Texas Rivalry

While the turkeys roasted in the oven and the potatoes were being mashed, the Texas Longhorns were warming up at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The University of Texas football team usually plays their rivals, Texas A&M, the day after Thanksgiving. However, this year’s kick off was scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday.
Many families were torn on what to do for their annual feast. If sons, daughters, fathers and uncles would be gone, what was the point of a family dinner? Rick Reed, an avid Longhorn fan, says that he is having a nontraditional Thanksgiving this year.
“Oh, I’ll still enjoy Thanksgiving,” said Reed. “I’ll just eat nachos instead of turkey. As far as family goes, I’m in a stadium full of family.” Reed said that there is a kinship between all Longhorn fans. “My folks didn’t make it to the game, but my brothers and sisters are here,” said Reed as he pointed to the stands.
Reed and his friends had Goal Post Club Game passes to get into a party where season ticket holders were invited to come hang out before the game. There was food, drinks, games and a live disk jockey. Reed said that it’s a great way to get pumped up before the game. Just as Reed’s girlfriend was done getting a longhorn painted on her face, the cheerleaders came out with excitement. They shook their pom-poms and did back flips, all while cheering on their favorite team. The fans sang along to the fight song and knew the hand gestures that went along with it. These fans meant business.
One of Reed’s friends, Jarrod Koopmann, was a die-hard Texas A&M fan. He chose not to wear his team’s color in fear of being taunted.
“It’s an easier game to enjoy when you already know who is going to win,” said Koopmann. “Plus, look around. The stadium is a solid burnt orange color. I would be crazy to wear maroon in here,” said Koopmann.”
He was right. Once the stadium had begun to fill, it was a mass of burnt orange fans. Every once in awhile you’d see a brave soul wearing a maroon shirt, but they were few and far between. Just then two Aggie fans sat down in front of Reed and Koopmann. Koopmann gave them the gig’ em hand gesture, while Reed loudly booed in their face. Reed wasn’t alone. A mass of Longhorn fans were yelling obscenities at these two men, telling them to go home and booing loudly. Reed said that it’s just a part of the tradition.
“If I wore burnt orange into their stadium, they’d boo me,” said Reed. While Reed was justifying his actions, both Aggie fans turned around and nodded their heads to agree with him.
Texas A&M won the coin toss, but elected to use their choice in the second half. Texas chose to receive, and Jordan Shipley was ready.
Shipley had an amazing game. With this game included, Shipley had 982 yards which moved him into 5th place on the UT single-season receiving yards list.
“He is one of the better receivers I’ve seen play,” said Chas Semple, Longhorn fan. “He handles the ball well and runs like a bat outta hell,” said Chas Semple. Chas’ wife, Carrie just graduated from the law school at UT, but received her undergrad at A&M.
“This is a hard game for me,” said Carrie Semple. “I want to root for both teams, but since we’re in Austin, I wore my burnt orange,” said Carrie Semple.
The game continued, with little activity from the A&M team. “I can’t believe they’re doing so poorly,” said Carrie Semple.
Chas Semple quickly pointed out that UT is one of the best teams in the nation. The Longhorns are in third place, while A&M isn’t even on the charts, according to ESPN.com. Carrie Semple quickly understood why the game was going so well for the Longhorns. “Well then I’m going to root for the underdog,” said Carrie Semple. She quickly took off her burnt orange shirt to reveal a maroon tank top. “I came prepared,” said Carrie Semple victoriously. The crowd shifted seats so Koopmann and Carrie Semple could sit next to each other.
“No one wants to sit by them,” said Reed with a laugh.
At half time, the score was looking pretty slim for the A&M team. The Longhorns had been dominating for most of the game. A&M only had three points. This rivalry was going well in favor of the longhorns. All rivalry was put aside when the A&M marching band took the field. These students weaved in and out of each other, creating magnificent patterns on the field. Reed said that their form and composure was undoubtedly some of the best there was in college marching bands.
When a child in front of Chas Semple started booing the A&M marching band, Chas Semple put a hand on the little boy’s shoulder and said, “No son. We don’t boo the band.” Chas Semple also said that the rivalry between the two football teams is real, but the band has nothing to do with it.
When the band was done playing, the stadium erupted with applause. This marked the first, and last, time Longhorn fans had cheered for the Aggies during that game.
After halftime the game continued just like before, UT dominating A&M. A&M managed to score a touchdown in the second half, but missed its field goal. The score stayed at 9 for the rest of the game. UT ended the game with a score of 49. When the game was over the crowd erupted with applause and cheering.
Many A&M fans left the stadium early, in fear of what was to come. However, the two gentlemen sitting in front of Reed stayed for the entire game. Reed shook hands with both of the men. “Good game- see you next year,” said Reed.
When asked why the polite handshake, Reed simply said that it’s all part of the tradition. He added that without polite gestures like that, the rivalry would get out of control. “It’s easier to boo in someone’s face when you plan on giving them a ‘good game’ afterwards,” said Reed.
Koopmann said that without rivalry, it’s just another football game. Rivalry adds another dimension to the game, a dimension that can’t be replaced.
So it continues, UT will play A&M next year and the rivalry will be just as strong.

