The View

Edo Hair Salon and Art Gallery

2010-05-12T23:57:00.000-07:00

There is one art that is extremely overlooked. It requires precision, an eye for perfection, and even demands a license for professional practice. To be a hair colorist takes patience, strategy, and skill to satisfy every customer who requests specific colors be added to alter their natural hair color. Because hair is a very personal attribute and people take pride in their appearance, it is important that a good hair colorist have impeccable judgment. Hair services in San Francisco are not cheap, so when I decided to look for a hair colorist, I wanted the best. Her name is Marissa Estrella and she is a senior stylist at Edo hair salon located on lower Haight street. Edo was rated “best salon” in 2009 by the Bay Guardian, and the staff certainly live up to their expectations.
Located on the corner of Haight street at Steiner, this quaint salon sits situated between local residences and the fine dining of lower Haight. With a small pink banner that reads “Edo Hair Salon and Art Gallery,” it is easy to overlook the second part of the title. Yes, a hair salon that doubles as an art gallery. Instantly intrigued, I called to schedule my appointment, prepared to shovel out over $100 for a partial highlight. Stephanie who answers the phones was not the most enthusiastic person to schedule a hair appointment with- it was as if my business was not needed. However, upon arrival I was greeted by a very nice front desk staff and offered water or wine while I waited. This is when I decided to check out the art. Currently featured at Edo is the work of Catto Vanessa Houghton, a Canadian born artist who just recently moved to the Bay Area. Her showcased portraits called “Falling Together” resemble pop-art with a more realistic flare. One portrait features a close-up of an African American male with dread locks. The picture looks like a real portrait, capturing the man’s distinct features and incorporating intricate detail. The photos were a great distraction from the fact that Marissa was running late.
As I sipped my red wine Marissa assessed my hair needs and recommended the best plan of attack: light bleach and brown toner in order to create golden bronze highlights. As someone who comes from a family of hair stylists and colorist I have learned to become extremely picky and exact with my hair. Colorists can put color on top of natural hair, or they can bleach the hair- which is essentially starting from scratch and then decide to add color. This is the most difficult part of creating the perfect color and determining if bleach is appropriate for different hair types. With one hair color in mind, Marissa explained adequately how long she would keep the bleach on, then how she would add brown toner to bring out the caramel and bronze in my hair. If I was not satisfied with my hair color, she explained that I could come back for a retouch.
Edo lives up to its positive reviews with friendly and knowledgeable staff. They have a full line of Bumble & Bumble hair products to compliment their services. After my first visit I even received a $10 off coupon as a new customer for my next visit. I am more than content with the result of Marissa’s expertise and would recommend Edo to anyone who needs a great stylist. The cost of my trip: $130, my experience: great, my hair color: amazing. Not only are the services great, there is always an art showcase that changes monthly on display.

My rating: ****1/2

The Urban Unseen- Art Exhibit

2010-04-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

Attracting tourists and future homeowners, tightly packed together apartment buildings and Victorian style homes are a trademark of San Francisco. On almost every block of the city, every lot is somehow connected. Are these just closely built homes, or architectural masterpieces? Tanu Sankalia, Architecture professor at the University of San Francisco, examines the overlooked complexities of San Francisco Victorian homes in his art exhibit “The Urban Unseen.” The art exhibit, located in Thacher Gallery on the University of San Francisco campus, explores the spaces between homes and the way they are connected.
Sankalia’s vision was to draw attention to and analyze more than just the façade, but the multiple dimensions of the houses near the university’s campus. Some of these Victorian residential houses on Turk Street were built in the mid to late 1800’s, embodying the style of English architecture during the rule of Queen Victoria. They were also built on top of bedrock so they were able to survive the San Francisco earthquake and fire. During a walking tour, Sankalia explains that he wanted to tell the story of San Francisco in a different way. He asked “How do you look at things that are unseen?” and hoped to convey his conclusions through his exhibit.
Sankalia obtained his undergraduate degree in Architecture in India before he moved to the U.S. to continue his studies at UC Berkeley. He has taught in India and has been a professor at the University of San Francisco, which funded his exhibit, for four years. He is extremely passionate and equally knowledgeable about his project.
The actual exhibit encompasses his findings through various art forms. There are wax sculptures, detailed drawings, video, and photographs of the different spaces that exist between lots. Some homes are connected by a wall, which Sankalia describes as row houses, when two houses share a wall and there is little to no space between them. Other homes are connected by a gate, and some are connected by a wall that begins further back than the first dimension of the house. These are the complexities that the average passerby may never notice which makes this exhibit original and unique. He notes that facades are highlighted during the day, drawing attention away from other dimensions of space. However, as night approaches the visibility of intricate details of Victorian architecture and space becomes apparent.
Sankalia explains that there were four main elements to understanding and expressing his vision. He believes these elements to be observation, mapping, documentation, and interpretation. He began his project observing the streets, spaces, and homes and then mapped his exact focus. Next he used various mediums to document the spaces and created ways in which others could interpret them. He worked along with four other artists to convey these images. Catherine Chang was another architect involved, as well as Pedro Churion who used film to interpret the spaces, and students also participated in creating the art exhibit.
The exhibit is creative, interactive, and most certainly something I’ve never seen before. However, the reason why it may have been so effective is that the concept goes beyond the exhibit. After leaving the art showcase, Sankalia’s idea can be found all over San Francisco. He was able to take a part of a city that unites everyone who lives in a home that is somehow connected to another. Since speaking with the artist and reviewing the showcase, I am constantly aware of the spaces that connect Victorian houses and even my own apartment building. Well done Sankalia, well done.

My Rating: *****/*****

Learn to Be Latina

2010-03-26T18:34:00.000-07:00

Learn to Be Latina
Impact Theatre
La Val's Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave., Berkeley
Ticket cost: $12-20
Show runs to March 27, 2010
Running time is two hours and 10 minutes

Sitting in a small basement full of cobwebs beneath a pizza place where UC Berkeley students gather to shoot pool, do homework, and drink beer you would never expect to see a phenomenally written and directed play. Up and coming playwright Enrique Urueta did not have a wide variety of venue choices for his play Learn to Be Latina, but the talented cast made the intimate setting work.
Learn to Be Latina is a contemporary comedy that addresses issues of race, sexuality, and identity that seeks to offend and entertain at the same time. 22-year-old aspiring singer Hanan Mashulani, played by Carlye Pollack, brings her demo to a record label where she is told that she will not be marketable because she is Lebanese Will, Bill, and Jill, the label consultants, are vetoed by some kind of “ethnic advisor” Mary O’Malley. Mary O’Malley shines throughout the entire play with her blunt humor, awful Irish accent, Spanglish, and a Cuban hand puppet named Casatina. Mary decides that Hanan should be marketed as a Latina, completely ignoring her Lebanese roots, due to a personal vendetta we later learn of.
Mary points out that Latina artists Selma Hyek and Shakira are both of Lebanese descent yet their Middle Eastern heritage is never highlighted in the media. The music executives make terrorist references to Hanan’s ethnicity and take cover when she picks up her bag. Their comments are extremely racist but the audience cannot help but laugh at their ridiculous assumptions. Urueta calls attention to the tumultuous careers of Middle Eastern ethnic pop stars Tiffany and Paula Abdul, establishing a need to change the ethnicity of Hanan. After a “Latina boot camp” Hañan emerges as a international superstar who speaks little Spanish and takes on a Colombian heritage, that she later confuses with Cuban. She struggles with her identity throughout the play and her sexuality as well when she falls for “Office Bitch,” a.k.a the Chicana office secretary.
No minority group is exempt from Urueta’s humor. He pokes fun at Mexicans, black people, lesbians, gays, Latinos, women, and he even makes fun of white people calling them the “race-less” group. The characters use racial slurs, “politically incorrect” words, they cuss, perform sexual acts, do and say anything and everything to make us feel uncomfortable. As a resident of San Francisco and a product of pop culture, I was not offended. However, perhaps a more conservative, older audience would not have been a fan of Learn to Be Latina.
The small basement theater allowed for a relaxed setting where most of the audience enjoyed pizza, beer, and wine from La Val’s Subterranean (the pizza place above). The lighting was appropriate for the small space that was allotted for the stage, and the sound was just right. The costumes looked as though they were thought out, but perhaps needed to be a bit more flashy for Hañan’s role as a superstar. I enjoyed all two hours and 10 minutes of the up-beat, in-your-face dialogue, multiple dance performances, pop culture references, crude comments, and high energy performance. Overall, I think Urueta’s play was fantastically written and well thought out. His professional partner, Director Mary Guzmán did an equally amazing job at directing the actors and helped put Urueta’s words into action. Together, the two nailed it.
My Rating: ****

Rating:
* (Yawn)
** Still listening
*** Great acting and solid plot
**** Amazing acting, great storyline, and no one’s sleeping.

