While I would've loved to write about effective and ineffective advertisements, I believe that my attention this week should be focused on the wonderful weather we have here in our beloved state of North Dakota.
As we all know, there are massive amounts of water and snow accumulation around the state but especially in the Western half. Fargo and the surrounding smaller communities are in the most trouble but all up and down the Red River Valley and the Sheyenne River communities are in grave danger.
The crest of flood waters in Fargo is expected to be between 39 and 41 feet by Friday night. Most of the damns are being built to a height of 42 feet. Even at the height, there are worries about the strength and stability of the barriers.
President Obama has declared North Dakota a federal disaster area. This means that the federal government will cover 75% of the state and local government costs that will go towards fighting the flooding throughout the state. National Guard units around the state have been activated and called to Fargo and other communities to pitch in with filling sandbags and building the dikes and dams to keep the flood waters at bay.
Oxbow is evacuating people because they have been unable to keep up with surging flow of the river. Ice chunks have built up in the rivers as well causing back up and making it an inevitable that there be major flooding once those chunks give way and everything that is building behind them is released.
I have been helping sandbag in Valley City for the past two days. With the number of sandbags and helpers needed in our reasonably small community, it is unimaginable to think about the numbers in Fargo/Moorhead and also all of the other communities in North Dakota. Every town in the western portion of the state is being sandbagged and preparing for the water that is surely going to ravage each location...whether protected or not.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Relay for Life
Relay for Life is a cause and event that is very near and dear to my heart. I lost my grandma to cancer when I was in 5th grade and Stephen just recently lost his grandpa to cancer as well. Cancer runs in my family so I feel very strongly about cancer research, treatment, cures, and prevention. It could save a friend, family member, or even me.
There are over 200 different types of cancer. You can develop one or more type(s) of cancer in ANY organ or part of your body. Despite the numerous different types, cancers can be broadly grouped into types depending on the tissues they develop from/in. Here are the groups:
Carcinomas, the most common types of cancer, arise from the cells that cover external and internal body surfaces. Lung, breast, and colon are the most frequent cancers of this type.
Sarcomas are cancers arising from cells found in the supporting tissues of the body such as bone, cartilage, fat, connective tissue and muscle.
Lymphomas are cancers that arise in the lymph nodes and tissues of the body's immune system.
Leukaemias are cancers of the immature blood cells that grow in the bone marrow and tend to accumulate in large numbers in the bloodstream.
Adenomas are tumours that come from glandular tissue like the thyroid, the pituitary gland the adrenal gland. They are often benign.
There are often prefixs to those tissue groups that describe the exact type of cell the cancer origionates from. Some of the prefixs include:
Adeno- = gland
Chondro- = cartilage
Erythro- = red blood cell
Haemangio- = blood vessels
Hepato- = liver
Lipo- = fat
Lympho- = white blood cell
Melano- = pigment cell
Myelo- = bone marrow
Myo- = muscle
Osteo- = bone
My favorite fundraiser is Relay for Life. The country is divided into 13 different regions and each region has their base offices. Those offices decide where and when events are going to be held and they provide information and supplies and they are always available to aid with problems or questions. I have participated in five Relay for Life events throughout my lifetime and have loved every second of the fundraising, preperation, and the event in itself.
There are over 200 different types of cancer. You can develop one or more type(s) of cancer in ANY organ or part of your body. Despite the numerous different types, cancers can be broadly grouped into types depending on the tissues they develop from/in. Here are the groups:
Carcinomas, the most common types of cancer, arise from the cells that cover external and internal body surfaces. Lung, breast, and colon are the most frequent cancers of this type.
Sarcomas are cancers arising from cells found in the supporting tissues of the body such as bone, cartilage, fat, connective tissue and muscle.
Lymphomas are cancers that arise in the lymph nodes and tissues of the body's immune system.
Leukaemias are cancers of the immature blood cells that grow in the bone marrow and tend to accumulate in large numbers in the bloodstream.
Adenomas are tumours that come from glandular tissue like the thyroid, the pituitary gland the adrenal gland. They are often benign.
There are often prefixs to those tissue groups that describe the exact type of cell the cancer origionates from. Some of the prefixs include:
Adeno- = gland
Chondro- = cartilage
Erythro- = red blood cell
Haemangio- = blood vessels
Hepato- = liver
Lipo- = fat
Lympho- = white blood cell
Melano- = pigment cell
Myelo- = bone marrow
Myo- = muscle
Osteo- = bone
My favorite fundraiser is Relay for Life. The country is divided into 13 different regions and each region has their base offices. Those offices decide where and when events are going to be held and they provide information and supplies and they are always available to aid with problems or questions. I have participated in five Relay for Life events throughout my lifetime and have loved every second of the fundraising, preperation, and the event in itself.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
"America's FIRST African American President: Barack Obama!!!"