The Need for Love

Danielle’s story is one that touches the hearts of many. She was alone, and not alone in the sense that many of us have felt alone before. Danielle was locked in a closet with no human interaction for numerous years. Her verbal skills, personality traits and demeanor all reflect the years she spent suffering. Many wonder how any mother could abandon a child, but what Danielle faced was far worse than abandonment. Her mother and two brothers lived under the same roof, yet never acknowledged her existence. It is unimaginable what Danielle lived through. When the police and social workers found her she was sitting in her own feces, crawling with bugs and unable to communicate; a child of six with the mental and physical capacity of an infant.
No one will ever know for sure what Danielle had to go through in that closet for so many years, but now that she is out her life has taken a turn for the better. Danielle was adopted by a new family, the Lierows, and she is the daughter they have always wanted.
The thing that made this story so different from many other child abuse stories was the absolute abandonment and disregard for a child’s well-being. Most child abuse cases involve neglect and abuse, but the neglect and abuse Danielle faced were inhumane. To most people, it is very difficult to even understand how something like this could happen. To care for a child comes naturally to mothers, and it is unfathomable that a mother could have such little consideration for her own daughter. This story is an emotional one because of the undeserved suffering Danielle had to face. She never asked to be treated like this, nor did she do anything to justify it. The novelty of the story is what catches reader’s attention, and the heart-wrenching plot is what keeps them interested.
The way that the author, Lane DeGregory, tells Danielle’s story is just amazing. The description she uses enables the reader to actually picture what she is talking about. “The floor, walls, even the ceiling seemed to sway beneath legions of scuttling roaches,” said DeGregory while giving the readers an image of a dirty, run-down, bug-infested house. She has a way of putting the reader into the story. She shows the reader, rather than informs them. This is a talent she is lucky to have.
DeGregory’s use of past and present tense is also something that strikes the reader. The story is in past tense, telling about Danielle’s times of trouble and her struggle to adapt to society. It isn’t until she is adopted by her new family that DeGregory uses present tense. DeGregory describes the adoption as a rebirth, and uses the new tense to help signify that. It is a great use of past and present to convey a new beginning.
The way that DeGregory organized her story is intriguing. The beginning is about Danielle’s life spent in the closet. Then she transitions into talking about Danielle adjusting to her new life with the Lierows. At the end of her story she resorts back to talking about Danielle’s mother and what she had to say about the entire situation. It is the circle method of writing and it helps tie a story together. It was done exceptionally well in this story. The mother’s viewpoint is something that most readers are curious about and with it, there is a bit of understanding as to why Danielle is the way she is. Danielle’s mother asking the reporter if she was okay was a great way to tie in the current condition of Danielle. The entire story flowed extremely well and was fabulously written.
One thing to take notice of is the immense research DeGregory did for this story. She interviewed everyone involved in the case. There are quotes and statements from the police officers who found Danielle, the case workers who looked after her, the doctors and nurses who took care of her, her current family and her biological mother and brother. It seems as if she wanted to cover all of her bases, and with all of the information she received she put together one great story. The story wouldn’t start off with such emotion if it weren’t for the police officer’s quotes. “She didn't react to heat or cold — or pain. The insertion of an IV needle elicited no reaction,” writes DeGregory. Without this added information, obviously recalled by a nurse, readers would have to guess as to how desensitized Danielle was. It is little tidbits like this that help the reader picture just how horrifying this girl’s life had been.
The multimedia tools used with this story add so much more emotion. The use of black and white still photography rather than a streaming video was a beautiful idea. The video never would have portrayed all the things the black and white photos did. There were different situations the viewers could see Danielle in, rather than just sitting in front of a camera. Hearing her brother, who is only a year older than her, speak about her really did give the viewer a sense that Danielle was finally in a family that loved and cared for her. Her brother loves her as if she were his own flesh and blood. A recommendation would be to possibly include a visual of the biological mother, or even a video interview with her. Readers have a mental picture of what kind of trash this woman must be, but truly seeing it would help emphasize the reality of it all.
This was a wonderful piece of writing and should be nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. It speaks of love, compassion, hardships and neglect in ways that no human being can even imagine.

Welcome to the Darque Side

As she stands behind the counter, she looks like the stereotypical tanning salon manager, long blonde hair shimming from the sun coming through the window, tight bronzed skin, and eyes that could convince someone to buy almost anything. She is trying to make a sale when I walk in, but to an outsider it looks like two friends talking. Her bubbly personality and likeability appeal to the tanners of San Marcos. It is obvious that she is good at her job.
Darque Tan just opened its first San Marcos salon and Stacie Sigel is the new manager. However, it wasn’t easy to make it to where she is today.
Sigel is a small town girl with a big city attitude. She started working for a Darque Tan salon outside of San Antonio last year. She was still living at home with her mom and work was the escape that she needed. When it came time for Sigel to move to San Marcos to attend Texas State University, she kept her fingers crossed that there was a Darque Tan close by. Unfortunately, Sigel’s only options were to drive to Austin or San Antonio to keep working for the same company. Since the Austin salons were a bit closer, she chose them over the San Antonio location she had come to love.
Sigel started school, taking 15 hours of classes and still maintaining her 40-hour work schedule. She says that mixing school and work is not always easy and that often she is “not always the most studious person when it comes down to an either/or situation.” Fortunately, Sigel is one of those people most students are jealous of. Studies come easy for her and she doesn’t have to put much effort into keeping her grades up.
Although Sigel had found a balance between school and working in Austin, the gas prices were making her long drive to work not so pleasant. “The drive to and from Austin almost every day was so draining on my time, my sleep, and my life in general. It finally reached a point where enough was enough and I either had to make this happen or leave the company,” said Sigel. This was the drive that fueled Sigel to actively seek out a place to lease in San Marcos. Her goal was to find something within walking distance from campus to appeal to dorm residents and so students could tan on their breaks between classes. After months of searching, she found her dream at 316 N. Edward Gary Street.
The location had once been another tanning salon, Image Sun. Luckily for Sigel that meant that all the right electrical lines and cables had already been put in place. The owner of Image Sun had abandoned her lease and left the landlord in a bit of a bind. Darque Tan was quick to seize the property and begin the transformation of Image Sun. Within just a few weeks, Darque Tan opened its first salon in San Marcos.
With this opening, Sigel was named manager of the store. She had some of the highest sales records at the Austin locations and had a superb record with the company. It just made sense for her to step up and take the managerial position. She couldn’t have been more pleased. Her responsibilities have increased with the new salon opening, but it’s a change that Sigel welcomes. She quickly hired a new Darque Tan team and started promoting the opening of the salon. The doors to Darque Tan opened with great success. While there is still remodeling to be done, Darque Tan is on it’s way to becoming the most successful tanning salon in San Marcos.
Sigel has said that her goal for the San Marcos Darque Tan is, “to put Great Tans out of business. They're the only thing that can even be considered real competition here, and with Darque Tan's great pricing and options, I know we can own this market.” Sigel continues to emphasize that Darque Tan really puts its customers first, and says that is what will make the difference in sales.
Sigel has great plans for promoting the salon in San Marcos. “We want to do a Miss Darque Tan San Marcos,” says Sigel. “This will be a several week-long series of bikini competitions and the top three contestants will become part of the promo crew, along with receiving some great prizes. We're working with several bars here to do a weekly bar crawl to increase awareness of the company, and a few pool parties sponsored by Darque Tan are in the works, once it warms up a bit.”
Darque Tan will continue to thrive here in San Marcos and it’s because of one person’s perseverance and passion. Sigel can be found behind the counter of Darque Tan, and if you get the chance to meet her, thank her for what she has done for the tanners of San Marcos.

