Multimedia Packet Featured on New York Times

The New York Times recently posted a story on public transportation on the New York City subway system called The Curious World of the Last Stop.

Even though the story was well written, what truly made a difference to the story, especially for a reader who is not familiar with New York's subway system, was the addition of a multimedia packet. 

The packet is an interactive tour of the stops on the New York City subway.  Each image lets the reader explore in detail the different stops found on the subway.  

As the mouse drags over the image, it shifts from grayscale into beautiful and vivid colors.  

The packet also gives you the option of placing the images along a map, to visually enhance the understanding of the various routes.

Please visit this beautiful and practical example of a multimedia package: Going to the End of the Line.  

Creating a Slide Show Utilizing Flickr

As I was glancing over some of the other blogs, I notice that some of you guys had problems setting up a slide show on your blog.  Don't worry, it took me about three hours to set up all my images.

Through Flickr you can upload your images for family and friends to see, add comments and edit your images.

Utilizing Flickr, there are two types of slideshows you can create:  One can be a gadget on your side bar, and the other can be inserted into a post.

For the first slideshow, set up all your images in a folder on your desktop, and then retrieve them through Flickr.  

After uploading and finalizing all your images, return to your blog.  

From there go to  the "Layout" tab, select a "Gadget", choose "Slideshow", select Flickr as the source, click user under option and then type in your username.  

If your slideshow does not appear, then go back to Flickr, and make sure that your page has an official web address.  This can be done by visiting your Flickr home-page, where you will find an option to create your web address for your account.

However, if you want your slideshow to appear in your post, the best thing to do is to create an account on Flickr and use their slideshow format.  

Once your account has been created, go to your "Photostream" page which you will find under the "You" tab.  On the far right hand corner you will see an icon for slideshow.  

Once your slideshow has come up, click on the tab located on the right hand side that says "Share".  

Then copy the HTML address that is listed and copy it into your post.  Make sure that your post is under the HTML format and not under the compose format.  

You may then publish your blog post and voila, you now have your own slideshow.

My trip to Germany

Expected Outcome for South Florida’s New Voting System

The approaching due date for the general election is only six weeks away, and while some public officials are confident in their new ballot system, others are watchful of potential problems that could once again put South Florida under the watchful eye of the nation as they await the results of the presidential election.

During the first countywide primary election with the newly implemented equipment, officials hoped to test for any problems that might arise, however, even with a low turnout of voters, several of the scanning machines in various locations brought on new problems.

Due to technical difficulties in the electronic transmittal of the precincts’ scanning machines, and the rejection of ballots with perforated stubs, Broward County took a total of 21 hours to collect and tally their precinct’s results.

“Fortunately for our department we had no problems during the primary elections,” Assistant Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Christina White said. “And we should not have any problems since our ballots don’t have any perforations on them.”

Originally, all machines in South Florida consisted of the newest technology in touch screen computer equipment. Following the 2000 presidential election, however, voter confidence took a dramatic toll, when an accurate recount of votes was impossible to attain electronically.

November’s anticipated high attendance during the upcoming presidential election, will be the true test of Florida’s newly mandated optical scanning equipment.

“We have 1.1 million voters in our county,” White said. “We are expecting an 80 percent voter turnout including absentee ballots, which is about the same turnout as in the 2004 elections.”

The new ballots are based on a paper optical scanning voting system, implemented to increase voter confidence by providing a voter verifiable paper trail.

“I do think that this system will increase voter confidence, since it is a blended system in which the votes are captured on paper and then transmitted electronically,” White said. “After the elections when we have an audit or a re-count, we can go back and count the votes on the original paper ballots.”

While Broward County officials have assured the public that the various kinks in transmittal and software problems have been worked out, they did not respond for further comments. The public however, is voicing new concerns.

“I’m not worried about the new voting system, but I am worried about not getting enough quality poll workers for the general election,” Miami-Dade Election Reform Coalition President Sandy Wayland said. “The new system requires twice the amount of poll workers.”

Poll workers, now have the additional duty of guiding voters through the process of feeding their ballot through the electronic scanning system. And if a vote is for some reason rejected, workers have to place the ballot in an emergency locked box and re-attempt to scan them later in the day.

The Miami-Dade Election Reform Coalition went as far as to partner with the University of Miami in a project meant to alleviate this specific problem.

