My New Addiction

2007-01-24T23:20:00.000-08:00

My winter break

2007-01-04T19:03:00.000-08:00

Well my winter break has been going awesome. As you know I was hired for an intern at a magazine called Karma and love it. I went to my first big event they held, which landed on NYE. I spent it in SF at a club and worked a little while I was there- got some email addresses, hung up posters, socialized, and at the end passed out free Karma magazines for everyone to have. I brought four other friends (for free also) and they helped me throughout the night. It was so fun, everyone recognized the shirt I was wearing for Karma and treated us like stars.

Well after that exciting weekend I am back at the office. I am helping the magazine get some more publicity. It is going pretty well..

Now for the exciting part- the reason why I decided to write!

I have been invited to go on the Tyra Banks show next week. They are flying me to La for free and letting me stay in a hotel. I am so excited. I am going on the plastic surgery episode and am going to talk about pedicure safety and my tragic incident that happened two years ago. It is going to be so much fun to be on national tv and tell my story, also I am pretty excited to meet Tyra Banks!

I will let you know how it all goes.

Speaking of new jobs

2006-12-17T14:51:00.000-08:00

Just a few days after I posted my last blog, I got a new job myself! It is an internship at Karma Magazine, which is a national night life magazine. I am so excited! And thanks to Lilly's constant emails of internships, I decided to check this one out. And what do you know? They hired me over many other applicants, or so they said ..... Either way my first day is tomorrow. So I will let you all know how my first day went!

Check out their website

http://www.karma-magazine.com/index.htm

Need some extra cash?

2006-12-06T22:19:00.000-08:00

The Holidays are the perfect time to make some extra money, since companies are hiring for seasonal positions. Most positions are temporary but you never know if they will keep you on. This is also the best chance to get some discounts from the stores you love. If you get a job at a store you like, such as Crate & Barrel or Macy’s, you can earn the employees discounts.
However when most people hear "holiday hiring," they think retail -- and that is indeed a major focus for employers. U.S. retailers added almost 700,000 holiday jobs in 2005. Some stores hire thousands nationwide: Crate and Barrel, for example, expects to add about 3,000 seasonal workers this year. And some jobs are created by small shops that hire just one or two extra workers.
Usually companies start hiring for the holidays in November but some still are looking for people in December and the jobs last till about early January. Employers are looking for employees who can provide excellent customer service, since everyone will be pushing and shoving in line. I think the prospective student should also have tolerance—because there is going to be A LOT of patrons. I do not think I could handle a retail job, especially over the holidays. Flexibility seems to be a big issue for employers also because the malls are open later and they need all the help they can catch. Generally employers also like to hire applicants who are familiar with the store. Usually regular customers who will see signs posted and hopefully apply within.
Keep in mind- this holiday job could land you an unending job as well. Managers typically look at how the employee works during this hectic time and then can decide if the person should be kept on.

Click here for some job seeking tips

Just in time for Finals- Laughter

2006-12-04T23:45:00.000-08:00

It could not have been a finer time for me to see the episode on ABC this morning. It was titled “Laughter Yoga.” So what is it? Well laughter, fun, ya know…. the laughter that makes your stomach hurt.

If you are as stressed out as I am this last week of the semester, maybe this would be a good thing to endeavor. This is laughter yoga, a sidesplitting new fitness fad that's part traditional yoga, part improv and all silliness. But where do I find this new fad? In the OC, well crap I do not have time to go down there before finals but I wish I could. The people on the news looked like they were having so much fun!
Laughter enhances the breathing exercises that are so important to yoga and creates social interaction that isn't found in other styles which focus more on inward concentration.

“About 60 U.S. instructors who trained in India with the man who invented the style now instruct thousands of practitioners from California to Connecticut. About one-third of the known American laughter yoga clubs are in California, said Sebastien Gendry, founder of the American School of Laughter Yoga in Pasadena.”

Jeffrey Briar, who founded the Laughter Yoga Institute in Laguna Beach a month ago, said his daily yoga lessons are now such a common sight on the beach that dog-walkers and joggers no longer stare. Sometimes they even join in. Imagine all the lucky, laughing people in the OC- ha ha.
Briar has practiced laughter yoga for more than a year and said he has shared his discovery with more than 4,500 people at the daily beachside sessions. It doesn't matter if the laughter is forced or fake in the beginning, he said. Hey, I can act, so maybe this wouldn’t be too complicated.
"Most people think they have to feel good first in order to laugh. But you can start from nothing, you can even start feeling unhappy and just laugh as a form of exercise, and happy feelings follow," said Briar, a slight 51-year-old with a perpetual grin, intentionally mismatched Converse sneakers and piercing blue eyes. So Lilly, if you see me strolling in on the day of the final laughing, you will know why!
"If you're laughing with a group of other people, fake laughter very quickly becomes real," he said. "It's part of the social phenomenon."
Therefore scholars, when you’re studying this week for finals in a group, START LAUGHING! I will be…….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=729xQLckrf0
Please CLICK ON THIS FUNNY VIDEO

A glass a day keeps the doctors away

2006-11-29T18:46:00.000-08:00

So I know you have all heard the expression, “one apple a day, keeps the doctor away.” But how about “one glass a wine a day, keeps the doctor away.” Scientists have proven in the UK that the “oligomeric procyanidins” are the likely ingredient in red wine that contributes to healthy hearts and longevity. Who would have ever thought? So actually a little alcohol once a day could help improve your health. There are also some red wines that carry more of the procyanidins than others. These procyanidins are found in plants, fruits, grapes, bark, and seeds and therefore end up in the red wine.

Dr. Roger Corder from Queen Mary’s School of Medicine said that not everyone has been agreeing with this theory that red wine actually possesses heart-healthy properties. Some say that it may be due to the complexity and variability in the constituents in the different wines.
To glance into this matter, “the investigators cultured human blood vessel cells and exposed them to 165 different wines to identify the polyphenols with most potent effects on blood vessels.”

