IMHO #2

Kobe vs LeBron

The NBA playoffs are now under way and it is time for the true stars to shine. Playoff time is when champions are made, when we separate the men from the boys and when we truly see who is the best of the best. Ever since Michael Jordan retired, the game has been looking for someone to carry the torch. When Kobe Bryant entered the league, the NBA found their new star. He had his time to shine for the first ten or so years of his career, but now a new king is ready to take the throne. LeBron James has taken the NBA by storm at an age that few people would believe possible to do so. An incredible athlete and person, LeBron has brought the game exactly what it needs -- class, dignity, and most importantly -- star power.

So now we have two world class basketball players and super stars, but the question I have is very simple. Who is the better player. My answer is also simple. LeBron James. Few have dared to crown LeBron James the real king of the NBA at such a young age. Considering that he is just 24 years old, he has not yet won a championship, while Kobe has won three, although I do see LeBron surpassing that number by the time his career is done. But let's get to the basics. At this point in his career, LeBron is already the total package as a player. He has the body of a god, is an excellent leader and floor general, is one of the strongest and fastest players in the league, can score with the best, pass with the best, and beat the best. While Kobe Bryant is no scrub by any means, he is just not the complete player that LeBron is. Kobe can score like nobody else. But when Kobe is double-teamed, he does not have the same ability to pass out of it that LeBron does.

So when you look at their current stats this year -- LeBron being 24-years-old and Kobe being a savvy veteran at age 30 -- LeBron's numbers are just about better across the board. Averaging just about 2 more points per game, 2 more rebounds per game, and two more assists per game, LeBron has shown his ability to be the complete player. Only time will tell who will cement their legacy more firmly into NBA history. The good thing is, both Kobe and Lebron's teams have the two best players playing on the two best teams in the league. This could mean great ratings come NBA Finals time. Thank god for the playoffs.

Source:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=GreatDebate-090518

Japanese Internment Memorial Essay

What A Shame

On December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan and WWII was underway. This was not the only thing about to begin. About 120,000 people of Japanese descent would be viciously treated and forced into internment camps, where most would stay for years and many would die. To the U.S. Government, it did not matter whether or not these people were from America or not. If you looked somewhat Japanese, that was enough to get you thrown into the camps.

Today there stands a memorial on the corner of 2nd Street and San Carlos, remembering all those who were wrongfully accused, held, and killed. Ruth Asawa -- an internee herself, sculpted various vignettes along a wall, giving viewers a chance to see what real, intense, emotional and painful moments occurred during that time. There are many pictures and various pieces of art in the building. The memorial is split into various sections, with each one adding something special to Asawa. Whether it be the Japanese arriving in the United States or Asawa herself being forced to live in horse stalls, each section brought out many emotions inside of me.

During this time, many of the Japanese were living in Northern California and San Jose. In fact, SJSU was a place where the Japanese would register before being sent off to the camps. For this reason, SJSU played a pretty important role during this time of evil.

One piece that stood out to me was entitled "Hysteria of War". I thought that this vignette painted a perfect picture of the stupidity and evil that went on some time ago. The vignette showed exactly what it was titled, hysteria. I could only imagine the stress, anxiety, and depression that many of these Japanese families had to go through. Not only did they have to worry about the simples things like food and shelter, they had to always be wondering if they would be separated from their family, or how long they would have to stay in the camp, or worst of all, they had to wonder if they would make it to the next day. This vignette really struck a chord with me. It angered me that America could be so ignorant just a few decades ago.

Another vignette that really got me was a man being pulled away by the F.B.I. I don't know why, but this one really made me think about my own family. The authorities who pulled these men away from their families had absolutely no respect or remorse. I'm sure they did not tell the Japanese why they were there or where they would be going. If I were a child and some strange men took my father away, I would be absolutely devastated. I could only imagine what it must have been like for the children and wives of these men who were torn away from everything they knew. It does not seem like the justice system was used back then. Apparently racial profiling and breaking laws did not matter back then. Just imagine if today, post Sept. 11, our government rounded up thousands of people who simply looked Middle Eastern. This would be a complete crime and outrage. I am glad to see that our country as a whole has made strides forward since the time of WWII.

What happened to the people of Japanese descent just after the bombing of WWII makes me -- for a moment -- embarrassed to call myself an American. I wish I could visit every Japanese family who were effected by all of this and apologize to everyone of them on behalf of my ignorant country.

Similies and Metaphors (Revised)

Simile:

He walked a steady pace, getting his evening workout in while still taking time to enjoy the beautiful scenery around him. Amidst the small grass area in front of him laid a tired, beat up Doberman -- stray and staring into the man's eyes. To his surprise, the dog jumped on him -- licking the man up and down and begging to be pet. The man smiled and breathed a sigh of relief, as if the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders.

