Sunday, September 19, 2010



As per our class discussion, this week's current events quiz will be on Tuesday. Your two paragraph post on this blog will also be due at the start of class Tuesday. You will be allowed the 20 words to assist you on the quiz.


Your first article is a sort of "rebuttal" to one of our first articles. Will 3D really "take off"?


Local education for the creation of video games? Read about it here.


I would really like to see this film- but alas, my current schedule does not afford me the luxury of seeing movies outside of my living room. Even though Casey Affleck announced that it was not real, the fact that people thought it was proves that Joaquin is a great actor (and worth paying attention to) .

Sunday, September 12, 2010




I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend-- mine was very busy and full of baby-centric things. Just like last week, you will be allowed to a notecard (or piece of paper) with 20 words on it (no more). A two paragraph post is due by the start of class Monday and you will have a quiz on Monday.


If you need a pass in order to get this done, please let me know Monday morning.


This is an interesting article about a new broadway show starring an 80s icon.


Fall television preview! Will you be watching any of these new shows? If you plan on it, let me know.


Sunday, September 5, 2010

Your First Real Blog Post!!!



As we discussed in class on Friday, you will be required to read all of the articles and post a two paragraph response to one of the articles. This will be due at the start of class on Wednesday. On Wednesday, you will have a quiz about all articles on the blog. You will be allowed to use a 3x5 index card during the quiz-- the catch? You cannot have more than 20 words on the card. If you have more than 20 words, you will get a "0" on the quiz.

Because both of these articles are long, I am only posting 2 articles this week!


This article hits on the upcoming change to 3D Television and how it will once again create a generational gap.

This is a longer article about Halo and how Microsoft has managed to create a video game franchise.



Tuesday, August 31, 2010




8 bit Mario!
Welcome to our "new blog test run". For homework tonight, each of you are to access this blog and leave a response to the article that I have posted below. This response should be at least one paragraph in length and up to the standards of your grade level. When responding to an article, you are not summarizing. Instead, you are proving to me that you read the article, internalized it and are able to respond how you feel about the piece.



Even though you are on the Internet writing a response, this is not you Facebook- an aspect of the grade you receive will be based on mechanics.



Here is an interesting link to an article that questions wether video games are considered art.




Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Current Events: 5/27

Here are the three articles that I chose (that you sent me). There will be a quiz at the start of class on Wednesday and a two paragraph response is due before 1:00 pm. You are not allowed to respond to your own article.

ESPN in 3D courtesy of Mr. Troutman.

What did you do when you were 13? This kid climbed Mt. Everest (thanks, Mr. Shodi)

More google! (Thanks for the great article, Ms. Myers)

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Current Events: Create your own current events

Final Episode of LOST is tonight!


Since the semester is winding down, it is time for you to choose your own articles for our "current events" post. Here is what I need from you:

  • Each of you are to "comment" on this post one article (similar to the other articles that I have posted all semester) and a two paragraph response to the article. This will be due Tuesday at the start of class and is worth 25 points.
  • I will post the four articles that I liked the best, and you will be responsible for writing a another two paragraph response on an article that is not your own. This will be due Wednesday by the start of class and is worth 15 points.
  • You will have the final current events quiz of the year on Wednesday-- and as usual, it is worth 20 points.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Current Events: 5/18/2010




Currents events quiz will be on Tuesday-- be sure to post a comment by then!

Love Glee? See them live!

Robin Hood is getting some good press-- like this article here.

There hasn't been much press about the Tennessee floods. Here is an article about the Grand Ole Opry

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Current Events: May 11th



I like the Tuesday quiz/posting. How about we stick with it until the end of the year?

Green Day on Broadway? American Idiot has a new format.

I am Number Four will have some ties to the area. Check it out here and here (be sure to read BOTH articles!)

Maybe it is just my paternal instincts kicking in, but this documentary looks to be interesting. Here is a link to the trailer.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Current Events: 5/4/2010



Due to prom and other adventures, your comments and quiz will not be due until the start of Tuesday's class.

