Making the Most Out Of Bad Situations

Growing up in a rough neighborhood, you really can’t see your future. I lived in this apartment complex for 12 years. I saw the worst possible things in life. People were shot, kids got beat up for no reason and gangs fought each other daily. I grew up around a lot of violence but I never let the violence influence me to join. Living in this apartment complex I had to be in the house when the street lights came on, which was around 7:30. After dark, this complex became the worst place to live. We had two bolts on our main door along with a chain across the top. We also had a stick behind the balcony door because living on the second floor people usually find a way to get onto our porch. Making it through the night was a blessing, that’s anywhere you sleep but especially in that neighborhood.

During the day the apartment complex is a much better place to be. At this complex they had a playground, tennis court with a basketball goal on one side and a big grass area where we played football. I played every sport but basketball was my main sport. I could dribble, shoot, pass and jump. I had every basketball skill in my arsenal and my friends and family knew it. They encouraged me to play basketball and be the best that I could be. My family didn’t want me to end up like some of my friends that had no future for themselves because of theirs bad decisions. They also said people don’t expect kids to be anything in life that came from a rough neighborhood.

When my family told me that, my mind was made up. I started working on my game each and every day.  I attended Wakefield High school in Raleigh North Carolina. My senior year I was ranked number 12 prospect in North Carolina. After my senior year was finished, Queens University of Charlotte offered me a full ride scholarship to play basketball. This was the best moment in my life and I will cherish it till the day I die. No one in my family attended college so this is a major accomplishment to me and them. I have been in college for 4 years and my family and friends have been there right by my side no matter what. They came to many of my games and they also call and check up on me on a daily bases. Without my family and friends I don’t know where I would be right now and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

Antonio Stabler

Toughen Up

I’m not sure who my readers are at this point, or what your interests are, but I do know that we all like to challenge ourselves in some way or another.  If you’re one of those people that choose to challenge yourself both physically and mentally by enduring through grueling workouts, then you should continue reading.  For those of you that choose to go a different route in challenging yourself, you should still keep reading but this may not be your cup of tea.

Tough Mudder is essentially a 10 plus mile obstacle course designed by British Special Forces to push you to the limits of your physical and mental abilities.  The brutal obstacles range from swimming through freezing cold water, to being charged with 10,000 volts of electricity. This is no simple task, but the reward is well worth the pain you must endure to cross the finish line. 

Unlike many similar challenges, Tough Mudder prides itself on not only being difficult to complete, but also fun at the same time.  This is no ordinary test of strength and endurance, and it doesn’t end when you cross the finish line.  If you do manage to carry yourself across the finish line, you’ll be met by a cold beer and a live band, fueling the after party. 

Tough Mudder holds events worldwide over the course of the year.  For all of my Queens readers, the event will be in Society Hill, South Carolina the weekend of October 27.  If you think you are up for the challenge, registration is open until October 19.  If you don’t think you are quite ready yet, you can register as a spectator to check out what the course is like and support the hundreds of challengers as they persevere through what is likely the most difficult obstacle course in the world.

This is just a brief explanation of Tough Mudder.  If you’re interested in finding out more about the event visit www.toughmudder.com. 

Jeremy Bugbee

Let's Make History!

   Over the last week I have been participating in the Democratic National Convention. I was lucky enough to land an internship (paid whoop whoop) with ABC News. I have to tell you that there is so much more that goes on behind the scenes of any news program than you may think. Anchors running about with their producers and camera men following close behind, phones ringing left and right, and the constant emails are only a few of the hectic qualities of news. 

   Before the DNC my Comm 360 class spoke a lot about what this convention will mean for Charlotte. During the DNC my fellow runners and I spoke about how thrilling it was to be a part of this historical event, but after the convention the talk has taken a drastic turn. The news stories no longer talk about the impact on Charlotte, or the experience for those participating, but on how the DNC has affected President Obama’s chances of being re-elected. 

