March 2010
1 post
Tech-crazy
It has come to my attention that cell phones or any other personal electronic devices have officially taken over our lives. I would valiantly argue this hypothesis/theory if I didn’t experience it for myself. As usual, I stand, freezing off my unmentionables, with what seems like 15 new strangers every day at a Chicago bus stop. I wait for a filthy, disease-filled, six ton CTA bus to...
April 2009
4 posts
Eleventh Street Diner
I’ve been to this deli several times and it’s been pretty satisfying (but expensive). My parents came downtown to visit and my mom wanted to head over there and try it.
Well, I have to say, this experience didn’t belong with the rest. I’m not one to gush over food unless it’s head over heels, knee slapping delicious but that’s exactly what the Schwartsky beef...
YouTube vs. Vimeo
At first, Vimeo looks like a poor man’s YouTube and after using the site for several minutes, it is. But its a better media hosting site because it’s stripped of all the distractions and advertising that YouTube is plagued with.
The only downfall is its lack of a user community but that’s normal for a fairly new site. I expect it to grow quite considerably in the next year or...
Warning labels recommended for Mich. team's burger
As if we don’t have enough news to cover in the US, the AP decided it was necessary to write about a discrepancy between a minor league baseball team and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
The two opponents do not appear to have any similarities but The West Michigan White Caps plan to promote a 4,800 calorie burger at their ball park. As a result, the Washington-based...
SB 09'
While nearly every status on facebook said “in Panama City”… My big adventure took place in Bloomington Normal, an equally impressive hotspot. (Not)
Since ISU had their springbreak one week prior to Columbia and U of Illinois, I decided to take the plunge and visit a few of my friends. Believe it or not, Bloomington is an oasis surrounded by a dozen tiny, eventless towns....
March 2009
4 posts
Multimedia J
You tube, You tube, You tube… oh how wonderful you are. You’ve made it as easy as 1, 2, 3… to exploit ourselves, make fools of ourselves, sell ourselves… etc. Sure, it may look like a blessing in disguise but I feel like every time a terrible, useless video gets uploaded onto the site, it slaps You tube creators in the face. It was meant to share multimedia and it certainly...
Wrigley Field becomes even more profitable
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/03/council-oks-three-concerts-at-wrigley-field-this-summer.html
As if this historic landmark could use any more publicity, now, Wrigley field is scheduled to host three concerts this summer. (Billy Joel, Elton John, and Rascal Flatts)
The stadium is no stranger to these types of event but according to the Tribune article, the Southport...
The Social Web
It’s a love/hate relationship. I hate to love it and love to hate it. There are times when I logon and literally feel guilty after staying on for more than a few minutes. Specifically, I am talking about Facebook. When I joined it a few years ago, I appreciated its novelty but now everyone, and I mean everyone can join - perverts, rapists, the whole shabang. Any Joe schmo can acquire their...
Bombardment Advertising
Theres a new form of selling products/entertainment these days. It’s called Bombardment advertising. Take for example, Watchmen. If you have a television then you’ve almost certainly seen a preview for it - probably a couple hundred or so. The definition of this type of advertising is as follows: blantantly play a commercial campaign over and over until the viewer either gets nauseous...
February 2009
8 posts
Sonic stress
Last Christmas I had the pleasure of sinking my teeth into a bacon topped 1/4 pound piece of heaven. It was late, I was curious and my stomach was in the hunt for something grossly unhealthy. Since I rarely travel down south, I haven’t had the chance of trying Sonic fast food but they still tease the hell out of Chicagoans by plastering the television with their low budget commercials.
I...
Me vs. Group
Convinced of failure, I came up with a flurry of excuses, each one more ridiculous than the next. It was 2001 and Jr. Highschool graduation was right around the corner. It was time to make that transition from big man on campus to “Dazed in Confused-esque” freshman. The only good news was Ben Affleck wouldn’t be there ruining cinema.
But before I could make that transition,...
Me vs. Internet
What can I say? It was love at first sight, ten years ago. I couldn’t get enough of the dial-up connection, the pokey looking webpages, and the temptation for AOL chatrooms.
It was new, it was buggy but it was something completely revolutionary to my eyes. I was in fourth grade, what did you expect? Although somehow I believe this was the same reaction that many people had, regardless of...
CSS (I'm lovin' it)...Sarcasm.
I am having quite the experience, in a negative way. I am like a fish out of water, a dog wearing clothes, Bush without Camp David.
HOWEVER! I am learning at a snails pace through “trial by error.” In my experience, when things don’t work, it most likely has to do with the tiniest of errors. (Colon, Semi-Colon, Parenthesis…)
Whatever the case may be, I do look forward to...
Subaru: From ritches to rags
I know Subaru’s performance cars boast “a face only a mother could love” but as most enthusiasts know, it was never about that. They were meant to be fairly priced, reliable, AWD sport sedans. What in gods name happened to that philosophy?
Take for example the 2008-09 Subaru WRX STi, year after year, the model inches further away from the rally car inspired version of itself....
Youth and Suicide
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/02/boy-found-unresponsive-at-evanston-school-dies.html
From what I understand, our suicide rate is on the rise. Surely, there can be a number of reasons for this increase but when a 5th grade student takes their life, it really makes me scratch my head.
An article posted on the Chicago Tribune website yesterday spoke about a 10-year-old who supposedly...
Organization is key
I am currently in the midst of an organizational break down. It’s only week 2 and papers have already begun to fall out, notebook covers ripped off. I’m working with one folder for all 6 classes.
Friday afternoon will consist of buying real school supplies and getting the remainder of my textbooks. I’ve become the worst kind of lazy in my final semester at Columbia and...
Ever-changing Journalism
I can honestly say professors do a wonderful job of highlighting the current crisis both current and budding journalists face. I have to admit, I was pretty taken back by the whole idea in the beginning but now I realize it’s my chance to create new opportunities.
I understand that I am in a better place than the 20 or 30 year Chicago Tribune or Suntimes reporter right now. More of them are...
January 2009
1 post
So far so bad
Unfortunately tumblr didn’t want to use my original name ChatCorner which means this site is already on my bad side.