Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Podcast for Final
Note: podOmatic.com has been having problems generating an embed code for the full display from Blogger.com, but the bottom part works as a link. Just click on the grey bar below.
Music in San Jose? Yes, Really!
Music in San Jose? Yes, Really!
Final Script
SAN JOSE MUSIC SCENE SCRIPT
60 SECONDS
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA GOT A MUSICAL SHOT IN THE
ARM THIS PAST WEEK DURING THE FIRST LEFT COAST
LIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL. THE FIVE DAY EVENT, ORGAN-
IZED BY LOCAL MUSICANS AND MUSIC ENTHUSIASTS,
FEATURED OVER EIGHTY BANDS IN DOZENS OF VENUES
SPREAD THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE. THE
ORGANIZERS SOUGHT TO CHANGE THE WAY THE
SILICON VALLEY MUSIC SCENE IS PERCEIVED, AS WELL
AS HOW IT VIEWS ITSELF.
LOCAL MUSICIAN MARK HEAPS OF THE BAND POINT
THREE KNOWS THE SCENE WELL, HAVING PLAYED
AROUND THE BAY AREA SINCE TWO THOUSAND ONE.
HE SAYS THAT THE KEY TO BEING SUCCESSFUL IS
CONSTANT NETWORKING AND SUPPORTING LOCAL
ARTISTS, WHO IN TURN WILL SUPPORT OTHER ARTISTS.
THE FESTIVAL AIMS TO CONNECT MUSICIANS WITH
VENUES, EVEN ONES THAT PREVIOUSLY MAY NOT HAVE
FEATURED LIVE MUSIC. THE HOPE IS THAT BY HAVING A
LARGE ENOUGH EVENT WITH ENOUGH PUBLICITY,
PEOPLE WILL TURN OUT TO SEE LOCAL ACTS PERFORM.
HEAPS SAYS THAT PEOPLE IN THE BAY AREA ARE
DISTRACTED BY ALL THE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE
TO THEM, BUT THAT THEY CAN BE SWAYED BY A
MEMORABLE ACT.
OF THE FESTIVAL, HE SAYS, HE LOVED SEEING ALL
THE PEOPLE WALKING THE STREETS TO SEE THE BANDS
THAT WERE PLAYING. AND THAT WAS THE POINT.
(- 60 -)
60 SECONDS
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA GOT A MUSICAL SHOT IN THE
ARM THIS PAST WEEK DURING THE FIRST LEFT COAST
LIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL. THE FIVE DAY EVENT, ORGAN-
IZED BY LOCAL MUSICANS AND MUSIC ENTHUSIASTS,
FEATURED OVER EIGHTY BANDS IN DOZENS OF VENUES
SPREAD THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE. THE
ORGANIZERS SOUGHT TO CHANGE THE WAY THE
SILICON VALLEY MUSIC SCENE IS PERCEIVED, AS WELL
AS HOW IT VIEWS ITSELF.
LOCAL MUSICIAN MARK HEAPS OF THE BAND POINT
THREE KNOWS THE SCENE WELL, HAVING PLAYED
AROUND THE BAY AREA SINCE TWO THOUSAND ONE.
HE SAYS THAT THE KEY TO BEING SUCCESSFUL IS
CONSTANT NETWORKING AND SUPPORTING LOCAL
ARTISTS, WHO IN TURN WILL SUPPORT OTHER ARTISTS.
THE FESTIVAL AIMS TO CONNECT MUSICIANS WITH
VENUES, EVEN ONES THAT PREVIOUSLY MAY NOT HAVE
FEATURED LIVE MUSIC. THE HOPE IS THAT BY HAVING A
LARGE ENOUGH EVENT WITH ENOUGH PUBLICITY,
PEOPLE WILL TURN OUT TO SEE LOCAL ACTS PERFORM.
HEAPS SAYS THAT PEOPLE IN THE BAY AREA ARE
DISTRACTED BY ALL THE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE
TO THEM, BUT THAT THEY CAN BE SWAYED BY A
MEMORABLE ACT.
OF THE FESTIVAL, HE SAYS, HE LOVED SEEING ALL
THE PEOPLE WALKING THE STREETS TO SEE THE BANDS
THAT WERE PLAYING. AND THAT WAS THE POINT.
(- 60 -)
Final Magazine Article
Music in San Jose? Yes, really!
(Point 3's Mark Heaps)
May, 2009’s “Left Coast Live” brought the music: over 80 local and regional bands played throughout the San Jose downtown area in dozens of venues, turning what is often a subdued night scene into a lively bash of creativity, expression and noise.
The festival was organized by a real cross-section of musicians and music lovers frustrated at the lack of a cohesive movement in the San Jose area. They held a series of meetings over the last few years, coming together to motivate and mobilize local musicians and connect them with venues, both extant and new. The result was this year's Left Coast Live, a step in the right direction.
One of the bands featured was Point 3, a local rock act fronted by Mark Heaps, who had labored long and hard to chase his dream in San Jose. He knows the musical climate here, and the uphill climb to rise to prominence. He says, “It's actually a really amazing scene that is unfortunately surrounded by a social type that finds music fairly disposable.” Heaps characterizes the area as being distracted by its technology, saying that, “people are less interested in the act of seeking out new music by going to live shows, when they can just download music.”
Even so, the music scene in San Jose is one that is close-knit, and can be quite competitive, perhaps because of the dynamics involved. Heaps recalls networking extensively with people, attending many shows and putting his name out there with people already playing. He says that reputation is “everything in a small scene” but that success can be found “if you've got something to offer and you do something that is positively remembered.”
Left Coast Live is not the final destination for San Jose’s music scene. What it represents is a new take, hopefully an invigorating shot in the arm that will convince restaurant and bar owners that live music can bring in people. It hopes also to send a message to bands that there are places to play. Heaps says that “it's going to take a few years for it to reach its true potential. But considering we've done nothing like this in 5 or more years, I'll take whatever we can get.”
Maybe there will be somebody else there with a new band, trying to get his attention.
Topical Post #3
On the "Freedom" of speech... well, I have to say that I'm concerned about the protection of Free Speech.
In times of war, speech (and the press in general) is usually more limited by government. That's a given, though with the state of information technologies, more cats are leaving their bags than ever before.
What concerns me the most is the practice of one party stifling speech that another disagrees with. One of the strong points of a Free Society is the aspect of debate. Without contentious speech, there is a limitation on dissent, and without dissent, you end up with a totalitarian state.
There are a number of ranking Democrats in US Congress who favor the re-instation of the ironically-named Fairness Doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine essentially forced anyone with a broadcast license to present both sides of contentious issues. First off, since when does the government fully run all content of privately-owned radio stations?
Another issue lies in the recent banning of "controversial" radio host Michael "Savage" Weiner, who was put on a list og people "banned" from the U.K. Really? They have other people who have been terrorists who have been let back in, and Savage has never advocated violence. And yet he was on a list with true terrorists, murderers, and Neo-Nazis.
Of course, the backlash has been huge. Recent polls in Britian have shown eighty percent of Brits oppose the ban.
The issue is not the content of the speech, but the right of people to hold and advocate views that others don't agree on. Old-school liberals used to say, "I disagree with your speech, but I will defend your right to say it." What happened to that viewpoint?
In times of war, speech (and the press in general) is usually more limited by government. That's a given, though with the state of information technologies, more cats are leaving their bags than ever before.
What concerns me the most is the practice of one party stifling speech that another disagrees with. One of the strong points of a Free Society is the aspect of debate. Without contentious speech, there is a limitation on dissent, and without dissent, you end up with a totalitarian state.
There are a number of ranking Democrats in US Congress who favor the re-instation of the ironically-named Fairness Doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine essentially forced anyone with a broadcast license to present both sides of contentious issues. First off, since when does the government fully run all content of privately-owned radio stations?
Another issue lies in the recent banning of "controversial" radio host Michael "Savage" Weiner, who was put on a list og people "banned" from the U.K. Really? They have other people who have been terrorists who have been let back in, and Savage has never advocated violence. And yet he was on a list with true terrorists, murderers, and Neo-Nazis.
Of course, the backlash has been huge. Recent polls in Britian have shown eighty percent of Brits oppose the ban.
The issue is not the content of the speech, but the right of people to hold and advocate views that others don't agree on. Old-school liberals used to say, "I disagree with your speech, but I will defend your right to say it." What happened to that viewpoint?
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Online News Writing Exercise
Yahoo! News examined
a) Do the news items reflect immediacy?
Yahoo is good about news stories with a quick turnaround. Perhaps too quick of a turnaround at time, evidenced by typos and formatting errors that pop up on occasion. Still, Yahoo! is where I go for my news most of the time.
b) Does the site try to help readers save time?
Yahoo! News stories tend to be concise (often lifted from the AP) and readable.
c) Is it quick and easy to get information?
Yahoo! News is pretty straightforward and easy to navigate with clear links and information.
d) Does it provide both visual and verbal information?
Yahoo! News gets a mixed grade on this one. Some stories are tied to slide shows or graphics or video, but many have nothing to help illustrate their stories.
e) Do the stories contain lists and bullets to make them easier to scan?
Yahoo! News stories sometimes have bullets or lists, mostly in entertainment pieces, but not usually in general news stories.
f) Are the stories broken into "chunks"?
