assignment 13-1

ORONO, ME- A town meeting was held at 4:30 pm on April 21, 2010, in the Orono Town Hall to discuss the building approval, and further steps needed to build residential Condos in place of the Old Webster Mill, one of Orono's most historic buildings.
The meeting involved 13 community members including Cathy Conlow, Orono's Town Manager, and Town Planner, Evan Richert. It was an open discussion with the Contractor, Kevin Bunker and the architect, David Lloyd.
The biggest concern addressed by the group during the meeting was that the plans for the building were too contemporary and no one was going to buy them. The plan for the building would consist of 24 units, all with water views of the Penobscot River, 4 stories high [approx. 43 ft], all units would have two bedrooms, some would be exclusive and some would be affordable, the differences being that the affordable condos were smaller and on the inside [so less attractive water views] and would cost about 600 dollars less. The pictures shown at the meeting were discussed as resembling the University of Maine's Student Recreation Center. The building is described to have a flat roof with the siding open to discussion. Suggestions were made such as concrete, brick or medal. Most people in the conference want the old Webster Mill and its historical aspects to be included in the building, and the overall look of the new building.
But the look and structure of the building was not the only topic deliberated over. The old mill has pollution, not only pollution in the water and old coal storage, but there is asbestos on the site that is highly dangerous and will have to be taken care of.
The new condominium building will also meet the Affordable Housing Tif, which will help the town of Orono with the cost of taxes on the building.
The Building of the condos has been in discussion since spring of 2009, and no plan is set in stone yet. There is still a lot of discussion and a lot to figure out, but Lloyd says that the project could be finished in 10 months, once the building is started.

assignment 10-1

I have never personally used Twitter, but it seems to be a huge hit in the social networking. As far as I know, you simply create a free account and type whatever you are feeling, seeing, hearing, pretty much whatever you would like people to know at that moment; this is called a tweet. But Twitter is known to have generated millions of news-worthy topics and events that are fast and easy for viewers to interact with.
There is even a separate website named Breaking Tweets that are all breaking stories that were posted on Twitter. These tweets have had hundreds of comments for other viewers all over the world. It is an entirely new way to get news. It is raw; no professional writers are out there tweeting about news, the tweets are simple and to the point. So what are the effects that Twitter is bringing to known and trusted news sites such as CNN or MSN? It is said that only about 45% of people who read blogs and social networking for their news intake, actually believe all of what they are reading. So is Twitter destroying the way we receive news? Not yet, but who knows when and if it will.

assignment 12-1 (news worthy event)

PORTLAND, ME- April 22, 2010, the world wide known alternative rock band, Third Eye Blind, played an amazing show in the Merril Auditorium in Portland, Maine.A band called The Upwelling, from New York City played as the opening act.
Third Eye Blind was established in 1990, in San Francisco. They have recorded five, well known albums over the past 20 years. In early 2000, after the release of their Blue album, the band terminated their lead guitarist, Kevin Cadogan. This caused the former songwriter and guitarist to sue the band on ten counts: including fraud, breach of contract, wrongful termination and violations of the Lanham Act. The lawsuit ended in 2002 with a settlement of an unknown [to public] amount paid to Kevin. The replacement guitarist was Tony Fredianelli, who played with the band until 2010, and is also filing a lawsuit against Third Eye Blind members for lack of payment and credit for songs on the new album. So now, the band is ready to rock, going on a worldwide tour this spring, with their third new lead guitarist, Kryz Reid, a musician from Dublin, Ireland, and a new album released in 2009 named Ursa Major.

The concert was a hit in the small city of Portland, Maine. The band played some of their most famous singles such as Semi-Charmed Life, Graduate, Losing a Whole Year, and Jumper from their 1997 album Third Eye Blind, And continued the show playing songs such as Anything and Never Let You Go from their Blue album released in 1999 and finished up their set with several songs from their newest album, Ursa Major, like One in Ten, Don't Believe a Word and Bonfire.
Third Eye Blind has a few more tour dates in the States, until May 5, when they go to Belgium, France, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, United Kingdom, and then back to the United States until late June, where their last concert will be in New York.

Final Assignment

1. http://knox.villagesoup.com/news/story/maine-plugs-into-30-million-for-energy-efficiency-upgrades/320538
2. http://www.mpbn.net/Home/tabid/36/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3478/ItemId/11864/Default.aspx
3. http://www.heatingoil.com/blog/sec-chu-doe-making-multifaceted-effort-to-encourage-home-energy-efficiency-improvements322/
4. http://www.heatingoil.com/articles/diy-home-energy-conservation-projects-save-big-bucks/
5. http://www.heatingoil.com/blog/maine-gets-30-million-for-energy-efficiency-home-loans0422/
6. http://www.masshightech.com/stories/2010/04/19/daily37-Maine-snags-30M-stimulus-grant-for-energy-retrofits.html
7. http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/recovery/
8. http://www.pressherald.com/news/maine-receiving-_30-million-to-create-green-loan-program_2010-04-22.html
9. http://www.efficiencymainetrust.org/
10. http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=ME18F&re=1&ee=1