Alice in Wonderland, quite a dissapointment

2010-03-12T18:55:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness for 3D graphics because they were just about the only thing that saved Tim Burton’s 2010 take on Alice in Wonderland. Perhaps established actors Johnny Depp (the Mad Hatter), Helena Bonham Carter (the Red Queen), Anne Hathaway (the White Queen) and Burton’s reputation as a director are the reason this film had so much hype and publicity. With strange sexual undertones, unexplained circumstances, and frightening looking creatures, I would not suggest taking the kids. As an fan of the old Disney movie Alice in Wonderland, my longing for childhood nostalgia was crushed with this slow and anticlimactic storyline.
From the first scene we see young Alice as a girl who suffers from bad dreams often and then we abruptly fast forward to her life as a 19-year-old rebellious girl on the way to her engagement proposal. As an audience we are not quite sure what occurred in those passing years but we are to assume that Alice once visited what she calls “Wonderland” and has now forgotten all about it.
The beginning of the film sets up for what seems like might be a nineteenth century film about arranged marriages. Alice, who has about a 2.5 second attention span, fails to pay attention to the fact that she has just been proposed to and instead chases a rabbit that, surprise, goes down a rabbit hole. Following the rabbit she enters what is called “Wonderland” or what looks like a place drug addicts might go after their first hit. This is a land where you can drink a potion to make you smaller, eat a small cake that magically makes you grow taller, animals can speak, and humans take on strangely enlarged facial features.
Alice encounters a number of creatures that she befriends who are convinced that she is not the same Alice that visited this land once before. She meets the wise caterpillar who smokes out of a hookah until he cocoons, a magical healing cat, and the most intriguing character, the Mad Hatter who looks like a clown on methamphetamine. A quirky, hat-making, Mad Hatter played by Johnny Depp takes on the role of Alice’s “watcher,” yet it seems as though the two may have a connection deeper than friendship, perhaps a romance.
Alice also has an interaction with the King where he expresses his lust for her by pushing her up against a wall. Throughout the entire movie she is constantly consuming potions that alter her size and her clothing disappears as she grows taller or smaller. Her lack of clothing and risqué attire distract audiences from the once innocently portrayed Disney Alice and turns her into a bit of a sex symbol. She is even charged for unlawful seduction and brought before the Red Queen who delivers her famous line “Off with her head!” Explaining the reason for Alice’s beheading may not be inappropriate for the young ones since the PG rating allows anyone to view the film.
Alice in Wonderland is drawn out over an hour and forty minutes of film that attempts to keep audiences suspenseful for a climactic ending in which Alice must slay a large evil creature. However the ending is the opposite. It is quite slow and Alice eventually returns from Stonerland, crawling out of the rabbit hole and arriving at her engagement proposal party. The amount of time that has elapsed is unexplained and viewers are unsure what the party guests have been doing all this time that Alice has been missing. Despite all of her adventures, Alice’s character does not go through much of a transformation. In fact, she seems to be the same Alice that the film opened with. Was she dreaming, did she really go to Wonderland, or did she do some serious drugs?

Rating:
* Not a great film
** Somewhat entertaining
*** It was good, but I wouldn’t see again.
**** Mind stimulating and entertaining throughout
***** Film genius

My rating:
** 1/2

Boycott Forever 21?

2010-02-23T21:15:00.000-08:00

Documentary film Made in L.A. (2007) reveals an uncomfortable truth about the sweatshop industry in Los Angeles, capturing the lives of three Latina immigrants whose fight brings justice to the garment workers producing clothing for major retailer Forever 21. The film gives viewers an intimate look into the lives of Lupe Hernandez, Maria Pineda, and Maura Colorado letting us also celebrate their victorious win after a three-year-long boycott of the garment industry and pending lawsuit against Forever 21.
Unlike the many documentaries produced each year, Director and Producer Almudena Carracedo was able to convey a very clear message about human rights, rather than impose an opinion on an uniformed audience. It is apparent that these women, along with many other illegal immigrants, have been exploited and taken advantage of by garment industries that pay them far less than minimum wage and degrade their dignity as humans.
The fact that the documentary is almost entirely in Spanish further aids the understanding of where these women have come from and who they are. Subtitles are provided, however, as the documentary progresses you find that you have stopped reading them so carefully and focused more on the emotions these women feel.
The camera predominantly films the characters from a medium-long shot which seems like their lives and experiences unfold right before our eyes in a non-invasive way.
Just by simply taking a look into their lives we see Lupe Hernandez, originally from Mexico City, and Maria Pineda along with Maura Colorado who immigrated from El Salvador, transform from quiet, struggling women into powerful, fearless representatives of a widely oppressed population of exploited people. The courageous act of these women are inspiring for all. As an audience, we respect them completely for fighting and bearing their personal lives as they could easily be deported or blacklisted from future employers.
By learning about their rights from a small Garment Workers Center in Los Angeles, these women along with many others learn that if they stick together and fight for their rights, the system will crumble. However, by boycotting their jobs they are forced to look for other means to survive. We may wonder how these people are providing for themselves and maintain their homes and families. Here, the director fails to address how survival is possible during a boycott.
This documentary is able to convey a very clear message about human rights while showing the daily struggle of these immigrants who live in fear that they cannot provide for their families. They are humans just like legal U.S. citizens who deserve the right to be treated fairly in and outside of work. The cameras follow a particular strike in which the protestors stand outside of a Forever 21, in hopes of persuading others not to shop in the store. One scene in particular stands out when a woman looks at a garment she’s sewn in the window of a Forever 21. The garment sells for at least twenty dollars, when she received nineteen cents to make it.
Though the only commentary from a Forever 21 representative came from an Assistant Manager, holding a McDonalds cup in her hand, admitting that she “had no idea” Forever 21 exploited their workers, the documentary does capture the nature of Forever 21 C.E.O, Don Chang. After a protest at Chang’s home in Beverly Hills, he is filmed getting in a Range Rover and driving away, failing to address or comment on the strike. Shortly after this strike, we learn that he has filed a charge of libel against the protestors and the Center, something many big corporations do to intimidate others out of their lawsuits.
After a strenuous boycott, endless protesting, and lawsuit, the garment workers finally win when Forever 21 settles the case, instituting minimum wage and fair labor regulations for its workers. Hernandez, Pineda, and Colorado are all ecstatic along with the rest of the workers, we too partake in their victory. But, the end is bittersweet as we learn that much of the garment production ceases to exist in Los Angeles and Forever 21 moves their production to third world countries.
This film exposed an awful truth that many of us fail to recognize because the topic is widely absent from the media. Unfortunately, people will still continue to shop at retail stores like Forever 21 who exploit their workers because this issue does not directly affect them. For those who have seen the film, simply remembering one of the women whose life was directly influenced by the garment industry may stop them from shopping there all together.
My rating: ****
Rating Scale:
* Not good
** Interesting
*** A little more fascinating, but so what?
**** Wow, I didn’t know that!
***** Completely informative with views of the other side

“Yea, e-a, e-a, e-a, Dunder Mifflin is a part of Sabre”

2010-02-11T16:11:00.001-08:00

If you’re up for a good laugh, then tune into NBC’s “The Office” to watch the hilariously sarcastic cast make a parody of everyday life. With an unconventional office atmosphere that promotes the throwing of scissors, misuse of office equipment, and relaxed relationship between employees and management, “The Office” pokes fun at the typical day job of many Americans. From flirty office relationships, to the routine day in a cubicle, this show covers it all.
Last weeks episode “Sabre” addressed the current economic situation affecting many Americans with a comedic twist. The infamous Dunder Mifflin paper company has been bought by an electronic company called Sabre run by Kathy Bates’s character, due to the fact that most branches are going under. Michael (Steve Carell) finds that his staff are unhappy with the changes that Sabre has brought to Dunder Mifflin.
It all begins with the arrival of a package which Michael anxiously opens, not realizing it is not addressed to him. Along with the help of office workers Pam (Jenna Fischer), Dwight (Rainn Wilson), and assistant manager Jim (John Krasinski) they manage to tape the box back together. Just as Michael is promoting the “great team-work” of his employees, they hear a cell phone ring. It’s in the box. It’s hard to hold back a laugh at the stupidity of a company manager who can’t even complete a simple task.
Upon the arrival of a Sabre representative, two employees of Dunder Mifflin prepare a song to the beat of Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA,” in which they mispronounce Sabre for “Sab-ray,” ruining the overall fluidity of the song when they are corrected half way through. This scene provokes laughter and a bit of sympathy from the audience as we watch them struggle through the rest of the song, making them look incompetent.
Expecting parents Jenna and Jim have more on their mind than the office. In pursuits of finding the perfect day care for their expected child, they encounter an arrogant headmaster. Like most parents who just want the best for their kids, this scene shows the competitive nature of the day care industry. The anticipation of their baby keeps viewers interested in future episodes of “The Office.”
Audiences may wonder, what exactly do they do at Dunder Mifflin? Work seems to be the last thing the employees execute. The television show serves as a relief for the many Americans who work in an office, in retail, or management through the humorous situations employees of Dunder Mifflin encounter, that we too may have experienced. With “reality-type” filming, one-on-one conversations, and character eye contact with the camera, the show almost invites you into their world.
Dunder Mifflin must conform to the new rules of Sabre when company manager Michael realizes there is nothing he can do. Much like the real world today, many companies are bought by larger ones because they cannot financially survive. Employees must adhere to new company policies and regulations. “The Office” recognizes that, so why not address it with comedy? If you can appreciate abrupt scene changes, an unclear plot line, and comedy without fake laugher, then this show might grab a few laughs. The work place situations that leave us stressed, irritated, and exhausted are mocked in this satire that airs every Thursday night on NBC at 9/8 Central.
My Rating: ****
*- Dull/Boring
**-Held my attention
***- Forced a few laughs
****- Easy to follow and funny
*****- Overall comedic genius

