Television: Online Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSLoTJySZmg 

Length- 1:02

Description- This video from youtube.com is candidate Jerry Brown's new campaign ad. In the ad it shows several clips displaying  the similarities between his competition, Meg Whitman and current governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Question: How has modern mass media effected the government election process in the United States? Do you believe it has had a positive or negative impact? Why?

Answer: Modern mass media allows candidates to go directly to the people rather than working their way up through the ranks of the two major political parties. (opinion of impact and why) E.g. I believe that modern mass media has had a negative  impact on government elections in the United States. I think that it has turned political campaigns into childish sports like contests in which irrelevant bashing of the competition through short tv/radio/internet ads are their main influence on voters. I also believe that because of modern mass media elections are now decided primarily by the amount of money behind a campaign rather than the quality of the candidate.

Favorite Movie of 2009 & Favorite Movie of All Time

 Inglourious Basterds- My favorite movie of 2009 was "Inglourious Basterds", written and directed by Quentin Tarantino one of my favorite film makers (mine and every other male older than 14). The films lead role Lt. Aldo Raine is played by Brad Pitt, I know hes not much to look at but he is great in this role. "Inglourious Basterds" is an action/drama/thriller/comedy about WWII that is primarily set in Nazi occupied France. It is the first movie to give a much needed twist and alternate ending to WWII. I watched this movie in the theater the week it came out, and once more a week later. Like most of Tarantino's movies you appreciate and savor it more the second time around. Tarantino did a fantastic job with the films story and cinematography, and the acting was spot on as well. I recommend watching it if you haven't seen it, or if you've only seen it once. Below is the official trailer for "Inglourious Basterds".

I do not have a favorite movie of all time so instead I have decided to elaborate the first movie I had ever seen in a theater and its sequel. They were my favorite movies as a kid and had characters that I was obsessed with for much of my childhood. 

 TMNT: The Movie
              &
TMNT 2:The Secret Of The OOZE- As strange as it may sound these two movies are very important to me. A great deal of  my earliest memories revolved around The Ninja Turtles (particularly Michael-Angelo). One of those memories was watching the first live action TMNT movie on vhs with my sisters and being awestruck. Another is possibly my favorite movie memory and the first time I went to the movie theaters. Because of my obsession with TMNT and with the first movie my Mother took me to see the sequel on the opening weekend. I think it was the humor of the movie and the Kung-Fu aspect that really got me hooked when I was young but its hard to say. But hey, what little boy wouldn't enjoy four turtle heroes that walk up right, know Kung-Fu, and just happen to be hilarious?

IMDB- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie
IMDB: TMNT 2: The Secret Of The OOZE 

Trailer- TMNT: The Movie                                                                                                          

               Trailer- TMNT 2: The Secret Of The OOZE

Time Traveler Caught On Tape In 1928?

The video I've posted below is film of the premier of Charlie Chaplin's film The Circus. While filming the entrance to the theater before any one was around, a woman (or possibly a man in drag) that had nothing to do with the production and was unaware she/he was being filmed, is walking down the street alone and appears to be talking on a cellular device. The person who discovered this video has yet to find a reasonable explanation of what else it could be, and I can't come up with anything either. Is this perhaps our first evidence of time travel? Or is there some logical explanation? Watch for yourself and decide........

Magazine Pitch: Sports Influences

Magazine pitch to publisher

SPORTS INFLUENCE-

Title: Sports Influence.

Concept: Sports Influence is about the influence sports has on peoples lives, whether it be Pro/college athletes, children in sports and their parents, or even fans, there is no limitation. Sports Influence will also cover pro & college sports highlights, scores, and news like other sports magazines (ESPN magazine, Sports Illustrated) but but unlike those magazines it is not the main focus. The main focus is to investigate the influence sports has on peoples lives, young or old, man or women, pro or peewee, fan or critic.