“They found that procyanidins suppress production of a protein called endothelin-1 that constricts blood vessels. High-performance liquid chromatography identified oligomeric procyanidins as the specific phenolic constituent responsible for this effect.”
The active constituents in grape seed are oligomeric procyanidins or OPC. Writing in her book, Miracle Cures, nutrition journalist Jean Carper notes that the OPC in grape seed extract, "is expert at treating vascular diseases because it actually increases the structural strength of weakened blood vessels." Carper continues that although USA research on grape seed extract is in its infancy, there are four hundred decades of sound studies and proven use in Europe, especially France, to suggest that it is highly effective. OPC has been isolated in all plants and red wine by French Chemist Dr. Jack Masquelier.

Maybe this is why the people in Europe drink so much wine and seem to live longer healthier lives.

People living in Nuoro province, Sardinia, and southwest France have higher than normal average longevity. And wines from those regions, Corder and colleagues found, had a 2- to 4-fold higher inhibitory effect on endothelin-1 and significantly higher oligomeric procyanidin levels than wines from Australia, Europe, South America, the US, and Sardinia. Hmm. Hmmm. Well maybe I will start buying French wine… PSssssh if I had the money……..

Corder and his associates maintain that traditional wine-making methods and use of the flavonoid-rich grape Tannat commonly grown in southwest France result in high levels of oligomeric procyanidins in the local wine. The researchers are hopeful that further investigation of oligomeric procyanidins-rich wines and foods will provide insight into how blood vessel function might be optimally maintained.

What to do with useless gifts

2006-11-26T22:53:00.000-08:00

Just in time for the holidays I thought I would write for some of the “regifters’ out there. In a recent survey by Tassimo 78 percent of Americans feel that is acceptable to regift some or all of the time.

So this holiday season are you going to be dreading the useless gift from Aunt Betty? Nt to be rude but everyone out there has one relative who always wraps up a pen or something of that nature and you cant help but try to be excited. Well instead here are some tips to give it to someone else who might get more use out of it.

Make sure the recipient will like it. Most people who regift do so because the gift is perfect for someone else (77 percent), which is what gift giving is all about. "You don't want the recipient to have any feeling at all that you are giving them the castoff," says Peggy Post, etiquette expert and author of Excuse Me, But I Was Next. "At the bottom of all this, it's all about being respectful and considerate.” It's also acceptable to regift when you are absolutely certain the recipient would like to have that gift, Post says. So if you do not like neon pink clothes and you best friend does, well then heck wrap it up for her birthday. I used to feel guilty and would be hesitant to do such a thing, but after this article I found out that most Americans engage in this pastime.
Regift to different social circles. If you're going to regift, you need to do it outside of the social circle where you originally received the gift. Some 29 percent of regift recipients recognized the regift because they were present when the gift was first given, according to this report. Make sure if “Sally” was there when you received the present to not hand it on to one of her close friends too. I know it all sounds confusing right? No- mark the present with a note and you will remember down the road who was there and who it was from.

Make sure it's new. Leon Foerster, an insurance agent in Ripon, Wis., recalls receiving an 8-track player full of cobwebs as a wedding gift-a sure tip-off something is not new. Post recommends you don't regift anything that does not come with its original packaging and instructions. The least you can do is rewrap the gift and put a fresh card on it. A full 16 percent of regifters were spotted because the gift tag had the wrong name on it, Tassimo found. You never want to give away a gift the original giver took great care to select, Post says, such as a homemade sweater or scarf. You should also hold on to handmade and one-of-a kind items. The most common regifted items, Tassimo found, are decorative household knickknacks like vases, paintings, and picture frames. Please if you’re going to regift take the time at least to buy a new name tag, that would be embarrassing to give it to your friend with your name on it! And if you know your Aunt spent four days knitting you a sweater, maybe its best to keep it in the garage instead of giving it away. Then you can wear it next time she is there- it will make her feel special.

You can also resell. "One year my daughter was given a Mickey Mouse lamp by a relative who didn't realize she was too old for a Mickey Mouse lamp," says Collier. Her solution: Sell it on eBay. "When we're opening gifts for the holiday there is the eBay pile," says Collier, who usually lists six to eight unwanted Christmas gifts for sale on Christmas Day. "The whole point of someone giving you a gift is to make you happy," she says. "If the gift doesn't make you happy why not sell it on eBay so you can get something that will really make you happy."
Gift cards are regifted too. Thirty percent of people have regifted gift cards or gift certificates, Tassimo found. Alternatively, you could sell, albeit at a discount, or swap your gift card for a different store on swapagift.com for a $3.99 listing fee, regardless of the amount on the card. "Sellers can turn their gift cards into cash," says Michael Kelly, the president and chief operating officer of the Langhorne, Pa.-based company. "Swappers can trade them for cards they really want." This is a great idea and I think I am going to save this link because who knows what I will end up with at the end of the season. One year I received a gift card to Limited Too from some distant relatives and had no use for it, especially since the clothes are made for younger teens.
Laughter is the greatest gift of all. A new website, www.regiftable.com, created by the Houston-based nonprofit organization Money Management International, provides a forum for sharing regifting experiences, which range from horrifying to hilarious. One poster, Jennifer Aither, an insurance agent in Ripon, Wis., has a family tradition of regifting. For nearly 20 years a peanut butter maker has been passed off as a gift at weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays. Aither has it now, but she plans to pass it along to a cousin at an upcoming baby shower. "It's become a huge joke," Aither says. "It was so obvious to me that it was a regift that I had to laugh. It's so tacky, it's funny."

