This is the very first comic in the Vaguer Language series, and it will also be appearing on the March edition of Toilet Talk on campus. ENJOY!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Vaguer Language 1 (Dialect)
This is the very first comic in the Vaguer Language series, and it will also be appearing on the March edition of Toilet Talk on campus. ENJOY!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Brain Damage SPECIAL EDITION
This Brain Damage is only special edition because it is featured exclusively on The Pointer's blog...here!
- Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
- Gilligan from Gilligan's Island had the first name of Willy which was only on the never-aired pilot show. The skipper's real name was Jonas Grumby. It was mentioned once in the first episode.
- A group of owls is called a parliament. A group of unicorns is called a blessing. A group of kangaroos is called a mob. Who comes up with this stuff?
- A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
- When doctors in Los Angeles went on strike in 1976, the daily number of deaths in the city dropped 18 percent.
- Crayola is a French word that means "Oily chalk."
- One gallon of motor oil can ruin approximately one million gallons of fresh water if polluted.
- Celtic warriors sometimes fought their battles in the nude, their bodies dyed blue.
- There are mirrors on the moon. Astronauts left them there so that laser beams could be bounced off of them from Earth. These beams give us the distance to the moon to the centimeters.
- Brain damage will only occur if a fever goes above 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
- Gilligan from Gilligan's Island had the first name of Willy which was only on the never-aired pilot show. The skipper's real name was Jonas Grumby. It was mentioned once in the first episode.
- A group of owls is called a parliament. A group of unicorns is called a blessing. A group of kangaroos is called a mob. Who comes up with this stuff?
- A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
- When doctors in Los Angeles went on strike in 1976, the daily number of deaths in the city dropped 18 percent.
- Crayola is a French word that means "Oily chalk."
- One gallon of motor oil can ruin approximately one million gallons of fresh water if polluted.
- Celtic warriors sometimes fought their battles in the nude, their bodies dyed blue.
- There are mirrors on the moon. Astronauts left them there so that laser beams could be bounced off of them from Earth. These beams give us the distance to the moon to the centimeters.
- Brain damage will only occur if a fever goes above 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Hello Sports Fans,
The other day I was sitting at a friends house with her and her boyfriend and we started arguing about the value of some movies and whether they were good or bad. To be more specific, we were discussing the Harry Potter series. He claimed that these movies sucked and had lame stories. I then asked if he had read the books. He said he didn't read books. I almost got up and walked out of the room.
While in high school, at least a majority of my graduating class read books. Not just school books, but they would read books for pleasure. Granted, I only graduated with only 28 people, having a majority read books isn't eh greatest of achievements, but it's come to my attention that nowhere near the majority of college students are reading books. This is really starting to upset me. The lack of enthusiasm for today's literature is astounding.
There is so much advancement and experimentation in today's book world that their has to be something for people to read. I don't buy the "I don't like to read" excuse. People have to read ever day. Street signs, advertisements, and magazines are part of everyday life and yet when you ask someone to read something more than 1000 words long that isn't about Brangelina or Brett Favre, people look at you in disgust as if you're asking them to slaughter a goat in the name of beelzebub.
So I urge you, pick up a book. Experience a degree of storytelling, emotion and narrative that can't be expressed on screen. If anything, pick up a newspaper an learn something that isn't also on MTV and TMZ. Turn off the tv and the playstation, put your Cosmopolitan Magazine on the floor and pick up a book. I urge you. Do this because books are awesome and good story telling should never die but it will if people don't experience the ways that the earliest stories were first recorded and told.
The other day I was sitting at a friends house with her and her boyfriend and we started arguing about the value of some movies and whether they were good or bad. To be more specific, we were discussing the Harry Potter series. He claimed that these movies sucked and had lame stories. I then asked if he had read the books. He said he didn't read books. I almost got up and walked out of the room.
While in high school, at least a majority of my graduating class read books. Not just school books, but they would read books for pleasure. Granted, I only graduated with only 28 people, having a majority read books isn't eh greatest of achievements, but it's come to my attention that nowhere near the majority of college students are reading books. This is really starting to upset me. The lack of enthusiasm for today's literature is astounding.
There is so much advancement and experimentation in today's book world that their has to be something for people to read. I don't buy the "I don't like to read" excuse. People have to read ever day. Street signs, advertisements, and magazines are part of everyday life and yet when you ask someone to read something more than 1000 words long that isn't about Brangelina or Brett Favre, people look at you in disgust as if you're asking them to slaughter a goat in the name of beelzebub.
