Not quite sure what to say about this article. It is interesting how marijuana is that kid that hangs with the bad kids, yet isn't really that bad of a kid. You know, the one that does something good every once in a while, but still is classified as a troublemaker. But why? There is a 1936 propaganda movie called Reefer Madness where it is argued that marijuana is highly addictive and causes people to commit horrible crimes. All of its false accusations about marijuana have been since proven false, yet the child is still in timeout.
Oh yeah. The article. Growing marijuana is fairly interesting and I had no idea that these facilities were so close to Indiana. At the same time I can't believe there aren't schools all over Indiana that teach how to grow kemp. The article itself bored me in its format. It luckily is on a topic that interests me somewhat.
One thing I didn't understand was why the guy toward the end doesn't report the stealing of $15,000 in weed. That's a lot of weed! He never gives a reason why he doesn't report it. Poor guy. Still, the guy that made out with his stuff is one lucky man. It's crazy.
I think that by having these schools around, the students and those involved will discover that weed isn't that bad. We are trained as youngsters to believe hat it is bad and wrong and all of these horrible things. Why? Don't ask why, that's why. It's time we realize that marijuana, though maybe a potential crime escalator, might as well be legalized.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Profile: The Extra Point
Tyler Melchior played football for Bosse High School for 5 years. He developed talent that earned him All-State selection in the region as well as as the nickname, "Touchdown Tyler". Though talented, he played on an inner city school with only about 25 players on its roster. The team struggled, because of its size as well as other factors, and barely managed to win two or three games per season. Coming from that, it seems unlikely that a football player would continue on to play division 1 football. He will step onto the football field as a nobody with only his body as a testament to his abilities. Yet this spring Touchdown Tyler will give it a try as his former teammate, myself, did. I will be a character in this story, as I have agreed to help him train for his tryout and succeed where i failed. It is a story about taking the final shot toward greatness before we must become conforming members of society and the bonds that form toward common goals.
Why does my subject matter?
The subject of my piece fits into a category of people from small places with big dreams. This is more than just wanting to be on a team. We want to show the world that Bosse High School is more than just anothe struggling school. It can produce greatness. This will be the main focus point for the story; showing how my subject is reaching for a goal that in all logical aspects should be far out of his reach. The challenge is to make this goal about more than football. It must be about an internal journey that all people go through, regardless of which star they are reaching for.
What sources will be encountered?
Myself, Waylon Schenk, a football coach closest to Tyler, Wayne Harvey, who has known Tyler nearly his whole life, and any IU football coaches that will talk to me.
Why does my subject matter?
The subject of my piece fits into a category of people from small places with big dreams. This is more than just wanting to be on a team. We want to show the world that Bosse High School is more than just anothe struggling school. It can produce greatness. This will be the main focus point for the story; showing how my subject is reaching for a goal that in all logical aspects should be far out of his reach. The challenge is to make this goal about more than football. It must be about an internal journey that all people go through, regardless of which star they are reaching for.
What sources will be encountered?
Myself, Waylon Schenk, a football coach closest to Tyler, Wayne Harvey, who has known Tyler nearly his whole life, and any IU football coaches that will talk to me.
Mister Fucking Rogers!!!
I attempted to read this article with an unbiased eye. I didn't really watch Mister Rogers when I was young, but I was aware of it enough to remember it fondly from my childhood. The picture I got from the article of this man was honestly what I expected from his on-screen persona: a neat and tidy man with a kind heart.
The start of this article really plays to the emotions of the reader. Most people had stuffed animals that they adored as kids. The beginning anecdote tugs at the heart strings of the reader, only revealing later in the story the significance of it. I enjoy how the story is a collection of different little stories, each giving the reader a deeper view into the life of Rogers. Each story begins with "once upon a time", giving the imagery of Mister Rogers telling a story on his show. It gives the entire story a heart-warming overtone.
I do feel that no real conflict comes into the story until the second to last page, when they visit Rogers' hometown. I suppose just the fact that this is about Rogers is enough to make it interesting, but a bit more conflict would be nice. Maybe Rogers has to save 30 children from a burning building. Or 30 burning children from a building. Never mind.
I feel overall that the article only touches the surface of who Rogers is internally, but focuses mainly on the things he does for others. Perhaps it is the author's way of saying that this is who Rogers is internally: a loving man who desires to help others beyond any normal human being's sense of such.
The start of this article really plays to the emotions of the reader. Most people had stuffed animals that they adored as kids. The beginning anecdote tugs at the heart strings of the reader, only revealing later in the story the significance of it. I enjoy how the story is a collection of different little stories, each giving the reader a deeper view into the life of Rogers. Each story begins with "once upon a time", giving the imagery of Mister Rogers telling a story on his show. It gives the entire story a heart-warming overtone.
