boring stuff that I will never end up needing. This either causes me to lose inspiration or I put too much dull mumbo-jumbo in a story when it wasn’t needed in the first place, simply because I spent so much time figuring it out.

2) My favorite quote from “On Writing” is as follows:

“So okay― there you are in your room with the shade down and the door shut and the plug pulled out of the base of the telephone. You've blown up your TV and committed yourself to a thousand words a day, come hell or high water. Now comes the big question: What are you going to write about? And the equally big answer: Anything you damn well want.”

If you read, write consistently, recognize good ideas, take a deep breath and just start, you can literally write about anything. I find this to be the most liberating of revelations.

Eventually, “Words create sentences; sentences create paragraphs; sometimes paragraphs quicken and begin to breathe.”

I can’t even stop quoting him. I’ll consider this a good thing.

Week 6 Blog Response

TOPIC 1:              

A column subject could be regulations on steroids in sports. My take is that they shouldn’t be used, but some others feel differently.

Links/sources:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/steroids-in-sports

http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml

http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/01/11/us-steroids-rules-idUSN0433166620080111

http://sportsanddrugs.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002352

TOPIC 2:

I think I enjoyed the story about the Girl Scout most out of the few that I read of Jennifer’s work. I liked the fact that she used several sources to make the story credible, and that she ended it with a quote. There were variations in paragraph and sentence length and she kept the wordage to a minimum.

I don’t know that this story in particular should have a follow-up. It might be a little silly. I suppose you could interview her again and asked if she stopped talking to all her old friends yet. J

Some of the questions that would be good to ask a reporter might be: Would you still choose this career knowing what you know now? What is the most outrageous story you had to cover? What is the competition like battling against other journalists for a story?  

“The Fault in Our Stars” Review – Writer’s Choice

In 2014, TIME magazine recognized John Green, along with 99 others, as being one of the most influential people in the world.

One of Green’s creations that certainly helped thrust him to this spotlight was a poignant love story rolling through the ups and downs of life for two teenagers with cancer.

Published in 2012, “The Fault in Our Stars” was the fourth novel solely written by John Green.

In the story, Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters meet at a support group, and quickly grow close to each other. Hazel’s thyroid cancer has crept to her lungs, while Augustus has been robbed of a leg by osteosarcoma.

Though not without humor, this story is full of heartbreak. The main characters are relatable, as we watch Hazel fall in love with Augustus while continuing to struggle with her disease. As with Augustus’ character, the reality is that sometimes people don’t stay strong. An article from The New York Times states, “Over the course of the narrative, his appealing exterior breaks down; his flaws, fears and humiliations are exposed, yet he is all the more lovable for his frailty and heartbreaking humanity.”

John Green once said “all good American literature is always interested in people who are ambiguously heroic,” and that’s how he constructed these characters.

The article from The New York Times goes on to sum it up perfectly.

“’The Fault in Our Stars’ is all the more heart-rending for its bluntness about the medical realities of cancer. There are harrowing descriptions of pain, shame, anger and bodily fluids of every type. It is a narrative without rainbows or flamingoes; there are no magical summer snowstorms. Instead, Hazel has to lug a portable oxygen tank with her wherever she goes, and Gus has a prosthetic leg. Their friend Isaac is missing an eye and later goes blind. These unpleasant details do nothing to diminish the romance; in Green’s hands, they only make it more moving. He shows us true love — two teenagers helping and accepting each other through the most humiliating physical and emotional ordeals — and it is far more romantic than any sunset on the beach.”

When asked in an interview for Goodreads what his inspiration was for the book, Green described meeting a young girl with thyroid cancer named Esther in 2009. The impact she made on him motivated the novel.

“I knew I wanted to write a story about sick kids, but I was so angry, so furious with the world that these terrible things could happen, and they weren't even rare or uncommon, and I think in the end for the first ten years or so I never could write it because I was just too angry, and I wasn't able to capture the complexity of the world. I wanted the book to be funny. I wanted the book to be unsentimental. After meeting Esther, I felt very differently about whether a short life could be a rich life.”

In The New Yorker, it states: “Most Y.A. readers are girls, but because Green is male and his first books featured boys as protagonists his new novel seemed capable of reaching both genders. “Stars” is a love story, but Strauss-Gabel successfully pushed for a cover that did not look like a traditional Y.A. romance: no pink, no photograph of a pretty girl. Instead, the title dominates, and the background is blue.”

From this, we can derive that there is no logical reason why any respectable reader would carry this manuscript around feeling anything less than proud.

In an article about John Green previously mentioned from TIME magazine, it says “Some say that through his books, John gives a voice to teenagers. I humbly disagree. I think John hears the voices of teenagers. He acknowledges the intelligence and vulnerability that stem from those beautiful years when we are, for the first time, discovering the world and ourselves outside of our familial stories.”

That is what makes stories like “The Fault in Our Stars” so powerful.

Other works of John Green include the books “Looking for Alaska,” “Paper Towns,” and “An Abundance of Katherines.” This talented man is not just a novelist, however. He became popular on the YouTube channel that he and his brother (Hank Green) started in 2007 called VlogBrothers. Together, they have also generated instructive episodes covering sciences, literature and history which they call Crash Course.

A quote near the beginning of “The Fault in Our Stars” declares, “Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.”

“The Fault in Our Stars” is one of those books.

At a Glance:

Grade for book: A+

Available where: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target

John Green Information: Twitter at @JohnGreen, Facebook at JohnGreenFans, Instagram at @JohnGreenWritesBooks

Week 3 Blog Post

Topic 1:

For my first story, I got in touch with Lex Porter. He was impressed with the story, and happy with how it turned out. There were no errors.

Topic 2:

My review is going to be about the recently released album “Handwritten” by Shawn Mendes.

The sources I plan to use for my review are articles from Rolling Stone, Billboard, and USA Today. And myself, of course! There are so many articles being written about him – it’s easy to find different perspectives on him because he is such a sensation all of a sudden.  

This kid just started on Vine and suddenly, everyone knows about him and he is top of the charts at a really young age. Surprisingly, his music isn’t half-bad. I would say it beats out Bieber by bucket-loads. It’s big news because he’s so young, and at maximum popularity right now. 

Week 4 Blog Post

Topic 1:

One of the tools I used in my first story about the dance club was vocabulary (no duh). Stephen King says that a basic rule of vocabulary is that you use the first word that comes to your mind, as long as it is appropriate and colorful.

“Light cascaded into the open studio space as the dancers within it stepped and spun to a song within their heads.”

