Found Guilty!

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/12/10/utah.smart.trial.verdict/index.html?hpt=Sbin

"More than eight years after a homeless street preacher abducted and sexually assaulted her, a beaming Elizabeth Smart said that a federal jury's guilty verdicts Friday sent a message that victims can find justice."

I can remember when I first heard about the Elizabeth Smart case, I was on a camping trip with my family. I remember it because she was my age and I remember thinking that if it could happen to her...it could happen to anyone.

After the guilty verdict that Brian David Mitchell received this last week, it was a releif to children and parents everywhere. One less child to be abducted. One more preditor off the streets.

"I hope that not only is this an example that justice can be served in America, but that it is possible that people can move on after something terrible has happened," she told reporters outside the Salt Lake City, Utah, courthouse Friday afternoon. "We can speak out, and we will be heard."

I can say, that for me, this makes me believe that there is hope for children these days. It's scary to think that preditors are out there and that they can be caught no matter the length of time.

I also give credit to Elizabeth Smart, having spend eight years waiting to bring the man who kidnapped and raped her to justice.

Not only has she recieved long awaited peace, but she also stood her ground during the trial, giving her own personal statement, without bias or anger.

Smart was taken from her home in 2004 by Mitchell and then transported out of the state and forced into a marraige with him. She was then raped daily until she was found 9 months later.

"I felt that because of what he had done to me, I was marked," Smart testified. "I wasn't the same. My personal value had dropped. I was nothing. Another person could never love me," she added. "I felt like I had a burden the size of a mountain to carry around with me the rest of my life."

I feel that because of her bravery and her efforts, she can be thanked for never giving up hope.

One man caught. One girls bravery.

How to play....

I was never a overtly musical child. My mother never pushed me to do any musical instrument. My father was the musical one, my mother always told me to focus on “my school work so you don’t end up being a dummy”. So…now I begin as an adult. My childhood dream of being like my dad is coming true. I am learning how to play the guitar.

Private lessons are way too much out of my budget as a starving college student. So, to learn the know how and try to become the next Colby Calliet, I must turn to the internet for help.

In my research, I have fund a number of sites that I think are helpful for the budding guitarist. One that I’m sure even the most experienced guitarists can atest to is youtube.

Just type in the search box “how to play the guitar” and dozens of options will pop up. Take your pick from that point on. If it’s a specific song you are searching for, just type into the search box the song (Bubbly by Colby Calliet) and options will be present for you.

Now, after you have learned the basic chords and want to expand your horizons and really get to playing, there are a number of sites that you can visit to get the specific chords to play the song. Simply type in “how to play (song) on guitar” and options will appear before you. (the magic of the internet)

The site I prefer to go to when I am in need of the right chord is ultimateguitar.com. There is a large database for many of your favorite songs.

This site is also has the option of giving free lessons as well. Lessons start at beginners, including learning the scales and speed playing, to advanced, which sharpens playing skills and picking movements.

There are many options these days when it comes to learning how to play musical instruments. I’m sure that many parents are scrambling to get their children the musical talents that they hope will get their child into the best college out there. I say STOP. Wait until your children get to adulthood. The internet will teach them everything…

Music...The universal language

Music. Just the word brings back memories and moments that would not be the same without the gentle lullaby of a song.

I can remember back into a the time when I was three years old mostly because of the rock music my mom played. I just hear a song and it brings me right back to that time and I can always remember.

This year, my junior year at California Baptist University, brought on a whole new set of resposibilities. One of which, being an editor on the school news paper. Music was assigned to me.

Now what about music? I could talk for days and days about the different kinds of music that I know about. Why some artists are better than others and why Miley Cyrus is icky.

What aspect of music should I talk about? The fact that so little artists these days just come from the nearest coffee shops or open mic nights.

I take it upon myself, this semester, to find an artist worth writing about. Someone who will be the next biggest star. Someone from our own backyard.

Music may be able to bring back the right kinds of memories and be a part of the worst kinda of moments, but music is always original in some way. I intend to find that here. Riverside, here.

And another thing...Blogging.

I was never very interested in telling random people, if anyone, about what I was thinking. It never seemed to appeal to me. However, during this year and after taking a few classes in journalism, I realized that blogging is a very affective way of saying what people really want to hear.

Not everyone is interested in watching the local news or reading about what some second rate journalist got from some source over there.

Blogging give the news a spin. Its a way to say what you really mean, and have people respond. Plus, you can write about whatever you want!

I've never been opposed to reading them, however. Some people really just rant and rave about things that make so sense. "Why the latest hit video game is giving young boys some alternative reality." Yea, so?

There are some people out there who really know what they are talking about. Not to mention, they like what they are writing about. It makes total sense to write about something you love and that is relevant to the real world.

I think that blogging definitly is here to stay and that it gives the world a better view on current events and culture. (It's not just for Americans)

I have also learned that Blogging is one of them most prevelant mediums out there when it comes to the future of the media. For freelancers, it gives you the sensation of writing and hopefully making a name for yourself.

Never be a afraid to blog, you never know who might be reading it. (In a non-creepy sort of way) :]

What am I doing?

I finally figured out what I want to do, it took me a while, but I got there.

