J203-SeanMichetti

Resume

2006-12-07T15:27:00.000-08:00

J203 Assignment #14

2006-11-28T15:07:00.000-08:00

1. What is the purpose of MEMRI, and where does it have offices?
MERMI is an organization that sends high-quality translations of Arabic newspaers to journalists, politicians, and academics in the United States; free of charge. It has offices in Washington, London, Berlin and Jerusalem.

2. What reason does the organization give for its secrecy, and why does the author think it's strange?
The reason for this secrecy, according to a former employee, is that "they don't want suicide bombers walking through the door on Monday morning" (Washington Times, June 20). The author feels this is strange because, lets face it, all they are doing is translating languages, why do feel that suicide bombers would be coming for them?

3. What characteristics of MERMI lead the author to believe that is not a non-partisan organization?
Evidence from Memri's website also casts doubt on its non-partisan status. Besides supporting liberal democracy, civil society, and the free market, the institute also emphasises "the continuing relevance of Zionism to the Jewish people and to the state of Israel". The author says that MERMI has stated they have translated extremeist, violent quotes from Hebew publications, but he cannot remember receveing any. The wild quotes come only from Islamic publications.

4. Give some information about the Hudson Institute and Richard Perle not contained in this story.
Hudson mission statement: Hudson Institute is a non-partisan policy research organization dedicated to innovative research and analysis that promotes global security, prosperity, and freedom. We challenge conventional thinking and help manage strategic transitions to the future through interdisciplinary and collaborative studies in defense, international relations, economics, culture, science, technology, and law. Through publications, conferences and policy recommendations, we seek to guide global leaders in government and business.

It was founded in 1961 by the brilliant futurist Herman Kahn.

Richard Perle is a member of several conservative think-tanks, such as Project for the New American Century (PNAC), the Hudson Institute, and (as a resident fellow) the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. He is also a Patron of the Henry Jackson Society. Perle has written extensively on a number of issues; his cited research interests including defense, national security and the Middle East.

5. Did Mr. Ahwad have any ulterior motive when he wrote about orders to cut off the ears of deserters?
According to a Washington Post report in 1998, the amputation claim formed part of his application for political asylum in the United States. At the time, he was one of six Iraqis under arrest in the US as suspected terrorists or Iraqi intelligence agents, and he was trying to show that the Americans had made a mistake.

7. What were MEMRI's two "propoganda successes against Saudi Arabia"?
The first was its translation of an article from al-Riyadh newspaper in which a columnist wrote that Jews use the blood of Christian or Muslim children in pastries for the Purim religious festival. Memri's next success came a month later when Saudi Arabia's ambassador to London wrote a poem entitled The Martyrs - about a young woman suicide bomber - which was published in al-Hayat newspaper. Memri sent out translated extracts from the poem, which it described as "praising suicide bombers". Whether that was the poem's real message is a matter of interpretation.

8. According to the author, how and why is MEMRI's objective mission being 'exploited'?
The danger is that many of the senators, congressmen and "opinion formers" who don't read Arabic but receive Memri's emails may get the idea that these extreme examples are not only truly representative but also reflect the policies of Arab governments.

9. According to the author, what could be done to offset MEMRI's allegedly slanted information.
The author states that small groups of Arabs could counter the articles posted by this Israelis and give the full article and the truth about the snipits that the Israelis.

Sources

2006-11-09T14:18:00.000-08:00

Sean Michetti
Sources

Dave Romero- 805-594-1335

Deborah Linden-
City of San Luis Obispo
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
fax: 805-781-7109

Jonathan P. Lowell and J. Christine Dietrick
Address: Room 10, 990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249
Telephone: (805) 781-7140
Fax: (805) 781-7409

J203 Assignment #11

2006-11-07T00:36:00.001-08:00

Company #1: Halliburton
The Public Relations Supervisor is Melissa Norcross. Her telephone number is 713-759-2608 and her e-mail address is: melissa.norcross@halliburton.com

The current CEO is David Lesar, he has been the CEO since 2000 following the departure of former CEO, Dick Cheney.
The company's address is not suprisingly located in Texas. It is:

5 Houston Center, 1401 McKinney, Ste. 2400
Houston, TX 77010

Phone: 713-759-2600
Fax: 713-759-2635
News of wars in countries where oil is prevelent (Iraq) is great news for this company, for they are makers of petrolum and gas related products. Both for pumping and drilling and everything in between. As we've seen in Iraq, Halliburton was awarded a huge contract to stabalize Iraq's oil fields. No big deal about Cheney's very direct connection.