Axum Yum Yum- Restaurant Review

2010-02-02T19:57:00.000-08:00

If you have an insatiable appetite for Ethiopian food or even a slight curiosity to try it, Axum Cafe will satisfy your taste buds. With a moderate amount of authentic Ethiopian spices, these select cuts of meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes are worth the twenty dollar bill. This small restaurant located on lower Haight street draws in older and younger crowds who share an appreciation for the exceptional cuisine.
Unlike many places where the menu is full of options, leaving you distraught in deciding what to order, Axum provides a brief, yet concise description of each meat and vegetarian entrée. The level of spice is comprehensive and the cuts of beef, marinated chicken, lamb, fish, shrimp, and assorted veggies are explained adequately. No forks are needed here, as it is custom to eat the dish with injera, a sour, sponge-like bread. Ask for a fork? You might get some stares.
Don’t expect extraordinary service, the one server responsible for every customer did not seem to be interested in wowing anyone with assistance. Though he was attentive enough to refill water, he failed to the mention the ample list of drinks offered. The menu provides white and red wines, beer, tea, coffee, soft drinks, juices, and milk which are helpful in taming the spicy food, but you have to find that out for yourself.
With dim lighting and low music, Axum Cafe is not a place where you have to scream over the noise to hear your neighbor, the setting is rather intimate. While waiting for your food, one can’t help but notice the tasteful décor. Above each table that seats four, hang traditionally decorated Ethiopian chandeliers with a red fringe. The surrounding walls are painted yellow and are decorated with several paintings. Above the bar, hangs a clock and a traditional Ethiopian fly swatter made of horsetail. The only sign of technology here is the small plasma that hangs from the corner, otherwise the restaurant maintains its festive appearance.
The cooked-to-perfection food is served on a large platter in the center of the table family style, so it is wise to order two or more entrees. The first bite leaves you believing you may want to order more, but the combination of the injera and meat and/or veggies will fill a hungry stomach. Taking a drink between bites, of something besides water, is suggested for those who do not fancy spice. You may find silence as those engorged in eating cannot stop for conversation. As a connoisseur of traditional Ethiopian and Eritrean food, I must say that I am impressed.
Surrounded in a hub of restaurants on one of San Francisco’s busiest streets, laid back, Axum Café is not to be overlooked. The restaurant’s name stems from the Axumite Empire in one of Ethiopia’s most ancient cities and is significant for the early foundations of the Orthodox Church. If you are unsure of what Axum looks like there are an array of pictures around the restaurant, and one even sits on the window sill for curious passerby’s.
Overall, the quality of food is superb. The menu offers a wide variety of options for meat lovers and vegetarians. The drink list provides both Ethiopian and American beverages to quench the average thirst or to conquer a spicy dish. The service is okay, perhaps another visit may persuade a change of opinion.

My rating:
Food: *****
Overall: ****
Axum Cafe
698 Haight Street (at Pierce)
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 252-7912

Open Monday through Friday: 5:30pm-10:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 12:30pm-10:00pm

Accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover
Price: $15-$20

(Restroom available)

Rating:
None, horrendous, bad, satisfactory, great, exceptional
-,*, **, ***, ****, *****

Genocide in Darfur... How do you remember it?

2009-12-20T21:34:00.000-08:00

Since its beginning in 2003, the genocide in Darfur has been widely ignored and left out of U.S media, therefore out of the public's collective memory. Because the mainstream media has failed to address the issue, press coverage is left to alternative media outlets. Documentary films like The Devil Came on Horseback and Familiar Voices, non- profit Darfur awareness websites, and blogs have become the main source of information about the genocide. T-shirts that read “Save Darfur” have also become a trend and help spread awareness, but still do not inform the public to the necessary degree of understanding. Since the Sudanese government has not declared genocide, superpowers like the U.S and the U.N cannot intervene. Previous to the genocide in Darfur, there was a major genocide in Rwanda in 1994. A feature film called Hotel Rwanda was a success in educating people 10 years later, however served as a major distraction from the current genocide in Darfur.

Is it ethical for the U.S media to continue to ignore such a large issue?

Ethics in the MOVIES!

2009-12-20T21:17:00.000-08:00

Ever seen the movie Shattered Glass with Hayden Christensen? It follows the life of Stephen Glass who worked for The New Republic magazine...

“Broken Glass”
It’s 1998: Stressed out, underpaid and overworked journalists work hard to be the first to report breaking stories for The New Republic magazine. The pressure is on to find the most interesting stories and scandals at this political magazine. Few do, but one journalist seems to find the quirkiest, most intriguing stories that no other magazine or journalist has covered. It almost sounds too good to be true. In fact, 25-year-old Associate Editor Stephen Glass fabricated 25 of 41 stories during his time at The New Republic, and his story is portrayed in the 2003 blockbuster Shattered Glass. This film not only depicts the true nature and story of Glass’s deceit, but it also calls attention to a number of ethical dilemmas that lead to the investigation of Glass’s reporting and following pieces. In addition to exposing Glass, the film ultimately warned viewers to be critical of the media.
The New Republic had been a trusted news source since 1914, and its staff in 1998 consisted of 15 young, eager, hardworking journalist (Shattered Glass, 2003). The film begins with a clip of Stephen Glass, played by Hayden Christensen, gloating while walking through a crowd saying, “Your work can actually influence public policy. It’s an amazing privilege and huge responsibility” (Shattered Glass, 2003). He continues to give a public speech to a high school classroom full of young journalism students, “I never encourage anything sneaky in pursuit of a story, such as a phony identity… it’s important to get every quote and every detail” (Shattered Glass, 2003). Glass followed half of his own advice because each one of his fabricated stories were so detailed that the average person would not question their validity. Glass was challenged by Journalist Adam Penenberg, who worked for Forbes Online, about one story in specific titled “Hack Heaven.” Penenberg intended to write a follow up in response to Glass’s completely made up article about a 15-year-old computer hacker who was hired as software security by a company called “Jukt Micronics” whose system he had hacked into (www.forbes.com). Penenberg could not confirm any of Glass’s sources which is where the first ethical dilemma arose. Glass had fabricated stories prior to this particular article under Editor Michael Kelly, however with the expulsion of Kelly came new Editor Charles Lane who uncovered Glass’s lies (www.cbsnews.com).
Should editors have complete trust in the integrity of their writers? And secondly, can a story be valid solely based on the notes of the journalist? Glass knew that as long as his notes matched the specifics of his story he could pass a basic fact check at his magazine. But the legitimacy of “Hack Heaven” proved that more fact checking was necessary, and as Editor Charles Lane unraveled Glass’s lies another ethical question came about. Lane called the editor of Forbes Online and explained that revealing Glass and his fabricated story would ruin his [Glass] career and morale. Should Lane’s loyalties be to his news magazine, or to care about the potential damage this could cause to Glass? Freelance Photojournalist Amber Mosby, 24, believes that editors should have trust in their writers but at the same time listen to their gut feeling when a reporter consistently comes back with extraordinary stories. Mosby suggests that Editor Michael Kelly should have fact checked Glass’s notes and called or emailed sources. In response to Lane’s call to Forbes’s editor Mosby revealed, “Lane only called Forbes to save his own ass. It’s apparent that what Glass did was wrong, so obviously Forbes was going to print it. Lane just didn’t want to look bad because he was ultimately responsible and that’s unethical.” In an interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Glass reveals that he was driven by people’s reactions of his stories during conference meetings, that he wanted every story to be a “home run,” and that he lied in order to be published (www.cbs.com).
Did he feel too pressured by his boss and colleagues to provide a home run story every issue? Should editors expect less from younger reporters? 27-year-old former reporter for the Indianapolis Star and Northwestern graduate, Andrea Cohen, can identify with Glass in the fact that she too was a young journalist who wanted to make a good impression. “I think there is a lot of pressure to come to staff meetings with big features, but some weeks there is really nothing going on,” she says. Cohen also thinks that editors should always support their writers but at the same time check the validity of their stories. She explains that basing a story entirely on a journalist’s notes is a reliable way of reporting, but that it is the editors job to call the sources. Two preventative measures that could have taken place to ensure the legitimacy of Glass’s stories are 1.) A tape recording of the interview conducted (Cohen), and 2.) Photos of the subjects (Mosby). Mosby says that it is too easy to make up a name or an email these days, but that photographic proof shows validity of the sources.
In a Baltimore City Paper review of Shattered Glass, Journalist Blake de Pastino suggests that the reason Glass’s stories were never questioned is because his editor was pleased by their entertainment, suggesting that the media seems to thrive on sensationalism (www.citypaper.com). He thinks that the film serves as a criticism of the media and essentially brings attention to the fact that a journalist can make up stories and get away with it. Film Critic Clint Morris says that the film is a “Do Not guide to journalism” (www.citypaper.com). Mark Sells of the Oregon Herald believes, “This film caused the entire industry to rethink and evaluate its editorial practices
and it's a great learning tool for young, aspiring journalists; particularly in the way it engages you in the editorial process” (www.oregonherald.com). Sells explains that the pressures in journalism can drive journalists to cross the boundaries between uneventful true stories and sensationalized interest stories. Perhaps director Billy Ray produced Shattered Glass as a warning to be more critical of the media and not believe everything we read. Throughout the film a series of ethical dilemmas arise that ultimately reveal Stephen Glass as a liar and suggest that had they been addressed earlier, he may not have gone on fabricating stories for so long.

