Magellan wildfire

Ventura County’s year round brush fire season has brought the need for student residents of California Lutheran University and other local residents to prepare to evacuate before the holidays. 

At approximately 11:30 this morning, a major brushfire began burning through the hills north of Olsen Roadabove the CLU campus. Although the cause of the fire has not yet been identified, Public Information Officer for the Ventura County Fire Department, Bill Nash, believed Magellan Street to be the place of origin. As of now, the 200 firefighters called to the scene from Ventura County, Santa Paula, and Cal Fire have achieved a 30 percent containment of the fire. With only one minor ankle injury to a hand crew member firefighter and no harm on structures, Nash believes the fire will be contained no later than night fall tomorrow evening. 

“We expect the winds to lessen overnight, which will help us gain some ground on the fire,” said Nash. 

Although at this time there is only a voluntary evacuation in place, he believes packing valuables such as computers with financial information, clothes, medications, and pets is crucial to securing one’s safety. He also recommends backing cars into driveways as a means to reduce chaos. Voluntary evacuations have been placed on those living on Bainbridge Court, Olsen Road, and Briar Bluff Circle. Although Nash’s intentions are not to bring fear to students living on campus, he does suggest they prepare themselves.

“Right now the fire is burning pretty much away from the campus and past the campus but again one of the big things we face with wild fires is wind blown embers…One of the things we talk about a lot is Situational awareness. We make sure that our firefighters are always looking 360 degreesaround them so that they’re aware of all the dangers. We ask the public to do the same thing,” said Nash. 

With the county’s previous wildfire history, Nash suggests preparation for anyone within harm’s way. On Dec. 28, 1956 the hills near Lake Sherwood suffered from a 35,000 acre burning wildfire that damaged 35,000 homes. More recently, on Dec. 3, 2006, The Shekel Fire in Moorpark destroyed 7 structures, while burning 13,000 acres of land. In Ventura County, no one month determines when fire damage can be done. 

 

“Just because the weather is cold, doesn’t mean there isn’t a wildfire risk out there,” said Nash.  

With containment in the near future and no immediate risks to structures or homes, Nash encourages the community to stay informed by checking for updates on both their website, www.fire.countyofventura.org or the Ventura County Fire Department’s Facebook page. In the mean time, Nash insists anyone in close proximity to the fire should become aware of the situation and prepare themselves for the worst case scenario. 

Transforming the backyard garden into the backyard farm

COMM231-newspackage

Style Books Rules

Incorrect: The City of Oxnard experienced ethnic cleansing last October. 

Correct: Mayor John Nernberg said, “Last October in Oxnard, we experienced ethic cleansing due to the skyrocketing gas prices.”  

I agree with The AP Style book’s rule that “ethnic cleansing” should not be used alone and is better explained when is quoted and the attribution makes the quote make more sense and seem less derogatory. 

Incorrect: The man lived in the ghettos of New York when he was growing up. 

Correct: The man lived in urban areas of New York when growing up. 

I agree with the National Association of Black Journalists’ rule that ghetto should not be a term used to describe a city inhabited be poor people or minorities. It seems derogatory and it immediately gives people a poor description of an individual.

Trip to the Ventura County Star

On November 1, myself and a few classmates attended the Ventura County Star’s morning meeting lead by the editor, John Moore. After the morning meeting, Moore gave us some more insight into the the Star and how it runs, allowing us to ask questions at the end. The morning meeting began at 8:30 a.m., however, we were told the meeting officially begins when Moore picks up his white board, leaves his office, and heads over to the center of the building. He began with a look at yesterday’s paper, asking colleagues if they had any questions or concerns regarding the paper. It was interesting hearing one woman’s critique about a certain story missing a nut graph. I really enjoyed seeing the direct connection between what we have been learning in our Mass Media course to what professionals in the real world deal with. The next step on the agenda was going over the numbers for the day and the top story of the paper. Next, they spoke about what they would like to see accomplished in today’s paper and concluded with iPad visuals.

When meeting with Moore, we learned that although there has been a shrinkage in print, they do not foresee a complete elimination. Moore showed us how different the print experience is as opposed to any other form of news coverage. It includes all of the current news in one experience, rather than seeing short clips, you receive the entire package with print. Although some people assume print is declining, he told us that their print revenues is what pays their employees’ salaries, where as their digital revenue pays their bills. He also explained how their goal is to prove their information is more valuable and trustworthy than news releases in blogs. When asked about activeness on social media, Moore explained how they are heavily active on Facebook and Twitter, however, although they have created a smart phone application, they are not heavily advertising the application. He spoke about the large spike in mobile web traffic but still does not see much in the application. A few students also questioned how he knows what to feature in each daily paper. His answer was simple. He explained that as an editor your job is to learn to how to make decisions and to make them with confidence.