So I urge you, pick up a book. Experience a degree of storytelling, emotion and narrative that can't be expressed on screen. If anything, pick up a newspaper an learn something that isn't also on MTV and TMZ. Turn off the tv and the playstation, put your Cosmopolitan Magazine on the floor and pick up a book. I urge you. Do this because books are awesome and good story telling should never die but it will if people don't experience the ways that the earliest stories were first recorded and told.
Critiquing the English Language (Part 1)
Let me paint you a picture. It's a Saturday night and I'm sitting in the lobby of my dorm playing Scrabble. I love Scrabble, don't get me wrong, but Saturday night is not Scrabble night until you're 75. Point is, Saturday + Scrabble = an unhappy me. Now as if this situation wasn't bad enough, I was LOSING! I like to think I'm a fairly good player, and yet, I saw myself staring at a large deficit. It rolls around to be my turn, and I think I've struck gold, Vaguen on a triple word score, things are going my way here, right? NO!!! It gets challenged, and apparently, it's not a word.
Vaguen, or, to make more vague, is not a word. HOW is this not a word? It simply doesn't make sense. Neither player was able to make a legitimate argument as to why it shouldn't be a word.
"It's 'more vague.'"
English is the language of options. There are countless ways to say and phrase ideas, that's what makes it great, and now you stand there and tell me vaguen is not a word because it can already be expressed in a longer, duller way? How dare you? How DARE you!?!
Somehow this point turned into a draw and we moved on to the next reason...
"It sounds too much like 'vegan.'"
Really? Are you trying to piss me off? In a language that uses "their" "there" and "they're" and "to" "too" and "two" how on Earth is it possible to make that argument? I'm not a violent person, but come on, your are asking for a swift kick to the testicles with that rebuttal. Somehow this ended the argument in their favor, and I implore any person with a sense of logic to tell me how that happened.
I finally decided to give that up and lay down vague, missing the triple word score by one tile. I select my tiles and I pull an "R". OH HAPPY DAY! I can just extend vague on my next turn and still get the triple word score. My turn comes, I play the word, CHALLENGED yet again. The dictionary is consulted (by cellphone because our society rocks like that) and vaguer is absent. I know for a fact that vaguer is a word, it simply MUST be a word, I've used it before, in conversation, in papers, and alas, it's not in the all-knowing cell phone dictionary.
These slip-ups cost me 30 points, and as a result of that loss, the game. This just isn't right.
So now I call out to all of you on the intertubes, (thank you Ron Paul) join me in my quest to legitimize vaguen and vaguer as words, and restore order to this beautiful language. And, if you don't want to do it for the sake of the language, do it for me, so I may have a retroactive Scrabble victory to save myself from the embaressment of losing a game of vocabulary to people that think vaguen shouldn't be a word because it sounds too much like vegan.
Motivation and culture shock
After returning from the recent regional Associated Collegiate Press conference, I have a new found motivation for my field.
One would think, after hearing countless references to the downward spiral of an economy we have and how physical print newspapers will be practically nonexistent in the next decade, we all would have left there crying.
But NO!
I will not stand for that. I have not gone through all that I have and endured the great Steve Hill for nothing.
With the advantage of the internet and multimedia technologies at our fingertips, why not take advantage of it?
Post your publications to those social networking sites, send people links of what you are doing online for their viewing pleasure. It is all about sharing. This is the tool that holds our future.
After life in the big city for a couple days, seeing homless men, drinking expensive drinks, helping beligerent old men get out of a literal parking jam and stuffing seven of us college students in tight quarters I was able to experience the exact opposite only hours and miles later.
I was able to visit the quaint and mysterious southern Wisconsin and Minnesota. Stopping at Jake's parents' bar in Wabasha, Minn. was definiately the key to unwinding after a stressful weekend in The Cities.
His hometown was an even better hidden gem.
Alma, (pronouced Elma) Wis. is a three tiered town of steep hills, waterfront and personality infested living spaces. I have never seen such a town. The bluffs are beautiful with the evening sun glistening off the weekend's snowfall.
Talk about a culture shock, going from middleman's land Stevens Point, to a city whose skyline is staggered with modern human architechture to naturally developed monuments to fill the skyline.
One would think, after hearing countless references to the downward spiral of an economy we have and how physical print newspapers will be practically nonexistent in the next decade, we all would have left there crying.
