Nature Montage: My iPhone Saves the Day!

Ok sooo media and I went head to head once again. I decided to use my mother video camera, to video tape my Nature Montage, which was purchased in 1999 or 2000 and has some weird PC cord to transfer videos onto your computer. However, macs are not compatible with this out-of-date cord. This posed a problem for me since I'm currently in Indianapolis getting ready to fly out to Cost Mesa California for a job interview. I did a quick assessment and decided I would use NEW SOCIAL MEDIA to save the day!!

Since I basically had no way to transfer my video, I whipped out my handy-dandy iPhone, and started recording right from the little 2" preview screen. Now I know the quality is a little shotty and the audio is all but clear, but HEY--- you have to admit, it's kinda creative right? ohhh there maybe hope for me and new media after all :)

Now if I could only figure out this twitter thing...

ohhh and also post a few more blogs!!

HHS Ambassadors

This is a quick look at the HHS Ambassadors.

Proposition 19: Update 4

With now 93% of the vote in on Proposition 19 (@ 9AM):

YES: 46% (3,261,373 votes)
NO: 54% (3,789,423 votes)

Glad I didn't wait up....

Proposition 19: Update 3

With 20% of the vote in CNN is projecting that Proposition 19 was voted down.

YES: 44%
NO: 56%
(CNN online Politics and CNN TV)

As of now, the legalization of marijuana will NOT be legalized in California. It's not official but it's 1AM .... I'm going to bed.

Proposition 19: Update 2

With 17% of the vote in:

YES: 44%
NO: 56%
(CNN Politics)

Election Essay

When tracking the results of the election, I chose to follow one issue in particular; Proposition 19. Now, don't get me wrong, I watched as Republicans took control of the House and Dems remaining in control of the Senate. I followed this mainly on the various TV stations such as CNN, FOX, MSNBC, and CNBC; however, I also checked their political websites (CNN,FOX,MSNBC, and CNBC. I found it easier to watch the election results instead of sifting through all the online post and mumbo-jumbo. I still like getting my election news from a variety of sources on TV. I find it more entertaining and easier to digest. The major news stations basically are saying the same thing because the results are the results; however, the difference is FOX commentary is Conservative basis and hopeful for their agenda, CNBC is focusing on the financial aspect of the results and how they will affect the stocks and how politics needs to change for better business, and CNN has a more democratic plug.

I'm not a person who likes reading blogs or twitter because I really don't care about what most of the authors have to say. I apologize Maura, but that's just how I feel. I rather get my news from other sources than a blog or a tweet... but that could change; who knows..

When finding out information on the results of Proposition 19, I mainly used CNN's political website because of it's ease of use compared to another site on the internet. I could get real-time updates on Prop 19 which was hard to get on another site. When I searched the internet and other sites, such as FOX or MSNBC, I found it virtually impossible to follow this issue in real-time. Since CNN was reporting the results as they came in, and the fact I could not find the information any easier elsewhere, I ended up just following CNN to follow Proposition 19.

I followed the major news stations when the results were coming in but when doing research on the issue of Prop 19, I ventured out to sites such as The Huffington Post, YouTube (mainly for TV ads on Proposition 19), techcrunch.com, High Times, fastcompany.com, LAtimes.com, csmonitor.com, google fast flips and wikipedia.org. See Blog post "Election Day: Proposition 19."

Proposition 19: Update 1

The polls just closed in California 27 minutes ago..
With only 2% of the vote in on Proposition 19:

YES = 43%
NO = 57%
(CNN TV)

ONLY 98% of the vote left to count!!!

Election Day: Prop 19

YES or NO? I have found some of the issues in the debate on Proposition 19, both against and for Prop 19 and some key figures speaking out:

Support for Prop 19 results will lay in the hands of the voters who have not and may not vote. The key in this issue will be getting supporters to actually come to the polls and vote.

Prop 19 has divided Law enforcement on this issue. Former San Jose police chief Joseph McNamara went as far to make a TV ad explaining why he supports Prop 19.