Our nation, for the first time in history, voted 365 to 173 to elect Barack Obama our 2009-2013 president. He is the first African American President of The United States of America. The entire nation sat on the edge of their seats waiting to see if Barack Obama would beat out John McCain and if our nation would "finally" (for lack of a more substantial word) see an African American citizen elected into the historic position of our past leaders. Once Obama passed the 270 mark, you could feel the release of accumulated breaths. The happiness, and anger, were tangible. America had chosen, and what Obama brought to the table, pleased more than it upset. I am personally psyched beyond belief that Barack Obama is our new president. Some of you are not, which I respect. For as Voltaire said it best, "I disagree with what you are saying, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it." I believe in every word of what Voltaire said. Some of you are strongly against President Obama, and that is your choice, but what he said, and is saying, is true and he has passion, drive, and charisma and, in my opinion, the Republicans have lost those key elements and are in lust for the power and money that come with being on top. It's always about a power and wealth struggle when it should be about the American people. I believe President Obama is going to fight to bring our nation back to where we belong: looking out for one another and not worrying about who has control of the power and money but what good they're doing with it.
The presidents first 50 days have been under intense pressure and pressing crowds of this nations citizens waiting on the edge of their seats and hanging by threads to see what his next move will be and in which direction he is leading this country.
President Obama's stimulus plan for our failing economy is seen as ingenious by some and idiotic by others. Me, I'm on the fence. The reasoning and ideas behind it are patriotic and noble, but the idea of putting money we don't have into an economy suffering from the money we already lack, just seems to me that it would add up to more money we don't have. The stimulus is designed to take us out of debt while the way I understand it, it increases the national debt to other countries but depletes it within our nation...or, something along those lines. So far, our president has been fantastic and I am so excited to be involved in this journey through history with a man that I think is going to fix America and get our beloved country back to where we can be proud to call her ours.
The presidents first 50 days have been under intense pressure and pressing crowds of this nations citizens waiting on the edge of their seats and hanging by threads to see what his next move will be and in which direction he is leading this country.
President Obama's stimulus plan for our failing economy is seen as ingenious by some and idiotic by others. Me, I'm on the fence. The reasoning and ideas behind it are patriotic and noble, but the idea of putting money we don't have into an economy suffering from the money we already lack, just seems to me that it would add up to more money we don't have. The stimulus is designed to take us out of debt while the way I understand it, it increases the national debt to other countries but depletes it within our nation...or, something along those lines. So far, our president has been fantastic and I am so excited to be involved in this journey through history with a man that I think is going to fix America and get our beloved country back to where we can be proud to call her ours.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
What is a film without the set?!...Nothing But Dialog...'Yippee'
If you were once as naive as me, you would've thought that all movies were filmed "on-location." (Which in the movie business, is where it is a natural, actual, place rather than a constructed background in a studio stage.) Sadly, this is NOT the case. It is far too expensive, especially with the world's economy crumbling how it is. Also, it is incredibly difficult to get filming rights for "on-location" shooting (filming). You need permits, and to pay "fees", and sign contracts, make promises, and adhere to strict codes. Each location varying DRASTICALLY from the next. I do believe however, that when movies are shot in a natural location that if appears more real and makes the film more beautiful and realistic to the viewers.
Every movie in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy was filmed partially in the Caribbean. In the 2 and 3 films, (Dead Man's Chest and At World's End) were filmed partly on Dominica. This gorgeous Caribbean island is not only one of the least disturbed island in the eastern section of those rippling blue waters, but it was actually home to many a real-life pirates famous treasures. The Spanish treasure fleets declared the northwest shore, now Portsmouth, as their stopping and stashing point on the way into the Caribbean from Europe in 1535.Because of it's forests, hot springs and fresh water, it was a great place to recuperate and find hiding places for their goods. After recovering and stashing the treasure, the fleets would split up. Half of the ships sailed to Panama and Cartaghena and the other to Mexico.
The crescent shaped bay in which the first film, The Curse of The Black Pearl, "on-location shooting" took place was St. Vincent. They chose St. Vincent because of the crescent shaped bay and that it was the only one without an over-zealous fancy hotel/resort for the upwardly mobile. They made-over a few of the buildings in the bay area, constructed more and added and extended piers. They brought in 3 ships, 2 of which they constructed over steel barges and one which they remodled to the codes of the time period. 99% of all the props were constructed in Long Beach and then flew into St. Lucia then shipped everything over. There were 400 crew members brought in and several hundred members of St. Vincent's population was hired as well. They bought for the filming time, almost every hotel room on the island. The cave of the "Cursed Treasue of Cortez's cursed Aztec gold coins" were the infamous Captain Barbossa's crew stored their loot, took over 5 months to build with over 100 craftsman. It was construced partially of foam and the rest from wood and plaster. It was based partially off of the Disney World theme park ride for it's appearance and contents. They filled a majority of the cave with water which made it difficult to shoot but they didn't have one giltch when it came to that aspect.
