Caution: Mind dribble ahead.

Yay! I'm a member of the alumni association!
Well, officially, I haven't really left Missouri Southern. I'm going through for the Masters this time. But, it's not too bad. I have to take some English classes here and there, but they are quite fascinating. And, that's the topic of today's post.
It took around five years, but I remember now why I started writing in the first place; I like it. I really do. The other day in American Lit II, Dr. Saltzman was discussing the problems associated with some of the students in his poetry class. He said the ones who were wanting to be poets just because they had something to say often were the worst writers. These people, he said, would write airy, unfounded poems about ethereal subjects. They had no knack for words. Others, though, liked to hear the words in their mouth and put them onto paper like pictures. Now, this struck me.
Several years ago, I took a job with the high school paper at Diamond. I did the comics. But, I soon got hooked on writing stories and designing pages. I liked the style of the newspaper. The reporter cuts out all of the useless information and sticks to the facts. It's unbiased and straight-forward. However, it gives a lot of possibilities in the way a reporter covers the story. There's always an angle. Nothing is truly straight-forward. One person saw things differently than another. I liked to find the new angle. It was a challenge.
However, several years ago, as I learned how to write correctly, I also learned to be less creative. I had a mental block. It grew until I forgot all of the creative things associated with the actual writing of words. Sure, I still kept on drawing, but I was never the artist one of my best friends was. (His name is Frank, and he's dang good.) Unconsciously, I kept thinking about the words, but it always came out formulated. The frustration still lingers in my journal when those old pages get turned back.
Anyway, when Dr. Saltzman started discussing the means of poetry, my brain snapped. I am not tied down to a newspaper at the moment -- the first time in awhile. I remembered how words make little lines on paper. They are the outlines of pictures we make in our minds. These little lateral rows don't do them justice. Words have this strange power that lingers with every smell, touch, shape, and light. We associated them with everything. Why then, do so many people let them get abused like neglected children?
Words are given at parties. Words are said at funerals. Words are said between friends. They mean something, have something, and do something. People respond to them. And I love them.
So, here I sit in front of a computer thinking I've met an old friend on the street, and we have to catch up over pie. The rules of writing don't mean anything without what the words have to say. Anyway, it kind of frees me up now to go write, scribble out something, or just print out a few lines of a poem.
I don't think I would have reached this point again any sooner if I had gone on to the "real" world right away. Well, I'm still putting around in the real world, but I have school too. I'm taking classes I always wanted to take but for some reason or another just put aside. I can put all of my education into context now. My diploma wasn't thrown in the trash. Missouri Southern has so much to give us.
Sure, we have a small town and limited resources in some areas, but we have a group of people here that care. The instructors love their jobs. Our job is to expand our love of the education we want. For those of you in the Honors Program, make the most of it. It might break you out of a slump. Ask about the things you're interested in. Think about the things you're learning. Apply what you learn to what you do. Learn to catch the air and watch for those people who start to rant about nothing at midnight. It might do you some good.
Oh, the other reason I like to write is to just get a bunch of junk off my mind... that way my mind doesn't explode with a bunch of ethereal words. That stuff is flammable... and it kinda builds up... and it causes headaches, nausea, toothaches, ...

Why we should go to Honors Presentations...

I was quite disappointed the other day when I was the only Honors student at one of my friend's presentations. When I was a freshman, I made a promise to my friends to go to as many of their presentations as I could. And, if I couldn't make it, I'd at least talk to them afterward and watch the tape. It's something we all have to go through. And, as freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, there is nothing more important than knowing what to expect during one's freshman year. I think it's a horrible thing to forget the other students in this program.
The Honors Program offers us so much in terms of the college experience. We don't have to worry about work like other students (at least in the same depth). We can focus on homework and using our time academically -- that's the reason the scholarship is in place. If we don't do so, we spit in what has been laid out before us. The next thing the Honors affords us is a close-net base of friends with whom we can converse and develop ideas. And, that's where the Program is the best. Freshmen come in knowing their classmates, whereas others may not. I made that promise to my classmates for one reason; I want them to know they're not alone in this endeavor.
The best way we can grow academically is through understanding our friends. A person is set in a directive where that person knows his or her field of study like the back of his or her hand. That person naturally will love to talk about it. And, why not? Other people should appreciate it. It's the first-hand primary source for learned intellegence. Forming bonds early in this program is one of the greatest things I have ever felt. I appreciate it when my friends listen to my crazy rants on communication models and it felt good to have my friends in my presentation. I'm sure others feel the same way. It builds confidence and keeps things comfortable. The atmosphere is light and it's more like having a conversation than giving a speech.
The next time any of us has a presentation, we should try to go. Excuses aside, it's a great experience and we all need it. Don't go through your years not seeing an Honors Thesis... It'll just hurt you in the end. Go to your friends'. Go to those in areas you don't understand. Go to those you're familiar with. Go. Go. Go.
You may be surprised too.
In the years I've been here, I've seen, read, or heard of:
Jane Austen: Views on Marriage.
What does toothpaste flavoring do?
Comics as literature
Nursing errors
Measuring oxygen levels in the blood (what does that clip thing on your finger do?)
Childhood superhero play
Perceptions of non-verbals
And the list goes on... and on...

