Women Mean Business

Today, I talked to a group of ladies concerning social media and netiquette. I will be posting topics of that discussion over the next several weeks. I’ll start by posting the best three pieces of advice I’ve ever heard (other than that I’ve heard from my sweet mother, of course).

1. Kara DeFrias says, “Always say yes.” I fit this into the discussion about social media because the first response to social media is that it’s too much and that users don’t want people to know their business.

2. “Content is king,” says Dr. Joe Burns. Basically, this means that you can put all the bells and whistles you want on your site, but unless you have content that brings people back over and over again, your site can be a very attractive place that people don’t visit.

3. Finally Harvider Singh, who owns Bestica, told me that I should do what I do best. What he was saying was that I should do what I know, and I should hire out the rest. This way, I could make more money being a professional instead of waiting around to get things done that I may never learn!

Over the next few weeks, I will focus on these three statements as I give a little more information for each. I’ll be posting presentations and blog posts that address my subpoints and help you take your business online.

The World is your Wide Web! Enjoy!

Steve Jobs Timed his Death -- Thinks about Apple Until the End

On this sad day, I have one aching theory brewing in my thoughts. I think Steve Jobs timed his death. Hear me out -- I’m not being insensitive to his disease or the heroic effort he undertook battling for his life.

I’m saying he loved Apple until his dying breath. I googled my theory to see if anyone else felt the same and found a comment that said Jobs timed his death because he understood the new iPhone would be a total disappointment. Why the heck would he stick around for the announcement then?

Here’s my theory:

The world knew that Steve Jobs was ill, and there was speculation that the stock would take a hit with the death of Jobs. Even one of my students, Aaron Gutekust, made this assumption in class on Tuesday while we were following a live blog of the launch.

I think Steve Jobs knew that if he died during the time while people were waiting for the new iPhone to be released (i.e., now), it would protect his life’s investment. Check this out. Investors would stay put while waiting for the launch of the coveted new iPhone.

While some think the new iPhone is a disappointment, I think our disappointment is only that it's not named iPhone 5. I'm good with an 8 megapixel camera on my phone and quality HD video capability, among other add-ons. I think we'll see some sales tomorrow, my dear Apple friends, particularly from those of us with expired contracts who have been holding out for the new toy! I certainly have Apple.com booked for the occasion.

I am a full believer that people can will themselves to live, but ultimately, the Big Man is the only one who can really know that. I think maybe Jobs’ prayers were answered. Brilliant and strategic until the end. I think he would appreciate my theory.

Thanks, Mr. Jobs.

Home for Christmas

Suzanne Miller has been a member of the Hammond Police Department for 14 years. She is a sergeant police officer, and she sees “bad guys” every day. Miller often watches people make decisions that rip their families apart.

Lately, however, she has seen the other side of humanity -- the softer, gentler side. She has watched small communities bond over a five-year-old child and her miraculous story of strength and survival.

Miller’s granddaughter, Madyson, was in a car accident on Sept. 18. Her mother, registered nurse Sonya Watts, had to administer CPR at the scene of the accident to revive her. The accident left Mady in a coma for three weeks and resulted in a severe brain injury.

At first, Sonya and Brian Watts received very little hope concerning their daughter’s future. They were first told that she would die, then that she would have very little brain activity, if any, if she were to live. Now, they are celebrating that she is expected to walk out of the hospital on her own.

Miller always believed Mady would pull through. Like any other grandma would be, she was scared, but her faith never wavered. She prayed hard and clung to her family and church family at New Sharon Baptist. Her friends became her family. Strangers became family too.

“I’m emotional,” she said through tears. “I’m so grateful to everyone who has been there for us. It’s overwhelming how good people are.”

The most recent act of kindness was a fundraiser at the Loranger Volunteer Fire Department. Loranger firefighter Robert Morel Sr. and his wife Cindy, along with Wilbert and Tuffy Campbell, also of Loranger, coordinated the event that included a jambalaya dinner and bake sale.

Stores from this small community, as well as in surrounding communities and even some from out of state, donated gifts for a silent auction organized by Marianne Polmon. Eloise Sance of the Hammond Blood Center oversaw the blood drive at the event that collected around 125 pints of blood in Mady’s name, and firefighters who don’t know the Watts family were there from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. helping with the jambalaya dinner and ensuring the event ran smoothly.

