Reporting: 327

x

2007-02-05T10:54:00.000-06:00

Business Final

2006-12-13T14:24:00.000-06:00

Regardless of their tale of woe, Michelle Bernard, never judges the people asking for assistance from the Oshkosh Salvation Army. Foot traffic is increasing at the organization people. For the unemployed person more time is required to find a job. For the employed worker, the paycheck is stretched thin.

Recent unemployment figures confirm workers concern about the economy.

The unemployment rate for city of Oshkosh is 4.2 percent, according to Roberta Gassman, secretary, of the state of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. The October 2006 Labor Force Summary report was released on Nov. 22, indicating a slight rise in the unemployment rate. Last year the unemployment rate was 4.1 percent. Employment projections are rising for skilled laborers. However those workers without specialized skills are struggling to find employment.

“Most of the state's largest metropolitan areas added jobs in October, and the majority of Wisconsin counties saw lower unemployment rates,” she said. “We will continue our focus on growing economic and labor market opportunities, particularly in those areas of the state which continue to have challenges.”

For Oshkosh job seekers and workers, the over all job market remains disappointing. Both the employed and unemployed are anxious about their finances. Some people still need help to survive until their next paycheck, Bernard said, business manager of Oshkosh Salvation Army. Bernard gives them food from the pantry. She offers them voucher to pay their rent, electric or gas bills.

And, when needed, Bernard doles out friendly advice.

“I know a drug user right away,” she said. “I tell him that he can pay his bills if he stopped using those drugs.”

Bernard has been working for the Salvation Army for 11 years. She applied for the business manager and caseworker position after a stressful career as a registered nurse. “I burned out. I couldn't do that any more,” she said.

She is happy working at the Salvation Army. Bernard feels she made the right choice. She feels her job at the Salvation Army is the calling for her life.

Unlike Winnebago County Human Services, the Salvation Army does ask people to document or prove financial hardship. The Salvation Army will offer assistance to individuals or families in need.

“The biggest problems were seeing is that grandparents are taking over the responsibilities of raising their grandchildren,” she said.

The young mother becomes frustrated with full-time parenting. She either leaves the children with grandparents or she is declared unfit by Human Service. The grandparents accept the burden of becoming the primary provider.

The extra expense of raising the grandchildren adds to the household budget. And, Bernard is more than willing to offer vouchers and food from the Salvation Army.

For Christmas, the Salvation Army is seeing an increase in the number of families looking for help. So far 420 families have placed their names on a Christmas list. Last year, only 372 names were only the list. Bernard expects more people will sign up for the Toys for Tots program.

Winnebago County Human Services numbers indicate an upswing in families needing assistance as well. More people are applying for the Food Share Programs. Kristi Clover is one the two new hires on the 15-member staff. Clover has completed her three-month training, and she has been assigned three cases.

“I've started to meet my clients,” Clover said. “I hope they (the clients) come to see me as someone they can trust. I want them to see me as someone resourceful.”

Clover said her supervisor checks over her cases to ensure no mistakes are made with the clients. The goal is to offer services until the person can become financially independent again.

For most programs public assistance has a two-year window for services. During those two years, public aid recipients are required to get new skills and look for jobs. For many the job market is disappointing.

The Winnebago County job market is bleak for many people. Bob, who refuse to give his last name, said he has been looking for work since March. He is smoking outside the building at the Winnebago County Job Center, taking a break from the computer where he was perusing the Help Wanted advertisements.

“I thought I had a job. But someone took it.” he said. “She didn't even need the job. She already had one.” He had found a job working with a landscaping company.

However, many job placement services insist employment is available. Michelle Schmid of Seek Careers/Staffing said people lack the skills to fill most jobs.

“There are more jobs for the skilled and the educated worker,” Schmid said.

Employers are snapping up graduates from the technical schools. Welders, computer users, craftsmen for door makers and break press operators are in demand. The unskilled jobs, Schmid said, are moving overseas. The labor market is shifting from unskilled blue collar workforce to a job market rewarding people with specialize skills.

Business Article - Final

2006-12-13T13:59:00.000-06:00

With consumers continuing last year’s trend of more shopping online and at department stores, small-town specialty shops struggle to keep the business they rely on during the holiday season.

Department stores are continuing to see growth this holiday season. In a deloitte.com survey, 74 percent said they would do their holiday shopping at a discount department store, versus 42 percent in 2005.

The Lowell Sun reports that it is estimated that online holiday shopping will total $20 billion to $30 billion this year and this year’s purchases will increase 20 percent from last year.

Jon Krasselt, Assistant Manager at Nutrition Discount Center in Oshkosh said that after Thanksgiving, sales usually go up due in part to the fact that they have special sales to entice customers. “We have fresh sales weekly during the Christmas season, with bigger discounts and better savings,” he said.

While many customers have already gotten much of their Christmas shopping done, some are just beginning.

“Very few things are worth getting up at 4 a.m. only to get crushed by crazy people,” said Nutrition Discount Center customer Andrea Smith, 22, who doesn’t join the millions of other shoppers the day after Thanksgiving.

“I used to shop then (after Thanksgiving), but I’m to old now,” chuckled Diane Schmirhoff, 62, The Exclusive Company customer. Schmirhoff said she does most of her shopping online because there are great discounts and you can find nearly anything.

Despite online competition, The Exclusive Company, located at 416 N. Main St. in Oshkosh, has already begun to see an increase in sales this season.

“We don’t have any special sales, but we do increase our advertising,” said The Exclusive Company Assistant Manager Kate Rogers. “I’ve worked here for six years, and every year our sales increase around Christmas time.”

Retailers can expect their increased sales to continue, as the busiest shopping day of the year is yet to come, Sunday, Dec. 23.

Business Article Final

2006-12-13T12:43:00.000-06:00

The three big retail stores in Oshkosh, Wal-Mart, Target and ShopKo have had steady business this holiday season, despite a recent indicator that shoppers prefer department stores over discount stores.

The holiday shopping season kicked off the day after Thanksgiving, otherwise known as Black Friday which has traditionally been known as the busiest shopping day of the season.

Wal-Mart saw a heavy rush of people right away when their doors opened at 5 a.m. on Black Friday.

“It was pretty nuts,” said Justin Ott, assistant manager of the Oshkosh Wal-Mart. “We had limited quantities of certain items and they went fast.”

Both Target and ShopKo also saw a similar horde of customers early on. “It was very crazy. The first three hours ran in a full stampede and then tapered off,” said Mark Kotarek, an ETL Softlines employee at the Oshkosh Target.

All three stores are in agreement that the top sellers of the season are the new anniversary Tickle Me Elmo, called the TMX Elmo, the Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii.

“Anything electronic is hot this season and especially Playstation 3 and the Wii are flying off the shelves and are hard to keep in stock.” Ott says.

A new trend that has been noticed by workers at Target indicates that “more and more people are buying gift cards,” Kotarek said. “This gives us a lot of work after the holiday season.”

This holiday season, discount stores may find that they have competition in the form of department stores.

“Department stores this season are acting like discounters, rolling back items that you typically never see through the year be discounted that much,” said Kathy Grannis, spokeswoman for the National Retail Federation.

C. Britt Beemer, chairman and founder of America’s Research Group, said that the research that he has found indicates that Wal-Mart, in particular, continues to be popular but says that the problem may be that Wal-Mart isn’t making much money off those shoppers.

“You may walk into a store and buy four toys and spend $48, but it’s not like someone walking into Target and buying two outfits and spending $90,” Beemer said.

In Oshkosh, department stores are few and far between, JC Penny being an exception. However, many residents may be taking advantage of the stores available in the Appleton area, which not only include JC Penny but also Kohl’s and Macy’s.

“I’d rather go shopping in Appleton,” Oshkosh resident, Sami Jo Dock, 20, said. “They have more to offer with the different stores and the different variety.” Time will tell if others in Oshkosh think like Dock.

“We’ve had a steady stream of business since the day after Thanksgiving,” said Eric Rathsack, store manager of the Oshkosh ShopKo.

With over two weeks left until Christmas, Oshkosh shoppers may very well disprove initial indicators this holiday season and rule over department stores.

Final Article

2006-12-13T12:03:00.000-06:00

With stores like Target and Wal-Mart located in almost every city of every state, 1,300 stores and 3,800 stores respectively, it’s hard for smaller retailers to compete in such a large arena.

With only 135 stores scattered around the Midwest, Colorado and California, ShopKo has done something they haven’t in almost five years, advertise on the radio and television.

“I’ve seen the commercial on channels 2, 5 and a lot on Fox and I also heard it on 1.101 WIXX,” said Amanda Begrow, apparel merchandise manager. “Basically any radio station out of Green Bay or the Fox Valley.”

The ads are geared more towards the family setting especially targeting the mother, said Begrow. Compared to Target which shows trendiness and Wal-Mart’s price cutting, she added.

ShopKo’s new advertising helped ShopKo make the Friday after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, one of their biggest days of the year. The sales for the Oshkosh store was up 24 percent from last year, said Begrow and corporate sales were also up, somewhere in the double digits.

Black Friday’s door buster sales were promoted in the newspaper and on the radio, unlike Target and Wal-Mart who didn’t advertise any Black Friday sales, Begrow said.

“Our ads were the biggest around here,” Begrow said.

Holiday advertisements are the key item bringing customers into stores, according to the National Retail Federation. One-third of shoppers were influenced by coupons and newspapers inserts. Direct mailers and advertisements on national networks also influenced consumers. According to a survey conducted by the National Retail Federation, women are influenced more by coupons and men pay more attention to radio advertisements.

As more people are completing their Christmas shopping, ShopKo will be having more one day sales, along with door busters and register to win, said Janie Keesler, customer service manager.

“We offer good quality ads that feature a wide variety of products at good prices,” Keesler said. Although ShopKo is running out of home appliances and trimmery sooner than expected which worried Keesler as losing some of that business. But she doesn’t think that will affect ShopKo’s sales too dramatically.

Both Begrow and Keesler believe that ShopKo’s biggest draw for shoppers this holiday season is their customer service and clean environment.

“We have a cleaner store, wider aisles and great customer service than other stores, that will bring customers into our store this holiday season,” said Keesler.

One customer who heard ShopKo’s radio ads was Lisa Berndt, who started out shopping for herself but aimed at getting Christmas presents for friends and family.

“I heard about the Christmas sales on the radio,” Berndt said. “I also like the lay-out of the store and the employees are great and always friendly.”

Another customer, Chris Schoenberger, saw ShopKo’s sales in the paper and wanted to get a deal on Christmas ornaments.

“ShopKo has really nice prices and nice things to choose from,” she said.

It’s harder for ShopKo to compete with the bigger retails chains since it’s privately owned, Begrow said. ShopKo wants to change its image to being a newer, hipper store, and its’ hard to do that since ShopKo isn’t very big (chain wise) and they don’t have the money for it, she said. But we’re doing better than we expected, Begrow added.

Kate's final business article

2006-12-13T11:54:00.000-06:00

Kate – Local businesses also benefit from the holidays

Naomi Weaver was on a mission to find the perfect Christmas gift for her friend over the weekend. When she walked inside Soiree Urban Gifts, she picked through peppermint and tea flower soy candles and green retro wristwatches.

“I like the diversity this store offers,” said Weaver, 24, of Oshkosh. “I can’t find unique items like these at Target or Wal-Mart.”

Soiree Urban Gifts, specializing in one of a kind gifts and home décor, is part of Oshkosh’s developing downtown. While many national chains and department stores raked in great profits since Thanksgiving, local businesses have also benefited from the holidays.

Kim Brey, co-owner of Soiree Urban Gifts at 421 N. Main St., said her store “benefits just as much as anybody else; just on a smaller scale.”

Despite fears that the economy will suffer due to weakness in the real estate market, shoppers are still spending at nearly the same rates as previous years. Chain store sales were up 3.2 percent in the first four weeks of November compared to a year ago, according to the Johnson Redbook Index, and the National Retail Federation says that consumers will spend about $791 on gifts this year, up from $738 last year.

Brey, 29, of Oshkosh, said she hasn’t noticed people cutting their spending so far. Her store, which has been open for nearly four years, is doing better than it was last holiday season, she said.

“Economy, schm-economy,” Brey said. “I think that’s just something they scream about all the time. It hasn’t seemed to have affected us at all.”

People will shop at a variety of destinations this holiday season. Discount stores continue to be the most popular holiday shopping location, but about 48 percent of people will also be shopping at specialty stores.

Stella & Finn at 428 N. Main St. is one retailer that brings in people strolling through downtown. The business has an outdoor display telling customers to stop in and see “great holiday gift ideas.” The store sells contemporary apparel for men and women, including denim and graphic T-shirts.

Some of the more popular items this year include “I Love Oshkosh” and “Midwest Girl” T-shirts.

“We’re doing fine (this Christmas),” said Joslyn Knudsen, 27, owner of Stella & Finn. “I also try to offer different incentives to get people to shop here (such as) 10 percent off purchases.”

Her store just opened in November, but said she thinks the holidays have been bringing people downtown.

“I think people are just shopping as usual,” Knudsen said. “People are excited that the downtown may be turning a corner (and) people are making a conscious effort to shop downtown. All in all, I can’t complain.”

The American Independent Business Alliance, an organization providing resources to local retailers, maintains that by shopping locally-owned businesses, the customer’s money will stay in the community.

The AMIBA Web site says, “Not only can you find truly unique, personal gifts for loved ones, but (your money circulates) up to 3.5 times longer than if you spent it at a chain – it helps everyone.”

Brey, co-owner of Soiree Urban gifts, said by supporting “local people, we’re making the downtown part of something great again. One thing that I can say is that I feel (Soiree is) part of it.”

Weaver said she began to shop locally more often this year and plans to buy more holiday gifts from small businesses.

When she walked through Brey’s store, she eyed a mobile tabletop fireplace and a shiny vermillion vase. Bombarded with so many different items, she eventually decided on the martini shaker lamp for her sister.

“I couldn’t have found something like this anywhere else,” Weaver said. “I don’t care to spend a little extra money – it’s Christmas.”

Business Rough Draft

2006-12-13T01:13:00.000-06:00

With just over two weeks left until Christmas, the shoppers have hit the streets hard and Oshkosh’s three big retailers, Wal-Mart, Target and ShopKo are doing their best to contend with the customers.

The day after Thanksgiving, otherwise known as Black Friday, has traditionally been known as the busiest shopping day of the season.

Wal-Mart saw a heavy rush of people right away when they opened their doors at 5 a.m. on Black Friday.

"It was pretty nuts.” Assistant Manager, Justin Ott, said. “We had limited quantities of certain items and they went fast."

Both Target and ShopKo also saw a similar horde of customers early on. “It was very crazy. The first three hours ran in a full stampede and then tapered off.” Mark Kotarek, an ETL Softlines employee at Target said.

All three stores are in agreement that the top sellers of the season are the new anniversary Tickle Me Elmo, called the TMX Elmo, the Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii.

“Anything electronic is hot this season and especially Playstation 3 and the Wii are flying off the shelves and are hard to keep in stock.” Ott says.

A new trend that has been noticed by workers at Target indicates that “more and more people are buying gift cards,” Kotarek said. “This gives us a lot of work after the holiday season.”

Along with the Playstation 3, the Tickle Me Elmo and the Wii, Kotarek says that the Fisher Price Digital Camera is another hot item of the season.

business final

2006-12-12T23:18:00.000-06:00

While many people will spend their Christmas surrounded by loved ones, opening up presents containing the newest gadgets beneath a tree adorned with lights, Deb Rydz will be hoping that someone is kind enough to donate gift certificates so she can purchase new spill-proof cups for her 17-month-old daughter.
Sheltered inside what appears to be no more than a large single-family home on North Division Street, Appleton, Wis., are over fifty of the less fortunate citizens of the Fox Valley.
Though the atmosphere permeating the air at the Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley is more familial than downtrodden, the story’s of the residents tells a tale of hardship and hope. “ My daughter likes having all sorts of playmates,” Rydz said.
No matter where we are “they (the children) sill need to know that Santa Claus will be coming,” explained Jane, who has three children with her at the shelter and declined to give her last name. “They need to have that positive impact on them.”
For many of these children the gifts they will receive are only those that can be purchased with vouchers for the Salvation Army. “I really wish they could get some toys, they don’t have anything for themselves here,” Jane said, before explaining that she would most likely use the vouchers on winter clothing.
Holding baby monitors so they could be sure the kids were safe while they smoked cigarettes outside of the building, the two women shared their plans for the future. “I hope I’ll be out in January, now that I have a job,” Rydz said.
“Most of the people here are employed and just don’t have good enough credit to get housing,” added Heather Bullock, another resident of the shelter. Once you are present for enough PRIDE classes, which teach the residents fiscal responsibility and are held every morning with mandatory attendance, you get another voucher that is the equivalent for one-year’s good renter’s credit, she explained.
Bullock is one of the few who will be spending the holidays with her family. My mother-in-law is having us over for Christmas, she said.
Yet the other two women seemed less concerned with how they will celebrate the holidays than with what will follow. “When I lost my job, my first thought was how am I going to take care of my daughter,” Rydz said.
This selflessness surrounding the house reminds visitors what the true meaning of Christmas should be: giving not receiving.
“I find that I can’t give something financially, so I donate my time instead,” said a shelter volunteer. “I find it gratifying she said.
With nearly 500,000 nights of shelter provided statewide in 2004 and nearly 700,000 provided in 2005, with similar numbers expected in 2006, the need for volunteers is not diminishing, nor are the stories heard here singular.
However, help may be most likely to come from those who, in many ways, are the least able to give it. “This is my second time here in the last five years. If I had a job and could find time to volunteer, I definitely would,” Rydz said.
“There are a lot of things more important than iPods,” Jane said.

Business Article Rough Draft

2006-12-11T12:40:00.000-06:00

business article

2006-12-11T12:32:00.000-06:00

Kate – Local businesses also benefit from the holidays

Naomi Weaver was on a mission to find the perfect Christmas gift for her friend over the weekend. When she walked inside Soiree Urban Gifts, she picked through peppermint and tea flowers soy candles and green retro wristwatches.

“I like the diversity this store offers,” said Weaver, 24, of Oshkosh. “I can’t find unique items like these at Target or Wal-Mart.”

Soiree Urban Gifts, specializing in one of a kind gifts and home décor, is part of Oshkosh’s developing downtown. While many national chains and department stores raked in great profits since Thanksgiving, local businesses have also benefited from the holidays.

Kim Brey, co-owner of Soiree Urban Gifts at 421 N. Main St., said her store “benefits just as much as anybody else just on a smaller scale.”

Despite fears that the economy will suffer due to weakness in the real estate market, shoppers are still spending at nearly the same rates as previous years. Chain store sales were up 3.2 percent in the first four weeks of November compared to a year ago, according to the Johnson Redbook Index.

The National Retail Federation reported that consumers will spend about $791 on gifts this year, up from $738 last year.

Brey, 29, of Oshkosh, said she hasn’t noticed people cutting their spending so far. Her store, which has been open for nearly four years, is doing better than it was last holiday season, she said.

“Economy, schm-economy,” Brey said. “I think that’s just something they scream about all the time. It hasn’t seemed to have affected us at all.”

A display outside Stella & Finn at 428 N. Main St. tells customers to stop in to see “great holiday gift ideas.” The store sells contemporary apparel for men and women, including denim and graphic T-shirts.

Some of the more popular items this year include “I Love Oshkosh” and “Midwest Girl” T-shirts.

“We’re doing fine (this Christmas),” said Joslyn Knudsen, 27, owner of Stella & Finn. “I also try to offer different incentives to get people to shop here (such as) 10 percent off purchases.”

Her store just opened in November, but said she thinks the holidays have been bringing people downtown.
“I think people are just shopping as usual,” Knudsen said. “People are excited that the downtown may be turning a corner (and) people are making a conscious effort to shop downtown. All in all, I can’t complain.”

When Weaver walked through Soiree Urban Gifts, she eyed a mobile tabletop fireplace and a shiny vermillion vase. Bombarded with so many different items, she eventually decided on the martini shaker lamp for her sister.

“I couldn’t have found something like this anywhere else,” Weaver said. “I don’t care to spend a little extra money – it’s Christmas.”

Feedback on Ann's Early Draft

2006-12-11T12:27:00.000-06:00

Ann's article dealt with holiday shopping, focusing in on what the competition of Wal-Mart and Target are doing. The competition being ShopKo.

First of all, the quotes are really good and totally relevant to the subject matter. All quotes support the ideas of the article. The quotes flow very well. The article also has good transition from point to point. The last sentance of the article states that ShopKo is doing better than its competition, this is also mentioned in the first paragraph. Do you have any facts to back that up? Any raw data or source that supports that idea.

I also like seeing the detail that is in the article, in the second paragraph it lists where ShopKo is located and how many stores there are. I think that perhaps it would be a beneficial to include a paragraph discussing the history of ShopKo in relation to Target and Wal-Mart, sales wise. Some statistics to illustrate past competition trends would be interesting.

There is also a mention of Black Friday. I think you should include a definintion of what Black Friday is. I know what it is but I think some readers may not.

Spelling and AP style is consitant throughout the article. I just found one glaring error in the final paragraph where it states, "ShopKo's wanted to change ..." Perhaps change it to "ShopKo wants to ..." Also, in the third to the last paragraph, it reads, "saw ShopKo's sales s in the paper and wanted..." You will want to get rid of that lone s.

