What i learned from guest speaker Jennifer Moody

Having had the chance to hear from a journalist who has been in the business for quite a long time, was quite rewarding.  Jennifer Moody from the Democratic Herald, was that journalist.  I believe she stated that she had been a reporter with the Democratic Herald for 15 years.

Speaking on various topics, one of those that stood out to me was that Mrs. Moody said there is no right or wrong way to write. The story needs to be fair, accurate, and keeping as much of yourself out of the paper as possible.

Another topic that stood out to me was, how your grammar and spelling tell a lot about your writing intelligence.  If you have terrible grammar and spelling, your readers probably won't finish the article, and not want to read anything further from you.

The last topic issue that hit me was when Mrs. Moody talked about writing about the small details, not the over all picture.  Like writing about the piece of pie and not the bakery.  The reader is going to want to know what this bakery can produce, and not that it is any bakery.


At a Glance

Who: Jennifer Moody
What: The Democratic Herald

Law requiring those under 21 to have parental consent to get a credit card.

Hitting the big 18 means you can vote, you can get married without your parents consent, but getting a credit card is not on the list of things you can do at 18 without parental support.  A new law enacted by president Obama, in February of 2010, bans credit cards for those under the age of 21 without parental co-signing, unless they have enough income.

Speaking with a former instructor, Jack Stone in the Business department, he recanted about the differences between his son and his daughter in the ways of financial intelligence.  "If the law was the way then as it is now, I would say no to co-signing for my son to have a credit card," said professor Stone.  Though if his daughter had asked he would have gladly signed for her to have a card, since her financial intelligence was higher of his son.

Sending an email to my mom, Sue Barnhouse to get her thoughts on the credit card law, since she is an accountant for Les Schwab tire company, she has knowledge of how credit works.   "The human brain isn't fully developed until after the age of 25, and the ability to predict future consequences is one of the last functions to mature," Sue Barnhouse said.


At a glance:
What: Credit card act of 2009
When: Effective February 2010
Who does it effect: Those under the age of 21 trying to acquire a credit card. 

Not another National Anthem screw-up

What does it take now days to be the presenter of the National Anthem at the Superbowl ? 

Well who ever was in charge of the "talent" this year, needs to consider another line of work.  A "professional" singer should at least know the words to our country's National Anthem.  Christina Aguilera's rendition of our National Anthem this year at the Superbowl, has to be the saddest excuse for a performance I have ever heard. 

Being a member of the Armed Services, I take pride in my nation and any representation of it.  Having not watched the Superbowl in its entirety, having to watch the "performance" on the internet,  I was shocked and appalled about how bad the performance was. 

                                   

Having had my drill weekend last weekend, I talked to a few of my fellow soldiers and asked them about their feelings on how the National Anthem was performed. "I knew she sang it wrong and i do not think she did a good job singing it," said Ron Abbott, a soldier from the Albany 224 Engineer Company.


At a Glance:
Who: Christina Aguilera
What: Forgetting the lines of the National Anthem
When: Superbowl XLV(45)

New laws for persons under the age of 21 to have a credit card

As of February, 22, 2010,  the Credit Card Act of 2009, under the Federal Reserve, requires persons under the age of 21 to have a co-signer, or show financial records of being financially independent in order to be issued a credit card.

Taking the pro side of this issue,

Column Idea

My idea for a column is the idea of how the National Anthem is sung, and people's reaction to "Artists" who try and make the National Anthem "their own."  I am planning on talking to a few of my fellow soldiers in the National Guard, as well as others who are not in the military.  I am thinking my NUT GRAF is going to be the public's reaction to "artist's" renditions of the National Anthem.  After the horrid attempt by this year's rendition of the National Anthem at the Superbowl, I feel compelled to find out if the rest of the population shares my thoughts that if you are going to sing the National Anthem, get it right.

Helping Veterans Certify Their Educational Benefits

    Kathy Martinak is the current Veteran's Certifying Official at Linn Benton Community College.  Kathy has been helping veterans with the education benefits they have earned for serving in the military since 1996. 

    Starting out in the registration office in 1987,  her position in the Veteran's office became available.  "It was a better fit for me, and I really enjoy working with the veterans," said Kathy.  With her husband having been a Vietnam Veteran, she has the first hand knowledge of what some veterans go through after they return from a combat zone, which helps her to better understand her customers.

    With time left over, Kathy takes time to spend with family, and enjoys camping trips and quilting.  With a couple of her quilts on display in her office, she seems very talented in her hobby.   

     In her Veteran's office, Kathy has two work study students.  One of whom is Specialist Carl Rhodes. Serving with the Albany National Guard, (224 Engineers) he has been in the office for four terms now.  Dealing with Rhodes on many occasions, he has been very helpful in knowing which classes that will count towards my degree and which ones won't.  "She is amazing, understanding, comical, and listens," said Rhodes.

At a Glance
Who: Kathy Martinak
What: Veteran's Education benefits certifying officer
When: Operating hours
Interested in becoming a guardsman ?