   While watching CNN (I know, I worked for ABC, ahh I’m a traitor!) I noticed that the majority of the conversation was about the Presidents speech and weather or not it allowed the public to see a clear view of what the next four years may look like. There was talk of the Bush depression (their words not mine) and the confidence that the Democrats have now that the DNC has ended. 
   After having a first hand look at the people, protesters, media and government officials, I believe that (regardless of your political affiliation) the DNC was a huge success. The President has an amazing team, and Charlotte has an outstanding Convention Committee. I think that everyone can safely say that our President has made an impact on Charlotte that will last not only our lifetime but the lifetimes of our children to come. 
Until next time
- Jenna Buthman

Stay connected don't be old-fashioned....

Virtual Journalism. Those two words come to mind this past week with the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Every time I get on Twitter or Facebook I feel it’s all I see, hashtag this hashtag that, so-and-so retweeted this @DNC2012 #drivingmecrazy. Whatever happened to reading news or watching news on television, or your laptop, or even your smartphone; which I think I’ve come to the conclusion that almost everyone has a smartphone #getwiththetimes. Sarah Radwanick, marketing communications manager at comScore, reports social networking accounted for nearly 1 in every 5 minutes spent online globally in October 2011, ranking as the most engaging online activity worldwide. Social networking sites now reach 82 percent of the world’s Internet population representing 1.2 billion users around the globe. I think it’s safe to say that we’re being sucked in. A few minutes ago I stood up here in the library at Queens and walked around to see how many of your were sidetracked. Nearly half of the students I observed were on Facebook or Twitter! #timetodohomework. But maybe you all weren’t wasting away time, just maybe you were doing homework or reading up on a link posted through tweeter... or maybe viewing a photo your friend posted at the DNC via Facebook. Why can’t you just emailed me a link of the news report or email me the photos your took?! This is why..

Why should I sign up using Twitter or Facebook! What’s wrong with the old-fashioned way! I remember a time when I got on Facebook and I noticed this girl’s status was updated more times that it should have, but what I noticed was that it was technically her tweets... Why am I seeing her tweets on Facebook. I wasn’t even a member of twitter at that time!! It drove me crazy! Eventually, I de-friended her from my virtual circle of friends, it’s okay because I haven’t seen nor spoken to her in 6 years; makes sense that we were friends on Facebook to being with #bff

Getting back to what we were talking about in the beginning, social networks have sucked us in to the point where I don’t even have to watch news on television or read the paper. I can simply go on a website and see if it’s somehow linked to a social network or read up on news on the social networks themselves. See below here:

Please don’t get sucked in. Spend some time reading a print version of a newspaper, turn on the radio and listen to news stations, turn on the TV and watch the news. Don’t get sucked into doing everything on social networks. I’ve noticed that people generally get side tracked much easily when online. On that note, I’m going to get on Facebook now and waste two hours before I do homework for another class. #winning.


Krisztian Martin-

How Social Media Has Affected the Democratic National Convention

This week the Democratic National Convention (DNC) has been taking place in Charlotte and for arguably the first time ever, digital media is playing a role in the majority of all citizens affected. For the first time, the average person can document their experience of a political convention. In 2008, the Obama campaign effectively used social media to connect with the people but since then usage has skyrocketed.  Facebook usage has gone from 44.3 million users in 2008 to 143.3 million and Twitter has gone from 3.4 million users to 24.1 million in the last four years.

Just today I was able to take pictures of the DNC with my iPhone, Tweet them, post them on Facebook, and message them to my parents. These advances have massively changed accessibility to news and events. Instead of waiting for the morning newspaper or the 6 o’clock news, we can now access anything instantly from our smart phones or computers 24/7.

Figure 1 Occupy Wall Street Protest

This changes the way that an event like the Democratic National Convention works. Planners need to be aware of every move that is made because a blunder can instantly be caught and not even by the media. Just from a person with a camera on their phone. Police and security have to be more aware because marches, protests, and other threats can be planned in a moment’s notice through a text message or Facebook thread.

