Last SGA of the semester

The Lyndon campus will be getting a little more radical now that Club Action! Students for Change has become a club recognized by the student government association.

Andrew Glynn came before SGA Wednesday night, explaining that his goal for the new club is to create a "zine", which is a magazine featuring politics, sociology, music, and other topics.

One of the main goals, according to Glynn, is to bring some student radicalism to campus.

"We had a really good sustainability drive this year," said Sigma Zeta representative Joe DiTommaso. "I was wondering if instead of photocopies, could you do it online?"

Glynn's response drew some giggles from the crowd when he replied, "I don't really know what to say to that, so I'm just going to say what's in my head: Us at this college not using as much paper as we could is not going to save any amount of forest."

According to Glynn, the purpose of the club is to create a forum to discuss social and political issues. He stressed that it is not a Democratic or Republican club, and the only stance it would take would be anti-war.

He also added that he believed the reason Students for Global Change failed as a club was because it was "too wishy-washy".

"We're a college. We're all between the ages of 18 and 25. We should have some fire in our hearts about this type of stuff. We want to be controversial. We're students. This is what we're supposed to do," he said.

Despite some worries from the club representatives about sustainability and recycling, Club Action! Students for Change was approved.

The second time was the charm for the Twilight Players, when the SGA voted to give the club $750 toward the $1000 cost of a musical director without much debate.

"We have a list of names of people interested in being the musical director of the show from St. Johnsbury and the community at large," advisor Melissa Leonard said, "but we cannot get them into contract without being able to guarantee the money."

The request for $750 was approved.

Student Investment Group representative Kyle Hessler requested $200 from the SGA to give prizes to the top two investors of the club.

Students involved in the club participate in a virtual stock-exchange game, which is realistic to what the real-world stock market is like.

According to Hessler, the amount requested makes up 0.7% of the overall general fund. Despite the small amount, some representatives were hesitant to give money toward prizes.

"I know that when other clubs give prizes for participating in events like this, the money does come from entry fees and fundraising they've done in the past so I'm a little bit iffy about this," Samantha Couture of AMS said.

Hessler's request for $200 was approved, but club representatives did suggest the Student Investment Group look into buy-ins or dues in order to pay for prizes in the future.

The SGA voted to purchase a Dell Vostro 430 computer for the Student Activities and Leadership Center for $1917.34.

Although another cheaper iMac with a larger screen was an option, the representatives voted for the Dell with the faster processor.

"Aren't you guys proud we had a civil conversation about this?" Tim Cappalli, vice president of SGA asked the representatives, referring to the previous discussion about computers at the last meeting.

Although a request from Outside the Box was made to reallocate $200 from the speaker fund to the AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) fund, a representative failed to appear during this week's meeting. Club representatives voted to move on without considering the request.

SGA 11-18-09

The men's rugby team came before the student government association after an incident over Halloween weekend that questioned its status as a club during Wednesday night's meeting.

During a match at Merrimack College, an LSC player received a red card and as a result, ran naked through the audience, according to Stephanie Tyler. This player was later identified as Kyle St. John, the club's treasurer. Chris Arsenault, president of the men's rugby team, addressed the room.

"What this individual did…we are very upset; very apologetic. It's upsetting to us because we've been doing very well. There has been no hazing since we were suspended three years ago," he said. "We told the cop if he needed to arrest him to do it. We just wanted to keep playing."

The club representatives agreed that enough action had been taken by removing the player from the team and as treasurer of the club. A motion to take no action was approved.

The SGA voted to donate $1500 to the Santa Fund charity despite opposition from American Women in Radio and Television representative Suzanne Proulx.

The SGA makes an annual donation typically between $1000 and $1500, according to president Andrew Chapin. The fund is used to assist people in the community during the holiday season.

"I understand it's a nice thing to donate, but with only [roughly] $27,000 in the general fund, we don't know what we're getting for next semester. I know my club might need to request money in the future for things we had to cut out of our budget," Proulx said.

This statement was not received well by Chapin, who urged Proulx not to make decisions based on what she thinks her club might get from the SGA in the future. Other club representatives were enthusiastic about the donation. The request for $1500 for the Santa Fund was approved.

The SGA executive board and the campus activities board joined together to request money for a new computer in their office.

According to Chapin, the computers the office currently houses are old and slow, making the process of creating posters and flyers difficult. The computer the boards are looking at is a 24-inch iMac, complete with the entire Adobe Suite collection. The total cost of these items is $1575.42.

Stephanie Tyler, advisor to SGA, explained that CAB is willing to pay $200 toward the cost of the computer because the club would be using it as well.

The SGA executive board was divided on the issue. Tim Cappalli, vice president of the club, expressed hesitation about maintenance on the iMac. He said that if something malfunctioned, the computer would have to be sent to California in order to be fixed; IT would be unable to do anything. He also explained that it would be about $100 to get a larger screen for the current computer in the office.

