if anyone wants to read the article I wrote about evolution at Concordia and Dominican, here's the direct link.
http://www.dominicanstar.com/joomla1/index.php/features/180-divided-by-eight-blocks-and-thousands-of-years-of-evolutionary-history
Friday, November 5, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
A class discussion post which may actually get me in trouble
I probably am being too straightforward in my analysis of the text, but....
I think it's great that we have the FTC because it seems to be pretty helpful in ensuring that consumers as well as competitive companies are treated fairly. And it's a source of revenue in certain ways with all the lawsuits it has won! Finally, something that may help fight the enormous debt our country is in! Unless it's spending more than it receives from lawsuits. hm....more on that later. Not that that's the only think we should be concerned about or the only reason to support the agency.
"As originally conceived, the FTC was not supposed to worry about the impact of advertising on consumers, only competitors" (564).
That statement surprised me because I am under the impression (which is arguably false) that the government is supposed to help the consumers. So there must be a reason that the organization did not start out with that additional purpose in mind. Right?
Not so surprisingly, I found a relevant blog post which was also interesting.
http://www.underpenaltyofcatapult.com/?p=80
I will attempt to read more of this blogger's work in the future. If I remember and have time.Here is a link to the case if you are really interested (it is quite lengthy). http://www.ftc.gov/os/adjpro/d9330/091002gemtronicsinitialdec.pdf
Saturday, September 11, 2010
EAT PraY Lurve
I made a mistake today. I did not check the IMDB ratings of a movie that I wanted to see before buying the $10 ticket. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Despite the ratings on the website, the movie was actually fair. Well maybe that's what it is when it's rated 4.7 stars/ten. Lol.
I think Richard and Katut were pretty funny and there was plenty of advice thrown into the mix. The scenes of the various countries Liz (Julia Roberts) visited were beautiful.
I definitely did get distracted during the movie, however and I agree with user roast-mary1 that there was little variety in characters' personalities.I was also unsatisfied with the ending because I wouldn't have chosen to do what Liz did.
But whatever. It was decent movie entertainment and I think I learned something (just not really sure what).
I am distressed, however, that IMDB only shows one quote from the movie in their quotes section for the film. Maybe I'll do something about that....
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Bill of Rights-Two Additional Amendments not Immediately Ratified by the States
I did not know that there were two proposed amendments to the Constitution which were not ratified by the states. "In fact, in the Bill of Rights presented to the states for ratification, the amendment was listed third. Amendments 1 and 2 were defeated and did not become part of the Constitution" (39). I wondered what Amendments 1 and 2 were, so I looked it up.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Fire?? at old Tischler's building
I drove to Dominick's tonight at about 7:30 to go do some grocery shopping and I saw a few firetrucks and police cars up at the former Tischler's building. I'm almost always curious to know what's going on whenever there are emergency personnel out in the community so I drove around the scene trying to figure out what was happening, especially since there was no visible fire.
I saw firefighters climbing a ladder up onto the roof of the building, and on my way back from the grocery store, I saw a firetruck marked 1511, which is a firetruck from another town, which may mean that this was a larger event.
I did a quick Google search and it appears that noone has yet written an article about it. Can't wait to see if there will be a report in the Doings or Suburban Life.
Here's an article about observing fire scenes:
http://www.kolotv.com/blogs/joeharrington/43326882.html
I saw firefighters climbing a ladder up onto the roof of the building, and on my way back from the grocery store, I saw a firetruck marked 1511, which is a firetruck from another town, which may mean that this was a larger event.
I did a quick Google search and it appears that noone has yet written an article about it. Can't wait to see if there will be a report in the Doings or Suburban Life.
Here's an article about observing fire scenes:
http://www.kolotv.com/blogs/joeharrington/43326882.html
Thursday, July 1, 2010
My Adventures at "Fire Camp": A Dramatic Tale
Sorry I haven't blogged in quite a while. Just haven't had much to write about. But now I do!
You know those registration bracelets which people give you to mark you as having paid or whatever?
I've just broken mine off from what I called "fire camp". Technically it's IFSI's Explorer Cadet Fire School, but when I'm trying to explain what the hell I came back from (yes, I'm still talking about it) last weekend, the easiest way to explain what it was is "fire camp". Unfortunately, my friend's mom got confused by that term and thought that I was out in the wilderness actually fighting fires.
Here's the link to their website: http://www.fsi.illinois.edu/
Anyway, remember Wednesday night's tornado warning and severe thunderstorms? We were supposed to be in our basements waiting out the storm. But where was I? I....
CRUD. My writing style STINKS. This is completely too dramatic and self-focused.
Here's a list of highlights:
1. Meeting George Clooney (an instructor who looked like him)
2. Eating Blazin' wings at Buffalo Wild Wings.
3. Live fire-we were doing a primary and secondary search on Saturday in a "taxpayer," ("commercial occupancy on the first-floor and living quarters on the second") where they have fires burning in grates. I actually had a panic attack because I was going way faster than I've moved in gear and it was REALLY hot in there, so I had to sit out for the rest of the night and Sunday.
4. Sitting on top of a 2-story building.
5. Food. Gotta love having food served out cafeteria style when you're exhausted.
6. Praying as a group of about 200? students, parents, and instructors for firefighters who've died while on the job.
We also did a bunch of other drills such as rope-tying, throwing ladders, an SCBA maze (where you have to go in tight spaces and climb over things in your bunker gear and with your self-contained breathing apparatus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-contained_breathing_apparatus) on.)
You know those registration bracelets which people give you to mark you as having paid or whatever?
I've just broken mine off from what I called "fire camp". Technically it's IFSI's Explorer Cadet Fire School, but when I'm trying to explain what the hell I came back from (yes, I'm still talking about it) last weekend, the easiest way to explain what it was is "fire camp". Unfortunately, my friend's mom got confused by that term and thought that I was out in the wilderness actually fighting fires.
Here's the link to their website: http://www.fsi.illinois.edu/
Anyway, remember Wednesday night's tornado warning and severe thunderstorms? We were supposed to be in our basements waiting out the storm. But where was I? I....
CRUD. My writing style STINKS. This is completely too dramatic and self-focused.
Here's a list of highlights:
1. Meeting George Clooney (an instructor who looked like him)
2. Eating Blazin' wings at Buffalo Wild Wings.
3. Live fire-we were doing a primary and secondary search on Saturday in a "taxpayer," ("commercial occupancy on the first-floor and living quarters on the second") where they have fires burning in grates. I actually had a panic attack because I was going way faster than I've moved in gear and it was REALLY hot in there, so I had to sit out for the rest of the night and Sunday.
4. Sitting on top of a 2-story building.
5. Food. Gotta love having food served out cafeteria style when you're exhausted.
6. Praying as a group of about 200? students, parents, and instructors for firefighters who've died while on the job.
We also did a bunch of other drills such as rope-tying, throwing ladders, an SCBA maze (where you have to go in tight spaces and climb over things in your bunker gear and with your self-contained breathing apparatus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-contained_breathing_apparatus) on.)
Friday, May 7, 2010
Applesauce Cupcakes Recipes
Agnieszka and I were talking about cupcakes because she loves making them, and I remembered that there are some cupcakes that actually have applesauce in them. There are basically two types of cupcake recipes that use applesauce: ones that you actually MAKE applesauce for from actual apples and ones that you just use applesauce as a substitute for oil, eggs, and/or shortening. Replacing eggs with applesauce can be especially awesome because then you can eat the batter uncooked without worrying about Salmonella.
Here are a few links to cupcake recipes that use applesauce:
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/applesauce-muffins
http://www.bhg.com/recipe/cupcakes/applesauce-cupcakes/
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1919,145176-237203,00.html
Here are a few links to cupcake recipes that use applesauce:
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/applesauce-muffins
http://www.bhg.com/recipe/cupcakes/applesauce-cupcakes/
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1919,145176-237203,00.html
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Two Heroes? Fired
http://www.inc.com/news/articles/2010/04/sprint-fires-employees-for-pursuing-shoplifter.html?partner=yahoobuzz#dsq-comments
I think this is ridiculous. Employees should not be FIRED for doing the right thing when they weren't even on duty. I really liked the website's comment feature, but the article had a lot of holes as one commenter pointed out. Such holes included leaving out the two companies' policy for pursuing shoplifters.
Do you have a similar experience? Reaction? Share it!
I think this is ridiculous. Employees should not be FIRED for doing the right thing when they weren't even on duty. I really liked the website's comment feature, but the article had a lot of holes as one commenter pointed out. Such holes included leaving out the two companies' policy for pursuing shoplifters.
Do you have a similar experience? Reaction? Share it!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Armando's Stance on Evolution
hey everybody! I was unable to include the entirety of Armando's (a freshman involved in Campus Crusade for Christ at Dominican) response to my questioning him about his beliefs about evolution, so here is his comment.
I am not entirely sure about how I feel about the subject of evolution. I used to be staunchly against Darwin's theory because I thought that it was opposed to my religious beliefs. The Bible says that God created man in His image and the world in seven days. Darwin's theory says that man evolved from ape (as far as I know). They have to be opposed to each other, right?
Wrong.
Three years ago, when the LORD opened my eyes to the truth and I began this walk with Him, I began to see the world differently. I began to question the things that I had been taught, including the idea that science and religion can never coexist. Now I realize that that idea makes no sense. If God created everything, then He must have created Science as well. There are some areas where Science should not wander, but in regards to evolution, I believe that Science and Religion are not in opposition. Evolution does not deny the fact that God created man. In my opinion, it does not matter how man came to be. The point is that it came about by the hand of God.