I do feel that no real conflict comes into the story until the second to last page, when they visit Rogers' hometown. I suppose just the fact that this is about Rogers is enough to make it interesting, but a bit more conflict would be nice. Maybe Rogers has to save 30 children from a burning building. Or 30 burning children from a building. Never mind.
I feel overall that the article only touches the surface of who Rogers is internally, but focuses mainly on the things he does for others. Perhaps it is the author's way of saying that this is who Rogers is internally: a loving man who desires to help others beyond any normal human being's sense of such.
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Peekaboo Paradox
The first thing I noticed about this article was its conversational writing style. The story is driven heavily by long periods of dialog that move the various themes throughout. Much of this is due to the fact that the writer and The Great Zucchini seem to have a relationship that exceeds the typical writer-subject relationship. The two seem as very close friends, sharing secrets as well as hanging out for prolonged periods of time. It makes for a more interesting story, but at times made me question the validity of the author's words. Though the piece was fairly neutral, it would be hard to believe that someone so close to GZ would ever put him in a bad light, aside from calling him "a complete idiot".
When reading this article, I lost interest quickly once I discovered it was about a children's entertainer, perhaps the most unappealing topic I could imagine. However, my interest peaked at two crucial turning points in the story. The first was when the author revealed that this seemingly petty profession was making Eric Knaus $100,000 a year. When this is mentioned it raises the stakes. The reader knows that this man must be exceptional at what he does. The second moment is when it is revealed that Knaus has a gambling problem. It brings much needed conflict into the story. Obviously, not many men want to entertain children for a living, so I figured there was a darker past behind this man. These points in the story are crucial because they would not have maintained my interest without them.
This article begins by relying on a single question to pull the reader in: Who is The Great Zucchini? The appeal of this question held my attention for a few paragraphs, but I honestly would have stopped reading before it got interesting had this not been a class assignment. There are multiple stretches in this article where i lost sight of where the story was headed. One minute it was a discussion about a struggling children's entertainer. The next it was about Eric Kraus trying to hook up with strippers.
This story would have been much better if it were about 1000 words shorter. It just seems drawn out for no particular reason. It has a solid beginning and a circle kicker in that Kraus is doing what he loves again at the end of the piece. Perhaps the point of the story is that regardless of all the issues that Kraus struggles with, he can still make a difference in many lives as The Great Zucchini.
When reading this article, I lost interest quickly once I discovered it was about a children's entertainer, perhaps the most unappealing topic I could imagine. However, my interest peaked at two crucial turning points in the story. The first was when the author revealed that this seemingly petty profession was making Eric Knaus $100,000 a year. When this is mentioned it raises the stakes. The reader knows that this man must be exceptional at what he does. The second moment is when it is revealed that Knaus has a gambling problem. It brings much needed conflict into the story. Obviously, not many men want to entertain children for a living, so I figured there was a darker past behind this man. These points in the story are crucial because they would not have maintained my interest without them.
This article begins by relying on a single question to pull the reader in: Who is The Great Zucchini? The appeal of this question held my attention for a few paragraphs, but I honestly would have stopped reading before it got interesting had this not been a class assignment. There are multiple stretches in this article where i lost sight of where the story was headed. One minute it was a discussion about a struggling children's entertainer. The next it was about Eric Kraus trying to hook up with strippers.
This story would have been much better if it were about 1000 words shorter. It just seems drawn out for no particular reason. It has a solid beginning and a circle kicker in that Kraus is doing what he loves again at the end of the piece. Perhaps the point of the story is that regardless of all the issues that Kraus struggles with, he can still make a difference in many lives as The Great Zucchini.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
She Conned The Ivy League...Eventually
The build up to the article, "The Girl Who Conned The Ivy League" is one of the most drawn out series of words I have ever read. The intro was amazing and hooked me in, wondering how this girl did this and what will happen to her as a result. Getting to those answers became quite a dull experience, due to a drawn out back story and an almost storybook style of writing.
"The Girl", known as Esther Reed, lived one of the most dull and depressed lives I have ever heard of. Perhaps the author thought the best way to drive that point home was by telling the story in a dull manner, but I doubt it.
Anyway, I think that Reed's scam was well thought out and I must give her credit for finding a way around so many obstacles. Stealing identities is wrong and she is rightly punished for it, but wow. She had to have been an intelligent woman. It just shows that public school is in no way, shape, or form any indication of one's intelligence.
I do sympathize with Reed wanting to make something more of her life. She was brave in her decision to do so by any means necessary. Though I'm not a big fan of how this article is written, I can not deny that the story itself is fascinating.
"The Girl", known as Esther Reed, lived one of the most dull and depressed lives I have ever heard of. Perhaps the author thought the best way to drive that point home was by telling the story in a dull manner, but I doubt it.
Anyway, I think that Reed's scam was well thought out and I must give her credit for finding a way around so many obstacles. Stealing identities is wrong and she is rightly punished for it, but wow. She had to have been an intelligent woman. It just shows that public school is in no way, shape, or form any indication of one's intelligence.