In this example, I created an image I wanted my readers to see without getting too carried away with every single word and the need for it to stand out. Sometimes the message can get across better when it’s simple.

While I didn’t straight-up use fragments, I did vary my sentence length to keep it fresh. Longer sentences made up most of the review of “Handwritten.”

“He started out as an ordinary Vine user – singing a few seconds worth of songs and started accumulating quite a following, after which Mendes started posting on YouTube.”

But every once and a while I would throw in something short and sweet:

“It’s worth a listen.”

Topic 2:

I have decided to use Deb Powell as the subject of my profile. I will ask if I can shadow her for part of a day while she works and ask a couple questions. Ideally, I will be able to talk to a couple of people she has helped with Love INC., and some members of her family, as well.

Questions I ask will include: What does Love INC. do/ what’s their mission? What does a typical day as executive director look like for Deb? What’s the most rewarding part? How to get involved/volunteer at Love INC.? Do they take donations? Contact info?

Her claim to fame would be that she is the executive director of Linn County’s Love INC.

Links:

http://lovelinn.org/tag/love-inc/

http://www.loveinc.org/what-we-do/why-we-are-different

http://democratherald.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/religion/love-inc-does-just-about-everything/article_3154cc70-5945-11e3-84d4-001a4bcf887a.html

Review - "Handwritten" by Shawn Mendes

Sometimes the greatest stars come from the most humble and unexpected beginnings. 

Shawn Mendes, a musician rapidly rising in popularity, is no exception.

He started out as an ordinary Vine user – singing a few seconds worth of songs and started accumulating quite a following, after which Mendes started posting on YouTube.

On April 14, 2015, the sixteen-year-old Canadian released his debut album titled “Handwritten,” which was a giant step in his musical career. Within the first week, 119,000 copies were sold, putting it at number one on the US Billboard 200.

The songs are full of emotion – a mix of bouncy, happy tunes and songs filled with sorrow. Though the singer may be young and inexperienced, his songs don’t blare complete immaturity, and the sound of the album is not near as bumpy as it may have been expected to be.

According to an article from Rolling Stone, "His debut album presents him as a nice-guy guitar strummer…influenced by the light acoustic pop of Ed Sheeran. And, like the British teen idol, Mendes has more rhythm than you'd expect (note the Nelly singsong flows on "Aftertaste"). 

In an interview with Billboard we find that Mendes does indeed try to mold himself after Sheeran. “‘His whole style is not fake at all,’ says Mendes. ‘That’s how I want to be.’” 

Though I am not sure that there could ever be another quite like Ed Sheeran, his words are flattering to the star and give us a glimpse of Mendes’ musical direction.

USA Today was accurate in saying that “In his songs, Mendes comes across as ultra-sensitive and appealingly self-deprecating. In one song, he sings about needing help with long division. ‘Maybe I'm just a kid in love,’ he sings in another, setting up the punch line: ‘If this is what it's like falling in love, then I don't ever want to grow up.’”

The artist is aware that he has some growing up to do, and that strikes me as more appealing than young musicians trying to fake life experience.

There is some criticism, however. According to a review from Idolator, “He’s written more ballads than upbeat songs, and features instruments instead of electronica, as if that’s enough to show that he’s being ‘real.’ As hard as he tries, though, this album doesn’t have the same warm intimacy of those vines from his bedroom and bathroom in Pickering, Ontario.”

Well, we can’t all be perfect. I honestly haven’t heard many debut albums with as much passion and as little mistakes as this.

It’s a new sound from a fresh voice that, by the way, is the youngest since 2010 to make top of the Billboard 200.

It’s worth a listen.

At a Glance:

Grade for album: B+

Available where: iTunes, Spotify, Google Play

Songs in album: 16

Produced by: Island Records

Lowdown: The youngest since 2010 to take the lead in the Billboard 200, Shawn Mendes’ album “Handwritten” is one you need to listen to.

Week 2 Blog Forum

Topic 1:

I found the end of Section 18 very interesting as I believe he has had the same experience as many writers and artists do. Struggling to convince themselves and others that what they are doing and pursuing isn’t a waste of time.

The most useful thing I have read for feature writing and my favorite quote happen to be one and the same.

“By the time I was fourteen (and shaving twice a week whether I need to or not) the nail in my wall would no longer support the weight of the rejection slips impaled upon it. I replaced the nail with a spike and went on writing.”

This stood out to me because he never gave up. That kind of optimism is inspiring to me, as it can be easy at times to get discouraged. But to quit will never get someone anywhere. Constant practice – through times of incredible inspiration and complete voids of motivation is what will make someone succeed.

Topic 2:

Two possible review subjects for me are Shawn Mendes’ album “Handwritten,” and Dutch Bros. coffee.

I found a published example of a review of One Direction’s album “Four.” Link here: http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/album-review/6319861/one-direction-four-album-review.

The review started off with a little background from the band, criticism for lack of a creative album title, and the stating of an obvious struggle that most boy bands go through trying to grow up as stars in their music.

It takes note of co-writers, and also the various styles they go through in this one CD. The main message is that it could have been better, but if they want to succeed they need to experiment with style anyways.

I think the part that stood out to me was the brutality of the words. Not that they were outright mean, just painfully honest. I tend to want to paint the best sides of people, but sometimes in order to be truthful reviews can’t hold back the biting remarks.

I will be sure to make note of the varying styles in each song, which is the most successful type, co-writers, background, future direction, and a whole lot of honesty. I need to have all the facts, and know what the general public thinks already to establish common ground with my readers from the start.

Dance Your Heart Out

Light cascaded into the open studio space as the dancers within it stepped and spun to a song within their heads. As they rhythmically progressed through the motions, the only sound that could be heard was the pulsing thump of their soles on the floor, and the repeated “one-two-three-four” of a beat that kept their motions sharp and simultaneous.

When a mistake was made, they started again, rehearsing until the mirror in front of the dancers told them that they had achieved the perfection they were working so hard for.

This is the LBCC Dance Club.

The studio they are using is Legacy Ballet, whose owner, Heather Hill, is community partners with Linn Benton Community College and allows them to practice here every Saturday.

In addition to providing the rehearsal space, Heather also organizes performances, lighting and advertising. She wants to help the Dance Club in any way she can, saying: “Having dance in the community is very important to me.”

The Dance Club is not restricted to one type of dance. According to community liaison, Lex Porter, they have hip-hip, ballet, jazz, modern and lyrical routines. And they do not just perform at LB. They have also danced at Western Oregon University, Oregon State University, and the MajesticTheatre.

