Word #5

1. Psychographics 
2. "Although advertising is sold based on a clear delineation of reader demographics and psychographics, much editorial content is based on the editors' inherent understanding of their audience."  Source: My textbook "The Magazine From Cover to Cover" by Sammye Johnson and Patricia Prijatel
3. Part of speech: Noun.  Definition: The study and grouping of people according to their attitudes and tastes, especially for market research.
4. Advertising agencies must be familiar with an area's psychographics to know what will be useful and appealing to them.

Copy Edit the World #1

This was printed on the thermostat at a Wendy's fast food restaurant. I'm assuming it's supposed to say "Do not touch."

This was an error in my church bulletin. The word "grateful" should have been used instead of "gratitude."

This was an email ad I received.  There are two errors. The first is under the SHOP heading where it says "Shop springs's must-haves." Springs's should be spring's instead of having two S's.  Also, the bottom text says "Submit you statement" instead of "Submit your statement."

Word #4

1. Addendum 
2. "He's made himself a target for years because of his curious choices off the court, and the addendum to the Delonte West rumor are the whispers that 'helpers' inside of James' camp actually started that nonsense in a moronic attempt to divert some criticism away from LeBron..."  Source: Yahoo Sports Article "LeBron threatened to beat up heckler. You gotta problem with that, tough guy?"  By Kelly Dwyer
3. Part of speech: Noun.  Definition: Something added; an item of additional material, typically omissions, added at the end of a book or publication
4. The new application will be a significant addendum to the iPhone's existing capabilities. 

Word #3

1. Disseminated 
2. "The information disseminated via ALERT SJSU will describe the emergency and may caution you to avoid certain areas of campus..."  Source: SJSU's "Annual Security And Fire Safety Report" booklet
3. Part of speech: Verb.  Definition: To scatter or spread widely, as though sowing seed; broadcast, disperse.
4. The teacher disseminated important information students should not forget.

Post #4 - What makes it news?

            A recent news story I find significant is the story of an 18-year-old girl from Missouri who was sentenced this past week to life in prison for the murder of her 9-year-old neighbor.  Alyssa Bustamante was just 15 years old when she stabbed, strangled, and slit the throat of Elizabeth Olten on October 21, 2009.  This story becomes even more disturbing with the revelation of Bustamante’s journal confessions.  She describes the feeling of killing as “ahmazing” and added, “As soon as you get over the ‘ohmygawd I can’t do this’ feeling, it’s pretty enjoyable.”  Her journal then continued with, “Kay, I gotta go to church now…lol.” 

Originally charged with first-degree murder, Bustamante pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in order to avoid a courtroom trial and gain the possibility of parole.  She will now have to serve a mandatory 35 years and 5 months in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

This story is newsworthy for several reasons.  The most obvious reason is the unusualness of it.  It's not every day that people hear stories of teenage girls killing their neighbors; much less admit to enjoying it.  The story also has an impact on people, especially those with teenage daughters or young children.  It makes parents think twice about letting their son or daughter go over to play at the neighbors’ house if they are not very familiar with them.  It causes parents of teenagers to look for “red flags” in recent behavior that might indicate something bigger going on.  The tragedy of the story sparks natural human interest as well as emotional appeal.  And of course, the timeliness is relevant in that Bustamante's sentence was handed to her just this past week.

I think this story could be made local by talking to parents of young children who are unfamiliar with many of their neighbors, and allowing them to share safety tips they practice.  Obviously not every neighbor is a killer, but by encouraging parents to use caution for the safety of their children, preventative steps might be taken to ensure similar crimes don’t happen again.  Also, by referencing local centers where troubled teenagers who have expressed harmful or suicidal thoughts can go to receive help, more people may think about getting help for their loved ones to prevent similar instances from occurring.

http://news.yahoo.com/mo-teen-gets-life-possible-parole-killing-141938731.html

Post #3 - A Fly On The Wall

           As I soak up the warmth from the sun rays breaking through the window, I take in the sundry scene around me.  I hear a bell ring in a perfect, familiar rhythm.  I feel movement as trees and busy streets rush past me in a blur.  A woman sits across the way with perfectly manicured hands folded in her lap. She stares straight ahead with sunglasses firmly planted on her face, hiding in plain view.  The sound of happy children floats from somewhere beyond what I can see.  Two young men sit across from each other laughing and joking while one reaches over to playfully hit the other’s arm.  Three gray-haired gentlemen sit in close proximity, similar in age, but separated by silence.  A dark-haired, petite girl laughs into her cell phone as she peers out the window into the beautiful day.  A dark-skinned man with shoulder-length hair pushes a curly-haired, smiling baby back in forth in a stroller. He picks up the baby who joyfully laughs and begins drawing invisible shapes on the window with his tiny, delicate fingers.  A lonely purple bicycle stands planted on the cold, metal rack which seems to have become its home during this journey.  This is a journey we all share, yet with an array of destinations.   As I step through the automatic doors and onto the broad platform, I leave the light rail behind and breathe in the air of a new day.

Word #2

1. Proprietor 
2. "He added: 'The proprietor of a cafe doesn't use personal information about me and my friends to make money.'" Source: New York Times article "Disruptions: Facebook Users Ask, 'Where's Our Cut?'" by Nick Bilton
3. Part of speech: Noun.  Definition: The owner of a business, or holder of a property.
4. Facebook's proprietor should do more to acknowledge the role of its users in contributing to its overall success.

Post #2 - Your Favorite Writing

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings - by Maya Angelou


A free bird leaps on the back
Of the wind and floats downstream 
Till the current ends and dips his wing 
In the orange suns rays
And dares to claim the sky.

But a BIRD that stalks down his narrow cage
Can seldom see through his bars of rage
His wings are clipped and his feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
Of things unknown but longed for still
And his tune is heard on the distant hill for
The caged bird sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze
And the trade winds soft through
The sighing trees
And the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright
Lawn and he names the sky his own.

But a caged BIRD stands on the grave of dreams
His shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
His wings are clipped and his feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with
A fearful trill of things unknown
But longed for still and his
Tune is heard on the distant hill
For the caged bird sings of freedom.


This well-known poem by Maya Angelou has always stood out to me every time I have encountered it in my various English and/or writing classes.  She writes about a free bird and a caged bird, which represents the free white man versus the enslaved black man in the days of racial segregation.  I like it because of its graceful flow and literal rhythm when speaking it aloud.  It makes use of beautiful metaphors such as "leaps on the back of the wind", "bars of rage", and "stands on the grave of dreams."  In addition, her use of adjectives such as "orange sun rays" and "fearful trill" give distinct pictures and conjure the actual emotions of the bird itself, which is the imprisoned slave.  The imagery is powerful and the main message of the poem is inspiring as well.  Angelou is encouraging the slaves to "sing" and have hope. Even though they are caged, they must never surrender their spirit and their internal freedom to dream.  Just because their body is enslaved does not mean their mind cannot be free.  I believe this message of hope and perseverance is still relevant today.  I think the combination of beautiful imagery, powerful metaphors, and a timeless inspirational message makes this a great piece of writing.

Word #1

1. Scatological
2. "It is often criticized for being too violent, too scatological, and for using language too strong for children." Source: My textbook Visual Communications: Images with Messages 
3. Part of speech: Adjective. Definition: Characterized by obscenity or preoccupation with obscenity, especially in the form of references to excrement.
4. His scatological sense of humor was inappropriate in front of the children.