Libel and the Naked Sleepwalker

So the naked sleepwalker wins C10m in record-breaking Irish libel case. This is hysterical!
The man, Donal Kinsella, a businessman from Dunleer in Ireland filed a libel suit against his employer Kenmare Resources. He claims that the firm issued a press release about an incident that happened in 2007 involving a fellow female colleague while they were on a business trip.
The firm stated that Kinsella, while sleep-walking naked went to the room of the fellow female associate, Deirdre Corcoran three times. Corcoran did not let him inside. The company also made it seem like there was some hank panky going on.

Kinsella was able to prove he was indeed a legitimate sleep walker and that there was no improper conduct with this woman. The companies press release made him look like a 'laughing stock," and at the end of it all he won and was awarded a huge sum of money.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/queensland/a/-/latest/8350427/naked-sleepwalker-wins-17-million-in-libel-case/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2010/nov/18/naked-sleepwalker-record-libel-payout

http://www.overoll.com/Content/Naked-sleepwalker-wins-%E2%82%AC10m-in-record-breaking-Irish-libel-case-/2010/11/19/400477.news

Propaganda

The beautiful people. The celebrities!

The one that utterly breaks my heart is the SPCA commercial that depicts caged, neglected animals, animals with their eyes gouged out, animals beaten to the point they can't walk, starved and disease ridden. Sarah McLaughlin, singer and song writer speaks for the as and her heart wrenching song "Angel" plays in the background. It is horrific and the campaign has been very successful for the SPCA. This is beautiful people, celebrity technique that prompts people to pick up the phone and donate lots of money.

I don't know what the hype is over the Paris Hilton burger commercial because Audrina Patridge's commercial BLOWS her out of the water. She makes me want to eat a Carls Junior Teriyaki burger so I can have her amazing bikini body. If that isn't propaganda I don't know what is! Another beautiful people technique.

A repetition style propaganda: Some of my favorites are "5 dollar 5 dollar foot long!" "I wish I were and Oscar Meyer Wiener." 

Internet

I counted 197 social network sites. I have not heard of most of these. Scary. "Digg" is not listed on this site. I know it is a social networking site that you have to apply to. They are not accepting new people. I am waiting. It was recommended as a marketing tool for me through Examiner. Some of the ones I have heard of are Blogster, Academia,Facebook, Meetup, Myspace and Twitter.
Hospitality.net is a hospitality based social networking organization that helps bring people together from all over the world to foster international friendships in the hopes of increasing cultural understanding and the promoting of world peace. So basically people host guests at their home, offer guide services etc with no exchange of money. Also volunteers of Hospitality arrange special events and camps to get people together. It seems like a great way to travel, experience new cultures and meet new people.
I use Facebook and Twitter for my social networking. Twitter more for marketing myself with Examiner.com. Facebook is the way I stay in touch with friends and stay involved with their lives. I post pictures, read the news feed and contact friends via messaging or sometimes write on their wall. I have never had a bad experience with Facebook. My privacy settings are set so that only my friends can view my postings and pictures. I have never had a bad experience on Facebook. My friend, who shall remain nameless, had her Facebook shut down by her husband because she was posting pictures and commenting about her activities with a celebrity friend of theirs. Apparently the celebrity said she was posting too many things that made him uncomfortable and so it got pulled. She is now back on Facebook and does not post many pictures of that person and does not make comments about that person. I also know a friend who uses it to be unfaithful to her husband. I don't know how far it has gotten, but it seems inappropriate.

Television

Eminem video with Rhianna called, "Love the Way you Lie."
4:27
A very intense video that depicts a young couple in crazy passionate love who are abusive towards each other. Abusive in a way that could quite possibly lead to death. In the depiction it glorifies and makes sexy the intimacy after brutal fighting and hitting. It portrays a woman who loves a man no matter how horrible he treats her. She keeps coming back. It brings up the questions of violence and censorship.

Chapter 6 Censorship, Chapter 2 Violence

Question: Should censorship or some other type of guidelines that glorify abuse of women be changed?

My answer: Yes. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE this song and I love the video, but I am a 45-year-old woman who understands the behavior in the video is wrong and not glamorous. I can't say the same for a teenager or young woman who feels so overwhelmed by the passion and love in that type of relationship. It would almost make her situation okay. If a celebrity glamorizes it, then it must be acceptable behavior.