But NO!
I will not stand for that. I have not gone through all that I have and endured the great Steve Hill for nothing.
With the advantage of the internet and multimedia technologies at our fingertips, why not take advantage of it?
Post your publications to those social networking sites, send people links of what you are doing online for their viewing pleasure. It is all about sharing. This is the tool that holds our future.
After life in the big city for a couple days, seeing homless men, drinking expensive drinks, helping beligerent old men get out of a literal parking jam and stuffing seven of us college students in tight quarters I was able to experience the exact opposite only hours and miles later.
I was able to visit the quaint and mysterious southern Wisconsin and Minnesota. Stopping at Jake's parents' bar in Wabasha, Minn. was definiately the key to unwinding after a stressful weekend in The Cities.
His hometown was an even better hidden gem.
Alma, (pronouced Elma) Wis. is a three tiered town of steep hills, waterfront and personality infested living spaces. I have never seen such a town. The bluffs are beautiful with the evening sun glistening off the weekend's snowfall.
Talk about a culture shock, going from middleman's land Stevens Point, to a city whose skyline is staggered with modern human architechture to naturally developed monuments to fill the skyline.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Did anyone watch the Oscars last night?
Did anyone watch the Oscars last night? I tried to...I really tried to...but it was SO boring. I miss having Jon Stewart as the host, much funnier than wolverine. Plus, I've never even really heard of half the movies that win. What happened to the best movies winning, does that only happen at the People's Choice Awards? In all reality, Dark Knight should have won almost every category, it was the most amazing movie of last year. Anyway, what did you think? Worth watching?
Friday, February 20, 2009
An Accurate Introduction
I suppose I'm just going to get to it and write my first blog post on To The Point. Since I'm alum, I'm sure a lot of what I have to say is going to get breezed on by, buy maybe I'll be lucky and Leb and Avra will read my stuff (only cuz they like me and tolerate my insanity).
So, I'm sure I won't be the first person to tell you that life after graduation sucks. With the horrible economy and dwindling job market, there's little employment to come by for a know-it-all college grad with no experience. Compounding that fact is the move I made right after graduation, to Houghton, MI, part of the even-more-economically-depressed-than-the-rest-of-the-country Upper Peninsula. I can't even find a full-time 40 hour a week job answering phones let alone get into the paper here (although I did have a really close call about a month ago-we'll get to that some other time). So as of today, right now, this moment, I am working 3 jobs - as a "customer service associate" at JC Penney's, the front desk at the local Ramada Inn, and the only one that really matters, as a freelance journalist for Suite101. Now, while it sounds like I'm busy, I barely get 30 hours working the two "real" jobs, and my laziness has kept me from writing a whole lot for Suite, until recently.
I found my nitch (spelling?) in writing very quick and easy articles detailing drink recipes. The reason for this is because like I said, I've been procrastinating, and I need to write 10 articles in a month or I get fired from the job (places tend to do that if you don't do what you're supposed to). Happily, I found that I'm good at these articles and can pump them out pretty fast, so I probably won't have any issues making the deadline. And, even more awesome, people actually want to read the articles, which is really the point, isn't it? This is very good, because I get paid based on the traffic I bring to the site, so I figure, if I need 1000 views to get paid, and each article brings me 150 views, and I get paid $.03 per view, that by the time I've written my tenth article, I will have earned $15.00. A small amount, yes, but the beginnings of my life changing, money-making freelance career. Hopefully. Maybe. Well, probably not. But a girl can hope, right?
So, I'm sure I won't be the first person to tell you that life after graduation sucks. With the horrible economy and dwindling job market, there's little employment to come by for a know-it-all college grad with no experience. Compounding that fact is the move I made right after graduation, to Houghton, MI, part of the even-more-economically-depressed-than-the-rest-of-the-country Upper Peninsula. I can't even find a full-time 40 hour a week job answering phones let alone get into the paper here (although I did have a really close call about a month ago-we'll get to that some other time). So as of today, right now, this moment, I am working 3 jobs - as a "customer service associate" at JC Penney's, the front desk at the local Ramada Inn, and the only one that really matters, as a freelance journalist for Suite101. Now, while it sounds like I'm busy, I barely get 30 hours working the two "real" jobs, and my laziness has kept me from writing a whole lot for Suite, until recently.