Anchorman 2? I wish.

Here is a longer interview with Mel Brooks-- an American Comedy Legend.

This is more of a "visual article" but I think that it could facilitate some discussion. It is about sequels that are better than the original!

Friday, April 30, 2010

The Daily Show

Here is a real short article about the Daily Show...

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Current Events: April 27



D'OH! I had a very busy Sunday and forgot to update my blog. The posting and quiz will now both be Tuesday. If you are reading this on Sunday, you might as well get it out of the way!

I know you guys are sick of me posting about 3D, but can 3D make you sick?

This is a long article (and important to what we talked about in class). Due to the fact that it is so long, we will only have two article this week!


Monday, April 19, 2010

Writers Guild of America Strike

In order for you to know more about the Writers Guild of America strike, I am posting a link to the wikipedia page relating to the strike. While I found articles to post about the strike, I thought that the wikipedia page had more useful information that the article.
You DO NOT need to read the entire article-- it is long. Instead of reading the entire thing, please read the following Sections:

1. Issues in the strike
4. Effect on television
5. Response

Please post a 2 paragraph response illustrating demonstrating knowledge obtained from the reading. This blog post is worth 25 points and is due at the start of class Tuesday, April 20th.
Here is an interesting video from the writing staff of the office during the strike.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Current Events: April 19th



Here are the currents events articles for this week. Please remember to post a two paragraph response to one of the articles before class. There will be a quiz on Monday!

Playstation is releasing a controller to compete with the Wii.

This is an interesting article about Conan O'Brien- a glimpse into his personal life.

Wiz Khalifa is in the news. I think this short article really hits on the future of the music industry.
Here is a very short article about an upcoming movie that I am very excited about...

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Current Events: 4/12/10



Here are the current events readings for this week. As usual, there will be a quiz on Monday and you must post a two paragraph response about the article by the start of class.

Treme is a new show on HBO. It has received rave reviews and looks to be very interesting.

Iron Man 2 will be released soon. According to this article, it might be extremely high grossing!

This is a long article about 3-D technology and how it is changing theaters as we know it.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Current Events: 4/5/2010



Here are this week's current events articles. There will be a quiz and you must post a comment by the start of class Tuesday.

This article discusses the attempt to reclaim the "family sitcom"- it even mentions Nate's favorite show- Full House .

Sick of waiting for Glee? This article is about the long breaks that many shows take between the fall premier and their spring premier.

The iPad was released on Saturday. I didn't get one, but my friend Evan did. It was estimated that Apple sold 650,000 iPads just on Saturday. This article explains why this could be a world-changing product.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Current Events: Not happening!

Sorry for the late update. I spent my entire sunday packing. It is 9pm and the first time that I have had a chance to use the internet since early this morning.

There is no current events this week. If you feel like finding an interesting article and sending it to me, I will give you up to 5 bonus points.

Sorry!

Mr. Cullen

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Television Project



By class on Monday each of you must choose a television show to complete a project on. This project will have a written component and a presentation component. Unless it is pre-agreed upon, you must choose a television show from the list of Time Magazine's 100 Best Television Shows. This is the same list that we have been working with for 3 days.

If you have a television show that is not on the list, you must email me and say why you think it is a worthwhile show to research. I will then decide if you can choose that show. And before you ask Nick, ALF is not a show that can be researched. There are only so many things you can say about a cat-eating alien from Malmac. But here is a halloween episode for you.

Once you have a show chosen or approved, you must post it to the blog.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Current Events: March 14, 2010



Here are this weeks articles for our current events quiz. Please remember that you are allowed to have a "20 word cheat-sheet" for the quiz.

This article is about a new HBO miniseries from the makers of Band of Brothers.

Here is an article from a few weeks ago about a video game that has its roots in classic literature.

South by Southwest was held this weekend. Read about it here.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Current Events: Oscars Night!



