Brittany's Blog

Why I loved reading Stephen King's "On Writing"

2010-02-24T11:40:00.000-08:00

I actually really enjoyed reading "On Writing." I've never read anything by him but I have seen a few of the movies that are based on his books. I wasn't sure at first if I would like it, but I thought that the book was very useful and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is or is and aspiring writer.

All of his techniques were useful and some even made me think more in depth about the structure and process of writing. Some things that I really liked were that he used his own stories. "On Writing" was kind of a biographical self-help book.

His personal stories were very inspiring. Also his toolbox method helped a lot. I also think that the fact that he had one person, his wife, which was his biggest fan and his biggest critic, was very useful. I think that every writer needs someone like that to help them. Another thing that I really liked was that he said to just start writing and not worry about the story too much or where it'll go. When I write, I barely plan anything. So for him to say that was kind of a relief to me, to know that it's okay to not have a plan and to just start writing.

Being gay isn't the problem. Hate is.

2010-02-23T19:36:00.000-08:00

We are all surrounded by negativity in one way or another every single day. But when we are young and still trying to find ourselves, it can take a heavy toll on our self-confidence and health. This is particularly true for those who are GBLT, who may experience harassment on a daily basis.

It's important to understand that no matter your age, race, sex, or religion we all contribute to the world. Now we can either do this negatively or positively. Those that are suffering with insecurities need to be assured that it's okay to be themselves. And those who are well confident with being gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, or transgender should be acknowledged for being confident enough to be themselves no matter what negativity may bring to them.

Every day we are bombarded by ideas of what we should or shouldn't be. It's obvious to see that things that are not understood are either loved or hated. Not everyone understands the homosexual lifestyle so therefore it creates positive or negative responses, usually negative though. To stop this we need to learn about things we don't understand, like the saying goes, "knowledge is power."

If we find ourselves in a homophobic situation, we need to ask ourselves why sexuality is so important anyway? It's not. Same with race, gender, and age. It's not important. Instead of finding negativity in others, look at yourself. You're not perfect, so why expect others to be? Even if you still don't think the homosexual lifestyle is right, it's okay. We all have different opinions. But understanding that sharing some opinions hurt others. Being gay isn't the problem, those reproducing hate are.

Now for some statistics. Today's Gay Youth: The Ugly, Frightening Statistics state that

Over 30 percent of all reported teen suicides each year are committed by gay and lesbian youth.
In a study of 194 gay and lesbian youth, 25 percent were verbally abused by parents, and nearly 10 percent dealt with threatened or actual violence.
Approximately 40 percent of homeless youth are identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
Approximately 30 percent of both the lesbian and gay male populations have problems with alcohol.
Approximately 28 percent of gay and lesbian youth drop out of high school because of discomfort (due to verbal and physical abuse) in the school environment.
Gay students hear anti-gay slurs as often as 26 times each day; faculty intervention occurs in only about 3 percent of those cases.
Over 50 percent of national youth servicing organizations report that they do not have services or resources in place to educate youth on sexual orientation or to support gay and lesbian youth.
In a study of 5 metropolitan areas (Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City, and San Francisco), there were 1,833 [reported] incidents of anti-gay and anti-lesbian crimes, which was a 31 percent increase over the previous year.

Statistics provided from Today's Gay Youth: The Ugly, Frightening Statistics

For more information about how to stop the hate, visit:
LBCC's Gay-Straight Alliance Club
GLBT National Help Center
Free To Be Me

Why are we so obsessed with fame?

2010-02-14T10:19:00.000-08:00

"We are living...in the age, in which the pursuit of all values other than money, success, fame, glamour have either been discredited or destroyed, ...for we are living in the age of 'the thing'" are lyrics by Felix Da Housecat and the truth in which more than half the world lives by. But why does nothing else seem to matter besides money, success, fame and glamour?

Maybe because it looks simple and can be quickly obtained. In today's world, being famous is easier than it was 20 years ago. It seems as though a person doesn't really need this thing called talent. A person can rise to fame quicker by dressing bizarre, dating someone "in the business,"or even acting like a complete fool and trading their dignity for entertainment.

It may also be because fame is a fantasy-like state of being, something not everyone has. The attention, the money, the notoriety a person has when their famous is enviable by almost everyone. Who doesn't want to wear Armani or Dior, go to award shows, or be VIP at the greatest parties? Unless you're the next Mother Teresa, I'm sure you have thought what you would do if you were famous.

