IMHO #1- March 16- Obama on the "Tonight Show"

Emily Belding

Mcom 100w M/W 1:20-2:45

IMHO #1

Word Count: 386

A recent offhand comment by President Obama on a national television talk show brought to light the harming power of words.  On Thursday, March 19, 2009, President Obama appeared on the 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno.'  During the interview, which addressed various political issues, Obama commented on his poor bowling skills.  At one point he said his bowling skills are "like Special Olympics or something."  Immediately after the interview, he was quick to apologize to the Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver before the show was aired.

The public response to this incident caused quite a political buzz.  Special Olympics President and CEO J. Brady Lum said that Obama's comment has proven to be "an incredibly important and seriously teachable moment."  Many people took this to be a major political misstep for President Obama and felt his comment was shameful.  Others felt that Obama just showed his human side and made an innocent slip of the tongue.  Interestingly, this incident happened just two weeks before the Special Olympics' launch of it's new campaign to get Americans to rethink the use of the word "retard."

In my humble opinion, President Obama, while human, should have been more careful in his word choice before a national audience.  As a major public figure with worldwide influence, he is held to a higher standard.  All of America is hanging on every word he speaks.  While I can understand President Obama's desire to show his humorous side, I was surprised to see he appeared unaware of what he had said.  Obama clearly didn't realize the hurtful nature of his words until after the interview.  Conversely, I thought that Jay Leno was immediately aware of the inappropriateness of Obama's comment.  I do not think President Obama should be condemned for this comment but he clearly should take this as a lesson to be better prepared in the future.

In his defense, I was impressed that he took immediate action to admit his mistake and apologize.  It is a good lesson for all of America to learn.  We need to think before we speak.  Words have the power to hurt and once spoken cannot be undone.  To millions of people with intellectual disabilities such comments are cruel and offensive.  While unfortunate, Obama's comment has helped raise awareness of this important issue. 

Links to article:

1. The video clip of  President Obama on Jay Leno

2. CNN article on issue:  Obama mixes politics, comedy on ' Tonight Show'

3. CNN article on issue: Special Olympics takes on use of "R-word'

Word of the Week #8- 3/29/2009

Emily Belding

Mcom 100w M/W 1:30

Word of the Week #8


Word: emanate



Source: I read this word in Indigenous Peoples, Ethnic Groups, and the State by David Maybury. It was reading homework for my Anthropology 146 class.



How it was used: It is those voluntaristic aspects of society that lie between the givens of the family and the laws and institutions emanating from the state.



Definition: emanate- verb

1. to flow out, issue, or proceed, as from a source or origin; come forth; orginiate

2. to send forth; emit



My sentence:

The light from the porch will emanate into the yard.

Word of the Week #7- 3/15/2009

Emily Belding

Mcom 100W M/W 1:30

Word of the Week #7


Word: oscillate


Source: I read this word in Indigenous Peoples, Ethnic Groups, and the State by David Maybury. It was reading homework for my Anthropology 146 class.


How it was used: The weather oscillates between the furnace heat of the dry season and the lashing rains of the wet, when saturated rocks glow red against the lush grasses.


Definition: Oscillate- intr. v.

1. to swing back and forth with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm.

2. to waver, as between conflicting opinions or courses of action.

3. to vary between alternate extremes, usually within a definable period of time.


My Sentence:

When my family got lost camping, my uncle took the compass and examined the needle, which after a few oscillations, took up a fixed position.

Mystery Character- March 10, 2009

Emily Belding

MCom 100w- M/W 1:30

Mystery Character

Word Count: 150


My birthday is March 9, 1959, however no one looking at me would guess me to be 50. I have kept my girlish figure and love to prance around in my stilettos. Through the decades I have always kept up with the latest fashion trends, and I am well known for my extensive wardrobe. I have been lucky enough to live in my very own dream house, and you would most likely recognize my car when I'm out cruising around. I doubt there is a country I haven't visited. I have been in a very long term relationship, although we have never tied the knot. I am a career woman, but my brain is often overlooked for my beauty. I am also quite athletic and have given almost every sport a try. I am recognized by young and old alike.

Who am I? click this link to find out.

Word of the Week #6- 3/9/2009

Emily Belding

Mcom 100W- M/W 1:30

Word of the Week #6



Word: feasible

Source: I read this word in Indigenous Peoples, Ethnic Groups, and the State by David Maybury. It was reading for my Anthropology 146 class.

How it was used: This could, of course, only be done where it was politically feasible.