“The University of Miami actually partnered with us in a potential poll worker project, to give employees a paid day off of work to volunteer as poll workers,” Wayland said. “The University of Miami happens to be the biggest private employer of Miami-Dade County.”

For voters new to the updated system, the voting process, consisting of a bubble sheet-like scantron, should be nothing out of the extraordinary.

“The difference between this system is the technology…these new ballots you bubble in just like a scantron sheet,” White said

After bubbling in their selection, the voter inserts the paper ballot into the optical scanning unit, which automatically scans and tabulates the results.

“There was nothing to it,” South Miami resident David Brummer said after attending the primary election.

In order to ensure a flawless outcome of the 2008 primaries in their county, Miami-Dade has undergone various projects of re-training their poll workers and re-educating voters.

“In order to re-educate our voters we are sending out sample ballots in the mail. Every household should have a sample ballot by October 17,” White said. “The sample ballot will have all the questions that will appear on any given ballot depending on the district. This way the voter can make an informed decision.”

To avoid long lines and other potential problems, White suggests taking advantage of early voting or the possibility of requesting an absentee ballot.

“Voters should definitely attend early voting to avoid waiting for long periods of time. We have spread it out in the course of an entire week, and voters may also attend any site during early voting which does not have to be the one they registered under,” White said. “You can also request an absentee ballot. You are not required to give a reason to request an absentee ballot and this way you can do it from home.”

Despite much critique of both fearful voters and public officials, the unanimous response is the positive increase in expected voter confidence.

“Due to the fact that you have it on paper, I definitely think that the paper-based system is going to increase our trust,” Wayland said. “I am confident in the new system.”

Hotel Bombing in Pakistan Re-Write

After following the New York Time's on-line version of what transpired during the hotel bombing in Pakistan, I have re written the story, using a compilation of the final facts as the story progressed over the period of three days. 

Death Count in Pakistan Hotel Bombing Rises to 53

Just a few hundred yards from the prime minister's house, where all the leaders of government had gathered during a dinner following the president's address to parliament, a bomb exploded at the entrance to the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad on Saturday evening.

The bomb originated from a large truck located by the entrance of the hotel.  The blast, which has been considered as one of the worst acts of terrorism in Pakistan's history, left a 40 feet wide crater, killing at least 53 people and wounding at least 266, as stated by the acting interior minister.

The hotel,  a favorite meeting place for both foreigners and well-connected Pakistanis, was quickly engulfed in flames following the attack.

Among the counted dead, were the Czech ambassador, two American citizens and a Vietnamese woman.  Eleven other foreigners were also injured.

The bast of the bomb, buried security guards under mounds of rubble, and left cars and trees charred and mangled across the street.  The blast also caused windows of buildings hundreds of yards away to shatter.

The bombing may have been timed for the day that the President Asif Ali Zardari made his first address to parliament since his election two weeks ago.  Mr. Zardari, whose wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, was assassinated in december by a suicide bomber, vowed in his speech to root out extremism and stop terrorists from utilizing Pakistani soil to attack other countries.

As reported by The Associated Press of Pakistan, both he and the prime minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, condemned the attack and repeated their determination to deal with terrorism with an iron hand.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but pakistani analysts say that the bombing may have been in retaliation for recent army operations that have reportedly killed scores of militants in the tribal area of Bajaur, near the border with Afghanistan, and the adjacent area of Swat.

The Islamabad Marriott has been attacked by militants at least twice i the past, including a suicide attack in January 2007 that killed a policeman.  

What are Blogs?

A relatively recent phenomenon, blogs are considered the ultimate outlet for free expression.

The term "blog" stands for web log also known as a personal web site, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video.  Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order.

Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries.  So the question is if Blogging can be considered a form of journalism?

According to James Foust, the author of Online Journalism, blogs represent the true promise of the internet, allowing millions of voices to be heard on a nearly infinite array of topics.  

For independent bloggers, there are no gatekeepers.

Thus, blogs have the potential of modeling what journalism will resemble generations from now.  It will be a marketplace for ideas, unfiltered by media corporations and editors.

Bombing at Hotel in Pakistan Kills at Least 40 Update 3

Another key element in analyzing online articles, is the placement they receive on the featured page, since it is a technique from which the viewer or user is able to recognize the importance of the article.

The featured article on the hotel bombing, which was taken from the home page of the NY Times, was originally the top article. It was given a larger space on the web page, along with a photograph and a larger excerpt of the article.

