Sunday, December 7, 2014

What I learned...

Taha/Dec. 7/Final Word


From taking Comm 255, I learned that news writing is real work and hard work. There is a lot that goes behind the scene for the stories we get. As people of America, most of the times we forget the work behind it all. We take things for granted and don’t really do the searching for how we got what we got. There is risk, running around and lots of editing that happens as a regular news writer. Like everything, work is put into this business that is running out of wealth to keep it going. But of course they are changing their ways and renovating themselves to new standards. It was inspiring to learn that what we see on television regarding PR management wasn't all it was meant to be. For the fact of how not everything is what it seems to be. We might see a runway model strutting away on the floor but underneath all that glamour is sometimes a girl who is very insecure about herself but she is still on that runway walking for many people to see.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Female Game Reviewer Tattling on Rape Threats

Ream/Dec6/Link Post

ALANAH PEARCE

21-year-old video game reviewer, Alanah Pearce, is contacting the mothers of the boys that have sent her rape threats online. This is an incredible way to deal with this. A lot of women in the gaming industry are content to just brush it off as some kid just "trolling" but I think that in order for any change to be made then people, men and women alike, need to start doing something. And this something has made a big impact on one of the boy's Mothers, who has taking it upon herself to contact the community and schools about online bullying and harassment. Pearce on the other hand has received a handwritten apology from this boy, and this is a start. Sadly, the most alarming fact of all is that majority of the males threatening Pearce are only 10- 15 years old!     
Read more here on the Huff Post

Friday, December 5, 2014

Aerie Decides to Quit Photoshopping Models

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/17/aerie-unretouched-ads-photos_n_4618139.html




Rachel Kennow/Dec.5/Link Post

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Is This Legalized Kidnapping?

This story is every mother's nightmare.  A newborn baby torn from your arms the entire first week of their lives.  A woman who gave birth checked out of a hospital later in the day to care for her baby at home was under scrutiny when medical staff felt she displayed hostile, drug influenced behavior based on observations.  Social services and law enforcement became involved, and took the baby away from the mother, placing her in foster care the first week of her life.  For all the times children are not protected, when bruises and injuries are displayed all over their bodies, and their lives end at the hands of their parents and social services continually fails them, yet this baby is taken away before any physical or factual evidence is presented?  As a mother I can only imagine the pain, anger, and fear this woman must have been feeling.  To have a stranger caring for your new child that you haven't even had the opportunity to bond and meet the little person you carried inside your stomach for nine months. My heart absolutely breaks for her.  This was a case of poor judgement, irrational results, and poor investigation of law enforcement and social services.  So happy that this woman has been reunited finally with her little treasure of a child!

http://www.redbookmag.com/kids-family/blogs/mom-blog/tiffany-langwell-baby-cosmo

-Stephanie Kohel

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Solomon/Dec.3/SugarIntake

Solomon/Dec.3/SugarIntake

We’re often told by experts that we need to monitor our sugar intake. Opting for water instead of soda is usually the first step. To challenge this advice George Prior, a healthy 50-year-old man, decided to drink ten 12oz cans of Coca Cola everyday for 30 days.

It started out as a joke between him and his buddies; the next thing he knew, he was documenting the 23 pounds he gained during the month.

Prior to the challenge, Prior was toned and full of energy. By day 14, he had already gained 13 pounds. Ultimately, the 30 day challenge caused him dramatically raise his blood pressure as well as lose a large amount of energy.

There were also side-effects afterward. Prior maintained developing migraines when the constant Coca Cola intake ceased.

Many could ask why anyone would be willing to go as far as Prior, but in reality the amount of sugar he consumed everyday was only double the amount that Americans typically ingest on a daily basis. That means that the little bulge in stomach may be the result of too much sugar.


Sugar isn’t only in soda, cake, and cookies. It also resides in unseen places like breads. So, it may be good idea to listen to the experts this time!

Monday, December 1, 2014

What is normal?

Perez/ Dec. 1/ Blog Post

Earlier this month images surfaced the Internet of a Barbie doll named the 'Normal Barbie'. This Barbie comes in the size of an "average" American woman. It will also come with add ons giving kids the chance to give their Barbie stretch marks, freckles, acne, and more.

To my surprise, many people were overjoyed with this 'normal Barbie'. I however was not. The first thing that came to mind was what is normal? It is nice that a doll was designed to show young girls what flaws many girls face. But what if a girl doesn't get stretch marks, or doesn't get freckles. Will they feel they are not normal?

I do not think normal exists. Barbies were made for young girls to use to play with and to dress up. Just like action figures are created for boys to play with. I have never heard of anyone complain about action figures giving young boys the wrong impression.

I feel that as long as children have a positive role model and guidance in their life they will not feel the need to become something they are not. Being different is much better than being 'normal'.

Below is the link to an article about the 'Normal Barbie'
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/19/normal-barbie-lammily-doll_n_6146394.html

Finals Week, Stress Week-Brianna Morgen


As finals week is quickly approaching, students are beginning to feel the stress and anxiety that is included in the rushed end of the semester work that needs to get done. Finals week normally consists of the lack of sleep, stressful nights at the library, and way too many cups of cold coffee to try and stay awake. The end of the semester is a time for students to reflect on their work that they did throughout the semester but to also try and remember every last date, name, and historical event that they learned in the early months of the year. Many college students are tested on the information that they learned four months previous to the test they are about to take. How likely is it for students to try and retain five months worth of information? But not to mention the average college students takes on a course load that equals about five classes or 15-18 credits? At this point in the semester students are trying everything in their power not to check out or mentally lose all focus that they are trying to withstand to the end of the semester but that’s not what college prepping should be about. College should be about making personal development changes and experiencing things that will benefit them in the future. I understand the important information that one needs to know, but when it comes to classes that will be completely unbeneficial to my future career choices that is when students completely check out. We try absolutely everything that we can not to check out but it is human natural for college students to put all their effort into things that will matter to them later on. Finals week should focus on the personal development of students and not the late night study sessions for classes that hold no important to our careers. All honestly, what would be the different if professors were to hold a “final test” two weeks into the semester or at the end of the semester? The words “finals week” is scary enough to all students but in reality it should be viewed as just another test; another test that reflects the information that we just learned. Finals week is the equivalent to the last week of hell to all students when in reality, no matter how students do on finals week, each of us will eventually find our correct path and answers to what we are suppose to do after college. The path is not always straight but everyone will eventually straighten themselves out in the right direction for them, no matter how they do on finals week.