Financially Halliburton earned 3.3 billion more dollars in 2005 than they did in 2003. They also spent 2 billion more, for a profit of 1.3 billion more in 05 than 03.

Contact: http://www.halliburton.com/

Company #2: Pepsi Bottling Group

The Public Relations is Amy Polacko. Her telephone is 914-767-6960.

Pepsi Bottling Group's Executive Chairman of the Board is John T. Cahill. He was elected to the position in 2006 after serving as CEO which he was elected to in 2001.

PBG Corporate Headquarters
One Pepsi Way
Somers, NY 10589
Phone: 914-767-6000

In the past two months, former president Bill Clinton has pushed for laws banning soda and junk food from being sold in school yards to help combat rising childhood obesity rates. PepsiCola sells and delivers near 200 million eight-ounce Pepsi-Cola beverages per day. When Clinton's law begins in 2008, this will be a big hit to Pepsi, who will have to find a new market to substitute for the school yard.

The Pepsi Bottling Group generates about 11 billion dollars per year. So far, in the 2006 Fiscal Year, Pepsi Bottling Group has generated 11,885,000,000 dollars.

Contact: http://www.pbg.com/pbg/servlet/index.do

Company #3: Boeing

The Public Policy senior vice president is Tod R. Hullin. His telephone contact number is 312-544-2002

The chairman of the board, president and CEO of Boeing is W. James McNerney, Jr. He has held the CEO position since July 1, 2005.

Boeings headquarters is located at:

100 N. Riverside Plaza
Chicago, IL 60606-1596

Phone: 312-544-2000

The type of news that would affect Boeing, would be rising gas prices, because with more expensive fuel companies, such as airlines, are less likely to expand their fleet. Also, with the push for more consertavtive energy options, Boeing may have to start rethinking their fuel types and modifying their planes to use it.

Boeings Third-Quarter net earnings was 694 million dollars, which is an increase of 0.89 cents per share.

Contact: http://www.boeing.com/

J203 Assignment #10

2006-11-02T11:21:00.000-08:00

"My weirdly new favorite show is, 'What Not to Wear.'"
A story of reality T.V. and how the possibilities are now endless for show ideas. What are new ideas you say? How about who can commit suicide the quickest? Really up the stakes.

"And I can knit peoples Christmas presents this year, I'm so poor!"
How to accommodate to the poor on holiday's that require a lot of money to be spent on gifts?
Is Christmas getting out of hand? Are people expecting more and more for Christmas, so that the joy of smaller gifts is lost? How can Christmas be turned into a holiday centered on the family, instead of around the tree?

"Do you know how many years modeling has been going on and they only have overweight, not underweight.”
Do a comparison on the average body weight of average Americans in 1970 and runway models in the 1970's. Then compare that number to the body weight of average Americans in 2005 with the average body weight of runway models in 2005. Lets see if that gap, unlike models waist lines, has widened.

"He has to wear boxer briefs, I HATE boxers. I can't date boxer wearers. Boxer briefs just give guys a nice shape."
How to encourage the American population to eat healthier, exercise, and maintain a healthy looking body. Also, maybe a larger penis looks better in boxer briefs. So, lets find out how much size really matters to girls.

"Have you ever gone a month without a boyfriend or a crush?" "Oh I've always had crushes."
Do an article on the correlation of religious belief and boyfriends. Also look at length of relationships when religion is involved. I'm betting they have fewer partners, but hold on to them for longer.

J203 Assignment #9

2006-10-30T23:25:00.000-08:00

#6. Proposition 13 in the 1970's.

Was it the initiative that “bankrupt” California? Or should it be hailed as a modern day Boston Tea Party? Ronald Regan rode its “success” to the White House. While California’s public school system sank to the bottom rankings in the nation. In January of 1980, a poll conducted by CSU Chico professors, Jon S. Ebeling and Frederica Shockely; found that Proposition 13 was viewed by 65.4 percent as a good idea, with 34.6 percent claiming it was a bad idea. That was Prop 13’s peak approval rating. Since that cold January day, three more polls were conducted and all showed the same thing. People’s attitude towards Prop 13 is now negative.