Since you make a focus on radio ads, perhaps you could mention what channels and types of programming these ads are being aired.

I also think that you need the fact that ShopKo is using television and radio advertising to its advantage in the lead. So perhaps consider shuffling around the first two paragraphs.

ACTUAL ARTICLE:

With stores like Target and Wal-Mart rolling back prices, it’s hard for smaller retailers to compete in such a large arena. But one retailer that is doing better than most people expected is the Wisconsin based ShopKo.

With 135 stores scattered around the Midwest, Colorado, and California, ShopKo has done something they haven’t in almost five years, advertise on the radio and television.

The ads are geared more towards the family setting especially targeting the mother, said Amanda Begrow, apparel merchandise manager. Compared to Target which shows trendiness and Wal-Mart’s price cutting, she added.

ShopKo’s new advertising helped ShopKo make Black Friday one of their biggest days of the year. Their sales were up 24% from last year, said Begrow. Black Friday’s door buster sales were promoted in the newspaper and on the radio, unlike Target and Wal-Mart who didn’t advertise any Black Friday sales, Begrow said.

“Our ads were the biggest around here,” Begrow said.

Holiday advertisements are the key item bringing customers into stores, according to the National Retail Federation. One-third of shoppers were influenced by coupons and newspapers inserts. Direct mailers and advertisements on national networks also influenced customers. According to a survey conducted by the National Retail Federation, women are influenced more by coupons and men pay more attention to radio advertisements.

As more people are completing their Christmas shopping, ShopKo will be having more one day sales, along with door busters and register to win, said Janie Keesler, customer service manager.

“We offer good quality ads that feature a wide variety of products at good prices,” Keesler said. Although ShopKo is running out of home appliances and trimmery sooner than expected which worried Keesler as losing some of that business. But she doesn’t think that will affect ShopKo’s sales too dramatically.

Both Begrow and Keesler believe that ShopKo’s biggest draw for shoppers this holiday season is their customer service and clean environment.

“We have a cleaner store, wider aisles and great customer service than other stores, that will bring customers into our store this holiday season,” said Keesler.

One customer who heard ShopKo’s radio ads was Lisa Berndt, who started out shopping for herself but aimed at getting Christmas presents for friends and family.

“I heard about the Christmas sales on the radio.” Berndt said. “I also like the lay-out of the store and the employees are great and always friendly.”

Another customer, Chris Schoenberger, saw ShopKo’s sales s in the paper and wanted to get a deal on Christmas ornaments.

“ShopKo has really nice prices and nice things to choose from,” Schoenberger said.

It’s harder for ShopKo to compete with the bigger retails chains since it’s privately owned, Begrow said. ShopKo’s wanted to change its image to being a newer, hipper store, and its’ hard to do that since ShopKo isn’t very big (chain wise) and they don’t have the money for it, she said. But ShopKo is doing better than the competition this holiday season.

Business Examples

2006-12-11T12:15:00.000-06:00

2006 Digital Camera Sales to Rise 17%

For this article, it briefly discusses the expected growth of the digital camera business. Thety say that revenue will increase by 8% and sales of cameras will rise 17%. This article didn't really do much besides present data. It was more or less just a summary of expected market sales.

http://news.digitaltrends.com/article9728.html

Mid-season report: Stores ply shoppers with discounts.

For this article, a discussion of how many people go to the stores in search of the ultimate bargain are successful or come up empty. Several company heads and market anaylists provided information and quotes throughout the article. They said that flat screen plasmas, video game consoles, and digital cameras were in high demand.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/sns-ap-holiday-shopping,1,5865433.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

More Camera, More Style, Modest Price

This article, above all the rest, I found the most interesting. It discussed the best cameras that consumers can get for under $300. More than that, however, it broke down the differences between features and talked about the pros and cons about each camera. I thought that this was the most thorouh and interesting article to read. The lead was also humerous in that in made digital camera purchasing seem like a life-changing decision.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/07/technology/07pogue.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Black Friday Consumer Technology Sales Post Double Digit Increase But Growth Slows

In this article, I found the information that I was most seeking for my own article. It talked about how digital cameras scored a good portion of Black Friday Sales and that it increased over last year. This is information that I needed. As a whole, the article was very informative but wasn't very lively to read.

http://www.tekrati.com/research/News.asp?id=8217

Must-Have Holiday Gifts Not Easy to Find

This article, though not really focused too much on digital camerasa, mentioned briefly the difficulty of finding certain digital cameras, namely ones marketed to children this season. This bit of information gave me the tip that digital cameras are even being marketed to young ages now. The bulk of the article, however, focused more or less on other things like not being able to find Elmo dolls, etc.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-holiday-gifts-must-haves,1,2571263.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

I want to do my article on digital camera sales this year.

Final business article

2006-12-11T10:12:00.000-06:00

A war is brewing. A war that has been in the making for over 20 years. It is a war of two Japanese super powers and both sides will stop at nothing to step on their opponents throat. But this is not a political war or a governmental dispute. This is the war between Sony and Nintendo.

On the third weekend in November, the Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii were launched. The release of these consoles mark each companies first foray into the world of next-generation entertainment.

The PS3, which launched in North America on Nov. 17, offers consumers high-definition graphics, blue-tooth connectivity, Wi-Fi, and other home theater options. Sony’s goal with the PS3 is to deliver the ultimate multimedia/home theater experience in one box.

However, even with the myriad of options the PS3 encompasses, many industry analysts frown upon Sony’s chances of winning the next-gen war. This negative outlook can be attributed to the $600 price tag that comes with the PS3. However, not everyone views the steep price tag as an area of concern.

“People that want a PS3 are going to buy a PS3” says an Oshkosh Game Crazy rep. Gamers just don’t care. It’s a technically, impressive machine that, to them, is worth the cash.”

Its competition, the Nintendo Wii, launched Nov 19. Nintendo’s focus for the Wii lies not within superior visuals and multi-functionality but with innovation and the ability to have a truly immersive gaming experience. Nintendo strives to revolutionize game play by creating a system and controller unlike anything the industry has seen before, and their doing it all for only $250.

The Wiimote is the controller to the Wii and acts as an extension of the player. By using sensors inside the Wiimote, players are able to simulate real-life motions. Players can aim the Wiimote like a gun, swing it like a baseball bat and hold it over their heads like an umbrella. The Wii console recognizes these motions and makes the characters perform the same motion as the player. With the Wiimote, the possibilities are endless.

Both the Wii and PS3 faced vast amounts of initial hype. Stores across the country started to allow pre-orders uncharacteristically early. Some stores even opened up pre-order options a year in advance.

Wisconsin stores were no different, as many game retailers sold out of preorders within minutes.
“We started dealing with pre-orders a month before each consoles release,” said a Wausau Gamestop rep. “There were people waiting in line just to pre-order them. They were literally gone within an hour.”

So with these two systems each offering their own respective strengths and at such high demand, who would come out on top this holiday season?

Before the launch Sony had promised consumers 400,000 units in North America and 100,000 units geared toward the Japanese market. The company had also made promises of having one million consoles worldwide by the end of the year.

After the smoke from launch weekend cleared, it appears that Sony has come up short. While both the Japanese and American launches saw the PS3 selling out within hours of it’s release,
Sony was not able to produce the units to fill out their projected figures.

In America, Sony sold 197,000 PS3’s. This is well short of their 400,000 unit goal. Even though Sony sold out of their console behemoth across the country, the launch can not be viewed as a success. Numerous manufacturing problems kept Sony from attaining their goal. And while Sony is standing behind its promise to ship one million consoles by the end of 2006, many analysts say that such a goal is highly unlikely.

PS3 shortages have affected stores in the Oshkosh area as well, leaving many gamers to go home empty handed.

“We initially had eight PS3’s and 18 Nintendo Wii’s” said a Fond du Lac Target sales rep. “ Since the launch, we had another shipment of 18 Wii’s but only four additional PS3’s”.

Daniel Van Rooy, an associate receiver at Sears in Oshkosh, shares similar concerns.

“We only received two Nintendo Wii’s and we never got any PS3’s,” Van Rooy said. “We were suppose to get a couple of PS3’s but when the truck came there was nothing there.”

All of these problems, coupled with the initial success of the Wii, finds Sony quickly falling behind in the next-gen race.

If the initial launch figures are any indication of the final result, then Nintendo has a lot to be excited about. The Wii sold 476,00 units in the United States alone and within the first eight days of its release, Nintendo reported sales figures of 600,000 units worldwide.

Another aspect that favors the Wii are its reviews. While critics are not saying overwhelmingly bad comments on the PS3, many are finding trouble trying to justify its steep price tag. The innovation, playability and price that the Wii console brings to the table is garnering rave reviews from critics around the globe.

While Nintendo seems to be the victor thus far in the console race, it is only the beginning. Console cycles typically reach a span of four-to-five years and most consoles do not peak until the third or fourth years. So while Sony currently may be down, they are far from out.

Despite the problems Sony has faced within the last month and the ever-increasing competition from the Wii and Microsoft’s Xbox 360, they have little reason to be scared. Sony has faced many of these problems before with the Playstation 2.That console is currently on top of the sales charts and has outsold all of the next-generation offerings that have made their debuts thus far. Not bad for a console that was released over five years ago.

Feedback on Greg's Business draft

2006-12-11T08:47:00.000-06:00

It was 1 p.m. at the local Target retail store in Oshkosh. A steady flow of people walked in and out of the building. Lines are ten deep, and it hasn’t even hit the crazy part of the day.

(Are the lines ten people deep? I like beginning your story with: A steady flow of people walked in and out of the Target retail store in Oshkosh. )

(Good lead: I like the direction you’re taking. I think the lead will “pop” if you use more action words. Also just a personal preference, I don’t like starting a lead with an ambiguous pronoun “it.” If you're going to use "it," may I suggest a repetitive rhythm with two or more sentence beginning with "it.")

All signs that sales are up and local citizens are going about holiday shopping as usual.

(I would remove this sentence from your lead. I think the sentence would carry greater impact upon the reader if you allowed it stand alone in the second graph. The sentence would naturally flow to introduce your nut graph.)

Through all of the negatives that have been discussed about the U.S. economy recently, sales and shoppers attitudes haven’t been affected, for the most part. “I know the economy isn’t in the best of shape right now,” Samantha Podd, who traveled from over an hour away in Franklin, Wis., to shop in Oshkosh, said. “I haven’t been slowed down one bit. If anything I am spending more money this year than I have in the past.”

(First, the quote would stand out better if it wasn’t sandwiched between text. Second, the transition is choppy. You started talking about the economy, sales and shopping attitutes to Podd shopping, and then jumped to hot item electronics. Third,What is she buying? Was she eyeing any of the hot electronics you mentioned in the next graph? You need a transition sentence here. Fourth, what does Podd do for a living? I am not moved by her story that she is spending more money. Will her spending money force her to delay bills? Why is she spending MORE money this year compared to last year? What is going on with her? What does she look like? Does she dress like someone who spends lots of money?)

(Is this your nut graph: Through all of the negatives that have been discussed about the U.S. economy recently, sales and shoppers attitudes haven’t been affected, for the most part. The sentence in your nut graph is completely different from what you talk about in your article. You discuss hot item electronics.)

This year’s hot items are electronics. According to a recent report, retail technology sales have increased over 12 percent to more than $2 billion dollars compared to last year.

(Who wrote the retail sales report?)

Of the hottest items sold on Black Friday were flat panel television sets. LCD televisions showed almost 300 percent gross improvement from last year’s numbers on the craziest shopping day of the year.

(Very nice detail. Well written.)

Along with the increased sales of flat panel televisions, other electronics sales have increased as well. Digital cameras, gaming systems, cell phones and mp3 players have been among the top selling items this holiday season.

(Are you paraphrasing a report? Where is your attribution?)

“iPods are really hot right now,” Ryan Sanders said. “It seems like we have been selling a lot more than we have in past years.”

(Who is Ryan Sanders? Is he a shopper, an employee? What does he do for a living? Why are iPods hot right now? Why are people buying them? Are iPods more affordable? Do they have new features? Finally, starting the sentence with "iPods," where there is a small letter throws off the reader. )

(Rough transition: What is the connection between Staples and Target and iPods? Do they both have hot item electronics for sale?)

The Staples store on South Koeller Avenue had an extraordinary day of sales on Black Friday. Last year Staples hauled in around $65,000 in revenue on Black Friday, and set their goal for $67,000 this year. By 2 p.m. their goal for sales had already been met.

(Good details, here. Another rough transition: Black Friday discussion to Nathan Bartal.)

“I went into work and I asked my boss if we were busy,” Staples sales associate Nathan Bartel said. “He said ‘yes’ and that we had already sold what we were aiming for and the rest of the money we brought in that day would be icing on the cake.”

(Put the sentence in another graph. There is too much information.)

By the end of the day Staples had brought in over $77,000 in retail sales for the day, surpassing their goal by $10,000.

(This is an example of a good transition)

Although stores that deal largely with electronics are faring extremely well this holiday season some stores’ sales are down. The Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store at Prime Outlets in Oshkosh that couldn’t surge past a crazy Black Friday with lots of traffic was one of those businesses.

“Our sales are down a little bit from last year,” Manager Melissa (she wouldn’t tell me her last name, what do I do?) said. “I think it is because of location in the mall and the lack of traffic we get as opposed to our lower sales being the economy’s fault.”

(Do you really need her quote? You could use “A manager from the Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store said....... )

Some businesses sales are down from last year, but as a whole it seems sales are up around the Oshkosh area. With two weeks left until Christmas, this holiday season is shaping up to be a very good one for consumers and businesses alike.

I like the ending quote. You have given the article closure.)

As Podd said, “One thing is for sure, I am not going to change my spending habits this year. It is Christmas time and bring on the holiday cheer.”

My final comments: I think the article could be organized a little better. I'm not sure if you are writing about Black Friday and retail sales, or shopper's attitudes or shopper's attitudes on Black Friday? Also I don't think you need the Polo Ralph Lauren graph because most of your story is about electronics. I don't shop at Polo Ralph Lauren. Do they sell electronic items? Also you overuse the word "that."

Rough Business Draft

2006-12-11T07:07:00.001-06:00

Michelle Bernard, with the Oshkosh Salvation Army, has seen it all. She has heard all the sob stories before the person walks through the door. The people have lost their because of layoffs. People have been served eviction notices because they haven't paid their bills. Some people have no money after paying their bills, and they need food.

Regardless of the tale of woe, Bernard never judges the people who are in need.

Bernard gives them food from the pantry. She offers them voucher to pay their rent, electric or gas bills. And, when needed, Bernards doles out friendly advice.

“I know a drug user right away,” she said. “I tell him that he can pay his bills if he stopped using those drugs.”

Bernard has been working for the Salvation Army for 11 years. She applied for the business manager and caseworker position after a stressful career as a registered nurse. “I burned out. I couldn't do that any more,” she said.

She is happy working at the Salvation Army. Bernard feels she made the right choice. She feels her job at the Salvation Army is the calling for her life.

Unlike Winnebago County Human Services, the Salvation Army does ask people to document or prove financial hardship. Any time an individual or a family need arrives the Salvation Army will offer them assistance.

“The biggest problem were seeing is that grandparents are taking over the responsibilities of raising their grandchildren,” she said.

The mother either has become frustrated with full-time parenting and leaves the children with grandparents or she is declared unfit by Human Service, forcing the grandparents to become the primary provider.

The extra expense of raising the grandchildren adds to the household budget. And, Bernard is more than willing to offer vouchers and food from the Salvation Army.

For Christmas, the Salvation Army is seeing an increase in the number of families looking for help. So far 420 families have placed their names on a Christmas list. Last year, only 372 names were only the list. Bernard expects more people will sign up for the Toys for Tots program.

Winnebago County Human Services numbers indicate an upswing in families needing assistance. More people are applying for the Food Share Programs.

Kristi Clover is one the two new hires for Human Services. Clover has completed her three-month training, and she was recently assigned three cases.

“I've started to meet my clients,” Clover said. “I hope they (the clients) come to see me as someone they can trust. I want them to see me as someone resourceful.”

Clover said her supervisor checks over her cases to ensure no mistakes are made with the clients. The goal is to offer services until the person can become financially independent again.

For most programs, public assistance has two year window for services. During those two years, public aid recipients are required to get new skills and look for jobs. For many the job market is disappointing.

The Winnebago County job market is bleak for many people. Bob, who refuse to give his last name, said he has been looking for work since March. He is smoking outside the building at the Winnebago County Job Center, taking a break from the computer where he was perusing the Help Want advertisements.

“I thought I had a job. But someone took it.” he said. “She didn't even need the job. She already had one.” He had found a job working with a landscaping company.

However, many job placement services insists employment is available. Michelle Schmid of Seek Careers/Staffing said people lack the skills to fill most jobs.

“There are more jobs for the skilled and the educated worker,” Schmid said.

Employers are snapping up graduates from the technical schools. Welders, computer users, craftsmen for door makers and break press operators are in demand.

The unskilled jobs, Schmid said, are moving overseas. The labor market is shifting from unskilled blue collar workforce to job market that rewards people with specialize skills.

Rough Business Draft

2006-12-11T07:07:00.000-06:00

Kelly's Draft

2006-12-10T20:36:00.002-06:00

xxx

Travis's rough draft

2006-12-10T19:03:00.000-06:00

I think that the best quote is lodged near the end. The part about the guy not even realizing the real estate market is supposedly I rough shape and how that hasn’t affected retailers like everyone had thought it may, is probably a better second paragraph. Also, you have data to back that up, but I’m not really sure what a same store decline is. I think this would also help out with another possible issue I saw, the length of the sentences in the first two graphs are all relatively the same length. You may want to make one a compound sentence just for variety’s sake. I also like the quote from Amanda Behr, who says she just enjoys Christmas shopping, so I would maybe move this one up as well. I think the real foundation for this article is that people aren’t staying away from stores (the mall was apparently packed) and so I would maybe concentrate on that idea rather than whether or not a particular item is sold more during the holiday season. Also, one AP error I noticed is that all percents have to be written out rather than using the % symbol.

graduating students-business article

2006-12-10T18:23:00.000-06:00

The fall semester is winding down, and some students are completing their last week of finals to earn their degree.
Finding a job is traditionally the next step. Fortunately, students who are graduating into 2007 can expect more available jobs than graduates of 2006.
According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, companies are hiring more college graduates because of a stronger economy.
That may be at a national level, but trends in Oshkosh and in the Fox Valley are mainly seeing a higher demand in certain areas of work.
Ted Basler, director of career services said that there are three areas that are in high demand: healthcare service industries, technology and service industries.
According to the Dean of the College of Nursing, Rosemary Smith, PhD, RN, APAN, “The national and worldwide demand for well educated nurses has never been greater and employment opportunities are predicted to continue to grow.”
Stacey Gutman, 24, is graduating with a nursing degree this December. She was offered two jobs shortly after she started applying to hospitals. “With nursing, I know that I will always have a job,” she said. “I wasn’t really surprised that I was offered a job right away, but I was surprised when I was offered a second job within the same week pretty much.”
Some students are willing to wait as long as it takes for a good position. Katie Longlais, 23, is also graduating this December, but she isn’t seeing many prospects majoring in Sociology.
“I have done two pretty important interviews, but neither worked out,” she said. “Mainly my deciding factor is salary. I had to sit down and think about my bills to find out what I will have to make just to even live.”
Salary and location were essential factors for these two graduates. Besides the pay, location was an aspect that helped Gutman make her job decision.
“I was offered a job closer to Oshkosh, but I accepted the position in Madison,” she said. “The pay is better and I definitely wouldn’t mind moving out of Oshkosh.”
Gutman is one of the many students that accept job offers close to the UW Oshkosh university. Basler said that out of 67,000 UW Oshkosh alumni, 45,000 live within 90 miles of campus. “It’s more of the student’s choice to live closer to home,” he said.
Location was important to Longlais at first, but now she feels she “shouldn’t be too picky.”
For Longlais and Gutman, and many other graduates, finding and getting a job is high on the priority list.
It may be taking second priority for Longlais this week. “Passing my finals is pretty imperative now,” she said. “I have to get my diploma. I’ve been in school for five years. I have to get that piece of paper.”

Rough Draft

2006-12-10T18:05:00.000-06:00

The holiday season is a time when many people spend a lot of money on gifts. The holiday season is also a great time of year for local retailers.

At this time of year most business sales increase. Some items more then others. “During the Christmas season toy sales go up,” said Sara Reynolds, 34, a Wal-Mart sales associate. Electronics are also very popular during the holiday season.

Shoes are not a very popular gift. It does not get very busy at Rogan’s Shoes during the week and it only picks up a little during the weekends. “Our sales do pick up during the holiday season, but we are a lot busier in August when people start buying new shoes for school,” said Trisha Wienke, 31, Rogan’s Shoes manager.

Not many shoppers are holding back because of the down slide in the real estate market. “I didn’t even know there was a weakness in the real estate market,” said Mike Downs, 26, who was shopping for Christmas gifts.

In November 56% of U.S. retailers missed sales growth targets, Wal-Mart saw a same store decline of 0.1% the first such fall since 1996. Federated Department Stores and Target posted better then expected November sales 8.5% and 5.9% increases respectively.

“I like to go Christmas shopping I think its fun,” said Amanda Behr, 27, who was shopping at the packed Fox River Mall on Saturday.