“We could not have made it without the love and generosity from everyone,” Miller said. “I had one lady hand me cash and say, ‘It’s a gift from God.’ Some are giving to Mady’s bank account anonymously. People have been absolutely wonderful.”

In addition to fundraisers, Miller said Madyson is on numerous church prayer lists. Pink "A Prayer for Mady" bracelets adorn the wrists of all her supporters; even Mady is wearing one. Facebook prayer groups are growing by the day, and Sonya and Brian still receive constant messages of support.

“God gave us Mady back,” Miller said. “We’ve all learned so much from her. She’s our miracle. She’s getting stronger every day.”

Madyson’s outlook is good. Her doctors have decided that she will go home on Dec. 23, three months and five days after the accident that turned her life upside down. Her family – the blood relatives, friends and strangers who have come together during these short months – will be waiting with open arms.

“I’m most thankful to God, but I’m also thankful for Sonya,” Miller said. “She’s my hero for bringing that baby back. We have been blessed ever since. Form the first responders, the nurses and doctors at Children's Hospital in Jackson, as well as all the nurses, doctors and therapists at the Children's Hospital in New Orleans, this has all just been so wonderful.”

We're going through a FB split ... Jake Narro will have his own page on Facebook

It’s time for us to face the truth. It’s over. It’s been coming for a while, and it isn’t working anymore. Really, it never did. We’re just too different. I have asked Jake for a Facebook divorce. We are gong our separate ways on Facebook.

We have agreed that it should be quick – for the children’s sake. Jake is going to move to his own space, but we are going to share custody of our friends and family. It will be a 50/50 split, and we are going to let some of our friends decide who they want to live with.

Some of you may decide it’s best to stay with me full time, and some of you will decide to live with Jake full time. We will not make you feel bad if you choose one of us over the other. After all, it’s your Facebook life; you have to choose how you live it. Still, some of you may decide you would like our 50/50 arrangement; we love you all and respect your decisions. Sure, it will be difficult for all at first, but we are going to work with you to make sure the change is as smooth as possible.

I have to be honest and say that this divorce is not uncontested. Jake fought it all the way, bless his heart. The Facebook marriage as it is just never felt right to me though. And our indecision on posts, and who would post when, was confusing to all our friends. People didn’t know who they were talking to, and I felt it wasn’t fair. Jake, of course, thought that was the fun part.

I have agreed not to change the locks. Jake can still come over when I’m not home and make sure the page is safe and secure. He said I can come over to his place too. We are going to “just be friends” at first and see how it goes.

Property division was difficult. Although Jake will now have to come up with his own likes and dislikes, he is staying strong. He wants to set a good example for our children and show them their father can be independent and take care of his own property.

The Facebook divorce will be final soon, and we will send out a notice to all of you. Some of you will start getting them today or tomorrow. Let us know what you would like to do simply by confirming or ignoring. Again, we understand your decisions and respect them. Jake is nervous, and because we've shared our page for so long, I’m asking you to help him make this transition a little easier. Post a message, tag him in some pictures; just make him feel wanted.

I have a lot of guilt with this decision, but I feel it’s for the best. I know it's the holidays and a special time of year, but we’ve just grown apart. Jake is spending lots of time on Facebook, and it’s confusing my friends. I don’t want to lie to myself any longer. He’s moving out. I will never forget this time with him, however, and I will cherish it always. I wish him the best.

Jake's new Facebook page is located at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100000495543026. You may find him through his username: Jake Narro. I will be using Amber Reetz Narro.

Don't be surprised when we "remarry" on our separate spaces though. We're thinking of Feb. 4, 2011, which will be our 11th anniversary; hold the date! We'll probably have a really quick ceremony on our homepages and post an announcement for you to "like" that we will once again be virtually hitched to match our status in our real lives.

The children and our immediate families already know. They think our split is "hilarious."

** Just in case some of you are confused by the joke -- we're not getting a real divorce. We're still happily married and living in the same house! We just don't want to confuse our friends with who is posting what. We still call each other "honey."

Pray for Madyson Grace

We live in an awesome community. Our families are close, and our friends are family. It's never more evident than when one of our family members is in need.

It's Friday, Sept. 24. There is a welcome calm after a roller coaster week for the Watts family. Madyson Grace Watts has been in stable condition for about 24 hours, the longest stretch since the accident that kidnapped her from her daily activities she loves so much.

