Up&Coming...

Friendly Rottie

2010-01-03T19:42:00.000-08:00

My kitty Tito and Adam's 120lbs Rottie, Rocky.

Snow in Texas on Christmas Eve 2009

2010-01-03T19:39:00.000-08:00

I know it's been a year since I've "blogged". Blogging is hard to keep up with when you don't see anyone reading your results. Also graduating from college and working didn't help the upkeep either. Anyway, thought I'd share videos!

It snowed in Terrell, my home town, over the holidays.

Dog Therapy

2009-01-29T07:56:00.000-08:00

For many owners, having a dog or cat as a pet fills their lives with joy and affection from companionship. Recent research studies show that owning a pet not only brings happiness, but it can also serve as a “pet prescription.”

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a type of therapy that involves an animal and their characteristics to become a vital part of a person’s therapeutic treatment. This treatment has received an increasing amount of attention within the recent years, for a wide variety of patients.

Pet visits can bring out a nurturing instinct and a constant source of focus and comfort serving as a distraction from pain and sickness. In return, this can reduce health problems and symptoms for patients.

“Animal-assisted therapy is an activity that promotes positive human-animal interaction,” explained Dr. Cynthia Chandler, Counseling professor at University of North Texas and author of “Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling.”

“AAT has been incorporated into numerous healthcare professions including nursing, counseling, physical rehabilitation, therapeutic recreation, and speech therapy.”

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, owning a pet can decrease your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, Triglyceride levels, feelings of loneliness, and anxiety. It can also increase your self-esteem, opportunities for exercise as well as socialization.

AAT has shown to be beneficial in a variety of settings, such as, schools, counseling agencies, hospitals, nursing homes, hospice care, developmental disability facilities, juvenile detention centers, and prisons, according to Dr. Chandler.

“It is important to comprehend the difference between animal-assisted activities (AAA) and animal-assisted therapy (AAT),” Dr. Chandler said. “AAA involves mostly social visits with a therapy animal, whereas AAT strategically incorporates human-animal interactions into a formal therapeutic process.”

Dr. Chandler explained that AAA are goal-directed activities designed to improve patients’ quality of life through utilization of the human/animal bond such as animals visiting patients with friendly petting and playful activity.

AAT on the other hand, utilizes the human/animal bond in goal-directed interventions as an integral part of the treatment process such as in physical therapy when the patient walks a dog down a hallway to increase muscle strength and control.

“Dogs can provide many good things for individuals who enjoy their company,” said founder of Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs, Sheryll Barker. “Besides stress relief, dogs can provide companionship, motivation, unconditional acceptance and love, entertainment, and a warm to hug.”

Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs (HOTThDogs) is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that serves the Dallas area by visiting hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and schools. The organization originated in the Richardson area, but today, members visit facilities ranging from the Ft.Worth Ronald McDonald House and nursing homes across the Metroplex, including locations in Ovilla and Canton.

“The last two years we have seen an explosion of interest in literacy programs called Reading to Rover,” Barker said. “We now have these programs in numerous libraries and elementary schools throughout the Metroplex.”

In order for your dog to participate in HOTThDogs, you must register your dog with Therapy Dogs Incorporated (TDInc), which allows you to visit any facility in the United States that is willing to host you.

“Any dog of any breed can qualify to be a part of HOTThDogs other than wolf, wolf-hybrid, coyote, and coyote-hybrids,” said Barker. “We've TDInc.- registered teams from 4 pound Chihuahuas and Pomeranians to 250 pound Mastiffs.”

Barker is also a TDInc. observer/tester and explained that the registration process consists of passing a formal test that demonstrates basic manners and temperament, followed by three "observed visits" in facilities that are mentored by a tester/observer.

“TDInc. is very specific that the testers/observers do not perform obedience training as part of the registration process,” Barker said. “What we do is take dog handlers and their obedience-trained dogs, and orient them to "working" in medical and other types of facilities.”

For more information on how register your dog and the TDInc. registration process, please visit the Therapy Dogs Inc. website at www.therapydogs.com.

S t r e t c h i n g your way to health

2009-01-29T07:44:00.000-08:00

With the start of the New Year, chances are you may have thought about some fitness goals and healthy resolutions for 2009. There is no better way to start off on the right foot than with an exercise regimen that involves body, mind, and spirit.

Yoga has resurged in popularity throughout fitness gyms in the United States since the turn of the century. It is a new fitness craze that originates from an ancient Indian body of knowledge, dating back to more than 5,000 years ago. The word itself, “Yoga” originates from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which can be defined as “to unite or integrate.”

Yoga is more than just a series of different stretches; the main goal of yoga is to create balance between the body and mind by developing strength and flexibility. This can be done through breathing exercises, poses that increase circulation and stamina, and sometimes meditation, all depending upon the instructor and the style of yoga in which he or she has been trained in.

“Yoga improves your flexibility, posture, increases your oxygen intake, slows the aging process, increases strength, helps back problems, and is a great stress reliever,” said YMCA yoga instructor, Beverley Smith.

Smith has been practicing yoga for nine years and has been teaching classes at the YMCA in Terrell since it opened. She said the best thing about Yoga is that anyone can do it, regardless of your age, weight, or level of experience.

“You can start as a beginner in our Yoga classes here because all of our exercises have modifications to make them doable for anyone,” she said.

In Yoga, there is no competition and no perfect pose, according to Smith. It’s all about how far your body will allow you to go.

“Yoga is like crawling before walking, then walking before running; you have to master the small steps before advancing further,” Smith said.

The weight-bearing exercise forces you to use your own weight to strengthen your muscles along with your bones. Unlike when lifting weights, doing yoga helps you build long lean muscles from stretching exercises rather than bulky muscles.

“It is absolutely amazing the benefits that you gain with Yoga,” Smith said. “I have had class members say after three weeks, their back pains and aches were completely gone.”

The benefits of Yoga can be physiological, psychological, and biochemical for your body. It can also be used as a means of therapy to treat an array of physical and mental diseases and disorders.
For Smith, yoga is not only a way to stay healthy and relaxed, but it’s also a vital therapeutic tool in her life in order to remain healthy.

“I was diagnosed with Lupus about 10 years ago,” Smith said. “I had to learn how to walk and do everything again during my 45-day stay in the hospital. During my recovery, I began practicing yoga and ever since, I have been in remission.”

Smith added that her doctor told her to never stop doing yoga and that her healthy physical condition today can be credited toward her yoga practices.

“Everyone has to try Yoga at least once,” Smith said. “You’ll never know the impact it may have on your life unless you give it a chance.”

Yoga classes are offered at the YMCA on Rockwall St. on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, every week from 5:30-6:30 p.m. You must have a YMCA membership in order to enroll in Yoga classes.
For more information on Yoga and its benefits, please visit www.webmd.com/balance/the-health-benefits-of-yoga.

Terrell, Texas- For Texas Highways Magazine

2008-12-17T09:45:00.000-08:00

Here is a piece I wrote for Texas Highways magazine that has yet to be published. It will be published sometime after the new year and, that's right, you can get it here first on MI BLOG!

Enjoy!

When I think of my hometown of Terrell, I picture a paragon of small-town atmosphere filled with friendly smiles, downtown shopping, and irresistible cheeseburgers. Not to mention, it’s home to the famous actor/comedian Jamie Foxx. Local businesses in this Metroplex town shut down on Friday nights during football season to cheer on the mighty Tigers at the Memorial football stadium, and kids congregate at the local restaurant WING IT for a post-game competition to see who is brave enough to finish a serving of spicy “nuclear” wings and get their picture on the WING IT wall-of-fame.

I recently revisited the city with a tourist’s eye and discovered many hidden jewels. I started my tour with a cup of scrumptious Blueberry Muffin-flavored coffee from Koffee Kake to spark up my morning. Koffee Kake, which serves and sells dozens of flavored coffees and fresh-ground coffee beans, stays true to their slogan, “Come in tired and get wired!”

After getting my gears turning, I was off to my first stop, the Terrell Heritage Museum, housed in a former Carnegie Library. Carnegie libraries were built in the early 1900s with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. More than 30 libraries were built in Texas during that time and today, 12 remain in the state.

I took a moment to admire the building’s impressive Corinthian-like façade, with four massive ionic era columns outlining the entrance and a modern touch of red-brick exterior. As a curious child, I can remember asking my parents if someone important lived in the building when we drove by. To be honest, I had never been inside of the museum until this visit home.

Inside, the museum houses more than 2,000 photos of early railroads, institutions and leaders significant to Terrell’s history and cultural heritage; memorabilia such as graduation invitations and yearbooks that date to the 1920s; and even a restored 1912 Estey pipe organ donated by the city’s First Baptist Church.

