Assistance Prompt

12/4/2014

Has anyone ever done you a favor, or assisted you in someway, that has helped to change your life for the better? Who was it? What did they do? When did they do this? Why do you think they did it? How did your life change?

The biggest way I have been assisted in my life is by a certain professor who offered me encouraging words and praised my ability and potential. I was feeling pretty lost in terms of what to do with my future and this teacher told me that he thought I was a very promising student and that of all of his students I am the on he expects to really do something great with my career and life. This gave me confidence that others know I have potential and that I could do anything I set my mind to. For this reason I am pursuing graduate school and might possibly try to gain entry into the London School of Economics. I had previously had no clue how to move forward from Lycoming and make the living I desire, but now I at least know what the next step is.

I don't know for sure whether he sensed that I didn't feel confident, didn't know what to do with my future, or if he actually believed what he said to be true, but either way it put me on a different path then the one I was going to be on. It happened earlier this year and I doubt I will ever forget it. I am going to do everything in my ability to make as much money as I can and avoid a life of manual labor and self hatred.

Analysis of Chelsea v West Brom from 11/22/14

by Dylan Barton

The final result of the match was a 2-0 win for Chelsea FC, helping to keep them at the top of the Barclays Premier League. With just over a fourth of this season already behind them, Chelsea are looking very consistent so far, remaining lossless. With only two draws at the time of this match, Chelsea have only dropped 4 points, making them tough to chase for other teams.

In this match Chelsea started strong in the first half with goals from Diego Costa and Eden Hazard within the first 25 minutes of play. The result will appear to be a success for the Blues, although they failed to add to the scoreline, even after West Brom’s Claudio Yacob was sent off with a straight red card in the 29th minute for a harsh challenge near his team’s penalty area that denied a clear scoring chance for Chelsea. The game would have potentially been a blowout if not for excellent goalkeeping by Ben Foster outside of the Blues two goals. The only other action in the match was a yellow card doled out to Chelsea’s Brazilian wingman Willian with fifteen minutes left in the match.

Now to breakdown the goals of the match…

Diego Costa chested a cross under control in the middle of the penalty area before volleying it into the back of the net. He then celebrated with his now infamous jazz hands. It was his eleventh goal in ten matches, so we’ve had a lot of chances to admire his little dance.

The second goal of the match came off of a corner kick. A low cross was sent into the box, finding the feet of Eden Hazard on the left side of Ben Foster’s goal. Hazard then calmly slotted the ball under the keeper, a maneuver that took a high amount of skill from such a tight angle.

Both goals were assisted by Chelsea’s Brazilian attacking midfielder Oscar, who is showing he isn’t selfish with the ball at his feet.

Chelsea now look forward to a Champions League group stage match against Schalke on Tuesday. West Brom’s next game is less promising following this defeat as they face another strong London team, Arsenal who are looking nearly as strong as the Blues.

Holiday Prompt

12/2/2014

How do you feel about the holidays? Is this a time of great joy for you? Do you enjoy spending it with friends and family? Or do you often feel alone and sad during the holidays? What would make this the best holiday of your life?

I generally enjoy the holidays but they have increasingly become more of a hassle over the past few years. Getting gifts is always good, clearly. The problem arises when it becomes time to figure out how and when I am going to travel down to Maryland to see that side of my family. My brother and I used to just jump in the car and drive down. Now he is out of college and working so he is often busy around Christmas and Thanksgiving. He uses the car that was supposed to be "ours" so if he can't go, I have no way to get down there. I don't want it to look like I don't want to go if I can't make it so it just becomes a mess of stress and anxiety.

What would make this holiday season one of the best in my life would be if travel was made a lot easier and I didn't have to worry about that aspect of it. I always get what I want, so I don't need some miracle to occur for me to be happy in that way. It is annoying though that I'm being treated the same as my brother when he's got a job and I'm still in college. I need material things because I can't work enough currently to buy everything I need. I don't know why it seems like a problem, but it does.