Check out this website: www.regiftable.com. You can read some very funny stories of people trying to regift. Hey, if you have the best story you can win up to $100. So sit and think when you are trying to fall asleep and maybe you can add your story to the list!

Hope this helps anyone who wondering what to do with their not so useful gifts.

Eval for Sex and City Group (nov. 14)

2006-11-21T09:30:00.000-08:00

I thought it would make sense to talk about the Sex and the City presentation since us as a group evaluated it tonight. I also thought the group would like to hear a little more feedback about the presentation since they probably spent a lot of time planning it. I honestly felt bad for the group to say the least. Nothing was going right and they could not get the powerpoint to work since one of the members had it saved on his apple with no adapter cable and not to mention no back up ( cd-rom or zip) which Lilly was not too happy about. I took a note to self to remember to have every possible form of back up on the 28th when we present.

Well to the presentation……
They had some good information. I liked how they started the presentation with, (uhhh I don’t know his name since they did not introduce themselves), sat and typed on the laptop like Carrie Bradshaw would in the show. They then began and summarized the show and some topics usually on every show-sex, dildos, penis size, men, and drinking. I learned some very good facts from the group. I thought the map and the information on the towns were time fillers but some of it was newsworthy. I do not think that tied into the main topic of “affecting the media and society.” I am sad that they had to rush so much towards the end because the other male who was not dressed up had some good information on what is the truth of the show and what criticisms are being said. I would suggest more eye contact for the group but otherwise they did a good job in the short amount of time they had!

Your shirt is Black...........NOT

2006-11-13T14:10:00.000-08:00

Well optimistically if you are reading this you have heard of ‘Borat.’ It is the movie that came out two weekends ago and is titled, “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.” I saw the movie and nearly fell off my chair laughing. The movie brought in about $26.5 million dollars last weekend as the top seller.

Borat" follows the adventures of comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's Kazakh journalist character in a blend of fiction and improvised comic encounters as he travels across the United States and mocks Americans. He also has a DVD series called, “Ali G.”

In headlines yesterday, South Carolina Frat Boys are suing the movie because of an appearance they had in the movie. The movie had three college frat boys in it from South Carolina. Apparently they were duped into acting racist and sexist. Now they are supposedly suing ‘Borat’ and the movie because they had no idea they were going to be shown in the U.S. They were told it was a documentary for his home country of Kazakhstan. When I saw the movie I was a little shocked my self of the rude and uncalled for comments the boys were making. They said such things as: blacks are minorities, they get what they want, or women are stupid, who needs them anyways.

The lawsuit that was filed on Thursday says they boys “did things they would not have done in other circumstances.” The crew brought them to a bar first to drink and “loosen up.” Then they were taken into a RV to act like they were picking up Hitchhiker Borat. I was wondering throughout the movie if this scene was real or not and now we all know it was planned and rigged. The men are mad that it is a box office hit in the U.S. and were not agreed to this. They signed something but did not know it was for a documentary in the U.S. The boys were lied to and now are suing.

I on the other hand think they just want some money out of the whole thing……..Anyone who sees Borat, especially college boys, should know who Borat, a.k.a Ali G is. He is a COMEDIAN!

Vote or Die

2006-11-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

Well since my group topic is the “Vote or Die” campaign I decided to write it about it since today is Election Day. I am not usually into politics and what not but today I felt like being a good citizen and an educated on at that. I received two phone calls today- one from my dad and one from my mom, both asking me if I went to vote yet. So you better believe I went down there and got my spiffy little “I voted Touch screen” sticker.

While surfing around on the web I noticed this headline: “Democrats take House, Senate up for Grab.” Not to get into a party dispute, but I was happy to read that the Democrats overpowered the Republicans in the House of Representatives. This was due to the war in Iraq, corruption, and most of all GEORGE BUSH’S leadership. Hopefully this lead will be enough to sway the House and get the 15 seats we have not had since 1994. The Democrats also selected three of the six Republican Senate seats needed for control. All 435 House seats, 33 Senate seats and 36 governorships were at stake in the elections and Democrats had to pick up 15 House seats and six Senate seats to take control of both chambers.
CNN said that the dissatisfaction of the war in Iraq was a big issue in the polls today and so was corruption and ethics.

Dooce: Heather Armstrong

2006-11-01T18:58:00.000-08:00

I had never heard of “Dooce” or the author Heather Armstrong until I received the powerpoint from Lilly. Apparently Dooce’s blog provider was getting too expensive and she needed to switch over the entire site. She decided with her husband that making money off of the site would be go-getting but also beneficial. As I began to read I thought it was a lot of bull. I don’t know if maybe these were her excuses or did she really have postpartum depression? Who knows- if this is her therapy than that’s fine, I guess she wants money from it too. So be it….

Some thing I learned about Heather is she has a dislike towards editors and this is why she doesn’t want to write a column. According to the grapevine she had a bad experience dating an editor in LA once. Ok….. Good reason.
Although I did find it comical to see what Google wrote to her about wanting to be apart of Google AdSense: “We’ve found that your website contains content that isn’t in compliance with our program policies. We don’t allow websites with excessive profanity or potentially offensive content to participate in Google AdSense.” Heather said she was somewhat proud.

These are the comments of her readers comments on her new design:
“The new dooce layout strikes me as both over the top and boring at the same time… It seems poorly thought-out and only half-executed.”
“GOOD LORD! Could you put some more ads on???? SHEESH!”
“This is just a Halloween scare, right?”
Some are harsh…but I think she does a good job defending herself. That is good she does not censor herself for advertisers and she is real. Hopefully she is financially stable and I was interested as I read these posts…Thanks Lilly

SJSU and the news

2006-10-30T22:27:00.000-08:00

Well I decided to write about this topic since you keep emphasizing it in your blogs. And since I have nothing better to talk about this is interesting. I am keeping up with your posts and find them very interesting. I catch myself telling everyone around me and love to BRAG that our school made it to the finalists. The people that I tell actually have no idea about this great experience and are very excited to hear the news. I wish this event was being publicized a bit more; like you mentioned about the Spartan Daily and the Mercury News publishing the story on page three. I am hoping more people will take this seriously and acknowledge these stars; Kelly, Lou Lou and Anna. I personally know Kelly and am so excited for him!

