Ok...some new blogging rules. As I've tried to say before, the idea here is to (in order of preference)

• Discuss stories as pieces of journalism from a writing standpoint in order to become better at doing it.
• Share ideas, techniques, successes and failures with the class in order to help each other out in your reporting efforts.
• Comment meaningfully on the news/issues of the day.
• Comment meaningfully on other topics of interest

The key with all of this is that "meaningfully" word. This is not Instant Messenger. Please don't use it as such, because it's my observation that it detracts from your time in class and it's not critical thinking in nature. I'm thinking entries need to be 4-5 sentences of developed observation. Not short snippets. And you should probably be doing it outside of class as much as possible. That's why I only asked for two posts a week as the average effort in this area. Let's try to move toward that, ok? If we can't I'll be forced to start restricting access, which I really, really don't want to do. (But I will speak with you individually before I do that.) Thanks.

Tony, I need hex codes, like 6699CC type stuff. Where'd you get those?

By the way, going back to an earlier thread, just for the record, while my wife and I are computer addicted, our kids do not spend hours on the computer. They also never watch tv at home, although they get their fill at daycare. Tess has learned some things from toddler and preschool computer games, and I wouldn't be surprised if they might help her learn to read earlier if we used them more often. But as someone in here said, we want her to get dirty playing outside, and we want her to think creatively by staging productions and drawing and dancing and all that good stuff you don't get to do when you sit in front of a computer. By the same token, I think computers are by and large under utilized when it comes to a teaching and, yes, a learning tool. I learn so much from my time on the Internet, about parenting, about nutrition, about politics, about spirit, about whatever I am interested in at the time. And when it really comes down to it, learning is a product of interest. The formula that says you take 25 kids put them face forward in a classroom and teach them all the same thing the same way regardless of whether they are interested in it or going to use it (Anton and Corey cheer) is not the best we can do, in my opinion. True learning is exploration, and I have to tell you that in my case, at least, the Internet has informed me in ways I could never have imagined 10 years ago. I still get outside, and I still play, but the freedom to pursue the types of learning that interest me the most is so motivating that I wonder what would happen if we let our students to that too. Problem is so many of you have been deadened by being forced to listen to things that have no relevance to your lives (or more importantly haven't been made relevant to your lives by good teaching) that you probably wouldn't know what you wanted to learn if you had the opportunity. My 4 cents.

Ok, Anton...Ask and ye shall receive.

Mr. R's "Respond to This Post" Post: You don't like high school? See what this 24-year old is trying to do about it. What are you doing or can you do to change something about your world? Let's share some stories.

Some great tips, guys...keep 'em coming! And please make sure you READ them! You might even want to make a note or two in your personal blogs for later. Jenn: You're right. We should have been patriotic all along. And that then forces me to ask, why aren't we? Why don't more people have a natural pride in this country? Why don't I, because I really don't in many ways. Why don't more than 50% of the people in this country vote? What does it say when our president was elected by less than 25% of the people in America? What does it say when politicians on both sides of the aisle are regularly bought and sold to protect their own interests and the interests of those who buy them? Why don't people care more in general about the process? About upholding their responsibility as citizens of a free and democratic society to learn about the issues that affect them and vote accordingly? (And please, if you're not going to be an informed voter, don't vote.) Why do they feel powerless? This is a great place in many ways, no argument. But I think you have to earn the right to wave a flag, not just live here. And I think we all have to stop passively accepting what our leaders do and challenge their motivations and interests, both Democrat and Republican. There is a bigger context here. I guess that's just the spark of the reporter left in me 'cause that's what a reporter's ultimate role is, you know, as a watchdog of government. (That what freedom of the press is all about.)

By the way, if Shays-Meehan doesn't pass today, I might be home sick tomorrow. And if this isn't an example of what's screwed up about politics in this country, I don't know what is. I'll save that speech for another day.

Ok...just have to say this again. (I'm really trying not to get on my soapbox, here, and this is only the opinion of the author, not the company that employs the author.) If we do not assimilate other cultures, other ideas, other beliefs into our own, if we do not develop more empathy for people of other cultures and regions, if we do not expand our intellectual and spiritual horizons when it comes to those of other faiths and races and sexual preferences, we will lose any greatness that this country still has left. Globalization is coming. Patriotism is nice, but if we don't start becoming patriotic for humanity rather than for just this nation, we're going to find ourselves isolated, hated, and ultimately defeated by our own hubris. I guess that is what bothers me so much about our current administration's position (here I go again, right Kate?). I just don't think it's willing or able to look at our longer term interests because it is so tied to the short term interests of it's benefactors. Railing against the "Evil Axis" is solely intended to keep us all in the fight, so we can spend/waste more money in places we don't really need to, drill more oil wells where we shouldn't really have to, and keep more secrets under the guise of "national security". Just my two cents. Let the screaming begin.

