Every Great Story Has A Beginning...

Bye Bye Blogger

2011-08-15T22:20:00.000-04:00

Sorry, but I will no longer be updating this account :(
But, you may now find me here: http://brittanyguilfoyle.wordpress.com/
Come follow me!

Moving to WordPress

2011-08-15T18:53:00.000-04:00

Hello followers & random readers!
Sorry for the lack of updates since December, but I was busy finishing my last semester of school and I've recently been dealing w/ some medical issues that have kept me away from blogging. However, I've decided to upgrade my blog (yay!). I'm currently in the process of converting all of my blog posts over to my new WordPress account! So, as soon as I'm all done, I will post the address of my new blog & deactivate this one. Get ready!

Connections and Changes

2010-12-02T13:59:00.003-05:00

Hello blog readers!

I'm trying to do more in the way of connecting all of my social networks to make it easier for others and myself. So...

I just wanted to inform everyone that you can access more articles/columns I've written on this website: http://www.mytjnow.com/.

Also, you can find out more about me and the things I've done (my credentials) here: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brittanyguilfoyle.

I'll be in the process of making great changes to my blog within the next month or so as well.

Until my next post, Happy Holidays! :)

Student Hero Newspaper Story

2010-11-28T18:52:00.003-05:00

By: Brittany Guilfoyle

She takes a paintbrush to her canvas and finishes the last touches on the indifferent face of a young African boy. The powerful and motivational qualities of the painting characterize far more than just the boy, though, they represent the artist. Corinne Owens, daughter of Tim and Ruth Owens, hails from Summerville, S.C., and spends much of her time doing volunteer work in her hometown and in Rock Hill, S.C., where she is a senior at Winthrop University. At the age of 10, Owens volunteered for the first time when she helped build homes for Habitat for Humanity. Since then, a passion for helping others has only grown for the 21-year-old. Owens, an English literature major, works many hours throughout the week at The Limited in Pineville, N.C., but unlike many college students, she donates her free time to several good causes.

Establishing a legacy

As a student, she founded the Winthrop chapter of the African Awareness Coalition (AAC), part of the Progressive Student Network, and currently serves as the organization’s vice president. The AAC is a student-led organization that works to end social violence and conflict in Africa through political action, raising awareness and canvassing, according to Winthrop’s website. “In the past, we’ve (organization members) volunteered with and organized protests in Charlotte and we’ve lobbied in Washington, D.C.,” Owens said. “It’s really important for people to just know about what’s going on in Africa.” The AAC also uses the non-profit organizations Invisible Children and STAND to help inform others about the crisis in Africa; Owens said working for Invisible Children has been her best volunteer work experience so far. “I’m really passionate about their cause,” she said, “and anytime you really feel strongly about something, you’re going to enjoy it.” Last year, Owens became the 2009 campaign state director for STAND, based out of Georgetown, S.C.

Making a difference

She also works closely alongside Resolve Uganda, the organization More Than Me, which assists children in developing countries by getting them off the streets and into schools, and the Free People Free People organization, which rescues people from slavery and promotes freedom. For Owens, devoting her life to those in need is like a responsibility, she said. “I feel like we’re in this world for a certain amount of time,” she said. “If I’m a citizen of this community or of our world, being a part of it, I have to contribute.” And her achievements don’t stop there. Owens is a member of the Winthrop chapter’s Pre-Law Society and she works with Model United Nations. Her minor in peace, justice and conflict resolution studies also coincides with her membership in Amnesty International.

Enhancing lives near and far

At Winthrop, she serves as the community service chair for the sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma, where she contacts non-profit groups in Rock Hill and establishes partnerships with them. The sisters of the sorority then separate into teams and do volunteer work for these groups for a long-term, unspecified time period. Around the Rock Hill area, Owens volunteers at Safe Passage and has previously worked as a first-grade tutor at Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church; she was a school youth adviser at Summerville Presbyterian Church in her hometown. Her love for working with people and for people drives her, she said, calling volunteering “one of the most rewarding experiences.” Owens is now in the process of helping to raise money for the Invisible Children Schools for Schools campaign that ends in December.

Looking ahead

As for her future plans, she said she wants to attend law school and work in public interest with the hope of advocating for children and eventually do legal work for a non-profit organization. “I want to volunteer the rest of my life; it’s what makes me happy, and I enjoy it,” she said. “So, it’s not really work; it’s a fun time.” Despite the fact some people may consider her a hero, Owens thinks otherwise. For her, volunteering comes naturally. “I don’t really think I’m a hero because I feel like I’m just doing what I should do and I feel like everyone else can do that as well,” she said.

Student Hero Slideshow: Corinne Owens

2010-10-22T17:45:00.005-04:00

By: Brittany Guilfoyle

Student Corinne Owens devotes her life to helping others in need.

Owens, daughter of Tim and Ruth Owens, hails from Summerville, S.C., and spends much of her time doing volunteer work in her hometown and in Rock Hill, S.C., where she is a senior at Winthrop University.

This slideshow features pictures detailing the 21-year-old English literature major's work in a variety of the organizations and events she is involved with. These include:

African Awareness Coalition (with the Progressive Student Network)
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Model UN
Summerville Presbyterian Church middle school youth adviser

Additional organizations she volunteers for (not featured in the slideshow) include:

Amnesty International
Pre-Law Society
STAND
Resolve Uganda
Invisible Children
Safe Passage in Rock Hill
Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church first grade tutor
Habitat for Humanity
More Than Me
Free People Free People

The slideshow mostly presents pictures from "I Am Abducted: Come to the Rescue," which Owens participated in on April 25, 2009. This activity, held in Charlotte, N.C., brought to light the issue of Joseph Kony's child soldiers in Africa.

Corinne Owens: Student Hero at Winthrop University

2010-09-24T16:43:00.010-04:00

Corinne Owens

Winthrop Student Fights for Multiple Causes

By: Brittany Guilfoyle

Some people stop at nothing to help others, 21-year-old Corinne Owens is one of them.

Owens, a senior English literature major from Summerville, S.C., has spent the last 11 years of her life devoted to volunteering.

As a student at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., she founded the Winthrop chapter of the African Awareness Coalition (AAC) and now serves as the vice president.

Other clubs and organizations she is involved with include: Amnesty International, the Pre-Law Society, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Model UN, STAND, Resolve Uganda,

Invisible Children, More Than Me and Free People Free People.

Listen at: http://wugirl11.podbean.com/mf/we b/w8q4cw/HeroPodcast.mp3 to learn more about Owens' life, what she does and what she plans to do in the future.

South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

2010-03-31T16:35:00.002-04:00

The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was established to allow ordinary citizens to have access to information concerning government actions at many levels. The law guarantees every person the right to attain official documents and records and to attend government meetings. The General Assembly updated the law in 1987, 1998, 2000 and, most recently, 2003.

“The General Assembly finds that it is vital in a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and public manner so that citizens shall be advised of the performance of public officials and of the decisions that are reached in public activity and public policy,” said Henry McMaster, South Carolina attorney general.

South Carolina’s FOIA is divided into sections that cover many different aspects of the law. First, it determines which government bodies are subject to the FOIA. If public funds support a body, or if a body expends public funds, then it is subject to scrutiny. However, health care affairs, medical disciplinary matters, case evaluations and peer reviews are “exempt” from the FOIA, according to www.scstatehouse.gov. Social Security numbers and student academic records follow under this category, too.

The FOIA applies to public records, which constitute books, papers, photographs, recordings, tapes and computer data that a public body has possessed, prepared or retained. But domestic security information and trade secrets are an exception. Any person may review a public item as long as it is not prohibited by other parts of the law. During business hours, certain basic records, such as meeting minutes, must be offered to the public on-the-spot wit

hout a written demand.

Citizens have the right to attend public meetings also. A public meeting is determined by if a quorum exists, which means there is enough people present to cast an official vote. This includes in-person meetings, social gatherings and conference telephone calls. If a quorum is present at a public business meeting, it should be op

en and announced to citizens and the media prior to its start, according to the official South Carolina FOIA code of laws.

Freedom of Information Laws exist that some people do not even realize:

If a contract or property sale is being negotiated, these records may be protected from the public until after the deal is finished.
The public may know the compensations of public bodies.
If faculty members at state institutions of higher education file research records or collect data, they may be hidden from the public.
Certain meetings regarding the investment of public employee retirement funds may be closed to the public.

