I have a question for everyone. My journalism professor (who is also chair of the department) told us in class on Friday that "free speech is regulated by time, place and manner". He used the example of the classroom. We, as students, could get up and dance on the tables and say whatever we felt like saying and that would technically qualify as free speech. But he, as the professor and authority in the room, could tell us to get out and we would have to obey or face consequences.
I still haven't completely processed this and figured out what it means and what I think so I wanted to ask you to help clarify.
What does the first amendments freedom of speech mean to you? Who owns freedom of speech?
Monday, January 28, 2008
Lede's
Wow, at this very moment I am madly in love with Journalism and feeling pretty darn good about myself.
We had to write a lede (or lead), which is the first sentence of a story used to capture the readers attention, for News Writing. Some people received "F"s but not me! I got an A+/100, V(ery) Good!
Yes! Touchdown! Time for a happy dance! (I haven't done one of these for a while...)
Uh huh, uh huh, uh huh uh huh uh huh! Woo! Ya!
Here's my A+ winning lede:
Two 12-year-old girls on their way home from CPR class yesterday revived their godmother, who was choking on a piece of meat at a cafe on West Broad Street.
Now don't you want to know more? I certainly do...
This was an awesome confidence booster for me. I've been worried that I wasn't going to be any good at this journalism thing and then all hope would be lost, etc, etc. Now I know that I at least have a chance and might actually be good.
Hurray for "A"s! And "+"s! ; )
We had to write a lede (or lead), which is the first sentence of a story used to capture the readers attention, for News Writing. Some people received "F"s but not me! I got an A+/100, V(ery) Good!
Yes! Touchdown! Time for a happy dance! (I haven't done one of these for a while...)
Uh huh, uh huh, uh huh uh huh uh huh! Woo! Ya!
Here's my A+ winning lede:
Two 12-year-old girls on their way home from CPR class yesterday revived their godmother, who was choking on a piece of meat at a cafe on West Broad Street.
Now don't you want to know more? I certainly do...
This was an awesome confidence booster for me. I've been worried that I wasn't going to be any good at this journalism thing and then all hope would be lost, etc, etc. Now I know that I at least have a chance and might actually be good.
Hurray for "A"s! And "+"s! ; )
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Bhutto Assassination Update
A teenager who claims he was a part of Benazir Bhutto's assassination team was arrested by Pakistani police Saturday, January 19 according to officials.
The teenager claims he and four others were sent on the mission by militant leader Baitullah Mehsud, who is said to have strong ties with al-Qaida and the Taliban. Maulvi Mohammed Umar, a supposed spokesman for Mehsud denies any connection with the teen and the attack on Bhutto.
"It is just a government propaganda," he said. "We have already clarified that we are not involved in the attack on Benazir Bhutto." (Associated Press article on msnbc.com)
CIA Director, Gen. Michael V. Hayden, in an interview with The Washington Post said the CIA sees Mehsud as responsible for the assassination.
Now for my opinion:
I still have a sneaking suspicion that Musharaff and the Pakistani government have something to do with Bhutto's assassination. It is a possibility that the government told the boy to surrender himself to the police.
I do not know much about Mehsud but from my limited experience it seems that most militant leaders and terrorists have taken credit for their attacks. Therefore it puzzles me that Mehsud, who is known for assassinations (I don't know that for sure), would not take credit for such an altering and controversial assassination.
I also have problems trusting any leader who suspend his own constitution. That alone puts him on the suspicious list. Then we have Musharaff saying that it was Bhutto's fault because she wasn't careful enough. What? Did you want her to wear a helmet?
And that's all I know so far...
The teenager claims he and four others were sent on the mission by militant leader Baitullah Mehsud, who is said to have strong ties with al-Qaida and the Taliban. Maulvi Mohammed Umar, a supposed spokesman for Mehsud denies any connection with the teen and the attack on Bhutto.
"It is just a government propaganda," he said. "We have already clarified that we are not involved in the attack on Benazir Bhutto." (Associated Press article on msnbc.com)
CIA Director, Gen. Michael V. Hayden, in an interview with The Washington Post said the CIA sees Mehsud as responsible for the assassination.
Now for my opinion:
I still have a sneaking suspicion that Musharaff and the Pakistani government have something to do with Bhutto's assassination. It is a possibility that the government told the boy to surrender himself to the police.
I do not know much about Mehsud but from my limited experience it seems that most militant leaders and terrorists have taken credit for their attacks. Therefore it puzzles me that Mehsud, who is known for assassinations (I don't know that for sure), would not take credit for such an altering and controversial assassination.
I also have problems trusting any leader who suspend his own constitution. That alone puts him on the suspicious list. Then we have Musharaff saying that it was Bhutto's fault because she wasn't careful enough. What? Did you want her to wear a helmet?
