I think my perspective has changed in a sense of gathering the news and the overall structure of a story.
By seeing and doing it first hand makes me realize how much work it is writing a good story as well as the responsibility factors that come with it.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tenth Story /Enterprise Story
When first starting college, there are a lot of influences that help students do well, and other influences some students wish were there in the beginning.
There are tests that are essential in determining if a high school student is ready to take on college courses. There are also a few standards that some feel may not help as much for these students when determining their future.
Kristen Hunt, a graduate of Anoka Ramsey Community College (ARCC), first started out as a Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) student. Hunt feels counselors should be more geared towards helping with student's interests, as appose to solely using the grades they're receiving in high school for determining a student’s future.
"I would suggest that they should gear them to help them foster their own interest: To see how they do, instead of taking a transcript of previous grades. I think some of the counselors use a transcript and not what the student was actually capable of," said Hunt.
Andew Perovich, a former student at ARCC, thinks requiring new students to see their counselors would go a long way in contributing to their college success.
Some students believe that ARCC should do a better job in keeping tabs on newer students and their progress. "I never received any counseling as to what classes to take for my major when first starting out. I wasn't sure what I was taking. I just took classes that I enjoyed and to what I thought applied," Perovich said. "It might have been partly my fault though."
Some students do average in high school. But there are no tests to show that a student may excel above standards when learning something they may like doing in college: Even when not doing well in similar high school courses. Hunt said when a counselor saw an early transcript of hers, they thought she shouldn't even bother from looking at her grades: That she wouldn't pass the recommended courses anyways in a particular field.
Several students remarked at how well the resource center and the tutors at ARCC had helped them do well at the college. "The tutors that were made available really helped me out," Perovich said. "I used a math tutor a couple of times. It worked great."
"I'd recommend for the student to sit down with an adviser and talk with them about what they want to do. What they're looking at doing and where they're are at academically. What classes they had in high school, what classes they should go into to help with the direction they want to take," Perovich said. "Does the student have a time line or a money threshold that they cannot go over in amounts of spending?"
Taking extra circular activities in college to some seem like an advantage with helping a student to do well in there respective courses. Some feel that when going this extra distance to play sports or other activities such as music, this in turn makes that same student more committed to doing well in school.
Sarah DeRosier, a current part-time ARCC student, thinks students should participate in extra curricular activities. However, she feels there should be minimal involvement and the minute that it starts to affect their performance in the classroom negatively, they should think about stopping.
Others felt the same in a few areas. "Depends on the activity and whether its academic related or not," said part-time, online ARCC student Carissa Parker. "Most activities I have participated in teach you how to be a better leader and a more motivated, disciplined person in general, so they help in developing qualities that are beneficial academically. But extracurricular activities in excess can have the negative effect by taking too much of a toll on your time, energies and academics," Parker said.
Jason Vanselow, a Music professor at ARCC, feels that students, who take on activities such as basketball, school and a job at the same time, need to be smart about using their time wisely. "It's a good thing but they don't want to be over extended," he said.
Christine Katke, a faculty member of the Wellness Facility at ARCC, thinks all extra circular activities are good for students. She believes that it gives these students an idea on how to stay committed for their work in the classrooms. It helps students learn about leadership and being a part of a team.
When thinking about what might benefit a student more overall, between having a job on campus as apposed to having one in the private sector, some felt it was better to have the on campus job mainly for its convenience.
Hunt felt with most off campus jobs, you're working the evening hours and weekends; the times in which you would study. The jobs on campus are more geared towards students with being more flexible she said.
Some see working on campus as a way of understanding the real world more. "I plan on being a Photographer and I work in the school darkroom as a tutor. I know working on campus as a tutor has helped me understand certain aspects of photo printing that I had never thought of before," said full-time ARCC student Heather Oxendale.
When working on campus, Oxendale has seen problems that she didn't encounter as a Photo student. She learned from the experience of problem solving. Oxendale feels off campus work is just as beneficial. "I learned customer relations and more business aspects of work that I didn't get from tutoring," she said.
Vanselow thinks that when a student is good at something, they should take jobs whether on campus or not to help develop those skills. "It really depends on what the student is good at," he said.
There are tests that are essential in determining if a high school student is ready to take on college courses. There are also a few standards that some feel may not help as much for these students when determining their future.
Kristen Hunt, a graduate of Anoka Ramsey Community College (ARCC), first started out as a Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) student. Hunt feels counselors should be more geared towards helping with student's interests, as appose to solely using the grades they're receiving in high school for determining a student’s future.
"I would suggest that they should gear them to help them foster their own interest: To see how they do, instead of taking a transcript of previous grades. I think some of the counselors use a transcript and not what the student was actually capable of," said Hunt.
Andew Perovich, a former student at ARCC, thinks requiring new students to see their counselors would go a long way in contributing to their college success.
Some students believe that ARCC should do a better job in keeping tabs on newer students and their progress. "I never received any counseling as to what classes to take for my major when first starting out. I wasn't sure what I was taking. I just took classes that I enjoyed and to what I thought applied," Perovich said. "It might have been partly my fault though."
Some students do average in high school. But there are no tests to show that a student may excel above standards when learning something they may like doing in college: Even when not doing well in similar high school courses. Hunt said when a counselor saw an early transcript of hers, they thought she shouldn't even bother from looking at her grades: That she wouldn't pass the recommended courses anyways in a particular field.
Several students remarked at how well the resource center and the tutors at ARCC had helped them do well at the college. "The tutors that were made available really helped me out," Perovich said. "I used a math tutor a couple of times. It worked great."
"I'd recommend for the student to sit down with an adviser and talk with them about what they want to do. What they're looking at doing and where they're are at academically. What classes they had in high school, what classes they should go into to help with the direction they want to take," Perovich said. "Does the student have a time line or a money threshold that they cannot go over in amounts of spending?"
Taking extra circular activities in college to some seem like an advantage with helping a student to do well in there respective courses. Some feel that when going this extra distance to play sports or other activities such as music, this in turn makes that same student more committed to doing well in school.
Sarah DeRosier, a current part-time ARCC student, thinks students should participate in extra curricular activities. However, she feels there should be minimal involvement and the minute that it starts to affect their performance in the classroom negatively, they should think about stopping.
Others felt the same in a few areas. "Depends on the activity and whether its academic related or not," said part-time, online ARCC student Carissa Parker. "Most activities I have participated in teach you how to be a better leader and a more motivated, disciplined person in general, so they help in developing qualities that are beneficial academically. But extracurricular activities in excess can have the negative effect by taking too much of a toll on your time, energies and academics," Parker said.
Jason Vanselow, a Music professor at ARCC, feels that students, who take on activities such as basketball, school and a job at the same time, need to be smart about using their time wisely. "It's a good thing but they don't want to be over extended," he said.
Christine Katke, a faculty member of the Wellness Facility at ARCC, thinks all extra circular activities are good for students. She believes that it gives these students an idea on how to stay committed for their work in the classrooms. It helps students learn about leadership and being a part of a team.
When thinking about what might benefit a student more overall, between having a job on campus as apposed to having one in the private sector, some felt it was better to have the on campus job mainly for its convenience.
Hunt felt with most off campus jobs, you're working the evening hours and weekends; the times in which you would study. The jobs on campus are more geared towards students with being more flexible she said.
Some see working on campus as a way of understanding the real world more. "I plan on being a Photographer and I work in the school darkroom as a tutor. I know working on campus as a tutor has helped me understand certain aspects of photo printing that I had never thought of before," said full-time ARCC student Heather Oxendale.
When working on campus, Oxendale has seen problems that she didn't encounter as a Photo student. She learned from the experience of problem solving. Oxendale feels off campus work is just as beneficial. "I learned customer relations and more business aspects of work that I didn't get from tutoring," she said.
Vanselow thinks that when a student is good at something, they should take jobs whether on campus or not to help develop those skills. "It really depends on what the student is good at," he said.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Australia Sinking?
A report by the Department of Climate Change has predicted a 1.1-meter sea level rise around the coast of Australia over the next 100 years caused by global warming.
Billions of dollars would be wiped out from the value of approximately 250,000 homes that are near the coast line. Around 80% of Australians now live near the ocean with even more living there with each passing day. "In a changing climate, nothing is certain. The problem with a lot of private and public properties at the moment is their values do not reflect the risk in terms of climate change," said Geoff Withycombe, of Sydney Coastal Councils, which represents 15 local governments.
-Huffingtonpost.com
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Ninth Story
Traveling abroad whether across Germany or throughout the the beautiful mountain valleys of Austria is an experience that cannot be taught in a classroom.
Andy Perovich is a local resident of Coon Rapids who got his start at ARCC. Perovich ended up at Bethel college a few years later receiving a double major in educational studies, elementary education with a minor in social studies.
This social studies teacher and part-time math teacher knows a thing or two about the value of experiencing other cultures. Perovich loves to travel whenever possible.
Perovich took his first trip to Europe earlier this year with a few good friends. They got started by taking a connecting flight from Minneapolis over to Atlanta and then 8 hours later landed in Frankfort, Germany.
Perovich's thirteen day adventure began by driving to a friend's family's place in a small town just north of Frankfort. This city is the fifth largest in Germany and the largest financial center in continental Europe.
"It was cool to see the reminisces of World War II," he said. "Just on our drive from the airport, we saw some of these. In the countryside I saw bunkers, old barbed wire fences, and an old airplane that was from the war." A fading, olive draft painted Douglas C-47 sat near an airport near Frankfort.