“The pipe organ is one of our most precious jewels in the museum, mostly because we’ve been restoring it off and on for years as funds have become available,” says museum director Jim McCord. “Our goal is to restore the organ to its full usability one day.”

After visiting the museum, I had worked up an appetite for a juicy hamburger, and I knew exactly where to go – Flamingo Grille. Only two blocks away from the museum, the restaurant is decked out from floor-to-ceiling in pink-flamingo 50’s décor, from life-size plastic flamingos overlooking your table to walls, which are painted with the pink lanky-legged birds as well. I ordered my usual: a gigantic cheeseburger, no onions, with fries and a soda. The burger is juicy and delicious, with chunks of tomato, sautéed onions, and pickles, stacked sky-high and stuffed between buttery buns. Mmmmm!

The Flamingo Grille is a newcomer to the Terrell restaurant scene, but has been the talk of the town since their doors opened three years ago. Although the Flamingo menu includes such items as chef’s salad and Salisbury Steak, owner Don Scarborough says that his burgers are by far the most popular entrée. Don prepares them with fresh ground high-grade beef on a well-seasoned grill, which results in what some regulars will to you are the tastiest burgers in Texas.

Don laughed when I asked him about the name. “When my wife and I first signed a lease for the place,” he said, “there were two pink flamingos painted on the door from when the building was an antique wicker furniture store. When the landlord asked what we were going to name the restaurant, my wife looked at the door and said, ‘I think we’ll name it the Flamingo Grille.’”

After lunch, I strolled around downtown to do more exploring. I found myself in a store called Books & Crannies, housed in the old Iris Theatre, which was built in 1925. The Iris stopped showing movies and closed its doors in 2001. Don and Gayle Harris purchased the theatre and reopened it as Books & Crannies in 2003. The theatre has been completely renovated into a used bookstore and the ultimate shopper’s paradise, with items from handmade soaps, sculptures by local artists, and even books by local authors about the city’s history. I particularly enjoy the handcrafted almond-scented body salt and body butter, which rejuvenates your skin and smells absolutely wonderful. Make sure to say hello to Maddie, the bookstore cat, who’s often lounging amid the aisles and aisles of used paperback books.

There is a 36-seat movie theatre in the back of the store where you can catch free screenings of classic movies such as Bell, Books and Candle, starring Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak, or Casablanca, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, every second and fourth Friday of the month. You should arrive early to grab a bucket of popcorn and a good seat.

After rummaging through Books & Crannies, I traveled down Moore Avenue to explore Opera House Gifts & Décor. The upscale downtown shop offers everything from German and Dutch antiques, crystal doorknob wine savers, and hand-painted glass coasters, to hand-poured candles and even baby gifts.

Opera House Gifts is housed in the 1894 Brin General Store, next door to the historic Brin Opera House, which is now used as an office building. Owners Connie Huddleston and daughter Michelle McCroan rave about their affordable prices.

Michelle says the store sparked her passion for business and love for décor. “There is nothing better than helping people realize that they don’t have to spend tons of money to make their home beautiful,” she says.

When I walked into the store, a beautiful reverse hand-painted glass cake plate, handmade in Peru, caught my eye. The turquoise-colored base was decorated intricately with a gold-painted lace design and gold trim.

“I have had to reorder this item several times because customers come in, point at the cake plate and say, ‘ I just have to have that,’” says Connie Huddleston.

I was so impressed by the plate that I bought it for my mother for Christmas, along with some reverse glass hand-painted coasters, also made in Peru, to add to her collection.

One museum, a chunky cheeseburger and two gift stores later, I was exhausted from my day of exploration, and went to bed reflecting on an unequaled hometown experience, enriched by old favorites and new finds.

Work Work Work....

2008-12-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

I started work at the Terrell Tribune on Monday. Trying to make some extra bucks so I can go on Spring break my senior year of college, and also get some good experience and bylines. Since Monday, I have read every newspaper printed in 2008 from Jan 1 until today. I am compiling together the Retrospect for 2008 which is basically a recap of top stories from the year which is typically printed on Dec 30 or 31st. I had to pick a three top stories from each month, three crime stories and the funnest part, list every person who died in 2008 along with their age, death date and hometown. I just finished going through the physical archives 10 minutes ago. I would be able to browse through the digital archives but my little lap top is not on the Terrell Tribune network. Basically I am going cross-eyed from reading Terrell articles and hearing about the Adult literacy programs, Terrell high school stories and Betty Brown. I am ready to get some bylines man. I don't want to sit here and do something that I am not even going to get credit for. I am only working here for the money and experience. UGH! It is only my third day so I should not complain though.

KXAN CLIPS

2008-09-02T23:03:00.001-07:00

Here are more of my clips from KXAN (NBC) linked below.

I interned as a new media journalist/web tech and learned a ton. Enjoy.

Girl Scouts Gold Award Ceremony

Fourth of July Celebrations

Edward's Aquifer reaching Alarm Stage Drought

COP KILLER

2008-09-02T22:56:00.000-07:00

Piece I did for KXAN (NBC affiliate in Austin)

Posted: July 16, 2008 01:39 PM
Updated: July 17, 2008 10:50 AM

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) -- David Lee Powell lost his appeal before the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday.

Powell was convicted in 1978 at the age of 27 and sentenced to death for the fatal machine gun shooting of Austin police Officer Ralph Ablanedo who was 26-years-old at the time.

The decision clears the way for the execution of Powell.

The average time for an inmate to remain on death row prior to execution is 10.26 years.

Powell holds the longest term an inmate has been on Texas Death Row, being sentenced over 30 years ago under the last inmate who was executed in 1999 and was on death row for 24 years.

His conviction was overturned in 1989, but reinstated in 1991. His second conviction was overturned in 1994, but was again reinstated.

More info on the slaying of Albanedo

Officer Albanedo, 6-year veteran, was making a routine traffic stop and was writing a ticket. The officer ran a check on the passenger in the vehicle, Powell, who had outstanding warrants for misdemeanor theft and hot checks.

Powell started shooting through the rear window of the vehicle with a Russian-made AK-47 hitting Albanedo and ripped through his vest at least four times. Albanedo was able to call for help and describe the vehicle before he died.

Powell fired at police numerous times and even threw a taped up hand grenade that did not detonate. The driver of the car surrendered, but Powell tried to escape on foot. He was arrested eight hours later when he surrendered to a school security guard,

Powell pleaded insanity and said that he came from a family and personal history of mental illnesses, but was still convicted.

He went on numerous hunger strikes while in prison.

His execution date has yet to be set.

Here's a glimpse of what life was like in 1978:

Carole Keeton Rylander (now Carole Keeton Strayhorn) served as mayor of Austin, Dolph Briscoe was governor of Texas and President Jimmy Carter resided in the White House. Billy Joel earned numerous accolades, including Record of the Year, for his release of "Just the Way You Are," and the Academy Award for Best Picture went to The Deer Hunter, starring Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken.

This was also the year that the New York Yankees went on to win the World Series.

As far as Austin is concerned, the Handbook of Texas Online reports that between 1940 and 1990, the population grew at an average rate of 40 percent per decade - from 87,930 to 472,020. The HUD State of the Cities Data System estimates the total population of the City of Austin reached 345,496 in 1980. Like today, politics at the time focused on growth, business and the environment, and many environmental protection ordinances were underway to conserve streams, lakes and hills.

Shake Rattle & Roll

2008-09-02T22:50:00.000-07:00

Piece I did for TEXAS HIGHWAYS MAGAZINE.

Sporting poodle skirts, saddle shoes, and Hula hoops on stage, the oldies group Shake Rattle & Roll is taking audiences around East Texas back to the 50s and 60s through their version of rock-n-roll.

Lead singer Tavie Spivey of Gilmer created Shake Rattle & Roll – an all-women oldies group – to perform for a retiree function. The group received such accolades that Spivey decided to form an oldies group to perform at similar events.

After holding tryouts, Spivey found her four-member group: LeAnne Bemis from Longview, Kathy Sutton from Tyler, and Brenda Spencer from Henderson.

“Once I heard these ladies sing, I knew right off the bat that they had the voice for it,” Spivey said.

In November 2007, the group competed in renowned XM radio oldies personality Cool Bobby B’s amateur DooWop contest in Las Vegas. Their single “Silhouettes on the Shade,” earned them the first place title, and today, the song is being played on Cool Bobby B’s XM radio 5, which attracts the largest oldies listening audience in the world.

Upbeat oldies tunes such as “Lollipop”, “Lipstick On Your Collar”, and “Soldier Boy” will only add to the fun and excitement of this must-see performance.

Shake Rattle & Roll is working on a 16-track album to be completed this fall. The group has booked 59 shows this year.