Jacob Birchard, performing with the Dance Club for three years now, says he originally joined because of a hip-hop class offered at LB, in which he was invited to watch a performance, and participate in a flash mob. When asked what the best part of being involved was, Jacob said, “Definitely the people,” stating that getting to know them and becoming closer as a group has been really exciting for him.

Regarding dance, he continues: “It’s an art form, a sport, and a form of physical exercise. It’s fun and beautiful and I feel amazing after doing it. That being said, it’s not for everyone. But if people like dance they shouldn’t let anyone stop them from doing it.”

For students who want to be involved, auditions are held at the start of the year to pull in new talent for the showcases that begin in the spring.

This year’s showcase will be on May 29-30, and the dancers’ unfailing dedication assures us it will not be disappointing.

To follow their activities, they have a current Facebook page set up. They are now posting sneak peeks every week if any students are interested in seeing bits of what the club is doing in their show this year. 

Lex summed it up best, saying, “When you dance, as in really dance, and project what you’re feeling, it’s the most expressive thing ever and you feel almost uninhibited at times. I want everyone to be able to have a chance to feel like I do when I dance.”

For more information about auditions, contact Kalyn Wilson, club president. Her email is wilsonkalyn5@gmail.com.

Feature Writing: Week One

TOPIC 1:

                My story will be about the LBCC Dance Club. I will have interviews with a dancer, one of the club leaders, and the owner of the studio that they practice in. I was able to get a generous amount of information on both the dance club and each of these people’s roles in it. I talked with Jacob Birchard, Lex Porter, and Heather Hill. They were all very helpful, and happy to talk with me – Lex informed me that he used to work at The Commuter, and thought what we were doing was amazing.

                I have myself been interested in dancing and wondered what it took to be involved. What is the dance club? Where is it? How often do they meet? What kind of dancing do they do? What’s their inspiration? When is the next performance? What would one need to do if they wanted to join? These are some of the questions I inquired about.

                Honestly, I haven’t written it all out yet, and decided entirely what direction to take it in yet, I just know that I want people to be aware that the dance club is out there because it seems like a blast to be involved in.

TOPIC 2:

                I enjoyed the last term of journalism I took immensely and am now considering whether or not to pursue a career in journalism. I have been writing all my life, but still have a copious amount of techniques to learn. One area I have little experience in is the style we are dealing with in this class – feature writing. In fact, I haven’t had much practice with article writing at all.

                I want to be proficient in AP style, learn how to correctly prepare for interviews and stories, and know how to be concise. There are so many style of writing, and this style intrigues me. I can already see that some of my hopes going into this class are being answered, and I have learned a great deal in just a few classes. I’m looking forward to learning, being critiqued, and growing in skill.

Extra Credit: The Black-Jew Dialogue

               I had the chance to attend a production of “The Black-Jew Dialogue” on campus on March 4^th. I did not really know what to expect walking in other than the fact that they would be discussing minorities. It ended up being a lot livelier than I had thought. They were very full of energy, jokes and creativity; that in and of itself was impressive considering the content that they were dealing with. They used skits, dances and puppets to entertain the audience while they were bringing up different culture’s stereotypes and labels. They talked about how everybody is a part of a culture, and no one was better than the other – every group of people has had their share of proud and embarrassing moments. At some point, everyone has been disrespectful or cruel to another group, and when you think about it, there aren’t that many differences between all of us. One person’s opinion will not be the same opinion as everyone else’s. To be fully informed, you not only have to learn about your own history, but also listen to other people’s stories to hear where they’re coming from. It’s not cut and dry – no one is completely right or wrong, and all points of view and ways of life should be respected. To understand, you need to stretch yourself beyond what is comfortable to you, and ask questions. Everyone comes from a different place than you, and you need to understand that in your interactions with them.

                It is a good thing that we are all different, and we have this unique experience of being in the melting pot that is America. We get to interact with so many beautiful people from different walks of life. Minorities are not just limited to race, but also can be related to age, religion, and disabilities, etc. There is a huge list of people that can be discriminated against, but the key to getting past it is in understanding each other.  There will be mistakes in conversations with others, but it’s something that needs to be dealt with and not just ignored or else the problem will continue to build. It was quite thought-provoking. They challenged the audience to really take a stand and fight for and with the minority groups. There were good points about the young people of this generation not fighting for what we believe in any more. Social media isn’t always enough – sometimes you really need to sacrifice some things for people to take notice of what you are trying to say. People need to rise together to overcome, not just amount to a few feeble Facebook statuses ranting about a change that the people behind their laptops will never make happen. 

                Behind all the funny remarks there was a really important message that I got to hear. The quote from Martin Amis on the front of their flyer is one that best sums up the entire idea being presented: “The deal with multiculturalism is that the only culture you’re allowed to disapprove of is your own.” 

Week 10 Media Blog Post

Topic 1:
                Everything looks so effortless: high-speed and trouble-free. In a world of progressing convenience there would certainly come a reliance on the tools giving you that immediate satisfaction. True, it would be quite splendid to have a refrigerator that was able to convey to you what was available for dinner considering all the ingredients you had at the time, or a phone that located destinations you were soon to be headed for if you were one not keen to directions. Certainly, efficiency would result as everything could be scheduled, arranged and communicated over the phone in an exceptionally short amount of time. However, the matter of privacy comes to mind. For such an interconnected system to run smoothly, information of the personal sort must be shared almost recklessly. The ages, pictures, preferences, schedules, and location would need to be unguarded as each individual took advantage of Microsoft’s organization – information which would be easy enough to access, whether the intent be for good or evil.

                If the world is indeed headed in such a direction, there are many implications sure to come as a result. The population would feel the repercussions in the jobs available – as a whole new system would wipe out those who were previously completing tasks manually. The unproblematic access to personal information would indubitably lead to detriment for the users, whether it ended up being theft or injury. The world would be a lazy place, the people unable to do anything for themselves – helpless, indolent, and addicted.

Topic 2:

                I absolutely adored the TED Talks and the occasionally documentary we watched. I liked that the class wasn’t just about lecture – we got to hear multiple points of view from many different sources. The “WWGD?” book was amazing, and I liked that class time was interactive and incorporated many group discussions. I think that the blog is a great idea – as it is tangible proof of what a student has done through a term, but I think that there could be more that a student accomplishes. Since this class is a more general overview of media, perhaps there could be a survey at the beginning of the term to find what facet of media most interests each student, and in addition to the blog, they also create something relevant to their favorite component of media. Perhaps by the end of the term each student could create their own music video, an advertisement, a YouTube channel, etc.