"The Douglas C-47 was just like a museum piece sitting out at the airport. It probably had been sitting there since the end of the war," Perovich said. The plane was used by the allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s. These were mainly used for the transportation of troops.
The next day they headed on the autobahn and then into Eastern Germany. Perovich used this express highway, with its advisory speed limit of 80 m.p.h., whenever possible during their trip. Perovich added, "Of course the autobahn was built during Hitler's time."
The architecture everywhere they went was like seeing a museum. "The Medieval city of Rottenburg was very interesting," Perovich said. They kept it well preserved with the old houses and cobble stoned streets." Perovich was quite fond of the food but especially the people there in Germany.
Perovich spoke very little German and on numerous occasions would apologize for not knowing more of their native language. "They were very understanding," he said. In Germany, they're surrounded by so many countries so they are a bit use to the language thing.
Perovich spoke more about the German people, "They are very giving, we were welcomed guests but they are very forward though I learned. Very cut and dry," he said.
Perovich remembered a fun story when in Augsburg, Germany which is in the southeastern part of the country. "My friend hesitated at an intersection and he got a horn from behind him. We all started laughing..no tolerance in Germany. But I think my mom told me that a person's true character comes out behind the wheel of a car. So I think that's really revealing. I mean its very regimented..very structured way of thinking," he said.
Perovich then headed into Prague, which is the capitol and largest city of the Czech Republic. "We toured around and looked at the huge Orthodox Cathedral," he said. They had tons of shops there. It is a beautiful city with a lot of old cultures," he said.
"Its interesting because in the western part of the Czech Republic, a lot of people speak German. The closer you get to Prague the more the Czech language picks up. So about the time you get into Prague, it sounds similar to Russian to me; its a Solavic language and most everyone there speaks Czech," said Perovich.
The cities and the skylines of the Czech Republic were real. They didn't have a lot of brilliant, vibrant colors. A lot of the stuff there is older with stone work, dark greens and grays. "Its like old Europe," Perovich said. " I find that very interesting. I think there's an effort to keep it that way."
After arriving in Austria, Perovich and his companions took the train to Vienna. "Beautiful, beautiful city," he said. "Your not going to beat the architecture in Vienna."
Heading back through Austria, a place Perovich's parents visited in the 50's, and towards Germany, snow topped mountains could be seen in the backdrop.
Back in Germany for their last day, Perovich stayed again with the host family. This time, they celebrated Easter with them. "A lot of the same traditions. They have the boiled eggs. They have meat and cheese, breads, wine and coffee. I found tea is the big thing there," he said. Everything is closed there the Friday before Easter. "Families spend time together," Perovich added.
Most of the foods in Germany are a lot better tasting Perovich thought because the food there is more natural. Natural ingredients and not the processed food like a lot of the food we have here.
One of the things Perovich learned was that his country is not perfect. Their transportation, their rail system is, there's nothing here that can touch it. The Austrian Tran System is fast and its quiet; on time. "Of course the country's smaller so it works for them," he said.
One of the biggest things Perovich admired over there is the people are not typically snobbish about the kind of work that you do. It doesn't matter if your a street sweeper or a doctor. They just wanna know that your working. That your contributing to society. "The people there are very genuine," he said.
Monday, November 30, 2009
The Dahmer Tapes
The Milwaukee Police Department released the transcript of a 911 call today of an alleged incident involving what appeared to be an incoherent and beat up child two officers unknowingly brought back to a serial killer the boy was trying to get away from.
The child in question, Konerak Sinthasomphone, a 14-year-old Laotian who was later found to be one of the 17 victims Jeffrey L. Dahmer, 31, confessed to murdering, was a victim some witnesses say should have been saved by the officers. Police have found 11 bodies so far. The unidentified officers were suspended a week ago with pay.
The transcript released today was a call from Milwaukee resident, Glenda Cleveland, 37, on May 27.
Initially, Cleveland called police to report a beaten up, naked young man at the corner of 25th and State. The officer calling back to the dispatcher reported, "Intoxicated Asian, naked male. Was returned to his sober boyfriend."
Cleveland later called back the Milwaukee Emergency concerned that information had not been taken by the officers for what she described as a "male child being raped and molested by an adult," that was witnessed by her daughter and a niece. "Their names or nothing was taken down and I wonder if this situation was being handled," she said to the dispatcher.
Milwaukee police car number 68, the squad Cleveland had first spoken to about this incident, told her they didn't need her information. That the young male (Sinthasomphone) was just an "intoxicated boyfriend of another boyfriend."
Cleveland asked if the officer was positive and that she thought this person was a child because her daughter had dealt with the boy before and knew that he didn't speak any English. The officer said that it been taken care of and that the boy in question was not a child.
The child in question, Konerak Sinthasomphone, a 14-year-old Laotian who was later found to be one of the 17 victims Jeffrey L. Dahmer, 31, confessed to murdering, was a victim some witnesses say should have been saved by the officers. Police have found 11 bodies so far. The unidentified officers were suspended a week ago with pay.
The transcript released today was a call from Milwaukee resident, Glenda Cleveland, 37, on May 27.
Initially, Cleveland called police to report a beaten up, naked young man at the corner of 25th and State. The officer calling back to the dispatcher reported, "Intoxicated Asian, naked male. Was returned to his sober boyfriend."
Cleveland later called back the Milwaukee Emergency concerned that information had not been taken by the officers for what she described as a "male child being raped and molested by an adult," that was witnessed by her daughter and a niece. "Their names or nothing was taken down and I wonder if this situation was being handled," she said to the dispatcher.
Milwaukee police car number 68, the squad Cleveland had first spoken to about this incident, told her they didn't need her information. That the young male (Sinthasomphone) was just an "intoxicated boyfriend of another boyfriend."
Cleveland asked if the officer was positive and that she thought this person was a child because her daughter had dealt with the boy before and knew that he didn't speak any English. The officer said that it been taken care of and that the boy in question was not a child.
Family Guy And Windows 7
Microsoft first announced that it would be teaming up with Seth MacFarlane's Family Guy to do a spot promoting Windows 7.
This idea has since been axed after Microsoft had seconds thoughts about Family Guy's raunchy humor promoting their new operating system. Microsoft has now decided to release the nixed spots by posting the Windows 7 Family Guy "endorsements" on its YouTube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-daXbYL4hY
-Huffingtonpost
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Eighth Story: Survey Poll; Workload
Taking on too much during a student's first years in college can be stressful for many. This is usually the first time a student has experienced juggling so many things at once in life including; school, work, family, etc.
According to this survey, most people attending ARCC online or on campus are in their first or second year. Out of these eighteen people surveyed; 38.9% are sophomores; 33.3% are freshman; 16.7% are juniors; and 11.1% identify themselves as seniors. Out of these 18, when asked how many credits they are taking this fall semester, 44.4% replied 11-15; 27.8% said 6-10; 22.2% said 15+; and 5.6% replied 1-5 credits.
When asking these student's how many hours per week they study and do homework; 33.3% said they spent 11-15 hours per week; 22.2% said 16-20 hours; 22.2% said 1-5 hours; 16.7% said 26+ hours; and 5.6% said 21-25 hours.
When asking how many hours these students spent working each week, 33.3% said 0-5 hours ; 27.8% said 30+ hours; 16.7% said 15-20 hours; 11.1% said 11-15 hours; 5.6% said 25-30 hours; and 5.6% said 5-10 hours.
The feedback this poll received when asking students what is one thing they've learned to do, to help themselves do well in college when having so many things to juggle at once, the anonymous replied with these responses; don't sleep; Sometimes it can be really hard, but usually it helps me to write everything I need to do out and be organized about when I do what; An equal balance is essential. Focusing too much on one aspect of your responsibilities or activities can be exhausting; Manage my time.
When polling students about what stresses them the most during a semester in college, whether online or on campus, twelve people replied. Over 58% said money and getting homework done on time was stressful to them. Half of these students said exams, while 41.7% said work. When asking these same students what they do to relieve stress, 45.5% of them said they go out with friends while 27.3% said they listened to music to relieve some of the stress. When asking how many had sought professional help in or out of school to help manage their stress better, 75% said they had not. Over half of these students believe the college should offer students more help in managing their workload better.
Students were then asked what were some of the challenges they faced when trying to do well in school their first year in college. Carrissa Parker said, "Juggling several things at once: working 35 hours a week, full time school, leading a small group at church, somewhat of a social life, homework, sleep - doing too much just stressed me out and I ended up doing poorly." Rebekah Phillips replied, "Time management and procrastination on assignments and homework," were some of her challenges.
When asking the students what program from school or what specific example on how a professor contributed to them doing well in a class or in college overall, Meagan Wold said, "The math skills and advising center is usually really great -they helped me with a lot of math homework." Hannah Schott shared, "In my English class, the professor mandated that all her students needed to go see a writing tutor twice in the semester. I went and the tutors were really helpful."
According to this survey, most people attending ARCC online or on campus are in their first or second year. Out of these eighteen people surveyed; 38.9% are sophomores; 33.3% are freshman; 16.7% are juniors; and 11.1% identify themselves as seniors. Out of these 18, when asked how many credits they are taking this fall semester, 44.4% replied 11-15; 27.8% said 6-10; 22.2% said 15+; and 5.6% replied 1-5 credits.