“The best governments – state, county and community – offer the greatest access to their activities and records,” said John Shurr, chairman on the S.C. Press Association Freedom of Information Committee.

Sunshine Week, an annual nationwide campaign designed to encourage open government and freedom of information, recently ran from March 14-20. Numerous South Carolina media outlets and citizens participate in the event each year, which originally began in 2005. FOI laws are frequently called “Sunshine Laws” because they “let the light shine in on government meetings and records,” according to Shurr.

Check out this brief video for more information about Sunshine Week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t2XNb6Zvrw

Obama Weighs in on Recession, Future

2010-01-25T16:00:00.010-05:00

Many Americans today are familiar with the phrase "change we can believe in."

But what "changes" have President Barack Obama made since being sworn into office on Jan. 20, 2009?

He has tried to tackle numerous important issues, such as health care, education and the war in Iraq, but one of the main problems he continues to face has drawn much criticism from others - the recession.

When Obama began his first presidential term, the unemployment rate in this nation was 7.7 percent, compared to a now all-time high of 10 percent one year later.

What happened to the $787 billion economic stimulus bill that was passed into law back in February of 2009?

According to MSNBC.com, more than half of the seven million-plus jobs in our country have been eliminated since the recession began in December of 2007.

On the evening of Jan. 27, 2010, Obama will be giving his State of the Union speech, and some citizens are eager to hear what his next move will be concerning job losses in the U.S.

Republican Fears More Harm Than Good

In mid-November of 2009, Obama said, “The economic growth that we’ve seen has not yet led to the job growth that we desperately need.”

Some would consider this an understatement.

Senior Republican on the Ways and Means Committee, Representative Dave Camp of Michigan, rejects Obama's new ideas.

“What will help middle-class families most is creating jobs and reducing the unemployment rate, but these proposals won’t do either,” Mr. Camp announced. “Moreover, if these proposals are coupled with higher taxes or more mandates on small businesses, the President’s plan could end up making it tougher for middle-class families to find a job.”

Recession Impacts Americans

About 50 percent of Americans who are unemployed said the recession has been a "hardship" on them and caused major life changes, according to a recent nationwide poll of unemployed Americans conducted by the New York Times and CBS News.

In addition, only five percent of people said the recession has not had much of an effect on them. Twenty-two percent think the job market in their area will just get worse.

House Minority Leader John Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, said, "Americans are asking ‘Where are the jobs?’ But none of the proposals outlined by the White House today would, in fact, create jobs...It’s past time for the White House to scrap its job-killing agenda and work in a bipartisan way to create jobs for the American people.”

When will Americans see this "change" that we used to believe?

Obama to Reveal New Five-point Plan

Tomorrow night, Obama will explain a new agenda that could create more jobs for Americans and finally allow the economy to begin to heal.

The five key themes of this plan, according to politico.com, include:

Nearly doubling the child and dependent care tax credit for middle class families making less than $85,000 a year
Limiting a student’s federal loan payments to 10 percent of his or her income above a basic living allowance
Creating a system of automatic workplace IRAs, requiring all employers to give the option for employees to enroll in a direct-deposit IRA
Expanding tax credits to match retirement savings and enacting new safeguards to protect retirement savings, making it easier for families to plan for retirement
Expanding support for families balancing work with caring for elderly relatives, helping them manage their multiple responsibilities and allowing seniors to live in the community for as long as possible

Maybe this time promises will turn into actions.

Crimestoppers Wants Deadbeat Parents

2010-01-24T17:13:00.009-05:00

The York County Detention Center (YCDC) and the sheriff's department don't take unpaid child support fees lightly. They are always in search of York County's "deadbeat" parents, and, even citizens are encouraged to help in this fight for justice.

The YCDC Web site features a special section for the area's most wanted deadbeat parents, and it also provides information on how anyone can submit tips in hopes of bringing in these offenders.

If you know a deadbeat parent and would like to report him or her, Crime Stoppers is asking you to submit as much information you know as possible. Call 877-409-4321 to help, while remaining anonymous. You may be eligible for a cash reward.

To submit an online anonymous tip, click here to enter all information pertaining to a crime or wanted person.

Remember to keep the following questions in mind when entering information:

How do you know about this crime?
Did the person who committed the crime tell you about it?
Do you know the name of the person who committed the crime?
What does the person look like?
Where is this person living or where does he or she hang out?
When and where did you last see this person?

As of now, the number of York County deadbeat parents at large is 27 - two females and 25 males. These individuals owe anywhere from $3,619.22 to $105,699.64.

Please contact Crime Stoppers if you know any information regarding the following top three or any other wanted deadbeat parents of York County:

Tyrone Glover, 35, from Catawba, S.C., owes over $100,000 in back-child support. He was last seen on June 28, 2007, and also has a family court bench warrant for his arrest.

James Lee Johnson, 57, from Charlotte, N.C., owes $60,830.14. He was last seen on Jan. 1, 2001, and also has two family court bench warrants for his arrest.

Dennis Erby, 45, from Rock Hill, S.C., owes $51,303.24. He was last seen on March 22, 2007, and also has a family court bench warrant for his arrest.

York County Detention Center Protects Community

2010-01-24T11:17:00.003-05:00

The York County Detention Center (YCDC) in South Carolina prides itself on keeping criminal offenders off the streets. Each year, hundreds of inmates pass through the YCDC and become confined to the inside of a cell. Listed below are mugshots and information regarding the 10 most recently arrested York County individuals (compiled from the sheriff department's Web site).

Terrice Milton Cherry, 23, was booked on Jan. 24, 2010. He is charged with driving under suspension and operating an uninsured motor vehicle (first offense). Cherry has also been booked three previous times from 2007 to 2009 for charges including: unlawful carrying of a weapon, probation violation, pointing and presenting firearms at a person and public disorderly conduct. He is from Rock Hill, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
John Frank Howell, 36, was booked on Jan. 24, 2010. He is charged with breach of peace. Howell was also booked once in July of 2008 on public disorderly conduct charges. He is from Hickory Grove, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
Damon Christopher Sumter, 36, was booked on Jan. 23, 2010. He is charged with driving under the influence (first offense). Sumter has no prior arrests. He is from Fort Mill, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
Adam Kasey Martin, 20, was booked on Jan. 23, 2010. He is charged with malicious intent to personal property exceeding $1,000 (but less than $5,000), pointing and presenting firearms at a person and public and disorderly conduct. Martin was also booked once in May of 2007 for possession of marijuana (first offense), reckless driving and operating an unsafe vehicle. He is from Clover, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
LaKrystle Chinyere Caldwell, 26, was booked on Jan. 23, 2010. He is charged with speeding (over 10 mph but under 15 mph), transportation of alcohol with a broken seal in a motor vehicle, incorrectly displayed tag, giving false information and failure to maintain proof of insurance in the vehicle. Caldwell has also been booked five previous times since Oct. of 2001, on charges including: failure to appear, speeding, shoplifting, fradulent checks and commitment. She is from Rock Hill, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
Tarrance Antoin Barber, 38, was booked on Jan. 23, 2010. He is charged with shoplifting (third offense). Barber has also been booked four previous times from 2002 to 2009 for charges including: criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, assault and battery, failure to appear, kidnapping and burglary (first degree). He is from Rock Hill, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
Travis Quanta Foster, 28, was booked on Jan. 23, 2010. He is charged with burglary (first degree), armed robbery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, assault and battery with intent to kill and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Foster has been booked three times prior in 2002 on charges of possession of crack, resisting arrest, possession of a handgun by a minor, failure to stop for blue lights and larceny exceeding $5,000. He is from Rock Hill, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
Ronnie Lamar Meeks, 28, was booked on Jan. 23, 2010. He is charged with possession of marijuana, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and possession of cocaine near a school. Meeks was also booked once in January of 2008 on possession of crack cocaine charges. He is from Rock Hill, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
Elder Exequiel Flores-Gomez, 19, was booked on Jan. 22, 2010. He is charged with holding for another agency. Flores-Gomez has no prior arrests. He is from Rock Hill, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
Jaime Hernandez-Guerrero, 33, was booked on Jan. 22, 2010. He is charged with holding for another agency. Hernandez-Guerrero has no prior arrests. He is from Rock Hill, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.