                I don’t think anything should be cut back necessarily. Personally I enjoyed the readings, quizzes, and projects and felt it was a good balance of all of them. I learned an abundance of information regarding various aspects of media and was overall very happy with the class.

Week 9 Media Blog

Topic 1:

                There have been many instances when people have restricted questionable music from others in an attempt to shield them from the songs’ various messages. As for my own experience with this, my parents were not fond of non-Christian music when I was young, as they didn’t want me to dwell on profane or immoral subject matter. They shielded me from this type of thing until I was around sixteen. At times, I wanted to listen to what I believed everyone else was listening to but it wasn’t that big of a deal to me until I grew older. Surprisingly, there is a huge variety in Christian music if you search hard enough – and I was content with cleaner versions of hip-hop, pop, and rap.

                I would have to say that pop is my favorite music genre if I went by what I listen to the most. It’s very hard to narrow down favorites for me, because I’ve never been one to fall in love with bands, only specific songs from each band, which gives me more variety in the music I hear. In Christian music, my most played artists are Brit Nicole, Francesca Battistelli, Kari Jobe, Group 1 Crew, and Lecrae. As far as non-Christian music I listen to a lot of Maroon 5, Fifth Harmony, Colbie Caillat, John Mayer, and Ed Sheeran. I enjoy a decent variety of playlists, depending on activity. Music is a giant part of my life, so I have it playing nearly all the time. Focus music (piano) for doing homework, dubstep for running/working out, pop/hip-hop for getting ready in the morning, and whatever I feel like during the rest of the day or in the car.

Topic 2:

                The idea of launching a radio station based at LBCC seems feasible and exciting. I think that it would most likely be successful if it was interacting the way that students needed it to be. I think that prizes would be something that would motivate students to pay attention – things like discounted books or food. Another thing that would be hugely important is that the station would be actively listening for what the students were finding and wanted to hear. We watched the video in class of that one radio station that was always searching for new music, and being involved, and I think that is a key for the innovators of this generation. It would be refreshing to learn new songs, and experience new sounds instead of having Taylor Swift and Katy Perry on repeat all day.

                Most radio station use ads – that would be a possibility for funding. The advertisements would be based on relevancy to students such as food, books, and perhaps apartment complexes in the area. There could also be some profit from the site when students buy the albums which songs were played from or from donations.  

Week 8 Blog Post

Topic 1:

                There are long lists of books that are complained about each year either for being in libraries or in schools. There were a few that were challenged recently that I knew of like “Fifty Shades of Grey,” “Looking for Alaska,” “The Hunger Games,” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.”  Some of the reasons that these books were challenged were for offensive language, sexual content, and racism. Many of them were deemed unsuitable for the age group of the school I assume they were being read in.

                I think that though the content in question may be iffy for very young people, banning books is not the answer. If someone has a ginormous problem with one of the books being presented at a school, they should talk with the teacher and get an exception. But everyone has different beliefs and limits, and restricting content from everyone because of one set of opinions is nonsensical. I understand that not everyone wants their children or themselves exposed to explicit or foul language, as I am not entirely fond of either in excess myself. But if there is content I don’t want to read, I simply don’t read it. I believe that people should be given the option and access if they wish. Everyone is going to be exposed to these things at some point in their life, and though it’s good for parents to be protective of what their children see, most of the time kids in those school systems will have already seen much worse. People would miss out on incredible literature if they were denied some of these works because someone somewhere got offended by a cuss word or two.

Topic 2:

                Visitors in my home would find a huge variety of books and authors. Some of my favorites would be in my room – authors like Ted Dekker, John Green, Frank Peretti, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Frederick Douglass, Bill Meyers and Laura Ingalls Wilder. It’s actually very hard to narrow down now that I think about it – the list could go on and on.

                At this point in my life, the books that most appeal to me are mysteries/thrillers and romance, either fiction or non-fiction. Inspirational biographies and autobiographies are amazing, as well. Learning about people and their adventures is one of the most entertaining things to me. I’ve tried to be well-rounded in my reading through the years, and have purposely expanded my interests to include many genres. Dramas, religious books, comics, poetry books, journals, and satire were some of what I read. As a kid, I would read encyclopedias and dictionaries because my love for words was so great. Slave narratives, short stories – I even poured over dog training books when I got my first puppy. Being homeschooled allowed me a lot of freedom in the literature I studied, and I learned from so many great sources. I even have read books on how to write books. And I keep them all. They’re my companion, my escape to another place, and my own writing inspiration.

                In his book “The Fault in our Stars,” John Green writes: “Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” And it’s so true. Stories are such powerful things. My collection has really come from all over - Amazon and Barnes & Noble have provided me with more than a few. The Christian Bookstore sold me many of my favorites, and I have also had many classics handed down from my grandma.

                I honestly don’t think that I could make a transition to an e-book for any other purpose than it being educational. So much of reading is about your imagination – and when it becomes digital like everything else, it just makes me think there will be more distractions. One of the huge things about reading being interesting is that you engage with the material. So if there were popups on every page, I would find it hard to concentrate on the characters. This concept is, however, a plus for learning. If schools could harness this idea, it would be very beneficial for the “uninteresting” material. All in all, there is a balance. I think that both ways of reading have their positives and negatives, and that neither should be completely done away with.

Blog Project #2 – Movie Review of "Gone Girl"

                I watched the movie “Gone Girl” as soon as it came out on DVD, as many of my friends were raving about it, and the trailers had seemed intriguing. I had seen it appear in the news, heard of the actors, listened to the buzz about the book, and all that I was hearing was that it was a well-made, chilling mystery. With no bad reviews, I thought why not? 

                At the very end of the trailer the main character asks if his interrogator has ever heard the expression “The simplest answers are always the correct ones” to which she responds, “Actually, I’ve never found that to be true.” That is what hooked me. It’s a glimpse of an unopened mystery box within the movie that is sitting there waiting to be discovered.  It turns out that box was bursting with countless surprises.

                The plot of “Gone Girl” was originally from a book by an author named Gillian Flynn. She worked tirelessly with David Fincher in order to adapt it to the masterpiece it is now on film. There were many well-known actors and actresses, the main characters being played by Rosamund Pike, Ben Affleck, and Neil Patrick Harris. According to IMDb, Rosamund Pike was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (for the Academy Awards), Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama (for Golden Globes), and Best Leading Actress (for BAFTA Awards). David Fincher was given a nomination for Best Director, and author Gillian Flynn was nominated for Best Screenplay.