Readers: Sports Influence has the potential to have a very broad psycho/demographic, without jeopardizing the interests of advertisers. Today in the United States sports are not only entertainment, hobbies, and a means of exercise, they are a part of our culture. Therefor sports have an influence on the lives of a broad span of people, so Sports Influence demographic/psychographic is (but not limited to)- Parents whose children are playing sports, individuals who have been involved or are currently involved in sports on any level (players,coaches,referees etc.), fans or critics of sports, and anyone who is interested in sports and the influence they have on our lives (positive or negative). As you can see readers of Sports Influence are not subject to their age, gender, or ethnicity.

Competition: Thanks the magazine's (Sports Influence) new and unique approach on the subject of sports, and it's potential for such a wide audience, the competition will be minor.

Potential advertisers: 


Sporting goods/Athletic&Active wear (E.g. Nike, Adidas Reebok, Under Armour, Spalding, Wilson etc.)  
- A sizable amount of our readers are current or former athletes, so our readers have a need for the sports equipment that is needed or will help them excel in their sport. Even If the reader never played or no longer plays a sport there is a good chance fitness is important to them and that they are active people that require the proper athletic/active wear. Therefor the example corporations I have listed will have the right audience to promote their product to.

Fitness products (E.g. Bowflex, Xterra, P90x, Women's Health: Total Workout, GNC, Vitamin Shop, Nutri-system)  
- As mentioned earlier a sizable amount of our readers consider fitness to be important, so fitness products like exercise equipment, exercise routines/dvds, and dietary supplements/vitamins would be ideal products to advertise in Sports Influence.

Financial institutions, and services (E.g. Chase, Capital One, Wachovia, E*Trade)
- I good amount of the psycho/demographic of Sports Influence are middle aged and/or parents. During this time of their lives one of their biggest concerns if not the biggest is their financial well being to ensure a timely retirement, their Children's college education, and/or comfortable lifestyle. Therefor advertisements for financial institutions and services would be beneficial to the Institution.

College's (E.g. Major Universities, trade schools such as Wyotech, ITT Tech, or Everest, and Univ of Phoenix or similar colleges)
-Current and future high school/community college students and athletes will be reached through advertisements for Universities. Also online colleges such as Univ of Phoenix, and trade schools such as Wyotech or Everest College would have success in advertising through Sports Influence. 


Television providers (E.g. Comcast, AT&T, Direct TV, Dish Network.) 
-It is a constant competition between the major television providers (Comcast, Direct TV,  for each others customer base through marketing. The major providers use a lot of different bargaining tools to market their product. One of the main things the main providers offer are sports. Each provider claims to have the best sports programing, with the most sports channels, the most HD sports, and the best deals on sports packages. It is my opinion that Direct TV would be the best provider to do business with because they are the only provider that offers the opportunity to purchase packages in each major sport that allow you to view every game from every team.

Potential premier issue articles-

-"Helping Your Child Choose the Right Sport."
-"This Months Top 5 Influential Sports Moments"
-"Brett Favre: No Longer the Role Model we Presumed?"
-"Impact of 30 for 30's Once Brothers": The Story of a Wars Impact on a Team and a Friendship.  . Vlade Divac says "I hope our story provides a valuable lesson."
-"The New And Improved Ron Artest, All Thanks To Therapy."- Artest encourages kids & young adults not to be embarrassed to seek therapy or counseling.


Premier Issue Cover Description-

 The premier issue cover will feature a the latest picture of Brett Favre close to tears that was taken last week.To elaborating on the cover photo, around the bottom of the page in the biggest text used for a headline, in purple, it will read, "IRON MAN A BAD INFLUENCE?" In smaller letters directly bellow that it will read "On the field, Favre's enthusiastic approach to the game is the model example for any athlete, but is his behavior off the field bad for the NFL?" "Pg 47"(in smaller letters). It will have the title (Sports Influence) on the top of the page in large bold red letters. On the left side of the cover there will be two headlines, one below the other both a little bit smaller than the one about Favre. In red they will read "Helping Your Child Choose The Right Sport (pg 24) and "30 for 30's Once Brother's: Vlade Divac Hopes He and Drazen's Story Can Provide a Valuable Lesson. (pg. 17).
 


 

 

Books

The Power Of Now- The book that has had the best influence on my life is The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. My entire life I have never been religious or spiritual in any way but this book gave me spiritual health in a logical way. It helped me to find a sort of peace with my self and the environment around me.

