Blog Post 3 COM 1450

 Eight Speech Theories 

The speech theory that most personally resonates with me is the fourth.  Although it may not be as important or hold as much weight as some of the others, it is the most relatable one to me. It is deeply important to me to hold a strong sense of self and identity. I would never find any fulfillment in trying to alter who I am or change for somebody else. (Why Is Individualism Important?) The fastest way to nip a sense of individuality in the bud is being censored. If you can't freely speak your mind it becomes significantly harder to express yourself. A lack of identity through restriction of expression such as school uniforms, censorship of certain media, and a push towards conformity can often have an effect opposite of it's intention.

One of the best ways this speech theory is represented is through music. Both in the music artists make, and the musicians people choose to listen to. You can see it in action everyday, if you ask ten people their favorite musician, the chances you get ten different answers is fairly high. It helps you express yourself while finding kindred spirits in an artists other fans. "In the moment, it has the ability to influence our moods, inspire energy, and remind us of cherished memories. While over time, music has an even greater impact as it shapes our identity and allows us to express our true selves." Certain songs hold more personal meaning and room for expression due to the various memories and feelings I have attached to them.

A relevant issue with this freedom of expression is something has only recently come to the forefront. That would be the use of song lyrics, particularly rap, against the musician in court in a self incriminating fashion. This is a slippery slope to go down as many artists play up to a character or speak on fictional matters in their songs. The Restoring Artists Protection Act, the RAP Act, is a proposal to limit the use of lyrics in federal criminal proceedings. An argument is made that the use of rap lyrics in court is inherently prejudiced and used in a discriminatory manner. The use of song lyrics is only seen in the rap genre and stifles the artists ability to tell a story. 

There is not much room to discern between a confession, incriminatory statement, or fiction/satire. It could also potentially limit the creative room for artists who intentionally make horror themed content or "scary" music. While not my cup of tea the nineties rap duo Insane Clown Posse makes music that is intentionally theatrically horror inspired and talks of many extremely dark themes. If they were looking over their shoulder worried they would be prosecuted for their satirical songs, almost their entire discography would be gone. 

Musicians across all genres have signed a petition, partnering with streaming services such as Spotify to stop the use of lyrics in a courtroom. They cited the first amendment and felt they should be protected under it. Free speech is key to individuality and self expression. Having song lyrics treated similarly to a direct threat to the president is unconstitutional.

While not having a shred of musical talent and ability in my body, music and the different genres and artists I listen to mean the world in terms of self identity and expression. Freedom of speech and the protection of the first amendment is crucial to myself and those around me. Any attempt to hinder this freedom or take part of it away is simply not okay. 

Blog Post 2 COM 1450

 Supreme Court Reflection

The Judicial branch of the US government and the Supreme Court are amongst the oldest foundations of our nation dating all the way back to 1789. As distant in the past as that seems it was recent relative to other famous judicial practices such as Hammurabi's Code. I must say aside from the basics, the majority of my legal knowledge and understanding of a court comes from the television drama 'Better Call Saul'. 

 

The law creating the Supreme Court being signed by George Washington was something I did not previously know, but makes quite a bit of sense now. I've always been surprised that the justices serve until their death. Mainly because so many other positions of power and political influence are served in terms so to prevent an impromptu 'reign of terror'. Another small fact I was not previously familiar with is that William Howard Taft served as Supreme Court Justice and the president. That makes for quite the resume or LinkedIn page. 

I think the most important part of the Supreme Court is it's ability to keep the other two branches of government in check. This court does not have to blindly follow the actions of the president or congress. Another basic concept of any high school civics class, the balance of powers. The recent reversal of the 'Roe V. Wade' decision has been an important take away, seeing the change it has had on different states and it's citizens. I'm surprised to see less media buzz surrounding that case. The debate and outpour of opinions following that decision is amongst the most I have seen in my lifetime. 

Blog Post 1 Com 1450

Five Major Sources of News and Information

As society and social media become more and more intertwined with each passing day, the gap in how certain age groups get their news widens. There is a not so subtle shift in the way individuals receive the majority of their news. There are so many different outlets and formats vying for attention at all times. 

Different news outlets take various angles and political stances. Some people, such as my parents greatly prefer to get all of their news from a source that leans the same way as their views. I personally prefer to seek out some semblance of unbiased reporting which can be hard to come by. That said, I also consume the majority of my news in a far different manner from my parents. My father who detests phones and social media, relies solely on tv channels, whereas I don't remember the last time I sat down to watch a news channel.

