Tumblr

I started an account over there, because it's better for the photos and other forms of non-writing posts I seem to enjoy. You can find me at s-brooks.tumblr.com

But I'm not totally leaving here.

Quote of the day

Today one of my sisters posted this to my Facebook wall because she said it reminded her of me:

"Writing is the only profession where no one considers you ridiculous if you earn no money."
- Jules Renard

It is good to know that even when I graduate and I'm starving because I can't find a job, I can tell people I'm a writer, and suddenly I gain some street cred. Cheers!

So cliche

Yesterday, I took another wandering trip with my camera and my bike. Though I didn't end up photographing any of the places on my mental list, I did take some neat, albeit cliche photos of flowers and such.

Remnants

One day last week, I found myself with some time to kill between classes, and nothing to accomplish because all of my major school work is done. Tired of hanging out on campus, I decided to aimlessly wander through the city with my camera, one of my favourite things to do when I have some free time. While in the area of Menominee Park, I noticed this sign.

Years ago, there used to be a hospital across the street from the park(the same hospital in which I was born, back in '86), which has since been turned into some sort of nursing home/apartment hybrid, I do believe. Being the nerd that I am, I just had to stop and snap a photo. It was interesting to see this sign, as that hospital relocated across town something like 10 years ago. Yet the sign still remains, broken and falling apart, much like the cement in the former parking lot it directs you to.

Almost there...

This past Thursday, I went down to Milwaukee to see a concert and spend some time with a friend that I haven't seen in quite some time. It was grey, gloomy and rainy most of the time we were down there, but while we were eating dinner, a rainbow appeared. She dragged me away from my food so I could step outside and see it too. And since I nearly always have a camera on me, I took a picture. Cheers!

Only one more week of school, then I finally have some time to myself! Life is good.

Oh distraction!

Right now, I'm supposed to be working on a very important essay due Thursday. Instead, I'm sitting at my favourite coffee shop drinking a large cup of peanut butter crunch coffee and surfing the internet. Yay distraction!

For whatever reason, it's nearly impossible for me to write at home, so I came to the coffee shop to work on my essay about what was the Pioneer Inn in Oshkosh. In my interpretive and persuasive writing (aka: editorials, reviews and investigative reporting) class, we're working on a class project about what to do with the waterfront in that city, with each of us choosing a different site. I chose the Pioneer because my mom worked there years ago, so I got to hear all of her stories about how wonderful it was, and the fact that it used to be so high-class and wonderful, and now it's just a vacant pile of nothing is pretty fascinating to me. I have all of my research done, and it is a story I'm excited to tell, but I'm in the middle of a major case of writer's block.

Normally, writing at this coffee shop comes very easy. There's just something about the atmosphere that puts me in the mood to write. Actually, I suppose it's working right now, but just not for the writing I NEED to do. Instead I'm wasting time with my piles of notes cluttering the table, with all of my highlited phrases taunting me while I write in my blog about how distracted I am and how I really need to stop procrastinating. I wrote a few words, but it's so hard to force myself to write papers when I'm just not feeling it. Grrrrr. Good thing there are only 2-1/2 weeks left in the semester.

I also take comfort in the fact that next year, I only need electives. And not that many of them either. Only taking classes that I want to take makes the paper writing/endless readings/sitting in class/studying so much easier. I have a good feeling about this fifth year of college. Not being super-burdened with school also is allowing me to take on more at the paper. Next semester, I'm still the copy chief and writer for every section except sports, but I also get to take on the additional role of assistant news editor. I get to write the police blotter column, which is by far the most read of anything in the A-T. Yay!

It's always these last few weeks when I'm constantly writing papers for political science classes, articles for the A-T and journalism classes and everything in between that force me to rethink my brilliant idea to become a writer when I grow up. Then the semester ends, and I develop amnesia about how much I've hated writing in the past few weeks. And I still want to be a writer when I grow up.

A summer job, complete with coffee mug!

Maybe my pursuit of journalism as a career choice isn't quite so useless. You see, I somehow managed to score a summer job writing for a real paper that is not university-affiliated.

A few weeks back, I had to participate in mock interviews for a class I'm taking. Twice a year, the journalism program sets up these fake interviews presumably so we college students know how to write a resume, wear a business suit and appear competent when we graduate and look for that real job. Though the jobs are fake, the interviewers are really in charge of hiring for various companies in the area.

One of my interviews was for a small weekly in Kaukauna. Apparently my energy and excitement about journalism made me look like a good potential employee, because he offered me a summer job.

The other day, I went down to the office and met the rest of the staff and discussed details. Apparently I'm going to be writing mostly features, and probably cover a few town hall meetings. Since the paper is a small one, the staff does a lot more than they would at a bigger daily. This means I'll probably get some experience in photography and layout, which would definately be beneficial to learn.

