Interpret Editorial Cartoons

1. 

2.

1. I think the interpretation of this editorial cartoon is trying to symbolize the fact that in Egypt their use of FaceBook has a cause they needed it for something but in America we use it everyday for simple things and just to chat, like its something of everyday life. 

2. I think that the point that is trying to come across with the second one is that there are two ladies that are chatting on Facebook and they are posting simple things, and on the newspaper it says  "Facebook tool for democratic change".  

Editorial Cartoons

To me, I believe that the first cartoon sort of symbolizes the controversy behind "Huckleberry Finn", when asked what the most offensive word is it should probably be the "N" word. However, it is extremely racist and morally wrong to acknowledge a black person with that slang.  The second cartoon i think symbolizes the fact that regardless of what happens to HF I don't think people will care. They will just continue on with their lives doing what they normally do. 

My Goals for the New Year

My first goal for the new year is to be a much better editor and leader then last semester. In the beginning i was thrust into being a leader and had no idea what i was doing. However, i learned from my mistakes and plan to divert all of my energy into being a better leader and listener to my staff and all of my commitments.

My second goal is to be sure to be a better writer and journalist before this year is over. I have written before but i plan to write significantly better and be more intertwined before this year is up.

However, my overall goal for this year is to make my advisor so proud of me that i will be remembered. I know a quote that says good guys are never remembered well i plan to overwrite that rule. I will do my best to make the entire staff proud of me and make my advisor, Mrs. Wilson, beam with delight. Knowing that there is peace in the workstation brings me relaxation and comfort.

My Self Assesment

I personally don't really understand the concepts of self-assesments because it just makes it seem like your tooting your own horn and talking highly about yourself but in all honesty i do possess a significant amount skills that contribute to the newspaper.
1. Listening Skills: I am told that I am a very good listener I do my best to evaluate a situation and i do my best to give the best advice i can. I'm labeled the school psychologist because everybody comes to me with their problems. I don't mind it because it makes me sound useful.
2. Writing Skills: When it comes to writing an essay or a speech I can writing about a page and a half in less then forty minutes and still have it be a pretty good essay. I have big insights that allow me to put all of my emotions into writing. I have never gotten lower or higher then a 3 on all of my TAKS essays and I have made Bs and/or higher in all of my High School essays.
3. Speaking Skills: I certainly know how to talk thats for sure. I placed 5th with a perfect score from a judge of 35/35 for persuasive Speaking and now I'm signing up for debate so needless to say my speaking is just fine.
4. Interpersonal Skills: I work well within a team and can either be a leader or a follower I prefer to follow because I dislike making the decisions but I'm usually thrown into being the leader in a group of misfits so there are times i need to adjust, I am extremely polite as tons of people can and will tell you, and going into depth i certainly don't beat around the bush when I speak or when i write.
5. Curiosity and Awareness: Where I come from you need to be aware of EVERYTHING!! that goes on around you , that can usually mean a life or death situation. I am a very curious person and I like to get into other peoples business and I am very aware of almost everything that goes on at school.
6. Self-direction: I certainly don't need to be pushed to do anything I already do almost everything myself. I certainly don't mind a helping hand but i can lead myself if that is what your asking.
7. Self Confidence: I got up and danced a routine with my dance partner in front of the ENTIRE school. That clearly shows I'm not shy.

The only thing that i think i could work on is my communication skills

1. Communication skills: I can communicate with others fine but going into detail with words to me is difficult. Which is why I choose to write because the words come to me because I believe paper is more patient then man. I have a hard time of catching my words i find it to be a bit more difficult then writing. Speaking is fine but getting the point across to me is a bit of a challenge.

• I need to practice my communication skills with another person who fully understands me so i can be told what I am doing wrong.
• I need to be able to catch my words and ask myself the question of what I want this person to do before I ask this person.
• I need to be able to not be so afraid of hurting other peoples feelings that is what slurs up my words when I'm trying to be constructive. 

The Top Ten Businesses the Smart Phone is Destroying

1. i certainly am not because i don't have a use for the smart phone. I will continue too buy mp3 players because i don't like listening to music on my phone because a phone is a communication device not a music system. I also plan to use remote controls, PCs, video games, and digital cameras just the same because i don't see the need for a smart phone because what happens if your smart phone breaks you lose EVERYTHING.

2. Like I previously stated if your smart phone breaks you lose everything, not just your phone you lose your mp3, camera, GPS, PDA, etc. Which is why i think it is better to have a bunch of other things.

3. It makes everything more manageable and people can use their time more efficiently.

4. My time i think the greatest invention would be the Internet.

5. Yes i am pretty sure that smart phones will eventually run PCs into the ground and become the number one Internet provider. No, I will continue to use a PC until its absolutely necessary for me to get a smart phone.

6. I do use my computer for everything because it helps run my life however it is a little scary that something as small as a smart phone can run peoples lives with a push of a button.  

I think this cartoon has the straightforwardness of an extremely curious child. However, i do feel there is a hint of sarcasm hidden deep within. The cartoon draws in the audience through coloring, texture. The characters are believable and standout. Personally,  i consider this to be a very good cartoon. I also like the fact it honors veterans day. I feel it is our duty to honor our soldiers and war veterans that have continuously kept us safe from harm.

Tips for better picture taking

It is really easy for me to be a picture director because i know what it is that i want and I know how to get things accomplished so putting things together comes easy to me. I also tend to get on the same degree as my subject so getting them to look me in the eye is easy also. Using the flash comes natural to me also because it is almost always necessary to use the flash whether you are taking pictures in the dark or in a really bright sun. Taking close ranged pictures is mediocre for me because i like giving my subject their own personal space so it doesn't feel like i am suffocating them. Taking vertical pictures is another unorthodox thing for me. I usually take lanscape pictures but using portrait is differently and kind of out of my comfort zone. Moving from the middle and using plain backgrounds is something that i need to fix. I like having my subject be the center of attention and making sure that everybody is looking at them. However, I don't want the background to be "too" plain otherwise the picture looks like this person is "posed". The only main difference between the photos on the link and the photo's in the newspaper is that the photo's in the link are posed.