Joel Fox, a past president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, revealed, “Son Michael Reagan told a story of asking his father [Ronald Reagan] for an increase in his allowance. Father Ron said he would gladly give his son an increase in his allowance — as soon as the government stopped taking so much money out of his paycheck.” Reagan built his reputation on tax cuts, but in 1968, ten years before Proposition 13 was passed, Reagan actually tried the tax-increase path. In 1968 Reagan also realized how favorably Californians would react to a large scale tax cut, while he was throwing out the first pitch for California’s newest major-league Baseball team, the Oakland A’s. He was greeted with lusty boo’s, which one reporter said lasted for three minutes.

In his push to pass Proposition 13, Reagan used radio broadcasts to tell the people listening exactly what his stance was on lowering property tax. Reagan had a experienced supporter in Howard Jarvis, an opponent of property tax who tried four times to qualify a property-tax reduction plan for the California ballot and four times he failed to get enough signatures; which in one instance netted 1.2 million signatures. In a fifth attempt, Reagan and Jarvis, along with Paul Gann, a co-author for Prop 13, filed more than twice the number of signatures needed to put Prop 13 on the ballot. They didn’t have a hard time collecting names, as the property tax increased by as much as 50 percent to 100 percent in one year.

With the landslide passing of Prop 13, local state governments immediately felt the loss of 7 billion dollars of property tax annually. School systems, which in the mid-1970’s had the budgets to employ art consultants, schools nurses, counselors and more librarians and music teachers. As Prop 13 created an anti-tax atmosphere, schools found it near impossible to get the two-thirds vote pass bond measures. In an article by John Wildermuth, a San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer, California’s per-pupil spending among states dropped from 18^th in 1977 to 42^nd in 1995-96. ``Libraries, parks and recreation programs were all hammered,'' said John Maltbie, San Mateo County's county manager. ``They've never been able to recover from Proposition 13.''

J203 Assignment #8

2006-10-24T15:44:00.001-07:00

1. Soft Lead: a List Lead.
Student Loan companies are offering incentives to administrative officials for steering college kids to their companies, in an increasingly competitive business.

2. Soft Lead
In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, white residents have received four times more in homeowners insurance than blacks, due to blacks general distrust with the government.

3. Soft Lead
Swedish mobster, Bo Stefan Eriksson, went on trail Monday morning; he is fighting embezzlement and auto theft charges.

4. Hard Lead
Snoop Dogg, the successful actor, singer and Girls Gone Wild contributor, was suspected Monday morning to be involved in a terror plot to hijack an airplane headed to New York. His weapon of mass destruction was a 21-inch collapsible baton, concealed in his laptop case. After being released without arrest, Snoop Dogg said the baton was a prop for a movie he was filming in New York and that it did not have cocaine hidden in the handle end, stored in a convenient, screw on cap which made it appear as if it were just part of the weapon. Mr. Dogg comes out with a new record in December labeled, "My Life as an Islamic Extremist."

5. Hard Lead
The citizens of America are beginning to hear the rumble. The free ground beneath their feet is starting to shift. The glorious winds of truth and persuasion are dying down, as the ship know as journalism is taken by the current, no longer as in control of it's own destiny. American journalism is slipping further from the freedom of press towards the torture racks of a Chinese prison.

6. Hard Lead
To combat illiteracy in urban schools, superintendents are introducing death as an insensitive. Not, of course, for the children who do not perform well, but in the reading material. How can a child who is five, be expected to read at the rate of an eight-year-old? Books with a backbone will encourage youngsters to read and succeed.

J203 Assignment #7

2006-10-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

Interview Practice: I choose to interview the owner of the Franks Famous Hot Dogs. His name is Ken and he is 46 years old.

Why did you decide to go into business?
Franks was started by Ken's father, who now is dealing with Leukemia, back in 1977 after two Poly students asked him to bank roll their hot dog business. The two students eventually went under, but Ken's father hung on to the business and built it up so that he just made enough profit to keep the business afloat. In 1988 he moved Franks to it's current location on the intersection of Monterey and California, from it's previous location of the now Splash Cafe. His son, Ken, did not originally want to work for or take over the business, as he moved to Hawaii after high school to surf and waiter at ocean front restaurants. But every month for the five years, Ken's father would call him, asking him to come work for him at Franks. The persuasive was too much, and Ken quit his 100 plus tips a night job and moved back to SLO to work for 6 dollars an hour. As Ken worked more and more, and his father grew older, he eventually took over managing the family business.