Perhaps we are lonely?
Jake Halpern, author of the book "Fame Junkies," theorizes that celebrity magazines like "Us Weekly," "People" and "In Touch" are so popular because people are lonely. Halpern points out that today more young people tend to marry later in life and more can afford their own living spaces, so they spend more time alone. When we look at these kinds of magazines that exploit yet roll in the dough for celebs, we feel like we know them, and we want what they have.

Everyone can see what a celebrity really looks like under all that make up or that they eat fast food, just like us. Seeing this, we realize that they are just like us, therefore we may feel that we can be just like them.

In my opinion, it all comes down to attention. There's no doubt that every single one of us has wanted it more than anything at one time or another. Maybe it's the way we dress, what we listen to, or what we say that helps us get the focus. But for all those who can't wait to have the limelight, don't worry. Even the great Andy Warhol said "In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes."

Profile on Selena Blackburn

2010-02-07T12:20:00.000-08:00

With genuine care and interest, Selena Blackburn works hard 5 days a week to meet her patient’s needs. With her LPN (licensed practical nurse) from Purdue University in Indiana and her Associate's Degree from Lower Columbia College in Longview, WA, Blackburn works at Community Home Health and Hospice.

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.

While on a house call with Blackburn, I discovered this genuine care she has for her patients. It wasn’t like she just went in, did what she had to do, and left. She spent time examining and asking questions about how they were feeling and if they needed anything specifically. “Selena has always been a sweetheart. She has been seeing me since 2003 and I love her. I’m getting up there in age and it’s nice to know that she isn’t just doing her job, but she is actually concerned with my health” says a patient.

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.”

Blackburn has been married to a man named Sean since June of ’93 and has four children; ages 9, 12, 19, and 23. “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.

She 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".

Stephen King's The Writing

2010-01-22T11:05:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-20T13:31:00.000-08:00

After separating himself from his first band, 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 message 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." Gorbel felt as though he was maturing musically and wanted to try new things.

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 "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".

Some of Gorbel's other songs on his new EP are "Ten Years Older" "A Moment of Peace" and "How Long?"

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, OR at Mississippi Studios. 8 pm. All ages.
More infortmation: Myspace page, Twitter, Facebook.

Review

2010-01-16T19:36:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-15T15:28:00.000-08:00

“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

2010-01-06T14:49:00.000-08:00

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

Photo Essay

2009-12-03T21:10:00.000-08:00

Tammy Johnson leading choir practice.

Judy Blackwood playing "What Child Is This?"

Tammy Johnson, Linda Wahto, Susie Moturie,
Walter Wandersleben, and Paul Wahto.

Susie Moturie, Walter Wandersleben, and Paul Wahto.

The Commuter story critique

2009-11-30T14:31:00.000-08:00

Action in Nature Photo Show

Max Brown from The Commuter wrote a story about the annual art show on Friday, November 13th at 7:30 pm where photographers gather to show their photography skills.

The lead was intriguing and was written in a way where a person reading the piece could picture the auditorium in their head. It was very clean and well written.

The nut graf gave a lot of information, as intended to. The description of a few of the photographers was really good and since I didn't attend the show, it gave me an insight of what was shown.

I thought that the last quote by Haley Cobb was a bit rude and if it were me, I wouldn't have published it. “A few of the pictures were interesting,” Cobb said,“but after hearing about each and every plant I started to get a little bored.” I would be very embarrassed if it was me she was talking about, saying that she got bored after awhile. Hearing a description about every little flower and what not could be a little boring, but it is unnecessary to add a quote like that in a story read by many people in the Linn-Benton area.

The three things that stood out to me was the description of what the photographers showed, the unnecessary quote by Haley Cobb and the lack of links or where to get more information besides e-mailing someone.

There were no links in the story. Instead an e-mail address of Bob Ross was given.

Mug of Mohammad

2009-11-30T13:06:00.001-08:00

International student Mohammad Sharifpoor.

Press Release Rewrite

2009-11-30T10:33:00.000-08:00

The LBCC choir is presenting The Season of Light in Song and the tickets are on sale now.

Conductor James Reddan will be leading the LBCC Concert Choir, Men's Choir, and the Re-Choired Element in the Fall concert on Thursday, December 3 at 7:30 pm. The perfomance will take place in The Russell Tripp Performance Center Takena Hall. There will be no reserved seating and admission is $6.

You can purchase your ticket online at the On-line Box Office or in Takena Hall. Business Hours are Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m - noon, 1 - 2 p.m. & 1 hour prior to concert. They will be accepting cash, check, Mastercard, Visa or Discover card.

At A Glance:
Who - LBCC Concert Choir, Men's Choir, and the Re-Choired Element
What - Performing The Season of Light in Song
When - December 3, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Where - The Russell Tripp Performance Center Takena Hall LBCC, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SE, Albany
Cost - $6

For more information, please visit the following:
On-Line Box Office
Performing Arts Calender of Events

(Would interview James Reddan and a members of the choir.)

