JRN 411

2005-04-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

My site is www.geocities.com/julietkraft/mypage

Appealing web page

2005-03-30T11:23:00.000-08:00

I found the official website for John Mayer to be a visually appealing layout. It uses a mixture of pictures, colors, information and interactive listening to create a calm yet attractive site.

When you first open the site it will ask you to click on a picture to decide how you want to view the site in terms of full screen, pop-up or regularly. It also will push you to a picture of the artist with all of the links, while playing a song from his album.

I like how the list of topics to choose from is at the bottom of the site with pull- downs to help the viewer find the information they are looking for. The site also offers an array of interactions with music. You can choose any of his albums and listen to the music or get the lyrics.

The pictures used on the site are extremely crisp and colorful. I also liked that they used a colored font instead of black. It brings a consistency to the site by using an array of blues as the background and font colors.

Freedom from censorship

2005-03-22T12:24:00.000-08:00

I agree that the Internet should be protected under the First Amendment rights. Not only would applying the Communications Decency Act(CDA) to the Internet unjustly censor this medium, it would also impact the use of the Internet.

In order for the Internet to work at its fullest potential as an educational and informational device, people need to possess the right to freely express their views and opinions on the topic of their choice. This will ensure that a plethora of ideas are readily available and therefore will help people to be better informed to make their own decisions. It would obstruct an individuals rights if the Internet was restricted in any form of expression.

In comparison to the free speech protection applied to the print medium, I believe the Internet should have even less severe restrictions because of the accessibility to the Internet through personal computers. A person should be able to find or post anything (within legal means) on the Internet that they feel compelled to share. I do feel that "unconventional" information and pictures are more tolerated through the Internet, but the day will come when more severe restrictions are placed on the content allowed on the Internet.

In the case of the CDA censoring the content of the Internet, I also agree that the whole reason for the existence of the Internet would than be moot. If people weren't granted unlimited freedom of expression through this medium, it would become nothing more than a glorified encyclopedia.

Winter sick story

2005-03-03T17:35:00.000-08:00

Head:
Winter sickness strikes again

Subhead:
Local doctors say more people get ill during winter than any other season

Blurb:
Metro Detroit is being hit with a rash of flu viruses, upper respiratory infections and stomach viruses.

Staying indoors and being in confined areas for longer periods of time when the weather is cold attributes to the increase in winter illnesses, according to local doctors.

The flu seems to top the list again this year. At both The Children's Hospital and Garden City Hospital in Wayne County, the flu was the number one complaint, according to Local 4 reporter Lila Lazarus.

Doctors are also reporting a increase in upper respiratory infections. At Providence Hospital in Oakland County, doctors reported that although the flu tops their list for illnesses, upper respiratory infections aren't far behind.

Beaumont Hospital is also treating a variety of stomach viruses. "Stomach viruses are usually caused by people passing germs from one to the other. Frequent hand washing can help curb the chance of infection," said Dr. Peter McGeorge of Beaumont Hospital.

Doctors at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital are treating cases of pneumonia. Which become more of a prevalent illness during the colder months.

According to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, doctors have seen a small drop in flu cases but an increase in slip and fall cases due to weather conditions.

It is just that time of year again, so take precautions by washing your hands and getting your vaccinations early.

To find more information on the flu , pneumonia , or avoiding slip and fall injuries click here.

Giant Hogweed story

2005-03-03T16:40:00.000-08:00

Head:
A dangerous pest comes to town

Subhead:
The Giant Hogweed found in Michigan

Blurb:
This hazardous plant is causing concern because of its potential harm to humans that come in contact with it, especially in young children.

The Giant Hogweed plant, native to Central Asia, has been found in 11 counties throughout Michigan, The Michigan Department of Agriculture confirmed. Those counties include Branch, Calhoun, Gogebic, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Manistee, Oakland, Ottawa and Saginaw.