Fiber to the Rescue

2009-11-19T14:42:00.012-05:00

In the Western Hemisphere, especially in the United States, cardiovascular disease (CVD) rates continue to increase. It is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, along with cancer, which together make up 51 percent of all deaths, according to the 2009 Wellness Reports from the University of California at Berkeley.

The occurrence of this disease is partly attributable to unhealthy lifestyle patterns and diets that are high in saturated fat and sugar and are low in fruit, vegetables and fiber.

Studies Favor Fiber

Clinical trials, which evaluate the effectiveness of specific treatments for an identified medical condition, have proven that dietary habits affect multiple cardiovascular risk factors in both established risk factors (blood pressure, cholesterol levels and obesity) and new ones (inflammation), according to the American Heart Association.

In one meta-analysis, a healthy eating pattern was shown to reduce the risk of coronary death or nonfatal myocardial infarction (heart attack) when it was compared to an unhealthy eating pattern among men and women (mean age of 50) at the time of their dietary assessment, according to the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,” which often provides updates on the long-term effects of dietary patterns and the risk of coronary heart disease. A meta-analysis pools together the results of studies that have investigated a specific effect and develops a conclusion using the reviewed results.

Cohort studies, which follow a large number of people over a specific time period, have found a “consistent protective effect of dietary fiber on CVD outcomes,” according to “Cardiovascular Research,” a medical journal.

In fact, the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” reported that recent research in a national sample, conducted in the United States, has discovered a positive relationship between dietary fiber intake and inflammatory markers. Inflammation of the heart’s arteries, tissues or muscles can result in CVD.

Furthermore, a cross-sectional study, which determines whether any risk factors are present and can be associated with the development of a particular disease, analyzed the connection between dietary fiber intake and CVD risk factors in adult men and women. It concluded that those with the highest total dietary fiber intakes were associated with having a much lower risk of high blood pressure, which can foster CVD.

Watch What You Eat

Thirty-five grams of fiber is the recommended daily amount for men (25 grams for women).

Here are some fruits and vegetables that contain the most dietary fiber:

Apples
Bananas
Oranges
Spinach
Artichokes
Broccoli

In addition, saturated fat should be avoided and substituted with monounsaturated fat or polyunsaturated fat if possible. Saturated fat is found mostly in animal sources like red meat and whole milk dairy products. Fried foods, such as most fast foods, are cooked in oil that contains unhealthy trans fat; overweight people have more fat in their blood. These fats enter the bloodstream, form clumps and leave plaque on artery walls, which makes them narrower. High blood pressure and blood clots can result from this. Saturated fat also raises the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol that increases a person’s risk of coronary heart disease.

The article that focuses on the updated American Heart Association guidelines for cardiovascular health, Tufts University Health and Nutrition Letter, advised people to limit their saturated fat intake to less than 7 percent of their total calories, which is down from the suggested 10 percent in 2000.

Discrimination Dominates Occupation That Reports on Discrimination

2009-11-19T13:45:00.010-05:00

Newspapers often run stories about local and national diversity-related issues, but it’s within newsrooms across America where these issues seem to lie.

One-third of the U.S. population consists of people of color, but as of 2007, at least 392 newspapers had no minorities at all on their staffs, according to the article "Newsroom Numbers: Good and Bad."

Dori Maynard, president of the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education and a board member of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation, thinks newsroom managers should put as much effort into ensuring a diverse staff as they do coming up with creative story ideas.

"If we don't see much diversity of race and ethnicity in our personal lives," Maynard said. "it may be harder to take in our responsibilities to an increasingly mixed society."

Newsrooms Need Culture Shock

Many media researchers have identified what they consider a white-centered bias in the news, and according to experimental psychologists and human resources experts, hiring and promotion procedures may in fact "shut people out."

The number of journalists of color within participating newsrooms has consistently stayed at approximately 13 percent for the past few years
This percentage decreased in 2006
Sixteen percent of online newspaper journalists are of color

The American Society of Newspaper Editors compiled these statistics.

Doomed Future?

Decreased circulation, increased publication costs and dwindled newsroom staffs have become the forefront problems facing newspaper companies today, but are managers really giving readers what they want?

"You're not going to grow your readership if you dismiss 30 percent of the population," Maynard said. "It just won't work."

Maybe, as an industry, we think that good intentions can make up for quantity, he said.

"An inclusive newsroom environment led to improved quantity and quality in news coverage of minorities," according to a recent study by researchers Ted Pease of Utah State University, Erna Smith of San Francisco State University and Federico Subervi of Texas State University-San Marcos.

Journalists can shift newsroom culture to reflect social reality if the right measures are taken.

Jessica Pickens - Fast and Furious

2009-11-05T10:35:00.001-05:00

A video about drag racing...

Death Penalty Discriminates Against African-Americans

2009-11-01T12:13:00.014-05:00

Capital Punishment in the United States, the most severe of all punishments, is unfair because it is discriminatory against African-Americans.

Fairness implies that any person charged with a capital crime offense, regardless of race, economic status or geographic location, will receive the same treatment under the law than any other person charged with the same crime, according to Diane Henningfeld, editor of "The Death Penalty – Opposing Viewpoints."

However, this is simply not the case in America.

It has been proven by various forms of statistical data that the death penalty defines race as a determining factor of who receives it.

Here are some shocking statistics, from editor Mary Williams, that prove the injustices of the United States' capital punishment system:

Murderers of whites are four times more likely to receive the death penalty than murderers of blacks
Since the death penalty was restored in 1976, only six white people have been executed for murdering a black person, while 112 black people have been executed for murdering whites
More than 20 percent of black defendants who have been executed were convicted by all-white juries

The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP), which is comprised of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Urban League (NUL) and 140 other organizations, complains that capital punishment is overwhelmingly reserved for racial minorities as well.

"We cannot be blind to the fact that actual executions have taken place primarily in the South and in at least a racially suspect manner," said Jack Greenberg, law professor at Columbia University.

Countless samples of statistical data and personal accounts support his allegation.

Race strictly disadvantages black jurors, black victims and black defendants.

For instance, in the 2002 U.S. Supreme Court case, Miller-El v. Dretke, a black Texas death row inmate, Thomas Miller-El, petitioned the federal courts to enforce the rule of Batson v. Kentucky, which prohibits racial discrimination in the exercise of peremptory challenges in jury selection. Miller-El claimed that Dallas County prosecutors engaged in a racially-influenced jury selection at the time of his trial in 1986 when they eliminated 10 out of 11 competent black panelists. Fortunately, prosecutors announced in July of 2005 that they would pursue a new trial. This information is compiled by the Death Penalty Information Center.

Another U.S. Supreme Court case that fought racial discrimination was the notorious 1987 McCleskey v. Kemp case in which Warren McCleskey, convicted of armed robbery and murder, argued that the death penalty was racially bigoted.

In addition, a number of reported inaccuracies transpire in the U.S. capital punishment system involving African-Americans.

Errors in death penalty cases occur much more frequently in states with higher proportions of African-Americans than in states with fewer African-Americans, according to James Liebman, a professor at Columbia Law School.

"I think blacks get harsher sentences than whites and are accused more," said Samantha Furtick, a 20-year-old junior and graphic design major at Winthrop University. She is a capital punishment advocate who is actually aware of and admits that faults exist within the system.

“If I declare there is a racial issue at hand or there isn’t a racial issue at hand, my race will lend me more credibility for either position than a person of color will have,” said Peggy McIntosh, a scholar of women’s studies at Wellesley College and the author of "White Privilege." Her personal generalization reinforces the notion that Caucasians have superiority over African-Americans in society, which even extends to the courtroom.

To me, it is no coincidence that black defendants are much more likely to be executed than white defendants. The truth is that those who commit crimes against African-Americans are penalized less harshly than those who commit crimes against whites.

America has a system of capital punishment that results in inconsistent and arbitrary executions that perpetrate death to those not based on what they have or have not done, but what color their skin is.

School Voucher Programs - Helpful or Harmful?

2009-10-31T16:59:00.020-04:00

An opponent of school voucher programs talks with three female opponents at a successful campaign to eliminate programs in Utah on Nov. 6, 2007.

School voucher programs are designed to provide students with a fixed dollar amount per year to attend the school of their choice.

The concept of these programs has been a principal topic politically, economically, constitutionally, and socially, and this concern has long been praised or detested by various kinds of people: the general public as taxpayers, students, parents, and teachers.