I found my nitch (spelling?) in writing very quick and easy articles detailing drink recipes. The reason for this is because like I said, I've been procrastinating, and I need to write 10 articles in a month or I get fired from the job (places tend to do that if you don't do what you're supposed to). Happily, I found that I'm good at these articles and can pump them out pretty fast, so I probably won't have any issues making the deadline. And, even more awesome, people actually want to read the articles, which is really the point, isn't it? This is very good, because I get paid based on the traffic I bring to the site, so I figure, if I need 1000 views to get paid, and each article brings me 150 views, and I get paid $.03 per view, that by the time I've written my tenth article, I will have earned $15.00. A small amount, yes, but the beginnings of my life changing, money-making freelance career. Hopefully. Maybe. Well, probably not. But a girl can hope, right?
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Sorry Bearded Dragon Scientists and the SMOD
I know everyone was thinking last night "why would someone email everyone on campus about bearded dragons" probably followed by the though of "that was kind of annoying." As a college student we are attacked daily by assaults of emails asking us to join student organizations, telling us about stuff going on throughout campus, asking if we have some sort of lizard, bothering us with actual academically important information, and eventually telling us that our email is getting too full. The thing that can be the most annoying though is the emails that are "mass messages," that is sent to the entire student body.
Normally these come from only a few places. We get the occasional email from Chancellor Bunnell or Vice Chancellor Bob Tomlinson. We get the weekly email from SGA telling us what they're working on, and probably a follow-up email telling us what they forgot to tell us they're working on, and maybe a third. Then, we get the motherload of all email storage disasters in the Student Message of the Day (SMOD). This mass message clouds are email at roughly the same time during every single day...even in the summer when nothing is really happening...filling our hopes and dreams with sudden deletion.
I see friends of mine log in and delete them both within seconds, and I find myself doing the same. Shows how much we care about what is really going on. The SMOD seems so unorganized and cluttered with random information almost every day. It has become really nothing more than free advertising for student organizations and departments to talk about events and stuff going on. But...nobody really reads the SMOD...when you look back at college...you may only remember that double click of the "delete" button that you did every day, like clockwork.
Anyway, I just got extremely off-topic. My real intention was to write to Rachel and
Amber and thank them for giving me another email to delete and an interesting topic of discussion in the office. I commend you for taking the time to email every single students the way you did...that takes a lot of time and I really mean...a lot. You must really need a good grade on this Bearded Dragon feces project.
All emails go up to the deleted items box in the sky eventually...but it is definately cluttered with quickly deleted mass messages, like the SMOD. Sorry for the rant...
Normally these come from only a few places. We get the occasional email from Chancellor Bunnell or Vice Chancellor Bob Tomlinson. We get the weekly email from SGA telling us what they're working on, and probably a follow-up email telling us what they forgot to tell us they're working on, and maybe a third. Then, we get the motherload of all email storage disasters in the Student Message of the Day (SMOD). This mass message clouds are email at roughly the same time during every single day...even in the summer when nothing is really happening...filling our hopes and dreams with sudden deletion.
I see friends of mine log in and delete them both within seconds, and I find myself doing the same. Shows how much we care about what is really going on. The SMOD seems so unorganized and cluttered with random information almost every day. It has become really nothing more than free advertising for student organizations and departments to talk about events and stuff going on. But...nobody really reads the SMOD...when you look back at college...you may only remember that double click of the "delete" button that you did every day, like clockwork.
Anyway, I just got extremely off-topic. My real intention was to write to Rachel and
Amber and thank them for giving me another email to delete and an interesting topic of discussion in the office. I commend you for taking the time to email every single students the way you did...that takes a lot of time and I really mean...a lot. You must really need a good grade on this Bearded Dragon feces project.
All emails go up to the deleted items box in the sky eventually...but it is definately cluttered with quickly deleted mass messages, like the SMOD. Sorry for the rant...
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
It's Summer...Oh Crap...Weather Advisory?
I just want to say "what the hell." I want to say this not only because I don't think I'm allowed to even come close to swearing in the actual paper version of The Pointer but because it is snowing outside. It has seemed to be ages since snow has fallen on the UW-SP campus, but finally our summer vacation has ended and winter has once again befallen us. I did see something funny though when checking out the weather forcast recently on weather.com:
"A COMPLEX STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING SNOW TO THE AREA TONIGHT."