Many would think current growers would be in favor of Prop 19 but what happens to marijuana growers if proposition 19 passes?
Clearly, current growers are against Proposition 19 because they would lose money in the illegal drug trade.

Organizations Against Proposition 19 include:

California's alcohol industry; the reasons are obvious--loss of money.

Even Latin America leaders speak out against Prop 19

And to some peoples surprise would the Tea Party actually support Prop 19??? Some may say yes...

Celebrities who have spoke out for Proposition 19:
Giants pitcher, Tim Lincecum,gives a small shout out for "smoke flowing" after the World Series win.

Comedian, Zach Galifianakis, weighs in on, Real Time With Bill Maher, by lighting up a REAL joint...


Gmail founder and Facebook co-founder donate 100K to Prop 19

Sting wrote about how The Huffing Post Prop 19 was a necessary step in the country's War on Drugs.

Willie Nelson endorsed proposition 19 in marijuana magazine, High Times.

Reggae star Peter Tosh's son, David Tosh, speaks out in a TV ad for Prop 19 with his fathers famous song "Leagalize It" playing in the background.

Lastly, to no ones surprise, the DoggFather himself, Snoop Dogg, made his own TV ad in favor of Prop 19.


The results are not currently is but this is a hot button issue that could have historic results. Whether the vote is YES or NO there is no doubt this is an issue that will have an affect on America in some way. For now, we will have to wait a few hours and see...

Purdue Men's Ultimate Frisbee: Undue

Proposition 19: Legalization of Marijuana

For my third C-SPAN video, I chose a section of the Washington Journal that discusses Proposition 19. Proposition 19 is to be voted on in California this November and would legalize the possession of marijuana under one ounce for adults 21 years of age and older. The two individuals who are debating this issue on the Washington Journal are Allen St. Pierre the Head of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (N.O.R.M.L.)and Asa Hutchinson former Head of the DEA from 2001-2003.

I chose this video because I have been hearing a lot about this controversial issue in the news lately and I wanted a fair and balanced argument of the facts which C-SPAN provides.

FACTS PRESENTED:
- marijuana has been criminalized for 74 years
- since 1965; 20 Million marijuana related arrest
- In 2010; projected 850,000 marijuana related arrest
-90% of those arrest were for possession only; a non-violent crime
-since late 70s; overall drug use down 50%
- This figure comes from a Government issued survey that ask children in schools along with a survey that ask people in their homes. Therefore, people must be willing to admit to using on a government issued survey.
-Increase in Tax Revenues(data by Miron & Waidock of the Stern School of Business @ NY University; 8.7 Billion per year
- Reallocation of DEA funds; focus on other drugs i.e. coke, ecstasy, meth, prescription.
- 14 states and DC have decriminalized marijuana; Michigan, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Colorado, Alaska, Main, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Vermont, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island
- This means no criminal action is enforced if quantity possessed is under the legal limit, simply a fine.
- Use is likely to increase if decriminalized.
- Use on job site; banned, like alcohol, it would not be tolerated.
- Federal Law remains supreme to state laws; "Supremacy Law"
- Marijuana is in fact a plant....
- Marijuana is a unbeatable enemy; destabilizing US boarders.
- Caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol all rank higher (for earliest usage) than marijuana as "gateway drugs."
- There is more access to uncontrolled substances.
- We live is a Republic not a Democracy.

I picked some of the main "facts" that were presented in this video clip and will leave it to you and the people of California to decide if you think it should or should not be legalized. One thing I found most interesting about this video clip is that almost every caller; Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, were for the legalization of marijuana. I was really surprised because of what I believed the demographics of the Washington Journal were.. middle aged, middle class, and I just assumed anti drug. There are many good points brought up from both sides and I suggest you watch and drawl your own opinion.

Your Online Identity: Is It Really You?

We all put on mask from time-to-time to make us feel comfortable in uncomfortable situations. I believe this is a natural defense mechanism that occurs; sometimes unknowingly until afterthefact when we realize....what the hell was I just doing?!!?