Jehoshua at a BMX competition

2009-11-30T10:31:00.000-08:00

Jehoshua Cooper jumping a ramp at a Portland skate park.
He won second place during a competition that day.

Photo Critique #14

2009-11-30T09:29:00.001-08:00

"Bombing for peace is like fucking for virginity"

I love hippies. Period.
This picture is so great because of the sign, of course.
It's funny because it's true.
I like how almost everything is blurred except the sign and the two subjects because they are the main focus.
The cropping is great. I wouldn't cut anymore off the picture.

Photo Critique #13

2009-11-30T09:18:00.000-08:00

The colors of this photo really caught my attention. It's vintage-like and I love it.
I really like the faded colors.
I think the lighting is good but could be a little brighter.
There's a lot of dead space on the top. It could be cropped closer to make the picture better.
This is a fun photo because of the girl's body language.
It seems free and happy, and the balloons add to that feeling.

BMX Competition

2009-11-30T00:54:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures of my boyfriend, Jehoshua, during a bmx competition.

Macy's Star Council Discusses Future Events

2009-11-24T14:56:00.000-08:00

Every Friday at three, a Star Council meeting is held in Macy's department store at the Downtown Salem Center to discuss upcoming fundraisers.

About ten employees and three managers attend the meetings to discuss ways to improve the Macy's "family." The council plans events and activities to allow the employees to grow closer to one another while raising money for events like the annual Christmas party.

Star Council changes people every 6 months to get a variety of ideas and also to give all the employees a chance to speak their mind. During the meeting they discussed a variety of different activities that they're planning on doing within the next couple months.

Since the dress code at Macy's is very professional, Star Council has come up with some ideas to raise money by giving employees a chance to pay to wear more comfortable attire. During the football Civil War, employees get the chance to pay to wear a team shirt for $2. Also, because Black Friday is exhausting, especially for employees, they can get relief by paying $1 to wear tennis shoes for the day.

Star Council is also planning on selling candy cane grams for $1 each and doing a chilli bowl feed where one bowl of chilli costs $3 and with cornbread and a drink it will cost $5. Brenda Dawson adds, "I think that Star Council is great because they do neat little fundraisers that any employee can participate in."

"It's wonderful to know that in this day in age people are still supporting the economy by shopping. Even though the activities that Star Council provide are for store employees only, it allows shoppers to see that we know how to have a little fun too." says store employee Renee Garcia.

The meeting at Macy's went smoothly and was very successful. Ideas were coming non-stop and the positive energy was uplifting. Employers at Macy's know that it's not all about just selling clothes and making a profit. Being connected is very important to them. "We have some of the smartest and friendliest staff that I have ever seen. This makes Macy's a very enjoyable place to work at." said Kathy Marker.

Let's do the time warp.. every Saturday night!

2009-11-20T16:39:00.000-08:00

The Denton Delinquents 2009
Photo Credit: The Denton Delinquents

Since April 1978, The Clinton Theater has presented the cult-classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. But this isn't just an ordinary showing of the movie, not even close. While the classic is being screened in the background, the foreground is full of actors portraying the characters in the movie. Do audience members throwing rice, toast, and a deck of cards sound normal? Of course not. But at the Clinton Theater, a theater that has a small stage in front of the big screen, it is very normal. This exciting event takes place every Saturday night.

Every first and third Saturday of the month a theater group called the Clinton Street Cabaret take over the venue in an exciting performance and then on every second and fourth Saturday of the month, The Denton Delinquents act out the movie. Not only do they act it out, they mock it by making fun of the movie, in the most respectable way, every chance given.

On Halloween night, Rocky lovers experienced the show like never before. The Denton Delinquents performed at 7:30 pm and it was shocking how mature these teens were. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is known for being edgy and provocative, but that didn't stop these actors from performing the way the adults in the movie performed.

From being stripped in their undergarments to role-playing a short sex scene as a silhouette, by the end of the show viewers had forgotten how young the serious actors really were.

Mallory Adams who plays Magenta said, "Being in the Denton Delinquents and getting to act out my favorite movie is so great. I love all the cast members and I couldn't ask for anything better."

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a cult classic about a couple who, after a flat tire, end up at an alien-tyranny's mansion on a very important night. That evening is very special because it is the revealing of Dr. Frank N Furter's creation, "a man with blond hair and a tan" named Rocky Horror. Other members of the planet Transsexual Transylvania are there to celebrate as well. The couple are horrified yet intrigued by this new idea and soon forget that they simply just wanted to use the phone.