When I saw your post about Tuesday’s class being one we would not want to miss, I was excited. I made sure to come and made sure to tell my friends in the class too. When I heard we were having a press conference in our room I was shocked. That was so fun and I am glad you arranged that. We all learned a lot and I think we should have more classes like this. Watching the clip online, I found myself in the back of class watching it all take place and that was thrilling.

I am very eager to find out if they win and what the commercial idea is. When will we find out? Tomorrow hopefully in class! You have not posted anything yet……but hopefully.

Today on Oprah

2006-10-25T17:32:00.000-07:00

Today while I was relaxing on my bed and channeling surfing I stopped on Oprah. I heard the Dixie Chicks would be on after the commercial. Oprah said, “three years later and there is still controversy.” Well I decided to watch since we had a class discussion once about the comment the lead singer made about the president. I was very intrigued and wanted to hear the story.

When Oprah asked Natalie Maines if she regretted what she said three years ago, her answer was no. She said, “No. I would have said something super brilliant.” She said that she thought her whole life she had Freedom of Speech. “It never dawned on me that I could not say what I wanted about the president.” Everyone was mad at her because she said this comment on foreign soil during the brink of a war. People said that she should have said it in the US or even in Texas if this is what she thought. The media thought Natalie was cowardly for doing this on foreign soil.

A few days after the comment Natalie apologized publicly and said she was sorry for disrespecting him. She said now after these three years she does not feel sorry; especially after all the people have died and since the problems with Hurricane Katrina.

A few months after the incident the group had a concert. People wore shirts that said, “I’m only here because I couldn’t get my money back.” I was shocked to see people acting this way. I feel the same way about the president and I can not believe the group was criticized so much. Shut up and Sing, the documentary about the group, is coming out Friday. This movie describes the pain and hardships they went through after Natalie’s mistake. She was standing up for what she believed and it was free speech; she said it would have been fine if it was not so public.

During their tour she received a death threat and it said she would be shot dead on stage in Dallas, Texas during their show. The other woman were very scared and wanted to cancel the show but Natalie objected. She wanted to stand up for herself and go on with the tour. I think she was very brave for doing so. During the documentary, her manager describes how the suspect’s house would be watched and at the show he would be followed incase something did happen. The woman said on the Oprah show today that during that concert they kind of stayed away from Natalie. They were both scared and did not want to be near her on stage. It was funny when Natalie saw the man’s picture; she commented and said he is kind of cute. She took the situation and tried to make it funny, even though he could possibly be her murderer.

Oprah also asked the other woman if they were mad at Natalie for saying that comment. They responded with, “no, you circle the wagon, and there is always sisterhood.”

Happy Birthday iPod

2006-10-23T17:26:00.000-07:00

Well, exactly five years ago today Apple introduced the iPod with 5GB and promised it would hold 1,000 songs "in your pocket." According to Yahoo Tech, " it's time to pay our respects to what is, if not the most innovative, the most influential piece of consumer electronics in recent memory: The Apple iPod." This is a perfect quote and relates to our class since we have been studying Ipods, music, and changes in our society. I believe this invention has changed our society dramatically. I rarely see a student walking through campus without the popular white earphones tucked in their ears. I am happy to say I am one of them and it is more peaceful walking to class listening to my favorite songs.

The click-wheel has been honed and refined year after year to the point where it's hard to believe the 1G, 2G, and 3G (pictured) iPods actually had buttons. Today's iPods play video in full color and are smaller and slimmer than ever. I recieved my first iPod for Christmas this past year from a friend and was shocked to see she bought be the sleek, slender, black iPod Video. I can buy and download podcasts from the Itunes store and watch videos as I walk to class. It took me many years to go get an iPod and when I was given one I was thrilled. I never felt like going out and paying over two hundred dollars for one, but now I see what all the hype was about.

There has been talk of having the next iPod to have a touch screen. It is not set in stone if this will actually happen, but with all the new models and larger memory space I would not be surpised to see if this happens with Apple.

Here is a list of all of the iPod Killers and the competitors....

You Tube

2006-10-18T21:23:00.000-07:00

You Tube was launched in February 2005 and is known as the site to "Broadcast yourself." It has over 100 million videos and 72 million viewers a month. This website has become one of the most popular sites on the web.
Last week, Google bought this video-sharing website for $1.65 billion in shares after a weekend of speculation that a deal was in the offing. Google is now taking over a lot of things and You Tube is just one company. Google announced that the two companies will still operate independently and things should run the same. "The YouTube team has built an exciting and powerful media platform that complements Google's mission to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful," Google chief executive Eric Schmidt said in a statement.
Google plans to make many more investments in the video field. Even though Google now owns YouTube, they will still continue to operate their own video sharing hosts. I think its nice that Google is going to keep the company running the same way; the 67 employees still get to keep their jobs and the two founders also get to keep their positions.
"By joining forces with Google, we can benefit from its global reach and technology leadership to deliver a more comprehensive entertainment experience for our users and to create new opportunities for our partners," said Mr. Hurley.
When YouTube first began they had 2.8 million users that year and now are up to a whopping 72 million a month. That is nearly 25 times more users.
YouTube also says it has signed a deal with CBS, which will offer short-form video programming, including news, sport and entertainment on YouTube. The two companies will then share the revenue from the advertising sponsorship with CBS.