Definition: feasible- adjective

1. capable of being done, effected, or accomplished: a feasible plan.

2. probable; likely: a feasible theory

3. suitable: a road feasible for travel.

My sentence: The manager at the store thought my idea was feasible.

Journal #2: Media Audience- 3/1/2009

Emily Belding

MCom 100W- M/W 1:30

Journal #2- Media Audiences

Word Count: 464

Paul Harvey, the legendary broadcaster, died at the age of 90, on Saturday at a hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. Harvey’s broadcasts were heard on more than 1,200 radio stations. He was long considered the most listened to radio-broadcaster in the world and whose distinctive delivery and daily mix of news, commentary and human interest stories informed and entertained a national radio audience for nearly six decades.

Newspaper: The San Francisco Chronicle covered this national news story. The article was found at the bottom of the front page and the full news story was on A12. The article was 6 columns wide and above the fold. There is only one main article about Paul Harvey. In the article, there was five sources quoted- The Chicago Tribune, The L.A. Times, ABC Network, former interviews with Harvey were quoted and a Boston College broadcasting professor- Michael Keith- all were sources in this article. The story was accompanied by two photos of Paul Harvey.

Television News: On ABC news, there was a 1 minute 30 second short story on Paul Harvey. There were 3 sources quotes throughout this short news clip. The newspaper was the most extensive and detailed of Harvey’s life. The detail on the television news was shorter and brief than the newspaper that provided very detailed information.

National Public Radio: On NPR, the coverage on Paul Harvey was 5 minutes and 44 seconds. The story contained four sources that included personal old interviews with Harvey, friends of Harvey and quotes from his family member’s on his life. The radio story used old interviews with Harvey’s voice to break up the story and change “the scene” in the listeners mind throughout the entire segment. It ended with music and a quote from Harvey. The coverage on the radio and television is similar in the sense that is used a similar pattern of broadcasting the information. The main broadcaster talked and then used clips, sound bites, interviews, photos to break up the segment. The style was similar. The coverage of radio and television are different because the radio is not viewed and only listened too and television the viewer can watch the segment.

Web: CNN covered Paul Harvey’s death as a top U.S. story on the website. The coverage of this story compared to the other media outlets was different because it was shorter than and not as detailed as the television, radio and newspaper coverage was. It was a brief, too the point news coverage article. The article contained five sources. Along with the print article, there was a video on Paul Harvey’s life that was 2 minutes and 13 seconds, it was more extensive and contained 3 sources. CNN’s coverage was a combination of print and broadcast- it used both of them in the article.

Pitch Letter- (in class assignment) 2/25/2009

Emily Belding

MCOM 100w M/W 1:30

Pitch Letter

Word Count: 192

Dear Editor,

Sightless since childhood, Doug Rose is a technical support genius at Packard Bell. Rose is a self-taught electronic wizard that helps Packard Bell, the third-largest manufacturer of personal computers in the U.S. take such pride on its technical support and service to customers.

A 34 year-old resident of Thousand Oaks, Calif., Rose has mastered his senses in learning the documentation on hardware, software platforms, Braille equipment, voice recognition system, memorization and sound to correctly diagnose computer problems. At Packard Bell, one can find Rose at his desk with his black Labrador at his feet, taking one of the 60,000 calls from customers who access Packard Bell’s tech support each week. Most callers never learn that he is blind.

I propose this article on Doug Rose, first to let people know about how his handicap has not affected him in the workforce and second I have been working at Packard Bell for fifteen years now alongside Doug Rose and he is an inspiration to all.

I’ll call you next week to see if you are interested in an article like this for the Los Angeles Times.

Sincerely,

Emily Belding

Word of the Week #5- 3/1/2009

Emily Belding

Mcom 100W M/W 1:30

Word #5

Word: Impertinent

Source: I read this word in Indigenous Peoples, Ethnic Groups, and the State by David Maybury. It was reading homework for my Anthropology 146 class.

How it was used: They also feel it is impertinent, because they consider that the use of the Brazilian Amazon is essentially a matter for Brazilians to decide.

Definition: Impertinent-adjective

1. intrusive or presumptuous, as persons or their actions; insolently ride; uncivil: a brash, impertinent youth.

2. not pertinent or relevant; irrelevant: an impertinent detail.

3. Archaic. inappropriate, incongruous, or absurd.

4. Obsolete. (of persons) trivial, silly, or absurd.

My sentence: It is extremely impertinent to accuse others of lying when their is no proof.