Yahoo! News stories do have a flow and tend to be broken up into chunks with mini-titles.
g) Do stories provide hyperlinks to additional information?
Yahoo! News stories tend to have related links at the bottom of their articles.
h) Are there opportunities for readers to "talk back"?
Not anymore- they used to, but there were so many "trolls" and off-topic responses that the feature was scrapped. Too bad, because there were often insightful respones buried in the spam.
i) Does the site use multimedia to enhance understanding and add appeal?
Yahoo! News is often tied to other multimedia, and does feature sections that are formatted that way.
a) Do the news items reflect immediacy?
Yahoo is good about news stories with a quick turnaround. Perhaps too quick of a turnaround at time, evidenced by typos and formatting errors that pop up on occasion. Still, Yahoo! is where I go for my news most of the time.
b) Does the site try to help readers save time?
Yahoo! News stories tend to be concise (often lifted from the AP) and readable.
c) Is it quick and easy to get information?
Yahoo! News is pretty straightforward and easy to navigate with clear links and information.
d) Does it provide both visual and verbal information?
Yahoo! News gets a mixed grade on this one. Some stories are tied to slide shows or graphics or video, but many have nothing to help illustrate their stories.
e) Do the stories contain lists and bullets to make them easier to scan?
Yahoo! News stories sometimes have bullets or lists, mostly in entertainment pieces, but not usually in general news stories.
f) Are the stories broken into "chunks"?
Yahoo! News stories do have a flow and tend to be broken up into chunks with mini-titles.
g) Do stories provide hyperlinks to additional information?
Yahoo! News stories tend to have related links at the bottom of their articles.
h) Are there opportunities for readers to "talk back"?
Not anymore- they used to, but there were so many "trolls" and off-topic responses that the feature was scrapped. Too bad, because there were often insightful respones buried in the spam.
i) Does the site use multimedia to enhance understanding and add appeal?
Yahoo! News is often tied to other multimedia, and does feature sections that are formatted that way.
Topical Blog Post #2
It was ten years ago this month that George Lucas released the first Star Wars prequel movie, The Phantom Menace. Wow, it's hard to believe that it's been a decade already.
The fervor was unbelievable. A total blitzkrieg of marketing and cross-promotions unlike has been seen since was unleashed upon the public, who were admittedly hungry for new material in the Galaxy Far, Far Away and ate it up by the millions.
I recall eagerly awaiting the Second Coming. I've been a Star Wars nut my whole life- somewhere out there is a cassette tape (remember those?) with me interrupting a Sunday School class by humming the unforgettable John Williams score. I was never a collector of the stuff; rather I was a story-obsessed guy, and being so wrapped up in the story, I was waiting with bated breath for the next (previous) saga.
For years, people (me included) whiled away the time by speculating with vivid imaginations about What Came Before. Anakin Skywalker- what was he like, and how did he become Darth Vader? Obi Wan Kenobi- was he a clone? What was Luke and Leia's mother like, and what happened to her?
I happily waited in the very long line with my fellow compatriots, gabbing it up in full Geek Mode. Ah, the antici..............pation.
The movie didn't fail to deliver for me. I actually loved the film. I was riveted. There were so many iconic scenes in the film, from the pod race to the lightsaber duel finale.
I can see why others had issues with it (Jar Jar), but Liam Neeson and Ewan MacGregor were of the caliber of the other actors Alec Guiness and Harrison Ford. The tone was different, and how can ANY movie stand up to sixteen years' worth of speculation? Even the contemporary Matrix trilogy dealt with the same problem.
Ultimately, it did make history (and lots of money), and I eagerly await the high-definition release some day, where I will undoubtedly shell out money for the umpteenth time for the same film.
At least it gives me something to talk about, and isn't that part of the point?
May the Force be with you.
The fervor was unbelievable. A total blitzkrieg of marketing and cross-promotions unlike has been seen since was unleashed upon the public, who were admittedly hungry for new material in the Galaxy Far, Far Away and ate it up by the millions.
I recall eagerly awaiting the Second Coming. I've been a Star Wars nut my whole life- somewhere out there is a cassette tape (remember those?) with me interrupting a Sunday School class by humming the unforgettable John Williams score. I was never a collector of the stuff; rather I was a story-obsessed guy, and being so wrapped up in the story, I was waiting with bated breath for the next (previous) saga.
For years, people (me included) whiled away the time by speculating with vivid imaginations about What Came Before. Anakin Skywalker- what was he like, and how did he become Darth Vader? Obi Wan Kenobi- was he a clone? What was Luke and Leia's mother like, and what happened to her?
I happily waited in the very long line with my fellow compatriots, gabbing it up in full Geek Mode. Ah, the antici..............pation.
The movie didn't fail to deliver for me. I actually loved the film. I was riveted. There were so many iconic scenes in the film, from the pod race to the lightsaber duel finale.
I can see why others had issues with it (Jar Jar), but Liam Neeson and Ewan MacGregor were of the caliber of the other actors Alec Guiness and Harrison Ford. The tone was different, and how can ANY movie stand up to sixteen years' worth of speculation? Even the contemporary Matrix trilogy dealt with the same problem.
Ultimately, it did make history (and lots of money), and I eagerly await the high-definition release some day, where I will undoubtedly shell out money for the umpteenth time for the same film.
At least it gives me something to talk about, and isn't that part of the point?
May the Force be with you.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Magazine Blog
I read a lot of magazines. At any given time, my office area at home is littered with mags ranging from Newsweek and Time to GamePro and Popular Science. What can I say- I have a wide range of interests.
One magazine that I enjoy that pulls together a number of my interests in a way that also addresses my upbringing as a Protestant minister’s son is called Relevent.
With the tagline, “God. Life. Progressive Culture.”, Relevent presents itself as a different type of magazine outside of the denomination-specific newsletters found in many churches across America.
Relevant addresses faith and pop culture in an engaging, non-myopic way. It targets both people who self-identify as Christians and those who might just be curious about that particular world-view with reviews of both mainstream and more Christian-centered media, and has commentary on cultural trends, and it isn’t all G-rated Disney films and touchy-feely spiritual material.
A typical issue might feature a summer blockbuster movie review, a critical article debating the cultural war over gay rights and opposing viewpoints, and a profile of a major sports figure.
Relevent’s online counterpart at www.releventmagazine.com also features user-submitted content and forums for a good degree of interactivity. It’s very much a community feel.
One magazine that I enjoy that pulls together a number of my interests in a way that also addresses my upbringing as a Protestant minister’s son is called Relevent.
With the tagline, “God. Life. Progressive Culture.”, Relevent presents itself as a different type of magazine outside of the denomination-specific newsletters found in many churches across America.
Relevant addresses faith and pop culture in an engaging, non-myopic way. It targets both people who self-identify as Christians and those who might just be curious about that particular world-view with reviews of both mainstream and more Christian-centered media, and has commentary on cultural trends, and it isn’t all G-rated Disney films and touchy-feely spiritual material.
A typical issue might feature a summer blockbuster movie review, a critical article debating the cultural war over gay rights and opposing viewpoints, and a profile of a major sports figure.
Relevent’s online counterpart at www.releventmagazine.com also features user-submitted content and forums for a good degree of interactivity. It’s very much a community feel.
Focus story
Pete Stenhoff’s life didn’t go as planned. Once a 210 pound football player, the Chula Vista High School senior is now 172 pounds, confined to a wheelchair, and pursuing his diploma through correspondence classes.
While playing in a football game during his junior year, Stenhoff cracked his vertebrae in his spine when he rammed his head into a ball carrier’s chest. He was wearing a helmet.
Stenhoff is just one of 20,000 injuries sustained in high school football each year -- 12 percent of them permanently disabling the victims. Thirty-five percent of the injuries are to the neck or head. Thirteen youths died last year. Most critics blame the helmet.
Stenhoff says that he knew the risks when he got involved, but adds, “I wish I had known just how bad it could be.” He did not graduate with his class.
While playing in a football game during his junior year, Stenhoff cracked his vertebrae in his spine when he rammed his head into a ball carrier’s chest. He was wearing a helmet.
Stenhoff is just one of 20,000 injuries sustained in high school football each year -- 12 percent of them permanently disabling the victims. Thirty-five percent of the injuries are to the neck or head. Thirteen youths died last year. Most critics blame the helmet.
Stenhoff says that he knew the risks when he got involved, but adds, “I wish I had known just how bad it could be.” He did not graduate with his class.
Topical Commentary
I may not be a big player in the California economy, but I have to say that I'm rather concerned about the state's obsession with Big Government. I think just about everyone understands that when times get tough, private industry adjusts its size in accommodation. No so with Big G.
It seems like reducing the size of government is always the very last thing that people try. I'm not sure if it is because of the fact that people are attached to their pet projects that are funded by the state, or if, instead, it is more a matter of an addiction to all the hand-outs from Sacramento.
There's no way around it- the state is Out Of Money. With capitals. Due to all of the wonderfully complex situations in the economy and the vagaries of the tax code, there's just not enough money to fund all of the jobs and programs that currently exist.
Do we even need all of these bells and whistles? Maybe, just maybe, the Big G. will forced to change the way it does buisness, and perhaps people will learn what it's like to make decisions for themselves.
It seems like reducing the size of government is always the very last thing that people try. I'm not sure if it is because of the fact that people are attached to their pet projects that are funded by the state, or if, instead, it is more a matter of an addiction to all the hand-outs from Sacramento.