As far as what I'm doing now, I still have no idea. College is hard. However, if we are talking about a career choice, I think I'm on to something good.

I would like my niche to be interviews. I have always been told I'm a good people person and that I listen like the best shrink out there. So why not capitalize on that?

Yes, I realize that interviews are a key component of Journalism, but I was thinking of something a little more broad. (If you know what I mean...)

I'm thinking, ultimately, to be like Barbara Walters. All she does is interview celebrities. I think we can all remember a few memorable ones. (Ahem...Tom Cruise...)

I think that this will be a perfect career. I know, I will have to make a good name for myself, but I wouldn't mind the challenge. Its a tough world out there in broadcast. I think I can cut it.

Thoughts?

HE is the great "I Am" and yet some people have a hard time talking to Him and listening to what He has to say for our lives.

Everyone has their own personal relationship with God, even if they truly believe or not. It’s a very personal choice that can only be made by each individual person.

Even the people who continuously go to church and are in their word can still only be seeing what their eyes want them to see instead of truly listening to what the Lord has to say.

There have been times when I’ve heard the Lord speaking to me and then there have been times when I have felt abandoned by him. I can remember hearing God talking to me through different outlets when I was even as young as the 4^th grade.

There was also a period of time during college that I couldn’t hear Him at all. I had stopped going to church, I had stopped hanging out with the right people, and I had stopped trying to listen to what he had to say.

It was then that I felt abandoned. Not because of anything He has done but what I had allowed myself to do.

It wasn’t until I heard the song “How Great is Our God” by Chris Tomlin that I decided set my ear towards God and really listen to him.

Whether you hear Him in song or in scripture, God is constantly trying to talk to us, it’s whether or not you know how to listen that’s key.

For the people of Haiti

I’ve tried to familiarize myself with the happenings of Haiti, but it’s becoming more and more difficult with the presence of pop media.

I do think that the disaster of Haiti is a very large subject that needs to be covered and talked about or else help to those in need will not happen.

However, I feel as if this whole thing is becoming a publicity stunt to those in the media. There is no real depth to the things that celebrities are doing to help with the relief fund.

I don’t really care if you can sing a super high note on a television show when you should be on the phones taking callers and getting as much help for these people as you can.

This isn’t a game and I don’t think that the people of Haiti are all that interested in hearing you sing either. They just lost everything; your voice might not make it better for them.

I think there is so much more that we can be doing. It’s taking so much time for us to get over there and really settle everything down.

I heard on the news that some of the people who have YET to receive medical care are dying of gangrene. It’s been two weeks since this happened and there are still people dying.

Now turning this on myself, I feel so incomplete just sitting here and not being able to hop on the next flight over there myself.

I feel conflicted with guilt because here I sit in my nicely furnished apartment, only able to share my words with God and nothing else.

I don’t know about you, but doesn’t that feeling really suck?

Maybe some people are just not interested in helping at all. Maybe they feel that there is nothing that they can do personally, but I think that there is.

This is really turning into a rant, but I think as American young adults, we can make such a difference in these peoples lives if given the opportunity.

Lets continue to share our desires to help these people. Lets continue to strive to make life better for them. Lets not put this in the hands of celebrities and think its all going to get taken care of.

Sincerely,

Blaise

The ups and the downs of Christmas...

As a college student, Christmas break is supposed to be a time of rest and relaxation. A different world than the hectic life at a college campus, however, the bustling world of retail make this a bit difficult.

Not only did I spend approximatly 85% of my time in my hometowns local mall, I would say about 20% of that time was enjoyable.

One time in particular, I was standing in line, for what seemed like hours, to buy my mom this gorgeous pair of earings for Christmas/her birthday.

So as I'm standing in line I look to my immediate left and see a bracelet that I thought my cousin would like. So i figure since Im already standing in line I might as well pick it up and see for sure. Well, in the midst of my inquery, the line moved a smidge. This little old bitty decides its her chance to cut the line.

When I look up I realize that she has done this and so ever so politely I say, "Oh I'm sorry ma'am, the line startes back there".

She turns around and says, "Don't call me ma'am".

I was shocked, I had never has such an issue presented to me before. Then the lady behind me who looked like she was on some sort of coffee fix said, "Look lady, we have been standing here for at least 20 minutes! Beat it!"

Again, the shock rose in me.

Then, the older lady and the overly caffinated lady start bickering back and forth until security is called and comes over. This whole time I am standing in the middle of these women, trying not to get hurt.

Overall, the older lady was forced to the back of the line, but the whole time the two women were glancing at eachother with angry eyes.

So much for glad tidings of great joy....

All things Journalism...

I don't know what tempted me to become a journalism major, maybe it was the fact that I had some preconcieved notion that I had the ability to write...or perhaps its because I liked writing in the first place.

Sure, I supposed I could have started writing a book of some sort, and who knows, maybe someday I will, but I think I like the feeling I get with a finished project. A book just takes too much time for my 20 year old mind. The news just seems to fit.

I suppose someday, a successful career may come my way, but for now, I will stick to being a student writer always on the cusp of an interesting yet not so important story.

Ta Ta for now.

Blaise