In light of my beliefs, I do not see why evolution should not be taught at Dominican. If it is taught, however, it should not promote the idea that Religion and Science are at odds. It should be taught in a way that shows that it coexists with the Bible's teachings.
I am not entirely sure about how I feel about the subject of evolution. I used to be staunchly against Darwin's theory because I thought that it was opposed to my religious beliefs. The Bible says that God created man in His image and the world in seven days. Darwin's theory says that man evolved from ape (as far as I know). They have to be opposed to each other, right?
Wrong.
Three years ago, when the LORD opened my eyes to the truth and I began this walk with Him, I began to see the world differently. I began to question the things that I had been taught, including the idea that science and religion can never coexist. Now I realize that that idea makes no sense. If God created everything, then He must have created Science as well. There are some areas where Science should not wander, but in regards to evolution, I believe that Science and Religion are not in opposition. Evolution does not deny the fact that God created man. In my opinion, it does not matter how man came to be. The point is that it came about by the hand of God.
In light of my beliefs, I do not see why evolution should not be taught at Dominican. If it is taught, however, it should not promote the idea that Religion and Science are at odds. It should be taught in a way that shows that it coexists with the Bible's teachings.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
A little publicity
Sorry it's been so long since I've posted here. Didnt feel like I had anything worthwhile to talk about. But now I have something! Two things, in fact.
My brother was featured in an article on China's Global Times. Here's the link!
http://business.globaltimes.cn/industries/2010-04/522001.html
And here's the link to my article which was somewhat mutilated (accidentally of course) in the Dominican STAR.
http://www.dominicanstar.com/joomla1/index.php/features/180-divided-by-eight-blocks-and-thousands-of-years-of-evolutionary-history
If you have any feedback for my article, please post a comment! :)
I'm also writing another article about the MAP Grant Lobby Day for this upcoming issue! :)
My brother was featured in an article on China's Global Times. Here's the link!
http://business.globaltimes.cn/industries/2010-04/522001.html
And here's the link to my article which was somewhat mutilated (accidentally of course) in the Dominican STAR.
http://www.dominicanstar.com/joomla1/index.php/features/180-divided-by-eight-blocks-and-thousands-of-years-of-evolutionary-history
If you have any feedback for my article, please post a comment! :)
I'm also writing another article about the MAP Grant Lobby Day for this upcoming issue! :)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
A Crippling Statistic
Tonight I was watching Flashforward, one of my favorite TV shows, and the CIA Mosaic team was in Somalia. Long story short, they get intercepted by a powerful Somali man who raises the statistic that "every 6 seconds, a child dies from malnutrition." (This is supported by Action Against Hunger.)
Most people who know something about Africa know about the serious problem of malnutrition there. But do they know about the shortage of education for women? Do they know that the education of women may be a solution to that crisis? When women are given the opportunity to have an education, the people who account for about half of the population are empowered and may be able to better support their families and villages.
Too obvious? Please review-this is a possible entry for the Women's Global Education Project blog.
http://womensglobal.org/News%20and%20Media/blog.html
Most people who know something about Africa know about the serious problem of malnutrition there. But do they know about the shortage of education for women? Do they know that the education of women may be a solution to that crisis? When women are given the opportunity to have an education, the people who account for about half of the population are empowered and may be able to better support their families and villages.
Too obvious? Please review-this is a possible entry for the Women's Global Education Project blog.
http://womensglobal.org/News%20and%20Media/blog.html
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Doctor Strikes Back
Dr. Jack Cassell, a urologist with an office in Mount Dora, Florida, has a sign posted on his door. It suggests Obama supporters go somewhere else for treatment, saying "If you voted for Obama...seek urological care elsewhere. Changes to your healthcare begin right now. Not in 4 years." Cassell, 56, is a registered Republican.
According to the Orlando Sentinel's article, "a patient's politics would not affect his care for them, although he said he would prefer not to treat people who support the president." He does not ask the patient their politics, only has this sign up and feels free to express his disdain for Obama.
Seriously. Read these articles and tell me what you think. There's a poll on the Orlando Sentinel article's webpage.
I'm proud of him for sticking to his guns and showing the world what he thinks. People can just choose not to go to him for urological care. Not that big of a deal.
Cassell's biography
Article in LA Times
Article in NY Times
Orlando Sentinel Article
According to the Orlando Sentinel's article, "a patient's politics would not affect his care for them, although he said he would prefer not to treat people who support the president." He does not ask the patient their politics, only has this sign up and feels free to express his disdain for Obama.
Seriously. Read these articles and tell me what you think. There's a poll on the Orlando Sentinel article's webpage.
I'm proud of him for sticking to his guns and showing the world what he thinks. People can just choose not to go to him for urological care. Not that big of a deal.
Cassell's biography
Article in LA Times
Article in NY Times
Orlando Sentinel Article
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Mall Chapel?!?
There is now a Roman Catholic chapel in a shopping mall in Erie, Pennsylvania. It was opened on Ash Wednesday in 2008 with the help of Bishop Donald Trautman, who says "while the idea of the Church providing outreach in the marketplace may seem new to many, I can assure you that the Catholic tradition is deeply rooted in it." They have the Sacrament of Reconciliation there as well as free literature.
Article about it on the GoErie.com website
So what do you think? Should there be more chapels in malls? Is this inappropriate?
Article about it on the GoErie.com website
So what do you think? Should there be more chapels in malls? Is this inappropriate?
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Palm Sunday
I actually went to church today for the first time in months because it was Palm Sunday. It was actually enjoyable with good music and time for reflection, but I left during the Nicene Creed because I couldn't say the words without feeling like I was lying and the rest of Mass is basically preparation for the Eucharist which I can't participate in and thus feel quite awkward sticking around for.
I then attempted to go find Planned Parenthood's Aurora office to welcome the pro-life Team Illinois bikers and got quite lost, actually driving almost all the way to DeKalb by accident because GoogleMaps lied to me!!! I eventually found the place where it was supposed to be and it wasn't there. So I'm thoroughly confused. Maybe that's a good thing.
Oh and I have a new niece!!! Her name is Elizabeth and her nickname will be Ellie. I won't get the chance to see her until Tuesday, but she exists outside the womb now!!
interesting article: http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/la-na-hometown-santa-fe28-2010mar28,0,7549400.story - story of a guy who claims to be "hypersensitive to certain frequencies of electromagnetic radiation", including wifi, cellphones, etc. I can kinda sympathize b/c i claim to have 4S, but that's another story. Gotta get back to work.
I then attempted to go find Planned Parenthood's Aurora office to welcome the pro-life Team Illinois bikers and got quite lost, actually driving almost all the way to DeKalb by accident because GoogleMaps lied to me!!! I eventually found the place where it was supposed to be and it wasn't there. So I'm thoroughly confused. Maybe that's a good thing.
Oh and I have a new niece!!! Her name is Elizabeth and her nickname will be Ellie. I won't get the chance to see her until Tuesday, but she exists outside the womb now!!
interesting article: http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/la-na-hometown-santa-fe28-2010mar28,0,7549400.story - story of a guy who claims to be "hypersensitive to certain frequencies of electromagnetic radiation", including wifi, cellphones, etc. I can kinda sympathize b/c i claim to have 4S, but that's another story. Gotta get back to work.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Casino Night
I just got back from CASINO NIGHT!!!!!!!!! It's this one event at DU where, yup, everyone gets to gamble-with chips given by the school, of course. After gambling, we get to cash in our chips for raffle tickets. Though the prizes are slightly lame, there's still that thrill of winning something or even just having the chance to win something that gets people extremely excited. Well for some that is. Others, who could be called gambling enthusiasts, just come to gamble and don't care at all about the prizes. My friend Tim is one of those guys. He won big and kindly gave me a couple of chips when I ran out.
A few of my friends felt that last year's Casino Night was better than this year's. We couldn't figure out why.
One of my friends who no longer goes to DU was there tonight! It was so great to see him and hang out with the guys for the night. Apparently there'll be a new chair for the computer science department and my friends are a little stunned. Kevin and Jeff and I didn't feel like going to sleep right after that so we went to Submarine Tender (Sub T). Food wasn't all that great, based on Kevin's sub which he said was worse than Chartwells' and my average fries and shake.
Sidenote: Now that I think about it, anyone off the street could come in and play if they knew it was tonight since there are no ID checks. I don't really care about that possibility because it wouldn't be such a big deal to me, but it IS possible. All you would have to do is walk onto DU campus, find a flyer and then come. Is that weird?
It's nice to have the couple friends I have here at DU. It's not easy for me to relate to a lot of the people here, but I expect that good things will come if I keep trying.
A few of my friends felt that last year's Casino Night was better than this year's. We couldn't figure out why.
One of my friends who no longer goes to DU was there tonight! It was so great to see him and hang out with the guys for the night. Apparently there'll be a new chair for the computer science department and my friends are a little stunned. Kevin and Jeff and I didn't feel like going to sleep right after that so we went to Submarine Tender (Sub T). Food wasn't all that great, based on Kevin's sub which he said was worse than Chartwells' and my average fries and shake.
Sidenote: Now that I think about it, anyone off the street could come in and play if they knew it was tonight since there are no ID checks. I don't really care about that possibility because it wouldn't be such a big deal to me, but it IS possible. All you would have to do is walk onto DU campus, find a flyer and then come. Is that weird?
