This is an article about a Minnesotan boy who refuses chemotherapy and radiation for Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer that doctors believe to be very curable. In the article, it is stated that the court has gotten involved for issues of child neglect. The boy's mom said that her family’s religious convictions say to do no harm to the body, and chemotherapy and radiation were poisons. “This is our religious belief, and we believe in traditional methods, and to strip that away would be stripping the soul from his body,” she said of Daniel (Forliti, 2009). Daniel's doctors think otherwise, though. “In my opinion the benefits of treatment far outweigh the risks of treatment,” Bostrom testified (Forliti, 2009).
Adding to the family's stress, they believe an aunt died from chemo while being treated for cancer. The mom also said that she was upset because her boy was sick from the chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is one of most significant advances in the history of medicine. There is a website dedicated to informing viewers of chemotherapy and a long list of side effects was listed. The side effects may be acute, chronic, or permanent. Most of the side effects like nausea, mouth sores, and hair loss sound very uncomfortable and awful to have to deal with. But when you think about it, is dealing with these seemingly mild symptoms in comparison to cancer worth it? Many people believe so, but this boy and his family don't. So who is the government to tell this family what to believe? When I first read this article, I thought that it was crazy that this boy would refuse chemo for cancer. The latter of the two obviously has worse side effects and a greater risk of death. But when I really began to think about it, I realized that everyone has their own beliefs and convictions. What others believe, I may not and vice versa.
The website lists other treatments for cancer, but the boy and her family are taking their own approach--one that isn't listed on the site. Rather, their treatment program is widely suggested to prevent cancer. Among other things, Daniel is following a nutritious diet, drinking ionized water, and taking vitamins and herbal supplements. His spiritual beliefs and faith in his natural medicines are also helping him heal, they say. I don't know how well I think this will work. I'm far from a cancer expert, but I know that cancer can be genetic. No matter how healthy you eat, you can't defeat your family's genes. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you think that the boy's mother should be charged for child abuse or is she just looking out for what she thinks is best for her child?
Monday, May 11, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Blog 15 (Blue Zones)
The topic for today's blog wasn't too hard to find. I thought of blogging about this as soon as I read the article. This is an article about people who live on the island of Icaria who have a very high chance of reaching the age of 90! In fact, one in three people will live to be 90 years old or higher. Places with high longevity like this island are called blue zones. No, they're not magical places that bless its residents with a long life span. In blue zones, like the island of Icaria, the citizens practice very healthy lifestyles.
One of the things that this article said that contributes to the longevity of the citizens is that the people on the island walk pretty much anywhere they go. The article said that this ends up burning more calories than going to the gym for 20 minutes a day. I will never underestimate the power of walking again. I have done a lot more walking since the temperatures have warmed, and I think after reading this I may have to do more of that! I don't consider it a workout but apparently it helps. Plus, the islanders do a lot of other physical activity such as gardening. Also, their diets consist of olive oil and lots of fruits and vegetables that are native to the land. I love fruits and veggies but often times they are not fresh in the grocery store. I buy a package of strawberries and have to throw half of them out. I kind of think of them as a waste of money when I have to throw them out, so I don't eat them as much as I should.
Additionally, these islanders drink herbal tea everday morning, noon, and night. These teas contain lots of antioxidants plus it lowers blood pressure.
Icaria isn't the only blue zone, though. Costa Rica also has citizens who likely make it into their 90s. This article mentions that Northwestern Costa Rica residents live a very traditional lifestyle: they work as farmers and still cook on wood-burning stoves. This articles doesn't answer any questions as to why they live as long as they do, but a team of reserachers plan to do that. I couldn't find a followup article, though.
There are only a few known blue zones in the world and all of them have citizens who eat healthy and organically as well as get plenty of exercise and socialization. I think all cultures are capable of doing this, but when you live in North Dakota it's hard to find organic food that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and 9 out of 12 months are too cold to allow exercise outdoors. Exercising indoors on equipment is just too boring. Maybe we ought to think of ways we can increase our longevity.
One of the things that this article said that contributes to the longevity of the citizens is that the people on the island walk pretty much anywhere they go. The article said that this ends up burning more calories than going to the gym for 20 minutes a day. I will never underestimate the power of walking again. I have done a lot more walking since the temperatures have warmed, and I think after reading this I may have to do more of that! I don't consider it a workout but apparently it helps. Plus, the islanders do a lot of other physical activity such as gardening. Also, their diets consist of olive oil and lots of fruits and vegetables that are native to the land. I love fruits and veggies but often times they are not fresh in the grocery store. I buy a package of strawberries and have to throw half of them out. I kind of think of them as a waste of money when I have to throw them out, so I don't eat them as much as I should.
Additionally, these islanders drink herbal tea everday morning, noon, and night. These teas contain lots of antioxidants plus it lowers blood pressure.
Icaria isn't the only blue zone, though. Costa Rica also has citizens who likely make it into their 90s. This article mentions that Northwestern Costa Rica residents live a very traditional lifestyle: they work as farmers and still cook on wood-burning stoves. This articles doesn't answer any questions as to why they live as long as they do, but a team of reserachers plan to do that. I couldn't find a followup article, though.
There are only a few known blue zones in the world and all of them have citizens who eat healthy and organically as well as get plenty of exercise and socialization. I think all cultures are capable of doing this, but when you live in North Dakota it's hard to find organic food that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and 9 out of 12 months are too cold to allow exercise outdoors. Exercising indoors on equipment is just too boring. Maybe we ought to think of ways we can increase our longevity.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Blog 14 (Swine Flu)
Swine flu has taken over the news lately, so this week I decided to write a little bit about it. Just when I thought flu season was coming to an end, I now have to worry about catching a disease form a pig. The way it sounds, Mexico and the United States, as well as the World Health Organization are working to prevent and find a source of this flu, which they fear may become a pandemic. It's scary to think about, but there aren't any cases in ND.
This article states that Mexicans are warned not to shake hands and keep a safe distance from others. The article also states that some feel there's no need to take precautionary measures yet. Let's think about that... Valley City residents and businesses said the night before the sewer collapse that there wasn't need to be so cautious yet. Yeah.