The group has scheduled to perform at the State Fair in the Women’s Building this fall and expects the performance will attract their largest audience yet.

You can catch the group singing around East Texas at car and biker shows, private parties, conventions, special occasions, 50s and 60s parties, high school reunions, and festivals.

To see Shake Rattle & Roll’s scheduled performances for 2008, check out www.myspace.com/shakerattleroll4.

Drunk stats

2008-06-30T18:38:00.001-07:00

I found some really interesting stuff on Men's Health.com about alcohol and how cities in America are ranked based on certain criteria.

To find out what the:

Here is what they had to say about what criteria and formulas they used for their rankings:

Interactive Map:
The Drunkest Cities

New Year's Day 1916 was rough for Colorado residents looking for a little hair of the dog. On that Saturday, the state stopped all liquor sales, predating Prohibition by 4 years. Today, Colo-rado once again leads the nation in its attitude toward alcohol -- but now, the mandate seems to be "drink till you drop." In our second ranking of urban inebriation, Aurora comes in 82nd, Colorado Springs finishes 98th, and, once again, Denver is Most Dangerously Drunk.

We looked at annual death rates due to alcoholic liver disease, as well as who's headed there by regularly downing five or more drinks in a sitting (CDC). Next, we factored in drunk-driving arrests (FBI) and the percentage of fatal accidents involving intoxicated motorists (U.S. Department of Transportation). Then, after tallying the MADD report card of state efforts to cut down on excessive drinking, we had our ranking and, for the state of Colorado, an invitation to AA.

How Safe is Your State?

Studies show that state laws that put strict limits on where and when alcohol can be sold help cut the number of booze-induced trips to the E.R. -- and the morgue. That's because self-destructive drinkers tend to buy alcohol impulsively and at late hours. Go to alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov to see if your state could use a stronger stance.

Save Yourself -- and Someone Else

Roughly 1.4 million people are arrested for DUIs each year, but Mothers Against Drunk Driving estimates that for every driver cuffed, another 88 are never pulled over. Use your cellphone to lower that number. Besides the obvious indicators of intoxication, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also cites subtler signs, such as someone making extra-wide turns, going straight through a turn-only lane, or driving with his or her face close to the windshield. If the clues accumulate, make the call. (In many states, 311 is nonemergency dispatch.)

How Our Formula Works

For the overall ranking, a lower ranking is better. That is, a city ranked No. 17 is less drunk than one ranked No. 89.

For the individual criteria, however, a higher ranking is better. So a city ranked No. 92 for DUI has fewer drunk-driving arrests each year than a city ranked No. 3. You can see the top 10 cities in each category by clicking on the tabs on the Metrogrades map.

print | email

Sloshed!

Odds are, you might have too many drinks this holiday season. Here's a tour of the destruction that awaits

This is silly. No, this is stupid. I mean, I enjoy a cocktail as much as the next guy. But I never drink like this. Seven straight nights. A conflated period of excessive imbibing.

The premise: Simulate a round of end-of-the-year partying. Indulge the way we all do during those dizzying 2 weeks between December 15 and New Year's Eve. It's not a wives' tale. According to surveys conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans in general -- all races, all creeds, both sexes -- drink more in December than any other month. We're a nation of Christmas sots.

There are the obvious ways alcohol kills -- 40 percent of traffic fatalities involve alcohol--but that isn't my focus. (I don't drive all week.) My aim is to quantify the cumulative physiological effects of a weeklong binge. Take the lessons I've learned to heart this holiday season. Remember them on St. Patty's Day or at your next tailgate. Gentlemen, make no mistake: We're killing ourselves here. Slowly, yes, but as surely as by drinking and driving.

The Morning After

I'm sitting in the office of Anthony Verga, M.D., who's none too pleased. "Alcohol is a toxic substance," he says. "Physiological functioning cannot occur when it's present. This experiment you've performed during this compressed period of binge drinking [defined as having five or more drinks in one sitting] will have long-lasting effects on your organs. Shall we count the ways?"

Dr. Verga is the soft-spoken medical director of the Seafield Center for Alcohol and Substance Abuse in New York, and supervising psychiatrist at the New York Diagnostic Centers. My bender ended 2 days ago, and I've come here for the postgame show. Initially, he's bemused at the premise. But as I recite the lengths (depths?) to which I have gone in the name of research, I'm convinced he thinks me insane. The first clue is his inflection on the word "experiment."

"Okay," he says, "I see you limping in here. You tell me you've been diagnosed with gout. So let's start with your kidneys."

Dr. Verga tells me that excessive alcohol consumption is a common precursor to gout, a form of arthritis to which American males are particularly susceptible. What basically occurred, he explains, is that a hiccup in my metabolism -- i.e., the ingestion of 16 ounces of tequila in 1 night -- resulted in an overproduction of uric acid in my blood.

My pickled kidneys were stymied, so the surplus hardened into microscopic crystals -- like tiny spears of jagged, broken glass -- which lodged in the joint of my right big toe.

Next, I ask him if it's true that you lose brain cells every time you take a drink. "Nobody can say, 'For every 2 ounces of alcohol you drink, you lose 10,000 brain cells,' " he says. "But acute alcohol ingestion can kill brain cells. It's just a question of how many. And they won't regenerate."

He asks about my stomach. "Does it hurt?" Well, now that you mention it. . . . "Alcoholic gastritis is definitely an acute effect of alcohol intoxication," he says. "The blood vessels become irritated, and they bleed in your stomach. It will knock you on your rear end."

Coerced Contemplation

2008-06-02T22:33:00.000-07:00

So, life... today. Busy busy world it is. Everyone is consumed with their busy lives and forgets about the lives of those who are important to them. I don't understand how some people can't stop every once in awhile to breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the precious gift of life rather than taking everything for granted because we are all in a hurry to go spend more money on something useless. Taking parents, friends, money, men and everyone for granted. Life is not a tool. It's a gift. It's Not about thinking that you must impress or act cliche because you think people will like you. We should all video tape ourselves sometime in a social setting to see how we interact with others...it is actually very surprising if you do it. Why is it that we hold back things we want to say? Act a certain way around different people? Why do we have to behave in order to be acceptable? Well I say screw the norm. Live life to the fullest. Do what you want because we only live once. Be a band geek if it makes you happy. Be a rebel if it fills the void. Life is about loving yourself for being yourself. It's important to not consume yourself but resume life genuinely. Artificial and fake always break at some point or another... being genuine is rock solid and more powerful than any materialism. But then there are those who genuinely are artificial, superficial. Buying a purse makes them feel better after having that fight with a boyfriend for the 1ooth time that week. Spending mommy and daddy's money on things they don't need makes them feel "cooler" and temporarily give a small boost to the esteem for having fashion or style. This I don't understand. I love being in style but I hate spending money. Buying things makes me more depressed because I have that much less money. All the material possessions and looks still can't buy a person happiness....if it's not genuine leather it ends...if it's not a genuine life it never begins....The sense of freedom one gets of being genuine is worth more money than all the Pradas, Fendis and Gucci's in the world -- you get the world's most precious possession as an alternative for absolutely free.... HAPPINESS.

Giving Back to the Earth-- Earth Day 4/22

2008-04-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

What is Earth Day? How can we celebrate the Earth? Why celebrate the Earth?

As I have gained more knowledge about the environment through the years, I’ve realized that many people are oblivious to the fact that our Earth is important, mostly the youth of today.

It seems most of us (yes I am a part of the population) are too busy with our own troubles in school, social status and having the latest version of the I-phone to divert our attention away from the most important problem; the future of our Earth.

It’s hard for someone so young to see the big picture in such a large perspective with all of the other pressures in life... what we avoid to realize is the destiny of the environment and how it will cause the fall of all other aspects and pressures in our world.

The Earth. What would we do without it? I-phones wouldn’t exist. Those skinny jeans you always brag about wouldn’t be available. College kids couldn’t have the luxury of pool parties, floating the river or tailgating before football games.

It just blows my mind that our youth of today are so consumed with self-progression, self-image and status symbols rather than the progression of our environment.

That breath of fresh air you take for granted day after day by invading your lungs with nicotine and tobacco; the water you refuse to drink because beverages like soda or alcohol are more socially appealing or flavorful; that wrapper you threw on the ground because you were in a hurry to meet up with friends – People refuse to realize that these little minute actions are how we take EARTH for granted, and why we are in a environmental dilemma today – because we are all too busy to take the time to make a difference and we refuse to realize that our resources will be dried up eventually.

Earth gives you the tan you worked on for a month before spring break. Earth gives you the fresh strawberries you picked for your dinner party on Saturday night. Earth makes the fun on the lake for July 4^th and the river trips you look forward to every spring. Earth gives you the wine you bought as a house warming gift and the products you use to beautify your hair.

