Rockin' Around the Computer Screen

It’s that time of the year again. It’s time to deck the halls, chug the egg nog, and start shopping for the recipients on your never ending list that seems to, well, never end.

The only problem? You’re family already has everything.

You could be really thoughtless and buy a couple dozen completely impersonal gift cards in the checkout line at Walgreens. Or you could go the ho-hum route and buy the tried and true yet again: a tie for dad, a CD player for the brother, gold clubs for Uncle Mark, cashmere sweater for Grandma (insert yawn here).

But if you really want to knock the stockings off your loved ones and show them that your truly care, put some thought into every gift and look no further than the internet.

Most everybody has either been the giver or receiver of a picture in a frame, capturing a special memory, from a friend or family member. But if you want to take the sentiment to the next level then make a photo mosaic (pictured) might be the answer. The crafty people on designmosaic.com make the whole process simple by allowing the creator to upload as many photos as they’d like and choose the main photo. Within one to two weeks a personalized mosaic made up of tiny thumbnails will be at your doorstep. The prices range from $19.99 to $49.99 depending on the size of the print and puts a clever twist on any picture.

For the environmentally-conscious in your life, look no further than inhabitat.com. Bike-chain picture frames, eco-friendly clothing, and solar-powered messenger bags are just a few of their specialty items. Any green-loving pal life is sure to be impressed and will proudly wear any of their organic clothing or accessories. The website has an assortment of such novel ideas as a necklace with a water faucet charm, reminding the wearer to save water. Their gifts are a little harsh on the wallet but definitely good for the Earth.

If you really want to get creative, cafepress.com can be a one-stop virtual shopping trip for any type of person on your list. Enabling just about anyone to feature their one-of-a-kind designs on clothing and other products, you might have to refrain from buying a few things for yourself (one for you, two for me?). For the family awaiting a soldier’s return, an entire category is devoted to t-shirts with sayings such as, “All I want for Christmas is my daddy to come home”. Funny slogans such as “My boyfriend can beat up yours” or political statements like “Defend marriage against what? Relevance?” can be found in any category on the website. Type any word or phrase into the search box and you’re sure to find a perfect present.

If you’ve ever heard someone repeat something so much that they might as well get it tattooed on their forehead, you can at least tattoo it on their clothing! Custom ink will print any saying or picture you desire onto an article of clothing of your choice (sweatshirts, T-Shirts, boxers, etc.). The only hard part is not laughing at loved one’s reactions when they see their signature phrase on their new shirt.

While these are only a few of the infinite gifting options on the web, you can be sure to start crossing names off after only a few clicks.

And who can forget the best part ?

You can shop in nothing but your Santa hat!

Text Nation

You just got done arguing with your boyfriend for the millionth time about whose turn it is to buy toilet paper. In tears and exhausted, you finally realize the relationship has expired. The only complication? Breaking the poor guy’s heart.

You could sit him down for a one on one and smash his heart into pieces, complete with awkward silences and trembling lips. Or you could shoot him a quick email, which he probably won’t check until Monday anyway. You ultimately decide that the most appealing option, however, is to spare both of you from being uncomfortable and send him a “breakup text”.

Wait a second…breakup with someone via text?

While this once seemed unfathomable and too coldhearted to actually follow through with, text messaging is quickly making small talk obsolete and becoming the substitute for face to face communication in even the most serious of situations.

Text messaging is giving reason for the shy, lazy, and way-too-busy to rejoice all at the same time.

Ending a long overdue relationship is only one way people are taking advantage of texting’s convenience. Timid employees everywhere are tapping away, sending their employers texts to let them know they’ll be late, that they’ll need vacation time in December, or that they won’t even be coming into the office at all. Those who can’t find the courage to make a direct phone call to the powers that be find comfort in the text message, which avoids stuttering excuses or faking niceties altogether.

Those who can’t seem to stay afloat in the dating pool find comfort in messaging as well. Bashful boys (and girls) who aren’t willing to take the chance of rejection find it easier to type out a quick, “what are you doing tonight?” then dialing someone’s number or (gasp!) asking them out in person. After all, not getting a return text is a lot easier on the ego than turning bright red after you’ve been turned down (and inevitably tripping after walking away).

The lazy have reason to celebrate our techno-advanced communication methods as well. When it comes down to it, who really has time to make 30 phone calls just to see what everyone’s weekend plans are? The “Send to all” button can be pretty convenient when you’re sitting at home wondering who’s plans are the most worthwhile of your acquaintances. Countless cell phones are blown up on the weekends with mass texts asking who will be at what bar. If they respond with a lame “nothing, I’m studying”? Delete! Wait for the next response.

However, it’s after the bars that text messaging can be dangerous. It’s quite possible that there is a market for cell phone breathalyzers, making it impossible to text if you’re over a .08. If you can’t drive, you probably shouldn’t be calling your ex to explain that you’ve never really gotten over him. Or telling your best friend her boyfriend cheated on her through a 2 am text. Drinking and texting can be an embarrassing combination, giving the offender not only liquid courage but also the semi-anonymity of the text.

While texting definitely isn’t a serious problem amidst important issues like war and poverty, it does have some important implications. The art of conversation is slowly going down the drain, with more and more people jumping on the text bandwagon everyday.

So what’s the solution? Next time you’re tempted to text your mom to see how her day is going, schedule a lunch date. And if you’re stuck in traffic for the 20th time and afraid to tell your boss you’ll be late yet again? Suck it up and pick up the phone!

The "Daisy" Touch....

Everything he touches turns to… alive? A unique twist on the Midas Touch fable, one of ABC’S latest hits, Pushing Daisies, leaves viewers oddly enraptured with a once-taboo subject; death.

Piemaker Ned (Lee Pace) learns of his “gift” as a young child. When he touches the dead, they come back to life. One more touch and they are deceased again. However, in a cruel twist he has exactly 60 seconds to return them to the dead before they are permanently brought back to life.

To make things even more complicated, anything he keeps alive will result in the death of something or someone in its place.

His gift turns out to be quite lucrative when Ned crosses paths with special investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride), who convinces him to join forces. Ned helps Emerson solve murder mysteries and rake in the dough by interrogating the morgue’s latest guests and solving cases.

Ned seems to have his secret contained until he is called to the latest victim of a mysterious murder, Charlotte “Chuck” Charles (Anna Friel). After discovering it is his childhood sweetheart sleeping in the mahogany box before him, he makes the decision to keep her alive…at the sacrifice of others. To combat the minor problem of not being able to touch her, Ned creatively finds ways to allow for contact. Saran wrap kisses and a beekeeper-uniform waltz leave viewers giggling at the silliness of their circumstances.

After her impromptu resurrection, Chuck becomes the third party in Ned and Emerson’s triumvirate of the dead. While hiding out from her mourning aunts Vivian and Lily (Ellen Greene and Swoosie Kurtz), she plays the perky sidekick to grumpy Emerson and constantly-stressed Ned.

