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If you are one of my Facebook friends, you may already know that I've decided to leave the Community Free Press. Including my internship, I've been there 2 1/2 years.
I have nothing negative to say about my experience.
I'm very proud of much of the work I've done in that time, and I will continue to be grateful to the Langsfords for giving me a chance to write for money. I've also developed some friendships there that couldn't have happened anywhere else, so I will take what I can from this -- but, it is time to move on.
I've told everyone, including myself, that I am going to become a freelance writer. However, I'm not sure how realistic I'm being. The journalism market is scary. One of my fellow staffers, Fines Massey, who himself is leaving to take a Census job, was told one paper he recently applied for in St. James had 87 applicants for its one open position.
I've picked up around 30 hours at my old haunt LaMar's Donuts, and I'm just hoping that some opportunities pop up. This may be the riskiest thing I've ever done. All I can really say is that the political season is starting, and it just felt like the right time to leave.
The April 21 issue will be my last issue. I am grateful for all of the people in our community that took the time to answer questions from me over the last couple of years. I sincerely hope that I treated you fairly.
Well, before this sounds entirely cheesy and sappy, I'll sign off. I'm stepping out the door and heading into my last day. After today, I'm just a donut man. Dear lord, somebody hire me!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Citation Nation or A Tangled Web We Weave
The funny thing about hyperlinks is they can bring a whole new dimension to one's meaning, as well as one's understanding.
If you took the time to follow the hyperlinks in the previous paragraph you found: 1. When you clicked on "hyperlinks" you were magically transported to a website that featured a Buddhist temple made out of beer bottles. And 2. When you clicked on "one's understanding" you traveled to a website that featured an article that examined the relationship between Glenn Beck, his big, fat mouth, and social justice.
If you've followed the hyperlink in the second paragraph you likely think: 1. Brian's made a mistake. Or 2. What?! If you only followed the first hyperlink, and not the other two, you may think this is a normal blog post.
For those who didn't follow any hyperlink, let me explain. 1. The first hyperlink did in fact magically transport you to a site that featured a Buddhist temple made out of beer bottles. Heineken, actually. And 2. I deceived you. The second hyperlink sent you to a site that claimed all who visited the site are now atheists. Which is just funny.
In fact, the third link in the second paragraph examined the relationship between Glenn Beck, his big, fat mouth, and social justice.
The point is the words I highlight for links aren't necessarily connected to the sites in which the reader magically transports. However, if one was the impressionable type, and one "took the time" to follow the "hyperlinks," it may have contributed to "one's understanding." If you are stoic and hard to impress, well, that's cool I guess.
If you took the time to follow the hyperlinks in the previous paragraph you found: 1. When you clicked on "hyperlinks" you were magically transported to a website that featured a Buddhist temple made out of beer bottles. And 2. When you clicked on "one's understanding" you traveled to a website that featured an article that examined the relationship between Glenn Beck, his big, fat mouth, and social justice.
If you've followed the hyperlink in the second paragraph you likely think: 1. Brian's made a mistake. Or 2. What?! If you only followed the first hyperlink, and not the other two, you may think this is a normal blog post.
For those who didn't follow any hyperlink, let me explain. 1. The first hyperlink did in fact magically transport you to a site that featured a Buddhist temple made out of beer bottles. Heineken, actually. And 2. I deceived you. The second hyperlink sent you to a site that claimed all who visited the site are now atheists. Which is just funny.
In fact, the third link in the second paragraph examined the relationship between Glenn Beck, his big, fat mouth, and social justice.
The point is the words I highlight for links aren't necessarily connected to the sites in which the reader magically transports. However, if one was the impressionable type, and one "took the time" to follow the "hyperlinks," it may have contributed to "one's understanding." If you are stoic and hard to impress, well, that's cool I guess.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Health care fun
During the next week I am going to be learning everything I can about the health care reform that was just passed in the House. I've read several articles to this point, and this one from the WSJ, and the Q&A from The New York Times have been the most informative.
I encourage anyone who has questions or concerns about the legislation to contact me by e-mail at bbrownspfd@yahoo.com. I will try to answer as many questions as I can.
