Writer's Workshop: A Children's Program

In a deep desire to attempt to get my blog out there and to have more people come and read my random, left of center thoughts, I have decided to start getting in on Mama Kat's writer's workshops to have a little fun! If you haven't already looked into her blog, I would! She has one of the funniest personalities I have come across in a long time, and to top it off... she's having fun!

The prompt asked of a child's toy or television show around these days that I just don't understand. Since I am not a mommy (yet) and that is not in my near future, I have to admit that I haven't really been keeping up on kids toys and television shows that are out there. Don't get me wrong, I adore cartoons and probably always will, but once the newer shows like Drake & Josh, iCarly, Hannah Montana, and shows of that nature started becoming popular I started to get a little bored. I am partial to shows from my childhood (Pete & Pete, Ren & Stimpy, Rugrats, Doug, All That, Are You Afraid of the Dark, e.t.c.), but started finding shows like Spongebob Squarepants, Danny Phantom, All Grown Up, and shows like that cute. Of course they were no comparison to what I grew up with (let's face it, my generation is pretty awesome) but they were cute and "safer" for the new generation. At least they were safer until we all started paying attention to what they were offering.

Once Hannah Montana, Drake & Josh, iCarly, and other shows of that nature started being aired, I began noticing that these 11 - 13 year old children were being dressed up in adult clothing, dolled up in a lot of makeup, and being placed in very adult situations that are made to look cool, popular, and what "every little kid needs to experience to be able to become an adult." It started to bother me... a lot in fact. I know a 12 year old cheerleader (a sister of a friend of mine) that weighs about 70 pounds that constantly fasts because she's "too fat because her cheer leading coach said she's too big to be the girl tossed in the air." Of course that teacher did not tell her she was too fat, she just told her that she was too tall and had great muscles and that she was fabulous at being one of the guards. That's it...

Television shows these days, media, social interactions, and the way we promote independence to children these days is dangerous. It is very, very dangerous and filled with the message that it's cooler to be dumb so that you don't look like a nerd. It's extremely important to have Coach purses. Uggs, Prada, Chanel, iPhones, $100 t-shirts, and all of that garb at the ripe old age of 11. It's very important to come across popular and spend less time learning.

I'm concerned. I'm concerned and I'm hoping that parents are seeing this and are actively trying to make their children understand that it's alright to watch theses shows but to realize their flaws and lack of reality. I hope... I sincerely hope.

Photojournalism - School Post 6 of 6

My last photo for this class for the semester is a shameless self promotion. I, Lauren Cunningham, also someone who really, really enjoys photojournalism and what comes with it. I usually take photos of the world as it's happening around me, and am in the market for a much better camera. I recently went with my boyfriend to Woodward Park for the annual spring flower picture taking event and wound up getting some fabulous shots.


The flowers were in a fabulous bloom and I couldn't resist. Afterall... they're roses. :) I was also able to get some other pictures as well.


You can check out more of my stuff... if you're so inclined... at http://ionlover.deviantart.com where I keep more of my work.

Photojournalism - School 5 of 6

Ken McCray from Florida showcases events that have stories behind them... meaningful stories. Maybe you will look at his work and wonder what in the world was happening at the exact moment that would have spurred that type of response, or maybe you just might look at the photo and smile. His work shows people in real life situations, as they're living them.


Did he see something scary or horrifying? Was he just told news that was hard on his psyche? Did he just want to show the world how big he could open his mouth? We don't know... and Ken likes it that way.

You can see more of his work here: http://www.bludomainhosting.com/ken/

Photojournalism - School 4 of 6

Rebekah Workman is also based out of the Oklahoma area and is well known for her photography styles for weddings, engagement photos, and other life events. She is another person who doesn't necessarily dabble in the media driven events, but chooses to moreso pay attention to what's happening around her in the here and now. She has gained the ability to charge a hefty price for her work, but her style shows she deserves it.


You can see more of her work here: http://www.rebekahworkmanphoto.com/

Photojournalism - School 3 of 6

Amanda Ridgley is a fantastic photographer right here in the Tulsa area who is a fresh face to the scene of photo-journalistic sense. She currently specializes in people (weddings, events, life...) and has a natural eye for what she is doing. With several engagement photos under her belt, a couple of weddings, and family events, she is shaping up to be the next big thing around town.


Mary and Lance are getting married soon and they asked Amanda to be their photographer for their engagement photos, and what a choice they made! Amanda has a real ability to pull in colors from all over the scene and make the main visual really stand out.