Television

Eminem video with Rhianna called, "Love the Way you Lie."
4:27
A very intense video that depicts a young couple in crazy passionate love who are abusive towards each other. Abusive in a way that could quite possibly lead to death. In the depiction it glorifies and makes sexy the intimacy after brutal fighting and hitting. It portrays a woman who loves a man no matter how horrible he treats her. She keeps coming back. It brings up the questions of violence and censorship.

Chapter 6 Censorship, Chapter 2 Violence

Question: Should censorship or some other type of guidelines that glorify abuse of women be changed?

My answer: Yes. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE this song and I love the video, but I am a 45-year-old woman who understands the behavior in the video is wrong and not glamorous. I can't say the same for a teenager or young woman who feels so overwhelmed by the passion and love in that type of relationship. It would almost make her situation okay. If a celebrity glamorizes it, then it must be acceptable behavior.

Television

I needed to post this because as I was searching around for videos I cam across this footage and it broke my heart! I never saw anything quite like this on our news stations.

Movies!

My favorite movie this year is "Blindside" with Sandra Bullock. I loved this movie because Sandra's character embodies my own heart and beliefs. It didn't hurt that Tim McGraw, who is handsome, rugged and sexy, played the supportive husband. It is about an affluent woman and her family who help a runaway teenage boy with no place to go. Within this whole process he becomes part of their family. The boy ends up having a special talent for football which Bullock's character fosters. Although there is suspicion of ulterior motives and exploitation on the part of Bullock's character with this boy, it ends up being a heart warming story. I loved this movie! I saw this movie on my television through pay-per-view in HD.

My all time favorite movie would be "Life is Beautiful." A truly heartwarming story about a Jewish man who falls in love and pursues a beautiful woman, his principessa. The beginning of the story is whimsical and romantic as they fall in love, get married and have a son. It takes place towards the end of World War II and the Germans come and take Guido and his son away. His wife, not being Jewish chooses to go with them. The Germans separate Guido and his son from his principessa at the camp. Guido protects his son by treating everything as a joke. He tells them they have entered a contest and that he must play along so they can win the big prize. This ultimately saves his son, but gets him killed. The son thinks he has won the game when an American tank shows up and he is reunited with his mom. I loved this movie because it tells a story of love, family, tragedy and heartache and shows us as a society that hatred and adversity cannot destroy our spirit, our love. I saw this movie on my televison through pay-per-view in HD.

Life is Beautiful 
Rotten Tomatoes

Life is Beautiful
IMBD

Blindside
Rotten Tomatoes

Blindside
IMBD

Life Is Beautiful Movie Trailer




Blindside Movie Trailer

Doggie Lifestyle Magazine

Name of Magazine: Doggie Lifestyle (Distributing 4x a year, nationally)
Concept: A couture doggie magazine covering the different states each issue or a variety of states in each issue focusing on luxury pet travel, gourmet treats, couture pet products such as beds, collars, leashes, toys and the latest fashions, health, fitness and pet awareness, celebrities and their pets, a whats going on section for doggie events and fundraisers in various states and a reader pet gallery featuring a special pet each issue. Here is a more detailed description: A) pet friendly luxury hotels and resorts for both dogs and their owners. Featuring some fabulous travel destination each issue like One and Only Palmilla, Las Ventanas, Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton and other boutique hotels offering luxury pet and owner experiences in the U.S., Mexico and other beautiful locations. Will also offer some affordable options each issue like Loews Hotels and Kimpton Group Hotels. B) In the gourmet treat section we will focus on online purveyors of all organic and unique treats for dogs varying from freeze dried lobster treats to carob truffles and decorated cookies and cakes. Will also feature a make at home recipe each issue and feature a local dog boutique who offers a "yappy hour" for pets and their owners in various states. C) We do a section on couture items such crystal collars and leashes, fashion, beds and toys. We will highlight with short articles two manufacturers complete with photo layouts. D)In the health and fitness section we will highlight the newest dining trends like the RAW diet and dog foods that are "meal" free, organic, contain no wheat etc. We will feature photos layouts and articles on the best places to hike and play with your dog in various states each issue and where you can dine with your dog in local restaurants . We might do a hiking layout in Arizona and compliment that with a dining experience with your dog somewhere near that particular hike. E) In the dog awareness section we will focus on how to safely leave your pet in the car (although we prefer you leave them at home), enjoy dog parks, meeting new dogs, walking etiquette, and basically ALL etiquette pertaining to outings with your dog. F) An event section focused on really unique fundraisers and fun pet  outing like "Dog day on the Bay," the "Bark and Whine Ball" and other interesting things going on in various states. Finally a community based gallery where we feature a special pet (One of our readers) and also include a gallery of other pets who's owners read doggie lifestyle. We would also have an online community like "DOG BOOK" which is on FACEBOOK, so our readers have this amazing online community to post pictures, join clubs, and interact with each other and our magazine. We will include one large celebrity cover story in each issue.