I encourage anyone who has questions or concerns about the legislation to contact me by e-mail at bbrownspfd@yahoo.com. I will try to answer as many questions as I can.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Trusting strangers
Today I went back to work after a week of vacationing in Florida. While visiting Mickey and the gang, it occurred to me that I had to place a whole lot of faith in people I have never met. Like those who design air planes and roller coasters, most specifically. But also taxi and bus drivers, food preparers, and housekeepers to name a few.
I wondered how many others visit Disney World? It seems the numbers vary widely depending on the source -- I found everything from 20 million to 41 million annual visitors. According to the Orlando Tourist Information Bureau, 50 million people visit the area every year.
That's a lot of mouse ears.
As the human population approaches 7 billion and with the U.S. now over 300 million, I can't help but marvel at the size of our modern world. The numbers are so large and yet... Something about the cheesy sing-songy kiddies' ride sparked my imagination. It's a world of laughter...
At one point, a member of our group counted hearing 8 languages at one of the WDW theme parks.
As we move into the future, there will be more and more people. That also likely means it will be a less personal world. Disney World, much as it tries, wasn't built for you and me. It was built for us. The rides are for us. The buses were for groups.
I buy my food at Wal-Mart. I get my cell phone service from AT&T.
I had a great time last week and none of it would have been possible without the promise of big numbers. There's something unsettling about that.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Et tu K2?
After I interviewed Colby Compton for my K2 story in this issue of CFP, he asked me if I thought the product-- a mix of herbs blended with a synthetic cousin of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana-- should be made illegal. I told him I didn't have an opinion. And that was true.
Now that the story is out, I've thought a lot about that question. For years I've thought marijuana should be made legal. In short, I think the prohibition of marijuana hasn't done anything to deter its use, and it's common knowledge that the stuff smokers toke today is more potent than their parents weed. Has anyone seen the potency of cigarettes increase since the 60s? I won't argue that its safe, but I would argue that it should be legalized and regulated.
Well, K2 aint weed, but it may soon be treated like the dope. Legislators are pushing an initiative that would make it a controlled substance. In the meantime, as the story points out, those taking certain drugs and smoking K2 may want to be careful.
When I spoke to Terry Barks, St. John's clinical information specialist, he said the prohibition of K2 was a significant social issue. And I think that's true.
Over the last several months, we've seen a large number of people stand up against a nationalized health care system-- effectively stopping reform measures in Congress with an unexpected Senate victory in Massachusetts. I personally would have liked to see some form of regulation pass because I think costs are out of control. However, I will say the most powerful argument I've heard against reform came from a friend. It was what I would call the Constitutional argument. It went like this:
If I have religious freedom including freedom from religion in America, why can't I have freedom from health care?
The plan in Congress would have required all Americans choose a plan. And I didn't have a comeback for my friend. "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" is good enough for me. If people want to smoke incense, I'm not going to stand in their way. But I want them to know what their smoking.
Now that the story is out, I've thought a lot about that question. For years I've thought marijuana should be made legal. In short, I think the prohibition of marijuana hasn't done anything to deter its use, and it's common knowledge that the stuff smokers toke today is more potent than their parents weed. Has anyone seen the potency of cigarettes increase since the 60s? I won't argue that its safe, but I would argue that it should be legalized and regulated.
Well, K2 aint weed, but it may soon be treated like the dope. Legislators are pushing an initiative that would make it a controlled substance. In the meantime, as the story points out, those taking certain drugs and smoking K2 may want to be careful.
When I spoke to Terry Barks, St. John's clinical information specialist, he said the prohibition of K2 was a significant social issue. And I think that's true.
Over the last several months, we've seen a large number of people stand up against a nationalized health care system-- effectively stopping reform measures in Congress with an unexpected Senate victory in Massachusetts. I personally would have liked to see some form of regulation pass because I think costs are out of control. However, I will say the most powerful argument I've heard against reform came from a friend. It was what I would call the Constitutional argument. It went like this:
If I have religious freedom including freedom from religion in America, why can't I have freedom from health care?
The plan in Congress would have required all Americans choose a plan. And I didn't have a comeback for my friend. "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" is good enough for me. If people want to smoke incense, I'm not going to stand in their way. But I want them to know what their smoking.
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