My faves on the Boob Tube

2006-10-16T19:10:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, the three best shows that have ever been created are Friends, 60 Minutes, and Intervention. According to TV Guides List of the 50 Greatest Shows of All Time, Friends was number 21 and 60 Minutes was number 6.

Friends was on the air for about ten years and was one of the most popular sitcom shows in American Television history with over tens of millions of fans all over the world. Friends won many awards during its run, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series, and six straight People's Choice Awards for Favorite Television Comedy Series. The show was so good because it related to a popular demographic- six friends in their late twenties, three men and three women and they all had their differences. Out of the 236 episodes, I am proud to say I have seen probaly 150 of them. Friends was such a popular sitcom that I would notice people relating their everyday lives to the show. "Remember in that one Friends episode......" Or I even catch myself saying "Like the Friends episode..."
During the airtime, Jennifer Aniston, or Rachel, one of the characters, won over ten awards, such as Emmy's, Golden Globes, and People Choice Awards.

As well as winning many awards, Jennifer Aniston was known for her popular Rachel haircut. When I was younger I had the "Rachel Haircut." As well as influencing fashion, language has been influenced. Joey Tribbiani's catchphrase, "How you doin'?" has become a popular part of American slang, often used as a pick-up line or when greeting friends.

The phrase "Ross and Rachel" is used to describe an on/off relationship with a 'history', or in a situation like "Are you on a real break, or a Ross and Rachel break?" This is played on as a joke in Scrubs: The Janitor describes J.D.'s relationship with Elliot as "not exactly Ross and Rachel", which turns out to refer to two other employees in the hospital, according to Wikipedia.com.

60 Minutes is also a very good program. It is an investigatve television newsmagazine show that was created in 1968 and has been run on CBS ever since. This show is different from the rest because it has an unique style of reporter-centered style of investigating. This show is one of the top rated shows in America. Based on ratings, 60 Minutes is the most successful broadcast in U.S. television history. For five of its seasons it has been that year's top program, a feat only matched by the sitcoms All in the Family and The Cosby Show. It was a top ten show for 23 seasons in a row (1977-2000), an unsurpassed record. During the 21st century it remains among the top 20 programs in the Nielsen Ratings, and the highest-rated news magazine.

A few references have been made of the show in The Simpsons sitcom. There have been parodies of the show on Saturday Night Live as well. On television it is usually mocked or referred to as the best investigative show. This is why it is brought up mostly during crime or investigations on other shows.

Intervention is the third show I am glad was created. It is aired on A&E and it documents real life people with their addictions. It shows the family members and how they need help for their loved ones and holding an Intervention is the only hope. Each documentary follows the lives of these addicts, taking an uncensored look at the impact of their addictions on their everyday lives, all the while the addicts are unaware that an intervention is being planned.
Every show ends with friends, family, and a professional interventionist urging the addict to get treatment. If the individual should choose treatment, the addict immediately enters a widely respected treatment facility.
I really like this show because it follows real people, with real problems. The audience is able to see the negative effects of the addictions and what will happen if they do not change. The addictions are anything from drugs to eating disorders. I have learned a lot from this show and I am sure viewers have as well. I hope this show airs for many years to come.

The Revolution has Begun.....

2006-10-11T22:06:00.000-07:00

Howard Stern was aired on E late night telvision for over 23 years and I knew it as the "sex show." He is a "nationally syndicated radio host, bestselling author, movie star and TV producer with a knack for conducting exceptionally revealing interviews with celebs and guests and hosting crazy on-air games. Stern has spawned scores of imitators, influenced millions of loyal fans and transformed the face of popular culture in America. And, um, he's also really good at getting lesbian strippers to get naked and do stuff with other lesbian strippers," according to his Web site. This is exaclty how I remember every episode of his show- raunchy and explicit..

Now that Howard is on Sirius Radio things have changed. He used to be aired in the mornings of local radio stations and you could barely understand what he was saying. Every other word is bleeped out so you really don't know what is going on in the show. But now he is UNCENSORED AND ALL REAL! Howard Stern is having problems now because some listeners are not transfering over to satellite radio. The change is expensive and time consuming. I used to like listening to his show on the radio but now that he is on satellite I have not heard him lately. I am exactly like many other consumers and do not want to go out and buy the equipment to listen to him.

Here are some of Howard Stern's favorite moments:

Supermodel Angie Everhart said he was the best sex she ever had. Appearing as "Fartman" on the MTV Video Awards. Made out with and/or received drunken lap dance from Pamela Anderson. Talked down a jumper from the George Washington Bridge--and then the jumper later complained about it. And, of course, stayed on the air during 9-11.

Ebert and Roeper and Brittany

2006-10-09T22:25:00.000-07:00

“A Face in the Crowd,” receives three out of five stars from me. Released in 1957, it is as momentous today as when it was made, nearly fifty years ago. This film is about an unknown who becomes a big shot suddenly.

Its lead is such a talent, although not with the same shocking results.

Budd Schulberg's script is spiky and striving and works as a psychological study with a little over-the-top political spoof. But it is Andy Griffith's awesome, full of life performance of a demagogue that makes this film a classic.

The plot of this story is when a manipulative boondocks philosopher, Lonesome Rhodes, becomes famous for his memorable jokes with the help of a local Arkansas newswoman. He rockets to national fame and power, but when his real goals of power and wealth are realized by the newswoman, she tries to wreck the monster she created and loved. This is a good movie because it relates to the society today. It shows that anyone can be made famous if they tried. Some people fall into the spotlight and not even realize it. Rhodes was lucky enough to make it big due to Patricia Neals. She protects this man out of love and faithfulness, not out of desire.

So next time you feel like someone is pulling a fast one on you, Netflix this movie and get centered.

Peaceful Amish town...or is it?

