So... I'm still working on the post ideas that were suggested to me, and I promise I will have something to show for it very soon. But, if you're really in a desperate need to get you some Joel (and really, who couldn't use a little more me in their life?), you can check me out on the Cadography Blog where I post on the 15th and 30th of every month.
My post today is actually the first photo essay/documentary style piece I've put together. Its not actually indicative of the kind of writing I usually do on Cadography, but cad was nice enough to let me post it anyway because she is an amazingly supportive artist and friend.
Anyway, I worked pretty hard on the piece and I'm proud of the results. It's called "Lost in Trinidad," and I would really appreciate it if you would stop by and check it out right here.
And while you're there... check out some of cad's amazing work... seriously, have I ever steered you wrong?
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
I Confess...
It's time for a confession... But before you get your hopes up, this is not a new installment of the Confession Awards. No, its just time for me to admit to myself and to you all that I officially have writer's block. I am completely uninspired and unimaginative as writer right now.
Seriously, I have NO idea what to write about. I haven't for months. Its basically what caused my semi-annual flame out and subsequent hiatus over the summer. I have nothing to say. I used to be able to sit down at the keyboard and figure out what I wanted to say, as I was typing it. But those days are behind me now.
Fortunately, this sort of thing works in cycles and I know that, in all likelihood, I'll get my mojo back... eventually.
But here's the rub... This writer's block only seems to apply to my writing on this blog. I have no problem writing for Cadography (which I LOVE doing btw), and I have no problem writing in school, or anywhere else for that matter. But I for whatever reason, I can't write for me.
So my solution for the problem is simple... I'm going to write for you!
Here's how its going to work: You guys are going to give me topics you'd like to see me ramble on about, and then I'll narrow that list down to two or three topics for a final vote. This will accomplish 3 things. [1] I'll be able to write something worthwhile, [2] it will buy me some time to maybe get past this writer's block, and [3] I'll be able to blame YOU if the topics stink!
So anyway, ask not what this blog can do for you, but what you can do for this blog... leave your topic(s) in the comment section.
Seriously, I have NO idea what to write about. I haven't for months. Its basically what caused my semi-annual flame out and subsequent hiatus over the summer. I have nothing to say. I used to be able to sit down at the keyboard and figure out what I wanted to say, as I was typing it. But those days are behind me now.
Fortunately, this sort of thing works in cycles and I know that, in all likelihood, I'll get my mojo back... eventually.
But here's the rub... This writer's block only seems to apply to my writing on this blog. I have no problem writing for Cadography (which I LOVE doing btw), and I have no problem writing in school, or anywhere else for that matter. But I for whatever reason, I can't write for me.
So my solution for the problem is simple... I'm going to write for you!
Here's how its going to work: You guys are going to give me topics you'd like to see me ramble on about, and then I'll narrow that list down to two or three topics for a final vote. This will accomplish 3 things. [1] I'll be able to write something worthwhile, [2] it will buy me some time to maybe get past this writer's block, and [3] I'll be able to blame YOU if the topics stink!
So anyway, ask not what this blog can do for you, but what you can do for this blog... leave your topic(s) in the comment section.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Debunking the Myth
Two weeks ago in Biology Class I had to write a position paper on one of several preselected "contoversial" topics. I picked 'Flu Vaccines' not because I had any strong opinions on the subject, but because I knew it would be one of the easiest topics to research (just google "flu-shot" if you don't believe me).
I've never had the flu shot, or the flu for the matter... and to be perfectly honest, I don't give a damn if anyone else does either. I understand that its one of those polarizing topics that everyone has a strong opinion on, but despite being a rather opinionated person, I have always been surprisingly opinion-less on the subject... but I still had to write the paper.
So after doing some cursory research, I ended up writing about the myths of the flu shot and how they are all easily debunked by basic science. I cited some study from a couple years back that suggested that the misconceptions and fears of the flu shot in urban areas are exacerbated by the fact that some absurd amount of health care workers in the inner-city don't actually get the flu shot themselves and therefore aren't very insistent on their patients getting it either... blah, blah, blah...
For the most part, I believed what I was writing. The myths did seem absurd. And it did seem ridiculous that a bunch of nurses in the hood didn't want the flu shot... I won't go so far as to say I became a strong believer in the flu shot, but I certainly felt a lot more informed and could now see the myths as myths.
When the professor handed back the graded papers she gave me a conspiritorial wink and whispered, "I'm getting mine on Friday..." I replied, "I got mine yesterday!" but it was a complete lie. It just sounded like the right thing to say.
Flash forward two weeks to this morning. I still hadn't gotten a flu shot... I hadn't really even given it any thought. I got a call from my supervisor saying he needed to see me in a conference room. He was really vague about it. I thought it was a little strange but I went anyway... When I got there he was nowhere to be found. The room was empty excpet for a few boxes of donuts spread across the conference table, and a pretty nurse with a needle standing next to an empty chair.
"Oh shit," I thought... "Its the flu shot!"
I tried to turn and walk away but it was too late. The pretty nurse put her hand on my shoulder and stopped me. "You're not getting away from me so easily," she said in a flirtaious tone.
Before I could really even protest I was filling out a short questionaire as she jammed the needle into my arm. Thirty seconds later I was walking out the door with a jelly donut and a cup of orange juice, thinking:
"I just wrote a paper debunking the myths of the flu shot, and yet it still took deception, donuts, and a pretty nurse to convince me I should get one... and I'm still not even sure it was a good idea!"
I've never had the flu shot, or the flu for the matter... and to be perfectly honest, I don't give a damn if anyone else does either. I understand that its one of those polarizing topics that everyone has a strong opinion on, but despite being a rather opinionated person, I have always been surprisingly opinion-less on the subject... but I still had to write the paper.
So after doing some cursory research, I ended up writing about the myths of the flu shot and how they are all easily debunked by basic science. I cited some study from a couple years back that suggested that the misconceptions and fears of the flu shot in urban areas are exacerbated by the fact that some absurd amount of health care workers in the inner-city don't actually get the flu shot themselves and therefore aren't very insistent on their patients getting it either... blah, blah, blah...
For the most part, I believed what I was writing. The myths did seem absurd. And it did seem ridiculous that a bunch of nurses in the hood didn't want the flu shot... I won't go so far as to say I became a strong believer in the flu shot, but I certainly felt a lot more informed and could now see the myths as myths.
When the professor handed back the graded papers she gave me a conspiritorial wink and whispered, "I'm getting mine on Friday..." I replied, "I got mine yesterday!" but it was a complete lie. It just sounded like the right thing to say.
Flash forward two weeks to this morning. I still hadn't gotten a flu shot... I hadn't really even given it any thought. I got a call from my supervisor saying he needed to see me in a conference room. He was really vague about it. I thought it was a little strange but I went anyway... When I got there he was nowhere to be found. The room was empty excpet for a few boxes of donuts spread across the conference table, and a pretty nurse with a needle standing next to an empty chair.
"Oh shit," I thought... "Its the flu shot!"
I tried to turn and walk away but it was too late. The pretty nurse put her hand on my shoulder and stopped me. "You're not getting away from me so easily," she said in a flirtaious tone.
Before I could really even protest I was filling out a short questionaire as she jammed the needle into my arm. Thirty seconds later I was walking out the door with a jelly donut and a cup of orange juice, thinking:
"I just wrote a paper debunking the myths of the flu shot, and yet it still took deception, donuts, and a pretty nurse to convince me I should get one... and I'm still not even sure it was a good idea!"
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