Last Saturday, her mother Sonya was driving Madyson and her sister Mikayla to their grandparents' camp in Mississippi. When Sonya got off the Osyka exit, she was traveling on a highway at a speed normal for such a path. She had a blowout and flipped her Ford F250 twice and hit three trees before the truck rested in someone's front yard.

Sonya, a nurse on the surgery unit at North Oaks, jumped into action. She climbed out of the truck and to Madyson's aid while Mikayla was screaming for her sister. Sonya began immediate CPR to revive her daughter. Always afraid should that situation arise, this nurse didn't miss a beat; her instincts as both a medical professional and a mother were dependable and evident.

The Watts family has felt many blessings this week, starting at the scene of the accident. Off-duty emergency first responders stopped to help and were aiding Sonya in her efforts. Now, prayer groups have formed at their home church, New Sharon Baptist. People who they don't even know have sent messages and Facebook friend requests. They are overwhelmed with the outpouring of prayer and offers of help.

Sonya's neighbor, Robbie Robinson, is taking care of her animals, even cleaning out the litter box for Madyson and Mikayla's beloved cat Ginger. Dachshunds Jessie and Tippy have full food bowls, and the horses are grateful for his diligent efforts. Mr. Robinson even cut their grass.

Best buddy Anita Roberts is taking care of the house, making sure that there is always someone home. She's also making frequent trips to Jackson, bringing items from home that will comfort the family.

The children at Darlene Willie's child care in Loranger are making cards for Madyson. Her little friends at her daycare want to be in the mix of people sending well wishes. The visitors to the hospital keep coming, and they also are receiving love from other families that have children in the ICU.

Little Mikayla just wants to see her "sissy." At the age of three, she's not old enough to go be with the sibling she has been with since her birth. She has been with her mommy all week.

Although swollen and bruised, four-year-old Mady (five in November) is fighting. Her inter cranial pressure has seemed to have stabilized and although still higher than normal, is seldom requiring drugs for relief. Her vital signs have normalized, and she is starting to rely on her own body for strength instead of getting all of her energy from machines.

There are so many people who ask what they can do to help. Here's the answer: pray ... and then pray again. The family is drawing strength from the constant blessings they are receiving. They don't yet know what they will have to deal with when they get answers, but right now, the prayer is keeping them strong.

Also, if you feel compelled, there is an account that has been set up in Madyson Watts' name at Florida Parishes Bank. There also is an account at E Federal Credit Union in Madyson's father Brian Watts' name. Make a donation to help with the many meals this family is having to buy and the hotel room fees they are incurring. Sonya and Brian may be off work for a while, and all donations will be appreciated so that they may spend this time with their precious little fighter without the stress of piling bills.

North Oaks and Exxon Mobile have been wonderful to Brian and Sonya, understanding their indefinite need for time off. Sonya's parents, Paul and Suzanne "Peanut" Miller, are members of the Policeman's Union, which also is sponsoring fundraisers. God bless our community businesses.

When we were growing up, Sonya was my best friend. She still is. Anything that we can do to help make sure this little girl grows up to be somebody's best friend will be greatly appreciated. She has a wonderful role model, and Madyson will be a blessing to her family -- from those who share the blood that runs through her tiny veins to those who care enough just to friend her mom and dad through Facebook. Let us all be family to this family. They need and appreciate all the support.

Bogey Narro (2001-2010)

He came into our lives when we certainly didn't need any new animals. We were living in a two-bedroom apartment and already had a cat. We also were in the middle of building our house, which was its own headache.

When I was leaving the construction site one day, we found them. There was a black kitten, an orange one and a white one. They were curled up right on the side of the road -- I almost hit them with my car. Shayne was with me, and we went back to check on them. It was love at first meow.

The vet aged them at about two weeks old. Our neighbor at the apartment complex took the orange one, and we were left with Birdie and Bogey, named for my husband's love of golf. Their names fit perfectly as Birdie was never any trouble. Bogey, however, was trouble from the start.

When we moved into our house, he got in fights with the neighbors' cats, and he never learned to get along with our dog. While they didn't hate each other, they had an understanding. And until Bogey's dying breath, J.P. respected that Bogey was here first.

