Word Count: 149
In the most recent issue of Access Magazine there was an article entitled, "We're #1 (Most of the time)," that really caught my eye. The article compared health care, architecture, shopping, education, and body image here in the United States with those abroad. I always knew Europe had a better system to provide universal health care to its citizens, but I never knew exactly how it worked. The article poked fun at our falling behind other countries, some of which are considered third world countries in various areas. It was definitely interesting to think the same way as the author, and try to understand how we fall so short in providing services even though we are one of the richest countries in the world. Although the article was rather short it did provide some what of an idea about our country and just where it stands along side others.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Blog #4
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30 a.m.
Blog #4
Word Count: 259
MCom 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30 a.m.
Blog #4
Word Count: 259
Walking through the Journalism and Mass Communications building, you can see several posters, flyers, bulletins, etc. The topics range from classes to photography from the students, yet all of these make me wonder, "How can I go about doing that?" There are large posters with three covers for the magazine "American" or something to that effect, pinned up all over the walls of the building. Once I looked at the covers for a bit I realized that I actually knew one of the models on the front cover. The Mormon outfit and greased hair threw me off a bit, but yes, it was him, I was sure. Then a rush of jealousy overcame me. How did he land this role? I would like to be photographed for a magazine. Then I stepped back even more so, and asked myself what this magazine was all about. This new magazine didn't have much copy on it to explain the niche this publication was aimed toward. Then I noticed the words saying something like, "I am an American." "Don't judge based on religion." "Don't judge based on orientatation." I could be completely wrong about these titles but the overall effect left me curious. Was this a magazine about squashing stereotypical associations through race, sexuality, religion, etc.? That would be a first. I left the hallways wondering what was in store for that magazine, and trying to remind myself to look into that later on. SJSU is definitely touching upon some delicate issues here and I’m looking forward to the publication release date.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
In Class- Focus Story Structure Lead
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30 a.m.
In class assignment- Focus Story Structure Lead
Word count: 170
After giving birth to a baby, Lillian Garland expected to return to her job at California Savings and Loan, but instead was met with a pink slip. After being granted pregnancy leave, upon her return to work she was denied her job back and decided to fight back.
This is a problem that many women who decide to start a family during their career are facing in todays world.
Under California state law, employers are required to grant paid maternity leave for up to four months and to guarantee their original job back upon their return.
Garland's legal case reached the Supreme Court before finding an answer. It took her five years to settle the matter, but the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state law, granting her job back.
This issue is a growing problem for women in the working world and must be settled once and for all. Women should not be afraid to lose their job if they choose to start a family during their career.
MCom 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30 a.m.
In class assignment- Focus Story Structure Lead
Word count: 170
After giving birth to a baby, Lillian Garland expected to return to her job at California Savings and Loan, but instead was met with a pink slip. After being granted pregnancy leave, upon her return to work she was denied her job back and decided to fight back.
This is a problem that many women who decide to start a family during their career are facing in todays world.
Under California state law, employers are required to grant paid maternity leave for up to four months and to guarantee their original job back upon their return.
Garland's legal case reached the Supreme Court before finding an answer. It took her five years to settle the matter, but the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state law, granting her job back.
This issue is a growing problem for women in the working world and must be settled once and for all. Women should not be afraid to lose their job if they choose to start a family during their career.
Extra credit #2 - News Opinion Piece
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30 a.m.
Extra Credit- Newspaper Opinion Piece
Word Count: 426
“Growth is California’s No. 1 problem,” Dianne Feinstein said a few years ago in response to the outrageous numbers of immigrants pouring into this state every year.
She could not have said it better.
California is a wonderful state, only because we have the means to preserve it and keep our own economy afloat. If anyone has been paying attention to the budget deficit plaguing this state, we clearly do not even have the substantial amount of money currently to keep even our California state school system growing and flourishing. Cuts are being made everywhere and many jobs are on the chopping block.
In the article, “Infinite Ingress,” it was estimated that the growth of California can reach 60 million people in the next 36 years.
That is an unacceptable answer.
Will the residents here be forced to live like animals, in tall apartment complexes, hundreds of people compacted into small square-footed buildings? And with the threat of earthquakes here, that is a dangerous idea.
The positives that come out of having illegal immigrants here do not outweigh the overall costs to the rest of the citizens here. The costs these immigrants provide on our state’s social welfare benefits and the overall poverty they add to the state levels greatly affect everyone in a negative way.
Barack Obama believes the government should issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrant. I don’t know if that is a good idea. Being able to drive legally is a privilege here in the United States, and I can see it offending many citizens to see the government so freely give out state licenses. On the other hand, if the immigrants are here to work, they will probably buy a car anyway and drive around illegally regardless of the law. That is a tricky situation and definitely is frustrating as well.
Obama also supports the building of a giant fence to separate Mexico from the U.S. That idea won’t fly very well I think, as it looks like we are clearly trying to separate ourselves from them and do not want anyone else attempting to cross the border. Exclusivity I feel like never settles well among countries.
Either way, something must be done with the extreme influx of illegal immigrants here in California. They use our resources the tax payers are funding, and it is really making the citizens angry. Hopefully this issue can be resolved and the state can be united in our future immigration policy.
MCom 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30 a.m.
Extra Credit- Newspaper Opinion Piece
Word Count: 426
“Growth is California’s No. 1 problem,” Dianne Feinstein said a few years ago in response to the outrageous numbers of immigrants pouring into this state every year.
She could not have said it better.
California is a wonderful state, only because we have the means to preserve it and keep our own economy afloat. If anyone has been paying attention to the budget deficit plaguing this state, we clearly do not even have the substantial amount of money currently to keep even our California state school system growing and flourishing. Cuts are being made everywhere and many jobs are on the chopping block.
In the article, “Infinite Ingress,” it was estimated that the growth of California can reach 60 million people in the next 36 years.
That is an unacceptable answer.
Will the residents here be forced to live like animals, in tall apartment complexes, hundreds of people compacted into small square-footed buildings? And with the threat of earthquakes here, that is a dangerous idea.
The positives that come out of having illegal immigrants here do not outweigh the overall costs to the rest of the citizens here. The costs these immigrants provide on our state’s social welfare benefits and the overall poverty they add to the state levels greatly affect everyone in a negative way.
Barack Obama believes the government should issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrant. I don’t know if that is a good idea. Being able to drive legally is a privilege here in the United States, and I can see it offending many citizens to see the government so freely give out state licenses. On the other hand, if the immigrants are here to work, they will probably buy a car anyway and drive around illegally regardless of the law. That is a tricky situation and definitely is frustrating as well.
Obama also supports the building of a giant fence to separate Mexico from the U.S. That idea won’t fly very well I think, as it looks like we are clearly trying to separate ourselves from them and do not want anyone else attempting to cross the border. Exclusivity I feel like never settles well among countries.
Either way, something must be done with the extreme influx of illegal immigrants here in California. They use our resources the tax payers are funding, and it is really making the citizens angry. Hopefully this issue can be resolved and the state can be united in our future immigration policy.
Extra Credit Obituary
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30 a.m.
Extra Credit- Personal Obituary
Word Count: 319
Suzzette Medina was born in Lima, Peru on Jan. 31, 1987 and has not stopped smiling and changing the lives of those she loves until she reached the grand old age of 120. It was always a goal of hers to become one of the oldest women alive, and she proudly accepted her $1,000,000 prize from the Guiness Book of World Records for accomplishing this impressive feat while still looking, feeling, and acting like a youthful 50-year-old. Suzzette was always a giver, and continued donating what she could all the way until her final days, when she wrote her final check for the American Diabetes Association for a substantial amount in memory of her father who passed away from this debilitating disease years earlier. Suzzette has created several foundations in conjunction with her college sorority, Delta Gamma, to assist the visually impaired over the years. Her contribution to her college sorority was admired many times by the organization nationally and has displayed her undying dedication to the elements in her life she truly cares for. Suzzette has spent countless hours of her days volunteering wherever she could and sponsoring impoverished children overseas. She returned to Peru and spent a few years there renovating some buildings that were deteriorating and assisted the capital, Lima, in rejuvenating the city. Thanks to her efforts, the city now draws in the highest amount of tourists in over a hundred years. Recently her husband of ninety-five years passed away, and she has spent her last remaining years in the company of her large and loving family. She leaves behind five children, sixteen grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren, eighteen great, great grandchildren, and two great, great, great, grandchildren. She remains very close with each and every one of them, and will forever be greatly loved, admired, and missed by her whole family.