It's nice to have the couple friends I have here at DU. It's not easy for me to relate to a lot of the people here, but I expect that good things will come if I keep trying.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Journalism Work in Progress
I'm writing a profile piece on Dr. Faltynek, a chemistry professor at Dominican University for my Intro to Journalism class. I had Faltynek last year for Gen Chem I and II and thought he was a really cool guy, so now I get to annoy him with ridiculous questions such as "What was your childhood like" and "If you could be an element on the periodic table, which element would you be?" He actually said he enjoyed being interviewed, however, and I'm going back tomorrow for some follow-up questions. By the way, he said all his ties are gifts and that he hasn't bought one in 11 years.
Does anyone have any questions they'd like to ask him? a science professor?
If you want me to post my article on him when I've finished it, please hit "tell me more". If you don't, hit "tmi".
Does anyone have any questions they'd like to ask him? a science professor?
If you want me to post my article on him when I've finished it, please hit "tell me more". If you don't, hit "tmi".
Monday, March 22, 2010
Another survey going around!
Val is doing a survey for her advertising class on microfinancing and OptINNow. It only takes like 10 minutes so if you have the time and are willing to help out please go to her FB event page at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=105632556133311.
Val has now ended her project.
Val has now ended her project.
XKCD.com
Drew endorsed this website on facebook and it's a great thing he did because it's hilarious. Some of the humor is a little raunchy, but I spent (note: not wasted!) about an hour looking through the comic strips posted here. Go check it out!
Drew is also doing a really short survey on what people call carbonated beverages. Please go help him out!!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=104303029601830&ref=mf
Direct link to the survey: http://www.kwiksurveys.com/online-survey.php?surveyID=KJNOOO_5791f1dc
Drew is also doing a really short survey on what people call carbonated beverages. Please go help him out!!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=104303029601830&ref=mf
Direct link to the survey: http://www.kwiksurveys.com/online-survey.php?surveyID=KJNOOO_5791f1dc
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Thursday
Tonight I did my presentation on blogging. I felt it went rather well, but I wish more people could have been there. It was quite an ego-boost to be doing a public presentation on blogging, lol.
Flashforward, this show I really like, resumed tonight. The new episode will be available on hulu tomorrow and I'm so excited to see it! I miss watching Cold Case and Without a Trace...they're on so late at night that it's usually not worth staying up to see them.
I'm going to interview Dr. Faltynek tomorrow afternoon for an profile article for Intro to Journalism...anyone have any questions they've always wanted to ask a science professor?
Nothing else super exciting is going on unfortunately.
Flashforward, this show I really like, resumed tonight. The new episode will be available on hulu tomorrow and I'm so excited to see it! I miss watching Cold Case and Without a Trace...they're on so late at night that it's usually not worth staying up to see them.
I'm going to interview Dr. Faltynek tomorrow afternoon for an profile article for Intro to Journalism...anyone have any questions they've always wanted to ask a science professor?
Nothing else super exciting is going on unfortunately.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Blogging/Social Networking Presentation Tomorrow
I'm presenting information about blogging tomorrow as part of the Videogame/Technology Club night and I'm really nervous but excited at the same time. My blog has only been "in business" for a few months now and it's been a while since I've made an individual presentation. I'm of course creating a powerpoint presentation which will certainly be useful, but I'm running out of topics I wish to discuss. So maybe what I'm asking for is this: what information do you think might be useful to include? I really want to make it AWESOME!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Digital Divide & Net Neutrality
Tonight in my TV/Radio/Internet Industries class we discussed the Digital Divide and Net Neutrality. Both concepts are surprisingly relevant to "real life".
(Now when I say that, I don't mean disrespect to my professor, but as we all know, so often what we discuss in school seems hardly important to our daily lives. You know, college is supposed to be that place where you discuss concepts which are either beyond the basics and are "enlightening" or more "relevant" to what future we want to create for ourselves. But sometimes (for some people, frequently would be a better word), that doesn't happen. I'm glad about 75% of my coursework has actually been one or both of those (whether I understood the work at the time or not), and that it's only the little things I have to complain about.)
I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with the terms "digital divide" and "net neutrality" so here's some information!
The digital divide is the gap between people who have access to the internet and people who do not.
My professor asked a few questions of us which maybe you guys want to answer too:
Is technology neutral? (Interpret as you wish; I still don't understand the question.)
Does technology itself widen or narrow the gap between the rich and the poor?
Net Neutrality is the current standing of the federal government which does not enable the 4 ISPs (AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, and Time Warner) to basically take control of what content is available on the internet to users. The 4 ISPs want to get rid of this, and they are currently lobbying in Congress to do so.
For more on digital divide, try taking a look at wikipedia (lol), Bridge the Digital Divide (effort to discontinue this phenomenon), and this website of the US Dept of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration committee.
For more on net neutrality, here are links to:
wikipedia
http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/should-the-government-regulate-net-neutrality (OOH THIS LOOKS LIKE A GREAT WEBSITE!!)
http://www.savetheinternet.com/ (effort to maintain net neutrality)
(Now when I say that, I don't mean disrespect to my professor, but as we all know, so often what we discuss in school seems hardly important to our daily lives. You know, college is supposed to be that place where you discuss concepts which are either beyond the basics and are "enlightening" or more "relevant" to what future we want to create for ourselves. But sometimes (for some people, frequently would be a better word), that doesn't happen. I'm glad about 75% of my coursework has actually been one or both of those (whether I understood the work at the time or not), and that it's only the little things I have to complain about.)
I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with the terms "digital divide" and "net neutrality" so here's some information!The digital divide is the gap between people who have access to the internet and people who do not.
My professor asked a few questions of us which maybe you guys want to answer too:
Is technology neutral? (Interpret as you wish; I still don't understand the question.)
Does technology itself widen or narrow the gap between the rich and the poor?
Net Neutrality is the current standing of the federal government which does not enable the 4 ISPs (AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, and Time Warner) to basically take control of what content is available on the internet to users. The 4 ISPs want to get rid of this, and they are currently lobbying in Congress to do so.
For more on digital divide, try taking a look at wikipedia (lol), Bridge the Digital Divide (effort to discontinue this phenomenon), and this website of the US Dept of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration committee.
For more on net neutrality, here are links to:
wikipedia
http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/should-the-government-regulate-net-neutrality (OOH THIS LOOKS LIKE A GREAT WEBSITE!!)
http://www.savetheinternet.com/ (effort to maintain net neutrality)
Friday, March 12, 2010
I refuse to put a title here title
Just woke up from a nap (I'm sick) where I dreamed that I was in a military FPS RPG game. I kept messing up because I wasn't following the directions and because my team was hell-bent on completing the mission despite losing so many guys I was the last one remaining.
WHY?
Why does it seem that most people tend not to follow directions? Or is that a false assumption?
I did a tidbit of research on whether or not people tend to follow directions and found the following articles which though slightly irrelevant (the best i could find tho in the couple minutes I spent) are still potentially interesting:
"A high percentage of doctors are not following national guidelines that could help them treat patients better. They don’t have enough information, time or readiness to change—or enough confidence in their ability to do everything the guidelines recommend, according to a new study." The study, unfortunately, is from 1999.
See article here: Study finds reasons doctors don’t follow directions
"Two-thirds of jurors in criminal trials do not fully understand the trial judge's legal directions, according to a study published today based on research carried out in England & Wales."
See article here: Two thirds of jurors don't follow directions, study suggests
And THAT is the extent of the somewhat relevant information I found. Looks like somebody should do a massive psychological study. Or maybe you know of one? Let me know so we can post it up here.
Now I'm not trying to preach here. I rarely follow directions because I think I know how to figure things out without them. I don't even really like to follow directions if I'm 85% sure I know where I'm going. Using a recipe, however, is something I do do.
But I am interested in why or to what extent people don't.
Do you follow directions?
BTW, another blogger wrote a great post on this topic. See it here: http://beyondtheoutside.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/following-directions/
WHY?
Why does it seem that most people tend not to follow directions? Or is that a false assumption?
I did a tidbit of research on whether or not people tend to follow directions and found the following articles which though slightly irrelevant (the best i could find tho in the couple minutes I spent) are still potentially interesting:
"A high percentage of doctors are not following national guidelines that could help them treat patients better. They don’t have enough information, time or readiness to change—or enough confidence in their ability to do everything the guidelines recommend, according to a new study." The study, unfortunately, is from 1999.See article here: Study finds reasons doctors don’t follow directions
"Two-thirds of jurors in criminal trials do not fully understand the trial judge's legal directions, according to a study published today based on research carried out in England & Wales."
See article here: Two thirds of jurors don't follow directions, study suggests
And THAT is the extent of the somewhat relevant information I found. Looks like somebody should do a massive psychological study. Or maybe you know of one? Let me know so we can post it up here.Now I'm not trying to preach here. I rarely follow directions because I think I know how to figure things out without them. I don't even really like to follow directions if I'm 85% sure I know where I'm going. Using a recipe, however, is something I do do.
But I am interested in why or to what extent people don't.
Do you follow directions?
BTW, another blogger wrote a great post on this topic. See it here: http://beyondtheoutside.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/following-directions/
Thursday, March 11, 2010
End of the trip
I got back from SF last night and am now trudging through homework.