In February 2006, I was a high school senior and I finally got my acceptance into Purdue University. At the time my older sister was a senior here at Purdue and Facebook was peaking as the premiere social networking website for specific to college students. A year or so prior I can remember her showing me this Facebook site and she was in love with it. She was showing me her friends, pictures, the concept of "poke"ing, and all the other things I couldn't do because I was only in high school. As most of you know, when you get accepted into Purdue (or any other University/College) you recieve a e-mail account with the magic ".edu" at the end. See several years ago you had to have a .edu email account to be able to sign up for Facebook, back when Facebook was Facebook. When I received my Purdue e-mail, the first thing I did was create a FB account and call my sister. She immediately requested, to a significant amount her friends, that they become my FB friend. She saw it as a way to show how "popular" or "cool" you were, as did I.



Little did I know, I was creating my "online identity." I was putting on my cyber mask to prove to the college world how many people I knew, how much fun I had, how many ladies i knew, and so on... I remember continuing to do this my freshman and sophomore year; only "tagging" pictures that showed me at my best. I wanted to be perceived as a fun, outgoing individual, that knew a lot of people and how to have a good time. Now, I'm not saying this was a complete lie... I am fun and know how to have a good time but I was only showing one side of my life. I wasn't posting family pictures or pictures of me at work or volunteering or studying or any other aspect of my life. I didn't realize at the time what kind of problems FB could cause because I just seen it as a way to perceive yourself in college. Then FB decided ANYONE could join and parents, school officials, and employers jumped on the FB train and I jumped off. I secured all my FB and I barely do anything with it anymore. To me FB was FB no more. Until now I never thought about my "online identity" and now I'm trying to recover it.



But this brings me to my question...Your Online Identity: Is It Really You?
In many cases I don't believe it is. People can carefully choose how they want to be perceived via the Internet. I chose to be the outgoing party-goer while some may have chosen a different way to perceive themselves; our online identity is only one aspect of who we really are. I believe it can be a EXTREMELY misleading aspect that I now realize we must monitor carefully. I was recently watching the Colbert Report and his guest, the director of the movie "The Social Network" who by the way doesn't have a FB account himself, had this to say about socializing via the Internet....

"Socializing on the Internet is to socializing; what reality TV is to reality." ~Aaron Sorkin

This quote made the audience make a "gasping" noise and I believe this is because they never thought of online socializing in that way; I believe they realized the truth in his statement. I 100% agree with him on this and believe that we are judging people too much based on what their myspace or FB or LinkedIn (which is a completely different mask we put on online; one with all the fabulous things we've done and what we want to accomplish..its all suits and smiles and well most of the time ....fake). I do believe you can tell a lot about someone from their online identity but we must step back... and really get to know the person you are evaluating; in person....You remember right??? The old fashion way to learn about someone face-to-face communication...

Longboarding (Raw/No Voice Over)

This was my first piece I ever shot and I admire now the art of video production. Currently, I have not voiced over this piece; however, the voice over is coming. I wanted to inform the audience about the popularity of longboarding on Purdue's campus. This popularity has caused a new club to form specific to longboarding, started in September 2010.

This process was difficult and I ran into many problems while shooting and video editing. I took to the streets to find longboarders and do what I referred to as guerrilla interviewing; chasing down individuals on longboards and asking for a quick interview. Luckily, most of them agreed to an interview; unluckily, I had the mic on OFF for about five interviews (most of them were the best footage because I was in the zone and found some really interesting individuals to interview). However, I still had some footage that I made work, it was just not what I ultimately wanted.

I have never video edited and it took me hours just to get the video from the tape to the computer. I think the lab assistance in Hicks hate me.... I'm not sure what happened during the transfer of the video but I lost some footage and my last interview was choppy. Again, little annoying problems that I had not intended to have but were adaptable. You might notice that my transfers are messed up with the audio and again, I'm fixing that when I voice over.