OK...it just seems like a poor choice of words to be saying complex. Makes it seem like the Weather Channel people have no idea what is going on, which could in fact be true. My girlfriend actually always tells me never to believe a meteorologist, but I'm quite gullible. Anyway, if she is wrong and the Weather Channel is right, I have to break my snow shovel out of the icy domain it somehow has been stuck in for the last couple weeks of warm weather. It will probably be the second time this year I've broke my shovel on ice.
"SNOW IS EXPECTED TONIGHT. LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE WEDNESDAY. INCREASING NORTH WINDS ON WEDNESDAY WILL CREATE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF THE SNOW. A TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 3 TO 5 INCHES IS EXPECTED BY LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON"
PS: Swimsuit buying season is coming to an end...hurry up and hit your nearest retail store(They seriously get swimsuits in stores in December). That doesn't make sense either...
"A COMPLEX STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING SNOW TO THE AREA TONIGHT."
OK...it just seems like a poor choice of words to be saying complex. Makes it seem like the Weather Channel people have no idea what is going on, which could in fact be true. My girlfriend actually always tells me never to believe a meteorologist, but I'm quite gullible. Anyway, if she is wrong and the Weather Channel is right, I have to break my snow shovel out of the icy domain it somehow has been stuck in for the last couple weeks of warm weather. It will probably be the second time this year I've broke my shovel on ice.
"SNOW IS EXPECTED TONIGHT. LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE WEDNESDAY. INCREASING NORTH WINDS ON WEDNESDAY WILL CREATE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF THE SNOW. A TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 3 TO 5 INCHES IS EXPECTED BY LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON"
PS: Swimsuit buying season is coming to an end...hurry up and hit your nearest retail store(They seriously get swimsuits in stores in December). That doesn't make sense either...
Monday, February 16, 2009
Rar....
We're really working hard at The Pointer to get this blog up and running, so if you're interested in contributing at all to the blog by writing basically anything, just shoot me an e-mail at jglod170@uwsp.edu. I'll certainly get back to you, see what you're interested in talking about and send you an invite. The more, the merrier! Also, if you have any ideas of stuff to cover from the blog, let me know as well or respond to this post in the comments section.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Oh so true
This isn't exactly a new post but more of an extended comment to Erin's Post http://uwspthepointer.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-to-survive-pointer-vol-1.htm.
I'd really have to agree with Erin. Commies (as she has decided to call us Communication Majors) are awesome. I've met so many awesome people studying within the Comm. department and working for the Pointer.
Up until last spring, I didn't know anybody within the department. I'd taken a few classes but had no close relationships, academic or otherwise until I took Comm 323: Food and Travel Writing. It was in this awesome class that I met the amazing entity known as Avra, or as Steve Hill calls her when he's frustrated, which is most of the time, "Juhnke."
Avra has since become my best friend. Most people have noticed that we are basically attached at the hip and I don't think I'd have it any other way. Avra's the one who convinced me to work at the Pointer. Until then, I didn't really have a lot of ambition to do it.
Since then, the Pointer has been the most rewarding experience that has happened to me. Working there has been awesome. I've met so many new and awesome people that I now feel like i've known my whole life. Its hard to imagine that only 6 months ago, I barely knew Katie, Avra, Leah and Rod. The others I had never met: Justin, Rochelle, Mike, Erin, Steve, Steve and everyone else who puts up with my bullshit on Wednesday nights when they're working and I'm running my mouth. Everyone at the Pointer has become the biggest part of my life in the past six months and I couldn't be happier.
But the point it, Comm Majors are the best. Sorry to Katie, Erin and Justin but you only half count in this one. I've studied in the other departments for different minors and its not the same. The relationships with other students are just not there the way they are in the CAC. I don't spend my weekends with people from my other classes, but every day I see Avra, Emily, Rod, Katie and my other cohorts that always seem to be in the CAC.
But anyway, I thank Erin for pointing this one out. Its not something I've thought about, but I have to say that I completely agree. Comm Majors rock and will point out everytime you put an 's' on the end of Communication.
I'd really have to agree with Erin. Commies (as she has decided to call us Communication Majors) are awesome. I've met so many awesome people studying within the Comm. department and working for the Pointer.
Up until last spring, I didn't know anybody within the department. I'd taken a few classes but had no close relationships, academic or otherwise until I took Comm 323: Food and Travel Writing. It was in this awesome class that I met the amazing entity known as Avra, or as Steve Hill calls her when he's frustrated, which is most of the time, "Juhnke."