I certainly don't want swine flu in my area, so why can't the WHO do something to keep those infected out of human contact? One thing I hope health officials do is prevent this disease from spreading further. Reading about this kind of stuff is all very, very confusing. I am well aware of diseases in animals that humans can catch (bird flu, Mad Cow, etc.), but I always thought that was rare. Does my dog catch a cold when I have one?! :) Anyway, apparently swine flu is being spread by human-to-human contact. This makes it much easier to spread.
To add to the confusion, this is an interesting little blog I found about the swine flu. It talks about the possibility that this flu was produced in a lab because it has genes from human flu, bird flu, and swine flu. I'm not sure how credible this is, but I thought I'd share. After doing a quick Google search, I realized that this doctor isn't the only one who has conspiracy theories in his head about the outbreak.
Do you have any thoughts on the swine flu? Do you think it will become a pandemic?
This article states that Mexicans are warned not to shake hands and keep a safe distance from others. The article also states that some feel there's no need to take precautionary measures yet. Let's think about that... Valley City residents and businesses said the night before the sewer collapse that there wasn't need to be so cautious yet. Yeah.
I certainly don't want swine flu in my area, so why can't the WHO do something to keep those infected out of human contact? One thing I hope health officials do is prevent this disease from spreading further. Reading about this kind of stuff is all very, very confusing. I am well aware of diseases in animals that humans can catch (bird flu, Mad Cow, etc.), but I always thought that was rare. Does my dog catch a cold when I have one?! :) Anyway, apparently swine flu is being spread by human-to-human contact. This makes it much easier to spread.
To add to the confusion, this is an interesting little blog I found about the swine flu. It talks about the possibility that this flu was produced in a lab because it has genes from human flu, bird flu, and swine flu. I'm not sure how credible this is, but I thought I'd share. After doing a quick Google search, I realized that this doctor isn't the only one who has conspiracy theories in his head about the outbreak.
Do you have any thoughts on the swine flu? Do you think it will become a pandemic?
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Blog 13 (Roxanna Saberi)
Roxanna Saberi has been in the local news a lot lately, and I just found an article stating the latest news. Her sentence, which I found out about a couple days ago, might be erased. When I first learned about Saberi's unfortunate arrest, I was kind of confused. I didn't even know what press credentials were, let alone it was such a serious crime to be without them. This is sort of a how-to description, if you're curious... After learning a bit more about her case, I wondered why she was in prison. Then I wondered what would happen to her. Her story gave me the "what if it was me" feeling. I have never thought about going to Iran, but I have thought of going elsewhere in the world, and I thought to myself, what if I had broken some crazy law I didn't even know about and ended up in prison? Although, I may likely be sent back to America for punishment, Saberi, being a dual citizen isn't so lucky.
If things didn't seem bad enough for Saberi, they only got worse; she was accused of espionage in Iran. She was then sentenced to eight years in prison. Just hearing all of this makes me feel sad for her and her family, especially if she wasn't even guilty.
I read a column in the Times-Record written by Steve Browne about Saberi's situation. I can't seem to find it online, but Browne stated that his children are also dual citizens--of Poland and America. He mentioned that she may likely be punished in Iran since she's a dual citizen. He thought there was nothing the U.S. could do about it because of her dual citizenship.
In this type of situation, I think people need to think realistically, and that is just what Browne is doing. I wish there was something that the U.S. could do for this girl, but I don't think there is either. I don't know her at all, but according to what I've read, she was not spying for the United States. I really feel bad for her family, and I know they've been really worried about her. Like I mentioned earlier, sometimes things like this makes me wonder what would happen if I broke a law in another country. I just hope we can hear some good news about this situation sometime soon!
If things didn't seem bad enough for Saberi, they only got worse; she was accused of espionage in Iran. She was then sentenced to eight years in prison. Just hearing all of this makes me feel sad for her and her family, especially if she wasn't even guilty.
I read a column in the Times-Record written by Steve Browne about Saberi's situation. I can't seem to find it online, but Browne stated that his children are also dual citizens--of Poland and America. He mentioned that she may likely be punished in Iran since she's a dual citizen. He thought there was nothing the U.S. could do about it because of her dual citizenship.
In this type of situation, I think people need to think realistically, and that is just what Browne is doing. I wish there was something that the U.S. could do for this girl, but I don't think there is either. I don't know her at all, but according to what I've read, she was not spying for the United States. I really feel bad for her family, and I know they've been really worried about her. Like I mentioned earlier, sometimes things like this makes me wonder what would happen if I broke a law in another country. I just hope we can hear some good news about this situation sometime soon!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Blog 12 (North Dakota Dodging the Recession)
I'd like to start off this blog by saying I'm not quite sure I understand the difference between an editorial and a column, so if anyone has an answer, I'd appreciate it.
While looking on CNN for a good news story to write about, I found a graphic image instead. Take a look at this map of the United States. It shows the unemployment rate, the foreclosure rate, and the state budget defeciet rate. If you notice, North Dakota is always in the lowest percentage rate. A lot of good things have been said about our state lately, and this looks to be one other good thing. And according to this article, North Dakota is the only state doing well right now. Their reason? "North Dakota's diversified economy is keeping the small state afloat while most U.S. states sink deeper into economic recession." The article also states that ND has a stable housing market. While the Obama Administration is working hard to give people mortgage breaks, North Dakotans are working hard to pay for their houses the old-fashioned way...and of course saving their homeland from raging floodwaters.
If you're wondering what a mortgage bailout plan is, I found a website that answered some of my questions. The site goes on to mention that people have different opinions on this plan. Some don't like the idea because those who were irresponsible enough to get themselves into that much debt should not be bailed out. Others approve of the idea because lenders are deceptive in their practices. That's something I don't understand. I've heard time and time again that lenders like to give loans to those with poor credit because ultimately they'll make more money from them than from those with excellent credit (think late fees...). However, what happens when those who have poor credit just quit paying their loan all together? The bank doesn't make any money. So why would lenders want to deceive people into getting a loan that they cannot afford?!
