cross/word finds

What does Big Brother tells us about our culture?

Television today, reflect the disjointed culture of the American society.  Living in a fast paced life, people only catch quick glimpses of a show, a bit here and there and due to this fact, the programming has changed. 

Shows are shorter and are not as detailed as they use to be.  A story does not continue from one week to the next instead begins and ends with each show.  More networks are going to 30 minutes and reality shows that suit the inattentive world they are serving.  Proof of this is the popularity of the reality shows, no matter how real or edited they are.  A viewer is able to be distracted from a program and still be able to rejoin the program without having to rewind to find out what just happened. 

Also a great many shows that do carry plots over a series of programs, recap at the end or beginning for show that if a viewer missed it or where not attentive, the viewer will be able to catch up.  In addition to this, many shows like the Mentalist, NCSI, Elementary will give a summary of what has occurred doing the show as an explanation of how they solved the mystery.

Another innovation that television has developed to catch or keep the viewer’s attention is the short, quick and stimulating commercial.  Most commercials are now on average 15 seconds long; some as short as five seconds and very few as long as 30 seconds.

 

CBS' Big Brother homepage.  Image from CBS.com/Bigbrother

CBS’ Big Brother is a great example of both a reality show and a show that gives you a review and preview of the past and upcoming show. It is similar to Survivor, Amazing Race and The Real World.

Big Brother starts out with 16 housemates, who are gathered from entrees across the U.S.  The show follows them, trapped in a house, dealing with each other 24 hours a day for 92 days.  The show airs three times a week and is edited to provide the viewer the most entertainment.  Besides following the drama and chaos of the house guest’s lives together, they also compete in competitions for power over the house (Head of Household), Have/Have Nots (who will eat slop or normal food), and Power of Veto (protection for eviction for yourself and/or who you give the Veto to).

On the show that aired on August 8^th, there were 11 house guest left and the producers of the show wanted to “shake the show up” with a double elimination, which means they have two weeks worth of competitions in one night.  Given that this is season 15, the house guests are familiar with the format of the show and are seldom caught off guard (they were expecting this double elimination).

Candace in her drama mode.  Picture from
 Big Brother Live Feeds

For a very quick recap of this episode, Candace, Aaryn, Andy, Spencer, Jessie, Judd, Amanda, Mcrae, Helen, Ellisa and Ginamarie are the remaining house guests.  As you can imagine, not everyone gets along with one another and this episode showed Candace fighting with Amanda and Ginamarie, who was Head of Household.  Candace, Spencer and Amanda were up for eviction and the overall concensus of the house was that Candace needed to go to remove the drama, and she was voted out, 7-0-0. 

Helen scheming with Andy.  Picture
from Big Brother Live Feeds

They quickly competed for new HoH, had the eviction nominations and then veto competition.  The two who were running the game, Amanda and Helen worked the house guests and with some scheming, lies, plotting and applied pressure, the house decided to backdoor Judd who they suspected of working and playing the house.  Helen and Amanda consider him the greatest threat.  Working with the alliances and threatening those who on the outside, Jessie removed herself and he was put up for eviction.  He was surprised and was voted out 6 to 0.  There was one new twist to this year, that Big Brother came up with to through a kink in those who are familiar with the format that could possible mess with a house guest’s game plan and it was announced to the house guests during this show; there will be nine juries this season instead of the seven of seasons past.

Amanda with her showmance "hubby" Mcrae.  Picture
from Big Brother Live Feeds.

This show is on for an hour three times a week and is quick snap shot of the lives of the house guests.  With this in mind, the commercials that accommodate this show are also short, quick and to the point.  The commercials range for five to 30 seconds, with an average of 15 seconds.  Big Brother’s viewers cover all age groups, male/female and cultures.  From the commercials and time of year, the advertising appeared to be focused more on females, particularly moms over children or men.  Back to school, upcoming fall programming and movie previews seem to be the most recurring theme to the advertising; oh and self-promotion on the behalf of Big Brother.

As television echoes and mirrors are society and culture, it will have shorter and simpler content that will allow the distracted population to be able to feel like they are about to watch, enjoy and follow the shows.  Ads will continue to be stimulating, short and full of the basic information to persuade the viewers to buy the offered products, that of course focus on the main viewers current needs.  It will be interesting to see the next step, having the televisions interact with the smartphones, computers and tablets that are “distracting” the viewers and pop up the ads on the screens that are occupying the viewer’s attention.

You can follow Big Brother online or the live feeds.

Below are the ads that ran during the episode of Big Brother on August 8^th, what was being advertised and how long the commercial ran for.

First commercial break:

K9 Advantix by PetSmart that lasted 15 sec.

Back to school clothing by Burlington that lasted 10 sec.

Elysium movie preview, that lasted 10 sec.

Pizza by Pizza Hut that lasted 13 sec.

Popcicle by Fruttare that lasted 15 sec.

Soap by Dove that lasted 15 sec.

Allergy medicine by Allegra that lasted 15 sec.

