schoooolssss out

I can not wait for this semester to be done so I can sleep for more than three hours!!!! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then I leave for London next week! woop woop! I like the end of November, even though the weather sucks and it gets dark to early... things are lookin up!

Out with the old in with the new

Quality journalism is in real trouble.  No matter what is going to happen to journalism I do not think it is ever become the profitable industry it once was.  That being said we are going to have a lot of "part-time" journalists that are not going to be able to put 100% into all of their pieces.  We are going to have an overload of stories that are all half done. We are going to have a lot of quantity and no quality.  I think for a lot of people it will just become a hobby rather than their passion and career.  Journalism can be sustained on-line, it is just going to have to take some restrictions and brainstorming.  An idea to help journalism survive online would be to have your newspaper read like a normal newspaper to a certain extent.  What if we could make it so you had your major headlines(to grab the reader's attention) and then a one liner to go with it(to draw them in further) and in order to get the full story you pay like fifty cents.  fifty cents is like nothing these days, but if everyone pays fifty cents it would be like the toll-roads, change adds up quick!! Who knows if my idea would work, probably not, but we should keep an open mind to all solutions. As for the commentators ideas, what is going to make Journalism survive is going to have to be a combination of all proposed solutions.  We should converge all solutions into one.  Local blog networks are going to have to get the story rolling, then take donators that will support your story to help you get started on digging deeper into the story, then when or if you need more funding for your story look for grants and funding from other foundations to help give you your extra shove.  If journalism is resolved this way, the "important" matters to the public will become priority and we can still have quality journalism because those journalists that provide the story will be receiving the funding they need.  This will also help weed out the amateur journalists who aren't putting all they've got into their stories.  I do not think just one predicted solution is going to save journalism, it is going to take a lot more than that. Whatever the solution really is going to be we need to figure it out fast before we lose all quality journalism and the important stories fall through the cracks.  

You're the producer

I personally am not a fan of "fan filmmakers".  I am very old school when it comes to my television and movies.  I like to watch my entertainment in the way the directors and writers intended it to be seen.  I do not like the "spin-off" effect, or the super fan sites, or the fact that some movies have become impossible to follow unless you are a super fan and have all the nitty-gritty details from following their fan sites etc.  It is to much work.  The point of television and film for me is to kick back and relax while I enter into some one else's world, it is not to make sure I read up on-line or watch the other mini movies before I go see my movie.  I hate it.  Now as for whether or not I think it is the future of movies is kind of up in the air.  Everything and everyone is so tied into the internet these days it would not surprise me if all movies become this way, and are viewed through You Tube and vimeochannels.   In my opinion, fan filmmakers are the future of blogging and convergence.  They are going to give Hollywood a run for their money and make them push to create the ultimate blockbuster.  They are going to help get the word out about movies and what they took back from the movie, it might even help promote the movie.  Either way something is definitely brewing in those waters... what the outcome will actually be is up in the air.  Times are constantly changing and something bigger and better is always coming along.  Fan Filmmakers for now are just challenging Hollywood to put their creative pants on and prove they're the professionals.   

Facebook for president

I think that social networking sites have become an outlet for grassroots because it is the easiest way for them to not only fly under the radar but also get their message out as far as possible and as quickly as possible.  The people  of places like Indonesia and Iran need their message to be heard before it is cut off.  When it is posted on a social networking site someone is bound to see it and help spread the word.  Everyone knows someone.  It is like you are playing the seven degrees of kevin bacon game.  It all ties together and helps give them a voice.  As for the US, I do not think social networks are used to as big of an extreme as they would be in other countries.  Here it is more used to help voice an opinion or view on politics, not so much to help fight against authorities.  Social networks here are more used for debate than to be a renegade.  Now social networks have also caught on for the other side of the fence.  Politicians have found ways to use things like Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter to help spread their views and recruit voters to join their cause.  