MCom 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30 a.m.
Extra Credit- Personal Obituary
Word Count: 319
Suzzette Medina was born in Lima, Peru on Jan. 31, 1987 and has not stopped smiling and changing the lives of those she loves until she reached the grand old age of 120. It was always a goal of hers to become one of the oldest women alive, and she proudly accepted her $1,000,000 prize from the Guiness Book of World Records for accomplishing this impressive feat while still looking, feeling, and acting like a youthful 50-year-old. Suzzette was always a giver, and continued donating what she could all the way until her final days, when she wrote her final check for the American Diabetes Association for a substantial amount in memory of her father who passed away from this debilitating disease years earlier. Suzzette has created several foundations in conjunction with her college sorority, Delta Gamma, to assist the visually impaired over the years. Her contribution to her college sorority was admired many times by the organization nationally and has displayed her undying dedication to the elements in her life she truly cares for. Suzzette has spent countless hours of her days volunteering wherever she could and sponsoring impoverished children overseas. She returned to Peru and spent a few years there renovating some buildings that were deteriorating and assisted the capital, Lima, in rejuvenating the city. Thanks to her efforts, the city now draws in the highest amount of tourists in over a hundred years. Recently her husband of ninety-five years passed away, and she has spent her last remaining years in the company of her large and loving family. She leaves behind five children, sixteen grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren, eighteen great, great grandchildren, and two great, great, great, grandchildren. She remains very close with each and every one of them, and will forever be greatly loved, admired, and missed by her whole family.
Japanese Internment Memorial
Suzzette Medina
MCOM 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30 a.m.
Japanese Internment Camp
Word Count: 685
The Japanese Internment Memorial located in San Jose was a very impressive collection of art and history that greatly relived the feelings and struggles of the detainees during their years of internment. It is a bit unsettling to know that the entire Japanese population here in California was removed from their homes and forcibly placed into different camps throughout their years in captivity. The two camps called Manzanar and Tule Lake are just a driving distance away from San Jose, and create an eerie sense of closeness and direct connection to home here. San Jose State actually served as a location where the Japanese population could register for these interment camps; specifically Yoshihiro Hall was the prime location of these registrations. The anti-Japanese movement clearly hit home, and affected everyone in majorly the west coast after Pearl Harbor, approximately 110,000 people to be exact.
One of the most compelling vignettes that immediately caught my attention and also sent chills down my spine was the barbed wire that circled around the memorial, hovering above the various other scenes of life during the time. The wire so predominantly takes over the upper portion of the artwork and actually serves to instill the same fear and hostility of the situation to the viewers. The barbed wire provided a very threatening quality to the memorial and created a feeling of being trapped and isolated from the rest of the world. Especially because this particular element also wrapped around the artwork, like it would an internment camp, is really hit home when looking and observing the overall effect of the piece. There was also a paper airplane that was folded and flying right along side of the barbed wire. Imagine the small children that were playing around and enjoying themselves during such trying times. Seeing a playful symbol like a paper airplane right along side a hostile symbol like barbed wire was a very powerful decision of Ruth Asawa, and greatly helped the viewers understand life inside the internment camps.
Also, going along with the barbed wire I also focused on the large tower that overtook the attention on one side of the memorial. The army personnel were climbing or already located at the top of this enormous tower, armed and ready to shoot the population for whatever they seemed legitimate. This was also a very moving scene because of the plain threatening and dangerous nature of the tower. One would think the country was at war right in that very camp, with armed soldier aiming to assassinate the enemy.
Another vignette I paid close attention to was the scene of the family sadly having to burn their possessions prior to their imprisonment outside of their home. Their need to destroy any additional evidence of their ancestry was a very sad scene to see. The two older men were burning what appeared to be a vase of some sort, a sword, and a child’s small doll. The poor little girl was crying and trying to rush and grab her toy while her parents were holding her back. Her arms were extended out to the fire with all force. It was very upsetting to imagine the desperation and sadness of the family. Also, the mother had her hands over her faces, she was probably sobbing due to the unfortunate situation as well. This scene in particular was very upsetting because artifacts of ones ancestry should be treasured, valued, and passed onto future generations. It is a shame that so many beautiful pieces of art and history had to be destroyed because of the internment camps.
Overall the field trip to the memorial was very enlightening and a bit saddening at the same time. California defiantly has a dark past with regards to the Japanese interment camps, and San Jose State University is not excluded from this. The country panicked after Pearl Harbor and acted hysterically and without merit. It is unfortunate this imprisonment occurred, as so many lives, memories, and bits of history were lost in the process.
MCOM 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30 a.m.
Japanese Internment Camp
Word Count: 685
The Japanese Internment Memorial located in San Jose was a very impressive collection of art and history that greatly relived the feelings and struggles of the detainees during their years of internment. It is a bit unsettling to know that the entire Japanese population here in California was removed from their homes and forcibly placed into different camps throughout their years in captivity. The two camps called Manzanar and Tule Lake are just a driving distance away from San Jose, and create an eerie sense of closeness and direct connection to home here. San Jose State actually served as a location where the Japanese population could register for these interment camps; specifically Yoshihiro Hall was the prime location of these registrations. The anti-Japanese movement clearly hit home, and affected everyone in majorly the west coast after Pearl Harbor, approximately 110,000 people to be exact.
One of the most compelling vignettes that immediately caught my attention and also sent chills down my spine was the barbed wire that circled around the memorial, hovering above the various other scenes of life during the time. The wire so predominantly takes over the upper portion of the artwork and actually serves to instill the same fear and hostility of the situation to the viewers. The barbed wire provided a very threatening quality to the memorial and created a feeling of being trapped and isolated from the rest of the world. Especially because this particular element also wrapped around the artwork, like it would an internment camp, is really hit home when looking and observing the overall effect of the piece. There was also a paper airplane that was folded and flying right along side of the barbed wire. Imagine the small children that were playing around and enjoying themselves during such trying times. Seeing a playful symbol like a paper airplane right along side a hostile symbol like barbed wire was a very powerful decision of Ruth Asawa, and greatly helped the viewers understand life inside the internment camps.
Also, going along with the barbed wire I also focused on the large tower that overtook the attention on one side of the memorial. The army personnel were climbing or already located at the top of this enormous tower, armed and ready to shoot the population for whatever they seemed legitimate. This was also a very moving scene because of the plain threatening and dangerous nature of the tower. One would think the country was at war right in that very camp, with armed soldier aiming to assassinate the enemy.
Another vignette I paid close attention to was the scene of the family sadly having to burn their possessions prior to their imprisonment outside of their home. Their need to destroy any additional evidence of their ancestry was a very sad scene to see. The two older men were burning what appeared to be a vase of some sort, a sword, and a child’s small doll. The poor little girl was crying and trying to rush and grab her toy while her parents were holding her back. Her arms were extended out to the fire with all force. It was very upsetting to imagine the desperation and sadness of the family. Also, the mother had her hands over her faces, she was probably sobbing due to the unfortunate situation as well. This scene in particular was very upsetting because artifacts of ones ancestry should be treasured, valued, and passed onto future generations. It is a shame that so many beautiful pieces of art and history had to be destroyed because of the internment camps.
Overall the field trip to the memorial was very enlightening and a bit saddening at the same time. California defiantly has a dark past with regards to the Japanese interment camps, and San Jose State University is not excluded from this. The country panicked after Pearl Harbor and acted hysterically and without merit. It is unfortunate this imprisonment occurred, as so many lives, memories, and bits of history were lost in the process.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Blog Post #3
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30 a.m.
Blog Post #3
Word Count: 874
Reading We The Media by Dan Gillmore online was very enlightening as I never truly understood how the internet and all of it components found its way into existence. I liked the flow of the chapter in which he described more or less in a historical time line events that shaped the internet and media in general into what we see it as today. Gillmore wrote about Hearst’ yellow journalism tactics and how in the past, stories would only be deemed newsworthy by the catchy phrase, “If it bleeds, it leads.” Gillmore seems to be very wise regarding information about different media, I agreed with several of his statements through out the chapters.