2. How long has your business existed?
Started in 1977, and moved to it's current location in 1988.

3. What is your average customer profile?
It really is across the board. When I first tried to ask for an interview, I was turned away because of the upcoming busy lunch crowd, which consisted heavily of kids from the local high school. But when I was granted an interview the next morning (Which I was given a free breakfast, it is delicious) I saw high school kids, young parents with their son, older folks, and middle age men. Ken concedes that the customer base is very broad, with the biggest crowds being during lunch time and breakfast on the weekends, where lines will travel out both doors.

4. One anecdote/story about your business?
Franks serves many regulars, with many of the ones that stand out in Kens who are now deceased. One such group once numbered 15 men who would come every morning for coffee and laughs, that group of elder men now consists of four. They are called the Sunshine Boys. Another story was about a very loyal female customer named Francis. Francis would come every day and order herself an Ortega steak done RARE. Because Francis was a daily regular, she also loved parking in the same space, which she came to assume was hers. If she ever showed up and the spot was taken, she would come in the restaurant and give the stink eye to everyone and anyone, as she would rant and rave about her spot being taken. She too is now deceased.

J203 Assignment #6

2006-10-10T15:57:00.000-07:00

Part I -- Identify the shamed journalists in the mugshots

1. The New Republic- Stephen Glass. Was caught basing his articles on fake quotes, sources and events. The story "Hack Heaven" shed light that Stephen has committed numerous cases of journalistic fraud.

2. The New York Times- Jayson Blair. His plagiarism came to light after an article he'd written and it's similarity between a story written by an intern Macarena Hernandez, years earlier. She had worked closely with Blair, and called and complained that many of his details and quotes were exactly the same as they appeared in her work. An internal commission was formed and he was found to have fabricated much of his work.

3. USA Today- Jack Kelley. An extensive examination of about 100 of the 720 stories uncovered evidence that found Kelley’s journalistic sins were sweeping and substantial. This was after he spent 2 1/2 hours denying wrongdoing, saying he was set up. "Perhaps Kelley’s most egregious misdeed occurred in 2000, when he used a snapshot he took of a Cuban hotel worker to authenticate a story he made up about a woman who died fleeing Cuba by boat."

4. The Washington Post- Janet Cooke. She's an American journalist who became infamous when she won a Pulitzer Prize for the fabricated story, "Jimmy's World." She blamed the pressures of the Washington Post and the nagging editors for fabricating the story when she could not find the actual boy Jimmy.

Part II -- The Mustang Daily even found itself embroiled in a plagiarism scandal last year. What were the details of the incident? (BONUS QUESTION: What ethical dilemma did local media (Mustang Daily, New Times and SLO Tribune) face when reporting this story)?

To date, The Mustang Daily has been mum on the name of the reputed journalist, but a suspected name is Rebecca Laman. She was caught for suposedly lifting articles from online sources and posing them as her own. The paragraphs that were lifted "from various websites in articles: a profile of the Cal Poly men's barbershop quartet, Men-So Forte; 'July Fourth do's and don'ts' and a movie review of 'Fantastic Four.'" (http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Publish/14442/Forward_14442_997609.htm#10698656)

BONUS: The ethical dilemma the local media faced while reporting this story was, while everyone was pushing for the journalists anonymity, the Tribune, figured out the offenders identity, saying, "Hey, news is news. And this girl is news." (http://www.newtimes-slo.com/index.php?p=showarticle&id=1234)

Part III -- Identify the 'character' of each organization or individual listed below. Some questions to answer: What do they do? Who pays them? What is their agenda, if any? Who’s interest are they serving?

1. Corpwatch- "Holding Corporations Accountable."
"CorpWatch investigates and exposes corporate violations of human rights, environmental crimes, fraud and corruption around the world. We work to foster global justice, independent media activism and democratic control over corporations.

Corpwatch is made up of five employees and is based in San Francisco. It has been tracking companies who have made a profit off the war in Iraq, such as Bechtel, Dyncorp and Halliburton.

2. Globalwitness- They strive to achieve real change by highlighting the link between the exploitation of natural resources and human rights abuses. Global Watch accepts donations on their web site, where a majority of their funding comes through grants from trusts and fountations, governments, an non-governmental organisations. They also only accept donations from individuals and corporations that have adheared to the agenda they preach. If anyone has violated what they stand for, they will not accept donations from them. They are severing the interests of the poor in countries where poor have no voice, because large corporations have moved in and are abusing the population, making them their work force. They also rape the countries they enter of their natural resources, rarely pumping any of that money back into the economy they devistate.