Analyzing “Pearls Before Breakfast”

By Brittany Wilson                                               

MC 4356F.1

In the 2008 Pulitzer Prize Winning piece “Pearls Before Breakfast,” Washington Post writer Gene Weingarten analyzes the incredible situation where one of the world’s best violinists plays anonymously at the Metro station in the L’Enfant Plaza in Washington D.C. In the piece, Weingarten transitions from the situation at the metro to outside sources analyzing how beauty is lost in the hustle and bustle of people’s everyday lives.

Beginning with a description of Josuah Bell’s plain set-up at the station, the piece captures all the right angles from the time to Bell’s attire. One of the first paragraphs quickly hints at the odd chance that most of the 1,097 people who pass by “one of the finest classical musicians in the world, playing some of the most elegant music ever written on one of the most valuable violins ever made,” may not even notice what they were witnessing. The slight foreshadowing of the sad reality keeps the reader hoping it isn’t true.  

After setting the scene, the piece references the director of the National Symphony Orchestra for his opinion of what would happen in this “hypothetical” situation. Of course the expert, like the reader at this point, believes at least a small crowd will stop to admire the sound that most have to pay a hefty charge to hear. The following part shows the interesting flow and organization the writer uses to explain conversations:

So, a crowd would gather?

"Oh, yes."

And how much will he make?

"About $150."

Thanks, Maestro. As it happens, this is not hypothetical. It really happened.

"How'd I do?"

We'll tell you in a minute.

"Well, who was the musician?"

Joshua Bell.

"NO!!!"

The dialogue perfectly sets up Weingarten’s full explanation of Bell that includes situations that explain his fame, appearance, personality and parents. The writer never simply says it-- he shows it through actual instances. 

Then back to the station. Anytime that Weingarten refers back to the station, it goes back into the sequence of events, which is a great form of organization for this story. It is not simply a monotonous this happened, then this, and then that. He breaks up the sequence by explaining the back-story, his research and the philosophy behind the stunt. It is still easy to follow since he reminds readers of the time and place, the L’Enfant station on the morning of Jan. 12, every time he takes the reader back there.

Weingarten doesn’t miss a beat as he describes Bell’s playing, the line for lottery, the people who stop and watch and the many who don’t. I particularly was drawn in by and in awe of the writer’s attention to detail as he describes everything from the way the priceless instrument looked to his insight into every musical piece Bell played. The following quote shows his attention:

“The front of Bell's violin is in nearly perfect condition, with a deep, rich grain and luster. The back is a mess, its dark reddish finish bleeding away into a flatter, lighter shade and finally, in one section, to bare wood.”

It is followed by a quote from Bell and more fun facts Weingarten throws in. He continues to stay the reader interested in the small things with, “Like the instrument in ‘The Red Violin,’ this one has a past filled with mystery and malicem,” where he describes the instrument’s unique past.

Weingarten writes “As Metro Stations Go, L'enfant Plaza Is More Plebian Than Most. Even before you arrive, it gets no respect. Metro conductors never seem to get it right: "Leh-fahn." "Layfont." "El'phant."

This is a unique way of describing the station as well as throwing in much appreciated humor that is used sparingly and in good taste throughout the piece.

Throughout the piece Weingarten’s attention seems to be amazingly scattered, yet focused. He describes aspects of the situation through either facts or descriptions of people to point where the reader can envision them. I loved the little boy who wanted to listen to the music while his mother pulled him away. When he refers to how “The poet Billy Collins once laughingly observed that all babies are born with a knowledge of poetry, because the lub-dub of the mother's heart is in iambic meter. Then, Collins said, life slowly starts to choke the poetry out of us. It may be true with music, too,” I thought it was a very insightful reference that connected to the fascinating fact that “every single time a child walked past, he or she tried to stop and watch.”

I counted 34 sources Weingarten used, excluding the four writers from the Post that contributed to the piece. The sources included Bell and people from the station, but also a DVD, poets and writers, philosophers and experts, another musician, fans and a curator. He may not have talked to the fans, but I figured that would be a source. He described them as a “few young women in the audience nearly disappeared in the deep sea of silver heads. But seemingly every single one of them -- a distillate of the young and pretty -- coalesced at the stage door after the performance, seeking an autograph.”

It was obvious that Weingarten spent a lot of time with Bell doing interviews and just observing. He must have either already been very familiar with philosophical ideas, music and history all together, or he did a great deal of research and searching to fit the story together. I cannot imagine that he went out searching for all the facts he gives in this story, so I would guess he already was a smart guy who knew how to fit in information with his big ideas. It is obvious that he did do a great deal of research though to be able to report so heavily on so many different areas. Also, the interviewing and reviewing of the tape were so intricate that I imagine Weingarten worked on this piece for a very long time.

My interest continued to grow the more Weingarten referenced philosophers, and I felt like the ideas presented through those sources were the backbone of the piece. After reading it I felt like there was an important message about our society inside the details of the story.