This is much to the chagrin of Ned’s secret admirer, vivacious Olive Snook (Kristin Chenoweth), who plays the only employee in Ned’s pie shop. Her constant scheming to snag her love combined with her penchant for performing musicals (alone) in her low-cut uniforms perfectly complement the already-fanatical story lines.

Producer Bryan Fuller effectively turns a grim subject into a laugh-out-loud comedy. With off the wall plotlines and ironic elements, such as dandelion-powered cars and morbidly obese grave-robbers, Pushing Daisies is sure to keep viewers glued to their sofas every Wednesday in anticipation of the trio’s next adventure.

Generation Techno- Savvy

"The Paradox of our time in history is that...we have more degrees but less sense"
-George Carlin

Today’s typical college student can barely remember a time when the internet was non-existent. As the years continue, the number of students that rely on technology to aid their learning will continue to grow rapidly. It is officially the Golden Age of the computer, internet, and technological advancement.

The only problem? Schools haven’t exactly caught up…and are losing the attention of students with outdated course requirements and lesson plans.

A typical college syllabus contains multiple lecture sessions, a few multiple-choice exams and midterms, along with various reading assignments and busy work.

For classes that require attendance, most students drudgingly attend lecture sessions with their prized laptops in tow so as not to lose points for absences. What the professors can’t see, however, is that while many appear to be earnestly taking notes as they’re clicking away, most are actually shooting out emails or checking their MySpace accounts for new picture comments.

Instructors will assign endless chapter summary assignments to supplement lectures and ensure that students have actually completed the reading. Though they might be surprised to learn that a good chunk never even crack open the text and many don’t even purchase it in the first place! Wouldn’t it seem that it’s time for change when students can still pass a course with flying colors without even glancing at a “required” textbook?

Sprinkled throughout most courses are also multiple choice exams, filled out on Scantrons, which do more to kill trees than teach students. While once considered a tool to evaluate a student’s comprehension of the material taught , it is becoming a reality that rote memorization of useless information might not be the way to go. Just because a college student spends 4 hours the night before a midterm committing a study guide to his/her memory does not mean it’s actually been absorbed.

Instead of evaluating a professor’s success by how many A’s are earned in his course, it might be more accurate to track how many students go on to actually use the information they are “taught” in their everyday lives or how many college graduates obtain jobs where the material they’ve been taught is relevant. Isn’t the point of a college education to prepare students for the “real world” or the workforce?

Sadly, college students have stopped paying attention. In order to cope, many lug an arsenal of technology to school with them to keep themselves entertained: laptops, cell phones, iPods, etc.. Warm bodies fill classrooms but their minds are playing hooky.

So what’s the answer then? How can educators reel students back in and make their mounting debt worth the while?

While basic reading and writing skills are absolutely imperative to functioning as a competent adult, technology intervention is the answer. Slideshow presentations, email forums, web-enhanced courses, chat room discussions, and hands-on experiments are just some of the tools that many instructors are using to grab the attention of their many visual learners.

Assigning an essay on YouTube or keeping in contact with students via Facebook might seem foreign and even intimidating to many educators, but we live in a world where novel ideas are the most attractive and with so much stimuli attacking the brains of students on a daily basis (radio, TV, internet, magazines, music downloading, email, text messaging, etc.), it has become critical for professors to fight off the outside distractions and grab the focus of seemingly sidetracked pupils.

As technology continues to advance and multimedia becomes more accessible everyday, classrooms have a multitude of options at their fingertips.

College students are enrolled because they want to be… now is the time to take control of the educational institution before it falls through the cracks.

Crush 29....

Immediately upon entering Crush 29’s massive double doors, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to leave your troubles at the door. You might also be surprised to find how fun it is to watch the movers and shakers of Placer County at the trendy, upscale eatery.

Special touches like the complimentary valet service, the outdoor lounging couches, and even the fancy breadsticks served in glasses attempt at differentiating Crush from every other restaurant in town. However, one can’t help but wonder who really wants to sip their wine in a lounge area that overlooks not only a Chevron station but a busy intersection.

Once inside, it’s a different story. You’ll most likely find yourself gravitating towards the enormous circular bar, where you can enjoy their specialty martini, the “Crushtini”, which will leave your nose tickling from the dry ice cleverly placed in the bottom. Or, for the winos in the crowd, Crush features an impressive wine list of over 50 glasses.

If you absolutely love your selection, you can purchase from a selection of over 150 bottles at their in-house wine shop, where they also offer wine-tasting. In addition, each week a chef from a different winery visits to offer a special menu made to pair with a specialty wine.

The designers of the restaurant successfully created a lounge-like atmosphere that invites diners to stay as long as their glasses are filled. The overhead lighting bathes the venue in warm lighting and is set to dim when nighttime falls. The eclectic choice of jazz and house music adds to the hip ambiance, but makes it difficult to actually hear any sort of conversation you might be attempting to have.

Conversation seems irrelevant as soon as the waiter brings your orders to the table. Your taste buds will be rejoicing from the large selection Crush offers. Treat yourself to appetizers like Lamb Lollipops or Beef Butter Cups (thinly sliced beef tossed with cucumber and carrots in a to-die-for spicy sauce) and you will eagerly be anticipating the entrée. Portions are just enough to share and stave your hunger but still leave room for the next course.

The Jade Mountain Chicken is an unlikely pairing but will please an array of diners. Roasted chicken, covered in mozzarella, rests on a pile of rice laying in sun-dried tomato sauce. Or, if you’re up for something a little more traditional, the Margherita pizza never disappoints. The kitchen features a brick pizza oven, cooking the pies to perfection. All of the entrees come out of the kitchen looking more like art than food, which makes sense once you taste a bite of your masterpiece.

It’s smart to arrive at this particular eatery with an open wallet. The typical plate costs about a reasonable $12-$25, but the bar tabs can quickly add up. While it may not be reasonable to dine out on a weekly basis, the restaurant is perfect for special occasions.

The Alizadeh family is already planning an big brother to Crush, which will also be built in the Roseville area, just a street away. The restaurant will costs $10 million and will feature even more of an upscale experience, which will be hard to do but they promise to please.

Cheers!

Who needs a costume when you have skin?

Exotic zone ball, Mandango’s Halloween Bash, The “WICKED” costume party at MoMo Lounge, or your neighbor’s annual costume gala. What do all of these things have in common? Skin, skin, and yep… even more skin. Oh yeah, and about 300 look-alikes.

After partaking in several Halloween festivities this week and last, I feel like my eyeballs need to be washed out with Dial! Since when did the meaning of Halloween change from goblins and ghouls to sex and skin?

Since the meaning of the Fall holiday seems to have been hopelessly lost, here’s a little background information to fill you in.