Club representatives were divided on the issue, with many opinions about Macintosh computers and PC computers coming forth. There were also concerns that club members would not have the skills to use all the Adobe programs without an informational workshop.

The representatives voted for the executive board to come back with more information and pricing options.

In other business, the Lyndon State Track and Field club was approved. There are currently 21 members, with over half not participating in cross-country. Chris Ummer will be the advisor.

Jorge Chojolan, the director of the Miguel Asturias Academy in Guatemala addressed the SGA through a translator, thanking LSC students for their work at the school. As a gift, he presented LSC with a Guatemalan hammock to place on campus for students to enjoy.

Samantha Wolf and Madeline Champlin presented an ecological management plan for the LSC campus. Their project is being led by Professor Alan Geise.

"The goal is to manage the pond and forest areas better," Champlin said. The class is focusing on four areas of campus: the forest behind President's Hill, the plantation area, the meadow by the Brown House, and the pond in front of the SHAPE center. The plan is to increase biodiversity and ecological integrity of the natural areas on campus. This may include limiting recreation in certain areas at different times throughout the year, according to Champlin.

If I was planning to put my Outing Club article on the web, I would use photos and video to really illustrate what the club does during its activities. The people involved are very active, and I'd want to showcase that through video of them rock-climbing, skiing, and white-water rafting. I'd also interview some of the students involved to hear what they had to say about the club.

Online reporting has many advantages over print and broadcast. It can be updated immediately following an event for people to view. It can feature all sorts of medium, including video, photos, and podcasts.

Some people don't like using computers (although their numbers are shrinking). They prefer the traditional newspaper, and refuse to read news online. Print journalism doesn't need to be scrunched into a certain number of words either. It is meant to be read slowly, unlike websites. Broadcast does the same thing.

Broadcast journalism is quick and to the point. It doesn't take viewers long to gather the news, because the reporters are trying to squeeze as many stories as possible into the time allotted. It also can feature video and sound to gather interest.

ABCnews.com

My favorite online news website is abcnews.com.

I like this website because it features a wide variety of tools to make it interesting and easily useable. There are photo slideshows, videos, and links to sort what types of stories are available. The site also allows users to comment and voice their opinions on every story. There are blogs as well. Readers can also choose to follow ABCnews on twitter.com. It is easy to navigate to specific topics, and the big headlines change periodically so that the most current news is on top.

LSC's Outing Club

For those seeking adventure and exercise this winter, joining the Outing Club is the way to find it.

With roughly 50 members participating, the Outing Club offers all students a way to go off campus to experience the great outdoors.

In the past, students have gone white-water rafting, rock climbing in Wheeler and local areas, hiking, and backpacking around the Northeast Kingdom. The club plans to continue those activities, according to president Brian Wilcock. These activities occasionally have fees that are subsidized by the club's trip budget. While experience and equipment are not required, it is helpful. Wilcock said that each trip has leaders either from the college or the local area with experience.

According to Wilcock, the club is planning another white-water rafting trip in the spring. The club is also considering a trip to the Long Trail to snowshoe and ski. The group would then camp in huts from the Green Mountain Club.

The Outing Club also organizes climbing on the rock wall in the Rita Bole gym every Thursday at 8:00 p.m. This is a free event, with no experience or equipment necessary. Wilcock said that the rock wall will be expanded sometime in the next two semesters.

SGA 10-28

The curtains closed on the Twilight Players' request for $750 to pay for a musical director of its spring production during Wednesday night's student government meeting.

After approving a reallocation request of $250 for the Twilight Players, the other club representatives voted to dismiss the request for funding an additional $750. Members Nadine Grimley and Dave Daley addressed the room.

"I think that's really fair, in my opinion," Daley said. "It's about seven student activity fees, and we expect over 300 people to attend."

The other representatives voiced concerns about the uncertainty over who would be the musical director if the request was granted. The Spirit Squad asked whether the Twilight Players had looked internally at the college to find a staff member with proper qualifications.

"We've looked within the college and they don't want to help us at all," Grimley said, adding later, "We have contacted Beth Norris but she refuses to support this play in any way, shape, or form."

When it was mentioned that last year's musical director was student Chris Arsenault, who was paid for his services, a flurry of comments from the crowd ensued.

"If you have to hire a student as musical director, are you going to pay them? They don't get paid to run student government," Sam Monroe of the Hockey Club said, pointing to the executive board on the stage.

"The editor of the paper doesn't get paid either," said Rachel Keller, sophomore representative.

After a debate that lasted over 30 minutes, the Twilight Players' request was denied.

In other business, Chris Mullen, a student involved in the sustainable food program, addressed the SGA to gather support as the group makes changes in food services at LSC.

