On my way to school today I was listening to the radio and apparently starting on January 1, 2011 in Hong Kong, if you wanted to, you could get married at a Mcdonald's for $400. I actually just found the article for it and I'm going to post the link for those of you interested in reading about it.
The package includes a bakes apple pie cake, which is just a bunch of apple pies in boxes stacked on top of one another, a brides' dress made out of party balloons, kiddie party gifts for guests, and Mcdonald's will cater food. (wtf?)
The one thing that they are able to do now is rent out a Mcdonald's for engagement parties or anniversary parties. SO BIZARRE!!!
Anyways, I thought this was hysterical and I needed to write about it, especially where I work in a Mcdonald's in my town. Apparently, since the news was known, they have been getting 10 calls a month from engaged couples.
Here's the link if you want to read up on it! (:
http://www.mediaite.com/online/im-loving-it-hong-kong-mcdonalds-is-now-offering-wedding-packages/
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Poem #2
Here's something else I wrote a few years ago. I just simply called it depression.
Standing in a empty room
Shuddered by her fears
Tired of the life she lives
Holding back the tears
Hurting inside is what she feels
But there's no one to save her
They can't stop what she has already done
They can't bring back what she begun
Two mothers in a year,
A father who she thought loved her dear
A brother who she never sees
A friend who she never speaks
Scenes that play in the back of her mind
Playing that awful day in rewind
Her face is covered by smiles and laughs
Reality is: Everything's a trap.
Standing in a empty room
Shuddered by her fears
Tired of the life she lives
Holding back the tears
Hurting inside is what she feels
But there's no one to save her
They can't stop what she has already done
They can't bring back what she begun
Two mothers in a year,
A father who she thought loved her dear
A brother who she never sees
A friend who she never speaks
Scenes that play in the back of her mind
Playing that awful day in rewind
Her face is covered by smiles and laughs
Reality is: Everything's a trap.
Chapter 13 response
The "inverted paragraph" structure is what I tried to base my article upon. I tried to make my lead catchy and interesting, but also make sure that the most important information was included. I tried to include the who, what, when, where, and why to the best of my ability.
I believe that the body of the story is one of the most interesting things a reader reads because it had all the supporting details and facts. I know, as a reader, I like having random questions, that probably don't even matter, answered in an article.
I find that the end of a story is the most difficult. This is what I have the most problems with because I always end it as if I was writing an essay. It takes me a little bit to get at least a decent ending, and this time around, I made sure my article ended with the "least important" information.
To end this little blog, I just also wanted to also comment on the fact that headlines really do tell a story. It catches a readers interest and makes them want to read the article in the first place. To be perfectly honest, though, it's extremely hard sometimes to think of creative and catchy headlines.
I believe that the body of the story is one of the most interesting things a reader reads because it had all the supporting details and facts. I know, as a reader, I like having random questions, that probably don't even matter, answered in an article.
I find that the end of a story is the most difficult. This is what I have the most problems with because I always end it as if I was writing an essay. It takes me a little bit to get at least a decent ending, and this time around, I made sure my article ended with the "least important" information.
To end this little blog, I just also wanted to also comment on the fact that headlines really do tell a story. It catches a readers interest and makes them want to read the article in the first place. To be perfectly honest, though, it's extremely hard sometimes to think of creative and catchy headlines.
A poem I wrote last year.
I wrote this last year when I was going through some hard stuff. Even though I am way happier now, I still like it, so I thought I would share. By the way, I don't like rhyming when I write. I think it's cliche.
You see, it's like this:
The grass will never be greener on the other side.
As much as you want to believe it, it won't.
It's like a fairytale you tell little kids;
A way to get them to think everything's ok.
Thats' why as we get older, we believe these things.
We believe everything is perfect;
Everything is right.
It's not. It's a fantasy world.
It doesn't exist.
We can push and push to make it seem real.
But in the end, we lose. Reality wins.
There's no way to stop it.
Some people stay in this make-pretend world.
Eventually, reality catches up with them.
Those are the people that stay lost and confused.
They stay like that forever.
But they can't help it.
It's not their fault.
it's already preset in their minds.
There's no way to fix it.
Or is there?
It's a choice, it's life.
You make that decision for yourself.
Will it be forever living in fantasy, or facing reality?
You see, it's like this:
The grass will never be greener on the other side.
As much as you want to believe it, it won't.
It's like a fairytale you tell little kids;
A way to get them to think everything's ok.
Thats' why as we get older, we believe these things.
We believe everything is perfect;
Everything is right.
It's not. It's a fantasy world.
It doesn't exist.
We can push and push to make it seem real.
But in the end, we lose. Reality wins.
There's no way to stop it.
Some people stay in this make-pretend world.
Eventually, reality catches up with them.
Those are the people that stay lost and confused.
They stay like that forever.
But they can't help it.
It's not their fault.
it's already preset in their minds.
There's no way to fix it.
Or is there?
It's a choice, it's life.
You make that decision for yourself.
Will it be forever living in fantasy, or facing reality?
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Chile Miners
So obviously everyone knows about the Chile Miners that were rescued yesterday. The crazy thing that got me was the fact that it took over 30 minutes for every individual to get to the surface. So reading about this story yesterday, I found this short article online about how this 19 year old guy wrote a letter to his significant other and talked about how God wanted him to be in that place and he wasn't scared. He told her that he loved her and their beautiful daughter. I thought it was touching.
This situation got me thinking, though. What if, for some reason, I got trapped in a mine and had to survive for 2 months on almost nothing? Let me tell you..I wouldn't. I hate small spaces, especially if they are over crowded. I'm claustrophobic. The smell from everyone going to the bathroom had to have gotten to them after a while. I can't even imagine. Then when I started watching the live feed of them being taken to the surface, I could feel my anxiety kicking in. I would not survive in the thing for over 30 minutes. As I said before, I have enclosed places and I would freak the hell out.