My final project about the environment will be about the $30 million dollar grant that the state of Maine received in order to make our homes more efficient. The links provided are News articles about the grant, other ways to make your home more efficient by yourself, and some background information about the grant, and the P.A.C.E. program here in Maine.

assignment 7-1

Health Insurance is an important investment to every human being and when this security blanket for families becomes insecure, it is very controversial. Recently a fake health insurance company scammed money from Maine families. This scary event should make every Mainer more aware of who to trust and how to avoid being scammed.
“American Trade Association” is an unlicensed health insurance company that has been selling fake insurance to believing families all over Maine. They have been known to sell insurance under other names as well. The government is stressing that these poor families may end up paying their own medical bills in full, if they do not figure it out soon enough.
Government officials have listed on www.maine.gov/insurance licensed insurance companies that are trusted. Bureau of Insurance Superintendent, Mila Kofman, explains on the website that criminals are using health insurance as an easy way to make money in this bad economy.
The company sold plans to individuals in at least 20 states with about $14 million in premiums paid to the company, all of the victims to this scam, received fake fax ads, or e-mails or saw ads on the internet.
With the entire economy changing technologically and also going downhill in employment and income, more people are turning to the internet. With over 320 million people on websites such as Facebook and Twitter, it has become easier for people to make false advertisements without anyone questioning their credibility. Fraud on the internet includes anything from fake employment, to fake medications, to fake insurance. People all over Maine and America should be more careful whom they trust.
Before purchasing health insurance, Mainers should do research on the company they are considering. Some red flags include: Online advertisements, fax advertisements, surprisingly low prices, limited-time offers, and little information about the company itself. These examples could mean that the company is a fraud. Kofman said “If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.”
Even though Maine’s small communities have mostly come together to overcome this downfall in the economy, some people are just too selfish to help a neighbor. So when searching for new health insurance, use the helpful hints and do not be a victim to health insurance scams.

Assingment 9-1

The English Department of the University of Maine welcomed Lucy Honig on March 25, to speak about her writings, her style of writing and to read some passages from her new book.
The seminar took place in the writing center inside Neville Hall, at 4:30 pm on Thursday. Honig was introduced as an extraordinary writer who lived in Maine for quite sometime before moving to New York, and now to Massachusetts where she currently resides. While in Maine, she incorporated her Maine experiences in her books, and continues to today. In the meeting she spoke about her newest book "Waiting for Rescue", which was published late in the year 2009. "Waiting for Rescue" is a book about the September 11, terrorist attacks and how it affected the lives of people all over the world. The story is a fictional story that loosely resembles her reaction, and the reaction of the people close to her at the time of the attacks. "This book was very unusual," Honig says. "It started out as a bunch of different stories all on one page, not making any sense. At one point, when I realized they wouldn't all come together I separated the short stories. But as I continued to write each day, I would go back to the page filled with the different stories and string them together."After reading several segments from her book, she talked about her writing process. Honig explained that all of her books start with something important in her life; something that she felt strongly about. She explained to all of the future writers, listening to her speech, that writing is easiest when it is about something you love.
At the end of Honig's speech, questions were asked and answered, and she did a book signing. Other books featured at the seminar included: Open Season, The Truly Needy, and Picking Up.

assignment 2-1

I feel as though this article is all over the place. It starts off by saying he was arrested for "interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct." but then in another paragraph says that he admitted to having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl at least five times.
I think the entire thing could be rearranged. I think the article should start out by explaining what happened, and why (each persons side of the story) it happened, the details such as how long he is going to be in jail and what his parole conditions are, are not as interesting and "news worthy". Yes, those details are important, but I feel like they can wait. The ending seems like the beginning. The article ends in where the girl was found after the crime was committed. Maybe the writer of the article could explain why. Did the victim call the police, or was she being searched for?
I the quotes that the writer used, from the two separate attorneys, work well and help you understand the situation better. But I feel as though the write is somewhat 'siding with' the criminal in the end. I think the two different arguments are too grouped together, in the beginning it seems as though the writer is siding with the victim and then in the end it seems like he has switched sides completely. Although the article shows no real emotion or opinion, that is just how I feel due to the way the information is put together.

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/139850.html

Assignment 6-1

The Jordan Planetarium, in Wingate Hall, will be having laser shows the week of February 13 to the 21. They will be playing numerous rock artists and displaying original and artistic laser designs.
The laser shows are very popular, they don't just provide unique entertainment, but they also point out stars in the 'sky'. Tickets are four dollars per person, and are only sold during the week. Private shows can be reserved ahead of time for $50 and two dollars per person.
The schedule includes: Sky Legends, The Beatles, Metallica, and Pink Floyd at various times on Saturday the 13, Laser Magic and Sky Legends will be playing Sunday the 14, Pink Floyd and Hypnotica on Monday the 15, Pink Floyd and Metallica Tuesday the 16, the Beatles and U2 on Wednesday the 17, Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd on Thursday the 18, Laser Mania the 19, Laser Retro, Sky Legends, Pink Floyd on Friday the 19, and the Beatles and Laser Pop on Saturday the 20.
This is not the only week that the Planetarium will be doing laser shows, there will be more to come. To buy tickets, reserve a night or just for more information you can call or visit the Planetarium at Maynard F. Jordan Planetarium, 5781 Wingate Hall, Orono, ME 04469, (207) 581-1341.

