You Can Be A Journalist Too With Indybay.org

What defines a journalist? One who writes for a traditional news media outlet. One who follows a code of ethics, and adheres to professional and legal issues. It’s great to have these to lean back on, but these factors are not always necessary to have, although don’t get me wrong, they are important. Nevertheless, this website Indybay.org/santacruz is great and local for citizen journalism! Here, this is all about user created media. In fact, this website is part of the San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center. Plus, this website caters to many countries, such as Haiti and Egypt.

The individuals who make up this website are comprised of local people who write stories, take pictures, etc. that have not been covered in their traditional news outlets. These specific citizens are concerned about private decisions that have huge impacts, these include issues that deal with marches, police, and environmental issues for example. The website also provides niche genres that deal with gender and sexuality and war and peace.

In addition to giving to providing local residents a chance to write about stories, it also gives aspiring journalists an opportunity to publish their material and work at a local level. You know you can count on this website to find stories that you wouldn’t normally find somewhere else. As long as you have access to internet connection and the basic knowledge of internet skills you can become involved too.

Also, websites like this encourage and allow people to take part in I-reports. People can take pictures of their town and post them onto the website. For example, on the KSBW website, users can upload pictures about the weather or sports on the “Your Photos and Videos” section and can have their say or scenes in local news. I think this is an engaging and entertaining way to give back to your community. So, what are you waiting for? Get on it!

Furry Situation

(via:zelfist.com)

Now the issue of fur is a sticky one. If you ask me, I love fur. It exudes luxury and glamour. In fact, anytime I wear fur I feel quite elegant and super sophisticated. There is something about a fur jacket that I simply adore. Clearly, the adjectives are going on and on, but I love fur. The Olsen twins get a lot of crap for wearing fur. PETA classifies them as trolls. You know what I say, you can wear faux fur and you can still look just as good AND you didn't harm any animals in the process. Don't get me wrong though, faux fur can also look extremely cheap and tacky. So choose your jackets or vests wisely.

I love my faux fur jackets but anytime I wear fur at least two people ask me "Is that real?" And how do I reply? A) Well, not anymore! (kidding) or B) No, but it looks real huh? I'll say both just to get different reactions. That's always fun. But my point is, people love fur, real or fake, but mostly real, and it sucks that animals get harmed in the process of making real fur jackets. But, just remember that you can find a fabulous faux fur jacket or vest like these women above and make it look great!

These specific vests are uber chic and so easy to wear. All you need is a great pair of jeans, a basic tank or long sleeve, boots, flats, or heels then throw on that vest and you're good to go! Remember, they serve two purposes: warmth and style, so you can't go wrong. There are all kinds of hues and textures you could pander in. I personally love Ashely Olsen's luxurious vest the best, which comes from Jenni Kayne. So, should you cuddle up with that vest or that special someone? My answer is cuddle up with both!

Art vs. Porn

First things first: Regardless of the fact if you are male or female you must have stopped and looked at this advertisement. Sex sells period. Tom Ford’s advertisements have always been provocative and gone against mainstream. These images are actually quite “clean” compared to some other ones he has put out. You should definitely check them out here. But, this goes into the issue of advertising, and I’m not so focused on that.

When Tom Ford unleashed these advertisements for his fragrance back in 2007, there were two kinds. These specific ones were "not as tame" as the ones featured in magazines and were only showed on the company's website. Nevertheless, they were out in the open, no pun intended. This comes to show that censorship did take place in this situation and that there were certain images that could be viewed on the internet and certain images strictly for magazines.

Some people may argue that these images exploit women and their bodies. In the first photograph she is opening her mouth, and it’s like well what more do you want? There is also no face attached to the bodies so it makes it easier for the viewer not to relate in that manner. In addition, these photographs each possess a lot of power. The woman is using her body to entice the viewer. This fragrance is directed towards men, and what better way to lure men in than to have a sexy image in front of them? Especially those red nails!

Keep in mind that these photographs were taken by the well known and controversial photographer, Terry Richardson. I happen to be a big fan of his work. To me his work is weird, but that’s why I like it. He makes me question and look at things in new ways. He also always makes the people he shoots look so sickly and unhealthy, but he is able to capture raw images and make them look really interesting. At the same time, if you are a fan of his work, you have to appreciate his style and his vision and I do.

So is it creative? I think that it does have some elements of creativity to it because this is so simple and in your face that you can’t miss it, so it is creative in that way. But, I think that it’s not a new and fresh idea and thus it’s kind of just whatever. So if you ask me, I see this argument from both sides. I can't say that these images are beyond incredible, although I definitely do see some artistic value, but I can say that this advertisement did a brilliant job and then some. Look, I'm blogging about it right now, and that is exactly what the company wanted. More power and kudos to Tom Ford. P.S. I wonder how this fragrance did in sales?

