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/.

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. :)

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.

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