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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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]

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.

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!

Last Current Events Entry of the Decade!

In order for you to know more about the Writer's Guild of America strike, I am posting a link to the wikipedia page relating to the strike. While I found 4 articles to post about the strike, I found that the wikipedia article 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. Because there will not be a quiz, this blog post is worth 25 points.

Here is an interesting video from the writing staff of the office during the strike.

Mass Media: The Triumphant Return of Current Events 12/13/2009

Ahh...it has been too long since we have done a current events blog post. In order to receive full credit, you must post to the blog by the start of class on Tuesday (12/15) . There will be a quiz on Tuesday and you can use a 3x5 notecard with 20 words on it.

Invictus is getting a lot of press-- I hope to see it sometime this week.

I am not sure about Avatar. I just hope the story is as good as the special effects look.

E-Readers are all the rage this holiday season. Are they worth it?

Project Schedule

Once again I have left the schedule of who is to present next at school. I meant to post it to the blog on Friday, but that did not happen.

Please refer to the schedule that I handed out before Thanksgiving break. Paul was the last person to go, so the next three people are scheduled for Monday (in addition to Mike).

Sorry to not have the specific information-- I will try to post it first thing Monday morning.

Projects Due!!

This post is just a reminder that your projects are due!

Your 2 3/4 page paper is due by the start of class on tuesday. In addition to using www.turnitin.com (class code: 3001016) , please also bring a paper copy to class.

If your presentation is Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday -- please bring clips to class so that I can screen them.

If you have any questions, feel free to post them here- or email me: cullenc@hempfieldarea.k12.pa.us

Current Events 11/22

Standard procedures: quiz on Tuesday, 3x5 notecard with 20 words. Post at least 2 paragraphs about one of the articles.

The Road will be released soon. Here is an article from the Post Gazette.

Ahh..the infamous rhinestone glove of Michael Jackson.

This week we are going to discuss Garry Marshall's impact on television. As part of our "current events" quiz, please read his Wikipedia entry.

Say it ain't so Oprah!!

Here is an update about an article that I posted last week. If you post to this entry, I will give you up to 5 bonus points (must be done by 5pm on Friday 11/20).

Oprah to end show in 2011

Mass Media: Current Events 11/16/2009

Please post to the blog by the start of class Tuesday. You may bring a 3x5 card with 20 words on it for the quiz.

Here is an article that Mr. Gruber sent me about Xbox Live.

Oprah has a big question to answer...read about it!

The Fantastic Mr. Fox was in limited release this weekend. How involved was Wes Anderson? Find out here. (this is an older article, but worth reading!).

General 9

To help in your search of job skills, educational requirements and mean salaries, here is a link to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

You can search by category and then by specific occupation.

You can also use this link to help you find information. It is the occupational handbook and will allow you to see current data relating to career choices. This website is also from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Here is the link the Central Westmoreland Career & Technology Center (The Vo-Tech).

If you are thinking about going to community college, here is the link to the Westmore County Community College (WCCC).

By the end of the class today, you should have found at least 2 sources that will help you to better understand the job that you have decided to write about. You MUST also have your brainstorm paper completed.



I will be around to help you- please just ask.