And on the other side, the DNC has created an application so that people could stay up to date with schedules of speakers, road closures, good places to eat, and follow Facebook and Tweet posts from the DNC hashtag #DNC2012. Also Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, many Senators, news anchors all have Twitter and Facebook pages for people to follow what they have to say.

We are living in a very exciting time, for the first time ever there was production space at the DNC for independent journalists by a group called the PPL. People are voicing their opinions on a public stage as well as political figures. Social media has changed the way we interact with each other and the way public figures interact back, and I think that is a good thing.

-Calvin Lescault

 

Public Transit: Cashing In or Out?

This has been a very eventful week here in Charlotte, NC.  As the host of the Democratic National Convention, Charlotte has been home to many visitors.  From protestors to politicians to police, the city has seen many new faces from all over.

 

For a few hours a day I have been at the heart of the madness as a volunteer with the PPL, an organization acting as a “home base” for out of town bloggers, journalists, and tech companies from around the world so that they can cover the event.  Since there are so many people trying to attend all of the events being held this week, as you may guess, many precautions have been taken to maintain safety and security for political officials and attendees alike.  Due to the security perimeter in place, many means of transportation have been eliminated making it more of a challenge to make your way into the heart of uptown. 

I have been using the light rail train to make my way uptown all week.  I have noticed that many more people than usual have also elected to use this as their main means for transportation as well.  Although the train has blocked off the last few stations ending now at Stonewall station, this seems to be the most convenient method of transportation in my opinion.  As you may know, a one way ticket to board the train costs two dollars and will bring you all the way to Stonewall station, from there you must walk the remainder of the way to your final destination.

Now that I’ve explained the way it works, I’d like to let you ponder the question of whether this method of public transportation will produce more revenue than it does on any normal business day.  While there seems to be more traffic aboard the train than I am used to, there is always the question of whether people are actually purchasing the tickets before they board, or simply taking a free ride.  Just the other day I arrived to the station as the train was pulling up, leaving me little time to purchase my ticket.  Fortunately, I acted quickly enough to grab the ticket and board the vessel before the doors sealed.  I may have acted quickly enough, but as I was purchasing my ticket, I noticed a few people who rushed right past me and jumped on without purchasing a ticket.  Who knows, they may have had a round trip ticket and were already covered, but then again they may have just been taking advantage of the situation. 

Even though Charlotte imported an army of law enforcement officers, the train seems to be lightly monitored.  Since I have ridden, I haven’t once seen an officer checking for tickets.  I have gotten the impression that many people have been boarding the trains without tickets and riding for free.  If this is the case, and a significant number of people have been skipping out on the fare, ultimately this could pose an issue as far as final revenue goes.  While this is just an assumption on my part, I think the question is an important one even though it will probably never be answered, at least not truthfully.

Until next time,

Jeremy Bugbee

A Crash Course in Politics

The Democratic National Convention has been a great chance for political aficionados to convene and share their opinions, but it has also been a powerful opportunity for those “less informed”, such as myself, to explore their own political beliefs. Politics has never been my cup of tea, and it has always seemed like such a daunting task to dive in and start sifting through all the different policies and plans to find out which candidates to support. For a long time, my only political knowledge came exclusively from the esteemed duo of Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert, but with the DNC in Charlotte I decided to broaden my horizons.

Instead of settling for Comedy Central’s take on the issues of the day, I found myself watching and attending various speeches and panels in order to educate myself on how important this election really is. I began to ponder issues I had formerly turned a blind eye towards, such as marriage inequality, Obamacare, and education. Living at the center of the political world for these past few days has been a crash course in formulating my own political views, but I encourage anyone reading this to take a little time out of your day to search for your own political identity. If that means researching  how politicians approach the important issues in your life or simply making time to watch the news before seeing how Mr. Colbert can turn it into a farce, it really does matter. After all, it’s our duty as a citizen of any country to have a say in the political process. It’s our duty to elect leaders who best represent the ideals of the country, not just the people willing to take a stand and vote. The great thing about this nation is that everybody’s voice makes a difference, so I encourage you to make yours heard this election season.