There's no way around it- the state is Out Of Money. With capitals. Due to all of the wonderfully complex situations in the economy and the vagaries of the tax code, there's just not enough money to fund all of the jobs and programs that currently exist.
Do we even need all of these bells and whistles? Maybe, just maybe, the Big G. will forced to change the way it does buisness, and perhaps people will learn what it's like to make decisions for themselves.
Real News Broadcast Adaptation (reader)
CINEQUEST FILM FESTIVAL CLIMAX
30 SECONDS
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA’S CINEQUEST FILM FESTIVAL WRAPPED
ON A BIG QUESTION WITH ITS FINALE, “THE NATURE OF
EXISTENCE” BY DIRECTOR ROGER NYGARD.
NYGARD, WHO ALSO DIRECTED THE FAN-CULTURE FILM “TREKKIES,”
TRAVELED THE WORLD, POSING LIFE’S BIG QUESTIONS TO
NOVELISTS, HOLLYWOOD LUMINARIES, ASTROPHYSICISTS AND
FRINGE RELIGIOUS FIGURES. THE RESULTS WERE AT TIME SERIOUS
AND OFTEN HUMOROUS.
THE WHIMSICAL FILM WAS PACKED OUT ON ITS CLOSING NIGHT AT
THE CALIFORNIA THEATER, PART OF AN OVERALL FESTIVAL
ATTENDENCE IN EXCESS OF 80-THOUSAND PEOPLE.
(- 30 -)
30 SECONDS
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA’S CINEQUEST FILM FESTIVAL WRAPPED
ON A BIG QUESTION WITH ITS FINALE, “THE NATURE OF
EXISTENCE” BY DIRECTOR ROGER NYGARD.
NYGARD, WHO ALSO DIRECTED THE FAN-CULTURE FILM “TREKKIES,”
TRAVELED THE WORLD, POSING LIFE’S BIG QUESTIONS TO
NOVELISTS, HOLLYWOOD LUMINARIES, ASTROPHYSICISTS AND
FRINGE RELIGIOUS FIGURES. THE RESULTS WERE AT TIME SERIOUS
AND OFTEN HUMOROUS.
THE WHIMSICAL FILM WAS PACKED OUT ON ITS CLOSING NIGHT AT
THE CALIFORNIA THEATER, PART OF AN OVERALL FESTIVAL
ATTENDENCE IN EXCESS OF 80-THOUSAND PEOPLE.
(- 30 -)
SOFT BROADCAST REWRITE
FRIED SQUIRREL SHORTS OUT TRANSIT
(30 SECONDS)
THE MONDAY AFTERNOON MANHATTAN COMMUTE WAS BROUGHT
TO A GRINDING HALT WHEN POWER LINES AT THE
METRO-NORTH COMMUTER RAILROAD WERE SHORTED OUT
BY AN ADVENTUROUS SQUIRREL CLIMBING OVER THE LINES.
ALMOST 50-THOUSAND PEOPLE ENDED UP STRANDED FOR HOURS
WHEN THE POWER SURGE LED TO A WIRE DANGLING AND GETTING
CAUGHT ON A PASSING TRAIN, TEARING DOWN ALL THE POWER
CABLES.
CREWS RESTORED POWER TUESDAY MORNING, AND REMOVED THE
CHARRED REMAINS OF THE SQUIRREL.
(- 30 -)
(30 SECONDS)
THE MONDAY AFTERNOON MANHATTAN COMMUTE WAS BROUGHT
TO A GRINDING HALT WHEN POWER LINES AT THE
METRO-NORTH COMMUTER RAILROAD WERE SHORTED OUT
BY AN ADVENTUROUS SQUIRREL CLIMBING OVER THE LINES.
ALMOST 50-THOUSAND PEOPLE ENDED UP STRANDED FOR HOURS
WHEN THE POWER SURGE LED TO A WIRE DANGLING AND GETTING
CAUGHT ON A PASSING TRAIN, TEARING DOWN ALL THE POWER
CABLES.
CREWS RESTORED POWER TUESDAY MORNING, AND REMOVED THE
CHARRED REMAINS OF THE SQUIRREL.
(- 30 -)
Broadcast Assignments 1 & 2
THE GOVERNOR'S NEW PET
30 SECONDS
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (SCHWART-zen-
egger) UNVEILED HIS NEW PET TODAY, A LARGE BRONZE
STATUE OF A GRIZZLY BEAR, THE SAME ANIMAL THAT GRACES
HIS STATE FLAG.
BOUGHT WITH HIS OWN MONEY WHILE ON VACATION IN COLORADO,
SCHWARZENEGGER HAD THE BEAR SHIPPED BACK TO CALIFORNIA.
IT NOW STANDS PROMINENTLY OUTSIDE OF HIS OFFICE AT THE
STATE CAPITOL.
(- 30 -)
*********************
NORTHQUEST AIRLINES DEAL
30 SECONDS
NORTHQUEST AIRLINES ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT IT IS CUTTING
ITS DOMESTIC FARES BY UP TO 40 PERCENT FOR HOLIDAY TRAVELERS.
FRANK DEWITT, NORTHQUEST'S C-E-O, LIKENED IT TO A
"HOLIDAY GIFT" TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.
TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED BY FRIDAY FOR TRAVEL BETWEEN
NOVEMBER 12TH AND JANUARY 14TH IN THE LOWER 48 STATES,
ALASKA AND CANADA.
DISCOUNTS VARY DEPENDING ON TRAVEL DATES AND ARE NOT
AVIALABLE ON CERTAIN POPULAR DAYS, INCLUDING NOVEMBER
23RD, NOVEMBER 26TH, DECEMBER 23RD AND DECEMBER 26TH.
WITH THE DISCOUNTED, NON-REFUNDIBLE FARES, PASSENGERS
CAN TRAVEL ROUND TRIP BETWEEN BOSTON AND SAN FRANCISCO
FOR $400 DOLLARS ON CERTAIN DAYS.
(- 30 -)
30 SECONDS
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (SCHWART-zen-
egger) UNVEILED HIS NEW PET TODAY, A LARGE BRONZE
STATUE OF A GRIZZLY BEAR, THE SAME ANIMAL THAT GRACES
HIS STATE FLAG.
BOUGHT WITH HIS OWN MONEY WHILE ON VACATION IN COLORADO,
SCHWARZENEGGER HAD THE BEAR SHIPPED BACK TO CALIFORNIA.
IT NOW STANDS PROMINENTLY OUTSIDE OF HIS OFFICE AT THE
STATE CAPITOL.
(- 30 -)
*********************
NORTHQUEST AIRLINES DEAL
30 SECONDS
NORTHQUEST AIRLINES ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT IT IS CUTTING
ITS DOMESTIC FARES BY UP TO 40 PERCENT FOR HOLIDAY TRAVELERS.
FRANK DEWITT, NORTHQUEST'S C-E-O, LIKENED IT TO A
"HOLIDAY GIFT" TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.
TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED BY FRIDAY FOR TRAVEL BETWEEN
NOVEMBER 12TH AND JANUARY 14TH IN THE LOWER 48 STATES,
ALASKA AND CANADA.
DISCOUNTS VARY DEPENDING ON TRAVEL DATES AND ARE NOT
AVIALABLE ON CERTAIN POPULAR DAYS, INCLUDING NOVEMBER
23RD, NOVEMBER 26TH, DECEMBER 23RD AND DECEMBER 26TH.
WITH THE DISCOUNTED, NON-REFUNDIBLE FARES, PASSENGERS
CAN TRAVEL ROUND TRIP BETWEEN BOSTON AND SAN FRANCISCO
FOR $400 DOLLARS ON CERTAIN DAYS.
(- 30 -)
Copy Edit The World (Final segment)
Note: They subsequently edited the article to fix the error, but it had read: "Avastin is a huge money maker. U. S. sates of the drug totaled $2.69 billion last year"- "sates" being the error, 5th paragraph down in the original draft.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12200711?source=email
*************
Same issue with the next error- they fixed it in an edit. The original text, 4th paragraph from the bottom, read: "It's been very difficult for everrone. They are beatiuful and a sacred part of the garden. We're working very hard to figure out the problem."
*************
He denied killing the dog but said he had moved Copper's body four times after finding him dead near the trailer he shared with Joanie Gonzalez at the Main Street Mobile Home and RV Park in Milpitas, next to the Ooh La Lodge[no period]
No period at the end of the sentence in the second paragraph.http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_12373176?nclick_check=1
*************
San Jose's Municipal Rose Garden has been gettting a lot of attention lately '” the prestigious All-America Rose Selections this month officially designated it as a national test site for new roses.
Funky typo of punctuation in the sentence under "An honor for San Jose's Heritage Rose Garden" at http://www.mercurynews.com/homeandgarden
*************
I don't see them trading out of 13 if Sanchez is on the board and if the Jets want him as badly as some in the NFL beleive, a deal up will be made with whomever gets him at 4 or 8, from everything I am hearing.
Should be "believe."
*************
This is a stunning bellweather and not good news for any Republican who will run for Judd Gregg's seat in N.H.
From http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/03/31/DI2009033103020.html.
Should be "bellwether," which doesn't have anything to do with "weather" but instead refers to a type of ram, called a "wether" that led ewes with a bell.