Drew and I actually got the chance to meet up on my last day in SF. It was really unusual seeing him there! ok more like WHAT!?!?!?! I'm seeing one of my friends by random chance in another state!?!?!? He was there with one of his friends and that friend's sister and we met up after I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge.
Actually crossing the bridge ON FOOT!! was so awesome I need to talk about it.
1. It was REALLY REALLY windy.
2. There were 3/4 suicide hotline booths which people were laughing at (initially, I admit, I thought it was a tiny bit funny but then I got over that and thought it was sad. (obviously))
3. It was beautiful.
4. It was REALLY REALLY windy.
Here's a picture. (More pictures of Drew and me and his friend and her sister available on Facebook.)
Just 2 more things:
1. I saw Men who Stare at Goats on the flight back and liked it.
2. A really stupid joke I made up:
Q: What did one crepe say to the other crepe when he saw him doing something weird?
A: You're a bit crepe-y!
Tom said it'd be better if it were like this:
Q: What did one pancake say to the other pancake when he saw him doing something weird?
A: You're a bit crepe-y!
Like it????
Drew and I actually got the chance to meet up on my last day in SF. It was really unusual seeing him there! ok more like WHAT!?!?!?! I'm seeing one of my friends by random chance in another state!?!?!? He was there with one of his friends and that friend's sister and we met up after I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge.
Actually crossing the bridge ON FOOT!! was so awesome I need to talk about it.
1. It was REALLY REALLY windy.
2. There were 3/4 suicide hotline booths which people were laughing at (initially, I admit, I thought it was a tiny bit funny but then I got over that and thought it was sad. (obviously))
3. It was beautiful.
4. It was REALLY REALLY windy.
Just 2 more things:
1. I saw Men who Stare at Goats on the flight back and liked it.
2. A really stupid joke I made up:
Q: What did one crepe say to the other crepe when he saw him doing something weird?
A: You're a bit crepe-y!
Tom said it'd be better if it were like this:
Q: What did one pancake say to the other pancake when he saw him doing something weird?
A: You're a bit crepe-y!
Like it????
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Not just "another Johnny Depp movie"
Alice in Wonderland (2010) is the story of Alice, a girl who is about to embark on some serious adventures in "real life" when she spots the White Rabbit who encourages her to follow him down a rabbit hole.
I saw the movie Sunday night and, in short, I'm between liking it and loving it. It was a little weird because Tim Burton's style is always a little out there, what with Johnny Depp's portrayal of the Mad Hatter, etc. But I really liked it anyway because Burton really made the story "come alive" for me. I would go as far as to say that it was nearly as good as Avatar. And all this after dreading seeing it because I thought I hated the story!
The end was pretty cheesy though since it was completely unrealistic for the time period. But to end it differently would compromise the message, which I strongly believed was "find yourself; be yourself". If Alice was truly like that, then her actions at the end were appropriate.
This is a movie I would see again. Tell me what you think.
Monday, March 8, 2010
San Francisco, Day Three (Monday)
Today I went to Fisherman's Wharf and hung out, got a delicious strawberry crêpe, and did some shopping. I also went to In-N-Out Burger, a somewhat classier version of a hamburger fast food place. Classier b/c it tries harder to be less disgusting.
I dont think I've told you all about my crêpe obsession. Basically, whenever I go to a new restaurant where i can get them, I do. I used to be on a serious search for the best ones ever since I made them in Home Economics class in 7th? grade, but now it's more of a casual hobby. Supposedly I HAVE to go to France if I want to get the best...but I'm hoping I can find the best in the US. Today's was pretty good, but the hip style of the crêpe restaurant and the two guys running the place was probably the best part. It's not every day you see two Hispanic guys running a crêpe hut. Still have to hit up La Crêperie in Chicago.
Do you have a similar obsessional quest? Or am I just weird? (or both, haha)
I dont think I've told you all about my crêpe obsession. Basically, whenever I go to a new restaurant where i can get them, I do. I used to be on a serious search for the best ones ever since I made them in Home Economics class in 7th? grade, but now it's more of a casual hobby. Supposedly I HAVE to go to France if I want to get the best...but I'm hoping I can find the best in the US. Today's was pretty good, but the hip style of the crêpe restaurant and the two guys running the place was probably the best part. It's not every day you see two Hispanic guys running a crêpe hut. Still have to hit up La Crêperie in Chicago.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
San Francisco, Day Two
I woke up pretty late this morning so I think I missed out on the opportunity for "dim sum". But I'd like to tell you all about the rest of yesterday. INTERJECTION: Jim came in now and told me it's not too late! More ridiculous food!
After we got back from Sally's, a bunch of us took naps. Then we got ready for the rest of the day. We went to the Mission district for the evening, and it was beautiful. We crossed over the expressway via a little catwalk and that was really cool. I love catwalks, btw. Getting to see all the cars zooming by is really neat, haha.
Once we crossed over the catwalk, we were in the outskirts of the Mission district, Jim said.
We found this taco truck where we each had head and neck of pig? It actually was pretty good even though I was pretty nervous about eating it, naturally :P We also got some mangos from a street vendor who was selling them a lot cheaper than Wild Oats does.
We then got to see the murals! I dont remember where they are located, unfortunately, but Yvonne took a bunch of pictures of our entire day so I'll upload those as soon as she does.
Then we passed by this Mission pie place where Yvonne said that the restaurant owners had found a bunch of street kids and taught them how to make pies so they could be employed. I thought that was pretty cool. We might go back and grab some pie today or tomorrow but we didnt want to show up to the restaurant with too much food already with us!
We then walked several blocks to the bar where we had some more crazy food like bone marrow. It was a really nice place and the waiter was cute, so we took a picture of him and me in Aunt Gloria's honor. We then took the bus home, where I spotted an older black man playing the guitar with his dog. I thought the guy was blind because he had the dog and the sunglasses, but Jim said he was walking far too well to actually be blind.
We got home and they watched a movie but I went straight to bed. Jim isn't feeling too well but he's still willing and ready to go about the city with us, so I'm glad.
After we got back from Sally's, a bunch of us took naps. Then we got ready for the rest of the day. We went to the Mission district for the evening, and it was beautiful. We crossed over the expressway via a little catwalk and that was really cool. I love catwalks, btw. Getting to see all the cars zooming by is really neat, haha.
Once we crossed over the catwalk, we were in the outskirts of the Mission district, Jim said.
We found this taco truck where we each had head and neck of pig? It actually was pretty good even though I was pretty nervous about eating it, naturally :P We also got some mangos from a street vendor who was selling them a lot cheaper than Wild Oats does.
We then got to see the murals! I dont remember where they are located, unfortunately, but Yvonne took a bunch of pictures of our entire day so I'll upload those as soon as she does.
Then we passed by this Mission pie place where Yvonne said that the restaurant owners had found a bunch of street kids and taught them how to make pies so they could be employed. I thought that was pretty cool. We might go back and grab some pie today or tomorrow but we didnt want to show up to the restaurant with too much food already with us!
We then walked several blocks to the bar where we had some more crazy food like bone marrow. It was a really nice place and the waiter was cute, so we took a picture of him and me in Aunt Gloria's honor. We then took the bus home, where I spotted an older black man playing the guitar with his dog. I thought the guy was blind because he had the dog and the sunglasses, but Jim said he was walking far too well to actually be blind.
We got home and they watched a movie but I went straight to bed. Jim isn't feeling too well but he's still willing and ready to go about the city with us, so I'm glad.
Recent Changes to the Blog
I've decided that it would be more appropriate to title this blog more personally since it has really only been me writing. If there is significant revolutionary backlash, I will change it back, but I feel like I'm lying to my readers if I kept it the way it was.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
San Francisco, Day One, Part 2
I'm here! Took a cab to Yvonne's house (my brother Jim's girlfriend) and everything has gone pretty smoothly. We went out for breakfast at Sally's almost as soon as I got here where I got french toast with nutella and bananas and it was pretty good! We're going to Bar Tartine tonight in the Mission district with Yvonne's sister Caroline. I'm somewhat anxious because even though I want to try a lot of new stuff here, the food there seems a little scary. I kinda forgot how hilly it is here too! I knew it was hilly, but this hilly all over the place? Jim and Yvonne were joking that they're glad the bus stop they need to go to to get to work is down the hill because otherwise it'd be a lot harder to get to work on time. My battery's running low; I'll check back in later!
San Francisco, Day One
This was written while I was on the plane.
Today I'm on my way to San Francisco. I should be there in a few hours. The flight I'm on has been quite enjoyabe; there hasn't been anything too dramatic. Even though it meant getting up before the sun, (4am to be exact), the trip has really been somewhat fun already. There's only one woman, Sue, in my row on my side, and she's nice. She kindly helped me with my bag and we kinda joked together a little before we both just fell asleep.
(I really enjoy writing in this style by the way. It makes me feel more "professional" or something.)
You know, quite a few travel books suggest places where you can go "people-watching," but people seem to be creeped out when you appear to be doing anything like that. Odd (and an odd tangent, :P )
Maybe Nora felt this way when she was writing her blog about England (she might still be, idk, I haven't read it in a while unfortunately). There's a tricky balance between being too formal and being too personal. And I just skipped from one end of the spectrum to the other!