Halloween first started with the Celts about 2,000 plus years back. They celebrated their new year on November 1st in a tradition called “Samhain“. Their belief was that the night before, on October 31st, the ghosts of the dead came to earth to wreak havoc on crops and help priests foresee the future. Fast forward to after the Romans conquered the Celts and they combined two of their festivals together with the Celts.

In late October the Romans celebrated Feralia (the passing of the dead) and the honoring of the Pomona, who was the goddess of fruit and trees. Have you ever bobbed apples at a Fall Festival? Now you know why.

After Christianity became influential, three celebrations became widespread: All Saints’ Day to celebrate the (you guessed it) saints, All-Hallowmas the night before, and All Souls’ day to celebrate the dead by dressing up as angels, devils, or saints. This is where the tradition of dressing in costumes came about. Combine all of the above and you have what we now know and love as Halloween.

Unfortunately, present day Halloween celebrations are looking less like a celebration of the dead and more like a celebration of the erotic. Take for example 100.5 the Zone’s Annual Exotic Zone Ball. Bragged to be the biggest Halloween party in all of California, it features a bondage stage where those who wish to can partake in some gold old fashioned torture, a lap dance area, and a human petting zone. Every year gets a little more risqué and a little less spooky.

Plus, Sacramentans seem to have lost any sense of originality. Every year, without fail, there seems to be an overload of naughty nurses, randy referees, sexy schoolgirls, frisky firefighters, and kinky cops. Word to the wise: just because you put “sexy” in front of a costume doesn’t make it cute. Spare partygoers eyes and cover yourself up!

Guys, you aren’t off the hook either. How many gangsters, jailbirds, and doctors can fit into one room?

To be fair, I think it’s only right to give props to the best (and surprisingly original) costumes around town so far this year, in no particular order:

1) Britney Spears (umbrella, half-shaved head, baby bottle with Diet Coke in it)
2) Borat with his neon mankini
3) Justin Timberlake’s “D*ck in a Box”
4) 80s Workout Girl

5) The Wendy’s orange-pigtailed guy
6) Lindsey Lohan/Nicole Richie/Paris Hilton jailbirds
7) Terrorist, complete with gas mask (although possibly politically incorrect)
8) Old farts (walkers, cardigans, mesh trucker hats)
9) The Walking Keg that actually had alcohol in it
10) Nip/Tuck’s Kimber (stitches on the mouth)

Next year around this time I challenge Sacramento to bring back the true meaning of Halloween: deck yourself out in the most original costume you can think of, construct a haunted house that will leave people’s vocal chords raw from screaming , and for goodness sake: keep your clothes on while you do it!

'Tis the season... and I just can't wait!

It’s almost here: the smell of gingerbread cookies and cinnamon candles will waft into my nostrils on a daily basis, storefronts will glimmer with silver tinsel and fake snow, and there will be a general feeling of goodwill and joyfulness penetrating the atmosphere. Ladies and Gentleman, Christmas is about to arrive!

I find a different reason to love the holiday every time December rolls around, but the warm feeling of holiday cheer infiltrates every inch of my body right on cue every year.

Perhaps the greatest joy of all is seeing the excitement in a child’s face in anticipation of the 25th. The youngest ones take pride in their handcrafted popsicle stick ornaments and picking out the “perfect” tree, even if it closely resembles Charlie Brown’s infamous Evergreen. Some little ones spend hours on their computers constructing wish lists of toys, complete with full descriptions and price comparisons, with enough pages to reach the moon and back. On the night of Christmas Eve, children can barely stop wriggling long enough to catch a wink of sleep, hoping to catch a glimpse of Saint Nick snacking on the Snackwells cookies they laid out.

Children and adults alike seem to be sprinkled with sugar and spice and everything nice, turning into regular saints around this time. Those who like to curse at the homeless men begging on Arden way the rest of the year are now compelled to donate cans to the hungry or buy a little girl a Barbie doll as part of the Wish Tree. The sounds of the Salvation Army’s bells fill the air and people are more than happy to unload their change. It’s unfortunate that this doesn’t go on the entire year, but you have to start somewhere right?

On a more shallow level, we can’t forget the all-consuming smells and tastes of the holiday season, which leave my senses in a state of month-long euphoria.

Fragrance and cosmetic companies jump on the chance to market special-edition peppermint lip glosses, cinnamon body scrubs, and vanilla sprays. Candle shops offer a plethora of Christmas-themed wax goodies, and almost every place you walk into smells like it’s been sprayed with a “Christmas” air freshener.

So your taste buds don’t feel left out, there’s a smorgasbord of holiday specials in every café and candy shop around town. Starbucks offers my favorite seasonal treat called the Cranberry Bliss Bar, a mixture of cranberries and vanilla frosting to go along with their peppermint mochas and gingerbread lattes. Holiday cheer can also be found in the form of cookies, cakes, and candy canes that are either for sale or offered up by friends and neighbors. Peppermint ice cream anyone? Yum!

Even better than material objects is the theme of family that becomes so widespread by the end of the year. The hustle and bustle of everyday life comes to a halt as relatives come together to share a hearty meal, a glass (or four) of eggnog, and catch up on the year’s happenings. While not everyone has the time to catch up with Aunt Martha on a weekly basis, Christmas is the perfect excuse to do just that. There aren’t many moments that bring more contentment than realizing how lucky you are to be cozy, well-fed, and surrounded by loved ones on a holiday.

Whether you celebrate Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, or none of the above, you’re sure to encounter (and enjoy) some of the many perks of the holiday season.

The only downside to the festivities? That they can’t last the whole year!

Inked... what now?

Tattoos, artwork, ink… or how about a huge mistake? Call them what you want, but one thing for sure is that tattoos are just about everywhere…and tattoo laser removal is a growing industry that just might be about to get it’s big break.

A far cry from a few years back, most people won’t even take a second look if they see a 90-year-old man marked up with a naked chick on his not-so-muscular bicep. Whatever makes him feel young right? It’s probably not even too far off to assume that those serious-looking, high-profile attorneys and frowning politicians walking around Downtown Sacramento have a few pieces of artwork discreetly hidden under their power suits.

While tattoos are finally becoming socially acceptable, it seems that people are putting less consideration into getting ink injected into their dermis.

Young newlyweds run to the tattoo parlor to commemorate their “foreverness” by getting each other’s names scrawled across the body part of their choice. Bands just starting out might celebrate their newfound success with matching back pieces. And while most shops say that they won’t ink someone under the influence, the drunk guy determined to get a tattoo of his own face on his derrière will somehow find a way. But what happens if your “soul mate” runs away with your best friend? Or if the band mates have a falling out and end up despising each other? Or when you get out of the shower and see your own face on your BEHIND?

Tattoo removal, there's your cue.