The story stands out for it’s unique topic and deep implications of human’s society. The philosophical context forces the reader to wonder if they would overlook such beauty, and hope that they would not, while quietly realizing they probably already have. 

As far as what I would change, I cannot come up with anything. Weingarten’s description and overall knowledge answered all of my questions and allowed me to visualize every situation. I do not know how I could improve the piece.

For multimedia purposes, I would have loved photos. Even though I felt as though I could see Bell, the busy station and the worker on his tiptoes listening at the door to try and hear Bell, I would have liked to actually see them. However, photographers could have hinted at something unordinary happening, and this piece had to be candid.

Also, the video of the station could be put online with the story- possibly with a fast-forward control with Philip Glass’s music like Weingarten described. There also could be a way for readers to hear some of Bell’s music while reading the story to help set the scene.

 

 

Stress Management During Finals

By Brittany Wilson

MC 4356F.1

It’s a fact of college life: when finals roll around, students experience emotional and physical stress. The pressure of college life and overbearing study loads often leave students freaking out and unable to focus. With finals in less than a month, Megan Perkins, spanish junior, said her fall 2008 semester has been one of the most stressful.

“I’m taking 15 hours and I have a lot of homework to do,” she said. “I feel like there is not enough time to get it all done.”

Perkins said to deal with the intense workload she does yoga to relieve her stress. She said she also takes breaks while studying to talk to friends, which helps her relax. She said it is difficult for her to relax if her house is not clean and organized, and she tries to keep up to give her more time to focus on her schoolwork.

Ismael Muniz, public relations senior, is graduating in December and taking 12 hours this semester.

             “Just knowing that I need to have something lined up after this semester makes me stressed, but I still have to be a regular student and get homework done, too,” he said.

Muniz said at times he feels like everything is coming down on him at once, and the stress can be overwhelming. He said he eases his anxieties by cooking and barbecuing with friends.

            While there is no getting around the workload, there are helpful ways to reduce some stress and tackle test anxiety. Dr. Elizabeth Scott’s article “Low-Stress Study Tips for Final Season” from About.com gives tips to alleviate stress so students can yield the best results on exams.

§  REDUCE TEST ANXIETY: Although some stress is natural and can be motivating, too much may ruin concentration. If anxiety causes frustration during an exam, visualizations of calming situations and deep, controlled breathing exercises have proven to be relaxing.

§  GET QUALITY SLEEP: Having a clear mind relies on being well rested. If a busy schedule is affecting the quantity and quality of sleep, remember to budget time and avoid sleep-damaging activities such as drinking caffeine or over-thinking. By managing stress, the quality of sleep improves.

*DO NOT resort to all-night study marathons. They most often lead to a scattered brain and increased anxiety.

§  KEEP HEALTHY HABITS: Eating healthy and sleeping well keeps stress at a manageable level. Make sure to get all the vitamins needed to keep the body and mind performing at its highest level. Avoid junk food and caffeine. Although they seem to be the most convenient and easiest energy-burst, they will end up causing more harm than good. Quality sleep is the most effective way to avoid being too tired to be productive, and without it stress can take over emotions.

§  GET ORGANIZED: Organization at home and school reduces stress and prepares the mind for what it needs to take in. Clutter causes distractions and confusion. Specific tips for staying organized include studying in advance to increase time efficiency, creating a quiet and clean study space and making competent notes, such as note cards with the most important facts.

§  HAVE A GOOD STUDY GROUP: Studying in a group can be beneficial. Having several versions of notes helps in remembering important pieces of information and figuring out how much information has already been retained. However, the wrong kind of group could just waste time. Be sure and pick a focused group of students that has the most correct answers and will motivate others rather than distract them. It is fine to make the study sessions more interesting with food, music or quick quizzes, but make sure the group stays focused.

If those tips aren’t enough to get students through finals, the Texas State University Counseling Center offers stress-reduction training workshops, one-on-one counseling and group sessions. The Counseling Center’s newest program involves the EmWave, a biofeedback technology.

“EmWave is a ‘fun entertaining stress relief technology that helps balance your emotions, mind and body,’” the Center’s Web site says.

The Web site says the EmWave provides effective control over emotional stress reactions, an improvement in mental concentration and a reduction of the negative effects stress can cause.

A one-hour orientation and training session offered at the LBJ Student Center in room 3-9.1 teaches students how to use the EmWave. For more information, contact the Texas State University Counseling Center at (512) 245-2208.

 

Grandmother Emma G.

The Wisdom in a Grandmother’s Stories

By Brittany Wilson- MC4356F.1

Thin wrinkles outline wise owl-like eyes and lead to a wide mouth releasing a soothingly powerful song as if the singer has known the words for twice her 70 years. The “fluffy” figure stands strong in colorful regalia sewn by the two strong but small hands now beating a drum. As a Lipan Apache-Mexican storyteller, Emma G. Ortega exudes the pride of both the indigenous cultures she inherited while she sings a Native American song at Austin’s 17^th Annual Powwow Nov. 1. 

Ortega’s story began when doctors told her mother she would not live past age five, since she was born with a bad leg and was very anemic. She said her mother was told to keep her daughter inside and safe to ensure she would even live that long. However, her mother’s decision was that her daughter was “going to enjoy the time she has on earth,” and was allowed to play outside and be a normal child. Ortega has lived 14 times longer than doctors thought possible, and said she enjoyed all of her 70 years.

Born, raised and still living in San Antonio, Ortega shares the stories she has learned and experienced with young people around Central Texas. She said she decides which story to tell by reading her “ inner feelings, those little voices within us.” She does not have a favorite story since each has a certain time to be told, depending on the lesson someone needs to learn. “Sometimes I’ll be telling a story that I think is a good story, and then all the sudden something will stop me and I’ll go to another story,” she said. “In the stories there are many many lessons of what we should do, what we shouldn’t do, how we should behave, and things that are good for us and the pitfalls we should avoid. They’re all in the stories.”