At this moment however, the importance of this news story on the home-page has slipped down to spots, and is nothing more but a small headline and by-line underneath the newest two top stories.

Bombing at Hotel in Pakistan Kills at Least 40 Update 2

With this new updated, the news update of the article has undergone a drastic change.  A change so large, that the headline for the article now reads: "Bombing at Hotel in Pakistan Kills at Least 53"

Whereas the first graph of the first story read:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A huge truck bomb exploded at the entrance to the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad on Saturday evening, killing at least 40 people and wounding at least 250, the police said.

The first graph in the updated version of the article reads:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A huge truck bomb exploded at the entrance to the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad on Saturday evening, killing at least 53 people and wounding at least 266, according to the acting interior minister.

Thus, even though the graphs are almost exactly phrased the same, the content has changed, in which the numbers of people dead and wounded have been updated, and where the source of information has been changed from the police to the acting interior minister. 

Bombing at Hotel in Pakistan Kills at Least 40 Update 1

Throughout the course of the day, the main changes to the article were not just updates on the actual story, but on the page in specific and what additional sources of information it offered.

For instance, the page was updated with a live footage reel capturing the event on film and adding live interviews.  The page was also updated with a map of the location of the hotel and where the bombing occurred, as well as links to related articles.

A multimedia package of photographs capturing the event was also added, in which new photographs were added through the course of the day. 

Bombing at Hotel in Pakistan Kills at Least 40

Over the next several posts, I'll be monitoring and analyzing how an online story (this one in specific) is updated throughout the course of two days. My story is a news story following the Bombing of a hotel that occurred in Pakistan on Saturday evening.

As of September 21, 2008 in the morning, this is how the story read:

September 21, 2008
Bombing at Hotel in Pakistan Kills at Least 40

By CARLOTTA GALL
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A huge truck bomb exploded at the entrance to the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad on Saturday evening, killing at least 40 people and wounding at least 250, the police said.

The blast, one of the worst acts of terrorism in Pakistan’s history, went off just a few hundred yards from the prime minister’s house, where all the leaders of government were dining after the president’s address to Parliament.

The toll was expected to grow because of reports that people had been trapped inside the six-story hotel, which has been a favorite meeting spot of both foreigners and well-connected Pakistanis in the heart of the capital. The building was quickly engulfed in flames and continued to burn for hours Saturday night.

The bomb left a vast crater, 40 feet wide and 25 feet deep, at the security barrier to the hotel. Witnesses said security guards were buried under a mound of rubble. Cars across the street from the hotel were mangled, and trees on the street were charred and stripped of their branches. The blast shattered windows in buildings hundreds of yards away.

Witnesses said they dragged dozens of bodies from the lobby of the hotel and an adjacent parking lot, including those of a number of foreigners. Sean McCormack, a spokesman for the State Department, issued a statement saying at least one American citizen was killed and several others were injured.

The bombing was the deadliest to take place in the well-guarded capital and may have been timed for the day that President Asif Ali Zardari made his first address to Parliament since his election two weeks ago. Mr. Zardari, whose wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, was assassinated in December by a suicide bomber, vowed in his speech to root out extremism and to stop terrorists from using Pakistani soil to attack other countries.

Both he and the prime minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, condemned the attack and repeated their determination to deal with terrorism with an iron hand, the state news agency, The Associated Press of Pakistan, reported.

On national television late Sunday, Mr. Zardari said most of the victims had been security guards at the entrance to the hotel. “These are not the acts of a Muslim,” he said. “We will get rid of this terrorism cancer.”

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. But Pakistani analysts said the bombing may have been in retaliation for recent army operations that have reportedly killed scores of militants in the tribal area of Bajaur, near the border with Afghanistan, and the adjacent area of Swat.

An American intelligence official said the attack “bears all the hallmarks of a terrorist operation carried out by Al Qaeda or its associates.”

The tribal areas have become a safe haven for insurgents linked to Al Qaeda and the Taliban, whose attacks on targets in Pakistan have become increasingly frequent and lethal. Coming after a bombing this year at another gathering spot for foreigners, the Serena Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, the Marriott attack seemed intended to send a message to Washington and other allies of Pakistan.

Despite the tough talk by the president and prime minister, it was unclear what kind of response the government would mount. Pakistan has been in a state of political turmoil for months, and from the American perspective at least, the new civilian government has so far shown little interest in pursuing a campaign against the militants.

