Monday, November 14, 2011

Adam Is So Cool Like-- Profile


Media is changing. Gone are the glory days of rock bands and cable TV. Replacing them are Internet celebrities such as Justin Bieber and videos of cats yawning. Youtube is responsible for a lot of this change, and they are responsible for the rapid growth of video blogging, or vlogging.

Adam Robertson has taken this newish field and has made it his own. Starting up “because [he] was bored, Adam created his own Youtube account and has done quite well for himself. He isn’t a self-created mega star yet, but at last count his account, YourAverageAdam, had over 920,000 video hits and just over 21,000 subscribers.

Mr. Robertson lives in Portland with his roommate Jacob Williams. Jacob says that “Adam usually does his filming when I'm in class, but one time I believe he filmed when I was asleep on the other side of the room.” This hobby is so easy to get into, and with the field continuing to expand, the possibilities are limitless.

“Back when I first started on YouTube, money wasn’t even a part of the equation. Nobody making online video was making any money…” Robertson says, but now “the money in online content creation is limitless. The medium has exploded, and several online personalities are making six figures a year solely through YouTube.”

Though not only making a living off of YouTube, but becoming rich from it would be nice, Robertson is content with his small time status for now. “For me, it’s a nice bonus that comes along with doing something I love. It’s not much, but I am able to afford Chipotle burritos now and then, so I’m pretty happy.” he says.

The money and the fame are all well and good, but what really peaks Robertson’s interest is the vlogging community—a notoriously tight knit group of unique characters. “My favorite thing about vlogging is the community interaction. In addition to meeting many great friends through YouTube, I get the privilege of creating content for an audience that relates to me.”

Robertson has also been to two consecutive conventions for online video creators, or VidCon as it is called. “I went that first year and had an incredible time. I met many of the vloggers who inspired me and was able to connect with fledgling video makers who looked up to me…” he says of the conference. “I went last year and already have my tickets for this year. It’s the one event every YouTuber looks forward to.”

The community and the prospect of making a little cash are two very intriguing aspects to this hobby, but what it all comes back to is the thrill of creating something. When asked about his influences Robertson said: “…my number one influence was definitely British vlogger charlieissocoollike. I loved his videos and pretty blatantly ripped off his style for a while, but I eventually got more comfortable and developed my own habits that were inspired by him instead of taken from him.”

Considering the rapid growth of this field the last couple of years and the endless possibilities moving forward, it’s hard to imagine Adam Robertson giving it up.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Edna Buchanan Interview w/ Charlie Rose

 "Miami is always the main character in my books." Edna Buchanan says of her hometown. "The first time I saw (Miami) it I almost cried."

Miami has obviously meant a lot to the veteran news reporter turned author. All of her books take place in the city where she spent most of her adult life covering anything from the most gruesome of murders to art galleries. While talking to interviewer Charlie Rose about her newest Britt Montero novel, she says that the fictional journalist is her "alter ego" and she's all that Buchanan wishes she was.

 - Her book
 - Cops
 - The role her gender played in her career

 - she misses helping victim's by putting their story in the paper
 - no better creature than a good cop, no worse scum than a bad cop
 - good cop takes their job as their life and has that sixth sense
 - she isn't sure if her gender helped her or hindered her looking back
 - she says calling twice after being rejected or knocking on a door multiple times can be the difference between the big break or nothing

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Basketballin'

With the NBA lockout still looming over any true basketball fan's spirits, lower levels of the game are going to have to step up and satisfy needs. International play, NCAA college basketball and yes, community college. Enter your LBCC Roadrunners.

The Roadrunners have yet to release an official roster, but head couch Randy Falk said that practice starts Tuesday next week and the first game of the season, in Oregon City against Clackamas, is on Saturday November 5th.

Falk said that the returners have tournament experience and the new players brought in will be able to help immediately. He emphasized that the team is strong from top to bottom and should be able to make an impact this season.

Friday, September 30, 2011

How To Impress The People That Matter Most

You’re in college. Think for a moment. Who are the most important people in your life right now? Are they the people that control your livelihoods, your confidence, and most importantly... your grades?

Of course.

I'm talking about your teachers, and impressing them may be your only shot as making it through college with your mind and body intact. But you don’t want to just coexist, do you? You want to impress them. Now how would you go about that?

Turning in your work and showing up to class everyday for a term is fine, but in order to go above and beyond there is so much more. “Participation is key.” Kelly Costigan, an upperclassman, explains. “Every teacher I’ve had loves the kid that raises their hand.”

Also important is showing up to class, obviously, but especially on the first day. If you can’t manage that for one reason or another, try talking to your teacher and explaining your situation. That not only shows commitment and respect, but also the ever-important 'responsibility' that your parents and teachers have been preaching to you since preschool. “Connecting in advance of your absence suggests you care about my class and my first impression of you.” explains LisaMarie Luccioni in her Top Ten Ways to Impress Your College Professor article.

Our upperclassman friend Costigan also says that he has learned to pay attention to the little things in his higher education. He says that while high school teachers may walk their students through their direction three of four times, college teachers are less willing to do so. Obviously exceptions can be made- if you missed a point in a lecture, if you don’t understand a few certain points, etc- but repeating yourself can be annoying for everyone. Listen up!

The impact these lessons can have on your college experience is astonishing. Learn them and learn them early. And yet despite their importance, it's the critiquing of your teacher’s performance that could really get you over.

“Criticizing a teacher?” you mutter to yourself, “how could that possibly endear you to your instructor? I’ll let Luccioni explain. She tells us that criticism, both positive and negative, are a massive assist. When used constructively, a teacher can better their teaching methods, can reach a previously unreachable levels of students, and can learn what works and what doesn’t.

Obviously the hard-boiled professors with tweed coats and 30 years of strict teaching discipline might not be exactly happy about being broken down by the bright-eyed visionaries we all are, but like any group of professionals, most are always looking for ways to improve and ways to reach their audience- you.

Follow these steps and you’ll soon see your name in the allusive “favorite students” list we know every teacher secretly keeps.


At A Glance
What: Impressing your college teachers
Who: Experienced students, teachers
Tips to survive your teachers:
- Turn in your work
- Participate, and be active in class
- Pay attention to directions
- Give your teachers constructive criticism
Helpful website: Ten Ways to Impress Your College Professor
Office counselor phone number: 541-917-478