While it used to be an excruciatingly painful process involving dermabrasion (hardcore scrubbing), laser technology has made the removal process a little more pleasant. Lasers administer pulses of light and are absorbed by the tattoo, which often penetrate the second or even third layer of skin below the surface. The ink’s pigment is broken up into tiny particles which is absorbed into the blood and cleaned out by the body’s immune system.

Depending on the size, location, depth, density, and age of the tattoo it might take over a year for the tattoo to fade completely. Even then, 10 percent of tattoos still remain visible. But because there are so many different types of ink used by artists, it is impossible to pinpoint the exact type used and physicians must basically experiment until the eyesore disappears.

Anyone looking to start the process should be prepared to empty their pockets. While prices vary at different clinics, clients should expect to pay anywhere from $200 up to $1000 per session. Amateur tattoos might require only one to four sessions but professionally done tattoos can take anywhere from six on up. Plus, the more sessions needed, the longer they are spaced apart. A quick half hour tattoo session can easily turn into a year-long waiting game since it’s never guaranteed how many removal sessions might be needed.

The pale girl that thought it might be fun to get a sleeve of solid black? She actually might have been onto something. The lighter your skin, the easier it is to get rid of the art. Lasers have a hard time distinguishing ink from darker skin. Also, darker ink fades faster than colors and areas of your body with more circulation (arms, chest, etc.) will break up the ink faster.

As long as the needles keep buzzing, there are sure to be clinics popping up all around town. Websites such as tattooremoval.org and tattooremoval411.com can help you get started undoing your mistake. They offer listings of the phone numbers and addresses of credible clinics and laser technicians all across the US.

Tattoo artists probably won’t quit inking anytime soon, and laser services clinics couldn‘t be more thrilled.

Just remember… think before you ink.

YouTube... you can run but you can't hide

Thinking back a few years ago, I never thought I would see the day where I would be assigned my homework via YouTube… but the day has officially arrived.

YouTube, aside from MySpace, is possibly one of the most popular websites in the internet stratosphere. Almost anything that your heart desires (or eyes, rather) can be found on the site, featuring a wide range of videos, from Britney Spears’ train-wreck MTV Video Music Award performance to self-made videos by Apple iPhone customers decoding their outrageously thick bills.

The Tube’s birthday was back in February 2005, when three former employees from PayPal got together to create the service, which uses Adobe Flash to broadcast its files. Google then made a smart move and bought out the company for a grand $1.65 billion in Google stock in late 2006.

A video network for the pathetically bored, the insanely talented, and those who just want to catch up on Paris Hilton‘s latest mistake, YouTube has something to offer to everyone. Members can upload their own videos and blogs, download their favorite music performances, and even rate posted videos among about a million other features.

Much to celebrities' chagrin, their every moves (the good and bad) are at the world’s disposal thanks to video sharing. Just ask David Hasselhoff, who suffered not only public mockery but loss of custody of his children after he was filmed wiggling around on the floor, attempting to eat a cheeseburger (he failed) after he tossed back a few too many. The video not only made it to YouTube within 48 hours, but made it to top headlines on news programs and was hot gossip throughout the internet blogosphere.

On the other end of the spectrum, former “nobodies” are experiencing fame they, and most everyone else in the world, can hardly believe because of their home videos. This is the story for Chris Crocker, who famously wailed and chastised the public for being so cruel to Britney Spears and begged for her mercy. He can now be seen rubbing elbows with Alexis Arquette and other stars at some of LA’s most exclusive nightclubs.

Many are also familiar with the rise of “Obama Girl”, actress Amber Lee Ettinger, who flirtatiously lip-synched her love to presidential candidate Barack Obama this year in a video that seems like it was seen by everyone. From there Ettinger was featured on the cover of “Steppin’ Out” magazine, interviewed by big dogs Fox News and CNN and has a website which claims to be “The Home of Obama Girl.” Plus, she sparked the fame of other wannabes… do the “Giuliani Girls” sound familiar?

In addition to being the downfall of some celebs and the rise of those desperately seeking fame, YouTube has brought forth a wave of conveniences to classrooms all over. Many professors across the country are using clips from YouTube to supplement their classroom lectures and homework, which might just might perk the interest of the younger and tech-savvy generations. And it’s likely that almost all students would rather watch their assignments then listen to their instructors drone on and on…and on.

Perhaps one of the best features of video-sharing is exposing controversy. Soldiers in Iraq have had their videos removed after filming overseas, but were at least able to reach a small group of viewers before the ban. Watchdog groups such as Cop Watch LA and others have used the forum to encourage investigations of police brutality, posting videos of questionable police conduct. Another shocking video even showed a young toddler, suspected to be under the influence of ecstasy, riding on the floor of a vehicle with her eyes rolling back in her head while her caretakers laughed uncontrollably.

For the good or the bad, thousands of videos being added everyday and the options are endless.

What are you waiting for? Pick up the webcam… your audience is waiting.

Lisa Daily... coming to a relationship near you!

Making an empire out of women desperate to find true love, Lisa Daily is single handedly conquering the dating world… one “Dreamgirl” at a time. Author of the bestselling book Stop Getting Dumped and a columnist featured on up to 150 websites per month, Daily is considered a relationship guru and an expert on what makes men tick and the secrets of women who set them off.

Giving out dating and relationship advice for years, Daily finally decided to turn her expertise into profit… in more ways than one. Not only did her “skills” get her the man of her dreams (who proposed on the Eiffel Tower after only six months of dating), but her knowledge has scored her an abundance of fame and fortune.

Daily’s columns, TV appearances, and radio segments all have one common goal: to turn those seeking Mr. Right into a “Dreamgirl”. As her website describes it, every women has it in her: “the one who has a fantastic job, spends three days a week helping out at a soup kitchen…and always has the right shoes, no matter what the occasion.”

She enjoys much success as she appears weekly as a dating expert on Lifetime Radio and her syndicated dating column is featured not only on websites but in college newspapers across the US. To date, she has been a guest on more than 700 television and radio shows. Plus, in 2005 she was featured in the comedy Hitch as a “real-life date doctor” on the movie’s special features.
Her advice promises to help you find “the one” and weed out all of the jerks, because god knows there‘s an abundance of them. The legitimate guidance she gives will definitely leave you scratching your head and wondering, “why didn’t I think of that in my last relationship?”

In the second chapter of her coveted book, she stresses the importance of spoiling yourself. She advises all women to drink tons of water and always look your best in flattering clothes because you never know where you’ll meet the man of your dreams. She also stresses the importance of treating yourself to something indulgent once a week… even if it’s only relaxing with a bag of cold peas on your eyes.

Women who have been unlucky in love can seek out her services by enrolling in her “Dreamgirl Academy“, which is held annually at the Learning Annex in New York. Those who attend can anticipate learning how to become a sought after woman, how to avoid mistakes often made in relationships, how to stay on a man’s mind and how to always have the time of your life.