**************
And I've been reading it all my life, so I'm qualified to pass judgement.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/05/01/DI2009050102455.html
No "e" in judgment.
**************
Both were in the Millenium collection, if you can find anyone with that set of colors.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/04/17/DI2009041702749.html
Missing an "n" there.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12200711?source=email
*************
Same issue with the next error- they fixed it in an edit. The original text, 4th paragraph from the bottom, read: "It's been very difficult for everrone. They are beatiuful and a sacred part of the garden. We're working very hard to figure out the problem."
*************
He denied killing the dog but said he had moved Copper's body four times after finding him dead near the trailer he shared with Joanie Gonzalez at the Main Street Mobile Home and RV Park in Milpitas, next to the Ooh La Lodge[no period]
No period at the end of the sentence in the second paragraph.http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_12373176?nclick_check=1
*************
San Jose's Municipal Rose Garden has been gettting a lot of attention lately '” the prestigious All-America Rose Selections this month officially designated it as a national test site for new roses.
Funky typo of punctuation in the sentence under "An honor for San Jose's Heritage Rose Garden" at http://www.mercurynews.com/homeandgarden
*************
I don't see them trading out of 13 if Sanchez is on the board and if the Jets want him as badly as some in the NFL beleive, a deal up will be made with whomever gets him at 4 or 8, from everything I am hearing.
Should be "believe."
*************
This is a stunning bellweather and not good news for any Republican who will run for Judd Gregg's seat in N.H.
From http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/03/31/DI2009033103020.html.
Should be "bellwether," which doesn't have anything to do with "weather" but instead refers to a type of ram, called a "wether" that led ewes with a bell.
**************
And I've been reading it all my life, so I'm qualified to pass judgement.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/05/01/DI2009050102455.html
No "e" in judgment.
**************
Both were in the Millenium collection, if you can find anyone with that set of colors.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/04/17/DI2009041702749.html
Missing an "n" there.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Fog Index
I know I have a larger Fog Index. I tend to write for a more educated audience. However, I do try to use context and an engaging style so that most readers can get through it just fine.
Here is a sample from one of my blogs from a few years back during the big fracas about illegal immigration in the United States:
*************
I believe in sympathy for people. I believe in setting up a better system of getting people nationalized. I believe in helping minorities break out of poverty-level work and into areas with improved education. But who exactly is going to pay for the increasing costs of healthcare, public services and other aspects paid for by taxes? I pay about $100 a month for my health insurance, with a co-pay. That comes out of my taxed income.
What I don't believe in is this selective push for preferential treatment one group over others making their way through the channels of Due Process. What about people who are line-cutters?
Average word count per sentence: 16.
Hard words: 8.
Total: 24.
Fog Index: 9.6
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I will work to simplify things, but after a certain point, folks just need to learn to read. Literacy is not baggage.
Here is a sample from one of my blogs from a few years back during the big fracas about illegal immigration in the United States:
*************
I believe in sympathy for people. I believe in setting up a better system of getting people nationalized. I believe in helping minorities break out of poverty-level work and into areas with improved education. But who exactly is going to pay for the increasing costs of healthcare, public services and other aspects paid for by taxes? I pay about $100 a month for my health insurance, with a co-pay. That comes out of my taxed income.
What I don't believe in is this selective push for preferential treatment one group over others making their way through the channels of Due Process. What about people who are line-cutters?
Average word count per sentence: 16.
Hard words: 8.
Total: 24.
Fog Index: 9.6
**********************
I will work to simplify things, but after a certain point, folks just need to learn to read. Literacy is not baggage.
Got What It Takes To Be A Reporter?
I scored 27 out of 30 on the Talent and Temperament sections. I would actually prefer a steady 9-5 job, but I'm willing to work unconventional schedules for the right thing. I do need to make enough money to support my family, though. That's where 3 of the points went.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Math for Journalists assignment
1) Two-thirds of the college budget comes from the state, while just over a quarter come from fees, grants and gifts, and the remaining fraction from student tuition.
2) The mean, or average prison term for aggravated assault is just under two years, or 22 months, while the median stay is at one year, or twelve months. The more accurate of the two is the median, because it emphasizes that most of the inmates stay around 12 months.
Name Sentence
Donald Lee 12 months prison, 2 years probation
Richard Smith 12 months, 1 year probation
Wesley Mitchell 14 months prison, 1 year probation
Mary Jones 12 months, 1 year probation
Juan Rodriguez 12 months, 2 years probation
Harold Rothstein 8 months prison, 1 year probation
Michael Reese 84 months prison, 5 years probation
3) The California state tax, at 8.25% on the dollar, adds up fast, even for someone who only spends $5 a week on fast food. For that person, they could expect to save $21.45 a year on tax. For people with a higher likelihood of eating out, who spend $20 a week, they would be looking at a savings of $85.80 a year off of state sales tax.
2) The mean, or average prison term for aggravated assault is just under two years, or 22 months, while the median stay is at one year, or twelve months. The more accurate of the two is the median, because it emphasizes that most of the inmates stay around 12 months.
Name Sentence
Donald Lee 12 months prison, 2 years probation
Richard Smith 12 months, 1 year probation
Wesley Mitchell 14 months prison, 1 year probation
Mary Jones 12 months, 1 year probation
Juan Rodriguez 12 months, 2 years probation
Harold Rothstein 8 months prison, 1 year probation
Michael Reese 84 months prison, 5 years probation
3) The California state tax, at 8.25% on the dollar, adds up fast, even for someone who only spends $5 a week on fast food. For that person, they could expect to save $21.45 a year on tax. For people with a higher likelihood of eating out, who spend $20 a week, they would be looking at a savings of $85.80 a year off of state sales tax.
AP Style Exercise (S-Z)
1) He thought of Smokey Bear every time he got near a smoldering fire or entered a smoky room.
2) The forecast is for lower temperatures, falling to the low 30s by tonight. If the rain continues, as expected, there could be a traveler's advisory.
3) To celebrate Veterans Day, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, troops of former soldiers will march down Main Street carrying U.S. flags.
4) His week-long ordeal will be finished when finals week is over. Until then, his well-being is in doubt.
5) A 19-year-old man was arrested Monday for carrying a Saturday night special without a permit. After being released on bail, he disappeared. His whereabouts is unknown.
6) She’d hoped to be able to trade in her car after getting a tuneup, but she totaled it last night.
7) Could you photocopy that invoice for me? I need it for our year-end budget.
2) The forecast is for lower temperatures, falling to the low 30s by tonight. If the rain continues, as expected, there could be a traveler's advisory.
3) To celebrate Veterans Day, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, troops of former soldiers will march down Main Street carrying U.S. flags.
4) His week-long ordeal will be finished when finals week is over. Until then, his well-being is in doubt.
5) A 19-year-old man was arrested Monday for carrying a Saturday night special without a permit. After being released on bail, he disappeared. His whereabouts is unknown.
6) She’d hoped to be able to trade in her car after getting a tuneup, but she totaled it last night.
7) Could you photocopy that invoice for me? I need it for our year-end budget.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The "Future of News"
Almost a decade ago, I was taking a media values class. A big topic was convergence, and how things would be coming together in the future in various ways.
Those days certainly have arrived. Looking back at 2000-2001, people were infatuated with the online world, and did spend some time reading news articles on their computers. But bandwidth was much more limited back then, and it was pretty unheard of to think about getting news through a video game console or cell phone.
As of 2009, media convergence has been a mainstay for a while, and yes, you can not only read news, but listen to and watch it just about anywhere. Podcasts are becoming blase, and full video with interactive graphics is available on PDA phones, laptops, and netbooks.
With all this technology comes a certain trade-off. Stories seem more rushed to print, and "print" itself is fading fast, being replaced by 1s and 0s, as physical media shrinks at an alarming pace. News-as-entertainment has been on the rise, with cable news staples CNN and Fox News putting out comedy-laced bits with celebrity commentaries obviously meant to rival E! and VH1 programming.
Personalization also is a big hit, with people able to select specific types of content to be spoon-fed to them when, where, and how they want it. Social networking spreads stories, and "citizen reporting" captured on camera phones and other devices make airtime on big networks.
Shows anchored by people with strong views and personalities are popular.
So, where is this all going?
It would seem that these trends will increase, for better or worse. Bloggers will keep blogging, social networks will go through periods of growth, corporate buyouts, and stagnancy, followed by re-invention. Media conglomerates will seek ways to turn garage-founded innovations into profitable ventures that barely resembe their original form and function. Media will possibly become so personalized that meaningful stories outside of someone's stated interests may end up more likely to be overlooked. People will watch blocks of programming alternating between news and opinion without knowing the difference. Government will meddle with free speech as it re-casts the Fairness Doctrine as stating that radio "must serve the public good" while not defining what that paradigm exactly means (probably whatever the current administration feels).
For all the "convergence", media is, and will still be, quite fractured.
Those days certainly have arrived. Looking back at 2000-2001, people were infatuated with the online world, and did spend some time reading news articles on their computers. But bandwidth was much more limited back then, and it was pretty unheard of to think about getting news through a video game console or cell phone.
As of 2009, media convergence has been a mainstay for a while, and yes, you can not only read news, but listen to and watch it just about anywhere. Podcasts are becoming blase, and full video with interactive graphics is available on PDA phones, laptops, and netbooks.