President Bush denounced the attack on Saturday. “I strongly condemn the terrorist bombing in Islamabad that targeted and killed many innocents,” he said.

The Islamabad Marriott has been attacked by militants at least twice in the past, including in a suicide attack in January 2007 that killed a policeman. A senior police official, Ashfaq Ahmed Khan, said initial reports suggested that an explosives-laden dump truck had been detonated near the entrance.

“The Marriott is an icon,” said Abdullah Riar, a former aide to Mrs. Bhutto. “It’s like the twin towers of Pakistan. It’s a symbolic place in the capital of the country, and now it has melted down.”

One wounded American who works at the embassy here said he was unlocking his car when the bomb exploded. The American, who gave only his first name, Chris, had injuries to his face, neck and shoulder, and was holding a bloody T-shirt to his face.

American Embassy personnel members at the scene said they had come to help American citizens caught in the blast.

Amjad Ali Khan, a guard on duty at a side entrance to the hotel, said that he had seen four to five bodies in the hotel parking lot and that he helped carry out 40 bodies from inside the hotel. He said they had been “in the lobby and in the restaurant and everywhere.”

“There were very few people injured,” he said. “They were all dead.”

When asked who he thought was responsible for the blast, he responded, “They are terrorists.”

The Interior Ministry had warned several days ago that it had information that four or five suicide bombers had been dispatched on missions around the country. The government enforced tight security during the president’s 3 p.m. address, posting Army Rangers and police officers in rings around the Parliament and government buildings.

The Marriott is nearby, but security may have been reduced after the speech and ahead of the evening meal, when Muslims break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan. The bomb exploded at 8 p.m., when many Pakistanis were inside the banquet hall at the back of the hotel.

Asmatullah Marvat, a paramedic for the Capital Development Authority, said rescue workers had taken 70 to 80 people to different hospitals in the city.

Hotel workers said that they had heard a loud explosion and that the east wing of the hotel was on fire. “I was inside the Marquee Hall,” said a man who identified himself as Kaleem. “It was iftar time. All of a sudden there was a massive explosion. The roofs collapsed, and we ran out the back.”

Zahid Ahmed, a businessman who rushed to the blast site from a nearby neighborhood, was standing near the wreckage of mangled cars across the road. “I saw dozens of casualties,” he said. “People were trying to help but it was such a depressing sight that I cannot describe it”, he added, with moist eyes and shaking his head.The Islamabad police asked the army to assist in the rescue work.

The F.B.I. offered to send special agents to help investigate, said a senior American official, who declined to be identified because of the nature of the matter. The F.B.I. is awaiting approval from the Pakistani government, the official said.

Reporting was contributed by Salman Masood from Islamabad, Jane Perlez from London and Eric Schmitt from Washington.

The new studio at the Miami Herald

A Tour of the Miami Herald

When students registered for their on-line journalism class, the last thing on their mind was that they would have the opportunity to learn from one of the Miami Herald's very own, not to mention a private tour and class at the Miami Herald building.

The eight students who took advantage of stepping into the Miami Herald, were greeted  by Rick Hirsch, the managing editor of Multimedia and New Projects.

Sitting in one of the large conference rooms overlooking the Miami port, Hirsh began introducing the concept of the continuos news desk.  Nothing more than a few connecting tables surrounded by television and computer monitors, the continuos news desk provides the home-page with a ongoing updates from five to one in the morning.

Hirsch states that the busiest time on the home page is between 8 and 9 in the morning, as most arrive at their office desks and start their mornings to catch up with the most current news. 

When comparing the type of stories that are used both on-line and on the web, Hirsch describes the difficulty in not repeating yesterdays news, and if it has already been posted on the web to make sure that the printed story has some new spin or is a more detailed continuation of the previously posted story.

"What do we tell people, what did not already happen today?", Hirsch said.  "Producers replace earlier stories with more polished stories."

Prison Thriller

This video is a must see!
It is almost creepy, but so funny.

New York Time's Policy of Confidential Sources

According to the New York Times 2004 Confidential News Sources, their main concern for using anonymous sources is the trust they uphold to their readers. The New York Times is highly regarded for its trustworthiness, and their readers demand to know as much as possible about where the information is obtained. For that reason, they observe the principle of identifying their sources by name and title or, when that is not possible, to explain why they are considered authoritative, why they are speaking to them and why they have demanded confidentiality.