Class is in Session

In life there are certain things that everyone learns if you have graduated High School in the United States. You learn your multiplication, how to read, and how to write.  You also learn how to drive in drivers ed.  Once you have received your license, in order to renew your license you must retake your driving test.  I feel that the "drivers ed concept" should be applied to a new field of study, "proper restaurant etiquette".  I have worked with people for about eight years now, I have reached a point where nothing really surprises me anymore.  However, it would be nice if people understood what it is like working in retail or in the service industry, ESPECIALLY the service industry.  For my restaurant ed, you would have to complete your hours in training that are signed off by some one "certified".  In order to complete your hours you must work to pay your bills(if you do not have any at the time "imaginary bills" would be provided) by serving in a restaurant.  You must know what it is like to have to keep a smiling face while people take their bad moods out on you, tip you terribly, and cater to others needs constantly.  I think sometimes people forget that our title is server not servant.  I also wonder if people realize that servers make $4.25-$4.50 an hour in almost all cases.  Most people say well you make a ton of money in tips so that makes up for your low wages, wrong.  My pay check depends on how much I have to claim vs. how many hours I have worked.  It is never consistent  because of how much money they take out of your check for taxes.  Even if you were to get your full $4.25 an hour, if you worked 40 hours that week your paycheck would still only be $170.  That doesn't even cover my car payment, let alone my rent, credit card bills, phone bills, electric bills, etc. I have to claim ALL of my credit card tips.  On top of the "paycheck issue", I have to keep a smiling face at all times... my bills depend on it.  If I bring any of my personal life/issues into work with me and take it out on my customers or even seem the slightest bit cranky to a customer you risk not only being complained about to management but also losing your potential tip.  Sometimes it can be very difficult not to snap back at a rude customer.  Patience is key.  If you are kind to your server 8-9 times out of 10 you will receive better service and have a better experience.  We don't come to your work and bitch at you and make your life hell, so why would you think it is okay to do it to us?  Now as far as tipping goes, most people consider a good tip to be 15%.  15% was an acceptable tip in the 90's and early 00', however, the cost of living is up, prices are up, and everything costs money now.  Servers do not receive bonus checks or a raise.  What your hourly rate is, is what it is.  There is no changing it.  Some places may give you a few cents here and there depending on how long you have been there, but typically there is such a high overturn rate that most places don't even offer the opportunity for a raise unless you are promoted.  Keeping all of this in mind I feel that if you received proper service you should tip 18-20%.  You have to remember your server is busting their ass to aid to your needs plus the needs of everyone else in their section.  Lastly, do not speak to your server/bartender like they are an idiot.  Just because I am in the service industry does not make me an idiot.  I don't treat you like an uneducated moron, the same treatment is expected.  All of these things would be learned while taking restaurant ed, which is why it should become apart of schools criteria, along with frequent "refresher" courses.  Class is dismissed.

Blogging

I am by nature not a very chatty person.  I do not enjoy talking about myself or what is "going on in my life" unless I am asked a question.  I typically have to be provoked in order to have a conversation by a question or something of that nature.  I do not like initiating conversation.  That being said, although I am a very friendly person, I am in a way anti-social.  This is a incredibly horrible trait for a bartender have because the industry is based on being able to talk to people.  But that is how I am, I am very introverted and shy.  Now I also find it easier for me to communicate via writing.  I would rather text than talk on the phone, write a letter than have a heated argument, etc.  I think it is easier for me to process my thoughts as I write rather than speak them.  I am a pretty weird kid.  With all of this knowledge of me being extremely introverted and not talking to people I do not know I find it incredibly dumb for me to blog.  I blog about nothing because I do not know what to blog about.  What is the point of that?  To blog about nothing.  I feel like if you are going to have a blog it should be for a purpose.  Take for instance my friend Abbi, her best friend, Angel, lives over seas with her husband(who is in the army) and Abbi's godson.  This makes it difficult to keep in touch because of time differences, schedule conflicts, etc.  So in order to keep Abbi and the rest of Angel's family updated on what is going on with her and Abbi's godson Angel writes a weekly blog that talks about the different culture and environment she is in, all the cute things her son did that day, and includes pictures so Abbi can see how big he is getting.  Now that is a purpose for a blog!  In the same idea , for our troops over seas or even the ones that are here but are on base, it is difficult to stay in touch with family and friends.  It is easier to write a blog that people can check in on when they want to know what you have been up to rather than send out an email or try and write a letter.  It is easier if they just upkeep a blog for their friends and family.  That being said blogging for people like me is useless.  I see my family and friends regularly, I hate writing stuff or talking about myself, and when I do write is about absolutely nothing.  Once this class is over, I will probably never post on my blog again.  I wish I could say I enjoyed blogging, that I lead a very exciting life, that I have an insane amount of knowledge about something, or I am incredibly opinionated on certain topics so i should keep a blog so people can read in on what's new in Julie's world.  However, I am none of these.  The most excitement in my life would be the bar fight from the night before or me getting another job to add to the ridiculous amount of bars I've worked in.  Not exciting, not need to know, not objective. Blogging for me= no purpose.