Scoopydoo mouth wash by Act for Kids that lasted 15 sec.

Summer mini series: Under the Dome by CBS that lasted 5 sec.

Promotion for a new fall show: Mom by CBS that lasted 20 sec.

Big brother: live chat by CBS that lasted 10 sec.

Big brother: live feed by CBS that lasted 10 sec.

Second commercial break:

Candy by MM’s that lasted 15 sec.

Fast food chicken by Kfc that lasted 15 sec.

Jump by T Mobile that lasted 25 sec.

Promotion for The Talk by CBS that lasted 20 sec.

Promotion for new fall show: The Crazy Ones by CBS that lasted 40 sec.

Promotion for new fall show: We Are Men by CBS that lasted 20 sec.

Third commercial break:

You’re Next movie preview  that lasted 30 sec.

Back school clothing by Kohls  that lasted 30 sec.

Smart phones by Sprint (this was aimed at students to use for school research) that lasted 30 sec.

Promotion for the Tonight Show with David Letterman by CBS that lasted 5 sec.

Local news preview by KVAL that lasted 15 sec.

News Tipline by KVAL that lasted 10 sec.

Truck Sale: Ford 150 by Ford that lasted 20 sec.

Chicken sandwich by Jack in the Box that lasted 30 sec.

Local news preview by KVAL that lasted 5 sec.

Big brother: live feeds that lasted 15 sec.

Fourth commercial break:

Windows 8 tablet by Staples.com that lasted 30 sec.

The Mortal Instruments movie preview that lasted 30 sec.

Pet supplies/Anniversary sale by PetSmart that lasted 15 sec.

Allergy medicine by Allegra that lasted 15 sec.

Promotion for Elementary (coming up next) by CBS that lasted 10 sec.

Summer mini series: Under the Dome by CBS that lasted 20 sec.

Promotion for new fall show: The Millers by CBS that lasted 30 sec.

Promotion for Unforgettable by CBS that lasted 5 sec.

SUV: Pilot by Honda that lasted 30 sec.

Tires by Les Schwab Tires that lasted 30 sec.

“Sexy” breakfast sandwich by Carl’s Junior that lasted 30 sec.

11 p.m. News Update/preview by KVAL that lasted 5 sec.

Jump by T Mobile that lasted 30 sec.

The Millers movie preview that lasted 15 sec.

Dog food by Caesar that lasted 15 sec.

Kenmore Elite appliances by Sears that lasted 30 sec.

Promotion for new fall show: Hostages by CBS that lasted 60 sec.

Big Brother

LBCC's Green Roof

Up top White Oak Hall is Linn-Benton Community College's Green Roof.  An ornamental garden that was designed a living lab for the Horticulture and Biology students.  

A green roof is also known as a living roof. Designed to provide insulation to the roof, catch precipitation and prevent runoff, and help improve air quality and reduction of air temperature, LBCC's green roof was completed in 2011.  Originally it was to open to all students and used as a living lab for students.  Unfortunately, the City of Albany has some concerns with the weight and has requested limited access to the roof.

The garden covers approximately 8000 square feet of roof and is maintained by the Horticulture Department with the help of work study students, greenhouse aides and the Horticulture Club.  LBCC facilities maintains the drip system when it is needed. 

 

This garden also helps support the local ecosystem by providing habitat for plants, birds and bugs. Currently the green roof is not available to students at this point, except on special occasions and LBCC's Earth Day celebrations.  

"I would like to see the elevator available at all times so students and staff could enjoy the beauty, the peace and calm, a fine place to have lunch and to study, or meet with fellow students." said Mariam Edell, assistant instructor for the Agricultural Sciences Department.

The future of the Green Roof is unknowns.

Career and Employment Center

Linn-Benton Community College not only offers and education to the students, they also provide job services to the students.  Any person who has attended LBCC has access to career center and the exclusive job postings.

The Career Center is open to all who have taken classes at LBCC.  Services are available in person or online.  The career and employment specialists are available to help students find jobs and learn the basic skills need to find employment.  They can help you create or update resumes, create cover letters and learn how to successfully interview with future employers.

LBCC works with local companies to connect employers with potential employees in the fields of study available at LBCC.  Also, employers, aware of the student's need of flexibility in a work schedule that works around their school schedule.  These companies work with LBCC to offer current students employment opportunities that provide flexible schedules.

“We are excited about our new program.  It should be up and running this Fall," said Sherry Rosen, CWE/Service-Learning Coordinator.

LBCC’s Career Service received a grant to update their employment services program.  This fall, the employment center is going to have new software program that will be easier to access and more user friendly, Career Connections.  The employment specialists are excited about this new program.   It allows more interaction between students and employers, can link in social media like LinkIn, and offers skill resources online.

“The new system will provide more advanced features.  It will allow greater interaction between students and employers.  Employers will be able to post jobs on their own for immediate results,” said Marci Johnston, employment and career specialist at Linn-Benton Community College.