When asking these student's how many hours per week they study and do homework; 33.3% said they spent 11-15 hours per week; 22.2% said 16-20 hours; 22.2% said 1-5 hours; 16.7% said 26+ hours; and 5.6% said 21-25 hours.
When asking how many hours these students spent working each week, 33.3% said 0-5 hours ; 27.8% said 30+ hours; 16.7% said 15-20 hours; 11.1% said 11-15 hours; 5.6% said 25-30 hours; and 5.6% said 5-10 hours.
The feedback this poll received when asking students what is one thing they've learned to do, to help themselves do well in college when having so many things to juggle at once, the anonymous replied with these responses; don't sleep; Sometimes it can be really hard, but usually it helps me to write everything I need to do out and be organized about when I do what; An equal balance is essential. Focusing too much on one aspect of your responsibilities or activities can be exhausting; Manage my time.
When polling students about what stresses them the most during a semester in college, whether online or on campus, twelve people replied. Over 58% said money and getting homework done on time was stressful to them. Half of these students said exams, while 41.7% said work. When asking these same students what they do to relieve stress, 45.5% of them said they go out with friends while 27.3% said they listened to music to relieve some of the stress. When asking how many had sought professional help in or out of school to help manage their stress better, 75% said they had not. Over half of these students believe the college should offer students more help in managing their workload better.
Students were then asked what were some of the challenges they faced when trying to do well in school their first year in college. Carrissa Parker said, "Juggling several things at once: working 35 hours a week, full time school, leading a small group at church, somewhat of a social life, homework, sleep - doing too much just stressed me out and I ended up doing poorly." Rebekah Phillips replied, "Time management and procrastination on assignments and homework," were some of her challenges.
When asking the students what program from school or what specific example on how a professor contributed to them doing well in a class or in college overall, Meagan Wold said, "The math skills and advising center is usually really great -they helped me with a lot of math homework." Hannah Schott shared, "In my English class, the professor mandated that all her students needed to go see a writing tutor twice in the semester. I went and the tutors were really helpful."
Relieving Stress
What I usually do to relieve stress is work out, take a bike ride or something physical that will keep my mind off of things for at least a little while. I think these activities clear the mind and helps you get back into the swing of things again.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Solar Powered Airplane
An aircraft named the Solar Impulse, that has ambitions to be the first solar-powered aircraft to fly around the world, completed its first runway tests in Switzerland recently.
According to Wired.com, "With the four electric motors running on sunlight, these first tests were slow, only getting up to about 10 knots. [...] Next up, according to the team, is taxi tests up to takeoff speed of about 20 knots for some short "flea hops" into the air. First flights beyond the airport runway are expected early next year."
The team hopes the Solar Impulse will be the first aircraft to circle the globe in 36 hours nonstop, without fuel.
-Huffingtonpost.com
Link for runway test video;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O3IfVC8eLo&feature=player_embedded
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Seventh Story: Parking Lot Walk
Students brave the cold weather among other things when making the walk from their vehicles into the college here at ARCC and then on to their class.
On some days the walk may feel like no big deal to certain students. On other days, the college seems to be miles away for others. There are even times when students who arrive a little late are forced to park across the street before making their way in. So then arrives this question: Are you ever frustrated with the walking distance between your car and class?
Of the 20 students surveyed at ARCC, 63.2% say they are frustrated with the walking distance between their car and to their class. While 31.6% say it doesn't bother them and 5.3% say maybe.
What factors besides distance, annoys/affects students the most when walking to class? When asking this question, with the ability to answer more than one, 78.9% say that weather is the biggest annoyance. While being tired comes second at 42.1%, then laziness and stress come in at 21.1% and 5.3% respectively. Of those students that don't mind the walk at all, 36.8% answered in that way.
Students were then asked to elaborate some more while answering this question: No matter the idea, what suggestion would you give to the college itself to help shorten this walking distance? One student noted that "I don't mind walking, which is good for stress. But, walking in the bitter cold is horrible and makes me not even want to go to class. Also, I usually have heavy textbooks and a lot of stuff to carry inside, so the distance can be a challenge," they said. Other students don't think there's a need for additional help in cutting down the walking distance. "I say suck it up, bundle up, and be prepared to walk," one student said. "Make more parking around the sides of the college," another student suggested.
Most of the students participating in this survey suggested that weather is the biggest reason for irritating them when walking the distance from their car and onto class. Another student suggested that it becomes a little easier to park nearer to school as the semester goes on. "Its kind of hard in the beginning of the semester- but by the end of the semester when people drop or stop coming to class its not so bad!"
Monday, November 16, 2009
A Casualty Of Insurance Regulations
Benjamin French is a normal 12-year-old who was born without his right arm below his elbow. As of today, French's insurance company has said he is ineligible for further coverage of prosthetic devices because he has reached his lifetime maximum benefit.
In his 12 years, French has been through seven prosthesis fittings with the last one costing $30,000. His family happens to live in Michigan which is one of the 33 states where insurance companies are allowed to set annual and lifetime caps on prosthetic coverage. In states such as Colorado and Maryland, the law says there can be no caps on prosthetics.
"It seems really unfair," said Benjamin's mother, Kristen French. "The insurance company can do this in one state, but not in another? It's ridiculous."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/16/insurance-runs-out-for-12_n_359920.html
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Driving Through The Country Side
I've been to California a lot. But the part that sticks out the most is when I drove there from Minnesota.
There is nothing like driving cross country as apposed to flying. At the time, the only places that I've been to in the states were California, Wisconsin, Iowa and of course, Minnesota.
We headed down south through Iowa then on through Missouri and over through Kansas. I have nothing against Kansas, but driving through nothing but 10 hours of corn fields gets a little boring after a while.
Arriving in Denver for the first time was cool. It's neat to see the Rockies just beyond the downtown area. It then took a few hours to get through the mountains and over to Utah. We then headed down through the Las Vegas, Nevada area, where we stopped and had some fun at an outdoor water park, and then on to California.
I think the entire trip took around 35+ hours of driving. Although it is great to see the country side for the first time, I've stuck to airplanes ever since.
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Lip-Sync Tour?
Last Friday evening, at the Burswood Dome in the Western Australian city of Perth, about 100 displeased fans walked out of a Britney Spears' Circus concert. These fans were reportedly angry with Spears' lip-syncing as well as her impersonal performance during her two-hour show.
As a result from this debacle, politicians from three Australian states have called for new laws that would force music promoters to disclose whether a concert would be live or lip-synced. Britney Spears' website was flooded with messages in support of the singer for putting on a "great" show.
People.com- http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20318419,00.html
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Halloween Costume Memories
My funnest memories during Halloween are when my dad use to make me and my two brothers costumes. I remember one particular year when I was younger, he somehow took older clothes, made them into cool looking costumes, and helped paint my face as a clown. He had a knack for painting cool looking things, so I remember getting a lot of compliments in school during that Halloween. I also remember being tired from carrying my big sack of candy later that evening as well. It must have been heavier than I was. Fun times.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sixth Story: Music Aspirations
"I always wanted to do it for a living. I never had that 'I don't know what I wanted to do thing in college'. I went into college, and I went to that college to study with the guitar teacher that was there. So I knew kinda where I wanted to go. But the idea of doing it for a living was always sort of tenuous...and that's what I knew how to do," said Anoka-Ramsey Professor Jason Vanselow.
That was some of the thinking of Jason Vanselow before heading to the Cleveland Institute of Music. "I auditioned at a bunch of different places, that was the place that I got in and I liked the teacher enough and just decided what the hell: try it," he said. Vanselow started his music career there immediately after high school.
Today, Vanselow is a musician, music teacher and music student. He's in second full-year here at ARCC. Vanselow teaches about 175 kids in classrooms and 20-25 for private guitar lessons. "Here I teach guitar and rock history, and I teach classic guitar at the U of M (Minneapolis campus)," he continued, "And I teach piano at St. Paul Academy in Summit School in St. Paul, and I teach guitar at a little place called Grace Academy over near Round Lake Blvd and Bunker Hills drive."
Among his credentials that helped him receive a job here at ARCC, Vanselow received a Bachelors degree from the University of St. Thomas. "I got a Masters Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music which is in the arm of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and right now I'm studying for my DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) at the U of M," Vanselow said.
Vanselow first started playing the piano at the age of four and the guitar at the age of twelve. "My parents were musicians and we always had music in the house like Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Crosby Stills and Nash. So there was always a sense of sound in the house," he said.
Vanselow used this early inspiration to play in several different bands while growing up and attending college. He played in church bands at first. "I played in wedding bands where you play 'Brown Eyed Girl' and all of the standard cheesy stuff and I played in bands where you played some guy's original material and seven people show up and you just play for rehearsal money basically," he said.
"It can be really, really nerve racking when your up there by yourself and you don't know anyone and there's a lot of people out there," he said when explaining what it was like playing before an audience. "When your with a group of people..when your with a band..or a couple of other guitar players than it is somewhat comfortable and the sound you can make with each other is really amazing." This type of love for playing music translated to the classroom for Vanselow.
"I love talking about rock and roll because it's what I grew up listening too and I'm a geek so I love all the you know, the stupid urban legends and stuff like that. Playing guitar has been a great thing in my life so sharing that with other people is a great thing too," Vanselow shared.
That was some of the thinking of Jason Vanselow before heading to the Cleveland Institute of Music. "I auditioned at a bunch of different places, that was the place that I got in and I liked the teacher enough and just decided what the hell: try it," he said. Vanselow started his music career there immediately after high school.