If you can’t make it to an academy, date coaching is also offered over the phone. Or, if the idea of calling someone for dating advice makes you feel a little too desperate (which is totally understandable), some of her tips can be found in her column and on her website, stopgettingdumped.com.

While Daily has faced some criticism for her traditional ideas about dating and relationships featured in her columns, she turns the other cheek and continues to dole out advice anyway.

Sure, it might not be totally feasible to drop your current profession and go out and fill your shoe racks with all the latest Jimmy Choos. It might even seem insane to pay for advice to score a man. But rooted in all of her advice is the best of them all: how to be confident. If you dig deep enough, every girl has a kick-ass chick inside of her somewhere. If her success is any indication, Lisa Daily just might be the one to bring it out.

Put DOWN the cell phone!

While it seems simply horrifying to imagine living B.C. (you know, Before Cell phones), the fact of the matter is that things were a whole lot more pleasant. With the onslaught of advancements in cellular technology and more cell phone shops than Starbucks around town, young people in Sacramento seem to have lost their manners! Unfortunately, we can’t create a total ban on cell phones, but in the meantime take note: here’s some simple etiquette to remember.

There aren’t too many things more frustrating than being stuck behind someone who is so involved in their phone conversation that they feel the need to walk two steps per minute in a crowded walkway or drive five miles per hour on the Capital City Freeway. And somehow, inevitably, it’s always when you’re in a hurry. Whether it be in a busy airport or driving during rush hour traffic, hang up the phone or be subject to angry expletives and lots of honking. Help contribute to the smooth flow of traffic and call them back later.

At campuses all around town, it seems that a good portion of students are afflicted with Too Much Information syndrome (also know as “TMI“). These are the rude people that feel the need to broadcast every insignificant detail of their lives to everyone within earshot and usually can be found in lines or waiting rooms where other people can‘t get away from them. Somehow the second they open their Motorola Razor, their voice amplifies by about 3,000 decibels. By the time they’ve hung up the phone you know just how many Mai Thais they drank last night, who’s tongue was down who’s throat at Mandangos, and you can now recite their entire grocery list. If you must talk in front of others, pretend you’re in a library and keep your voice to a 12-inch volume… if anyone really cared about your weekend, they’d ask!

Onto another important matter… cell phone headsets. While Bluetooth ear pieces and other hands free headsets are always encouraged while driving, it seems that some people are taking things a little too far.

Walk around town and it seems that there are a lot of 20-somethings who think they’re so important that they need a phone in their ear 24/7. Get real! Not only do you look like you’re talking to yourself (which is creepy), but is it really that hard to hold a cell phone? Plus, we all know that no one’s calling you besides your mom and girlfriend anyway… is a headset really necessary?

Onto the big daddy of them all: text messaging. Text messaging seems to have replaced talking almost entirely. Mass texts of “what are you doing tonight?” seem to go out by the hundreds on the weekends and it doesn’t even seem that crazy to text message your boss that you’re running late instead of a courtesy call. The worst of all? Text message breakups! How insensitive can people be?

In a city full of people who always seem to be in a rush, don’t forget that face to face interaction is still an option. Give your thumb a rest!

It’s not fair to complain only about the consumer, however. Cell phone kiosks and retailers in the malls should get some manners as well. There’s nothing more jolting than strolling along the Galleria and admiring the window displays when a obnoxious man yells, “Hey! What cell phone service do you have?! Can I talk to you for a second!?” These guys need to get a life and stop disturbing the peace.

While the convenience and benefits of cell phones absolutely outweigh the positives,
it really just comes down to this: either hang up the phone or get out of the way and shut up!

Look Officer, No Hands!

On a recent drive to work, I found myself the epitome of every annoying driver on the road. I was yakking away on my cell phone, catching up on last night’s gossip, while switching back and forth between bites of my hot pocket and sips of my Starbucks mocha, even taking time to brush the crumbs off my lap. It was when I glanced down and realized that for a brief second neither of my hands was touching the steering wheel when I realized…I had reached an all-time irresponsible low.

The alarming reality of this scenario is that it mimics many other drivers on freeways and streets all over California. Cell phone use is the No. 1 cause of accidents caused by distracted drivers. But are you really that surprised?

That is precisely why every Californian should be praising the lawmakers for the recently-signed bill, SB1613, prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving unless they are used with a hands free headset or a Bluetooth device. Beginning June 1 2008, all drivers in violation of this law are subject to a $20 fine for a first-time offense and $50 fine thereafter.

But many are scratching their heads and wondering why it took so damn long to enact the law in the first place! The issue has been inching its way to the governor’s desk for the past few years and is long overdue. Countless unnecessary fender-benders and even fatalities due to careless motorists could have been avoided if the ban had been put into action earlier.

There is minor opposition to the passing of the bill…but of course. There will always be a few Debbie Downers trying to bring down something that benefits so many. However, it’s hard to understand why anyone would argue against a law that will potentially save lives and save many drivers from headaches resulting from accidents. Maybe those voicing out against the bill are the chronic cell-phone users that the law is targeting.

There are also a large amount of cell phone users whining that they are practically being forced to go out and purchase a new accessory. But these people will probably be thanking the same lawmakers they are cursing when traffic flows just a little more smoothly on their 5 o’clock commutes. While drivers can still yak all they want, at least they will no longer be performing a juggling act between their oversized Blackberries and adjusting their AC and radio at the same time.

Some cell phone companies, namely Sprint, are worried that cell phone sales might suffer but even more see this as an opportunity to pump up car accessory sales and fully plan on taking advantage. Most people in this state can barely survive without their cell phones and will hardly get rid of their beloved technology. This means that most cell phone service providers and retail centers will have to stock up on handsets to prepare for the rush.

While this is definitely a step in the right direction, more can definitely be done. Holding a cell phone is not the only thing causing accidents.

If lawmakers wanted to take things further and get really serious about making roadways safe they should pass a law enforcing a ban on makeup application, text messaging, and cheeseburger eating among about a billion other things. And nothing is more frustrating than having to honk at the frazzled mom in front of you because she’s too busy screaming at her bratty kids to notice the light turned green.

However, until Californians are all ordered to become bicyclists or pedestrians, this is definitely one thing the state has done right.

Where have all the cowBOYS gone?

Take a moment and transport yourself to the 50s. The ideal man was rugged, manly and was ready to take on the world in a white t-shirt, distressed denim and a letterman’s jacket. Cigarette in their mouths, flask in their pockets, these were all-American men. Not that alcohol-guzzling and tobacco-consuming makes someone more masculine, but you get the idea.

Jump to the present day and take a look around Sacramento and the result is alarming. The city is plagued with an entirely new and alarming subculture: the Metrosexual man.

