Reflection 9

Take this First Amendment quiz. How'd you do? Any surprises?

https://www.splc.org/falawtest/

Reflection 8

In one of the presentations tonight -- on lede writing -- the presenter gave "Show Don't Tell" as one powerful tool for improving story ledes. Fine a few effective examples of that advice and post them here. Have a Happy Thanksgiving and I will see you next week.

It's Raining

Us -- at the Tampa Prep soccer match.

Reflection 7

Visit this Web site and take a look at the Code of Ethics adopted by the national Society of Professional Journalists. Thoughts?

Rocking Jail Time

Not even jail can stop Lil Wayne.  Rapper Lil Wayne who was recently convicted guilty has his new album "Rebirth" that's planned to release December 15. After his album makes is debut, the rapper will start his jail time in February for one year. The CD was originally, expected to come out earlier because of Wayne's single from January, "Prom Queen."   His rock album also will feature collaborations with Fall Out Boy, Lenny Kravitz, Travis Barker and Drake.

In July 2007, he initially pleaded innocence to possession of a .40 caliber handgun on his tour bar but he changed his mind when the court said it was be possible to check the DNA on the gun.  Last year his tour bus was searched and Rolling Stone reported that the bus stored 105 grams of marijuana, 29 grams of cocaine, 41 grams of ecstasy and a handgun.  R&B singer, Omarion is optimistic for Wayne to complete his time and he said, ""I think that it's unfortunate, but at the same time I really feel like he's not gonna miss out on anything."  If Lil Wayne goes on tour before he goes to jail, he should check what goes on his bus.  

Keep your clothes on

       The California USA group was prepared for former Miss California, Carrie Prejean to sue them.  As soon as her and her mother walked in the conference room the group showed them a home made movie of Prejean naked.  After the group showed the movie, Prejean and her mother decided to drop charges.  She wanted to sue the group for religious discrimination from dethroning her.  California's executive director, Keith Lewis said, ""This was a decision based solely on contract violations, including Ms. Prejean's unwillingness to make appearances on behalf of the Miss California USA organization."  

       Apparently the former pageant winner was by herself in the video and wanted to send it to her serious boyfriend at the time.  In an interview on Fox News , she said she takes full responsibility for her acts calling it the biggest mistake of her life. There has also been pictures of her topless that were leaked onto the internet.  Maybe the next Miss California will be more conservative. 

Party at the Teenage Choice Awards

On Monday night Miley Cyrus pranced the stage at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards in a pair of tiny, black shorts singing “Party in the USA.”  Audiences were shocked when a pole on top of an ice cream cart strolled by and Cyrus danced on it.  The young 16 year old superstar is a role model to many young girls, but is she acting her age?  Or is she growing up too fast?  

Country singer, Bill Ray Cyrus defended his daughter and said, “"I always tell her to love what you're doing and stay focused for the love of the art and not worry so much about opinion."  He is happy just as long as she is.  

On celebichy.com there was a wide range of responses from a video of her performance.  People were either very offended by it and thought she was annoying or they did not find anything wrong with it.  Audiences are waiting for what she will shock them with next.  Check out her hit song, “Party in the USA,” available for download at itunes.  

Her Silence is Finally Broken

       On Friday November 6, the R&B grammy award winner, Rihanna finally spoke up about her assault with Diane Sawyer on ABC's 20/20 .  After TMZ released a battered picture of Rihanna after a Grammy party in February, America was in awe of how the A list couple shattered. On their way back from a Grammy party, this past February, hip-Hop sensation, Chris Brown bit Rihanna and had her in a headlock making it difficult for her to breathe, police said.  

The singer said she caught him lying in a text message and she would not drop it so he reacted violently. In the interview Rihanna expressed how humiliated she was that she fell in love with a man who could do that to her.  Throughout her interview you could tell she was very ashamed;  She strongly encourages battered women to get out of their relationships while they still can.  She said,” I will say that to any young girl who is going through domestic violence, don’t react off of love.  F love.”  

On MTV's “Alexa Chung ,” Rihanna said she wanted to talk about the incident to give insight to younger girls.  In response to Rihanna’s public interview, Brown made a statement;  “While I respect Rihanna’s right to discuss the specific events of February 8, I maintain my position that all the details should remain a private matter between us.”  Hopefully, Rihanna will be able to make a difference for every battered woman.  

Michael Jackson, A Final Goodbye

According to a movie review, Michael Jackson's This Is It received an A for its “fitting” goodbye. From March through June 2009, Michael Jackson had a crew shoot his tour rehearsals for his sold out London extravaganza. Director Kenny Ortega, who also directed High School Musical, was creative enough to make this film into a movie event in only four months time.

Many grieved the loss of Michael Jackson and watched documentary after documentary airing on TV. Yet This Is It feels like the proper way to be left breathless by Jackson's unforgettable moves and incredible voice—and to finally say goodbye.