In my opinion, a problem exists when funds for school vouchers rival with funds improving and benefitting America’s public schools.

First, school vouchers are unconstitutional because they violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment that calls for the separation of church and state, according to William Trainor, writer of the article "The Controversial School Voucher Issue."

Secondly, competition raised by school vouchers will result in the poor being left behind in substandard schools.

This income-influenced choice using school vouchers will initiate division and segregation among young and impressionable students. Why encourage a practice that Americans fought so hard to get rid of in the '50s and '60s?

Public schools are entirely funded by the U.S. government with U.S. tax dollars. If the parents of a school-age child choose for their son or daughter to attend a private school, then a voucher is distributed to the family, and it pays the cost of tuition at the private school.

Some people argue that, since every parent has the option to send his or her child to a religious or non-religious school, the government would not be infringing the First Amendment.

However, it is my conviction that school voucher programs infringe upon the wall of separation between church and state; vouchers offer state funds to religious schools.

Actually, about 85 percent of private schools are religious, according to the National Education Association (NEA).

In fact, the NEA thinks school vouchers are a means of "eluding constitutional prohibitions against sponsoring religious practice and instruction."

In a major 2000 court case, Bush et al v. Holmes et al, Florida's school voucher program was ruled unconstitutional by a state circuit judge.

In addition, a 2000 Cleveland, Ohio, voucher program was rejected after a ruling found that the program was unconstitutional (Zelman v. Simmons-Harris).

“Americans must be free to contribute only to the religious groups of their choosing," according to Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU).

To me, religious ideas and practices do not belong in the classroom, but in homes and churches.

If the government begins to fully subsidize religious schools, then what other kinds of schools could it start to back as well?

Many supporters of school voucher programs think that, without competition, not a large enough incentive exists to improve efficiency. Private schools funded by school vouchers usually have a good reputation and produce positive results. They have accountability and can be more flexible with their teaching techniques. Measures of character and academic achievement are usually always better at private schools, too, according to Joe Messerli, author of the article "Should Government Vouchers Be Given to Pay for Private Schools?"

Lastly, Messerli writes that enthusiasts of school voucher programs deliberate that the option of expensive private schools often leads to schools that are slightly segregated, however, proposing vouchers would "present more diversity to all schools since choice would no longer be a factor of income."

In my opinion, school voucher programs do not offer a better alternative to government-provided education.

Choice will take away necessary funds from public schools and, consequently, the quality of public education in America will suffer. A voucher program is an unsatisfactory way to regulate access to an education.

Cost effectiveness is another problem with school voucher programs.

Instead of spending the reported $65 million a year by foundations and individuals to promote vouchers, according to the NEA, they should be using that money to help fund and improve already-established public schools.

Public schools are failing because they cannot manage to cover the escalating costs of teachers, technology, security, books, and supplies. They are also subject to government supervision and increased rules and regulations. A stricter control is placed on the teaching methods and education in the public school system. However, private schools are not held responsible to any oversight organization.

It is my belief that vouchers are not intended to assist low-income children; they are part of an elitist strategy to fund students in private schools.

“With the help of taxpayers’ dollars, private schools will be filled with well-to-do and middle-class students and a handful of the best, most motivated students from inner cities. Some public schools will be left with fewer dollars to teach the poorest of the poor," according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

Moreover, private schools are often very costly and are not dispersed in urban or inner city areas, therefore, impoverished parents who cannot afford the private tuition have to resort to the public schools in their district, according to Messerli.

This practice leads me to believe that vouchers generate greater segregation of students by race and wealth.

Isn't America supposed to be the land of equal opportunity?

Heartbreaking News Improves Health

2009-10-29T13:08:00.019-04:00

He ate like almost every other carefree kid who grew up in the southern mountains of Elizabethton, Tenn. Fast food, fried food and milkshakes were his “artery-clogging” foods of choice.

However, Lawrence Timbs, now 61, still managed to keep a lean physique. As a young adult, he had no health problems related to his non-nutritious eating habits.

After graduating from high school at age 17, he joined the United States Air Force and served four years. He eventually earned a bachelor’s degree from Christopher Newport College in Virginia and a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Iowa while working as a journalism instructor.

He worked in Shelbyville, Ky., for seven years as a general manager, editor, news editor, and reporter for Landmark Community Newspapers, Inc. as well.

Timbs first arrived at Winthrop University in 1985; he was in his late 30s. Not until 10 to 15 years later, however, did the effects of his “voracious” appetite seem to catch up with him.

Weight gain became a serious issue for him in 2005, and he started to notice that he did not have any energy. The problem grew even worse the following year, but he still was not too concerned. By 2007, he could not walk up a staircase without “huffing and puffing.”
“I was in denial,” Timbs said.

Some people face the “nutrition facts of life” at an early age.

Winthrop nutrition professor Alice Sutton, 57, grew up in various parts of California eating her mother’s cooked-from-scratch foods and nutritious meals. She never ate fast food, drank sodas or had sweet tea in her home. Sutton said her mother’s ways taught her the importance of maintaining a well-balanced, healthy diet.

Eventually, she earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of California – Davis and a master’s degree in public health from the University of California – Berkeley.

Before teaching at Winthrop, she worked for 25 years as a clinical dietician. Her work experience includes counseling people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Sutton also worked as a public health nutritionist at high-risk maternity clinics and with pediatricians.

Because she did most of her work in North and South Carolina, she said she “understands Southern eating patterns and how they changed in the past century.” She also said she knows how these patterns have influenced health and longevity.

In early 2008, at a weight of 206 pounds, Timbs finally came to the realization that something was wrong. He took a stress test at the Veteran’s Hospital in Johnson City, Tenn. One of his cardiologists saw problems with the results, so he had to have a heart catheterization procedure. The chief of cardiology revealed that his heart had one blocked artery and another that was almost blocked.

The occurrence of this disease is partly attributable to unhealthy lifestyle patterns, like those of Timbs, and diets that are high in saturated fat and sugar and are low in fruit, vegetables and fiber.

Timbs’ cardiologist prevented him from going back to Winthrop until something was done to correct his heart problem. The solution was double-bypass open-heart surgery in April 2008 at the Asheville Veteran’s Medical Center in North Carolina. He thinks the need for surgery came partly as a result of his poor diet.

Before his surgical procedure, Timbs blogged on Monday, April 1, 2009, about his thoughts. He wrote about how he was “just waiting and trying to stay positive.”

Fortunately, the surgery turned out to be successful, and he referred to it as a “transformative experience” and a “wake-up call.”

During his recovery, his doctor advised him to change his lifestyle by eating healthily. He understood that, in order for this to never happen again, he would definitely have to make that change.

Some people do not make the change until it is too late. On Saturday, May 26, 2007, Don Thompson, a 66-year-old retired exterminator, suffered a massive heart attack at his home in Inman, S.C.

Following his typical weekend routine, he woke up around 6:30 a.m. to read while enjoying a big bowl of Lucky Charms with two-percent milk. He changed into clothes he could get dirty since he was going to spend time tinkering in his workshop in the garage and later do yard work.

Thompson was out there for about two hours before he started to feel ill.

“It felt like a volcano was erupting in my chest,” he said.

The tightening and pain in his chest grew worse, and he began to develop breathing difficulties.

When he went inside his home, his wife Julie immediately became concerned and drove him to the hospital.

Plaque buildup had formed in the arteries of his heart and created blockages, which led to the heart attack and, subsequently, quadruple-bypass open-heart surgery on Thursday, May 31. He was clinically declared dead twice on the operating table.

His unhealthy diet, which consisted of Julie’s sweet homemade desserts, he believes, heavily contributed to his heart troubles.

“Before my heart attack, I was like the man in those Hungry Man commercials,” he said. “I ate large portion sizes and loved my meat.”

Over two years later, Thompson is back to helping his wife landscape the yard and singing in the Motlow Creek Baptist Church quartet.

After his heart surgery, his doctor, like Timbs’, advised him to alter his eating habits.

“This is the only life I have. I need to take better care of it,” he said.

It took him almost a year before Thompson to “feel like himself” again.

“It was a slow and frustrating process,” he said, “but taking the advice of my doctors about what to eat and how to exercise really made the difference.”