                The movie begins on the fifth anniversary of Nick and Amy, when suddenly Amy is nowhere to be found. Questions and accusations soon begin to pummel Nick and he struggles with the unrelenting attention from the media. As each secret of his is brought to light, it seems more and more a possibility that he killed his own wife.

                So far according to “The Numbers,” “Gone Girl” made $368,562,331 in the box office world-wide, and $19,861,927 in total video sales.

                David Fincher has directed for a wide variety of shows and films including “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “The Social Network,” “House of Cards” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” While being comfortable in more than one genre, I would say he has been most successful in thriller/suspense movies – a category that “Gone Girl” happens to fall under. I would say it is far superior to other movies of its type. At times, thrillers can get boring or confusing if there are too many plot twists, but “Gone Girl” placed just enough clues that the viewer could keep following without unraveling the entire mystery at once.

                I think this movie is important to culture because there are still very few movies that really depict women as truly having the same, or even superior, capacity for evil as men. Some seem to believe it is actually a somewhat warped push of feminism. In an article for “The Ranger News” by Krista Skweres, she makes the point that in this particular movie, all the strongest characters are women. Nick’s wife Amy, the Sheriff, and even the reporter, all assert huge amounts of authority and power. Though the story may indeed be perverse, you cannot find weakness in these women. Link to full article here: http://trnonline.org/2014/11/06/gone-girl-pro-feminism-in-its-own-twisted-way/.

                Gillian Flynn, the author of the original story had an interview in the New York Times in which she asserted: “Of course, it’s not misogynistic. Women shouldn’t be expected to only play nurturing, kind caretakers. That’s always been part of my goal — to show the dark side of women. Men write about bad men all the time, and they’re called antiheroes.” When asked if she was surprised when people had the reaction they did, she further noted “I had about 24 hours where I hovered under my covers and was like: ‘I killed feminism. Why did I do that? Rats. I did not mean to do that.’ And then I very quickly kind of felt comfortable with what I had written.” Link to full article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/23/arts/talking-with-the-authors-of-gone-girl-and-wild.html?_r=0.

                I believe the author was speaking to a younger generation, but also the general beliefs of this culture. In both the book and the movie, the goal was to show something that hasn’t really been shown before, because maybe it’s something that people haven’t grasped yet. She says of the plot, “A theme that has always interested me is how women express anger, how women express violence. That is very much part of who women are, and it’s so unaddressed. A vast amount of literature deals with cycles of violence about men, antiheroes. Women lack that vocabulary.”

                I think the movie is incredible. The characters are all extremely fascinating, and the viewer’s curiosity is held until the very end. Because it was based on a true story, it makes you wonder if the events taking place in the movie happen more often than we think. I would say it’s one of David Fincher’s best movies, and the actors and actresses did exceptionally well depicting such dark and shadowy personalities. I think it will be remembered because of the message of the story – it’s so different than what culture is used to being portrayed.

                As far as reviews go, on “Rotten Tomatoes,” 88% positive feedback was given, the consensus being: “Dark, intelligent, and stylish to a fault, Gone Girl plays to director David Fincher's sick strengths while bringing the best out of stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. Link here: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gone_girl. In a review from “Vanity Fair” (watch out for spoilers!) the following is written about the movie: “Smartly shot, detailed (the opening and closing credits have a ghostly simplicity to them that gave me chills), and performed, it’s a designer-made studio film that dares to be about big, difficult stuff. It’s also often very funny. But that doesn’t mean you’ll leave the theater with a bounce in your step.”

                Because of the movie, I am now very interested in the book, having not read it before, and also the author, who seems to have a knack for mysteries. I love this genre in media, and I look forward to reading Flynn’s work, as well as watching the subsequent creations of David Fincher as time goes on. Several in my family have already watched the movie, and they are just as happy with it as the friends who recommended that I first watch it. If you are one who enjoys a good thriller, I would recommend it to you as well. 

Week 6 Blog Post

Topic 1:

                I would read or buy a newspaper if they truly implemented some of the ideas that were tossed around in Jacek Utko’s TED Talk. I absolutely adore the fact that he said that he treated his newspaper like a piece of music. Fluidity is so vital to whether or not a bit of reading is pleasant for me. Without a certain flow, you have people who just read small parts of the paper and skip over the rest, and some like me, who are just not picking it up at all. I love the way content and design can work together and make something truly beautiful. It wasn’t just words, it was art. As a creative, artsy type, I always appreciate imagination and originality in any sort of manuscript. There is an abundance of ways to relay information – I appreciate it when it’s not all the same! What if newspapers involved kids? Not just comics, but interactive games for kids and their parents. What if they started a story and the readers could finish it? I guess it’s about looking at newspapers like a piece of art. That’s what would interest me.

                I really think it is important for newspapers to be online. Everything is moving onto the internet, and if the news stations are smart, they will as well. Another thing is that they should collaborate – let other people write the stories that they’re best at, and link it. Just like Jarvis said, not everyone needs to write about the exact same thing. It would be more helpful if they just did what they did best, and linked the rest. We talked about this some in class, but if newspapers want to have relevant things to say, they need to focus on the things that are happening within their own community, and make it more personal.

TOPIC 2:

                I found a particularly interesting Media Blog Project post from Cole’s blog. I noticed it at first because it was about Michael Jordan. I used to love watching basketball, and that man was truly a legend. The commercial is pretty good – it tells us not to make excuses, but actually put in effort and work hard for greatness. The commercial was made strong by the fact that he was the one speaking – it put power to his message. He’s really one of those people that everyone looks up to.

                There are a lot of things that he has inspired his audiences to do. In a website about Jordan (http://addicted2success.com/motivation/5-motivational-lessons-michael-jordan-taught-us/) it emphasizes those qualities he reiterates in all of his ads. Take action, find a solution, use teamwork, practice and always improve. Along with the “Maybe it’s my fault” advertisement, I have seen a few other commercials that use his voice and talent to promote their products, as well. These are some of the best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TRY6_paIpw. 

Week 5 Media Blog

TOPIC 1:

                After watching the TED Talk interviewing Edward Snowden about WikiLeaks, I think the actions taken can be very valuable. As he said, when there are secrets within organizations and government like that, it can have great potential to be helpful information. I believe that we deserve to know what our government is doing and not doing. I do not think the activities of Snowden so much reckless as they are enlightening. Even though there will be continued negative responses to WikiLeaks’ moves either from people who think it only sheds the worst light on mostly good groups, or ones who become terribly offended that the world has seen what they were “not supposed to,” information like that will help keep the public informed. I do not think that there would be so much of a continuous flow of information if people did not feel in some way that it was right to do so.