3. Laborstart- "Where trade unionists start their day on the net." This company fights for the rights of labor unions around the world. They recieve money by selling merchandise and advertising space on their web site. They support union memebers and oppose scabs. They promote legislation on their website that benifets union members.

4. Associated Press- Information about the world's oldest and largest newsgather ogranization. AP employees over 3,700 employees around the world to provide full and breaking coverage for news stories everywhere. AP was founded in 1846 and is the backbone of the world's information system serving thousands of daily newspaper, radio, television and online customers. AP is non-profit and has received 48 Pulitzer Prizes and 29 photo Pulitzers.

5. Reuters- Was founded in London in 1851 and now has 15, 300 staff in 89 countries. The Reuters Group 2005 revune was 2.4 billion pounds. Reuters is among the most read news sources on the Internet reaching millions in their offices, homes or on PDAs

6. Electronic Authorization Partnership-

7. David Romero- David is an accomplished, versatile musician whose various styles of playing include, but are not limited to, Pop,Jazz, R&B, African, Brazilian, and Latin music. Whether playing with jazz trios, bands, or symphony orchestras, David's personality and great sense of humor add to his creative and rhythmic performance. He has put out numerous ablums and has stared in many movies. He was in Earth, Wind and Fire.

8. Jack T. O'Conell- Jack is a California politician and is currently serving as the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. He is best known for writing the legislation for the California Exit Exam.

9. Julie Rodewald- She is the Clerk-Recorder for the SLO Board of Supervisors.

10. Deborah Linden- Police Chief Deborah Linden has served as the chief of the City of San Luis Obispo Police Department since 2003. She is a member of community and law enforcement organizations including the Tri-Counties Anti-Defamation League Advisory Board, the California Police Chiefs' Association, the California Narcotic Officers' Association, and the University of California, Santa Barbara Center on Police Practices and Community.

J203 Assignment #5

2006-10-05T15:59:00.000-07:00

1A. For whom were the buildings named?
The Spanos theatre is named after Alex G. and Faye Spanos and the football field is named just after Alex G. Spanos.
The Orfalea College of Business is named after Natalie and Paul Orfalea.

The Cotchett Education Building is named after Joseph W. Cotchett and his wife Victoria. They donated 2 million and bequeathed an additional 5 million to support math and science teachers incentives. Joseph W. Cotchett is considered one of the best trial lawyers in the nation.
The Mott Gym is named after the one time Physical Education department head.
Dexter lawn is named after Walter Frair Dexter
1B. Are there plaques on benches, walls, doorways named for people who meant something to your university?

1C. Who were they?

Paul the founder of Kinko’s,

Alex Spanos is a major housing contractor whose California net revenue nears 800 million. Alex is also the owner of the San Diego Chargers.

Walter Frair Dexter was the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Director of Education. He lived from 1886 to 1945.

1D. What did they do?

Paul Orfalea donated 15 million to the College of Business.

Alex and Faye Spanos recently pledged four million dollars to help with Phase 1 of the Mustang Stadium. They also donated one and a half million dollars for the renovation of the Theatre and Music building and the Theatre.

1E. When did they live, die or contribute something to your school?

2A. Are there signs around campus about construction?
Yes, there are signs concerning the construction of the three major projects on campus. The Aerospace engineering building, the stadium at the football field, and the new construction management building.

2B. What is being built or renovated?

There are three construction projects underway right now. One is a much needed renovation to the football stadium, which includes the addition of an impressive bleacher section over the shoulders of the visitors bench. The second construction project is to the Aerospace Engineering wing. They are adding new research space, as well as teachers offices and classrooms. The third project is for The College of Architecture and Environmental Design and is going in just downhill from the Graphic Arts building. It is called the Center for Construction Excellence and will cost an estimated 21.3 million to build. The 58,000-square-foot center will house lecture space, labs, classrooms and office space.

J203 Assignment #4

2006-10-03T16:49:00.000-07:00

Choose three story ideas for your final project. Attach as 'COMMENTS' to this post (by clicking the 'Comment' icon just below this prompt) as well as new blog entries in your own accounts. DEADLINE: Thursday (10/5/06) BEFORE CLASS.

1. Public Transportation in San Luis Obispo (Bus Schedules need to run later)
2. Comparison between Aidas and El Correl Bookstore prices to find out who sells for cheeper and who will buy back for more.
3. San Luis Obispo Safety. How many in the population of SLO feel comfortable leaving their doors unlocked during different hours in the day, in different parts of town.