"95 percent of the food we eat could come locally and cheaper than what we have now," Mullen said. "The other 5 percent being spices that don't come from America."

The program's main objective is to buy local products to sell to Aramark at a cheaper price than what is currently being purchased. The foods would then be processed at LSC by students, which might offer more jobs on campus.

"We need support from students to get this ball rolling," said Mullen.

The Lyndon Ultimate club also requested to reallocate funds. The motion passed without debate to move $200 for a Dartmouth tournament later this year.

American Women in Radio and Television requested changes be made in its constitution regarding dues and the alternative house representative position. These requests were approved.

New Clubs at LSC

Students with interest in photography or community service now have some more opportunities to get involved at LSC.

The Lyndon State Photographers Society and the ROTARACT Club were both voted in during the Oct. 14 meeting of the student government association. With official club statuses, representatives from both clubs are expected at the meetings to participate in decision-making, and will be able to request funding.

The Photographers Society's purpose is to allow students with interest in photography to get together to critique one another's work, share ideas, and learn about the various types, according to president Amanda Racine. The club is planning fundraising events such as a hometown series, club calendar, and a Quimby Gallery show.

With a complete executive board and advisors Linda Bryan, Bob McCann, and Tess Conant, the club is meeting this week to discuss an official meeting schedule.

Racine is encouraging anyone interested to join the club. "We plan to do big things and make an impact on the Lyndon Community. We are open to anyone, experience or no. The fun thing is learning, as well as being able to teach others what we know."

"The ROTARACT Club an organization on the Lyndon State campus based on community service, professional excellence, and strong leadership skills," said Bennett Sayles, vice president. "When you join ROTARACT you get to meet with local business leaders once a month to build a relationship with them."

The club has already begun its events for the year, beginning with the Northeast Kingdom Youth Services Shelter Walk and the local chapter's Penny Sale. Other possible events include the annual food drive sponsored by the campus activities board, and Relay for Life in St. Johnsbury, according to Sayles. He also added that there will be further meetings to discuss more fundraising activities, as many of the programs the club participates in are voluntary and not for making money.

SGA meeting 10-14

The second time was the charm for the High Society during Wednesday's SGA meeting, when the club received funding for its new skating boxes.

After being rejected for $877.79 during the Oct. 1 meeting, the High Society brought in an audience of 32 club members to illustrate the amount of usage the boxes would be getting if funded.

After presenting a video featuring the different ways to use boxes in the winter months, the High Society explained that the amount it was requesting included every fee needed to complete construction. When Suzanne Proulx of American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) voiced concerns about the project not being built last year when funds were given to the club, Brian Wilcock addressed the members of the High Society.

"How many of you are willing to help build the boxes?", he asked. Every member raised their hands. "They will be built this year."

The High Society received the total amount requested. As soon as it was announced, the 32 club members erupted into applause and proceeded to leave the meeting, frustrating some of the representatives.

"Yeah, there they go," Sam Utz of Leadership Recognition said. "It really grinds my gears."

Other business included Erin Rossetti presenting the idea of a residence hall association that would work with the SGA and Student Life in order for students living on campus to voice ideas and concerns. An informational meeting will be held Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Rita Bole lounge.

The Lyndon Strikers requested $1000 due to the number of active members in the club.

"We're looking for this money to get through this semester and quite possibly next semester as well," said Jordan Sherman, vice president of the club. "We currently have over 30 active members, so unfortunately fundraising doesn't cover it all."

The Strikers' request was granted, bringing the general fund to $27, 514.12.

Two new clubs have gained SGA-approved status as well. The Rotaract, an organization designed to do community service, is being headed by Bennett Sayles. The club plans to do a food drive with the campus activities board, and to stay involved with SGA, an issue the club had in the past.

The Lyndon State Photographers Society was also approved. Amanda Racine, president of the club, said that there will be numerous fundraising events going on this year. According to Racine, the club will be producing a 'hometown series' of photos, depicting different regions of New England to be made into a book. It will also be creating a calendar. Both of these items will be for sale.

In other business, the representatives of SGA voted to formally revoke the club status of Students For Global Change, after a representative failed to attend three meetings this semester. There are currently no active members in the club.

Women in 'Male' Majors

Samantha Couture is only one of three women in her class to be majoring in atmospheric science.

Most atmospheric science classes are male-dominated, according to Couture. There are only ten junior students at LSC working toward this degree, and three are women. She believes that men and women are both pressured to succeed in any major but that in atmospheric science, "It may be a little harder for women to stand out."

Although women have been making strides in the fields of science and math for decades, there is still an inequality of gender. At Lyndon State College, women are still the minority in the atmospheric science field, according to statistics from Heather Ring, associate registrar. There are currently 84 students enrolled in the atmospheric science program at LSC. Of those 84, 20 are female.