This has probably turned into a rant now, but that's okay. I frankly wish all persons the same treatment I received. Dr. Kluthe said I had one of the larger audiences, but I thought it was fairly small. However, I did one thing others didn't-- I invited a lot of people. This is something everyone should do... The e-mails don't just get the job done. You have to advertise and get out there in the community. Your friends, family members, and mentors want to come. Just ask. It doesn't hurt.
Though the attendance doesn't hurt the grade on this issue, it's an important topic to understand. We're more than a group of high-falutin' students; we're a family. Despite how much some people try to avoid the other Honors brats, they too are reliant on them. We came in together, we go out together, but we should also live this friggin' college experience together as well. We're all the better for it... Dang straight we are.

crazy man

Okay, I don't usually post things that I find absurd, but this deserves some thought.
The Citizen Scientist
This is a story about a guy who wants to eliminate 90% of the world's population. That's just shy of 5.4 or so billion people. I think the reporter is right; there's something wrong with this guy and the people who applaud him in the efforts. The Ebola virus idea is what really bugs me.
Dr. Pianka apparently believes the airborn version of this could be used "properly" to help save the world.
Now, if this supposedly for the benefit of mankind, why the hell (normally, I wouldn't say that) would some idiot put his efforts into this and not some other form of work to save mankind. I guess going to the moon and establishing colonies is out of the question. We're talking about a guy who put all he time and energy into the destruction of the world in an attempt to save it. This isn't moral; it's stupid and idiotic. If Pianka did it for attention, why in the world did he not give a disclaimer or something at the end?
There's a fine line between distinguished thought and erronous ways.
This doctor surely could have spent his time a bit better and worked on actually saving people instead of killing them off. There are other options available to us. If we are actually destroying the world, then perhaps we can work on saving that which we are wasting. Or, we could move on. That's just as radical of an approach as mass extermination. If you're going to focus on something, do it right. Pianka sure gave it his all though. Sure did.
Does this not remind you of anything? Say, GENOCIDE?
Moron. This guy is a moron, despite what his dissertation says. Remember the discussion on salute the title, not the man? Well, here we go. NEITHER!
I need a drink.

Head'sa explodin

Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors... this is for you.
YOUR HEAD WILL EXPLODE YOUR SENIOR YEAR!!!
okay, that said and done.

I have begun to type my actual thesis. I'm doing my final analysis along with it. I thought it was all fine and dandy until I hit my head on one thing; my thesis statement needs revision. I can say there is a shift in traditional journalism, but I can't really prove it statistically. I've been trying to find a way, but there just doesn't seem to be one. There is a trend shifting from old to new -- modernism to postmodernism. We have rules -- rules are meant to be broken. ETC. Anyway, that's fine. I can show a journalistic respect in blogging. However, my whole major is focused on communication and according to my syllabus, I need to apply the models. This is my favorite part. I love communication models. Frankly, Blogs submit to the systems model. A set of individuals working for a common cause or purpose. The cause may be personal, technical, etc. But, many Blogs work on an interpersonal scale. They are self-disclosing, independent personal entries.
If you look at the Blogs on the Honors metablog (I prefer capitalizing Blog for emphasis), you discover everyone has an independent view. We are linked in one common surmise; we are honors students. We should be able to discuss intellectual topics or at least provide a novel idea and bring in some enlightenment on that subject. Each blogger uses his or her own descriptive methods. They are not objective, but opinionated. We don't think we're being that way, but look at the words we use. We describe a situation with vividness rather than just plain facts. For example, I used "Frankly" as a means of description. That's not objective.
I use this Blog to discuss my ideas and my research. It does get a bit wordy and complicated sometimes, but I'm sorting through garbage and keeping the key ideas in focus.

So, when you get to your senior thesis, make sure you realize your ideas will change continuously. There's no set rule to guide you by. It's your turn to shine in the spotlight. Don't let the fact that you change things frustrate you. It happens. Make it work!

Blogs continued: Sen. Thesis II

Okay, here is the objective of my work:
There is a paradigm shift in media from the traditional journalistic focus to one of self-disclosure.
Questions:
How did it turn this way? Why is this becoming more popular?
Later questions to consider:
Is this a good thing?

Now, here is the interesting part. I have come to the conclusion I can cut a lot of the work I thought I'd have to do out of the picture and focus my thoughts toward only a handful of examples.
Here is what I have chosen to look at:
Trent Lott's comments at Strom Thurman's birthday party.
A comparison of Blogs from both the Democratic and Republican parties which discuss political topics. (Alito, bills, etc.) Thank you, Dr. Martinek for the Gannon and Lewinski ideas. I can compare a few Blogs to the stories written about them.
A few tech Blogs.
A few "personal" Blogs.

Compared to:
Newspaper articles on the same subjects.