Without earth, there would be no make-up for your formal; no thread for you designer jeans; no grain for your liquor, no hops for your beer; no diamonds for your high priced earrings; no leather for your Fendi purse; no materials for your fancy cars to be made and no wood for your new house.

So the next time you take Earth for granted, be grateful for the things you have and remember that Earth has and will always give you more than anyone ever will, and it never asks anything in return.

So this Earth Day, let’s show our thanks to Earth by celebrating and making it the starting point. Let’s put Earth at the top of our Agenda for once because giving back to the environment is a stepping stone to a brighter environmental future for everyone. Earth deserves our thanks.

Struggles as an Author

2008-04-12T16:48:00.000-07:00

Her parents were divorced when she was very young. At 5, she was the victim of sexual assault. At 10, her father died suddenly from a fatal accident in his home. When middle school arrived, she reached the end of her rope and suicide seemed to be the only answer.

“Turning trials to triumph” is the motto of accomplished writer, award-winning novelist, world-renown motivational speaker, triathlete and Rockwall resident Mary DeMuth.

“I am someone who turns peoples’ trials to triumph and my life is the same way,” she said.

Today, DeMuth is a woman of ambition and success. She has multiple parenting books published and more in the making. Her novels have won many awards such as Retailer’s Choice and the Christy Award.

Countries such as Germany, Austria, Italy and France have been graced with DeMuth’s speeches and radio appearances. She is also happily married with three beautiful children and a golden retriever.

“When I speak, I love to give people hope. I don’t speak to present, I speak to connect,” she said.

Her friends say she is a great Christian woman and an author who impacts the lives of hundreds of parents around the world.

DeMuth was born and raised in a small suburb of Seattle, Wash. Raised in a broken home, DeMuth explains how it is possible to grow up in a horrific environment and live triumphantly in the future and in the present.

“A lot of who I am today has to do with healing that’s occurred from the aftermath of my childhood,” she said.

DeMuth said that after her father died, she started to travel down a road of pessimism and paranoia.

“I had a lot of fear for death. I always thought people were chasing me,” she said.

According to DeMuth, her life was in shambles by high school. When a friend invited her to Young Life camp when she was 15, it completely transformed her life.

“Before Young Life, I had no idea who God was. I was a mess and I needed help. It truly did save me in every sense,” she said.

Growing up without a father has molded DeMuth’s reality of God into what it is today, she said.

“I grew up without a dad and when I became a Christian, I realized God was the only father who would never leave me,” she said.

DeMuth’s life-long dream was to become a professional writer and today she dedicates time through her writing and speaking in giving hope to parents who grew up in similar circumstances.

“My message is meant to guide parents who don’t want to emulate the home they were raised in or didn’t have positive parental role models growing up,” she said.

DeMuth is an expert on what she calls pioneer parenting. She defines this as parenting differently from the way you were raised by pioneering new trials than those modeled during your childhood.

“I help parents plow fresh spiritual ground, especially those seeking to break destructive family patterns,” she said.

According to DeMuth, if you don’t know what a healthy home looks like or how to be a good parent, how can you emulate it? Mary said her guidance can help all parents achieve these goals.

DeMuth added that in America, she believes we are too hyped up about being perfect parents.

“The fear of not being perfect parents causes us to make even more mistakes,” she said. “We should have confidence and know that are kids will be ok, even if we do make mistakes.”

DeMuth’s advice for children growing up in a destructive home is to find someone who you can trust for help.

“When your problem is in the dark, it can’t heal and it festers like a wound. When you finally share it with someone, that person is there to bare the burden with you so you won’t feel alone,” she said.

DeMuth recently lived in Southern France for two years to plant a new church where she learned the importance of exploring the unknown.

“Life was very hard in France and I made 5,000 mistakes a day but through that, I grew so much,” she said.

If anyone is interested in allowing DeMuth help you break free from the past and break new ground, she is holding a Pioneer Parenting seminar Feb. 23 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. For more information, you can register online at lakepoint.org.

Student's Decision to Eat Taco Bell Ends in a free-for-all

2008-04-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

Human sexuality professor, Nancy Daley, called UT security last week to control a classroom riot after a student’s excessive flatulence continued to interrupt the class discussion on Europhilia.

“It just wouldn’t stop,” said student Todd Stewart. “The rancid smells invaded my thoughts, preventing me from learning about sexual knowledge I desperately needed… and the asshole should have walked out of the room. It made me sick.”

Other students on the scene said the flatulence sounded similar to an AK-47 rifle from across the room, causing many to take cover beneath their desks in fear of a potential terrorist attack.

“That kid is sick and we kept throwing our books, including Professor Daley, in hopes that he would be knocked unconscious from the impact and the putrid ass fumes would cease,” said UT student Megan Sulliver.

Professor Daley said several students sitting close by fainted due to asphyxiation from the intense odor and paramedics were on the scene immediately to assist the situation.

“You had to feel sorry for the poor kid for all the humiliation but damn, it smelled like he shat his pants,” Daley said. “There’s a line you just don’t cross when it comes to passing gas nonchalantly and this poor kid destroyed that boundary and did not seem to care.”

Paramedics rushed the traumatized gassed student to the ER for psychiatric screening, gastric analysis and a broken arm due to the blunt force of flying textbooks.

“When we came to the scene, it was a complete free-for-all. Students were enraged and we had to call Austin riot control in order to get the suspect who became the victim out safely,” Austin paramedics said.

Once at the hospital, the perpetrator was diagnosed with a severe case of IBS and post partum depression. The alleged victim said that Taco Bell should be the one to blame, not him.

“I just thought I’d have a bean burrito … it was a stressful day and when I asked them to please cut the cheese, I didn’t mean it literally,” the student said who preferred to remain nameless. “It was the one day I forgot my Bean-o and I paid the harsh price.”

The victim will remain in intensive care until he is in stable mental condition and able to carry on daily activities once again. The victim said that after the incident, he more than likely will transfer to A&M, where his gastric condition is more socially acceptable with events like Chili Fest.

Future Most-wanted

2008-04-12T16:40:00.000-07:00

After a typical night of club hopping on E. 6^th Street, 19-year-old Oziel Martinez [O.Z.I.] erupted into a fight with his ex girlfriend, Valerie Baeza, as she left a nightclub with 27-year-old Joseph Rendon on August 5, 2007, according to defense attorney Adam “Bulletproof” Reposa.

As Rendon and Baeza were walking to the parking garage to leave, O.Z.I. followed them to their car to continue the confrontation which escalated beyond all resolution, according to the affidavit.

Incident reports indicated that O.Z.I. began to insult Baeza with verbal obscenities, when Rendon stepped between the two to intervene. At this point, O.Z.I.’s conflict with Baeza subsided and progressed toward Rendon.

The two began to argue violently and after about 10 minutes, O.Z.I. finally walked away in submission.

Rendon, Baeza and friend Maria Martinez then drove off from the parking garage and stopped at a stop light on E. 7^th Street and Red River. As Rendon waited for the signal to change, O.Z.I. was walking nearby and approached the driver’s window which was rolled down.

According to the affidavit, O.Z.I. began to punch Rendon in the head. As Rendon attempted to defend himself, O.Z.I. briefly walked away to pick up a bottle, breaking it and reproaching the vehicle.

“He began to use the broken bottle as a deadly weapon, stabbing Rendon in the head twice causing severe bodily injury and arterial bleeding,” police said.

By this time, Austin Police Officer Greg White was working overtime at Breckenridge Hospital when he witnessed an injured person drive into the emergency room parking area, later identified as victim Joseph Rendon.

“The subject was bleeding profusely from severe lacerations to the back of the head,” Officer White said.

The Austin Gang Suppression Unit was notified immediately on this incident.

The victim was rushed to the trauma unit where he was treated for a cut artery and severe blood loss which required a blood transfusion, 27 stitches and multiple staples to repair.

Rendon, Baeza and Maria Martinez all positively identified Oziel Martinez in a photo line up as the suspect who assaulted and stabbed the individual in the head with a broken bottle. O.Z.I. was arrested on August 23, 2007 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury.

In addition, O.Z.I. is being tried for multiple accounts of credit card abuse which occurred 12 days after committing aggravated assault.

According to the affidavit, O.Z.I. went with friend Justin Pryor to talk to Pryor’s ex-girlfriend, Kristin Wallace, at her parents’ house when they were gone. Wallace said that she was outside talking with Pryor smoking while O.Z.I. was still inside.

When Wallace’s parents returned later that afternoon, they began to receive phone calls from their credit card companies regarding suspicious activities. It was then that Richard Meek, stepfather, learned that five of his credit cards were missing along with his wedding ring, his wife’s ring set, a Play Station, a watch, a pair of tennis shoes and $80 cash.