In his blog, Timbs wrote about how hard it was to be “smart” about what he ate and did. He began to alter his food choices by avoiding the consumption of red meat and fatty foods. Recommended instead were skim milk, grape juice, carrots, oatmeal, and baked white meats.

By also incorporating more servings of non-starchy fruits and vegetables into his diet, the amount of fiber in his body increased as well, which has proven to be beneficial to the heart.

Thirty-five grams of fiber is the recommended daily amount for men (25 grams for women). Eliminating saturated fats and sugary sweets from his diet was partly responsible for his quick recovery from the heart surgery procedure. Saturated fat should be avoided and substituted with monounsaturated fat or polyunsaturated fat if possible. Saturated fat is found mostly in animal sources like red meat and whole milk dairy products. Sutton explained that fried foods, such as most fast foods, are cooked in oil that contains unhealthy trans fat; overweight people have more fat in their blood. These fats enter the bloodstream, form clumps and leave plaque on artery walls, which makes them narrower. High blood pressure and blood clots can result from this. Saturated fat also raises the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol that increases a person’s risk of coronary heart disease. The article that focuses on the updated American Heart Association guidelines for cardiovascular health, Tufts University Health and Nutrition Letter, advised people to limit their saturated fat intake to less than 7 percent of their total calories, which is down from the suggested10 percent in 2000.

Sugar has negative effects on the body, and the amount a person consumes in a daily diet should be restricted. Helpguide.org, a non-profit Web site, reported that in a year, just one daily 12-ounce can of soda, which is equal to 160 calories, can increase a person’s weight by 16 pounds; obesity is a risk factor for many different kinds of heart problems. Sugar, a carbohydrate, also fills the body with empty calories that lack essential vitamins and nutrients. More than a year after his surgery, Timbs continues to be cautious. He exercises at the Lois Rhame West Health, Physical Education and Wellness Center three times a week and has dropped down to 183 pounds.

He has experienced many positive things from dieting and exercising, which is something he thinks everyone should be doing, too.

“I have more stamina and I feel stronger,” he said, “I can ride a bike and hike.” Exercise and weight control should be incorporated as a routine part of a person’s lifestyle in order to stay healthy.

The American College of Sports Medicine stated that health benefits occur with energy expenditures as low as 700 calories per week, with more benefits occurring at higher levels. These benefits include maintaining a healthy heart. It also reported that the suggested daily energy expenditure for health is 150 to 400 calories per day.

Timbs’ new commitment to eating healthily has allowed him to take on many active roles at Winthrop. He now serves as the faculty adviser to the Winthrop chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, is on the South Carolina Press Association Collegiate Division Committee and is the adviser to The Johnsonian weekly student newspaper.

Instead of giving in to the sweet, creamy milkshakes, juicy hamburgers and crispy french fries, which he still “dearly loves,” he has opted not to return to his unhealthy southern Tennessee ways.

Senior Caty Fullerton, a 23-year-old journalism major from Spartanburg, S.C., is a former three-time student of Professor Timbs.

She had him for media writing before his heart surgery, and she had him again for news editing and feature writing after his heart surgery. In addition, Fullerton worked alongside Timbs on the Winthrop chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists from 2007 until 2009. She was the president and he was the faculty advisor.

Before his heart surgery, she recalls him complaining about being tired sometimes, even though she never really noticed him being sluggish.

“His biggest change, to me, was definitely emotional,” she said.

After the surgery, she remembers him talking about how he had to change his lifestyle and eating habits in order to stay healthy. He told the students in his classes that he had to work out more, and Fullerton said she has run into him exercising at the West Center and other places often.

Personally, she thinks diet and exercise certainly play a large part in heart health. In her opinion, whether a person only diets or only exercises, either way presents some effort on his or her part.

“You can’t be too healthy,” she said, “but some effort is better than none.” Growing evidence, from numerous sources and Timbs’ experience, indicates that heart health can be managed with a proper diet rich in fruits, vegetables and fiber, as long as saturated fat and sugar amounts are regulated and exercise and weight control become a permanent part of a person’s lifestyle.

Listen here for additional information on heart health.

President Obama Tackles Health Care Debate

2009-09-08T14:46:00.008-04:00

The healthcare system in the United States is currently costing the government $2.5 trillion, and 46 million Americans do not even have it, according to an MSNBC online article.

So how does President Obama plan on solving this problem in a way that we can all be happy? Americans are skeptical of what he can do. Democrats want a reform policy so they can choose their own healthcare. Republicans want nothing to do with it.

Obama simply wants to “improve the quality and bring down the costs” of our healthcare system, as well as “expand coverage,” according to MSNBC. He is ready to negotiate and make peace, but it might still be hard for him to make a connection with Americans. According to the Chicago Tribune, the president has already given close to 30 speeches on health-care reform, and the people “still don’t know exactly what he wants.”

However, Obama thinks that now is the time to focus on what could be one of the largest challenges he will have to face in his presidency. “It’s time to do what’s right for America’s working families, to put aside the partisanship, to come together as a nation, to pass health insurance reform now – this year,” said Obama.

On Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009, President Obama will address the nation and Congress about the controversial topic of healthcare. Many people think that this debate will head down a bumpy path, but if Obama finds an appropriate solution to this crisis, then it might become the defining moment in his presidency. What will result from this is still up in the air, but some of America’s labor force are expecting the worst.

Dr. James Rosenberg, a gastroenterologist, is worried about what could happen if it becomes mandatory for all patients’ files to be registered into a “national electronic health record database under federal auspices,” according to the Chicago Tribune. He is concerned about patients’ rights to privacy and the possibility of the files being hacked into.

Even though President Obama’s popularity and poll numbers have dropped significantly since his election and he has received criticism for America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, the White House and his reputation may be redeemed when he hits his stride – talking on Americans’ televisions all across the nation on Wednesday night.

Everyday is a Winding Road - A Profile of Sheryl Crow

2009-09-04T19:53:00.002-04:00

“I was not a person growing up that ever thought I was going to be well known or famous,” said Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Sheryl Crow.

She was raised in the small town of Kennett, located on the border of Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri. It was a small, quiet place with characteristics that describe most old-fashioned towns in Southern America; a courthouse “downtown,” farmers and church goers.

Crow’s parents, who have been married now for 51 years, incorporated music into their household since she was born. They both studied and appreciated music, played instruments, and they even played in a swing band when Crow was a kid.

“On weekends, they would bring all their friends home after their gigs and stay up smoking and playing records, drinking. It was just what I thought every kid grew up with,” she said.

By the age of four, she could play by ear. Crow said she always found her “identity” in music, and that is how she knew what "direction" to go in.

Growing up in a small town, she enjoyed listening to musicians Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen on the radio. These songwriters, she said, were her biggest influences.

When she was younger, she took piano lessons along with her three siblings. Out of the four of them, three of them, including Sheryl, majored in classical piano in college. She attended the University of Missouri and received a music degree.

Her first professional gig as a singer happened in Los Angeles, Calif., when she was featured on records by Johnny Mathis and Rod Stewart. However, her biggest break came when she auditioned for a spot on the Michael Jackson Bad tour, and she got it.

“That (touring) made a huge difference in my career,” Crow said, “It was very life changing and a great learning experience.”

Three years after touring with Jackson, she landed a record deal and created her first album, which came out in 1994 when she was already 29 years old.

“I really got my start much later than what rock and roll originally was designed for,” she said.

The title of her debut album, “The Tuesday Night Music Club,” resulted from a group of musicians, including Crow, who would “jam” on Tuesday nights. Its first single did nothing compared to the response from the forth and last single, “All I Wanna Do,” which become the record's biggest hit.

Crow went on to win three Grammy Awards in the mid 90’s, become a political activist and survive breast cancer after she was diagnosed in 2006.

“The whole fame thing was not ever very interesting, but definitely wanting to matter was more interesting,” she said, “It’s a pretty amazing idea that you can take yourself anywhere in this country, speak your mind, educate people, and really just create your own dream and live it.”

Soak Up the Sun
A Profile of Sheryl Crow
Singer/Songwriter

Age: 47
Hometown: Kennett, Mo.
Children: 1 adopted son, Wyatt Crow (age 2)
Extracurricular high school activity: Drum majorette
Childhood reading: Steinbeck, Twain and Ellery Queen mysteries
Before your music career, what did you want to be when you were younger? A great writer
What did you do before moving to Los Angeles? I moved to St. Louis and taught music in an elementary school in 1984 and 1985.
Quote: "I've been lucky in being recognized for doing something that I really love and feel compelled to do."

