Listening to the Radio
I walked down to the basement of the University Memorial Center here at CU, past the garbage dumps to the confines of the Radio 1190 studio. I walked past the first dimly lit room into the main room where the walls were entirely covered with thousands of records dying to get played over the air.
The only objects not covered in music were the doors which were plastered with graffiti and stickers of various artists. I proceeded to sit down on the only couch in the room which didn’t seem to have a particular color but rather dozens of different paint splatters. I was ready to see if the sound of this room matched the small radio station’s sights.
While I was waiting for the hosts of the Hip Hop show called Basementalism, I had the opportunity to listen to the show on just before called Chunk of Funk. As the lovely sounds of Sly & the Family Stone are playing I heard a series of four letter words behind me that have suddenly grown wings. These words would not cease to stop flying the entire evening. The crew was late to the set and rushed in just in time to start their show.
Out of nowhere I heard the inspiring lyrics of “I need to gangsta boogie with my gangsta bitch!” This song was blaring so loud from the speakers with enough bass to make anyone tone deaf for the rest of their life. The entire crew was dancing and singing along with the jam. The mood was light and people came here to relax and have a good time.
Once the host put on a play list, everyone got together and greeted each other. They never greeted each other with a handshake but rather with a slide and a bump. The group didn’t address each other by their government name but with names such as “DJ Low Key” and “B-Money”. The conversation of the crew began with how the past week has gone for everyone. The consensus among the group was that school is still awful and how their significant others aren’t so significant anymore. This talk quickly shifted to how they deal with their daily problems.
This was when the group was most elated. One man was wearing an over sized “fur” jacket and was quickly asked why he bought such a large and absurd jacket. A wide grin came over him and he said “There is so much room for my medicine; I couldn’t get through the day without it.” He opened his jacket and there were pockets filled with several bags of hallucinogens and a sparkling flask. He was quickly adored and congratulated for such a fine collection.
The atmosphere quickly changed once it was time for the crew to get back on the air. Everyone became extremely professional and there was no cursing of any sort. It seemed that these people had two very distinct personalities. The hosts of the show became very passionate about Hip-Hop music and started talking about the history and significance of the music they were playing. The hosts then called up local artists and asked these artists questions about their music and where they were from and how it was possible for the audience to “cop” some of their music.
The hosts were making a great effort and had a strong interest in promoting local music. They thanked the artists and signed off to end the week’s show. As the crew handed over the set for the next show, everybody said their goodbyes. One woman asked her friend what he was doing after the show. He pondered a moment and answered “I dunno, it’s a Saturday night though and that pretty much always involves drinking”. The group left just as they had come into the studio that afternoon, looking for a good time.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Potential News Stories
1. Who put together this debate and what will be the grounds for discussion? Why were these two people chosen to speak? Who are they?
2. What issues were discussed? How did these speaker's backgrounds influence what was said?
3. Local News Story: How does this debate effect our University and Boulder? How do the opinions of these men apply to students? How did they address the youth?
4. How do the views of these men compare to those of congress and their respective parties? Have their views fluctuated with the times? Do either of these men agree with the President?
5.What is the purpose of this debate? How will it effect the position of the position of these politicians?
2. What issues were discussed? How did these speaker's backgrounds influence what was said?
3. Local News Story: How does this debate effect our University and Boulder? How do the opinions of these men apply to students? How did they address the youth?
4. How do the views of these men compare to those of congress and their respective parties? Have their views fluctuated with the times? Do either of these men agree with the President?
5.What is the purpose of this debate? How will it effect the position of the position of these politicians?
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Basic News Story
Left vs. Right
New studies show that being left-handed shortens the lifespan of an individual.
If you are left hand dominant, automatically your life expectancy has decreased.
Left-handed people are ten percent of the population, but these people represent much fewer among the elderly population.
According to a recent study, left-handed people were four times more likely to die from injuries while driving than right-handers. This is compared to six times more likely for left-handers to die from all types of accidents than right-handers.