Meek’s credit cards were used successfully at two gas stations. They were unsuccessfully used in three subsequent locations, Finish Line shoe store at Barton Creek Mall being one of them.

It was here that a cashier who went to high school with O.Z.I. recognized him and notified the store manager. The manager then informed her that the credit card had been reported stolen that day and notified police.

During an interview with the affiant, Williams identified Justin Pryor as the individual who aided in the theft of the credit cards.

In addition, Williams identified O.Z.I. on a surveillance tape at two local target stores where he successfully used the credit cards on two different occasions.

O.Z.I. is also being tried with possession of a controlled substance, three accounts of burglary of a vehicle and family violence.

Defense Attorney Reposa and Judge Charles Baird of the 299^th district court said that the trial will more than likely be reset for a later date for further preparation on the defensive side.

In addition, on March 21, 2008, O.Z.I.’s defense attorney, Adam Reposa, was charged with contempt in court on another case for making an obscene masturbatory gesture after an objection was made by the prosecution for a plea bargain, according to KeyeTV.

He was booked into the Travis county jail and later released the same day day.

Life of a Bus driver

2008-03-25T21:37:00.000-07:00

Driving buses stuffed like sardines circling the same route for hours on in would be a tedious routine for most – but for University of Texas bus drivers, what seems to be a grueling task is a privilege.

The UT bus drivers are a close knit group sharing equal values of keeping students safe and taking pride in helping others. Bus drivers said that they look forward to working everyday because it’s enjoyable and fun.

“I have always liked driving,” said UT bus driver Guy Lowe. “I have only received one traffic ticket my entire life.”

In 1992, Lowe began operating buses in Michigan. When moving to Austin five years ago, he said it was a transition for his bus career.

“People in Austin don’t know how to drive compared to up north. I am constantly getting cut off by cars,” he said. “Everyone is always in a hurry and I don’t know why.”

As Lowe battled through clusters of vehicles during 5 p.m. rush hour, he said the most exhausting aspect of the job is dealing with heavy Austin traffic daily.

Pedestrians’ not paying attention is another setback that aggravates Lowe.

“One bus driver told me about a girl who was talking on her cell phone, not paying attention and she walked into the bus,” he said.

Lowe has only encountered close calls and hopes to not have a similar incident occur as his colleague.

According to bus driver Jeannette Jones, her job is perfect because it keeps her busy, making time pass by in a flash.

Born and raised in Austin, Jones has worked for UT transportation for 4 years. She juggles school with work daily and dreams of owning multiple businesses one day so she can provide jobs for people as UT has done for her.

“This job fits me great because it is flexible with my school,” Jones said.

“It’s not stressful and I have a great time doing it.”

An inadequate amount of students have the courtesy to say thank you when riding buses which is disappointing for Jones at times.

“We wait for a lot of people when they are running to catch the bus and sometimes we don’t get a thank you for it,” she said.

“I would like to see more appreciation for the drivers.”

Bus riders often put their safety at risk in order to catch the bus. According to Jones, students need to understand that their safety is most important and catching the bus can wait.

“It’s really not our fault we can’t stop sometimes … students need to be aware of their safety and that they could seriously get hurt,” she said.

Riders aren’t the only people that need to be aware of safety, but also drivers according to Jones.

“Cars drive recklessly and cut me off all the time – they are not concerned with a bus full of students because they are just in a hurry,” she said.

The cutback on drivers during summer sessions due to the decrease in enrollment is also a hindrance for Jones. Drivers qualify to work summers by seniority and those who don’t receive work must file unemployment for the summer.

“For most people, summer time is a break from work … for us, its reduced work. There needs to be a solution to fix this,” Jones said.

Bus driver Paul Oberle has been operating buses for over 30 years. He drives the busiest route [west campus] on Tuesdays and Thursdays and claims that it’s the best line because it’s full of great kids. The west campus bus is packed with students 24/7, according to Oberle.

“The hardest part about my job is closing the bus doors,” he said.

Keeping in mind that every job having its own setbacks, Oberle said there isn’t anything about bus driving he dislikes or would change.

“I like it a lot more than the metro because you don’t have to worry about any fares … its pure driving,” he said.

Born in Buffalo, NY, Oberle moved to Austin in 1986 and learned that traffic here is much worse than in New York he said.

Through his many years of experience, Oberle claims the craziest thing he witnessed was a fight between a man and woman when he was working for a metro in NY.

“A guy grabbed a woman by her hair and drug her off the bus,” he said. “I called the cops immediately and they took care of it.”

Through his decades of experience, the most essential lesson Oberle has learned is having patience for others.

“My love for life always keeps me going – when you get to be my age, every day counts,” he said.

Renal Disease

2008-03-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

Growing up in a wheelchair, having dialysis several times a week and experiencing 44 surgeries before the age of 20 seems like an unfair disadvantage. But for one Terrell resident, maintaining a positive attitude is the key.

Greg Coley, 20, was born with blocked refluxes in his kidneys and doctors discovered the problem when he was 3 weeks old. By that time, Greg said the damage had already been done and he was diagnosed with End Renal Stage Disease.

“I have had this problem my entire life … I’ve never known healthy so how can I miss it?” Greg said. “This is a part of my life and I’ve never known any different.”

Renal failure refers to temporary or permanent damage to the kidneys that result in loss of normal kidney functions. Greg must have dialysis several times a week in order to have toxins filtered from his blood.

“Sometimes I get down, but it doesn’t do any good … not liking something isn’t going to change it,” Greg said. “It’s important to keep a positive attitude, otherwise I’d go crazy.”

Greg is a full-time business administration student at TVCC. He attends school Tuesdays and Thursdays and goes for dialysis Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

On treatment days, Greg arrives at the dialysis unit around 5:15 a.m. and is typically done around 9:30 a.m. Dialysis has been a way of life for Greg since he was 9.

“I admire Greg for juggling school with dialysis – it would be easy for him to just say he’s too tired and couldn’t do it,” his mother Sherry Coley said.

Greg said he has had six dialysis catheters put in his chest, four hip surgeries and two kidney transplants.

“My first kidney transplant was when I was 6 and my body rejected it after two weeks,” Greg said.

The second transplant was in 2005, which was a turning point in life he said.

“I still have the kidney my Uncle Tony donated from my second transplant, but it doesn’t work well enough for me to be free of dialysis,” he said. “I changed mentally at that time because I finally accepted the fact this wasn’t going to change now and I might as well live with it.”

ERSD prohibits phosphorus to be filtered from kidneys and over a long period of time, causes bones to become extremely soft and fragile. For this very reason, Greg has been in a wheelchair since the seventh grade.

“If I walk, my hips could potentially break because my bones are so weak,” Greg said.

Life changed for Greg after the seventh grade when his mobility was limited to a wheelchair.

“Being in a wheelchair, people are more reluctant to have anything to do with me,” he said. “But I am a normal 20-year-old like anyone else … I just can’t walk because my hips may break.”

Greg’s life-long passion for music and writing keeps him busy most of the time. In high school, he said he wrote lyrics for his friends in local bands as a hobby.

“I would take my friends’ situations and transform them into lyrics,” Greg said. “Like I’ve always said, those who can’t draw just write.”

He delights in reading Edgar Allan Poe, playing video games and watching his favorite TV show, “The Office”.

Greg’s life companion and best friend is his 5-year-old miniature beagle, Jake, who he spends most of his time with.

“He has never been the type of person who needs a lot of people around,” Sherry Coley said. “He describes himself as a loner and he hates crowds.”

Greg’s father, Gerald Coley, says he has never heard his son complain about his medical problems.

“I’ve never heard him ask ‘why me?’ He accepts his medical condition and tries to make the most of it,” he said.

Greg’s parents believe he continues to be motivated because of the idea that maybe one day he will be healthy.

“Medical technology is always changing and keeping hope alive … maybe something will be invented one day that can help Greg down the line,” Sherry Coley said.

Diversity At Its Best

2008-03-16T21:50:00.000-07:00

Throughout my life, I have been exposed to diversity from all ends. From attending Terrell High School, to college in Austin, [the city of “weirdness”], to studying abroad in Europe, where I was the minority, to my job experiences at the State Capitol during legislative session … it is safe for me to say I have witnessed the beauty and importance of diversity. However, as you would expect from a 21-year-old college student, the one end of the diversity spectrum I have not spent my fair share of time with are senior citizens.

My grandfather, Billy B. Oakley, recently told me about a remarkable woman who takes the meaning of longevity to greater heights. This miraculous centenarian, who was born the same year as icons like Walt Disney, Clark Gable and Chuck Taylor, agreed to visit with me and tell me stories of what life was like at the turn of the last century.