Interview of Tonya Anderson

Dylan Barton

11/11/14

What seemingly was going to be a stale interview with a member of Pennsylvania’s state government turned into a rather inspirational experience. The event took place during a Media Writing course at Lycoming College, as a way for the students to gain experience conducting interviews as if they were journalists. The setting was usual, but the subject was more entertaining and motivating than anyone would have guessed.

Through asking questions of Tonya Anderson, the students were able to gather information about her, such as her role in State Representative Rick Mirabito’s office as his chief of staff. On a daily basis, her duties revolve around directing staff members toward the goal of passing appropriate legislation for the district. She admitted that she is good at her job and enjoys being on the more functional side of politics. While it isn't odd these days for a woman to have a position with this level of power and influence, it is a bit less likely for that woman to not be Caucasian, Anderson being of mixed race.

Having overcome the male-dominated world of politics and also the racial barrier along the way, those aren't the only things that Anderson had to contend with. If Anderson was to be compared to any athlete, she would certainly be a hurdler, and a good one at that. This comparison becomes more clear given other information obtained through questioning her. She was brought into the world by teenage parents, then had the stress of being a child of the military, which entailed moving frequently from base to base. This familiarity with the military led her to want to be in the Navy. She managed to get accepted to the Naval Academy, an institution that has a reputation for being both hard to access and very strict on student performance and  behavior. As things were looking hopeful for Anderson, the course of her life changed that resulted in Tonya leaving the college after only two years.

Tonya met and married to her husband, a member of the Marine Corps, whom she met while at the Academy. Together they had a son, but are now divorced. She also finished her degree at the University of Hawaii in political science. During this period Tonya also began working as a flight attendant, which made parenting tricky. Also at this time, Anderson experienced sexual assault.

While working flights going coast to coast, Anderson was certain to take advantage of every chance to spend time with her son. One of the turning points in her life happened surrounding 9/11/01, particularly because she was in control of flight crews that had to continue operating flights while carrying an immense amount of fear and anxiety following that day’s events. It is at this time that she decided that she wanted to make a shift from risking crisis each day to having a job on the ground, one that was closer to where her son’s father lived, as well.

Williamsport was the town she chose, and due to the experience she endured at the Naval Academy and other incidents, she began working as a domestic violence and sexual assault counselor. In this role, she could help victims of abuse get their lives back on track. It is admirable that Anderson could use that very negative aspect of her life to improve those of others.

An aspect of Anderson’s life that has helped her to overcome struggles and allowed her to be the passionate and caring person she is today is her spirituality. She said she has meditated at a variety of temples and uses this practice to help her through rough times at the office. This, however, doesn't mean she lets her beliefs cloud her judgement professionally. When asked about her stance on gay marriage, she focused on the beauty of love instead of worrying about sanctity of marriage as a ritual, unlike many other politicians of certain faiths.

In her spare time Anderson is a writer. She told the class that she writes spiritual non-fiction, covering divine sexuality, the sacredness of sex, creating babies, and the beauty of the whole process. While other writers tend to focus on the ugly side of sexual conduct, it is nice to see someone who would rather be in awe of the activity.

In conclusion, everyone present in the media writing class were surprised at the genuine wisdom and grace of Tonya Anderson and her life.

Coincidental Prompt

11/20/2014

Think of a wild coincidence that has occurred in your life. Now write three-four paragraphs and develop the incident, giving us the necessary background information and specific details.

I was travelling to New York City with my mother to see a soccer match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint Germain at Yankee Stadium a few years ago. The match was in the early evening but we wanted to get into the city early so we could find an interesting place to have lunch. We also had the agenda of visiting the Little Lebowski Store in the Village. We got off of the subway a few blocks away from the small store, which is completely devoted to selling merchandise related to my favorite film, the Big Lebowski.