                In many regards, I am happy with the current state of free speech and freedom of expression. As an individual, I am lucky to live in a place where I can enjoy the religion I choose and act on my own beliefs. I get to say what I want to say, and do what I want to do for the most part. There are instances in which I feel many people have been upset by government interference, like the recent issues of whether or not customers receive gay or anti-gay messages that they want on their cake. In those situations, the rules seem to constantly change, and the public accommodations almost seem to contradict individual rights. If a business owner cannot exclude certain customers, as a consequence of the pursuit of “true equality,” is that not violating the owner’s rights?

TOPIC 2:
                The First Amendment (freedom of speech, press, religion, peaceable assembly, and to petition the government) means a lot of things to me. Obviously, it protects advertising and the press in a huge variety of ways we are learning about in this class, but also allows the me to act on any belief if I want to, even permitting the burning of the American flag as protest. For me, the most important example of how I exercise my rights is in religion. I can talk about my belief in God in my speeches on campus, or pray in public places if I so desire. In other parts of the world, inhabitants are not so fortunate.

                There are instances all the time of people taking their rights to the extreme, like neo-Nazis proclaiming that they were going to parade down the streets of Holocaust survivors with swastikas. Or extremists brandishing signs with messages like “Thank God for dead soldiers” at memorial services for our troops.  Undeniably, this world is one that is enthusiastic to cause offense. Whether the threat, or extreme behavior, is pointed towards a minority or the majority, I don’t think that getting the government involved in limitation is necessarily the right thing to do. The government is no more perfect than we are, and they would be acting out of their own interests, just like we are. The people who advocate for limitation would most likely end up unhappy, as those in command would be just as, if not more, fickle. On all the large issues like religion rights, abortion rights, and gay rights, the government has supported each side of each argument on numerous occasions. Yes, there are threatening protests, campaigns and demonstrations, but I think the suggestion that government should control more of the things we say or act on could undoubtedly produce more of a grave situation. We need to be able to express our own ideas. After all, if there is no controversy, would it really be America?  

The Sixth Extinction: Extra Credit Write-up

               On February 2nd, I got the chance to see Elizabeth Kolbert, a Heinz Award-winner who is very passionate about the topic of global warming. She has written a couple of books, but she was discussing her most recent. During the speech, she made several shocking and valid points. Firstly, she said that in the extinction taking place, humans are the asteroid.

                There are three things that are contributing to this extinction. In the atmosphere, there have been huge amounts of climate change, with the temperature rising very quickly which we call global warming. Last year, we thrust ten billion metric tons of carbon into the air. Since this is a greenhouse gas, it collects and traps heat. The places being heated up the fastest are in the arctic regions. Always, the effects of huge climate changes such as these will be most devastating in the tropics. In the ocean, there have been ginormous amounts of acidification. The CO2 forms acid, and when placed in contact with the living creatures at the bottom of the ocean, they can no longer reside there. Elizabeth stated that since the beginning of the Industrial Age, the ocean has absorbed 1/3 of the earth’s carbon emissions, and the water (and life within that water) is being greatly disturbed.  She also stated that reefs would be the first major ecosystem to become extinct. The third and last major point Elizabeth talked about was regarding invasive species. It is not a foreign concept these days, as many of us have pets that were not originally from our specific location. Numerous animals have been introduced in many areas that were not prepared to receive them. Her examples included New Zealand, where previously they had no rats. What they did have, however, were birds quite unaccustomed to flight, as there were no predators in the area. When the rats were brought over, they began to eat all the flightless birds that essentially had no defense against them. They also had intentionally brought over some rabbits, but since there were no predators to this species, they began to reproduce (like rabbits) and had lots of tiny rabbit babies that got way out of control. To try and regulate the situation that was rapidly getting out of hand, people brought stoats over, with the thought that they might go after the rabbits. Instead, they also went after the poor flightless birds. There were many other examples of species being transported across great distances, and fungus being carried across lands at lightning speed, as well as the great destruction that has been left in human’s path. Each day, 10,000 species are moved around the world.

                The statistics Elizabeth provided during the entirety of her discourse were truly appalling, and left me nearly speechless by the end. However, I thought it was very well-presented and found it to be extremely relevant to the life I am living now. I cannot agree more that humans are indeed just as much of a threat as the asteroids were long ago.

Blog Project #1 - Advertising

                A woman is beaten every nine seconds in the United States, according to an article in “The Huffington Post.” Three women are murdered each day in the U.S. by their male partner. There are ten million children each year who are forced to watch and are unprotected from violence taking place in their own home. One in four women and one in seven men will be victims of domestic violence over the course of their lifespan. Link here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/23/domestic-violence-statistics_n_5959776.html. 

My heart aches for those who don’t feel like they can speak out and be rescued. An advertisement being aired for the Super Bowl makes the reality of such atrocities pierce the viewer’s soul. 

                The phone is ringing in the opening of the ad, and the scene is of household decorations – a painting, a candle, and two vases. Then a voice can be heard, answering the phone by stating he was a 9-1-1 operator, and asking what was the emergency.  A woman replies with her address, as the scene switches to her living room furniture in disarray. The rug is rumpled, and there are books which appear to have been thrown to the ground.  She then asks to order a pizza for delivery, and when the operator reminds her she is on an emergency line, she specifies that she would like half pepperoni and half mushroom. He asks if she is alright, or if she is unable to talk, and she replies with a yes. He probes further, asking if there is someone in the room with her, to which she answers yes, as well. The scene continues to switch, showing the bedroom, and a wall that had been punched in. He tells her that there is an officer on the way, and asks her if she can stay on the phone, but she hangs up, and the scene fades out on a picture lying broken on the floor. The text appearing after says “When it’s hard to talk it’s up to us to listen. Help end domestic violence and sexual assault.”

                “Pledge to say nomore.org” is the final slide of this one-minute ad. I first saw it today as I was browsing through the commercials made for the 2015 Super Bowl, initially revealed to the “Wall Street Journal.” It is one in a series of ads of a larger campaign for ending assault and violence which has teamed up with the NFL. The campaign is called “No More” and you can visit the page here: http://site.nomore.org/about/. Advertisements released previously have been of NFL players left speechless, or declaring “no more.” Watch here: http://site.nomore.org/nflplayerspsa/. This time, however, it is based off the true story of a victim, who had no other way of getting help except by disguising her call.