Rough Shopping Draft

2006-12-10T17:52:00.000-06:00

It was 1 p.m. at the local Target retail store in Oshkosh. A steady flow of people walked in and out of the building. Lines are ten deep, and it hasn’t even hit the crazy part of the day. All signs that sales are up and local citizens are going about holiday shopping as usual.
Through all of the negatives that have been discussed about the U.S. economy recently, sales and shoppers attitudes haven’t been affected, for the most part. “I know the economy isn’t in the best of shape right now,” Samantha Podd, who traveled from over an hour away in Franklin, Wis., to shop in Oshkosh, said. “I haven’t been slowed down one bit. If anything I am spending more money this year than I have in the past.”
This year’s hot items are electronics. According to a recent report, retail technology sales have increased over 12 percent to more than $2 billion dollars compared to last year. Of the hottest items sold on Black Friday were flat panel television sets. LCD televisions showed almost 300 percent gross improvement from last year’s numbers on the craziest shopping day of the year.
Along with the increased sales of flat panel televisions, other electronics sales have increased as well. Digital cameras, gaming systems, cell phones and mp3 players have been among the top selling items this holiday season.
“iPods are really hot right now,” Ryan Sanders said. “It seems like we have been selling a lot more than we have in past years.”
The Staples store on South Koeller Avenue had an extraordinary day of sales on Black Friday. Last year Staples hauled in around $65,000 in revenue on Black Friday, and set their goal for $67,000 this year. By 2 p.m. their goal for sales had already been met.
“I went into work and I asked my boss if we were busy,” Staples sales associate Nathan Bartel said. “He said ‘yes’ and that we had already sold what we were aiming for and the rest of the money we brought in that day would be icing on the cake.” By the end of the day Staples had brought in over $77,000 in retail sales for the day, surpassing their goal by $10,000.
Although stores that deal largely with electronics are faring extremely well this holiday season some stores’ sales are down. The Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store at Prime Outlets in Oshkosh that couldn’t surge past a crazy Black Friday with lots of traffic was one of those businesses.
“Our sales are down a little bit from last year,” Manager Melissa (she wouldn’t tell me her last name, what do I do?) said. “I think it is because of location in the mall and the lack of traffic we get as opposed to our lower sales being the economy’s fault.”
Some businesses sales are down from last year, but as a whole it seems sales are up around the Oshkosh area. With two weeks left until Christmas, this holiday season is shaping up to be a very good one for consumers and businesses alike.
As Podd said, “One thing is for sure, I am not going to change my spending habits this year. It is Christmas time and bring on the holiday cheer.”

Shopping store rough draft

2006-12-10T15:02:00.000-06:00

With stores like Target and Wal-Mart rolling back prices, it’s hard for smaller retailers to compete in such a large arena. But one retailer that is doing better than most people expected is the Wisconsin based ShopKo.

With 135 stores scattered around the Midwest, Colorado, and California, ShopKo has done something they haven’t in almost five years, advertise on the radio and television.

The ads are geared more towards the family setting especially targeting the mother, said Amanda Begrow, apparel merchandise manager. Compared to Target which shows trendiness and Wal-Mart’s price cutting, she added.

ShopKo’s new advertising helped ShopKo make Black Friday one of their biggest days of the year. Their sales were up 24% from last year, said Begrow. Black Friday’s door buster sales were promoted in the newspaper and on the radio, unlike Target and Wal-Mart who didn’t advertise any Black Friday sales, Begrow said.

“Our ads were the biggest around here,” Begrow said.

Holiday advertisements are the key item bringing customers into stores, according to the National Retail Federation. One-third of shoppers were influenced by coupons and newspapers inserts. Direct mailers and advertisements on national networks also influenced customers. According to a survey conducted by the National Retail Federation, women are influenced more by coupons and men pay more attention to radio advertisements.

As more people are completing their Christmas shopping, ShopKo will be having more one day sales, along with door busters and register to win, said Janie Keesler, customer service manager.

“We offer good quality ads that feature a wide variety of products at good prices,” Keesler said. Although ShopKo is running out of home appliances and trimmery sooner than expected which worried Keesler as losing some of that business. But she doesn’t think that will affect ShopKo’s sales too dramatically.

Both Begrow and Keesler believe that ShopKo’s biggest draw for shoppers this holiday season is their customer service and clean environment.

“We have a cleaner store, wider aisles and great customer service than other stores, that will bring customers into our store this holiday season,” said Keesler.

One customer who heard ShopKo’s radio ads was Lisa Berndt, who started out shopping for herself but aimed at getting Christmas presents for friends and family.

“I heard about the Christmas sales on the radio.” Berndt said. “I also like the lay-out of the store and the employees are great and always friendly.”

Another customer, Chris Schoenberger, saw ShopKo’s sales s in the paper and wanted to get a deal on Christmas ornaments.

“ShopKo has really nice prices and nice things to choose from,” Schoenberger said.

It’s harder for ShopKo to compete with the bigger retails chains since it’s privately owned, Begrow said. ShopKo’s wanted to change its image to being a newer, hipper store, and its’ hard to do that since ShopKo isn’t very big (chain wise) and they don’t have the money for it, she said. But ShopKo is doing better than the competition this holiday season.

gaming story rough draft

2006-12-10T10:16:00.000-06:00

Although the hype of the Nintendo Wii and the Playstation 3 is just beginning, many people are turning to some of the older systems when looking for Christmas gifts.

The Wii, which was released on Nov. 19, and the PS3, which was released just two days earlier, are hot sellers at many electronic or gaming stores, but only few were able to get their hands on one of these systems.

“Typically, the manufacturers don’t release as many right away to keep the demand high,” said Eric Martin, the operations manager at Best Buy. Many of these stores only received a small handful of the new consoles which made it difficult for the hardcore gamers to track one down.

Many stores did take pre-orders on the new systems, but there were some that only went on the first-come, first-serve basis. This meant that at many stores, people were lined up for hours and some for several days to snatch one up on the release date.

“We only took reservations at first,” said Mike Hensen, store manager at EB Games. “We get a couple of the systems almost on a weekly basis, but we don’t hold them. It’s strictly first-come, first-serve.”

Although the sales of the Wii and PS3 are high, many people are turning to some of the other systems instead. There are several reasons for this; one is that the Wii has a uniquely designed controller that requires the player to play in a virtual reality style.

“This can become tiresome when you’ve got both arms up like you’re holding a rifle when playing a first person shooter,” said Martin. Another reason may be that the PS3 is 600 dollars, where as many of the older systems sell for only 150 or 200 dollars. The Wii is also only priced at 250 dollars.

The Xbox 360 is also doing incredibly well right now. “People are more likely to buy an X360 because they don’t know if they can get a PS3 or a Wii,” said Jason Disbrow, a manager at Game Crazy.

The PS3 and Wii may be some of the biggest Christmas hits this year, but with such a high level of difficulty in tracking one down, many people are taking a different route. “All of the older consoles, and even the X360 are items that we always have in stock now,” said Martin.

business articles

2006-12-06T12:39:00.000-06:00

Business article examples

Early Holiday Sales Are Strong at Department Stores
By MICHAEL BARBARO
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/01/business/01shop.html

Analysts are saying that department stores will “dominate the holidays.” Many consumers are avoiding specialty clothing retailers such as GAP or Abercrombie & Fitch. Department stores had a hot streak beginning in June and extending into November.

Snow a boon for local retailers
By Bob Okon
Joliet Herald News, IL - Dec 3, 2006
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/business/158126,4_3_JO03_LOCALRETAIL_S1.article

Small store owners must compete with chains for consumer attention – U.S. chain store sales were up 3.2 percent in November compared to a year ago. But during the holiday season, many business owners acknowledge that the arrival of the first snowfall, for example, gets people in the shopping mood. Local businesses offer unique and hard-to-find items, such as stuffed animals dipped in soy wax used for making candles.

Shopping-as-usual under way
By Jenifer K Nii of the Deseret Morning News

People in Utah are expected to spend the same amount of money during the holidays as last year. Local polls showed optimism, mirroring a similar report by the Consumer Federation of America. The federation found that 32 percent of people said they’ll spend less on gifts this year, compared with 30 percent in 2005. The article also lists conflicting expectations from other organizations. The article flows into what will be most popular this Christmas – MP3 Players, toys, video games – and then how to save money and prevent yourself from going into debt.

Pinch is no Grinch: Housing slowdown doesn’t stop holiday spending
By Jeff Ostrowski of the Palm Beach Post

Retailers and economists have been trying to figure out how the end of the U.S. housing boom will affect holiday sales. Most likely, Americans will continue spending as they usually do, but yet there are still many mixed signals. Some stores such as Wal-Mart and GAP reported sales declines, but Target and Costco had healthy gains. One good quote was:

“Even if we had $3-a-gallon gas, people still would spend for the holidays,” said Rick McAllister of the Florida Retail Federation. “The holidays are such an important time for families. Giving gifts makes people feel good.”

Small store retailers face holiday challenges
Nashville City Paper
By Amy Griffith

December is the busiest month for independent stores but they have a hard time competing with advertising from larger retailers. The article states that Nashville has more corporate stores than ever before. Small businesses compete with corporate stores by stocking up on one-of-a-kind items and by having a friendly environment with good customer service.

One local retailer was mentioned in the article, saying how she copes with competition.

Beverly Wilson, owner of home wares and gift shop Sadie b. in 12South, says she talks to customers and helps match gifts to the personalities of people being shopped for. She also bends over backward to provide free services that larger stores might offer at an additional cost.

Business Article Examples

2006-12-06T09:53:00.000-06:00

Marathon on the move to Lambeau Field area
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061206/GPG03/612060527/1247/GPGbusiness
This article had to due with the annual Cellcom Green Bay Marathon being moved from it's current location next to the KI Convention Center to the "stadium district" of Green Bay near Lambeau Field. The article talks about a scheduling conflict that led to the decision to move the marathon. More importantly though, the article goes into detail about the effect on businesses that the marathon has had ($1.2 million) on local economy, the consequences of moving the event, and how the move to the Lambeau Field area will help market the run more. Finally, the article also mentions the other events going on around the city that weekend (dart tournament, etc.) that will also help fuel hotels, restaraunts, and other businesses.

Oshkosh Truck base to remain in Oshkosh
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061206/GPG03/612060538/1247/GPGbusiness
This article explained how the Oshkosh Truck Corp. is deciding to keep it's offices based in Oshkosh for the time being. After many aquiring many other large and small businesses, Oshkosh Truck has grown a lot over the past decades and is starting to feel its office space is too confining. They have been looking at places in Neenah to relocate to gain greater space. Oshkosh is trying to keep the trucking company based here because of the jobs it creates.

MySpace acts to boot entries by convicted sex offenders
http://www.baltimoresun.com/technology/bal-bz.myspace06dec06,0,2176586.story?coll=bal-business-headlines
This article talks about how MySpace is now launching a database in thirty days that will help comb its sites for convicted sex offenders. This is being implemented in response to criticism and recent fears about sex predators on the website. MySpace is teaming up with the Sentinel Tech Holding Corp. to undertake this operation.

Taco Bell Removes Green Onions
http://www.latimes.com/business/nationworld/wire/ats-ap_business11dec06,1,283250.story?coll=la-wires-business&ctrack=1&cset=true
In this article, it explained that Taco Bell is currently removing all green onions from their stores for the time being. This is in response to the chain being linked to E. Coli cases in three states. As a precation, they are eliminating the onions from their menu in order to find out if, like spinach earlier this year, the vegetable is to blame. The article also talks about the various Taco Bells that have shut down completely for a few days because of the scare, and also gave a few quotes from consumers about the impact of this decision (one mother told her son not to eat there for awhile.)

Yahoo, Aiming for Agility, Shuffles Executives
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/06/technology/06yahoo.html?ref=business
This article talked about how Yahoo was trying to reinvent itself from within because of growing criticism that it had become "too bureaucratic to compete effectively against nimbler rivals." In summary, by March of next year, their management and operating unit setup will have fully transformed from its current state into three different branches. One aspect will deal with its audience, one with advertisers, and one with technology. This is being done in an effort to regain some of the lost revenue that MySpace and other websites are taking away. Two new chairmen are being put in place to try to close the gap, citing that Yahoo has lost touch with some of the internet world because of its reliance on its earlier success.

For my business article, I would like to focus on #1. I wil talk about Christmas shopping in the Oshkosh area.

Business Articles

2006-12-06T00:57:00.000-06:00

1. The first article I read basically gives a brief summary of the Thanksgiving shopping weekend. The article emphasised that revenues are down but looked as if online sales may be on the rise.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1620&dept_id=151499&newsid=17537365&PAG=461&rfi=9

2. This article is basically about the economy and the three pillars that may work together to slow the economy. One of these being that fact that home prices have cracked, according to the article. However, the article was quick to state that Utah has show a resilience to the trend.

http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_4737600

3. This article points to the fact that we shouldn't blame the economy for Wal-Mart's slow holiday season. The retailer has problems of its own and economic factors like rising real estate costs are not the only factor to consider.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/16157330.htm

4. This article illustrates that despite a housing slump, consumers are planning to spend more this holiday season than in the past. This is shown, despite the fact that Thanksgiving weekend proved not so successful and in past years for certain stores.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/business/epaper/2006/12/03/a1f_wealth_1203.html

5. This article was a preview article of what was to be expected for the upcoming Thanksgiving shopping weekend. The article predicted strong sales but stated that, "the growth will be weaker than in years past because of a cooling real-estate market."

http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2006/11/24/business/dpt-shopping24.txt

My article will be a shopping article and I will focus on the current shopping season, looking for current trends if any, on shoppers.

2006-12-05T18:43:00.000-06:00

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/19/volunteers_bring_joy_to_thousands/

This article is about 'Christmas in the City,' a program in Boston to help the underpriveledged. It's intresting in that it begins with a story about a lady who was a former recipient who now volunteers. Aslo, the program appears to be somewhat unique in that it provides children with a toy off of a list they created.

http://www.voicenewspaper.com/

This article deals with a foodbank in Virginia which is appairently the hub for distribution to over 200 communities. It talks about the donations made by local buisnesses and how the communities citizens have responded to the program's needs.

www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.htm

In Vancouver there are not enough beds to support the homeless population, adn when it gets cold there is an overflow. Intrestingly, a Buddhist group donated the the entire stock of blankets that an Army Navy store had.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/11/03/news/sandiego/17_35_3311_2_06.txt

This is an article about the homeless hselter in San Diego. It's unusual in that it seems the central problem here is with homeless people who are elderly, and thus more at risk to die if they are not taken care of. Generally you don't think about elderly people being homelss, but according to the article more than 30 percent will be older than 50 and half are suffering from disabilities or chronic illnesses.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Jan/02/il/il01p.html#Anchor-35882

This peice centers around Delgado, a consistent vistor to the homelss at Kapi'olani Park in Hawaii who goes out of his way to befriend some of the less fortunate. What's most intresting about this story is that he does it on his own, not through any organization. Appairently he and the people he helps are in constant dialogue, and he is very humble about his charitable contributions

As far as information goes this site is probably a good cousrce of documentation
commerce.wi.gov/housing/cd-boh-WISP-home.html

I hope by the articles I chose that it is obvious that I plan to do 'The Bleeding Heart Story'

business articles

2006-12-04T15:00:00.000-06:00

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA112506.01D.BlackFriday.272505d.html

People in San Antonio started their holiday shopping Thanksgiving Day or stood in line for the outlet malls to open at midnight. Most customers saved between 25-40 percent on all the merchandise they purchased at the local outlet mall in San Antonio. By 8 a.m. the Sony store was at capacity, selling out of most of their hot items.

http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061125/OSH03/611250353/1128/OSHnews

Oshkosh’s Prime Outlet was steady throughout Friday. Most people would go to the big stores to get the big merchandise and then travel to Prime Outlet to pick up the smaller items on their lists. One man mentioned that the crowds aren’t getting bigger they’re getting meaner.

http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061123/APC03/611230567/1028/OSHbusiness

Retailers around Oshkosh and Appleton are expecting large crowds, mainly because they lowered prices on all electronics, games and other electrical appliances. But in Wal-Mart’s and other discount stores are having a hard time with their projections unfavorable. Toys R’Us in Grand Chute isn’t worried about Wal-Mart dropping prices, they believe in the quality of their product and the selection than the price.

http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061125/GPG03/611250561/1247/OSHbusiness

Most retailers offered their patrons expanded hours, generous discounts, and free cash in the form of gift cards to busy their store in a slow but steady economy. Stores in Green Bay, had customers waiting outside their stores for three hours before opening it’s doors and parking lots were busy with cars waiting to enter and leave.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lishop1125,0,7285035.story
A 400 person line crowded the Tanger Outlet Mall outside Riverhead, NY which opened its’ doors at midnight Thanksgiving night. The Gap had discounted everything in the store 40-50 % off, along with great deals for shoppers at Coach, the Nine and Timberland. The first 100 customers received a gift certificate, but store managers were surprised as to the number of people waiting in line.

I will be doing the holiday shopping store.

Business Examples

2006-12-04T14:51:00.001-06:00

For this assignment I will be concentrating on who does their Christmas shopping at downtown Oshkosh businesses.

1) "Shopping has strong start over holiday weekend," http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061128/APC03/611280491/1028/OSHbusiness

This Appleton Post-Crescent article contains statistics from the National Retail Federation and www.shop.org about the number of shoppers during the weekend of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

2) "Black Friday about more than just the deals," http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061125/OSH03/611250353/1128/OSHnews

This article was about the Black Friday turnout in Oshkosh. It describes what the situation was like at Target, ShopKo, Wal-Mart, Menards, and Prime Outlets.

3) "Early-bird shoppers quickly fill up local stores," http://www.themonroetimes.com/o1124pbl.htm

This article from the Monroe, WI Times described what Black Friday was like at the local ShopKo. It stated that ShopKo opened at 5 a.m., and by 6 a.m., some items were already sold out. This article reiterated what was said in some of the articles - that toys and electronics were the big sellers.

4) "Attention shoppers: More stores rush to opening really early," http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=108387&ntpid=2

This Wisconsin State Journal article is about the after Thanksgiving sales most retailers now offer. The article mentioned that stores are now starting to open earlier in the morning (many at 5 a.m.) and some are starting their sales so early that they open at midnight. The article brings up the point that it is questionable whether these tactics actually work (whether or not the number of sales they have offsets the increase in labor costs). The article also says that this year was the first year that the Madison malls have opened early (at 5 a.m.).

5) "EXCLUSIVE - U.S. consumers flocking to Wal-Mart," http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=reutersEdge&storyID=2006-12-04T005732Z_01_N03441423_RTRUKOC_0_US-SHOPPING-SURVEY.xml&WTmodLoc=EntNewsTV_R3_reutersEdge-1

This article states that according to a poll by America’s Research Group, over 67 percent of those surveyed had shopped at Wal-Mart for their holiday gifts. The majority of gifts purchased were toys (39 percent) followed by electronics (20.4 percent). The survey also showed that a third of consumers are willing to wait until Dec. 24 to shop in order to take advantage of last-minute sales.

Russ' business examples

2006-12-04T14:51:00.000-06:00

http://www.keepmecurrent.com/Community/story.cfm?storyID=28801

This article focuses on one shopping mall. It interviews the shoppers and goes in depth about their shopping strategies and thoughts about Black Friday. I like the quote from the Hickory Farm kiosk worker because it shows the amount of money Black Friday brings to businesses. I think interviewing workers at GameStop was a good idea because videogames will once again be the big gift for the holidays.

http://www.sheboygan-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006612040570

I like how this article focuses on the kiosks found within the mall. I think people overlook kiosks. The reporter talked to owners of two kiosks and one shopper. I thought the article was rather informative and covered a unique topic.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/4378912.html

This story addresses "Cyber Monday." I have heard of this term before, but I learned that it is actually not real and was used to build hype. I think the best part of the article is, "Financial analyst Deloitte & Touche says that more people did Internet shopping on the recent Black Friday than on Cyber Monday. Furthermore, only one in four of the Cyber Monday customers did their buying from work. The vast majority shopped from home."

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlebusiness.aspx?type=businessNews&storyID=2006-12-05T091629Z_01_L04377757_RTRUKOC_0_UK-BRITAIN-SALES-BRC.xml

This article is about the decrease in sales for winter wear. It is a topic I never really thought about, but the warm weather would affect sales of clothes as Christmas gifts. I think this is informative, but I would like quotes from customers and shopkeepers. The average person might think sales would be about the same with people buying for the upcoming cold weather. In addition, people might not need warmer clothes if they are lazy and stay indoors.

http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061125/APC0101/611250464/1979

This article is about "Black Friday." However, the focus is on our area. The article interviews analysts and shoppers. I thought the most informative part was that Black Friday is not the biggest shopping day of the year, but a day when the most people pass through stores and see the new items.