Going Undercover

2009-12-20T21:06:00.000-08:00

There can be a lot of controversy around the topic of journalists going undercover to get a story. Is it ethical to deceive your sources, or is it sometimes a necessary measure to get the story?

Misleading or Investigative Reporting?
It is no lie that undercover reporting has brought about changes in corrupt institutions throughout history. Ambitious Elizabeth Cochrane posed as mentally ill “Nellie Bly” in 1887 in hopes of exposing the horrible conditions of the Women’s Lunatic Asylum near Manhattan Island. She was successful in helping raise awareness and eventually a larger budget was initiated for the Asylum to improve the conditions (www.womensenews.org). But sometimes undercover reporting can go terribly wrong like in the case of Cecelia Lynn Coy-Jones who posed as a “suspicious” character wearing scrubs in the nursery of hospital. There had been two local kidnappings prior to Coy-Jones’s stunt, which was the initial reason she entered the hospital undercover. She was arrested, charged with two counts of attempted aggravated kidnapping, and bail was set for $10,000 (www.amarillo.com). Not only can going undercover be risky, but it can also raise questions about deception, dishonesty, and overall trickery. There are benefits to going undercover, but in doing so, some journalists lose their respect in a business widely held accountable for its system of ethics.
In the fall of 2003 Chronicle reporter Kevin Fagan and photojournalist Brant Ward hit the streets of the Tenderloin area in San Francisco. Anyone familiar with the area knows that it is highly populated with the homeless, junkies, police, and a few confused tourists. They ran a series called “Shame of the City” that took readers into the world of the homeless and addicts. It was a call for change and brought hope to the people Fagan and Ward had become very close with. The two Chronicle reporters spent a lot of time with their sources before they pulled out a notepad or snapped a photo. They didn’t want to intimidate, and ultimately their tactics were successful in capturing the lives of the individuals most people group together as “the homeless” (www.sfgate.com/homeless).
In one specific instance, Fagan and Ward entered a shelter notorious for dangerous and unsanitary conditions. They stayed two nights at Multi-Service Center South Shelter, and upon arrival did not identify themselves as reporters. However, they did not dress any different than they normally would and never lied about their purpose of visiting; no one had asked (www.gradethenews.org). They spoke with many people about what goes on in the shelters and how they ended up there. Fagan paints a vivid picture of four men who easily sneak in beer and crack and begin to use in an isolated corner of the shelter. They [Fagan and Ward] are warned to hold their belongings tight because things go easily missing. A late night attendant reveals that, "This is where the city sends the dopers or boozers who say they don't want to clean up,” later explaining that they are aware of the crack and booze in the shelter they just don’t hunt for it. During their time in the shelter Fagan and Ward asked permission to print photos or quotes if names were used. An ethical question arose after the story was published: Was it ethical for Fagan and Ward to go undercover?
Yes, says Fagan. He thinks that if the shelter were warned in advance of the Chronicles presence his experience would have been different. "If you let public officials know you're coming, you're going to get the cleaned-up version," said Fagan in his defense of going undercover. His intentions were to capture the reality of shelters, not to deceive anyone (www.gradethenews.org). He admits that he did wrestle with the idea but that it was originally editor Phil Bronstein’s idea and ultimately the collective decision of the editors.
The Chronicle follows a set of ethics that determine whether or not it is justified to go undercover. The newspapers asks: Is the resulting news story or photograph of such vital public interest that its news value outweighs the potential damage to trust and credibility? Can the story be recast to avoid the need not to disclose one's identity in gathering the information? And, have all other reasonable means of getting the story been exhausted? In this case, the issue of homelessness was of vital public interest and a big problem that needed to be addressed. The story needed to speak for itself in the form of pictures that were more powerful than words; and the reality of the issue was emphasized through first hand accounts. On the other hand the newspaper also applies the same code of ethics when it’s necessary that a reporter identify him/herself. Will some of the most vulnerable people on the streets be upset when they learn the person they have been speaking with turns out to be a journalist? Most importantly, failing to identify oneself as a reporter is deceiving.

Pulitzer-prize worthy?

2009-12-20T19:59:00.000-08:00

Kevin Carter photographed the devastating famine in Darfur in 1993. He won a Pulitzer-prize for his compelling picture of an emaciated child struggling to make it to a food center. Behind the child is a preying vulture waiting to attack. This photo was extremely powerful and served as a rude awakening to a lot of people. He didn't help the child get to the food center however, he just chased the vulture away. Should he have been deemed such a hero, even though he didn't help the poor child?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5241442

TMZ first to report Michael Jackson's death?

2009-12-20T19:49:00.000-08:00

Over the summer when Michael Jackson passed away it was TMZ of all sources to first report his death. Here's the story: http://www.tmz.com/2009/06/25/michael-jackson-dies-death-dead-cardiac-arrest/

Before hand TMZ was not considered so credible, but I'm wondering if their ability to report the death of such a great musical figure has given them a more dependable name?

Ethical Sports Dilemma

2009-11-30T19:45:00.000-08:00

I was reading my monthly Glamour magazine when I came across an interesting little snippet. The woman who exposed Alex Rodriguez's use of steroids came back to visit him in a locker room where she asked him a question and he responded coldly to her. She explains that it was her job and duty to report his use of steroids and that the public deserved to know, apparently he didn't see it that way. Was she intruding on his personal life or was she warning baseball fans about a baseball player's abuse of drugs?

Audio Slideshow

2008-12-15T18:12:00.000-08:00

West African Dance Slideshow

Last Post of the Semester

2008-12-08T23:53:00.000-08:00

As the semester winds down, I thought I'd write my last blog post of '08 about my experience with Journalism this year. I realized that my dream job is NOT working at the Chronicle, that newspapers are slowly diminishing, the future lies in the internet, that I was lucky to be able to write about the presidential election, that I may want to pursue something in documentary film, dry news is NOT for me, I want to write features, how to record audio/how to use final cut pro, how to use my camera and take decent pictures, my resume still lies at the bottom of endless piles- may have even made its way to the garbage, how to write an amazing lead, how it feels to be both a reporter and a photographer, and how to really offend someone you're interviewing.

I think I want to work at Current TV.

Black Friday brings bad news

2008-12-01T22:23:00.000-08:00

Black Friday brought out the worst of a New York crowd that stampeded over a Walmart worker last Friday. I found a CNN article about this, but I just found it shocking that this even happened in the first place. People will take a persons life over a $5 discount? This economic crisis has brought out the worst in people. I think it's absolutely ridiculous. The holidays, which are supposed to bring people together, are driving people to do crazy things for savings. Check out the article below, and you can comment on the website as well....

Black Friday Death of a Walmart Employee

Audio slide shows- great altrnative to video

2008-11-24T22:51:00.000-08:00

For my photojournalism class I am creating an audio-slide show and I realized that it is a great alternative to film. Because I carry my camera around a lot I can take pictures galore, but I don't have a video camera. I can create something like a video with my pictures through a photo story adding audio or music. It's really effective in getting across the point of a story. Below I have linked some slide shows, they are really well composed.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/multimedia?f=/c/a/2007/12/03/BA9TTKICE.DTL&o=0

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/multimedia?f=/c/a/2008/05/25/MNFS10NQNV.DTL&o=0

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/specials/onefatalshot/

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/video/player.asp?videoID=48

Kevin Epps at USF

2008-11-17T21:31:00.000-08:00

I just got back from a documentary screening of the film "Straight Outta Hunters Point" by Kevin Epps, and I was amazed. His documentary was real, he was able to get the voice of the people, the REAL story of those living in Hunters Point. From gang violence, to funerals, to pollution in the area, to shootings... this director captured the essence of street life.