Maybe it's because I'm from North Dakota, but I don't like the idea of any of this bailout stuff. All it does is let people think, "It's okay, make mistakes, the government will take care of you." Maybe it's attitudes like this that make our state the one that refuses to take part in the recession. I'm open to other viewpoints though. If you think bailouts are a good idea, I'd like to know why.
While looking on CNN for a good news story to write about, I found a graphic image instead. Take a look at this map of the United States. It shows the unemployment rate, the foreclosure rate, and the state budget defeciet rate. If you notice, North Dakota is always in the lowest percentage rate. A lot of good things have been said about our state lately, and this looks to be one other good thing. And according to this article, North Dakota is the only state doing well right now. Their reason? "North Dakota's diversified economy is keeping the small state afloat while most U.S. states sink deeper into economic recession." The article also states that ND has a stable housing market. While the Obama Administration is working hard to give people mortgage breaks, North Dakotans are working hard to pay for their houses the old-fashioned way...and of course saving their homeland from raging floodwaters.
If you're wondering what a mortgage bailout plan is, I found a website that answered some of my questions. The site goes on to mention that people have different opinions on this plan. Some don't like the idea because those who were irresponsible enough to get themselves into that much debt should not be bailed out. Others approve of the idea because lenders are deceptive in their practices. That's something I don't understand. I've heard time and time again that lenders like to give loans to those with poor credit because ultimately they'll make more money from them than from those with excellent credit (think late fees...). However, what happens when those who have poor credit just quit paying their loan all together? The bank doesn't make any money. So why would lenders want to deceive people into getting a loan that they cannot afford?!
Maybe it's because I'm from North Dakota, but I don't like the idea of any of this bailout stuff. All it does is let people think, "It's okay, make mistakes, the government will take care of you." Maybe it's attitudes like this that make our state the one that refuses to take part in the recession. I'm open to other viewpoints though. If you think bailouts are a good idea, I'd like to know why.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Blog 11 (Twitter)
Twitter is the latest in the social networking site craze, apparently. I've heard of it, but don't know anyone who uses it, well until I finally created a site for myself. Then I found Valley News Live on there. According to this article, Twitter has even changed the face of politics and now may even be changing Hollywood. As a matter of fact, the whole reason I decided to check out Twitter is because I heard it was so huge that it caused Jennifer Aniston to leave John Mayer, due to his Twitter fetish.
I don't know if any of you have Twitter accounts, but I don't really understand the appeal. It reminds me of an incredibly short blog (one that is too short to even make a relavent point anyway) mixed with a Facebook status update. I don't Tweet much, but if it ever does become a trend around here, I'm sure I'll on the bandwagon (just like I did with Facebook, MySpace, myYearbook, Tagged, hi5, Xanga...).
In an attempt to be unbiased, here is a blog entry by someone who loves to hate Twitter. This blogger calls Twitter a waste of bandwidth. Here is her/his thoughts: "Why do we think we’re so important that we believe other people want to know about what we’re having for lunch, how bored we are at work or the state of inebriation we happen to be at this very moment in time? How did society get to the point that we are constantly improving technology so that this non-news can reach others even faster than a cell phone, a text message, a blog, our Facebook profiles?"
I am one of those who likes to be reached and likes to reach others, but Twitter seems as though it is crossing the line. Seriously, after everything I do, I'm not going to write a Tweet, narrating my life! I guess that's what Twitter wants you to do, though.
Now, I can understand why people blog and even why they use MySpace and Facebook. Blogging allows for hyperlinks to other articles and blogs as well as an in-depth conversation, not limited to a mere 140 characters. Facebook and MySpace allows for picture sharing and comments and the ability to join groups and causes to unite with others.
One other thing that annoys me not only about Twitter but the entire lingo of the internet is the abbreviations, acronyms, and poor grammar. On Twitter, you may have no choice but to use abbreviations and acronyms to get your thoughts into the 140 character limit, so those of us who do not understand what AYCOOYM means probably will not even want to read your Twitter update, anyway. BTW (by the way), AYCOOYM means: Are you completely out of your mind? Yes, that may just be the questions for Twitter fanatics.
Oddly enough, I have a tough time posting my comments to 100 characters in this class, but on Twitter, when I was answering the question "What are you doing?" I needed more characters!
Any thoughts on Twitter? Do you see it becoming a craze here in North Dakota?
I don't know if any of you have Twitter accounts, but I don't really understand the appeal. It reminds me of an incredibly short blog (one that is too short to even make a relavent point anyway) mixed with a Facebook status update. I don't Tweet much, but if it ever does become a trend around here, I'm sure I'll on the bandwagon (just like I did with Facebook, MySpace, myYearbook, Tagged, hi5, Xanga...).
In an attempt to be unbiased, here is a blog entry by someone who loves to hate Twitter. This blogger calls Twitter a waste of bandwidth. Here is her/his thoughts: "Why do we think we’re so important that we believe other people want to know about what we’re having for lunch, how bored we are at work or the state of inebriation we happen to be at this very moment in time? How did society get to the point that we are constantly improving technology so that this non-news can reach others even faster than a cell phone, a text message, a blog, our Facebook profiles?"
I am one of those who likes to be reached and likes to reach others, but Twitter seems as though it is crossing the line. Seriously, after everything I do, I'm not going to write a Tweet, narrating my life! I guess that's what Twitter wants you to do, though.
Now, I can understand why people blog and even why they use MySpace and Facebook. Blogging allows for hyperlinks to other articles and blogs as well as an in-depth conversation, not limited to a mere 140 characters. Facebook and MySpace allows for picture sharing and comments and the ability to join groups and causes to unite with others.
One other thing that annoys me not only about Twitter but the entire lingo of the internet is the abbreviations, acronyms, and poor grammar. On Twitter, you may have no choice but to use abbreviations and acronyms to get your thoughts into the 140 character limit, so those of us who do not understand what AYCOOYM means probably will not even want to read your Twitter update, anyway. BTW (by the way), AYCOOYM means: Are you completely out of your mind? Yes, that may just be the questions for Twitter fanatics.