You’ve most likely had an encounter with more than one. Their designer jeans are more expensive than their girlfriends, their 100 dollar t-shirts have more rhinestones than any teeny bopper’s, and they look as if they spent the past 48 hours getting ready.. to run errands. No, that’s not a purse they’re wearing, it’s a Louis Vuitton “man bag”. Where have all the men gone?!

There’s a difference between daily grooming and over-the-top maintenance, but this group seems to have blurred the line between the two.

Women might be partly to blame. Men are repeatedly subject to the women in their lives begging them to cut their fingernails, put on a clean shirt, and wear some jeans that aren’t eight sizes too big. But it seems as if they’ve taken it about 3,000 steps too far.

The media might be guilty for this outbreak. Billboards and magazines are infiltrated with ads of androgynous humans that look scarily all the same. Pencil leg jeans are practically painted on men and women’s fashion proudly encourages menswear styles. And they might as well throw a lacy corset and fishnets on a Dolce and Gabana model.

If you haven’t yet had a meeting with one of these well-kempt men, look no further than any fitting room or makeup counter in a local department store.

It used to be girls lugging piles of this season’s must-haves into the dressing rooms and spending hours involved in impromptu fashion shows for their friends. Saunter over to the men’s departments and the same can be seen. Salespeople have to reassure “guys” that yes, their butts look fine in the boot cut True Religions and yes, that Affliction shirt compliments your skin tone.

Impatient shopping partners must endure indecisive males who can’t decide between two pairs of jeans because one pair has a green tint to it and the other has better stitching. Plus, they are worried that their purchase might go out of style so they might just want to wait for the new ones to come out next week. Are these guys for real?

Move a little further over to the cosmetics counters and Metrosexual almost crosses the line into full-on females. If a male can apply makeup and sell perfume better than his associates, then so be it and more power to him for his amazing talent. But men actually wearing layers of foundation, more mascara than Tammy Faye (rest in peace), and platforms higher than the girls at Centerfolds? It’s really no wonder our world is so screwed up.

The situation isn’t completely bleak, however. It’s great that men feel so comfortable that they can express their femininity and partake in conversations where they once stood silent with gaping mouths. Plus, it is just a little refreshing to see a man that takes pride in his appearance and isn’t so manly that he can’t trim that mass of hair on his chest. Menswear divisions all over are rejoicing at the sight of their skyrocketing sales.

And hey, if you can share jeans and hair products with your boyfriend, at least you’ll both be saving money right?

Would you like a side of bad attitude with that?

Just take one glance at a picture of a service station from the 1950s and it’s no wonder why everyone was so damn chipper. Beaming attendants would rush out to arriving cars, often weary from long car rides, and fulfill the car’s every need. Windshields were cleaned, the tank was quickly refueled and the tires were filled with air. All of this was done while the satisfied family sat in the car, not needing to move a muscle.

Imagine this scene taking place now and it’s hard not to laugh. Yeah right! Times have changed and it’s hard to find good service anywhere. Sadly, amazing customer service is the exception rather than the norm.

It would seem fair that paying outrageous insurance payments every month should guarantee you not only peace of mind but outstanding customer service. But let’s get real here. If an experienced teenager swerves into your lane unexpectedly, smashing in the front of your new (and beloved) car, get ready for frustration on a whole new level.

Being involved in a fender-bender is stressful enough, but dealing with the service of claim agents who are supposedly there to “help” brings forth a whole new wave of inconveniences… and if it’s a dispute over whose fault the accident was, you’ll most likely receive the worst customer service ever.

Expect a game of phone tag to last approximately forever between not only your insurance company but the other driver’s as well. If you’re in the “good hands” of Allstate, get ready for a letter in the mail saying “you’re dispute is being processed” instead of a return phone call, complete with an auto signature at the bottom. Makes sense; who has time to sign their name anymore?

While the powers that be are trying to decide who’s at fault, you get the privilege of driving a wrecked car around with absolutely no sympathy from anybody employed at the aforementioned insurance companies.

From there, you will most likely deal with a rental car company and a body shop where all of the employees seem to hate their jobs and make you feel as if it was you that filled out their job application and managed to get them hired. Would it really hurt anyone to smile and genuinely mean “have a good day”?

Bad service doesn’t only plague automobile companies. Try to flag a sales associate down at Macys and see how far you get. Or try to order a Dirty Martini from a bartender at a crowded bar and consider yourself lucky if you get as much as a nod. They can get a better tip from the hot guy ordering a round at the end of the bar.

It’s disheartening that this is where service is heading but just look on a local CraigsList job listing and it seems to make a little more sense.

With the cost of living sky-rocketing more and more everyday, shouldn’t employers pay accordingly? Wages are usually offered at 10 to 13 dollars per hour, and that’s with job experience. Forty hours a week will give you around 1600 (give or take) a month, which is barely enough to survive on.

A lot of the disgruntled employees that seem to enjoy making consumer’s lives miserable are just actually just stressed about how they’re going to make next month’s mortgage payment. Combine low wages with a lack of emphasis placed on the importance of good service and it’s a recipe for not only failure but angry customers.

So what’s the answer then? Employers should get back to the basics and mimic companies such as Nordstrom that have a reputation built on excellent customer service. They must be doing something right; the Nordstrom brothers might as well have dollar signs tattooed on their foreheads and their employees are always (genuinely) smiling.

Even if the customer ISN’T always right, is it so hard to fake it?

Exhausted and Hungover... but at Least They Have A's!

On a typical Friday night in Sacramento, from Old Roseville to Downtown and everywhere in between, the bars are usually crowded with college students. Shots of yummy poison are downed, bar tabs add up quickly and there’s always a feeling of excitement and crazy carelessness in the air.

Fast forward to Monday morning and a harsh reality sets in. The same students that were pouring vodka tonics down their throats and partying until the sun came up are now regretting their decision to forgo sleep and studying for a weekend of fun. Sleep deprivation and a hangover set in and it’s a race to complete last week’s reading assignments. Hilarious pictures were taken and unforgettable memories were made, but is it worth the constant fatigue and stress?

The dilemma of balancing a social life and school is one that many college students face and exhaustion seems to be a rapidly-spreading epidemic. Just take a walk around Sac State on any given day or hour and you will see hundreds of students with a death grip on their iced white mochas, caffeine the only thing helping them sleep-walk through law classes and fraternity meetings.

While this state of exhaustion isn’t unique to Sacramento by any means, the importance of partying and good times seems to be promoted more often than in surrounding areas. A new bar, club or lounge seems to be popping up on every corner of downtown every month. It’s hard to focus on school when the week’s parties are strewn across the ground and under your windshield wipers on postcards in addition to being broadcast all over the radio.

To make things even more stressful, many students have to balance part-time or full-time jobs, sports, children, volunteer work and Greek activities alongside their academics.