Anyways, the airport at home wasn't too bad either. Security went pretty smoothly once a bunch of us made a mad dash to a less crowded station that had opened up. I even had time to stop for gum and some chow. I wish I remember the name of the place where I got chow from; the men who were working there were REALLY nice and friendly. But I can describe the location! It was a cafe near gate C24. I was actually thinking of giving them a tip but stingily didn't because I'm on limited funds right now. I really wanted to run back and toss a $20 in, but that wouldn't be wise.
But I guess quality conversation takes two people; money isn't a necessary part of the equation. Unless they're truly in dire poverty. I was thinking maybe poor people could hire themselves out as conversation partners? That would require a certain level of trust however, and there are good people to talk to for free if you have the courage. That's all for now folks!
PS: I really could use a pencil sharpener. And I'm taking a taxi alone for the first time today! Yikes! :P
Today I'm on my way to San Francisco. I should be there in a few hours. The flight I'm on has been quite enjoyabe; there hasn't been anything too dramatic. Even though it meant getting up before the sun, (4am to be exact), the trip has really been somewhat fun already. There's only one woman, Sue, in my row on my side, and she's nice. She kindly helped me with my bag and we kinda joked together a little before we both just fell asleep.
(I really enjoy writing in this style by the way. It makes me feel more "professional" or something.)
You know, quite a few travel books suggest places where you can go "people-watching," but people seem to be creeped out when you appear to be doing anything like that. Odd (and an odd tangent, :P )
Maybe Nora felt this way when she was writing her blog about England (she might still be, idk, I haven't read it in a while unfortunately). There's a tricky balance between being too formal and being too personal. And I just skipped from one end of the spectrum to the other!
Anyways, the airport at home wasn't too bad either. Security went pretty smoothly once a bunch of us made a mad dash to a less crowded station that had opened up. I even had time to stop for gum and some chow. I wish I remember the name of the place where I got chow from; the men who were working there were REALLY nice and friendly. But I can describe the location! It was a cafe near gate C24. I was actually thinking of giving them a tip but stingily didn't because I'm on limited funds right now. I really wanted to run back and toss a $20 in, but that wouldn't be wise.
But I guess quality conversation takes two people; money isn't a necessary part of the equation. Unless they're truly in dire poverty. I was thinking maybe poor people could hire themselves out as conversation partners? That would require a certain level of trust however, and there are good people to talk to for free if you have the courage. That's all for now folks!
PS: I really could use a pencil sharpener. And I'm taking a taxi alone for the first time today! Yikes! :P
Friday, February 26, 2010
If today was your last day...
These questions are rather popular in the media, as evidenced by movies like The Bucket List and songs like "If Today was your Last Day" (Nickelback). But do we really take the message to heart? Or do we just enjoy thinking about these questions in a rhetorical fashion? It seems to me sometimes that the question is taken too lightly or used as a way to judge people as being insufficiently family-orientated.
I watched two movies tonight: Forgiving Dr. Mengele and Sophie Scholl: The Final Days. Both films were about the Holocaust, but took completely different approaches. FDM was a documentary about Eva Kor, an Auschwitz survivor who has "forgiven" the Nazis for the events of the Holocaust, and SSTFD was a drama based on a true story about a young woman in Nazi Germany who got arrested and executed because of her involvement in the White Rose resistance group.
Both movies brought up important questions.
FDM-What is forgiveness? Do we have the authority to forgive? Does forgiveness heal? Is forgiveness more for the benefit of the victim or the benefit of the person who hurt the victim?
SSTFD-Would you have the courage to stand up for your beliefs if you knew you could get in serious trouble? Is there a point where you can turn back or is it better to just accept all of the consequences? What would you want your final words and thoughts to be?
SSTFD was the kind of movie my mother would really enjoy because there were several quotes in defense of humanity. Sophie tells the man interrogating her, "Trucks came to pick up the children at the mental hospital. The other children asked where they were going. "They're going to heaven," said the nurses. So the children got on the truck singing. You think I wasn't raised right, because I felt pity for them? "
SSTFD was the kind of movie my mother would really enjoy because there were several quotes in defense of humanity. Sophie tells the man interrogating her, "Trucks came to pick up the children at the mental hospital. The other children asked where they were going. "They're going to heaven," said the nurses. So the children got on the truck singing. You think I wasn't raised right, because I felt pity for them? "
Oh and I'm really glad American court systems are better than the ones of Nazi Germany.
For more information on the Sophie Scholl movie, please visit http://www.sophieschollmovie.com/
If you want to learn more about Eva Kor's museum, go to http://www.candlesholocaustmuseum.org/
Dear whoever is reading this: Please post any comments you might have!!! :D
Sunday, February 21, 2010
What YOU REALLY should know about JOURNALISTS and JOURNALISM
There are two things that really stick out to me about journalism that I'm not sure if people are familiar with. I feel these two general concepts are extremely important to keep in mind while being interviewed.
For one thing, if you don't say "take me off the record" or "please don't write this in your article" or "this is just between you and me," the journalist can write it in the paper.
Basically, you have the right to remain silent. Use it. It's only libel if the facts are UNTRUE. If you don't want it written, tell us during the interview.
My personal quip about this is that I've been more than ethical to my sources for one of my articles, checking over their quotes with them and losing part of what they originally said as a consequence. I did not have to do that, and I could have gotten a much better story if I hadn't.
Also, journalists can be very rude people. According to a poll in my Inside Reporting book, 77 of 100 interviewed professional journalists would read notes and letters if left on a public official's desk while the person they were interviewing left the room.
Be careful of what you let us see and hear.
For one thing, if you don't say "take me off the record" or "please don't write this in your article" or "this is just between you and me," the journalist can write it in the paper.
Basically, you have the right to remain silent. Use it. It's only libel if the facts are UNTRUE. If you don't want it written, tell us during the interview.
My personal quip about this is that I've been more than ethical to my sources for one of my articles, checking over their quotes with them and losing part of what they originally said as a consequence. I did not have to do that, and I could have gotten a much better story if I hadn't.
Also, journalists can be very rude people. According to a poll in my Inside Reporting book, 77 of 100 interviewed professional journalists would read notes and letters if left on a public official's desk while the person they were interviewing left the room.
Be careful of what you let us see and hear.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Bashed in the Head with Freedom
I wish high school could have prepared me better for university life because being a college student is really not so simple. We finally have all the time in the world, all the courses we could possibly want to take, and all the decisions a bunch of us (I assume) are not 100% ready to make. I'm glad we have a core curriculum. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know what to do.
Angel has stressed to a bunch of us over and over that college is our one opportunity in life to take risks we normally wouldn't be able to take. But how can we when we have so much work to do? I'm swamped in the enormous amount of reading and writing my professors expect me to do. I've never read this much in my entire life. I don't even know sometimes if I can read; it gets that bad. All the words just tend to flow together so that I can barely get any information out of it...I skim almost everything because I can't afford to spend the time to make sure I understand everything completely. And yet the alternative isn't so easy either-SCIENCE. Actually, I was sorta kicked out of science by Professor Faltynek since I really wasn't doing so well at it.
Angel has stressed to a bunch of us over and over that college is our one opportunity in life to take risks we normally wouldn't be able to take. But how can we when we have so much work to do? I'm swamped in the enormous amount of reading and writing my professors expect me to do. I've never read this much in my entire life. I don't even know sometimes if I can read; it gets that bad. All the words just tend to flow together so that I can barely get any information out of it...I skim almost everything because I can't afford to spend the time to make sure I understand everything completely. And yet the alternative isn't so easy either-SCIENCE. Actually, I was sorta kicked out of science by Professor Faltynek since I really wasn't doing so well at it.
And then come relationships. The freedom to have the best-and the worst-feelings, experiences, everything. No wonder college is typically a madhouse.
Not that freedom should be taken away from us. Freedom is a good thing, especially if you realize the responsibilities you maintain. But sometimes it just really hurts my head, what with my extremely active imagination which can play out sequences of a variety of events that could potentially happen. It gets scary sometimes too. The expectations of college students are high, and the stress they produce is anything but low.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Movies this Weekend
Blind Side
Passengers (2008)
Both were good; please see. Blind Side is less cheesy, but Passengers is still good. Passengers is one of those "trick movies" like Fight Club. I thought the acting was great in each.
Passengers (2008)
Both were good; please see. Blind Side is less cheesy, but Passengers is still good. Passengers is one of those "trick movies" like Fight Club. I thought the acting was great in each.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
When you find yourself in times of trouble...
and have an hour to refocus your energy, direct yourself to the nearest legitimate library. Pick a subject, any subject, that might interest you at all or just wander around until you find something that looks potentially interesting. Then you shall find bliss...at least for a while.
Ok so that sounds stupid. Point is, I was browsing the Dominican library for a little while around the section I had been using for a slightly boring exercise in dictionary skills for Italian class. Near the massive Italian-Italian dictionaries I FOUND IT!!!
What? A two-volume set of 5-language pictorial dictionaries from the 1950s. They seriously made my day...with the picture of "the lady's servant" and the picture of the baby carriage.
libraries are officially back on the cool list.
Ok so that sounds stupid. Point is, I was browsing the Dominican library for a little while around the section I had been using for a slightly boring exercise in dictionary skills for Italian class. Near the massive Italian-Italian dictionaries I FOUND IT!!!
What? A two-volume set of 5-language pictorial dictionaries from the 1950s. They seriously made my day...with the picture of "the lady's servant" and the picture of the baby carriage.
libraries are officially back on the cool list.
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Value of a Non-Profit
"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone..."