Oddly enough, I have a tough time posting my comments to 100 characters in this class, but on Twitter, when I was answering the question "What are you doing?" I needed more characters!
Any thoughts on Twitter? Do you see it becoming a craze here in North Dakota?
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Blog 10 (The Flood of '09)
This is a link to one of many articles found from The Forum about the flood updates. This may be a very common blog topic not only in our class but in the entire blogosphere. Also, people all over Facebook who aren't from around here are talking to me and other friends about the flood. This article talks about the town of Linton, ND being evacuated. I was quite young in the flood of '97, but I remember how awful everything was. My hometown, Cooperstown, isn't close enough to any bodies of water that it flooded too bad. It kind of shocks me how these towns are flooding so bad that they need to be evacuated already.
If you read the article, you will see comments written by others. The idea of these comments relates back to an idea discussed in another class (that I am also blogging for) talking about Web 2.0 (social media and a more interactive version of the internet). This pretty much means that readers are able to not only read the article but to also show their viewpoints. If you read these comments, you can see a clash in some readers' views, causing what I think is sarcastic comments. Even though arguments can break out from comment enabling, I think it's important that the readers are able to share their ideas. The internet is a new and growing form of communication, and this way people are able to talk with others, maybe not even from around here. Do you think that comment enabling on news stories is a good thing or a bad thing?
After I write this, I am going to go out sandbagging, as I'm sure most of you are doing right now. It's scary to think that our classes were cancelled because that is how desparate we need those sandbags. I went up there last night for a few hours and got a lot done. It was great to see many people from the community out volunteering. Some people say they do not understand why we live in North Dakota. Obviously, the weather is awful at times, but what about the people and the community. From some previous blog entries I've read for this class, I am aware that not everyone is as giving as we are.
Moreover, I think it's great that the community is keeping us informed with the latest information on the flood. I refresh the Forum's homepage as well as the road report's page many times throughout the day, checking to see the latest updates. It's amazing how just a week ago, many of us weren't even thinking of the damages that can, will, and are being done.
If you read the article, you will see comments written by others. The idea of these comments relates back to an idea discussed in another class (that I am also blogging for) talking about Web 2.0 (social media and a more interactive version of the internet). This pretty much means that readers are able to not only read the article but to also show their viewpoints. If you read these comments, you can see a clash in some readers' views, causing what I think is sarcastic comments. Even though arguments can break out from comment enabling, I think it's important that the readers are able to share their ideas. The internet is a new and growing form of communication, and this way people are able to talk with others, maybe not even from around here. Do you think that comment enabling on news stories is a good thing or a bad thing?
After I write this, I am going to go out sandbagging, as I'm sure most of you are doing right now. It's scary to think that our classes were cancelled because that is how desparate we need those sandbags. I went up there last night for a few hours and got a lot done. It was great to see many people from the community out volunteering. Some people say they do not understand why we live in North Dakota. Obviously, the weather is awful at times, but what about the people and the community. From some previous blog entries I've read for this class, I am aware that not everyone is as giving as we are.
Moreover, I think it's great that the community is keeping us informed with the latest information on the flood. I refresh the Forum's homepage as well as the road report's page many times throughout the day, checking to see the latest updates. It's amazing how just a week ago, many of us weren't even thinking of the damages that can, will, and are being done.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Blog 9 (The Money's in McDonald's)
According to this article, Coke and Oreos are not the compaines to be investing in right now. "Grocers report that customers in record numbers are going for the generic house brand, priced at up to a dollar less." Last week I bought an entire box of cereal for 54 cents from Target. It didn't taste nearly as good as the leading brand, but it was edible...I think. I buy generic if I think its quality is good enough for its price. All in all, I generally prefer the leading brand, but if the generic brand is almost as good (and probably at least a dollar less), I usually grab the generic brand.
If you scroll down this article, you will see many familiar brands. Apparently the generic brands are taking over these leading brands. It kind of seems shocking to me to hear that even brands like Johnson & Johnson and Coca-Cola are suffering. When I worked at a grocery store three years ago, those were some very popular brands that made their way down the black revolving belt many times a day. So why are people going for generic brands? The article states this: "In similar eras in the past, it's turned out that consumers downshift into lower consumption modes quite rapidly and with remarkable ease, and even start to pride themselves on developing an upside-down view of luxury."
Also according to the article, some companies might not see as much of a downfall. Family Dollar and McDonald's were two familar names. This makes sense to me because of the low prices of their product. This article states that McDonald's was just one of two DJIA companies to soar in the stock market in 2008. According to Owen, “You’re more likely to encounter a McDonald’s than a Burger King or Wendy’s on your way to work, which gives it a tremendous advantage in the breakfast category." This isn't true in Valley City, but in other cities, I can spot the golden arches from a mile away....
So does this mean we should all go invest in McDonald's? A recent survey of franchisees by New York City found franchisees worried that rising labor and raw product costs will crimp margins. According the survey, franchisees also believe business will be only fair to good through the first six months of 2009.
If you scroll down this article, you will see many familiar brands. Apparently the generic brands are taking over these leading brands. It kind of seems shocking to me to hear that even brands like Johnson & Johnson and Coca-Cola are suffering. When I worked at a grocery store three years ago, those were some very popular brands that made their way down the black revolving belt many times a day. So why are people going for generic brands? The article states this: "In similar eras in the past, it's turned out that consumers downshift into lower consumption modes quite rapidly and with remarkable ease, and even start to pride themselves on developing an upside-down view of luxury."
Also according to the article, some companies might not see as much of a downfall. Family Dollar and McDonald's were two familar names. This makes sense to me because of the low prices of their product. This article states that McDonald's was just one of two DJIA companies to soar in the stock market in 2008. According to Owen, “You’re more likely to encounter a McDonald’s than a Burger King or Wendy’s on your way to work, which gives it a tremendous advantage in the breakfast category." This isn't true in Valley City, but in other cities, I can spot the golden arches from a mile away....