I do sympathize with Reed wanting to make something more of her life. She was brave in her decision to do so by any means necessary. Though I'm not a big fan of how this article is written, I can not deny that the story itself is fascinating.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Celebrity: The Arthur Kade Project
Arthur Kadyshes, or rather Arthur Kade, moved me with the story of his life. Here is a man who is truly a product of his environment and at the same time a man able to choose his own destiny.
The most astonishing aspect of this article to me is the power of blogging and how Kade attempts to use it to his advantage. I have honestly been doubting the usefulness of blogging as of late, but this article has spurred my interests once again.
The issue of Kade's views on women, I agree, is legitimate. Kade seems to view women as objects and unfairly places harsh criticism on their physical appearances. He uses sex purely as a means of enjoyment. However, for this I will not judge this man. I understand firsthand how difficult it is to connect with women coming from a home stricken by divorce. I imagine Kade was never able to see from his father the correct way to treat women; to deal with their emotions, connect with them, and develop real relationships with them. While in my case I retained respect for women, Kade clearly did not.
In regards to Kade's talents, I must say he seemed promising until the author deemed his acting "not believable". This part of the story is a huge turning point, as reality comes into effect. It was the first time in the article that I thought this might not be a Cinderella story. It may just be a talentless man following a far-fetched dream who has gained a great deal of attention. In any case, this sets up the conclusion to the story in which Kade expresses that "The Journey" is more important to him than his imminent success or failure.
The most astonishing aspect of this article to me is the power of blogging and how Kade attempts to use it to his advantage. I have honestly been doubting the usefulness of blogging as of late, but this article has spurred my interests once again.
The issue of Kade's views on women, I agree, is legitimate. Kade seems to view women as objects and unfairly places harsh criticism on their physical appearances. He uses sex purely as a means of enjoyment. However, for this I will not judge this man. I understand firsthand how difficult it is to connect with women coming from a home stricken by divorce. I imagine Kade was never able to see from his father the correct way to treat women; to deal with their emotions, connect with them, and develop real relationships with them. While in my case I retained respect for women, Kade clearly did not.
In regards to Kade's talents, I must say he seemed promising until the author deemed his acting "not believable". This part of the story is a huge turning point, as reality comes into effect. It was the first time in the article that I thought this might not be a Cinderella story. It may just be a talentless man following a far-fetched dream who has gained a great deal of attention. In any case, this sets up the conclusion to the story in which Kade expresses that "The Journey" is more important to him than his imminent success or failure.
J342 Story Ideas
Good profile candidates:
Guidance Counselor Lauren Kinzer
Director of Student Media Ron Johnson
IU Football's Ben Chappell
Profile personalities:
-anyone from a low income family trying to get through college
-determined individual whose dreams have not worked out
-student with an unusual skill or interest
Guidance Counselor Lauren Kinzer
Director of Student Media Ron Johnson
IU Football's Ben Chappell
Profile personalities:
-anyone from a low income family trying to get through college
-determined individual whose dreams have not worked out
-student with an unusual skill or interest
"Good Morning, Megan Fox"
This Esquire article metaphorically takes the reader deeper into the mind of Megan Fox than any film or photo shoot has. It expresses how Fox, ironically, has much more to her than meets the eye. It is common knowledge that many celebrities are completely different than their on-screen personae. This article is a testament to that statement.
The horse Fox is riding, Bandit, exists as a metaphor for the struggles in her life. She needs to give the things which bother her "a command" and not be timid with them. Everything, from the paparazzi to her breakup with her boyfriend, threatens to take her sanity. This article follows that internal struggle.
What I like best about this article is the way it shows Fox's frailty without making her seem weak. To be human is to struggle with life and its many challenges, but struggling doesn't make a person weak. Fox's issues are expressed as legitimate problems that every reader understand. From this is gained a bit of respect from readers who possibly only see the young actress as a sex symbol and object of lust.
If you knew nothing about Fox before this article, you would leave knowing little about her. You wouldn't know where she grew up, her favorite color, or her favorite song. However, you would understand her on a deeper level, which is much more valuable information.
The horse Fox is riding, Bandit, exists as a metaphor for the struggles in her life. She needs to give the things which bother her "a command" and not be timid with them. Everything, from the paparazzi to her breakup with her boyfriend, threatens to take her sanity. This article follows that internal struggle.
What I like best about this article is the way it shows Fox's frailty without making her seem weak. To be human is to struggle with life and its many challenges, but struggling doesn't make a person weak. Fox's issues are expressed as legitimate problems that every reader understand. From this is gained a bit of respect from readers who possibly only see the young actress as a sex symbol and object of lust.
If you knew nothing about Fox before this article, you would leave knowing little about her. You wouldn't know where she grew up, her favorite color, or her favorite song. However, you would understand her on a deeper level, which is much more valuable information.
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