Couture added that because her major is challenging, many students (both male and female) choose not to continue in the program. She said that the junior class started with 30 atmospheric science majors, and that number has dropped to ten. "Even now I feel like I am being questioned as to if I am serious about the major."

Amber Hartman is a junior exercise science major with a concentration in pre-professional physical therapy. There are currently 110 students in the program, with 71 males and 39 females.

Hartman feels that although the number of men far outweighs that of women, there is no struggle to compete against the opposite sex. "I feel that all Exercise Science Department students work hard towards what we do and accomplish," Hartman said.

One disadvantage to the major is the lack of female professors, according to Hartman. "It has improved with the addition of Coach Khairallah to our department," she said. "It's nice having a strong woman to look up to."

SGA Spends $5000 (revised)

The atmosphere was stormy at Wednesday night's student government association meeting when the American Meteorological Society was denied money for the 90^th Meeting of the American Meteorological Society.

AMS members requested $2539.76 from the general fund in order to help send four students to Atlanta, GA in mid-January. The amount requested was meant to be a stipend to help students who may not be able to afford the entire cost, which is estimated to be about $1000 per person. Only four students who need financial assistance would get these stipends. Anyone else who wishes to attend would need to raise money for themselves.

To justify the request, Tony McGee said, "It's [the conference] a great networking experience. It gives students a reason to stay active in AMS."

As other club representatives questioned AMS, tension began to build.

"You guys get so much money for sending people to conferences," Brian Wilcock of the High Society said.

Kaitlyn Jacobs of AMS replied, "This is the only conference we request money for. The storm conference is put on by us."

When asked about fundraising toward the cost of the conference, AMS explained that the money they raise between now and January will go toward the annual storm conference that they themselves put on.

After many questions from the other clubs, AMS was denied its request.

Stephanie Tyler requested $5000 from the general fund to allow about twenty students to go to Guatemala for a ten-day service trip in February. This money will give each student about $250 toward airfare and hotel expenses, while the total cost per person is generally between $800 and $1000.

The students will be volunteering to help those struggling in poverty through after school programs. They will also be working with an orphanage. The motion passed without much debate.

The Student Investment Club was approved by the SGA as well. With a starting budget of $5000 from two outside donors, the club will provide real-life experiences in the stock and bond market, according to Kyle Hessler. The club will be working with a broker from Edward-Jones.

Tom Leeman and Brian Wilcock of the High Society requested $877.79 in order to put in four 'boxes' on President's Hill. These boxes are meant for anyone who wants to skateboard or snowboard on them.

Suzanne Proulx of American Woman in Radio and Television asked, "You had $1800 in your budget for these last year. Why didn't you use it then?"

Leeman replied, "We had an incompetent exec board."

The High Society's request was then denied.

The SGA executive board requested $280.42 be reallocated from the leadership conference fund to the dining services and event supplies. This request was approved.

SGA Representatives Ready for Action

From a senior with a vision of stopping bottled water sales to a freshman with lots of high school government experience, the newly elected SGA representatives are getting ready to make changes for their fellow students.

President Andrew Chapin announced the results for the 2009-10 elections on Monday. Each class now has three elected members of the student body to represent their wants and needs on campus.

Seniors Chris Wentworth, Chris Shadrock, and Morgan Reilly now hold positions in the SGA. Wentworth said of his new role, "I was interested in the position because I have enjoyed my time here at LSC, and I feel SGA is a good opportunity to give back to the LSC community in my final year."

Shadrock has an interesting goal for this year. He wants to discontinue the sale of bottled water in the Hornet's Nest. He also made it clear that representatives need to be unbiased and work for the student body as a whole. "If all we have are club reps that are interested in their clubs and furthering their agendas, the general student body would be left in the dust," he said.

The junior class welcomes Jarryd Guinard, Alison Ciaramitaro, and Jeff Rusack as representatives. Rusack said, "As a representative I will voice any opinion from anyone I represent."

Sophomore representatives are Rachel Keller, Michelle Wilcox, and Tyler Kittleman. Wilcox's attitude about her new position is positive. "I have always been a big supporter of “it’s what you make of it," she said."If you think that things need to be changed then instead of complaining about it, come up with a reasonable idea and get involved."

Keller's thoughts mirrored Wilcox's. "My main goal is to increase the faith in SGA. I want to prove to students here that if they have a problem and want it addressed, that going through me or any other SGA representative/member will guarantee at least an effort to solve the problem," she said.

The freshman class has the enthusiastic new representatives Arianna Millington, Dominique Boyd, and Alex Hernandez. Millington said, "I feel that I will personally contribute an opinion from different perspectives to SGA, as I am involved in various clubs and activities."

Boyd and Hernandez both want to help their class express ideas and concerns to improve the environment in which students receive their education, and plan to work with SGA to make that happen.