Readers: Our readers are 25 -65 years of age, moderate affluent and affluent dog owners. Looking to educate and celebrate dogs and the people who love and want to spoil them. Average income range between 75,000- 300,000 annually. 70 percent female, although we are seeing a male market increasing. Our readers are interested in travel and fashion, love their pets like they would their children and enjoy spoiling themselves and their dogs. They are interested in providing good quality food and care and want to aware and respectful dog owners. I also think dog boutique owners would read our magazine to keep up with latest trends and manufacturers.

Other magazines out there who would be a competitor: Doggie Afficionado. This magazine focuses on a high end market, but doesn't really deliver a well rounded magazine. It is nice, but there is no community, it is product based with some travel stuff. BARK, is a magazine for environmental, earthy and organic individuals. It is a little over the top and not that interesting. Urban Dog is a black and white magazine focusing on the spirit of dogs and thier relationships with their owners, cool, produced quarterly.

Five advertisers who would want to be in our magazine:

Whiner Diners: A wholesale manufacturer of gorgeous reclaimed wine barrel dog feeders and bed frames. The type of people who read our magazine might be boutique owners looking for a new a different product.

IDAWG: A high end fashion design company that also has a online boutique. These gorgeous dog sweaters, jackets and raincoats are great for all types of weather and the market of readers we have would buy these clothes.

Kool Dog Cafe: A gourmet dog treat manufacturing company as well as online store. This would be a great magazine to reach their demographics with holiday inspired decorated dog treats of every style. Customers can custom order.

Bitch New York: A high end dog retail store in New York with a huge internet company. This is the perfect magazine for them since it is a national publication they can reach customers in other states for the online portion of their store.

Decadent Digs: Super high end dog bedding selling nationally. This would be a great magazine to help acquire wholesale customers and showcase her retailers. She has been on Oprah and sells to many celebrities so a photo spread would be perfect for this company.

The first five articles I would have in my magazine:
1. Jessica Biel celebrity at home with her Pitbull Tina. We would do a photo shoot with her playing in the back yard, cuddling in bed and other things that are personal to her and Tina. We would do an article about how she found Tina, their routine, Tina's qualities and how she gets along with Justin Timberlake (Jessica's boyfriend.) Maybe have a small picture of Justin, Jessica and Tina all together.
2. An article and full photo spread some fabulous luxury get-a-way, maybe the Palmilla in Cabo San Lucas with a gorgeous man and his doggie getting pampered with all the amenities the hotel offers like massage, swimming, beach hikes and other offerings.
3. Doggie birthday party with four or five dogs in party hats with balloons and presents with the big doggie birthday cake and photos of them eating and playing. We would highlight the doggie bakery and offer a make at home recipe. Also a Yappy Hour party how to..complete with martini shaped dog cookies!
4. An awareness articel about leaving your dog in a car, the do's and dont's, explanatory photos, an in depth explanation what windows to crack, how a dog sweats and breaths, how the heat in the car can escalate even in 50 degree weather etc.
5. Toy section! The latest and greatest indestructible toys for all size dogs. Featuring pictures and information on toys that dogs can't rip, chew or tear apart!
6. Intro the dog community website and feature a special dog, his story, his family etc.