Business Assignment

2006-12-04T13:41:00.000-06:00

1.Online Christmas shopping peaks today
Monday 4 December will be the biggest e-sales day of 2006. Online shopping peaks from 7 pm to 9 pm. This is a British article so it may be different in America.
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2170188/online-christmas-shopping-peaks

2. Getting more mall time-Shopping centers are extending their hours for holiday gift-givers.
Seeking to beat the competition, more malls this year are willing to open earlier and close later to accommodate busy shoppers. Christmas sales are expected to go up 5% compared to last year. Because the malls are open longer this year malls will have to pay higher utility and labor costs.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/4382058.html

3.Europeans go shopping in US as dollar dives
More Europeans are doing their shopping in the United States because the US dollar is falling. One European spent 1,000 euros($1,330) in New York City. The number of international visitors to New York will probably rise to 7.3 million people this year, up from 4.8 million in 2003.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/726807.cms

4.Don't let Christmas shopping get you down; buy a Scoozie
It is easy to find a gift online, by doing this you can also aviod all the long lines at stores. It is also easier to find unique gifts online, like a Scoozie. A Scoozie is a robot pet. The article goes on to describe various unique gifts you can buy online.
http://www.theloomisnews.com/articles/2006/12/07/opinion/editorials/01edit.txt

5.Early Holiday Sales Are Strong at Department Stores
The article talks about how holiday sales are strong at department stores. This may hurt stores like Gap, Ann Taylor Stores and Abercrombie & Fitch, and could lead to deeper discounts as those stores scramble to lure customers in the weeks before Christmas. Targets sales rose 5.9% while Abercrombie & Fitch sales fell 3%
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/01/business/01shop.html

I will be doing my story on number 1

Business Articles

2006-12-04T13:35:00.001-06:00

business links

2006-12-04T13:29:00.000-06:00

1) The first article I read was an article on how shoppers are more bargain-driven than ever. The article , which was on CNN. com used polls and statistics from America's Research Group (ARG) to show interesting data. The statistics show that a third of American shoppers polled are waiting until the day before christmas to do their shopping. One other statistic that they concentrate on is that a large majority of shoppers are waiting until discounts become as large as fifty percent to purchase some of thier items.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/12/04/news/economy/holiday_sales/index.htm?postversion=2006120412

2) The second article I read is on Playstation 3's being stolen in Japan. The 180 consoles, which wer a part of a 1,560 shipment were stolen on Friday Dec. 5. The consoles which were stored at Meitetsu Golden Aircargo appearently just "dissapeared" when a employess went to check on them and found that they were missing. There was $82,500 worth of PS3's stolen from the aircargo storage area.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6162774.html?tag=latestnews;title;2

3) The third article I read was about the about the console release of the Nintendo Wii in Japan. the console sold 372,00 units in just two days which was just short of Nintendo's projected 400,00 unit goal. While both the playstation 3 and the Wii sold out in Japan the Playstation 3 topped out at 80,000 units.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6162702.html?tag=latestnews;title;4

4) This next article I looked at was an article pertaining to the concerns of Nintendo outdoing itself. There was fear of the amazing Wii sales overshadowing the Nintendo DS which is its handheld giant. However the president of Nintendo, Satoru Iwata, is not worried and the sales predictions for 2007 remian strong. In total,Nintendo expects their two consoles to earn them over 1 billion in 2007.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6162728.html

5) The last article I read was on sony's new technology; the blu-ray player. It was an article about how the high-defintion dvd player is at war with another format of hd-dvd and it doesn't look good for sony. The model sony is realeasing is priced at around 500 dollars more than other hd-dvd players and does not provide much over thier competition.

http://blogs.business2.com/utilitybelt/2006/12/sonys_1000_blur.html

shopping examples

2006-12-04T13:26:00.000-06:00

http://www.themonroetimes.com/o1124pbl.htm

"Early-bird shoppers quickly fill up local stores"

This article was basically about Black friday, the day after Thanksgiving. The writer did a good job showing just how dedicated some people are to catching the best deals when the stores opened that Friday morning. Most of the article was based off of quotes, some of which were from shoppers that were shopping that morning, and others from employees of the stores.

http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=1&date=11/24/2006&id=14840

"Waves of shoppers at Lowe's, Wal-Mart"

This article was relatively short but did a good job showing how people have their own tecniques for shopping the day after Thanksgiving. There were a couple of good quotes, and the article focused more on the shoppers than on the businesses.

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=108387&ntpid=2

"Attention shoppers: More stores rush to opening really early"

This article was quite a bit longer than a couple of the other ones. It was also written a few days before Black Friday, so instead of talking with shoppers about their plans for shopping, the writer focused more on talking with the people working in many of the businesses that would be opening early on Friday. This article also had a lot of statistical data about past years sales and poles for shopping trends.

http://www.chattanoogapulse.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/11/22/45634222ad9ff

"Play on, my man"

This article focused on the release of the Playstaion 3, and it being the start of the christmas shopping season. They talked about how people camped out, some for several days before it was released. There were also several good quotes that the writer got from some of the people that were camping out.

http://www.wiscnews.com/wde/news/106453

"It looks a lot like Christmas"

This article didn't focus on christmas shopping on Black Friday. Instead it focused on a single outlet mall that started to put christmas decorations out for sale just after Halloween. They also talked a bit about how people don't want to see Christmas stuff that early, so they didn't promote the items, but just made them available for people that wanted to shop for them early.

My article will focus on the Christmas shopping option. I will focus on video game sales right now with the new systems being released and how that compares to sales of the Xbox, PS2 and Game Cube.

business articles

2006-12-04T13:22:00.000-06:00

1. Graduates postpone real-world living, jobs
http://www.redandblack.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/12/04/457381cce887c

1. The article tells how a lot more students than before are postponing a job, and doing other things after they graduate. The example in the article was a guy that climbed the Appalachian trail after he graduated.
2. Other options in the article for graduates are the peace corps, and the americore. They say that some students do those programs before they start graduate school, and some employers think it could be easier for the student to get a job in some cases.
3. Programs such as the Peace corps aren't easy and the article says they aren't for slackers that just don't want to work. The programs can also help students determine what they want to do for a career.

2. 2007 graduates to enter larger job market
http://www.gwhatchet.com/media/storage/paper332/news/2006/12/04/News/2007-Graduates.To.Enter.Larger.Job.Market-2519766.shtml?norewrite200612042225&sourcedomain=www.gwhatchet.com

1. The article says that 2007 graduates have more employment opportunities than graduates of 2006.
2. Many colleges said that there are more students with more than one job offer. Karen Kinslow, director and principal recruiter for college graduates at UMS Group, said her company has recently hired a greater number of young adults than in the past
3. GW economics professor Anthony Yezer said that this is a good time to be looking for employment because of a better economy.

3. Grads may find improved job prospects nationwide
http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=39044

1. MSU students are suppose to find a better job market when they graduate because of the increase in job availability in the Midwest and other regions.

2. More MSU students than in previous years are expecting to look for jobs in other areas of the country, saying that there are more job prospects, especially since the Boston and New York area are economically doing better. Michigan's economy is still okay, but is still struggling from the motor vehicle industry.

3. Even with the automobile industry woes, the midwest is still seen as a "bright spot." Chicago is one of the popular spots for graduates in business.

4. Job market promising for grads
http://www.redandblack.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/12/05/4574e6ed00822

1. The article says that the job market for college graduates in the upcoming year is booming, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

2. Employers are expected to hire 17.4 percent more new college graduates in 2006-07 than they did in 2005-06, according to a NACE survey.

3. Employers are looking for Business-, engineering- and computer-related degrees especially. The article says that some employers are now at competition to hiring new college graduates.

5. HIRE CALLING FOR GRADS
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12042006/news/regionalnews/hire_calling_for_grads_regionalnews_marsha_kranes.htm

1. The executive director at NYU said that the job market hasn't been this hot since the dot-com era in 1999.

2. The director said that everything is up as well as salaries. Employers are seeking graduates. And this trend is expected to continue unti next year.

3. Hiring projections are on the rise because of retirements, oganizational growth. Employers expect to hire 17.4 percent more college graduates in 06-07 than in 05-06.

5 Business Stories

2006-12-04T13:18:00.000-06:00

1. http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061122/OSH06/611220386/1190/OSHopinion

The author challenges Oshkosh citizens to keep their spending in the city of Oshkosh for the holiday season. He/she explains why companies ask for your zip code when you buy things. It is to gague whether or not money is flowing in from a different city, so that the company can decide if they should build a store in a certain place. If we dont travel to other cities to buy from Best Buy or other stores like that, they may be more inclined to set up a store in the Oshkosh area (I thought the opposite, I thought if we bought more from a store, then they would want to move up here to make it more accesible to us).

2. http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061122/OSH06/611220386/1190/OSHopinion

the story is about the San Antonio area post-Thanksgiving Day sales. The story goes very little into the money, but reflects how satisfied the customers are at the stores they visited. The people rave about the amazing deals they got and how happy they were that they showed up early to the stores. It also paints a picture of the chaos that comes with the sales on Black Friday at the retail stores. the writer got a lot of good information and a lot of good quotes on the story.

3. http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061125/OSH03/611250353/1128/OSHnews

This is a similar story to the San Antonio one. The only major difference is this story is about local Oshkosh businessess on Black Friday. I think it was creative for the writer to have the lead being a man is hunting, but not for an animal. It was unique, but still a little cheesy and left a bad taste in my mouth. But,hey, he tried. It gave a local look at the line of 150 people outside of target before it opened at 6 am and other stories showing the shoppers' devotion to getting a good deal. One line that sticks out for me is a quote from a guy who said the crowds are getting meaner, not larger. That was agood quote to put it, I think it added a good dimension to the story, and got me to forget about the whole hunting lead.

4. http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061125/APC0101/611250464/1979

This story is about how Appleton business owners are pleased with the turnout on Black Friday. The writer adds an interesting element which I have never heard before. Black friday isnt the biggest day of the year in terms of sales, it is only in traffic. The biggest day of the year in sales for retailers is the Saturday before Christmas. Black Friday is such a big deal for the businessess, however, because they get a chance to showcase some of their new products that people will be shopping for throughout the year. The second part of the story is just the run-of-the-mill how crazy it is shopping on Black Friday.

5. http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20061204005434&newsLang=en

this article goes over how electronics are the hot thing to get this holiday season. electronic sales are up over 11 percent from last year. This story doesnt really have a human side, just reports on what items were hot and what sold how much. LCD tvs and plasma TVs were the hot item of the year. They produced the best sales of any other electronic, as a whole.

I am doing a story on local retail sales, possibly comparing a larger company like a place in the outlet mall compared to a ma and pop store. Either that or I will focus on Oshkosh retail sales as a whole.

2006-11-29T17:03:00.000-06:00

As she and her family drove away from New Orleans My Lin couldn’t help but think back to a previous time when her family had been forced to flee their home.

Sitting in her desk in a New Orleans school classroom, the then six-year-old Lin felt out of place and uncomfortable. The lesson plan for the non-native speakers was in English, a language she didn’t speak, and for the first time she couldn’t turn to her parents for guidance. The adolescent Lin was scared, lonely, and homesick

Seventeen years later her diminutive five-foot frame, accented with unmistakably Asiatic features and culminating in a cascade of brown hair, contained none of the awkward inferiority she had felt in those first years.

She confidently spoke to customers across the counter awaiting their prescriptions, doling out health care advice in nearly flawless English. Yes, this transition had been far easier. Rather than fear the present and bemoan the transient lifestyle she had been thrust into, she looked forward to a future full of opportunity.

Born in Vietnam in 1983, Lin was introduced to a world in which the Vietnam War dominated every-day events. Though the war ended for the U.S. some years earlier, for native families, such as Lin’s, everything did not return to normal. The fact that she didn’t get to meet her father, a prisoner of war of the Vietnamese from 1982 to 1987, until she was four years old served as a constant reminder of the cost of war.

Upon her father’s release, the family was reunited and the decision to immigrate to the U.S. under political asylum was made with relative ease.

At the tender age of five, Lin first stepped onto American soil, having flown from her hometown of Saigon to New York. The family soon settled into a Vietnamese community in New Orleans, hoping to somewhat lessen the culture shock they felt every time they looked around.

Though her parents never learned English themselves, they encouraged their youngest daughter to excel in school. “They were very strict. They couldn’t help me with my homework or read my report card, but my brothers kept them informed,” Lin said.

After three years of struggling through classes geared towards students for whom English was a second language, she was allowed to enroll in regular classes. She quickly took a liking to science saying, “I didn’t feel like I was at as big of a disadvantage in (science classes).”

Following her graduation from high school she enrolled in Louisiana State University-Health Science Center, a choice in large part predicated by her desire to stay close to her family. “I’ve never not lived with them,” she said. In the spring of 2005, she received her degree in pharmacology.

Unfortunately, the bliss of being the first family member to graduate from college was short-lived, as once again a catastrophic event forced her family to uproot themselves and relocate, this time not due to war, but to hurricane Katrina.

“It was really scary. We didn’t know where we were going to go, just that we needed to leave,” she said.

Lin and her family, along with thousands of others, fled to Houston where they were given a place to stay at a homeless shelter. Unsure of how long their displacement would last the family was hesitant to make any long-term plans, but shortly before Christmas they decided to make the move permanent.

“We really wanted to go back, especially my parents, but we weren’t sure how long it would take for them to fix (the city) or what would be there if we went back,” she said. “Eventually you just get tired of not having a home.”

Lin adapted to her new surroundings more easily this time, landing a job at an area Wal-Mart as a pharmacist, and providing for her parents as well as she can. “They don’t speak English, and in New Orleans they got a job because of the Vietnamese community, but here it’s different,” she said. “I keep paying the bills and telling them to try take English classes but they don’t really want to.”

She has also come to love Texas. “I wanted to move somewhere else, but I can’t take the cold,” she said, suggesting that perhaps no matter how acclimated she has become to American culture a part of her will forever remain tied to Vietnam.

Six Degrees
Ethnicity
Gender
fluency in languages (she obviously knows both Vietnamese and English whereas I know only English)
country of origin
religion (she is a devout catholic while I’m agnostic)urban v rural upbringing

Final Profile

2006-11-29T14:55:00.000-06:00

Nicole Hartman
Reporting

She sits on her bed, with clothes and papers scattered all over her tiny bedroom. A bible verse hangs above the bed. Brushing aside a brunette curl as she turns a page in her nursing textbook, Katie Sue Bowden may appear to be an average university student. The truth is, this 25-year-old has extraordinary dreams and knows where her life is headed.

Her long-term goal, she says, is to glorify God. And how does she intend to do this? By “staying spiritually fit by reading the bible, hanging out with Christians and doing what the bible says.”

“I know that God is the most important thing in her life,” said Bowden’s sister, Kandi. “Through her love she is showing God’s.”

For many years Bowden had planned on becoming a nurse, working in the U.S. for a couple of years, then heading back to her home, Manaus, Brazil. Bowden grew up there with her four sisters and her mom and dad. Bowden’s parents moved to Brazil when they were 24, intending to bring the gospel to the tribal natives.

Bowden’s parents were in charge of the medical care that the Manaus missionaries received. “There was this one time we were all having supper when someone came by with an injury,” Bowden recalled. “We had to clear off the kitchen table so they could operate.”

Bowden witnessed her parents care for the injured the best way they could given the fact that they were in the jungle and the nearest city was a two-hour canoe trip away. Events such as these were a big influence on Bowden’s decision to work in the medical field.

After she graduated from high school, Bowden came to Wisconsin to attend bible school and live with some members of a sponsoring church of her parents’. Certain she wanted to go into nursing, she applied and got accepted to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Now a senior, Bowden balances her time between working at ThedaCare in Appleton, where she is a certified nursing assistant, and school.

Bowden intended on returning to Brazil shortly after graduation to work alongside her parents, but all of that changed two years ago when Bowden’s church, Calvary Bible, in Neenah, Wis. sponsored a missions trip to Zimbabwe. While Bowden never planned on going, “all of the pieces fell into place.” In Zimbabwe, Bowden embraced the culture and learned the ways of the natives there, consuming such delicacies as zebra.

During a visit to an AIDS hospital in Zimbabwe, Bowden realized that, while she had a special place in her heart for Brazil, it was Africa where she wanted to work and show God’s love, by helping care for those in Africa suffering from AIDS.

“In the pediatric unit there were eight or so kids in beds, lying there, pretty much skin and bones. One particular boy affected me,” Bowden said. “He couldn’t walk, but he wanted to stand up for us visitors. With the nurses help, he pulled himself up next to the bed. He stood up for only a few seconds, with a great smile spread across his face. He then started crying because he was in so much pain. It broke our hearts.”

Since her trip, Bowden has been active in making sure her dream becomes a reality. She has contacted an orphanage in Zimbabwe where she hopes to work one day. She also has attended two medical missions conferences in which she was able to meet with professionals who are using medicine overseas as a ministry tool.

Within three years, Bowden plans to be working at Karanda Hospital in Zimbabwe. There she will educate others on how to prevent AIDS, along with helping care for AIDS victims. In the mean time, Bowden will continue to work in the U.S.

“I have witnessed Katie, on multiple occasions, help people. It is in her nature,” said Lindsay Bridich, 23, who has accompanied Bowden to both of the conference trips. “She is proactive yet realistic. She has a plan.”

Seven Degrees of Separation
1. Age- She is 25, I am 21.
2. Majors – She is a nursing major, I am a journalism major.
3. Politics – She is Republican, I am Democrat.
4. Birthplaces – She was born in Brazil, I was born in England.
5. Looks – She has curly hair, I have straight.
6. Languages – She speaks English and Portuguese, I speak English and a little Spanish.
7. Religious Background – Katie’s parents are Christian, mine are Atheists.

Profile

2006-11-29T12:33:00.000-06:00

Walking tall at five feet ten inches with his head of jaw length, brown, curly hair held high, not trying to prove anything to anybody, Ryan Gustafson, 22, jokes and chats to people he has never met and is instantly calm to the strangers around him.

Gustafson, a Colorado native, hasn’t always been comfortable in his own skin. When he was a freshman in high school, he was so consumed with popularity and what others thought of him, that he did marijuana and marijuana laced with other drugs particularly cocaine. Looking back he considers himself a bad son. “I lied to my parents and did some serious drugs,” he said. “I was into some pretty shady stuff.”

As he entered his second year of high school, Gustafson found the real him when he had an encounter with God. One of his good friends knew Gustafson was looking for something to believe in and asked Gustafson to try in believing that there is only one God. Later that night as Gustafson was brushing his teeth; he was thinking that there couldn’t possibly be a God. He said to himself that if there was a God, then God would give him a sign, as he said this the right side of his face had a muscle spasm. After questioning the spasm, he said if there was a God, then he would send him another sign, and his muscle spasm returned. From that point in his life he started believing.

Gustafson grasped on to this religion and believes the key to his happiness is just to be comfortable with himself and to be comfortable in his spirituality. Although he considers himself non-denominational, he enjoys attending different denominations services.His motto enabled him to become a social butterfly at Ripon College. Over his four years, he has joined the Sigma Chi fraternity, played center mid-field on the Ripon soccer team and is well known to all students on campus.

“When I came in (to Ripon) I was at a good place spiritually and ready to meet new people,” Gustafson said.

Although Gustafson is popular on campus, people who don’t know him may have misconceptions of him.

“He’s eccentric, but once people get past the weirdness, you’ll have a guy who’ll do anything for you,” said Emily DeVillers, 19. “He goes the extra 100 miles for anyone even people he doesn’t even now.”

Born in Sioux Falls, Iowa Gustafson’s family moved to Grand Junction, Colo. where his father, Kirk, 53, is a music professor and orchestra conductor at Mason State University and his mother, Kit, 53, works at a local hospital interpreting sonograms for heart patients.
Although he is hundreds of miles from home, he never regrets his decision to attend Ripon College.

“I looked at a lot of liberal art schools on the west coast, but Ripon gave me a good deal,” he said. Gustafson is one of 10 students awarded the Pickard Scholarship for Ripon. In winning this scholarship he only pays for half of his tuition, which is cheaper than going to a college in Colorado. The distance has also enabled him to grow and have a lot of freedom, he said.

Gustafson’s dreams aren’t limited to what’s inside the box. He plans on obtaining a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and environmental studies along with a Spanish and possibly a math minor. Gustafson is already applying to grad school where he wants to get his master’s and doctorate in water management. His biggest goal in life is to become a water specialist. He envisions creating his own consulting business that represents communities that have been hurt by industries. In the mean time, Gustafson is content playing soccer with his friends, hanging out with his fraternity brothers and studying water.

One soccer friend, Andrew McKee, 20, said Gustafson is the type of guy that is dedicated to his friends and his school work.

“He’s basically my mom here, he yells at me when I don’t go to class and is always looking out for me,” McKee said. “He also definitely knows what he wants out of life.”

Gustafson has reached many of his goals so far in his life, but he considers his biggest success as being his undergraduate experience, he said. With a 3.94 grade point average, he was nominated for the Rhodes and Marshall scholarships and was internally selected for both. Even though he wasn’t granted the scholarships, he considers it a great honor to even be nominated. Although one thing Gustafson is determined to do before he graduates from Ripon is to publish his theories for affordable water techniques that he developed.

Although Gustafson enjoys the small town feel of Ripon, he misses being able to get something to eat at 10 p.m. He said the only thing in Ripon open late is the gas stations.

“I love the small town feel of Ripon, but I want to live in a big city. It’s a significant part of the American experience, especially in a really old real city, like Boston,” Gustafson said. “But I would only live there for a few years, I like to walk through fields and hang out in the woods.”

Gustafson, an avid hunter, enjoys spending time at his parents’ two-story home overlooking the Colorado River and spending leisurely afternoons playing soccer with his friends in Ripon. But last spring, he did neither when he lived in San Jose, Costa Rico for four months working on a contaminated river.