Each representative plans to do their best to meet the needs of their classmates. Students with new ideas or concerns can go to their representative and ask for the SGA to consider them. SGA meetings are every other Wednesday evening.

Storm Chasers: LSC-style

By Madison Cox and Danielle Drown

Like a scene out of a blockbuster movie, Tony McGee watched a tornado form in front of his very eyes.

"I looked on in awe. I didn't jump up and down and yell and scream, mostly because I was too excited and shocked to do so." McGee said.

From May 8 to June 13, McGee and Rachel Ducharme, both atmospheric science seniors, accompanied Nolan Atkins, professor of atmospheric science, on a research trip across the country called Vortex 2. This government-funded program allows researchers and students to travel around the country collecting data on all types of severe weather. The main objective of this program is to discover more about severe weather in order to improve warning systems.

For McGee and Ducharme, this trip was an opportunity to further their atmospheric studies. Neither had seen tornados previously. Ducharme said, "I have always been interested in severe weather. Tornadoes were just the next thrills on the list that I had yet to have the pleasure to encounter."

Vortex 2 is comprised of about 100 people from all parts of the country. The group divides into small teams in order to obtain different types of data. Atkins' team was responsible for collecting visual images, videos, and recordings of the various weather they encountered.

After traveling thousands of miles, the teams finally got their big break on June 5 in Meriden, Wyo. A moderately sized (EF2 on a 0-5 scale) tornado began to develop. According to Atkins, this was surprising to spot a tornado in Wyoming because it is not considered to be part of "Tornado Alley". It began to develop six miles away from Atkins and Ducharme. McGee and his research partner were at a different location and were able to see the storm from further away.

At the tornado's closest point, it was roughly one mile away from Atkins and Ducharme. This was the most frightening part of the entire trip for Ducharme, who said, "We had to bug out of the area because the tornado was heading right for us. We were driving away and Dr. Atkins lost sight of the tornado. I looked in my rear-view mirror and I saw the tornado crossing the street behind us."

McGee had different thoughts about the tornado. He said, "I wasn't going to cheer for something that was wrecking people's homes and lives, maybe even causing death. It turns out that very little damage was done, and we were very excited to have finally gotten a case to work with." Everyone involved in Vortex 2 was unharmed after the tornado touched down.

Atkins said that contrary to popular belief, watching a tornado from a relatively short distance is actually quiet and calm. He stated that where they were positioned, it was cloudy and slightly windy with no rain whatsoever.

Vortex 2 is going to continue operating until summer 2010, with even more research to develop safer warning systems for those living in tornado territory. Atkins will be going for another six weeks, but is unsure who will be accompanying him.

What do you think of the construction on campus?

Wil Dens
Sophomore, Physical Therapy
"It doesn't bother me much because it's out of the way. They've done a good job on the building."

Joe Adams
Junior, Animation/Illustration
"The building looks great. I hope I have a class or event in there. I haven't been in it yet."

Shelby Coutu
Freshman, Graphic Design
"I don't really mind the construction."

In loving memory

Daniel W. Williams, 52, of Lyndon, Vt., died after a jousting incident with former student Eric Wayne.
Born in Berwyn, Ill., on October 26th, 1956, he was the son of James and the late Mary Williams of Hilton Head, S.C. He was educated at Kansas State University in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. He then went on to earn his master's degree at Ohio State University.
In 1982, Williams traveled to Munich, Germany, to work at Radio-Free Europe. He remained in Germany for nine years before coming back to the United States to work at CNN. From 2004 to 2006, he was employed by Sanford University as a journalism professor. Beginning in the fall of 2006, Williams had worked as a professor at Lyndon State College. During the summer months, he also remained with CNN as a writer and copy editor of CNN International.
Williams will be remembered as a fantastic English professor. He was loved by faculty and students alike for his silly sense of humor. An avid gardener and chef, his hobbies included cooking vegetables from his home garden. He was a member of College Media Advisers for four years, and was also involved in the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
Williams is survived by his wife, Susan Millar-Williams, and their three children, Gretchen Williams of Detroit, Mich., Martin Williams of Providence, R.I., and James "Jimmy" Williams of Lyndon, Vt. He is also survived by his father, James Williams, of Hilton Head, S.C. He was predeceased by his mother, Mary Williams. Williams also leaves behind his dog, Louis.
In lieu of flowers, please submit donations to the Dan Williams Journalistic Excellence Scholarship at Lyndon State College.

FINAL PROJECT!

