Story Corps Wrap up

StoryCorps would argue that everyone has a story to tell...do you agree or disagree?

I do think that everyone has their own story, however, the intrinsic value of each story will vary. In other words, I think that everyone has a story that they could tell, but since everyone's life is different, some stories might not be interesting or unique. 

How do we, journalists, best access stories?

The best way to find a story is to ask people you know. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to know if someone has an interesting story, but if we know someone well enough, they will likely divulge the information.

 What might prevent us from telling (if we are the interviewed) or gathering (if we are the interviewer) these stories?

If we are being interviewed and it is a person that we don't know, then we might not be willing to tell this stranger. If we are interviewing someone we know, it will be easier, but the range of information will be limited.

Opening Moment 2

This article discusses a new technology that is being developed called wireless chargeing. The concept pertains to the use of an electromagnetic wave that powers certain types of phones. In this manor, if the phone is within a certain radius then it will start charging.

Strabucks in California have begun to install this tech.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/18/att-and-starbucks-to-bring-wireless-phone-chargers-to-some-coffee-shops/?ref=technology&_r=1

The Death Penalty

— Should the United States stop using the death penalty? Why?

The United States should continue using the death penalty for those who have committed seriously heinous crimes. I agree with the second article in that for these villians, jail is a retirement home. Once they have committed a horrendous crime, they get free food, free places to live, and have no work to do at all. Keeping them alive is a burden on society because this means that hard working Americans, who are working, must pay to support these law breakers. In addition to this, if capital punishment is enforced, and then it may even deter crimes from occuring. If someone knows they will die because they murder someone, or rape another, instead of simply being shipped of to prison, they probably will think twice about the act.

— Do you have concerns about the fair application of the death penalty, or about the possibility of the criminal justice system executing an innocent person? Do you think capital punishment is “cruel and unusual punishment” and therefore prohibited by the Constitution?

Certainly care needs to be taken when considering someone for the death penalty. It would be equal to murder if innocent people were executed via capital punishment. This should not  be a deterent from using capital punishment, nor is the death penalty cruel and unusual. It is not cruel to make a thief return money he stole, and although murder is different, the crime should fit the punishment. It should not be expected that the person be tortured or beaten because this certainly is cruel in our society, but if the person is executed in a humane manor, this neither cruel nor unusual.

— Do you think the death penalty serves a purpose, like deterring crime, providing relief for victims’ families or imparting “real justice?”

I absolutely belive that the death penalty deters some crimes from ever occuring. As stated above, prison is an easy place to be in the US. The prohibition of "Cruel and Unusal Punishment" produces this. If a criminal thought he might end up dead as the result of his actions, he would be less likely to commit them in the first place. In addition to this, some families might feel the need for vengence. This could lead to more crimes from the famlies of the victim, but if the person was dead, their vengence would be appeased.

— Do you agree with Mr. Dieter that the death penalty is becoming “irrelevant” and “may not last another 10 years?”

The death penalty is certainly not irrelevant. It may die out within the next ten years because  their are many who view it as inhumane. I believe their are practical applications for the death penalty for certain crimes, but others are not of the same opinion.

In High School and Alone in a Homeless Shelter

The main character of this article is Thakane Masondo. The author takes a point in the begining to describe a normal school life filled with activities. This is sharply contrasted with her difficult life outside school. She is homeless, has familly troubles, and few friends. Dispite her difficult circumstances, she still desires to be a pilot and is willing to put in the work to get there. She is willing to spend the little money she has in order to take the SAT. Ms. Masondo also appears to be studious. She stays up late and does her home work in the dark. All of these demonstrate to me that she is a very determined person.

I think this article was published because the person has a great story to tell. Thakane Masondo is such a determined person who wants to succeed that her difficult home life cannot impede her.

If I was interviewing her, I would like to know more about her grades. She seems to work really hard and is studious, but the article never says whether her hard work is paying off. I also would like to know in general what she thought of her family and if she thought she would be as determined as she is if her situation was different.

Against all Odds, A Beautiful Life

Who is the main subject of this article?

Maurice Mannion-Vanover

What details, anecdotes and accounts from other people illustrate the subject’s personality?

The fact that his parents got him an expensive horse. The stories of how Maurice loved his horse as well as particularly the reverend at the end demonstrate that Maurice was a caring person. Also the fact he went to Africa, Central America, and Europe to help others.

What overall impression do you have of Maurice Mannion-Vanover from the article? What gives you that impression?

He seems like he was a child who although he was sickly was full of life. He deeply cared about his horse and family as well as his church and everyone in general. Also, he seems to have been dedicated to anything he did. He received a black belt, which could not have been easy based on his illnesses.

Why do you think this article was published in The New York Times?

It sums up this boys entire life, which was an extremely challenging one, and does so by portraying him as a great person. Although he did not do any one amazing thing, he helped others throughout his short life eventhough he was deathly ill.

If you were to write a more in-depth profile or obituary for Maurice Mannion-Vanover, which details from this article would you include? What additional information would you need to find out? Which people do you think you would interview to get this information? 

I would like to know more about his heart condition, his difficulties in tae kwon do, and his job as a teachers aid as well as the other details that are already included. I would really just need the details for each of these three items, and would probably be able to get the details from his parents, doctors, or teachers. If there was anything else I wanted to know, I would ask other people who were close to him and knew him well.

The Object of Life

My Pownal Fire Department hat tells much of my recent life story. I am a Junior firefighter for Pownal, and I wear my hat during maintenance, and meetings as well as other occasions at the fire department. This hat however represents much more then firefighting. I also wear a hat almost every time I play my banjo at various gigs. Before my PFD hat, it was my Lego Land hat, but they show the same idea. Also, I like to wear a hat when ever I go running. These three things all help represent me and my Highschool life.

Using an object to discribe history can have advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that many parts of history can be compressed into a small amount of space and represent multile things. The disadvantage is that the object might be very abstract and difficult to understand.

New iOS release

With the new iOS a release and all the problems, many people have been wondering if Apple will still be known for its quality. This article discusses it: http://www.techradar.com/us/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/ios-8-bugs-and-bendgate-show-that-apple-s-magic-has-run-out-1267040