Ladies and gentlemen- we have been working up to tonight for a week. Instead of posting current events, I would like each of you to post a 2 paragraph response to anything relating to the Academy Award presentation. This paragraph could be why you are surprised a film won, commenting on their acceptance speech, or anything for that matter. You could even comment on the red carpet, how well the hosts did-- I really want you to be creative.

If you are unable to watch the broadcast, you can go here for information/updates.


Sunday, February 28, 2010

Current Events: 2/28/10



I hope that you enjoyed the snow day on Friday- I just hope that winter is over soon! Regular rules apply-- I really recommend using a notecard with 20 words on it for this quiz. Event thought there are only 2 articles, they are both lengthy.

The film Temple Grandin is bringing more awareness to Autism. Here is an interesting article about it from the Post Gazette.

This is an article about the late writer J.D. Salinger. It is also from the Post Gazette.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Current Events: February 21, 2010



I hope that all of you had a relaxing weekend. Here are the current events articles for this week. As usual, please post a comment to the blog and be prepared for a quiz on Monday.

Disney is changing their policy on what types of movies they are funding.

Here is another article about a Disney movie- the upcoming Alice in Wonderland.

Since we seem to have a Disney theme going on, here is the trailer to a documentary that will soon be released about Disney's animation studio from 1984-1994.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Current Events: February 14. 2010


First and foremost, I would like to wish all of you a Happy Valentine's day! Due to the fact that we did not meet at all last week (I have had enough snow for 2010!), I doubt that many of you will be checking the blog Sunday- and be ready for a quiz Monday. Your quiz and posting on this update will be due Tuesday (2.16.2010).

The new Harry Potter? Percy Jackson is gaining some attention...

Very sad news for fans of Deadliest Catch.

NBC paid a lot of money for Olympic coverage. Will they make their money back?




Sunday, February 7, 2010

What a Weekend!

I hope that you have power and are able to at least enjoy the Super Bowl! Please remember that there is no blog update this week, but you do have the commercial assignment due Monday and the Radio listening assignment due Wednesday.

If you don't have power and cannot complete the commercial assignment, we can figure out some sort of alternative assignment.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Current Events: 1/31/2010



Here are the current events for this week. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Restoring films from almost 100 years ago is no easy task. Here is an article about old Charlie Chaplin films.

The Cultural Experience Club is going to see In the Heights on Tuesday. This is an interesting article about the production.

Lost premiers this week. I am a huge fan of the show-- and it is worth seeing. Here is an interesting article about the upcoming season.


Monday, January 25, 2010

Current Events: 1/26



Here are the articles for our current events posting/quiz. Please follow the instructions below the picture of Admiral Ackbar.

Avatar is on its way to becoming...

Jersey Shore doesn't seem to be going away...

This is an older article- but is relevant because of the recent "death" of our favorite pirate Johnny Depp. [here is an article about Depp's car accident this week]

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Mass Media: Semester II


I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all of my new students to my blog. The blog is an important part of the class because it allows me to give you relevant and timely information regarding this course.

On each Sunday this semester I will post links to articles, videos or other types of media. You are to read/watch/listen to ALL of the links posted. Our class discussions on Monday will be based around these links.

In addition to completing the above tasks, you will also be required to comment on the week's blog post. This comment must be at least 2 paragraphs and be a response to ONE of the articles. Commenting on each week's post is worth 15 points.

Sometimes I will give quizzes on the blog to make sure that you are reading all of the items that are posted. These quizzes will be more frequent at the start of the semester in order to get you in the habit of reading all of the articles. You will be allowed to use a piece of paper with 20 words on it during the quiz. These quizzes are worth 20 points.

Bonus:
If you send me an article that I end up using on the current week's post, I will give you bonus points.


Sunday, January 10, 2010

Current Events: 1/9/2010

This will be the final current events post of the first semester. There will not be a quiz- but you will receive points from posting a 2 paragraph response.

Here is an article about the consumer electronic show (CES) that was happening last week. It is about E-readers.

This is another article that I thought was interesting from the show.

Since I seemed to have a theme this week-- here is an interesting video.

this just in: NBC is done with 10pm Jay Leno!