We had heard about the store when we were watching a PBS documentary about Jeff Bridges. In the documentary he visited the store while they were covering the large cult following the film has, and especially his character becoming iconic. Since we knew of the location of the store, we fit it into our plans.

When we were approaching the store and about to enter it, two men pulled up on bikes and one of them instantly looked familiar to me. I quickly conferred with my mother that we were both pretty sure it was Woody Harrelson. I approached him and his equally sweaty friend and confirmed that he was who we'd expected and asked if I could get a picture with him. I was surprised that in his disheveled state he was still willing to be in a photo. He was really cool about it and we four then spent about twenty minutes together discussing the film in the shop and the film's relation to Woody, him being in another comedy surrounding bowling, King Pin. We also talked to the owner of the store about the struggles of owning such a niche shop and about how cool it was that Jeff Bridges visited it.

The day was already going to be a great one with the soccer match, but the coincidence of meeting Woody at the Little Lebowski made it one of the better vacations of my life so far.

Recurring Dream Prompt

11/18/2014

Write about a dream you’ve had again and again. When did you first have the dream? When does it recur? What do you think it signifies?

The dream I have that has been a recurring event has happened probably over a hundred times. It takes place in a convenience store. I don't know the name of the store and don't think it is one I've actually been in either. Anyway, the store is not the important thing, it is what happens while I'm there that is the point. In the dream the store is robbed while I'm shopping. I also don't know what I'm looking for. So the thing about the dream is that the setting and the robbing stay the same while the way the robbery plays out and my fate at the end is always slightly different. Some times the guy takes the money and everything is alright. Other times he kills the cashier. Sometimes he kills everyone inside including me. Other times I try to stop him. This plays out in different ways. Sometimes I am successful, sometimes I get to him and I'm shot but live, other times I'm killed, and other times I kill him.

I'm not sure exactly what it means. Maybe it is about me wanting to be a hero. Maybe it is about how we are powerless in controlling our fate without action. It could also be about how we can try to do something to help our situations but don't have control over the outcome overall. It could also be completely random and pointless. Who knows.

The dream doesn't happen every night and it often takes breaks between times it occurs. I'm not sure what causes me to have it or if it is tied to anything about how my day goes.

Favorite Book Prompt

11/11/2014

Write about your favorite movie or book and explain why you enjoyed it. Talk about the technical aspects and the creative: for example, the film’s pacing and lighting, as well as the dialogue and the plot.

My favorite book is 1984 by George Orwell. I enjoy the general genre that this book falls into, distopian futures. The plot of the story centers around Winston, a man living in London, under a totalitarian regime that takes extensive efforts to keep up surveillance on citizens. This is achieved through the use of cameras, hidden microphones, tele-screens that watch and listen in every room, brainwashed child spies, and the tattle-tailing of other citizens. The society is perpetually at war with either Eastasia or Eurasia.

As the story progresses, Winston finds a love interest, but is constantly aware that love is outlawed unless the relationship is sanctioned by the government. Winston and Julia are forced to meet up in secretive locations. This arrangement eventually leads to their capture and forced confession of thought crimes.

The story of their love and struggle mixed with the negative outlook on governmental influence are what make me like this book as much as I do. The book has also influenced a few different bands I enjoy as well.

Disagreeing Character Prompt

11/13/2014

Have a character espouse a viewpoint on life with which you very much disagree, but have the character argue it well, citing examples from her life to buttress her stance. Resist the temptation to make her sound foolish or harsh. Write this in the third or first person, from the narrative.