Plus, there's pay! It's not enough to quit my main job over, but most journalism internships and summer jobs are unpaid, especially in this economy, so I'm really just happy to get anything. They also gave me my very own travel coffee mug with the company logo! Score!

After this experience, I think I may actually be ready to graduate college next year. Perhaps I will actually end up using my degree(s) after all. Cheers!

Advertising aggravates asphalt degredation in modern context

by Shayla Brooks of the Advance Titan

As annoying as the ice and snow of winter is, the potholes it leaves behind are perhaps worse. With city and county government more strapped for cash than ever before, many of these obnoxious potholes won?t get filled before damaging numerous vehicles, if ever. In Chicago, one company has a solution.


The March 26 issue of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that KFC, as in the fried chicken franchise, is willing to fix the annoying holes in exchange for permission to stencil ?refreshed by KFC? in white lettering on the fresh asphalt.


On the surface, this story appears rather harmless, and perhaps even funny. The city gets much needed maintenance done on someone else?s dime, in addition to saving crucial tax dollars. KFC gets publicity not only from the stenciled letters, but also from the news articles that will inevitably cover this quirky approach to marketing. And the motorists receive an easier commute essentially for free, as their tax money wasn?t used, instead paid for with discretionary dollars spent on fried chicken, biscuits and mashed potatoes.


Are we, as citizens, willing to outsource public works projects to corporations and allow ourselves to be surrounded by even more advertisement?


Every day we are bombarded by advertisements, and seldom do we pay much attention. The first things that come to mind are usually the standard television commercials we skip through when given the opportunity, glossy magazine pages, and the sports stadiums named for corporate sponsors, such as Time Warner Cable field in Appleton. Granted, all of these examples are relatively benign; these ads are focused around for-profit leisure activities that one can easily choose to avoid or ignore.


The problem comes when advertising creeps out of the business realm and into the public sector. Things like roads and schools should not be turned into money making opportunities. In an environment like today?s, these types of public ventures do indeed need money now more than perhaps ever before, but allowing corporations to brand public works to get this money is not the answer. Advertising does not belong so deep in the public sphere. The notion of companies putting their wallets into cash-strapped public sectors in order to take advantage of extremely visible and practically unavoidable ad space is most prominent in schools.


In the past decade, there has been much controversy surrounding the idea of advertising in schools. School administrators often say they cannot afford to turn down the advertising and corporate sponsorships and keep funding programs. The impressionable minds of children combined with the necessities of attending school create a goldmine for advertisers to take advantage of these factors and turn students into consumers in exchange for money to fund various programs.


The National Institute on Media and the Family Web site [http://www.mediafamily.org/facts/facts_adsinschool.shtml] points out numerous ways in which companies directly advertise to students in schools. Some of the more shocking examples listed include ?educational? posters in hallways advertising candies such as Skittles, 3 Musketeers and Starburst; school events paid for or sponsored by corporations, such as Homecoming sponsored by Dr. Pepper; and reward programs such as Book It!, where students receive coupons for free Pizza Hut pizza in exchange for meeting reading goals.


Most recently, there have been news stories about a teacher in a suburban San Diego high school who has been selling advertisement space on his exams. Though the USA Today article points out that most of these advertisements are fairly harmless inspirational messages paid for by parents of these students, it is scary that one of the most formative environments in a person?s life has to fall victim to advertising.


While putting advertisements on patched potholes is not exactly the same as putting those same ads on a high school math exam, both raise the question of boundaries. Tax-funded public institutions such as schools and roads should not become avenues for companies to attempt to make a potential profit. As citizens, we pay taxes to the government in exchange for certain necessary services, like the two previously mentioned. If companies are allowed to ?sponsor? such things, will there be any place people can have the freedom to be seen as humans and not dollar signs?

A Homecoming of Sorts

Today was a lovely, spring-like day here in Wisconsin. I had the day off, so I went home to visit the family and mooch a free meal. While I was there, my dad and I took a walk and brought along our cameras. Here's what I came up with:

Of Light and Colour

Here are a few photos I took while I was messing around with a slow shutter speed and some christmas lights.

A month full of everything and nothing

I know it's been something like a month since I've written on here. I haven't disappeared; I'm just back in school (which is virtually the same thing now that I think about it).