As Gillmore jumped into radio, it was interesting to think of talk radio also as an innovator in the world of audience involvement in the creation of information. For the first time, the audience could call in and add to the content of the radio and not only listen passively.
It was shocking to learn that the initial spreading of knowledge regarding the SARS disease was by SMS. Sending messages through phones was the initial way the public was informed of the situation! I cannot believe that the Chinese government wanted to not leak information out to the world. I agree with Gillmore that although big companies can attempt to control the audience and censor what we say, over the internet, the public cannot be silenced, and especially should not be ignored. An example of this would be the Microsoft/ Macintosh situation that sparked angry bloggers to protest a phony post.
Then hearing about all the weblogs that began popping up and the affects that came from their creation and support was surprising. McDonalds actually sued people who were creating negative publicity about the company. Although the company won the legal battle, they absolutely lost the public opinion battle as even people supporting the defendants sprang up.
I agree with Gillmore that the world would have been a much different place if we had the types of technology we do now in place in the past. Imagining the 9/11 attacks with even more graphics and recordings thanks to technology that would have been more wide spread a few years ago is shocking.
Regarding the “hackers” of today that take a product and manipulate it fix the problems that exist, Gillmore stated that large companies should not dislike or be threatened by smart consumers. When they tamper with a product and create something better, the company should simply say thank you. Trying to outlaw hacking and whatnot will not only produce negative feedback from consumers, but could hinder the development of a product. I completely agree with Gillmore regarding this idea as well. Be thankful of the consumers who are smarter than your developers.
Gillmore also spoke about the positives and negatives regarding the idea of constantly being under surveillance by the media, regular citizens, etc. In the case of Rodney King media and the surveillance by a citizen ended up being positive. He supposed it would hinder police malpractice. But at the same time, there is a bit of negatives that go along with that. With every hand held camera phone or recording device there are people who will use this at inappropriate times. Perhaps it is in the locker room, or dressing room of a store, etc. I agree with Gillmore in these cautionary words. Along with these developing technologies one must be responsible to ensure these new developments are not abused.
It was surprising to hear some of Dan Gilmore’s thoughts about corporate blogs and whether or not CEO’s and executives should be writing and responding to the concerns of the public. I agree with his list of rules that writers must follow in order to maintain a successful blog. I liked the part where he said to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. I would think this would be a difficult task for corporations to achieve, but it is a nice standard one would hope writers would follow. I also agree with the idea that trust is necessary for your listeners. It is definitely a good idea to link to a website or blog where they say negative things about you or your company and respond to it, instead of acting like it doesn’t exist. I liked when he mentioned that the public WILL find out anyway, so it is better to address it yourself, politely. I also thought it was impressive to read that a p0litical blog was able to raise over $80,000 for a campaign just through countless of small mostly $20 donations across the nation. It is interesting to see how one blog can reach a niche market and create a lot of support through that. I did disagree with something Gilmore mentioned in the sixth chapter about how professors or dean’s are not always as open to new technologies and keeping up with the times for the students with regard to this class! Our professor is much more knowledgeable than the students about new technology in the world. I laughed when I read Gilmore’s thoughts about that. Overall, I agree with Gilmore’s thoughts about new technology and the audiences that follow it.
MCom 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30 a.m.
Blog Post #3
Word Count: 874
Reading We The Media by Dan Gillmore online was very enlightening as I never truly understood how the internet and all of it components found its way into existence. I liked the flow of the chapter in which he described more or less in a historical time line events that shaped the internet and media in general into what we see it as today. Gillmore wrote about Hearst’ yellow journalism tactics and how in the past, stories would only be deemed newsworthy by the catchy phrase, “If it bleeds, it leads.” Gillmore seems to be very wise regarding information about different media, I agreed with several of his statements through out the chapters.
As Gillmore jumped into radio, it was interesting to think of talk radio also as an innovator in the world of audience involvement in the creation of information. For the first time, the audience could call in and add to the content of the radio and not only listen passively.
It was shocking to learn that the initial spreading of knowledge regarding the SARS disease was by SMS. Sending messages through phones was the initial way the public was informed of the situation! I cannot believe that the Chinese government wanted to not leak information out to the world. I agree with Gillmore that although big companies can attempt to control the audience and censor what we say, over the internet, the public cannot be silenced, and especially should not be ignored. An example of this would be the Microsoft/ Macintosh situation that sparked angry bloggers to protest a phony post.
Then hearing about all the weblogs that began popping up and the affects that came from their creation and support was surprising. McDonalds actually sued people who were creating negative publicity about the company. Although the company won the legal battle, they absolutely lost the public opinion battle as even people supporting the defendants sprang up.
I agree with Gillmore that the world would have been a much different place if we had the types of technology we do now in place in the past. Imagining the 9/11 attacks with even more graphics and recordings thanks to technology that would have been more wide spread a few years ago is shocking.
Regarding the “hackers” of today that take a product and manipulate it fix the problems that exist, Gillmore stated that large companies should not dislike or be threatened by smart consumers. When they tamper with a product and create something better, the company should simply say thank you. Trying to outlaw hacking and whatnot will not only produce negative feedback from consumers, but could hinder the development of a product. I completely agree with Gillmore regarding this idea as well. Be thankful of the consumers who are smarter than your developers.
Gillmore also spoke about the positives and negatives regarding the idea of constantly being under surveillance by the media, regular citizens, etc. In the case of Rodney King media and the surveillance by a citizen ended up being positive. He supposed it would hinder police malpractice. But at the same time, there is a bit of negatives that go along with that. With every hand held camera phone or recording device there are people who will use this at inappropriate times. Perhaps it is in the locker room, or dressing room of a store, etc. I agree with Gillmore in these cautionary words. Along with these developing technologies one must be responsible to ensure these new developments are not abused.
It was surprising to hear some of Dan Gilmore’s thoughts about corporate blogs and whether or not CEO’s and executives should be writing and responding to the concerns of the public. I agree with his list of rules that writers must follow in order to maintain a successful blog. I liked the part where he said to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. I would think this would be a difficult task for corporations to achieve, but it is a nice standard one would hope writers would follow. I also agree with the idea that trust is necessary for your listeners. It is definitely a good idea to link to a website or blog where they say negative things about you or your company and respond to it, instead of acting like it doesn’t exist. I liked when he mentioned that the public WILL find out anyway, so it is better to address it yourself, politely. I also thought it was impressive to read that a p0litical blog was able to raise over $80,000 for a campaign just through countless of small mostly $20 donations across the nation. It is interesting to see how one blog can reach a niche market and create a lot of support through that. I did disagree with something Gilmore mentioned in the sixth chapter about how professors or dean’s are not always as open to new technologies and keeping up with the times for the students with regard to this class! Our professor is much more knowledgeable than the students about new technology in the world. I laughed when I read Gilmore’s thoughts about that. Overall, I agree with Gilmore’s thoughts about new technology and the audiences that follow it.
Coffee Shop Assignment
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100W- Tu/Th 10:30 a.m.
Coffee Shop Assignment
Word Count: 237
It is about twelve o’clock at the café strategically placed within the Martin Luther King Jr. Library. The swarms of students, faculty, and employees begin to fill the line at the cashier, ready to devour their lunches before the next class. The straight, compacted line grew so long it mirrored the massive crowd one would find at “$0.50 wing night” at the local Cluck University.
The fire marshal’s maximum capacity sign may have met its match today as the massive number of backpacking students blocked all clear passage ways in and out of the café.
A fire hazard for sure.
The sounds that overwhelm the thoughts were filled with shallow meaningless chatter, coins bouncing off counters and registers, the foaming and steaming of the espresso machine, the rustling of bags of chips, and the almost non-existent background music the speaker system played.
This droning racket continued on in a steady stream, occasionally being broken up by the extra loud customer, or the banging of a few big boxes being unloaded in the back.
The tables on one side of the café were adorned with very luxurious and voluminous floral arrangements displaying the blue and gold school colors. The small plastic vase looked a bit pitiful wobbling on one edge of the square tan tables. This paper-weight of vase was greatly in need of a cleaning.
MCom 100W- Tu/Th 10:30 a.m.