As a child, Ortega was surrounded by the tales of her ancestors, her heroes.  She said most of the stories from her childhood were from her grandmother, mother and father. She said her mother’s stories were down to earth, her grandmother’s stories were about her family that taught her human lessons and her father’s stories were the best stories in the world. “I never knew if they were real or not,” Ortega said. “Later on in life they turned out to be true.”

Vel Espinoza Coahiltec, Ortega’s niece, said she remembers all the wonderful stories she learned from her aunt. She said Ortega has always been a teacher since her voice is one that many people listen to and learn from. “I know that she also teaches about respecting your elders because they have a lot to teach you,” Coahiltec said. “Honor them and let them teach you because they have experienced a lot.”

Among Ortega’s many tales, the story of the possum’s once beautiful tail is one of the most popular. Ortega explained that the possum loses all the hair on his tail because he becomes vain. Everyone laughs at the possum, Ortega said, to remind him to be humble.

She recalled that as a child when someone told her that she was pretty, her mother would thank them, adding “you are doing her a favor by saying that.” Ortega said others may see that as rude, but it taught her not to be vain like the possum.

            When Ortega spoke about how she thought she knew everything when she was 15, like she said most teenagers do, her voice became youthful.  The sound embodied the original emotion of a teenager but the words had the wisdom of her years. “I thought ‘my mother doesn’t know anything; my father doesn’t know anything,’ but I didn’t say it,” she said sounding thankful that she was smart enough not to voice her opinions.            

            She has been given the lesson of treating people the way she wants to be treated, and said if she steps out of line someone will point it out to her just as her mother did when she was a child. “My mother was very wise and I was a typical kid,” she said. When Ortega’s mother would see her daughter drop something carelessly and not pick it up, Ortega said her mother explained she had to pick up things she dropped because if she did not, the little devil on her shoulder won.

“What did he win?” she would ask her mother.

“Every time you drop something and don’t pick it up, the devil wins over the angel,” she said her mother would reply. “When you drop something, the devil tells the angel ‘oh, she belongs to me. She doesn’t care about things. And the little angel says ‘oh no, she’s going to pick it up because she belongs to me. She’s a good little girl.”

At the powwow in Austin on Nov. 1, Ortega stopped in a moving crowd to pick up a small card on the ground someone had carelessly drop. This proved that her mother’s stories taught her a lesson. “From then on (my mother) never had to tell me,” she said.

Ortega happily admitted she is still learning new things. She enjoys trying something different, even if it is only once, just to learn. Her favorite activities include cooking, traveling and going to the park with her family, but her least favorite is cleaning.

Ortega learned to enjoy the simplicity of life while growing up on the outskirts of an upper class San Antonio suburb. Ortega said she did not know her family was poor. With a roof over her head, food to eat and clothes to wear, she was happy. “But now if you don’t have something that has a big name tag on it, oh you’re poor,” she said. “To me, things have just gotten out of hand,” she said. “We need to learn to be happy about the simple things.”

With a 14-month-old grandson, Giovanni, from her only son, Grandmother Ortega is grateful his parents were taught to enjoy nature and tell stories. She said it is unfortunate we live in a time where stories that teach people of a time that no longer exists are not often told. “Right now we’re having really young boys and girls being parents and you wonder, do they remember to tell stories?” she said.

            A crowd forms at the tent in the back of the powwow as Ortega sings the powerful song surrounded by her spiritual family, young and old. Ortega encompasses all ages and ideas as she shares her life lessons through stories. “I’m the old generation and I’m going out,” she said. “I tell my granddaughter, ‘I want you to know these things that I did. Someday you might want to tell your kids what their great grandmother was like.’”

 

Analysis of "The Girl in the Window" Revised By Lexie Aebi

Analysis of “The Girl in the Window”