Team Kid Care is yet another one of those organizations I intended on working for but failed to because honestly, I don't have much time and my interests in helping specific organizations tend to fluctuate.
Information about Team Kid Care:
"Team Kid Care is an innovative non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of children with serious medical conditions and their families"
http://www.teamkidcare.org/
Unfortunately, I never volunteered with them. :( Maybe if I had helped them they wouldn't have gone under? Maybe? This might be what it feels like to witness someone or something die and wonder if it's your fault. Of course it isn't as dramatic; I doubt my support would have helped substantially, but still. I think I could have done more. Maybe if they had let people know they were in financial troubles people would have helped them out more.
I can't wait until this summer; I love working at Community Support Services, another non-profit agency. CSS works with people who have developmental disabilities and I've really learned a lot working at the organization even though it does have some issues I don't like dealing with. Maybe this is a reminder to value CSS for the good work it does instead of remembering the times I felt I was wasting my time with bureaucratic messes and inefficiency.
http://www.teamkidcare.org/
Unfortunately, I never volunteered with them. :( Maybe if I had helped them they wouldn't have gone under? Maybe? This might be what it feels like to witness someone or something die and wonder if it's your fault. Of course it isn't as dramatic; I doubt my support would have helped substantially, but still. I think I could have done more. Maybe if they had let people know they were in financial troubles people would have helped them out more.
I can't wait until this summer; I love working at Community Support Services, another non-profit agency. CSS works with people who have developmental disabilities and I've really learned a lot working at the organization even though it does have some issues I don't like dealing with. Maybe this is a reminder to value CSS for the good work it does instead of remembering the times I felt I was wasting my time with bureaucratic messes and inefficiency.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
This week's issue of the DU Star
Great: My article got on the front page! Weird because it's really not that important of an article, but I'll take it as it comes. I'm overjoyed, personally, professionally ehhh... whatever, lol
Not so great: part of it got cut so a quarter of it makes no sense. "Young people believe nothing can of the 29 fire alarms last year were related to maintenance or construction activity."
Yup, that's actually in the paper. FAIL.
Addition:
What they left out was actually pretty important, looking back on it. It should have read
“Repeated false alarms wears down the sensitivity to alarms,” River Forest firefighter Lester Telkamp said. “Older buildings can be bigger disasters because the fires can spread in less time, due to outdated building codes…Young people believe nothing can happen to them and parents expect children to be safe at school.” He said “It’s a huge help if people exit the building” and that Dominican might consider augmenting their fire safety program, making it a bigger part of the resident assistants’ duty.
Addition:
What they left out was actually pretty important, looking back on it. It should have read
“Repeated false alarms wears down the sensitivity to alarms,” River Forest firefighter Lester Telkamp said. “Older buildings can be bigger disasters because the fires can spread in less time, due to outdated building codes…Young people believe nothing can happen to them and parents expect children to be safe at school.” He said “It’s a huge help if people exit the building” and that Dominican might consider augmenting their fire safety program, making it a bigger part of the resident assistants’ duty.
False fire alarms are actually a rare occurrence, Nayder explained. There have been four to five alarms pulled without a fire since 2001, when he first started working at Dominican University. There were 29 fire alarms in total last year, but only two or three significant fires since 2001. Most of the 29 total fire alarms last year as well as the significant fires were related to maintenance or construction activity."
I think that's pretty significant. If they wanted to cut it to make it shorter, they should have cut the two final paragraphs of my story. THOSE were not so important. They were solely description of the types of alarms we have on campus, not the suggestion the firefighter made.
I REALLY REALLY REALLY wish I had my old job as copy editor back. PLEASE GOD, PLEASE!!! (But let nothing bad happen to Angela Romano or any other staff member to satisfy my request.)
Maybe this is the opportunity I'm supposed to take to remind myself how lucky I was to have that position, even though I felt sometimes as though it was futile. And I realize I cannot run a paper by myself, people make mistakes, etc. but come on. I think something's lacking in our judgment if we put certain articles on the front page and then chop them up messily. It's stupid. And I'm not taking it personally. It could have happened to anyone.
Which articles should have been on the front page? The one about the professor who died and the one about Haiti. Those are a great deal more important than mine.
Maybe this is the opportunity I'm supposed to take to remind myself how lucky I was to have that position, even though I felt sometimes as though it was futile. And I realize I cannot run a paper by myself, people make mistakes, etc. but come on. I think something's lacking in our judgment if we put certain articles on the front page and then chop them up messily. It's stupid. And I'm not taking it personally. It could have happened to anyone.
Which articles should have been on the front page? The one about the professor who died and the one about Haiti. Those are a great deal more important than mine.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Better late than...WOAH
I can't seem to come on time to my Italian class but at least that's because I take too long in the shower and getting ready rather than because I was stuck in the elevator for two hours like one of my classmates was.
Evelyn Macedo and Nicole Marin were stuck in the elevator for at least two hours this morning due to the incompetence of either Campus Security or Switchboard. Maria Vessia, one of my friends and classmates in Italian class notified the class and my professor, Tonia Triggiano, at the beginning of class that she had received a text from Macedo and read her facebook status which said that she'd been stuck in the elevator with Marin for almost two hours.
Triggiano told our class that she notified two security officials who apparently had no idea the incident had occurred two hours after the women had become trapped in the elevator. The question now is: WHY didn't they know sooner?
A Dominican student who wishes to remain anonymous due to a professed fear of Donna Carroll's henchmen commented on the situation. "I wasn't there. I just think that DU should get maintenance service done more often and check the placards in the elevators for when they need to be inspected more often as well."
Evelyn Macedo and Nicole Marin were stuck in the elevator for at least two hours this morning due to the incompetence of either Campus Security or Switchboard. Maria Vessia, one of my friends and classmates in Italian class notified the class and my professor, Tonia Triggiano, at the beginning of class that she had received a text from Macedo and read her facebook status which said that she'd been stuck in the elevator with Marin for almost two hours.
Triggiano told our class that she notified two security officials who apparently had no idea the incident had occurred two hours after the women had become trapped in the elevator. The question now is: WHY didn't they know sooner?
A Dominican student who wishes to remain anonymous due to a professed fear of Donna Carroll's henchmen commented on the situation. "I wasn't there. I just think that DU should get maintenance service done more often and check the placards in the elevators for when they need to be inspected more often as well."
Friday, January 29, 2010
When there’s a Fire Alarm…GET OUT
WARNING: SINCE THIS IS AN ARTICLE IN PROGRESS, NOT ALL INFORMATION HAS BEEN DOUBLE-CHECKED/VERIFIED.
On Monday, January 25, at 1:05 p.m., a fire alarm in the Social Hall rang, forcing the evacuation of 400 to 500 students and faculty out into the cold, making Monday even more miserable. However, there was no fire, and thus, no real reason to evacuate.
Workers had inadvertently placed a ladder in the path of a beam detector, setting off an alarm, explained Joel Nayder, Assistant Manager of Campus Safety and Security, who summarized the alarm incident as “an accident.”
The fire department actually did not have to come out and does not have the call in their records. The reason behind this is unclear but the fire alarm call may have been cancelled by the workers, Fire Chief James Eggert explained.
False fire alarms are actually a rare occurrence, Nayder explained. There have been four to five alarms pulled without a fire since 2001, when he first started working at Dominican University. There were 29 fire alarms in total last year, but only two or three significant fires since 2001. Most of the 29 total fire alarms last year as well as the significant fires were related to maintenance or construction activity.
There are three types of detectors on campus: smoke detectors, heat detectors, and beam detectors, Nayder explained. Smoke detectors, logically, detect the amount of smoke in an area. Heat detectors measure the “rate of rise.” The temperature of a fire can rise to about 200 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
Beam detectors are the detectors used in the Dining Hall and the Social Hall because of their uneven ceilings. This is so that a smoke detector does not have to be placed in each square indentation in the ceiling which would cost more. A beam detector shoots a light beam across an area; if it senses a disruption, an alarm will go off.
Students reported how often they hear the fire alarms go off. Sophomore Alfredo Rodriguez said “I heard it once last year…well...last semester was very frequent….about one fire alarm per every two or three months…but I do hear about them going off from the residents.” He said since he is a commuter, the disturbance the fire alarms usually cause him is “nothing, I’m usually not in class.”
“I heard one once this semester so far…then I want to say like three or four…so four or five so far this year” said Junior Dominic Schwab, who is a resident. “I think I only left my room once or twice…I usually ignore them, especially if I hear them during the day” Schwab said.
Bloggy part:
I went to the River Forest fire station this afternoon after classes and interviewed Fire Chief James Eggert. After an awkward first meeting where I forgot to explain myself, I explained what I was doing and he warmed up tremendously. He seems to be a really great guy. After I told him that I was an explorer at the Western Springs Fire Department, he even showed me around the station!
Anyways, Fire Chief James Eggert warns students who stay inside during fire alarms that fires can spread quickly. He showed me a video of a room where a Christmas tree caught on fire and the room was taken over by the fire in less than a minute. Eggert said he understands that it's cold outside sometimes and it's inconvenient to leave, but he said that students should at the very least get onto the first floor or go to another building. You have to make SURE it's not a fire. Why risk your life? Isn't it better to be inconvenienced and stay alive? Eggert actually travels with a fire alarm, treating it as an extra life insurance.
Eggert and I ran into two other firefighters while he was showing me the way out and I was able to get a pretty good quote from one of them, a certain Lester Telkamp.