Coffee Shop Assignment
Word Count: 237
It is about twelve o’clock at the café strategically placed within the Martin Luther King Jr. Library. The swarms of students, faculty, and employees begin to fill the line at the cashier, ready to devour their lunches before the next class. The straight, compacted line grew so long it mirrored the massive crowd one would find at “$0.50 wing night” at the local Cluck University.
The fire marshal’s maximum capacity sign may have met its match today as the massive number of backpacking students blocked all clear passage ways in and out of the café.
A fire hazard for sure.
The sounds that overwhelm the thoughts were filled with shallow meaningless chatter, coins bouncing off counters and registers, the foaming and steaming of the espresso machine, the rustling of bags of chips, and the almost non-existent background music the speaker system played.
This droning racket continued on in a steady stream, occasionally being broken up by the extra loud customer, or the banging of a few big boxes being unloaded in the back.
The tables on one side of the café were adorned with very luxurious and voluminous floral arrangements displaying the blue and gold school colors. The small plastic vase looked a bit pitiful wobbling on one edge of the square tan tables. This paper-weight of vase was greatly in need of a cleaning.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Blog Post #2: Woman Stuck On Toilet
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30 a.m.
Blog Post #2
Word Count: 269
According to the article, “Woman had phobia of leaving bathroom,” a thirty year-old mentally disabled woman was checked into the hospital after refusing to leave the bathroom for years. When I first heard this, I will be honest, I laughed out loud because it sounds so ridiculous. But after reading the article and hearing about the story over the news, I felt pity for both parties. Her boyfriend may be charged for the mishandling of a dependent adult, although I think he was trying to help her more than anything. He clearly cared for her; he was bringing her food and water into the bathroom for her. It is true that the authorities needed to be called much earlier, but it situation is strange and may not require a guilty party. The part of the article that shocked me was that the poor woman was not glued or tied to the toilet; her body had literally molded onto the seat cover and had open wounds on her legs. I didn’t know skin could begin to attach to another object simply after prolonged exposure. I believe this story gained so much attention because it is so unusual and ridiculous; it is more entertainment than valued news. Is this story newsworthy? Yes, but I believe for the wrong reasons. It has come to make me feel just terrible about the whole situation, the public who wants more juicy information, the poor boyfriend who may go to jail, and the woman who now may end up in a wheelchair. All aspects of this article are sad, but I’ll admit, it’s entertaining nonetheless.
Here is a link to the actual article I found on MSNBC.com
Blog Post #1: Redo, Spartan Daily Coverage
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30 a.m.
Blog Post #1- Redo
Word Count: 309
MCom 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30 a.m.
Blog Post #1- Redo
Word Count: 309
The Spartan Daily has dedicated several daily publications in the past three months to try to keep the students and staff alerted of the blood drive ban on campus. There have been plain informational articles written as well as the positive and negative opinions of students published in recent months. Overall, it appears as though the students are against this ban on blood drives on campus and are searching for explanations for the absence. The explanation the paper is giving us is this: the FDA has a national policy denying acceptance of blood from homosexuals. This rule clashes with our campus’ policy of nondiscrimination, and hosting an “anti-homosexual” blood drive would cause controversy and violate our personal policy. Does this mean that all blood from homosexuals is tainted? What makes this blood any more dangerous or more contaminated than someone else’s blood? I am assuming this policy stems from the idea that a higher rate of AIDS and other STDs are present in homosexuals than their straight counterparts. This would be a rather large and questionable assumption. Don’t straight people participate in all the same activities that are stereotypically associated with homosexuality: needle use, anal sex, etc.? Well, perhaps the research and data backing up the FDA’s policy is right and true. Who knows? I surely don’t, but something about the whole situation doesn’t quite sit well with me. I suggest accepting blood donations from those who are believed to be disease-free (straight or gay), and then testing the blood to be completely sure before distributing. Either way, the Spartan has done a tremendous job spreading the knowledge behind this very public situation between SJSU,
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Individual Blog Post #1
Lately, I have been avoiding work. I find myself trying to spend my day relaxing, watching a movie, eating, or preferably sleeping. Now, I don't quite know the financial situation of other students on campus, but I pay my way through school entirely on my own. Yes everyone, this is true. I pay for my: tuition, car payments, books, care insurance, cell phone bill, credit card bills, and I even help my parents with some medical expenses every month as well. I do all this, with one job that I go to maybe three or four times a week.
I'm a server at the Cheesecake Factory and aside from the occasion stress that goes hand in hand with the service industry, I really like my job. I work with fun people who have become my close friends. I make great tips at the end of each night. And I could say, I am pretty darn good at what I do. Now why do I find myself hiding from work and regularly giving all my shifts away?
It's this hectic school schedule I have that is tearing me down and making me just want to crawl into bed and rest all day long. I spend long hours studying, working, filling out papers, etc. It is all very time consuming as well as energy consuming too.
I'm so busy I don't even have time to go to the mall and spend my hundred dollar gift card I received for my birthday three months ago! The old me would've spent every penny on the card within the first weekend. Does this mean I am a shell of my old self, no energy left to do what I loved most, shopping?
Thankfully the semester is almost over and I only have a few more weeks to endure. Procrastination is my enemy and I'm fearful it will overtake me toward the end of the semester. Perhaps writing my individual blog post here will force me to realize I can still change my procrastinating ways before it's too late. Maybe here i can make a pact with myself to avoid those all night cramming sessions college students love so dearly.
Either way, my individual blog post has turned into more of an individual rant about school and homework. Hopefully this still wins me credit as this was the only topic on my mind at the time. All I could think of while I was writing this post was how much school "sucked," at least at this very moment in time. School can really take its toll on a young girl's social life, and apparently, her mind too!Monday, March 31, 2008
Drinking Coffee Elsewhere
After reading the chapter titled, "Every Tongue Shall Confess," I realized how quickly and smoothly the reading went and had an urge to continue on. The style of writing and description used was entertaining and alternating as to not bore me.
When she wrote about the Clareese's encounter with Deacon McCreedy where he, for lack of a better word, molested her, it appeared as if the words were coming straight from the character's mind. It seemed like, as the character remembered the event, she spoke about it, changing it drastically as new information returned to her memory. I suppose the word choice was most descriptive and her use of the phrase, "wriggling around inside" made me a little sick.
I enjoyed the metaphor she used in which she describes her uterus as having the shape of Texas. Her monthly period acting like the Rio Grande emptying out into the Gulf was really funny to read.
I also enjoyed when she described the reaction of the audience in her church as the pastor was preaching. She described the women as waving their hands around as if stumbling the dark. That description basically painted the scene in my mind, and made it so easy to imagine.
The quotes she used, especially when she described the phone call between Clareese and Cleophus was very helpful in understanding the actions and perhaps what Cleophus was thinking behind his rude comments.
After reading her techniques I learned several different fun ways to write, especially because I worry that my writing becomes a bit monotone and boring. Varying between short and long sentences makes the writing more fresh and interesting.
When she wrote about the Clareese's encounter with Deacon McCreedy where he, for lack of a better word, molested her, it appeared as if the words were coming straight from the character's mind. It seemed like, as the character remembered the event, she spoke about it, changing it drastically as new information returned to her memory. I suppose the word choice was most descriptive and her use of the phrase, "wriggling around inside" made me a little sick.
I enjoyed the metaphor she used in which she describes her uterus as having the shape of Texas. Her monthly period acting like the Rio Grande emptying out into the Gulf was really funny to read.
I also enjoyed when she described the reaction of the audience in her church as the pastor was preaching. She described the women as waving their hands around as if stumbling the dark. That description basically painted the scene in my mind, and made it so easy to imagine.
The quotes she used, especially when she described the phone call between Clareese and Cleophus was very helpful in understanding the actions and perhaps what Cleophus was thinking behind his rude comments.
After reading her techniques I learned several different fun ways to write, especially because I worry that my writing becomes a bit monotone and boring. Varying between short and long sentences makes the writing more fresh and interesting.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Word of the Week #8
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100w- Tu/Th 10:30 a.m.
Word of the Week #8
Sojourn
Source: "Dictionary.com" word of the day archive
How it was used: "Yet he is now an accomplished student and speaker of English, a literary editor and television producer, someone who has sojourned in Paris and attended the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa in Iowa City."