Facebook Users Tired of Being "Owned"

2009-09-02T18:20:00.000-04:00

Check out this article about facebook's flaws

1. (LEAD) The article opens up with an anecdotal lead. It gives examples about how online social networking Web sites cannot have committed users forever. It also gives a few instances of why some people have chosen to shut down their facebook accounts.

2. (NUT GRAF) It follows the lead by providing statistics that show although facebook is continuing to grow, many groups of users are leaving. Basically, the issue is that many people think facebook is "selling out" their personal and social lives. Instead of users controlling facebook, facebook is controlling users.

It is becoming more a market for advertising, and there have been some cases of privacy/security issues. People are also getting bored with the Web site and feel like they are wasting their time.

3. (BODY) The body is supported by facts about facebook users, first-hand accounts and quotes from 5 different people on their opinions of facebook. In this section, the various effects of facebooking are more deeply analyzed. Aside from young user quotes in the article, a professional writer also includes what she thinks about how facebook now "feels dead."

4. (ENDING) The article is summed up with another anecdote describing how facebook might turn into an "online ghost town run by zombie users who never update their pages." It could become solely a place for marketers to "exploit" users. Is facebook just another fad that will soon fade away?

New School Year Brings Bittersweet Feelings for Students

2009-08-25T21:25:00.022-04:00

Classes are under way at Winthrop University and students are expressing their differences in opinion about it. Some students are already looking forward to their next break while others are eager to be back.

Samantha Furtick, a 19-year-old junior and graphic design major, enjoyed her summer vacation by spending time at Edisto Island, working part time at Target and hanging out with friends as much as possible.

Although she said that she is excited about homecoming 2009, Furtick said her main goal is to just “survive” her classes. “I am ready for all of the major holidays that we get off from school,” she said.

On the other hand, Sarah MacDonald, a 20-year-old integrated marketing communications major, said she cannot wait to take classes because she can already tell that they are going to be “fun”.

She anticipates meeting new people, working out in the West Center, doing group projects, and going out dancing. She said that she wants to “make the most” of this academic year.

However, MacDonald, who is from Goose Creek, said there are some drawbacks to starting a new school year as well.

“When I go to school, I always miss my family a lot,” she said. Therefore, during the summer, she made sure to spend some quality time with her retired father and take her younger sister shopping and to the beach.

Like Furtick, MacDonald also found time to visit with friends and work part time.

No matter how similarly two students spend their summer, they continue to return to campus every year with different expectations.

"Bring Back My Child" - Dr. Phil

2008-12-03T14:07:00.003-05:00

Last night my roommate and I were flipping through channels when we came across Dr. Phil from 8:00-9:00 p.m. I hadn't watched Dr. Phil in a long time so I got excited - HaHa! This episode featured parents whose child or children were taken away from them by their spouses, and they haven't seen them in years.

In one case, two brothers fled the country with their wives' children (three young sons) and the wives have not been heard from their families since. The wives said their husbands acted suspicious near the time of the incident, but they did not expect them to kidnap the kids. The wives continue to reach out desperately to contact their children, but they have no leads except that the kids might be in a foreign country where their husbands were born.

Another guest was a man named David whose wife, Bruna, left the country (to Brazil) with their 4-year-old son, Sean. David has not seen Sean in over four years. Tragically, he learned that Bruna passed away in Brazil. Now, Sean is being raised by his stepfather and the government is doing nothing to bring the boy back to the U.S. David is battling the Brazilian government, but nothing has come of it.

Finally, a mother named Cecilia fled with her daughter, Sephri, because she thought her child was being sexually abused by her husband. They were on the road for two months trying to leave the U.S. when they were caught by police near Canada. The police relinquished custody to the father (finding no evidence of abuse) while Cecilia was wanted for a felony. Now, she still believes she did the right thing, and she only gets two supervised hours a week to spend with Sephri.

Go see what I'm talking about!

Twilight

2008-11-22T20:35:00.004-05:00

*Photo courtesy of wildaboutmovies.com
Let me start off by saying that going to see Twilight was one of the best decisions I have ever made..haha! Even though I had to wait in line for over two hours, it was worth it. In fact, I enjoyed watching it so much that I have already gone to see it twice, and it only came out yesterday. I must admit that I have not yet read the books, but after seeing this movie, I definitely put that on my "to do" list. Robert Pattinson, who played Edward Cullen, did a fantastic job with his character and he was absolutely gorgeous. The movie is romantic and suspenseful; just the way I like it! So, I invite all people - young and old - to check it out :) I would discuss more about it, but I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

MTV'S TRL Finale!

2008-11-19T16:18:00.002-05:00

It's a television show we have watched since childhood. We have grown up with it. It's how we have seen the top music videos of our time. Well, it's all over now. After a 10-year run, TRL has ended.

On Sunday's special TRL finale on MTV, many past guests and celebrities stopped by for live performances and interviews. Even the Backstreet Boys reunited to perform one of their first hit singles! Beyonce performed "If I Were A Boy." Christina Aguilera was interviewed via satellite. 50 Cent showed up, along with Nelly, Hilary Duff, Taylor Swift, and Justin Timberlake. The show featured the top 10 music videos of all time; coming in at number one was Britney Spear's "Baby, Hit Me One More Time."

Also on the finale episode, past VJ's including Carson Daly and Hilarie Burton (who plays Peyton on One Tree Hill) helped host.

The show counted down the top 10 TRL moments from 1998-2008. One of them was when Justin Timberlake met Halle Berry for the first time. Another was when Mariah Carey surprised Carson Daly on live television without him knowing what was happening.

Overall, the finale was an emotional reflection of the past. I remember watching TRL in middle school, and I'm sure many of you do too. What are your thoughts about it ending? the finale?

Just A Reminder..

2008-11-14T19:29:00.003-05:00

*credit to onetreehillweb.net for the picture from their photo gallery!

Something interesting I thought I would share with everyone is that the episode of One Tree Hill airing on Monday, Nov. 17, is going to be quite different from any one I've ever seen before.

This episode is written by Chad Michael Murray (who plays Lucas on the show). From the spoilers I have read and the pictures I have seen, it is going to be AMAZING!

I don't know how they managed to pull it off, but this episode will be set around the 1920s. So even if you are not an OTH fan, you should definitely check it out if you are into vintage clothing and that era. Everyone looks gorgeous in the pictures and I can't wait to see how this episode plays out. So watch a little of it and see for yourself!

Even Fairytale Characters Would Be Jealous

2008-11-10T16:30:00.002-05:00

Hello friends! Sorry I've been away so long, but I haven't been feeling well lately and I had to write three papers last weekend.

On a brighter note, a new episode of One Tree Hill comes on tonight at 9:00 p.m. on the CW. Unfortunately, I am going to have to miss this episode (the first time i've ever missed an episode!) because I will be studying relentlessly for a political science exam tomorrow :( Hopefully, I will find it online somewhere soon though.

I read that tonight's episode is supposed to be great, and the band Angels and Airwaves and Kate Voegele are performing in person on the show! So, if anyone does get to watch it, please drop me a comment and let me know what you thought about it! Again, I am extremely sad I am going to miss it!

I also know many bloggers are probably tired of me only blogging about One Tree Hill recently, so I am going to start blogging about other television shows soon as well. I did catch an episode of My Super Sweet 16 today, but I don't really consider that "blog-worthy" haha.

Sympathy for the Devil

2008-11-03T22:37:00.003-05:00

You guessed it, it's time for another One Tree Hill recap for the week!

Julian, Lucas' movie producer, asks him to write the script but Lucas struggles when deciding if he should write the scene involving the tragic shooting death of his Uncle Keith; eventually he writes it. He also discovers a picture of Peyton and Julian from their past; Peyton has yet to tell Lucas she was once in love with Julian.

Brooke is still dealing with raising a troublesome 15-year-old foster child named Sam. Sam gives Jamie an economics lesson that teaches him to charge money for snacks on the playground.

Nathan is playing slamball and his team has made it to the semi-finals. He is doing great but in a scary turn of events, an opponent knocks him trough a glass divider; he is fine and is able to walk away. However, he finally decides his family comes first, gives up slamball and walks away from the championship.