Unidentified sources are only to be used in situations in which the newspaper could not otherwise print the information is considered reliable and newsworthy. Anonymity should never be offered to a source, unless in the reporting of highly sensitive stories, when the reporter has sought out a source who might face legal jeopardy or loss of livelihood for speaking to them. Also, government sources who as a matter of policy do not speak for attribution, make be used anonymously as a way to make a telephone contact, get an interview or learn a fact. In such cases, the reporter should press the source to go on record with the newsworthy information that has emerged.

It is imperative that the source has first hand knowledge of the facts, and if not they must be the authorized representative of an authority, known to the reporter, who has such knowledge. Also, anonymous sources should not be used when sources that can be named are available. Anonymity should not be granted to people who are engaged in speculation or who use it as a cover for a personal or partisan attack.

Finally, sources should not be promised that they (reporters) will refrain from additional reporting or efforts to verify the information being reported, as well as seeking comments from others on the story’s subject.

Graffiti v. Advertising

Crossing the streets of New York, it’s everywhere: public and private buildings, walls, buses, trains and subways. Outdoor advertising and graffiti are both forms of artistic expression that are forced upon the public without prior consent, however only one is protected by the first amendment, while the other is punishable by law.

In 1977, city dwellers saw an average of 2,000 ads each day, in 2007 that number increased by 3,000 ads. A grand total of 5,000 ads that the consumer is forced to absorb on a daily basis. Its on the flyers, billboards, television, commercial vehicles, bus stops, street bulletins, internet, food and beverage labels, newspapers and magazines, radio, banners and the list goes on.

Outdoor advertising has become unavoidable. In urban areas commercial content is placed in our sight and into our consciousness every moment.

Over time, advertising’s dominance will become the “natural” state. Through long-term commercial saturation, it has become implicitly understood by the public that advertising has the right to own, occupy and control every inch of available space.

Graffiti on the other hand is a crude form of self-advertising, not much different from the billboards, posters and flyers that litter city buildings and walls. Then why is it that advertising is viewed as a legal business but graffiti as an illegal form of vandalism?

Paid advertising is considered a legal form of artistic and consumer friendly marketing. It is also considered a form of artistic expression, protected by the first amendment.

Graffiti painting done without the property owner's consent, can be considered vandalism and obstruction to private property. In the U.S. Graffiti is considered up to a fourth degree felony, punishable by a maximum of 163 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine.

Keith Haring, one of the first leading graffiti artists for instance, began his graffiti career using a legal form of self-advertising by placing posters of his uniquely drawn figures and characters in public places. However, as he began drawing directly on subway walls and transit posters, his art under the eye of the authorities altered into a form of vandalism. Only because of the uniqueness of his drawings, were they shown in galleries, published in books and eventually considered “legitimate”.

As the consumer we don’t ask to be subjugated under advertising or graffiti in such a grand scale. However, to the artist, graffiti is in fact no more than an expression of the human spirit; an art in one of its most liberal and expressive forms, and like any other form of art it should be protected by the first amendment.

Both are forced upon us on a daily basis without prior consent, yet advertisers are free from legal restrictions and repercussions.

Thus if one is allowed to freely advertise, then there should be public areas to freely express oneself no matter what form used. Moreover, if freedom of expression under the first amendment protects advertisers why should it neglect to protect modern day graffiti artists? Yet, the individual remains exposed to punishment, while commercial and corporate America remains shielded.

No voice should be silenced!

Have you heard of Product (RED)?

(RED) was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver, Chairman of DATA to raise awareness and money for The Global Fund by teaming up with the world's most iconic brands to produce (PRODUCT)RED branded products. A percentage of these products is then given to the Global Fund.

The Global Fund is an innovative partnership of governments, non-profit organizations, and the private sector, working together to rid the world of AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. Its sole purpose is to raise funds and make grants to countries, organizations and communities that urgently need financial help to allow them to respond to these epidemics.

What is the meaning of the parentheses or brackets?

Well, they call them "the embrace." Each company that becomes (RED) places its logo in this embrace and is then elevated to the power of red.

Thus the name -- (PRODUCT)RED.

What is Hip Hop?

First and above all hip-hop is a form or style of art. It is closely entwined within this era, where everything urban is fashionable.

Hip-hop is more than just a gritty and evoking form of music, it is a lifestyle and a representation of a culture screaming to be heard. From the form of dress, style of dance, and above all music; hip-hop is its own sub culture.