So does this mean we should all go invest in McDonald's? A recent survey of franchisees by New York City found franchisees worried that rising labor and raw product costs will crimp margins. According the survey, franchisees also believe business will be only fair to good through the first six months of 2009.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Blog 8 (Writer's Block)
Well, the semester is half-way over and if writer's block hasn't sunk in for you yet, you're lucky. I like to write, but I know that even the best writers experience writer's block. I have quite a bit of writing assignments for my classes, so I often find it hard to find a topic on which to write. These blogs are acutally more easy to write than our news story assignemnts, probably because we don't have as strict of guidelines to follow.
Purdue's OWL site lists many different scenarios in which people experience writer's block. They suggest physically stretching to relieve stress-caused writer's block. I think this is effective because it's relaxing. Being relaxed can inquire thought and thus writing. One of the best tips on Purdue's site that I often use is this: "Force yourself to write down something, however poorly worded, that approximates your thought (you can revise this later) and go on with the next idea." I use this when I know what I want to say, but I don't know how to word it. I often find that coming back to my work after a while, even a day, helps me revise my writing.
For those of you creative writers, here is an intersting website that takes a slightly different approach to writer's block. Languageisavirus.com generates words, characters, phrases, etc. for people who may be stumbling on, say, a character's name in a novel. It also gives random titles to stories. Some of these may be a little whimsical or unuseful, but you never know what kind of creativity the site may spark. You can have fun with it too, go to the site and click on Cut up Machine, type in a random phrase, and click "Cut It Up." See what kind of crazy sentence you may get.
This website states some causes for writer's block that are very familiar to me. One of them is neglecting my writing. Sometimes I put off assignments and end up later sitting down to write nothing. The site suggests just writing ten minutes a day can be helpful. I think that works because it gives me a break and allows my creativity to develop and recover. They also mention the concept of perfectionism. That can be an issue to me, but I don't necessarily consider it writer's block. If I'm worried about perfecting my work, I must have writing intuition at that moment. They mention just a change of scenery can be a cure for any cause of writer's block. That can be so true to me.
Do you have any suggestions for writer's block? What do you think is the best cure for writer's block?
Purdue's OWL site lists many different scenarios in which people experience writer's block. They suggest physically stretching to relieve stress-caused writer's block. I think this is effective because it's relaxing. Being relaxed can inquire thought and thus writing. One of the best tips on Purdue's site that I often use is this: "Force yourself to write down something, however poorly worded, that approximates your thought (you can revise this later) and go on with the next idea." I use this when I know what I want to say, but I don't know how to word it. I often find that coming back to my work after a while, even a day, helps me revise my writing.
For those of you creative writers, here is an intersting website that takes a slightly different approach to writer's block. Languageisavirus.com generates words, characters, phrases, etc. for people who may be stumbling on, say, a character's name in a novel. It also gives random titles to stories. Some of these may be a little whimsical or unuseful, but you never know what kind of creativity the site may spark. You can have fun with it too, go to the site and click on Cut up Machine, type in a random phrase, and click "Cut It Up." See what kind of crazy sentence you may get.
This website states some causes for writer's block that are very familiar to me. One of them is neglecting my writing. Sometimes I put off assignments and end up later sitting down to write nothing. The site suggests just writing ten minutes a day can be helpful. I think that works because it gives me a break and allows my creativity to develop and recover. They also mention the concept of perfectionism. That can be an issue to me, but I don't necessarily consider it writer's block. If I'm worried about perfecting my work, I must have writing intuition at that moment. They mention just a change of scenery can be a cure for any cause of writer's block. That can be so true to me.
Do you have any suggestions for writer's block? What do you think is the best cure for writer's block?
Monday, February 23, 2009
Blog 7 (11-year-old Tried as an Adult)
An 11-year-old boy will be tried as an adult in court for killing his father's pregnant girlfriend. Jordan Brown used his own shotgun to kill her. He had his own gun at 11-years-old because his father was training him to be a hunter. The boy got on the school bus after the shooting and got picked up several hours later. He is in the county jail, away from adults inmates. Dennis Elisco, the boy's attorney, hopes the school will sent him assignments while he's in jail.
"It looks awful from the outside and sort of unspeakable, but these are the kinds of feelings that are pretty normal in a new stepfamily. You just hope there's not a loaded gun around," said Patricia Papernow, a psychologist from Hudson, Mass., who heard about the case on the national news.
This is the first time I'd heard of this story, and it quite saddens me. It makes me wonder how a child could get those kind of feelings. Is it because of violence on T.V.? In schools? On the news? It also makes me wonder how much of the feelings dealt with the blending of two families. It also makes me wonder if the woman he killed was threatening the boy, or making him feel like he wasn't going to be part of their new family.
This makes me think the family could've done more with gun safety. Shouldn't the gun have been locked up? Here is a link to an article about gun safety in homes. "Although the debate over gun control and gun rights seems intractable, all sides generally agree that firearms in the home should be stored in a manner that keeps them out of children's hands. However, many firearms are dangerously accessible."
What do you think of firearm safety? Do you think parents need to be more cautious? Do you think 11-year-old should even have access to guns?
"It looks awful from the outside and sort of unspeakable, but these are the kinds of feelings that are pretty normal in a new stepfamily. You just hope there's not a loaded gun around," said Patricia Papernow, a psychologist from Hudson, Mass., who heard about the case on the national news.
This is the first time I'd heard of this story, and it quite saddens me. It makes me wonder how a child could get those kind of feelings. Is it because of violence on T.V.? In schools? On the news? It also makes me wonder how much of the feelings dealt with the blending of two families. It also makes me wonder if the woman he killed was threatening the boy, or making him feel like he wasn't going to be part of their new family.
This makes me think the family could've done more with gun safety. Shouldn't the gun have been locked up? Here is a link to an article about gun safety in homes. "Although the debate over gun control and gun rights seems intractable, all sides generally agree that firearms in the home should be stored in a manner that keeps them out of children's hands. However, many firearms are dangerously accessible."
What do you think of firearm safety? Do you think parents need to be more cautious? Do you think 11-year-old should even have access to guns?