Definition: Sojourn
intransitive verb
1. To stay as a temporary resident; To dwell for a time.
noun
1. A temporary stay.
My sentence: When Maria found out that her ex-boyfriend could no longer afford his apartment, she let him sojourn in her house until he got back on his feet.
MCom 100w- Tu/Th 10:30 a.m.
Word of the Week #8
Sojourn
Source: "Dictionary.com" word of the day archive
How it was used: "Yet he is now an accomplished student and speaker of English, a literary editor and television producer, someone who has sojourned in Paris and attended the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa in Iowa City."
Definition: Sojourn
intransitive verb
1. To stay as a temporary resident; To dwell for a time.
noun
1. A temporary stay.
My sentence: When Maria found out that her ex-boyfriend could no longer afford his apartment, she let him sojourn in her house until he got back on his feet.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
NPR Radio Interview Analysis
Suzzette Medina
MCom100w- Tu/Th 10:30 a.m.
NPR- Radio Interview Analysis
Word Count: 512
After listening to almost an hour of a radio interview of Sheryl Crow, it is quite clear that Terry Gross is a talented and personable interviewer. She was able to lead the conversation and make sure Sheryl discussed topics that were most important and influential to her music.
Terry clearly had done her homework prior to the interview with Sheryl Crow. She knew about certain events in Sheryl’s adolescence that dated back to her high school days. Terry also was familiar with the timeline of Sheryl’s life recently regarding her relationship with Lance Armstrong, her breast cancer battle, and the adoption of her son Wyatt. Terry also knew about the history of Sheryl’s career and the hidden meanings behind some songs and albums. She used the knowledge she had through research to spark questions and keep the conversation flowing. Also, because Terry had such a strong understanding of Sheryl’s past, it seemed easier to have a more personal conversation between the two. Her knowledge allowed Sheryl to open up on a deeper level and speak about more personal issues in her life. There was no need to discuss the statistics about her background or other superficial data.
Terry asked mostly open-ended questions to encourage Sheryl to answer in a more complete and detailed way. She began several questions with words like “how” and “why” to spark up a discussion and avoid receiving simple yes or no answers. Terry asked questions like, “So you had an album and chose not to release it, why?” The questions that were asked mostly were aimed to get Sheryl talking about her personal struggles, experiences, and lessons in relation to her music.
Some questions were built upon from other previous questions and developed along with the types of answers given. When Terry asked about cheer leading in high school, Sheryl corrected her by saying she twirled the baton instead. From there Terry went off her answer and asked how she learned to twirl and if she ever performed on stage.
The interviewer did not seem to have an apparent strategy other than to nudge Sheryl to answer more personally and in depth if she ended with short or superficial answers. If an answer was not satisfactory, Terry would ask about specific events and people to dig deeper. Terry occasionally had to ask Sheryl to elaborate on her answer when she found herself with less than adequate information.
The relationship between Terry and Sheryl seemed almost personal and quite friendly. The types of issues they talked about and how sincere and easily Sheryl spoke about her personal life, made it seem like the two were quite close.
From this interview I learned that it is very helpful and plainly essential to have a set of questions and a background of the interviewee prior to meeting. This way, the interviewee knows that you have a bit of knowledge about their background and can talk about deeper, intimate, and ultimately more interesting things. I learned how to politely ask for more information from an interviewee if their answer was not sufficient.
MCom100w- Tu/Th 10:30 a.m.
NPR- Radio Interview Analysis
Word Count: 512
After listening to almost an hour of a radio interview of Sheryl Crow, it is quite clear that Terry Gross is a talented and personable interviewer. She was able to lead the conversation and make sure Sheryl discussed topics that were most important and influential to her music.
Terry clearly had done her homework prior to the interview with Sheryl Crow. She knew about certain events in Sheryl’s adolescence that dated back to her high school days. Terry also was familiar with the timeline of Sheryl’s life recently regarding her relationship with Lance Armstrong, her breast cancer battle, and the adoption of her son Wyatt. Terry also knew about the history of Sheryl’s career and the hidden meanings behind some songs and albums. She used the knowledge she had through research to spark questions and keep the conversation flowing. Also, because Terry had such a strong understanding of Sheryl’s past, it seemed easier to have a more personal conversation between the two. Her knowledge allowed Sheryl to open up on a deeper level and speak about more personal issues in her life. There was no need to discuss the statistics about her background or other superficial data.
Terry asked mostly open-ended questions to encourage Sheryl to answer in a more complete and detailed way. She began several questions with words like “how” and “why” to spark up a discussion and avoid receiving simple yes or no answers. Terry asked questions like, “So you had an album and chose not to release it, why?” The questions that were asked mostly were aimed to get Sheryl talking about her personal struggles, experiences, and lessons in relation to her music.
Some questions were built upon from other previous questions and developed along with the types of answers given. When Terry asked about cheer leading in high school, Sheryl corrected her by saying she twirled the baton instead. From there Terry went off her answer and asked how she learned to twirl and if she ever performed on stage.
The interviewer did not seem to have an apparent strategy other than to nudge Sheryl to answer more personally and in depth if she ended with short or superficial answers. If an answer was not satisfactory, Terry would ask about specific events and people to dig deeper. Terry occasionally had to ask Sheryl to elaborate on her answer when she found herself with less than adequate information.
The relationship between Terry and Sheryl seemed almost personal and quite friendly. The types of issues they talked about and how sincere and easily Sheryl spoke about her personal life, made it seem like the two were quite close.
From this interview I learned that it is very helpful and plainly essential to have a set of questions and a background of the interviewee prior to meeting. This way, the interviewee knows that you have a bit of knowledge about their background and can talk about deeper, intimate, and ultimately more interesting things. I learned how to politely ask for more information from an interviewee if their answer was not sufficient.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Word of the Week #7
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100w 10:30 a.m.
Word of the Week #7
Capacious
Source: "Dictionary.com" word of the day archive
How it was used: "Is it worth pointing out that the boot seems remarkably capacious for a little car?"
Definition: adjective
1. Capable of holding much, spacious or roomy.
My Sentence: It's a good thing she has a capacious closet to hold her extensive collection of dresses.
MCom 100w 10:30 a.m.
Word of the Week #7
Capacious
Source: "Dictionary.com" word of the day archive
How it was used: "Is it worth pointing out that the boot seems remarkably capacious for a little car?"
Definition: adjective
1. Capable of holding much, spacious or roomy.
My Sentence: It's a good thing she has a capacious closet to hold her extensive collection of dresses.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Mystery Character Exercise
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100W- Tu/Th 10:30 a.m.
Mystery Character Exercise
Word Count: 86
This character's talent exudes most as he has worked in several different aspects of his field. His work can be found behind the scenes as well as in front of the masses. In his work place, cheers and laughs follow complete silence. A suit and tie is the usual attire, as well as a hat to adorn his curly dark hair. In this character's colorless world, his little tiny mustache is a defining feature.
Think you know who it is? See the comments and find out!
MCom 100W- Tu/Th 10:30 a.m.
Mystery Character Exercise
Word Count: 86
This character's talent exudes most as he has worked in several different aspects of his field. His work can be found behind the scenes as well as in front of the masses. In his work place, cheers and laughs follow complete silence. A suit and tie is the usual attire, as well as a hat to adorn his curly dark hair. In this character's colorless world, his little tiny mustache is a defining feature.
Think you know who it is? See the comments and find out!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Word of the Week #6
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100W- Tu/Th 10:30am-11:45am
Word of the Week #6
Caterwaul
Source: "Word of the Day" hosted by Dictionary.com
How it was used: "John met Angela head-to-toe and there was a lot of bellowing and caterwauling."
Definition: Caterwaul
(intransitive verb)
1. To make a harsh cry.
2. To have a noisy argument.
(noun)
1. A shrill, discordant sound.
My Sentence: After dropping a huge box on his toe, you could hear John caterwauling all throughout the house.
MCom 100W- Tu/Th 10:30am-11:45am
Word of the Week #6
Caterwaul
Source: "Word of the Day" hosted by Dictionary.com
How it was used: "John met Angela head-to-toe and there was a lot of bellowing and caterwauling."