Today, Vanselow is a musician, music teacher and music student. He's in second full-year here at ARCC. Vanselow teaches about 175 kids in classrooms and 20-25 for private guitar lessons. "Here I teach guitar and rock history, and I teach classic guitar at the U of M (Minneapolis campus)," he continued, "And I teach piano at St. Paul Academy in Summit School in St. Paul, and I teach guitar at a little place called Grace Academy over near Round Lake Blvd and Bunker Hills drive."
Among his credentials that helped him receive a job here at ARCC, Vanselow received a Bachelors degree from the University of St. Thomas. "I got a Masters Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music which is in the arm of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and right now I'm studying for my DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) at the U of M," Vanselow said.
Vanselow first started playing the piano at the age of four and the guitar at the age of twelve. "My parents were musicians and we always had music in the house like Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Crosby Stills and Nash. So there was always a sense of sound in the house," he said.
Vanselow used this early inspiration to play in several different bands while growing up and attending college. He played in church bands at first. "I played in wedding bands where you play 'Brown Eyed Girl' and all of the standard cheesy stuff and I played in bands where you played some guy's original material and seven people show up and you just play for rehearsal money basically," he said.
"It can be really, really nerve racking when your up there by yourself and you don't know anyone and there's a lot of people out there," he said when explaining what it was like playing before an audience. "When your with a group of people..when your with a band..or a couple of other guitar players than it is somewhat comfortable and the sound you can make with each other is really amazing." This type of love for playing music translated to the classroom for Vanselow.
"I love talking about rock and roll because it's what I grew up listening too and I'm a geek so I love all the you know, the stupid urban legends and stuff like that. Playing guitar has been a great thing in my life so sharing that with other people is a great thing too," Vanselow shared.
Being 'Let Go'
Mika Brzezinski learned a valuable lesson after being 'let go' at a high point in her career at CBS on her 39th birthday; she learned how to be a better parent.
Huffington Post- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mika-brzezinski/getting-fired-and-how-it_b_342298.html
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sixth Story: Tape Recorded Transcript With Jason Vanselow
Q: What is your current occupation?
A: Musician and music teacher. A music student as well.
Q: How long have you worked here at Anoka-Ramsey?
A: This is my second full year.
Q: What do you teach here?
A: Here I teach guitar and rock history, and I teach classic guitar at the U of M (twin cities in Minneapolis) and I teach piano at St. Paul Academy in Summit School in St. Paul, and I teach guitar at a little place called Grace Academy over near Round Lake Blvd and Bunker Hills drive.
Q: Approximately how many students do you teach -ballpark?
A: In classrooms I probably teach 175 kids and then I probably have 20-25 for private lessons each week.
Q: What do you like teaching the most?
A: You know, everything has it's challenges, the great thing about what I do is its not the same everyday. So there's a new thing everyday. There's no monotony whatsoever, it never gets boring. And so I love talking about rock and roll because it's what I grew up listening too and I'm a geek so I love all the you know, the stupid urban legends and stuff like that. Playing guitar has been a great thing in my life so sharing that with other people is a great thing too. So everyday is a different ballgame.
Q: Which part of the musical process do you like teaching or instructing the most?
A: The part I've done the most is teaching people when they have not ever picked up a guitar before. That's what I've done the most. I do like that but I do like when people come further in the process so we can talk about how to make it sound better. In the classroom I like having good discussions where people have really good ideas about what's going on, and it's not just me talking 'have been' or talking to them, its a dialogue. It's hard to get to that point sometimes because early in the morning they're not interested. You have to sort of prompt things. I do like it when we get to the point to where we get to talk about stuff.
Q: What do you like least about doing your job in general?
A: Administrative details.
Q: Is there anything involving music you don't like doing as much?
A: No, actually you know music is such a great subject there's so many things to talk about. So there is never...you can't get bored with it.
Q: Where did you attend college?
A: I got my Bachelors degree at the University of St. Thomas. I got a Masters Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music which is in the arm of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and right now I'm studying for my DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) at the U of M.
Q: Why did you choose that school (Cleveland Institute of Music)?
A: I auditioned at a bunch of different places that was the place that I got in and I liked the teacher enough and just decided what the hell; try it.
Q: What is one important lesson you learned in college that you use when teaching others today?
A: Well, everyone learns at their own pace. There are no students that are going to do the same thing in the same way. I mean there are trends and patterns and everything like that but nobody ever learns the same thing; anything the same way. And everybody after a while forgets how to suck and have to remember. It takes a while to get back on the thing and that's..they have to let it go a little bit. So you have to take a step back to take three steps forward.
Q: What instruments do you play?
A: Piano, Guitar and I sing a little bit.
Q: Have you always sung?
A: yes
Q: What is your favorite instrument to play?
A: Its a toss up between guitar and piano. I love them both.
Q: What instruments do you own?
A: I have three guitars that I play on a regular basis. I just moved so I had to give up my piano. That's a drag.
Q: What kind was that (piano)?
A: It was this big non-discript 100 year old upright that never stayed in tune but it was mine. You know?
Q: How long did you have that for (piano)?
A: Five, six years maybe. It was the first place I lived where I was able to have a piano -in my house. So it was hard to give it up.
Q: Which out of your three guitars is your favorite?
A: I have three guitars that I use on a regular basis and they each have their own moment. And I would know if they didn't..I'd get rid of them (laughing). The one that I bring here (Anoka-Ramsey) to teach with, is just set up to play like nothing. The big acoustic I play in concert halls is just a big booming sound which is great fun.
Q: What is your favorite band or some of them?
A: You know right now I'm playing a lot of J. S. Bach so I like Bach and Coldplay's last record is good.
Q: What's your favorite song to play?
A: He wrote (J. S. Bach) a bunch of things for solo violin that are relatively easily put on to guitar. I'm playing some of that right now. I'm really enjoying it.
Q: What's the first song you learned to play?
A: I learned piano from straight from those geeky piano method books. I learned 'Smoke On The Water' on the guitar.
Q: What is your favorite song to play now on the guitar?
A: There is things that I like that I can just go with. If I'm just needling around, 'Sweet Home Alabama' is remarkably easy to play.
Q: Do you teach that song (Sweet Home Alabama) in your class?
A: Sometimes. Depends on the student.
Q: Are you learning to play any new songs right now?
A: Yeah, I actually have a concert Novemeber 18th that I'm learning stuff for right now. The degree that I'm going for is five hour long concerts so the last three years I have learned a concert a year. Which, you know takes six months to a year to learn a new concert for your repituar.
Q: For the guitar?
A: Yeah.
Q: Is that solo?
A: Yes
Q: Do you just go in front of instructors?
A: Well you can invite as many people you can get there and you try and play it all out and you know do the ole play the hole concert five or six different times. It's like going to a orchestral concert with just the guitar.
Q: Do you pick your own song for thoughs (concerts)?
A: Yes.
Q: Recently, what song has been the most difficult for you to learn?
A: Well, right now I've been learning a musical forum. If you had singers singing it, it would take three singers. One singer would sing one part, and you would have to play it all at the same time. So that's challenging.
Q: When your learning to play a song for the first time what's the first thing you do? What's the first thing you concentrate on?
A: The first thing I would do..hopefully I would have heard a recording of it and I sort of know how it goes and sort of listen for what I am feeling rather than just reading it on the page otherwise it's a lot of 'where do my finger go next'? Because a lot of the stuff that I play is not written for guitar originally, so you have to take this piece of music and fit it to the instrument rather than if you play rock music all the stuff that you play on guitar is on guitar, it is written for guitar. So everything has its place. But if you learn stuff from other instruments and you try to put it on it, you have to figure out whats going to work upon that instrument.
Q: About how long would it take you to learn a rock song (on the guitar)?
A: Well depending if we're talking about a U2 song or a Cold Play song -in ten minutes.
Q: Where is your favorite place to play when by yourself?
A: The coach in the living room.
Q: When did you first start playing?
A: I started playing piano when I was four years old and I started playing guitar when I was twelve.
Q: When did you know you wanted to do this and/or do this for a living?
A: I'm still wondering about that. Well, doing it for a living, I always wanted to do it for a living. I never had that 'I don't know what I wanted to do thing in college'. I went into college, and I went to that college to study with the guitar teacher that was there. So I knew kinda where I wanted to go. But the idea of doing it for a living was always sort of tenuous...and that's what I knew how to do.
Q: If music was out of the question, what would you be doing know?
A: I thought about being a lawyer. But that's one of the things I thought about in high school.
Q: Who or what influenced you to start playing the guitar?
A: My parents were musicians and we always had music in the house like Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Crosby Stills and Nash. So there was always a sense of sound in the house.
Q: Have you ever played in any bands?
A: Yes.
Q: What type of music did you guys play?
A: Pop rock. I played in church bands too. I played in wedding bands where you play 'Brown Eyed Girl' and all of the standard cheesy stuff and I played in bands where you played some guy's original material and seven people show up and you just play for rehearsal money basically.
Q: What were some of the names of your bands?
A: Taxi Dancer was a good one, umm that was my favorite name.
Q: What was it like to play in front of people?
A: It can be really, really nerve racking when your up there by yourself and you don't know anyone and there's a lot of people out there. When your with a group of people..when your with a band..or a couple of other guitar players than it is somewhat comfortable and the sound you can make with each other is really amazing.