Spoken Word Poetry Slam

Just like wearing polka dots and stripes, I've always enjoyed poetry slams. The whole idea of a poetry slam is so empowering for its speakers and listeners. It allows people to dive into the personal lives of poets, all while presenting a venue to create who you are. Poetry slams offer opportunities for people to express themselves freely and confidently with support from audience members. This was a supportive crowd and I'm glad I got to be a part of it. This poetry slam also provided a community of recognition to its students and guest speakers.

Each person spoke about various topics, but the connecting factor was their passion. By simply listening, I got shivers several times and some poets even had me a little teary eyed. This is when you know that the poet has influenced you to feel, because once you feel something you know that the poetry has shook you up and changed your perspective or even solidified your opinion on certain matters. Wow, I’m getting shivers right now just by remembering these poems.

The various ways the speakers presented each had different impacts on me. Some speakers read from their Iphones (Talk about technology at its best!) Others memorized their poems and this was very potent because the eye contact allowed the speaker to connect with his or her audience members. Also, I appreciated the fact that some of these poems intertwined other languages, like Spanish, into their English poems. This gave the poems more authenticity and feeling.

I would have to say that one of my favorite poems was presented by Jacob Tsypkin that dealt with his identity as a Jewish man. The way he fluctuated his voice and changed up his emotions truly was conveyed so well. The energy in this poem was there from the beginning to the end. He mentioned his family, his history, and his current state which all tied beautifully together.

Also, another poem I liked was presented by a woman about women. She told the females in the audience that being a woman means being a goddess, a queen, and a strong individual. She wanted to make sure both males and females understood the meaning of womanhood. I thought this was great, she made so many strong points without being rude to men. In fact, I think that this can be applied to men as well, showing that they can be kings and strong individuals too. But let’s not let those egos get to our head now! Have pride in yourself but also be humble at the same time.

Your Guide To Becoming Jersey-fied!

Jersey Shore is obviously popular. As ridiculous as it is, it’s amusing and people keep coming back for more. I just can’t get into this show, however there is another show on the style network called Jerseylicious that I have gotten into. You won’t find fist pumping here, but you will find big hair, and lots of it. This is different from Jersey Shore, it actually has a plot! I decided to give this one a try and I thought okay this isn’t so bad, in fact it’s entertaining and now I’m addicted, watching it every Sunday night. (pics via:myabcshows, newsodrome)

CONFESSION # 1: Although I knew that a group of these people who dress and act alike existed, thanks to visits to New Jersey and Michigan, I had no idea that there was a name for them: guido or guidette. Duh! Also, I truly appreciate this culture. I’m simply so fascinated with it that I thought I would share. After much observation, (actually 5 minutes is all you need) here is my guide to becoming jersey-fied!

GUYS:
*Pluck your eyebrows until they look better than your girls’ eyebrows. Use that thickness to your advantage honey!

*Spike your hair from your left ear all the way to your right ear, from the beginning of your hairline all the way down to the backside of your neck. SO: spike your entire head.

*Make sure your earring bling is nice and huge, allowing others to notice you from at least 20 feet. Pierce both ears.

*Stock up on Ed Hardy T shirts and hats, especially the ones decked out with crystals.

*While your at it, stock up on steroids and such. (such= no idea what they are taking)

GIRLS:
*Tease the hell out of your hair, until it gets big, big, big. Go for a poof, you’ll get that snooki effect.

*Fake bake until you get orange. On top of that, use bronzer too. Don't worry if it doesn't look natural.

*Make sure your eye makeup goes beyond your eyes.

*Mix those animal prints, the more the better. I’m talkin zebra, cheetah, giraffe, snakeskin, yup they all look fabu together!

*While you wear your animal print top, major cleavage is a must. If you got it, flaunt it!

*Wear over the top earrings that flash, but remember to take them off before you get into a fight.

*Make sure to say that you’re the only one with class and that the rest of the people around you are trash.

*Memorize those comebacks to the point where you can shoot ‘em off like they just came naturally to you.

(I know what I’ll be for Halloween next year!)

CONFESSION # 2: I really do love big hair (but not the snooki kind or reference to the 80’s) but the kind that frames your face and is nice and flowy. Overall, I really am captivated by this culture and all its glory, hence this post. Man, this was fun!

P.S. Before Lady Gaga became well…gaga, she was originally a guidette. Now that, I could totally imagine. Maybe she will recreate this look with exaggeration. Knowing her, this is a huge possibility.