I've lived in San Francisco for three and never heard of this place. I think that that is unacceptable and typical of a lot of people who live here. If I were to tune into my local television channel it would tell me that Hunters Point is a dangerous place in need of more police supervision, or at least that's what the news would infer. But it's not more cops that this place needs, its HOPE. After school programs, role models, money, this is what Hunters Point needs.

Kevin Epps works with CurrentTV with some projects and I hope to get involved in them.

Below is a youtube video link of Kevin Epps talking about Presidential-elect Barack Obama.

CLICK HERE

Prop 8 News Coverage

2008-11-10T16:49:00.000-08:00

I noticed that in the Bay Area I saw numerous commercials in favor of "No on Prop 8" and a few for "Yes on Prop 8." However, a friend of mine from Orange County explained that in her hometown there wasn't broadcasting for "No on Prop 8" and a lot of broadcasting about "Yes on prop 8." This seems a little biased and makes me question the "objective" angle the media "takes".

2008 Presidential Election Reactions

2008-11-03T17:14:00.000-08:00

Huddled closely around a TV, a group of USF students anxiously anticipate the announcement of the next president. Emotions are high and the students are tense, why? Because they were finally able to vote.
This years presidential election had a significantly higher turn out of young voters by 6% according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. The youth vote (voters ages 18-29) is believed to have had the biggest impact on the outcome of the election with 68% of voters in support of Barack Obama and 30% in support of John McCain.
For many students this was the first year they were able to vote, and for the first time many they felt their voice was heard. “I think we did a good job! We surprised everyone since the youth vote failed last time,” says Graphic Design major Maia Olmstead. Olmstead believes that it is important, for young people especially, to vote when the country’s future looks bleak. Communications major Amy Miller felt that her voice made a difference in this election as well. “Everybody’s ready for a change. I was just happy that the election wasn’t rigged and Sarah Palin has no say in my future,” says Miller. Both first time voters, Olmstead and Miller agree that America has progressed in electing an African American male to office.
Communications major Nisha Dixit declares this election the election that changed history. “I voted for the first time and I am proud to say that my generation made history. This will be an election I will always remember,” Dixit says. Politics major Jessica Reihanifam was also excited to take part in history. “Hell yes I voted! I am overjoyed that I got to vote in a time like this,” says Reihanifam. However, Reihanifam was disappointed in the voter turn out. “A lot of people registered, but a lot of those people didn’t actually vote. If they had voted, then issues like Prop. 8 would have had different outcomes,” says Reihanifam.
English major Erica Lowe was not able to vote because she failed to register on time. “I’m f***ing ecstatic with the outcome of the election, but I deeply regret not registering,” Lowe says. Lowe admits that she was in tears when Obama was announced president and will definitely vote in the next presidential election. Business major Derrick Mazariego was also not able to vote due to failure to register. “I regret not registering to vote, all my friends did and I was the only one who didn’t,” says Mazariego. However, he is more than content with the outcome of the election and says he will vote in the next election.
History major Alex Fields was surprised by the number of young voters, however he does not think it was for the best. “All these young voters have not lived long enough to know what this country needs,” Fields says. He says that he was disappointed with the outcome of the election and believes that young people should not be allowed to vote. International and Business student Marika Schwekendiek wishes that she could have voted in this election. Wearing an “Obama” t-shirt, Schwekendiek explains that she is not an American citizen because she is from Japan, but she would have voted for Obama.

Is blogging legit?

2008-10-27T21:45:00.000-07:00

Today in class we talked about blogging and the role is plays today. I know a lot of people question the validity of blogs so I decided to look around the web to see if anyone may have had a set of rules to follow for blogging. I have linked to a website that provides 10 simple blogging rules. These rules attempt to help blogging become a more credible source of information... tell me what you think, you can also comment on the website itself.

Here's the link

Race on Campus

2008-10-20T21:20:00.000-07:00

Many students are drawn to USF for not only the strong academics but the exceptional diversity. In fact, according to the Princeton Review USF ranked number 15 for the most ethnically diverse University in the country. Within this diverse population there is a large presence of students who are multi or biracial.
For a school that boasts about its diversity, many of the students who do not identify with one race feel that USF has not done much to acknowledge them. Twenty-five out of twenty-five multi/biracial students said that as freshmen they were never encourage to join a race related group or organization on campus. They also agreed that they would not feel comfortable joining such a group due to the fact that they are not “enough of one race.” Jessica Reihanifam, a Black and Persian student, says “I feel like groups that focus on one nationality makes me uncomfortable and that they are not accepting.” She believes that the answer to this problem would be a club, organization, or sorority designed to cater to people of mixed descent.
However, Ariana Johnson, a biracial student, joined the BSU her freshmen year and still actively participates. Johnson sought out the BSU at USF because of her prior involvement in high school. “I don’t think a group focused on many cultures is a cohesive one,” Johnson says.
Biracial student Jessica Perry says she would like to see a place for mixed people in the USF community. “I see people of the same ethnic descent congregate on campus and I’m not quite sure where that leaves me,” says Perry. Ashley Jones, a multiethnic student, agrees.

Future of Newspapers

2008-10-13T23:30:00.000-07:00

Last week I had my first, much anticipated, visit to the Chronicle. I entered the building which seemed to be lively and full of people who all knew each other- almost like family. Then I exited the 3rd floor elevator doors to find a florescent lit room full of tired-looking newspaper staff who did not seem to be too excited to be there. Most, if not all, of the staff I talked to made a comment that now was not a good time to get into newspapers. They were making major cut backs on staff at the Chronicle and everyone looked over worked and tired. Maybe I put the Chronicle on a pedestal, but this was not the work place I imagined.

And, we had a guest speaker today in Advanced Reporting who agreed to leave the Chronicle and take the buy-out. I think it's fair to be skeptical about my future career, especially in the time of this economic crisis.

Ethical question of the day

2008-10-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

Today I visited the San Francisco Chronicle with my photojournalism class and we decided to take a walk around the downtown and snap a few photos. We shortly made our way into the Tenderloin and I immediately stopped taking pictures. Was it okay that I was taking pictures of the less fortunate, who have very little, so I can learn how to take a good photo? Snapping a fancy digital camera into their face didn't seem right. To say the least I took a few good photos but I did have to question whether it was right of me or not.

Multimedia Timeline

2008-09-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

I was browsing Poynter Online and I came across a timeline of multimedia progression starting from 1969 until 2008. You can click on the year and it will give you the history of every major multimedia innovation during that year, I thought it was really cool and a great way to track the advances of media. I would suggest just looking through it, there are some cool things on the timeline. I'll post the link below, or you can just click HERE

http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=75953&sid=26

Sociologist Michael Omi visits USF

2008-09-24T23:48:00.000-07:00

With Senator Obama up for Presidential Candidacy it seems relevant that USF Professor’s of Davies Seminar: Mixed Race/Legacy, Rodriguez and Sundstrom, would press for a guest speaker on multiracial identity. Legendary Sociologist Dr. Michael Omi gave a speech titled “Multiracial Identity, Colorblindness, and the Post Racial Society,” Wednesday. Here's a clip from his speech-

(volumes kinda low so turn it up as loud as your computer can go, it's also sideways)

video is below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlcXhg1prfg

Hypothetically speaking...

2008-09-23T12:52:00.001-07:00

If you were a reporter covering this Friday's upcoming Presidential Debate, how would you evenly present both sides of the debate in your story? Putting aside your personal bias how would you cover this story?

I'm just curious to hear what people think.

Photojournalism at its finest

2008-09-15T23:16:00.000-07:00

I am in Journalism 3: Photojournalism this semester at USF and my professor Brant Ward showed us a slide show of the pictures he took while working on a beat story about homelessness in San Francisco (For the Chronicle). Since we are all covering beat stories in Journalism 2 I thought this might be apropriate/relevant. Anyways, here is the link- these are some pretty emotion evoking pictures.

Better Journalism Needed

2008-09-07T17:59:00.000-07:00

This summer I was looking for coverage about the tragic incident in which a woman was killed by her boyfriend in Texas. I typed into google "girl killed by her boyfriend in Texas" and the first article the popped up on GOOGLE was this one below:
http://www.newsnet14.com/2008/01/texas-girl-barbecued-by-black-boyfriend/

this article came from a white supremacist website. I understand that everyone is entitled to their opinions but is this really the first thing that should pop up? It's completely racist, the headline reads "Texas Girl Barbecued by Black Boyfriend"... if that isn't blatant racism I don't know what else is. I personally think a better piece of journalism should be the first story that comes up on the search engine.