Every movie in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy was filmed partially in the Caribbean. In the 2 and 3 films, (Dead Man's Chest and At World's End) were filmed partly on Dominica. This gorgeous Caribbean island is not only one of the least disturbed island in the eastern section of those rippling blue waters, but it was actually home to many a real-life pirates famous treasures. The Spanish treasure fleets declared the northwest shore, now Portsmouth, as their stopping and stashing point on the way into the Caribbean from Europe in 1535.Because of it's forests, hot springs and fresh water, it was a great place to recuperate and find hiding places for their goods. After recovering and stashing the treasure, the fleets would split up. Half of the ships sailed to Panama and Cartaghena and the other to Mexico.
The crescent shaped bay in which the first film, The Curse of The Black Pearl, "on-location shooting" took place was St. Vincent. They chose St. Vincent because of the crescent shaped bay and that it was the only one without an over-zealous fancy hotel/resort for the upwardly mobile. They made-over a few of the buildings in the bay area, constructed more and added and extended piers. They brought in 3 ships, 2 of which they constructed over steel barges and one which they remodled to the codes of the time period. 99% of all the props were constructed in Long Beach and then flew into St. Lucia then shipped everything over. There were 400 crew members brought in and several hundred members of St. Vincent's population was hired as well. They bought for the filming time, almost every hotel room on the island. The cave of the "Cursed Treasue of Cortez's cursed Aztec gold coins" were the infamous Captain Barbossa's crew stored their loot, took over 5 months to build with over 100 craftsman. It was construced partially of foam and the rest from wood and plaster. It was based partially off of the Disney World theme park ride for it's appearance and contents. They filled a majority of the cave with water which made it difficult to shoot but they didn't have one giltch when it came to that aspect.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Writing Aspects in Mass Media
There are different forms of writing when it comes to the different publications of mass media. In newspapers there are at least three different writing techniques. In magazines, the writing styles are particular to each columnist. For radio scripts, it's just what the writers or the host wants to say and they read reports sent to them from various entities. Press releases and reports are probably the most properly written because they are broadcast to the entire country and read around the world. They can't afford to have mistakes in them or the writers would be greatly criticized and that could be bad press.
Emails are another part of the mass media. They might not be sent to massive amounts of the public, but they can be sent to hundreds of employees, a large family, used in trials and prosecutions, and they can be ways to communicate information for publications and releases.
Besides emails, there are other forms of communications for inter-departmental communication and communication between partnerships or other companies. Examples of a few are memos (memorandums), letters, and reports and proposals. Memos are informal and contain specific information. These are used completely “in-house.” In-house is a term that means that it’s for inter-departmental members only. Letters are more formal. They are mailed out to anyone outside the company who needs information or has information the organization is in need of. Reports and proposals can be inter-departmental or fellow companies. They are formal as well and usually are used to propose something or express and idea or change.
News Releases are probably one of the most popular ways to get news out to the public and “co-workers.” They contain new information and new developments of largely popular stories. News releases are not always a positive thing. They can bring about more controversy and aspects of stories instead of putting them to rest.
Emails are another part of the mass media. They might not be sent to massive amounts of the public, but they can be sent to hundreds of employees, a large family, used in trials and prosecutions, and they can be ways to communicate information for publications and releases.
Besides emails, there are other forms of communications for inter-departmental communication and communication between partnerships or other companies. Examples of a few are memos (memorandums), letters, and reports and proposals. Memos are informal and contain specific information. These are used completely “in-house.” In-house is a term that means that it’s for inter-departmental members only. Letters are more formal. They are mailed out to anyone outside the company who needs information or has information the organization is in need of. Reports and proposals can be inter-departmental or fellow companies. They are formal as well and usually are used to propose something or express and idea or change.
News Releases are probably one of the most popular ways to get news out to the public and “co-workers.” They contain new information and new developments of largely popular stories. News releases are not always a positive thing. They can bring about more controversy and aspects of stories instead of putting them to rest.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
What's a story if there are no characters?
An excellently written script with an intriguing plot can easily turn into a flop in production or a box office if the acting doesn't fit how the characters are to be portrayed. That's why characters are typically written for a specific actor/actress. However, if the script is not based on the abilities of the desired actor or actress, the directors and writers hold auditions. During an audition, they can view anywhere in the neighborhood of 5,000 people. Now, some auditions are closed and you must be invited or asked to come read for the decision makers but sometimes they are open to anyone and everyone. These are called open auditions and they're increasingly difficult to find.