Ortega reveals all the different sides of Jackson that the public would never have seen before and if he did not die, the public would probably have not seen these funny and outrageous moments.

The movie plays many of his classic songs but the standouts are the usual: “Smooth Criminal”, “Billie Jean” and “Human Nature.” Although most of the movie is in HD, even in low-res video, you cannot take your eyes off him, a movie review said. The movie reveals old moves, and even some new dance moves created by none other than the King of Pop. All in all, this movie was a success.

Next to Holiday #5

Next to Holiday, a 5-piece Screamo outfit from Gainsville, brings a little something to the table that has been missing from the screamo scene: upbeat party lyrics followed by high-energy rocking riffs. According to singer, UT's own Jesse Dobbie, the band will be entering the Cass studio on campus next week to record a full-length acoustic album. Be on the lookout on campus, listen in on the Radio, and follow Next to Holiday on myspace.

www.myspace.com/nexttoholiday

-Hershel Fried

MMA Sports 5

The upcoming TUF finals will see only one Team Jackson fighter compete. Throughout the season, Jackson's initial boasting that his team would easily beat Evans's squad has eroded. Jackson spent most of the past episodes avoiding criticism of his coaching by claiming to be strictly a player, and not a professional coach. Evans will likely continue to display the same selfless concern for the welfare and development of his players that has marked each episode to date. Thankfully the Jones match displayed more than just the typical attrition battles that plague many amateur heavyweight bouts, as both opponents only try to punch out the other.

Safety on campus

The dean of students and the Tampa police department are in touch many times regarding campus safety. Located on the UT website is a safety alert page where police reports of students on this campus are announced. Occasionally an email is also sent out depending on the severity of the issue. This week and many past weeks have been safety alerts regarding robberies. As stated in the police report:

Two male students were the victims on an off campus armed robbery at approximately 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning by two unknown males while walking along North Boulevard on the north side of the Eugene Holtsinger (North Boulevard) bridge.  Neither student was harmed.

One female student was robbed at approximately 12:30 a.m. Sunday morning by an unknown male while walking at the intersection of North and Kennedy Boulevards.  The student sustained minor injuries.

Both these issues are in the same relative area occurring at late hours of the night. Past incidents and reports on this campus have also included a robbery resulting in a death.

These incidents can be less frequent by not walking alone at night instead taking a cab or having a friend pick you up. Also knowing what areas are known to not be safe.

Campus security office is also available at this number (813) 251-5133  to drive you from one location to another when on campus at all hours of the night.

When a victim of a crime report it right away to police to enable proper handling of the situation and to eliminate possible consecutive encounters.

Sneaky..Couple?

The New Moon saga continues as fans anticipate the premiere of this worldwide phenomenon Nov. 21. Yet, the movie is not all the fans are excited about. The public perceived Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewart to be a couple, just like their characters Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. Although Stewart and Pattinson claimed people only saw them as a couple because of their characters, neither denied the relationship.

Stewart said, “I've just grown into not having to care so much and to not try to think that I'm going to be able to plan out the way that everyone perceives me. I’m always going to keep what's important to me in mind and I completely understand, considering that we're playing characters that are so coveted by so many people. I just sort of have to not think about it.”

Pattinson agreed saying he did not want to be any particular character in society. However, they each were vague when saying they will do as they please, not really denying anything about their relationship.

Tampa Greek Festival #4

Tampa’s Greek Festival this weekend aims to ring some old-world fun to the busy, fast-paced urban life that Tampa residents have become so accustomed to. The three-day shindig, complete with Greek food, music, dancing and other staples of the culture, is abundantly available. I actually found out about the festival last Tuesday, through my guitar instructor on campus, John Demas, who provides 3 days of music for the event every year. When he mentioned Greek food, I was there. $2 gets you in the door, while Gyros, Greek Lasagna and Baklava were just a few of the staple dishes offered by many local Greek restaurants at reasonable prices, as well as free samples spread out through the vicinity. Traditional Greek music was led by Demas on a bouzouki, a Greek guitar, and the band was accompanied by Glendi and Panigyri dancers. Packed with church-goers and hooligans such as myself and my friends,  there was a full house full of music, food, and high energy. I know I'll be going back next year.

Is it the End of Aerosmith?!

Various news sources are reporting that Steven Tyler has left Aerosmith and has given up his lead singer status in the rock n' roll band.  Joe Perry, guitarist of Aerosmith, has subtly confirmed this story with press, stating that the lead singer has "quit as far as I can tell."  He mentioned that Tyler has been avoided calls and communication with the musical group for many months now.


While all of this may be true, it is also known that Tyler has suffered various injuries as of late.  After a fall from the stage at an August performance, Tyler sustained a broken shoulder.  Since then his contact with the group seemed to dwindle, and he cancelled a few more than one performance during the past few months.  