When a person comes in contact with the sap from this plant, the skin will blister when exposed to sunlight, according to The Michigan Department of Agriculture. The blistering can range from moderate to severe, depending on how much was exposed to the skin and the age of the affected. Children tend to suffer more severe reactions because they are unaware that the plant is dangerous, and are attracted to the hollow stems as toys.

There have been several instances in Great Britain where children who had been playing with the stems as pea-shooters, telescopes or swords suffered from severe skin reactions, known as photo-dermatitis, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture. It is important to be able to identify Giant Hogweed, and make children aware of the harm this plant can cause.

A good way to recognize Giant Hogweed is its dark reddish purple stem and spotted leaf stalks. Although cow parsnip is similar in appearance, Giant Hogweed can grow to be 15-20 feet tall, while cow parsnip only reaches 3-4 feet.

It is easy to spot colonies of Giant Hogweed in the winter months because of their massive stalks poking up through the snow. Although, Michigan is not the only state that is reporting this pesky plant, The Michigan Department of Agriculture reported. They have reported that the Giant Hogweed is popping up in Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Ohio, New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania and Washington as well.

It is important that if you come into contact with this plant, to wash the affected area immediately, keep exposed area out of direct sunlight and seek medical assistance.

If you believe to have found a Giant Hogweed, please call the Giant Hogweed Hotline at 800-292-3939.

For more facts on the Giant Hogweed please click here

Immigration on the rise

2005-02-24T18:18:00.000-08:00

Head
Immigration on the rise in U.S.

Subhead
Census Bureau data reports a substantial increase in foreign-born population

Blurb
Reportedly, the foreign-born population jumped over 2% in 2004. Where do we draw the line?

With the foreign-born population continuing to increase, there is a growing concern as to the impact of immigration on U.S.

Data shows that people born outside the U.S. now account for 12% of the population, according to the Census Bureau. That breaks down to 34.2 million immigrants.

Second generation Americans, which are natives with one or both parents born in a foreign country, total 11% of the population, the report shows.

The majority of foreign-born people settling here are from Latin America, but the U.S. draws people from all over the world. The Census Bureau reports the percentages of immigration from other countries as:

53% Latin America

25% Asia

14% Europe

8% other region(including Africa and Oceania)

The Census Bureau projects a continued increase in future immigration, but believes many factors can alter their predictions.

To view above report click Foreign-born report

Teen dies after a night of partying

2005-02-23T14:37:00.000-08:00

A 15-year-old was found dead outside a friend's home after taking part in a dangerous fad.

Cassandra Saunders was shocked to find her 13-year-old daughter and her friend unconscious in a van outside her home.

"My little girl and her friends snuck out in the middle of the night and thought it would be cool to get high with some Freon," said Saunders.

Their idea of fun turned out to be a death sentence to one young man, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Cassandra Saunders's daughter was revived, but now is filled with guilt because she survived while her friend did not.

Although getting high from inhalants has become an increasing problem over the years, especially among teens, huffing can kill.

Dr. Stephan R Knazik of the Children's Hospital of Michigan explains that huffing consists of sniffing anything that smells for the purpose of getting high. "They can pretty much huff or sniff anything that smells but the ones that get them high are things like gasoline products, things that have alcohols in them and things that have what manufactures call propellants," said Knazik.

It is important to warn kids about the affects of huffing, they need to be aware that although it may make them feel good, brain damage or death is a serious risk.

For more information on the affects of inhalant abuse click on Clues to Inhalant Abuse

For a related story click on 'Huffing' Can Kill Your Child

Questions that I would have asked:
Where and when did the event take place?
What are the names of the boy and girl involved?
Was the girl taken to the hospital, and if so which one?

blog sites

2005-02-16T08:40:00.000-08:00

www.dancewater.blogspot.com
I found this blog pretty interesting, even though I'm not as educated on world politics as the writer. He had a lot of good points to make about America and our need to interfere with foreign countries. I liked how he gave links to articles and to Bush's speech. That made it easier to see where he was pulling his views and ideas from. This blog is basically a place where the writer can go to rant and rave about his disgust with the world. He does include valid points and reliable information, though. So although this site is more for fun, it could have an impact politically.