At midnight, the Clinton Street Cabaret took over the venue. This group of 20-40 somethings aspiring and for-fun actors knew every single line and rather than looking like they were acting, they made it real. The Delinquents were impressive, no doubt, but the Cabaret was far more believable. "I really love being able to transform into a tranny on the weekend. It's not something most guys would be comfortable doing" said the tranny-playing Jordan Salt.

The costumes and dramatic make up of those acting in front of the big screen closely resembled those in the movie and the majority of the lines were hit dead on. "This is, by far, the best thing I've ever done on a Saturday night and it was only $8. I just want to stay here forever! This is definitely a must-see!" said a Rocky-virgin, Sarai Avitt.

The Clinton Street Theater

The Denton Delinquents

Clinton Street Cabaret

Who: The Denton Delinquents and The Clinton Street Cabaret
What: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Where: The Clinton Theater
When: Every Saturday Night at 7:30 and Midnight
Cost: $8

Photo critique #12

2009-11-18T15:35:00.000-08:00

This picture caught my attention because of the lighting.

I like how the light is directly behind the girl. Also I like how it's mainly behind her head, this way you don't tend to look directly at her face but rather focus on the rest of the picture.

The cropping is perfect besides the top. I think the picture would look better if the top of her head wasn't cropped off.

I also like the coloring. It's very soft and warm.

Photo critique #11

2009-11-18T15:16:00.000-08:00

I liked this picture mainly because you can see the Eiffel Tower where the gate is open, it gives the tower a frame.

The gate is fancy and it compliments the tower very well.

I also like the black and white. It always givs a photo a sense of classic and timelessness.

The cropping is perfect on all four sides.

Photo Critique #10

2009-11-09T09:04:00.000-08:00

I'm a sucker for silhouettes so I really loved this picture.
I love the angle and how it's low to the ground slightly looking upwards.
I think that the cropping is perfect.
Also the sunset lighting in the background behind the flower is perfect.
The colors are great.

AK Carpets and More

2009-11-06T16:02:00.000-08:00

AK Carpets and More in downtown Albany is a father-daughter owned carpet and flooring company started by Ken Burling and Andrea Hampl in April of 2000.

The idea for the business started when Hampl moved back to Albany after getting her accounting degree from Eldorado College in San Diego, California. Her brother had a major surgery so she didn't want to work a lot. The divorced mother of two got a job doing book keeping at a floor-covering store, The Carpet Warehouse, and when their books got up to date she realized that she loved selling. "I love Andrea. She worked very hard for me at a very difficult time and she stuck with me," said Reeni Henley, her former employer. After that, Hampl and her father decided to open their own store since the business she was working for was having problems and struggling.

They sale all sorts of flooring like carpet, vinyl, laminate, hardwood, and ceramic tile. The two are actually talking about expanding their business. "My father came from a furniture business and so he knows that area very well, so we are thinking about expanding into furniture," said Hampl. Andrea has about 12 years of experience and her father, Ken has about 17 years of experience in retail in the furniture business.

When asked what it's like working with her father, Hampl smiled and replied "It was a little difficult at the beginning because the first 3 years of being open he was actually working his other job because we wanted to make sure that our business would succeed. Being an older man, if he quit and it didn't succeed he would have a hard time finding a job. So yeah, now that he's on full time it's easy. It's actually kind of fun."

Originally the business was suppose to open in a different location, but when the building they're in now became available they decided to move there instead. It suited them perfectly because it's size. Hampl added, "We needed a larger space. Downtown Albany was struggling and we didn't think it would do what we needed it to do but it ended up working very well for us."

The busiest times of the year are right before the holidays and right after tax season. They also have three major sales, during the fall, their anniversary sale which is in April, and their spring sale. AK Carpet and More also offers installation and all their contractors are licensed. "I know a lot of people besides Adam, my son, who work for Andrea and Ken. Several of the installers that worked for Bill & I continue to work for Andrea, so I know they're good workers," included Henley.

"I am very satisfied with the business as a whole," said Burling. Both are happy with the way the store is going and they are hoping for more years of success in the future.

At A Glance:
AK Carpet and More
140 1st S.E.
Albany, OR 97321
Phone: 541-928-0755
Fax: 541-926-7465

For more information, about:
AK Carpet & More
Downtown Albany
List of Carpet Stores in Albany, Oregon

What I've learned in News Reporting

2009-11-06T11:01:00.000-08:00

It's surprising, to me, that I have learned so much in just 50 minutes, three times a week in News Reporting. All of the information that I've acquired can be used while I pursue my career in journalism.