My name is John Stevenson and I believe that white guilt isn't a factor in race relations in America. I have a nice family, with a son and daughter who go to private school. I have a job in one of the non-vacant buildings in Detroit. I have a lot of friends, some of them being "of color." I treat everyone the same and feel that during my day nobody reacts differently to me because I am a successful white male. Some people say that our leaders are overly giving and understanding toward minorities and women who run afoul of the law or taxes. I don't agree because when I'm watching MSNBC there aren't any stories that show undo favoritism toward non-whites. I am not surrounded by peers that are more charitable toward minority organizations. Overall I'm not convinced of the existence of the supposed "white guilt" that critics blame for the reactions to cases like Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin. I think the aggressors that ruthlessly slayed these fine upstanding young gentlemen did it out of hatred and ignorance, because their minds' vision was obstructed by prejudice. There are individuals out living their lives in this country that would wish to live in grand estates maintained and supported by bands of slaves. I am not among these barbarians.

Funeral Prompt

11/6/2014

Recall a funeral you've attended and write about it. Did anything unusual happen at the event? How did you feel? Describe the situation -- who, what, when, where, why and how.

The unusual thing for me is that I have never been to a funeral of anyone I've ever known, but I've still been forced to attend three of them. The weirdest one of the group was because it was actually an open casket viewing. Having to approach the remains of a man who I don't know in front family that are all weeping. Should I fake sadness, should I not approach and make a scene that way? I don't know, but I hate the whole thing.

The other ones I attended were mandated by my catholic school because I was the president of the senior class. Thankfully they weren't viewing the bodies. Oddly I was more emotional at these events, especially while family members were crying while talking about how amazing and important this now deceased person was to them.

When I die, I want my organs donated, then have my body cremated. The ceremony should be devoid of any black attire, one because I rarely wear black, and two, because I think the event should be about the joy I brought everyone, not the somber fact that you'll all be missing me.

Wedding Prompt

11/4/2014

Recall a wedding you've attended and write about it. Did anything unusual happen at the event? How did you feel? Describe the situation -- who, what, when, where, why and how.

I can remember being very young and having to be the ring barer for a wedding. I had a fancy paisley vest and obviously had to walk down the aisle with the silly pillow during the wedding. That was probably the most unusual wedding experience I can remember. I think that was the same wedding that had blow up guitars at the reception. All things considered that made the day alright, because you can't be bored or upset if you have a brightly colored fake guitar.

The only other wedding experiences I can remember are less interesting.One reception I attended allowed me to participate in some under age drinking. Another reception I went to was otherwise uneventful besides getting to meet a rather large praying mantis outside in the parking lot.

I generally don't enjoy weddings and really can't see paying a lot of my money to have one in the future.

Event Memory Prompt

10/28/2014

Write about a recurring public gathering you attended in a place you visited. It should be a very pleasant memory, and could be a baseball game or street fair, an outdoor concert or historical reenactment. Put yourself there by freewriting or clustering, allowing your mind to wander back. Write about the people you saw, the smells in the air. You’ll be amazed by how much you remember once you begin writing about it.

I remember going to a Dave Matthews Band concert when I was about 12 or so years old. It was at the outdoor arena located next to Hershey Park, I had previously been at this venue for an N'sync concert, which was also the first concert I had ever been to. That concert was full of over 30,000 screaming girls and was at the height of the group's popularity and while Justin Timberlake still had curly hair.

The DMB concert I attended was an entirely different affair. Firstly the genre was different, being more of a jam band than a boy band that sings pop music. There were also a lot less screaming screaming tweens in the crowd, being replaced by hippies and 20-40 somethings drinking beers and consuming elicit substances. I remember remarking about smelling something similar to a skunk's scent in the air and seeing a lot of smoke plumes wafting about in various locations of the crowd. I soon realized that this wasn't cigarette or cigar smoke and that there weren't any skunks around in the audience watching the enjoyable performance. It was marijuana... I was opposed to drugs because I had drank the kool-aid and believed what I was told about drugs being terrible and leading to people performing homosexual acts of prostitution under bridges and then dying young. Now I know that people can also perform sex acts in a variety of places, so I don't trust what I was told as a child anymore.