Metaphor:

The slugger stood up to bat. To an onlooker, the boy stood in his backyard. To the boy, he stood in Yankee Stadium -- batting with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning. The pitch came and the boy crushed one over the fence. Crash! The ball shattered through his neighbor's window. The boy stood in fear as the angry old lady came storming out of the house.

Journal #6 Fish out of Water

For this assignment I wanted to do something a little bit different than writing about an event I attended. After reading the directions, I realized that this would be a perfect opportunity to talk about my experience taking the course African American Studies 2A and 2B at SJSU. This course was taught by two extraordinary teachers as well as human beings -- Dr. Steven Millner as well as Dr. Ruth Wilson. I was not very hesitant when deciding to take this course because I needed a history course and I wanted to find out a little more about the African American culture. When I walked into the class for 2A I realized that I was of the few Caucasian people in the class. It was primarily African Americans. Because the course was about the history of African Americans and the terrible things they had to go through, I naturally felt a little out of place after the first day. Little did I know that this course would turn out to be the best class I had ever taken.

It only took me about a week to settle in to the class and feel very comfortable on a daily basis. The first semester I took 2A, which examined the early history of African Americans during the slave era. After listening to Dr. Millner and Dr. Wilson give daily lectures I learned for the first time how important a caring professor could be. The way those two teachers were able to convey such passion and knowledge about their culture's history and still help us students follow along inspired me in a way that I had never felt before.

Midway through my first semester taking the course, I began to develop a good relationship with Dr. Millner and he would often find humor at my ability to blush when called upon. I seemed to grow on him and become one of his favorite students. Although the work was difficult, it was okay because I was enjoying being in the class and learning new things. It meant a lot to Dr. Millner that I stayed in the course -- not only for the first semester, but I came back for the second semester as well.

After returning for my second semester of the course, 2B, I walked in the first day of class as I had done before. This time was different. I still was one of two Caucasian males in the class, but I now knew that I had nothing to be nervous about. Throughout the semester I felt more like a veteran, having taken the similar course the semester prior. This course was about more recent history -- discussing things like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X, along with the Watts riots and so on. When I walked out of the final on my last day of class, I shook Dr. Millner's hand and thanked him for an amazing year. I told him what a huge impact he had on me and he told me how much he enjoyed me being in his class. Who would have thought, the one class I was most nervous about day 1 was the class that I felt most comfortable in. Go figure.

Journal #5 - Drinking Coffee Elsewhere

In my opinion, Z.Z. Packer is a brilliant writer. It takes a very talented writer to write the way she does -- so sarcastic, blunt, in your face, and brash -- all while still being able to beautifully articulate her sense of place an atmosphere. Packer has a very distinct writing style. She does a great job using quotations and dialogue.

After really trying to focus on the more subtle parts of Packer's writing style, it seemed to me that she is able to make is exactly as if the reader were in the scene. She executes this style well -- pausing at various points in her stories or commentary to take the reader off in some other direction or thought. I believe that is her way of really putting the reader in the story. Packer is also not shy in her use of..... well.... lets say verbs. Some people may feel this style of writing is too in your face or up-front, but I think that is exactly what Packer is looking for. Packer is not afraid to curse or use slang in her stories. This brings a real authentic feel to them.

I think that all in all, Packer uses her different styles for one main reason -- to get the reader more involved in the story. Whether she be using similes and metaphors, sarcasm, or quotes, it is all done in order to give the story authenticity. Packer throws in whatever words will make the story flow in a very distinct way. It is almost as if she is poetic in her speech. When she does things like compare the Dean lighting his lighter to a detective, it allows the reader to see and feel the specifics of what went on.

Midterm

I read two articles with variances in their story-telling, but very similar in their content. The two articles that I read were, "The Associated Press Is Angry at the Web", by Rob Pegoraro and "Kachingle: "Wait until the summer; we'll save journalism then", by Mark 'Rizzn' Hopkins.

After reading the two articles, I realized that I strongly agreed with what both of them had to say. The first article, written by Rob Pegoraro discusses why the print media (in particular the AP) is so pissed off at the ever growing phenomenon that is "online journalism" as I like to call it. Pegoraro discusses the various reactions to Associated Press chairmen Dean Singleton. Singleton was very angry in speech, saying, " We can no longer stand by and watch others walk off with our work under misguided legal theories. We are mad as hell, and we are not going to take it any more." Singleton is angry at Internet sites that both copy and paste entire news articles taken from the AP and also at sites that merely takes bits of information to use in their news stories. Throughout the article it becomes clear that Singleton is one of many print journalist members who are very, lets say displeased to see that print journalism is dying.
The second article I read, written by Mark Hopkins, is similar in the sense that it also conveys the anger that print media has towards the web. In the article, Hopkins discusses the idea of a start up company called Kachingle that " functions just like an ad network for bloggers, but instead it’s a communal donation network." He feels that could have been a solution to the dying print business IF it would have been done sooner, which it was not. Hopkins goes on to talk about how all the solutions that the Old Media have are " either self destructive or unavailable". Saying " they'd literally rather die than adapt."