Hip-hop is often believed to be the evolved descendant to the music of African slaves in the United States. A tradition within this culture, passed down for many generations. A closer ancestor to this style of music would be that of Jazz, a form of music closely linked to a time period of atrocities and pains in racist America.

Early hip hop has often been credited with helping to reduce inner-city gang violence by replacing physical violence with hip hop battles of dance and artwork. However, with the emergence of commercial and crime-related rap, an emphasis on violence was incorporated, with many rappers boasting about drugs, weapons, misogyny, and violence.

While hip-hop has indeed deep African roots, it has evolved into it’s own subculture, belonging to a younger, grittier, tougher, and lower class population. Even though it first belonged to an all black culture, it has further evolved to include all cultures, whether it be Latino, White, African or even Asian.

What is Rhetoric?

Originally derived from the Greek language, rhetoric is one of the three original liberal arts. Having undergone various transitions in its 2500-year history, today it is defined as the study of effective speaking and writing; also known as the art of persuasion.

According to Aristotle, rhetoric is “the ability, in each particular case, to see the available means of persuasion”. He further lists three rhetorical appeals, also known as the three main forms of rhetoric: Ethos, Logos, and Pathos.

Ethos is appeal based on the character of the speaker, thus the document relies highly on the reputation of the speaker or author. In a way it describes the audience’s perception of the authors credibility and authority.

Logos on the other hand is appeal based on logic or reason. Its true effect on the audience stems from the fact that a logical argument convinces its audience due to the perceived merit and reasonableness of the claims and proof offered in support of the overall thesis, rather than the emotions it produces on the audience, or because of the speaker’s credentials.

Ultimately, Pathos is an argument based on emotion, playing on the audience’s sympathy, fears, and desires. It appeals to the audience’s sense of identity, their self-interest, and their emotions. Most commonly used in advertising, the consumer is swayed through the emotional messages within the context of the ad.

Thus each of the three appeals of rhetoric should be used in context to its audience and how best to persuade them.

The UM Bookstore

On a sunny afternoon, life outside the bookstore is noisy and swamped with students crowding the hallways to get to their next class or heading to the food court for a quick bite to eat. While some excuse themselves, others absentmindedly push through the crowd, holding an intense conversation over their cell phone.

For those who step through the doors of the University of Miami Bookstore, the deafening noise of student chatter abruptly ceases and is replaced with a friendly greeting a breeze of cool air and soft background music.

Even though it is officially called a bookstore, the bottom half of the store is solely dedicated to the display of UM labeled apparel and knick-knacks.

“I like to buy clothes like sweatshirts and t-shirts and stuff like that, oh and I guess books too, more clothes though,” sophomore Julie Schollenberger said. “But I expect a college bookstore to have clothes in it.”

The bookstore is home to a vast amount of supplies, from books, clothing, art and stationary supplies to iPod accessories, soft ware packages, XBOX and PlayStation games. Textbooks are not the only books sold, there are a vast amount of shelves displaying magazines and books of leisure commonly found at any bookstore.

But not all days at the bookstore are this peaceful. During the beginning and end of each semester, the bookstore is filled with noisy students and parents, and a dozens of working cashiers and sales personnel.

“The first three weeks of the semester are the worst,” senior and employee Lauren Vandepas said. “During the first two weeks everyone comes in to buy their books and during the third week every one comes back to return some of their books.”

Aside from students, the bookstore’s key customers include the student’s parents.

“Most of the customers that we see are parents buying books for their kids,” junior and cashier Ima Altidor said. “You have two extremes, the parents that are apathetic and those that are bursting with excitement. Also, books are expensive and most kids don’t have well paying jobs.”

For students looking for a job, the bookstore offers flexible hours and hands on experience with customer service.

“It’s all right I guess, but its got flexible hours,” Altidor said. “You have to deal with customers who are rude at times. I remember one girl who walked up to the register talking on her cell phone about things her and her boyfriend did, she ignored me and kept talking.”

The bookstore is open year round Monday through Saturday.

Intro to On-Line Journalism

What is on-line journalism?  No, it's not an on-line class on journalism, but the development of a combination of tools used to expand the way journalism is presented.

It is the use of a new use of media, unlike the traditional formats that included newspaper, radio and television.  

Today, on-line journalism is a form of multimedia which utilizes all three traditional formats to distribute information through the world wide web.