1 TikTok

Easily the most unorthodox entry on this list, the realization that I get news from the biggest time waster of an app was a surprising and daunting one. I certainly wouldn't say it's the most credible of sources. Where it stands out is the timely manner in which breaking news is distributed and shared around the platform. I would say only twitter is stronger when it comes to timeliness and relevance. TikTok also has the benefit of being able to see what other people are saying in the comments, as well as videos from everybody.

2 Twitter

This is most likely my favorite source of news. Every possible trend and breaking story is updated in real time from multiple outlets and people. I can refresh it constantly and find out what is being said about any topic. I use twitter for the majority of my news endeavors, whether it is sports, current events, class related, or just entertainment content that I enjoy. This has remained the same over the past few years while the platform continues to grow. The recent acquisition of twitter by Elon Musk could pose potential changes but I believe Twitter will remain as my top source, in particular with new care towards preserving free speech. 

3 WRAL 5 News

WRAL is the local news station of my hometown outside Raleigh, NC. This source is more of a past tense for me now. Growing up, before I had a phone, any sort of sudden interest in the news would be satiated with this network. It's primary use for me was to see if school was cancelled cause of snow or if my soccer game would get rained out. I could always count on this channel to keep me updated on stories in my local area as well as nationwide news. 

4 Google News 

 

When it comes to news sources, I consider Google News to be the easiest to skim over while still retaining information. If I need a source for classwork, the first place I will often look is google news. I also appreciate how with google news you can find stories from a variety of different outlets. So maybe a story from somewhere I wouldn't normally look catches my attention, such as Fox or CNN,  and I can broaden my horizons a bit. It also has news for every form of content possible, whether it be sports, politics, or entertainment.

5 The New York Times

Another news outlet I use primarily for classwork and discussion. I mainly use it to read specific columnists such as Rory Smith. I tend to find the New York Times to be fairly biased but still appreciate what it has to offer from time to time. I prefer my news to be free but spending four dollars a month is not the end of the world. 

Multimedia Story Dylan Brehm

 Frequent Exercise Strengthens Performance in The Classroom

by Dylan Brehm

         For those who struggle to focus on assignments or pay attention in class, exercise may be the answer. Spending time in the weight room has become a daily tradition that may offer more benefits outside of the gym. Brief stints of physical activity throughout the day can make a world of difference in multiple aspects of life. 

         All key aspects of learning and information retention are influenced through the amount of physical activity a person gets on a daily basis. Many students across the nation struggle with procrastination, and exercising can help avoid this negative habit.

Covid-19 Influence

         Once the pandemic began and brought drastic lifestyle changes alongside, many individuals turned to frequent exercise to help relieve stress. Liberty University student Caleb Prado saw a severe drop in his grades once courses initially went online. "It was such a sudden change, and the majority of my classes have been pretty hands on. I was suddenly trying to focus on schoolwork in a house with all six of my siblings running around." 

         Like any parents with high expectations, the Prado parents were concerned and displeased with the newfound academic struggles brought by Covid-19. "The bottom line is making my parents proud, so seeing them disappointed in me was some serious motivation to make changes." said Prado.

         Due to having high risk family members Prado has spent his past two years taking online classes. "It's definitely been difficult since I somehow still managed to catch the virus twice, but those setbacks were only temporary and helped motivate me more". 

        

         A key aspect in turning that semester around and the online semesters that followed was picking up a new hobby in weight training. Prado despises virtual learning and adapting to a new reality wouldn't have been possible without daily exercise. "My parents would freak out if they heard this, but I don't think I would still be in school today."

Therapeutic Qualities

        In trying times, everybody is fighting their own unseen battle. The outlets for mental health vary person to person. Everybody treats stress and anxiety differently. This stress management plays a vital role in academic performance.

        Wake Tech Student Wyatt Johnson connected his somewhat smooth adjustment from high school to college in a pandemic to his passion for weight lifting.  "I think everybody should do it, exercise has different benefits on everyone"  

        Whenever something was bothering Johnson, strength training was the best way of expelling those negative emotions, "yeah, it was definitely super therapeutic for me and all my grades would be significantly worse without it". 

          Another important observation made was the drastic difference in output post workout, Johnson described this as feeling like an entirely different student. "If I tackle a hard assignment post workout instead of beforehand, the gap in quality is pretty obvious."

        

Physical and Mental Strength

     Fitness is a crucial part of the day for CJ Vagnone, having ADD makes it extremely difficult to study after a class, or just stay focused during one. Exercising helps Vagnone in more ways then he could possibly explain and bolsters his confidence inside and outside of the classroom. " If you see me everyday my sixty day transformation may not be evident, but I think the before and after photos speak for themselves in how much I've changed."

