On Campus

Lots of people come and go from this building daily and all of them are looking for help or for testing. It is a large open room and many tables are spread out around it for people to sit and work at. At the head of the room is a large round desk to check in and sign up for testing for whatever test might need to be taken. There are lockers by this large desk to store your valuables and possessions while you are taking a test as well since they are not allowed in the testing area. In addition to a section for tutoring there is also a specific help section for each area of study, for any kind of help you might need in your classes. There are whiteboards to help with this and make a visual explanation made as easily as a verbal one.

Help is not the only thing to be found in this place. Since it is above the library it is also as much of an ideal location for studying and preparing for class as any other and many people can be found in this place doing just that. Its pale yellow walls give it a warm and inviting feeling and make it feel easily accessible to all who wish to use it. It’s soft and evenly spread lighting makes it’s a perfect place to read as it is not too bright that it could hurt your eyes, and yet not so dim that it would make you feel as though you were straining them.

Where am I?

Profile Plan

Subject- Charles Madriaga

3 Sources- Mark Weiss, Tiffany Castillo, Charles

5 Questions-
1) What do you do?
2) What drove you to become a councilor to help others find a career?
3) When does the work day end, and what do you do after?
4) What kind of things to do you enjoy to do?
5) What would you say is something that might surprise people about you?

Nut Graf- This persons job is to help others figure out what they want to do. But what else is there to them?

2 Links- Career Counselors, Charles

Three Things Learned From Stephen King

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Witch Burns in Her Final Moments

In Season of the Witch, the newest film starring Nicholas Cage, we find the actor portraying a Crusader named Behmen in the 14^th century who has grown tired of killing innocents whose only crime is simply not being born Christian. He is accompanied by his friend and fellow Crusader, Felson, portrayed by Ron Perlman. Together they leave the army and make their way back home through lands ravaged by the black plague.

But when a simple resupply stop makes them prisoners for desertion they are introduced with a choice: Stay in prison and await the execution befitting of deserters, or take a girl who has confessed to being a witch and bears the responsibility for the plague that has come over the land to an abbey in the mountains to rid her of her powers and ultimately kill her to end the sickness.

Choosing the latter the duo is paired with a priest, a soldier of the city guard, an altar boy who dreams of knighthood and an imprisoned swindler who has been chosen to be their guide to the abbey. After a six day journey of many perils the party at last reaches their destination only to discover a grisly sight and are afterward confronted with a greater problem as the girl reveals herself to be more than they had originally perceived.

Though it was nothing new or groundbreaking, the movie was an enjoyable one and was even pretty accurate to the year it was set in. Overall I would probably give it a six out of 10.

Choosing Cage as the star role of the film was a little iffy in my opinion since this was not a time period he had often played in before and ultimately his performance fell a little flat for me, but overall did nothing to disrupt the narrative and together with Perlman made for a very believable pair of knights.

One thing I was thankful for with this movie was that for once, in this film set in Eastern Europe far from the British Isles, there was not a single British accent to be found among the populace as so many actors are want to do. I had expected, as most with many American movies before, to find that all of the Eastern European citizens had come from the Isles and, though there was almost a total lack of accents to be had, I was able to breathe a small sigh of relief.

Despite the fact that this movie was well done and no one had come too far from home, the ending of the movie brought a sudden and screeching halt to everything I had enjoyed and almost made me forget the parts that had been good entirely. In addition to this there were minor problems I had with the climax of the movie which became a large CG fest much like the last three Star Wars movies. But, if you don’t mind a bad ending to a good movie and enjoy a good medieval romp, then check out Season of the Witch.

At A Glance:

Movie: Season of the Witch

Starring: Nicholas Cage, Ron Perlman, and Claire Foy.

Showing:Regal Albany Cinema 7, Carmike 12, Independence Cinema 8.