And that's all I know so far...
Monday, January 21, 2008
New Favorite Quote
Here is a journal entry I posted for my American lit class:
No Oaks in Flower Pots
In “The American Scholar” Emerson writes, “I will not shut myself out of this globe of action, and transplant an oak into a flower-pot”.
Amen to that Emerson.
This sentence stood out to me as a clever and creative way to write the common modern cliché about “breaking out of the box”. Even 170 years after Emerson wrote these words, they are still relevant and applicable.
Emerson’s imagery in his use of the words “oak” and “flower pot” convey his message of “breaking out of the box”. Oak trees are symbols of wisdom and strength while flower pots are temporary and mainly meant for decoration. Putting an oak in a flower pot would eventually cause the tree to suffocate and die.
I do not want to be an oak stuck in a flower pot with no room to grow or change. As a scholar, a woman and American I want to fight for the right to have opportunities that will help me grow and become like an oak tree: wise and strong.
No Oaks in Flower Pots
In “The American Scholar” Emerson writes, “I will not shut myself out of this globe of action, and transplant an oak into a flower-pot”.
Amen to that Emerson.
This sentence stood out to me as a clever and creative way to write the common modern cliché about “breaking out of the box”. Even 170 years after Emerson wrote these words, they are still relevant and applicable.
Emerson’s imagery in his use of the words “oak” and “flower pot” convey his message of “breaking out of the box”. Oak trees are symbols of wisdom and strength while flower pots are temporary and mainly meant for decoration. Putting an oak in a flower pot would eventually cause the tree to suffocate and die.
I do not want to be an oak stuck in a flower pot with no room to grow or change. As a scholar, a woman and American I want to fight for the right to have opportunities that will help me grow and become like an oak tree: wise and strong.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Jouralism Dont's
In the book we're reading for News Writing, Reporting for the Media, the lesson on "Don't Write Like This" had a few examples that I thought were pretty hilarious. These were taken from people's descriptions of their accidents on insurance forms.
"I thought my window was down, but I found out it was up when I put my head through it."
"In my attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole."
"I was on my way to the doctor with rear-end trouble when my universal joint gave way causing me to have engine trouble."
"I was sure the old fellow would never make it to the other side of the road when I struck him."
"I saw a slow-moving, sad-faced old gentlemen as he bounced off the roof of my car."
"To avoid hitting the bumper on the car in front, I hit a pedestrian."
And my personal favorite:
"The pedestrian had no idea which way to run, so I ran over him."
"I thought my window was down, but I found out it was up when I put my head through it."
"In my attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole."
"I was on my way to the doctor with rear-end trouble when my universal joint gave way causing me to have engine trouble."
"I was sure the old fellow would never make it to the other side of the road when I struck him."
"I saw a slow-moving, sad-faced old gentlemen as he bounced off the roof of my car."
"To avoid hitting the bumper on the car in front, I hit a pedestrian."
And my personal favorite:
"The pedestrian had no idea which way to run, so I ran over him."
Juno
Grandmama and I saw this yesterday and it was great. A nice, fresh movie with just people and their experiences instead of flashy special effects or impossible scenarios.
It was still sad and didn't really have a happy ending. Maybe that's just me. I don't think its possible to have a completely happy ending in this situation.
Either way, a very good movie.
Let's see some Oscars!
First Week
I told you I would give an update on my first week of classes so here it is.
Good times.
I am really enjoying my classes, even Elementary Programming. Our first project for that class is going to be to re-create a scene from our favorite animated movie. I'm either going to do Finding Nemo or Madagascar. I haven't officially decided yet.
News Writing is AWESOME! Hopefully by the end of this semester I will be writing some real newspaper articles. Anything I write this semester has a possibility of being published in the school's paper, the Collegian, so we'll see.
American Lit is going well. My professor brought is coffee on Friday which made my favorite English professor of all time. He's also my academic adviser so I've known him for a few months. The readings are not too long and I've been enjoying most of them. I'll have some good quotes later.
Fundamentals of Music was also good. I'm learning new things yet I still know enough to have it not be difficult. Or at least, extremely difficult. And I signed up for piano lessons with my professor! I'm finally going to learn how to play the piano! Yeah!
And now I am officially stoked about my future as a Journalist. I spoke with my Colloquium professor on Friday and mentioned that I wanted to be an International Correspondent of some kind. I also mentioned my time in Japan and he told me about a connection he has with a paper there, etc. I actually feel like being a Journalist is a plausible reality and it makes me happy!
Yeah school! (Don't get used to hearing that, its only the first week.)
Good times.