2006-10-02T22:46:00.000-07:00

On Monday in a Amish school in Pennsylvania, a weird man driving a milk truck shot three innocent girls in the head and then shot himself.
I was shocked today when I heard about this online! I could not believe that in Nickel Mines, Penn., a peaceful that does not even know what violence is practically, witnessed four deaths. When I think of an Amish town I think of no electricity, no cars, and quiet families who all believe in being close and helping out. For a man to go into this town and shoot three young girls because of a "grudge" he had in the past is crazy! The reason why authorities said the murderer chose this school is because it was close to his town, had girls there, and there was little security around. He figured it would be a good place to kill people I guess! Wow, I feel so bad for the families who lost their daughters...

The Kite Runner Essay

2006-09-28T01:22:00.000-07:00

The Kite Runner Essay

By definition propaganda means to spread ideas or rumors to help or harm a person or group of people. In the novel “Kite Runner” Khaled Hosseini paints a vivid narrative of his memories of his native country. Of his many stories of the wind against a child’s face in a game of running a kite, the admiration of a son to his father, to the loyalties of an affable servant, never does the author try to change the opinions of Afghanistan. Only does he open the eyes of the blind soul and fill the heart with the emotions that bring all humans together, despite our nationalities. Consistent to the opinions of many, he depicts the Taliban as violent bodies responsible for the extremist attention assumed among all Afghanis. However, similar to many countries, the views and actions of the country do not always represent the views and intentions of the citizens. I do not argue with the idea of this novel changing feelings towards Afghanistan following the horrific events of 9/11. My views of Afghanistan have changed dramatically due to the “propaganda” depicted in the novel. Hosseini narrates a story of a privileged young boy, Amir, “I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years.” (pg. 1) This quote read off the very first page of the book foreshadows strong suspense and irony which will later occur. The epic begins when Amir describes his life growing up in Afghanistan from the time he was twelve years old to the time he reaches adulthood, during the last few days of the peaceful monarchy that was destroyed by the Russian invasion. My first grade teacher has been right all along: Never judge a book by its cover.
The cover of The Kite Runner looks like an old, run down city in Afghanistan. After reading the book one will see the story is not a representation of its cover. Sadly, by default, the story is often considered a form of propaganda since the author is relating to the reader and in turn the reader feels the pain in his life growing up in Afghanistan and the trouble he endured. We see how his life is before the Russians invade the country. And after the terrorist attack the twin towers, September 11th,. when the Taliban takes over the country by force. He describes his life growing up in Kabul, moving to California, only to end up where he never thought to set foot again, Afghanistan, to help his long life friend, Rahim Khan.
Previous to reading this book I was critical of Afghanistan and all the people that live in the country. I do not feel guilty confessing my thoughts since I am sure many people have hostility towards the country. The reason that I do have aggression towards the country is partially attributed to ignorance. Prior to reading the book, I thought that everyone in Afghanistan was a terrorist and could cause harm to our country. I was guilty of stereotyping an entire nation based on the extreme beliefs of a small group, the Taliban. I assumed everyone in the country followed their beliefs willingly. Fortunately after reading this novel, I realized the Taliban is the the enemy. They are responsible for hurting the country, like Assef, the bully throughout the novel.
My outlook of Afghanistan developed after reading the book since I learned what is actually taking place behind the closed doors, not what they censor on the news. The gatekeepers of the media have a substantial impact on what the people in the United States see. Hosseini’s portrayal of pre-revolutionary Afghanistan is filled with tenderness and humor, also tense with the resistance between the nation’s different ethnic groups. Throughout the book I caught a glimpse of Afghanistan, felt the discrimination against the lower class, the Hazaras, like Hassan and Ali.

“Assef knelt behind Hassan, put his hands on Hassan’s hips and lifted his bare buttocks. He kept one hand on Hassan’s back and undid his own belt buckle with his free hand. He unzipped his jeans. Dropped his underwear. He positioned himself behind Hassan. Hassan didn’t struggle. Didn’t even whimper. He moved his head slightly and I caught a glimpse of his face. Saw the resignation in it. It was a look I had seen before. It was the look of the lamb.” (pg. 76)

This quote stabs the heart of the reader with the painswitness amongst Afghans to other Afghans. Before reading some of these vivid, brutal events in this novel, I was blind to the acts committed in the country. Since Amir’s childhood he began to see how the wealthy, the Pashtuns, such as Assef, were terrorizing people below them or who are not as superior to them, such as the Hazaras. This is exactly the same as present day Afghanistan with the Taliban. The irony of this bully, Assef plays out later when Amir wants to rescue Hassan’s son from the orphanage. He is once again faced with his childhood enemy Assef and this time he has a lot more power over Amir- this time he is a Taliban official. Assef had warned him one on occasion that he would find revenge and right now was the time.
When the Soviets invade Afghanistan in 1979, Baba and Amir flee to America. A world away from their mansion and servants in Kabul, the father-son relationship reverses. The Afghans, now assimilated, have changed their life dramatically and Hosseini uses this to portray how his life was in Afghanistan and how different he is now. He is not the rich child he once was and now attends college to grow up and make money. This book relates to many immigrants. Families faced with normal problems yet so difficult translates the beauty of this story. Everyone can enjoy a real suspenseful, political book dealing with one of our biggest controversies; Afghanistan.
Initially I was skeptical of reading this book because I did not think it would interest me. Now I find myself bragging about this book and wanting to let my friends borrow it so they can see what I have been ranting and raving about. This book should be placed on a national scale for more people to feel the pains Afghans are faced with daily. The hard times they face with no options. This book will make you cry or smile through every fast turned paged. Not everyone in Afghanistan is a “terrorist”. This idea is what is hurting our country. People should be more open and accepting. The people of Afghanistan never chose their life. We must stop believing everything we see on the news; I know I won’t! My opinions of Afghanistan have changed, and I would question any human beings emotions if their opinion didn’t change. Hosseini is an amazing writer and knows how to grab the reader by the ethos and take you for a ride you’ll never forget. No cover can do this book justice.