Icky Old News Comes Back

The other night I came home and I happily turned on the television to watch AC 360. I just have such an admiration for Anderson, he is just so nice to look at and he acts so serious, it’s kind of funny! Anyway, my point here is not to gush over Anderson Cooper, although I could easily do that. I’ll bear you my weird commentary. Instead, I want to address the fact of why John Edward's sex tape with Rielle Hunter was being discussed. What the heck!! This is so annoying. It is old news, why is it on right now and why is it being analyzed to such a degree? I think about half of the program was dedicated to this subject. Okay, Rielle has come out to the public with an interview for GQ magazine and showed her side of the story, and that’s great, but it really doesn’t provide any new information and I think it doesn't have that much added value to the story.

via:thehotjoints

It's so crazy to think of what past presidents and other people running for president could be doing and are currently doing behind closed doors. Obama, watch out, kidding! This is yet again another politician who has engaged in sexual relations behind the screen. Geez, we get it already! Well, what people do in their private lives is private, but still it just comes to show that when you are in the public eye eventually everything will leak out and people will freak out, hey that rhymed! I feel bad for the people who have supported him, donating tons of their money towards his presidential campaign. I wonder if their views have changed. Personally, because of this scandal, yes, my opinion of John Edwards has changed. I think that having a relationship on the side like that is dirty. At least he came in front of the problem and admitted to being the father of Rielle’s daughter.

But maybe I am being contradictory, because I’m writing a post about this. Maybe I am interested. Anytime there is a sex scandal, the story sells and I think that I am one of those readers who has fallen into the trap. I think it’s because of the juxtaposition of politics with sex scandals that makes it news worthy. We are so used to seeing politicians in this rigid and boring manner that everyone wants the dirt, and here it is, moist as it can be. One thing is for sure though, he should have pulled out of her before he pulled out of his presidency.

Beamer, Benz, or Bentley

WOW! This is RIDICULOUS! I can't believe that an entire song is dedicated to this. What has hip hop music come to? As much as I love hip hop music, (Lil Wayne shout out!) I feel that that the music videos are so degrading towards women. Of course you've got slutty looking girls who are barely covered, practically dancing on these men. They do nothing but seductively sway around these men or other girls. It's sad, these women are just seen as objects, just like the cars, watches, and necklaces flashed in the video. I don't think these women realize how they are being portrayed. The crazy thing is that they usually don’t even look into the camera. Their eyes are usually pointed down or to the side. This, I think is done on purpose.

What's sad is that this has become the stereotypical kind of music video for most male hip hop artists. Take for example, Gucci Mane’s new music video “Lemonade” and you will see the same aspects of women seen as objects in his video as well. Although there are not as many women in Gucci Mane’s video, there still are a few, and that makes the point. Overall, I feel like hip hop music is catchy and an energy booster for me personally. However, the music videos are just so wrong and they could be so much more creative, rather than the obvious video that we expect to see. Having the mentality of expecting to see something simply proves a lack of innovation in hip hop video making. I guess these hip hop artists are too into their drugs and cars to realize it (clearly by the lyrics in their songs). On a positive note though, I must admit I love Lloyd Banks' YSL shirt in this video. So, Beamer, Benz, or Bentley, which one do you prefer?

Housing Conflict In Jerusalem

With all of the action being taken against fee hikes and furlough days throughout the United States and especially here in California, action against the demolition of homes and the chance of being driven out of the country is taking place in the eastern part of Jerusalem. The mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, has a new plan to get rid of the old neighborhood of Al Bustan in order to build a national park that will attract tourists and bring in money for the city. The mayor believes that it has major potential; residents disagree and wish to stay where they are. This is the overall message, but, because of the Palestinian - Israeli conflict, the underlying plan is to have all Palestinians dispossessed of their current homes to have them be replaced by Jewish people. The mayor of Jerusalem says that he has the Palestinians in mind but they believe that he is a liar. I just can’t believe that the mayor would sink this low and use the new buildings to justify the situation of having the Palestinians leave the country. I understand where he is coming from and the money that it will bring towards Al Bustan. However, he can’t put a price on the destruction that it will cause on the lives of these current residents.