                As far as the persuasive techniques, they didn’t choose to show a celebrity or even the face of a person at all, meaning that the person depicted could essentially be anyone. Even more apparent than the plain-folks approach, however, were the copious amounts of hidden fear injected into every second. Really, that call captured the gravity of tragedies that are happening every day and still no one talks about. They don’t just tell some random made-up story; the fact that it is a true account makes it all the more powerful. There are large numbers of people being affected by these horrifying circumstances, and yet, no one is talking about it, and making it a possibility to help. The ad was created to start a conversation, or many, and I think it will be extremely effective. More people will be watching the Super Bowl than any other show the entire year, and these victims will know that there are people that are available to talk with them.

                I have never seen any advertisement like this one. There have been many commercials harnessing the hidden-fear concept and using that to their advantage, but never like this. Never have I seen something so raw and appalling. There have been ads warning to wear your seatbelt, or commercials like “Daisy Girl” in political campaigns, but this really struck a chord with me. The target audience is for people experiencing domestic violence, so they know that they can get help, but also for those in the community who would be able to support and aid the victims. Again, it’s really trying to start a conversation and spread awareness.

                The strengths of the ad are definitely the emotional connection the viewer feels, and how real it is. Even though the viewers may be disturbed (as they should be) that these events take place all the time, and it is not only to wake the community up, but also to try to make it easier for the victims to speak out. Many people who commit their lives to helping these victims have had very emotional reactions. Here you can see the response of Sylvia Gonzalez of the Committee to Aid Abused Women (CAAW) and others working for the same cause: http://www.ktvn.com/story/27979678/domestic-violence-groups-react-to-new-super-bowl-ad.

                However, no commercial is perfect, and this one is no exception. The greatest of weakness is perhaps partially who the ad is coming from – the NFL. After several cases of domestic violence by the hand of numerous football players, some may think an ad is too little, too late. Others may find it offensive or out of place. Is it enough? Here you can see the questions brought up in a discussion with a domestic violence awareness activist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-E7Uubrj0M.

                Whichever the case, it will be memorable. The shock factor will stay in people’s minds long after the ad has stopped playing. And the hope is, though it may not be directed at the players specifically, they will know that the ad is proof that the NFL is not taking the issue lightly.

                Many people have gotten behind this campaign already, speaking out. According to the “No More” website, “the NO MORE PSAs are the result of an unprecedented collaboration of celebrities, athletes, corporations, foundations and service providers who have donated their resources to bring these hidden issues into the public eye in a way that has never been done before.” Some doubt that any action will be taken. See here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/leeigel/2015/01/30/nfls-super-bowl-psa-goes-to-show-that-fighting-domestic-violence-requires-every-tool-we-have/. However, the majority of reactions show that their use of social media is extremely effective, and there continues to be growing support and participation. I was immediately moved to find out more about the campaign, and I would recommend others getting behind this cause, as well.

                The statistics I found on the violence taking place in America’s homes were shocking, and were almost beyond belief. I know that the NFL is taking a step in the right direction with this advertisement, and I am amazed at all the responses already of people who want to help. I hadn’t heard of this organization before, as many watching the Super Bowl won’t have, but I am convinced it will stick in people’s minds much longer than any funny infomercial or movie trailer this Sunday.

                Here is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z_zWIVRIWk.

Blog Post #3

Topic 1:

Typing a few different beauty products into my search bar on Facebook, Revlon’s page popped up. As I scrolled down the profile, I was impressed at how they were using social media to their advantage. Undoubtedly, Revlon is a big name in the health and beauty industry, and 1.3 million people “liked” the particular page I was scanning (that I coincidentally ended up “liking” myself). They appear to keep their posts consistent, but not overwhelming. For the most part, they are showcasing new products, reinforcing their company’s current themes, and providing style information for a night out.

The target audience is mostly women – particularly those who are interested in new makeup and excellent deals. I would say that their campaign is effective as they consistently keep your attention and seem to be interested in the feedback of customers, sharing the customers’ modeling of products, and ideas. They also do a good job of showing the viewer what’s going on within the company at any given time.

Along the same lines, I was reading the advertising chapter of “WWGD?” one concept stood out to me, being especially innovative. Jarvis wrote that a company’s products and customers are their ads. Truly, these are the ones that work. A company must form a relationship with its customers, and only then do they become memorable. Just like that, people will begin to do your job for you – shouting your concepts from the rooftops, because you first humbled yourself and asked the people what those very ideas should be. People are much more inclined to believe their friends and family than a company that may or may not be trying to take all your money.

The concept is that you are directly learning from your buyers. This is a huge idea that people need to grasp if they want to be remembered.

Every extraordinary teacher I have had has asked what best helps the student to succeed or what they enjoy most. I look at the authors that yearn for feedback, every musician who is open to inspiration, the barista who learns my name and makes conversation while preparing my drink – these are the remarkable ones: ones who hold the key to success.

In order to sell yourself or your product it has to be about relationship – your customers are your ads.

Topic 2:

I watched the McDonald’s “Signs” ad, and I think that it was a complete fail. The advertisement was certainly trying to elicit emotion and express that their company was one truly invested in the tragedies going on around us. But I can’t buy it. There was some discussion in class about how harnessing sensitive current events is a little like playing with fire, and I think that this was evidence of how taking advantage of disaster can potentially backfire as you are engulfed in your customer’s fiery accusations. It didn’t come off as being supportive to me, but rather like they were downsizing great suffering in order to promote a burger - and maybe some fries with that. Here’s the link: http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/mcdonald-s-launches-step-brand-refresh/296537/.

On a more positive note, I also recently saw a commercial for Budweiser that I thought was especially well-made. It was endearing, and made me want to watch it till the very end. The “Puppy Love” ad was targeting those interested in heartfelt stories instead of the raucous clutter that usually plugs the TV screen. Instead of using beautiful women, or appealing to the viewer’s sense of humor, they set themselves apart. There was emotional branding within the narrative; the story, as I mentioned, was quite touching. The humans portrayed were plain-folk, which made the ad more welcoming. Lastly, the association principle was harnessed – connecting all the warm, fuzzy feelings to their beer. They were banking on the fact that people would be so invested that they’d fill their carts to the brim with beer all in the name of the delightful Labrador pup – and what do you know – people did! Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQB7QRyF4p4.

Blog Post #2

Topic 1:

Between Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, there are numerous people and groups I keep up with. On Facebook, for example, I follow Lecrae because he is a brilliant rap/hip hop artist. On Instagram, I continue to look for posts by @wakeupandmakeup for inspiration on cosmetics. On Pinterest, I can find “Writing Prompts” has innovative posts every day, and can be helpful in introducing new ideas for creating stories. In addition to keeping up with friends, these social media sites are useful for news, how-to’s, and other’s creations. As shocking as it may be, I am not always solely interested in the things I am doing, but also what others are producing.