Make a wish and it will come true

Today, ABC News broadcasted a piece where Selena Gomez surprises a young girl who recently fought a brain tumor. The ‘Make a Wish’ foundation helped make Fraley Gilmore’s dream come true shortly after the removal of her brain tumor. Gilmore’s mother brought her daughter and her family to New York, giving the young girl the impression that they were having a meeting with the ‘Make a Wish’ foundation. While a man interviews Gilmore, pop star, Selena Gomez walks up the stairs and surprises the young girl with her presence. Gomez spent the day having ice cream sundaes with Gilmore. Gomez explains how the girl’s excitement is the favorite part of her job and she feels as if she is not doing enough.

The broadcast piece began with a photograph clip of young Gilmore with accompanied audio explaining her life before and after the discovery of her brain tumor. The photograph clip made for a truly eye-opening watch as the broadcast took you from looking at a typical, innocent child to hearing her speak about the scary experience of having the brain tumor removed. Both parents give insight into how surprising the discovery was because of her outstanding health until the age of 10. Despite the fact that the content of this broadcast piece is touching even to the least emotional person, the way in which the piece was conducted made for an even more inspiring story. When conducting a broadcast piece, I plan to use many of the techniques I noticed in this piece. For instance, photograph clips embedded within a broadcast piece on television immediately start the montage feel and give the audience insight into the past. I also found that the lack of reporter voice and feedback strengthened the piece because the young girl was able to tell the story for herself, bringing the audience further involved. I really enjoyed this piece and plan to refer back to it when conducting my own broadcast piece, especially when the topic is a specific individual.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAJ-In08DzQ

Bringing California to North Dakota

Senior Christina Gomez, 24, plans to transform the way North Dakota views exercise with a little California influence.  

Gomez studies Exercise Science at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, where she plans to live until her big move to North Dakota. In the small city of Fargo, exercise studios are not in every single shopping center like they are in California. Exercise studios are where anyone who prefers to work out by means of classes such as yoga or zumba can go to rather than having to lift weights or run on a treadmill. 

Gomez’s interest in exercise science began during her second year of college. Her younger brother had to undergo a series of three shoulder surgeries after a football accident. Gomez took her brother to all of his doctor and physical therapy appointments where she was engulfed in learning how the body works and heals. After going to colleges in both San Diego and Santa Barbara, she finally found a program at CLU that best suited her calling. 

Gomez explained, “The newly remodeled gym at CLU and the talented professors who have experience in what I plan to do for the rest of my life made me confident in my major. I was raised being told to find a profession I wouldn’t mind doing for the rest of my life and I feel lucky to have found it.”   

Shortly after realizing her calling in exercise science, she met her boyfriend who resides in North Dakota, Theron Bleich. With her plans to join him in North Dakota came her worries that she would be unable to find a job there given the current state of the economy. After her fourth visit to North Dakota, she realized she had not seen any exercise studios. 

Gomez said, “Once I noticed there were no exercise studios in North Dakota I realized how I would make a living there. With my savings, I plan to rent out a building in the middle of Fargo where I will hold exercise classes like yoga, kickboxing, and pilates.” 

In order to test the waters, Gomez spoke with people she met on her trips asking them simply if they were aware of classes such as zumba and yoga. The majority of the responses were positive in her favor. On her trips she also met with physical trainers to see what their interest in teaching one of the classes at her studio would be, and again, she received many positive responses. Although she majors in exercise science it is apparent that her mother’s entrepreneurial skills have influenced her. 

With her experience from her brother’s surgery as well as her current roommate’s  recent surgery, she has come to understand the importance of less physically demanding forms of exercise. Last year, her roommate, Victoria Diggs, was in a car accident and had to undergo a spinal surgery to correct a bulged disc. After the surgery, Victoria was worried she would be unable to return to her workout routine of running every morning.  

Diggs explained, “One night I went into Christina’s room crying because of the weight I put on after my surgery. I didn’t expect Christina to have a solution, I just wanted to vent. Then Christina told me she could help me get back into working out. For eight weeks, Christina took me to an exercise studio in Westlake Village where her and I took a pilates class. The instructor always blasted pump-up music and made working out fun. I didn’t realize how much working on the pilates machine strengthened the muscles surrounding my spine. Today, I am able to run five miles every morning.”   

After proving her theory, Gomez decided she wanted to continue encouraging post-surgery patients to begin working out with exercise classes. However, she also realized how important less demanding exercise is for the less motivated person. Her other roommate, Sara Schmachtenberger, always complained to Gomez about how it was difficult to motivate herself to go on the treadmill or go on a run. That is when Gomez suggested kickboxing to Schmachtenberger. 

Schmactenberger expressed, “After my first kickboxing class with Christina I realized that working out could be fun and useful. Kickboxing taught me how to defend myself while working out at the same time. I broke a sweat but still had so much fun, so I signed up for three classes a week.” 

When Gomez finishes her last semester this Fall, she will be moving to North Dakota and immediately beginning the necessary steps to building the first exercise studio in the state. With this Californian hobby in her every day life it may make the transition from the Golden State to the Peace Garden state less dramatic. 

FOIA Request

Angelica Piantadosi

5758 Las Virgenes Rd

Calabasas, CA 91302 

November 8, 2012

 

Dr. Daniel Stepenosky, Supt.