http://collegeball.blogspot.com
This is a really great blog. It contains a great deal of stats and links to college basketball teams. I liked that it was colorful and busy. I also liked that it was updated everyday, not just when the writer feels like updating it. The site seems to get a good deal of traffic, too. This site definitely can make an impact, but on a subject that isn't as serious as the above blog.

http://rocketfever.blogspot.com
This blog is definitely interesting, but not necessarily in a good way. It's about a divorcees last weeks before they move. Strange, yet I couldn't help but read the whole thing. Not a blog that is meant to make any impact. Another one that lets someone speak their mind.

2005-01-27T17:01:00.000-08:00

In Class Exercise

Use the web to do research and create links in this biography of actor Robert Downey, Jr. Research where you need to fill in the blanks on the web, then create links to each question.

Actor: Robert Downey Jr.

Son of underground filmmaker Robert Downey Sr.

Noteworthy performances: Only You (1994), Heart and Souls (1993), Oscar win for Chaplin (1992).

Underwent daily drug testing while filming Two Girls and a Guy (1997).

Timeline

4 Apr 1965 Robert Downey Jr. born in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, NY.

29 Mar 1993 Downey wins an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role in the 1992 film _____________ .

23 Jun 1996 Arrested for driving drunk and being in possession of Mexican Black Tar heroin, crack, cocaine and a _____________ revolver.

16 Jul 1996 Downey enters a Malibu, California home at random and crashes in a child's bed. The police arrest him for trespassing. Downey maintains his limo driver dropped him off at the wrong address.

20 Jul 1996 Downey is arrested, for the third time in a month, after walking away from his court-ordered drug treatment program.

6 Nov 1996 Malibu Municipal Judge _____________ sentences Downey to three years probation for weapons and drugs charges: "If you've ever had a chance here to deal with this problem and maintain your sobriety, this is the chance to do it. I wish you good luck. You've made a good start."

16 Nov 1996 Downey hosts late night show _____________ .

8 Dec 1997 Malibu Municipal Judge _____________ (same as above) sentences Downey to six months in jail for violating parole.

14 Feb 1998 While serving a six-month sentence in jail, Downey gets into a fight and ends up with a scratched nose.

16 Jul 1999 Downey returns to _____________ State Prison to serve a three-year sentence for a parole violation.

3 Apr 2000 The New York ((newspaper)) reports that Downey is a target for abuse by other inmates at Corcoran State Prison in California.

25 Nov 2000 Downey arrested in a Palm Springs, California hotel for cocaine and Valium possession and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

21 Jan 2001 Wins a Golden Globe, and a standing ovation, for work on TV Show _____________ .

24 Jan 2001 Downey's wife, _____________, files for divorce.

22 Apr 2001 Nominated for an American Comedy Award, Funniest Supporting Male erformer in a TV Series, for his brief stint on ((what TV Show??)).

2003 Appears with Halle Berry in the movie _____________.

27 Jan. 2005 Downey appears on the CBS Early Show to promote his new record as a singer/songwriter. His debut album is titled, _____________ .

Future of journalism

2005-01-26T10:46:00.000-08:00

As much as it saddens me to do so, I must agree with almost every part of Katherine Fulton's article. I feel that the internet and news media will continue to integrate and expand, but I don't believe that all other forms of news media will ultimately disappear.

These days the news is dominated by very few media giants and the internet has become a way to gather and view many different perspectives on a story. People are given the ability to go further into a particular subject that the other media sources, such as television or newspaper journalism, doesn't allow. I believe that is one of the biggest attractions that internet news offers, and it will continue to grow.

As I was finding websites for this assignment, it was surprising to see how many blog pages came up in the search. That supports the idea that people like the ability to see all different sides to stories, not just what the few media sources offer. As blogs increase in popularity, the line between real journalism and your average Joe expressing his views and opinions will become a blur. With the wealth of information available, I do agree that this will be when journalists are more in demand and more important.