Definition: Caterwaul
(intransitive verb)
1. To make a harsh cry.
2. To have a noisy argument.
(noun)
1. A shrill, discordant sound.
My Sentence: After dropping a huge box on his toe, you could hear John caterwauling all throughout the house.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Word of the Week #5
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100W- Tu/Th 10:30 a.m.
Word of the Week #5
Temerarious
Source: "Word of the Day" hosted by Dictionary.com
How it was used: "I have confessed myself a temerarious theologian, and in that passage from boyhood to manhood I ranged widely in my search for some permanently satisfying truth."
Definition: Temerarious: adjective
1. Recklessly or presumptuously daring; rash.
My Sentence: After the young boy was punished for disobeying the teacher, he made a temerarious comment, defying the instructor even more.
MCom 100W- Tu/Th 10:30 a.m.
Word of the Week #5
Temerarious
Source: "Word of the Day" hosted by Dictionary.com
How it was used: "I have confessed myself a temerarious theologian, and in that passage from boyhood to manhood I ranged widely in my search for some permanently satisfying truth."
Definition: Temerarious: adjective
1. Recklessly or presumptuously daring; rash.
My Sentence: After the young boy was punished for disobeying the teacher, he made a temerarious comment, defying the instructor even more.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Journal #2: Media Audiences
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100W- Tu/Th 10:30a.m.
Journal Writing #2- Media Audiences
Word Count: 717
For my journal writing assignment I chose a national news story that relates to another class of mine that addresses terrorism and national security. The news story was about a recent attack on the American Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. The coverage of the news story came from different sources of media to see the differences, if any, between the three.
The newspaper source I used was The New York Times. This particular news story had a fiery picture of the mob outside of the U.S. Embassy right in the center top of the front page. When the paper is folded in half, as it is usually found on stands, the orange and yellow picture takes up almost half of the visible portion of the front page. The article actually began eight pages into the front section of the paper. The article featuring the attack was rather long due to a large picture that is inserted with the text. In total, the article took up about an entire page. There was only one article about this news story within the entire paper. A large portion of the article was dedicated to the political situation that sparked the events on Thursday. There were several sources that were stated throughout the article, seventeen total. Out of these, there were six direct quotes from specified individuals about the matter. This article was accompanied by two large photographs. One picture was taken during the attack on the building; the other is of a man burning an American flag.
The television news coverage I watched was by FOX News. The story lasted three minutes and thirty-four seconds. During the broadcast there was only two direct quotes mentioned. One was from the man they were interviewing live about the events. The details that were provided by the television news story were of no real significance compared to those given by the newspaper. A very brief and vague description of the perceived causes for this attack was mentioned. The television coverage only spoke about the actions of the mob and the damage done to the building. The anchors also spent a great portion of the broadcast discussing proper evacuation procedures for the embassy personnel as well as their families. Lastly, the two reporters discussed the possible groups behind this attack, if any. It seemed as though the coverage by the television newscast was more concerned with the interesting facts and possible dramatic outcomes of the event rather than the history and causes. The newspaper focused more on what sparked the attacks and how those involved feel about the issue. Perhaps this difference has something to do with ratings.
Lastly, the newscast I obtained from the web came directly from the BBC News website. This article was also particularly superficial in the type of material addressed. Again there was a vague description of the reason behind the attack, and then it went straight to a dramatic detail. The second paragraph spoke about a mysterious charred body that was found inside the embassy. The rest of the article featured six different sources that were quoted about their opinion on the attack. The actual news coverage took up very little space, but the quotes and opinions of various personnel provided much needed length to the article. This particular news coverage seemed more like broadcast television news to me. There was a lack of informative or historically important data being transmitted to the audience. It appeared as though the mysterious body and the thoughts of spokesmen were the focus of this article. The only similarity the BBC news article had with that found in The New York Times was that they were both print material and were generally about the same topic.
The article found in The New York Times was so much more informative about the history and causes behind the attack than its competition. It appeared as though the newspaper was not focused on drawing readers in with interesting facts and dramatic explanations of the events. Television and web news stories contain drastically less deep material on the issues and contain a greater amount of interesting data the average person may like to read about. Also, the newspaper article is much lengthier than the other two and contains a large amount of data for readers.
MCom 100W- Tu/Th 10:30a.m.
Journal Writing #2- Media Audiences
Word Count: 717
For my journal writing assignment I chose a national news story that relates to another class of mine that addresses terrorism and national security. The news story was about a recent attack on the American Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. The coverage of the news story came from different sources of media to see the differences, if any, between the three.
The newspaper source I used was The New York Times. This particular news story had a fiery picture of the mob outside of the U.S. Embassy right in the center top of the front page. When the paper is folded in half, as it is usually found on stands, the orange and yellow picture takes up almost half of the visible portion of the front page. The article actually began eight pages into the front section of the paper. The article featuring the attack was rather long due to a large picture that is inserted with the text. In total, the article took up about an entire page. There was only one article about this news story within the entire paper. A large portion of the article was dedicated to the political situation that sparked the events on Thursday. There were several sources that were stated throughout the article, seventeen total. Out of these, there were six direct quotes from specified individuals about the matter. This article was accompanied by two large photographs. One picture was taken during the attack on the building; the other is of a man burning an American flag.
The television news coverage I watched was by FOX News. The story lasted three minutes and thirty-four seconds. During the broadcast there was only two direct quotes mentioned. One was from the man they were interviewing live about the events. The details that were provided by the television news story were of no real significance compared to those given by the newspaper. A very brief and vague description of the perceived causes for this attack was mentioned. The television coverage only spoke about the actions of the mob and the damage done to the building. The anchors also spent a great portion of the broadcast discussing proper evacuation procedures for the embassy personnel as well as their families. Lastly, the two reporters discussed the possible groups behind this attack, if any. It seemed as though the coverage by the television newscast was more concerned with the interesting facts and possible dramatic outcomes of the event rather than the history and causes. The newspaper focused more on what sparked the attacks and how those involved feel about the issue. Perhaps this difference has something to do with ratings.
Lastly, the newscast I obtained from the web came directly from the BBC News website. This article was also particularly superficial in the type of material addressed. Again there was a vague description of the reason behind the attack, and then it went straight to a dramatic detail. The second paragraph spoke about a mysterious charred body that was found inside the embassy. The rest of the article featured six different sources that were quoted about their opinion on the attack. The actual news coverage took up very little space, but the quotes and opinions of various personnel provided much needed length to the article. This particular news coverage seemed more like broadcast television news to me. There was a lack of informative or historically important data being transmitted to the audience. It appeared as though the mysterious body and the thoughts of spokesmen were the focus of this article. The only similarity the BBC news article had with that found in The New York Times was that they were both print material and were generally about the same topic.
The article found in The New York Times was so much more informative about the history and causes behind the attack than its competition. It appeared as though the newspaper was not focused on drawing readers in with interesting facts and dramatic explanations of the events. Television and web news stories contain drastically less deep material on the issues and contain a greater amount of interesting data the average person may like to read about. Also, the newspaper article is much lengthier than the other two and contains a large amount of data for readers.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Word of the Week #4
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100W- Tu/Th 10:30am
Word of the Week #4
Exasperate
Source: Takami, H. (1999). Battle Royale. San Francisco: VIZ Media, LCC.
How it was used: "His exasperating, outrageous behavior was bad enough, but now it was so out of control it was like he was from another world".
Definition: Exasperate: adjective, verb (used with object)
(verb)
1. to irritate or provoke to a high degree; annoy extremely.
2. Archaic: to increase the intensity or violence of (disease, pain, feelings, etc.)
(adjective)
3. Botany. rough: covered with hard, projecting points, as a leaf.
My sentence: The young woman had an exasperated look on her face as waited in a long line at a coffee shop.
MCom 100W- Tu/Th 10:30am
Word of the Week #4
Exasperate
Source: Takami, H. (1999). Battle Royale. San Francisco: VIZ Media, LCC.
How it was used: "His exasperating, outrageous behavior was bad enough, but now it was so out of control it was like he was from another world".
Definition: Exasperate: adjective, verb (used with object)
(verb)
1. to irritate or provoke to a high degree; annoy extremely.
