I believe that I learned more from using the WSJ instead of a traditional textbook because the WSJ was current and it expanded on the uses of different mediums that are relevant to today. I think I may have learned more if we used a book and had a mid-term and exams, but only because I would have had to be quizzed on it. Reading the paper did not affect my other classes in anyway. Sure it was something that I had to do, but it only took about fifteen minutes to read the assigned articles.
As for my subscription to the WSJ, I do not believe that I will renew. As it is now, I didn't physically read any of the stories; I just signed in online and read them there. They are in a heap on my front step.
The instructor was amazing. He gave descriptive details about the current media and the practices they use. I learned more than a lot from him.
Based on this course, I know that I want to have a career in one aspect of mass communication, but not quite sure which area. The course gave me a broad spectrum to see how everything works and how the aspects intertwine with each other, but I'm not sure.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Grace Fellowship and Destiny Foundation Partnership Benefits Community
Mike Adkins, pastor of Grace Fellowship Church in Orlando, had more to offer than just Easter at Eola in downtown Orlando last Sunday morning.
Adkins and the Destiny Foundation founder Scott George came together and with the help of Publix, were able to donate 500 grocery bags to Orlando’s working poor (by which Adkins defined as a family of five that earns less than $25,000 a year). According to Adkins’s estimation, Central Florida has an estimate of 300-350,000 working poor and he decided to “meet a need that wasn’t being done.”
That need is being met here, as well as it is abroad.
Grace Fellowship and the Destiny Foundation also provide relief and assistance to the recovering nation of Rwanda. Known for the genocide that happened fourteen years ago, Adkins and George have stepped in to do their part. After seeing three children spend the day walking to a muddy river to drink from it, the two started projects that build wells that offer fresh drinking water. The wells are roughly a mile apart and Adkins said that because of them “the outbreaks of malaria, diarrhea, and other waterborn sicknesses has decreased significantly.”
But back at home, Adkins still has issues that he wants to address, one of which is dealing with the community’s children. Plans are being set for the Destiny Foundation to start a ministry for abused women that will provide safe houses for them as well as their children. Adkins also works with children by volunteering at local schools. The drives there also include giving away groceries.
Despite the church’s already donated $1.8 million to the foundation ($900,000 of which goes directly to the working poor), Grace lacks one essential thing—a building. As of right now, the church meets in an Adventist church downtown that they rent on Sundays. Expensive as it is, Adkins is determined to help the community first.
“Just wish you could do more of reaching a lot more people.” Adkins said. But he has seen his share of success stories. A family that used Destiny for a time to get back on their feet doubled back their money to the foundation. Other clients have been able to meet the one of the organization’s goals: finding jobs and being able to self-support again.
“Our goal is that people won’t need the Destiny Foundation. Some people see it as a hand out; it’s more of a hand up.” For more information about the Destiny Foundation and Grace Fellowship Church, visit www.battlepoverty.org and www.gogracefellowship.com.
Adkins and the Destiny Foundation founder Scott George came together and with the help of Publix, were able to donate 500 grocery bags to Orlando’s working poor (by which Adkins defined as a family of five that earns less than $25,000 a year). According to Adkins’s estimation, Central Florida has an estimate of 300-350,000 working poor and he decided to “meet a need that wasn’t being done.”
That need is being met here, as well as it is abroad.
Grace Fellowship and the Destiny Foundation also provide relief and assistance to the recovering nation of Rwanda. Known for the genocide that happened fourteen years ago, Adkins and George have stepped in to do their part. After seeing three children spend the day walking to a muddy river to drink from it, the two started projects that build wells that offer fresh drinking water. The wells are roughly a mile apart and Adkins said that because of them “the outbreaks of malaria, diarrhea, and other waterborn sicknesses has decreased significantly.”
But back at home, Adkins still has issues that he wants to address, one of which is dealing with the community’s children. Plans are being set for the Destiny Foundation to start a ministry for abused women that will provide safe houses for them as well as their children. Adkins also works with children by volunteering at local schools. The drives there also include giving away groceries.
Despite the church’s already donated $1.8 million to the foundation ($900,000 of which goes directly to the working poor), Grace lacks one essential thing—a building. As of right now, the church meets in an Adventist church downtown that they rent on Sundays. Expensive as it is, Adkins is determined to help the community first.
“Just wish you could do more of reaching a lot more people.” Adkins said. But he has seen his share of success stories. A family that used Destiny for a time to get back on their feet doubled back their money to the foundation. Other clients have been able to meet the one of the organization’s goals: finding jobs and being able to self-support again.