      Like many others Vagnone noticed a strong increase in work ethic, "The actual level of productivity after a strong workout or just a quick jog is unmatched, and without working out I genuinely don't feel as strong mentally." Working out helps create bench markers for setting academic goals as well as personal records.

      Vagnone finds it very important to push yourself to be better physically and mentally and sees no better conduit then frequent exercise. "It's pretty simple, but the quality of my work definitely varies depending on my mood so missing a daily visit to the gym can have a dramatic impact."

      Vagnone has met some of his best friends in the weight room, "Yeah, I've met some great guys there that I eventually had classes with and this was just an additional factor that helped me in those classes". A positive environment in the class room is a key factor in success.

Amount of daily exercise VS student GPA
Arlington Student Magazine
https://www.arlingtonian.com/archives/14342

         

Related Links 

4 Reasons Students Should Make Time for Exercise

Study Boosting Benefits of Exercise

Sources

Physical Activity, Fitness, and Physical Education: Effects on Academic Performance

The Association Between School-Based Physical Activity, Including Physical Education, and Academic Performance

The Link Between Physical Activity and Academic Performance

Association of weekly strength exercise frequency and academic performance among students at a large university in the United States

Weight Training May Help Ease Anxiety

          

Interviews 

Caleb Prado, Liberty University Student (919-720-3384)

CJ Vagnone, High Point University Student (704-718-2165)

Wyatt Johnson, Wake Tech (919-628-6249) 

3-2-2-1 Assignment Dylan Brehm

 Sealed Copy of 'Super Mario' Bros. 2' Sells for $88,550 in Estate Sale

By: Dylan Brehm

After taking care of an estate sale for a recently deceased Indiana woman, it was reported a sealed copy of the 1988 video game 'Super Mario Bros. 2' was sold for a staggering $88,550.  Harritt Group Inc. said workers searching for items to list found a box of Nintendo games in the back of a walk-in closet.

 

A Trip Down Memory Lane

"At first glance, it was a comforting wave of classic Nintendo nostalgia. All the classics were there, Super Mario Bros, Duck Hunt , Qix, and even an NES console. So we did what any children of the 1990's would do: we fired up the console and tested the open games. It was a great day." "At second glance, it was something else entirely. The seemingly ordinary collection included an extraordinary unopened copy of Super Mario Bros. 2."

Skyrocket in Value

Back in July, a sealed copy of the 1996 game Super Mario 64 set a new world record after being sold at an auction for $1.56 million to an anonymous buyer. Heritage auctions said they received 16 bids leading up to and during the live auction on Sunday for a mostly pristine copy of the 3-D Super Mario game. The best-selling game sold for around $60 in 1996. The top bid ended up being 1.3 million which added a buyer's premium of 20 percent to the gavel price bringing the total up to $1.56 million. 

Smashing The Previous Record

The auction came just two days after the previous record had been set by a copy of 'The Legend of Zelda'. This still sealed, rare version of the game, which had been purchased in 1987 sold via auction for $870,000. This rare version was one of the units made for the limited Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It sold on July 9, 2021.

External Links

A Copy of 'Super Mario 64' sold for over $1.5 million, the most ever paid for a video game

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/super-mario-auction-video-game-record-scli-intl/index.html

Rare copy of 'The Legend of Zelda' sells for 870k at auction to set new world record

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10007546-rare-copy-of-the-legend-of-zelda-sells-for-870k-at-auction-to-set-new-world-record

Blog 3

   For this assignment I was unsure where to go as I'm not much of a meme creator. So I decided it was best to go back to the basics of jokes, puns. Through the extensive catalogue of puns stored in my brain I went with a personal favorite. I used the readings on combining images to add a layer for putting the clock into the dentist's office.  When adding the text I browsed around with some other potential colors, this showed me that in most cases if it isn't white, it looks off-putting in strange for a meme. Another thing I learned while working on this is that images may degrade more than others when put in photoshop due to formatting differences. I tried to put in my first choice stock dentist photo numerous times but no matter what I did, it looked like the picture had been taken with a toaster. So I just switched to my second choice.

 

Blog 02 Business Card

Write up

         When working to create my business card I felt that the most important aspect was making everything look professional. This brought me some challenges immediately for two reasons. The first being that I don't find Indesign user friendly, the software thoroughly enjoys giving me a difficult time whenever possible. My second challenge was that I haven't yet had a professional photo taken so I made due with what I had using a picture a friend of mine took.  I tried messing around with the text and text box to try and find a sweet spot and make it fit nicely with my images and margins. I also found out that it was important to set up your image prior to putting it in Indesign. My first few attempts resulted in giant, distorted images that took up the entirety of my card.