A Review of Muse’s The 2nd Law

By:Dylan Barton 10/30/2014

Muse have been increasingly growing in popularity worldwide since their formation in 1994. The band consists of lead singer/guitarist Matt Bellamy, Bassist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard. These core members have also been aided by Morgan Nicholls, a multi-instrumentalist that joined them for live performances during their tours in support of their fourth album, Black Holes and Revelations.

The musical style of Muse has shifted and adopted new characteristics such as symphonics, choirs and the integration of electronic elements like keyboards, Korg Kaoss pads, and a custom made Key-tar(a keyboard integrated into the body of a guitar, with additional buttons built into the neck). These new additions to their sound reach their pinnacle on the band’s most recent and sixth studio album, The 2nd Law.

The theme, artwork and video content of the album are related to the 2nd law of thermodynamics, which in summary explains that in a closed system energy goes from being concentrated to being dispersed. This scientific law is used as a metaphor for our current ecological and economic crises and sets the tone for the album’s sound and lyrics.

1. Supremacy - 4:56 - The opening track for the album draws influence from guitar work of Jimmy Paige of Led Zeppelin. It also has symphonics resembling those heard on that band’s song Kashmir. The lyrics are a rallying cry for a mob of revolutionaries and a warning to tyrants that their time in power and their “Supremacy” has reached its end. While not  the heaviest rock song on the album, it is a close second place with high shrieking vocals, pounding drums, and a guitar/bass section that could melt all of the faces off of Madame Tussaud’s collection of wax celebrities.

2. Madness - 4:40 - A far departure from the raw energy of the first track, Madness begins as a soft love ballad. It was actually written by Matt Bellamy to win back his girlfriend Kate Hudson after an argument and it worked. Bellamy has said that the lyrics are those which he has the most pride in out of any previous Muse songs. The instrumental side of the song starts as a simple drum and bass melody, then adds soft guitar plucking and finally reaches a climax as all parts escalate toward the resounding final verse and chorus.

3. Panic Station - 3:05 - Another vast shift sound comes with the third track of the album. This song is also only the third studio track by Muse to include a curse word, with the line “Do what the f**k you want to, there’s no-one to repeat!” The lyrics create what is basically a riotous party during the end of days. An inclusion instrumentally are trumpet players that also featured on Stevie Wonder’s “Superstitious”, and they play a part that is very similar to their contribution on that song. The song is in my opinion, the funkiest on the album, reflected in the rather outlandish costumes worn in the video for the track.

4/5. Prelude/Survival - 5:16 - The fourth and fifth songs of the album flow together into one bombastic track, that was the official theme for the 2012 London Olympic games. The prelude section features a symphonic and choral piece hand written by Bellamy(who has also written a three part symphony on their fifth album and instrumental music for movies such as The International), which proceeds sweepingly as it builds for nearly a minute before the backing music gives way. Once Survival begins the track builds from snapping, the chorus huffing, and some light piano into an inferno of rock insanity. The lyrics of the song support it’s use as the Olympic theme with lines like “I choose to survive, whatever it takes, you won’t pull ahead, cuz’ I’ll keep up the pace, and I’ll reveal my strength to the whole human race!”

6. Follow Me - 3:50 - This song has a very personal touch from Bellamy and Kate Hudson, as the tempo of the song is based on the heartbeat of their son Bingham during a sonogram, which can also be heard at the opening of the song and throughout(if you have high quality headphones). The lyrics are a promise from father to son that he will always be there to protect and guide him through life’s struggles. The instrumental portion of the track is largely electronic and builds from light synths to a full on dance floor pounding jam midway through.

7. Animals - 4:22 - A full on indictment of the stock market and financial industry, this song sounds peaceful enough with it’s harpsichord opening, but becomes more menacing as it advances. This song is notable because the guitar featured in it has the cleanest tone, devoid of Bellamy’s usual “fuzz-factory” pedal driven tone. The lyrics detail stock brokers’ and bankers’ thirst for personal gain and lack of care for humanity. The track closes after rampaging guitar work with the sound of the riotous stock exchange floor, the closing bell, and then applause and cheering.