Nobody knew a child lived in the house across the street. Neighbors had seen the woman who lived there and her two older sons, but never a little girl. When she was found, she was almost seven years old. She weighed 46 pounds and was wearing only a diaper.
According to Mark Holste, a detective on the case, the girl was covered in “thousand of roach bites.” She had open sores all over her body, and was laying in her own urine and feces. Her hair was matted and covered with lice. She was starving to death.
She was removed from the home that day. “The Girl in the Window” is her story.
Her name is Danielle. Somehow, she had been ignored and neglected her entire life. She lived in a room with one window that was broken. Thousands of bugs crawled through the open frame and into her room.
She could not speak, feed herself, use the restroom or even stand. She was so malnourished that her ribs were poking out of her tiny frame. She didn’t acknowledge the presence of people at all. Her eyes were empty. She was barely there.
How could the situation get so bad? Her mother had excuses, but nothing could account for this type of abuse and neglect.
Danielle was in the hospital for six weeks. She had to be fed through an IV because she couldn’t swallow whole food. Dr. Kathleen Armstrong said Danielle had “environmental autism.” She was so neglected that she didn’t respond to the most natural human instincts of affection and comfort.
Danielle was eventually found by Bernie and Diane Lierow. They had always wanted a daughter. Danielle wasn’t what they had been looking for, but when they saw her they knew that it was right. She needed them. They adopted Danielle and she became a member of their family. She left her old world behind, and began a new life as Dani.
Dani’s birth mother gave up parental rights, and is on probation. She served no jail time, and had her community service hours waived.
Dani has made huge strides in her development. She is engaged and is learning new things everyday. She laughs when she is tickled by her older brother. She is potty trained, and is working on how to use utensils. Dani is in speech therapy five days a week, and even takes horseback riding lessons. She was saved in every sense of the word.
“The Girl in the Window” is a very unique story. The reader is guaranteed to remember Dani for life. The explicit details and quotes send chills up the readers’ spine. The story provides a very personal connection from the reader to the characters. The horrifying living conditions grab your attention and pull you in to the story.
This story personally affected me in many ways. I have never heard the term “feral child” before. I cannot believe that children can be so badly neglected that they cannot even speak. This story is something that everyone should read. Dani should not have been overlooked for so long.
Dani slipped through the cracks of the system, and everyone should be aware of this problem. Before Dani was finally rescued, there had been two previous investigations of child abuse conducted at the home. Both investigations had found the conditions to be bad but nothing had been done about it. Perhaps if the first team of investigators had removed the child, Dani could have saved years of suffering. Perhaps she could have gained years of love.
“The Girl in the Window” was written by Lane DeGregory. DeGregory spent many hours with Dani and her new family observing and asking questions. She was able to see first hand, how Dani was advancing in her development. DeGregory sat in on Dani’s speech therapy sessions as well.
Although she was not present for the original investigation, DeGregory was able to produce the story from interviews with individuals involved in the case, medical records, court records and police reports.
The most important resource was the accounts from the investigators and police that covered the scene the day Dani was rescued. They were able to recall with the greatest amount of detail, how bad the situation actually was. Especially Mark Holste, the one who carried Dani out of the house.
DeGregory did a beautiful job of telling Dani’s story. She connected the reader to the subjects in a flawless, fluid motion. The story is most impressive because of the emotions it draws out of the reader. It induces feelings of sadness, anger, hope and finally happiness. The descriptive wording allows the reader to visualize what life is like for Dani. “In her new room, she has a window she can look out of. When she wants to see outside, all she has to do is raise her arms and her dad is right behind her, waiting to pick her up.”
The quotes in this story are important to its success. The quotes DeGregory choose to use were very powerful and added so much personal feeling to the writing. They also help guide the reader to the emotion they should feel. When I read the following quote from Tracy Sheehan, Danielle's guardian in the legal system, I felt extremely angry with Dani’s birth mother. "No food. No one talking to her or reading her a story. She can't even use her hands. How could this child be so invisible?" DeGregory specifically choose certain quotes to include to spark a specific emotion in the reader.
This piece was extremely well written. There are very few recommendations I could make for improving the feature. I would suggest, however, to interview and have some background on the two older boys that were living in the house at the time of Dani’s abuse. As a reader I want to know details on them as well, and I want to know why they didn’t take some kind of action on the situation. On the same note, who were the investigators that came to the home the first two times? What was their opinion on the case?
I found, as a reader, the multimedia online for the story to be very useful and informative. The pictures along with the dialogue provided a great supplement to the story itself. It allowed the reader to further investigate the story, and created an even deeper connection with the subject. With the audio, it was possible to hear how Dani is working on her speech and her progress.
This story was both tragic and beautiful. Today Dani is not only surviving, but is thriving in her new life. DeGregory successfully covered a difficult story and should be very proud of her work.

Thankful- Revised By Lexie Aebi

Thankful

The downtown streets of New York City are lined with people on Thanksgiving morning. Crowds bustle around trying to find the perfect spot to view the spectacle. The young ones sit on the curb with a cup of hot cocoa, while the adults sip on a cup of coffee from the Starbucks around the corner. Everyone is anxiously waiting for the same thing. With every gust of icy wind, the crowd bunches together while staring toward the sky in anticipation.
Finally, the marching band starts to play. The drummers drum and the tubas blare. Around the top of a skyscraper, one can see the tip of the first balloon coming around the corner. Just like that, Manhattan is transformed into a world of streamers, cartoons, music, candy and dancing characters.
For the past 80 years, people from all over the country have gathered in New York City to celebrate Thanksgiving and the coming of Christmas with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Every year the floats, balloons, dancers, musicians, and animals march through the downtown area sending a welcome invitation to the Christmas season.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade first took place in 1924. It was created by the Macy’s department store employees. Many of the employees who worked at the store were immigrants. According to www.nyctourist.com, the employees were “proud of their new American heritage, they wanted to celebrate the American holiday with the type of festival they loved in Europe.”
The success of the parade was undeniable. Macy’s announced that the parade would become an annual event. Every year the parade became even larger and more impressive than the year before.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade of 1927 was quite a memorable event. According to Macys.com, “The 1927 Parade included helium-filled balloons for the first time. They were released above the city during the grand finale, but unexpectedly burst above Manhattan’s skyline.” The balloons were redesigned for the following years with release valves and return address labels in case a balloon escaped.
There was a short period of time, however, when the Macy’s parade did not take place. This period was from 1942-1944 because of World War II. Macy’s donated the balloon rubber and the helium to the war efforts. DJ Lindstrom, a Thanksgiving enthusiast who is 80 years old, could remember the Thanksgivings when the parade did not take place. “Thanksgivings during the war were very different. Anything we had in excess went to the war efforts.”
However, in 1945, the parade came back bigger and stronger than ever. In 1946 the parade was televised on local channels. In 1947 it was broadcast nationally, enabling people at home to watch the parade, as well. The parade drew in a record-breaking number of live spectators at about two million people.
Although there have been a few rocky patches along the way, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has survived the test of time. The parade has marched though wind, rain and snow. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has become a tradition to the American people. Families all across the country tune in on Thanksgiving morning to see what new floats have joined the parade and to spot their old favorites. Lindstrom, an Ohio resident, recalls, “I remember the first year that Garfield was in the parade. Now I look for him every year. And of course, I always watch for Santa Claus at the end.”
Throughout the years, the parade has changed in many ways. New floats have been constructed and old floats have been retired. The music has changed and the hosts are different, but the sentiment remains the same. The parade still has the ability to excite a feeling in the audience of inspiration and awe. Audrey Stevenson, a Texas State University student, said, “I watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade every year. My mom usually has it on while she is getting the cooking started. I have never seen it in person but I would love to go someday.”
According to Macys.com, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade brings more than three million people to the Manhattan streets, and another 44 million people watch on television. Kate Aconfora, New York City resident, said, “You can tell when it is getting close to the Thanksgiving. The whole place becomes absolutely packed with people. The parade is an unforgettable experience. Everyone wants to see it at least once.”
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has become part of an American tradition. The tradition began with a group of immigrants who wanted to embrace the Thanksgiving holiday and it continues to this day. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade reminds each one of us what we have to be thankful for, and how far we have come as a nation to get to where we are today. It’s a simple concept that allows for people from all walks of life to join together to celebrate.