Although he is only one person in a big world, he is personally dedicated to doing good in the world. Whether it be helping a Costa Rican village or buying all his clothes from second-hand stores. He believes that his actions could enable others to do the same; although Gustafson does admit to buying his shoes and pants first-hand.Not aligned to any one political party, Gustafson tends to vote Democrat. But he feels that America needs a lot of work to make it a thriving country.“I wish things were different in this country,” he said. Later in life, he may run for a small political office, he said, but for right now he is personally dedicated to do something, just through the way he lives his life.

In five years Gustafson sees himself starting or being in his second year of his doctorate program. He envisions Harvard engineering or Colorado University.

“It all depends whom I have with me, my family and where I want to be,” he said.

Six Degrees Rough Draft

2006-11-29T04:58:00.000-06:00

Elizabeth Cannon’s black belt in Tae Kwon Do is not only one of her biggest accomplishments but it also illustrates her strength and passion that she puts forth into whatever projects that she undertakes.

Cannon, 46, was born in 1960 in Cedar Rapids, IA. She grew up in a two parent, Episcopalian household, with her mother and father and an older sister named Mary.

She attended high school in Cedar Rapids and unlike many students, she took to it with joy.

“I have to admit, I liked school,” Cannon said.

Cannon came from an academic family, where both her mother and her father each had Ph.D.s Thus, Cannon and her sister each assumed early on that they too would eventually get a doctorate in some chosen field.

One of Cannon’s first interests that developed in her early school days was a passion for the clarinet. It was this passion that would later become the main reason why she chose to attend Oberlin College located in Oberlin, OH. She states that she chose Oberlin because it was a conservatory and that it had a strong music department.

She would eventually discover that her passion for the clarinet had its limits and soon decided to take her education in a different direction. Before leaving Oberlin, Cannon was able to indulge in another interest, horses.

As far back as she can remember, Cannon always held an interest in horses. So when she had the opportunity to take a six week physical education class at Oberlin that specialized in horse back riding, she could not resist.

Years later, at the age of 42, Cannon fulfilled a lifelong dream, she bought her first horse which she named Dave.

She finally decided to get a college education at Indiana University where she chose an English major and graduated in 1983 after 4 years.

Cannon continued her education and did indeed accomplish her childhood assumption of getting a Ph.D. She received it in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Following this, she got her first job teaching 19th and 20th century British literature at the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy located in Exeter, N.H. Which is known for being one of the top prep schools in the country.

At the same time, Cannon began to come to terms with her sexuality. During high school, Cannon realized that she was attracted to women. It was not until later when she had her first job at Exeter that she decided that could no longer live in the closet.

“When I came out, I was so unsure of myself.” Cannon said. At the same time, Cannon had begun a relationship with a female co-worker at Exeter.

After a two year stint at Exeter, Cannon was suddenly and surprisingly let go.

“I’ve always wondered if my being out of the closet and having a relationship with a co-worker may have brought this on.” Cannon said.

Years later, Cannon would realize that not only was she sexually attracted to women, but she was also attracted to men. Cannon who had always identified as a lesbian now began to identify as bi-sexual.

Meanwhile, Cannon was also making a personal goal for herself.

“I was teaching at Exeter and I saw a sign for a martial arts class. I made up my mind that by 30 years old, I would learn.” Cannon said.

Her goal would later be accomplished, when at the age of 30, Cannon enrolled in an all woman martial arts course. She eventually earned her black belt in Tae Kwon Do and continues her training in Fort Atkinson.

Cannon maintains that she loves the concentration that is involved in martial arts and the connection that exists between mind and body.

Following her position at Exeter, Cannon returned to UW-Madison for a job position, teaching English which lasted ten years. It was during this stretch that she would switch emphasis from English to Women’s Studies.

In 1997, Cannon came to UW-Oshkosh, but she didn’t leave Madison empty handed.

On the UW-Madison campus, Cannon met and fell in love with her soul mate, Jay.

“I was looking at the personals in a newspaper and I turned to the Women Seeking Women section and I wasn’t interested in any of those. So, I flipped the page to the Men Seeking Women section and found his ad.”

Liz and Jay soon became sweethearts and moved in together. They decided on a half-way point in between each others jobs. Jay works in Madison and Liz works in Oshkosh, so they decided that Columbus, was the perfect in-between location to settle down. They later wed on Dec 28, 2001.

As the years have gone by with Cannon teaching English and Women’s Studies on the UW-Oshkosh campus, campus organizations have begun to consume much of her free time.

Oshkosh’s Gender Equity Council was formed to help deal with women’s issues on campus and they put together a plan with the main focus being the construction of a Women’s Center.

Cannon was nominated to serve as director of the center which she happily accepted. So when it opened in September 2004, she stepped into that position while at the same time continued to teach.

“Liz put in 100% of herself in the Women’s Center. Liz became the face of the Women’s Center.” Amy Hardy, secretary for the Women’s Center said.

Meanwhile, the campus LGBTQ organization, Rainbow Alliance for HOPE, was seeking someone to act as an advisor, which Cannon, also took on.

“Liz is a great friend and an amazing woman full of confidence and know-how,” former HOPE President Jes Berndt said.

At the same time, Cannon also began participating as an instructor in the Rape Aggression Defense System, which is a women’s self-defense course available on campus, where Cannon’s past with Tae Kwon Do “comes in handy.”

Cannon soon found herself being stretched thin. She finally decided to step down from both positions. According to Cannon, it had gotten to the point where she had become a workaholic and began neglecting her relationship with Jay as well as her horse, Dave.

Despite this, the Women’s Center has been a pinnacle in her career and Cannon admits that getting it started has been her biggest accomplishment thus far.

At this stage in her life, Cannon is truly at a happy in all aspects of her life and has never been more confident in who she is.

Final Profile Draft

2006-11-28T22:59:00.000-06:00

Katie Amber Bunnow took the last name of Eric Raquet on Sept. 9, 2006. Her father attended the event even though the scars remained from his burns and one of his ears was completely missing.

The one thing everyone attending the immaculate wedding noticed about her father was the large smile on his face.

At the age of 17, Katie Raquet spent about one year living and bickering with her older brother Stevie Bunnow after a car accident left her father in Chicago’s intensive care unit, with their mother by his side.

Katie Raquet’s father, Steve Bunnow, took a part-time job driving a semi truck to earn enough money to buy snowmobiles for him and his son. Bunnow was driving in Chicago when a car cut him off, leading to his semi hitting a pillar of a bridge. The truck he was driving exploded and launched him through the windshield.

Suffering severe burns and broken bones, Katie Raquet said her father spent about one year in Chicago and an additional six months in Milwaukee recovering. During that period, her mother was a factory worker and spent the majority of her time by her husband’s side.

Katie Raquet said living without her father and mother was not only difficult financially, but that her brother was going through a “bad stage” in his life. She said he became a “big drinker” and a “pot head” at the age of 18 and would invite friends, sometimes exceeding 30, to party in their home while their mother was in Chicago.

However, the hardships and unhappiness of the past were washed away once she met, dated and married Eric Raquet.

“She is beautiful and funny,” Eric Raquet, 24, said. “That is a rare combination.”

Now Katie Raquet, 24, can be found wearing her pajamas, complimented by fuzzy slippers as she softly moves about the kitchen of her three-bedroom ranch house located in Howards Grove, Wis. At the height of 5 feet 4 inches, Katie Raquet needs to stretch her arms to reach the cupboards.

Her hands guide her brown bangs away from brown eyes when she throws her head back, her gleaming white teeth revealed when she lets out a good laugh. Friends of the couple are often found within the home, enjoying a drink and exchanging jokes.

“She is pretty funny…for a girl,” family friend Dave Royer said.

A former member of the Catholic Church, she now attends the United Church of Christ. Katie Raquet considers herself to be a “hardcore Republican” and enjoys a comfortable lifestyle as she continues to work.

She became a medical assistant at the age of 18 for the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs without any experience. The position she holds requires a degree and she joked they must have hired her “just for fun.”

Even though she enjoys the life she lives, Katie Raquet said she does feel disappointed that she never enrolled in a four-year college. Her voice softens and her eyes look towards the ground when she speaks about dropping out of Lakeshore Technical College during the process of becoming a dental hygienist.

With all her credits earned and only the dental program to complete, Katie said her current job of being a medical assistant was too good to let go. However, she still has ambitions to finish what she started.

Katie Raquet said her relationship with her family is much better. Both she and her brother have grown up and put their qualms aside, her father is healthy and happy to be alive, and she continues to better know the new members on her husband’s side.

Final Project Elements Used

2006-11-27T15:29:00.000-06:00

The article that I have chosen for this assignment is the obituary that I wrote on my mother, Sallie.

The elements that I plan to use are:

Links: These will be important to navigate through the presentation.

Text: Text and Links will go hand and hand.

Timeline: A timeline will be helpful to illustrate the life of Sallie. It will go from birth to death and highlight all the little things that happened in between.

Still Photos: Obviously this will be important to bring life to Sallie. Photos will not act as links, I think that may be confusing to the viewer.

Photo Gallery: This will be fun to combine all the still photos, so the user can pick and choose what they would like to view.

Slide Show: Along with the photo gallery, a slideshow will be effective in presenting an overall theme.

Video: Video will be important just as much as photos, as to illustrating a specific event or quality of Sallie.

Audio: This will be good especially in showing some of her stories or quotes that she often said.

Fact Boxes: This will help in getting important information across.

visusal media project elements

2006-11-27T12:50:00.000-06:00

I decided to use the nursing home article for my visual story telling project. Here are seven elements I may consider using.

The two print elements are texts and time lines:
1.Static text to describe or explain the issue.
2. Time lines: The time line will help provide background information on the nursing home.

The five digital/on line elements are:

1.Links: I will use a hot link on the web page for users to acquire additional information on the subject.
2. Charts: The use of charts will help explain the financial costs to the text payers.
3.Discussion board: A discussion board is a good tool to get feedback from residents on the nursing home project renovations.
4. Photo gallery: photos showing sketches off the renovation project both before and after will help people understand what the city is trying to accomplish.
5. Audio: Nursing home residents talking about the renovations

Rough Draft

2006-11-27T12:22:00.000-06:00

Walking tall with his head held high, not trying to prove anything to anybody, Ryan Gustafson, 22, jokes and chats to people he has never met and is instantly calm and himself to the strangers around him.

Gustafson, a Colorado native, hasn’t always been comfortable in his own skin. When he was a freshman in high school, he didn’t know which way to go with his life. Looking back he considers himself a bad son.

“I lied to my parents and did some serious drugs,” he said. “I was into some pretty shady stuff.”

As he entered his second year of high school, Gustafson found the real him with the help of some friends. He said he had some friends that were comfortable in their own skin. They also happened to be Christian.

Gustafson grasped on to this religion and believes the key to his happiness is just to be comfortable with himself and to be comfortable in his spirituality. Although he considers himself non-denominational, he enjoys attending different denominations services.

His motto enabled him to become a social butterfly at Ripon College. Over his four years, he has joined the Sigma Chi fraternity, played on the soccer team and his well known to all students on campus.

“When I came in (to Ripon) I was at a good place spiritually and ready to meet new people,” Gustafson said.

Born in Sioux Falls, Iowa Gustafson’s family moved to Grand Junction, Colo. where his father is a music professor and orchestra conductor at Mason State University and his mother works as a cardiovascular sonographer at a local hospital.

Although he is hundreds of miles from home, he never regrets his decision to attend Ripon College.

“I looked at a lot of liberal art schools on the west coast, and Ripon gave me a good deal,” he said. The distance has also enabled him to grow and have a lot of freedom, he said.

Gustafson’s dreams aren’t limited to what’s inside the box. He plans on obtaining a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and environmental studies along with a Spanish and possibly a math minor. Gustafson is already applying to grad school on the East coast where he wants to get his master’s and doctorate in water management.

His biggest goal in life is to become a water specialist. He envisions creating his own consulting business that represents communities that have been hurt by industries. In the mean time, Gustafson is content playing soccer with his friends, hanging out with his fraternity brothers and studying water.

Gustafson has reached many of his goals so far in his life, but he considers his biggest success as being his whole undergraduate experience to this point, he said. This past year he was nominated for the Rhodes scholarship and was internally selected. Although he wasn’t granted the scholarship, he considers it a great honor to even be nominated.

Although Gustafson enjoys the small town feel of Ripon, he misses being able to get something to eat at 10 p.m. He said the only thing in Ripon open late is the gas station.

“I love the small town feel of Ripon, but I want to live in a big city. It’s a significant part of the American experience, especially in a really old real city, like Boston,” Gustafson said. “But I would only live there for a few years, I like to walk through fields and hang out in the woods.”

Gustafson, an avid hunter, enjoys spending time at his parents’ two-story home overlooking the Colorado River and spending leisurely afternoons playing soccer with his friends in Ripon. But last spring, he did neither when he lived in San Jose, Costa Rico for four months working on a contaminated river.

Although he is only one person in a big world, he is personally convicted to doing good in the world. Whether it be helping a Costa Rican village or buying all his clothes from second-hand stores. He believes that his actions could enable others to do the same. Although Gustafson does admit to buying his shoes and pants first-hand.

Not aligned to any one political party, Gustafson tends to vote Democrat. But he feels that America needs a lot of work to make it a thriving country it use to be.

“I wish things were different in this country,” he said. Later in life, he may run for a small political office, he said, but for right now he is personally convicted to do something, just through the way he lives his life.

In five years Gustafson sees himself starting or being in his second year of his doctorate program. He envisions Harvard engineering or Colorado University.

“It all depends whom I have with me, my family and where I want to be,” he said.

Profile Final Draft

2006-11-27T12:15:00.000-06:00

As she sits down in her living room, preparing herself for an interview, Jessica Jane Beightol admires the art that covers the walls of her house.

She focuses on a charcoal drawing of a gasmask that she recently handed into her professor. While she thought it was one of her best works of the semester, her professor liked the drawing for other reasons.

“ I really liked the drawing,” Beightol said. “And then my professor came up to me and told me that it was one of the coolest looking dogs he’s ever seen.”

By displaying this painting, Beightol proves that art mimics life. Beightol is a girl who is not always understood by people and throughout the course of her life has been viewed many different ways. But just like a work of art, the more time a person spends trying to figure out the artist’s true intentions, the more rewarding their understanding of the work will be.

Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, Beightol shows off her artistic mind on the canvas that is her body. Multiple piercings cover her ears and she mentions that even more can be seen underneath her clothes. Her hair (which seems to change on a weekly basis) is currently red and flows down to shoulder length. Tattoos also help to cover the skin. Blue stars creep up the right side of her right foot and stop abruptly at her ankles and she is sure to show off a tattoo of two angles circling each other on her lower back in dedicated to her grandparents.

Whether it was growing up in the small town of Monroe, Wis. or the time she currently spends at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Beightol has always held an artistic view on life.

Born Sept. 30, 1984, in Superior, Wis., Beightol never got to know her biological parents. She was adopted when she was six months old and immediately moved to Monroe to live her life with a new family.

“A question people always ask me is if I’d ever really want to find out who my parents are,” she said. “ It’s like yeah it would be good to know who my parents are for biological reasons but I don’t have much of a desire beyond that.”

While her parents adopted her at a very early age, it was Beightol’s grandparents who took care of her throughout most of her life. Struggling to make ends meet, Beightol’s parents were constantly working to be able to pay off the bills. So she spent the majority of her time growing up in her grandparent’s home.

“I pretty much lived there all the way through high school,” she said. “ When I was young my grandparents always picked me up from school and when I got older I ended up getting a job at the local country club, which is where my grandpa also worked. Basically I was always around them.”

During her time with her grandparents, Beightol became strongly attached to her grandfather. She always looked toward her grandfather for knowledge and insight. Some of her fondest memories were the times when he would teach her how to play dice and cards.

She grew closest to him because her family is primarily conservative and share little enthusiasm for viewpoints that are not similar to theirs. With her laid back liberal views on many things in life, Beightol found it easiest to associate with her grandfather.

Last year Beightol faced the hardest time of her life when her grandfather would teach her one more lesson, how to deal with death. Not only did she have to deal with the loss of her first close family member but with loss of one of her greatest friends as well.

“Out of anyone in my family I am most like my grandpa and that means a lot to me,” she said. “It was one of the most tragic things in my life and it was really hard because he was the coolest family member I could relate to.”

Finding ways to relate to other people was hard for Beightol during certain periods in her life. With the coming of high school Beightol found herself not hanging out with the popular crowd.

“I was kind of like the Goth kid in high school or I was at least labeled with that clique,” she said. “A lot of the times I would just sit and read books because I wanted to get good grades and kids would not really give me the time of day.”

It was during her high school years that Beightol would first experiment with drugs. She started to smoke marijuana and while she says she has no regrets, her drug use did temporarily set her back.

“I just wanted to see what it was all about,” Beightol said. “But one day these two stoners ratted on me so they could make a quick fifty bucks and I got expelled for one semester of school.”

That event would be the catalyst for one of the darker times in Beightol’s life. That day she had to go home, face her parents and tell them the truth about what happened at school.

“My mom started crying and instantly made me go see a psychiatrist,” Beightol said. “And then when my mom told my dad what had happened he said that they should let me sit in jail.”

However, time would eventually heal all wounds and things would smooth over between Beightol and her family. Beightol is now able to look at the past situation with a sense of humor.

“It’s just one of those things the family doesn’t talk about anymore,” Beightol joked. “Luckily one of my cousins has become a huge drug addict, so everyone in the family has pushed my situation under the rug.”

Since attending UWO, Beightol has found it much easier to fit in. And while she definitely enjoys the life that college provides her, she still misses her closest friends from high school.

“All my friends now are in college and there really are no cliques anymore,” Beightol said. “But I met some people in high school that I know I’ll never meet people like that again. I really miss them.”

In 2008, Beightol will get to chance to make her parents proud when she hopes to graduate from UWO with a degree in film. Currently in her fourth year, Beightol is focusing hard on her film major and art minor. She hopes to someday be a cinematographer and work behind the scenes on big-budget films.

“I want to work on the artistic aspects of a scene,” Beightol says. ”I’d also like to do anything with Tim Burton. Anything with that really crazy claymation stuff I think I would find really interesting.”

Beightol is looking forward to fulfilling her potential in the future and hopefully someday landing the job of her dreams. With some of the obstacles she has already had to face in life, Beightol’s success seems like a very attainable goal.

Six way different
1) Gender
2) Adopted
3) Ethnicity-Hispanic/Caucasian
4) Different Majors- Journalism/Film
5) Divorce- My parents are separated hers are not
6) Expulsion-She has been I have not.

Profile Draft

2006-11-27T10:30:00.001-06:00

While Katie Sue Bowden may spend her days attending classes, followed by working at a local hospital as a certified nursing assistant, she knows where her life is headed. Her long-term goal, she says, is to glorify God. And how does she intend to do this? By “staying spiritually fit by reading the bible, hanging out with Christians, and doing what the bible says.”

For many years Bowden had planned on becoming a nurse, working in the U.S. for a couple of years, then heading back to her home, Brazil, where she would help with the healthcare of missionaries, such as her mother and father, who are missionaries there.

All of that changed two years ago when Bowden’s church, Calvary Bible, in Neenah, sponsored a missions trip to Zimbabwe. While Bowden never planned on going, “all of the pieces fell into place.” In Zimbabwe, Bowden embraced the culture and learned the ways of the natives there, consuming such delicacies as zebra.

During a visit to an AIDS orphanage in Zimbabwe, Bowden realized that, while she had a special place in her heart for Brazil, it was Africa where she wanted to work and show God’s love, by helping care for those in Africa suffering from AIDS.

Since her trip, Bowden has been to two medical missions conferences. At each one she has met with professionals who... (I will be speaking with Lindsay Bridich, who is a nursing student and friend of Katie’s. She also went with Katie to the medical missions conferences. I will also be speaking with Katie more and a member of her family).

rough profile

2006-11-27T10:11:00.000-06:00

Sitting in her desk she felt out of place and uncomfortable. The lesson plan was in a language she didn’t speak, and she knew there wasn’t going to be any help at home. Though My Lin was scared, she couldn’t help but feel that her future was full of more opportunities than anyone else in her family had ever had.

Born in South Vietnam in 1983, My was raised as the Vietnam War was coming to a halt. However, the end of the war didn’t mean everything went back to the way it had previously been. change The fact that she didn’t get to meet her father, a P.O.W. of the North Vietnamese army from 1982 to 1987, until she was four years old served as a constant reminder of the cost of war.

When the family was finally reunited the decision to emigrate to the U.S., under political asylum, was made quickly, and at the tender age of five, My first stepped onto American soil. The family eventually settled into a Vietnamese community in New Orleans, hoping to somewhat lessen the culture shock they felt every time they went out.

Though her parents never learned English themselves, they encouraged their youngest daughter to excel in school. “They were very strict. They couldn’t help me with my homework or read my report card, but my brothers kept them informed,” said My.

After three years of struggling through classes geared towards students for whom English was a second language, she was allowed to enroll in regular classes. She quickly took a liking to science saying, “I didn’t feel like I was at as big of a disadvantage in (science classes).”

Upon graduating from high school she enrolled in Louisiana State University-Health Science Center where, in the spring of 2005, she received her degree in pharmacology.
Unfortunately, the bliss of having found a career was to be short-lived, as once again her family was forced to uproot their lives and relocate, this time due to hurricane Katrina.