With all this technology comes a certain trade-off. Stories seem more rushed to print, and "print" itself is fading fast, being replaced by 1s and 0s, as physical media shrinks at an alarming pace. News-as-entertainment has been on the rise, with cable news staples CNN and Fox News putting out comedy-laced bits with celebrity commentaries obviously meant to rival E! and VH1 programming.
Personalization also is a big hit, with people able to select specific types of content to be spoon-fed to them when, where, and how they want it. Social networking spreads stories, and "citizen reporting" captured on camera phones and other devices make airtime on big networks.
Shows anchored by people with strong views and personalities are popular.
So, where is this all going?
It would seem that these trends will increase, for better or worse. Bloggers will keep blogging, social networks will go through periods of growth, corporate buyouts, and stagnancy, followed by re-invention. Media conglomerates will seek ways to turn garage-founded innovations into profitable ventures that barely resembe their original form and function. Media will possibly become so personalized that meaningful stories outside of someone's stated interests may end up more likely to be overlooked. People will watch blocks of programming alternating between news and opinion without knowing the difference. Government will meddle with free speech as it re-casts the Fairness Doctrine as stating that radio "must serve the public good" while not defining what that paradigm exactly means (probably whatever the current administration feels).
For all the "convergence", media is, and will still be, quite fractured.
Top News #5
This made Yahoo.com's front-page, and I think it's relevent, so he we go.
It looks like Microsoft finally solved its faulty Xbox 360 problem. After allocating over a billion dollars for fixes to what are said to be extremly high failure rates ending in the "red ring of death", the Seattle tech giant has reportedly been shipping new units with more efficient processors less likely to break from overheating, as well as revamping its refurbishing methods. Many people have gone through 2-3 units.
There are a number of reasons that this story is relevent. First, proximity: the Bay Area is a tech center, with many companies producing games, peripherals and other things tied into the Xbox line. NetFlix, based in Los Gatos, runs streaming content through the Xbox 360's Live service. Second, the video game industry has been quite resilient, marking a good amount of profit in recent years when other industries were suffering more significant downturns, so the impact is somewhat high. Finally, the story is somewhat novel.
The video story was taken down the day after it was posted, but redherring.com carried a similar story.
It looks like Microsoft finally solved its faulty Xbox 360 problem. After allocating over a billion dollars for fixes to what are said to be extremly high failure rates ending in the "red ring of death", the Seattle tech giant has reportedly been shipping new units with more efficient processors less likely to break from overheating, as well as revamping its refurbishing methods. Many people have gone through 2-3 units.
There are a number of reasons that this story is relevent. First, proximity: the Bay Area is a tech center, with many companies producing games, peripherals and other things tied into the Xbox line. NetFlix, based in Los Gatos, runs streaming content through the Xbox 360's Live service. Second, the video game industry has been quite resilient, marking a good amount of profit in recent years when other industries were suffering more significant downturns, so the impact is somewhat high. Finally, the story is somewhat novel.
The video story was taken down the day after it was posted, but redherring.com carried a similar story.
AP Style M-R
1) He hopes to make $1 billion dollars by the time he’s 40. Already he figures his net worth is between $2- and $3 million, depending on current stock prices.
2) Lt. Col. John Carpenter was an ensign at the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the 7th Fleet.
3) Twenty-one winners were named two days after the third annual procrastination awards ceremony.
4) It was a one-sided game, and he was a poor loser. After losing the play-off when his ball went out of bounds, he made an off-color remark that could be heard in the stands.
5) Hundreds of people attended Sunday’s race to watch 75 top bicyclists pedal across the finish line.
6) Every winter, the Joneses and the Kinneys pore over travel brochures, planning their summer trip together. This year they’re hoping to go to Panama City, Florida.
2) Lt. Col. John Carpenter was an ensign at the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the 7th Fleet.
3) Twenty-one winners were named two days after the third annual procrastination awards ceremony.
4) It was a one-sided game, and he was a poor loser. After losing the play-off when his ball went out of bounds, he made an off-color remark that could be heard in the stands.
5) Hundreds of people attended Sunday’s race to watch 75 top bicyclists pedal across the finish line.
6) Every winter, the Joneses and the Kinneys pore over travel brochures, planning their summer trip together. This year they’re hoping to go to Panama City, Florida.
News Story #5
Runaway truck knocks out power, injures several
A runaway truck knocked out power in several cities yesterday when it plowed through a power pole, injuring several people, damaging five vehicles, and setting fire to a house it finally crashed into.
El Cerrito police Detective Sgt. Shawn Maples, among the first rescue workers to arrive at the scene, started digging through the debris after hearing cries coming from the burning truck and house. Spotting the driver lodged between the wheels of the truck, Maples pulled the man out with the help of two other police.
The truck had flipped on its side, and driver's legs were mangled and he couldn't move. Maples said, "We dragged him out in a heartbeat while the truck went up in flames. I just wanted to get him out of there."
Ruben Sharma, who lives on Moeser Lane across the street from the single-story home destroyed in the fire, was just about to head back to work around 1:30 when the crash occurred. He said, "First, I thought it was a major earthquake. This is unbelievable." His front yard was littered with bricks, broken glass, car parts, splintered wood and palm fronds.
A great deal of damage was done to a number of vehicles as well, with a Honda sedan hit by the truck left so crumpled that the driver was trapped inside. Rescue workers sliced into it, peeling back the roof to free the trapped driver.
An electrician's truck that had been parked on Moeser was knocked over to the next street, and a sport utility vehicle that apparently had a man and boy inside ended up stuck in some shrubbery beside the burning house.
The driver of the runaway truck, a San Jose man, broke both of his legs in the crash and was listed in serious but stable condition at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. His name was not released.
A runaway truck knocked out power in several cities yesterday when it plowed through a power pole, injuring several people, damaging five vehicles, and setting fire to a house it finally crashed into.
El Cerrito police Detective Sgt. Shawn Maples, among the first rescue workers to arrive at the scene, started digging through the debris after hearing cries coming from the burning truck and house. Spotting the driver lodged between the wheels of the truck, Maples pulled the man out with the help of two other police.
The truck had flipped on its side, and driver's legs were mangled and he couldn't move. Maples said, "We dragged him out in a heartbeat while the truck went up in flames. I just wanted to get him out of there."
Ruben Sharma, who lives on Moeser Lane across the street from the single-story home destroyed in the fire, was just about to head back to work around 1:30 when the crash occurred. He said, "First, I thought it was a major earthquake. This is unbelievable." His front yard was littered with bricks, broken glass, car parts, splintered wood and palm fronds.
A great deal of damage was done to a number of vehicles as well, with a Honda sedan hit by the truck left so crumpled that the driver was trapped inside. Rescue workers sliced into it, peeling back the roof to free the trapped driver.
An electrician's truck that had been parked on Moeser was knocked over to the next street, and a sport utility vehicle that apparently had a man and boy inside ended up stuck in some shrubbery beside the burning house.
The driver of the runaway truck, a San Jose man, broke both of his legs in the crash and was listed in serious but stable condition at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. His name was not released.
News Story #5
Runaway truck knocks out power, injures several
A runaway truck knocked out power in several cities yesterday when it plowed through a power pole, injuring several people, damaging five vehicles, and setting fire to a house it finally crashed into.
El Cerrito police Detective Sgt. Shawn Maples, among the first rescue workers to arrive at the scene, started digging through the debris after hearing cries coming from the burning truck and house. Spotting the driver lodged between the wheels of the truck, Maples pulled the man out with the help of two other police.
The truck had flipped on its side, and driver's legs were mangled and he couldn't move. Maples said, "We dragged him out in a heartbeat while the truck went up in flames. I just wanted to get him out of there."
Ruben Sharma, who lives on Moeser Lane across the street from the single-story home destroyed in the fire, was just about to head back to work around 1:30 when the crash occurred. He said, "First, I thought it was a major earthquake. This is unbelievable." His front yard was littered with bricks, broken glass, car parts, splintered wood and palm fronds.
A great deal of damage was done to a number of vehicles as well, with a Honda sedan hit by the truck left so crumpled that the driver was trapped inside. Rescue workers sliced into it, peeling back the roof to free the trapped driver.
An electrician's truck that had been parked on Moeser was knocked over to the next street, and a sport utility vehicle that apparently had a man and boy inside ended up stuck in some shrubbery beside the burning house.
The driver of the runaway truck, a San Jose man, broke both of his legs in the crash and was listed in serious but stable condition at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. His name was not released.
A runaway truck knocked out power in several cities yesterday when it plowed through a power pole, injuring several people, damaging five vehicles, and setting fire to a house it finally crashed into.
El Cerrito police Detective Sgt. Shawn Maples, among the first rescue workers to arrive at the scene, started digging through the debris after hearing cries coming from the burning truck and house. Spotting the driver lodged between the wheels of the truck, Maples pulled the man out with the help of two other police.
The truck had flipped on its side, and driver's legs were mangled and he couldn't move. Maples said, "We dragged him out in a heartbeat while the truck went up in flames. I just wanted to get him out of there."
Ruben Sharma, who lives on Moeser Lane across the street from the single-story home destroyed in the fire, was just about to head back to work around 1:30 when the crash occurred. He said, "First, I thought it was a major earthquake. This is unbelievable." His front yard was littered with bricks, broken glass, car parts, splintered wood and palm fronds.