We are going to film an interview with a professor, asking not-so-typical question to give an in-depth look into their life. We have not decided which professor we will interview yet, pending permission. :)

Old Men, Cuba, and Underwater Concerts: iReport Videos

            The first video I watched on iReport was called "It Will Be Made Right Later!". This video reminds me a lot of another we watched in class about aging people being ignored. I did not like this video. The man's speech pattern was very slow, without much variety. I think he meant to make himself sound more dramatic, but it really bored me. Also, he did not use the Rule of Thirds, meaning he was directly in the middle of the screen. It did not make for an interesting composition. If I worked for CNN, I would not put this on because it just wouldn't appeal to enough viewers.

            http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-245649

 

            The second video I watched was called "US Cuba Relations". This video was only 1 minute, 55 seconds long which was definitely a plus. Shorter videos keep viewers interested because there is less excessive 'stuff' in them. If edited correctly, short videos can hold a lot of important information. This video was more interesting to me. The man in the video wants to lift the embargo in Cuba, and he talked about it without dramatic pauses or overzealous language. I liked that. If I was working at CNN, I would consider putting this on, perhaps under an opinion section. It was interesting and very easy to understand.

            http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-245655

 

            The last video I watched was called "Guinness World Record For Deepest Underwater Concert".  This was about a woman who held a concert in an underwater oil platform. While the topic was fascinating, and the editing was great, it was just simply too long to go on CNN. The entire length of the video was 7 minutes and 31 seconds. People who want news want it fast, and most would be turned off at the idea of watching it for 7 minutes. If I worked at CNN, I would try to shrink this down into a much more concise video, because it really is interesting.

            http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-245715

News Videos

The first video I watched was called "Big Purple Garage" on CNN.com. It was a short news video about a garage in Sequim, Washington that neighbors are very upset about. Because of its bright, festive color, they say the value of their property is decreasing. The video was good because it had good audio, clarity, and visuals. There were interviews from a few neighbors, as well as some information told by a reporter as well. By combining and arranging images of the garage and surrounding areas, viewers were able to get a much better sense of what the video was trying to convey.
Big Purple Garage

The second video I watched was called "Tortoise-napper Caught on Tape" on msnbc.com. This video, like the first, made good use of interview and imagery to show what was going on. In Easley, South Carolina, a tortoise was shoplifted from a pet store, which was caught on camera. The woman put the tortoise in her purse and left the store. The only real problem I noticed with this video is that the video quality isn't the best. The images are not very sharp, which can frustrate viewers. If it were clearer, I would have liked it a lot better. 

Tortoise-napper Caught on Tape

FISH SLIDESHOW (with audio!)

Lake Willoughby

This slideshow is about my trip to Lake Willoughby this weekend with my boyfriend Caleb. Enjoy. :)

Testing The Fish Slideshow

Slideshows

Best of the Week--Reuters

            This audio photo slideshow was very interesting. It provided a diverse group of photos that were considered the "best of the week" by the website. Each photo provided a short commentary that explained what was going on in it. I think the audio was great for this type of slideshow because I was able to hear the information while looking at the photo, making it much faster. I didn't have to read a paragraph and then look at it. I liked that the ten photos were condensed into just over two minutes as well. People are busy and like their information fast-paced, and this provided a little entertainment in a very short period of time.

Best of the Week--MSNBC 

This slideshow (which I could not get a URL directly to), is another "week in photos" segment. This provides a short paragraph beside each photo, as well as a chance to vote on the best at the end . While I believe the audio slideshows are better, this type might work well for someone without a fast-working internet. Students at LSC share my pain in trying to load even the simplest of audio or video webpages in a reasonable amount of time. This option is perfect for those who don't have a lot of time to wait for buffering. 

"Bright Ideas"...hehe....light-bulb humor

The Bright Ideas Helpline Type of Thing Podcast

      The March 11th, 2009 episode of the Bright Ideas Helpline Type of Thing Podcast was one to marvel at. The speakers, Horatio, Doris, Gertrude, and Igor all provide answers to some bizarre and interesting questions asked by their loyal listeners seeking advice. While the questions and answers might seem odd without any logical pattern, one thing is clear: these people know what they're talking about.

      The format of this call-in podcast is relatively straightforward. Listeners can call the show directly, leave a voicemail, or send an email asking their questions. The speakers then provide valuable insight that only they could possess. The questions cover a wide range of topics, from cobwebs to dog sex education to proper lubricants. No subject is off-limits in this podcast.

      One of the most memorable callers was George, who apparently sells yarn for a living. This man had a laugh that could send shivers down other listeners' spines. Obviously rattled by the man's sales pitch, Horatio quickly moved onto the next caller without much hesitation. This kind of fast-paced podcast makes it interesting and perfect for those on-the-go people who want their advice quickly.

      There appeared to be a bit of tension during parts of the podcast. Horatio and Doris have conflicting views on carnivorous acts against animals, and the debate came to a head when Nigel called in. The situation was quickly resolved, however, and the speakers became civil once again. Doris also seemed to have some hostility against Igor, one of two interns featured on the show. While Igor never exhibited any bad or inadequate behavior on the show, it appears as if some rivalry goes on behind the scenes.