“I know that I shouldn’t go out as much as I do but I work about 40 hours a week and have school, homework and fraternity events. Even though sometimes I’m so exhausted that I pass out in my second beer, looking forward to fun times with my friends keeps me going,” said Christopher Berry, a junior Business Major at Sacramento State.

One reason many students feel the need to spread themselves so thin is attempting to become the ideal 20-something. It’s not enough to be a responsible student and work enough hours to eat and barely make the rent. Gone are the days when “student” is an acceptable profession.

Many students hold sales or real estate jobs on the side to pay for expensive car payments, weekend trips to Vegas, and ridiculously expensive nights out to local bars and clubs. Forgoing a flashy ride and a social life to hit the books has become a the exception rather than the norm.
It seems to be an evil cycle that just keeps spinning. By the end of the week, you’re so exhausted that all you can think of is closing your eyes and curling up into the fetal position in your bed.

You’re driving home, in anticipation of some much-needed REM sleep, when you hear your cell phone ringing. All of your friends are meeting up at the Park (the lounge on 15th and L, not the one with swings) and want you to join; they won’t accept no for an answer! That’s when the reasoning starts in your head: maybe 5 hours of sleep is sufficient; class doesn’t start until 10:00 anyway and an hour is definitely enough time to write the final draft of a term paper.

Who needs sleep when there's so much fun to be had?

Query letter for story #1

April 20, 2007

Tom Morrisey
Executive Editor, Sport Diver Magazine
460 N. Orlando Ave., Suite 200
Winter Park, FL 32789


Dear Mr. Morrisey,


Divers have thousands of options when choosing their next diving destination. Many aren’t aware of the awesome experiences waiting for them in Lake Tahoe, California.

Nestled in a picturesque surrounding of the Sierra mountains, Lake Tahoe is not just an average lake. Visibility ranges from 60 to 100 feet on a good day, which surpasses even some of the most popular ocean dive sites!

The average family or individual diver doesn’t necessarily have the time or money to book a week-long flight to a tropical destination across the globe. Lake Tahoe has something to offer entire families of divers at all skill levels and reasonably priced diving excursions are easy to come by.

There are numerous reasons why divers should experience Lake Tahoe diving at least once. It is a playground of rock formations and home to a wall that drops down to depths of 800 feet. With over 10 amazing dive sites, the options are endless.

The piece is planned to be around 700-1000 words in length and can be tailored as needed. I think it would fit in with your other diving destinations in California.

I am a journalism major with hopes of pursuing a career in journalism. I am currently taking a magazine writing course taught by Professor Mike Fitzgerald, who writes for Reuters as well as many other magazines and newspapers. I have been a certified PADI scuba diver for four years and am a lake diving enthusiast as well. I hope I can spread my enthusiasm to your readers.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Casey L. Kirk

Query Letter for story #2

April 20, 2007



Rob Turner
Co-Editor-in-Chief, Sactown Magazine
The Elks Tower
Penthouse Suite 1400
921 11th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814


Dear Mr. Turner,


Immediately upon entering the city limits of Loomis, California, visitors will find themselves wondering if the clocks have stopped and the decades have been reversed.
Hiding just past the rapidly-developing Roseville and Rocklin lies Loomis, a small city with a population of only around 6,300 people. Don’t be fooled; this city has much to offer to anyone with a tank of gas to spare.

The Secret Ravine Vineyard and Winery offers tours and wine produced from locally-grown grapes. If visitors drive a little deeper, they will find the residents’ cherished Blue Goose Fruit Shed. Once used as a fruit packaging shed, it now is home to community gatherings, art competitions, and poetry readings among other things.

Driving along the winding roads, it is hard not to stare in awe at the beautiful, rustic homes sitting on plots of land from one acre to beyond. The trees and foliage frame the picturesque scenery perfectly and you can feel the sense of community in the smiles on residents’ faces.
The piece is planned to be around 500-600 words but can be tailored as needed. I think it would fit perfectly in your “Tank of Gas” section.

I am a journalism major with hopes of pursuing a career in journalism. I am currently taking a magazine writing course taught by Professor Mike Fitzgerald, who writes for Reuters as well as many other magazines and newspapers. I am also a resident of Placer County, which Loomis lies in.

I hope that I can share the secret of Loomis to your readers. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you soon.



Sincerely,


Casey L. Kirk

"Tom-Tom" Barnard

For our upcoming story I will be profiling Thomas Barnard, also known as “Tom-Tom“. Thomas, 23, is lives behind Rebounds sports bar, which he also frequents. He has been attending Sierra college for the past four years and plans on becoming a zookeeper someday.

From the first five minutes I met Thomas I knew he was the quirkiest person I ever met. His apartment has an entire wall of 4x6 photo frames devoted to head and group shots of his friends and family, most of them crooked. My assumptions about him were confirmed when he pulled up his shirt and showed me his stick figure tattoo on his stomach, which looks like a 3-year-old drew on him.

These are just some of his many oddities. However, when he goes to work at his two jobs as a server (at Crush 29 and Sweetwater) he is as professional as it gets. His guests would have no idea about the true Tom-Tom.

I am still trying to figure out what direction to head in for the story and any suggestions would be appreciated and would like to “shadow“ him for a night, which I plan on doing this weekend. I have also sent out emails to several of his close friends asking for quotes about Tom-Tom. Out of curiosity, does this sound like a story you all would be excited to read?

Loomis, California

When I first drove to Loomis, I couldn’t believe anyone would want to live there. Not only did I get completely lost on the meandering road, but all I could see were trees and houses. I immediately wondered how the residents could survive without a Starbucks (joking).

It turns out, they are getting along very well. The populace of Loomis love the small-town charm and many residents have lived there their entire lives and don’t plan on going anywhere soon.

I briefly visited Loomis and noticed that not only does it have a beautiful scenery as a backdrop to almost every house, but also is home to a bed and breakfast, a yearly Eggplant festival, and a vineyard and winery to boot! I will be going back this upcoming week to explore the town more in depth.

The locals are proud of their little city (population 6,300) and youth football teams as well as band members receive community support to the fullest. I talked with two high school graduates of Del Oro High and both recalled football being almost an obsession for residents.
There has recently been controversy surrounding the Blue Goose Fruit Shed, which was once a packing house but has been turned into a community center and many of the neighbors favorite.
The shed has a produce market and poetry readings along with other community events are held here. There are plans to develop the land it’s sitting on, though, and locals have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to save it. There’s even a website devoted to saving the shed!).

So far I have talked with three local “Loomisans” and quickly drove through. I have read about the Secret Ravine winery on their website and read “Great Neighborhoods” article in Sacramento Magazine, which featured Loomis. So, essentially, I still have my work cut out for me.

The type of magazines I read on a regular basis range all the way from trashy gossip magazines to my dad’s subscription of Field and Stream. Whatever I can get my hands on or find laying in front of me, I pick up and start perusing through. My favorite magazines, however, are US, People, GQ, Maxim, InStyle, Vogue, and Cosmopolitan.