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Blog 6 (Seat Belt Laws)
The decision to make stricter seat belt laws is something I've heard quite a bit about. This is a link to an article that talks about the state House rejecting the bill. Rep. Ed Gruchalla, D-Fargo, sponsored both bills. He said compliance with the seat belt law would go up and lives would be saved. Gruchalla also said that proposed increase in traffic fines were moderate and long overdue after several decades (Cole, 2009).
Currently officers must pull a driver over for another violation before they can write a ticket for failure to buckle up (Cole, 2009). Click it or ticket or Stay inside to survive! are two phrases you may hear in the late springtime around the area. Click it or ticket is a campaign that is used by almost every state to encourage drivers to buckle up. The campaign particularily focuses on nighttime buckling up because the nighttime crash fatality rate is about three times higher than that of the the daytime rate.
Click here to read a short article about politicians' policies on buckling up. Kind of interesting... I know we're not supposed to use Wikipedia as a source (which I hope someday will change), but it's the only detailed descrition of the campaign I could find, so feel free to read, if you'd like. And luckily, Wikipedia offered me a link to an article written by Dr. Williams in opposition to the law. The concept of his viewpoint is one that I know a lot of people like to use in arguments not just about seat belt laws. Click here to read it. His thoughts are "The point is whether government has a right to coerce us into taking care of ourselves. If eating what we wish is our business and not that of government, then why should we accept government's coercing us to wear seatbelts?" (Williams, 2003).
I've heard people say things similar to what Williams said time and time again. And I used to and still do to a point believe the way he does. There are laws that protect us from harming others, but not from harming ourselves, but did you know suicide is illegal?
I would like to hear your opinions about Click it or ticket and Dr. Williams' thoughts. Do you think the laws should be stricter? Do you oppose such campaigns. I've heard several arguments about this, both in favor and in opposition. I have no opposition to the law; I know too many people who've gotten severly injured or killed in car crashes for me to not care. On the other hand, I am against social government and I realize that people have the right as an American to choose whether they want to wear their belts or not. So, even though I don't consider this a bad law, it may just be a gateway to a seemingly increasing trend of socialism in our country.
Currently officers must pull a driver over for another violation before they can write a ticket for failure to buckle up (Cole, 2009). Click it or ticket or Stay inside to survive! are two phrases you may hear in the late springtime around the area. Click it or ticket is a campaign that is used by almost every state to encourage drivers to buckle up. The campaign particularily focuses on nighttime buckling up because the nighttime crash fatality rate is about three times higher than that of the the daytime rate.
Click here to read a short article about politicians' policies on buckling up. Kind of interesting... I know we're not supposed to use Wikipedia as a source (which I hope someday will change), but it's the only detailed descrition of the campaign I could find, so feel free to read, if you'd like. And luckily, Wikipedia offered me a link to an article written by Dr. Williams in opposition to the law. The concept of his viewpoint is one that I know a lot of people like to use in arguments not just about seat belt laws. Click here to read it. His thoughts are "The point is whether government has a right to coerce us into taking care of ourselves. If eating what we wish is our business and not that of government, then why should we accept government's coercing us to wear seatbelts?" (Williams, 2003).
I've heard people say things similar to what Williams said time and time again. And I used to and still do to a point believe the way he does. There are laws that protect us from harming others, but not from harming ourselves, but did you know suicide is illegal?
I would like to hear your opinions about Click it or ticket and Dr. Williams' thoughts. Do you think the laws should be stricter? Do you oppose such campaigns. I've heard several arguments about this, both in favor and in opposition. I have no opposition to the law; I know too many people who've gotten severly injured or killed in car crashes for me to not care. On the other hand, I am against social government and I realize that people have the right as an American to choose whether they want to wear their belts or not. So, even though I don't consider this a bad law, it may just be a gateway to a seemingly increasing trend of socialism in our country.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Blog 5 (Peer Critiquing)
This week is the first week of many more peer critiquing adventures on which we will embark throughout the semester. I have done this before, but I figured I needed to brush up on my skills, so I found this very helpful website. This site gives very detailed guidelines to peer critiquing. One of the first things I read on this site was one of the most helpful tips; it goes as follows:
Read the first paragraph and, without looking at the rest of the paper, write a description of what you think the rest of the paper will say. (Normally, the first paragraph should give a reader a pretty good idea about what is coming up.)
This is good advice because I think that if you cannot give a breif description of the paper, especially in journalism, the lead isn't strong enough. Most journalistic stories are written in inverted pyramid form, so the lead should be able to give that description.
More advice can be found on this link, prompting us to underline all sentences that appear as generalizations (not examples, quotes, or facts). This is also particularly important in journalism where our opinion is not needed.
This is another link to a peer critiquing guideline. The most important advice I found on this site was:
Intend to be constructive. Approach the piece with the intention of building it up, not tearing it apart, and as you would want a reviewer to critique your own work.
I think this is important because it allows us, as peer critiquers, to give constructive criticism without sounding negative. For example, I would not say, "Don't do this; it is wrong." Instead, I would say, "Doing this may be better or more accurate." That way the critique-ee isn't just looking at a bunch of negative remarcks. S/he is looking at ways to improve the paper.
Moreover, I think we also need to be open to giving our advice. I find that I am often afraid to offend someone by calling his/her work imperfect. I usually enjoy these opportunities of peer critiquing because I am able to perfect my story before turning it in. I don't know if someone else has the same reactions as me, though, so I tend to back off a little bit.
And finally, I found this article on eHow.com. Number 8 stood out to me, which stated this:
Explain why you made the comments you did. Say why you think certain things are effective and why others are not.
This is important because it may put things into perspective for the peer critique-ee. S/he will probably better understand the advice, instead of wondering if it is accurate or not. We're all learning here, so I would be more likely to take someone's advice seriously if s/he stated accurate reasons.
What do you think of the advice on peer critiquing in this post? Is it helpful? Do you have any other advice to offer?
My ethics blog: http://blogethics2004.blogspot.com/.