In the picture above, these children are protesting and have the right to do so. If children are protesting at their tender, young ages then what does that tell you? (This is a note to myself). Having the opportunity to stand up and take action by marching around town and informing their fellow residents of the issues is truly an inspiration and has courage and empowerment written all over it. (pics via: nytimes)

Lindsay Speaks Her Mind Sans Words

The beauty of expression! A lot can be said without saying anything at all. And she doesn't even look at the paparazzo. Someone needs a new camera! What do you think about Lindsay's red bull outrage? P.S. Lindsay your vest is super cute, but your attitude isn't! via: itsamazing

Irony in America, Well, It’s As American As Apple Pie

Freedom in a sense? Yes. Complete Freedom? Not so much. How ironic is the fact that once America celebrated its legal freedom from Great Britain, it also glorified its illegal rule of publishing or even uttering anything with a negative connotation to the government? How was it possible that the First Amendment prided itself on making no law that would “abridge the freedom of speech, or of the press?” I understand that it was written in a different time with a different context. With that in mind, I have come to realize that this was almost a test, one in which would play itself out and tell the truth in time. Eventually, problems would be encountered and the flaws would arise to the surface. Fast forward 200 plus years and this issue of free speech still remains highly controversial.

So that makes you wonder, well, where does the power ultimately lie? Who makes the choice of what is political vs. what is nonpolitical speech? You tell me. I do believe that individuals, such as teachers and doctors, hold some degree of power. However, the truth is that the great amounts of power are held by higher authorities in government. This fact is as clear as a 24 karat lavender diamond from Cartier. This philosophy is how it works and that is what our society was built on. At the same time though, as individual living in society we have to be conscious of our power and take advantage of it.


On another note, America has grown and progressed into this too-many –adjectives-to -describe kind of a place. Once again how ironic is the fact that “All men are created equal” yet when this was put into place slaves were not considered human? Or that we are the richest country with the poorest amounts of people? The country with the most amount of food and the unhealthiest people? (Yes, all of that food is probably our biggest health threat, but still!) How about the land of opportunities with the laziest people? As an American, how do you feel about all of this?


.......................I leave you with this image of irony......................


.......(via: tasteofhome, theseasonalgourmet, nedgallagher)........

Four Letter Word - Idea - Four Billion Plus Possibilites

Margaret Randall believes that “The repressive act always begins with the repression of an idea.” This is a statement that I completely agree with. For me, this means people try and prevent an idea from occuring in the first place, stopping it in its tracks before it spreads at a local grassroots level and then becomes national. A concept like this is something that caught my attention because I never gave it much thought prior to this class discussion. Everything starts with an idea. An idea is something that sparks; it’s similar to a popcorn effect. One person can start off and then that can bounce onto someone else and so on. Pop,pop,pop! This topic paves the way for me to discuss more about free speech as seen below.

In the course of reading John Stuart Mill’s ideas I absolutely love the idea of the necessity of free speech, considering the fact that it allows society to flourish and allows individuals to reach their full potential. By simply having an idea, one has taken the first step to create change. It’s just that easy, and something that all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender, can engage in. Mill elaborates on the fact that we must debate with other people, taking in other points of views and understanding why others hold the opinions they do and I couldn’t agree more. If this is not possible, then Mill suggests playing the devil’s advocate with our own ideas. The fact of the matter is that in order to know the truth about something, one has to know the entire truth. If a person only knows his or her truth, then he or she can only see his or her story. We have to see and learn about what is important beyond our own perceptions. Ultimately, leading to a broader understanding and greater outcome.

VIA: thearcoftexas

On another note, watching part of the movie Shouting Fire allowed me to notice similarities between Almontaser and Randall. Just as the government felt that Randall did not deserve to live in the United States, the school board felt that Almontaser did not deserve to hold her position as principle. It’s crazy how certain people, people with authority of course, determine whether or not specific individuals “deserve” certain things. Yikes! I hope that I’m never put into a situation where someone makes a decision that heavily affects me and impacts me to the point where I have to leave a school or my country. Hmm…where do you stand?

Number One

Hi! From the title of this blog, you can undoubtedly see that this little space of mine will be full of all kinds of things that interest me, from free speech issues to my favorite style icons. First let me tell you my thoughts about blogging. Fashion blogs are my blogs of choice, they are fashionably fabulous! I’ve gotten hooked! Although I’ve never made a blog of my own before, I finally have the chance now to begin my long overdue blog to share my likings.

via: timeoutny

Blogging is great for people, such as journalists, who wish to express their opinions online as opposed to on print. Regardless though, blogging is great for all kinds of people to convey their thoughts on anything, no matter what the topic, after all it is a blog, no? So that means that you or I can write whatever, whenever, wherever, well when it comes to a hot topic, let’s hope it’s not degrading but constructive rather. Free speech is all about what you want to say. When individuals are allowed to speak freely they then not only feel better that they had the opportunity to get their thoughts off their chest, but what they said has officially entered the public sphere and can be seen or heard by anyone. This can really be empowering, especially if the blogger has impacted a group of people in a positive way. Of course writing something boring is not always entertaining. However, it is safe and what’s not boring is risky. Just remember that “anything you say can and will be used against you” Just kidding ha! Nobody is getting arrested here, so use your free speech abilities all you want!