At what may be one of the toughest times in the history of journalism to get a job, I will be honest, I am terrified. As a junior Broadcast Journalism major, I am having to realize -- whether I like it or not -- that the entire business that I am trying to work my way into is in decline. Now I know that broadcast is not being threatened with its demise, like print is, but who is to say that I would not want a job in print as well as many of my fellow classmates. All of this being said, I understand that things are changing. Why can't the rest of the bitter print media understand as well. All I ever hear from print journalists is how angry they are at every web page and blog they see. Get over it already. Since the beginning of time things have evolved. That's how the world works. We are at a point now that is tough, no doubt. But the thing that really bugs me is that the print world blames the bloggers and the web sites. It isn't their fault. If anything it is the fault of the newspapers who refused to change when they saw this new movement coming years ago.

I was listening to one of my favorite sports talk radio stations, ESPN radio. The host had previously written for a prestigious newspaper. Although the topic was sports writing, I feel it definitely applies to this topic. The host brought up a really good point. He said that reporters in print, including himself, should not be angry at the online media or digital world, but rather they should be angry at themselves -- for being lazy, stubborn, and arrogant. One example he explained was the idea of college basketball teams recruiting high school kids and how the print reporters at every newspaper who he talked to felt it was "beneath them" to cover petty high school kids. It turned out, covering petty high school kids made the online media over $100 million. This is why print reporters must lose their egos and think of a real plan.

There is no doubt that the changes currently occurring are scary, new, and intimidating but it is also a time to be open minded and realize that many new opportunities are opening up. I could take the approach of simply giving up -- realizing that I have no chance to get a job and try to get out of the field as quickly as I can. Or, I could take the approach of continuing to do what I love to do regardless of the times we are in. In the end, the most important thing to me is being able to be a journalist. Period. I choose to not worry about the adjective that comes before it.

Sources:

1. "Kachingle: "Wait until the Summer; we'll save journalism by then" By Mark 'Rizzn' Hopkins

2. " The Associated Press Is Angry At The Web" By Rob Pegeraro.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2009/04/the_associated_press_is_angry.html

IMHO #1

Once in a great while I come upon a story that makes me want to kill someone. Recently, this was exactly the case. After reading an article that my girlfriend stumbled upon and decided to show me, I literally wanted to jump up, find the man whom the article refers to, and simply end his life. Of course I did not do this -- one reason is because the man lives in Poland and the second reason is that I do not want to spend time in prison.

The story that I am referring to is about a man who was recently arrested in Poland and accused of holding his daughter captive for six years -- repeatedly raping and abusing her, forcing her to give birth to two children. The police caught the man at a train station where he was allegedly trying to escape abroad. The investigation began when the 21-year-old daughter of the man approached police with her mother and began talking with the policewomen about her incredibly horrid ordeal. Amongst other things, the daughter says that she was raped, beaten, and kept as a slave in the basement of his home.

Much of this case is still unknown such as whether or not the mother had any knowing of what was going on or how the daughter managed to escape.

When I first heard this story, my blood simply boiled. How could any human being possibly be so sadistic, crude, evil, disgusting, impassioned, and down right sick? Sadly this is not the first time I have heard of something like this. There was a similar case to this one which happened not too long ago. Another man -- Joseph Fritzi is accused of holding his daughter captive for over 24 years and fathering six children incestuously.

How many times do we have to hear the same stories before something is done about this. How could not one person have known what was going on. Maybe I am being naive to think that this could have been prevented, but my heart breaks every time I think about what these poor girls must have had to go through and the awful memories I'm sure they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. I have always been the type of person who feels that sick, evil criminals such as these men, should receive equal amounts of punishments that actually FIT the crimes they committed. To me, jail is not enough. Honestly, I don't even believe the death penalty is enough punishment. That lets them off too easy. I would like to see them tortured in various ways and have to hurt and feel as much, if not more pain as those poor girls did.

Too many people these days are allowed to get off because they plead insanity or that they weren't in the right "state of mind" when they committed such crimes as enslaving young children. Well I am definitely in the right "state of mind" when I say that these people should get what they deserve! I have grown up in a world where crime rates have never been higher. Although these crimes did not happen in the U.S., it is not as if many similar ones do not happen here every day. I wish that I could fly overseas and try and comfort those poor girls who most likely did not know any better. If I could meet with them, I would make sure to let them know how important they are to this world and how much a difference they can still make. I would tell them that their fathers do not deserve to ever be in their presence again and they will still be able to have a family that loves them.

In today's day and age. Loneliness is a scary thing. Just imagine how terrified those young girls were trapped underground not knowing if they would ever be free. This is not some horror movie that we get enjoyment out of. This is real life and we need to be aware of that.

Sources:

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/09/09/poland.captive.daughter/index.html

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24324295-5006003,00.html