Loss of Sanity

I have this really bad habit of sitting and doing my homework all at once.  This can become a serious problem because sometimes I do not start these projects until eight or nine o'clock at night.... Which means I am up until six or seven o'clock in the morning.  My alarm goes off at 6:30 am or 7:30 am almost everyday.  This means I have to run on NO SLEEP for the rest of the day.  I have to be able to function at work and use my brain/ be able to think in class.  Now I understand that my procrastination has something to do with this but it is also due to my lack of time.  I do not know what I was thinking registering for five classes this semester with working full time.  I must've had a moment of insanity thinking I would be able to juggle everything.  Well I have found a way to juggle, just cut out my sleep.  It has been my observation that my lack of sleep has the following side effects:  Silly-ness, forgetfulness, cranky-ness, slurred speech, blood shot eyes, heavy bags under the eyes, and a made up vocabulary.  Please disregard and type of nonsense you read on my blog because it is probably written during one of my moments ofinsanity.  Who does this to themselves? I don't even know if it is an option sometimes or from my procrastination.  Sometimes I think the procrastination comes from the need to finish other projects and homework assignments first before moving on to the next.  I have to get what is due first out of the way before I can start on the next one and I never seem to leave myself enough time to do anything because I am constantly pulling all nighters.  Last week I went THREE nights with out sleep.... Who stays up doing homework? I wish it was for a more exciting reason... Like it was a wild and crazy night that became epic.  But no, I am here doing homework, studying, finishing projects, and checking my facebook.  I am pretty sure I have become delusional.  I forgot my name at work this morning!!!! Who does that? Ah well... as they say it will all pay off in the end. Let's just hope that's true.

Gingers are creepy

Yesterday, November 20th is the official Kick a ginger day.   What is kick a ginger day??  It all started with a South Park episode back in 2005. It was the It was the 9th season and their 136th episode.  We all know the creators of South Park poke fun at everyone.  They do not leave anyone out.  From Tom Cruise, to Harley Davidson riders, to Facebook, nothing gets left out.  It is all meant in good fun, although some may find it offensive. South Park made of fun of gingers saying they didn't have souls, being a ginger is a disease and have "gingervitis", and the ginger jean is a curse.  However, the problem with picking on red heads or "gingers" is it is more relevant to all ages.  The episode caused a huge controversy after its ironic premise was misunderstood by people who acted violently against children with fair skin, freckles, and red hair.  There was a Facebook created(which is now deleted/banned) to name November 20th the national kick a ginger day.  It soon had over 5,000 members, it was all meant to be a joke.  I was shocked to hear that some kids took this day very literally and attacked a poor 13 year old boy, Aaron Mishkin was stomped and kicked by his fellow classmates.  The story hit all the way to Canada?!  Since this act of violence, new Facebook groups have developed as a retaliation to the act of anger.  Groups such as: hug a ginger day, gingers against kick a ginger day, sex your ginger, etc.   I am proud to be a ginger, I make fun of being a redhead constantly.  I even have a friend that is "scared of gingers" like this one -->
I am a "day walker ginger", but I still say you better watch out, because I'll sick my ginger kids on you.
Eric Cartman says, " Gingers are creepy. One night when your all sleeping in your room, they're gonna getcha, THEY'RE GONNA GETCHA!!

Alarm System

I need to create an alarm clock for heavy sleepers.  You know, one that has arms that can reach over and shake you until you are awake.  I have the misfortune of not only lacking sleep constantly because of my work hours, but the sleep I do get, I enjoy a little to much so I constantly over sleep.  I am suppose to wake up at 6:30am so I can get to my 8am class without rushing around and still get there on time.  However, my alarm never wakes me up.  I have tried just about everything to help.  Before the semester started I made myself wake up at 6 everyday for two weeks so that I could be use to waking up so early once school started.  This worked a little, minus the fact that I would go back to sleep.  Now that school is in session I started with two alarms...didn't work.  Okay, I'll try three, nope that didn't work either.  So then I heard that if you have a light turn on like a half hour before you wake up, it is suppose to be easier for you to wake up.  Well that didn't work either.  Today I set FIVE alarms, and opened my blinds to help me wake up.  I over slept by two hours!! I gotta get working on this invention, me becoming a morning person depends on it.