A: Musician and music teacher. A music student as well.
Q: How long have you worked here at Anoka-Ramsey?
A: This is my second full year.
Q: What do you teach here?
A: Here I teach guitar and rock history, and I teach classic guitar at the U of M (twin cities in Minneapolis) and I teach piano at St. Paul Academy in Summit School in St. Paul, and I teach guitar at a little place called Grace Academy over near Round Lake Blvd and Bunker Hills drive.
Q: Approximately how many students do you teach -ballpark?
A: In classrooms I probably teach 175 kids and then I probably have 20-25 for private lessons each week.
Q: What do you like teaching the most?
A: You know, everything has it's challenges, the great thing about what I do is its not the same everyday. So there's a new thing everyday. There's no monotony whatsoever, it never gets boring. And so I love talking about rock and roll because it's what I grew up listening too and I'm a geek so I love all the you know, the stupid urban legends and stuff like that. Playing guitar has been a great thing in my life so sharing that with other people is a great thing too. So everyday is a different ballgame.
Q: Which part of the musical process do you like teaching or instructing the most?
A: The part I've done the most is teaching people when they have not ever picked up a guitar before. That's what I've done the most. I do like that but I do like when people come further in the process so we can talk about how to make it sound better. In the classroom I like having good discussions where people have really good ideas about what's going on, and it's not just me talking 'have been' or talking to them, its a dialogue. It's hard to get to that point sometimes because early in the morning they're not interested. You have to sort of prompt things. I do like it when we get to the point to where we get to talk about stuff.
Q: What do you like least about doing your job in general?
A: Administrative details.
Q: Is there anything involving music you don't like doing as much?
A: No, actually you know music is such a great subject there's so many things to talk about. So there is never...you can't get bored with it.
Q: Where did you attend college?
A: I got my Bachelors degree at the University of St. Thomas. I got a Masters Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music which is in the arm of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and right now I'm studying for my DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) at the U of M.
Q: Why did you choose that school (Cleveland Institute of Music)?
A: I auditioned at a bunch of different places that was the place that I got in and I liked the teacher enough and just decided what the hell; try it.
Q: What is one important lesson you learned in college that you use when teaching others today?
A: Well, everyone learns at their own pace. There are no students that are going to do the same thing in the same way. I mean there are trends and patterns and everything like that but nobody ever learns the same thing; anything the same way. And everybody after a while forgets how to suck and have to remember. It takes a while to get back on the thing and that's..they have to let it go a little bit. So you have to take a step back to take three steps forward.
Q: What instruments do you play?
A: Piano, Guitar and I sing a little bit.
Q: Have you always sung?
A: yes
Q: What is your favorite instrument to play?
A: Its a toss up between guitar and piano. I love them both.
Q: What instruments do you own?
A: I have three guitars that I play on a regular basis. I just moved so I had to give up my piano. That's a drag.
Q: What kind was that (piano)?
A: It was this big non-discript 100 year old upright that never stayed in tune but it was mine. You know?
Q: How long did you have that for (piano)?
A: Five, six years maybe. It was the first place I lived where I was able to have a piano -in my house. So it was hard to give it up.
Q: Which out of your three guitars is your favorite?
A: I have three guitars that I use on a regular basis and they each have their own moment. And I would know if they didn't..I'd get rid of them (laughing). The one that I bring here (Anoka-Ramsey) to teach with, is just set up to play like nothing. The big acoustic I play in concert halls is just a big booming sound which is great fun.
Q: What is your favorite band or some of them?
A: You know right now I'm playing a lot of J. S. Bach so I like Bach and Coldplay's last record is good.
Q: What's your favorite song to play?
A: He wrote (J. S. Bach) a bunch of things for solo violin that are relatively easily put on to guitar. I'm playing some of that right now. I'm really enjoying it.
Q: What's the first song you learned to play?
A: I learned piano from straight from those geeky piano method books. I learned 'Smoke On The Water' on the guitar.
Q: What is your favorite song to play now on the guitar?
A: There is things that I like that I can just go with. If I'm just needling around, 'Sweet Home Alabama' is remarkably easy to play.
Q: Do you teach that song (Sweet Home Alabama) in your class?
A: Sometimes. Depends on the student.
Q: Are you learning to play any new songs right now?
A: Yeah, I actually have a concert Novemeber 18th that I'm learning stuff for right now. The degree that I'm going for is five hour long concerts so the last three years I have learned a concert a year. Which, you know takes six months to a year to learn a new concert for your repituar.
Q: For the guitar?
A: Yeah.
Q: Is that solo?
A: Yes
Q: Do you just go in front of instructors?
A: Well you can invite as many people you can get there and you try and play it all out and you know do the ole play the hole concert five or six different times. It's like going to a orchestral concert with just the guitar.
Q: Do you pick your own song for thoughs (concerts)?
A: Yes.
Q: Recently, what song has been the most difficult for you to learn?
A: Well, right now I've been learning a musical forum. If you had singers singing it, it would take three singers. One singer would sing one part, and you would have to play it all at the same time. So that's challenging.
Q: When your learning to play a song for the first time what's the first thing you do? What's the first thing you concentrate on?
A: The first thing I would do..hopefully I would have heard a recording of it and I sort of know how it goes and sort of listen for what I am feeling rather than just reading it on the page otherwise it's a lot of 'where do my finger go next'? Because a lot of the stuff that I play is not written for guitar originally, so you have to take this piece of music and fit it to the instrument rather than if you play rock music all the stuff that you play on guitar is on guitar, it is written for guitar. So everything has its place. But if you learn stuff from other instruments and you try to put it on it, you have to figure out whats going to work upon that instrument.
Q: About how long would it take you to learn a rock song (on the guitar)?
A: Well depending if we're talking about a U2 song or a Cold Play song -in ten minutes.
Q: Where is your favorite place to play when by yourself?
A: The coach in the living room.
Q: When did you first start playing?
A: I started playing piano when I was four years old and I started playing guitar when I was twelve.
Q: When did you know you wanted to do this and/or do this for a living?
A: I'm still wondering about that. Well, doing it for a living, I always wanted to do it for a living. I never had that 'I don't know what I wanted to do thing in college'. I went into college, and I went to that college to study with the guitar teacher that was there. So I knew kinda where I wanted to go. But the idea of doing it for a living was always sort of tenuous...and that's what I knew how to do.
Q: If music was out of the question, what would you be doing know?
A: I thought about being a lawyer. But that's one of the things I thought about in high school.
Q: Who or what influenced you to start playing the guitar?
A: My parents were musicians and we always had music in the house like Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Crosby Stills and Nash. So there was always a sense of sound in the house.
Q: Have you ever played in any bands?
A: Yes.
Q: What type of music did you guys play?
A: Pop rock. I played in church bands too. I played in wedding bands where you play 'Brown Eyed Girl' and all of the standard cheesy stuff and I played in bands where you played some guy's original material and seven people show up and you just play for rehearsal money basically.
Q: What were some of the names of your bands?
A: Taxi Dancer was a good one, umm that was my favorite name.
Q: What was it like to play in front of people?
A: It can be really, really nerve racking when your up there by yourself and you don't know anyone and there's a lot of people out there. When your with a group of people..when your with a band..or a couple of other guitar players than it is somewhat comfortable and the sound you can make with each other is really amazing.
Monday, October 26, 2009
World Series Back In New York
The New York Yankees reached the World Series last night by defeating the Anaheim Angels 5-2 in Game 6 of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees are in the big dance for the first time since 2003. New York Post-
http://newyorkpost.com/p/sports/yankees/yankees_clinch_series_return_favored_sTbggCshQB6WhVsKe4uJVJ
Monday, October 19, 2009
Fifth Story: High School Football: Coon Rapids Overpowers Osseo 28-14
The Coon Rapids Cardinals outlasted the Osseo Orioles 28-14 on Thursday evening in a cold, wet and windy Northwest Suburban Conference game.
The Cardinals won for only the second time this season but Head Coach Jon Young feels this win was the biggest of the year thus far and quite possibly one of the most important in his three years coaching at Coon Rapids. After a heart breaker at Park Center last week, Young felt his team came out with high intensity and had great sideline energy throughout the game.
The Coon Rapids defense had just come off a poor outing just five days before in Park Center. In Thursday's game, the defense was able to put their last performance behind them. They were able to stop the Osseo attack when it mattered most putting their own offense in the best position to score.
Besides one good drive from each of these teams, the first half was riddled with stop-and-go football. Both teams committed drive killing penalties along with dropped balls and missed throws.
Osseo (2-4) got things started on their first play from scrimmage. Senior quarterback Travis Kreuter hit his favorite target of the day, six-foot-three-inch junior Jameer Jackson with a short pass which Jackson turned into a big 53 yard gain after the catch to the Coon Rapids five yard line. Kreuter then hit Jackson again on a nice slant to give Osseo a 7-0 lead.
The Coon Rapids (2-4) offense was unable to respond until the second quarter. Senior quarterback Brandon Flippen chucked a long pass to senior wide receiver Brad Eutenuer just inside the Osseo five yard line. On the very next play, Flippen looked the defense off to the right, then he found Eutenuer with a nice throw for six just inside the left pylon to make the score 6-7. The extra point was no good.
In almost the same way they started their first drive, Osseo marched down the field with their first possession of the second half. Kreuter again hit Jackson deep for 52 yards down to the Cardinals' 15 yard line. On the very next play, Kreuter gunned a throw to Junior wide receiver Joey Sonnefeld for a nice 15 yard score to make it 14-6 Osseo.