News Reporting is taught by Rob Priewe who also teaches classes like Media and Society and Intro to Photojournalism. The class is held from 11 am to 11:50 am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays every week.

The most important piece of information that I have learned is that in order to be a good reporter, having relationships and knowing people is essential because people make news, know news, and are news. Some other things that I found to be important is to really dig deep. Get a lot more information than you plan on using, just in case. Also, making the person who is the interviewee feel comfortable is highly important. That way more information will be given because when people are comfortable they become vulnerable.

I'm really glad that I am taking this class because I know it will help me in the future tremendously. I really enjoy the exercises and assignments and I think all of them have a great amount of purpose and can be used later on in life. The textbook is also amazing. So much great, valuable information and it's not boring like most textbooks are.

For local news (Albany, Oregon) check out the Democrat Herald
Also check out The Wall Street Journal for news that covers international and the United States news.

Neighborhood Photos

2009-11-06T09:24:00.001-08:00

Just another day at LBCC...

Phyllis and her dog, Sky. Phyllis is the manager of Linden Wood apartments behind LBCC.

Construction continues on a building to left of Takena Hall at LBCC.

Photo Critique #9

2009-11-05T12:42:00.000-08:00

This photo caught my attention obviously because of the reflection.
I liked it because I can't remember ever seeing something like this before.
I think the cropping is perfect and the colors in the bubble are very vibrant.
The picture is very sharp and clean as well.
I also really like that the green background is very blurry.

Photo Critique #8

2009-11-05T12:36:00.000-08:00

I really liked this photo mainly because I am obsessed with silhouettes.
I think it is a very unique idea for a photographer to have the two subject ( bride and groom) in the water...especially since it would be hard convincing a bride to get her probably expensive dress that wet.
I also really like the sunset in the background and how the water reflects it and the people.
I really like the cropping, too. I wouldn't have changed it at all.

Photo Critique #7

2009-10-28T11:37:00.000-07:00

This picture really caught my attention because of the colors mainly and also because of the tunnel.
It looks like the tunnel would be abandoned, but since the road isn't completely covered in leaves then people know that it's still in use.
I also really like that the picture includes the road that goes into the tunnel. It makes me want to go there and go through it.
The colors of fall are beautiful. Period.
I like that the outsides of the picture are slightly blurred.
I think that the cropping is perfect.

Photo Critique #6

2009-10-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

I really liked this picture mostly because of the baby feet in the adult's hands.
It shows how small and fragile a baby is.
Black and white always gives the essence of timelessness.
I really like the lighting as well. The light from the top makes the viewer focus on the baby's feet.
I think the cropping is okay, but maybe a little more picture so that a viewer can see all of the adult's hands.

Seth Godin

2009-10-22T20:14:00.000-07:00

Seth Godin is the author of 12 best selling books that have been translated in to 33 different languages. He also blogs and focuses on the marketing industry.

In his speech about standing out, Godin first speaks about hot Otto Rohwedder invented the first sliced bread in the 1910s but it wasn't until Wonder came along, 15 years later, that people actually picked up on the idea. All because of the way Wonder marketed and advertised it.b Godin explains, "It's not always about what the patent is like or what the factory is like. It's about can you get your idea to spread or not."

The TV-Industrial Complex is a cycle in which a company first buys an ad, they get more distribution, sell more products, then make a profit. They push their product over and over and once you have it saved somewhere in your brain, you are most likely going to end up being a consumer of that product.

"Coke-Japan comes out with a new product every three weeks because they have no idea what's going to work and what's not." said Godin. He explains that "in a world with too many choices and too little of time, we tend to ignore stuff." Things need to be remarkable. Something that's worth making a "remark" about. If it isn't, then it will be ignored and not spread.

Seth Godin spread the idea of spreading ideas. It's all about mass-marketing. That's how businesses become successful, by advertising in a way that is remarkable. They focus on those who will listen, not those who will ignore their advertising because it is boring and played too much. "The riskiest thing you can do is be safe."

The China Connection

2009-10-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

Linn-Benton Community College’s president, Rita Cavin, is looking forward to the school’s partnerships with six technical colleges in China. She is hoping this will start happening sooner rather than later and is shooting for within the next three years.

Cavin recently gave a presentation called "The China Connection" in which she gave peers insight into the purpose of building partnerships with China's colleges and the importance of these relationships with them.

According to Cavin, students coming to LBCC would most likely be from one institution with one focused goal.

“We are in this for what will help our students, our programs, and our faculty," said Cavin. “We can be a very select, very high quality added, piece that some of their (China’s) students and some of their faculties experience.”