Description of a person or place at LBCC

Walking up to the window there are people in line for the services next to it. Usually there is no one in my line though when i approach. Seeing a familiar face that has helped me for the past three years here, sharing a similar background, we joke about what has been going on.  There are many who use this service, all with a similar characteristic.  Having this place to go when I need to have a question answered, has helped me find answers and benefits that are available to me. 

Profile Plan

 Subject: Kathy Martinak
Questions
 1. What is your position here at LBCC ?  
 2. What does your job entail ?
 3. What schooling and or training was required for this position ?
 4. Why did you take this position ?
 5. How long have you been in your current position?
 6. What other jobs have you had leading up to this job/profession ?
 7. What drives you outside of your employment at LBCC

Nut Graf
 The supervisor in the VA office here at LBCC

Sources

Carl Rhodes, one of the assistants in the VA office
A random customer of the VA office
Kathy's boss (Bev Gerig)

Links
VA office
Contact list for veterans

Three tools I have learned from Stephen King

Reading the first 150 pages of Stephen King's "On Writing," part of it was about his childhood, and the last 50 pages were about his style of writing.  A few of the things i picked up when he was talking about his style of writing were vocabulary, adverbs, and writing in active verbs.

The biggest thing i learned from the reading has been with the vocabulary.  "Using the first word that comes to mind if it is appropriate and colorful."  Too many times when i write i tend to try and find big words to use instead of using the word that first comes to my mind.  King says "there's always another word-but it probably won't be as good as your first one, or as close to what you really mean."

"The Adverb is not your friend." That statement by King, is another of the key tools that i am putting in my toolbox now.  "Words that end in "ly" seem to have been created with the timid writer in mind," said King.  I have not thought of my writing to be "timid" but i tend to use adverbs more that i probably should.

The other tool that i am putting in my toolbox now, is to make sure that when ever possible, i am using an active verb instead of a passive verb.  King uses "i don't believe that, With a hammer he killed Frank, will ever replace He killed Frank with a hammer." Using strong active verb really helps the reader paint the picture of what happened. 

Dexter Season 1: For those who haven't seen the series yet.

Showtime's psychological thriller "Dexter," portrayed by Michael C. Hall, is a story based out of Miami, FL, where the police face epically brutal crime scenes.  Dexter Morgan is a forensics expert who's mastery is blood spatter, but there is a catch, Dexter happens to be a serial killer as well. 

As a child, Dexter witnesses his mother's brutal execution, and is rescued by the first police officer to arrive at that crime scene, Harry Morgan.  Growing up Harry notices that Dexter has tendencies to kill animals and is all around not a very sociable person.  Harry begins to tell Dexter that he needs to harness his tendencies and "use them for good."  Harry teaches Dexter how to spot his targets, and teaches Dexter his code.  Dexter kills those who have committed heinous crimes against others.

Throughout season one, the team is after a serial killer dubbed "The Ice Truck Killer" The killer drains the blood of his victim then cuts them up and leaves them in various places.  Dexter becomes extremely fascinated with the killer.  The killer manages to get into Dexter's house and get to know him. The next body is found piece by piece, with a connection to Dexter's past. 

Having just finished season 1, this is a good teaser to get people wanting to know more.  "Dexter" is a bit on the brutal side and a bit far fetched, so a mature audience is needed for this show.

At a Glance
What: "Dexter season 1"
When: Monday nights on showtime
Where: Available on Net Flix
Other: Seasons 1-5 have aired, Season 6 Available on showtime in 2011

Learned tools in feature writing

Taking a featured writing class one of the first things that i had to figure out was how to create a blog which i had always heard of blogs but never had participated in.  There are many abbreviations and words that i did not understand the first week of class i.e. NUT GRAF, to a person who has never heard this term before, you cant even imagine what the word means.  Having to have a few of your works published in the college paper to be able to receive an above average grade in the class is a shock to me.  I have enjoyed writing all my life, but having the piece be good enough to be in a paper that many people will read, is a bit intimidating.

The Situation: Balancing the Budget

                  Starting Winter term at LBCC tuition rates have gone up seven dollars a credit.  Since the state budget must be balanced unlike the federal budget, the state had to cut about two million dollars from LBCC.  To make up for the budget cuts, students are having to pay an additional seven dollars a credit, whereas, teachers are taking a reduction in pay.  "This is the first time ever that tuition rates have gone up in the middle of the year," according to Jim Huckestein, Vice president, Finance and Operations at LBCC.
            
                 Currently revenue that enables the college to function come from various areas.  Student tuition provides approximately 40 percent, state revenue (normalized) would contribute 34 percent, property taxes provide 15 percent of the cost.  1 dollar in increase per credit generates 200,000.

                  Tuition and fees the last five years has increased from 2005-2006 at 62.00 per credit to 2009-2010 at 74.00 per credit.
              
                   Most students that i have spoken to are having to take less credits because of the rise in the  total cost to attend school, which will keep them in school longer than they had expected.

At A Glance:

Who: LBCC Students.
What: Increase in Tuition rates.
When: Starting Winter Term.
Why: State Budget Cuts.