Typical for a girl in her 20s right? Well, maybe not the men’s magazines, which happen to be the best, in my opinion. Working in the men’s department at Nordstrom, we’re constantly told to stay up on our reading in fashion and have subscriptions to these “bibles” in each department. I love the sassy (for lack of a better word) attitudes that the writer’s have and if you actually check out more than Eva Mendes' "girls", you’ll notice that they have very well-written articles on world issues.

A more recent addition to my collection of magazine subscriptions is Sactown, which might sound lame at first but is a very eclectic read and makes you feel proud to be from here. It spotlight’s local “celebrities”, covers events around town and has fun features that are enjoyable to read. Along the same lines, I really like reading the Granite Bay and Roseville magazines that are always stuffed in my mailbox.

While it’s not actually considered a magazine, I am also admittedly addicted to “TMZ.com.” Most people might criticize this mindless and gossipy website but I find myself checking it at least two times a day to get up to the minute news about celebrities. It sort of serves as an escape from my busy life of work and school, like a dumb movie does for others.

While I have my favorites that I make a point of reading, I’m just happy reading any magazines at all. I am always pleasantly surprised after reading National Geographic or Home Inspector while sitting around the house or waiting in the doctor’s office. Plus, it’s always refreshing to read a political candidate’s take on social security instead of why Britney Spears shaved her head and a beat a photographer!

Developing story

You probably wince at the idea of even dipping a single toe into the brown, murky waters of your local lake. The thought of submerging your entire body into the “swamp” that many locals most likely cherish is probably even more unfathomable. However, it may be surprising to learn that sacrificing visibility to scuba dive in a freshwater lake is often an appealing choice to divers.

You might be scratching your head, wondering why any person in their right mind would want to dive into the depths of dark, cold lake water. There’s more to the answer than all scuba divers are out of their minds anyway… even if that is indeed true (myself included). Let’s begin with visibility, which can often make or break an ocean dive.

Going into a lake, you already pretty much know what to expect: on a good day, maybe 10 feet of visibility at the best. This might scare some divers away, but the thrill of being 30 feet underwater and barely being able to make out your dive buddy’s outline is an adrenaline rush you will never forget. Add a diver propelled vehicle (assuming you’re specialty certified, of course) to the mix and you’re guaranteed a ride of a lifetime.

So what about the beautiful fish and colorful color reefs that divers fly halfway around the world to see? The water absorbs the colors of the fish and they all start to look the same after a certain depth anyway. Ok, ok so diving in Belize or Tahiti is probably just as picturesque as they advertise, but there’s just as much diversity and underwater life in lakes.

Just a start!
To be continued...

Scuba story status (say that three times fast)

Here it is in all it’s glory… blog number two (which should probably be blog number 5 or ten if I was caught up with my classmates). I vowed to myself to jump head first into the world of blogging this upcoming week, but until then, here is an brief update on the formation of my first story.

To fill everyone in, the story I am working on is going to focus on scuba diving in local lakes versus oceans. It will not be a comparison but more of an exploration at why lake diving can be a fun alternative to the ocean. I also plan on briefly discussing some of the local lakes that divers can visit if they are interested (which they should be after reading my story!)

I’ve only skimmed the surface of everything I plan on including (and better get going since the deadline is a short 8 days away), but I have found out some interesting information I am going to include. Most people don’t realize how amazing of an experience diving in lakes can be. Lake Tahoe (if cold) has a breathtaking visibility, which is hard to find at dive spots on our coastline. The gear required and dangers of diving are very different from those of the ocean. The high altitude of Tahoe requires a whole separate training course because of the many hazards.

Also, when people think of Folsom Lake they usually cringe and picture the brown “soup” that starts to have a funny smell after the temperature hits 90. However, there is a whole world underwater that’s waiting to be discovered. There are many different types of fish and a lot to be explored. A lot of scuba diving certifications take place at lakes because it is convenient and inexpensive.

As far as reading materials are concerned, I have a stack of scuba diving magazines along with my training guide from when I received my certification and a book, cleverly titled, “Scuba Diving.” I have already stuck my nose into a few and plan on lugging them around with me for the next few days while I continue my research process.

Also aiding in my research are a couple diving instructors from Dolphin Scuba who regularly take students to dive sites at local lakes. I am in the process of interviewing them via email and am waiting for replies from other avid divers from different dive centers/shops in the area.

Rereading this blog has made me realize two things. The first is that I have a lot more work to do if I plan on making the deadline. The second is that my story sounds really dull from what I wrote but I’m hoping that my story will make people realize that there’s a whole adventure waiting for them right under their Ski Nautiques! Here goes...

Magazine Writing

As the dust begins to slowly blow off of my writing skills, there are a couple of things I hope to achieve this semester in my Journalism 132 class, also known as “Magazine Writing.”
First and most important, I hope to search deep within myself and rediscover the passion that I once had for writing. This “passion” started way back in elementary school, in the form of (very) short stories and journal entries that went on and on….and on. Eventually it led to a creepy sense of fulfillment that I got out of English assignments.

However, once I began college at Sierra , this motivation quickly died. Sierra only has one Journalism class to offer, which is essentially a weak introduction into the enormous world of journalism. Three years of general education courses and a full-time job quickly put out my fire since I had no time to write anything but school papers. Throughout this class I hope that I can get this hunger for words back and I am optimistic about it’s revival.

The reason I enrolled in a magazine writing course goes far beyond fulfilling journalism requirements. Everywhere I go, everyone intriguing person I meet, and every crazy experience I have had inspires me. I am constantly thinking, “that would be a great story” or “someone should really write about that” and regularly fill my laptop up with articles written for no one in particular. I’m ready for that “someone to be”. The only thing holding my back is that I have no idea where to start and know that I have plenty of room for improvement (maybe you‘ve noticed?). Hence, the decision to enroll in Journalism 132.

Also, I enjoy the freedom that comes along with writing for magazines opposed to news writing and reporting. While I’m taking news classes because I have to, I often find myself counting the holes in the ceiling tiles and thinking about what the cute guy in my next class is wearing. OK, only kidding about the last part. But on a more serious note, I love the fact that I can write about anything my heart desires and know that there is some audience for it or some angle I can take from it. I can write about my sometimes out of control spending habits or vent about moving back in with my “adult roommates” and no one will tell me it’s not “news” and to go re-think my ideas.

When I envision myself in the future, I go back and forth between two professions: a magazine writer or a magazine editor. I have a strange obsession with analyzing every caption or picture in magazine layouts and love tearing apart my friend’s essays, but I also love to write. I think that I would be satisfied taking on either profession and so I am torn between the two. However, when asked if I can see myself as a professional writer, the most appropriate (if uneducated) answer that I can come up with is “duh.” So the journey begins….