A great deal of damage was done to a number of vehicles as well, with a Honda sedan hit by the truck left so crumpled that the driver was trapped inside. Rescue workers sliced into it, peeling back the roof to free the trapped driver.
An electrician's truck that had been parked on Moeser was knocked over to the next street, and a sport utility vehicle that apparently had a man and boy inside ended up stuck in some shrubbery beside the burning house.
The driver of the runaway truck, a San Jose man, broke both of his legs in the crash and was listed in serious but stable condition at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. His name was not released.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Copy Edit the World
I caught an error in tense in the following paragraph of an AP story: "From the Picassos that graced his walls to historic artifacts and hundreds of sculptures, the artwork that inspired late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent went on display Saturday, three days before it is auctioned."
The last line should read, "three days before it was to be auctioned."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090221/ap_en_ot/eu_france_saint_laurent_auction;_ylt=Asw6F4rlB2nhZ.vJS9cVUspxFb8C
*********
I found an inconsistency in hyphenation in an article between the title and the in-text reference. The title reads, "One-time boyfriend gets 36 years to life for murder" while the text of the article reads "About 30 relatives of Harrison's victim, Laura Yvonne Steward, attended the sentencing in which Superior Court Judge Michael T. Garcia imposed a 36 years-to-life term."
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11755992
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I found an error relating to plural usage in an AP article: "Off-the-shoulder dress soar in popularity" should read "Off-the-shoulder dresses soar in popularity" or even "Off-the-shoulder dress soars in popularity".
http://www.mercurynews.com/lifeandstyleheadlines/ci_11750835
*********
Someone put an incorrect apostrophe in "DVDs" in this AP article: "Bootleg DVD's of Slumdog, which have been selling fast in more prosperous areas, have not made their way through Nehru Nagar's tightly packed lanes of single-room homes and fly-covered garbage dumps."
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11537123?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com
*********
Mercury News also had a misspelling of the word "calendar" in the following: "The calender says winter is almost here and it feels like it."
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11238045?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com
The last line should read, "three days before it was to be auctioned."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090221/ap_en_ot/eu_france_saint_laurent_auction;_ylt=Asw6F4rlB2nhZ.vJS9cVUspxFb8C
*********
I found an inconsistency in hyphenation in an article between the title and the in-text reference. The title reads, "One-time boyfriend gets 36 years to life for murder" while the text of the article reads "About 30 relatives of Harrison's victim, Laura Yvonne Steward, attended the sentencing in which Superior Court Judge Michael T. Garcia imposed a 36 years-to-life term."
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11755992
*********
I found an error relating to plural usage in an AP article: "Off-the-shoulder dress soar in popularity" should read "Off-the-shoulder dresses soar in popularity" or even "Off-the-shoulder dress soars in popularity".
http://www.mercurynews.com/lifeandstyleheadlines/ci_11750835
*********
Someone put an incorrect apostrophe in "DVDs" in this AP article: "Bootleg DVD's of Slumdog, which have been selling fast in more prosperous areas, have not made their way through Nehru Nagar's tightly packed lanes of single-room homes and fly-covered garbage dumps."
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11537123?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com
*********
Mercury News also had a misspelling of the word "calendar" in the following: "The calender says winter is almost here and it feels like it."
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11238045?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com
Top News #4
Cheap oil threatens governments' plans
While American consumers have been getting much needed relief from gas prices at a fraction of their 2008 highs, governments that recently had been flush with energy-fueled cash are finding themselves in a difficult position, as the value of their commodities drops day by day.
The stark drawback of demand from motorists, spurred by high energy costs translating to gas prices in excess of $4.00 per gallon, led to a drastic change in consumption patterns.
Energy exporters find themselves cutting back production, dropping development deals, and questioning future investments.
The article I read in The Washington Post by Steven Mufson was clearly written in a straightforward style, and was detail-driven. There were a number of salient points made about the reciprocal effects of energy market disruption, from changes in driving and car purchasing patters, to governmental pressures mounting as energy-dependent budgets are thrown off.
Another effect of the overall economic situation is that with so many jobs being lost, a significant portion of the workforce is not commuting the way it was before. Even with people carpooling, there were more vehicles on the road and using resources when the economy was rolling along, and now those people are at home claiming disability.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/19/AR2009021903434.html?wpisrc=newsletter
While American consumers have been getting much needed relief from gas prices at a fraction of their 2008 highs, governments that recently had been flush with energy-fueled cash are finding themselves in a difficult position, as the value of their commodities drops day by day.
The stark drawback of demand from motorists, spurred by high energy costs translating to gas prices in excess of $4.00 per gallon, led to a drastic change in consumption patterns.
Energy exporters find themselves cutting back production, dropping development deals, and questioning future investments.
The article I read in The Washington Post by Steven Mufson was clearly written in a straightforward style, and was detail-driven. There were a number of salient points made about the reciprocal effects of energy market disruption, from changes in driving and car purchasing patters, to governmental pressures mounting as energy-dependent budgets are thrown off.
Another effect of the overall economic situation is that with so many jobs being lost, a significant portion of the workforce is not commuting the way it was before. Even with people carpooling, there were more vehicles on the road and using resources when the economy was rolling along, and now those people are at home claiming disability.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/19/AR2009021903434.html?wpisrc=newsletter
Feature lead and story
Fried squirrel takes out mass transit
The Monday afternoon mass transit commute was brought to a grinding halt after a weird series of events resulted in power being lost at the Metro-North Commuter Railroad, stranding 47,000 rail commuters.
What caused this mess? A squirrel.
According to Metro-North spokeswoman Donna Evans, an adventurous squirrel climbed onto the railroad’s power lines and scampered around, electrocuting the rodent and causing a power surge. That weakened an overhead bracket, which led to a wire from the overhead bracket dangling down and getting snagged on a train passing underneath. All the lines were torn down.
With trains not running, would-be commuters couldn’t get out of Manhattan. People waited for hours, but the trains didn’t come.
Crews restored power Tuesday morning, and removed the charred remains of the squirrel.
The Monday afternoon mass transit commute was brought to a grinding halt after a weird series of events resulted in power being lost at the Metro-North Commuter Railroad, stranding 47,000 rail commuters.
What caused this mess? A squirrel.
According to Metro-North spokeswoman Donna Evans, an adventurous squirrel climbed onto the railroad’s power lines and scampered around, electrocuting the rodent and causing a power surge. That weakened an overhead bracket, which led to a wire from the overhead bracket dangling down and getting snagged on a train passing underneath. All the lines were torn down.
With trains not running, would-be commuters couldn’t get out of Manhattan. People waited for hours, but the trains didn’t come.
Crews restored power Tuesday morning, and removed the charred remains of the squirrel.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Nes Story # 4: Close Call
Man on drugs steals car with a new bride in it
A man high on methamphetamines attempted to steal a car Saturday night, even though there was someone in it- a new bride.
According to San Mateo police, a newlywed couple, whose names have not been released, had stopped off for a late night snack at a Taco Bell on their way to a hotel. The groom, still in his tuxedo, ran in to the restaurant, leaving the car running with his wife in it. Alan Ticas-Soto, 21 allegedly took advantage of the situation, dashing through the parking lot and jumping in the still-running car.
The suspect was still fumbling with the gears when the 22-year-old bride, who had been frantically trying to unbuckle her seatbelt, was pulled out of the car by her husband.
The suspect put the car into a forward gear and promptly smashed into a Taco Bell sign, according to the police. He leaped out of the car and ran away.
A man high on methamphetamines attempted to steal a car Saturday night, even though there was someone in it- a new bride.
According to San Mateo police, a newlywed couple, whose names have not been released, had stopped off for a late night snack at a Taco Bell on their way to a hotel. The groom, still in his tuxedo, ran in to the restaurant, leaving the car running with his wife in it. Alan Ticas-Soto, 21 allegedly took advantage of the situation, dashing through the parking lot and jumping in the still-running car.
The suspect was still fumbling with the gears when the 22-year-old bride, who had been frantically trying to unbuckle her seatbelt, was pulled out of the car by her husband.
The suspect put the car into a forward gear and promptly smashed into a Taco Bell sign, according to the police. He leaped out of the car and ran away.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Gas Line Break
South of Mission businesses, others, angered by gas leak
"Ask my customers. They were pretty irate," said Carlann Lauria, manager of Croker's Locker, a self-storage company, after a gas leak effectively shut down a four block area yesterday, leaving businesses and their patrons angered. Another manager, Samantha Feldman of Wa-Ha-Ka restaurant, said that they lost $500 in the shutdown.
Neighborhood residents, drivers, dozens of business owners and their customers were disrupted by the leak, after police cordoned off the area surrounding Folsom and 11th. Lauria said that the employees kept busy by going outside the police perimeter to collect payment checks from their customers.
According to information from PG&E, the mess was caused when a private construction crew accidentally severed a high-pressure gas pipe with a backhoe in the South of Mission area, resulting in at least 100 people being forced out of the area. They had been trying to repair sewer lines in the area.
PG&E said they had the gas restored at 5:09 p.m.
"Ask my customers. They were pretty irate," said Carlann Lauria, manager of Croker's Locker, a self-storage company, after a gas leak effectively shut down a four block area yesterday, leaving businesses and their patrons angered. Another manager, Samantha Feldman of Wa-Ha-Ka restaurant, said that they lost $500 in the shutdown.