      The best question asked on the show was the first, asked by an elderly listener named Henrietta. She was asking about the best way to remove cobwebs from her home. After explaining how her husband lost his eyebrows the last time he tried, she was pleased to receive suggestions about purchasing a mongoose to rid herself of the problem. It was meaningful advice from Horatio.

      This podcast was fantastic. The questions and answers were entertaining, yet informative. They gave a great insight into what sorts of problems Americans encounter every day. The variety and fast-paced feel of the podcast make it successful and hilarious. It has something for everyone, while being mildly appropriate.

Dan's Counting-to-Ten Podcast

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Audio Podcast Outline

For our project, our group decided to do an advice show, where 'callers' ask questions, and one of of our group-mates gives an answer! Our questions and answers will be silly, of course. What else would you expect from the group who brought you a complete guide to the hottest lightbulb spots near Lyndonville? We will use Audacity or Garage Band to edit our podcast. :)

The Podcasts!

"live Ireland"

            The first podcast I listened to was called "live Ireland", which was about the myths of banshees (messengers of death), and witches in Ireland. It was narrated by a woman from the country, which was demonstrated through her thick accent. It also featured some scholars who knew a great deal about the subjects.

            The sound quality of this podcast was not the greatest. It sounded a bit fuzzy, perhaps due to some bad audio equipment. The podcast wasn’t impossible to listen to, but it was a bit distracting. The woman's accent was very interesting, however, and it was great to hear about these Irish legends with it.

            I thought this was a creative podcast that was interesting to listen to. It definitely was not what I had expected. The iTunes store categorized it as a travel podcast, but this was more about the beliefs and myths of the land. Nevertheless, I found it interesting.

            This podcast is something I might continue listening to at some point. I was attempting to find one about modern-day Ireland, but this was an interesting thing to listen to as well. Since I do enjoy myths and legends, I'll definitely consider listening again.

 

"Pretty Sky Alert"

            The second podcast is called "Pretty Sky Alert", a NASA podcast. This audio podcast was all about Venus and the moon phases. It explained the best time of day to view Venus. Although short (3:21), it was very informative.

            The sound quality of this podcast was great. It featured one man's voice, which was very clear and distinct. There was no music behind it, making it very easy to pay attention and understand what was being said.

            I liked this podcast. It was mainly informative, but it included a lot of things that I didn't know previously about Venus. I liked the very simple approach the narrator took of explaining things. He put it into words that even a complete space novice could understand.

            I will continue listening to this podcast from time to time. Space is something that has always interested me, and there are a LOT of other podcasts that go along with this one.

 

"The Weekly Scrabble r"

            This was my favorite podcast. Perhaps that was because it was devoted to my favorite game of all time: Scrabble. I enjoyed the content, sound, and creativity of this one.

            The sound wasn't perfect in this podcast. It could have been clearer. But everything the man said was audible, and very easy to follow.

            It was very creative. The podcast taught multiple words that could be used in a game of Scrabble. There were long and complicated words, and words that were short but strange. There were also numerous quizzes in which the narrator listed off seven letters and allowed the listener to try to unscramble them. It was very enjoyable to listen to.

            I will continue to listen to this podcast. It will teach me all sorts of new words to use again Scrabble opponents, and I will always win. It was creative, fun, and an easy listen. 

Illuminating Light Bulb Locations

Madi Cox, Eric Wayne, Kevin Hill, Chris Knapik

Efficient Light Bulbs Near LSC

Looking for a way to do your part for the environment? Desperate for proper lighting in your homes or residence halls? Hoping to extrapolate as much use out of your bulbs as possible before they die? Stores that house light bulbs are abundant in this area, as demonstrated in the map. Some offer lower prices and greater variety in selections, but all have energy-efficient bulbs.

By cutting back on energy usage and creating brighter, more vibrant light, GE energy-smart single bulbs are excellent alternatives to the older styles. All the stores depicted in the map carry both 13- and 20-watt bulbs that are the equivalent to 60- and 75-watt “outdated” models respectively.

To fit your light bulb needs, Lyndonville Hardware is the place to go. This store is conveniently close to Lyndon State College. Not only are the energy efficient light fixtures cheapest there (only $0.99 each for either 13-or 20-watts), this store also carries the largest variety to satisfy even the most persnickety lighting expert.

Other stores, such as Aubuchon Hardware and St. Jay Hardware, both located in St. Johnsbury, also offered the same kinds of light bulbs at competitive prices, but were further away from the college campus.

Some less-than-glorious stores that have lighting sections included the White Market in Lyndonville, and Price Chopper in St. Johnsbury. These two stores both had very small selections of bulbs at much more expensive prices.