106-year-old Mary Tankursley of Paris was born Feb. 21, 1901 in Caviness, Texas. She greets everyone with kisses, hugs and smiles. Her friends and family speak of her as a vision of grace.

The youngest of eight, this mother of two daughters doesn’t hesitate to boast about her eight grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren when showing the plethora of pictures adorning her home.

Easily appearing 20 years younger than her age, Mary has encountered many incidents of people shocked to learn her age. Once when she was in a grocery store, a young teen-aged clerk asked to see Mary’s driver’s license. After glancing at her birth date, the clerk was in complete shock. Mary said he asked several of his co-workers to come and guess her age. Everyone guessed incorrectly.

When coming face-to-face with a woman who has lived about five times longer than I, the essence of life molds into a new meaning. Here’s a woman who has experienced a multitude of eras and I have only experienced a few.

One memory that Mary vividly recalls is the famous Paris fire of 1916 that demolished parts of the city. She remembers watching the blazes from her front lawn in horror, waiting for her father, Edmond Pearson, to come home. Fortunately, her family’s home was not destroyed.

Living through the Great Depression taught Mary a great deal. She said that before the Depression, she was always a woman that had to have things and couldn’t resist spending money. After experiencing many debts, Mary transformed into the woman she is today; conservative and very money savvy, saving every penny.

Even at 106, Mary appears to be as witty and for the most part, healthy as ever. In May 2007, she suffered a mild stroke. With therapy and rehabilitation, she has recovered her abilities to feed and dress herself. Through speech therapy, she can now once again tell the stories of her long-lived life. In the ‘70s, she suffered from colon cancer, but with surgery and treatments, it has been benign for more than 30 years.

The mild stroke she suffered in May along with her colon cancer and degenerative eyesight are the only health problems Mary has run into along the course of her life, something absolutely remarkable for her age.

Mary’s husband, O.C. Tankursley, died in 1968. She lived in their Paris home alone until 2006 when she decided to move in with her recently widowed daughter, Maxine Shadle in Denton.

Maxine said her mother was a working woman before the Women’s Liberation Movement. Mary worked for years at the Lamar County Echo newspaper as a proofreader. To this day, she still reads the newspaper and is able to spot errors that editors missed.

Although Mary was forced to take life at a slower pace after her recent stroke, she still manages to go to her hairdresser once a week to have her thick, silver-gray hair coiffed and also delights in making regular trips to the nearby Dollar General store. Anyone can gain a sense of how times have changed when Mary speaks of her first experience driving a car. Jumping into a car and simply putting the key in the ignition was non-existent when she began driving at 12. Mary said she had to use a hand crank to start her brother’s Model T Ford. She and a friend who was spending the night snuck out to drive the car around the block without her brother knowing. Mary giggled when she admitted that she had not had any previous experience driving a car before that, something that became quite evident after she accidentally drove the car into a neighbor’s yard. Mary kept driving until she was 103. She renewed her driver’s license about four years ago and she promised her family she would discontinue driving due to her degenerative eye sight. She also added that if she were to be in a car accident, regardless of the circumstances, people would assume it was her fault due to her age.

Members of the First United Methodist Church of Paris say that a more gracious, loving lady can’t be found anywhere in the world. Her precious smile and words of encouragement are missed since her recent move to Denton.

Mary says that the secret to living a long, happy life is to “just keep breathing and putting one foot in front of the other.” Her 107^th Birthday will be on Feb. 21.

After meeting this remarkable woman, I realized that growing old is not about turning grey, playing BINGO or watching your health subside; people don’t quit playing because they are elderly, they are elderly because they quit playing. You are only as old as you think you are and Mary has proven this with her longevity and love for life. Youth is not in age, but in your heart and mind.

Life is about dreaming like you’ll live forever, and living as you’ll die tomorrow. Every precious moment we have is golden and the moments we take that for granted are wasted.

As Abraham Lincoln once said, “… it’s not the years of your life that count … it’s the life in your years.”

Being Gay Doesn't Make Me Who I Am....

2008-03-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

“Being gay does not make me who I am…it is only a part of who I am. I don’t see what the big deal is,” said 19-year-old Brandon Fried, University of Texas student.

At the Starbucks on 24^th and Rio Grande St. in west campus, where hundreds of students are rushing to grab coffee on-the-go by the hour, Brandon and I sat down and relaxed for a casual mocha latte to chat about our lives.

“I check Apple rumor sites at least 10 times a day on average,” he confessed as he admitted to his Reality TV and rumor sites addiction. His favorite color is purple, and he loves to shop at Express and Gap. He claimed that he leaves his house everyday wearing his favorite brand of shoes, Steven Maden.

Brandon grew up in Clearlake, a suburb of Houston. He began dancing for the Royal Academy and Fine Arts at the age of 5, and has been obsessed with dancing ever since he says. “I really do not know what my life would be like if I never danced. It has made me into who I am, what I am, and who my friends are today,” he said. He also explained how dancing helped him become comfortable with his homosexuality. “Dancing taught me discipline, character, and how to be comfortable with myself because I was always around other gay men,” he said.

Brandon came out to his friends about being gay right before he enrolled at the University of Texas his freshman year. “I just wasn’t the fullest form of myself. It feels so great now not hiding who I really am,” he said. He talked about how accepting his friends and siblings were and that everyone he cared about before coming out is still a part of his life. “I am so close to my sisters, but not parents. Most people call their moms or dads 3 times a day…I do that with my sisters,” he said.

Brandon’s parents were divorced when he was very young, so he was raised around women his entire life. He said the he is not close to his parents and has not been in a really long time, which is why he has not come out to them yet.

“I do not want me telling them I am gay to make everything seem like it is ok between us,” he said. He explained how his father was never really around growing up. “We just are not close in general and at this point, there is just too much he doesn’t know and would not understand about me,” he said. “It is almost like it is too late in the game for him to become involved now.”

Brandon’s mom injured her back before he was born and has always been in and out of the hospital because of it. “She always had to take a lot of meds for her back and let’s just say she did not always know how to control them,” he said. “She would let herself get sick and have the pain, just so she could get more meds from different doctors.” Brandon explained how when in high school, he lived alone with his mom because he is the youngest and his siblings are a lot older than he is, already living away from home. He lived with his sisters and their families off and on during high school because he did not like to be alone with his mom in her drug state. “I tried to distance myself from it all,” he said.

Dance was also something that helped Brandon take his mind away from his troubles at home throughout high school. “From rehearsing to working, I always had a place to be—it kept me away from home. It saved my life,” he said.

He talked about how his mom missed his high school graduation because of her sickness and he has not been able to forgive her ever since. “At the time, graduation meant the world to me. Everyone else’s moms were there. My dad was even there but by that point, I did not care. I had nothing to prove to him anymore. I just wanted her to be there once, and she wasn’t,” he said. After that, Brandon was fed up. It was the last straw he said.

“People would never guess that I have been through so much because I am always so happy,” Brandon said. “My friends tell me that most kids growing up having such a hard life as me usually end up on the streets.” Brandon has obviously defied the odds, being a UT Public Relations major and having such high goals as his motivator to do well.

He claims that his future lies within New York City and he is destined to move there no matter what. “Every career option I have points to the NYC. I just belong there,” he said.

Most of Brandon’s friends talk about how his future goals of success motivate him though life. “He is incredibly caring and so fun to be around,” said Larrissa Roberts who has been a friend of Brandon’s since high school. She explained how Brandon has always been one to speak his mind and has the quickest wit she has ever seen. “He is such a great listener and always strives to be the best that he can be,” she said.

“He has a protective sense about him, especially around me,” said Caroline Gatrell, Brandon’s best friend. “He has always been willing to do anything for other people, and I always thought he did not give himself enough attention,” she said. Caroline explained to me how when first coming to college, it was a huge turning point for Brandon because he wasn’t involved in a lot of things right of the bat like in high school. “I think during this time, he learned to treat himself better and did not feel the need to always put others first, which was very important for him to learn,” she said.

Brandon is going home for the first time this semester on Tuesday for the Thanksgiving holidays. “I am so excited about seeing my sisters and their kids,” he said, “…but it’s always a give or take when I go home. I will have to see my parents and I am not looking forward to it,” he said. “I really wish I could miss them, but I don’t, and you can understand why.”

After hearing Brandon’s story, it shows to prove that strength within yourself can help you manage through anything. From battling the honesty of sexual identity to losing a relationship with a parent to addiction, Brandon is a man that can take on the world because of the obstacles he has already overcome at such a young age.