Neighborhood residents, drivers, dozens of business owners and their customers were disrupted by the leak, after police cordoned off the area surrounding Folsom and 11th. Lauria said that the employees kept busy by going outside the police perimeter to collect payment checks from their customers.
According to information from PG&E, the mess was caused when a private construction crew accidentally severed a high-pressure gas pipe with a backhoe in the South of Mission area, resulting in at least 100 people being forced out of the area. They had been trying to repair sewer lines in the area.
PG&E said they had the gas restored at 5:09 p.m.
AP Style Exercise (I-L)
1) The last time she played soccer, she suffered a serious injury to her knee. Sometimes it's hard to understand why she wants to keep playing.
2) He was indicted on a charge of assault, but his lawyer said the case against him is circumstantial and she is sure the inquiry will exonerate him.
3) He knows it isn’t kosher, but green Jell-O is his favorite dessert. This admission has prompted his friends to question both his taste and his judgment.
4) Now that he has DSL, he finds it much easier to go online to check his e-mail and download files.
2) He was indicted on a charge of assault, but his lawyer said the case against him is circumstantial and she is sure the inquiry will exonerate him.
3) He knows it isn’t kosher, but green Jell-O is his favorite dessert. This admission has prompted his friends to question both his taste and his judgment.
4) Now that he has DSL, he finds it much easier to go online to check his e-mail and download files.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
AP style #2 E-H
1. His new book, on elections and the Electoral College, is titled “Does Your Vote Count?”
2. Brianna looked so sad that he wanted to envelop her in his arms and give her a big hug, but he was afraid the attention might faze her.
3. They were so impressed by her flair for decorating that they offered praise and agreed to distribute her promotional flier.
4. He suspected his neighbor was selling drugs, so he called the FBI. His neighbor, however, cried foul at the accusation.
5. The boys' stories didn’t jibe, so their father threw down the gauntlet and demanded the truth.
6. My great-grandfather is a real gourmet, so I always let him pick the wine whenever we have dinner.
2. Brianna looked so sad that he wanted to envelop her in his arms and give her a big hug, but he was afraid the attention might faze her.
3. They were so impressed by her flair for decorating that they offered praise and agreed to distribute her promotional flier.
4. He suspected his neighbor was selling drugs, so he called the FBI. His neighbor, however, cried foul at the accusation.
5. The boys' stories didn’t jibe, so their father threw down the gauntlet and demanded the truth.
6. My great-grandfather is a real gourmet, so I always let him pick the wine whenever we have dinner.
Top News 3
The largest spending bill in history was passed this week. The so-called "stimulus" bill, a $787 billion monster, was passed by the Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate, with near-total opposition by Republicans, who viewed the bill, delivered at 11 p.m. the night before the vote, as a thinly-veiled spending bill of Democratic campaign promises.
Including interest costs, the bill will cost taxpayers well over $1 trillion when all is said and done, and the resultant hike in inflation will devalue the American dollar.
President Barack Obama will sign the bill into effect on Tuesday.
This story was at the top of the news in the AP all week. These stories have varied in slant, focusing on either the need for action or the long-term repercussions of massive U.S. debt.
The relevance should be obvious.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/13/AR2009021301596.html?wpisrc=newsletter
Including interest costs, the bill will cost taxpayers well over $1 trillion when all is said and done, and the resultant hike in inflation will devalue the American dollar.
President Barack Obama will sign the bill into effect on Tuesday.
This story was at the top of the news in the AP all week. These stories have varied in slant, focusing on either the need for action or the long-term repercussions of massive U.S. debt.
The relevance should be obvious.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/13/AR2009021301596.html?wpisrc=newsletter
News Stories 1 & 2
San Jose man rescued from burning house
Firefighters rescued a man from his burning San Jose home yesterday. Robert Kent, 50, is reported to be in grave condition after a kitchen fire spread to his attic, engulfing his home in flames, San Jose fire Captain Rob Piper said. Kent, unconscious, was rescued from the kitchen of his single-story home on Annapolis Way after firefighters were notified around 3 p.m. He apparently did not have a smoke detector. He is reported to have third-degree burns on 50 percent of his body, according to a nursing supervisor at Valley Medical Center, where Kent is being treated. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Couple robbed in church parking lot
A tourist couple was robbed in the parking lot of Saint Mary's Cathedral, said San Francisco police Sgt. Lawrence Price. The victims, WeiMing Chen, 28, and his wife, Li Lu, 30, were reportedly taking pictures when they were robbed at gunpoint by a man described as being about 18 years old. The couple said that the assailant took about $100, a Visa card, a camera, and their passports and airline tickets. It is unknown if the couple, part of a tourist group made up of about 30 employees of a Taiwan airline, made their 1 p.m. flight back home. Police are still searching for the suspect.
Firefighters rescued a man from his burning San Jose home yesterday. Robert Kent, 50, is reported to be in grave condition after a kitchen fire spread to his attic, engulfing his home in flames, San Jose fire Captain Rob Piper said. Kent, unconscious, was rescued from the kitchen of his single-story home on Annapolis Way after firefighters were notified around 3 p.m. He apparently did not have a smoke detector. He is reported to have third-degree burns on 50 percent of his body, according to a nursing supervisor at Valley Medical Center, where Kent is being treated. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Couple robbed in church parking lot
A tourist couple was robbed in the parking lot of Saint Mary's Cathedral, said San Francisco police Sgt. Lawrence Price. The victims, WeiMing Chen, 28, and his wife, Li Lu, 30, were reportedly taking pictures when they were robbed at gunpoint by a man described as being about 18 years old. The couple said that the assailant took about $100, a Visa card, a camera, and their passports and airline tickets. It is unknown if the couple, part of a tourist group made up of about 30 employees of a Taiwan airline, made their 1 p.m. flight back home. Police are still searching for the suspect.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Top News #2: Daschle (and others) drop out due to tax "problems"
The Obama Administration had a number of woes this week, several of which stemmed from the recurring issue of potential cabinet appointees' "tax problems."
No less than three persons selected by President Barack Obama for top cabinet positions faced high-level scrutiny relating to previously unpaid taxes: first, Timothy Geithner, the nominee for Treasury secretary, was found to owe $34,000 in back taxes. That was followed by Tom Daschle, who would have been placed at the top of Health and Human Services. His lapse: $128,000. Finally, Nancy Killefer, who was nominated to be a deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget and would have been the administration's chief performance officer, withdrew her name after her own concerns about tax-related scrutiny.
After all of President Obama's rehtoric about "out with the old, in with the new", we seem to be stuck with more of the old failing in new positions.
The story, which I read from multiple sources, including the Associated Press, was summed up rather well by Donald Lambro in his commentary in The Washington Times: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/05/tax-dodge-depot/
The relevence of this story lies in the recurrence of common problems in high officials, even when those officials are policy makers affecting regular citizens with punitive measures for those same problems.
The tone has been increasingly critical; it would appear that the honeymoon period for the new administration is fading away like the savings of many American citizens.
No less than three persons selected by President Barack Obama for top cabinet positions faced high-level scrutiny relating to previously unpaid taxes: first, Timothy Geithner, the nominee for Treasury secretary, was found to owe $34,000 in back taxes. That was followed by Tom Daschle, who would have been placed at the top of Health and Human Services. His lapse: $128,000. Finally, Nancy Killefer, who was nominated to be a deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget and would have been the administration's chief performance officer, withdrew her name after her own concerns about tax-related scrutiny.
After all of President Obama's rehtoric about "out with the old, in with the new", we seem to be stuck with more of the old failing in new positions.
The story, which I read from multiple sources, including the Associated Press, was summed up rather well by Donald Lambro in his commentary in The Washington Times: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/05/tax-dodge-depot/
The relevence of this story lies in the recurrence of common problems in high officials, even when those officials are policy makers affecting regular citizens with punitive measures for those same problems.
The tone has been increasingly critical; it would appear that the honeymoon period for the new administration is fading away like the savings of many American citizens.
Leads Excercise 5
Pipe Fitter Immediate Identification Lead:
Springfield resident Duane La Chance is in critical condition after making accidental contact with a 15,000-volt power line, leaving him with third-degree burns.
The accident occurred yesterday at the Springfield Municipal Power Plant.
Pipe Fitter Delayed Identification Lead:
A Springfield man is in critical condition after being shocked with 15,000 volts from an exposed power line Tuesday afternoon.
The industrial accident left Gross Engineers employee Duane La Chance, 55, with third-degree burns.
Car Accident Immediate Identification Lead:
Springfield residents Cunning, 20, and Wayne Clay, 19, were in a collision today on U.S. 63 when Clay’s vehicle apparently crossed into the other’s lane, leaving Cunning hospitalized, said the Lincoln County Sherriff’s Department.
Car Accident Delayed Identification Lead:
A Springfield resident was hospitalized today after a vehicle crossed into his lane on southbound U.S. 63, colliding with him, local authorities said.
James W. Cunning, 20, was listed was taken to Springfield Hospital.
Springfield resident Duane La Chance is in critical condition after making accidental contact with a 15,000-volt power line, leaving him with third-degree burns.
The accident occurred yesterday at the Springfield Municipal Power Plant.