The Home team wasn't having any of that. Flippen led his team with some short passing eventually leading the Cardinals to the Osseo two yard line. Senior running back Jeremy Oakley plowed through for the touchdown, along with a two-point conversion to tie it up at 14 a piece.
The most impressive play of the game came when Coon Rapids was facing a fourth and thirteen at the Osseo twenty-three yard line. Coach Young called his kicker back after his team called for a time out. Flippen then threw a pass towards the left-corner end zone to a back peddling junior wide receiver Tom Hanson who made a beautiful, over the shoulder catch as he twisted to the ground keeping the football snug to his chest for the score. The successful extra point made it 21-14 in favor of Coon Rapids.
After an Osseo fumble at the Coon Rapids one yard line, the running attack of Jeremy Oakely and sophomore Mo Ward took over. Coon Rapids drove 98 yards with 87 coming from Oakley alone on seven plays. After a nice 30 yard run from Oakley to the Osseo five yard line, Oakley again punched it in for six. This demoralized the tired Osseo team with a 28-14 score with only seconds to play and giving Coon Rapids their biggest win of the season.
New Planets Found
Scientists using the European Southern Observatory telescope found 32 new planets outside our solar system. This brought the total of planets outside our solar system to over 400. Most of these planets are bigger than Jupiter size. Astronomers feel these new findings support the theory that planet formation is common.
Startribune-
http://www.startribune.com/science/64726902.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Obituary
Ken McClish, a student journalist, part-time entrepreneur and father of one, died suddenly at the age of 35.
McClish passed away early Monday morning while on his way to college, his family has said. Apparently, a comet pummeled his car just before reaching his first scheduled class. No one else was injured.
McClish was born in Edina, Minnesota but grew up mostly in near by Mounds View. He was a full-time student at Anoka Ramsey Community College and had planned on attending the University of Minnesota this coming Spring.
The bright father of one, was self-employed and had remodeled hundreds of homes over the past fifteen years. McClish loved adventure and was an outstanding student. He lived for a time in Orange County, California.
The family will receive visitors from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Carlson's Funeral Home, 410 Trig Street in Mounds View, Minnesota. Funeral service is Thursday at 1 p.m. with burial immediately after.
McClish is survived by his son Jordan, his brothers Chris and Corey(Katie), nephew Noah and his parents Bonnie and Brent.
McClish passed away early Monday morning while on his way to college, his family has said. Apparently, a comet pummeled his car just before reaching his first scheduled class. No one else was injured.
McClish was born in Edina, Minnesota but grew up mostly in near by Mounds View. He was a full-time student at Anoka Ramsey Community College and had planned on attending the University of Minnesota this coming Spring.
The bright father of one, was self-employed and had remodeled hundreds of homes over the past fifteen years. McClish loved adventure and was an outstanding student. He lived for a time in Orange County, California.
The family will receive visitors from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Carlson's Funeral Home, 410 Trig Street in Mounds View, Minnesota. Funeral service is Thursday at 1 p.m. with burial immediately after.
McClish is survived by his son Jordan, his brothers Chris and Corey(Katie), nephew Noah and his parents Bonnie and Brent.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Guitar Playing With Heart
Inspiration is something we all use to start new and exciting things in our lives. In Jenna Mernin's case, her love for playing the guitar was inspired by her own brother. Her drive to get better, is inspired by her faith. "My faith is definitely what drives me."
Jenna started playing the guitar at the age of 13. Though her brother "has been playing ever since" she "can remember," she always wanted to be like her older siblings. She looked up to them. "You always want to be like your older siblings, right?"
Jenna recorded a CD in a home studio last spring, but she doesn't imagine herself doing this as a career as of yet. For now, she's "looking more into the Media Communications department for college." Though music is something she loves very much, Jenna doesn't believe it is essential to her happiness.
She continues to practice, but has found a love to play and collaborate with her worship band at her church. "That is probably my favorite thing to do with music; collaborating with others," she says.
Though never a part of choir, band or orchestra at school, Jenna believes the music she plays now enhances her life. This is something she enjoys. It also involves her more with church which is important to her.
For the adults and younger kids that are thinking of taking up this inspiring hobby, Jenna can only speak from experience. "Be patient," she says. "That's all I can really say. It takes so much patience. But once you get past the chord formations and strumming, you can go really far. But, it's those first few essential things that can make someone give up, so be patient."
Jenna started playing the guitar at the age of 13. Though her brother "has been playing ever since" she "can remember," she always wanted to be like her older siblings. She looked up to them. "You always want to be like your older siblings, right?"
Jenna recorded a CD in a home studio last spring, but she doesn't imagine herself doing this as a career as of yet. For now, she's "looking more into the Media Communications department for college." Though music is something she loves very much, Jenna doesn't believe it is essential to her happiness.
She continues to practice, but has found a love to play and collaborate with her worship band at her church. "That is probably my favorite thing to do with music; collaborating with others," she says.
Though never a part of choir, band or orchestra at school, Jenna believes the music she plays now enhances her life. This is something she enjoys. It also involves her more with church which is important to her.
For the adults and younger kids that are thinking of taking up this inspiring hobby, Jenna can only speak from experience. "Be patient," she says. "That's all I can really say. It takes so much patience. But once you get past the chord formations and strumming, you can go really far. But, it's those first few essential things that can make someone give up, so be patient."
Sunday, October 11, 2009
'Fearless Tour' Takes Target Center.
Minneapolis - Country/pop star Taylor Swift swept into Target Center Sunday evening for the last show of her first headlining tour. The 15,000 fans in the packed arena were treated not only with her award winning hits, but also a few good natured pranks among Swift and her two opening acts; Gloriana and Kellie Pickler.
-Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/63976557.html?page=1&c=y
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Interview Transcript With Lucina Mendez
Romance Novels
Q: Who are the four authors you keep up with now?
A: The four romance authors I keep up with (read all there books) gets a little tricky, as one author writes under several names. So number one is;
1.Janie Ann Krentz, Amanda Quick, Jayne Castle, and Stephaine James. She writes contemporary romances (takes places in the last 30 yrs (or so), historical romances, and sci-fi romances, all of which I read.
2. Nora Roberts
3. Julia Quinn
4. Janet Evanovich
Q: What do you like about these particular authors?
A: I like books that are funny. Some novelist I mentioned tends to have an element of comedy in their books, or their heroines are women I can identify with. They also tend to be fast paced and have many surprises and are also informative, without trying to be.
Q: What was the first romance novel you ever read called?
A: Wander Lust by Danielle Steele. This is amazing that I remember this because I've read thousands; also I was 13yrs old when I read my first. You never forget that first book that grabs you. My mother was complaining at the time because she was handing me money left and right to buy baby- sitter club books, which by that time were taking me about 15 minutes to read. She grabbed a book off her shelf and told me "This will take you a while." and I was hooked.
Q: When did you read your first romance novel?
A:(See above)
Q: What was this first romance novel about?
A: The first novel I ever read was about a woman who was orphaned at age 13, and went to live with her grandfather who is sickly. Even though she was very young she ends up taking care of them. She finally gets the guts up to travel the world like she has always wanted, but them she has to deal with world war one, and all sorts of drama with her lover. It was awesome.
Q: What are the titles of some of your favorite romance novels?
A: Rendezvous- Amanda Quick Scandalous- Amanda Quick
Table for two- Nora Roberts Romancing Mr. Bridgerton - Julia Quinn
Q: What did you like about these favorites?
A: Scandalous is a book about a women fossil collector living a small town in England during the turn of the 18th century, who falls in love with a man with a scarred face and dark past, I liked it be cause the female character was mentally and physically very strong in an age when women weren't supposed to be.
The thing that all of these books have in common is a very smart female lead, who is devoted to her craft, but still very good people. I like these books because I strive to be like those women, I guess.
Q: Who were these stories about?
A: The main characters of all these books were smart women, who are successful in their field.
Q: Where did some of these stories take place?
A: All take place in England (which many historical romance novels take place in) except the Nora Roberts one that takes place in New York.
Q: Where do you like reading these novels?
A: Wherever I can, but mostly in a rocking chair I keep in my room for just that purpose.
Q: What do you like most about romance novels?
A:The adventure aspect. Think Indiana Jones.
Q: What made you start reading romance novels?
A:They are more fun than other genres. Most have morale, and a happy ending. When I am entertaining myself, I like to have fun. I've read some weightier stuff, and enjoy it, but for a quick read the romance is the way to go.
Q: How long does it take you to finish one of these novels?
A: I read about 80 pgs and hour and most books are about 3-5 hundred pages.
Q: What novel are you reading now?
A: I just got done reading Dan Browns latest book The Lost symbol. This is not a romance novel, but it might as well b, because he always involves an attractive, smart heroine who helps him solve the crime in the Robert Langdon series, also the author always suggests a possible something going on between characters. He just refrains from telling you when, and how they consummated their friendship which is why romance novels are superior, as they describe them in detail.
Q: What other type of books do like to read?
A: I read a lot of biographies, autobiographies, and non-fiction stuff about religion and the occult, but I judge by author not by genre, since they often overlap. Some other favorite authors of mine are:
Dan Brown
Carl Sagan
Terry Goodkind
John Grisham
J.K Rowlings
J.D Robbs (who is also Nora Roberts)
Jane Austin
Emily Bronte
I could literally go on forever, there are hundreds.
