I moved my blog!

I found another blogging site that I like better than Blogspot, so I'll be using that from now on. I transferred the contents of this blog to my new site, so most of the same stuff will be there. Here is the link:

http://agilbreth.wordpress.com/

(Notice that there is no www. in front of the address)

I look forward to seeing you there!

Opposite Ends - Journalism Final

For my final project in journalism this year I had to create a website incorporating online reporting. This was just a basic news writing class, so multimedia was not required, but it was encouraged. We working in groups, and my group chose to focus of college social issues, particularly drinking, drugs, and sex on campus. My area of focus was Straight Edge (you'll see what that is when you read it). I also was in charge of organizing the website. Go take a look!

www.oppositeends.wordpress.com

Tech

You know what I love about technology? I'm writing this from my homepage: iGoogle. On the same page are my Facebook and Twitter feeds, my Free iTunes Downloads application, and the latest deal from whiskymilitia.com. Not to mention 44 links from 10 different news sources. I had weather and quotes too, but I needed the room. I love being connected to everything, and that is probably going to be my career. I love technology.

Party Politics

Things like this make me angry.

In short, the Republican Party in Las Vegas is throwing a fit because a few Republicans backed a Democratic candidate. This is why our country is going nowhere fast. The search for a higher ideal and compromise get thrown in the gutter in favor of the absolute justification of the party. But I suppose I'm arguing a moot point. Since when are politicians supposed to be rational anyway? I'll just stop here cause the rest is all too well documented elsewhere.

The Scary Beard

My niece is afraid of me now. She cried twice when I tried to play with her! Over the last semester as school I have been growing out my facial hair, nothing preposterous, it's just a little scruffy. When she saw me for the first time, she just stared at me before reaching out for Grandma. But later when Grandma walked away to get sometime, I tried to say hi to her and she started crying in Grandma's direction. I tried again minutes later, and she just stared at me again when I tickled her. So I made faces at her and the tears came again.

I don't know if maybe she was just tired, or didn't recognize me. Oh well I guess, maybe I'll try again when I see her this weekend.

J-Week Story

Every year UNR holds a Journalism Week inviting journalists from around the country to come participate in various events. These events range from discussion panels, presentations, workshops, and meet'n'greets. I went to several events, but my professor wanted me to cover a panel on Obama's influence on diversity in the news. The story was later posted in the blog archives. Enjoy!

No Win Situation

So I was driving back up to Reno for the second semester of school in my newly modified Jeep. I was almost there, driving the easy speed limit of 65 mph. A highway patrolman pulls into the other lane ahead of, and starts doing about 60 mph. Well, i figure I could either hold up traffic and just tail behind him suspicious-like, or I could just continue following the law. I decide on the second option, but slow down to about 63 just to be careful.

No soon has my front bumper passed his patrol vehicle when he taps his siren and makes exaggerated and dramatic slowing down motions, his face a combination of child-lecturing and "how dare you!" SO I back off and drive 58 mph, tailing along for about 30 minutes watching everyone else start to pile up.

Yay for cops on power trips.

Things you hear through the heating vents

1. Conversations
2. Dorm prank reactions
3. Movies
4. Video Games
5. The guys next door trying to sing along to opera

SNOW in RENO

When I woke up this morning (at 11:30), it was 38 degrees outside. Within thirty minutes it was starting to sprinkle snow. An hour and a half later and you could makes snowballs where-ever you went. It full on snowed and it's only beginning of October. Of course I wasn't content to just passively watch the snow. Drove up the mountains next to the campus and was rewarded with a Jeep caked in mud (both inside and out). The Jeep did pretty well until I lost all the traction in my tires because the threads were packed with mud. Had to come down to clean them off. Here's some of the pictures of the venture. (click on the pictures to see them close up)

Homelessness in the Quad

So tonight my friend Desirre dragged me to a community service event in the Quad, which is the huge grassy area where most of the main events on campus are held. There is a picture of it all sunny and empty for ya. I still can't remember to take my camera anywhere.

But anyway, the part that caught me off guard was that there were a number of people making shelters out of boxes, and planning on spending the night in them. Reminds me of the Wilderness Survival merit badge in scouts. We sat and listened to a few guest speakers, stood in line for soup and sandwhiches, then spent and hour and a half making blankets. I have to say a few homeless people are going to end up with some interesting color schemes.

I was kinda tempted to stay the night, but tomorrow is Friday and that means I get to sleep in. Also all the boxes had been crafted in elaborate forts already, and I still have memories of sleeping on the ground freezing cold. Maybe some other night, but I doubt it...