Pipe Fitter Delayed Identification Lead:
A Springfield man is in critical condition after being shocked with 15,000 volts from an exposed power line Tuesday afternoon.
The industrial accident left Gross Engineers employee Duane La Chance, 55, with third-degree burns.
Car Accident Immediate Identification Lead:
Springfield residents Cunning, 20, and Wayne Clay, 19, were in a collision today on U.S. 63 when Clay’s vehicle apparently crossed into the other’s lane, leaving Cunning hospitalized, said the Lincoln County Sherriff’s Department.
Car Accident Delayed Identification Lead:
A Springfield resident was hospitalized today after a vehicle crossed into his lane on southbound U.S. 63, colliding with him, local authorities said.
James W. Cunning, 20, was listed was taken to Springfield Hospital.
Leads 4
4a) Smoking Wheels
40 passengers were evacuated from their plane today at the LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Municipal Airport after an airport employee spotted smoke emanating from the aircraft’s wheels.
The plane, Northwest Airlines Flight 428, was landing after a flight from Minneapolis when the mishap occured. The cause of the smoke was uncertain.
4b) Missing Boy
A 7-year-old boy missing for three years was found Thursday night in Brick Township, N.J. , when a neighbor called the authorities after recognizing the boy’s picture from the film “Adam: The Song Continues”.
Police arrested the boy’s mother, Ellen Lynn Connor, 27; she faces charges of kidnapping and interference with a custody warrant. The motive for the alleged kidnapping remains unknown at this time.
40 passengers were evacuated from their plane today at the LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Municipal Airport after an airport employee spotted smoke emanating from the aircraft’s wheels.
The plane, Northwest Airlines Flight 428, was landing after a flight from Minneapolis when the mishap occured. The cause of the smoke was uncertain.
4b) Missing Boy
A 7-year-old boy missing for three years was found Thursday night in Brick Township, N.J. , when a neighbor called the authorities after recognizing the boy’s picture from the film “Adam: The Song Continues”.
Police arrested the boy’s mother, Ellen Lynn Connor, 27; she faces charges of kidnapping and interference with a custody warrant. The motive for the alleged kidnapping remains unknown at this time.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
JOUR 61 – AP Style #1 (A-D)
1) Mayor Richard Wrigley expressed confidence that the gubernatorial debate, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will have a positive effect on his candidacy. He stated, “Gov. Red Davidson is a master of dirty politics, but I won’t take any of his baloney.”
2) For her birthday, the nine-year-old girl invited five friends over for ice cream and cake. The chocolate cake was so good that any one of the children could have eaten it all, but they carefully divided it between themselves.
3) Persuaded of the bill’s importance, members of the Democratic and Republican parties came together on Capitol Hill to support anti-terrorism legislation, despite their differences on other issues.
4) ROME – All around the world, Roman Catholics today listened as the pope delivered his homily.
2) For her birthday, the nine-year-old girl invited five friends over for ice cream and cake. The chocolate cake was so good that any one of the children could have eaten it all, but they carefully divided it between themselves.
3) Persuaded of the bill’s importance, members of the Democratic and Republican parties came together on Capitol Hill to support anti-terrorism legislation, despite their differences on other issues.
4) ROME – All around the world, Roman Catholics today listened as the pope delivered his homily.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Top News #1: 93-Year-Old Man Freezes To Death In Apartment When Utility Company Shuts Down Power
93-Year-Old Man Freezes To Death In Apartment When Utility Company Shuts Down Power.
While reading The Mercury News, I came across a news story detailing the unnecessary and tragic loss of a 93-year-old Michigan man who froze to death in his apartment when his utilities were shut off due to non-payment. Evidently, the man, who may have been suffering from dementia, had been getting the money together, which was found clipped to the unpaid bills.
A "limiter" device had been installed several days earlier, which restricted the voltage available to the home, rendering the man's furnace inoperable. He subsequently froze to death.
The sheer tragedy of this story gripped me. It illustrated the vulnerability of the elderly and the potential outcome of a thoughtless, routine action from a company watching its bottom line more than its customers. If the person who had installed the limiter had just checked in on the tenant, the whole thing could have been avoided.
This was a powerful human-interest story, and a cautionary tale about the depersonalization of many of modern society's operations.
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11556857?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com
While reading The Mercury News, I came across a news story detailing the unnecessary and tragic loss of a 93-year-old Michigan man who froze to death in his apartment when his utilities were shut off due to non-payment. Evidently, the man, who may have been suffering from dementia, had been getting the money together, which was found clipped to the unpaid bills.
A "limiter" device had been installed several days earlier, which restricted the voltage available to the home, rendering the man's furnace inoperable. He subsequently froze to death.
The sheer tragedy of this story gripped me. It illustrated the vulnerability of the elderly and the potential outcome of a thoughtless, routine action from a company watching its bottom line more than its customers. If the person who had installed the limiter had just checked in on the tenant, the whole thing could have been avoided.
This was a powerful human-interest story, and a cautionary tale about the depersonalization of many of modern society's operations.
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11556857?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com
Friday, January 30, 2009
Lead #3
Four trains collided Friday near Chase, Md., when Amtrak's northbound Colonial ran into three Conrail locomotives on a four-to-two track merger. The 1:30 p.m. collision was apparently due to the Conrail locomotives, also northbound, running a stop sign, said Amtrak spokesman Larry Chase.
Lead #2 - Air Crash
Over 130 people lost their lives yesterday in the worst United States air disatster in three years. The airliner, en route from Chicago, plowed into the soil just shy of its Pittsburgh destination while attempting to land. All 131 passengers were killed.
Leads Exercise #1
A Butte County couple was awarded $150,000 in damages yesterday, following a lawsuit stemming from an injury accident in March.
***
The second in a series of snowstorms is projected to hit the Sierras today, forcasters say.
***
Three firefighters sustained injuries today while evacuating 41 families from their homes. The blaze swept through a six-story residential building at 204 Union Avenue.
***
The second in a series of snowstorms is projected to hit the Sierras today, forcasters say.
***
Three firefighters sustained injuries today while evacuating 41 families from their homes. The blaze swept through a six-story residential building at 204 Union Avenue.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
First actual "blog" for Journalism 61
Hi. My name is Matt.
As a member of what is known as "Generation X", (albeit by the skin of my teeth at the end of that defined generational period), I started my school years with media dispensed in a certain fashion, available mostly through conventional print methods. By my high school graduation in 1997, the Internet was emerging as a bold new frontier, and e-mail addresses were becoming common.
Now, in the nascent days of 2009, media is everywhere. Convergence has landed, and we can have most of our household appliances connected to the same network that provides us with "paperless" newspapers accessible on desktop computers, laptops, netbooks, PDAs, and cell phones. But how much is too much?
I am interested in issues of media ethics, even as I am concerned about the worrisome slide happening in the "news-as-entertainment" trend. Everyone has access to media, both as users and creators. There is an inflation of sorts in the digital world, where everone can give their two cents at the same time, and woe be unto that person who sets out to discern which currency is "real" and which is "counterfeit". While it is exciting to have avenues of communication and expression open to the average person, what will be the fallout of having, perpetually, too many cooks in the kitchen?
I have edited college newspapers, interviewed celebrities and musicians, and am finishing the final classes left before obtaining my Mass Communications degree at SJSU. I hope that this class will give me some opportunities to "pen" some good articles, without having to do too many exercises based on basic writing skills.
I write assessment reports for California Regional Centers (San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties), where I serve the developmentally disabled populations as an Independent Living Skills Assessor, as well as for the Department of Rehabilitation in San Jose as an Externational Situational Assessment Evaluator, where I do work-skills assessments.
As a member of what is known as "Generation X", (albeit by the skin of my teeth at the end of that defined generational period), I started my school years with media dispensed in a certain fashion, available mostly through conventional print methods. By my high school graduation in 1997, the Internet was emerging as a bold new frontier, and e-mail addresses were becoming common.
Now, in the nascent days of 2009, media is everywhere. Convergence has landed, and we can have most of our household appliances connected to the same network that provides us with "paperless" newspapers accessible on desktop computers, laptops, netbooks, PDAs, and cell phones. But how much is too much?
I am interested in issues of media ethics, even as I am concerned about the worrisome slide happening in the "news-as-entertainment" trend. Everyone has access to media, both as users and creators. There is an inflation of sorts in the digital world, where everone can give their two cents at the same time, and woe be unto that person who sets out to discern which currency is "real" and which is "counterfeit". While it is exciting to have avenues of communication and expression open to the average person, what will be the fallout of having, perpetually, too many cooks in the kitchen?
I have edited college newspapers, interviewed celebrities and musicians, and am finishing the final classes left before obtaining my Mass Communications degree at SJSU. I hope that this class will give me some opportunities to "pen" some good articles, without having to do too many exercises based on basic writing skills.
I write assessment reports for California Regional Centers (San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties), where I serve the developmentally disabled populations as an Independent Living Skills Assessor, as well as for the Department of Rehabilitation in San Jose as an Externational Situational Assessment Evaluator, where I do work-skills assessments.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Too err is human... I hope I don't err....
Testing. This will be my "blog" for my SJSU class. "Blog" is a portmanteau of "bl" and "og".
Testing, testing...
1, 2, 3, sibilance, sibilance, check, check...
Testing, testing...
1, 2, 3, sibilance, sibilance, check, check...
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