This is It!

In the way of this blog, but I will be continuing my other one! I got side-tracked and haven't been keeping up with that one either. But I love writing, so naturally, I will be typing away on Nekkid Kiwi.

Features was a fun class. I learned more than I would just by reading up on Features writing. I like the creative aspect and and angles you can come up with, rather than with news writing being so structured with a serious lead. I also like the different categories Features comes with: editorials/opinions, reviews, profiles, events, etc. I've also learned how important it is to interview as many people as you can, or you can regret not having a better quote or more to color your story.

I think my writing has improved just a little. It's all about realizing who your audience is, and then you can add even more humor.

My favorite feature piece would have to be the opinion piece. Even though it was given through bullet points, I found it easy, partly because I don't think anyone could be on the fence with life/death situations of humans or animals.
My least favorite. UGH! I disliked the investigation piece. If I knew more De Anza secrets or more background, I could have come up with juicy stories. I really liked Julian's Food idea - too creative! I wish I thought of it! Especially since I'm all about health and fitness.

My future. Vague, but in the next quarter, it's continuing being on the La Voz staff and becoming an editor. Eventually I want to write for the Health section maybe, for a teen magazine.

Tests/participation > yoga pants/tights

I chose my editorial/opinion piece on one written in La Voz Weekly called "Dress for Class." I like Martin, but I AGREE with his opinion on what means "dressing up" for class.

In the article, he wrote that, "You should not be in gym shorts unless you literally just came from the gym and girls, no, tights/yoga pants aren't acceptable either." Well, if you're a mom and do a lot of running around with your kids and errands, I would consider that "working out" without the gym. It's also a comfort thing - just like guys can wear sweatpants, this is a cuter version of the comfort clothes. Dressing up doesn't have to mean jeans or cotton twill pants. A college student has the right to roll out of bed to get to class, because of all the all-nighters and anxiety and worrying of other things besides "What pants am I wearing?"For me, I stay on campus all day and don't want that inflexible denim to rip into my hips when I'm sitting in a bunch of classes. 

Another part of the article said, "First, tights are not yoga pants; they were never meant to be worn without accompanying layers. Wearing tights and a shirt is only slightly less revealing than wearing just a shirt and underwear, and you wouldn't do that would you?" There are definitely tights you can buy that are leggings, and though tights did require the shorts or the miniskirt in the 80s, they are now meant to be stylish and show off leg. It's a tight revolution! It's on the runway and in photo shoots, so it's hard for a woman to look at that in a magazine and/or other forms of media and think that it's not appropriate to wear when it looks kinda good on that model. It's "in," easy to wear with those ghastly Ugg boots, and can be layered if wanted. 

Subliminally Sublime

In my Mass Comm class, we talked about subliminal advertisements, and boy is it scary (and raunchy!). I've been aware of said messages since the mockery of it put on by the movie Josie and the Pussycats back in 2001, but nothing like what was presented in class. It reminded me of certain Disney movies that have secret messages, like in The Lion King when Simba is grown up and he sighs and collapses on the side of a clif and a puff of pollen or whatnot form "sex" in the sky very briefly.

Then there was the VHS cover for The Little Mermaid that went unnoticed from the public until a year after its release. The golden palace featured a phallus. 

Surprising, right?! Even Disney is part of the advertising conspiracy. A simple Google search will bring up all sorts of Disney "mistakes," like a nude woman in the background of The Rescuers, and much more. 

I titled my blog "subliminally sublime" not just because the words are pretty close and I'm being clever (hehe), but because these messages are really out-of-this-world! 

A Dancing Dichotomy Duo

Dance: totally my thing. Math: Definitely not my thing.

But somehow, Karl Schaffer, Math professor at De Anza has managed to make both work together. I haven't had him as a teacher, but perhaps my passion for dance and a kinesthetic learning skill would have helped me understand the one subject I don't like. (I also find it fascinating that most writers hate math, and math majors aren't too fond of writing either).

Intriguing, right? So I hope to meet up with him - I'll probably hear back on Monday when he can meet, and discuss what kinds of dance he participated in, his personal learning style, what he does outside the classroom, and maybe something random and fun that I can think of. This will for sure require a recording device, and my handy-dandy reporter's notebook.

My only fear to writing this piece would be not capturing the essence of the guy, or his fun and humorous personality; but other than that, bring it on!

Search Me!