Final Profile

2008-05-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

It's a work in progress...
Here are a few things from my final profile,
Quick Video:

Click here to view her main website

Print article and video interviews

what should I do?

2008-04-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

After reading Janet Malcolm’s The Journalist and the Murderer, I have come to question a journalist’s relationship with those they interview. How far should a journalist allow themselves to become involved with someone they ultimately intend to use for a story? In her book, a journalist (McGinniss) finds himself lying to an accused murderer (MacDonald) in order to get more information out of him and deceives him into believing that they are friends.
Unlike McGinniss, I am actually friends with someone I am writing a story about. However, this puts me in an awkward position because I have stumbled upon a few things in my story that make for a funnier story at the expense of my friend. Any words of wisdom?

A day at the mortuary....

2008-04-15T17:26:00.000-07:00

(keep posted for pictures/slideshow)

Sitting in a large, dark and empty office with furniture that looks like it came from the 1960’s, I wait for Richard O’Hara. He enters the room looking slightly confused as to the reason of my visit. I explain that I’m not there to plan a funeral.

With a permanent stoic expression O’Hara clarifies that he was never interested in working for the family owned mortuary business until his father begged him for help. His work was only supposed to be temporary but 30 years later he is Vice President and Funeral Director of McAvoy O’Hara Company Evergreen Mortuary. Because the mortuary is a full-service mortuary O’Hara admits that, “There isn’t a job I haven’t performed in our facilities.” He is licensed to care for the remains, direct and schedule memorials and funerals, cremate remains, and provide automotive services just to name a few. “There are things I don’t do that I used to,” he says possibly implying that he no longer cares for the remains.

Because Evergreen mortuary is open seven days a week and 365 days a year O’Hara, looking a bit irritated, affirms that as a family owner his cell phone is never turned off. “We serve approximately 600 families a year,” he explains. He repeatedly throws in the detail that the mortuary is the oldest one in San Francisco that is continuingly operating. He also stresses that they are a full service mortuary and will do whatever the customer wants, creating the image of one of those competitive, cut-throat car sales man. I learned these details four times throughout the conversation.

As someone who works with the deceased, O’Hara begins to talk about the hardest part of his job. “It’s hard when dealing with children. There’s a difference between someone who is 90-years-old and has lived a long life than a one-year-old. It’s hard on the entire staff,” he says. The once stoic and blank expression on his face has vanished as he goes on explaining some emotional memories he has of past clients. Recalling a time when he directed a funeral for an immigrant family whose father was murdered, a glimmer of tears form behind his eyes. He continues on describing an 11-year-old Asian boy who, by default, became head of his family due to the passing of his father. “In Asian culture it is tradition for the oldest son of the family to take on the responsibilities of the father,” claims O’Hara. During the funeral, says O’Hara, you could in the child’s face that he knew he must console his mother and mourn, yet stay strong for the family because he is now in charge. “As he was leaving the chapel he was trying to be a strong male and grieve at the same time. It was heartbreaking to see,” he confesses. He pauses for a quick second and goes on to describe a second experience where his job has been emotionally draining.

“A man lost six members of his family in a car accident and wanted to see the family before anyone did anything,” he says in a quiet voice. It seemed almost as if O’Hara is reliving the moment, he pauses at times. He explains that the young man was a tall, big, built man but he had let his emotions get the best of him and demanded that he see the bodies of his family members as they were after the car accident. “It was the hardest thing for me to do, making a decision whether or not to let this man see them. But he was angry and agitated and he needed to see them for closure, so I allowed it,” he adds. After the man saw his family he calmed down, “It’s something individuals must judge for themselves, it wasn’t my place to tell him no,” says O’Hara. He also mentions that a difficult part of his job is explaining to people what they are going to see in regards to the physical condition of the deceased body.

O’Hara admits that over time he has been able to deal with such experiences better by not letting his emotions get to him. “When difficult situations come about and you aren’t emotional, you’re too cold and its time for you to leave this business,” he says. He changes the subject and shows me a map of San Francisco grave yards and points to a vast area of land occupied by the University of San Francisco, formerly Masonic Cemetery. Before my departure he makes sure that I know Evergreen Mortuary is the oldest mortuary that is continually operating, oh and also that they are full service.

Catholic San Francisco

2008-03-26T17:45:00.000-07:00

Today Dan Morris-Young, editor of the Catholic San Francisco newspaper, came to talk to my feature writing class about what he does, feature writing, and of course the newspaper. Well, I’m not Catholic at all so I figured that this newspaper would be boring and this guy would have nothing interesting to say. I was completely wrong because he was totally not the kind of person I thought would be editor of a Catholic newspaper. He said "damn," he talked about controversial issues, his other job/passion is diving, and he offered the students in my class the opportunity to write for the newspaper without questioning our own religious backgrounds. I think he’s pretty cool actually.

Morris-Young has got 40+ years of experience behind him and was the first editor of Catholic San Francisco, formally known as the Monitor (the newspaper was recreated in 1998). He says that the newspaper is half straight news and half feature writing. The paper goes out to about 70,000-85,000 homes in San Mateo, Marin, and San Francisco according to Morris-Young. He believes that a good feature story should have good narration, content, syntax, grammar, accuracy, and no fluff.

He was enthused by our interest in the paper and encouraged our involvement with writing feature articles for him in the future. In fact, USF graduate Michael Vick is a writer for Catholic San Francisco, and just recently wrote a feature story about his visit to Haiti. Though the paper is based on the Catholic religion I felt that it took a pretty neutral stance on a lot of issues. Anything offensive is not tolerated, and articles about intense issues such as stem cell research, abortion, celibacy, and pornography are possible stories according to Morris-Young. I was no longer discouraged about possible involvement with the newspaper after his visit. Even though I’m not Catholic I would read this newspaper- it’s got some good stuff.

View from the Heavens

2008-03-14T01:01:00.000-07:00

Driving through a residential neighborhood and up a windy hill, the city of San Francisco will unsuspectingly emerge before your eyes. Tourist attraction during the day and make-out spot at night, Twin Peaks is the one-stop tour of San Francisco. Located in the heart of the city, Twin Peaks provides one of the most beautiful views San Francisco has to offer.

Elevated about 922 feet above the city, Twin Peaks is the only location where one can admire the vast majority of San Francisco city, and overlook Alameda, Oakland, and Berkley. Once you make it up the hill you are greeted by a small parking lot with a big view. Moving from left to right you can see the Golden Gate Bridge, the University of San Francisco, St. Ignatius church, the Palace of Fine Arts, Alcatraz, downtown, Market Street, the Bay Bridge, and the residential areas throughout the Bay. Looking out at the crowded city you are reminded that Twin Peaks is one of the only places that has not been developed into a shopping center or residential area. It is a beautiful view you don’t have to pay for.

During the day one can expect to find groups of tourists, families, and photographers enjoying the panoramic landscape. On this sunny day, a daring little girl strays away from her family and stands on the edge of the peak demanding that a nearby photographer take a picture of her. He ignores her request when she notices the camera in my hands and starts to pose. “This is my favorite place in the whole entire city because I can see my house,” said the little girl named Katie. In the corner far away from other sightseers sits a group of teenage boys quietly looking out into the sky. “We come up here as a family to relax and clear our minds ya know? We’re from here, the Bay Area. It’s good to take the time to appreciate what you got,” said 17-year-old Carlos, the oldest of his brothers.

However, at night Twin Peaks is a completely different scene. “My boyfriend took me to Twin Peaks when he asked me out, it was so romantic,” said Ashley Jones. At night Twin Peaks overlooks the city but instead of seeing landmarks you see bright lights, downtown buildings, and the outline of the Bay Bridge. Many people refer to it as the “make-out spot” of San Francisco. Foggy car windows and cuddling couples are not a rare sight during the PM hours at Twin Peaks. “When I was a freshman this guy took me on my first college date. We ended up at Twin Peaks and the view was amazing. I hate to say it, but we made out in his car,” admitted sophomore student from San Francisco State University, Jessica Stevenson. But others have found a different reason to travel to Twin Peaks at night. “To be honest, I smoke before I go up there. It’s the craziest thing ever to see. The lights are super intensified and it literally blows your mind,” said 19-year-old student Carly.

Day or night, this location is definitely a destination for tourists, visitors, and San Francisco natives. Jessica Perry describes it as, “Super relaxing and beautiful.” Whether it’s to relax, make-out, smoke, take pictures, or spend time with your family, Twin Peaks is the place to do it.

The Untreatable Epidemic

2008-03-07T12:56:00.000-08:00

You can find them on the runway, you can see them worn on the streets, you can find them on the racks at most retail department stores, and you can even stumble upon them in the children section at stores like Target. Fashion icons, celebrities, adults, teens, and even children have fallen victim to the recurring trend of skinny jeans. It seems that this “must have” item has taken over and is here to stay.