Diane Halpern, a psychology professor at California State University at San Bernardino, who conducted part of the study, said “We knew for years that there weren’t as many old left-handers,”
Halpern further elaborates on the early conceptions of the research saying “Researchers thought that was because in the early years of the century, most people born left-handed were forced to change to their right hands. So we thought we were looking at old people who used to be left-handed, but we weren’t. The truth was that there simply weren’t many left-handers left alive, compared to right-handers.”
Another contributor of this research is Stanley Coren of the University of British Columbia. Along with Halpern, these researchers studied death certificates of 987 people in two Southern California counties. The relatives of these people were questioned by mail about the subject’s dominant hands.
Further research showed that the average age at death for right-handed people was 75. This number was much lower for left-handed people being at 66.
Halpern although warns people to take caution with this data. “It should not, of course, be used to predict the life span of any one individual. It does not take into account the fitness of any individual” she said.
She goes on further to say that there are plenty old left-handed people. If history is any indication these numbers should not sway parents to change their children’s dominant hand.
So why does the world seem harder for left-handed people to live in? Halpern offers an explanation. “Almost all engineering is geared to the right hand and right foot,” she said. “There are many more car and other accidents among left-handers because of their environment.”
New studies show that being left-handed shortens the lifespan of an individual.
If you are left hand dominant, automatically your life expectancy has decreased.
Left-handed people are ten percent of the population, but these people represent much fewer among the elderly population.
According to a recent study, left-handed people were four times more likely to die from injuries while driving than right-handers. This is compared to six times more likely for left-handers to die from all types of accidents than right-handers.
Diane Halpern, a psychology professor at California State University at San Bernardino, who conducted part of the study, said “We knew for years that there weren’t as many old left-handers,”
Halpern further elaborates on the early conceptions of the research saying “Researchers thought that was because in the early years of the century, most people born left-handed were forced to change to their right hands. So we thought we were looking at old people who used to be left-handed, but we weren’t. The truth was that there simply weren’t many left-handers left alive, compared to right-handers.”
Another contributor of this research is Stanley Coren of the University of British Columbia. Along with Halpern, these researchers studied death certificates of 987 people in two Southern California counties. The relatives of these people were questioned by mail about the subject’s dominant hands.
Further research showed that the average age at death for right-handed people was 75. This number was much lower for left-handed people being at 66.
Halpern although warns people to take caution with this data. “It should not, of course, be used to predict the life span of any one individual. It does not take into account the fitness of any individual” she said.
She goes on further to say that there are plenty old left-handed people. If history is any indication these numbers should not sway parents to change their children’s dominant hand.
So why does the world seem harder for left-handed people to live in? Halpern offers an explanation. “Almost all engineering is geared to the right hand and right foot,” she said. “There are many more car and other accidents among left-handers because of their environment.”
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Research Methods, pt. 2
Question One: U.S. Census Statistics
A. According to 2008 U.S. Census estimates, the total population in the state of Colorado was 4,939,456.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/08000.html
B. In the year 2000 the population of the Asian race was 95,213 people. This comprised 2.2% of Colorado’s population at the time. Whereas the population of Pacific Islanders was 4,621. This number was .1% of Colorado’s population. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=n&_lang=en&qr_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_DP1&ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&geo_id=04000US08
Question Two: Crime Story #1
A. Two websites that provides a list of registered sex offenders are http://www.familywatchdog.us/ and http://www.nsopw.gov/Core/Conditions.aspx
B. In Boulder Colorado there are 70 registered sex offenders. The three people who live closest to me are Shankar Gurung, William Haumesser, and Ronald Simonds. All of these people live within .3 miles of my house.
C. The Maryland sex offender registry is under the Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services. The URL for this department is http://www.dpscs.state.md.us/onlineservs/socem/default.shtml. The website clarifies what the public should expect to find on their website. For instance on this website you can find and sexual offenders that live near you. One can track the movements of a predator and you can tips if your child or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse.
