Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Publication Opportunities
One publication opportunity is Buzzfeed.com, Buzzfeed allows young writers to contribute through their "community" page and publish their own original pieces and suggest it to their community editors, if they like it can become a feature piece.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/community/about
The second publication opportunity that I found interesting and that I did not know about was USA TODAY College. All you have to do is to compose a short pitch about your piece and if your pitch is accepted you get to work with editors to get your piece ready for print.
http://college.usatoday.com/correspondent/
http://www.buzzfeed.com/community/about
The second publication opportunity that I found interesting and that I did not know about was USA TODAY College. All you have to do is to compose a short pitch about your piece and if your pitch is accepted you get to work with editors to get your piece ready for print.
http://college.usatoday.com/correspondent/
Ferguson Thoughts
I think that the things that are happening in Ferguson recently are just despicable. Taking everything out of the actual case between Darren Wilson and Michael Brown and just reacting to the chaos that occurred after the decision was made.
It is sad to me that many of the same people that are taunting the police, and slandering the police are the same people that will be begging for their help some day. I agree that racism is extremely alive right now, but so is ignorance. If people think the system is wrong and want the system to change, then they should become the police officers, judges and lawyers that are apart of the system. Do something to cause change, don't burn your own city to the ground. The same people that were saying that the police brutality was too much, and the police force was out in too much force when the first riots occurred in the summer, were the same people that were saying that the police don't care about Ferguson and were doing nothing about the chaos that ensued this week in Ferguson. The double standards need to stop. It is doing nothing but dividing this country even more.
The worst part about this whole case, chaos, whatever you want to call it. Is the fact that it makes people take sides. You cannot talk about this case without having a personal opinion about it. It is extremely hard to talk about this case without race coming up, because that is what this case has been turned into. It is sad that it has become that,
The most interesting thing to me about all of this was the difference in opinions that have come out afterwards. A Facebook post from the New Orleans Saints Benjamin Watson was a particularly moving piece and I thought that it should be shared.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=602172116576590&id=378220362305101&refid=17
It is sad to me that many of the same people that are taunting the police, and slandering the police are the same people that will be begging for their help some day. I agree that racism is extremely alive right now, but so is ignorance. If people think the system is wrong and want the system to change, then they should become the police officers, judges and lawyers that are apart of the system. Do something to cause change, don't burn your own city to the ground. The same people that were saying that the police brutality was too much, and the police force was out in too much force when the first riots occurred in the summer, were the same people that were saying that the police don't care about Ferguson and were doing nothing about the chaos that ensued this week in Ferguson. The double standards need to stop. It is doing nothing but dividing this country even more.
The worst part about this whole case, chaos, whatever you want to call it. Is the fact that it makes people take sides. You cannot talk about this case without having a personal opinion about it. It is extremely hard to talk about this case without race coming up, because that is what this case has been turned into. It is sad that it has become that,
The most interesting thing to me about all of this was the difference in opinions that have come out afterwards. A Facebook post from the New Orleans Saints Benjamin Watson was a particularly moving piece and I thought that it should be shared.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=602172116576590&id=378220362305101&refid=17
Friday, October 31, 2014
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
The Working Poor
The more and more of The Working Poor that I read, the more my eyes get opened to things that I have never thought about. The author uses such real examples that you cannot help but feel emotional when these stories are told. I come from a very rich town and I just wish that people in this town would be forced to read this book. It would make them feel so grateful for all the stuff that they have, and just how privileged of a life that they live. So far this book is such a life changer.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
The Working Poor Chapters 1-3
When reading through chapters 1-3 in The Working Poor, it was shocking to see how many employers take advantage of foreign workers. Foreign workers do not know most of the federal or state laws that apply to the work place, and employers will fix time sheets and time clocks so that they can have these workers work longer for less money.
These first few chapters opened my eyes to a whole new problem in this country that I have never thought about. I look forward to reading the rest of this book and learning more about the work force that is being taken advantage regularly without anyone looking out for them.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Telling True Stories reading
After our assigned reading of certain sections of Telling True Stories I feel much more comfortable writing my profile drafts. One point that particularly stood out to me was the explanation of the use of quotations. You do not want to use a whole lot because it should not manipulate your story, but enhance it. Learning when to use quotations is a skill that must be mastered in order to tell an effective story.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Book Club
I am excited to read The Working Poor, it seems like it will be an eye opening experience that will make me think like I never have before. The book is about uncovering the harsh reality that is the everyday working man. It uncovers the truth behind the black, asian and latino men and women that live in the slums of the city and are trapped near the poverty lines. Any mistake can mean life or death for them. This book shows the cruel reality that is the forced work at low wages due to people haven no choice but to work for their life.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Zepps Last Stand
Reading Zepps last stand brought out a lot of emotion. Madeline Blais did such an amazing job of describing Zepp. You felt as if you knew the old man after just reading a page of her essay. She made the reader feel as if they were pulling for Zepp to win, and that any wrong done against him was personal for the reader. Giving him such a descriptive description and vivid memories, it felt like it was my grandfather telling me his old stories. Which really made me feel a close connection the essay. The effectiveness of the article is brought by Madeline Blais staying in chronological order, except for the few flashbacks that Zepp has. This essay was primarily effective because of Madeline Blais' ability make us have a connection with Zepp.
Mrs Kelley's Monster
This particular essay was extremely descriptive and Jon Franklin was able to use amazing detail to help set the scene and incite emotion from the reader. You couldn't help but feel horrible for Mrs. Kelley when you heard what she was going through, and the doctors decision whether to operate or not. Jon Franklin did an awesome setting an unbelievably vivid setting when he was in the operation room. It got to the point where you felt as if you were watching one of those doctor shows. Franklin using such tense and pressure situations leaves us the reader wanting more and we can't help but keep reading to see what is going to happen with Mrs. Kelley. He had a way of using really powerful quotes to get his message across and bring emotion to the story. When Mrs. Kelley says "I'm not afraid to die," it really makes you understand just how far Mrs. Kelley has come and that she just wants to feel better or be done with "the monster".
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Essay 1 Possible Topics
1. Rob Lotito- Rob is a man that I coached football with last year in New Hampshire. A year before I met him he was diagnosed with cancer, he missed an entire football season but was able to make a full recovery. I believe he would make a great story and interview.
2. Joe Shebertes- Joe was a kid that I graduated with quiet a few family problems that he had to go through throughout his high school years. He by all means had all the reasons in the world to just give up and not want to go to college or anything, but he is now playing baseball at UMASS Boston and has made great strides. He is someone that I was not very close with during school, but has been someone that I have kept in contact with every once in a while.
3. George Swanson- George is a distant friend of the families who I rarely am in contact with, I only hear about him when something bad happens. He is 20 years old and has been arrested multiple times for DUI and has had a rough child hood going through divorce and living with a single mother. He had tough times in the past 3-4 years, but for the last year he has been going to AA meetings and has been working to straighten out his life. He has a great story and is good person who made mistakes.
2. Joe Shebertes- Joe was a kid that I graduated with quiet a few family problems that he had to go through throughout his high school years. He by all means had all the reasons in the world to just give up and not want to go to college or anything, but he is now playing baseball at UMASS Boston and has made great strides. He is someone that I was not very close with during school, but has been someone that I have kept in contact with every once in a while.
3. George Swanson- George is a distant friend of the families who I rarely am in contact with, I only hear about him when something bad happens. He is 20 years old and has been arrested multiple times for DUI and has had a rough child hood going through divorce and living with a single mother. He had tough times in the past 3-4 years, but for the last year he has been going to AA meetings and has been working to straighten out his life. He has a great story and is good person who made mistakes.
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