Bogey brought us many presents. There were garden moles, mice, rats and even squirrels. Several geckos and lizards lost the battle with Bogey. Just last week, when one thought he could outsmart Bogey in his feeble state, a gecko saw his final moments. We joke that a few weeks ago, he had 'roid rage (he was taking them to control his pain) and killed his last squirrel.

For the last four months, I watched my once 14-pound cat (16 at his heaviest and under nine when he died) struggle through cancer. And this morning, I had to make the decision I didn't want to make. My vets were wonderful; the staff was amazing. It was quiet and peaceful, and he hurts no more.

My first reaction was that I never want another animal again, but I thought about the joy he gave us. He was a hunter and fighter by night and a sweet, cuddly kitten by day. As I whispered in his ear when he was taking his last breath, I am thankful for him.

Thank you, Bogey. I hope my next kitten is half the everything you were and always will be.

I can't make the decision ... he's just so special

I'm not talking about a break-up here, I'm talking about my sweet kitty cat, Bogey. For the last three months, Bogey has been battling his body, and it looks like he is going to lose this one. He has gone from a cat giant at over 14 pounds to under nine and is refusing food.

I have held him down to pill him, and I have to force myself to make him miserable so that he still won't eat. He looks at me with his one blue eye and one green eye and begs me not to hold him down.

He is not responding to the four-week steroid shot. I'm afraid he may have some sort of infection. I'm going to get the vet to give him another round of antibiotics next week -- to try something that he hasn't had before. Say a little prayer for him.

A Tiger Tale 2

I am writing this editorial in response to Ms. Sylvia Schon’s smack-down on the media for coverage of the “Tiger Tale.” I have a slightly different take on it.

I met my husband Jake 12 years ago while I was working at Oak Knoll Country Club. Jake has been a member of the Professional Golfers Association of America since 1996 and has worked in the golf industry for almost 20 years. Before I started working at Oak Knoll and met Jake, I didn’t know the difference between a driver and a putter. And before I married my sweet husband, I certainly would have never been caught dead watching golf!

Times have changed, however, and I have even caddied in a few events for Jake. My television habits also have changed. Golf and Tiger Woods are now part of my daily life.

Over the years of his magnificent golfing career, Tiger has wowed me with his talent. He is one of golf’s greatest, if not the greatest. His Sunday afternoon dominance of those who look like they might challenge him never fails to amaze me. He is to golf what Michael Jordan was to basketball in the 90s. He will be a legend, even if he never touches a golf club again.

Tiger’s main problem is that golf is supposed to be the gentlemen’s game. Sorry, golfers are just held to a different standard due to the non-contact, respectful, handshake-after-the-round nature of the game. I know that not all golfers are gentlemen, but that is the image we associate with them. You won’t see many fists flying at a golf course, except maybe from spectators who have had a little too much fun.

Golf is supposed to be a game based on etiquette, sportsmanship and honesty. Golfers actually call rules on themselves and penalize themselves – I’ve seen it happen. You’ll never see a football player tell a referee that he can’t take the touchdown because he was indeed out-of-bounds. Again, I know that not all golfers are honest, but that’s what we expect. When we remember golf greats, we remember family men who kissed their wives when coming off the course.

We’ve seen Tiger kiss Elin – a lot. That makes it personal.

Another problem – Tiger at times has been less than gracious with the media, using his influence to control the media and to pick and choose which reporters he will grace with an interview. He oftentimes gives short answers and has definitely staked his claim on his private life, even naming his $20 million yacht “Privacy.” Basically, he slapped the media in the face with that little jab. Nobody can control the tabloids, however, and they pay big bucks.

Finally, Tiger flat-out lied on his own blog the Friday the incident took place, calling Elin a hero for her actions and saying that the media was being malicious and spreading rumors. Well … ?

Now people are having a lot of fun with the situation, circulating silly e-mail forwards and watching the Tiger-directed antics of late-night comedians. Before the truth came out, there was tons of speculation, and we all knew he was hiding something big. His blog entry basically called his readers stupid – no way could we have figured out that running over the fire hydrant and hitting that tree at 2 a.m. wasn’t a normal accident.

The truth is that he has positioned himself as a great, and with that comes responsibility. He has a foundation that promotes better lives for children. When he took that on, he took on the role model position.

No, I don’t want to know every detail. I feel very sorry for Elin and the children. I hate that she will have to explain this to them one day when they Google their daddy. It’s sad.

