Need a Job?

Well instead of checking the classified ads, try becoming a classified ad. That is what the Martin family has essentially decided to do anyway. As of sometime next year, Carl and his wife Amy Martin will be advertising select companies as human billboards as well as promoting their products through YouTube, Facebook, and of course Twitter. Yeah and they will be getting paid for all this, while also getting the kids involved because we all know adorable children in advertisements grab our attention (See E*Trade commercials, you know the ones I mean). As reported in a CNBC article when Carl asked his son what he wanted to be when he grew up the four year old said, “I’m going to wear shirts like you”. I find this quote to be, for the lack of a better word, awesome and that word really sums up the entire story for me. These two parents are finding a way to make money for their family in a job market that is weak with little to offer. Carl’s son looks to him as if he is Lebron James, which let’s face it he is pretty much being sponsored and probably has less of an ego. Some of the reactions to this story that I have observed include people freaking over the fact that Carl’s son aspires to be a human billboard like his father instead of a lawyer or doctor. For those who share this sentiment, I wouldn’t be too worried about what this kid wants to be at the age of four, (when I was six I thought I was a Power Ranger) chances are he will grow out of it. Besides I don’t see the parents preaching that this is an ideal job, this is just a story of a family doing what it takes when times are rough. Kudos Martin Family, I wish I had your job.

"Chilean miners saw their shadows, 6 more weeks of autumn"

Note the quotations, that was NOT my joke. In fact upon first reading the joke I found it in bad taste. Yeah sure my last blog ridiculed a guy because firefighters watched as his house burned down but that was hilarious, this is just too soon. I posted this joke to point out the wave of jokes I have seen today on Facebook having to do with this and to bring up the question, are we as Americans that desensitized? Think about it, when was the last time you heard something on the news that was nothing to joke about be posted on Twitter or Facebook to get a laugh? If you have done it or if you have laughed at jokes like these don’t feel bad because so have I. This isn’t a post to tell you that these jokes are wrong and offensive, it is a post to boost awareness of them. An eye-opener really. There is an argument that this story about the miners is a feel-good story and maybe it isn’t that bad of a thing to add some humor to it. Well that would be a good argument if all miners were rescued, but instead only 15 out of 33 were. Again I’m not trying to push an agenda here and say that these jokes are horrible, I am just making a note of it, maybe get some thought and feedback going. If by cracking a joke is someone’s way of dealing with all the messed up shit that happens in this world, then so be it and more power to them. I’m sure some of these miners could use a good joke after being trapped underground for 69 days, just hope if someone tells them one they stay clear of the one I used as my title or ones similar.  

Chapter 14

This chapter really came at an ideal time for class since we should be starting interviews for our news features. Interviews are the most important step when it comes to producing a story because it is when you get most of the facts usually from the horses mouth so to speak. Therefore this chapter is a great help becase it details how one should go about it and not miss anything.
In my opinion the most important bit of advice the book gives us is that one should get to know the person they are interviewing before they interview them. Which seems like a really good idea, if you get to know the person I feel like you will be more comfortable around them and the interview may go smoother.
Another section I enjoyed was the 'What to Ask' portion, it really will help me get a jumpstart on what I want to ask when I interview someone for my news feature. Overall I thought this chapter was one of the more helpful chapters we have read.

This Guy Got Burned

Gene Cranick, along with the South Fulton fire department, watched his house burn to the ground in Obion County, Tennessee. The firefighters were fully capable of putting out the inferno but elected not to do so due to the fact that Mr. Cranick neglected to pay the fee of $75 to South Fulton. One word, hilarious. Don’t find it funny? Just wait there is more. Obion County does not have fire protection of any kind it has been that way for 20 years or more, so for that reason the county is to pay South Fulton an annual $75 fee for the services of their fire department. According to Mr. Cranick, paying the fee this year just slipped his mind, but I bet it won’t ‘slip his mind’ again. Well if the firemen weren’t going to put out the fire then why did they even bother to show up? Were they there just to taunt poor old Gene? Of course not that would be cruel, the South Fulton fire department still owed a service to the neighbors of Mr. Cranick who didn’t forget to pay the annual fee, so once the blaze got out of control they hopped into action and put out the flames. Still don’t find this amusing? Did I mention that Mr. Cranick’s brother was so upset with the firemen that he assaulted the fire chief and later on got carried away in cuffs? Well yeah that happened too. Look you’re probably thinking this is a horrible story and that the fire department should have done their job, but I would totally disagree. Mr. Cranick was never in any danger he was out of the house when he firemen arrived, had he been in there I’m sure they would have ran in and saved him. In my opinion this was the South Fulton fire department taking a stand for firefighters everywhere that are underappreciated and overlooked. These are men that run into burning buildings everyday, and once more these men in particular had no obligation to this county, it wasn’t even their jurisdiction. So you know what I say tough shit Gene Cranick, remember to pay the fee next time.

New England Just Got Mossed

Ok so I tried my best to refrain from making this blog sports related for one reason. That reason being that I thought it would be fun to challenge myself and have a blog that could be open to all readers not just sports fans. I wanted a blog with the sole purpose to provide rants of nonsense dealing with news of little to no importance. Well after the outrage that took place in New England this morning, my blog now has an additional purpose. That new purpose is to bash New England sports organizations for their bone-headed decisions. Don't worry, I'm a fan of New England sports teams so I am fully qualified. With that being said, WHAT THE EFF PATRIOTS?! Yes, caps were necessary, I mean are you serious you dealt Randy Moss for a third round pick to the Minnesota Vikings?
I realize some fans may like the trade for reasons having to do with him being a distraction and the Patriots weren't going to resign him so we might as well get some value for him. Honestly it wasn't that bad of a trade, the Patriots now have two picks in the first four rounds in the 2011 draft. But as Jim Rome would say, "This is what I'm burning on...", the fact that we let Brett Favre have our most prized deep threat. Brett Favre, the man who has been wanting this guy since his last year in Green Bay, the man that stole our Super Bowl away from us in 1998 (I still remember old man). Yeah frickin' Brett Favre the man that if not for this trade probably would have retired by week 6 and then came back in week 17 when he noticed that the Vikings were still in playoff contention.
Okay truth is I'm really mad because Adrian Peterson is on my fantasy team and having Moss on the Vikings will no doubt take carries away from him and in turn points away from me. There I said it. Also now I yet again need a new Patriots jersy.