Seriously, I love firefighters, and not for the typical reason, though that's nice too :P
Sunday, January 24, 2010
"When a dog bites a man, that is not news. But when a man bites a dog, that IS news."- Charles Dana, New York Sun editor
I just started my agonizing amount of reading due for homework, and already, my Inside Reporting textbook has proved 1/2way useful and entertaining. Its setup is almost like one of those children's books about science where they have a bunch of pictures and individual textboxes on each page to explain different elements of each topic.
It's already given quite a few ideas as to how I can improve my own writing.
It's also inspired me to figure out what exactly is wrong with the Dominican Star newspaper and what can be done about it.
My high school paper just recently one a national award for its prowess at reporting the news and it's so much different than the Star. There's definitely more than one reason for the difference; one is obviously that the Dominican Star is a college newspaper. However, there are key similarities that make me confused when considering how much room to grow the Star has compared to the supreme quality of the Lion.
1. Both journalists at my high school and journalists at my university write for the newspaper for similar reasons: to get something in their portfolio or on their resume, to fulfill class requirements; and for fun.
2. Both newspapers have a long legacy. The Lion recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, and I believe the Star has been around for a very long time too.
3. Both newspapers are essentially student-run. Professor John Jenks and Mr. Jason Scales both let students do the vast majority of the work.
4. I presume most of the writers for the Star have the same or more experience writing newspaper articles as students at my high school.
5. Both schools provide adequate funding for the newspapers, and both newspapers rely to a certain extent on advertising.
What, then, may lead to the difference between the newspapers' levels of success? Is it my high school's newspaper requirement that all its writers complete the Journalistic Writing course before writing for the paper? Or something else? I may even ask Mr. Scales to review the Star to see where it could improve!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
autobiography: the military
Drew asked me to write about my fascination with the US military, and I believe I can fulfill his request. I hope to make this relatively interesting.
I'm one of 8 kids-5 brothers and 2 sisters, so while I was growing up, I was constantly around boys until middle school, when my youngest brother went to college. I'm not really sure why, but I basically embodied a mixture of a crybaby and a tomboy. I played with action figures instead of barbies, hung out with boys a LOT, and really didn't hang out with girls all that much. I played with boys during recess until 3rd grade where I started feeling like that wasn't what I was supposed to be doing. That's when I started reading a lot more instead of playing. I think I read almost every one of those children's biography books, all the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, most of the Billy and Blaze books, and well...i'll tell more about that some other time I guess.
My brothers were almost all involved in Boy Scouts to one degree or another; I believe some of them won the Eagle Award or whatever it's called. We'd go to all those pancake breakfasts and spaghetti dinners where they would line up and have the flag ceremonies. I bet that's where I started wanting to be a soldier. I thought that being a soldier meant doing all those ceremonies and the salutes and all the stuff that I thought was really pretty special.
Three of my brothers went to Georgetown University in DC too, so we'd go see their graduations or maybe visit them a few times too. Not only did we see this great, historic campus, but the city...well the city made me feel American even more. Seeing all the monuments and the government buildings instills this deep sense of American pride. I haven't been back in several years, but I still think about it a lot, apparently, since I had a dream about the Air & Space Museum last night and the crazy idea that maybe each state capital should have a 3D-representation of the White House if people are no longer allowed to visit the White House itself. Anyway, I still remember the changing of the guard in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier....how everything was done so exactly and the guards' steps were perfect.
And then we'd always go to Cantigney for Father's Day. They have this huge war museum there and a bunch of tanks on the grounds. I always loved going there to climb on the tanks and explore the museum.
Looking back, I cringe a little at how much I enjoyed the prospects of going to war, especially since my brother went to a Vietnam War museum in Vietnam and described how different their perspective on the war is. War is truly devastating.
might add more later, we'll see.
I'm one of 8 kids-5 brothers and 2 sisters, so while I was growing up, I was constantly around boys until middle school, when my youngest brother went to college. I'm not really sure why, but I basically embodied a mixture of a crybaby and a tomboy. I played with action figures instead of barbies, hung out with boys a LOT, and really didn't hang out with girls all that much. I played with boys during recess until 3rd grade where I started feeling like that wasn't what I was supposed to be doing. That's when I started reading a lot more instead of playing. I think I read almost every one of those children's biography books, all the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, most of the Billy and Blaze books, and well...i'll tell more about that some other time I guess.
My brothers were almost all involved in Boy Scouts to one degree or another; I believe some of them won the Eagle Award or whatever it's called. We'd go to all those pancake breakfasts and spaghetti dinners where they would line up and have the flag ceremonies. I bet that's where I started wanting to be a soldier. I thought that being a soldier meant doing all those ceremonies and the salutes and all the stuff that I thought was really pretty special.
Three of my brothers went to Georgetown University in DC too, so we'd go see their graduations or maybe visit them a few times too. Not only did we see this great, historic campus, but the city...well the city made me feel American even more. Seeing all the monuments and the government buildings instills this deep sense of American pride. I haven't been back in several years, but I still think about it a lot, apparently, since I had a dream about the Air & Space Museum last night and the crazy idea that maybe each state capital should have a 3D-representation of the White House if people are no longer allowed to visit the White House itself. Anyway, I still remember the changing of the guard in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier....how everything was done so exactly and the guards' steps were perfect.
And then we'd always go to Cantigney for Father's Day. They have this huge war museum there and a bunch of tanks on the grounds. I always loved going there to climb on the tanks and explore the museum.
Looking back, I cringe a little at how much I enjoyed the prospects of going to war, especially since my brother went to a Vietnam War museum in Vietnam and described how different their perspective on the war is. War is truly devastating.
might add more later, we'll see.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Baby it's COLD outside......
So in case you haven't noticed, it's freezing outside. The cold hits some of us harder than others though, since not all of us can afford heat, especially in our cars. I'm glad I don't have to live outside in my car, but sheesh. It's still freezing and my car's breaking and Angel doesn't have heat in his.
So I'm bundled up here on my couch after a long, boring day full of way too much Italian, and I just want to take a nap. I'm getting frustrated with myself because it's about time I pick a major and I get so bored so easily. I know it doesn't matter too much in the end what I major in as long as I'm willing to put significant effort into it, but sometimes I just wish my mind would gravitate towards something.
I'm actually finding the same thing with a bunch of my friends. Not to say that it's their fault. Honestly, I think it's mine. I'm just having trouble keeping on the same page and staying out of fights to cause more dramatic intrigue. I'm feeling rather lonely and out of touch with my friends, but hanging out with people isn't leading to happiness for me. And I know that's not the point...the point is to be good to people and to help people and to be happy. But I'm just having trouble. And maybe I don't have to get so hung up about it all. But I'm the type of person who believes that if there's a problem, there's gotta be a way to fix it. I gotta do it. I gotta take charge of my life.
Baby, it's COLD outside......
So I'm bundled up here on my couch after a long, boring day full of way too much Italian, and I just want to take a nap. I'm getting frustrated with myself because it's about time I pick a major and I get so bored so easily. I know it doesn't matter too much in the end what I major in as long as I'm willing to put significant effort into it, but sometimes I just wish my mind would gravitate towards something.
I'm actually finding the same thing with a bunch of my friends. Not to say that it's their fault. Honestly, I think it's mine. I'm just having trouble keeping on the same page and staying out of fights to cause more dramatic intrigue. I'm feeling rather lonely and out of touch with my friends, but hanging out with people isn't leading to happiness for me. And I know that's not the point...the point is to be good to people and to help people and to be happy. But I'm just having trouble. And maybe I don't have to get so hung up about it all. But I'm the type of person who believes that if there's a problem, there's gotta be a way to fix it. I gotta do it. I gotta take charge of my life.
Baby, it's COLD outside......
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Coolest Dad Ever?
American Dad makes food for son's lunch...handcrafting food for hours so it resembles cartoon characters and superheroes.
hey all
Just to answer the positive feedback for Sweets' article, I would like to announce that he has promised to write an article for the blog every few weeks. Thank you for your support.
As for my next article, I'm sort of struggling to choose what to write about. So maybe you would like to choose for me?
Possible Topics
More on my religious beliefs
Just got my wisdom teeth removed-what I expected, what it was really like
an article on Leno & Conan OBrien's fight
review of the introduction to Dante's Inferno
more about the purpose of the blog
my strange fascination with the US Military
a review of the film The Reader which I just saw this weekend while stuck on the couch
an interview with Laura Jay Volpe about her new website, TheChicagoNerd
or do you have a different suggestion?
As for my next article, I'm sort of struggling to choose what to write about. So maybe you would like to choose for me?
Possible Topics
More on my religious beliefs
Just got my wisdom teeth removed-what I expected, what it was really like
an article on Leno & Conan OBrien's fight
review of the introduction to Dante's Inferno
more about the purpose of the blog
my strange fascination with the US Military
a review of the film The Reader which I just saw this weekend while stuck on the couch
an interview with Laura Jay Volpe about her new website, TheChicagoNerd
or do you have a different suggestion?
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Recession Hits Even the Best Among Us
This entry comes from "Sweets", a recent college graduate from Dominican University who majored in History and American Studies because he loved America so much. Here's what he got in return.