8. Explorers - 5:46 - Written as a lullaby of sorts, as noted from the soft tone of voice and the ending “shhhh go to sleep.”, this song is about the lack of un-owned land, industrial farming, and ruination of the ecosystem. the instrumentation is largely piano driven and peaceful, adding to the lullaby theme.

9. Big Freeze - 4:39 - This track is presumably about the impending ice-age after global warming runs its course. It is also about the eventual dead-end in a relationship where partners don’t share the same views. While these subjects would seem depressing, the song somehow manages to feel uplifting and upbeat.

10. Save Me - 5:08 - A first for Muse, this is one of two songs on the album both written by and sung by bassist Chris Wolstenholme. The song is a plea written from the viewpoint of a struggling alcoholic for someone to stand by him and help him to overcome his addiction. The reason Wolstenholme wrote a song of this type was because he sought treatment for his own alcoholism between the previous album and the making of this one. He was given an ultimatum by his band mates to sober up or they’d have to replace him, not wanting to see Chris continue to hurt his wife and children by not being himself, as well as not being the quality of performer he once was. While this is the first song not sung by Bellamy, it isn't a bad thing as Wolstenholme shows he is a talented singer and the song also evokes an emotional response. Musically, the song progresses from nearly a cappella to an atmospheric ballad.

11. Liquid State - 3:03 - The heaviest song on the album and another sung by Wolstenholme, the track is a roller-coaster ride from start to finish. The lyrics are a personification of alcohol as an abusive person harming the singer, who hopes to overcome the power of it. The musical portion of the song is not ordinary of Muse as the bass is the instrument at the forefront.

12/13. The 2nd Law: Unsustainable/ Isolated System - 8:49 - Largely devoid of vocals from any member of Muse, instead these tracks use sound clips from newsreaders speaking about the impending economic and environmental doom that will potentially end humanity. The instrumental content is an admirable attempt by the band to craft a dub-step song using real instruments instead of computers. The second portion is a piano and bass song that was used in pieces during the movie World War Z.

Memory Revision Prompt

10/30/2014

Write about an event from your childhood through your adult eyes (Perhaps Halloween?).  Add perceptions that you could not have known at the time.

A memory I can remember from when I was younger was being in a very ghetto neighborhood of Harrisburg, PA. I remember bring in my mom.s car and pointing out rather loudly that two guys I saw were doing a drug deal, or at least what I thought was a drug deal about 30 yards in front of us. I remember thinking it was wrong and rather crazy to be doing out in the open during the daytime.

I now look back and first think it was dumb to point it out loudly, because drug dealers and purchasers, especially in the ghetto have a reputation for being armed, paranoid, and dangerous. I also think that the fact they were doing the deal out in public when it was light out isn't actually that strange for a few reasons. First drug dealers aren't known for being smart people overall, so doing something questionable isn't too odd. Second, if it is light out you can more easily see that the money you're being handed is correct, for the dealer, and for the purchaser you can check the quality of the drugs you are buying with more ease as well. Third, this is a ghetto community, even cops were afraid to do foot patrols there, so the day time or anytime really, is perfectly safe for deals to be done because cops usually aren't around those areas to see or care about your actions. Finally, in the neighborhood where I witnessed this, the practice of dealing drugs probably isn't that unusual, to the point that acting like it is not odd is more acceptable and less alarming than if it had been in an alley at night where onlookers would be certain what they are seeing is a nefarious act.

Description of a Person Prompt

10/23/2014

Take a look at the people on this link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18RXRZ7DjJVWqlvLe3Z8Zk3bcqJDqCnxKsVV3vocY0QE/edit

Choose one and freewrite about that person. Give that person a name and describe what he/she looks like. Where did he/she come from, describe college, job, family, likes and dislikes. What are some of his/her goals and what problem are they facing right now?