How to Cure a Hangover- Revised By Lexie Aebi

How to Cure a Hangover

Curing a hangover is an art many college students must master. At first it’s a little tricky, but eventually you will become a pro. There are a few simple guidelines that will enable this process to become quick and relatively painless.
The best way to cure a hangover is to avoid one altogether. This is possible by following every alcoholic beverage with a nonalcoholic beverage. Eating a substantial meal will also help because you won’t be drinking on an empty stomach. This will prolong the time before you become intoxicated.
However, these precautions are not always easy with the college lifestyle. At most party’s beer is the only drink available. If you want something nonalcoholic, you will have to bring it yourself.
At the bars, drinks are expensive. Most college kids don’t want to waste their money on a drink without alcohol, and many bartenders don’t waste time serving nonalcoholic drinks because they are inexpensive and often they do not receive tips on nonalcoholic beverages. According to Lara Burley, senior at Stephen F. Austin State University, “It is hard to get a bartender’s attention unless you are drinking plenty of expensive drinks. Good tips don’t hurt either.”
Another good idea to avoid hangovers is to steer clear of especially sugary drinks. The sugar will enhance the hangover in the morning. Also, try to stick to one type of alcohol. If you switch from beer, to margaritas, to wine, to whiskey and back again, you will have major regrets in the morning. Becky Hove, a student at North Central Texas College, said, “I mostly stick to beer because liquor makes me puke. And I love playing beer pong.”
The most common symptoms of a hangover are feelings of nausea, body aches and extreme drowsiness. According to www.DrinkFocus.com, “A hangover is nature's way of warning us that we're harming our body.”
After a long night of drinking, the first thing to do is drink plenty of water. A hangover is a form of dehydration, so the best thing to do is to try to get your body hydrated. Another good choice is a beverage containing electrolytes which help your body hydrate more quickly.
Drinking water will also help if you are suffering a severe headache. The reason headaches occur is because the brain is lacking water. The body responds and sends a signal to you in the form of a headache to let you know it needs hydration.
The next most important thing to curing a hangover is to eat something. Danielle O’Connell, a senior at Texas State University, said, “The best thing to cure a hangover is a big, greasy burger and a Dr. Pepper. It works every time.” Certain foods will help you feel better, but some might make the hangover worse.
If you find you are feeling nauseated or you are experiencing a loss of appetite, don’t worry. This is not uncommon. The best choice would be to eat something that won’t upset your stomach any more. According to www.ehow.com, “Eat mild foods, since your stomach right now is quite sensitive. Bananas, rice, applesauce and toast or soda crackers are all good options.” This will allow for the body to regain energy and get you back on track.
If you are experiencing severe nausea, vomiting might be the best option. This will allow for a faster release of the alcohol in your system and will speed up the recovery process. If you do vomit, it is especially important to drink plenty of liquids to replace those you are releasing.
Another very common sign of a hangover is drowsiness. Drowsiness occurs because along with a high consumption of alcohol comes the inability to enter the REM cycle during sleep. Even if you do sleep for the eight hours required, you may wake with an extreme sense of sleep deprivation. This drowsiness will disappear with time, but it is necessary to allow yourself to enter the REM cycle before you will completely recover.
It is also important to note the things one should avoid while recovering from a hangover. You should not consume anything that that will cause further dehydration. This includes anything with caffeine (coffee included) and salt. You should avoid saunas and exposure to extreme heat.
Finally, while recovering from a hangover, avoid taking any medication. Even the common over-the-counter headache remedy is not safe. According to www.cocktails.about.com, “Aspirin is a blood thinner, just like alcohol, and can intensify its effects and Tylenol (or acetaminophen) can cause more damage to your liver. Ibuprofen can also cause stomach bleeding.”
Drinking with friends can be an exciting experience, however it is important to take the proper precautions and know how to take care of yourself. As an adult, this is your responsibility. Remember to drink cautiously. These guidelines will help to provide a better way to enjoy alcoholic drinks. Cheers!