Read the first paragraph and, without looking at the rest of the paper, write a description of what you think the rest of the paper will say. (Normally, the first paragraph should give a reader a pretty good idea about what is coming up.)
This is good advice because I think that if you cannot give a breif description of the paper, especially in journalism, the lead isn't strong enough. Most journalistic stories are written in inverted pyramid form, so the lead should be able to give that description.
More advice can be found on this link, prompting us to underline all sentences that appear as generalizations (not examples, quotes, or facts). This is also particularly important in journalism where our opinion is not needed.
This is another link to a peer critiquing guideline. The most important advice I found on this site was:
Intend to be constructive. Approach the piece with the intention of building it up, not tearing it apart, and as you would want a reviewer to critique your own work.
I think this is important because it allows us, as peer critiquers, to give constructive criticism without sounding negative. For example, I would not say, "Don't do this; it is wrong." Instead, I would say, "Doing this may be better or more accurate." That way the critique-ee isn't just looking at a bunch of negative remarcks. S/he is looking at ways to improve the paper.
Moreover, I think we also need to be open to giving our advice. I find that I am often afraid to offend someone by calling his/her work imperfect. I usually enjoy these opportunities of peer critiquing because I am able to perfect my story before turning it in. I don't know if someone else has the same reactions as me, though, so I tend to back off a little bit.
And finally, I found this article on eHow.com. Number 8 stood out to me, which stated this:
Explain why you made the comments you did. Say why you think certain things are effective and why others are not.
This is important because it may put things into perspective for the peer critique-ee. S/he will probably better understand the advice, instead of wondering if it is accurate or not. We're all learning here, so I would be more likely to take someone's advice seriously if s/he stated accurate reasons.
What do you think of the advice on peer critiquing in this post? Is it helpful? Do you have any other advice to offer?
My ethics blog: http://blogethics2004.blogspot.com/.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Blog 4 (Writing)
This is the week our first beat story is due, so it only seems appropriate to write about writing. Journalistic writing can be great because it features a lot of quotes, so all we do is tell them. Although, retrieving those quotes can be difficult. I am heading up to the Annual Student Exhibition at VCSU this week to interview artists and fellow exhibit-goers. I'm afraid that I won't be able to find a time when there is actually someone else there with me. Luckily, I've already found two sources. Three to go... If anyone in this class has gone to or will be going to the exhibition and would like to comment on some of the artwork, I would appreciate some more sources. Or if anyone here has an exhibit in the show, I would like to hear your story of inspiration.
Finding primary sources is essential in journalism. When I was talking to sources for my beat, I noticed a lot of them enjoyed giving me quotes and their opinions. This is good because the public likes to hear other peoples' interactions. They want to feel as if they were there. This can be especially beneficial for the event. The more readers, the better the story, the more possible event-goers.
I find that secondary sources are not used much in journalism. To find out the difference, click here. A primary source gives me information at the time. There is not element of being in the past. It's all about the present, which is what I think newsreaders like to read.
I found a link that gives some information on writing an advance. Check it out, if you'd like.
As I'm taking an algebra course this semester, I have realized how much I really do like writing. I'm good with words, bad with numbers...
One more thing, I am having the most difficult time finding all these professional blogs. I've posted a thread on BlackBoard saying this:
I am having the hardest time finding all these professional blogs. First, I don't know how to search. I can't find a search or even a browse on Blogspot, so I just type in the criteria for the blog on Google (which I know runs Blogspot) but I don't find anything.
Is there an actual search on Blogspot? And also, how do you determine what a "professional blog" is? I would really appreciate it if someone who's having better luck than I am offer some advice. :)
Finding primary sources is essential in journalism. When I was talking to sources for my beat, I noticed a lot of them enjoyed giving me quotes and their opinions. This is good because the public likes to hear other peoples' interactions. They want to feel as if they were there. This can be especially beneficial for the event. The more readers, the better the story, the more possible event-goers.
I find that secondary sources are not used much in journalism. To find out the difference, click here. A primary source gives me information at the time. There is not element of being in the past. It's all about the present, which is what I think newsreaders like to read.
I found a link that gives some information on writing an advance. Check it out, if you'd like.
As I'm taking an algebra course this semester, I have realized how much I really do like writing. I'm good with words, bad with numbers...
One more thing, I am having the most difficult time finding all these professional blogs. I've posted a thread on BlackBoard saying this:
I am having the hardest time finding all these professional blogs. First, I don't know how to search. I can't find a search or even a browse on Blogspot, so I just type in the criteria for the blog on Google (which I know runs Blogspot) but I don't find anything.
Is there an actual search on Blogspot? And also, how do you determine what a "professional blog" is? I would really appreciate it if someone who's having better luck than I am offer some advice. :)
Monday, January 26, 2009
Blog 3 (Service Dogs)
I couldn't figure out how to directly link the article, so click here and scroll down to the second article on the page, Service Dogs for America agency to visit Valley City.
I chose this article because last year for a class, I wrote a ten page paper on service dogs and "theradogs." I found extensive research on the benefits of pets, particularily dogs, on people, both ill and healthy. Today, Service Dogs for America visited the Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals meeting to talk about its mission.
In the article Michelle "Mitch" Doyle tells what she and her organization does. "We train and place service dogs, emergency medical alert-response/seizure alert-response dogs, therapeutic companions, and specialty dogs with people who need them," (Schlegel, 2009). Doyle also tells us that the main focus is people. Helping people is specific to the mission statement of the organization.
I know how important it is for people to have the love of a pet in times of need. My sister had major back surgery two years ago and she had a black lab visit her while she was staying in the hospital. She's a huge dog-lover and since she was away from our dog, the lab brought her a feeling of hope and love.
While doing my research last year for my paper I wrote about therapy dogs, I ran into many websites, this is just one that you can visit if you have intrest in the subject. You'll find a touching story as soon as you arrive at the website. I read many like this throughout my reasearch, and I couldn't believe some of the things I read.
I love dogs, and that is partially why I chose this article to blog about. I also figured I'd catch up on local news, and logged onto the Times Record's website, and this article really stood out to me.