The African American man in the wheelchair:

His name is Albert Robinson. He is a slightly overweight man in his 30's and uses a wheelchair. He was born in Atlanta and had a single mother who raised him and his three brothers. He played football in high school, during which he broke his left femur, which led to him using a wheelchair to get around for a few months. He discovered that rolling around was more fun and less strenuous than walking. He now uses the wheelchair to this day because he is lazy and also doesn't want to alienate all of his adult friends that he's told that he is crippled. The reason he feels that he can't stand from the chair now is because he has had them do such things as carry him, push him through malls, and drive him around town. The lies began when he started college and took advantage of nobody knowing his life's story and his ability to define himself again. From there he got his degree in accounting, but hasn't been able to stop perpetuating the lie that his legs are inoperable. It was appealing at times, especially at bars and parties when he would get sympathy from girls and reap the benefits of that pity. The biggest problem besides losing his friends when they find out the truth is the growing mass of sores covering his ever enlarging buttocks. They are starting to smell and leak, which he dislikes and has led to a lull in his love life. His family has abandoned him because they know about his use of the wheelchair and think it is morally wrong. His goal would be to either heal his butt wounds and continue to be in the chair or get transferred to another office for his job, where he can have a fresh start.

Alley No.1:Willow Street
By:Dylan Barton

Willow street is an alley that runs between 3rd and 4th streets in the heart of Williamsport, PA. 

Safety Risk Rating: No knives or guns needed (at least during the daytime)

Report of the alley experience: 10/14/14
I walked from Lycoming College down the hill to the nearby alley on a overcast and slightly rainy day. I entered the alley at Academy street and proceeded down Willow toward Market street.

The first thing I noticed when I entered the alley was two homeless men standing outside St. Anthony's a "soup kitchen". I was asked by one of these guys what exactly I was doing, so I told him the idea I had for this blog and the aim of showing the decay of this city. He then started to rant about what ex-mayor Jessie Bloom did to this city. "She brought all of these criminals from Philadelphia here and they brought their drugs and crime with them, it was all about money." While I'm also not a fan of what is called the "Philly-Influx", but I cannot pretend to know exactly why it happened or try to say that drugs and crime weren't already prevalent in Williamsport. I refrained from asking for or taking a photo of this bum, because his surly answer made me question his sobriety and fear a stabbing.

Anyway, I continued walking down the alley and took a few pictures of different signs of decay like broken sidewalk, pot-holes, and graffiti. This isn't a particularly scary alley because it has a mix of residential and commercial properties. I think it is usually creepier in the back alleys of a residential neighborhood, but since this is the first one I decided to travel down for this blog I chose a rather tame one.

Also worth noting is that this alley's close proximity to the center of town likely keeps it visible to those who run the town, so they likely wouldn't want it to look too unappealing to visitors or residents of the city.

This post was done for an assignment in my media writing class, so future posts are likely to still be sporadic with all of the other things I have to do this semester. I will wrap this report up by adding the rest of my photos below.

Combination Prompt

10/21/2014

Take the list of six people you created in the previous exercise and turn them into three fictional characters. Take two people and combine them into one and give that new character the personality you described previously. Give these new characters names and describe what they look like.

Dave is a combination of Larry and Bob, so He is a fat, tall, redneck, and possible kid toucher with a really creepy mustache.

The second character combo is Zachary and is made of parts of "Bruce" and George's characters. This means Zachary is a half Hispanic, half Asian man who is good at martial arts and he uses those skills to help him be the best and most aggressive landscaper of all time.

The third combo of characters is a mix of Chastity and John, named Chaz. Chaz is a sexually confused hermaphrodite stripper who doesn't make much money at the clubs.Having John's love of prostitutes, Chaz rather than paying for their services, actually works as one at night to make up for the lack of stripping revenue. This has led to some arrests and a long list of std's.