(For the young ones, I was told this is part of the review of literature. You also include theories written about the subject in your background literature review... well, the ones you read.)

Now, I will supplement this with:
Interviews of one social and one journalistic Blogger.

Next:
I will analyze the two forms based on what is traditionally considered journalistic style and what is known as self-disclosure. Also, I will allow for some other communication details to be explained. (technical stuff)

Now, I have to define a few things:
Blog, personal Blog, technical Blog, journal, online Blog, traditional journalistic ideal, and self-disclosure.

Oh, and don't forget to fill in people with the history/background:
Robot Wisdom, http://oldweblogscomblog.scripting.com/historyOfWeblogs, etc.

This is good for, you know, letting the audience get a feel of how important the topic really is.

Then, I'll probably have a whole lot of more topics I can bring up for future research. These will be things like Facebook.com, online communities, self-disclosure as a form of journalism.

Now, this isn't the whole thing. I won't give that away, but it's basically something to guide others along. Plus, it's a form of research in itself to keep a Blog to track my progress. However, it doesn't work if nobody doesn't comment. And, it can't just be Thad!

My Senior Thesis... Part I

Alright, so I've been contemplating this for some time now. But, in order to track my progress fully and create a simple way of diving into my topic, I need to post my Blog. I need reactions and thoughts and insights and everything should be in order. Well, supposedly.
Here's the deal. I'm dissecting Blogs as a form of communication study. It's basically a break down of how the Blogger deals with the ability to post semi-anonymous journal entries allowing us to form what is paradoxial to the natural meaning of a "personal diary." In a way, it's an overexposure of self-disclosure.
Now, I'm not going to spoil the whole plot of my thesis, but that's the beginning.
There's a movement within journalism to watch Blogs and discuss their own fair and "unbiased" conglomeration of the world around them. Frankly, it's just an easy way to catch up on the word of the day. I've been watching every subject I can think of from Trent Lott to Canada's government to the Alito hearings to whatever. There's a bunch of garbled junk and there's a lot of clear and precise information. But, it's all within the standard, "It's only a Blog."
Really?
Blogs have created a significant stir in the past. President Bush's campaign managers relied on Grassroots.org and its Blog-like system to connect inner city voters and countryside workers.
Soldiers funerals were publicized only in print without pictures until a Blogger abruptly uploaded some pictures taken from the cargo bay of the landing planes holding the caskets.
It's not a matter of "if" Blogs are significant. It's more like, "why?" Also, what is the draw of the Blog?
Is it not enough that someone can simply post an opinionated statement on the Internet and then follow that up with another and another. But, what keeps the Blog going isn't necessarily the fact the Blog has comments, but others read it and post on their Blogs about the Blog. It's concisely a progressive movement in a lateral and vertical direction-- down the Blog comments page and across the Blog spectrum. Whether it makes any sense or not, there's nothing more interesting than to see this spring forward into the world of "real" media.
Newspapers and television networks generate a wonderment and bewilderment about this phenonenon that's not natural. Yet, it's quite natural to report what's going on. Now everyone wants a Blog, and not just because it's simple to do.
Look at Google for example. Blogger itself is run by Google. And, there's a Blog search engine specifically to sort new Blogs.
RSS feeds allow people to download Blog updates directly to one's own email or computer. An RSS feed is known as a "Really Simple Syndicate." In a way, it's what online newspapers wanted years ago when they first thought of downloading direct copies of the newspaper to a subscriber's printer. Blogs beat the newspapers to it. Mainly because they are free!
And, thanks to the .xml extension and other new advances, we can view our Blogs on cell phones and PDA's. It's just so SIMPLE!
Yet, that's just a preview of the things to come in my research. (This is just the background stuff... a small portion of it and if I don't let it loose, I'm going to go crazy because I don't have one place to put it... except on my Blog.)
Goode Day.

Hobbies, hobbies, hobbies! (And even more hobbies!)

As you might have noticed by now, I have many hobbies.
Yes, I play the banjo, harmonica, guitar, and other various oddball instruments. (Okay, I attempt to play them for the time being.)
I also have a collection of yo-yos, Donald Duck comics, and well, let's just say several other collections.
Woodworking, leathercraft, magic and illusions, reading, writing, etc... I've done that too.

The question, WHY?

Everyone should partake in a hobby. It's fun and mentally challenging. (You know what I mean.)
The point is, there's much more that comes out of doing something than reading about it. I used to read about and watch magicians on television for years. I wanted so badly to do what they did that I bought every book I could on the subject and learned every trick. And, later on, I was able to apply the knowledge I learned from them to other disciplines. If you are wondering, the overall implecation was in circumventing things to make something work. If I was in a bind to get something done, I knew some very oddball information about what I had available and I could improvise something new.
In fact, that's the biggest gain from hobbies: improvisation and application.
You can gain useful information from anything. Name it and you can use it somewhere else. The only thing is, sometimes it's not always obvious as to what it can do for you. However, I know it works.
And there, that's just the beginning of some long discussion I'll carry on from now to whenever.
Later