Question Three: Crime Story # 2
On the website of the Office of Postsecondary Education the University of Colorado it was reported in 2008 that there were seven forcible sex offenses. There were 59 burglaries in the same year.
Question Four: Political Reporting #1
A. The two senators of Colorado are Michael Bennet and Mark Udall. The funds for Bennet are $3,661,380 and for Udall they are at $12,015,829.
Question Five: Political Reporting #2
A. Governor Bill Ritter received $984,026 in his last campaign.
B. Ritter received 2,167 contributions to reach this dollar amount.
C. The limit on the amount of money for personal contributions to a campaign in Colorado depends on who the money is going to. An individual may give $2,400 to each candidate. $30,400 to a national party committee and $10,000 to a state or local party committee. There is an $115,000 biennial limit which is split between $42,700 to all of candidates and $65,500 to political action committees and parties.
Question Six: Government Statistics #1
A. The average tuition costs for the 2007-2008 school year was $16,245
B. The average tuition, fees, room and board for four-year public institutions was $13,424 for the 2007-2008 school year.
C. The average tuition, fees, room and board for four-year private institutions was $30,393 for the same school year.
http://www.nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=76
Question Seven: Government Statistics #2
A. www.cde.state.co.us/stateinfo/QGGovtStatistics.htm & http://www.colorado.gov/
Question Eight: Government Statistics #3
A. http://ci.boulder.co.us/
A. According to 2008 U.S. Census estimates, the total population in the state of Colorado was 4,939,456.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/08000.html
B. In the year 2000 the population of the Asian race was 95,213 people. This comprised 2.2% of Colorado’s population at the time. Whereas the population of Pacific Islanders was 4,621. This number was .1% of Colorado’s population. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=n&_lang=en&qr_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_DP1&ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&geo_id=04000US08
Question Two: Crime Story #1
A. Two websites that provides a list of registered sex offenders are http://www.familywatchdog.us/ and http://www.nsopw.gov/Core/Conditions.aspx
B. In Boulder Colorado there are 70 registered sex offenders. The three people who live closest to me are Shankar Gurung, William Haumesser, and Ronald Simonds. All of these people live within .3 miles of my house.
C. The Maryland sex offender registry is under the Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services. The URL for this department is http://www.dpscs.state.md.us/onlineservs/socem/default.shtml. The website clarifies what the public should expect to find on their website. For instance on this website you can find and sexual offenders that live near you. One can track the movements of a predator and you can tips if your child or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse.
Question Three: Crime Story # 2
On the website of the Office of Postsecondary Education the University of Colorado it was reported in 2008 that there were seven forcible sex offenses. There were 59 burglaries in the same year.
Question Four: Political Reporting #1
A. The two senators of Colorado are Michael Bennet and Mark Udall. The funds for Bennet are $3,661,380 and for Udall they are at $12,015,829.
Question Five: Political Reporting #2
A. Governor Bill Ritter received $984,026 in his last campaign.
B. Ritter received 2,167 contributions to reach this dollar amount.
C. The limit on the amount of money for personal contributions to a campaign in Colorado depends on who the money is going to. An individual may give $2,400 to each candidate. $30,400 to a national party committee and $10,000 to a state or local party committee. There is an $115,000 biennial limit which is split between $42,700 to all of candidates and $65,500 to political action committees and parties.
Question Six: Government Statistics #1
A. The average tuition costs for the 2007-2008 school year was $16,245
B. The average tuition, fees, room and board for four-year public institutions was $13,424 for the 2007-2008 school year.
C. The average tuition, fees, room and board for four-year private institutions was $30,393 for the same school year.
http://www.nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=76
Question Seven: Government Statistics #2
A. www.cde.state.co.us/stateinfo/QGGovtStatistics.htm & http://www.colorado.gov/
Question Eight: Government Statistics #3
A. http://ci.boulder.co.us/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)