Cost: $9.00 Adult, $6.00 Child

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 1 hour 38 minutes

Three Things Learned In Feature Writing

It hasn't been too long but I have definitely already learned a few things that I did not know and were very helpful in writing my last two articles alone.
The most important lesson I think I've learned so far is that stories don't always pan out like you plan, and having a backup for even your backup is a good idea. I've also learned some good lessons about AP style and what needs to go into that kind of writing. Part of the other lesson I've learned is about writing a good review, some of which comes from experience over the summer, but the rest of which came from reading these reviews in the morgue and the discussion in class over them today.
My first lesson, how I never learned this before I have no idea, seems to be the most important one I can learn. Feature writing in general is not my forte and is something that I need more experience in overall rather than straight up reporting, but finding a story that will not only be a good investigative piece but also is more in touch with people than most regular news is a difficult one. Finally finding my story about the Family Fun Day was out of me stressing out after my first two ideas went no where and I was panicking have thoughts of "Oh no I'm going to fail this first assignment," "I'll never find a story! Why did I take this class?" But in the end it turned out okay. I got my story up and, it needs plenty of editing, but I think it should be okay in the next couple hours.

Family Fun and Parent Education

Family, kids, fun, play dough! Yes that’s right play dough. This year at the 34^th annual Family Fun Day, parents and children alike will come from Albany and its surrounding areas to not only spend some time with one another in a fun and safe environment, but they will also come together to learn and support parenting classes taught by LBCC.

Essentially a fundraiser in disguise, Fun Day is put together by the nearly 30 parenting classes at the community college and together they come up with activities and games to be played during the day. All the games provided are age appropriate for children ages one through six and cost a certain amount of tickets to be played. The nice part about the ticket system however is that each ticket only costs $.25. “For five dollars a kid can have a pretty darn good time,” said Jerri Wolfd, one of the day’s organizers.

The price of the tickets may seem insignificant to be of any importance to a fundraiser, but with over 500 families that are in attendance every year that small amount quickly adds up. Plus with other parts of the fair, specifically concessions and the used book and toy sales which are all a part of the ticket currency system the money raised quickly adds up.

But what is the money raised for you might wonder? Why for the parenting classes of course! All the money raised during the Fun Day is put back into tuition programs for the parent education classes taught at LBCC, giving parents every possible chance to come and learn with their child effective ways of communication while learning together.

Periwinkle Child Development Center, LBCC’s child care and preschool through Kindergarten center, is also getting involved this year as its first year back after five years of not participating. Though PCDC also hosts parent classes, they receive separate funding by financial aid, “We are still involved although we don’t benefit directly, but we benefit by being a part of it,” Said Martha Foster, PCDC’s coordinator for their involvement in the Fun Day.

Regardless of who benefits financially, the ways in which of these classes impact their students can be seen in the games and activities that are created by them. Each of the different games or activities are made appropriate for their intended age group and are made to pass along subtle lessons such as the importance of sharing, while others are made to challenge a child, to promote cognitive development and to help refine motor skills.

After being held at the Benton Center for 28 years the day was moved to LBCC’s Activities Center in the gym. This helped to not only expand the range of people who were aware of the Fun Day, but also to give a larger amount of room that could accommodate the increased crowd. If however you want to avoid a larger crowd and still have plenty of fun with your child for the day, then come later into the event. “The last hour is quieter,” Wolfd said. She also went on to add that if you have a child who is easily over stimulated, this would be the ideal time for you to come as everything is winding down.

So if this sounds like something that would be fun for you and your kids, head down to LBCC and make your way to the gym on January 22 from 10 to two and help raise money for the parent education classes.

First Feature Details

I want to inform people about an upcoming event at LBCC to raise money for Parent Education Classes and for children to have fun at the same time. The 34th annual Family Fun Day!

Questions:

Jerri Wolfd: Family Resource Center

What is the day?

Who first organized it?

How many years has it been running?

How much has it grown since then?

Did parents ask for it or was it started by faculty?

Who gets involved?

How long does it take to set up?

Are people or organizations from the community involved?

Are donations made, and if so where can they be made to?

Whats the goal of the day?

Are there other places information can be obtained about the day?

Whats the average attendance each year?

How is it advertised?

Are students involved?

What is the most popular part of the day?

Has it been held other places in the past?

Are there students who have participated or that I can get in contact with?

Is it only an Albany thing or do people come from surroundings areas as well?

Martha Foster: Periwinkle Child Development Center

Why has PCDC not been involved in this in the past?

How does PCDC benefit?

Why don’t parents in PCDC classes benefit from the fundraiser?

Why did PCDC not get involved last year after becoming a coop again?

Paula Jensin: Parenting Education

What is your involvement?

I’ve heard that there are several events being put together by the different classes. What kind of activity is your class doing this year?

How do you work with the parent board that puts everything together?

How long have you been involved? How many years have you attended in all?