The only writing I've been doing is either for a class or something for the paper, which is usually about people whose lives are more interesting than mine. If my mother is lucky enough to have your e-mail, I'm sure you've read it all, as she sends anything I ever publish to the entire world. I think it's funny; I know she does it because she's just proud of her favourite oldest daughter. It just makes me wonder if anyone else cares. Quite honestly, most of the articles I write are about boring things. So far, I've written a lot about the Oshkosh Common Council race, a race I can't even vote in. Important, yes. Interesting, not really. Hopefully my name in the byline is enough to convince my misc. relatives and such to read it.

I've also been spending more time in the office of the paper, because I'm now the copy chief. That basically means that I'm the "penultimate authority on commas and the like," as a co-worker put it. Not only do I have to proofread the individual articles, but I also get to painstakingly scan proofs of the pages to make damn sure there are no errors in grammar, punctuation, or facts.

This semester, I also joined the photo club here on campus as a way to force myself to take more pictures. When I knew how much I would be getting for a tax return, I promptly blew all of that on a digital SLR camera to further this goal. I'll probably be posting many of these photos as a means to update without taking much time =).

So that about covers it. Between school, work and the paper, I haven't much time for writing for my own enjoyment. But I'm trying. And I promise I'm still around!

"Fake" IDs and the AARP

A few days ago, I went to get the mail expecting random junk and maybe some packages for me containing such awesome things as textbooks or Legos I bought from ebay. While I did indeed get some of those things, among the pieces of random junk mail was something I did not expect: a membership card to the AARP.

Yes, the AARP. As in the American Association of Retired Persons. The lobbying organization for people over 50. In fact, my mother got one of the same letters not too long after she turned 50.

I was baffled. My name was spelled correctly, right down to the middle initial. The address was correct too, including the 1/2. I can only wonder where they got my info. You see, at the ripe young age of 22, I'm not even half way to the age of 50. I'm still in college. I don't even have a "real" job that I can think about retiring from. I live in an apartment with my boyfriend and no kids. My father still has yet to reach this magical age. My mother barely has. I am confused.

Andrew says I should pay the membership dues, because they're not too expensive, and I can also get sweet deals on things such as hotels, and health insurance, as once I graduate or turn 24, whichever comes first (I'm betting on the latter), I won't be eligible for my dad's coverage OR Medicare. The only question I have is if you actually have to BE 50 or older to enjoy the fruits of this magic card. It says nowhere on the enclosed papers that you do.

Then the challenge is whether or not anyone will accept that card from me. The bouncers atbars barely accept my drivers license as proof that I'm old enough to be there. If most of them wonder if my real ID is a fake, I don't know anyone that would believe I could possibly be a member of the AARP.

It is something to think about, though. And if nothing else, it gives me a new story to tell and something to laugh about.

Everybody's doin' it (25 things)

I suppose it's my turn to do this. Here are my 25 random things about myself.



1. I constantly worry that I've made a huge and expensive mistake by going to college for journalism and political science instead of something that may actually get me a job after I graduate.

2. The idea of a future after college gives me giant anxiety attacks. I feel as though I'll never be able to find a "professional" job, and I'll have to work at least part time in a grocery store for the rest of my life.

3. When I'm driving around delivering pizzas, I always listen to the same 10 or so of my favourite songs of the moment all night long.

4. When I'm driving around in my car alone, I pretend I'm a singer in a band while I sing to the same 10 or so songs on my 7-hour shift.

5. When I see terrible grammatical errors on signs in public, I correct them with sharpies whenever possible.

6. I have no idea what I want to be when I grow up. I figure I'll spend my whole life in and out of school.

7. I get bad seasonal depression, so someday I hope to move somewhere it doesn't snow so I don't have to deal with it anymore.

8. When I'm really, really pissed or upset for any reason, I get super quiet. If I'm provoked enough after that point, I will explode. It's usually not a good idea to ask me what's wrong. If it's worth talking about, I'll say something.

9. I usually have so much to do that I have no idea what to do with myself on the rare occasion I actually do have a day off.

10. I often find myself wondering just what is the point of anything/everything. Most of the time I come up with nothing.

11. If I don't get lots of caffiene during the day, I get crippling headaches.

12. I often feel like a traitor to my gender because I don't want kids and I don't want a big, formal wedding should I ever get married.

13. I hate the idea of having to "grow up" and "be an adult"

14. Years of dealing with customers has led me to have a gigantic hatred toward nearly everyone.

15. I spent way too much time thinking about this list.

16. If I had it my way, I would spend my entire life travelling from one place to another.

17. I have had a job since I was 14.

18. I've been spending a lot of time daydreaming about warm weather. So much so that I get distracted from whatever I'm supposed to be doing.

19. Staying on any kind of task is very difficult for me. I have the attention span of an acorn.

20. I hate organized religion.

21. When I was younger, I used to read encyclopedias when there was nothing else to read. To this day, I will read anything put in front of me--even if it's super boring.