According to a mission statement provided by Cavin, the partnerships will increase the global awareness of LBCC employees and ensure that LBCC technical programs incorporate:

• To increase global awareness of LBCC employees and students through a program of exchanges and visits to international technical colleges and work sites;
• To ensure that our technical programs incorporate awareness of global practice, trade and career opportunities;
• To give our students an enriched career preparation through a program of visiting professors and students and through their own travel;
• To develop expertise about international business culture and practice in order to support local and regional trade expansion;
• To demonstrate respect for diverse experiences by using the expertise of our diverse community members as we develop international partnerships;
• To develop a foundation of international exchange that can be broadened to other countries and cultures beyond China; and
• To create a larger international student population and experience at LBCC for international students who enter our community outside of formal partnerships.

Even though Cavin is retiring, she is very enthusiastic about LBCC having partnerships with other colleges.

Last July, members of LBCC's administration went to six different technical colleges in China to tour them and decide if they wanted to do a partnership with them.

While in China, Memorandums of Understanding, which are broad agreements to begin exchanges, were signed with Beijing Polytechnic College, Xijing University, Qingdao Technical College, Rizhao Polytechnic College of China and Shanghai Institute of Health Sciences.

"The main thing about Qingdao, for me, is that I think we were there for about an hour and Rita and I kept saying to each other ‘this feels just like Linn-Benton.’ Even when we met with the president I kept thinking that this is just how we would do it. It just feels just like Linn-Benton, so I think that there is a strong philosophical connection,'' said Carol Schaafsma, executive vice president of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development.

"We would like to see some things happen this summer,” said Schaafsma. “We also expect to have more Chinese presidents come and visit LBCC's campus.”

These relationships developed in October 2008 when Bill Thallemer, the Vice president of Student Services and Government Relations, went to China representing our college. He visited technical colleges that are co-sponsored by the Chinese government and the American Association of Community Colleges. This gave the presidents a chance to size up the technical colleges in advance to see if they were interested in a partnership.

Then, in April 2009, presidents from a few colleges in China came to visit the LBCC campus. In addition to touring the campus, the presidents visited the elected officials in Salem, Ore., and met Mae Yin, a retired state senator. They additionally visited the city of Albany and sat in the council seats.

"They are very interested in learning about assistant learning centers, how to teach and work with committees and are also interested in the children and students,” Cavin said. Assistant learning centers allow students to get the help they need with their school work and they are very useful for those that don't have English as their first language.

Photo Critique #5

2009-10-19T10:47:00.000-07:00

I liked this photo because instead of the vandalism being something negative or a gang name, it is something a bit humorous and it has meaning.
It looks like it is written on a bathroom wall or something close to it.
The cropping is fine but there's more writing at the bottom right corner.
I also like that you can see the reflection of the person taking the photo. It makes the scene real and random. It was obviously not a planned picture.

Photo Critique #4

2009-10-19T10:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo that I found to be extremely beautiful, mainly because of the colors.
I think the glass is a very unique touch because since the water is in the glass, the background is flipped upside down.
I find it also neat that the background is blurred but what is shown in the glass is clear, it's like a whole other picture just inside the glass.
I think that the cropping is close to perfect, because enough picture is shown, but maybe a little more picture at the bottom would work better.

Photo Critique #3

2009-10-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

This photo caught my attention because a few different reasons.
I really liked that instead of just taking a picture of a homeless person, the photographer captured people walking in front of her.
It gives an emotion of loneliness. While everyone is going about with their daily lives, she is forgotten.
The black and white also gives and essence of gloominess. It is, in fact, a sad situation and the black and white definitely adds to that.
I think the cropping is fine, because the subject, a homeless woman, is the main focus.
But maybe if there was more picture at the bottom so that the feet aren't cut off, I think that would improve the photo a little, but it's not necessary.

Cinema Bizarre!

2009-10-16T14:08:00.000-07:00

Cinema Bizarre consists of five guys from Germany who play SynthPop/rock/Power pop music.
They are a slightly androgynous, glam rock band from Berlin. They started in 2005 after Kiro, Strify, and Yu met at an anime convention in Berlin. Not long after, Shin and Luminor joined the group. Their first album, Final Attraction, was released in 2007. Love songs (They Kill Me) was their first single. After missing a few shows due to health problems, keyboardist Luminor left the band and Yu's close friend, Romeo, took his place.
None of them use their original names, but go by nicknames.

Here's a list of the members and what they do in the band:
Strify: Lead Vocals
Shin: Drummer
Romeo: Keyboard
Yu: Electric Guitar
Kiro: Bass Guitar
Former Member:
Luminor: Keyboard/Back up vocals

History of the band
Strify, Kiro, Yu met at an anime convention and hit it off. Later on Luminor (the previous keyboardist), and Shin joined the band. Luminor left the band in 2008 because of some health problems (rumored to be bulimia). Yu's friend, Romeo, took over his position.