Some of the best romantic comedies have the wackiest characters! Take one of my favorites, Fever Pitch. Man oh man, Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon make a GREAT team in this comedy about a corporate workaholic and her love interest a school teacher who is obsessed, and i mean obsessed as in completely infatuated, with the Boston Red Sox. At first it appears cute and attractive to Barrymore's character Lindsey that Ben (Fallon) is dedicated and committed to something-it says something about what kind of guy he is. She realizes that post-season Ben and in-season Ben are almost complete opposites. He's funny, sweet, spontaneous, and up for almost anything in the post season but during the season, he won't miss a game, and if he does he cannot hear the score or see a clip because he tapes all of the games. When he misses a game to be Lindsey's date to a friends birthday party, he misses the best game of the season. The Sox were down 7-0 in the bottom of the 9th and came back to win it 8-7. Although he had a fantastic evening, he can't see past the game of a lifetime that he inadvertantly missed "because of Lindsey." He does not realize how badly he hurts and upsets her until after he's been a few days without her. He decides to sell his season tickets to one of Lindsey's friend's husbands and when Lindsey finds out, she races to the game and runs across the field to stop him from making the mistake. Boston goes on to win the World Series and Lindsey and Ben live happily ever after.
Some of the best romantic comedies have the wackiest characters! Take one of my favorites, Fever Pitch. Man oh man, Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon make a GREAT team in this comedy about a corporate workaholic and her love interest a school teacher who is obsessed, and i mean obsessed as in completely infatuated, with the Boston Red Sox. At first it appears cute and attractive to Barrymore's character Lindsey that Ben (Fallon) is dedicated and committed to something-it says something about what kind of guy he is. She realizes that post-season Ben and in-season Ben are almost complete opposites. He's funny, sweet, spontaneous, and up for almost anything in the post season but during the season, he won't miss a game, and if he does he cannot hear the score or see a clip because he tapes all of the games. When he misses a game to be Lindsey's date to a friends birthday party, he misses the best game of the season. The Sox were down 7-0 in the bottom of the 9th and came back to win it 8-7. Although he had a fantastic evening, he can't see past the game of a lifetime that he inadvertantly missed "because of Lindsey." He does not realize how badly he hurts and upsets her until after he's been a few days without her. He decides to sell his season tickets to one of Lindsey's friend's husbands and when Lindsey finds out, she races to the game and runs across the field to stop him from making the mistake. Boston goes on to win the World Series and Lindsey and Ben live happily ever after.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Pearson Education
Pearson Education is a leading global media company. They publish college course materials from introductory levels to advanced, professional, reference publications, and monographs levels as well. As you can tell they are a diverse company.
The aspect of Pearson that really caught my attention when I first heard of their company was the fact that they have a Pearson Student Advisory Board. College students around the country can apply for a position on the board for a year-long term in their Higher Education department.
The application consists of a cover letter that feature the applicants qualifications, a recent resume, two letter of recommendation from a university faculty member or employer, and a current transcript of courses and grades (official or unofficial). The applicants are supposed to be in their second or third year at a four-year institution, if the students come from a two-year institution, they must have successfully achieved at least a year of course work by the time the internship is to begin. The time commitment for the internship is approximately 5 hours a week.
There are quite a few perks hooked into the internship that are quite appealing to many a college-faring student. If an applicant lands a spot on the board there is $1,000 stipend off of text book costs and complimentary copies of Pearson textbooks. There are stimulating, all-expense paid trips and summits with the senior Pearson executives; there is also traveling on a needed basis to complete specific tasks the board may assign to the student members. The two that really caught my eye were that it is a HUGE resume-building experience and you get real working-world acquaintance before we graduate and the opportunity to collude with other smart and ambitious individuals from around the nation.
The aspect of Pearson that really caught my attention when I first heard of their company was the fact that they have a Pearson Student Advisory Board. College students around the country can apply for a position on the board for a year-long term in their Higher Education department.
The application consists of a cover letter that feature the applicants qualifications, a recent resume, two letter of recommendation from a university faculty member or employer, and a current transcript of courses and grades (official or unofficial). The applicants are supposed to be in their second or third year at a four-year institution, if the students come from a two-year institution, they must have successfully achieved at least a year of course work by the time the internship is to begin. The time commitment for the internship is approximately 5 hours a week.
There are quite a few perks hooked into the internship that are quite appealing to many a college-faring student. If an applicant lands a spot on the board there is $1,000 stipend off of text book costs and complimentary copies of Pearson textbooks. There are stimulating, all-expense paid trips and summits with the senior Pearson executives; there is also traveling on a needed basis to complete specific tasks the board may assign to the student members. The two that really caught my eye were that it is a HUGE resume-building experience and you get real working-world acquaintance before we graduate and the opportunity to collude with other smart and ambitious individuals from around the nation.
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