I played in the whitewater today

So my roommate and his friend invited me to go down to the Truckee River here in Reno. I'd never been there before, so I thought I'd at least go check it out. It is actually a very public space, despite the freezing temperature of the water. You can walk over bridges to the concrete and rock isle in the middle of the river, and if you feel adventurous, go wade in the water and splash around. But if you're feeling daring, you can try the only noteworthy part of this whole story. Now, the Truckee is your normal good-sized river, and with it come a few small rapids. A few of these are right next to the concrete park mentioned earlier, and presto, you have Reno's version of Wet'N'Wild.

After watching some of the other river-goers, I waded upstream (and by wade I mean march with difficulty and almost slip repeatedly). Positioning myself above the center of the whitewater, I waited shivering for about five minutes, like any self-preserving person would do. But where is the fun in that? So I gave myself to the river, slowly being dragged towards the rapid, feet first. There is a large dip right before the white, which means I get a good long look at what I'm heading into. And then I'm in, eyes squeezed shut and a swimmer's lungful of breath. I can feel the water push me down, but only slighty, like a water slide on steriods. I feel like I'm gently tumbling through the water (I am in fact still foating down feet first), and I stay under the water a little longer than I thought. But it's nowhere near long enough to make me panic. I kick back to the shore, so I avoid the rock further down and the next set of rapids (I haven't tested those yet).

It was fun enough I did it two more times, although by that time the sun had gone down, and I was starting to feel quite numb. Only problem was the last time, we had swam to the other side of the shore. Instead of walking upstream first, I just crossed where the rapids let out. It was overall a pretty fun day. I'll go again in a weekend or two, and I'll come back with pictures to show you!

The Dorm

Alright, as promised here are just a few quick pictures around the dorm while my roommates were gone.

My bed and some familiar posters from home


No nightstand, so I had to get creative with the clock


Bulletin board, trunk, fridge, microwave


The desk and my closet


A better look at my desk


More of my spacious closet

The sink area (that's a blender on the shelf)

Common area couch #1

The other two chairs and couch #2

The view out our front door

Mail!

So I've rented a PO BOX here in Reno should anyone want to send me mail. There is an address for USPS and one for UPS/FedEx. I'd recommend mailing most things USPS. Pics of the dorm are coming soon...

USPS:

Gilbreth, Andrew
Andrew Gilbreth
PO BOX 880000, #1,060
Reno, NV 89507

UPS/FedEx

Andrew Gilbreth
#1060
c/o Wolf Package
87 West Stadium Way
Reno, NV 89557

I hate b-days...

Two weeks away from another birthday and you’d never know it. Or should I say I’d never know it. I have not paid any attention to the fact that I’ll be 19 soon. Now I’ll give that my day of birth has again fallen in between the cracks of much larger events. The biggest is that I’m leaving for college in only nine days. Of course it doesn’t help that my birthday is the first day of school. Even if it weren’t for the approaching jolt of lifestyle, I’d still not be excited to turn a year older. Nothing whatsoever is going to change in my life after that day. I’ll still be the same cynic before my birthday as I will be after. The ages of 18, 21, and 60 offer conveniences that will make my life easier. Nineteen just makes me one year closer to running out of years. So then what do birthdays have to offer? Free stuff right? Now here is the biggest problem I have with birthdays. Everyone complains that they have nothing to buy me because I don’t like anything. I would like to think I have everything I really want. So it doesn’t bother me not getting much of anything. The attention makes me feel out of place anyway. However, for everyone that insists that birthdays need presents and are stubborn enough to buy me a gift no matter what, I have a small list ready to throw at you so you can’t say I’m impossible to buy for!

-Blue October posters
-Anything about Jeeps
-Belt buckles
-Hoodies or Jackets that remind you of me (size L)
-Morbid things with skulls on them
-Almond M&Ms
-DVDs like Cloverfield, Iron Man, the original Star Wars, Batman Begins, The Mask of Zorro, Underworld (or sequel), Man On Fire...
-CDs of Gorillaz, AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne

Gift Cards are a good bet for anything when you are out of time or ideas.
-Any bookstore
-Best Buy
-iTunes
-Any major restaurant (these come in very handy)
-Walmart or grocery store (food is a theme here)

Incipio

Reno, Nevada! Home of… well, the second biggest city in the state! More exciting, the residence of University of Nevada, Reno, were I will be studying Journalism in the Fall. A very exiting move for many reasons, but a sad transition as well. I will be saying goodbye to many people for quite some time in only two months. However, leaving friends behind is so many times necessary, and this will be only one of many such events. I have never been good at ‘keeping in touch,’ but should you be interested, here I will post thoughts, stories, and happenings of various interests. So to all past, soon-to-be past, and future past (geographically nearby) friendships, I give you the blog of Andrew Gilbreth.