I loved shooting the video (especially the downhill footage where I rode on my longboard while shooting..fun but not financially smart--those cameras cost over a grand :/ and as you can see, I did wreck because I didn't see a hole-- ) and the experience it created. I'm not a fan of video editing but I know it will become easier as the semester rolls on...I hope..

Internet Gambling: "Underground and Uncontrolled"

Gambling isn't just for the casinos anymore. A new wave of gambling has taken over and that is the unregulated industry of internet gambling. Currently in this country it is illegal to gamble online however, it is legal to sit in a casino and gamble in 48 states. Sounds strange huh? I believe so...I chose this interview with Michael Waxman:Executive Director of the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, that I found on C-SPAN because of the impact certain proposed bills could have on our economy. Throughout this video Mr. Waxman explains the positives, that when regulated, internet gambling could have.

Currently there are ways for internet users to gamble online through companies that are located off shore(of the US) and they are not regulated. An estimated 10s of millions of dollars are being exchanged through these websites on everything from online poker to sports betting. As Mr. Waxman says "Gambling is apart of or Culture" and is going to continue. I agree with Mr. Waxman in saying that the best way to handle this issue is to regulate it to help provide safeguards for underage, compulsive and fraudulent gambling. If regulated people would know that the websites they are gambling on are licensed and reputable.

Beyond the fact that consumers would know that they are on and dealing with licensed companies, government could place taxes on theses licenses creating a new form of revenue. As pointed out in the video, a possible 42 billion in federal tax and up to 30 billion in state tax revenue could be collected from theses companies. This is NEW revenue, that could help our economy, which is currently being lost off shore. All the taxes that would be collected would be from licensing fees and come from the companies not the consumers. Some people argue the fact that it would create a issue with problem gamblers however, in the bills being proposed, the internet sites would be required to set loss limits, advertise for gambling help and post odds for games.

No matter the case, internet gambling will continue to happen whether it is regulated by our government or not. The biggest difference I see is that without regulation, our economy is losing out on billions that could be used to reduce our deficits. This is a very interesting video and brings to light a very interesting topic that is being debated in our congress right now. I suggest watching this video and forming your own opinion but I see the positives out-weighing the negatives.

Political Gimmicks? Indiana Sen. Ellsworth (D)

RealClearPolitics - Video - IN-Sen: Ellsworth Suggests Obama Economic Proposal Is A "Gimmick"

Turning the Page?

I am responding to the Aug. 31 C-SPAN video announcement by President Barrack Obama. Here Obama makes a statement announcing the withdraw of US troops in Iraq. The US is officially handing over the ropes to Iraqi forces to maintain their own security and democracy. The removal of the forces does not mean the US is packing up and leaving Iraq to swim alone. No no, we shall remain as a life jacket giving them support, democratically and military, when needed. The President has set a complete turnover date for next year with promises of a long term relationship/partnership.

Obama addresses the fact that the US has paid a huge price in this drawn out "open ended" war. We have not only paid trillions at the expense of the tax payers but also with the blood of our young soldiers. This was has come at during a time of great economic downfall in our own country and Obama announces that the resources spent of the Iraq was can now be focused at fixing problems within our own country. I very much agree with this statement and think that the US needs to focus more on protecting its own boarders.

I can't help but wonder about the timing of the withdraw of the troops. It is about voting time and democrats are losing support. Is Obama trying to ramp up support for the left? Also, congress has promised thousands of troops to the 4 southern states... This brings me to another question.. With are own boarders becoming increasingly unsafe, are our troops coming home or just being relocated to fight a war in our own back yard? Just a few side thoughts...

With the withdraw Obama says we are "Turning the Page"... We a turning the page but the next page has WAR written all over it. If our troops don't come home some are sure to be sent to Afghanistan. Yes, another country we have to clean up. I believe its only right and that we are headed in the right direction but I wonder if it is really possible to withdraw so quick and these 2 economies still remain stable....after all we did destroy a lot of their infrastructure just a few years ago. Whatever the case this is a good first step to helping out our own economy and refocusing important issues. I hope one day we will be able to "turn the page" to a day when all troops come home and war is over, not just moved BACK to the country next door.