“Our goal is that people won’t need the Destiny Foundation. Some people see it as a hand out; it’s more of a hand up.” For more information about the Destiny Foundation and Grace Fellowship Church, visit www.battlepoverty.org and www.gogracefellowship.com.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Essay 2
Regarding social networking sites, I have an account with Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter. On a weekly average, I spend about seven hours between both sites. The sites are very important to me because it keeps me in touch with and up date with my friends and family members. If I had to pay for the service, I would, but no more than $20 yearly.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Beginning to Understand
By: Courtnee Rattigan
WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – It’s been said that old dogs can’t learn new tricks. Jessica Robinson, the Village PetSmart dog trainer with five years’ experience under her belt, strongly disagrees.
The Tuesday, March 31 evening class of two golden retrievers, a black mutt, a teacup Yorkshire puppy, and a Lhasa Opsa filed into the training ring for their weekly lesson. This class in particular was for beginners, either graduates from the puppy class or dogs that have sufficient knowledge of basic commands.
“It’s much easier to train something new than to try to fix something you’ve already ruined.” Robinson said to her class. The class of five dogs and their human companions watched as Robinson demonstrated with her own 7-month-old German shepherd puppy, Taser, how to get their dog to ‘come on command.’ Having correctly responded to his master, Taser was rewarded with a soft treat.
Mighty, Ashley Patterson’s Yorkie, understood the command on his first attempt. “We never used to praise him or give him treats or anything. His training works so much better when he’s praised.” Patterson said.
To help her more stubborn students, Robinson got on the floor and demonstrated how to correct a dog by gently tugging on its collar.
“The class is helping us understand how to get them to obey commands.” said Terre Peter when asked if the class was helping. Her husband held her playing sister golden retrievers, Callie and Penny. “Being in here gives us ideas for things to do to help them better understand what we want them to do.”
Robinson teaches training classes five days a week, but another trainer teaches on the other two. The other classes offered are Puppy, Intermediate, Advanced, and Canine Good Citizen. Classes meet once a week and cost $109 for an 8 week session. All classes are offered at every PetSmart.
WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – It’s been said that old dogs can’t learn new tricks. Jessica Robinson, the Village PetSmart dog trainer with five years’ experience under her belt, strongly disagrees.
The Tuesday, March 31 evening class of two golden retrievers, a black mutt, a teacup Yorkshire puppy, and a Lhasa Opsa filed into the training ring for their weekly lesson. This class in particular was for beginners, either graduates from the puppy class or dogs that have sufficient knowledge of basic commands.
“It’s much easier to train something new than to try to fix something you’ve already ruined.” Robinson said to her class. The class of five dogs and their human companions watched as Robinson demonstrated with her own 7-month-old German shepherd puppy, Taser, how to get their dog to ‘come on command.’ Having correctly responded to his master, Taser was rewarded with a soft treat.
Mighty, Ashley Patterson’s Yorkie, understood the command on his first attempt. “We never used to praise him or give him treats or anything. His training works so much better when he’s praised.” Patterson said.
To help her more stubborn students, Robinson got on the floor and demonstrated how to correct a dog by gently tugging on its collar.
“The class is helping us understand how to get them to obey commands.” said Terre Peter when asked if the class was helping. Her husband held her playing sister golden retrievers, Callie and Penny. “Being in here gives us ideas for things to do to help them better understand what we want them to do.”
Robinson teaches training classes five days a week, but another trainer teaches on the other two. The other classes offered are Puppy, Intermediate, Advanced, and Canine Good Citizen. Classes meet once a week and cost $109 for an 8 week session. All classes are offered at every PetSmart.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Analyzation of the Sloley Case
“I can’t do it anymore.” were among the last words James Clayton said to his former girlfriend of ten years and close friend, Delphine Milliken. Their conversation occurred at approximately 9:30 on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 27. By noon, Clayton and his ex-girlfriend Loyta Sloley were found dead in room 548 of the Marriott Courtyard Hotel downtown.
Milliken’s and Clayton’s conversation is only a piece of information from the supplemental police report filed on Feb. 28. The report also details a previous threat, the suspect’s criminal past, as well as the twisted love triangle that possibly led to the murder-suicide.
According to Lance Sloley, the victim’s younger brother, an event happened the Saturday or Sunday before the incident struck him as odd. While intoxicated, Clayton told Herbert Sloley (the victim’s father) that he was going to kill the entire Sloley family. Lance, in turn, packed his things and temporarily moved out of the family apartment and in with a friend.