Q: Who are the four authors you keep up with now?
A: The four romance authors I keep up with (read all there books) gets a little tricky, as one author writes under several names. So number one is;
1.Janie Ann Krentz, Amanda Quick, Jayne Castle, and Stephaine James. She writes contemporary romances (takes places in the last 30 yrs (or so), historical romances, and sci-fi romances, all of which I read.
2. Nora Roberts
3. Julia Quinn
4. Janet Evanovich
Q: What do you like about these particular authors?
A: I like books that are funny. Some novelist I mentioned tends to have an element of comedy in their books, or their heroines are women I can identify with. They also tend to be fast paced and have many surprises and are also informative, without trying to be.
Q: What was the first romance novel you ever read called?
A: Wander Lust by Danielle Steele. This is amazing that I remember this because I've read thousands; also I was 13yrs old when I read my first. You never forget that first book that grabs you. My mother was complaining at the time because she was handing me money left and right to buy baby- sitter club books, which by that time were taking me about 15 minutes to read. She grabbed a book off her shelf and told me "This will take you a while." and I was hooked.
Q: When did you read your first romance novel?
A:(See above)
Q: What was this first romance novel about?
A: The first novel I ever read was about a woman who was orphaned at age 13, and went to live with her grandfather who is sickly. Even though she was very young she ends up taking care of them. She finally gets the guts up to travel the world like she has always wanted, but them she has to deal with world war one, and all sorts of drama with her lover. It was awesome.
Q: What are the titles of some of your favorite romance novels?
A: Rendezvous- Amanda Quick Scandalous- Amanda Quick
Table for two- Nora Roberts Romancing Mr. Bridgerton - Julia Quinn
Q: What did you like about these favorites?
A: Scandalous is a book about a women fossil collector living a small town in England during the turn of the 18th century, who falls in love with a man with a scarred face and dark past, I liked it be cause the female character was mentally and physically very strong in an age when women weren't supposed to be.
The thing that all of these books have in common is a very smart female lead, who is devoted to her craft, but still very good people. I like these books because I strive to be like those women, I guess.
Q: Who were these stories about?
A: The main characters of all these books were smart women, who are successful in their field.
Q: Where did some of these stories take place?
A: All take place in England (which many historical romance novels take place in) except the Nora Roberts one that takes place in New York.
Q: Where do you like reading these novels?
A: Wherever I can, but mostly in a rocking chair I keep in my room for just that purpose.
Q: What do you like most about romance novels?
A:The adventure aspect. Think Indiana Jones.
Q: What made you start reading romance novels?
A:They are more fun than other genres. Most have morale, and a happy ending. When I am entertaining myself, I like to have fun. I've read some weightier stuff, and enjoy it, but for a quick read the romance is the way to go.
Q: How long does it take you to finish one of these novels?
A: I read about 80 pgs and hour and most books are about 3-5 hundred pages.
Q: What novel are you reading now?
A: I just got done reading Dan Browns latest book The Lost symbol. This is not a romance novel, but it might as well b, because he always involves an attractive, smart heroine who helps him solve the crime in the Robert Langdon series, also the author always suggests a possible something going on between characters. He just refrains from telling you when, and how they consummated their friendship which is why romance novels are superior, as they describe them in detail.
Q: What other type of books do like to read?
A: I read a lot of biographies, autobiographies, and non-fiction stuff about religion and the occult, but I judge by author not by genre, since they often overlap. Some other favorite authors of mine are:
Dan Brown
Carl Sagan
Terry Goodkind
John Grisham
J.K Rowlings
J.D Robbs (who is also Nora Roberts)
Jane Austin
Emily Bronte
I could literally go on forever, there are hundreds.
Monday, October 5, 2009
North Point Inn Murder
A bookkeeper at the North Point Inn was just doing her job when she was robbed at knife point. She soon found a fellow employee of hers murdered not far from her office.
At around 9 a.m., Nina Cortez, a bookkeeper at the North Point Inn for seven years, was starting her normal workday on this fateful morning. She first chatted with Kevin Blohm, one of the cooks but also her boss and walked with him to a nearby corridor. This was the last time anyone had seen Blohm alive.
Not long after, Cortez started her normal count of the previous night's receipts at her desk. Only a few minutes later, "a man came around the corner, carrying a knife," she said. Startled, Cortez screamed and kicked before falling to the floor. The assailant reached across her desk and left her office with $130 dollars. Cortez was not harmed.
A few minutes later the police arrived. "I went into the hallway with the police and saw the blood on a door in the reception area," she said. "It was awful. There was blood on the walls and floor."
Cortez believes the assailant is in his early 20s and between 5 feet 10 and 6 feet tall with a medium build. She added that the suspect had on "blue jeans, a blue plaid shirt and blue tennis shoes" with a floral scarf, "tied around the lower part of his face, cowboy style."
At around 9 a.m., Nina Cortez, a bookkeeper at the North Point Inn for seven years, was starting her normal workday on this fateful morning. She first chatted with Kevin Blohm, one of the cooks but also her boss and walked with him to a nearby corridor. This was the last time anyone had seen Blohm alive.
Not long after, Cortez started her normal count of the previous night's receipts at her desk. Only a few minutes later, "a man came around the corner, carrying a knife," she said. Startled, Cortez screamed and kicked before falling to the floor. The assailant reached across her desk and left her office with $130 dollars. Cortez was not harmed.
A few minutes later the police arrived. "I went into the hallway with the police and saw the blood on a door in the reception area," she said. "It was awful. There was blood on the walls and floor."
Cortez believes the assailant is in his early 20s and between 5 feet 10 and 6 feet tall with a medium build. She added that the suspect had on "blue jeans, a blue plaid shirt and blue tennis shoes" with a floral scarf, "tied around the lower part of his face, cowboy style."
Insurance Giant Cutting Employee's Benefits
WellPoint health insurance company has cut its employee's health insurance after having them lobby against health care reform. The insurance giant has blamed the recession for the cut backs. "Like many employers in today's economic environment, we are looking at all aspects of our business," wrote Chief Human Resources Officer Randy Brown.
According to Consumer Watchdog, WellPoint illegally pressured California employees this summer to fight health care reform. The proposals would hurt the company by "causing tens of millions of Americans to lose their private coverage and end up in a government-run plan," wrote the company's Anthem Blue Cross unit in a company e-mail.
According to Consumer Watchdog, WellPoint illegally pressured California employees this summer to fight health care reform. The proposals would hurt the company by "causing tens of millions of Americans to lose their private coverage and end up in a government-run plan," wrote the company's Anthem Blue Cross unit in a company e-mail.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
My Earliest Memory
My earliest memory was watching the rain soaked field underneath a sheet of clear plastic being lightly pelted by raindrops. We were wondering when the rain would end so the Twins game could start. I must have been only a few years old at the time.
This was at the old Met Stadium. I don't remember much about that day, but I do remember the Twins having those blue and red looking dairy queen uniforms. It's always fun remembering things like that. Every now and then that memory pops in my head.
This was at the old Met Stadium. I don't remember much about that day, but I do remember the Twins having those blue and red looking dairy queen uniforms. It's always fun remembering things like that. Every now and then that memory pops in my head.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Commissioners Vote 5-2 Against More Funding
Commissioners struck down a $580,000 request from the local sheriff department.
Sheriff Gus Dicesari, with the support of commissioners Anita Shenuski and Raymond Laybourne, petitioned the county for eight new police cruisers and five additional deputies.
Dicesari feels these vehicles, with more than 150,000 miles on each of them, are unsafe and undependable. "It is getting too costly to maintain the older vehicles and they spend too much time in the repair shop. My deputies can’t keep driving these old vehicles. Something bad is going to happen”, he said.
Commission President Anne Chenn with the support of fellow commissioners Valerie Dawkins, Faith Ellis, Jose Gardoz and Roland Grauman are opposed to the sheriff's request. Chenn believes the county has no money left for funding. According to Chenn, the county has already reached its $127 million budget for the year. She feels that increased costs of employer health care, fuel and $30 million for a new prison contributed to the money shortfall.
Shenuski and Laybourne believe the overall shortage in funds has to do with the migrant workers who come to the county to work. "They are a problem for law enforcement, our schools and our health care system," Shenuski said. "We need to protect local residents from them." Chenn couldn't disagree more. "Those people who come here to work are descent, hardworking people," she said. "They add a great deal to the local economy and they pay taxes."
The commissioners estimate that there are around 5,000 migrant families now in the county working in agricultural, construction and service industry jobs.
Dicesari believes the commissioners are “shortchanging” the sheriff’s department to save money. “This is the first time in my 27 years as sheriff that the county hasn’t allocated money to the sheriff’s department to buy equipment,” he said. Despite Dicesari's complaints, commissioners voted 5-2 against his request.
Sheriff Gus Dicesari, with the support of commissioners Anita Shenuski and Raymond Laybourne, petitioned the county for eight new police cruisers and five additional deputies.
Dicesari feels these vehicles, with more than 150,000 miles on each of them, are unsafe and undependable. "It is getting too costly to maintain the older vehicles and they spend too much time in the repair shop. My deputies can’t keep driving these old vehicles. Something bad is going to happen”, he said.