“Hey, college boy! Go break down the load and get your shit in order.” Ah, the familiar instructions coming from my fellow co-worker never cease to make me smile. He is an interesting if not peculiar character - a former white supremacist and high school dropout with serious anger control issues who gets to work with sharp knives all day. My angry friend compliments my other associates: the ex-convict turned amateur internet poker star, the movie set worker who one day decided to leave sunny California and live in Chicago, the culinary arts graduate who is addicted to “having a good time” and me. You may be wondering how someone nicknamed college boy found himself working with such a strange group of people. Perhaps I could blame this Great Recession and it’s effects on the job market? It is true that businesses have cut their workforce substantially leaving millions underemployed or unemployed. YES! The recession feasted on my dreams and left me licking the plate for crumbs! But how do I explain the millions of my fellow citizens who have found great jobs during this recession? It must be something else. Maybe the politicians deserve to be held responsible for my predicament? After all, it was Congress, the state legislatures, and the Presidents who failed to heed the warnings of various economic agencies and analysts. Who can forget NAFTA, the tax incentives, and other policies which made American-based businesses move overseas to increase their profit margins? Yah-boo sucks to you, Joe American! Pedro in Honduras or Li in Chinacan do it cheaper and with less regulation! Those criminals in Congress tied the noose, stood me up, kicked the barrel, and left me to suffocate on my ambitions. However, is it fair to blame a group of people with the combined IQ of a comatose amoeba for simply creating the opportunity but not acting on the opportunity? At last! That leaves only those base bankers, brokers, and businesses diabolically dealing demise through derivatives and predatory lending. Why not place the blame at the feet of those directly responsible for our current economic disaster? Well, despite how vilified these bumbling blokes are portrayed in the media, it is not entirely their fault. Just like that respectable guy who visits Las Vegas only to leave 3 months later thousands of dollars in debt, married to a silicone leaking stripper named Fifi, and wearing a soiled suit, the people of Wall Street were living in the moment and needed someone to pull them back into reality. Too bad the government regulation agencies are monitored by our comatose amoeba better known as Congress. So who is to blame for my seemingly eternal residence in the Hell known to the world as the service industry? Last week the answer hit me harder than a brick being thrown by a rather portly Bavarian fellow wearing lederhosen. “College boy! What the hell are you doing? Your stupid ass needs to get in gear because you are just floating around like an idiot.” Just like that my belligerent co-worker opened my eyes to who is most to blame - me. Yes, I do have a college degree. Yes, I did graduate in the upper third of my class. Yes, I have volunteer hours and community service. In fact, I have a lot of the desirable traits many employers seek including the uncanny ability to present information in front of large groups without wetting myself from fear. My biggest problem is that I was too occupied in trying to live life that I forgot to be flexible and take what comes along. I’ve been holding onto this idea of what the good life, what living a life, is supposed to be and I’ve been blind to the reality. Maybe all those annoying bills, the crazy ex-girlfriends, the diets, and the beer - oh God the beer - are indications that I missed the bus on life and am now doomed to be stuck in the tortuous service industry where my soul will slowly rot away. I need to jumpstart my life with a new battery but where can I find it? Will I once again be too rigid in my quest to find that new spark that I will miss it when it is in front of my face? “Dammit college boy, stop staring into space and steak that fish for that customer.” |
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Throw it out or Frame it?: Creative Writing
I'd really like to incorporate creative writing in the blog or website, whatever it will be. Perhaps we could have a section for creative writing written by people who would like feedback and constructive criticism on their writing and another section that another for people who are just getting started and only want people to see their writing. What say you? Would the second section be necessary?
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Looking for a new title!
What do you think the title of the blog should be? I just created a new mission statement which I feel is closer to what I desired the blog to resemble, but please feel free to shoot out any ideas you might have. :D
Monday, January 4, 2010
Make-a-Wish
As a follow-up to Dora's post, I'd like to expand its purpose.
Most of us have goals of some sort (and some of us have been pressured to make and complete them). I think it might be a good idea to expand the purpose of the Make-a-Wish foundation (http://www.wish.org/) to a more local one: attempt to fulfill the wishes of students at Dominican as well as those of any people who read the blog.
Some of us have goals which will be rather easy to complete or wishes that won't be too hard to fulfill by others close to us, such as Dora's wish that someone would play a full game of Monopoly with her. A new website with forum capabilities will soon be started, but until that time, we can just use the comment feature.
What say you?
Most of us have goals of some sort (and some of us have been pressured to make and complete them). I think it might be a good idea to expand the purpose of the Make-a-Wish foundation (http://www.wish.org/) to a more local one: attempt to fulfill the wishes of students at Dominican as well as those of any people who read the blog.
Some of us have goals which will be rather easy to complete or wishes that won't be too hard to fulfill by others close to us, such as Dora's wish that someone would play a full game of Monopoly with her. A new website with forum capabilities will soon be started, but until that time, we can just use the comment feature.
What say you?
Dora's strategy for a most-excellent adventure
When I was about 8 years-old, my life’s goals were:
1. Have a colonial dress so I could match my Felicity American Girl Doll
2. Go to Colonial Williamsburg
3. Go to the Redwood Forest
4. Go to Disney World
5. Get a cat
As the years passed by, the following goals were added to the list:
6. Travel to Pompeii
7. Become fluent in French
8. Learn to play guitar
9. Become a published author
10. Go on a cruise near Alaska
11. Go on a cruise near Antarctica
12. Pass Calculus BC (please dear God)
13. Visit all 7 continents
14. Go to a place where French is the official language
15. Go to Prince Edward Island
16. Finish all of Jane Austen’s novels
17. Go on a sightseeing train tour somewhere in the western United States
18. Finish a game of Monopoly, a game in which no one just gets bored, quits, and gives another player all of their stuff
19. See a show on Broadway
I’m happy to report that over the years I’ve accomplished some of these goals. 2, 4, 5, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 19 are definitely completed and while I’m hesitant to say that I’ve completed 7 and 8, great progress has been made.
And right now as I look over the remaining goals, they don’t seem totally unattainable. I probably have about 60 years in which to travel to wherever I like; surely I can fit the five continents I have left in somewhere.
Honestly, as I look over the list, the one goal that seems the farthest off is number 18. I’ve met people who have done all of the other things, but I have never met someone, to my knowledge, who has ever truly and completely finished a game of Monopoly. Sometimes simpler sounding goals are actually the impossible ones.
-Dora
1. Have a colonial dress so I could match my Felicity American Girl Doll
2. Go to Colonial Williamsburg
3. Go to the Redwood Forest
4. Go to Disney World
5. Get a cat
As the years passed by, the following goals were added to the list:
6. Travel to Pompeii
7. Become fluent in French
8. Learn to play guitar
9. Become a published author
10. Go on a cruise near Alaska
11. Go on a cruise near Antarctica
12. Pass Calculus BC (please dear God)
13. Visit all 7 continents
14. Go to a place where French is the official language
15. Go to Prince Edward Island
16. Finish all of Jane Austen’s novels
17. Go on a sightseeing train tour somewhere in the western United States
18. Finish a game of Monopoly, a game in which no one just gets bored, quits, and gives another player all of their stuff
19. See a show on Broadway
I’m happy to report that over the years I’ve accomplished some of these goals. 2, 4, 5, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 19 are definitely completed and while I’m hesitant to say that I’ve completed 7 and 8, great progress has been made.
And right now as I look over the remaining goals, they don’t seem totally unattainable. I probably have about 60 years in which to travel to wherever I like; surely I can fit the five continents I have left in somewhere.
Honestly, as I look over the list, the one goal that seems the farthest off is number 18. I’ve met people who have done all of the other things, but I have never met someone, to my knowledge, who has ever truly and completely finished a game of Monopoly. Sometimes simpler sounding goals are actually the impossible ones.
-Dora
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Here's to you, Amy... :)
I have a friend at school who recently experienced a death in the family and needs ideas for a graphic design thesis. So I'm going to ask you all to help me come up with some good ideas for her project.
If you ever experience something similar where you really need help from your peers, facebook me and I'll get it on the blog. Deal?
Change: helping solve problems
"a thesis is an exploration of some aspect of (fill in the subject) you are passionate about."
Yes, it would be best if she could come up with her own idea immediately. However, we can still help her through providing some ideas she can bounce off of and letting her post ideas she wants to bounce off us. So bring on the creativity! :)
Some information about graphic design:
Graphic design is basically presentation and communication of an idea through art.
http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/guide-whatisgraphicdesign
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_design
Amy, here are some ideas from the internet I dug up.
http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-3303.html
Some guides to doing a thesis on graphic design:
http://web.utk.edu/~staples/Thesis/Vanderbyl_Thesis.pdf
http://thesisblog.com/dissertation-writing/the-key-to-crafting-a-graphic-design-thesis-statement/43
If you ever experience something similar where you really need help from your peers, facebook me and I'll get it on the blog. Deal?
Change: helping solve problems
"a thesis is an exploration of some aspect of (fill in the subject) you are passionate about."
Yes, it would be best if she could come up with her own idea immediately. However, we can still help her through providing some ideas she can bounce off of and letting her post ideas she wants to bounce off us. So bring on the creativity! :)
Some information about graphic design:
Graphic design is basically presentation and communication of an idea through art.
http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/guide-whatisgraphicdesign
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_design
Amy, here are some ideas from the internet I dug up.
http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-3303.html
Some guides to doing a thesis on graphic design:
http://web.utk.edu/~staples/Thesis/Vanderbyl_Thesis.pdf
http://thesisblog.com/dissertation-writing/the-key-to-crafting-a-graphic-design-thesis-statement/43
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