Tuition Protest on Campus-- Dec 2007

2008-03-04T11:25:00.000-08:00

“Enough is enough. Say NO to higher tuition. Down with DEREG,” blasted over loud speakers and live music in the west mall today as hundreds of students gathered to march in protest against tuition increase.

Pickets were on the rise, chants started to echo, Ramen noodles were handed out, and The University of Texas Security was on call around 3 p.m. today as students began to march through campus.

According to the Office of Institutional Research, tuition has increased about 93 percent since 2002. The Tuition Policy Advisory Committee (TPAC) has recently recommended another 15 percent increase over the next two years; about $300 every semester.

TPAC members consist of student representatives, administrators, and faculty from UT.

Students saw the latest increase as an opportunity to voice how raising tuition negatively impacts their lives.

The student march from the west mall to the public forum held at ACES Avaya Auditorium on 24^th St. and Speedway was loud and clear today with shouts of, “Hey Hey, Ho Ho, tuition heights have to go.” Many onlookers joined in on the march.

“This tuition increase puts me more in debt. It’s going to take me at least 10 years to pay it all off,” said protester, Mindy Swaney. She said students want to take part in their education these days when it’s coming out of their own pockets. Swaney said she is already $20,000 in debt—she is 20-years-old.

“I am broke as it is and I can’t pay my bills,” said UT junior, Kristin Leffingwell. She thinks that the university is spending the $7.2 million endowment on improvements to only recruit potential students, not take care the ones they have. “When buying high-tech equipment, we are losing current students because the tuition increases,” she said.

According to The Dallas Morning News, services like Medicaid and prisons have caused secondary education to rise in cost. Lawmakers often consider higher education a less urgent funding than other issues. Competitiveness, lowering taxes, and high-tech improvements were also listed as contributors to the increase.

As chanting protesters entered Avaya Auditorium, TPAC members scurried to set up for the public forum to explain the recently recommended tuition increase. All members of the TPAC were present, as well as UT President, William Powers.

“Why is the burden of tuition being placed on students?” asked Zack Hall, student government member and organizer of the tuition protest. Hall passed out free Ramen noodles to the TPAC student panel to show them what it was like to be a student in debt.

Hall said that the university should consider using the recent $2 million Capitol Campaign as a way of relieving students from tuition burdens. “We want to know why our student leaders are recommending another tuition increase to put students more in debt when the average student is already graduating with a $20,000 debt?” he said.

“UT used to be number 12 on the nation’s college rankings of Best Educational Values—today we are at number 48—what is going on people?” Hall said.

“I invited you to my office to discuss this several times and you never followed through...so how badly do you want to know about this Zack?” said Kevin Hegarty, vice president of TPAC and chief financial advisor. “You are welcome to come to my office tomorrow to discuss it.”

The students in the audience replied with an uproar, “We all want to know now.”

Hegarty explained that the fight should not be with TPAC, but with the legislature. He said they regulate the state budget, not TPAC, and reduced financial assistance to the university which causes tuition increases. “The amount of tuition is not our decision. We just make recommendations,” Hegarty said.

“You guys need to march to the Capitol. A student’s voice is very powerful there,” he said.

“You don’t have to tell me the legislature causes hostility towards education—that is not going to change until we get rid of Speaker Tom Craddick and Republican power,” said Jessica Butler, UT sophomore.

Tom Craddick is an adamant supporter of deregulation but Gov. Rick Perry has made it very clear that any bill attempting to re-regulate tuition will be vetoed according to The Dallas Morning News.

Butler said she is already $20,000 in debt and plans to be at least $40,000 total by the time she graduates. “It is important for students to let the people in power know what we are going through financially. Hell I am on crutches and still marching,” she said.

“I have been at UT since 1999. The only difference I see is more construction, more parking, and more flat screen TVs. What is the money going to?” said Nathan Friedman, Army veteran and UT senior.

Friedman said when first starting school, he was paying around $1,200 a semester. That amount has almost quadrupled since then he said.

Another issue brought up by students is how campus wide e-mails are sent out everyday about parking and siren notices, but never about important public forums that affect students. “I am disappointed with the turn out today because I know a lot of students wanted to be here but just did not know about the forum,” Friedman said.

TPAC agreed to send out campus wide e-mails from now on to inform students when public forums take place over important issues like tuition increases.

After about 2 hours of discussion, President Powers had to excuse himself early from the forum because of prior engagements he said. “I don’t think he was expecting this to last as long as it did—that was a victory for us,” Zack Hall said.

After the forum, Hall said that he thought the protest went very well. “We are going to be on every media outlet and front page tonight and tomorrow. Our voices have been heard,” he said.

President Powers is expected to submit his final tuition increase proposal to The University of Texas Board of Regents sometime in December.

“We as students can change tuition,” Hall said.

“We make this university what it is—without out us students, The University of Texas is nothing.”

Profile Story by: Brandon Fried

2008-03-03T18:40:00.000-08:00

THIS WILL TELL YOU GUYS A LITTLE MORE ABOUT MY LIFE and what I'm about. My friend wrote this story about me in one of our J classes.

Lauren Oakley is still trying to figure it all out. The 21-year-old UT student knows she left a small town life in East Texas to accomplish great things but finds herself now in no rush to discover just what those things might be.

Although she remains unsure about the future, Oakley stays confident in one thing: herself. Spending a summer in Europe with her best friend and battling issues with prescription medications taught the carefree student more about the person she is than she ever thought possible.

Born and raised in a small East Texas town, Oakley calls herself lucky. “I had to get out,” she said. Terrell, Texas has just over 10,000 residents and, according to Oakley, “only 5 percent make it to college.”

Oakley started school as a psychology major when she moved to UT in August 2005. Discovering later that she really wanted to write, she transferred into the journalism program and is now a student in the multimedia sequence. In the future, Oakley wants to freelance write for online publications.

Her first few years at UT were spent in several student organizations like Texas Sweethearts and the Alpha Phi sorority. Though her involvement in groups like these and classes have managed to keep her busy during the year, Oakley found time last summer to travel to Europe with one of her best friends.

Oakley spent 8 weeks at a study abroad program in Barcelona, Spain and then took a trip backpacking and staying in hostels with her friend. Oakley visited several countries throughout Europe including France, Belgium, Amsterdam, Germany, and Italy.

Oakley replays memories from her trip to Spain and Europe vividly: “That summer was the best moment in my life. Partying under the Eiffel Tower when it was sparkling…it was so wonderful,” Oakley said.

In the future, Oakley says she wants to live in Barcelona. “It’s like Austin…only bigger and better,” she says. “It’s so open minded…I love it.”

Though her summer in Europe was one of the most memorable times Oakley can think of, the previous summer unfolded quite differently.

After her freshman year of college, Oakley started to take Lexapro when she was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder. She began the prescriptions to help stop panic attacks that had been plaguing her since high school.

“By freshman year, I was having three a week,” said Oakley. “It [anxiety] runs in my family.”

Going after a “quick fix” she says, and trying to avoid therapy, Oakley started taking the medicine and saw terrible side effects almost immediately when the medicines caused her to gain weight.

“I gained 25 pounds in 2 months.”

“It was so weird because I used to be such a fitness guru,” Oakley said. Trying to hide what the medicines were doing to her, the town soon took notice and Oakley couldn’t hide the weight she was putting on. “People talk and you always hear what they say,” she says.

After trying therapy for a few months, Oakley returned to school and began working with a dietitian to combat the weight issue. She also got a job at the capital and kept busy as Congress was in session.

“I didn’t have time to be depressed,” Oakley said. Though she lost many friends and had to deal with the snide remarks and comments from her neighbors and peers, Oakley still had many supporting her through the entire ordeal.

Oakley cites her family as the people she is close to most in her life. “Every time I break down, they’re there,” she says. “That’s love right there.”

In addition to her family, close friends like Megan Mottwiler and Agata Matusz, have served as unending means of support for Oakley.

Oakley went to school with Mottwiler and the two have stayed in touch even though they go to different colleges now. The friends met in the eighth grade and were both cheerleaders at Terrell High School.

Her friends in high school noticed Oakley’s ambition and determination early on. Mottwiler knew Oakley was mature and independent and now says, “…she knows where she’s going.”

Though Mottwiler goes to a different university, friends like Matusz has her share of memories with Oakley too. The two go to Pappasito’s almost once a week and get the same order every time.

“We split a medium order of fajitas, double rice, no beans, large cheese, small sour cream, and no skin on the chicken,” Oakley laughs. “We talk about everything. School, [Texas] Sweethearts, boyfriend troubles, drama, weekend plans…”

Matusz and Oakley are now roommates and share as strict of a routine with their television schedules as they do with their restaurant orders. Oakley says “trashy” television shows are one of her guilty pleasures.