Avra has since become my best friend. Most people have noticed that we are basically attached at the hip and I don't think I'd have it any other way. Avra's the one who convinced me to work at the Pointer. Until then, I didn't really have a lot of ambition to do it.
Since then, the Pointer has been the most rewarding experience that has happened to me. Working there has been awesome. I've met so many new and awesome people that I now feel like i've known my whole life. Its hard to imagine that only 6 months ago, I barely knew Katie, Avra, Leah and Rod. The others I had never met: Justin, Rochelle, Mike, Erin, Steve, Steve and everyone else who puts up with my bullshit on Wednesday nights when they're working and I'm running my mouth. Everyone at the Pointer has become the biggest part of my life in the past six months and I couldn't be happier.
But the point it, Comm Majors are the best. Sorry to Katie, Erin and Justin but you only half count in this one. I've studied in the other departments for different minors and its not the same. The relationships with other students are just not there the way they are in the CAC. I don't spend my weekends with people from my other classes, but every day I see Avra, Emily, Rod, Katie and my other cohorts that always seem to be in the CAC.
But anyway, I thank Erin for pointing this one out. Its not something I've thought about, but I have to say that I completely agree. Comm Majors rock and will point out everytime you put an 's' on the end of Communication.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
JustTEN - Romance Movies
Thank you for viewing my weekly Top 10 list blog/column. I recently read somewhere that people enjoy reading top 10 lists. I'm not entirely sure why besides the overwhelming urge to disagree with whomever is posting, so feel free to complain and disagree in the comments, I enjoy a good debate. This being close to Valentine's Day, I've decided to rank the Top 10 Romance Movies. Please feel free to watch them this Saturday with your sweetie. Also, these are only movies I've seen, so maybe I'm missing out.
10. A Walk To Remember - I don't know exactly why I like this movie...it is sad...but as you'll see this is one of many movies that shows just how strong love can be.
9. Harry Potter - Most of the romance hasn't hit the screen yet, but I know that when the new Harry Potter movie comes out in June, there will be plenty of romance between certain characters...ow ow.
8. 50 First Dates - Ok, this is a romantic comedy you have to see, especially if you like movies with abnormal psychological disorders and love...of course.
7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - This is a trippy movie about memory erasure and romance. It truly shows that love conquers all, even the odd technology in this movie.
6. Beauty and the Beast - I know, you're thinking I'm an idiot for adding a cartoon to my list, but this is a great romantic story, has music, and can be great for those Valentine's dates when you're stuck with the kids.
5. Amelie - A French waitress daydreams of finding love while spending her free time improving the lives of her neighbors. I love this movie, it is very original and it is very funny.
4. Rent - This is, by far, the best musical that has come to the theater in the past 15 years. It has amazing cinematography, amazing singing, and love stories galore.
3. Titanic - What romance list would valid without including the Titanic? I still remember when this movie came out and girls in my class went and saw it like twelve times. I found that ridiculous...I hadn't even seen the movie until 2008. It really is a great movie and tends to grace the top spot of many movie lists like this. Beware of all the nudity though...jeez!
2. PS I Love You - Ok, this movie is really, really depressing, but under the depression there is a love story that travels beyond death. Not so much of a tear jerker like the number one pick which is...
1. The Notebook - I actually kind of own this movie. I borrowed it from my girlfriend and never returned it. Anyway, this movie is the epitome of romance and love, showing just how deep one can fall in love and how much is it really worth. I've seen it so many times and it still seems bring a tear to my eye towards the end.
Wow, that was harder than I thought to actually think up 10 movies. Let me know what I missed and what you think. Happy Valentine's Day!!
10. A Walk To Remember - I don't know exactly why I like this movie...it is sad...but as you'll see this is one of many movies that shows just how strong love can be.
9. Harry Potter - Most of the romance hasn't hit the screen yet, but I know that when the new Harry Potter movie comes out in June, there will be plenty of romance between certain characters...ow ow.
8. 50 First Dates - Ok, this is a romantic comedy you have to see, especially if you like movies with abnormal psychological disorders and love...of course.
7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - This is a trippy movie about memory erasure and romance. It truly shows that love conquers all, even the odd technology in this movie.
6. Beauty and the Beast - I know, you're thinking I'm an idiot for adding a cartoon to my list, but this is a great romantic story, has music, and can be great for those Valentine's dates when you're stuck with the kids.
5. Amelie - A French waitress daydreams of finding love while spending her free time improving the lives of her neighbors. I love this movie, it is very original and it is very funny.