Initially, as I scrolled down my twitter timeline tonight, nothing caught my eye, until a post from @tinatbh popped up, and I nearly choked on my double chocolate mocha. “IF YOU CAN’T HANDLE ME AT MY FINALS WEEK YOU DON’T DESERVE ME AT MY SYLLABUS WEEK”. Tina is my absolute favorite character from a show that is nothing but pure brilliance: “Bob’s Burgers.” Someone made a twitter for her, and the deadpan, sarcastic tone in her tweets never fail to make me smile. Although it’s nothing vital like the news, alas, she is all too relatable.

As for social media enhancing your ability to be involved in a democracy, I think Clay Shirky is correct in his argument on “How Social Media Can Make History”. This kind of openness and connection is something that gives the community a voice, and could possibly change the way the government works. Media not only allows one to be more informed, but also brings people together in a way that is not oppressive or confining. Clay talked about how the news is available in such variety now, it essentially cannot be contained. The entire community does the reporting and the feedback – that is, if they choose to. There are hundreds of amateur videos being uploaded about events taking place right now – stories that news channels will pick up later. I believe it is empowering: your perspective matters.

Topic 2:

“Enabling customers to collaborate with you-in creating, distributing, marketing, and supporting products–is what creates a premium in today’s market.”

That is the single most compelling idea that has come from WWGD so far. It brings me back to the topic of involvement in democracy; in both instances, it is apparent that this sort of open communication is crucial to success. The customer’s voice must be heard. As time goes by, the priority needs to be wholly focused on what your followers or buyers are saying. The people will have a voice whether you create the platform or not, but by welcoming them to speak, you obtain a front-row seat for information that will undoubtedly aid in your continuous growth.

Jarvis brings up the point that companies spend time and resources collecting data about how successful they are at any given time, but alas! Customers are relentlessly providing feedback free of charge and in many different ways – the companies just haven’t been looking.  

In so many instances, companies try to control the customers and make the people put forth the effort to come to them. Xbox has an invite only Preview Program in which a limited number of gamers can speak their mind pertaining to any new releases, and I know several gamers who participate in this. While providing members with perks like early updates and rewards, if this were the only criticism, it would not be as entirely beneficial as it could be. Xbox would only hear from a select few, and from those with an overall positive bias, as well. These would not be the actions of a company that really desired to understand what their customers need. However, they have also opened public forums in which customers can submit their feedback, and vote on the most important of other’s submissions. This concept eliminates the irritation of an unheard customer, as their comments might otherwise waft away into obscurity.

Lastly, switching topics, one of the statements that Jeff Jarvis responds to is the accusation that there are mistakes on the internet. And anyone with eyes can see that this declaration is true. But the point that Jarvis makes in return is that the net (in addition to making it easy to post information riddled with inaccuracies) also provides a simple way to correct those same mistakes.  

Even in using this blog, if I notice an atrocious misspelling or a well-hidden punctuation error after publishing, I can choose to edit it without further ado and correct my mistakes!

As Jeff Jarvis says, pertaining to the internet: “Look for the good stuff, not the bad stuff”. 

Blog Post #1

Topic 1:

When looking for classes to sign up for this term, I came across this Journalism course and immediately felt a rush of elation. Not only was the information offered in this class concerning media extremely relevant to today’s society - I was also thrilled to discover there would be incorporation of a variation of informal, creative style writing that happens to be my very favorite. It seemed to be that it would not only awaken me to the contemporary age, but also expand my abilities to express myself.

Though I am not a journalism major, it does align with my interests rather well, and I will look into it as a possibility when transferring to a university. In my time spent at LBCC, I have expended much of it soaking in everything that the English department and Writing courses have to offer, and am quite content devoting a term to journalism, as well.

As far as what I am most interested in taking away from the course, there are really two things. Firstly, I want to have a better understanding of how different media outlets work so that I can get as much pertinent and accurate information from them as possible. And second, I want to be able to use them to my advantage – whether I am attempting to expand a community, get the public’s attention, or push products. I believe this class will provide these essential tools for careers anon.

Outside of college, I have many passions. Writing is a great interest of mine: my desk is littered with poetry, and my laptop contains the beginnings of my first novel. When I have spare time, I paint or sketch whatever seizes my attention. Music has always been important to me – I started learning piano when I was around 12, and have just recently commenced a quest to master drums, as well. Cosmetics are an immense passion of mine. I delight in experimenting with lipstick and perfecting my technique of the ever-challenging winged eye-liner.    

The most prominent of my interests, as of now, is running. I became semi-serious about this type of exercise a couple years ago, realizing it was a splendid cardio alternative to martial arts. However, I wasn’t pushing myself at that point, the furthest distance being only about a 5k. More recently, I have begun to increase my distances, as I want to challenge myself, and am near my goal of half-marathon. I not only enjoy the results running has provided me physically, but also can appreciate it as a de-stressor. I will continue to set goals and meet them, and am motivated in seeing all the progress I have made thus far.

Topic 2:

When it comes to gaming, I have to say my experience is limited. I was brought up without access to video games, and when given the opportunity, they did not amuse me. That is not to say I won’t try them if asked, but my attention span for the diversion is close to nonexistent. I don’t keep games on my phone or computer and would prefer to fill my time with other hobbies.

I cannot say that I entirely agree with Ms. McGonigal, though I do not entirely disagree either. She does make valid points about how games equip the player with “urgent optimism”, good “social fabric”, “blissful productivity”, and “epic meaning”. However, I do not feel that games/gaming can solve world problems. In most cases, the spirit that comes with the game stays with the game, and the players do not embrace the positive attitude as an inspiration after they turn their x-box off. When gaming, it’s a toss of a coin between the destruction of a functioning member of society and a player whose time spent online has become truly advantageous.  It comes down to how the gamer understands and employs the diversion. As for the specific benefits, gaming isn’t the only activity that can improve those functions. There are other ways of motivating yourself to learn and problem-solve.

Honestly, watching “Second Skin” made me a little sick to my stomach. The cases were obviously extreme, and I know that many players maintain a sort of “middle ground”, but it was a glimpse inside the gaming mindset that I found disturbing. I have friends who devote sizable chunks of time to video games that in a fashion I find borderline unhealthy. Yes, there are benefits to games. It may give a full life to someone who feels they are without a voice here in the real world. It is a way to express who you want to be. But games are not without fault. Many of the players develop obsessive tendencies over the pastime, and when there is no balance, it will become an addiction.

The key to unlocking the benefits without the harm is in moderation.