Fame-Ball Tour
In May, my best friend, Sarai, and I bought tickets for the Fame Ball Tour.
The four acts included two bands we have never heard of; The White Tie Affair and Chester French, our favorite band from Germany; Cinema Bizarre, and the headlining act; Lady GaGa.
We had originally bought the tickets to just see Cinema Bizarre, but we were impressed by the whole show. We arrived 7 1/2 hours early and there were only two people waiting in front of us.
One of the girls let us in on a secret... that Strify and Shin were in having lunch in the cafe down the street! Of course, Sarai and went!

We got a table right behind them but we were so nervous and excited at the same time that we couldn't say anything. But right when they were getting up to leave, I turned around and said-like the dork I am- "HI!" That definitely caught Strify's attention. Thank God.
Those next ten to fifteen minutes were HEAVEN! Their English was so impressive, too. We talked about how much we LOVED their music (of course) and why we came to the concert (of course not for the other 3 bands but ONLY for Cinema Bizarre. We made that quite clear.) I think they probably fell in love with us.

Anyway, after indulging in conversation, getting our tickets signed, and taking a picture with the two, they went back to their tour bus and Sarai and I were left star struck.
We then went back in line and waited 6 1/2 more hours. Then the doors finally opened. Sarai and I rushed in so fast and good thing we did, we got to the gate and I could literally touch the stage from where we were standing!

After about ten minutes of waiting, the first band, Chester French, came on stage. I was surprised at how good they were. But who really cares? Next up were our Germans! FINALLY!
They only played four songs and I swear Sarai and I were the only ones that knew the lyrics, let alone knew who the heck these sexy Germans were. They played an AMAZING four songs! I think the band definitely noticed us coz we were basically screaming every darn word. It was nice.

When they were done and were walking offstage, we yelled at them, telling them we loved them and all the things crazy fan-girls do. Kiro (the bass player) even blew us a kiss. Next up was The White Tie Affair and then finally Lady GaGa.
Overall it was a wonderful show. Especially since we saw CINEMA BIZARRE!!! =)
To see a picture of our "run-in" with Strify and Shin, click here.
To see a video of the last part of Cinema Bizarre performing their last song and to see the band's reaction to Sarai and I being freaks, click here. (Kiro blowing us a kiss is included).

ToyZ
Cinema Bizarre's long-awaited new cd, ToyZ, was finally released August 21st. The cd was released all over Europe, Canada... pretty much everywhere but America.
Needless to say, I was kind of pissed.
The band had decided to release a separate album, Bang!, for fans in the U.S. that included a few tracks from ToyZ and a few from their first album, Final Attraction, that came out last year.
I've been a fan of Cinema Bizarre for a while now and since I had already gotten the Final Attraction cd, thanks to sources on the Internet, I was saddened by this new "Bang!" cd.
I mean I guess it's good for those who are new Cinema Bizarre fans. But what about us that have been devoted fans for a longer time?

So I looked it up online and in order to import the ToyZ cd from Canada (through Amazon), it would cost $45.98. Way too expensive. Instead, I began a search for a new source and I came across a file-sharing site. Now I'm not sure if this is illegal or not, so I will leave the web site's name out of this.

A girl in Europe had bought the ToyZ cd and uploaded the songs. How nice of her. especially nice since I got to download the whole album FREE.

Now I understand this might piss a lot of people off, saying I should buy their album instead of download it free off the internet.
But I promise that once I see Cinema Bizarre again, I will be more than happy to give them $15, the same price I would've paid if they would've released the freaking album in the United States!

CD REVIEW
General Information:
Cinema Bizarre, a SynthPop/power pop/rock, group from Germany, released their second Cd on August 21, 2009.
The album titled ToyZ, released on Island Records, includes 18 songs. There's also a deluxe edition Cd that contains four more.
Like I mentioned before, if ordering through Amazon, importing the album from Canada can cost $45.98. But there are cheaper ways of going about it. ;)
The album peaked at number 24 on German charts.
The first single of the album is called "I Came 2 Party". It features Space Cowboy who also has worked with Lady GaGa.

Rating:
I would definitely give this song 5 our of 5 stars, not only because I am a HUGE fan of Cinema Bizarre, but also because I think that almost anyone who listens to this album will love it. It's upbeat yet real. It's different, not like all the mainstream crap going around. It's a very fun and emotional album.