Once considered a trend for “hipsters,” skinny jeans have integrated into many different styles. The slim pants conform to the shape of your legs, becoming slimmer the further down your leg they go. This style of pants that once filled the racks at stores like Hot Topic and Urban Outfitters can now be seen in high fashion stores like Bloomingdales, Nordstrom’s, Armani Exchange, Gucci, and Dolce and Gabbana. Trendy stores like Forever 21, H&M, Macy’s, and Charlotte Russe also carry skinny jeans at a much lower price. They can range anywhere from $20-$300.

These pants are worn by not only females, but males too. They come in denim, neon, khaki, corduroy, and almost every color thinkable. “I see skinny style pants everywhere. Everyone’s wearing them like they’re gonna go out of style,” said USF student Corinne Aparis. “Skinnys,” as people call them made their comeback in 2006 and have been spreading like an epidemic every since. “I wear skinny jeans because they compliment my figure and they’re comfortable. It’s a plus that they happen to be fashionable and I can wear them with my boots,” said Ashley Jones. Another reason that “skinnys” attract a wide range of people is because they accommodate people of all sizes. Skinny pants are offered in sizes 00-20/plus size, depending on the brand.

Ann Valdez, a 43-year-old mom of three admits that she too has given in to the “skinny jean craze.” “I remember when skinny jeans were popular in the 80’s, so I felt that they more of a ‘my era’ thing,” Valdez said. She confessed that she owns two pairs of skinny jeans and doesn’t mind that her 19-year-old daughter wears them too. “I saw my daughter wearing them and thought they were cute. A week later I saw other moms wearing them too, so I went out and bought a pair,” said Valdez.

It seems that everyone’s wearing skinnys these days right? “I don’t wear skinny jeans because they are too tight and reveal too much about my body, they are not flattering,” said student Olivia Washington. Washington is not alone, actress Liv Tyler reportedly told British magazine Cosmopolitan that, “I'm not into the skinny grey jeans look. I mean, KATE MOSS looks amazing, but everyone seems to be wearing skinny jeans, no matter what their size.” Despite the opposition, skinny jeans are still a popular trend. According to Forbes.com, “The latest luxury item comes in straight leg or boot…,” a reference to skinny pants.

Perhaps the popularity of skinny jeans can be accredited to their recent breakthrough into children’s fashion. Popular stores like Old Navy, Limited Too, Gap Kids, Abercrombie and Fitch, Babystyle, and The Children’s Place carry skinny jeans for children and even babies. This trend has reached out to most of the population including today’s youth, as young as babies. “The other day I was on the Muni and I saw a toddler wearing dark denim skinny jeans! I couldn’t believe it,” said Brittany Rien. It seems that skinny jeans are a trend that has taken almost everyone captive, babies included.

Wyclef Jean Rocks the House at USF

2008-02-19T18:24:00.000-08:00

Wyclef Jean took over the school last Friday shooting his music video and giving USF students a concert to talk about for days. The bass was booming, the people looked fresh, and the staff was ready as students crowded around War Memorial Gym Friday for the concert of the year. As the DJ spun the hottest tracks, people filed in to the gym with excitement, anticipating Wyclef’s arrival.

As soon as Wyclef hit the stage the crowd went wild. He began the concert with his remixed song “President,” for which the music video was being shot, over the loud cheers of fans. He performed it a second time, provoking the crowd to “get loud,” and also informing them that it was being filmed for his music video. “When you tell people you’re filming them it becomes a whole different thing,” said Jean. People were sitting on each others shoulders, fans were cheering, and the vibe was live the second time around. USF got a taste of what it would be like to have Wyclef as President with promises like feeding the poor, bringing schools to the hood, finding cures for serious diseases, and legalizing “it.” Jeans vision was to have his video come from a college student perspective, “It needed a fresh eye,” he said. So why film at USF? “Everything is timing. I got a call from my nephew Darren asking me to perform and I needed to film a video. It all just fell into place,” Jean said.

Aside from his video, Jean put on a riveting performance. He performed a few new tracks from his newest album “The Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant” like “Welcome to the East,” and “Sweetest Girl.” He even performed two old school tracks from his days as a member of the “Fugees.” But the crowds’ favorite new Wyclef joint was by far the last song of the concert called “Touch Your Button Carnival Jam.” The thirteen minute long song had fans pumped up and going wild. “You must have something to wave in the air, or else you got to move!” yelled Jean before performing this song. Feeding off of his energy, the fans went wild waving whatever they could find in the air above their heads.

After the concert Jean retreated back to his room where he snacked on chicken wings and answered questions for USFtv and the Foghorn. Still energetic, Jean commented on his musical influences, “I grew up in the Church so I listen to a lot of gospel. But I also love reggae and jazz,” he said. Jean also shares a love for instruments; he can play the drums, guitar, and piano.

When asked about his inspiration to produce music Jean commented that “Everyone has to go to work and work hard. It’s a gift when you enjoy what you do.” Jean’s work ethic may have been influenced by his background and growing up in Haiti. “Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Coming to the states gives you so much inspiration because of the opportunities. In America you can be who you want to be” Jean said.

Lastly, Jean discussed his foundation called “The Yéle Haiti Foundation.” The foundation seeks to change the lives of those living in Haiti in numerous ways. From delivering food to a neighborhood, to creating songs to put on the radio to gain support, the foundation sets out to help with Haiti’s long-term progress. According to Jean, “The objective of Yéle Haiti is to restore pride and a reason to hope, and for the whole country to regain the deep spirit and strength that is part of our heritage.” To get involved or participate, log on to www.yele.org.

Jean raised the bar with this year’s homecoming performance. USF has Jean’s nephew Darren Pierre, staff member of CAB, to thank for his persistency in asking his uncle Wyclef to perform. “Everyone’s going to be coming back for part two,” said Jean. He encourages everyone to go buy his newest album “The Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant,” which features artists like Akon, T.I, Paul Simon, Shakira, Norah Jones, and Mary J. Blige. His advice: “My last joint ‘Touch Your Button Carnival Jam,’ put it on repeat!”

Sushi on the Day of Love

2008-02-19T18:17:00.000-08:00

Loud music, large plasma TV’s, and big tables consume the small dinning area of San Francisco’s sushi spot Sushi Rock. This lively, modern, and upbeat restaurant is definitely not the most romantic place to spend Valentines, but more of a friendly, group-outing venue. Seemingly intended for a younger crowd, Valentines Day brought Sushi Rock a variety of customers. A group of rambunctious, most likely, single girls sat in the back, laughing and occasionally getting up to dance, an older couple dined near a window, and a large group of rowdy adults sake bombed at a long table in the middle.

For a busy day, the service was fast and expedient. Our group was sat minutes within walking in the door, and we were met by a long table with miso soup and cucumber-seaweed salad at every place setting. The menus were neatly placed next to glasses of water and a complimentary “refreshing towelette.” The arrangement was accommodating and sophisticated.

The menu had a number of selections, including other dishes besides sushi. Sushi Rock not only caters to those who may not be sushi fans, but also to those who are sushi fanatics. The diverse array of selections made it hard to make a dinner decision. The order was taken on a small palm-pilot looking devise and the server conveniently offered to split the bill in to separate checks. As our table waited we sipped on our warm miso soup, which brought joy to our taste buds as we anticipated our main dishes. No longer than ten minutes after placing the order, our food was delivered to the table.

The teriyaki salmon was cooked to perfection and the proportions were accommodating to my appetite. The salmon was complimented by the perfect amount of sweet teriyaki sauce along with salad and a medium sized bowl of rice. The presentation of the sushi looked a bit messy, regardless the taste was superb. One of the sushi rolls offered called the “phoenix roll,” composed of shrimp tempura, eel, avocado, and a layer of shrimp, was described by a customer as “A good, confusing mix of food that created an explosion in my mouth!”

The quality of the food and service outweighed the few things I did not like about Sushi Rock. The server did not offer our table drinks before ordering our meal, or at any time during the meal. And, when it did come time to order our server waited too long to check back after we were seated. Also, without asking if we were finished, the eager bus boys cleared our food. The last downfall was the one-person bathroom for the reason of inconveniency.

However, the pricing was fair for the proportions of food and excellent service. To top it off, at the end of dinner they brought out little cups of complimentary ice cream. Coming from a non-sushi lover, I would definitely go back to Sushi Rock.

my rating: ***

no star= none

* good

** very good

*** Excellent

**** Extraordinary

Sushi Rock information:

Address:

1608 Polk St.

Phone number: (877) 345- 1690

Hours:

Sun-Thurs: 11 am- 10:45 pm

Fri- Sat: 11 am- 12:30 pm

Happy Hour: 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Free Parking!