I do agree that the future of the internet and news on the internet will become a major source for most people. Although I believe there are people that will fight for the more traditional forms of news until the end. The internet just isn't tangible, and some people need that when it comes to their news. They want to feel that newspaper or magazine.

Yet, as the internet becomes more important in everyday life, it will start to consume more of our activities such as education, banking and shopping. Many predictions are pointing to the notion that the internet will evolve into the most important communication tool that we possess. I must agree that it looks as though that is the direction that we are headed in.

2005-01-20T17:44:00.000-08:00

Tuesday night's youth-oriented inauguration bash for President Bush took an unexpected turn when Fuel singer Brett Scallions shouted an obscenity during his band's set.

"Welcome to the greatest f---ing country in the world!" Scallions yelled
at the youth-oriented show in the D. C. Armory, according to The Associated Press. Scallions then sheepishly added, "Oops. I wasn't supposed to say that."

President Bush and the first lady reportedly arrived after the incident.

The rest of the night went off without a hitch, with Hilary Duff, Ryan Cabrera, 3 Doors Down, JoJo and Ruben Studdard rounding out the bill, which also included patriotic shout-outs from the New York Giants' Jason Sehorn and actor Stephen Baldwin. The less-than-capacity crowd did not, however, get an onstage look at Bush twins Jenna and Barbara, who watched from the balcony.

The president and first lady did take the stage, though, to thank 3 Doors Down, whom the commander in chief dubbed "pretty cool."

— Gil Kaufman

Tsunami coverage

2005-01-18T13:42:00.000-08:00

In researching for websites that have substantial coverage of the tsunami disaster, I came across two sites that I would like to compare-ABC www.abcnews.com and BBC www.news.bbc.co.uk news.

I really liked the BBC website much more than the ABC site. The BBC site was colorful and very easy to navigate.

On the left-hand side of the article that I pulled up is a large number of related links that include audio and video of the tsunami. You can choose from several different video shows and a reporter does the audio to describe what the video contains. There is also a map that shows the different countries that were affected, and the amount of casualties in each area. There was a link to a "how you can help" website that was easy to find and informative, too.

The first thing that I didn't like about the ABC site was how hard it is to find anything on the tsunami to begin with. The site is so cluttered with advertisements for different shows that I had to enter a search for "tsunami" in the search box for the ABC website. Once I found an article, I noticed that it didn't contain many graphics or photos like the BBC coverage did.

Although the ABC site does have an area designated for related stories to the tsunami, it really only had three that had anything to do with the disaster and relief efforts. The rest of the related articles are about completely different events.

The last thing that I found disappointing with the ABC site is that it doesn't have any links to any video or audio coverage, it only has written articles.

Student on the right path

2005-01-13T17:11:00.000-08:00

Sheila Kosztowny, 21, is a senior here at Oakland University and is looking forward to graduating next year when she can begin her career in newspaper editing.

In pursuing her dream career, Kosztowny became a journalism major. Although, she began at Oakland Community College where she attained an associate degree in Liberal Arts. After this semester, she only has one class and her internship left before she can jump right into the wonderful world of full-time journalistic work.

In the meantime, she spends her time honing her skills at her passion as an editor for the Oakland Press. She also works part-time as a park ranger at Borden Park in Rochester Hills.
"It's really nice in the summer, we can stay out until 9:30 pm and it's still warm." The winter isn't as much fun. She says that it tends to be pretty boring, and she mainly just does snow plowing and maintenance duties.

Kosztowny belongs to the YMCA, which she says is a really nice place to work out.
"It is a lot nicer than other YMCA's in other towns."

She lives in Rochester Hills with her parents, a younger brother and sister and her dog. She also has an older sister who was recently married.

2005-01-13T16:27:00.000-08:00

Juliet Katherine Kraft