22. I hate internet speak. I don't understand what is so difficult about typing out those two extra letters to spell out the full word, "you" instead of U, "are" instead of just R, etc.

23. I've become a giant brat about my grades in college. I once dropped an English class because I got a B- on a writing assignment, and a poli sci class because I got a C on an exam. I did not feel I deserved either of those grades.

24. I hate being depressed, because when I really think about it, my life really isn't bad at all.

25. To sum it all up, I'm just insane.

Winter blahs/cabin fever

I have definately had enough of this winter. I can't deal with the snow and the cold any longer. Every day I still see snow is another day I think about packing up and moving somewhere it doesn't snow.

I'm finding myself daydreaming more and more about spring and summer, when I can ditch the 10,000 layers of clothing. When I get bored during the times Andrew is at work I can hop on my bike and wander wherever the bike goes. When I can play tennis with my youngest sis, and we spend more time laughing than playing because we're both terrible. When I can go camping with the family and swim during the day and drink beer with my dad in front of a large fire at night. When I can drive around with the windows down and my music loud. When I can visit my friend in Milwaukee and walk around town all day. When I can walk around all day with a camera in my hand and see everything I look at every day in a new way. When I can have my own picnics in a park with nothing but good food and a good book. When my friends can come over and have parties in my garage and play pool and darts until the sun comes up in the morning. When I can swing on swings and jump on trampolines. When the trees have leaves, the grass is green and the flowers are in bloom. When the earth doesn't look so...dead.

Most of all I miss being able to leave my house without using my car to get from one indoor place to another. Only three more months...

What You're Up Against

...because these are fun.

1. Put your iTunes/Ruckus/Napster/etc on shuffle. ...or zune..
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!



IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Clean Sheets - ALL

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Sea Anemone - Jets to Brazil

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY?
June on the West Coast - Bright Eyes

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Off With Your Head - Sleater-Kinney

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
The Chandelier Swing - Braid

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Flechette - No Knife

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
The Chimbley Sweep - The Decemberists

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
O'no - Q and not U

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Dog and Pony Show - Descendents

WHAT IS 2+2?
I Don't Want to Grow Up - Descendents

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Every Night's Another Story - The Early November

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
B is for Bethlehem - The Promise Ring

WHAT IS THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE?
Road Signs Always Look Better Looking Over Your Shoulder -Defiance, Ohio

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Wet Work - Q and not U

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
The Next Day - Thrice

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Big Decision - Elliot Smith

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Honey Peeps - ALL

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Little League - Cap'n Jazz

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
This Modern Love - Bloc Party

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Call, Call - The Faint

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
All My Best Friends Are Metalheads - Less Than Jake

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
The Last Song I Will Ever Write About A Girl - The Ataris

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Metronome Arthritis - At The Drive-In

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Stuck In - Mock Orange

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Summer in the City - Regina Spektor

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Dot - ALL

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
See You in the Shallows - Thrice

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Your X-Rays Have Just Come Back From the Lab and We Think We Know What Your Problem is - Jets to Brazil

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Stay Tuned - Ambulance LTD

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Do You Know Who You Are - Texas is the Reason

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Aren't We All Found Out - Maritime

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
What You're Up Against - Hey Mercedes

I am not a hairstylist.

Boredom leads me to do some pretty stupid things. For instance, today I was bored with my hair and had nothing else to do.

So I decided to cut my own hair. Yes, just like little children often do. The only difference was that I did not ruin my hair to the hillarious epic proportions children do.

I know anyone reading this is probably thinking that by the age of 22, most people would realize that it is not a good idea to cut their own hair; however, I used to cut my hair all of the time in high school and usually liked the result.

Granted, I'm not 16 anymore, and back then my hair was about six or seven inches shorter. My "look" was also a little more punk rock than it is now, so I would just keep cutting and use styling products to have that messy bed-head look all of the time.

I tried to give myself layers. One side turned out looking pretty good. Somehow on the other side of my part those layers ended up being blunt chunks of hair cut 3 inches shorter than the rest.

No big deal. I've been thinking about cutting my hair again for quite some time. It falls (fell) a few inches past my shoulders, which is far too long for me. Now I finally have the motivation to do it.

Maybe I've finally learned my lesson that self haircuts are not a good idea. I doubt it, though. I'll probably try cutting my own hair again the next time that I'm bored with a haircut.

Happy New Year!

Maybe 2009 will bring better things than 2008.

Andrew and I rang in the New Year by eating dinner at Frank's Pizza Palace, then out for drinks to await midnight. We shared a pitcher of raspberry margaritas and watched drunken revelers make fools of themselves at karaoke.

Cheers!