Elin has taken on a hero label; she’s just not Tiger’s hero. She may be the hero of every political wife who has had to stand by her man, smiling while he admits his transgressions. If my golfer pulled this, no one would be interested, except for me of course. And while I don’t condone domestic violence, I would at least entertain the thought of throwing a nine-iron through his car window.

Elin is now dealing with these domestic violence issues as well as the embarrassment of her husband’s actions. If she is understanding enough to take Tiger back, and for his sake and the children’s, I hope she is, she will now have to also help him fix his reputation while mending her own. She is going to have to answer for her actions as well.

I wish Tiger would have handled this differently. If he would have just come forward with the truth in the beginning and asked the public for our understanding, we my have had much more sympathy. He tried to lie his way through it, as he had done with his family. The media fought back.

Because he lied again, he now can’t face his public. Because he lied again, some of his sponsors are beginning to think twice. Because he lied again, the PGA Tour will lose millions in sponsorships and endorsements.

Do I care? Yes, I care. He has lied to all of us, and we are the ones who have paid money to help make him who he is. We didn’t make him talented, but we did make him richer through supporting those who endorse him, giving him more wealth than he ever could have had by playing alone. I'm extremely disappointed.

I hope a Tiger can change his stripes. I have a lot of respect for what he has done for the game of golf. Like Ms. Schon, I hope he is able to pick up his golf clubs again. And lastly, I hope he becomes a better husband and role model because like it or not, he asked for both titles.

Let's give this chat/blog thing a try!

PHS Freshmen vs. Hammond -- pics from the game

A Tiger's Tale

A Tiger’s Tale…

I’m a journalist with all my heart. I love the profession and will participate in its excitement until my dying breath. I have covered entertainment and art, as well as non-profit activities. A little fluffy, right? Yes, and I like it that way. Not all journalists are hard-nosed, gotta-get-it-first types. Some of us do cover only the softer side of the news.

The gotta-get-it-first types do intrigue me however. Truth is, I would have loved to be one. The schedule doesn’t appeal to me though. I was a very young mother when I graduated from college, and I didn’t want to be on call. Making appointments and writing in-depth was more my style, and it worked for me.

I was a little sick on Friday when Tiger Woods had an accident outside his home. The first tweet from Breaking News On said that the situation was “serious,” and I was very worried about our “friend,” Tiger. I call him friend because he’s in our home almost daily. We watch his poise, his vigor and his sure will. We breathe his emotion on red-shirt Sunday, and we can only hope his health and his drive remain in tact so that we may watch him for years to come.

I texted my golfer Friday when I was tweeted, and of course, my husband called me from the golf course, demanding more information. I had none for about 30 minutes. Everyone at the golf course was worried sick, and the television was turned on immediately. People were glued to the set … and then we found out that Tiger was in fact no longer still in the hospital and had only minor injuries.

Are you kidding me?

It fascinates me as a journalist that people are ready to pounce on information. The one thing that I beg of my journalism students is that they check and recheck their sources. Waiting and getting it right is much better than jumping and misstating facts. Shame on the television and Internet media for jumping. Really, you couldn’t wait 30 minutes to get confirmation before scaring us all half-to-death?

Now, whether Tiger was hacked off with his wife for burning the cookies or she was clubbing through that back window because he was late again for dinner (been there, have definitely had thoughts of doing the same) is yet to be known. But really, if this is a domestic spat, haven’t we all stormed off in an argument and thought not-so-nice stuff about the “others” in our lives. I would hate for the world to know that I stumped my toe once while pitching a little hissy fit at Jake. Whoops, cat’s out of the bag.

I have much more important things to worry about than what Tiger was doing at 2:25 in the morning banging into a fire hydrant. A lot of us were up at that time of the morning on that particular day. I’m content with the thought that maybe Elin had sent him to line up at the Best Buy. It was Black Friday after all! Then, he got so frustrated at this crazy request that the accidentally hit the fire hydrant and the tree after his swing was for once too quick. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Ponchatoula High School Basketball Nov. 17

The PHS varsity squad had a successful season opener, beating Central Lafourche 69-59 on home court.

Click below for pictures from the varsity game.



Pictures from the JV game.



Photos from the freshmen game against Covington.

Twitter and Mobypic

I'm now officially a twittermom. There actually is a site called twittermoms.com. On this site, members tweet about being moms, enjoying motherhood and all that garbo. There is a Twilight Twitter Mom group on the twittermoms page, and it presently has almost 500 members.