Assignment 5-1

My Roommate- On Campus Living

"It's like we're one big family" Brittany Shaw, my roommate, said as we discussed the First Year Residence Experience. "If I didn't live in the dorm rooms this year, I wouldn't have made as many friends."

It is always nerve wracking moving to a new place, and changing environments, "When I thought about living on campus before moving here, I thought it would be horrible sharing a bathroom with a lot of other girls, and possibly living next-door to boys!" she exclaimed. She went on to explain that her ideas of living on campus have changed dramatically over the past few months, she feels like she has a bunch of new brothers and sisters. "Sharing the bathroom and boys playing music way too loud has kind of grown on me," she says

Brittany lived in Gannett Hall during the first semester until she moved into my room, Somerset 340, during the second semester. When she moved, she already knew a lot of her future neighbors from visiting the hall, this helped her decision to move. "Everyone in Somerset is so friendly with their doors wide-open," she began, "I've made a lot of good friends in this hall, some that I'm sure will be in my life for years."

As Brittany continued to give excellent feedback about the First Year Residence Experience, she made sure to mention the cons of the dorm-life as well. "There are a lot of rules," she pointed out, "and although college is full of partying and staying up all night, there are some nights that I just want to get my homework done, or go to sleep early. Which is often impossible despite the 'Quiet Hours' because you live in a place with so many other people, some of which think they are above the rules."

Over all, Brittany highly recommends the dorm-life to all first-year students. She encourages prospective students to consider how easy it will be to make new friends, in a place where you don't know anyone, by living with them. So it looks like an A+ for First Year Residence Experience.

Assignment 4-1

For assignment 4-1, watch a local newscast, paying close attention to the writing. Make a note of what you would have changed if you’d been in charge of editing copy before air, I watched a newscast from WLBZ, about a new business magazine for Maine.

The newscast was about a new local magazine focusing on business. The first thing that jumped out at me, was the way the publisher was introduced. I know that in order to include an interview that an introduction is necessary, but by using a quote it was very confusing. Not only was the quote repeated in the interview, but I think a lot of what she said was very redundant and repetitive. The newscast is short and to the point just like broadcast news should be, but I feel as though she could have made it shorter, or had other information put in. I knew the entire story within her first sentence, and learned nothing new from the rest of the broadcast. That's like reading a headline and not needing to read the article.

Moral Issues in Journalism

Create a blog entry that discusses a legal or moral issue in journalism.

One of the major issues in journalism today is the releasing of sources from a piece of work. The first amendment is extremely valuable in the eyes of the public and the government, and one of, if not the most important right given in our Bill of Rights. It is understood that by freedom of speech the writer can publish what they believe without fear of being persecuted for what is written. Under that understood concept its believed that the sources are also protected by the first amendment.

A prime example of this issue was the case of the revealing of Valerie Plame's identity. Plame was a CIA agent, who was married to Joe Wilson, who publicly disagreed with many of President Bush's views on the Iraq war. She became one of the most famous spies in the world. The fact that she was outed ruined her career and almost her life. "After the outing, said Wolf, "her career was over, she knew it was over, and certainly her contacts were put in jeopardy . . . and her family was put at risk." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/28/AR2005102801172_2.html) Valerie Plame's identity was revealed to the world by infamous, Washington Post writer, Robert Novak. Novak was questioned by several federal committees about who his source was. Novak kept his source a secret and faced the possibility of jail time if he did not reveal his source. In the end Novak caved and revealed his source, Scooter Libby, Vice President Cheney's cheif of staff.

These kinds of incidents are debated constantly. Was putting Plame's life (and her family's) at risk really news worthy? Did it help the public in any real way? And was it really fair for Novak to face consequences for not revealing his source? Journalism has a very gray area of what is right and what it wrong. Morally and legally.

Create a blog entry that discusses a legal or moral issue in journalism. Be sure to cite and link to the articles your use for your entry. Your entry should be between 300-800 words and formatted for online

Hello!

Hello :)

This is my first blog. I'm not really sure what to write, so I'll just write some fun facts about me:

-I have a twin sister who attends the University of Maine at Farmington as an Elementary Education major. She is my best friend.

-I'm from Windham, Maine which is about 25 minutes from Portland. I love it there.

-I worked at Little Caesars Pizza for 2.5 years. Then I moved to Boothbay Harbor with a friend for the summer and worked as a waitress on Cabbage Island.

-I love animals, all of them.

Thats about it :)

thanks!