_9:12
Slowly liking the New York Times
I’m not sure if I’m supposed to say this or not since I work for another
paper but I’ve really started to enjoy reading
nytimes.com.
There’s just so much information and it makes you feel like you actually know something about the world and what’s going on with it. Going to college, I have a lot of research I have to do and I’ve loved the NYT’s college section. Not only does it help deliver great articles, it organizes them into classes that you’re more than likely taking at college.
I spend most of my time around the Sociology section of the NYtimes, reading articles upon articles then putting all those thoughts into various weekly papers.
Working for a newspaper is great because you’re constantly dealing with breaking news and community. The stress of offering the best we have to offer is constantly there but not always obtainable within your own personal time frames.
There are a lot of things the NYtimes is currently doing with their site that I would love to implement on hollandsentinel.com. Time, resources, and bottom-line are battles I face constantly in order to do my job and make things better.
Right now I’m just having fun over on another newspaper’s website and figuring out how they do things all the while using it to help me with my school work.
This brings me to a question
What would you do to make the hollandsentinel.com a better website? How would you organize things and would you redesign it? Are there things we’re focusing on to much or not enough?
Just give me your thoughts and ideas. I’m all ears and hope to make things better. Not only for you but for myself and just a better online environment.
posted on January 29, 2003| 9:47 AM EST
_16:24
Wedding site done in a day
Yesterday afternoon, just as I was about to stand up to leave for home - my boss gave me a project. He said the Holland Sentinel was putting out a publication the next day for brides and we needed a website for it. Not only did we need a website, but we needed it up by tomorrow afternoon
(which was today by 5pm).
After freaking out and banging my head on the keyboard, I said ok and prepaired myself for the next day.
Today I came in around 8:30am, because I just couldn’t get myself out of those comfortable sheets on my bed. The first thing I did was sift through the large piles of email I receive daily and did my best to answer them all. Then I was forced to begin.
All I was given was a 91MB Quark file that had more information than anyone could ever scroll through in an hour. I started to become very worried I wasn’t going to get this done on time. Then anger set in for a good 10 minutes before I slapped myself and chugged a bottle of Mountain Dew. Six and a half hours later I pushed the site to live.
Ladies and gentlemen - I would like to present you with a website on getting married; done in one day.
The site: www.westmichiganbride.com/
posted on January 24, 2003| 4:31 PM EST
_20:31
Segway scooters not Welcome in San Francisco
In 2002, Dean Kamen was awarded the National Medal of Technology by President Clinton for “imaginative leadership in awakening America to the excitement of science and technology.” newest invention - the Segway scooter. Not only was this a great invention; itís changing the way we do things today.
In March of 2003, Segway scooters will be shipping to people all over the United States. Postal workers, police officers, and meter readers have already tried this new device and love the help it offers for those many hours of walking.
San Francisco, however, does not look on the Segway scooter as lovingly. On January 20, 2003, they became the first large municipality to outlaw the scooters. According to critics, itís considered a safety hazard on sidewalks because of its speed and weight in the midst of such large groups of people. There is also concern for the elderly and disabled.
With a speeds up to 12.5mph, the city of SF is worried people wonít have ample warning from behind to get out of the way. Even though motorized wheel chairs can go just as fast and are overlooked in this case.
Personally, I think itís just because they donít understand how useful it really is and how it works. Either that or thereís underlying issues from other businesses that are worried about the competition Segway scooters bring.
Either way itís a classic case of society not letting something new come in without a fight. It needs to prove itself worthwhile and undergo more tests than the current 100,000 hours itís spent on city streets across the nation without injury.
posted on January 20, 2003| 8:22 PM EST
_11:56
School books and the thought of “Self”
For the past couple hours I have been studying Sociology out of a text book that is rather tall and thick. After reading for quite some time, I think I’m starting to figure out what exactly is going on. Ya see, a person cannot just come into a class or subject for that matter and wrap their mind around new concepts.
What must happen is complete breakdown of everything you know. Most of the books beginning pages deal with so many different studies and refutes to those studies - you cannot figure out what truth is. Your only hope is to put all bias aside and start again from scratch.
What I’m finding interesting is how much our society actually makes us who we are. Sure we all understand that our minds are somewhat directed toward the thinking of the society you’re in. What I’m beginning to think is that it’s almost a complete parallel between personal thought and society’s rulings.
I’m finding myself searching my mind’s database for images and thoughts of my childhood. I’m trying to figure out how I was molded into the person I am today. If that weren’t enough, I’m trying to figure out if I’ve been molded for the better or if I’ve stuck myself in some sort of trail like rhythm that I have no way of getting out.
If any of this makes sense let me know by posting below. I’m completely confused myself and studying more has become more of a quest for “self” understanding than it is for credits and grades.
posted on January 19, 2003| 12:04 PM EST
_9:18
Now Jenny & Brad are Engaged
Wow - it’s like there’s some sort of prize if you get engaged. As if there is some sort of force that is strangely convincing people to go further in their relationships.
My Theory is simple:
The
Letter project has become some sort of relationship predictor. It’s monthly schedule may be more than just a list of people that are to receive letters.
If this is true then we’ll need to keep our eye on Ethan VanDrunen and Laura Herrema.
Laura seems to already have a boyfriend (with a lovely name if I may say so myself). This is just a matter of time before another prediction is made.
Ethan however does not have a girlfriend but the powers that be may like this sort of challenge. That along with Ethan’s luck, that can only be described to as “the force”, allows me to think the Letter website might still have a chance to get Ethan engaged.
All I’m saying is that “I am a believer”. You may follow or deny.
On another note:
Jenny - I am beyond excitement for you and Brad. I love both of you and glad you found each other.
posted on January 14, 2003| 9:20 AM EST