Las Virgenes Unified School District 

4111 N. Las Virgenes Rd

Calabasas, CA 91302

(818)880-4000

  

Dear Dr. Daniel Stepenosky,

Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, I would like to obtain a copy of the base salaries for teachers in your district, which I understand to be held by your agency. I would like these records to state the salary period, name of faculty members, amount of classes taught by each teacher, as well as the subject each teacher specializes in. I would like this forms sent in either a Portable Document Formatted attachment or in mailed hard copy.  

The California Public Records Act requires a response within ten business days. If access to the records I am requesting will take longer, please contact me with information about an expected time of arrival.  

If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies refusal to release the records and notify me of the appeal procedure available to me under the law.  

Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely,

Angelica Piantadosi 

(818)268-3667

Convicted of killing a cat, accused of fracturing his infant’s skull

Auburn father Robert Stephen Meador, 34, is facing child abuse charges for choking and fracturing his infant daughter’s skull on Oct. 19. Her step-grandfather was forced to step in and save the infant’s life from an attack from her own father. The 2-and-a-half year old was treated at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Auburn. 

Detective on the case, Michael Gordon, told the court that after rejecting Meador’s multiple excuses he finally confessed and reenacted the attack on his daughter in a video. 

Gordon informed the court of Meador’s previous encounters with violence involving an innocent house cat. In a similar manner, Meador choked the cat on two separate occasions until breaking its neck, resulting in its death. Gordon fails to accept the facts of his minimal criminal record and the Senior Deputy Prosecutor, Cecelia Gregson suggests he is a danger to the community, especially to animals and children, therefore his bail is set at $250,000. If convicted with one count of first-degree assault of a child, he will be imprisoned for eight to ten years. 

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Police-Cat-strangling-father-broke-infant-3997994.php

Convicted of killing a cat, accused of fracturing his infant’s skull

Auburn father Robert Stephen Meador, 34, is facing child abuse charges for choking and fracturing his infant daughter’s skull on Oct. 19. Her step-grandfather was forced to step in and save the infant’s life from an attack from her own father. The 2-and-a-half year old was treated at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Auburn. 

Detective on the case, Michael Gordon, told the court that after rejecting Meador’s multiple excuses he finally confessed and reenacted the attack on his daughter in a video. 

Gordon informed the court of Meador’s previous encounters with violence involving an innocent house cat. In a similar manner, Meador choked the cat on two separate occasions until breaking its neck, resulting in its death. Gordon fails to accept the facts of his minimal criminal record and the Senior Deputy Prosecutor, Cecelia Gregson suggests he is a danger to the community, especially to animals and children, therefore his bail is set at $250,000. If convicted with one count of first-degree assault of a child, he will be imprisoned for eight to ten years. 

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Police-Cat-strangling-father-broke-infant-3997994.php

“Does Facebook Make Us Better Citizens”

Author and professor at California Lutheran University, Jose Marichal, questioned the audience filled with college and high school students, “Does Facebook Make Us Better Citizens?” on Wednesday in the Lundring Center at CLU. Five minutes before the lecture began there were organizers rushing to pull out more chairs to seat the one hundred plus attendants. Organizer and professor, Colleen Windham-Hughes, Ph.D., M.Div, commented regarding the surprising amount of attendants saying, “We were glad to add chairs.” After the lecture when asked about the engagement from the audience she reflected, “The Laughter and sounds showed engagement.”  

Marichal chose the highly popular social networking website, Facebook, as the basis of his book, “Does Facebook Make Us Better Citizens,” allowing for a silent audience with many questions asked after the lecture. Marichal used a powerpoint presentation to show the way in which politics are present throughout the Facebook world among all ages. He provided eye opening research that made the crowd gasp in awe.  

He gave surprising facts regarding the high percentage of 18-29 year olds using Facebook for political communication. Of the 18-29 year olds using Facebook, 65 percent of them say they plan to vote. However, although these numbers are high, he explains how the type of political talk being used is more private talk with opinions rather than the necessary deliberation with arguments and listening. This poses as a major issue because the majority of voters are already “low information” voters therefore, if Facebook users are interpreting their friends’ opinions as political facts the amount of false information circulating is increasing. CLU professor, Ryan Medders, commented regarding the high school students’ interpretation of the lecture saying, “I certainly hope that they consider the importance of deliberation.” 

Although it is impossible to find out how much Marichal’s lecture affected each student in attendance, high school student, Courtney Karedas, 17, felt a great deal of influence. She explains, “I never really noticed how I just accepted what people said on their Facebook status’ as truth before and I plan to change and not be so gullible.” Although her friends made no comments, they shook their heads in agreement. 

Since it is unlikely that every single of the 1 billion Facebook users will read Marichal’s book, there are political advocates that have intentions to politicize Facebook. Marichal gave examples such as segmenting audiences, “game-ify” politics and deliberation, and politicizing the Facebook “ticker.” For those uninterested in politics, this could push users away from Facebook. 

Facebook has become a major form of communication for our culture. Many look down on the social networking website but it has become the most common form of social grooming and according to Marchial political advocacy on the website could contribute to a higher amount of informed voters and make a major difference in our politics.