On this site, I can be a photgraphy twittermom; however, this is not for me. I have a hard time printing out my photos, much less showing them off. Who really wants to see pictures of my kids anyway? I'm guilty of the occassional pulling the picture out of the wallet trick, but I try to steer clear of shoving too many of my kids' pictures in people's faces because I hate it when I get stuck in the grocery store checkout line with one of those moms -- or grandmoms!

I'm not a member of the twittermom site, so what makes me a twittermom? Tonight, I shamelessly took pictures of Shayne, my 14-year-old son, at his first summer baseball game using Mobypicture, which is hooked up to my twitter site, which is linked to my Facebook page. Through use of Mobypicture, I could upload the photo to both twitter and Facebook at the same time. I could also add a caption to the picture, much like I can do on my mobile Facebook application. The great thing is that it uploads to my twitter and Facebook account at the same time.

I was pleased with the results. I knew it would prompt my sister-in-law to make a phone call to my mother-in-law to tell her all the news of Shayne's game. They are so proud of him! Since they are three hours driving time away, it makes it easy for them to be part of the action..

So what is Mobypicture? It's an application you may download to your phone, and you may use your computer's online connection to link it to your social networking sites. At present, Mobypicture links to such networks as Youtube, Flickr, Blogger.com and Facebook.

Learning curve: about 10 minutes
Cost: Free
Site: Mobypicture.com

Journalists may use this picture site to upload their pictures straight from their phones to Flickr, which is a wonderful tool for creating codes to embed photographs into blog entries. Remember, most phones don't take high-resolution photographs (yet), which means the pictures will not print especially well. But for online news, camera phones will sometimes to the trick, especially if the news is breaking.

The World is your Wide Web!

Learning from my students

It's March 31, 2009. Supposedly, I'm in the last hour before the Conflicker virus starts its magic with computers all over the world.

Today, one of my students explained that this new virus can attack many computers and websites in an instant, leaving them slow, ailing and incompetent. I got sick for a moment, the one I get every time I think of some 19-year-old kid sitting in his messy bedroom pumping out code to ruin the world. Then I thought -- heck, I have a Mac; I'll be cool.

Tonight, I start looking on my computer and realize that Macs aren't completely immune. The free-for-30-days virus software will work. Download. Run. I'm good I guess.

If Josh hadn't spoken up today, I may not have known about the virus. It's not on the Apple homepage, and I hadn't heard it on the news. Maybe it's an April Fool's joke. Maybe not.

Every once in a while, my students teach me something. I have come to depend on their knowledge for such things as good movies to rent (and which ones I can show my kids), where to eat and even what to do for entertainment over the weekend.

College kids will keep me young for many years to come. I get a happy little feeling when one of my female students tells me my shoes are cute or my hair looks nice. I also take a certain amount of pride in them asking me what I think about current events.

Maybe I'll make them smarter, but they will definitely make me "cooler." Or, should I say "tight"er?

The world is your wide web ... enjoy!

Writing will forever be in my blood

When I graduated with my Ph.D., I declared I would never again take a test. My goal shortly afterward was that someday I would become accredited in public relations, which would require me to take a multiple choice exam.

Two-and-a-half years later, and having left that desire almost completely, I feel my first declaration may have been on the nose. Heck, I did become a college professor so I could go to school forever. The school part I like; the test part not so much.

I've always hated taking tests. I'm definitely one of those folks who is "not a good test-taker." When I took the GRE to get into graduate school, it was during about hour three that I began guessing without reading the question. At that point I didn't care whether I got my master's degree or not -- I just wanted out of that room! The room was too cold, then too hot, then stuffy ... and never comfortable.

The one thing I will never be able to say is that I've had enough writing. This year, when Gustav decided to hit Louisiana, I wanted to cover the story. I covered my family's stay in my father's mechanic shop, and I covered the fact that people with disabilities have even more special needs than usual when they are in storm situations.

I covered Voodoo Fest for NOLA.com alongside some interns this semester as well. I learned a couple things about myself that weekend. First, I'm not as old as I sometimes feel -- those acts were HOT. Second, I want to learn how to take a decent picture, darnit! I even bought a new camera -- also HOT.