What a creative way to edit an article! 

http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/editing-tips-for-writers-copywriters-editors-freelancers/

And the winner is...

http://wordplay-kmweiland.blogspot.com/ for best blog in my opinion (out of the several I skimmed through). I like that she personalizes the blog really well being interactive with well-rounded options - videos, polls, and descriptive and fun-to-read paragraphs. Other ones I perused (just lying about that word, I just like it...), were just text and headlines all over the place, or talked about somewhat boring or irrelevant topics (like one guy's Bible Study... it would have been good for me to read back then when I was those goody-two-shoes, going to church three times a week, but not for me. My church destroyed that one being practically cult-like - yikes).

I might incorporate a video or so just so those who actually look at my blog can see my personality in person and see if it's just how they read my voice to be! Seems like a fun idea. I might do that for my next one ;)

Ummm...

So I have nothing to write. I do, but I'm waiting before work tomorrow, since my boyfriend got home from work and leaves again for his shift at 4am... in Cupertino, which is about 20-30 min drive (depends on traffic).

So what did I learn this week? A good amount actually. My investigation piece wasn't what I thought, so instead of abandoning it and freaking out, I just took a different approach and angle with it. So, in my case, there wasn't a biased system when it came to Employee of the Month, so I turned it into a "How to become and Employee of the Month" story using examples and quotes from multiple faculty members that won an award.

Other things I learned were from my other classes.

If you like Pina Coladas...

getting caught in the rain.... sorry for getting that song stuck in your head (NOT!)

If my writing was a drink, it'd be a pina colada! Sweet, fruity, juicy, and a blend of yummy stuff to create it. It doesn't have to be alcoholic, but it does seem random at times.

Different techniques to find my written voice were: writing like someone else, writing to a friend, and writing how I speak. When I'm comfortable, I will be sarcastic with someone, so that's how my writing tends to be, minus the long period of being comfortable (I already am when it comes to this fun stuff!).

*Sneeze* *Cough* Blaaahhh...

One thing I learned this week? That I don't feel comfortable ditching class because I'm "sick." I really was (well, and still am), but "I was sick" is so overused when it comes to excuses, that even if it were true, I feel others will still have some skepticism when they hear it - especially since I'm on campus all day Tues/Thurs, and had a major speech later on (my speech prof would definitely NOT buy it!). Plus, I hate that feeling when you miss class, and even if you were hinted at what happened, you still feel behind! Other than that, hope you guys stay well. And I'm off for a nap... ZZZZZZZ

Dog Legs... It Tastes like Chicken

I'm a little jealous I didn't think of this before, but one of the girls in class (I think Ami?) came up with a super creative blog name - "Girl Bites Dog." It's based on the saying where it's not a story if a dog bites a man, as that happens all the time, but it's a story when the man bites a dog. Clever, right? That's the sort of title I was racking my brain for, but no cando this time.

But I don't Care!

Out of the 12 step process of good writing, the worst for me is step 11: Care. If I'm unable to attach myself to an assignment that intrigues me and end up with a sports piece, well, that's totally not my forte and not something I certainly care about. One way I can alter my thoughts on a piece I don't enjoy would be to realize there are stories that need to be told, and unless I don't get out there to capture quotes and facts, then no one will know. So better to sacrifice and learn and be open-minded than to just shrug and hope I don't have to go along with it.

As for something that's easy for me, that would be Step 2: Read. I do love reading, and I didn't realize that until I read a book in High School that wasn't for schoolwork. I try to take note of great writing, and I find that when an author adds his personality or humor, it adds color to it. I want to mimic that, because reading something dull makes me quit reading.

Perspectives

The other day in class, we had a quick assignment to formulate bubble outlines for brainstorming story ideas. There were only two subjects that 6 tables had to work on: Valentines Day and the Super Bowl. I thought it was interesting that each group had something different to say that was unique. For example, the Super Bowl had a category of Food, Travel, and American Culture. For Valentines, there was History, St. Valentine, and Misconceptions. I learned a lot from that one little exercise - so much creative angles can be found on even the smallest of subjects!

CH-CH-CH Chia!

I chose the "food" feature category because who doesn't like to eat? Last year's top choice health seed was flaxseed, and now it seems like it's being kicked aside to allow a new health seed in - chia. Yep, the same as those cheesy commercials ring in our heads Ch-CH-CH Chia! No one considered to eat them though - until now.

One story idea would be informing people how it tastes or what to do with this newfound good-for-you food and who benefits from it (everyone). This would either persuade readers to go pursue the seed themselves or just be informed about it when they see it in all those drinks - like Mama Chia or Synergy's Kombucha chia versions found at Whole Foods. The downside to that would be that the article might not interest some readers.

Another idea would be taking a personal story from someone in which it saved their life - either through weightloss or perhaps how it helped an entire nursing homes's dietary health for cheap (from its high-fiber content). It could either pose interesting to readers or one-sided, but overall, a personal story most people can empathize or relate to.