Beyond the margaritas at Pappasito’s, the gossip of small East Texas towns, and summers in Europe, Lauren Oakley is really only focused on one thing. Right now.

“Maybe I should regret things,” Oakley says. “…but I don’t. I’ve had the best time of my life in college and who would want to change that?”

In Austin, the gleam of green

2008-03-03T18:31:00.000-08:00

By Lauren Oakley

See online published article HERE

On warm spring afternoons, Agata Matusz, a University of Texas senior, enjoys taking her 1-year-old Yorkie for a stroll at a park on Shoal Creek to play with other dogs.

Matusz is among the many Austin residents who see nature as a priority, which contributes to its ranking as the 10th greenest city in the nation, according to popularscience.com.

Mayor Will Wynn recently announced the largest land conservation purchase in Texas’ history by the city of Austin, which will protect more than 3,000 acres for public access.

“This land was subject to intense development and through our efforts, we have created an amazing new opportunity to get people outdoors and active in a beautiful setting,” Wynn said in a press release.

It’s not the first time Austin has spent money to protect the environment. This will be the 17th major conservation purchase by the city since 1998, Wynn said.

“Austin is a city that makes protecting its natural resources one of its highest priorities,” said Jeff Francell, a director at the Texas Nature Conservancy, in a press release.

Austin is known throughout the nation as a green city because of its environmental activism, said Alice Nance, a conservation coordinator for Austin Parks and Recreation.

Doing something to preserve destroyed land caused by the city’s urban sprawl is not only important for the environment, but for citizens as well, Nance said.

“It’s vital that people connect with nature. It encourages you to exercise and to have a healthy lifestyle at a young age. It’s key to quality of life,” she said.

Changing the attitudes of those who don’t value the environment is a priority for Nance. She believes that once the issue begins to affect wallets and quality of life, it will convince the world to go green.

“I believe that most people feel helpless when it comes to environmental issues. If we can lay out a plan of action so people can see they are making a difference, it would help a lot,” Nance said.

Although Matusz enjoys nature, she said she isn’t involved in conservation because she feels that individually, she can’t make a difference.

“I can’t afford eco-friendly products and I don’t have time to volunteer with my heavy class load,” she said.

Escaping the hubbub of the city by visiting parks in Austin is very important, Matusz said.

“I think it’s important to have parks in Austin because as a student in college living conditions, I don’t have access to a backyard – so parks are the only place to let my dog roam free,” she said. “I wish I could so something to help keep them alive and I suppose eventually I will when I graduate.”

Matusz said she loves being in the sun and around fresh air because it boosts her energy and helps her unwind from the stress of school.

Austin is a beautiful city and preserving green spaces gives the community an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature, said Joni Gilton, the president of the environmental advocacy group GreenGirls.

“Nature is so important for mental, emotional and physical health. It provides an escape for a lot of people to be free of everything,” Gilton said. “It’s a buffer for some peace and quiet in an overpopulated city like Austin.”

We depend on nature for many necessities. Parks preserves and natural habitats provide a lot of those necessities, said Gilton.

“We are a part of nature – just like other critters with the exception that we posses a level of intelligence,” she said. “Why destroy something that we are apart of and depend on?”

Gilton said Austin is one of the greenest cities in the nation and has remained that way for years thanks to the dedication of communities and the city’s government. Convincing everyone to join the movement is her biggest challenge.

“We are setting examples … not trying to shame people into becoming involved,” Gilton said. “It’s important to not take nature for granted; once you’ve lost green space, you’ll never get it back.”

Nudity Tax in Texas

2008-03-02T23:03:00.001-08:00

As of Jan. 1, strip club customers have had to fork up $5 extra in order to enjoy what they call the simple pleasures in life.

During the last legislative session, Representative Ellen Cohen of Dallas presented house bill 1751 to the Texas legislature. It posed a new Adult Entertainment fee which would provide state funding for prevention and programs to treat sexual assault survivors.

The bill was favored by an overwhelming 110-28 vote amongst the legislature last May and the state began collection Jan 1.

“Protecting our children should be the most non-partisan issue that we, as a community, must address,” Cohen said. “The penalties on the books need to be enforced so that pedophiles and predators stay behind bars.”

Of the 254 counties in Texas, 54 don’t have access to rape crisis centers or other victims’ assistance programs. The bill is expected to save Texas taxpayers millions by providing more vital services in all counties without increasing property or sales tax.

Michael Precker, manager and spokesman of The Lodge Gentlemen’s Club in Dallas, said that it’s hard to feel the affects of the new fee because January is one of the slowest months for business.

“The Lodge is one of the most upscale places in Dallas so our clientele isn’t really bothered by paying a few extra bucks,” Precker said.

Precker worked for the Dallas Morning News for 25 years as a feature writer and a foreign correspondent.

When rumors started festering at the Dallas Morning News about potential staff cutbacks in the summer of 2006, it was total serendipity for Precker when he decided to join “the dark side” as a gentleman’s club manager.

“I knew there was no future in newspapers and I needed to get a job that paid the bills,” he said. “I was ready for a career change.”

It was in the midst of one of Precker’s off beat stories about The Lodge when he met the owner, Dawn Rizos, not knowing that she would be his future employer.

When Precker met with Rizos at a charity dinner some time later, he talked to her about the cutbacks at work and asked if she could train him to tend bar.

“Dawn said she’d hire me in a minute because The Lodge needed publicity and a good writer,” Precker said.

Hesitant at first to accept the manager position because of his prior beliefs, at some point the offer became less ridiculous and Precker decided to take the buy out.

` “I didn’t feel like I was being pushed out the door of the Dallas Morning News – I realized I’d never make it to retirement in that business no matter how much I loved it or how good I was,” Precker said.

Today, Precker does anything from emptying ash trays to arranging media interviews – which is a consuming task these days with the new “sin tax.”

“We are going to follow the law regardless. In addition, it does support a good cause – but a lot of us resent the implication because of its unfairness,” he said.

Precker believes the fee targets only a part of the entertainment industry because male strip clubs and other businesses that qualify under the guidelines are not required to enforce the fees.

“I don’t think this bill is well written and the state didn’t seem to have a good handle on it,” Precker said. “They just passed it blindly not considering the grey areas.”

With the new fee piling over many other expenses that customers have to fork up at strip clubs, Hare believes that it will encourage people to look for a cheaper means of sexual entertainment, like prostitution.

According to Texas Comptroller Spokesman R.J. DeSilva, the fees will provide finances for the Texas Sexual Assault Program Fund administered by the attorney general.

“All adult entertainment establishments must keep their own daily records of customer numbers and follow the new guidelines or legal action will be taken,” DeSilva said.

DeSilva didn’t express any concern about inaccurate reports from businesses about their clientele.

According to DeSilva, the state may collect from any business that allows alcohol and has performers dancing with clothing that doesn’t sufficiently cover their breast, buttocks or genitals. These businesses may include strip clubs, burlesque shows and experimental theaters.

The fee will be remitted quarterly and the first customer reports are due April 1.

“When April 1 comes, it will be interesting to see how honest these businesses’ customer reports are,” Precker said.

A Yellow Rose Gentleman’s club employee who requested her name be withheld said that the new sin tax has affected business tremendously.

The employee said that the tax comes into affect everyday at 5 p.m. It is $3 until per person until after 7 p.m., when the fee increases to $5 per person.

“We’ve lost a lot of great customers and employees. No one is making money like they were before,” she said.

“I went to one strip club and they wanted me to pay $35 to get in … so I just went home,” said frequent customer, Jason Hare.

Precker added that he believes the state is putting strip club customers into a false light with this bill.

“I don’t agree with the cause and effect aspect of it with patrons and sexual assault – it suggests that most strip club customers consuming alcohol are predators and pedophiles and it is wrong,” Precker said.

After an injunction request by the Texas Entertainment Association and Karpod Inc., the state began collections anyway in January denying their requests. TEA and Karpod filed law suit and the case still remains in court today.

According to the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, the ongoing legal case against the fee is an unfortunate development, but they believe in the merits of the state’s case

Student

2008-03-02T22:48:00.000-08:00

Hello all.
I am starting this blog to show my writing to public because I want to pursue a career in writing... whether it be in Journalism or doing children books, I do not care. I just love to write. I am new at this blogging stuff so give me some time to get used to the system and grow with my creativity so my blog will be more interesting. I will post all of my previous writings on here very soon for everyone to see. Some are from class, some from Work, and some from tryouts and such. All are very different and diverse. Please give me feedback ... positive or negative I don't care. I am in journalism school and they teach us to grow a thick skin to get used to rejection and uncooperative sources, thus, all types of criticisms will be accepted for my personal growth of thick skin. lol. No bashing me though. Watch it!!!
Hope you enjoy and keep it real.
:-)