2. Archaic: to increase the intensity or violence of (disease, pain, feelings, etc.)
(adjective)
3. Botany. rough: covered with hard, projecting points, as a leaf.
My sentence: The young woman had an exasperated look on her face as waited in a long line at a coffee shop.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Scavenger Hunt - Question 23
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100W Tu/TH 10:30 am
Scavenger Hunt - Question 23
Word Count: 175
Out of all the art installations that are currently within the MLK library, my favorite is the art work of Mel Chin called “Recolecciones”. Each of the art pieces are so interesting and captivating to look at, it makes going to the library new and exciting. It’s shocking that I have walked by several of these items without ever thinking twice about them. Seeing the history behind the creation of some of his artwork made me realize how special our library really was. The canary couch is my favorite item within the collection. The bright color, amazing style, and unique appearance are pleasant surprises to the usual boring attributes of a typical chair found within public libraries. The mysterious swiveling bookshelf also drew my attention immediately. It adds a sense of mystery and curiosity to the walls and the aura of our library. After learning about the various art works scattered throughout the MLK library, there is no escaping the desire to search and find these items for myself and appreciate them face to face.
MCom 100W Tu/TH 10:30 am
Scavenger Hunt - Question 23
Word Count: 175
Out of all the art installations that are currently within the MLK library, my favorite is the art work of Mel Chin called “Recolecciones”. Each of the art pieces are so interesting and captivating to look at, it makes going to the library new and exciting. It’s shocking that I have walked by several of these items without ever thinking twice about them. Seeing the history behind the creation of some of his artwork made me realize how special our library really was. The canary couch is my favorite item within the collection. The bright color, amazing style, and unique appearance are pleasant surprises to the usual boring attributes of a typical chair found within public libraries. The mysterious swiveling bookshelf also drew my attention immediately. It adds a sense of mystery and curiosity to the walls and the aura of our library. After learning about the various art works scattered throughout the MLK library, there is no escaping the desire to search and find these items for myself and appreciate them face to face.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Telling Details
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100W- Tu/Th 10:30am
Telling Details Assignment
Word Count: 364
After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, our two dishes finally arrived at the table. I began to dig into my soup, throw on garnishes, and squeeze limes into the mix in a frenzy. Erin simply stared at her dish distrustfully, eyeing the vegetables and noodles up and down like a detective. She slowly lifted up her fork and picked at the dish repositioning the ingredients around on her plate. Her eyes seemed to be fixated on the few crustaceans that were maneuvered to the edge of the plate. She had asked for no shrimp, they make her sick. She carefully put the fork back down in its beginning position on the table and rotated her head toward the kitchen. She crossed her arms neatly in front of her, sat up straight, and began observing the personnel of the busy restaurant. I told her she should wave down a server and tell them our waiter made a mistake on the order. Erin replied, “You think I should? Okay, I’ll just wait and see if I can find a server who is not busy.” Erin continued to sit perfectly still exchanging her gazes from one server to the next, never once raising a hand or blurting out an “excuse me?!” The neutral expression on Erin’s face in no way changed as time dragged on. Eventually her weary gaze began drifting back to her dish every few seconds and quickly away again toward the kitchen staff. After a few rounds of tug of war between staring at the concoction on her ceramic plate and at the apron-wearing personnel, she returned her view and repositioned her body toward her dinner. She then delicately lifted up her fork once more and slowly inched the three pieces of shrimp off her plate, like they were being pushed off a plank. A small frown appeared on her face as she hesitantly began chewing the remains of her entrée. “Hmm, I’ll just eat around where the shrimp were I guess,” Erin explained. After a few bites Erin gave out a sigh and positioned her fork neatly across her plate alongside her untouched knife. She was done with her dinner.
MCom 100W- Tu/Th 10:30am
Telling Details Assignment
Word Count: 364
After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, our two dishes finally arrived at the table. I began to dig into my soup, throw on garnishes, and squeeze limes into the mix in a frenzy. Erin simply stared at her dish distrustfully, eyeing the vegetables and noodles up and down like a detective. She slowly lifted up her fork and picked at the dish repositioning the ingredients around on her plate. Her eyes seemed to be fixated on the few crustaceans that were maneuvered to the edge of the plate. She had asked for no shrimp, they make her sick. She carefully put the fork back down in its beginning position on the table and rotated her head toward the kitchen. She crossed her arms neatly in front of her, sat up straight, and began observing the personnel of the busy restaurant. I told her she should wave down a server and tell them our waiter made a mistake on the order. Erin replied, “You think I should? Okay, I’ll just wait and see if I can find a server who is not busy.” Erin continued to sit perfectly still exchanging her gazes from one server to the next, never once raising a hand or blurting out an “excuse me?!” The neutral expression on Erin’s face in no way changed as time dragged on. Eventually her weary gaze began drifting back to her dish every few seconds and quickly away again toward the kitchen staff. After a few rounds of tug of war between staring at the concoction on her ceramic plate and at the apron-wearing personnel, she returned her view and repositioned her body toward her dinner. She then delicately lifted up her fork once more and slowly inched the three pieces of shrimp off her plate, like they were being pushed off a plank. A small frown appeared on her face as she hesitantly began chewing the remains of her entrée. “Hmm, I’ll just eat around where the shrimp were I guess,” Erin explained. After a few bites Erin gave out a sigh and positioned her fork neatly across her plate alongside her untouched knife. She was done with her dinner.
Word of the Week #3
Suzzette Medina
MCom 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30am
Word #3
Copacetic
Source: "Word of the Day" listed on my Yahoo.com homepage, sponsored by Dictionary.com
How it was used: "Although all will seem copacetic on the CBS broadcast from Madison Square Garden in New York, there will be a big black cloud hanging over the glitzy proceedings."
Definition: adjective
1. Very satisfactory
2. Fine
My sentence: During their anniversary dinner everything seemed copacetic, but little did the young man know he was about to have his heart broken.
MCom 100W- Tu/ Th 10:30am
Word #3
Copacetic
Source: "Word of the Day" listed on my Yahoo.com homepage, sponsored by Dictionary.com
How it was used: "Although all will seem copacetic on the CBS broadcast from Madison Square Garden in New York, there will be a big black cloud hanging over the glitzy proceedings."
Definition: adjective
1. Very satisfactory
2. Fine
My sentence: During their anniversary dinner everything seemed copacetic, but little did the young man know he was about to have his heart broken.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Word of the Week # 2
Suzzette Medina
MCom100W- Tu/Th 10:30am
Word #2
Pashmina
Source: Bushnell, C. (2005). Lipstick jungle. New York, NY: Hyperion.
How it was used: "She kept adjusting her pashmina, but the damn thing wouldn't stay up."
Definition: Pashmina (noun)
1. Fine, downy wool growing beneath the outer hair of feral Himalayan goats.
2. A soft fabric made of this wool.
My sentence: Due to the cold weather my mother wrapped her beautiful pashmina shawl around her face.
MCom100W- Tu/Th 10:30am
Word #2
Pashmina
Source: Bushnell, C. (2005). Lipstick jungle. New York, NY: Hyperion.
How it was used: "She kept adjusting her pashmina, but the damn thing wouldn't stay up."
Definition: Pashmina (noun)
1. Fine, downy wool growing beneath the outer hair of feral Himalayan goats.
2. A soft fabric made of this wool.
My sentence: Due to the cold weather my mother wrapped her beautiful pashmina shawl around her face.
Late Breaking Assignment
Suzzette Medina
MCom100W- Tu/Th 10:30a.m.
Late Breaking Assignment
Word Count: 501
Super Bowl, Super Bust!
As a whole, I felt that the commercials that aired during this past weekend for the Super Bowl were a big bust. The commercials left me disappointed and feeling sorry for these big brand name companies for wasting their millions. Other than a select few commercials that succeeded in standing out favorably in my mind, the majority were duds.
Out of the few that I really liked, my favorite was the commercial for the “Tide-To-Go” pen. That commercial showed a man sitting at a desk who looked like he was being interviewed for a job. Every time the potential employee opened his mouth, the stain spoke over him and completely took over the conversation. The commercial was concise, humorous, and could definitely relate to all sorts of people within their target audience. Plus, because the stain possessed its own tiny mouth, it was a little cute as well.