Owen is trying to win back Brooke by showing up at her door every day with gifts. Eventually, he quits because he realizes he doesn't deserve to be led on and Brooke feels bad for doing it. In the end, Brooke decides it would be best to stay single because of her commitment to watch over Sam.

On another note, OTH has just been granted an extended season this year! Yay!

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE TOMORROW :)

Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe

2008-10-27T22:18:00.003-04:00

I've got another quick recap on tonight's One Tree Hill:

Nathan made the slamball team and is playing on the same team as Owen. His previous back problem does not seem to be a real problem (yet) but Haley is still worried about it. Everyone except Lucas comes out to watch the game and Mouth interviews him.

In the meantime, Gigi (Mouth's former high school girlfriend) is back in town and is his intern at work. She constantly flirts with him, which is bothering his current girlfriend Millicent.

Brooke does not know what to do with her empty clothing store but she just finished making Peyton's wedding dress. Owen is trying to win her back with Nathan's help.

Sam (the foster child living with Brooke) is still creating havoc. She threw a party in Brooke's store late one night without Brooke's permission and took Jamie, whom Brooke was babysitting, with her. The store got trashed and Peyton's wedding dress was ruined from spraypaint. Brooke is furious and Sam apologizes.

Haley takes Jamie to Quentin's grave so he could talk to him. She also works on her music.

Peyton takes a trip to watch her older brother Derrick get a medal at a Marines Corp program. They hadn't seen each other in a couple years but she promises to use her music connections in order to put on a concert for him and his Marine buddies.

Lucas is hesitant when a man named Julian comes into town. Julian expresses his interest in making Lucas' book into a novel. After all Lucas' friends and agent push him to go through with the deal, Lucas signs the contract. However, in the end we discover Peyton has a history with Julian that Lucas is unaware of...

One Life To Live

2008-10-19T20:21:00.003-04:00

I am thrilled to say I have actually found time over Fall Break to sit down and watch television!

Although basically I have been watching all the episodes of One Life To Live that I have missed (on TIVO) over the past couple of weeks.

Yes, OLTL is a soap opera, but this show has some great storylines. To be honest, I used to absolutely hate soap operas. OLTL is the only one I watch.

Multiple storylines are going on at one time during an episode, but they are very easy to follow and really interesting. Some of the current storylines include a beloved character in the hospital recovering from a gunshot wound, a pregnant 16-year-old girl and her three teenage friends, a woman with a split personality hiding her twin sister and her sister's boyfriend in the basement, and other crazy situations.

Check it out at 2 p.m. every Monday through Friday if you are looking for some excitement!

Choosing My Own Way of Life

2008-10-13T23:43:00.000-04:00

Here's a quick recap of tonight's fantastic episode of One Tree Hill:

Mick, an older musician recording in Peyton's studio, finally reveals he is her father. Unfortunately, after Peyton finds him drunk and passed out in her studio one morning, she decides to let him go. Peyton is upset that Mick couldn't tell her the truth from the beginning and she wants to know why she was given up as a child.

Lucas begins his first day of book signing in Omaha with a new editor. The turnout is poor (he only signed two books) and his editor explains that the rest of his tour is cancelled. However, Mouth, who recently moved to Omaha for a broadcasting job, spends the day with Lucas. Later, they both decide love is the most important part of their lives and they both return to Tree Hill.

Brooke is making progress after handing over the rights to her clothing store to Victoria. Her assistant Millicent helps her recuperate. Brooke also tells Peyton the truth about being attacked.

Haley is struggling to connect with one of her new students, a freshman named Samantha. However, Haley learns that Sam's disruptive behavior stems from being a foster child with an unstable past. She offers to help Sam but she refuses the advice. Haley mentions to Brooke that she should seek adopting Sam. At first Brooke says "no", but after reflecting on her childhood, Brooke offers Sam a room in her house to stay.

Nathan gets called to tryout for slamball and play on a team with Owen (the bartender Brooke was romantically linked to last season). Nathan feels uncertain about playing at first because of his back injury, but after talking it over with Haley, she tells him to go through with it.

Skills and Deb are still together and making things awkward for the Scott family. The relationship is annoying Nathan because one of his best friends is dating his mother. However, Nathan's son Jamie thinks it's cool..HaHa.

After four years, Dan still feels the guilt of murdering his brother, Keith. Deb, his ex-wife pretty much tells him he's scum and Nathan tells him that he and Lucas hate him.

The next new episode premieres next Monday at 9 on the CW!

Heroes

2008-10-12T22:53:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! I do not have time right now to critique a show (because I have not had time to watch a full tv show in days), but I would like to mention a show that I think is definitely worth watching.

Heroes is currently into its third season and it is still fantastic! It's about all different types of people with supernatural powers and the ultimate goal is for these people to come together in order to save the world.

This show follows the backgrounds of these characters and the journeys they are taking to conquer the world. In the mean time, they are battling an evil man named Sylar along with other enemies.

Now I know many of you may be thinking this is not the type of show you would be interested in, but please take my word for it that it's worth giving a chance. To me, the show is not cheesy or weird. It's drama-filled and exciting; I have not been bored with an episode yet!

Heroes comes on Monday nights at 9:00.

Paris Hilton's My New BFF

2008-10-05T11:05:00.000-04:00

Seriously...are there really people out there who want to be best friends with Paris Hilton? And people are actually participating in a reality show to do it? LAME!

To be honest, I could only stand watching 20 mintues of this show before I had to turn it off.

This new MTV show features around 20 possible BFF's who must complete challenges to prove they will do anything in order to become Hilton's BFF.

In the episode I saw, she had all the contestants line up in an airport hanger and she told them that in order for them to hang out with her, they must look the part. Hilton made them all get makeovers, change their hairstyles and wear more fashionable clothing.

Not trying to sound too harsh but, I think my IQ dropped a little after watching this.

Obviously, money does not buy you happiness, or in this case, friends.

If you would like to see this show for yourself, go here .

You've Dug Your Own Grave, Now Lie In It

2008-09-29T23:05:00.000-04:00

Tonight's episode of One Tree Hill was nothing short of suspenseful!
Here's a recap:

Lucas prepares for his next book signing by flying to a meeting with his editor (also his ex-fiance named Lindsey..awkward) about his tour. This is where Lindsey learns that Lucas is getting married to Peyton. Lindsey says her final "goodbye".

Peyton is working in her recording studio with an older musician named Mick. Interestingly, it is hinted at that Mick is her real father, whom she has never met. We'll see where this goes...(Oh and Peyton asks Brooke to design her wedding dress)

Brooke sees a psychiatrist and talks about the problems she has been having with her mother and her clothing company. Brooke's assistant, Millicent (who had recently moved to Nebraska), returns and offers to be Brooke's assistant again if Brooke is willing to start up a new business.

Nathan gets an unexpected call from an NBA agent who wants him to have an interview with the manager of a basketball team. Nathan is under the impression that he is going to be recruited as a player but, when he arrives he learns that the manager wants to hire him as a manager. Nathan is surprised and crushed by the news because he still has dreams of becoming an NBA player.

Haley gets a call from Dan's hospice nurse who informs her that Dan only has hours left to live. Because of this, Haley drives her son, Jamie, to see his grandfather one last time. However, it turns out that the "hospice nurse" is really Nanny Carrie who is still keeping Dan as a hostage. She uses the hospice excuse as a reason for Haley to bring Jamie to this location in order to kidnap him. When Haley gets there, she makes Jamie wait in the car. As Haley enters and sees Dan bound in a bed, Nanny Carrie hits Haley in the back of the head which knocks her out. Then Nanny Carrie runs outside to get Jamie but he escapes into a nearby corn field. An intense chase begins but somehow Haley regains consciousness, makes it outside and grabs Jamie. They run back to the car with Nanny Carrie following close behind when Deb comes out of nowhere and smashes Nanny Carrie in the face with a glass wine bottle. However, after some time passes as they compose themselves, Nanny Carrie awakens, grabs an ax and lunges toward Haley. At that moment, Dan makes it out onto the front porch of the house and shoots Nanny Carrie in the chest before she is able to cause any harm to Haley.

Stay tuned to One Tree Hill by watching it every Monday at 9 p.m. on the CW!
(The next new episode comes on October 13th)

The Island

2008-09-27T13:05:00.000-04:00

I have barely found any time to just sit down and watch a television show lately, but today I did get to see another MTV show called The Island.