I am really enjoying my classes, even Elementary Programming. Our first project for that class is going to be to re-create a scene from our favorite animated movie. I'm either going to do Finding Nemo or Madagascar. I haven't officially decided yet.
News Writing is AWESOME! Hopefully by the end of this semester I will be writing some real newspaper articles. Anything I write this semester has a possibility of being published in the school's paper, the Collegian, so we'll see.
American Lit is going well. My professor brought is coffee on Friday which made my favorite English professor of all time. He's also my academic adviser so I've known him for a few months. The readings are not too long and I've been enjoying most of them. I'll have some good quotes later.
Fundamentals of Music was also good. I'm learning new things yet I still know enough to have it not be difficult. Or at least, extremely difficult. And I signed up for piano lessons with my professor! I'm finally going to learn how to play the piano! Yeah!
And now I am officially stoked about my future as a Journalist. I spoke with my Colloquium professor on Friday and mentioned that I wanted to be an International Correspondent of some kind. I also mentioned my time in Japan and he told me about a connection he has with a paper there, etc. I actually feel like being a Journalist is a plausible reality and it makes me happy!
Yeah school! (Don't get used to hearing that, its only the first week.)
Cash or Credit?
I read an article in the New York Times yesterday, Sat. Jan 19, 2008, about a San Diego based company called TradeLine Solutions which promises to raise a customer's credit score.
TradeLine will raise a customers credit score by apparently "adding somebody else's top-notch credit history to the borrower's history."
And they charge $1,399 to do it.
Betcha they only take cash.
Read the article at NYTimes.com.
If the link doesn't work than the article is titled, "What's Behind Those Offers to Raise Credit Scores?" by Janet Morrissey in the YOUR MONEY section of the Business section of the Times.
TradeLine will raise a customers credit score by apparently "adding somebody else's top-notch credit history to the borrower's history."
And they charge $1,399 to do it.
Betcha they only take cash.
Read the article at NYTimes.com.
If the link doesn't work than the article is titled, "What's Behind Those Offers to Raise Credit Scores?" by Janet Morrissey in the YOUR MONEY section of the Business section of the Times.
Snow!
So much to blog, so little time!
So we'll start with the fun stuff.
It snowed yesterday! I have no idea what time it started, early and went until at least after 11pm. I believe about 2 inches fell but I honestly have no idea.
This was the first time I have lived somewhere where it snows and it was awesome. For Bible Study this morning the kids and I had a snowball fight as well as made snow angels and a snowman. Of course, because I'm "in charge" I had to be tackled.
Several times...
Let's just say I couldn't feel my legs and I dumped an entire snowman out of my hood when we were done.
Good times.
And now you get to enjoy in the funess as well.
So we'll start with the fun stuff.
It snowed yesterday! I have no idea what time it started, early and went until at least after 11pm. I believe about 2 inches fell but I honestly have no idea.
This was the first time I have lived somewhere where it snows and it was awesome. For Bible Study this morning the kids and I had a snowball fight as well as made snow angels and a snowman. Of course, because I'm "in charge" I had to be tackled.
Several times...
Let's just say I couldn't feel my legs and I dumped an entire snowman out of my hood when we were done.
Good times.
And now you get to enjoy in the funess as well.
Friday, January 18, 2008
First Week
My first week of school has gone well. I'll give more details along with some funny quotes tomorrow. Right now, I need to go die for a few hours.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
First Day
Yesterday was my first day of the Spring 2008 semester and it wasn't all that bad.
When I got to room 205 at 8am for an 8:15am class, I opened the door to find a classroom filled with Intro to Poetry students.
Definitely not somewhere I wanted to be.
SO I waited outside until Prof. Carelton (who is also my academic adviser) showed up and decided we would just go to a different classroom. Hopefully that gets fixed before tomorrow.
I would hate to walk in on any more poetry.
Right at 9:20am my News Writing professor, Prof. Mullen, cranked a-rock-song-I-can't-remember-the-name-of to 11 and informed us of how much work we would be doing this semester. We also heard some great stories about his first real story where he was almost shot and then told "Well, it didn't suck." Good times. I'm excited about that class. Hopefully I learn something.
The rest of the day went well. Elementary Programming looks to be entertaining. Out first project is to recreate a scene from our favorite animated movie.
And then the real fun began.
I went and talked with the Chaplain about getting my scholarship stuff worked out since I hadn't received a letter in the mail yet. Apparently that was a really bad thing. Right now I have no idea whats going on so we'll have to wait and see how that works out.
Luckily Fundamentals of Music was a lot of fun. The professor is a very good musician which makes it all the more fun and interesting. We spent a large part of the class clapping while he played the piano.
When all this scholarship stuff gets worked out I think I may sign up to take piano lessons with him. I've always wanted to learn how to play the piano.