Katie Couric touches the topic of teens & sex

2008-01-29T17:39:00.001-08:00

In 2005, Katie Couric touched upon the topic our parents have dreaded bringing up, but something everyone wants to know. In her special Couric brings together various teens and their parents where they all sit down and talk about sex. She asks the questions that most parents wonder, but never ask. Teens are invited to discuss sex in their lives and what outer influences effect their decisions. Parents are also allowed to address the issue of sex in their teens lives and what they think. If you watch the video and read the article you will hear and see a wide range of opinions from both parents and teens.
For me, I remember viewing this special as a Sophomore in High School and thinking that Couric was genius for running this special. Never before have I ever seen anything like this on T.V that took a neutral stance and had a balance of opinions from teens and parents. It was controversial, but almost necessary for todays generation to discuss. Sex has always been seen as "taboo" in the U.S but more and more teens are engaging in sex at younger ages. Many parents don't understand because their generation was not as sexually active as todays.
I think that Couric did a great job as a journalist with this issue and covered the topic appropriately.

Journalism Alumni return to USF

2007-10-25T17:48:00.000-07:00

“Get an internship!” was the most common advice offered by the panel of USF alumni Journalists during the first ever Journalism Panel Discussion. This event allowed USF students interested in Journalism to get a hint of reality and helpful advice from a panel of successful Journalists.

The eight panelists, Tannie Soo Hoo, Vicky Nguyen, Jennifer Jolly, Tiffany Maleshefski, Kent German, Jessica Dryden Cook, Myra Sandoval, and Toan Lam gathered in Fromm Hall Tuesday, October 16, 2007 to discuss their experience with journalism, their careers, give some advice, and answer audience questions. Following the panel discussion it was fair game for the young, eager journalists in the audience to get their questions answered.

During an interview with Vicky Nguyen, a general assignment reporter for NBC 11, Nguyen said that internships are a great way to build credibility and learn, urging that anyone remotely interested in journalism get as many internships as possible. Moments later the lights went out and the room went dark. Un-phased, Nguyen continued to answer the question at hand. As the dark room cleared, Nguyen got real. Her answers turned from facts to advice, her tone became less assertive, and instead of standing she sat on the panel table. According to Nguyen, a journalist must be prepared for anything and often times that may take them out of their comfort zone. She also said that being shy won’t get you anywhere, and aspiring journalists must be assertive.

Nguyen started her career right out of college in Orlando Florida where she shot, wrote, and edited her stories. On the topic of convergence, Nguyen said that it is important to have some knowledge of skills other than the skill a journalist specializes in because they become more useful and beneficial to their employer. She said that her job gives her “instant gratification,” and provides amazing experiences that makes her love what she does. When asked how she handles sensitive cases and stories that involve the emotions of others Nguyen said “There’s a lot of pressure, but you have to be in job mode. You have to get there, be professional, but be human and respectful at the same time. Like, I’m the kind of person who cries when other people cry, but I can’t do that on the job.”

“Don’t be afraid,” said Nguyen when offering advice. She works 50 hours weeks, makes low six figures, and loves every minute of her job. “It is what you make of it,” she said during the panel discussion.

Another member of the panel who graduated from USF with Nguyen is Toan Lam. Lam, who now works at KRON, stressed the importance of internships. During his college education at USF, Lam had five internships. “Dress professionally at internships and act like you belong because you never know when you could be on camera,” said Lam. His advice mainly stressed the importance that young journalists get as much experience as possible and “get an internship!” “Are you willing to be broke? Are you willing to move to Timbuktu? Because if you want it, you’ll get it,” said Lam. His advice came from his personal and professional experience with journalism and his career.

Every member of the panel had valuable advice to offer, but it seemed as though almost everyone came to an agreement that internships are the most crucial part of getting started in the field of journalism.

Racist Media?

2007-10-23T21:05:00.000-07:00

The other day I was discussing Hurricane Katrina and Kanye West's famous quote "George Bush doesn't care about black people," and something suddenly came back to my memory. One of the first stories that hit my home town (Seattle) appeared on the front page with a huge picture of people trying to find food in a flooded grocery store. The photo features two black males with grocery items in their hands, looking around as though they had done something wrong. Later in the article there was a picture of a few white people with the same amount of grocery items in their hands trying to sift through the water.
Unintentionally or not, the article made it seem as though the black men had just stolen from the grocery store and that white people had not. In actuality, both groups of people had taken from the grocery store in hopes of feeding their families for survival in the aftermath of a huge natural disaster. This made me question whether or not the editor of this paper realized what he or she had allowed to be published. The photos were an indirect example of the very racism Kanye West mentioned. It was appalling that a photo of such derogatory connotation was allowed to be published and distributed.

(I can’t recall which newspaper it came from and I haven’t been able to find it online. If anyone has any idea please let me know. I do know that it was one of the first articles that came out after the hurricane).

War Story

2007-10-18T23:12:00.000-07:00

“They think they’re the s---,” says one USF student referring to a few freshmen ROTC boys who are flaunting around campus in their camouflage uniforms. “Yeah, well they take orders from my sister,” says the brother of sophomore ROTC student, Lisa Nelson. Though she is a nursing major, she’s trained to kill and can outdo almost anyone in a push up contest.

Born in Maryland on a military base, it was almost fate that Nelson would join ROTC at USF. Her liberal views set her apart from many of the other students in the ROTC program; she calls it a “touchy subject,” explaining that she is obligated to be on Bush’s side. “There are people I know in ROTC who do want to kill, I don’t want to unless I have to. I could never imagine shooting someone,” said Nelson. During a practice mission, Nelson recalls one of her instructors telling students to go up to the enemy and “just kill them.”

In the ROTC program, Nelson is trained to be a soldier and does not receive any special treatment for being a nurse; she is required to get the same training as all the other ROTC students. “I know how to shoot an M16,” said Nelson. ROTC training is strenuous and takes a lot of dedication.

However, as a nurse her focus is saving lives rather than destroying them. “As a nurse, you save a life no matter who needs your help,” said Nelson. There are prisoners of war who need medical help as well as American soldiers. In her nursing classes, Nelson must take oaths that reflect the values of nursing, emphasizing the importance of saving lives, no matter whose life is being saved.

Nelson does not expect to get commissioned. “The army needs leaders to maintain stations, Iraq is 100% voluntary,” said Nelson, clarifying that everyone in Iraq is there because they enlisted. She doesn’t believe that she will go to Iraq, but if she was called upon to go she would not be anywhere truly dangerous. Nelson will graduate USF as a Second Lieutenant and will be given her gold bars.

She was attracted to ROTC because the program offered a full ride to the university. USF was her dream school, according to Nelson, but tuition was too high. ROTC provides her an opportunity to receive nursing education while taking part in army training. “ROTC has changed my lifestyle and given me an identity. There’s a lot more to it than people would imagine. We all support each other. Don’t stereotype us, there’s a lot of discrimination we receive, like the dirty looks we get on the street,” said Nelson.

ROTC is a boot camp and more, according to Nelson. Being in the military teaches team work and trust. Nelson also stated that participating in ROTC takes muscular endurance for rigorous workouts; it takes dedication, and an open mind. Students who participate in the program form a bond through the intensity and spend much of their time together outside of class according to Nelson.

Nelson's family is supportive of her decision to join ROTC. Her dad was a commissioned officer but did not have much of a life so he retired. Her mother is fascinated by it all, and her brother couldn’t be more proud.

Catchy Headline

2007-10-09T17:47:00.000-07:00

As I was searching for articles about Iraq I ran across an article headline that really caught my eye. The article was titled "No Child Left Alive," and went in to discussion about how the U.S military is allowed to recruit on all public school campuses. The author of the article expressed his concern with the fact that the military is allowed to lure young impressionable teens in to war, on school campus. However, what he was more disturbed by was that the military was allowed to do so under the "The No Child Left Behind Act." The act states, "Each local educational agency receiving assistance under this Act shall provide military recruiters the same access to secondary school students as is provided generally to post secondary educational institutions or to prospective employers of those students." The author found it ironic that this bill, which enables students to get a better education and receive great opportunities, also encourages them to join the war. His passion toward the issue allowed him to produce an extremely creative headline. I was definitely lured in by the headline and enjoyed reading the article.

2007-09-23T18:57:00.000-07:00

I just read the police report about Chris Benoit, a pro-wrestler, who killed his wife and seven-year-old son. He strangled both of them and left them face down in their rooms. Later, he hanged himself. His wife had filed complaints about his abusive tendencies, verbal and physical.
I can only assume that wrestling had fueled his abusive behavior and provided an outlet for him to release aggression. So that leads me to ask whether or not wrestling is more dangerous than we think it is? Mike Tyson bit off part of a mans ear! Wrestlers are encouraged to gain weight, build muscle, take steroids (some), ultimately creating a strong dangerous person. Some wrestlers have acted out in the ring and outside of the ring. It seems that wrestling promotes abusive behavior? But then I look a Hulk Hogan, the epitome of a family guy who puts his wife and kids first.
So maybe some wrestlers practice aggression in and outside the ring while some don't?