Editorial: Dying to be Skinny

I'm going to write an editorial about the negative effects of too-skinny models and celebrities and how their image effects teenagers.

Profile on Selena Blackburn

“Selena is a wonderful woman and I am truly blessed to have the pleasure of being married to her” says husband of 16 years, Sean Blackburn.

Selena Dawn Blackburn was born on April 15 in Columbus, Montana to Dennis and Louise Chism. She grew up with two younger brothers, Nathan and Phil. “I never lived more than two years in one state growing up” she recalls. “I’ve lived in Arizona, Colorado, California, New York, Oregon, and Washington.”

She graduated from San Pasqual Academy in California and then went on to graduate at Purdue University in Indiana where she received her LPN. She also got her Associate’s Degree at Lane Community College in Longview, WA.

Blackburn married Sean Blackburn in June of 1993 and together they have 2 children: Caleb-12, and Seaniah-9 and also Heather-24, Sarai-19 from a previous marriage.

Blackburn worked in the emergency room at St. John’s Medical Center in Longview, WA and she currently works at Community Home Health and Hospice in Longview, WA and is a RN who makes house calls to patients who cannot get to the hospital. She also delivers prescriptions and examines the patients. "My mom is one of the most caring and generous people I have ever known. She has the biggest heart and is really passionate about her job" says daughter Heather Blackburn.

Blackburn enjoys reading, writing, scrap booking and camping along with many other activities. She also really enjoys country and 80’s music along with watching Gilmore Girls, ER, Grey’s Anatomy, CSI, Law and Order, Bones and Criminal Minds.

Selena's Facebook

Community Home Health and Hospice

San Pasqual Academy

Stephen King's The Writing

Some things I found inspiring, interesting, surprising: I thought it was very surprising how many obstacles he went through growing up. All of those ear problems would have killed me. I'm not very good with pain. What I thought was inspiring is how Stephen, since he missed a lot of school because of health issues, read a lot and started writing his own material. When he copied that one book (I forgot the title) and gave it to his mom to read, I really liked how she told him to write his own stories and that she would give him a quarter every time he finished one. I also found it inspiring how he worked for his brother's Rag paper. They were so young yet so determined to make a paper.

This book can be applied to feature writing because of many things Stephen King talks about. Don't over think. Just start writing. Also, never stop persuing your dream. Keep reprising your stories. Get information. Write things you're familiar with and things you know. Have a good imagination.

My favorite quote so far is: "In my family what you did was smoke your ciggarettes, and dance in the Jell-O and keep yourself to yourself. Yet the part of me that writes the stories, the deep part that knew I was an alcoholic as early as 1975, when I wrote The Shining, wouldn't accept that. Silence isn't what that part is about. It began to scream for help in the only way it knew how, through my fiction and through my monsters." This is found on pages 89-90. It's obviously now just one sentence, but almost a paragraph. But I really like it because he confesses that he was different, and that he had a problem. I like how he's real about it and he doesn't try to sugarcoat his life or experiences.

Ten Years Older: Jarrod Gorbel EP Review

After separating himself from his first music project, The Honorary Title, Jarrod Gorbel starts new, and on his own. Ten Years Older is a four song EP from the folk singer/songwriter. The Brooklyn native blends soulful singing and simple melodies to create his debut solo project. Gorbel explained in a Twitter mesagge that the reason for going solo by saying "It was a growing up of sorts, THT was a great vehicle to communicate my music but I want to move on."

The EP sounds similar to the music of The Honorary Title but it's more personal and has people involved. The same dedication and passion is used and is heard clearly.

Some fans on his Myspace page express how much they love Jarrod and his music by saying things like "I'm really happy you're branching out. You're an amazing artist. I flutter inside at the sound of your voice...I can't wait until I'm back in the U.S. to see you play again" and "...I would like you know how much i truly appreciate your music, you have a beautiful voice, and lovely lyrical tunes" and also "you are a music hero".

It's really difficult to pick a favorite song, but if I had to it would be "Optimism". The melodies and lyrics, in this song especially, are very similar to those of another folk band, Death Cab for Cutie. The chorus is the best part, where he sings
"Losing your voice in the crowded streets
Pulsing crunch of machinery
The oh so harsh frequency
In the city that we love
We love, we love, we love, love".

When asked about his favorite song and why, Gorbel also replied in a Twitter message "How Long. It's so simple but says exactly what I meant to say and the production is warm and very Nick Drake* influenced."
*Nick Drake ('48-'74) was an English singer/songwriter.

About Jarrod
Who: Jarrod Gorbel
Style of music: Folk
Other musical projects: The Honorary Title
Next concert: March 1 in Portland, Oregon at Mississippi Studios. 8 pm. All ages.
More infortmation: Myspace page, Twitter.

Review

I will write a review about the new EP from Jarrod Gorbal titled "Ten Years Older" which came out this year.

Gay-Straight Alliance Club

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind” wrote the children’s book author, Dr. Seuss, in his book Seuss-isms.

The Gay-Straight Alliance club at LBCC is a place where gay, bi-sexual, lesbian, and transgender students and faculty, along with their straight allies, can meet and feel comfortable.

“I am a supporter of the gay community because I think that it is very important to accept people for who they are and to spread awareness that it is okay to be whoever you are,” said LBCC student Sara Avitt.

The first meeting of the term took place on Friday, Jan. 13 in the Diversity Achievement Center. There were about seven people along with the club’s advisor, Karelia Stetz-Waters, and the club’s president, Jennifer Boatwright. They started with introductions and brainstormed about what the members were looking for in the group and ways to spread awareness about equality and the club.

On an average there are about six-seven members in attendance each meeting and about 25-30 members on the official member list. Some students have conflicting schedules with the time of the meeting so they aren’t able to attend it but are supporters of the club.

Karelia Stetz-Waters said, “There is a very even mix of gay, bi, lesbian, transgender members and there are always straight members that are alliances to the club.”

The club does a variety of things such as have discussions, watch movies, play board and video games, go bowling, and participate in consciousness-awareness raising activities.

“I come to just socialize and hang out with a bunch of people who don’t hate me. I’m also in the club to make friends with people who accept me for who I am,” says LBCC student Jake Dontavion, a transgender male.

The Gay-Straight Alliance club meets every Friday at 1-2 pm in the Diversity Achievement Center in the Forum Building next to the Commuter office.

At A Glance:

Who: Gay, Bi, Lesbian, Transgenders, and ally students

What: Gay-Straight Alliance Club

Where: LBCC's Diversity Achievement Center (right next to The Commuter office)

When: Every Friday from 1-2 PM

Why: To bring the gay community and supporters together

Links:

Gay-Straight Alliance Club

LBCC GSA Yahoo Group

GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network - Oregon Chapter)

First Feature Story

My first feature story will focus on the Gay Straight Alliance club here at LBCC.
The main points I will cover are why is it important to have a club like this one and how are the people in the club benefiting from it.


The people I will interview are:
People in the club (gay and straight)
and
The club leader Karelia Stetz-Waters