And of course there was the standing in line to buy books I can't afford which is always fun. This semester is going to be an expensive book semester. Like $400 expensive...
You can see why I'm wanting this scholarship to work out.
And so after a few hours of driving, tv watching and homework doing my first day of school was over.
Then I went to the dentist this morning to have a few cavities filled. My cheeks still kind of numb...
When I got to room 205 at 8am for an 8:15am class, I opened the door to find a classroom filled with Intro to Poetry students.
Definitely not somewhere I wanted to be.
SO I waited outside until Prof. Carelton (who is also my academic adviser) showed up and decided we would just go to a different classroom. Hopefully that gets fixed before tomorrow.
I would hate to walk in on any more poetry.
Right at 9:20am my News Writing professor, Prof. Mullen, cranked a-rock-song-I-can't-remember-the-name-of to 11 and informed us of how much work we would be doing this semester. We also heard some great stories about his first real story where he was almost shot and then told "Well, it didn't suck." Good times. I'm excited about that class. Hopefully I learn something.
The rest of the day went well. Elementary Programming looks to be entertaining. Out first project is to recreate a scene from our favorite animated movie.
And then the real fun began.
I went and talked with the Chaplain about getting my scholarship stuff worked out since I hadn't received a letter in the mail yet. Apparently that was a really bad thing. Right now I have no idea whats going on so we'll have to wait and see how that works out.
Luckily Fundamentals of Music was a lot of fun. The professor is a very good musician which makes it all the more fun and interesting. We spent a large part of the class clapping while he played the piano.
When all this scholarship stuff gets worked out I think I may sign up to take piano lessons with him. I've always wanted to learn how to play the piano.
And of course there was the standing in line to buy books I can't afford which is always fun. This semester is going to be an expensive book semester. Like $400 expensive...
You can see why I'm wanting this scholarship to work out.
And so after a few hours of driving, tv watching and homework doing my first day of school was over.
Then I went to the dentist this morning to have a few cavities filled. My cheeks still kind of numb...
Friday, January 11, 2008
Bhutto Assassination Update
A YouTube video of the interview 60 Minutes did with Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf about the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
I'm Back in Virginia Again
Yep. My flight came in at about 11:20pm last night.
It is good to be back. I do miss everyone at home though... Such is the life of a traveler!
This morning Grandmama and I had our Christmas in January. It was pretty awesome. Grandmama got a new coffee maker because her old one is broken. I got warm flannel pj's, a scarf and head band, a crazy Dr. Seuss-looking tea kettle and best of all... a Hello Kitty lamp!
It was good times.
Hello Kitty Lamp made of awesome!
Dr. Seuss-looking tea kettle with a spiffy whirly-gig on the spout that spins...
Then we took down all the Christmas stuff and I unpacked my suitcase. Later we'll pick up Curry at the bus stop and then glue my dresser drawers back together so I can put my clothes away.
Nice and exciting times. I love vacation. I think I've said that before...
It is good to be back. I do miss everyone at home though... Such is the life of a traveler!
This morning Grandmama and I had our Christmas in January. It was pretty awesome. Grandmama got a new coffee maker because her old one is broken. I got warm flannel pj's, a scarf and head band, a crazy Dr. Seuss-looking tea kettle and best of all... a Hello Kitty lamp!
It was good times.
Hello Kitty Lamp made of awesome!
Dr. Seuss-looking tea kettle with a spiffy whirly-gig on the spout that spins...
Then we took down all the Christmas stuff and I unpacked my suitcase. Later we'll pick up Curry at the bus stop and then glue my dresser drawers back together so I can put my clothes away.
Nice and exciting times. I love vacation. I think I've said that before...
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Hello 2008!
I had an interesting New Years Eve...
Alisha picked me up around 6:15pm last night and we headed for the College Group party. When we got there we didn't see any cars and all the lights were turned off.
Not a good sign.
We rang the door bell and I attempted to call Bulldog who was hosting our little party when Terry opened the door and informed us the party had been cancelled because they were both sick.
Ya, pretty much...
So we took our bacon cheesy crackers, potato salad and chocolates and left. We decided to get a pizza and rent some movies. We ended up calling Christian and we all went back to Alisha's house to celebrate the new year. We watched Bring It On and Anchorman, played a little Guitar Hero and watched the ball drop. Then we drove around and danced in the car until we crashed and Alisha took us home.
It was good times even though it was unexpected and unplanned.
I didn't think of any resolutions for this year. I guess I figure resolutions aren't something I want to do or focus on. Honestly I usually forget them after about two weeks. I do want to keep improving, do well in school, make good decisions and all that. But I like to think that I'm doing that all the time so I guess my New Year Resolution is to continue and to get up when I fall.
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