Of course, the one thing that I was not happy about was the certain aspects the news covered on this story; how they were preparing for fame, how their life wasn't that bad underground, etc. I wasn't be be like, shut up. There's more to the story than that.
I watched the family and friends on the live footage and the tears of joy streaming down their faces. The clips that I watched of them underground showed the happiest people making due with their situation. I give these miners so much credit for making due with what they had.
This situation got me thinking, though. What if, for some reason, I got trapped in a mine and had to survive for 2 months on almost nothing? Let me tell you..I wouldn't. I hate small spaces, especially if they are over crowded. I'm claustrophobic. The smell from everyone going to the bathroom had to have gotten to them after a while. I can't even imagine. Then when I started watching the live feed of them being taken to the surface, I could feel my anxiety kicking in. I would not survive in the thing for over 30 minutes. As I said before, I have enclosed places and I would freak the hell out.
Of course, the one thing that I was not happy about was the certain aspects the news covered on this story; how they were preparing for fame, how their life wasn't that bad underground, etc. I wasn't be be like, shut up. There's more to the story than that.
I watched the family and friends on the live footage and the tears of joy streaming down their faces. The clips that I watched of them underground showed the happiest people making due with their situation. I give these miners so much credit for making due with what they had.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Chapter 14 response
As I read this chapter, I came across something very interesting. The part about the right questions to ask I thought were important. As a journalist, we need to make sure we get the correct information. We don't want to end up catching ourselves making things up as we go along.
I found that when I do interviews, I generally ask at the end if there is anything I left out or anything of importance that I forgot. I want to make sure that I get the main points across on an article, which means finding out what the person being interviewed want the readers to know. I find that I get some good quotes at the end because the person isn't struggling to come up with an answer to the questioned asked. Questions asked during an interview can be challenging.
When I prepare for an interview, I start with a list of people I want to interview and questions I want to ask them. As I go along with an interview, I end up having follow up questions I ask in response to their answer.
Unfortunately, I have had to do interviews over email before, and I'm not a fan of it. Granted that you can get accurate quotes from the person, you still don't have the face-to-face connection with the person and it's hard to ask follow up questions over the internet. You also don't know when they person will respond to you. I prefer face to face interviews, even if it is intimidating at times. Also, I've never done video chat interviews.
I feel as though every interview is a learning experience. You figure you what you can improve on for next time and what you should keep on doing. I recommend to any future journalist to try the best you can to get personal interviews with people.
I found that when I do interviews, I generally ask at the end if there is anything I left out or anything of importance that I forgot. I want to make sure that I get the main points across on an article, which means finding out what the person being interviewed want the readers to know. I find that I get some good quotes at the end because the person isn't struggling to come up with an answer to the questioned asked. Questions asked during an interview can be challenging.
When I prepare for an interview, I start with a list of people I want to interview and questions I want to ask them. As I go along with an interview, I end up having follow up questions I ask in response to their answer.
Unfortunately, I have had to do interviews over email before, and I'm not a fan of it. Granted that you can get accurate quotes from the person, you still don't have the face-to-face connection with the person and it's hard to ask follow up questions over the internet. You also don't know when they person will respond to you. I prefer face to face interviews, even if it is intimidating at times. Also, I've never done video chat interviews.
I feel as though every interview is a learning experience. You figure you what you can improve on for next time and what you should keep on doing. I recommend to any future journalist to try the best you can to get personal interviews with people.
Texting ban hard to enforce
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/highlight/x1164157644/Police-say-texting-ban-a-tough-law-to-enforce
I read this article tonight and I think it's safe to say that everyone is correct. The new texting law is indeed hard to enforce. I guess one of the biggest things is that police aren't allowed to look into your phone without a warrant. It's also hard to figure out if someone is dialing a phone number or texting.
I can personally say for myself that I'm afraid of cops and now I don't text or even read my messages. I'm afraid of getting pulled over by a cop. They scare me. I don't know why. Honestly, I cry. I've gotten pulled over twice, and got warnings both times, but it scared the shit out of me. I got pulled over once at UMASS Boston for "speeding" and got a warning because the state cop in from of me was speeding and the other time for passing a stopped bus at the high school when no students were loading onto the bus and a bunch of cars passed the bus before I did. That's why I got the warning. Just thought I would share, not that it matters to anyone.
But anyways, I still don't think there is a complete way to ban texting while driving. People are still going to do what they're going to do. People always find the ways around laws.
That's all I have to say tonight. I'm sure I will be on again tomorrow. (:
I read this article tonight and I think it's safe to say that everyone is correct. The new texting law is indeed hard to enforce. I guess one of the biggest things is that police aren't allowed to look into your phone without a warrant. It's also hard to figure out if someone is dialing a phone number or texting.
I can personally say for myself that I'm afraid of cops and now I don't text or even read my messages. I'm afraid of getting pulled over by a cop. They scare me. I don't know why. Honestly, I cry. I've gotten pulled over twice, and got warnings both times, but it scared the shit out of me. I got pulled over once at UMASS Boston for "speeding" and got a warning because the state cop in from of me was speeding and the other time for passing a stopped bus at the high school when no students were loading onto the bus and a bunch of cars passed the bus before I did. That's why I got the warning. Just thought I would share, not that it matters to anyone.
But anyways, I still don't think there is a complete way to ban texting while driving. People are still going to do what they're going to do. People always find the ways around laws.
That's all I have to say tonight. I'm sure I will be on again tomorrow. (:
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