4. Rent - This is, by far, the best musical that has come to the theater in the past 15 years. It has amazing cinematography, amazing singing, and love stories galore.
3. Titanic - What romance list would valid without including the Titanic? I still remember when this movie came out and girls in my class went and saw it like twelve times. I found that ridiculous...I hadn't even seen the movie until 2008. It really is a great movie and tends to grace the top spot of many movie lists like this. Beware of all the nudity though...jeez!
2. PS I Love You - Ok, this movie is really, really depressing, but under the depression there is a love story that travels beyond death. Not so much of a tear jerker like the number one pick which is...
1. The Notebook - I actually kind of own this movie. I borrowed it from my girlfriend and never returned it. Anyway, this movie is the epitome of romance and love, showing just how deep one can fall in love and how much is it really worth. I've seen it so many times and it still seems bring a tear to my eye towards the end.
Wow, that was harder than I thought to actually think up 10 movies. Let me know what I missed and what you think. Happy Valentine's Day!!
How to survive "The Pointer" (Vol. 1: Communication majors)
I should preface this post with some background information. I entered the Pointer office on the first Wednesday of the fall semester and encountered precisely one familiar face-- Katie, the editor-in-chief, whom I had seen once before, when she had interviewed me. I was an English major in a communication major's world, and when they found out, I admit I got a little nervous.
"You're an English major?" (In scandalized tones, as if I had instead admitted to having a collection of lederhosen and enjoying polka on the weekends.)
I was a stranger in a strange land. So how do I deal with these commie (Can I call them commies? Consult the AP Stylebook.) majors? There are a few basic rules.
"You're an English major?" (In scandalized tones, as if I had instead admitted to having a collection of lederhosen and enjoying polka on the weekends.)
I was a stranger in a strange land. So how do I deal with these commie (Can I call them commies? Consult the AP Stylebook.) majors? There are a few basic rules.
- The AP Stylebook is the Bible for all communication majors. Do not diss it. Do not ignore it. Check everything you might have a question about in it. Do I write out the word "Friday" or abbreviate it as "Fri."? Check the Stylebook. Do I place a comma before the "and" in a list of items? Check the Stylebook. Can I name my firstborn son after my father? Check the Stylebook.
- It's communicaTION, not communicaTIONS. Get it right, or be ridiculed.
- Do not overuse or insert adjectives or adverbs. In the communcation world, these are called modifiers, or more honestly, clutter. This is an English major's nightmare. If you compare this post with the others that appear on this blog, I guarantee a sharp communication major's eye will be able to spot that a foreigner who is not afraid of modifiers is penning this post.
- Be familiar with all of the communication clubs, factions and denominations (do you see how I artfully ignore the comma that should come before "and"? It's all thanks to Avra). Know what PRSSA is. Know who the most (and least) popular professors are. Take careful mental notes or you will be lost hopelessly in a swamp of names and acronyms, all unintelligable to your fragile English major ears.
- Be aware that all of the communication students (and faculty) know each other, can spot each other in a crowd and know all of each other's business. It's their job. They must know what's going on.
- Be further aware that communication majors know exactly what's happening on campus at any given moment, especially within their communication tribe (whose headquarters is the CAC). They are very well informed, because, again, it's their job.
- Mostly, remember that these commie majors are some of the nicest, most genuine people you will ever meet. They really do care what happened in your day; they will remember your name and invite you to have lunch with them and discuss current events, on the national, local and personal level. They have an unexhuastable energy at times that comes with their chosen major and line of work: they truly care about people and their activities and lives. More interesting and lovely people you will never meet.
So don't be afraid, English majors, or any other major that might look at this group of students and think, "They're awfully cliquey..." While it may be true, I can assure you that there is always a spot open for one (or two, or three) more in the clique. As long as you bring your own Stylebook.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Thank the heavens, Brett Favre retired...
It is about time that the old man finally called it quits. I've pretty much never been a Packer fan despite my living in Central Wisconsin all my life, and I couldn't wait for the day when Brett Favre would finally hang up the ole helmet and called it a career. I even cheered when he retired last year and groaned when I found out he was coming back again. For all those wondering, I am an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan and have been for as far back as I can remember.
Anyway, I can't totally diss Favre though, he holds A LOT of records including most career touchdown passes (464), most career pass completions (5,720), most career yards passing (65,127), regular season victories (169) and most importantly, career interceptions (310). He also did win the MVP a few times and won a Super Bowl. Plus, he did divided Packer fans between supporting their team or supporting their favorite player who just so happened to be a Jet. I couldn't have been happier for that.