The Magazine Consumer

2006-09-27T23:16:00.000-07:00

While strolling through the grocery store usually every other day I noticed the magazines at the front aisles. I am constantly picking up the tabloids and entertainment magazines to hear the latest gossip and see the new pictures of babies. But the magazine every month that I usually end up buying is Cosmopolitan. I am fascinated with all of the interesting tip and tools. The magazine has everything from beauty, to fashion, to sex. I enjoy every issue because it is always new and fascinating. After all these years reading it, I still learn new things. Such as, how to curl your hair better, which way to apply make-up or quizzes, like, is he really cheating on you? I am always using the new tips and information. As well as the advertisements go, they are fun too. There is always humor or sex put into the ads. This is what will catch someone’s eye and sell the product. The ads are usually on every other page and are very eye catching! Some are hot pink

and some are half naked men or women. Overall I love the magazine for its content and up to date fashion and beauty advice. Also there are always stories added in for emotional reading and you can really fall into the story. Some are fiction and some are true life! Either way I cant wait till next months issue arrives!

I prefer the paper.....

2006-09-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

For this weeks assignment of reading the print version of the Mecury News and then the online version I noticed a few differences. I chose the Thursday, September 21st issue of the San Jose Mercury News.

The difference I noticed is that the online version is crammed together with a bunch of links and I am not sure which link to click on first. Since the first thing I looked at from the paper version was the front page, I searched for the front page online. It is labeled with the section title "front." Since this is the front page I assumed it would be at the top of the list but I was wrong; the actual section that is listed first is called "ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT." This confused me.

Another thing I noticed that is different is the fact the pictures are gone. While reading the front page I noticed the healine reads, "Neighbors wage turf battle for use of their 'backyard' ," and there is a homeless man laying on the grass. The online version does not have this picture; the only thing it has is the caption that sould be under the picture. If I did not buy the newspaper and my only source was the online version from SJSU, I would have never seen this intriguing photo.

As well as not having photos I could not find all the advertisements on the online version and I did not like this about this layout. The advertisements are interesting to me and I like to browse through the pictures. The color photos bring a little entertainment to my eyes unlike the online black and white version with just text.

Another aspect I like about reading the print version of the newspaper is that I can scan the articles quickly and can fold the paper up to a small size. This way I can read the paper on the lightrail, in bed, or at the kitchen table. Newspapers are organized into sections to for easier reading and the online version looked like one long story, crammed together. Also it was not as easy for my eyes to read as the paper version. The related stories were in the same sections of the paper, whereas the online version just had a bunch of links. I could not see the organization.

The newspaper in print version has more white spaces to seperate stories and to make it easier to read. Also the rectangular columns are for faster reading and this is what I enjoyed.

Free The Dog

2006-09-20T22:46:00.000-07:00

On September 14th Duane 'The Dog' Chapman and his son Leland and friend Tim were all arrested in their Hawaii home by U.S Marshalls. They were arrested due to a bounty hunting kidnapping that happened in 2003 in Puerta Vallerta Mexico. The man, Andrew Luster, had 86 counts of rape and had fled the U.S. to hide out in Mexico with a fake name. Although The Dog is very famous in the U.S due to his A&E show "Dog the Bounty Hunter," bounty hunting in Mexico is illegal! When they finally caught Luster in a tourist night club, all four men were arrested. They then let Luster be released back to the states and the Dog and his two partners were stuck in the Mexican jail for 7 days straight. They eventually jumped their bail and returned to Hawaii.

Well after he thought the nightmare was over, U.S Marshalls pounded on their doors, the same way Chapman does in the show, and arrested him for "deprivation of liberty." In Mexico you can be sentenced for up to four years. The three men spent one night and prison and post their bail . Chaman's bail alone was $300,000. The other two men had a $100,000 bail. They are scheduled for an extradition in late November.

Last night when I was watching A&E there was a special on the family. It is put together rapidly, since he was only arrested less that a week ago. The family is being bombarded with hate because of his actions in Mexico, although I think he should be awarded for being the only one to find this rapist since he jumped his one million dollar bail. I was really shocked watching the show and seeing The Dog and his two men being arrested. It is quite ironic because while the men were in jail they said they saw some of the criminals they had arrested before. They also said that in jail, bounty hunters are not liked.

I'm a pack rat

2006-09-13T22:24:00.000-07:00

Well I sort of like to keep everything that has meaning to me. I still have my first book I learned to read somewhere hidden in the garage. With that I have every stuffed animal and barbie that reminds me of my fun childhood. My books from when I was little mean a lot to me so I will definetly have them until the time my children can read.

Although, the books I do have from highschool on I will probably find a way to chuck those. But in the end, I think it is important for our younger generations to see what our childhood was once like. I am not sure what will happen with our books in the future but if everything turns into the internet and media books, I will make sure to keep my old print versions.

With all of our new technology lately I am anticipating what the world's form of reading will be in the future. Some publishers today have their books for sale online and if you would like to print them you could do that for a lower price than the original version. Also there are many websites that enable you to read the books online in a PDF file, but this would hurt my eyes to sit and read and entire book from my computer screen. Everyone is accustomed to reading paper books rather than reading hypertext online and I think the majority of people feel the same way as me. I actually prefer spending the extra money and having the book in my hand to read wherever I want.

According to Mockingbird.com "this doesn't mean that we are going to be 100% "textually digital in a few years. Indeed, the next 20 to 50 years will ill be perhaps the most textually diverse period in the history of written communication. We are, essentially, in a world that values communication in hundreds of different forms--hence the "information explosion" that we have been experiencing in the last 20+ years.