You can see more of what she has to offer at: http://www.aridgley.com

Photojournalism - School Post 2 of 6

There are photojournalists that focus on news media and exploring the realm of journalism through travel and socials situations, and then there are photojournalists that dabble in the world of visual reporting on everyday life. Connecticut is home to one of these journalists that showcases that world as it's happening.

Sports can be fantastic photo-journalistic opportunities, as you can see here with Mike Ross' photo of a woman's basketball game. The human body is impressive with the way that it moves and Ross has a certain way to capture scenes and situations happening in a very beautiful light. Going to his main page you can see amazing imagery of weddings, children, scenes, and life as it's happening.

See his website here:

http://www.mikerossphoto.com/

Photojournalism - School Post 1 of 6

For any of you that happen to read my blog at all, you may be confused as to why I'm writing about photojournalism and what this has to do with my blogging styles from before. Well I am in a Social Media class and have been assigned to write at least six blog posts that talk about something within a broadcasting and journalistic stand point for my final. I decided that photojournalist would be a fairly decent grouping to write about and thought I would highlight a few journalists that have caught my attention over the years.

This particular blog, I'll be talking about Mary Chind from the Des Moines Register. She has won first place in 2010’s NPPA Still Photo Contest for a wonderfully dramatic , heartbreaking, anxiety filled photo of a rescuer saving a woman from drowning. You can see the determination in the face of the rescuer as he reaches for what appears to be the only visible part of his rescuee; her arm.
Photojournalists all too often are overlooked for their ability to bring you, the viewer, directly into the situation that is happening before their camera. Without them we wouldn’t have any visual recollection of anything that’s ever happened in our past!

The Des Moines Register: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/

NPPA Contest: http://bop.nppa.org/2010/still_photography/winners/?cat=DON&place=1st

SmashBurger

For anyone who has ever had the joy of going to SmashBurger, I extend my apologies now. As a mild side note, I should probably mention that maybe this was just the location that Drew and I attended and their lack of even acceptable customer service that made this experience unfortunate.

Drew and I went to a late lunch/early dinner at SmashBurger yesterday because it was close to Michael's, PetsMart, and the other shopping locations we were wandering through. We had considered going to this place for a few weeks, but couldn't really see how it was any different than other burger joints. Contemplation completed, and better judgments aside, we decided to check it out. If worst came to worst, at least we enjoy each others company. We walk into this chain restaurant and check out the menu; a few things look interesting to us, so we decide to order. There was your basic standard greeting that was offered, but nothing to make us feel like SmashBurger was happy to finally have a location in Tulsa. We order, spend $22.00 on the meal, get our little number and drinks, and then find a place to sit. Small talk resumes as we watch three other tables sit down around us.

Now this all sounds like a fairly decent start to a meal, right?

The table behind us who came in about five minutes after us received their food. That seemed weird. Then the table next to them received food, and the table next to us who had come in probably about ten minutes after us received food. The manager kept bringing food out, and walking right passed us. Drew at this point is getting rather annoyed and I'm contemplating my path of questioning conversation that will get us answers as to why everyone around us is being served, and we have been sitting here for fifteen to twenty minutes.

"Excuse me, sir?" I offered politely.

The manager turns around and as I begin to say, "We have noticed that the other tables around us have been served..." I'm cut off by a hand being raised as if to tell me to stop talking. He nodded aggressively, looking flustered and says, "Yeah, hang on a minute." We watch him walk towards the cook and check all of the tickets and then walks back in our direction.

"Here, have these. It'll make it a little nicer when you come in next time. [hands me two 1/3 lb burger coupons.] He is working on your order now," he exclaims with a fake please-don't-ask-for-your-money-back smile. They forgot about us! We had been sitting directly in the middle of all of the commotion the entire time with everyone around us being served, and no one even stopped to question why we hadn't ever received our meals until I asked what was up.

So, when we finally receive the food, I'm not overly impressed and we finish and leave. The burger was cooked like you were ordering it from a sit-down restaurant, not a fast food joint (which was definitely a good thing - SmashBurger gets credit for good thought process), but regardless of whether or not you're ignored, the prices are too high for what they're offering. After all, it was just a hamburger.

Two stars out of five people, I was really not impressed and rather annoyed.

Starting Is The Hardest Part

I know they always say that stopping is the hardest part, but I guess that doesn't really apply to blogs. The first post is always less than interesting and generally filled with a bunch of information that means nothing at all. I think I have decided that I would like to use this blog as a way to review things that I have done in my life. Of course some of the posts will be filled with pointless jabber that only people that know me will get a chuckle out of, but I would also like to tell all of you lovelies about places I go.

Who knows, maybe if I keep doing this on a regular basis I will actually get a couple of viewers.