phone robbery

SO unfortunately for me, I recently just broke my htc hero due to water damage.... Even though I have insurance on my phone I still had to purchase a new one so not to be dropped from the "insurance" company of my phone.  You're only allowed three phones a year, depending on the reason for the phone breaking.  They do not cover water damage...sooo I could either buy my same old phone for $350.... or buy the new upgraded phone, which was also $350.... I went from hero to evo. I LOVE my evo.  It's amazing. It is so much faster, it does so much more, I am less likely to drop it cuz it is HUGE, etc. HOWEVER because it is "so advanced" and is using the 4g network now.... I have to pay an extra 10 bucks a month so I can have a 4G network...HERE IS THE KICKER.... not everyone has 4G first of all... You are LUCKY if you are in a 4G network....so I am paying for  network that I barely get to use, but constantly searching for this "amazing" network KILLS my battery, I am lucky if it makes it to the end of the day. So I had to buy a car charger to help my phone battery.  This "amazing" phone is saving me money and costing me an arm and a leg all at the same time.  People are saying that Sprint is going out of business.... well at the rates they're upcharges are... I am definitely keeping them in business. My evo is a blessing and a curse.  Once again I say I hate/love technology. Stupid phone.

Technology fail

As much as technology has done for us and how far we have come with it, I still hate it.  The facebooking, the blogging, the constantly needing to be on my phone. I had a huge project due this week, I worked HOURSSSS on this project.  Last step on this final project. the entire project goes missing.  After I constantly saved to be sure it didn't get erased.  Project gone.   Oh yes, I had to start over, fail.  I hate and love technology.  woof.

Community

In recent class discussions we talked about how urbanization does not have community.  I have a great example of this.  If you live in an "urban" area.  You are most likely to live in some kind of apartment complex or something of that sort.   They say that when you live in this sort of environment you are most likely to not know your neighbor or even if you do know your neighbor you do not have any kind of friendship or relationship with your neighbor.  Meaning if you lived in a "community" you are more than likely to have some kind of friendship with your neighbor.   Say you were to go to jail, would you be able to call your neighbor to bail you out? Do you even know your neighbor's phone number? Well I live in the suburbs, in an apartment complex.  There are probably 8 apartment building in my complex.  I do not know a single neighbor.  I recently had my car battery die in the morning when I was suppose to be at school.  I did not have one neighbor that would be able to help me.  There EIGHT FOUR STORY APARTMENT BUILDINGS, most of which are two to three bedroom apartments.  With all of these people that I have my "complex" none of them could help me jump my car.  I did not have a "neighbor's" number to call.  So I had to wait two hours for my dad to drive all the way over to my apartment to jump my car.  I absolutely believe that "urbanization" looses the sense of a community. However urbanization is not just in the city, it's in the suburbs to.  It is wherever there is not a "white picket fence" neighborhood.  I think that it is not due to city dwelling, it is the way people have evolved in general.  Stupid urbanization.

googled?

I do not think it's scary or horrible that google is "colonizing earth".  I think that someday it can be an asset to some kind of global future.  My concern is with the fact of how everything is so accessible.  Not just for privacy and the fact that all you have to do is type in some ones name and you can learn how much they paid for their house, things about their future, and so on.  It also makes me nervous for today's youth, including people my age.  The problem with google is it has made it's users, including myself, lazy.  For instance, research projects for school, or even when you have a "real" job.  It is so easy to just copy and paste someone else's work or find false/random  information.  It has become harder to tell what is actually  "legit" information.  It's not that making information more accessible is entirely bad, but when you make things that easy to find, it makes people lethargic.  I feel like in turn this makes people lethargic in life in general.  Google makes everything so easy, I feel eventually people will lose the knowledge of what "good hard work" is.  

Zombie Kid Likes Turtles

So this video was on TOSH.O recently and I still think it is hilarious. Daniel Tosh does his "web redemption" with little Jonathan and surrounds him with turtles. He repeats turtles over and over and I think he even made him eat some food with the word turtle in it. Then when it comes time for the redemption Jonathan says, "I like zombies". My friends and I have a new way of saying that the other is stupid by saying "I like turtles". :) Thank you Daniel Tosh and Jonathan.