In Milliken’s sworn police statement, she shares that Clayton called her on Jan. 24 to tell her that he felt that something was “going on” between the victim and his “close friend and co-worker”, Harold Bailey. According to Milliken, Clayton had found Loyta’s car outside of Bailey’s residence the day before. She also states that Clayton had suspected the secret relationship, but this was the first time he’d witnessed it.
In Bailey’s statement to the police, Loyta had recently told him that her relationship with Clayton was over. She said that Clayton still lived with the family and would only continue to do so until he could get on with his life. Bailey also stated that Clayton knew about his and Sloley’s relationship. Bailey testified to having had seen injuries on Loyta that had been caused by Clayton although he never witnessed the abuse firsthand. Bailey, as well as Lance, urged Loyta to call the cops, but Loyta refused saying that she didn’t want to get him in trouble.
Milliken and Clayton shared a few more conversations over the next few days with the last coming a few hours before the murder-suicide. In this conversation, Clayton supposedly gave his bank information, pin number, and other information about his assets to Milliken. She claims he wanted her to have his belongings “in case something happened.”
Clayton and Sloley dropped Sloley’s 11 year old son, AJ, off at Blankner Elementary School on the morning of Jan. 27. In an audiotaped interview with AJ, he recalled the morning as “suspicious” because his mother and Clayton seemed to be calm and getting along, which wasn’t usually the case. AJ also said that it wasn’t usual for Clayton to be there when his mother dropped him off at school.
The police were called at 8:12 by Sloley’s supervisor, Sheryl Blake-Robinson. Blake-Robinson called with the belief that Sloley was being held against her will by Clayton. The police called Sloley and asked her a series of yes and no questions to which she confirmed that she was under duress. Sloley didn’t say where she was and the police obtained a tap record of Sloley’s phone. Sixteen minutes later, an officer was dispatched to Blankner Elementary School after having gotten a call from an unknown child.
Detective Chris Haas was contacted at noon by Detective Pat Schneider to be made known that Sloley and Clayton were found dead in their rented hotel room at the Marriott. The sixteen minutes between the call and dispatch of an officer led to an investigation into the dispatcher. However, since both the suspect and victim are dead, the case has been closed.
Milliken’s and Clayton’s conversation is only a piece of information from the supplemental police report filed on Feb. 28. The report also details a previous threat, the suspect’s criminal past, as well as the twisted love triangle that possibly led to the murder-suicide.
According to Lance Sloley, the victim’s younger brother, an event happened the Saturday or Sunday before the incident struck him as odd. While intoxicated, Clayton told Herbert Sloley (the victim’s father) that he was going to kill the entire Sloley family. Lance, in turn, packed his things and temporarily moved out of the family apartment and in with a friend.
In Milliken’s sworn police statement, she shares that Clayton called her on Jan. 24 to tell her that he felt that something was “going on” between the victim and his “close friend and co-worker”, Harold Bailey. According to Milliken, Clayton had found Loyta’s car outside of Bailey’s residence the day before. She also states that Clayton had suspected the secret relationship, but this was the first time he’d witnessed it.
In Bailey’s statement to the police, Loyta had recently told him that her relationship with Clayton was over. She said that Clayton still lived with the family and would only continue to do so until he could get on with his life. Bailey also stated that Clayton knew about his and Sloley’s relationship. Bailey testified to having had seen injuries on Loyta that had been caused by Clayton although he never witnessed the abuse firsthand. Bailey, as well as Lance, urged Loyta to call the cops, but Loyta refused saying that she didn’t want to get him in trouble.
Milliken and Clayton shared a few more conversations over the next few days with the last coming a few hours before the murder-suicide. In this conversation, Clayton supposedly gave his bank information, pin number, and other information about his assets to Milliken. She claims he wanted her to have his belongings “in case something happened.”
Clayton and Sloley dropped Sloley’s 11 year old son, AJ, off at Blankner Elementary School on the morning of Jan. 27. In an audiotaped interview with AJ, he recalled the morning as “suspicious” because his mother and Clayton seemed to be calm and getting along, which wasn’t usually the case. AJ also said that it wasn’t usual for Clayton to be there when his mother dropped him off at school.
The police were called at 8:12 by Sloley’s supervisor, Sheryl Blake-Robinson. Blake-Robinson called with the belief that Sloley was being held against her will by Clayton. The police called Sloley and asked her a series of yes and no questions to which she confirmed that she was under duress. Sloley didn’t say where she was and the police obtained a tap record of Sloley’s phone. Sixteen minutes later, an officer was dispatched to Blankner Elementary School after having gotten a call from an unknown child.