Hey Burke, you knucklehead...click the link to the left...

Hey Anton, thanks for the link. That article doesn't get me down 'cause it's not my market anyway. In fact, it might be a good thing if it helps to legitimize the weblog movement! Go Blog, Go!

Attention: New plans for Friday...Rick Epstein, freelance writer, author of two books on parenting, and managing editor at the Democrat will be here from 9-9:45 to talk to you/answer your questions about freelancing. Those of you that read this before then, try to prep some questions for him. What's the part of the process you're having trouble understanding? Where do you need direction? Let's try to pick his brain on all this stuff.

Hey Corey...what's with the double posts? And I didn't say your story couldn't be funny, I just said that funny in newspapers usually means opinion, and I want you to do serious reporting even if the topic might be humorous. Keep working with Anton to come up with a more workable idea. Burke: I think the change in focus is a good one. Work really hard to see if you can find something like that out there. Jen: I'm not sure Men's Health would be a medical mag, and those others may be a bit of a strech. Why don't you look for markets geared toward teenagers first.

Wow, Xana! Here I am at 6:45 a.m. just about to post that same NY Times article to Sarah, and you stole my link! Some nerve! But I'll make it a link so she can just click it...nah-na-na-na-nah-na...

In terms of markets, try to get some diversity in size and scope. It's going to be tough to start with People or Sports Illustrated, so you need to find more focused markets to break into. Sure, they're not as glamorous, but you have to start somewhere and there's a better chance of them taking a chance on you. Kinda like when you apply to colleges...find a safe market, a couple of maybes, and a reach. By the way, the confernences that I'm going to have with you over the next couple of days will be no holds barred, so bring all of your thoughts, ideas, and an open mind.

By the way, in case you're interested, here's where I'm at with my query letter. I'm open to some feedback. Make sure to post yours in your weblog so you can keep a record of it. I'll collect a hard copy to review at conference tomorrow. Anyone want to sign up for first dibs?

Nice post Corey...Sarah, we'll talk about it today in class, but basically, the three-step method is fine. A query letter shouldn't be too long...editors just want an idea of what you're doing, and what you have or can do.

Hey Kate...Hope you're feeling better. If you read this before Monday, make sure you check the class blog to get the homework (the proposal due Monday.) You can find all sorts of teens out there on the Internet, and we can brainstorm some other ideas (i.e. far flung relatives, etc.) There are no Hunterdon County magazines that I know of, so you're going to have to get national to do this. More importantly is the need to focus your idea. What about teens and politics?

Some responses: (And I'm moving from the bottom up, remember.) Kate: I think an exploration of how teens have been affected by 9/11 is good as long as it's narrow enough to be new...a fair amount has been done already. Tony: re Afghanistan, here's an op-ed (opinion) piece in today's Times about the benefits of war. Jenn: The question is why did we support that regime, and why do we support other pretty evil regimes in covert ways around the world. What do we get by doing so? Jen: Writing about something that affects you personally is a good and bad idea. Good because you do have some expertise, bad because you need to stay objective about it too. Proceed with caution ;). Roger: At some point do you think we knew what the Taliban was doing to women and others who opposed them (i.e. public mutilations and hangings)? If so, at that point, should we have severed our ties? Jenn: On your story idea, good general idea but work hard to find a narrower focus. Here's an example of narrowing the topic from the Wall Street Journal. Sarah: What do you know the most about? What do you want to know more about? Cassandra: Nice post. Kristen: In the Olympics, do they still have men's field hockey comepetition? Melissa: What a stupid idea! JUST KIDDING. Handicapped pets, huh? See what's been done. Brandon: You get the first link award. Congratulations! Isn't this fun! Jenn: Can you find a link to Teen People? Tony: Get a grip. Roger: Do you know any independent professional wrestlers? (Sounds like a freelance job.) Kate: Elections are coming up this year...have teens become more engaged in politics since 9/11? Xana: Nice feedback...now HOW ABOUT AN IDEA??? Brandon: Like the hockey dad in Boston? Lots of questions here. Julia: Narrowing is the key here. By the way, do you feel like you know what's up since you missed Day 1? Maybe we should chat... Matt: You mean a salary cap, right? Lots been done here...make sure you think about the narrowing concept. Jen: Lots has been done on the effects of epillepsy, but I'm sure you can focus it. Inga: I think that would be an interesting article too.