Papa Don't Preach- Revised By Lexie Aebi

Papa Don’t Preach
As we walk down the center aisle, I can feel the eyes of the congregation follow us. We sit in the front pew and I nervously flip through the hymnal. She seems calm, as this is a weekly tradition for her. The pastor makes his way toward the altar. As he does this, she leans over and whispers to me, “Momma makes all of daddy’s robes herself. He has a whole closet full of them.”
Her name is Kara-Sha Jones, and her father is the pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Montgomery, Ala. She is a typical southern lady.
As I watch her stare up at her dad, I can’t help but notice the way she crosses her legs at the ankle and the way she lays her hands gently upon one another. She has her hair tied up in a tight bun on top of her head, and is wearing a khaki skirt that falls a few inches below her knees. She obviously has years of practice being in the public eye, as it seems that she does not even notice the people staring.
Jones lived under her parents’ roof until she turned 21. Then she ventured to Texas to see what else the world had to offer. She is taking classes at Texas State University and working part-time. Although she is hundreds of miles away from the town she grew up in, she still cannot escape the pressures of being the preacher’s daughter.
After the mass when I sat down with Jones, she gave me an inside look into her life. “People expect certain things of you, even people who you have never met before. You don’t get the luxury of making mistakes.” She tells me that she has sat in the front row of her fathers’ church every Sunday since she was six years old. Before that, she attended the children’s liturgy.
Kara-Sha’s father, Randy Jones, is proud of his daughter. “She is a good kid. She stays out of trouble and has a strong relationship with God.”
Now that she is on her own, however, she finds it difficult to make choices for herself. “Since I was a baby I’ve been told what’s right and what’s wrong. I know what I should do. But that is not always the same as what I want to do.”
Jones said she feels pressure from both her parents and the congregation to do the right thing. However, she was never able to find out for herself what that really means.
Jones never drank alcohol while she lived with her parents, except for the sip of wine that she took while accepting communion each week. Now she finds herself in a difficult position, because she lives in a college town and is of legal drinking age.
“I know daddy wouldn’t approve of me going to a bar and drinking with friends…but I like to go out just as much as anybody else and I feel like I am betraying him.” She nervously admits that she has lied multiple times to her father about her drinking habits.
When I asked Jones how she feels about premarital sex, she starts to fidget anxiously. She responds by stating politely that the church does not accept sex outside of marriage. Even now, after living away from her father and the church for a whole year, she says she still cannot form her own opinions. Jones quickly changes the subject.
After we spent some time together, she began to open up. She said she has never had anyone to confide in because everyone she knows attends her church. She is petrified that her father will think less of her. Jones admits that for the past year she felt as though she was living a double life. “I am beginning to figure out who I am, apart from who the church wants me to be. I am finally establishing a relationship with God on my terms.”
Jones gave me some insight into her past, and how she ended up where she is today. “Grade school was rough. High school was brutal. I was an outcast by association. My classmates assumed I was a straight arrow. It was hard to make friends.” In her grade school yearbook, nearly every message written by her classmates mentioned something about church. She said her classmates were afraid of her, maybe because of who her father is, or maybe because all of their parents were members of the church. She felt like an outsider.
Now that she is on her own, she is learning how to be a part of a new society. She has three roommates and a boyfriend of five months. She has plenty of friends, and people know her for being who she is and not for being the pastor’s kid. Amanda Martin, one of Jones’ roommates, describes her as being “a normal 21-year-old.” Her boyfriend, Daniel Kratz, said “the fact that her father is a pastor does not affect our relationship.”
Kara-Sha is growing and making her own decisions. She is eager to leave her past behind for now while she finds herself. “I miss my parents but I am happy to be out of the public view.”
Kara-Sha regularly attends St. John’s Church in San Marcos and continues to build her relationship with God. She says she is proud of the person she has become, and is happy.

Death Row Doggies-Revised By Lexie Aebi

Death Row Doggies
All the female breeding dogs are on death row at the puppy mill. Some are almost out of time, while others face countless more years of suffering before their final execution. These dogs are no more than cash cows. They are baby-making factories for the breeders who own them. They receive only what is necessary to keep them alive and some of the dogs do not even get that.
Puppy mills are farm-like estates that house dogs to breed. The puppies are then sold to pet stores and families for a profit. Although these properties are often large, the animals are confined in unbelievably tiny cages and often are unable to move. Many of the dogs do not know how to walk, as they have never been out of a cage. The dogs are frequently inbred and have serious health issues. Bill Smith, founder of Main Line Animal Rescue, has devoted his life to finding and rescuing puppy mill dogs. “It’s always amazing to me when I go out to pick up a dog, they’ve had the dog eight or nine years and it doesn’t have a name. It’s never been out of the hutch. It doesn’t know how to walk. I have to carry it to the car. It’s heartbreaking.”
The natural instinct is to feel bad for the puppies because they are too small to fend for themselves. However, the real victims of puppy mills are the female dogs who are being over bred and abused. They rarely receive any kind of veterinary care, and never leave the small confinement of the crate. Some of the dogs will have their vocal chords ripped out, so the breeders do not have to hear their screams.
The dogs develop terrible medical conditions and live in their own feces. They are never bathed and the stench of urine poisons the air. The puppies are sold to pet stores or families whenever they are old enough, while the mothers must remain in a torturous hell until they are no longer able to produce offspring. The dogs are then often killed or left to die, because they are no longer producing a crop. They are considered useless to the breeder.
How are these facilities allowed to continue operation? The simple answer is because consumers continue to purchase the puppies being produced in the mills. Directly or indirectly, society is supporting this abuse. According to www.stoppuppymills.org, “They continue to thrive because they prey on unwitting consumers who are smitten by too-cute-for words puppies in pet store windows and on fancy Web sites. But behind the friendly façade of the local pet shop, the pastoral scenes on a “breeder’s” Web site, or the neighborhood newspaper ad, there often lies a puppy mill.”
Many people are unaware of the huge puppy mill problem that exists. Of the five dog-owning students that I surveyed on campus, only two of them knew where their dog came from. The other three students purchased their pups from breeders but did not know the conditions of the environment they were raised in. When I asked them if they knew anything about puppy mills, they responded that they did not. Kara Sha Jones, a psychology major, stated “I bought my cocker-spaniel from a breeder in Alabama. Because of the distance, I was not able to see the conditions of the puppies because I met the seller half-way to do the transaction.” This is a typical mistake and often overlooked detail that can cause puppy mills to continue operation. If potential owners are made aware, I do not believe they would overlook such an important component of puppy purchase.
These dogs can not speak out for themselves so we must do it for them. If the public won’t stand for puppy mills, these torture houses will be forced to close and lives will be saved in result. The owners of these puppy mills are monsters who pull the wool over the public’s eyes and take advantage of people with big hearts. All pet owners should take a step toward animal protection by asking questions about where a puppy comes from. Responsible buyers should go to the home of the owners and look at the living conditions of the mother dog. Report suspected abuse or neglect of animals to animal services. The best choice of all is to rescue a dog or puppy from the humane shelter and save a life.
People all over the world are joining in the cause to stop puppy mills and save the tortured mother dogs in these prisons. A large supporter of closing all puppy mills, of course, is PETA, and recently Oprah Winfrey joined the cause. Lisa Ling, an inside reporter, conducted a secret investigation for the Oprah show into the devastation of puppy mills. In the investigation, Ling visits different mills in Pennsylvania and captures some first hand footage of how bad these situations really are. Once you are exposed to these images, you will forever be scarred and it will always be with you as a problem humankind simply cannot ignore.
In this canine genocide, knowledge is power. If people aren’t informed, they cannot make the right decision when it comes time. Share this information with everyone you know and be part of the solution.