Where the Red Fern Grows- I read Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls at a young age and it was the first book that I read that I actually enjoyed. This book made me realize the strength of emotional investment that you can have with  a character/characters when you read a book, and encouraged me to read not just for school but for my own experience or fun.

A Child Called "It"- When I was a child I was in a foster home and was lucky enough to have good foster parents. A Child Called It by David Peltzer reminds me of how much worse my childhood could have been, and also give me courage.

Media Impact

Media Impact Research Project: A study on the UFC/MMA effects on the behavior of its fans/audience, compared to MLB/Baseballs effects on the behavior of its fans/audience

 My theory is that the UFC and other MMA venues promote violence and have a direct effect of violent behavior in their audience. I would test my theory by surveying fans on their way out of the events, and then later on in a controlled environment. Then also do the same with Baseball fans. I would also use the observation technique and view (maybe record) the behavior of the fans attending these events. I would also research the amount of violent crime committed during or after the event on the grounds of the event and compare to the amount committed at a baseball game in the same town (per capita). One more way I could research would be calculating and comparing alcohol consumption at both events. I know from personal experience that stadiums/arenas take extra precautions when these events come to town. For example the restaurant I work for does not leave the tables set with knives or forks in fear of violent fans using them as weapons. I predict that I will find enhanced violent behavior in fans of UFC.

Media Autobiography

My views and relationships with the eight different types of mass media have changed vastly over the years I have used them. In the first years of my relationship with mass media (ages 5-12) it was more of a one sided relationship. Back then the forms of media I used were primarily television, movies, recordings, and books, and the only use I had for them, besides books was fun. I mostly watched cartoons and movies, and listened to music that had no productive effect on me. As I matured and grew as a person so did my views and relationships with all the forms of mass media. When I was young I used television for entertainment only, I still use television for entertainment when I watch sports but now I try to watch things that have some kind of value and aren't a complete waste of time. I have personally come to find television in general can be very unhealthy if it turns into a habit so I do not watch nearly as much as I use to. When I was younger I thought of reading books as a task, or just something I had to do in school that could not really be enjoyable. Recently I have discovered that I actually like to read and have been reading a lot more often. Not only do I now find it entertaining and relaxing to sit and read a book I also find it very fulfilling. I have never been a fan of magazines or newspaper, I don't think I have ever found one that really interests me enough to subscribe to, and now that I am at an age where I could probably find one that would, I would rather use the internet instead. I could be wrong but it seems as if magazines are more about their advertisements than the purpose of the magazine itself.  Movies are something I have always enjoyed to this day, though sadly it seems to me that people in the industry are running out of good ideas because the amount of good quality movies has steadily fallen over the past 10 to 15 years. Like movies, recordings (mainly music) are something that I have always enjoyed, but they also share the same problem I have with movies, the quality has declined over the past 10 to 15 years and I can not relate the same anymore. Radio is one of two types of mass media that I use everyday. When I was younger I listened to FM radio for music. Now that there is not one station on FM radio that I appreciate or even plays any music that I like I have switched over and now exclusively listen to AM radio. I mostly listen to KNBR (sports talk radio) or sometimes other news stations. Internet is the other form of mass media that I use everyday. I believe that the internet is the most useful tool that I have, but I also believe it can be the biggest distraction and waste of time as well. I use the internet for school, finance, e-mail and other forms of communication, research/ any piece of information I need, and I also use it as a means of entertainment. However I am just now starting to break some of the habits that have come with using the internet. For example I consider Facebook to be a habit. I am actually on the verge of deleting my Facebook entirely, the only reason I haven't yet is because its a great way to keep in touch with family. The reason I want to delete it and see it as a bad habit is because I spend a lot of down time logged in filling my head with useless statements and information like "Megan just got back from the mall, about to go shower and hang out with the boyfriend" or "Ashley is so annoying get over yourself already". Personally I feel deleting my Facebook would be easier than regulating the amount of time I spend on it. Having said all that I still believe that the internet and books are the most important forms of mass media to me.