“It was really scary. We didn’t know where we were going to go, just that we needed to leave,” she said.

My and her family, along with thousands of others, fled to Houston where they were given a place to stay at a homeless shelter. Unsure of how long their displacement would last the family was hesitant to make any long-term plans, but shortly before Christmas they decided to make the move permanent.

“We really wanted to go back, especially my parents, but we weren’t sure how long it would take for them to fix (the city) or what would be there if we went back,” she said. “Eventually you just get tired of not having a home.”

My adapted to her new surroundings more easily this time, landing a job at an area Wal-Mart as a pharmacist, and providing for her parents as well as she can. “They don’t speak English, and in New Orleans they got a job because of the Vietnamese community, but here it’s different,” she said. “I keep paying the bills and telling them to try take English classes but they don’t really want to.”

While her parent’s assimilation may be a work in progress it appears that the transformation from a small, self-conscious girl who felt extremely out of place to a successful young woman living the American dream is almost complete.

Russ' rough draft

2006-11-26T23:46:00.000-06:00

Katie Amber Bunnow took the last name of Eric Raquet on Sept. 9, 2006, but her new lifestyle has not erased her experiences of feuding with her only brother, making an attempt at attending college and spending a year in sadness while her father recovered in a hospital room.

At the age of 17, Katie Raquet spent about one year living and bickering with her older brother Stevie Bunnow after her father had to spend that time in Chicago’s intensive care unit after being involved in a car accident.

Raquet’s father took the job of a part-time semi truck driver to earn enough money to buy snowmobiles for him and his son. Bunnow was driving in Chicago when a car cut-off him off, leading to his semi hitting a pillar of a bridge. The truck he was driving exploded and launched him through the windshield.

Suffering severe burns and broken bones, Raquet said her father spent about one year in Chicago and an additional six months in Milwaukee recovering. During that period, her mother was a factory worker and spent the majority of her time by her husband’s side.

Raquet said living without her father and mother was not only difficult financially, but that her brother was going through a “bad stage” in his life. She said he became a “big drinker” and a “pot head” at the age of 18 and would invite friends, sometimes exceeding 30, to party in their home while the siblings’ mother was in Chicago.

However, the hardships and unhappiness of the past were washed away once she met and married Eric. Raquet’s father attended the wedding of the two, and even though the scars remained from his burns and one of his ears was completely missing, the one thing everyone attending the immaculate wedding noticed about him was the large smile on his face during the event.

Now Raquet lives inside of a three bedroom ranch house located in Howards Grove, Wis. She is a former member of the Catholic Church and now attends the United Church of Christ. Raquet considers herself to be a “hardcore Republican” and enjoys a comfortable lifestyle as she continues to work and her husband holds a degree in engineering.

She became a medical assistant at the age of 18 for the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs without experience. The position requires a degree and she joked they must of hired her “just for fun.”

Even though she enjoys the life she lives, Raquet said she does feel disappointed that she never enrolled in a four-year college. She even stopped attending Lakeshore Technical College during the process of becoming a dental hygienist.

With all her credits earned and only the dental program to complete, Katie said her current job of being a medical assistant was too good to let go. However, she still has ambitions to finish what she started.

Profile draft

2006-11-26T23:32:00.000-06:00

Muhammad Sankari sets aside trays of spinach casserole and unfinished plates while he washes dishes at UW-Madison’s Memorial Union. He’s supposed to dump them, but he knows migrant workers in the kitchen can barely feed their families.

His first night on the job, he threw away trays of leftovers as instructed. Thinking about when he saw a Mexican custodian looking for the extra food still makes him sick.

Every day, Sankari, 18, walks alone around the city, on streets between his classes and near the lakeshore, just thinking and analyzing his life.

He came to Madison not only to get away from his house but to engage in an open-minded, progressive town. Coming from a religious Lebanese family in Oshkosh with a strong Arab heritage, he said the concept of justice and happiness is important to him because everybody deserves both.

“The fact that I have a different background growing up than everybody else, with parents who witnessed the highest form of injustice with a sectarian and religious war, changes my perspective,” he said. “My father was a shot as a civilian doing nothing, literally walking down the street. People are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Sankari has a soft but assertive voice. At 5’11 and 130 lbs, he walks smoothly and carefree in loose-fitting jeans and dark knit shirts. He has dark curly hair that touches his shoulders and patchy facial hair nearly forming a beard. When talking to him, people easily sense his intelligence and bigheartedness.

When she met him, longtime friend Hannah Hildebrandt, 20, said Sankari was unlike anyone she’d ever met. He doesn’t just accept things; if he has a problem with something, he’s going to do something about it, she said.

He has worked in a local food pantry and engaged in many demonstrations since his freshman year of high school. He has held signs in anti-war protests throughout the years and last summer, he went to Canada, showing resistance to Weyerhaeuser, one of the world’s largest logging companies.

“I’ll always look up to him for the courage he has to stand up against the crowd and do what he believed was right,” said his sister Nazek Sankari, 16. “Like in his first years in high school, he taped political cartoons (to his shirt) confronting the problems that the United States was creating in the Middle East. He’s very opinionated yet he still respects others who don’t agree with him. That’s why I look up to him so much.”

He was born on June 9, 1988 to Ahmad and Ghazwa, who moved to the United States to escape Lebanon’s civil war. With his sisters Nazek and Hadwat, 22, he grew up in an old house on Franklin Street. His warm home smells like Lebanese food and is decorated with Arab trinkets and rugs with Arabic writing.

His family visits Lebanon every three or four years, staying in Tripoli or a little mountain town where his grandparents live. When he goes there, he’ll swim in the Mediterranean Sea, go on five-hour hikes and mountain climb with his cousins.

Sankari hopes to someday return to Lebanon for an extended stay. “That’s where my roots are so I’ve always (wanted) to go back and change things,” he said. “It’s a beautiful country with some of the most unmatched beauty in the world. A lot of people there just inherited a (terrible) life and don’t deserve to have to live through it.”

Working with relief organizations in the Middle East or Africa is Sankari’s aspiration. He said his “life hasn’t accomplished anything – not enough. We are the creators of our destiny, so we’re given a blank slate and if you live a meaningless life, that’s all you’re going to have.”

Being around Sankari has influenced Hildebrandt “in every way,” she said. He taught her a lot about living simplistically and doing little things to make a big difference.

“When he talks to people, it’s like he’s really listening,” said Hildebrandt, a UW-Oshkosh sophomore majoring in sociology. “He’s really polite and I noticed that right away. He was always accepting of who I was and who other people are and I wish I could be more like that.”

Although he is easygoing, Sankari is the first to admit he has a short fuse.

“I hate ignorant people who hold no beliefs, or even worse, prejudicial beliefs, and do not know why they do or cannot back them up,” he said. “Things that make me angry can be political situations that I do not agree with or something as stupid as a pan being stuck together at work.”

Sankari becomes so frustrated that sometimes, over anything else, he prefers to be alone. “You wouldn’t really think that, but it’s just a part of him people have to accept,” Hildebrandt said. “He overanalyzes everything. If he doesn’t do it at first, he’ll eventually do it. He can’t just accept things (and) sometimes it gets in the way of him being happy.”

Even though he can become quickly irritable, Hildebrandt said that when she’s with him, he’s always up to doing anything.

“One time we went to thrift shops and found these crazy clown clothes,” Hildebrandt said. “We decided to go miniature golfing in clown clothes and clown hair. We were just having fun (with) a bunch of kids crowding around us. With him, I can just let loose.”

Nazek agreed. “He can lighten up the atmosphere around him and he just makes me laugh,” she said. “Plus he’s into changing things for the better and he’s so determined. He cares about the state of the Earth and treatment of people on the Earth.”

Sankari’s dishwashing shifts usually end around 11 p.m. He sets aside plates of spare food and nabs leftover cupcakes for his roommate. He always walks to his dorm room, daydreaming and contemplating life.

“I want to be able to help people who are in need, considering I have had a very comfortable life and never witnessed true suffering,” he said. “I want to travel around the world and experience what is really out there beyond what tourism agencies will show you.

And though it sounds kind of selfish, helping other people out also makes me feel good and I can’t deny that I want to do something that will make me feel good the rest of my life.”

Rough Draft from Cassandra

2006-11-26T23:09:00.000-06:00

Justyna Waszkiewicz Karatnik was afraid that she may walk into an empty house. She was scared her parents would be dragged off to prisons for plotting against the government.

Karatnik, 53, grew up in Czestochowa, Poland, under the iron rule of communism.

“My father was underground,” she said. “He was was helping the Polish guerrillas. People with different beliefs were disturbed by the government.” Karatnik spoke softly while stroking Scooter, her gray cat, who lounged lazily on her desk.

To avoid imprisonment, her father circulated information to polish guerrillas in an underground communication network after World War 2. The polish guerrillas were democratic forces conspiring to end the communist regime.

One day Karatnik's father received a tip from the guerrillas. His life was in danger. The communist police were plotting to pick him up and imprison him. Karatnik's father hid for a few months. Months later Karatnik's father emerged from his secret location. Communist police grew bored with the search and stopped looking for him.

The communist police had more important things to do with their time. Poland lay in ruins after the German bombing from World War 2. The communists were consolidating their power over the Polish people.

“Communism destroyed everything,” Karatnik said in a interview at the Oshkosh Howard Johnson.

Karatnik, a manager, sits behind a desk in her office. Papers lay on the desk in neat piles. Some notes are written in both English and Polish. Her office is the model of order and efficiency. A calender is nailed to the wall. Another calender rests on her desk. Both calenders are filled with her cursive scribbling, loaded with deadlines and things to do. Her life is devoid of the chaos that shaped her childhood.

“My parents were rich,” she said, her voice trembling with unpleasant memories from her childhood . “My family owned apartment building. My grandfather was a business owner, and he made office furniture.”

German bombers reduced the apartment buildings and the family business to rubble. Families lost documents attesting to their ownership of property and assets. After the German bombing campaigns, the polish communists confiscated private property.

Communists targeted the families of the educated and elite. After the war, communists moved forward with their plans for a classless society. Karatnik's family were members of the nobility; she is the descendant of Lithuanian aristocrats.

Karatnik downloads a photo from a polish web site, which shows the family coat of arms. The picture is the family crest, the rodzina Waszkiewicz herbu. The Waszkiewicz klan comes from a noble line for 400 years. The family crest has a cross on the breast plate, and on top of the breast plate rests a crown with feathers.

Looking down at the family crest picture, Karatnik is silent. Her green eyes are sad because she cannot remember what the symbols mean on the crests. Karatnik's father told her stories about the family crest as a child. But Karatnik tuned out the stories about her noble ancestry. Being a member of the educated elite was a badge of shame not honor under communism.

“I was very unhappy as a child,” Karatnik said. Communism invaded every part of their lives.

Polish families had little privacy, and the government gave them few choices over their lives. Like most Polish families, they were disenchanted with their living conditions.

“The government owned everything,” Karatnik said. With the communism system, families had very little dignity because they could not own anything.

Karatnik remembers her childhood home, a two bedroom flat with three rooms. Because space was limited in Polish homes, the living room was converted into a bedroom. The home had a kitchen and two bedrooms. Karatnik never had her own separate bedroom as a child; she shared a room with her two sisters. The family could not purchase a four room flat with their salary.

“Homes were in demand,” Karatnik said. People scrimped and save to purchase a flat in the government housing units.

Families were placed on a housing list after depositing their down payment with the government. Home buyers had no say in the location or style of home. When a vacancy occurred, buyers purchased the first home on the list.

“We never paid a mortgage,” Karatnik said. Homeowners were glorified renters. The family paid a one-time deposit, and then assumed all maintenance costs on a property. The government never released the deed to the property.

Not only was Karatnik unhappy about her cramped quarters, she was also frustrated with the lack of opportunities available to her in the communist school system.

“I was not considered privileged,” Karatnik said. “My parents were educated. The system was based (on who was) laborers or farmers.” Her parents were university educated economists. The sons and daughters of the educated elite were denied positions because of their family status.

She disliked school so much that her parents punished her for skipping school. Karatnik rather stay home or play at the park all day than attend the communist schools. She liked winter and summer breaks when she went to camp while her parents worked. Karatnik learned skiing and ballroom dancing. She felt free from the suffocating influence of communism at summer and winter camps.

Although Karatnik disliked the communist schools, she made good marks. She passed her high school comprehensive exams with a “B” average. She applied to study Slavic Languages at the University of Warsaw. Karatnik speaks Russian, Polish and German.

“I wanted to go study in Yugoslavia,” she said. “Everyone wanted to study there instead of Czechoslovakia.” At that time Yugoslavia was considered a part of the West where people could enjoy some freedom away from the repressive communism regime.

University officials denied her application to study in Yugoslavia, and she was enrolled to study Slavic Languages in the Czechoslovakia. Two years later Karatnik left school and worked full-time as a clerk for the dean of economics.

While working as a clerk, Karatnik befriended people who traveled to the United States. She was invited to come work in America to earn higher pay. As a clerk, she earned $13 a month. Karatnik was excited about coming to America but she knew the difficulty in obtaining a passport.

“The police decided to issue a passport,” she said. “They check your financial status. If you had a lot of money and property, then they knew people would come back to Poland.”

People without assets, like Karatnik, usually stayed in America. Fortunately for Karatnik, her friends had connections with the American embassy who asserted pressure on the police to issue the passport.

In the late 1980s Karatanik surrendered her polish identification to the police, and she was given a visa and passport to the United States. She worked as a live-in nanny for 18 months. During her employment as a nanny, she learned English. A decade later Karatnik married and became a U.S. Citizen. Today Karatnik is a hotel manager, and she has plans to move forward in her career.

“People in Poland were always studying,” she said. “They were always doing something to develop their skills. But there was no money.”

An oppressive communistic regime can no longer thwart her ambitions to build a better life. Karatnik smiles, watching Scooter leap off the desk. She is no longer a scared little Polish girl.

“Communism fell because people started to refuse the brainwashing. People stopped buying the communist propanda.”

NOTES: The ways I'm different from Karatnik.
1. I was born in America. She is a naturalized citizen.
2. I am allergic to cats. She is a cat lover.
3. I have two children. She has no children.
4. I liked going to school as a child. She did not.
5. I do not know how to ski or ballroom dance. She does
6. As a girl, I had my own room. Karatnik shared a room with her sisters.
7. I am a Black female, and she is White.
8. I speak only one language. She speaks four – Russian, German, Polish and English.
9. My family are common workers. I will be the first generation college graduate. Karatnik comes from a elite and educated family with noble roots.
10. I am divorced. She is married.

incredibly rough profile draft

2006-11-26T20:27:00.000-06:00

Carol Jean Bayer was shy, almost completely anti-social all the way up until high school. Her life would ultimately change in high school not only making her one of the most popular kids in school, but also pave the way to the career that she currently holds today.

Carol Bayer, born Carol Jean Anderson, grew up in Waupon, Wisconsin with three brothers: Dave, Jim and Bill, and parents Robert and Joyce. The Anderson household was Lutheran, and even though they weren’t very strict in their religion, they made up for it with good morals and good attitudes toward others. This would ultimately lead to her views on life in her adult years. “I sort of don’t belong to a specific religion, just Christianity. What matters, is how we treat others, not how and who we pray to,” said Bayer.

Growing up, Bayer was really quiet, even “painfully shy,” as she put it. She had a few select friends, but mostly kept to herself. She even got incredibly nervous when she had to meet and talk to new people.

When her sophomore year in high school came around, she found out that she had to take a speech class. Her entire grade in this class would be determined by a number of speeches that she had to give in front of the class. Her good friend Sherryl happened to be in the same class with her. At the beginning of the first class Bayer turned to Sherryl and said “This class is either gonna kill me or it’s gonna change my life.”

In response, Sherryl dared her to do her speeches on topics that were not like her at all. That’s exactly what she did. “I don’t like the way I am. I’m gonna change this,” said Bayer.

Walking into Mr. Schmit’s class, palms sweaty and incredibly nervous about what she was about to do, Bayer made her way to the front of class and proceeded to perform her first speech on the topic of the history of striptease. At the end of her speech, the entire class applauded and cheered at her.

This single event permanently changed Bayer’s social life. She started to open up to more people and talk to more people. By her senior year, she was one of the most popular kids in school, and even won a Student Services Award for her contributions to the school through clubs, committees and other school activities. Many of the popular boys even came to her for advice on girls. After a while of giving all of this advice, Bayer decided that she was destined to be a counselor.

After she graduated high school, Bayer went on to college at UW-Stevens Point where she graduated with a degree in Psychology and Sociology. She later went on to UW-Oshkosh for her master’s degree in Science and Education with an emphasis in School Counseling.

Bayer would eventually become a grade school counselor in the Fond du Lac School district. The bulk of her success can ultimately be attributed to that single speech class that she took her sophomore year in high school.

Very Rough Profile

2006-11-26T17:53:00.000-06:00

Linda Ling Ting was born into a very strict Asian culture and upbringing, which helped her become the woman she is today.
The 26-year-old, sports fanatic, shop-a-holic, video game playing Ting, or “TingLing” as her friends call her, was born in Brookfield, Wis., on Sept. 27, 1980 to two Chinese immigrants. Ting grew up in a very structured and incredibly strict environment, which instilled many of the values she still lives by today.

Ting and her older brother, enter name, lived very frugally throughout their entire childhood. Ting’s parents moved to the United States in the early 70s and always believed it was necessary to save all the money they could. Although her father is a chemist for Miller Brewing Company and Ting’s mother a biochemist, they never flaunted their wealth and even refused to allow cable television in their home.

The Hollister-clad Ting felt she was always pushed and pressured by her parents to be the best in school and at anything else she would participate in or she wouldn’t survive.

“If I brought home an A-minus on my report card from school, my parents would yell at me,” Ting said. “Small things like that have led me to always feeling pressure in my everyday life. Even in relationships and friendships I feel pressured to be accommodating and the perfect girl.”

Through all of their faults Ting’s parents were not a bad influence on her. They taught her to work hard now so she could taste the sweets of her success later in life. Being the youngest girl, Ting was the more spoiled of the two children. The extent of her spoiled life was limited only to materialistic things. “I got more stuff than my brother did, but my parents were always more strict on me because I was a girl,” Ting said.

Ting inadvertently uses some words wrong partly because she only speaks fluent Mandarin at home and never developed good grammatical skills. She also drives a Toyota Camry because her parents taught her that in Asia people work harder and take more pride in their work than they do in America.

She may have been taught that life was based on work and not fun, but Ting still loves to enjoy a nightlife of going out to Milwaukee bars and hanging out with her friends and boyfriend of one year, Brady, who she met at Kennedy’s in Milwaukee. It is not uncommon to see Ting stumble into work on a Friday morning with her brown hair frizzy, a redness surrounding her brown eyes, slumped posture, moving slowly and completely hung over because she was out a bit too late the night before with her friends.

I have to call her and acouple of other people tomorrow to add some more detail to the story.

example

2006-11-20T12:45:00.000-06:00

1. The incident is in an article of the November issue of Glamour magazine. It involves a woman from Tennessee that one day “snapped,” and shot her husband. The woman, her whole life, was very biblical, and the article brings to light how great this woman was her whole life, except for the day she shot her husband.
2. The reporter could only speak to her family that is on her side thinking that “Mary Carol could not bring pain to anyone,” said her father. So the article mostly shines light on how this woman probably had to of had a good reason to shoot her husband—not that she was a killer.
3. I’m writing about a gay friend of mine, Drew.
4. He has profile information on Myspace, and Facebook that shows many pictures of him and social settings and his profile also tells a lot about himself.

Profile (Black Pearl)

2006-11-20T12:18:00.001-06:00

The article I found for a profile was on Sacha Baron Cohen. (He's the actor playing Borat in the current popular movie).

Though a lot of media spotlight is on this man, I thought the following quote really brought out a new side of the ever-daring and shameless actor:

"I remember, when I was in university I studied history, and there was this one major historian of the Third Reich, Ian Kershaw. And his quote was, 'The path to Auschwitz was paved with indifference.' I know it's not very funny being a comedian talking about the Holocaust, but I think it's an interesting idea that not everyone in Germany had to be a raving anti-Semite. They just had to be apathetic."

The subsequent observation by the writer also shed new light on the man:

Baron Cohen doesn't make this grand statement with confidence. He makes it shyly, as if he's speaking out of turn. It's interesting to watch Baron Cohen get bashful, because it is the exact opposite of the characters he portrays.

I felt, overall, that this was one of the most intersting things to see, read or here about Sacha since his movie came out. He seems to be so silly and foolish, yet this article and quote really showed a more intelligent, calculating persona. It made me appreciate that he had a method to his comedy and actually was serving to prove things about racism instead of just using it for a cheap laugh. The part about him being shy was also a black pearl because no one who saw his movie or live interviews would ever, ever get that impression. The article did a great job of showing just how little people really know about a man who is seemingly everywhere in the media.

I mean, I guess it shows a more human side to the reader, kind of like the "man inside the clown outfit" type of information.

The writer did a good job of informating people about the movie and Sacha's thoughts about the movie. This catored to the broad public interest. However, he also did a good job of shedding light and going deeper into who Sacha really was. The writer did this by inserting deeper tidbits inbetween summaries about the movies and explanations of outside events. It didn't seem like the writer pressed any issues either. He more or less allowed Sacha to naturally and aimlessly tell his story and reveal things without being pressured.

These are things I hope I can duplicate in my story.