Whatever the outcome might be in the times to come, I will make sure to show my children and their children what mommy's first book was! :)

How about a free show guys.....

2006-09-12T00:35:00.000-07:00

Now this sounds interesting right? Who wouldn't want to go check out a new band in town with a few friends. If there is nothing to do on a Friday a night and some friend suggest going to see a new band in a local club it might sound like a good idea. This is what I would do if I was in a band and did not have a record company, such as Warner or Sony BMG. Before there were any record companies, promotional tours were the number one way sell their records.

As well as not having a record company to distribute my cd's for the band, I would also have to do my own marketing and promotions and administrating.

I would first try and promote myself onine, maybe through myspace. There are over 1 million new users everyday and for free I could have my music played all day! This way I would become noticed and I could post my upcoming events online. Instead of charging fans to come into the show I would just have my record for sale there. As well as distributing my cd's for low cost at free shows, I would try to travel around to colleges or event centers around my area and play. This way more people would hear about my band and I would not need a record company to promote us. Before record companies were out to make a profit bands were doing fine and I think I could surrive now... just not make as much money with a record company. By having free shows I would miss out on ticket sales but this way people who are not familiar with my music would come without losing out on any money. If they liked my music then they could buy it and hopefully word of mouth would make me more popular.

Her Long Awaited Debut....

2006-09-05T21:34:00.000-07:00

While I was checking my Yahoo mail and my AOL mail today I saw many headlines about Katie Couric so I stopped to see the hype. The controversy about Couric's new postition on CBS has people wondering if she is going to be as good as Charles Gibson from ABC or Brian Williams on NBC.

Being on one of the top three news channels most Americans watch and being the only woman on nightly news, there is going to be some pressure on Couric I would assume. It is a little controversial and a big news topic because she was on NBC's Today show for 15 years, and now is working for CBS.

Something that people are probably talking about today and probably tomorrow is Couric had shown the first ever public pictures of Suri Cruise; the long awaited photos everyone has been waiting to see. But Why?? Anyways I was not too excited to see Tom and Katie's new baby pictures but was more curious as to how Katie Couric is going to do on the Evening News.

She came on this show with having always been in the number one ratings and now is currently at third in the CBS Evening News. She said this "could be liberating, offering a chance to try new things in a format she has called formulaic."

At the end of the show she caught my attention when she referred to previous anchormen and showed their final words such as Baxter and Rather and even aired Ron Burgandy from the comedy "Anchorman" which was quite funny for me. She invited viewers to go to the website and submit suggestions and feedback, just as we were talking about reviews in class today. This is a perfect example of how she can recieve feedback.

When the show was over she recieved a entire applause from the newsroom and champagne corks popped...Her face lit up with excitement. She was then approached with a martini in hand and chugged half before speaking.. You could tell she was ecstatic and everything ran smoothly! She joked, "I can't have too much because I have to interview the president tomorrow." The humor was nice for the end of her appearance.

Also I found online that she has a new blog 'Couric & Co' so for all you bloggers out there........Add her to your Blog Roll.

:)

Tom Cruise in the spotllight again?

2006-09-02T19:56:00.000-07:00

Is Tom Cruise really on the headlines again this week?

As if last weeks news wasnt enough- Cruise was fired from Paramount Pictures due to his Scientololgy beliefs....... Now this week the healine reads

"Shields says Cruise has Apologized." Well this was quite shocking to me because he had publicy embaressed her before about taking anti-depressents. Its so wrong for him to go on television and embaresses people and ridicule them for taking drugs... Not everyone is a Scientologist!

Plus if anti-depressents are the only way for Brooke Shields to feel better than fine. I think it was nice of Cruise to go to Shield's house and personally apologize for his rude comments. Now Shields say they are back to being friends and that his apology was actually sincere.

Well I'll be back to post more on Cruise in a few weeks the way he's going now..

Maybe he needs a new publicist and his image wouldnt be so badly portrayed lately.... ;)

What type of media consumer am I ?

2006-08-30T20:03:00.000-07:00

Well I watch a lot of television everyday and am on the computer every day!

So if I were to say what type of media consumer I am...it would be Television for sure!
I fall asleep with the tv on and sometime wake up with it on. It is actually quite annoying when I wake up in the middle of the night and I hear the tv on. So now I figured out the "sleep timer." This is like the best invention. I can fall asleep and my tv will shut off by itself.

Recently I figured out I love the Channel A&E. I have been watching so much of it! I love the show Intervention , Dog the Bounty Hunter and I love the crime solving documentaries.

While watching tv I am bombarded with tons of advertisements. In one sitting I can see anything from a new Gillette razor to the new Hyundai model. Throughout one day watch tv I probably see 40 ads. That is unbelievable! And truthfully I am probably suckered into buying at least one thing; which is not so good for my bank account. Later, I am usually dissapointed with the product when I see it does not work as well as the moaning actress on the commericial......ie: Herbal Essences.

So, overall I am definately a television media consumer to the fullest!

What does the Media do to Women??

2006-08-27T16:28:00.000-07:00

Does the media affect women today? Well to me I think it does.....

While flipping through the pages of Cosmopolitan magazine I notice the pretty models. The women are always sooo skinny! These models make other women feel insecure about their weight and begin to have eating disorders. I know that when I look through magazine advertisements I always notice how petite and underweight these women are and I wonder how they get like this. The media is always portraying women to be so skinny and perfect.

Not to mention the women usually that are photographed in magazines are airbrushed! There is no way anyone can be that perfect! Women who are insecure with their weight already always see these images and wonder if they too should look like this. Teenage girls who are growing up also see these bodies and want to get perfect abs and amazing hair like the women in the photographs have.

So do you think the media has an affect on women today? Are ads using unreal looking women for the products?
Maybe...
Maybe not.