Anyway, I do strongly believe that he should have stayed retired last year before becoming a Jet, because no matter how much I can't stand him or the Packers, I know he is and will always be known as a Packer legend. He had achieved more than many other football players dream of and wasn't really getting any better. When I get as old as him, I'll probably still remember him as the best Packer ever to play during my lifetime and that he did bring forth the only time I will probably ever witness a Wisconsin professional team win a championship.
My advice to Brett Favre now that he is retired would be to go out and teach. Years ago, when in college, he did earn his teaching degree with an emphasis in special education. I think he could find some ways to motivate his students and really make an even more positive difference in the world. Anyway, we'll see if he stays retired in a few months...maybe he'll be playing for the Eagles in the fall and I'll have to cheer for him.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
We're sinking...sorta...
So, I was recently reading some stuff on CNN and ran across an article about the new president of the Maldives Islands. This new president, Mohamed "Anni" Nasheed, has issued one of his first actions which is to find land for everyone on his whole island. You may be a bit confused, but with the rising waters of the ocean due to climate, Nasheed is looking for somewhere for everyone in the Maldives to stay when the islands finally fall below the sea. I find it crazy that countries are being forced to face this issue. Global warming of climate change really is a world issue and countries should be offering land for people like the Maldivians and/or looking to solve the issue. After all it might not be long until some of our cities in the United States may be faced with the same rising waters.
Link: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/11/maldives.president/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
Link: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/11/maldives.president/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
Monday, February 2, 2009
I would like to thank my fans, all the little people!
No, you aren't the little people, you all mean so much to me. To tell you the truth, as much as I want to be that hot new celebrity dripping with bling and being pursued by cameras, I am not. And if I was, I would take you all with me. I really would. I know how hard every single one of you work each day. Just sitting in the beloved Pointer office on Wednesday nights, I see it.
Leah, with her piles of text books almost as tall as she is.
Mike, leaves to go to church and still comes back afterward rather than doing a half-ass job just to get outta there. And dealing with my off-handed comments even though I am pretty sure I offend you.
Rod, constantly chasing down ad contributors and even making ads so Steve can place them easier.
Erin and Erica, I know you have to put up with a lot in dealing with me. How many times am I going to mix up your names. Honestly!
Rochelle, i know what they say isn't true when it comes to you, I know you don't hate sports writing. I can tell in your dedication and perseverance.
The reporters give me something to read every week, even if they have just as much, if not more homework than I do.
Justin, layout man, the Internet, need I say more? It takes a lot to be all of those things.
As I continue my internship at the Journal, we all need to realize how lucky we really are. In any job the university provides for us we may never find another job like it. It may seem like we are getting screwed by our student government or even the so-called system, but wait until we have to work for "the man."
We wear many hats as students. We often forget this, as do our mentors. Let's not let them forget.
Students, employees, interns, friends, volunteers, explorers, aspiring professionals, writers, our parents children, siblings and family members. Members of many, many families.
Where is the communal snuggie?
Leah, with her piles of text books almost as tall as she is.
Mike, leaves to go to church and still comes back afterward rather than doing a half-ass job just to get outta there. And dealing with my off-handed comments even though I am pretty sure I offend you.
Rod, constantly chasing down ad contributors and even making ads so Steve can place them easier.
Erin and Erica, I know you have to put up with a lot in dealing with me. How many times am I going to mix up your names. Honestly!
Rochelle, i know what they say isn't true when it comes to you, I know you don't hate sports writing. I can tell in your dedication and perseverance.
The reporters give me something to read every week, even if they have just as much, if not more homework than I do.
Justin, layout man, the Internet, need I say more? It takes a lot to be all of those things.
As I continue my internship at the Journal, we all need to realize how lucky we really are. In any job the university provides for us we may never find another job like it. It may seem like we are getting screwed by our student government or even the so-called system, but wait until we have to work for "the man."
We wear many hats as students. We often forget this, as do our mentors. Let's not let them forget.
Students, employees, interns, friends, volunteers, explorers, aspiring professionals, writers, our parents children, siblings and family members. Members of many, many families.
Where is the communal snuggie?
Welcome!
I just wanted to thank everyone for viewing our new blog feature to The Pointer. We should have this up and running soon. For now, check out our website at http://pointeronline.uwsp.edu/.
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