As a journalist, I will never say that I never want to write again. I will continue to love this field until I take my last breath, and I will always want to learn more about it. As for journalism, I think it's either in your blood or not. I'm definitely a bleeder.

The world is your wide web. Enjoy!

Thank God for the Internet

This is why the Internet is so special. In May 2007, my hard drive crashed, taking with it all my pictures from Hawaii ... or so I thought.

Earlier today, I was meeting with my new friend from NOLA.com, Milena Merrill. Milena asked me if I had a flickr.com account so I could load photos for my NOLA.com blogs. I told her no.

When I got home, I tried to get an account and was surprised when the site said I already had one. I indicated I had forgotten my password, and it was e-mailed to me. When I logged on, I found 17 of my favorite pictures from Hawaii. I hope you enjoy them; I just about cried!

The World is your Wide Web ... and use it to upload your pics! You'll be thankful if your hard drives crashes and burns.

Never trust anyone over 30...

Last February, I attended the Southeast Journalism Conference at Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. During the conference, Paul Conley, who has held senior positions at news organizations such as Knight-Ridder and CNN, advised students not to trust anyone over 30. At the time, I agreed -- I was 29.

Now, at the ripe old age of the non-trustworthy, I understand what he meant. Those of us in the field of journalism think like dinosaurs at times. While I still think the newspaper is here to stay for the time being, I also know that we must accept the changing times and embrace the new opportunities. Or die trying.

In the fall, I'll be teaching a class that will explore the Civil Rights Movement in Tangipahoa Parish. NOLA.com has donated the use of its "Building a New South" blog for the students. In addition, students will create a website, broadcast and print elements. It's all about convergence.

The world is your wide web ... Enjoy!

Taking a breather...

It's important for all of us to take a breather now and again. I gave my last final May 14 and finished grading those exams the very next day. Posting grades is about the most pleasurable moment of my semester -- not because I enjoy inflicting pain, but because I know the next few days will be somewhat peaceful.

And then, I realized I was wrong once again.

The next few days were not peaceful. First off, e-mails slowly began trickling in because students were wondering why their grades were so low. Where had they been all semester?! I had to explain that those assignments they didn't turn in actually still factor in the figuring of the final grade. Some students actually asked for mercy because they had the best sob story of the semester (job, rent, dog ate their homework). Just a note -- the grading scales and all my expectations were in the syllabus, and I told them at the beginning of the semester to read it, know it, and love it.

Secondly, the next few days were not peaceful because I realized my home was in utter chaos. When I began cleaning on May 15 after posting those grades, I found dirt in places I don't even want to mention. The clutter was cluttered. I reached new heights of filthy this semester, and had eight days to hide my filth before my grandfather, aunt, uncle and cousin arrived from England on the 23rd.

Fortunately, the e-mails have now stopped, my family is here from England, and my house is thanking me for giving it an old-fashioned spring cleaning. Taking a breather isn't what it used to be. Last wek, I actually invited my friend, who also was my lunch date, to join me for after-lunch conversation on a shopping trip to Lowe's. Thanks, Milena, for helping me pick out a garden hose, some ant poison, and a shelf for my garage. I hope we're still friends and that you'll join me at lunch again.

I'm planning on getting better at taking breaks ... one day. I certainly can say that I haven't checked my e-mail as much over the past week, but then again, my computer is in the shop, and my husband brings his laptop to work every day.

The world is your wide web. Enjoy!

The demise of newspapers

Please take the time to read the following article:

http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2008/05/09/72167178

It is the thought of this writer that newspapers fund online news. I tend to agree.

I had an old journalism professor tell me once that the reason newspapers won't die is because we can't take laptops to the bathroom (or we shouldn't). Again, I agree. While some people think newspapers will soon come to an end, I'd like the world to experience, just for one day, what it would be without newspapers.

Here are my thoughts on the top 10 reasons the world needs newspapers:

1. Scrapbooks. Yes, we're all able to computerize our scrapbooks now. Heck, there are even places online where we can print, for free, scrapbook pages with the digital photos already implanted. Although I appreciate the technology, computerized scrapbooking just doesn't have the same appeal as spreading out all the pictures on the floor and getting sticky with glue while my daughters carefully craft their pages. It's messier, it's gooier, it's more time consuming, but isn't that the fun of it? The honor roll lists, the team pictures, the great shot of my kid at the park ... that's the true scraps of which scrapbooks are made.