Stress

I am finding myself incredibly overwhelmed this semester.  I feel like there is not enough time in a day for me to accomplish everything that I have to get done.  Including my blogs for my introduction to new media class. I have really got to get it together or I am going to fall really behind in everything.  I feel like I need a personal assistant to remind me of all the things I have to do and get done.  Also to tell me when I should start them.  Yea... That would be awesome.  If only. I need to find a bag of money so I don't have to work anymore and I can just concentrate on school.  I need to get it together fast.

Atmosphere is Inspiration

I love music and how it can change your mood in an instant just by a song.  One of my favorite groups to listen to is the underground hip-hop group, Atmosphere.  When thinking about atmosphere I wonder can two people be considered a musical group?  Is it just one person and a behind the scenes guy?It consists of two amazing individual artists, Slug and DJ Ant (born as Anthony Davis).  Their music has helped me through my worst days and kept me going on my good days.  Ant has the ability to project his mood through his music, bringing more life and meaning to it.   Atmosphere is considered an underground/independent hip hop group from the twin cities, Minnesota. Underground meaning they aren’t signed to a big name record label, like Warner or Sony Music, but instead signed to smaller labels to avoid “selling out”.  
They have been around since 1993 when they began to tour in 97' and hit every town they could. No matter how big or small the crowd. While pushing themselves to the limit, they poured their raw abilities ad hearts out onto the stage.  The people could relate and as the travels continued the fan base steadily grew and the legend was undeniable; a group of friends from the Twin Cities had established a thriving record label and made an impression on the Hip Hop world.  ANT still does 100% of the producing and Slug does all the MCing. There are older tracks where ANT MCs too, so yeah, they’re a group.  Their music and songs have an incredible rhythm and way with words.  In my opinion they are AMAZING.  I am incredibly excited for their show on October 7th, 2010 at the Congress Theatre for their To All My Friends Tour.  They are apart of  rhymesayers entertainment, which is the home of so many more talented independent artists.  It is definitely something worth checking it out.  yayaya!! 

Newest song by slug posted in blog below :)

Slug

Favorite Atmosphere song(s):
• 1597
• God's Bathroom Floor
• Trying to Find a Balance
• You
• Scapegoat
• Say Hey There
Favorite songs Slug is featured on:
• Insomnia 411 - Roosevelt Franklin feat. Slug & Jean Grae
• Bleeding Hearts Club - P.O.S. feat. Slug

Roosevelt Franklin- Insomnia 411 (Ft. Slug & Jean Grae)
One of the newer songs by Slug.
He is so gifted!

Bloggers on Blogging

What I really like about Trine-Maria Kristensen and her blog is she started off just like me.  Until recently I have not seen the purpose or use for blogging.  By reading through Trine-Maria's experiences with it, I understand the uses and excitement behind it all.  Trine-Maria sayd that was fascinates her about blogging is the interconnection with people and how you can link to any blog or anything you wanted to.  I feel that I can connect with Trine because I actually hate blogging because I do not know what I am suppose to write or put on these things, she helped me feel a little better about that.  I am not an incredibly vocal person when I am around people I do not know well so I suppose I treat blogging the same way.  it is going to take some time for me to get use to it, I guess.  I am going to try and take Trine's approach and make my blog more like me so i feel more comfortable and at home when i am here typing.  I think it's a brilliant idea to have email notifications for your blog, like how facebook does.  I am not familiar with any of the "blogging" terms or how things work so if it notified me when something was going on with my page I think it'd be really helpful.  I love that she uses her blog to rant about things that irritate her on the internet.  I think it is a great idea that she starts some ideas as drafts so that way she could come back to them later. This is an amazing and helpful tip for bloggin," And in order to get the conversation going I try to remember to send the people I write about a link—I am very often curious to find out how they decided on the solution/platform/blog-format or whatever.  I also write to get help. If there is something I don't know or something I am a bit afraid of, I ask for qualified tips and tricks—and I get a good response on those kinds of entries as well.  I don't think you should overdo either of these approaches but when I genuinely want to have the conversation I find that both ways work well on my blog."  Trine has been a bit of an inspiration to me to try and get the ball rolling on my blogging and get interested and motivated in doing so.  

My First Blog

Hi hi hi! This is my first ever blog post...yay!  I've never blogged, so this is my very sad attempt in doing so.  Go easy on me....and check back in for some nonsense of being a NCC student.  This class is way to early in the morning for my brain to be turned on.