For my profile article that I'm going to write, it will be on Michael Lawerence, he's a friend of mine who is also a student here (same age) and a community advisor on campus. He is a black student from Milwaukee, WI.
Facebook: Yes
Myspace: No
NoBlogger: No
Google: Yes, Advance Titan article
Google Images: No
Youtube: No
CCAP: No

Profile Example

2006-11-20T11:49:00.000-06:00

Esquire magainze
Confessions of an Average Man
http://www.esquire.com/features/articles/2006/060610_mfe_June_06_Hanks_4.html

I choose to do my example on Tom Hanks from an old issue of Esquire.

"After I was remarried, my mom and I started having some longer talks, and I saw her in a completely different way. I realized that instead of being a convenient thing for her or my dad to do, breaking up the family was really an act of desperation that caused both of them all sorts of pain. Oh, I see, they did what they had to simply to retain their sanity. "

The incident helps illuminate Hanks relationship with his mother and the way he wanted his marriage to work out. After his first marriage was a tough experience, but it gave him two wonderful children. And after he remarried, he realized what his mother did for him and his siblings. He said that his mom would marry three more times, until she got it right with number five. Hanks saw her marriages fail and knew what he wanted in his marriage and that's why his marriage to Rita Wilson has continued to thrive in a world where Hollywood marriages are finished quicker then they started.

Hanks was talking about the film that he did with Wilson and he said he looked at her and knew that she was the one for him. But he was married at the time, and that his marriage was young and difficult and he knew he couldn't deny his feelings for Wilson.

I will be doing my article on my sister's boyfriend, Ryan Gustafson.

Since he attends Ripon College I found some information when I googled him through there. He actually lives in colorado, so I'm not sure how much information i can get from some of these sites, plus there are mulitple Gustafson's around the country.

Example

2006-11-20T11:44:00.000-06:00

1. I chose an article titled “A Barber Who Won’t Cut It Close” in the Nov 13 issue of Sports Illustrated.
2. The Black Pearl is that he announced he, Tiki Barber, will retire at the end of the season though he led the league in rushing last year and is doing so again in 2006. What makes it interesting is the quotes by former players about how they would never have walked away while still in their prime. These quotes are then followed with detailed about the amount of surgeries they’ve had or the difficulties they have walking, sleeping, etc. One example I especially was the quote by Jim Otto, “I don’t quite know why Tiki is quitting. Maybe being a Super Bowl champion isn’t that important to him.” This is followed by explaining that since retiring Otto has had more than 60 surgeries. The fact that Otto still didn’t understand Barber’s decision to retire with his health still somewhat intact illustrates how much of an exception to the rule Barber’s choice really was.
3 I think the writer obviously had heard of Barber’s announcement , it was fairly well publicized, and decided to contact some former players about the choice. He may have not even done this, but rather just lifted quotes by the former players made to other publications.
4. I’m going to try and do my piece on My Lin, a college student from Veitnam.
5. She had actually stayed with my family while doing an internship a few years ago, so contacting her won’t be too big of a problem. Given the common nature of her name it’s difficult to determine what may or may not be about her online. She has a clean CCAP record, but she is on myspace. I’m primarily going to be counting on contacting her and seeing where this takes me.

profile example

2006-11-20T10:59:00.000-06:00

Rolling Stone
Fergie Dances With Herself
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/fergie_dances_with_herself/page/1

The profile that I chose is about Stacy Ferguson, singer for the Black Eyed Peas. The "black pearl" that i chose was this:

Fergie loves hip-hop, but she has always known she's an outsider. "In junior high I was fascinated by gangsta rap," she says, sipping a caipirinha. "I was suburban, yet I had glimpses from where I lived. I'm hearing all the stories about what was going on in East L.A. and South Central, looking at it from the outside. I think I come from a whole generation of that. That's why a lot of people can relate with me, because they lived that, too. Seeing it but not really living it. So there weren't any of the negative consequences to the guns and all of that. It was just interesting and sexy."

I think this helps to show Ferguson's place in the music industry. One might think "how did this white suburban chick get into the Black Eyed Peas?" Well yes, she did grow up in a suburban area, as the article shows, but she also had close contact with the "gheto."

I think the reporter came across it one of two ways. Either they were asking questions about her past and where she grew up, or they might have asked a similar question to the hypathetical one above.

My profile article:
I will be writing about my Mother for my profile article.
I was unable to find anything on a google search and I only found one thing on CCAP, which was an Informal Probate for when my grandfather died. I was able to find her at peopledata.com. It listed her birthdate, a couple of her addresses and a couple of her phone numbers. I am also able to find her in the phone book.

Profile example: Barack Obama

2006-11-20T10:46:00.000-06:00

TIME MAGAZINE
October 23, 2006
Why Barack Obama Could Be The Next President (Cover Story: The Fresh Face)

Just then there is a ripple through the crowd, then gasps, cheers and applause as Obama lopes into the gym with a casual, knees-y stride. "Missed ya," he says, moving to the microphone, and he continues greeting people over raucous applause. "Tired of Washington."

There's a sly hipster syncopation to his cadence, "Been stuck there for a while." But the folksiness pretty much disappears when he starts answering questions. Obama's actual speaking style is quietly conversational, low in rhetoric-saturated fat; there is no harrumph to him. About halfway through the hour-long meeting, a middle-aged man stands up and says what seems to be on everyone's mind, with appropriate passion: "Congress hasn't done a damn thing this year. I'm tired of the politicians blaming each other. We should throw them all out and start over!"

"Including me?" the Senator asks.

A chorus of n-o-o-o-s. "Not you," the man says. "You're brand new." Obama wanders into a casual disquisition about the sluggish nature of democracy. The answer is not even remotely a standard, pretaped political response.

Writer Joe Klein describes an incident with Obama on the campaign trail, which I feel reveals what people like most about the politician and how he is very straightforward and charismatic. At a college gymnasium on a Saturday morning, almost a thousand people attended a town meeting to see their senator. Klein came across this detail because he traveled with Obama.

Klein’s description of Obama at the beginning of this profile is representative of Obama’s
Character throughout the entire article. Obama, while respectful and candid, tries to steer away from extreme views and he reaches out to the conservative side of the spectrum. He is empathetic and takes all arguments into account.

For my profile:
A man named Rahim who is going to UWO for his MBA. He isn't a U.S. citizen.
There are no Google results.
No listings on Peopledata.com or the others.
This guy cannot be stalked on the Internet.
He basically doesn't exist except for his phone number in the student directory.
atahar44ATuwosh.edu

I worked with Rahim over the summer at the university. We have had numerous discussions and are complete opposites. He finds it amusing that I am a vegetarian; he thinks it's ridiculous. He is muslim, pro-capitalism, pro-militarism, male, is very tall and slim, from Uzbekistan, and was a professional ping-pong player in his country. He is a businessman, and business is not something I know anything about.

Degrees of Separation

2006-11-20T10:39:00.000-06:00

1. Profile on Shawne Merriman in Sporting News Shawne Merriman: "Lights Out" has shone brightly. The black Pearl in the story is the fact that Merriman has a tattoo of his nickname on his arm "Lights Out". Although recently Merriman has been suspended for 4 games because he used a banned substance, Merriman is a very lights out football player. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_48_229/ai_n15890000/pg_1
2. I think that his tattoo is a "Black Pearl" It describes him well. The article goes through some of his recent games. Merriman is one of the most dominant linebackers in the game today. The Tattoo is on his forearm, it is a picture of a hand turning off a light switch above the picture it says "Lights Out” Before his suspension he was tied for the lead in sacks.
3. The Tattoo is on his forearm I’m guessing he saw it and asked him about it.]
4. Jessie Malcolm
5. I did not find anything on her at CCAP I also could not find anything on Google. She does have information on Facebook and Myspace.

Six Degrees of Seperation

2006-11-20T07:42:00.000-06:00

1.My article is from the New Yorker about Barack Obama, titled,"How the son of a Kenyan economist became an Illinois Everyday man."

2. The black pearl in the article begins with Barack Obama sitting between two gravestones. He is weeping at his father and grandfather's graves in rural Kenya. Obama is crying because he barely knew his father, and he never met his grandfather. Obama learns about his father's side of the family after tracking down their history and writing a book. The incident describes how Obama lives in a world where he doesn't quite belong. He isn't white, and even with his light brown skin Obama is not considered "black enough."

3. The reporter came across the detail reading Obama's book, titled, "Dreams from My Father."

4. I will be writing about Justyna Karatanik and Michael Kuany. Both Karatnik and Kuany are naturalized citizens. Kartanik is from Poland, and Kuarny was born in South Africa.

5. So far I've discovered Karatnik has a file in CCAP. She is a manager of a hotel so her name is often listed in connection with hotel business. I find another address for her in Oak Park and Berwyn, Illinios from people.lookup. I did a google search, and there were a several entries written in polish. I can ask her about those when I interview her.

Russ' black pearl

2006-11-19T22:24:00.000-06:00

1) I found an article about Tony Bennett in Time magazine. The profile was about Bennett turning 80 years old and how he is still performing. The “black pearl” was that his son helped him rejuvenate his career 15 years ago.

2) The incident is that Tony Bennett’s son said he needed to pair with newer artists to feel fresh. However, his famous style still had to survive. There is even a quote from Danny Bennett in the first paragraph describing his involvement in keeping his dad fresh.

3) I think the reporter might have met Tony Bennett to just do an article about him turning 80 and to promote is upcoming musical endeavors. I think the reporter might have asked why Tony started collaborating with artists before and he might have mentioned his son’s involvement. Then the reporter must have sought out his son for an interview.

4) I will write my next article about a woman named Katie Raquet. While I have been attending UW-Oshkosh, she married a close friend of mine. She is different than me is six ways and I can use this article as an opportunity to know her better. We have never talked personally or privately before and I think I might be able to find that “black pearl” we are all looking for. I would prefer to talk to someone who is a different race than me on campus, but the Thanksgiving break and the hectic schedule before that makes it difficult. In addition, this interview could last for quite some time, so personally meeting with someone is preferred by me.

5) I am unsure of the correct spelling of her maiden name, so I will try her husband Eric Raquet and the name Katie Raquet for my searching.

• Both her and the husband have a clean record on CCAP.
• I checked everything listed on the sheet besides the websites involving UW-Oshkosh and I found nothing.

Eric Raquet’s current address is still not available online. I can find his parent’s home, but not his house in Howards Grove. Since they are both young and a new couple, I did not expect to find much. I still think she will be a good interview. Everybody has their own unique story.

Katie is a woman, she is Republican, older, shorter and a different weight, financially well off and she is married. Those are six things and I am sure I can think of more. I am pretty sure I can dig up something in her past.

Profile Example

2006-11-19T20:49:00.000-06:00

1. The article that I chose is about jazz legend, Miles Davis. Currently, there are talks about transforming his life into a film, much like Johnny Cash in Walk the Line and Ray Charles in Ray.

2. The black pearl that is used in this article concerns Quincy Troupe, who was Davis's collaborator, friend and protege, and is now adapting a screenplay from his memoir, Miles and Me. The actual black pearl, in my opinion is the statement:

"The Prince of Darkness, as he became known, ranted so much about race and prejudice that some acquaintances believed he was the one with racial prejudice. (Though, as Mr. Troupe noted, Davis never balked at working with white musicians. And he was romantically involved with several white women.) He often performed with his back to his audience, and berated fans who dared approach him."

It works to illuminate the the subject in showing and illustrating the racial lines that Miles Davis had to work within and how he handled himself within those lines.

3. The reporter came across it, in my opinon, by simply observing Miles Davis himself.

4. I am planning on writing about Liz Cannon, a professor in the English department who is also into Women's Studies and once ran the Women's Center.

5. I will be able to hopefully find out the basics from online sources and newspaper articles describing her contributions to the Women's Center.

Profile example

2006-11-19T20:14:00.000-06:00

1) I used Ed Bradley's CBS interview with Tiger Woods because he discusses his school that he set up and I dont think many people know all the things Tiger does to help out kids, not only in his community but around the nation.

2) Bradley goes along wth Tiger on the first day in which the school is opened. I thought the article was intresting because Tiger explains that he set up this center because there were so many influential adults in his life and he wanted to be able to provide a safe haven for children to learn and play. A place in which they could call their own. People always hear about how much Tiger wins and how much money he makes but few realize how classy of a person he is and all the things he does to give back to children and the game of golf.

3) Bradley obviously knew about it before hand but but the I dont think the average person does. I believe that one of the purposes of this interview was to specifically ask questions about the school so that people would know what Tiger is doing to give back to his community.

4) I will be writing about my cousin Stacey Warner

5) Since I am going home for break I will have the chance to go talk and interview her. If I need any extra information I will find it on facebook or myspace.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/23/60minutes/main1433767.shtml

Profile example

2006-11-19T19:51:00.000-06:00

1. I read the story "Size Matters" by L. Jon Wertheim in the Oct.9, 2006 issue of Sports Illustrated. It is about boxer Nikolay Valuev, and covers him leading up to his title fight that weekend.

2. The incident in his life which I feel is a black peral is how he "stumbled" his way into boxing. He wasn't a natural athlete and was uncoordianted, but his basketball coach's wife saw the size of him and asked him to lace up some boxing gloves and give the sport a try. He had never thought of boxing before and said he had never even punched anybody in his life. By meeting his coach's wife he got a start in his succesful career as a professional boxer.

3. I think the reporter came across the story semi-easily. He just had to ask a few questions about his childhood, what sports he was involved in and how he got his start in boxing. Valuev then, most likely, revealed to him how and when he had gotten his start as a boxer.

4. I am going to write my article on my boss at ESPN Radio Milwaukee, Linda Ting.

5. I can check where she lives, if she has any legal history like lawsuits or criminal offenses. I added her as my facebook friend, and I will be able to learn more things about her personal life when she adds me as her facebook friend. She does not have a myspace anymore because she thought it got too creepy. I found out some information about her job and how long she has worked as promotions director at ESPN Milwaukee. I am sure with some more research, I will be able to find more information about her.

Profile Example

2006-11-17T09:59:00.000-06:00

1. The profile I chose is from Time magazine and is on Nancy Pelosi. This profile was written before Pelosi was chosen to became the first woman House speaker.

2. I think the "black pearl" of this article is, while 66-year-old Pelosi looks like a nice, sweet lady who brags about her grandkids - when it comes to politics, however, she is very aggressive, and by the sound of it, rather intimindating. She has insisted that House Democrats avoid compromising with Republicans and vote party line on everything. This helps illuminate that she takes her job seriously and while she may not appear to have an agenda, she does. This profile shows that she is not afraid to be in a leadership role.

3. I think the reporter came across this info through observations and interviews. He says a number of times "she said to me..." or "Pelosi told TIME," so it sounds like she was personally interviewed for this profile. Pelosi's quotes definitely add to her profile. One quote includes: "Anybody who's ever dealth with me knows not to mess with me." This just adds to the article, basically saying that she is tough, and you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

The reporter also mentions her political history and her history of making clumsy remarks, showing all around what kind of personality Pelosi has.

4. I will be writing about UWO student Katie Bowden.

5. The only information about Katie that I could find online was from Facebook. She is a nursing major and is conservative. She grew up in Brazil because her parents are missionaries there. She is in such groups as Fourth Floor Fletcher, Medical Missions, Titan Christian Fellowship and Jesus Christ is My Hero.

black pearl assignment

2006-11-15T14:40:00.000-06:00

When you first meet Nicole Marie Hartman, you instantly like her. She is real, warm and natural. She is the girl most women love to have as a best friend. Hartman speaks in a soft voice.

But don’t let that fool you. Hartman is authoritative. She is a young woman with drive, energy and focus. More than that, Hartman is an independent thinker.

Hartman was born in Lakenheath, England while her father served a stint in the Air Force. Of her two siblings, Hartman is the only one born outside the United States.

Since her birth, Hartman has fearlessly pursued her own path. She is courageous as well as tenacious.

She contacted housing authorities to force her landlord to comply with housing rental rules. When the landlord made an unannounced visit, Hartman sent a polite email to her landlord. Hartman told him that state laws required him to give tenets a minimum of 12 hours before entering the premises.

Hartman loves a good fight but most of all she wants to be fair. While Hartman ensured that people aren’t taking advantage of her or others, she tries to treat others with kindness.

Profile on Cassandra

2006-11-15T14:26:00.000-06:00

Just a brief conversation with Cassandra Suzzette O’ Neal shows the bond between she and her sister, Stephanie Callicott. However, things have not always been this way.

It wasn’t until O’ Neal and Callicott grew-up that they started experiencing that “special bond between sisters.”

Growing up as the oldest of four children in a working-class home, O’ Neal often took on the authority role to her siblings saying, “I wasn’t the fun one,” with a chuckle.

O’ Neal’s other siblings, meanwhile, were rather close. Callicott and her brother Terrance in particular were known for stirring up trouble. During one occasion, Terrance, who disliked his mother’s smoking habit, replaced the tobacco in his mother’s cigarette with firecracker powder. Instances such as these, in which Stephanie was in on the plan, kept the two of them close.

Callicott “needed an emotional connection to a female family member,” after giving birth to her first child, and since she was not comfortable turning to her mother, she turned to O’ Neal.

Ever since then, Callicott and O’ Neal have remained close. They talk regularly, but if some time goes by and they are not able to speak, the next time they make sure to catch up, and can be on the phone for hours

profile on Russ

2006-11-15T14:22:00.000-06:00

When Russ Plummer saw the news magazine The Voice at UW-Sheboygan, he knew he could join without screwing anything up – the small campus paper wasn’t high quality.

He joined a mix of ragtag, unpaid journalists. His paper’s staff included: African American, handicapped, Asian and Hispanic non-traditional student reporters and a Daily Show-loving liberal professor as an adviser. The student editor was an Army veteran who wore camouflage pants everyday and was disagreeable to most people.

A lot of times The Voice didn’t use AP style, couldn’t afford a lot of pages and nothing newsworthy happened on campus to write about, but this paper made Plummer, 21, want to become a journalist.

He transferred to UW-Oshkosh and while he was shocked to see a publication that actually resembled a newspaper, he didn’t apply for a reporting position right away; he instead submitted statements to the Gripe Line.

But eventually, this 6’2” student with unkempt brown hair put on a dress shirt and tie and walked down to the Advance Titan office. Usually seen in video game or pro-wrestling T-shirts, he wanted to make an impression. The editor in chief wore a ratty shirt and jeans, however, and was impressed with Plummer’s ostensible professionalism as well as his clips from The Voice.

“I want to have a job that’s impactful, that makes a difference somehow,” Plummer said. “I believe journalism can do that.”

While he doesn’t think any of his news pieces have changed a lot, some of his steady submissions to the Gripe Line have actually fixed things on campus. He made fun of a tree split down the middle behind Polk Library and a few days later saw the university chopping it down.

“People are trying to cure cancer and solve world hunger while I’m trying to focus on my hatred for MTV,” Plummer said.

He made a gripe about seeing Reeve Union’s MTV-U televisions turned on when the building was no longer open to students. This has probably been changed.

black pearl

2006-11-15T14:20:00.000-06:00

Many of us know Miles Burke Maguire, the 51-year-old journalism professor that teaches at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. But few of us know the true story of the legendary Baltimore Sun journalist and the experiences he had while writing for the Sun.

Miles has worked at the university for six years and has been showing kids the way to journalism immortality ever since. However, before he was a teacher Miles worked at the Baltimore Evening Sun. He started his journalism career at the sun as a copy editor.

“I actually wanted to be a reporter,” Said Miles. “ Being a copy editor was boring.”

Miles would get his wish soon enough and would become the maritime reporter for the Baltimore Sun, and it was his times as a reporter at the Sun which would prove to the most memorable to him.

He recalled a time where a ship had come into port but was put under arrest due to illegal operations.

“Many people don’t know that a ship can be put under arrest,” Miles said. “But it can be put under arrest for things like not paying its bills and then there anchored at the port until things are cleared up.”

Miles knew he had to get the story but had no way of getting aboard the anchored vessel.

“I remember talking this coast guard officer into letting me bored his ship,” Miles said. “When we got close to the ship I suggested that we go aboard and take a look.”

After convincing the coast guard officer to go along with his plan, Miles climbed up the netting and boarded the ship.

“I knew there was a story there,” Miles said. “But I knew I needed an interview to have a story.”

Even though the chinese captain only spoke a small amount of english, Miles still got his story.
And after it's publication in the sun it had enough impact to be recognized by the Washington Post.

profile on Kelly

2006-11-15T14:16:00.000-06:00

Kelly Kristine Ziesemer was born in Kenosha Wisconsin. She’s 22-years-old, and if she died tomorrow, she would want to be remembered as an optimistic individual.

She loves sports and definitely likes to have a good time. Her girly side enjoys wearing makeup, but on the other hand she loves to watch the Green Bay Packers, especially Brett Favre—a window cling of him hangs in her car window.

Smelling of orange-flavored bubble gum, and dressed in casual clothes Kelly lives a chaotic lifestyle, but makes it laid-back in her own way.

The summer of 2006 she beat out her competition and got a Public Relations internship with EAA. She had an important position dealing with the media, and any mishaps that occurred. This was an important responsibility that made Kelly proud of herself to this day.

She always saw herself being married by the age of 25, and for sure by 35. In May, when she graduates, she sees herself possibly moving with her boyfriend wherever he may find a job, and living happily ever after.

