State of Play on Words

Lies, power and death are all captured within the first 30 seconds of the film State of Play. A scandel always seems to get the ball rolling, and this is a big one. In the back alley of bustling Washington D.C., a man runs from something apparently unseen, and then pauses... only to look up and see the man pull the trigger.
The movie maintains an eerie feel as the audience follows a reporter who attempts to squeeze information from unwilling informants.

To view a Christian perspective of this film, click below.
http://www.pluggedin.com/videos/2009/q3/stateofplay.aspx

Bureau Blog Assignment

Bureau Blogging was a new experience for me. The deadline itself played a big role in trying to accomplish multiple, fast yet effective interviews. I noticed that when conducting an interview, my body language said more than the questions I was asking. When I came off as not rushed or pushy, people not only were more open with their answers but they felt more at ease even though the topic was pretty stressful. The interviewee has to be the focus, not the deadline.
It was a different feel to the experience altogether due to my texting all the interviewee’s answers. I could tell they felt uncomfortable, because texting is not used for occupational purposes, but is usually used to discuss something with a friend; in general it is a tool used for comrades, not co-workers. But I reassured them that this was a scholastic project that was teaching us to use mobile electronics to accomplish journalistic tasks. I did find it a bit difficult though, because a text can only convey so much information - 160 characters is not that many when you are required to describe the interview, the person’s body language and general emotional response. Fortunately this was overcome once my team sat down and integrated everyone’s information into one text.
The team aspect of this project was very crucial. Often , one person does too much work while the rest slack off and pay no mind to how inconsiderate they are. We had to communicate effectively with one another while out and about, as well as continually communicate with the Chief. After we had gathered all our individual information, we sat down to filter out what we would use and not use, and make sure that we covered all the required ground. Moving the individual quotes into one mass text was challenging, but beneficial. The team really had to rely and communicate with one another, and make sure that they had covered all their bases.
I am not a natural blogger, but I saw how quickly and efficiently a team can put together an informed and articulated blog. One team member put particular importance on the links in our blog, another wanted to make sure that we had diversity in age and race, and another made sure that we had numerous interviewees of all groups. A good blog uses as many sources as possible, as it gives its readers assurance of the opinions and information conveyed.

Specialized programs are being provided to help students:
http://chronicle.com/article/The-Message-Your-Money-Can/48260/

Professional field workers act as catalyst to Public Safety administrators. Because they are out and about, they have easy access to the public and its well being. Honestly, field workers can provide immediate information to people who can give professional care and professional defense. “Intergraph public safety solutions give you the power to respond to emergencies by enabling quick, accurate decisions that protect people, infrastructure, and resources.”
http://www.intergraph.com/publicsafety/default.aspx

Friends in high places...

Today is the beginning of a wonderful weekend. A few friends from highschool have joined me for a beautiful adventure of fun and craziness! College has definitely been a new experience and though it has been wonderful, it has not been home. Friends... They are important people. Have them. Love them. Never let them go.

Media Blog - 500 words

If you take a look at today’s front page newspaper (Wednesday November 11, 2009) in the print edition for the New York Times, you will see one particularly large picture of a soldier kneeling with a story to the right in bold print. Below that there are a few less important but altogether interesting stories with one smaller picture of two children. Beneath all of that, the newspaper designer tries to grab its audience with a variety of articles in hopes of grabbing any type of reader. If you want to know more about Obama and his latest plan, turn to page A21 to find out. The layout of the front page has quite a bit of previous thought put into its picture placement and article types for its reader’s ease of enjoyment. In comparison to the online version though, I can attest that the younger readers are more inclined to type it into their google home pages and find out what’s occurring around the world from their laptop. The online version of the New York Times is categorized by subject. So at the top of its home page there is a list of subjects that one may be interested in. Now the beauty of it lies in the “just a click away” mentality of my generation. Instead of being bombarded with political jargon and force fed photos of rich men in suits or warring soldiers, they can skip that and immediately find out what is new in the film regions of the world, or the art galleries, or the latest technology. Granted, there are exciting arrays of colorful and flashy advertisements that invade every other word being read, but they are usually more exciting than the failing future of railroads. There is beauty in knowing that any slight piece of information on what the world looks like off campus can be immediately accessed with the click of a button. No waiting, walking, flipping, or wind blown pages are there to deal with.
Now, when I compared the online version of the New York Times to the online version of the LA Times, I was surprised to see a shocking difference. Where the New York Times has a picture and a list of articles and links one can peruse throughout a story, the LA Times is a bit more user-friendly while also employing better marketing techniques. The reader first and foremost is provided with a plethora of photographs of a variety of people, places, and ideas - obviously immediately catching his attention. Instead of placing the categories at the top of the page, one must scroll down to locate the desired text. The weather, Hollywood's latest gossip, sports, and politics are all presented not as informational, but as entertainment. The LA Times wants its reader to enjoy his time spent browsing that website in hopes that one day he will return. Simply put, the LA Times is geared toward young adults, whereas the New York Times appeals to my parents.

Christian Movies

I read up on the film Bright Star which is a portrayal of the idealistic love of the poet Keats and how he came to love a girl. The website to me seems relatively evangelical. It does a good job of its photography and lead first lines. They do tend toward the conservative side, but I appreciate their eloquence. If you are interested in further reading visit:
http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=7940

Why cant WE be friends? Why can't...

My life has truly been blessed with the power of deep friendship. Throughout my childhood I was given one special best friend who I shared my fears, failures, frustrations, and fun with. She was my confidant in every way, shape, and form. It was not only helpful in my academic life, but it also was inspirational to my spiritual life. Creating and pursuing a deep bond with another person is what God created human beings to crave. It is important that girls feel comfortable and grow up with another and seek after the beauty of their Creator together.

True friendship in God is important
http://www.allaboutgod.com/true-friendship.htm

A nationwide conference and website for girls to connect through
http://www.girlfriendsingod.com/

A link for for teen girls to connect
http://teen.girlfriends-in-christ-online.com/

Why Christians need friends
http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/why-we-need-friends-2858.html

A sermon on Christ's admonition for friendship
http://www.noevalleyministry.org/sermons/2009/051009.pdf

http://www.alsbom.org/clientimages/36469/sbom_offices/sunday_school/skill/leadershiplesson23-thefriendshipfactor-makingfriendsforjesusintheadultssstephen.pdf

Why a psychologist understands the importance of friendship
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2008/the-importance-of-friendship/

Interesting aspects of friendship in dating
http://vancouverdating.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/thank-god-for-friends/

Tears shed for the homestead

As a Freshmen, sometimes it feels as though I am still wondering around ooking for a home to belong to. While all the time, everyone keeps welcoming me with smiles and open arms, trying to convince me that I have come home. That here in this educational institute, I AM home. But like Christ, this is not my home. Recently it has been easier and easier to feel the lack of a sense of belonging... Home truly is where the heart lies. And my heart lies in the arms of my beloved.