"Frankly, the last few months I've been wanting not to rock the boat," said Perry.  Perry added that himself and the other band members have been trying to avoid the canceling of any further gigs or performances that they were scheduled for in the future. 


Perry says that he knows as little about the situation as the press currently does, and that the band is simply trying to remain peaceful.  "We just kind of didn't want to call him out or anything and get him anymore pissed off, for whatever reason. So we just let things lie."


In the next few months we will have to stay tuned to find out whether or not Aerosmith will be continuing as a band, and if so, whether or not Aerosmith can go on without its main man...

MMA Sports 4

Saturday, 7 November, CBS broadcast their sponsored MMA organization, Strikeforce, a competitor to the UFC. The fight card consisted of two famous competitors in separate fights, Fedor Emelianenko and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. Widely considered the best in his sport, Fedor did not disappoint with a spectacular knockout finish to win his match and wrap up the event. Sokoudjou, on the other hand,  lost his earlier bout because he could not solely rely on his boxing, a fact that has dogged his recent fights.

MMA Sports 3

Facing the grim prospect of a winless season for his team, coach Jackson rests all his hopes on the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Marcus Jones. A giant, even among Heavyweights, Jones has displayed a surprisingly gentle demeanor throughout the season; some other fighters have given him the nickname “Big Baby,” which Jones accepts in good nature.

The usual build-up before the fight, where fighters are shown training and discussing their upcoming match, was typically dramatic. Like many inexperienced TUF contestants before him, Jones stated his confidence in his abilities to succeed in the ring. Unlike every other prior fight this season, Jones actually backs up his words by rapidly besting his opponent with the first display of technical ability seen this season. The first and only Jackson team member will fight along with 7 others in the upcoming finals.

MMA Sports 2

The two competing teams of TUF are coached this season by Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans, both former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions. After leaving the defunct Pride Fighting organization, Jackson and his famous temper have been on display in UFC bouts. Evans, a season 2 contestant and winner of TUF, comes to this program, as a coach, after recently losing his UFC title.

With the preliminary fights almost complete, Jackson's team has not won a fight in 6 matches. The seventh was the closest bout, which resulted in a loss by judges' decision. Jackson's temper finally got the better of him at the end of the program. His frustration at the judges' scoring led him to literally tear apart an interior, hollow-core door in the UFC training facility.

MMA Sports 1

The Ultimate Fighter program on the cable television channel, Spike, brings several amateur and semiprofessional Mixed Martial Arts fighters together in a reality show based competition for a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization. The first season debuted in 2005, in the middle of the reality show fad on television, and has continually evolved from its beginnings. Gone are the reality-show devised team challenges, which only risked needless injury before matches. Each season sees a different weight class of fighter, sometimes with two individual classes competing simultaneously.

Heavyweights make up this season roster, with several former NFL players attempting the transition. Yet they are overshadowed with the arrival of Kimbo Slice, a YouTube sensation on the internet for his unsanctioned street fights. Currently in teams of 8, 16 fighters vie for the goal of becoming the Ultimate Fighter. In a previous match, the popular Slice was eliminated from the finals in a loss against a more experienced opponent, Roy “Big Country” Nelson.

UT "going green" with a sustainable campus

The University of Tampa has in many ways over the past years found ways to uphold a sustainable campus. Going “green” is a new trend and a positive one at that, many campuses cities and household have been finding ways to keep our natural resources and environment from being overused or damaged.

UT is a founding member and sustaining partner member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Gulf Coast Chapter.

The ways in which this campus has been upholding its sustainability agreement is by using environmentally safe products replacing lighting fixtures and utilizing electricity and energy use in all classrooms.

Specifically, cleaning products, disinfectants, floor waxes etc. are all now replaced with environmentally safe products. Also the university has analyzed ways to save energy using energy efficient lighting, also incorporating sensors to turn off unused lights, and computer monitors. The lighting fixtures in Martinez and Cass gym were completely reinstalled using better efficiency lights.

Also installing occupancy-based thermostats that regulate temperature of air units depending on if the area/ classroom is occupied or not. High efficiency water heaters have replaced many of the older models as well.

Recycling has also been encouraged around campus with the placement of many dumpsters and trash cans provided for recycling only. There are two single stream recycling bins on campus, one located between ResCom and the Thomas Parking Garage and the other located by the left field corner of the baseball field.

The paper used in copier machines is part-recycled paper and much other paper used around campus as well. There are 30 locations around campus that have printer paper recycling bins, many located in computer labs to eliminate the millions of sheets of paper that used to get thrown into trash cans.

Even more ways UT has gone green is by implementing duplex printing in computer labs (printing on both sides of the paper), also by installing low flow toilets, showerheads and faucets.

There are countless other ways UT has “gone green” sustaining the earth and using the most environmentally safe options.