The Island is the name of this year's Real World/Road Rules Challenge. I have been a fan of this show ever since The Gaunlet, The Inferno and The Battle of the Sexes has been around. What this show does is takes around 20 previous Real World cast members and Road Rules Challengers and lets them compete for a chance to win thousands of dollars (this year the prize money is $300,000).

On the show, everyone must compete in mental and physical challenges and face-offs against each other in order to not be eliminated. Alliances are made, arguments erupt, and friendships are made and broken.

Although this show is definitely full of drama, it keeps my attention and leaves me wanting to see more. So I guess it's doing its job, right?

Check it out!

Busted

2008-09-21T16:57:00.000-04:00

Last night I got bored, so I decided to watch a mini-marathon of a new MTV show called "Busted". Basically, it's like a more lame version of "Cops". It documents real cases of young adults (under 25) running into problems with the law.

You should watch this show, it is ridiculous!

In each episode they feature three people, it shows video footage of the crime they committed, and the arresting officer also explains what happened and tells what the person got charged with.

The interesting thing was that no one ever really got into trouble!

In one episode I watched, a young man got caught for having marijuana in his car, but the officer let him go.

In another episode, a police officer nabbed an underage man with the possession of alcohol, but the officer let him go because he said the young man was cooperative.

I watched at least three episodes and hardly anyone got punished.

No wonder the world is getting worse; people get away with everything!

How are people going to learn their lesson if they always get off the hook? Not punishing people for their crimes also puts innocent lives in danger.

I guess the saying "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time" isn't really effective anymore, considering that in today's society committing a crime means you get another chance.

To watch a full episode or to learn more information about the show, go here .

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.

2008-09-15T23:51:00.000-04:00

Tonight I cried harder then I have in months.

The reason?

One Tree Hill's third episode of its sixth season aired tonight, and it was emotionally draining. The show opens as each main character hears the news of the murder of Quentin Fields (Robbie Jones), a star of the Tree Hill High School varsity basketball team. Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray), Nathan Scott (James Lafferty), and Skills (Antwon Tanner) were his basketball coaches and friends. They each deal with his loss their own way. Lucas is shocked but remains strong as he tells Quentin's teammates about his untimely death. Nathan is sad because his friendship with Quentin was growing, and he was helping Nathan recuperate after a serious injury. Skills is devastated the most, however. He was planning on telling Quentin at the next practice how proud he is of his progress, but now realizes he will never get the chance.

Haley James Scott (Bethany Joy Galeotti), wife of Nathan, is also depressed about his passing. She was his high school English teacher, and she turned him from being a bully into a respectable and likable young man.

Haley's 5-year-old son, James Lucas Scott (Jackson Brundage), was a great friend of Quentin's who played around with him at basketball practice. It is heartbreaking to watch Nathan and Haley try to explain to him Quentin is gone. Jamie also befriends Quentin's younger brother at the visitation.

In the meantime, though, Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush) is still coping with being recently assaulted and robbed at her clothing store, Clothes Over Bros. She suspects Victoria, her mother (who Brooke recently fired), is responsible for the mugging.

Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton), who recently got engaged to Lucas, tries to console him about the loss of Quentin. She also gets in an argument with Brooke, her best friend and housemate, and is told to hand over her key and move out. Brooke apologizes for her attitude toward Peyton, and things are resolved later in the episode.

Finally, Dan Scott (Paul Johansson) is still being held hostage by crazy Nanny Carrie (Tori DeVito). Neither of his two sons, Lucas or Nathan, are concerned about his whereabouts. Nanny Carrie plans on abducting Haley and Nathan's son again to make it look as though Dan, an ex-murderer, has done it. It is also revealed that she has a dead son, which could explain her irrational motif.

The end of the show is marked by Quentin's funeral. All of the main characters are present, except for Dan of course. The last moments of this episode are phenomenal and touching. Haley and Nathan's son places a red cape with a purple "Q" (for Quentin) over his coffin. Before his death, Jamie had asked his mother to help him make it for Quentin because Quentin jokingly said he wanted one like Jamie's.

Overall, this episode truly expresses what matters in life. It tells how life is too short to fight or bicker about little things. Appreciate the life you have and live it to the fullest.

Oh and the music featured in this episode is amazing (like it always is)!

For more information on this episode, the show, or the cast, I recommend this site!

Where Were You?

2008-09-11T15:51:00.000-04:00

I'll never forget where I was when I heard the news.

I was a seventh grader in world geography class. My teacher was Mrs. Altman, and we were studying the Middle East and other countries in the region on Sept. 11, 2001.

The principal didn't want us to find out what happened during school, but that was inevitable. The news broke all over school. Teachers were emotional, some of the older kids were upset, but my classmates and I were mostly confused. We didn't grasp the gravity of the situation at first, but when it was broadcast all over the television and radio, we knew that something was seriously wrong.

Going home that day was the worst part. I can still remember the look on my mom's face as I walked over to get in the car after school.

The next couple weeks were kind of a blur to me now, but I'll still never forget where I was when I heard the news.

Things will never be the same.

Happy Birthday

2008-09-09T22:12:00.000-04:00

Today was my suitemate's birthday [Happy Birthday Samantha!]. However, I think I was more excited about it than she was. I don't know about you, but I love birthdays! They are the one day out of the year when everything is supposed to be about the existence of you! Thinking about them, I decided birthdays are either underrated or overrated in America today. People either act on their birthday as if it is any other day, or they go to the extreme in celebrating. I, on the other hand, look at the occasion differently. To me, birthdays mean reflecting over the last year, reminding myself how much I've grown and changed, and looking forward to what the next year will bring. Finally, I thank God I'm alive. I love life and all the opportunities it has to offer. So the next time you have a birthday, I recommend acknowledging it and celebrating everything you've accomplished! Take advantage of it and be grateful you have been given another day :)

Oh So True

2008-09-04T01:29:00.000-04:00

The 2 brilliant journalists...
HaHa->

While I was patiently waiting in line for one of Thomson's dinner "creations" the other night, my suitemate, who is also a pre-journalism major, and I were discussing how much we enjoy being nosy. We were sharing recent gossip when we came to the conclusion of how cool it must be to be a journalist. Not only are journalists supposed to be nosy and figure out what's going on before everyone else, but they are encourgaed to do so and they get paid for doing it! That is how we determined that we are definitely pursuing the right career path.

"If I care what people think about what I say and do, then I wouldn't be a journalist." -Jessica Pickens

Inspiration

2008-09-03T02:31:00.000-04:00

"Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering." -Ida Scott Taylor

What It Means

2008-09-02T02:24:00.000-04:00

At 1:00 am on Tuesday, September 2, 2008, I sat down at my desk to create this blog. I didn't really know what to expect or what I was doing exactly because the most in depth blogging I've ever done has been trivial myspace blogging (which is quite sad for a pre-journalism major I might add). As I was almost on the last step of creating my blog, I realized that I hadn't given any thought as to what I would possibly name it. To any other "normal" person this task wouldn't seem like a big deal, but to someone who spends 30 minutes at Wal-Mart picking out which brand of mascara to buy, this was a big decision. It's not that I was focusing on naming it something really catchy or something that rhymed, but I wanted the name of my first blog to have meaning behind it. I had many good ideas, but the right one just wasn't coming to me. Almost 3 hours later I was still undecided, so I thought of one of my favorite things in the world, the television show One Tree Hill. To me, this TV show is not just another pre-teen drama-filled show like so many others out there. The storylines, morality, voiceovers, and quotes of the show deeply inspire me in ways that people will never understand. That's when it hit me! The promo used on the CW channel for the 6th season premiere of One Tree Hill (which was tonight) was "Every great story has a beginning". From the minute that I first thought about it, I knew that that would be the name of my very first blog.

So why did I choose this?

Well, as a student studying mass communication when I heard the word "story", I instantly thought about writing, news, and other journalistic topics. Obviously, it was the first word that caught my attention. Secondly, I believed in the truth behind the statement. It can be used literally like describing the process of producing a great novel. It can be used figuratively as in illustrating the "story" behind a couple's relationship, or even depicting the "story" of what's in a photograph. More importantly, however, the statement could be describing me.

One day in the (hopefully) immediate future, I anticipate on reaching a noble and respected status as a photo-journalist or editor. I could be the next "big" thing.

My life is the story.
This is the beginning.
I'm going to make it great.