Profile on Jill

2006-11-15T14:12:00.001-06:00

xxx

Brandon watchs TV

2006-11-15T14:10:00.000-06:00

Brandon Oechsner, 25, grew up in Burnett on a farm where his dad later raised chickens, roosters, geese, and peacocks. On one specific occasion, Brandon remembered a peacock walking across the yard. What Brandon found out from this event is the kind of noises that peacocks make, which were loud, yelling, screeching noises.

From an early age, Brandon was always extremely interested in television. Living on a farm, he and his sister were unable to watch cable, so they could only watch what the antenna on their roof would pick up. Living in Dodge County, they were able to watch local television stations out of Green Bay, Milwaukee and Madison. If the night was clear and humid enough, they could even pick up stations out of Chicago.

Growing up, Brandon and his family didn’t own a VCR, so they were unable to tape shows that they liked. Around the age of 10, Brandon found himself getting up close to the television and recording his favorite television shows with a tape recorder. He would listen to these shows over and over again while at the same time, acting as if he was running his own television station by trying to time correctly where to put breaks for commercials.

This huge interest in television is what has brought Brandon to where he is today with a major in Radio/TV/Film with hopes of working for a television station, possibly working in the master control room, being the one that makes sure the station runs correctly.

Black Pearl

2006-11-15T14:09:00.001-06:00

It would be strange to describe a Milwaukee suburb native as country, but that is the one word that could describe Greg Koch. From the kind of vehicle he drives to the type of music he listens to.

For a reason that Koch cannot describe he has always wanted to live in the south. Tennessee or Texas would be his dream place to live. Even though he has no idea what its like living in the south or the country. "I've just always wanted to be a southener," said Koch.

Everything about him is country. Tim McGraw is his favorite singer; his favorite chew is Red Man; he drives a pickup truck; and he has a southern accent when he drinks.

Even though his hobbies don’t include coon bashing, 4-wheeling or fixing old tractors he still considers himself country.

Kate's Black Pearl

2006-11-15T14:09:00.000-06:00

As a young girl, Kate Briquelet thought she was Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz.”

Her obsession with Dorothy continued through her years and she even still has a dress similar to hers stored away.

When Halloween arrived this year, Kate hit the streets adorning the garb once worn by Judy Garland.

The only thing that seems to rival her obsession with the fictional character is her boy crazy attitude.

It took two boys in high school to turn a carnivore into a vegetarian who now walks the edge of being a vegan.

As a member of the “Madrigals,” a choir group dressed in medieval costume, Kate developed a crush on a boy.

The group attended a dinner were ham was the main course. After the joyous event, Kate was going in for a big kiss and he denied her due to her consumption of ham that evening.

After that little fling, Kate also dated a vegetarian who had an influence on her life decision.

Kate gave up meat to meet meaty men.

Black Pearl

2006-11-15T13:50:00.000-06:00

Change, in a lot of ways, is intimidating. It is unpredictable. It is constant. Sometimes, change is downright scary.

Not for everyone however.

Ann DeVillers, 22, is, in some ways, finally starting to feel comfortable in her own skin. As a confident, outspoken and inquistive senior in college, she bares almost no resembelence - both in physical appearance and with personality - to the girl she used to be.

The girl she used to be, in fact, was quiet and shy. Also, Ann, implying that she's changed both on the inside and out, says in a way that showcases her new found confidence, "I didn't always used to look like this."

High school was forgettable at best for her. With few friends and a small town high school that did nothing for her self-esteem, she was eager to start over.

And she did.

A move to Oshkosh was, as she put it, a "way to reinvent" herself. Both physically and mentally, Ann arrived at college with a new look. Confidence and friends grew steady as she went out Freshman year and put the ugly memories of high school behind her.

No longer was Ann just watching the surrounding world swirl by her from the outside. She was now in it. She was now experiencing it.

As it turns out, she also plans out reporting about it.

Now in her Senior year, Ann is planning to become a journalist (which, one would suppose, isn't exactly the line of work for a shy person). This expected career, above all else, sheds light on just how different she has become. At one time, she would avoid talking to people and wanted to blend into the shadows. Now, however, she will one day be going out of her way to talk to people and to be the voice for others.

Change, no doubt, has been good to Ann.

black pearl

2006-11-15T13:49:00.001-06:00

Andrew Pantzlaff, 21, has lived in a small town all his life. He was born in the small town of Morrison, Wisconsin and gradated from the roaring populous of Denmark High School and is attending now attending the UW-Oshkosh which is located in the heart of the metropolitan city of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

But on a recent trip to New York City, Pantzlaff found himself surrounded by tourists and commuters on a leisurely walk through the city and discovered his inner New Yorker.

His sense of perception was heightened as taxis zoomed past him on the bustling streets. He thwarted pickpockets and vendors trying to sell him hot merchandise by keeping aware of his surrounding, but yet enjoying the city lights of Time Square and the enchantment of the Statue of Liberty.

Although he’s a country boy at heart, Pantzlaff’s inner New Yorker is ready to take on New York and the world.

black peral

2006-11-15T13:49:00.000-06:00

Travis Koch grew up in the rural town of Brandon, Wis., with nothing much to do and nowhere to go.

“There was never anything to do before I had a car,” Koch said. “There was nowhere to go and nothing to do living out in the middle of nowhere like I did.”

Koch remembered watching horror movies as a youngster at his grandmother’s house with his uncle. To this day, Koch does not eat bananas because of a scene he saw that the villain, Jason, stabbed a woman in the neck while she was eating a banana. The woman proceeded to cough up the banana, and Koch has steered clear of the fruit ever since.

Although he lived what he called a “sheltered life” in a small community, Koch formed close bonds with his friends and was very active in sports. He was involved in football land track for four years, and basketball for two. He parlayed his high school track prowess into a collegiate pastime, participating in the track team at his college for two and a half years, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Koch hung up his track shoes and turned his focus to academics at UW-Oshkosh where he double-majored in history and journalism. He met his girlfriend one month ago at the French Quarter, a local bar near the UW-O campus. In his spare time, Koch likes to watch football on Sundays and play first-person shooter video games.

Koch still won’t eat those bananas.

Black Pearl of Mike Bayer

2006-11-15T13:48:00.000-06:00

Michael Ryan Bayer has traveled. Whether it was a jaunt through the western United States, like Washington and Colorado or the European terrain of Monaco and Tuscany, this guy has been around.

On his recent journeys, something has been accompanying him, a gift from his mother that he had received about five years ago for his birthday. The item was a simple black zip-up hoodie.

“It’s the item of clothing that I’ve worn more than any other item of clothing that I own.” Bayer says. The hoodie has gone with him wherever he has gone, accompanying him on his travels and seeing him through the changes in his life.

Having washed it once in five years, the hoodie has endured alcohol spills, cigarette smoke and general wear and tear, all the while being there when Mike has endured any pain, frustration, happiness and anticipation in his life.

final project

2006-11-15T12:53:00.007-06:00

nursing home

final project

2006-11-15T12:53:00.006-06:00

is going to be my profile story

Russ' Final Project

2006-11-15T12:53:00.005-06:00

I will use my football article for my final project.

final project

2006-11-15T12:53:00.004-06:00

I will use my football sotry for my final project.

Final project

2006-11-15T12:53:00.003-06:00

for the final project, I'll be doing the obit on my grandpa.

Final Project

2006-11-15T12:53:00.002-06:00

I am doing the final project based off of my obit for my uncle.

final project

2006-11-15T12:53:00.001-06:00

I will use my obituary for the final project.

Final Project

2006-11-15T12:53:00.000-06:00

Concert

Final Project Article Choice

2006-11-15T12:52:00.003-06:00

I've decided to use the obituary that I wrote for my final project.

final project

2006-11-15T12:52:00.002-06:00

i'm going to do my final project on the titan football story i wrote.

Final Project

2006-11-15T12:52:00.001-06:00

My final project will be on my grandfather's obituary.

Final Project

2006-11-15T12:52:00.000-06:00

Football story

Final Project

2006-11-15T09:06:00.001-06:00

xxx

Football Article

2006-11-13T14:55:00.000-06:00

The UW-Oshkosh Titans lost their fifth and final game of the season Saturday as they fell to UW-Lacrosse 31-20. Had the Titans won, it would’ve have marked the first time since the 1968-69 seasons that the team finished over .500 in consecutive years.

The Lacrosse defense proved to be too much to handle for the Titans, allowing them only 224 total offensive yards. The Titans rushing game, which averages 197 yards par game, was held to 140 yards by the Eagles. Both the running and passing games for Lacrosse excelled, earning them two touchdowns each.

The first quarter started slow for Oshkosh as three of their first four offensive drives ended with a three and out. Even with the defense forcing Lacrosse to put the ball on the ground twice in the first quarter, the Titans could still not convert.

The only touchdown for the Titans in the first half came off a 23-yard reception from backup quarterback Dieter Juedes to junior Andy Heiman in the second quarter. However, even with a longer possession time then their opponents the Titans could not offensively match UW-Lacrosse and punted five times in the first half alone.

“We did a great job just to survive the first half,” Oshkosh Defensive Coordinator Pat Cerroni said. “ It could’ve gotten really ugly.”

UW-Lacrosse scored twice in the first half. A 4-yard run from fullback Mike Schmidt and a 25-yard pass from quarterback John Schumann to Jason Wagner. The eagles looked very poised and played extremely aggressive going to the air multiple times throughout the game.

“Lacrosse has the best quarterbacks and receivers as a core,” Cerroni said. “ In a game like this you’re going to give up yards.”

Cerroni was right as the Titans gave up 401 yards to the Eagles. The Titan defense, on average, has held their opponents to under 300 yards per game this season. The cornerbacks for the Titans seemed to struggle all day long against Schumann and could never really find a way to stop the Eagles passing game.

The Titans refusal to pass the ball against the stifling Eagles defense garnered them only 7 first half points. If the Titans were going to win the game they would have to abandon their 1st ranked running game and look toward the air. However, the second half showed the Titans only doing more of the same and resting their hopes on the shoulders of there running backs.

The third quarter saw both teams doubling their points with the score being 28-14 at the periods end. Touchdowns for Lacrosse came in the form of a 24-yard reception by Scott Swanson and an 8 yard run by tailback Cory Geldernick. Oshkosh could only answer with a 1-run yard by fullback Tyler Jandrin.

All the Eagles could come up with in the 4th quarter was a Dylan Rude 33-yard field goal, but it would prove to be enough with only one 2-yard touchdown run coming from the Titans Andy Moriarty. The score by Moriarty came off of a blocked punt by the Titans special teams, and with the score being 28-20 the game seemed far from over with 12:30 left to go in the 4th.
However, it was not meant to be as Juedes threw in interception to cornerback Jacob Buswell putting an end to the Titan’s season.

While the Titans finished 5-5, their record may not be indicative of their talent. Two of UW-Oshkosh’s losses were by a touchdown or less, and despite the loss on Saturday, the titans are excited about the possibilities next season offers.

“We have 36 juniors returning next year,” Cerroni said. “Next years seniors are some pretty talented individuals.”

Titans linebacker Eric Stenbroten also realizes the potential of next year's team but knows that there is still room for improvement.

“We have to concentrate and not getting all hyped up right away,” Stenbroten said. “We have to stop the big plays.”

With the win on Saturday UW-Lacrosse gained a division three playoff birth and will face Bethel University on November 18.

“A championship team like that always take advantages of mistakes.” Cerroni said. “They definitely took advantage of ours.”

Titan Football Game Article

2006-11-13T14:30:00.000-06:00

The weather at Saturday’s Titan football game started off mostly sunny, reflecting the hopes that the Titans had for the game. By the end, however, clouds lingered overhead, reflecting hopes dashed that the Titans would win their final game of the 2006 season.

While neither team managed to score during the first quarter, it didn’t take long for the momentum of the eighth-ranked La Crosse Eagles to take center-stage.

By halftime, the Eagles had run 176 yards and led 14-7. Both teams had suffered three penalties, resulting in 20 yards lost for the Eagles and 25 yards lost for the Titans.

“I’ve just come to cheer on my friend Cameron Adams, defensive end for the Titans,” said student Jennifer Kryst, 21, at halftime. “No matter what the outcome of the game, I’ll be proud of him. He has a lot of team spirit and has done well this year.”

Adams ended the game with two unassisted tackles and one assisted tackle. He will be joining 35 other juniors coming back next season, with dreams of being part of a victorious season.

By fourth quarter, the Eagles led the game 28-14, yet determination filled the air that the Titans could still pull it off. Determination, however, was not enough.

The Eagles ended the game with a total of 257 rushing yards, resulting in four touchdowns. Two of which, were scored within four minutes.

“Momentum is the biggest part of the game,” said Titan linebacker Eric Stenbroten. “You need to stop the momentum of the other team.”

In congratulating the Eagles, Titan defensive coordinator Pat Cerroni said the Eagles, like champions, take advantage of any mistakes you make. “They have you down and they tear you apart. They had total control of the game. Defensively, we had to adjust and try to stop them,” Cerroni said.

The mood after the game was one of learning from mistakes, but continuing to look forward rather than behind.

“We have the ability, with the talent we have, to be very competitive,” Cerroni said.

The Titans’ 31-20 loss to the Eagles was a far cry from their opening game of the season in which they defeated Ripon College, 57-0.

Saturday’s game leaves the Titans 5-5 for the season. Despite the results, fans and players are looking forward to what next season has to offer.

“It’s disappointing that they lost their last game of the season,” said Laurel Mittelman, 22, who attended her first Titan football game Saturday. “It would’ve been nice to go out on a high note.”
###

Article Review

2006-11-13T14:14:00.001-06:00

xxx

Entertainment Article

2006-11-13T14:11:00.001-06:00

Review of article

2006-11-13T13:47:00.000-06:00

I read Ann's article and tried to help her with some of the puncuation and wording of her sentences. I also encouraged her to fix up her lead a bit because it sounded a little too vague.

Overall, I felt her article had good imagery with the dancing and explanation of the crowd size.

Some of the sentences were a little words though. I tried to have her break them up and gave her a few alternatives.

Titan Football Game Article

2006-11-13T13:46:00.000-06:00

Andrew Pantzlaff
Sports Article
November 13, 2006

In a sloppy game plagued by fumbles and interceptions, UW-La Crosse seemingly turned over everything but a victory to the UW-Oshkosh football team (5-5), winning 31-20 at J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium on Saturday.

La Crosse (9-1), in the spirit of giving, turned the ball over on three of their first four possessions. Two of these turnovers, a fumble and an interception, took place at UW-Oshkosh’s one yard line.

Missed opportunities were paramount, however, as the Oshkosh offense went three-and-out after each of La Crosse’s trio of first half turnovers.

The Titan’s failure to capitalize on any of the Eagles’ early mishaps proved to be the difference, not only in the game itself, but also between the two teams in general.

Oshkosh defensive coordinator Pat Cerroni outlined the distinction between La Crosse and Oshkosh. “They take advantage of mistakes,” Cerroni said. “That’s what champions do. They have you down and tear you apart. That is what we need to learn how to do.”

Cerroni was also quick to note, however, in spite of missed opportunities, Oshkosh didn’t hand over the game. “I think we did a great job just to survive,” Cerroni said. “This game could have gotten ugly real quick.”

La Crosse was first on the scoreboard with a one yard run up the middle by junior fullback, Mike Schmidt. From there, less than five minutes later, the Eagles returned to the end zone as quarterback John Schumann found Jason Wagner open for a 25 yard touchdown pass.

Down 14-0 with under a minute left in the first half, things started to literally bounce Oshkosh’s way.

When Titans quarterback Dieter Juedes fired a pass to the left side of the field, the ball bounced clumsily off of wide receiver Andy Heiman’s hands and landed safely into the grasp of Steve Stoltz, a fellow Oshkosh receiver. This unusual 16-yard gain gave the Titans a first down and added some confidence to their struggling offense.

On the next play, Juedes once again threw the ball to Heiman. This time, however, Heiman was able to hold on to the ball himself and reel it in for a 19 yard touchdown with just under 30 seconds remaining in the half.

Only trailing by a touchdown at halftime, the Titans hoped to pull out the upset and send their thirteen seniors out with a victory in their final game.

La Crosse had other plans. They did “what champions do,” as Cerroni would say.

With just over five minutes into the second half, Schumann completed his second touchdown pass of the game as he found the hands of Scott Swanson in the end zone. Then, with 6:46 left in the third quarter, the Eagles scored yet again as Corey Geldernick rushed for eight yards up the left side of the field.

Oshkosh senior, Chris Kirch had an opportunity to respond back with a big rushing play of his own. Unfortunately his feet got in the way. After dodging several Eagle defenders, Kirch blew by the secondary and looked poised for a stroll passed the goal line. After running a few steps, however, he lost his balance and crashed to the dirt.

Despite the mishap, the Oshkosh running game didn’t stay down for long. Running backs Tyler Jandrin and Andy Moriarty both ran for touchdowns to cut the lead to eight. The second extra point was blocked by the Eagles defense.

With 12 minutes still remaining in the game, however, the Titans would never get any closer to catching up.

A field goal by Dylan Rude sealed the victory for Lacrosse with five minutes remaining.

With the season now over, Cerroni isn’t dwelling too much on the past. “There are 36 juniors coming back,” Cerroni said. “Our next year’s seniors are pretty talented people.”

Cerroni, as well as the rest of the Oshkosh coaching staff, is riding on the hopes that this group of veteran talent will take them to the next level.

“We just got to stick together,” Cerroni said.

suggestions

2006-11-13T13:44:00.000-06:00

I reviewed Andy's article. He misspelled La Crosse several times and also on some of his language use. He also spelled out numbers and had numerial numbers when they weren't suppose to be. Other then that he had alot of sport language that I really didn't understand so it was interesting to read.

titans football

2006-11-13T13:28:00.000-06:00

When a team forces three turnovers, two inside their own 5-yard line, and still trails 14-7 at halftime, it doesn’t bode well for their chances of coming out with a win.
This was the case Saturday afternoon as the UW-Oshkosh Titans fell to the UW-Lacrosse Eagles 31-20 in the Titans final game of the year.
Though optimism in the crowd ran high prior to kickoff, with the stadium’s namesake Jim Keller predicting an upset victory for the Titans, reality sank in soon after the opening kick.
After the Titans managed to thwart the Eagles opening drive with a key stop on fourth-and-9 at the Titan’s 25, the Titans were unable to take advantage of any momentum from the defensive stand. A quick three-and-out by the Titans offense and a weak 32-yard punt gave the Eagles possession on their own 35.
In what would become a reoccurring theme throughout the first half, the Eagles promptly marched down the field, only to fumble the ball on the 2-yard line. However, the Titan offense could not capitalize. “Momentum is the biggest part of the game,” said junior linebacker Eric Stenbroten, and the Titans enemic offense could not turn any of the Eagles turnovers into points.
The Titan defense, though it was severely, and consistently, overpowered by the mammoth Eagles offensive line, again forced turnovers on the Eagles next two possessions-one of which came when the officials questionably ruled that Eagles quarterback John Schumann had fumbled though it appeared that his arm was moving forward in a passing motion.
“We did a great job just to survive in the first half,” defensive coordinator Pat Cerroni said.
Though the Titans trailed by only seven at halftime, they had to feel that they had let too many chances slip away. The gloomy skies that replaced the sun at halftime seemed representative of the Titan’s fading hopes.
Just how long they could remain within striking distance of an Eagles team that had out-gained them 270-111 in total yards, including a 176 to 61 advantage on the ground, became the real question.
The game finally swayed firmly in the Eagles favor midway through the third quarter when Schumann hit a wide-open Scott Swanson with a 24-yard touchdown pass over the middle. Following the ensuing kickoff, the Titans tried an ill-advised reverse to wideout Kyle Nakatsuji. After being hit 15 yards in the backfield he coughed up the ball, giving possession back to the Eagles at the Titans 21.
The Eagles then did something the Titans had been unable to do all day-capitalize on an opponents mistake and get points off a turnover. A two-play drive was capped off by an 8-yard touchdown run by Eagles tailback Cory Geldernick, who amassed 149 yards rushing in the game. This increased the Eagles lead to 28-7, and the Titans prospects appeared dire.
A blocked punt at the end of the third quarter, followed by a 2-yard touchdown run by tailback Andy Moriarty with 12:29 left in the fourth that closed the gap to 20-28, momentarily breathed hope into the Titan players and faithful, but a botched extra point attempt seemed to suck the wind out of the players and fans alike.
Even with the Titan defense again responding by holding the Eagles to a three-and-out, the offense could not respond. Backup quarterback Dieter Juedes, filling in for injured starter Joe Patek, was rattled by the Eagles pressure and threw an interception that was returned to the Titan 30.
After the Eagles advanced the ball to the Titans 15, Eagles’ kicker Dylan Rude salted the game away with a 32-yard field goal.
“That’s what champions do,” Cerroni said. “They have you down and they tear you apart. That’s something we have to learn.”
Even though this season ended on a disappointing note, Cerroni said there is plenty of reason to look forward to next year when the Titans will have 36 juniors returning. “We have the talent to be competitive here,” he said. While the Titans finished the season at 5-5, the Eagles extended their season and will advance to the Division III playoffs.

Review for Greg

2006-11-13T13:21:00.000-06:00

It was a good story. He had La Crosse as one word. Other then that it was hard to find style errors. All the player stats were also correct.