J203 Assignment #3

2006-10-03T15:34:00.000-07:00

A Good Lead: Browse through a variety of print media (online or otherwise) and copy/paste three leads (must be in the first two sentences of story) that stand out to you as especially curious, engaging, humorous, off-the-wall, etc. Write a short paragraph under each lead describing why you chose it. IMPORTANT: When you're finished, post this assignment as a new blog entry (in your own blog) AND AS A
'COMMENT 'attached to this prompt (click on the 'comment' button below this prompt and sign-in under your account). DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY (10/4/06) 5pm

SOFIA (AFP) - A woman in the northern Bulgarian town of Ruse survived a car crash thanks to her silicone breasts which acted as an airbag, a newspaper has reported. Found source on Yahoo's Odd News.

I love this sentence, not only for it's wildness, but for the images that are instantly created in the readers mind and the laughs and questions that come after. When boobs are able to save a woman’s life in a car crash, my first question is, HOW big are these things?? Are they so big, that when whip-lashed, the woman's breasts hit the dashboard before her face does? That's hilarious! Also, can this become a new tactic in the future with car companies? To have fake boobs eject out of the steering wheel instead of an air bag? Can you imagine the soaring number of “accidents” that would take place each day, just so the driver can see some boobs?

OSLO, Norway - Singer Katie Melua set a world deep-water record by performing a concert 994 feet under the North Sea in the leg of an oil platform, the rig's operator said Tuesday.
This lead attracted me because of several phrases it contains. Number one would be "...World deep-water record..." Deep-water tingles the senses; the image of the mysterious deep creates curiosity. Next, "concert...in the leg of an oil platform." I want to know why! Why would someone travel to the terrifying and isolated world of an oilrig to perform a pop concert? I wanted to know if it was for a benefit, publicity, why, why why. It leads me to read on.

LITTLE ROCK - A Little Rock woman facing her fifth drunken-driving charge in the span of a year — and third in less than a month — showed up to a court appearance drunk Tuesday morning, a court official said.

I think this woman may have a drinking problem, but then again, she's funnier drunk. I wanted to know what would encourage this woman to show up to court, to fight for her rights, blasted out of her mind. Reading on I discovered that she did not DRIVE to her court date, so she's at least learned somewhat of a lesson. Drink yourself stupid lady, just pass out in the back seat of a car and have a good friend drive you to court. Well thought out. Once again though, I am lured by a hilarious, plain truth title.

J203 Assignment #2

2006-10-03T15:12:00.000-07:00

Label the components of the above news story based on what you learned in today's lecture (click on image to view a larger version). Write your responses (1-8) as a new blog entry (titled: Assignment #2). DEADLINE: Tuesday (10/3/06) 5pm

1. Story Lead
2. Nut Graph
3. Elaboration, Details of what chants were most popular and what tools, such as real dogs, were used.
4. Background, march is a significant milestone.
5. Impact quote, strongest quote by side the story is about.
6. Elaboration breaks down the types of supporters and what their goals are.
7. Reaction Elaboration paragraph, Health official’s point of view contrasting from Animal Rights activists.
8. Ending, Future Action that is planned.

Dead Week

2006-10-03T00:58:00.000-07:00

While the term Dead Week refers, for many, to the week prior to finals when classes are in review mode, it has taken on a new meaning for three American schools this past week. School ground killings. Three schools have been terrorized by armed men, two of the men being just random citizens, having no connection to the children nor the schools they made victims of. The most recent event occurred Monday afternoon, in the quite town of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, which is home to around twenty thousand quaint, non-violent Amish people. The killer, Charles Carl Roberts IV, murdered only young girls, shooting them execution-style to the back of the head. He cited mysterious claims about revenge for an incident that happened to him twenty years ago, apparently an event that had nothing to do with the Amish themselves.

Convergence of my Mind

2006-09-28T16:31:00.000-07:00

Today happens to be the day my mind will converge. Much like the numerous media mediums, I will now converge my creative and investigative mind to discover the truth in San Luis Obispo about an important issue. My interviews will be examples of third degree interrigation the CIA should take notice of and apply to the tactics used at Guantuanamo Bay.

I want this to be meaningful. So no bullshit story. I want to be the first to uncover and spread light on an issue, whether it's positive or negitive. The truth will be found!