The cover of my issue features a picture of Jessical Biel and her dog Tina. I didn't have a picture of Jessica,  so I used my friend Abby and her dog Stitch.) The cover would high light being at home with Jessica and her dog with a surprise photo shott with Justin Timberlake her boyfriend. Our highlights would include fall fashion trends, some dog friendly resorts for travel, the seasons best toys, and Yappy Hour for your pet! The photo cover would be of Jessica Biels dog, completely in focus doing something ultra cute and Jessica visible, but more of a background (like the photo on my cover.) Colors would be a mixture of earth tones and water because I feel it is inviting and alluring. The title would be block, although I would maybe like to have "lifestyle" going a little diagonal and maybe overlapping with "doggie" a little. Some article titles will be bold and some not.

We would also host events throughout the united states and feature them in our magazine.

Doggie Lifestyle Magazine

Books

This is a tough one for me because I really don't read unless required to do so for a class. A few things I do remember reading are Dr. Suess, Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Those are the few books I had growing up and I do remember being so excited to read them. As far as required reading, I think I really loved my Geography book. I enjoyed learning about the earth, the atmospheres and the ecosystems. Learning about how these systems all work together to continue the cycle of life and regeneration was amazing. It makes me think more about my carbon footprint and the impact I have on the world around me. Another book I enjoyed was Spanish. I loved learning a new language. I found a new appreciation for different cultures when I traveled and enjoyed listening to people speak. I hope to continue my Spanish classes next quarter. I also enjoyed my Art appreciation class. It was interesting to learn about the progression of art from the earliest days of the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. There was so much spirituality and history behind art. It actually inspired me to take photography and do more traveling to see these amazing countries.


Dr. Suess
Frosty the Snowman

Research Project

My theory is that reality shows like Jersey Shore, The Hills and the Bad Girls Club tend to glamorize, promote and make celebrity people who get drunk, have fowl language, fight and engage in promiscuous sex in a way that teenagers look up to them and want to mimic them in the hopes of becoming a celebrity themselves. I would do content analysis with various groups of teenagers of different gender, age and sex. I would give them a selection of shows to watch and see how many times they actually select the reality type shows over other types of shows. I would then do a series of interviews and questionaires to determine how close to reality they believe these programs to be, how important money, alcohol and sex are and if they would like to lead similar lives. This day and age younger generations think popularity is achieved by acting in a way like these shows.

Week 1: Media Autobiography

Writing and music has always been a passion in life. My mother used to sing to me when I was a baby and as I learned to speak, I sang. Music was a source of joy, pain and motivation in my life. To this day I enjoy all genres of music from R&B, Country, Pop, Jazz, Blues, Rock, Metal and Oldies to South American, Indian and other culturally influenced music. Writing was always an escape for me. I created my own world on the pages of countless journals. At the age of seven, I began keeping a journal of my life. My writing style was abstract and not typical of a young girl. In junior high school I had two of my poems published in the school newspaper and in high school I won a poetry award from Dominican College in San Rafael. Education was not something my mother spoke about. I wasn't read to as a child so I have no relationship with books. I really do not enjoying reading. I dropped out of high school and eventually made a few unsuccessful attempts at college. I continued to write about my life, which at this point included travels to South America, Tahiti, Australia and Mexico. I also very much enjoyed movies, theater and opera. I frequented the theater in San Francisco often and of course enjoyed the typical Hollywood movies as well. Print media such as newspapers never interested me when I was young. I felt an overwhelming sense of dread reading sensationalized articles of nothing but death and violence. Magazines on the other hand, I have hundreds of. I enjoy all food magazines; Bon Appetit, Cooks, Gourmet, Food and Wine, Saveur, Martha Stewart
and Epicurious. I watch as many cooking shows on the Food Network that I can. I have an
addiction to cookbooks, cocktail books, wine books and event and party books. The internet is a huge part of my life not only for educational purposes, but for social networking, recipe
building and information gathering.


My major is Journalism. I was attending Foothill College and am now taking Journalism classes at DeAnza. I will graduate with an AA Degree next summer and it is about time! I will be transferring to UCSD, UC Davis or USF. I would ultimately love to write for a Food and Wine Magazine, own my own restaurant and continue my travels in search of great food so I may write about it. I currently write for Examiner.com.