2. Printing out articles doesn't have the same appeal. My journalism students will be the first to tell you that although they get instant gratification out of posting their edited stories online, that limited space aspect of the newspaper makes it more appealing. It makes their placement more special. And, those who are hiring are still looking for those printed clips. Space limitations force quality and competition.

3. Coffee over the newspaper sounds relaxing. Coffee over the computer sounds like work.

4. Newspapers are the local hero. While many of us get our state, national and world news online, that newspaper box still seems to jump in the way when we're going into the store or walking along our city sidewalks. I wonder if many of us would actually pay attention to the local news or go looking for it if it weren't literally in the way.

5. There's something about the front page. Although there is definitely a draw to the stories on CNN's homepage, the front page of any paper still seems like it's the sacred space for news. You never hear someone say that a story was important because it was told first on the broadcast or that it was on the homepage, unless those folks actually are broadcasters or bloggers. What you will hear is the general public discussing what was on the front page of the paper and how that made something important, whether the headline was in bold or bigger type and whether the picture was in color. You can only get so loud on a broadcast, and nowadays, everything online is "breaking news." The Internet seems to have watered down that phrase. People aren't as impressed with it anymore, but put a banner headline in a newspaper -- now you've got attention.

6. Sports. My husband and son open the paper every day, pull out the sports section and treat the rest of the paper like boiled crawfish should be on top of it. They've seen Sportscenter, they've watched the game, but they have yet to see who made the paper. They're looking for the little details. The newspaper has the whole story and only those who are most important, again, get the sacred space.

7. Lifestyles and society. How many times have we looked for the wedding announcements online?

8. Classifieds. Garage sales. Furniture. Jobs. At this point, even if we use the online component of the newspaper to search for this information, we can easily get bogged down in TMI (too much information for those of you out of the text language loop). The classified section seems to put puppies, used bicycles and go-carts in a nice organized package for us.

9. Local events. Our local paper prints an events calendar. In addition, every summer, it includes a fun guide filled with information about summer camps, activities and events that are taking place while the children are out of school. I look for that little insert every year and put it safely on my bookshelf for quick reference.

10. Sale papers. Somehow, online coupons still haven't taken over where the scissors left off. While I use the Internet on Thanksgiving Day to look for the Black Friday specials, those sale papers are going with me at 4 a.m. the next morning. I'm not going to try to find a wireless connection at that time of the morning. I want my sale papers. Comparing prices also is easier when I can lay everything out in front of me instead of having to jump from window to window online.


Okay, so the last five were easy for me. Obviously, those are the sections of the paper we all know and love. Those are the pieces we definitely would miss. Although we can get sports off ESPN.com, ask sports enthusiasts where they like to take their newspapers. My husband really was thrilled when I got a subscription to our local daily paper.

There should be another good reason newspapers will remain -- they were here first. Well, so were push lawn mowers, and my family no longer believes in those. While this may not be a great reason, it may be part of a great reason. Newspapers still hold a certain rank in our society, a respected tradition. They're certainly the most arguable piece of media. We are outraged when newspaper reporters make mistakes, and we expect them to in other media. While it is important for newspaper managers to adopt the idea of convergence, I don't see the printed piece going away any time soon. And if it does, I think it will make a quick comeback.

The world is your wide web. Enjoy!

Rewarding success

Tonight was the Southeastern Louisiana University Department of Communication's annual banquet. It was an honor to recognize those who have made significant contributions during their time at the university. There was one strong theme of the evening -- service. Students who were recognized were overwhelmingly those who were heavily involved in student organizations and internships representing the university.

One student, Melissa Biehl, was given the first ever award for service to the department. As the founder of the official chapter of the Public Relations Student Society chapter on campus, and a student who attended several conferences related to her field, Melissa was deserving of this award.

Another, Ericka Johnson, is the student body vice-president, works internships and has also attended several conferences.

Finally, Clayton Cutrer spent much of his time at the university at the radio station, and worked hard to raise money for a local charity. He, along with Adelita Gomez, won recognition from KSLU radio station for their hard work.

These are just a few students honored at the banquet this evening, and I know I'm leaving out several individuals. My point wasn't necessarily to drop names, but to introduce a theme -- hard work and service. It's not all about the grades anymore. Sure, an A is great, but an A up against experience will not fare well.

The world is your wide web. Enjoy!