Surviving a Zombie Attack

2009-10-16T11:27:00.000-07:00

This is, unfortunately, the season for zombies. Here are some facts that you need to know in order to survive the horrendous outbreak of the living dead.

To identify a zombie, a few things to keep in mind are the appearance of a zombie. Their legs are limp, skin is pale, and they have dark circles around their eyes. Another thing to know is that zombies do not dance, eat candy, or swim.

Being prepared can really help you stay alive. Map out a resort and plan rations. This will help you greatly. If your friend or family member is bit, they are doomed. "The infection is absolutely irreversible."

If you do come in contact with a zombie, the only way to kill them is to make their brain inactive. You can do this by decapitating their head or taking a machete to it.

There have been signs of these creatures in British Columbia and they are now moving south. So beware.

For more information about zombies, you can go to the following sites:
Common Craft
Youtube
Zombie Survival Wiki

A quick thank you to Lee "Living Dead" LeFever and Sachi "Snakes on a Plane" LeFever for sharing this valuable information.

Photo Critique #2

2009-10-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

This photo is called Holga Tree by marcstck

I really liked the sepia in this photo. It makes it look classic and a bit vintage-like.
Another thing I really liked is that the picture is one tree, probably during the fall, in an open field and in the background is a city with tall buildings. It gives the picture emotion because it looks like the tree is lonely.
I think there could be a little cropping at the top. The sky adds a lot of dead space so maybe just a bit more cropping at the top would better the photo.

Photo Critique

2009-10-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo that I really like because of several different things.
First, I thought the photographer took advantage of the lighting by taking the picture at an angle where the sun was directly behind the person doing a back flip.
I think the clouds definitely add to the dramatic effect.
I also like that the two people are almost silhouette-like.
Being in black and white really gives this photo a classic feel to it.
The cropping could have been a little less. I think that if there was a little more picture behind the guy's feet it would look better.

International Becomes National

2009-10-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

Mohammad Sharifpoor traveled about 7,500 miles to attend classes at LBCC.

The student from Iran said, "I learned about LBCC from my brother who goes to Oregon State University. I also have a friend who is in their second year here. I chose LBCC because I plan on transferring to OSU but coming here is cheaper to start with."

There are currently 26 international students attending LBCC and two who are doing the duel-enrollment program with LBCC. The students come from Japan, South Korea, Ghana, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Libya, Egypt, Iran, England, United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Canada, and China.

Students first need to fill out a detailed application. Then once that is received, an I-20 form is sent to them. Knowing English is required. They need to either have taken a TOEFEL test with a score of 500 or above, graduated and received a standard diploma from a US high school, or have taken and passed the IELTS with a minimum score of 6.0 or above.

The number of international students has dropped while security has increased since the tragedy of September 11. All of the student's information is sent to homeland security. If a student or their family moves, it must be reported within 10 days.

Some upsides for international students are that they can transfer to other universities. Getting to experience a different culture is also memorable. Student Outreach Coordinator, Christine Baker, includes "In some countries, the American degree is prized."

Even though America is no longer the number one country for international students to study in, it has not fallen far. It stands in fourth after Britain, New Zealand, and Australia.

Though there are a lot of positive aspects for international students, there are a few down sides. Tuition is increased making the price $200 per credit instead of the $74 for domestic students. Also they are not eligible for financial aid. Proving they have the year's tuition in a bank and paying for insurance is also essential. International students must choose a major.

Students cannot be undecided. But if wanted, they can change their major. International students have to go through a thorough process in order to become a student at LBCC.

International students aren't the only ones who benefit by studying at LBCC. Christine Baker shares, "having international students is also good for domestic students. Interacting with them opens their eyes to different cultures. It also changes views and it's very exciting.''

Students are not the only ones who visit LBCC. The Vocational Education Leadership Training

Program, or VELT, run by Bill Thallemer, provides workshops that will increase vocational skills for senior leaders and administrator.

Five of the twenty-five presidents in China came to learn how to improve teaching techniques. The program trains over 100 people a year over a five-year period.

For more information about international students, you may contact Student Outreach Coordinator, Christine Baker. And for more information about the China Experience, you may contact Bill Thallemer.

Overflow Parking

2009-10-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

The parking lots of LBCC were full Monday morning, the first day of fall term, resulting in lawns being used as temporary parking places.

My First Blog Post

2009-10-02T09:22:00.000-07:00

The reason why I am taking this photojournalism class is because I would like to pursue a career in journalism and also I love to take photographs. I believe this class would be very helpful and I could definitely use the techniques I learn here to help me in the future with a job.
I am a shy person and when our first assignment was to snap pictures of random people, it was very intimidating. But after awhile I got use to it.