Detective Chris Haas was contacted at noon by Detective Pat Schneider to be made known that Sloley and Clayton were found dead in their rented hotel room at the Marriott. The sixteen minutes between the call and dispatch of an officer led to an investigation into the dispatcher. However, since both the suspect and victim are dead, the case has been closed.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Death of a Beloved Local Hero
BISMARCK, S.D.—Joe Voss, beloved World War II hero and former North Dakota governor, died on Wednesday.
Voss was born on a farm east of Wogansport, North Dakota on April 17, 1915. Growing up, he also said that his love of flying dated back to his childhood when he watched pilots fly over his family’s home and wave to him from the cockpit. “I thought, ‘Someday I’m gonna trade these horses for an airplane.’”
True to his word, Voss served as a Marine pilot in World War II. Among the most prominent World War II heroes, Voss was known for shooting down twenty-six enemy planes. This won him the Congressional Medal of Honor as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Once back in the states, Republican Voss served in the North Dakota State Legislature for five years. In 1955, he became governor, an office he held for 2 consecutive terms.
In 1965, Voss was elected the third commissioner of the Canadian Football League. He maintained that position for ten years, as well as hosting ABC’s “The Great Outdoorsman” from ’73-’78.
“I always had the attitude that every day will be a great day,” Voss said in a 1987 interview. “I look forward to it like a kid in a candy store, wherever I am.”
In 1988, Voss was chosen to be president of the National Outdoorsman Association; he served through 1990. He published his autobiography Proud to Be an American in 1993, the opening sentence of which he states, “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to fly.”
At a public appearance in Beaverton, Michigan this June, former North Dakota Mayor Voss suffered cerebral bleeding and collapsed. He had not regained consciousness from the apparent aneurysm. His death was announced by current North Dakota Governor Will Ranklow.
Voss was born on a farm east of Wogansport, North Dakota on April 17, 1915. Growing up, he also said that his love of flying dated back to his childhood when he watched pilots fly over his family’s home and wave to him from the cockpit. “I thought, ‘Someday I’m gonna trade these horses for an airplane.’”
True to his word, Voss served as a Marine pilot in World War II. Among the most prominent World War II heroes, Voss was known for shooting down twenty-six enemy planes. This won him the Congressional Medal of Honor as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Once back in the states, Republican Voss served in the North Dakota State Legislature for five years. In 1955, he became governor, an office he held for 2 consecutive terms.
In 1965, Voss was elected the third commissioner of the Canadian Football League. He maintained that position for ten years, as well as hosting ABC’s “The Great Outdoorsman” from ’73-’78.
“I always had the attitude that every day will be a great day,” Voss said in a 1987 interview. “I look forward to it like a kid in a candy store, wherever I am.”
In 1988, Voss was chosen to be president of the National Outdoorsman Association; he served through 1990. He published his autobiography Proud to Be an American in 1993, the opening sentence of which he states, “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to fly.”
At a public appearance in Beaverton, Michigan this June, former North Dakota Mayor Voss suffered cerebral bleeding and collapsed. He had not regained consciousness from the apparent aneurysm. His death was announced by current North Dakota Governor Will Ranklow.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Phillies Rally Past the Braves
Lake Buena Vista, Fla.—Just over eight thousand were in attendance to watch the Atlanta Braves host the Philadelphia Phillies this past Sunday at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.
Lots of familiar faces dotted the Champion Stadium field—from Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins and 2006 NL MVP Ryan Howard to Braves catcher Brian McCann, right fielder Jeff Francoeur, and third baseman Chipper Jones. Even the world-renown Harlem Globetrotters stopped in for a quick show.
Despite having a 2-0 lead through the fourth inning, the Phillies answered the Braves with a run in the top of the fifth and four more in the sixth. Brian McCann’s homer in the bottom of the sixth stirred hopes of a Braves comeback, but none came. The Phillies finished the game, winning 7-3.
The next Braves event is an exhibition game against Panama. The game will be held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports on Tuesday, March 3.
Lots of familiar faces dotted the Champion Stadium field—from Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins and 2006 NL MVP Ryan Howard to Braves catcher Brian McCann, right fielder Jeff Francoeur, and third baseman Chipper Jones. Even the world-renown Harlem Globetrotters stopped in for a quick show.
Despite having a 2-0 lead through the fourth inning, the Phillies answered the Braves with a run in the top of the fifth and four more in the sixth. Brian McCann’s homer in the bottom of the sixth stirred hopes of a Braves comeback, but none came. The Phillies finished the game, winning 7-3.
The next Braves event is an exhibition game against Panama. The game will be held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports on Tuesday, March 3.
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