On another note, we got our two beat assignments today, and I'm a little worried about them. I'm hoping I'm able to find an event related to my specific beat, which is arts and culture. I don't think that will be too hard. There ought to be a concert, art show, or something coming up in the near future. If anyone has any knowledge on particular events going on in the Valley City area, I would like to hear about them. :)
This is the blog I'm following on maintaining sources: http://blogethics2004.blogspot.com/.
I chose this article because last year for a class, I wrote a ten page paper on service dogs and "theradogs." I found extensive research on the benefits of pets, particularily dogs, on people, both ill and healthy. Today, Service Dogs for America visited the Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals meeting to talk about its mission.
In the article Michelle "Mitch" Doyle tells what she and her organization does. "We train and place service dogs, emergency medical alert-response/seizure alert-response dogs, therapeutic companions, and specialty dogs with people who need them," (Schlegel, 2009). Doyle also tells us that the main focus is people. Helping people is specific to the mission statement of the organization.
I know how important it is for people to have the love of a pet in times of need. My sister had major back surgery two years ago and she had a black lab visit her while she was staying in the hospital. She's a huge dog-lover and since she was away from our dog, the lab brought her a feeling of hope and love.
While doing my research last year for my paper I wrote about therapy dogs, I ran into many websites, this is just one that you can visit if you have intrest in the subject. You'll find a touching story as soon as you arrive at the website. I read many like this throughout my reasearch, and I couldn't believe some of the things I read.
I love dogs, and that is partially why I chose this article to blog about. I also figured I'd catch up on local news, and logged onto the Times Record's website, and this article really stood out to me.
On another note, we got our two beat assignments today, and I'm a little worried about them. I'm hoping I'm able to find an event related to my specific beat, which is arts and culture. I don't think that will be too hard. There ought to be a concert, art show, or something coming up in the near future. If anyone has any knowledge on particular events going on in the Valley City area, I would like to hear about them. :)
This is the blog I'm following on maintaining sources: http://blogethics2004.blogspot.com/.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Blog 2 (Butter is Better and Beat Reporting)
It's so easy for me to find news to report about, considering when I'm online there's hyperlinks to all types of stories. While reading about the current peanut butter fiasco, I found a hyperlink that lead to a news article about "health foods" that aren't so healthy. Click here to read it. Did you know that ham, eggs, and cheese on an English muffin contains less calories than a bran muffin? I never would've guessed that, considering I always hear people say that bran muffins are the healthy option to breakfast.
One of the aspects that the article points out is that most food starts out healthy, but it's what we add to it that makes it unhealthy. Plain tuna out of a can is healthy; when we douse it in mayo, cheese, and whatever else, it becomes unhealthy and loaded with calories and saturated fats. It's so easy to eat unhealthy, though, considering it's hard to even notice when I'm doing it. If I order salmon at a restaurant, I think, "Oh, it's healthy and contains lots of nutrients." Well, that may be true, but in restaurants, it usually comes with a sauce over it, which adds to the unhealthy factor.
The most surprising to me was that a turkey burger contains more than double the amount of fat in grams than that of a sirloin steak. When I think turkey, I think lean and healthy, but the article states that sirloin is one of the leanest cuts of meats available.
I recommend you all to read this article because it puts health food into perspective. It may make you think twice about what you put on your plate. And for those of you who are conviced margarine is healthier than butter, read number 14. It's good. :)
One of the aspects that the article points out is that most food starts out healthy, but it's what we add to it that makes it unhealthy. Plain tuna out of a can is healthy; when we douse it in mayo, cheese, and whatever else, it becomes unhealthy and loaded with calories and saturated fats. It's so easy to eat unhealthy, though, considering it's hard to even notice when I'm doing it. If I order salmon at a restaurant, I think, "Oh, it's healthy and contains lots of nutrients." Well, that may be true, but in restaurants, it usually comes with a sauce over it, which adds to the unhealthy factor.
The most surprising to me was that a turkey burger contains more than double the amount of fat in grams than that of a sirloin steak. When I think turkey, I think lean and healthy, but the article states that sirloin is one of the leanest cuts of meats available.
I recommend you all to read this article because it puts health food into perspective. It may make you think twice about what you put on your plate. And for those of you who are conviced margarine is healthier than butter, read number 14. It's good. :)
Monday, January 12, 2009
Blog 1 (Learning)
Hello class-
I've blogged before; in fact I've blogged a lot using Xanga and MySpace, but only as a personal blog. I wrote down my thoughts and adventures with friends and family. I was in junior high when blogging was my craze, and I haven't written a blog in quite a while. I'm excited for the blogs, though, because I love to write. I feel I may put too much opinion and personalization into my first blog, so this blog might be the learning blog.
I've blogged before; in fact I've blogged a lot using Xanga and MySpace, but only as a personal blog. I wrote down my thoughts and adventures with friends and family. I was in junior high when blogging was my craze, and I haven't written a blog in quite a while. I'm excited for the blogs, though, because I love to write. I feel I may put too much opinion and personalization into my first blog, so this blog might be the learning blog.
Are you looking foward to this class? I took Intro to Media Writing last semester, and I'm looking forward to working with specific types of media writing, including blogs. I know this class will allow my last blog to be way better than this blog. I am taking two other classes where I have to blog, so I will become quite the blogging expert! =)
Since I've only written personal blogs, I did read a little information about blogs and the whole "blogoshphere" on Wikipedia.
Well, since this is my first blog, I'll introduce myself a little. I grew up in a small town called Cooperstown, just 50 miles north of Valley City. So, I guess you can say I like small town environments. I especially love minimal traffic because traffic drives me nuts! I have been at VCSU for two and a half years now, majoring in communications.
I like to hang out with friends and family in my spare time. When I'm really bored, I'd rather spend an entire day on the internet than watching T.V. Though, I do love to watch movies! =) I love thrillers and my two ultimate favorite movies are The Lost Room and Marley & Me (I love dogs!). The Lost Room is a six hour movie, but I really liked it because it's a weird movie that kept my attention throughout all six hours!
That's all for now.
hEiDi*MaE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