Another one of my top choices was the FedEx commercial with the giant pigeons delivering mail. At first it seemed like a mediocre concept. I figured they would show how much more efficient mail delivery is using FedEx rather than wild animals. What a great comparison, I know. But the humor behind the existence of oversized pigeons stole the stage and left me in stitches. My favorite scene from the commercial was when a single feather floated down to the city, landing on the windshield of a bus, and blinding the driver. This ultimately resulted in the bus crashing into oncoming traffic and with myself in tears from the laughs.
Budweiser, as usual, was a huge buyer of air time this year during the Super Bowl. Professor Hendricks mentioned that he believed Budweiser purchased eight total time slots to air their commercials. Sadly, out of them all, I only somewhat liked one. The wine and cheese commercial made me chuckle a bit, but it was nothing to get excited over. The only slightly humorous part was when a beer bottle was pulled out of a fake baguette. I don’t quite know why I thought that was funny. Now that I look back on the Budweiser commercials, I thought as a whole they were boring and predictable. What will it take for Budweiser to come up with a new and fresh idea for their commercials? They are wasting millions.
The last commercial I am going to mention is the Sobe Life Water commercial with Naomi Campbell dancing along side a bunch of lizards. Perhaps I am the only person in America who feels this way, but why would lizards crawling around and Naomi Campbell attempting to dance make me want to drink Sobe Life Water? I was completely disgusted by both and if anything, it made me NOT want to try this drink. In my opinion, lizards are simply not appealing to most people. Associating a product with another that at times can be seen in a negative light was a big mistake. The only positive thing about the commercial was the music.
MCom100W- Tu/Th 10:30a.m.
Late Breaking Assignment
Word Count: 501
Super Bowl, Super Bust!
As a whole, I felt that the commercials that aired during this past weekend for the Super Bowl were a big bust. The commercials left me disappointed and feeling sorry for these big brand name companies for wasting their millions. Other than a select few commercials that succeeded in standing out favorably in my mind, the majority were duds.
Out of the few that I really liked, my favorite was the commercial for the “Tide-To-Go” pen. That commercial showed a man sitting at a desk who looked like he was being interviewed for a job. Every time the potential employee opened his mouth, the stain spoke over him and completely took over the conversation. The commercial was concise, humorous, and could definitely relate to all sorts of people within their target audience. Plus, because the stain possessed its own tiny mouth, it was a little cute as well.
Another one of my top choices was the FedEx commercial with the giant pigeons delivering mail. At first it seemed like a mediocre concept. I figured they would show how much more efficient mail delivery is using FedEx rather than wild animals. What a great comparison, I know. But the humor behind the existence of oversized pigeons stole the stage and left me in stitches. My favorite scene from the commercial was when a single feather floated down to the city, landing on the windshield of a bus, and blinding the driver. This ultimately resulted in the bus crashing into oncoming traffic and with myself in tears from the laughs.
Budweiser, as usual, was a huge buyer of air time this year during the Super Bowl. Professor Hendricks mentioned that he believed Budweiser purchased eight total time slots to air their commercials. Sadly, out of them all, I only somewhat liked one. The wine and cheese commercial made me chuckle a bit, but it was nothing to get excited over. The only slightly humorous part was when a beer bottle was pulled out of a fake baguette. I don’t quite know why I thought that was funny. Now that I look back on the Budweiser commercials, I thought as a whole they were boring and predictable. What will it take for Budweiser to come up with a new and fresh idea for their commercials? They are wasting millions.
The last commercial I am going to mention is the Sobe Life Water commercial with Naomi Campbell dancing along side a bunch of lizards. Perhaps I am the only person in America who feels this way, but why would lizards crawling around and Naomi Campbell attempting to dance make me want to drink Sobe Life Water? I was completely disgusted by both and if anything, it made me NOT want to try this drink. In my opinion, lizards are simply not appealing to most people. Associating a product with another that at times can be seen in a negative light was a big mistake. The only positive thing about the commercial was the music.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Journal Writing #1: My Favorite Writing
"Do not stand at my grave and weep"
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.
-Mary Elizabeth Frye (1932)
When I first heard this poem it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Death is rarely an easy topic to discuss with anyone, especially when it involves your loved ones. The very idea of my family or friends passing away makes my palms sweat. This poem provides a positive outlook on death and how no one is ever truly "gone".
It is comforting to believe that although a person may have passed away, you can still feel their presence all around you. I like this poem because it assures us that we continue to exist beyond our time here on earth. It is soothing to imagine myself as the wind, the rain, or any aspect of the world I will always be a part of. Death is no longer seen as a dark and frightening end to our journey, but more as a bridge to our next experience.
This poem is an example of good writing because it is able to reach a large audience on a deep level. This poem will have different meanings to different people, but can serve as a common link between us all. The rhythm of the poem also adds a lighter musical quality to an otherwise depressing occurrence. Being able to affect the reader on an emotional level and leave a lasting impression is a quality of this poem that exemplifies good writing.
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.
-Mary Elizabeth Frye (1932)
When I first heard this poem it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Death is rarely an easy topic to discuss with anyone, especially when it involves your loved ones. The very idea of my family or friends passing away makes my palms sweat. This poem provides a positive outlook on death and how no one is ever truly "gone".
It is comforting to believe that although a person may have passed away, you can still feel their presence all around you. I like this poem because it assures us that we continue to exist beyond our time here on earth. It is soothing to imagine myself as the wind, the rain, or any aspect of the world I will always be a part of. Death is no longer seen as a dark and frightening end to our journey, but more as a bridge to our next experience.
This poem is an example of good writing because it is able to reach a large audience on a deep level. This poem will have different meanings to different people, but can serve as a common link between us all. The rhythm of the poem also adds a lighter musical quality to an otherwise depressing occurrence. Being able to affect the reader on an emotional level and leave a lasting impression is a quality of this poem that exemplifies good writing.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Word of the Week # 1
Suzzette Medina
Mass Com 100W, T/Th 10:30am
Word #1
Bespectacled
Source: Kindlon, D., & Thompson, M. (1999). Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys. Ballantine Books.
How it was used: "Even the most fair-minded leader among the boys is, at some point, drawn into the pack's frenzied taunting of Piggy, the pudgy, bespectacled picture of vulnerablilty and the voice of reason."
Definition: Bespectacled: (adjective)
1. Wearing eyeglasses
2. Wearing, or having the face adorned with eyeglasses, or an eyeglass.
My Sentence: Although the woman had a warm and loving heart, her bespectacled appearance scared everyone away.
Mass Com 100W, T/Th 10:30am
Word #1
Bespectacled
Source: Kindlon, D., & Thompson, M. (1999). Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys. Ballantine Books.
How it was used: "Even the most fair-minded leader among the boys is, at some point, drawn into the pack's frenzied taunting of Piggy, the pudgy, bespectacled picture of vulnerablilty and the voice of reason."
Definition: Bespectacled: (adjective)
1. Wearing eyeglasses
2. Wearing, or having the face adorned with eyeglasses, or an eyeglass.
My Sentence: Although the woman had a warm and loving heart, her bespectacled appearance scared everyone away.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
All About Me
Major: Advertising (Management track)
Minor: Justice Studies
Hello everyone! My name is Suzzette and I'm a junior here at SJSU. I'm half Chinese and half Peruvian. I'm involved in a sorority on campus and I'm looking forward to joining the advertising club as well. I'm not quite sure what I plan on doing after I graduate, hopefully I'll figure all of that out sooner than later. I have lived in the Bay Area my practically my whole life and perhaps after graduation I'll spend time travelling or at least go to graduate school somewhere far away.
I'm excited and scared of my 100 W writing class seeing as I have not taken any sort of writing course since freshman year! Hopefully i will come out of the course a much stronger writer.
Minor: Justice Studies
Hello everyone! My name is Suzzette and I'm a junior here at SJSU. I'm half Chinese and half Peruvian. I'm involved in a sorority on campus and I'm looking forward to joining the advertising club as well. I'm not quite sure what I plan on doing after I graduate, hopefully I'll figure all of that out sooner than later. I have lived in the Bay Area my practically my whole life and perhaps after graduation I'll spend time travelling or at least go to graduate school somewhere far away.
I'm excited and scared of my 100 W writing class seeing as I have not taken any sort of writing course since freshman year! Hopefully i will come out of the course a much stronger writer.
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