Commission President Anne Chenn with the support of fellow commissioners Valerie Dawkins, Faith Ellis, Jose Gardoz and Roland Grauman are opposed to the sheriff's request. Chenn believes the county has no money left for funding. According to Chenn, the county has already reached its $127 million budget for the year. She feels that increased costs of employer health care, fuel and $30 million for a new prison contributed to the money shortfall.
Shenuski and Laybourne believe the overall shortage in funds has to do with the migrant workers who come to the county to work. "They are a problem for law enforcement, our schools and our health care system," Shenuski said. "We need to protect local residents from them." Chenn couldn't disagree more. "Those people who come here to work are descent, hardworking people," she said. "They add a great deal to the local economy and they pay taxes."
The commissioners estimate that there are around 5,000 migrant families now in the county working in agricultural, construction and service industry jobs.
Dicesari believes the commissioners are “shortchanging” the sheriff’s department to save money. “This is the first time in my 27 years as sheriff that the county hasn’t allocated money to the sheriff’s department to buy equipment,” he said. Despite Dicesari's complaints, commissioners voted 5-2 against his request.
Favre's Magic Act
This quarterback legend reminded all of us first hand how his magic works by completing a 32 yard laser for a touchdown and an improbable victory for the Minnesota Vikings with two seconds left on the clock.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
My First Day at ARCC
My first day here was almost two years ago. I had just transferred from NHCC at the time so I wasn't very nervous. It was nice because I live near campus so there wasn't much of a rush for me to get to school early in the morning. My first classes that day were English, math, geography and weight room. It went pretty smoothly.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Favre Setting a New NFL Record
After setting an NFL record for the most consecutive games started, Brett Favre threw for two touchdowns and 155 yards while leading the Minnesota Vikings to a victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Crash on Interstate 790
A collision this morning on Interstate 790 killed two people while injuring twenty, four of them seriously according to Sgt. Albert Wei of the police department. An investigation is ongoing.
At around 6:45 a.m. two tractor trailers collided which started a chain reaction among the morning rush hour. Fire Chief Tony Sullivan said that three of the cars involved in the pile up had their roofs cut off to free the trapped drivers and passengers. Two of the worst victims were flown out by the "Life Flight" helicopter.
The interstate was still closed at the deadline of this story. Officials aren't sure when it will be re-opened.
At around 6:45 a.m. two tractor trailers collided which started a chain reaction among the morning rush hour. Fire Chief Tony Sullivan said that three of the cars involved in the pile up had their roofs cut off to free the trapped drivers and passengers. Two of the worst victims were flown out by the "Life Flight" helicopter.
The interstate was still closed at the deadline of this story. Officials aren't sure when it will be re-opened.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Kanye West
Kanye West stole a precious moment from a young Taylor Swift the other night when excepting her first VMA award. Our president chimed in with his thoughts today with an off the record quote in calling Kanye a "jackass" for his actions the other night.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Restaurant
The last restaurant I visited was a crowded Buffalo Wild Wings. I went there for happy hour the other week with a friend of mine. The place was loud and all of the big flat television screens had the event of the moment glaring back to us in their high definition pictures. I didn't eat anything this time. I had a few cold foamy beers in a large chilled glass container my server had given me. My friend on the other hand, had a few hot tasting quesadillas which I had to try out. Good times.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Dos and Don'ts of Leads
I've learned that a lead should stress the unusual. Leads also should be concise. This helps keep the reader interested and wanting to read on. Using strong, active verbs helps in doing this.
There are many ways you don't want to write a lead. Exaggeration and not stating the obvious are a few that I've learned thus far. Stating the obvious makes the story ineffective. It makes the reader feel like they've read similar stories before. Exaggerating the lead makes your story weaker.
There are many ways you don't want to write a lead. Exaggeration and not stating the obvious are a few that I've learned thus far. Stating the obvious makes the story ineffective. It makes the reader feel like they've read similar stories before. Exaggerating the lead makes your story weaker.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Mysterious Looking Orange Thing
Something has been lurking underneath some Minnesota lakes.
Kyle Edlund began this project of his nearly three years ago when searching the popular sight Craigslist. This structure of Edlund's is a silent, deep navigating, garage built miniature of a submarine. This is something Edlund considers the "coolest thing in the world".
Twincities.com: http://www.twincities.com/ci_13226364
Kyle Edlund began this project of his nearly three years ago when searching the popular sight Craigslist. This structure of Edlund's is a silent, deep navigating, garage built miniature of a submarine. This is something Edlund considers the "coolest thing in the world".
Twincities.com: http://www.twincities.com/ci_13226364
Friday, August 28, 2009
My Top Three News Experiences
I had to think about this some, but it's definitely a good question. I'll give it my best shot.
In the early morning a few years back (Actually, it was quite a few years back. I must have been in elementary school at the time.) I was totally asleep when something shook the house that woke up my two brothers along with my mom and step dad. I was the only one that it didn't wake. There was very few things that would've woken me up during that time. But my step dad Bob woke me up by shouting, "wake up Kenny, there's a fire." Of course the word 'fire' would wake anyone up. It scared the crap out of me at first not knowing if it was our own house that was a blaze. I threw on some clothes, ran upstairs and took a look out our living room window. I saw flames shooting over the trees directly across the street. It turned out that a gas pipeline that ran along the road on the very next block had exploded. A fireman or police officer kicked us out of our home for safety reasons not long before Bob had scared me half to death. I think a mother and one of her kids had died that day because they went out their front door instead of out the back door where the father and their other kid had went and lived. Sad.
After finishing my first noteworthy experience, I looked the story up and found this link from the Star Tribune;
http://www.startribune.com/local/12564991.html?location_refer=Bios
The next one that comes to mind is the September 11th terrorist attacks. I think everybody remembers that day in their own way. I was at home working on bills to get paid for the month (I had a business and worked as a sub-contractor at the time). I had the radio on when I heard them talking about a plane crashing into a skyscraper in New York City. I think most of you know the rest of that story. What was really creepy at that time, was when I went to work a few hours after that. I had a job to do near the airport, and seeing that there was no planes going in out out of there was definitely a weird experience.
My last experience that stands out to me was us invading Iraq the second time. Not necessarily as to why we did, but watching it all unfold on cable television was interesting. The way they covered it was like it was almost a video game of some sort. I'm curious if the Iraqi Army was watching us coming for them on live television. I think that time really showed what today's 24 hour news cycle is all about.
In the early morning a few years back (Actually, it was quite a few years back. I must have been in elementary school at the time.) I was totally asleep when something shook the house that woke up my two brothers along with my mom and step dad. I was the only one that it didn't wake. There was very few things that would've woken me up during that time. But my step dad Bob woke me up by shouting, "wake up Kenny, there's a fire." Of course the word 'fire' would wake anyone up. It scared the crap out of me at first not knowing if it was our own house that was a blaze. I threw on some clothes, ran upstairs and took a look out our living room window. I saw flames shooting over the trees directly across the street. It turned out that a gas pipeline that ran along the road on the very next block had exploded. A fireman or police officer kicked us out of our home for safety reasons not long before Bob had scared me half to death. I think a mother and one of her kids had died that day because they went out their front door instead of out the back door where the father and their other kid had went and lived. Sad.
After finishing my first noteworthy experience, I looked the story up and found this link from the Star Tribune;
http://www.startribune.com/local/12564991.html?location_refer=Bios
The next one that comes to mind is the September 11th terrorist attacks. I think everybody remembers that day in their own way. I was at home working on bills to get paid for the month (I had a business and worked as a sub-contractor at the time). I had the radio on when I heard them talking about a plane crashing into a skyscraper in New York City. I think most of you know the rest of that story. What was really creepy at that time, was when I went to work a few hours after that. I had a job to do near the airport, and seeing that there was no planes going in out out of there was definitely a weird experience.
My last experience that stands out to me was us invading Iraq the second time. Not necessarily as to why we did, but watching it all unfold on cable television was interesting. The way they covered it was like it was almost a video game of some sort. I'm curious if the Iraqi Army was watching us coming for them on live television. I think that time really showed what today's 24 hour news cycle is all about.
Introduction
Hey everyone!
My name's Ken McClish and this is my first time taking a course like this. So I am excited to see how this goes.
I am currently taking other classes here at Anoka-Ramsey as well. This is my last semester here before receiving my AA degree. I'm leaning towards attending the U of M this coming spring and possibly majoring in English with a minor in journalism.
I'm a full time dad to one son, so I do have a pretty tight schedule. I was a sub-contractor for quite a few years in the area of remodeling and maintenance. However I've been slowly getting out of that area as I started taking more classes at college.
I'm pretty athletic so besides work and school, I love to play sports or just about anything that's competitive. I was never a big reader of books or anything online until just a few years ago. English and communicating through words were never my strong points, so I'm hoping this course will help me become better in several areas.
Good luck to everyone!
My name's Ken McClish and this is my first time taking a course like this. So I am excited to see how this goes.
I am currently taking other classes here at Anoka-Ramsey as well. This is my last semester here before receiving my AA degree. I'm leaning towards attending the U of M this coming spring and possibly majoring in English with a minor in journalism.
I'm a full time dad to one son, so I do have a pretty tight schedule. I was a sub-contractor for quite a few years in the area of remodeling and maintenance. However I've been slowly getting out of that area as I started taking more classes at college.
I'm pretty athletic so besides work and school, I love to play sports or just about anything that's competitive. I was never a big reader of books or anything online until just a few years ago. English and communicating through words were never my strong points, so I'm hoping this course will help me become better in several areas.
Good luck to everyone!
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