The map provided is useful in what can be a flabbergasting decision-process regarding energy-efficient light bulbs. Because variety is important when choosing lighting, each store is rated on a scale from one to five. Distance from the college is also a factor, due to hectic schedules that allow little time for shopping.

Lighting is an important part of everyday life. The bulb model is changing into something much more eco-friendly and long lasting, meaning people can save money and the environment based on what they choose.

The GE energy-smart bulbs are excellent for all types of living areas. Students should give them a try because they are affordable and nearby. They also last for much longer than traditional light blubs resulting in less frequent changes. Also, at their current price in stores near LSC, they are much more affordable as well. It will give you a chance to help the environment while brightening up your room for years to come in the process.

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Mmmm...restaurants near LSC

Here is the map that Eric, Chris, and I made today of restaurants in the Lyndonville area. :)

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Recruiting For College Athletics

In collegiate sports, the road to success starts well before the season does.

"Great players make good coaches great," said Vincent Maloney, the Lyndon State women's basketball coach. And in order to find those great players, coaches need to look for them through recruiting.

"Recruiting is the life's blood of your program," said Bill Johnson, Lyndon's sports information director, who coached basketball for 28 years before coming to Lyndon.

Recruiting starts with networking, including forming relationships with high school, prep school, and junior colleges in the area. Because of Lyndon's small size, Johnson's network has a 100-mile radius, but larger schools often recruit nationwide.

One of the problems Lyndon has is that it is division three, and cannot offer scholarships to incoming athletes. It also lacks a large recruiting budget, so summer team camps are used instead of hiring recruiting coaches.

Joe Krupinski, the men's basketball coach at LSC, says he tries to sell the improvement of the team and the individual to a prospect. He tells his recruits, "You can be a building block in turning this around."

Ummer's approach includes speaking of the area's excellent mountains and plethora of outdoor activities.

Maloney uses the size of the school and classes as a selling point, telling potential students that they will be more than just a number to their professors.

Recruiting students typically involves actually watching the students play, and this can be a challenge because college and high school seasons often overlap. Semester breaks, especially between December and January, and the summer are popular times for recruiters to watch athletes. 

Once they have players' names coaches will start sending letters and e-mails, followed up with a phone call to try and entice a campus visit. Most will agree a campus visit is the most important part of recruiting.

 

“Bringing in solid athletes to make the program stronger, builds the team and helps the campus as well,” is how Maloney sums up recruiting.

            While Krupinski puts it into one sentence “it is about finding your niche and finding guys who are a good fit at your school and your level.” 

LSC Professors Survive Deadly Crash

Professors John Dumont and George Johnson escaped serious injury after their plane crashed in New York Thursday.

Two Lyndon State College professors, John Dumont and George Johnson miraculously survived Thursday, when their plane crashed shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia airport in New York. They were attending a conference in New York prior to the crash.

There were forty-five passengers on board the airliner. Forty survived, including both professors. Neither were seriously injured.

There is an ongoing investigation to determine what caused the crash. 

(This is not a true story. It is an exercise for class.)

LSC Professor to Lead Men's Tennis Program

Geoff Davison will be taking over as head coach to men's team. 

Assistant professor of exercise science and physical education at LSC, Geoff Davison is succeeding Mike Smookler as head coach of the men's tennis team. Smookler is taking a teaching position in New Jersey.

Davison is a 1980 graduate of the University of Sheffield. "I have taught tennis and the high school and collegiate level for more than 20 years and have offered the sport several times as an activity course in various teacher preparation programs," he said. 

"The first order of business is to increase our number and build the program," Davison stated. Filling the roster will be an important step toward potentially winning the North Atlantic Conference title. John Kennedy, Peter Dutile, and Matt Lentes all are returning players as well.

The outlook of the men's tennis team seems positive with the addition of Davison. "We are fortunate to have a person with Geoff's background and expertise to fill this position, " LSC Director of Athletics Chris Ummer said. 

The 2009 season at LSC opens with a road match on March 15th. The Hornets will travel to Castleton State College for the game at 1 p.m.

Click here for LSC's athletics page. 

The original article was from the Caledonia Record, February 3rd 2009 issue.

First Blog Entry!

This is my new blog for Intro to Multimedia Storytelling! I've been really excited to start this assignment; I couldn't wait to customize it. I've been playing with it this afternoon, and I went to a website called 'kuler'. My friends recommended it; it's basically a site that creates color themes for you. You choose a color and it determines others that look good with it. I was pretty proud of myself today--I actually altered the layout of my blog by changing the colors using HTML. I'm not very talented with computers, so this was a huge accomplishment. I chose the colors that I used (yellows and purples mostly) because I love bright things and the look of complementary colors. I'm really excited to have my own blog. :)

  This is my cat, Chester. 

  He is as mean as he looks.