To access the Career Center current website: Go to webrunner.linnbenton.edu (homepage).  Click on Current Students in the blue bar across the top of the page.  On right column, Student Support, click on Student Employment.  This will bring up the career and counseling service home page.   Click on the Career & Employment Service link.  This lists all of the service available to students and alumni.  Half way down the page, under Find Your Job, is a link for jobs posted online.  This will allow you to register or access jobs that are currently posted with the career services.

Please stop in to the Student Employment Service in Takena Hall, Room 101 to make an appointment with the employment specialist or log in to the online webpage to access the current job listing.  

Link: http://cf.linnbenton.edu/jobList/student/

Counseling Center

Couseling services at LBcc

A new academic year is set to beginning at Linn-Benton Community College on September 30.  If students are in need of guidance, LBCC offers counseling service to all students.

The Counseling Center offers all types of counseling to LBCC students, including academic, career and personal counseling.  Counselors are accessible on all campus.  Appointments are available by calling (541) 917 4780 and is free to students.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, LBCC provides counselors that help students overcome the obstacles that impede their lives academically, personally or with a future career.  Counselors can offer advice, direction or help students set up academic and career goals. 

The counselors, advisors and career specialists all work closely together.  First step is to meet with your academic advisor.  If you are undecided the next step is to come into the Counseling and Career center and begin career testing or meet with a counselor to choose a direction to begin to explorer.

"Our mission for the college is to help folks who are undecided; help them match up with career opportunities out there," said Mark Weiss, LBCC Counselor.

It is recommended that students take career tests to gain information about their career choices.  From the testing, students will be able to learn what wage to expect, the job outlook, what training is needed and where the training is available.  With the result the counselors can help direct a student in making the right choices in their academic life.

LBCC also has a Crisis Team and a Care Team.  The Crisis Team is available to help students when a critical crisis occurs.  The Crisis Team will help the college and provide a crisis room and counseling for students affected by the event.  The Care Team is proactive and works with the college to prevent and possible risks to students and faculty.

Mark Weiss' advice for the students, "Get to know your professors.  If a subject or class interests you, stop by and talk to the professor and get to know them.  They are passionate about their field and have so much knowledge and information that they are more than happy to share.  Know the schools' rules and policies.  And finally, three important personal things that will help you pass all of your classes: get plenty of sleep, do homework and show up to class."

The Counseling Center goal is to help students learn the tools and resources that are available to them to achieve a happy and successful life while in college and after. 

Tasty, Quick, Nutritious Breakfast ideas

Need a quick breakfast?  A tasty snack?  With classes beginning soon, students need to find quick and healthy breakfast to begin the day. 

We have three recipes that are tasty and nutritious.  Quick and inexpensive to make, these recipes below can be made in advance and inexpensively.  The recipes are easy to adapt to personal tastes.  As always, best way to reduce the price of a recipe is to buy in bulk, make several batches and freeze for future use.

These recipes are healthy, with a lot of fiber.  They can be customized to accommodate any special diet, like gluten free, low sugar or dairy free.  The main recipes are below, with variations included.  All three recipes for oatmeal muffins, oatmeal energy balls and refrigerator oatmeal can be frozen, taken out to thaw the night before or microwave.  Tips and hints are provided at the end of the recipe.

Baked oatmeal muffins

2 eggs                                                              1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups applesauce (unsweetened)                   1 banana, mashed

½ cup honey (can use other sweeteners)         5 cups Old fashioned rolled oats*

¼ c flaxeed meal (optional)                            1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

3 teaspoon baking powder                              1 teaspoon salt

2 ¾ cups milk                                                 

Toppings: dried fruit, nuts, chocolate-chips, coconut (be creative)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In large bowl, mix eggs, vanilla, applesauce, mashed banana and honey.  Add in oats, flax meal, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and mix well.  Add in milk and mix well.  Grease or line with cupcake liners, 18 muffin tins.  Spoon or pour batter to the top of the muffin tins or cupcake liners.  Add toppings to muffins.  Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out cleaning from the center.  Cool and enjoy or freeze them in freezer bags with the air squeezed out.

Servings: 18; Calories for one: 143*; Fat: 4g*; Cholesterol: 25mg*; Sodium: 32mg*; Fiber: 4g*; Sugars: 4g*; Carbs: 23g*; Protein: 6g*; Using the Weight Watchers Recipe Builder Points+: 3*

*amount can vary depending on type of toppings used.

Refrigerator Oatmeal

Basic Recipe

1/4 cup uncooked old fashioned rolled oats               1/3 cup skim milk

1/4 cup low-fat Greek yogurt                                     1-1/2 teaspoons dried chia seeds (optional)

In half pint (1 cup) jars or containers, add oats, milk, yogurt, and chia seeds.  Seal and shake well until well combined.  Refrigerate over night.

Nutritional Info:  210 calories, 4g fat, 48g carbs, 8g fiber, 11g protein; Weight Watchers PtsPlus: 7  

This recipe is good cold or warm.  Additional flavors can be added as follows, remember to consider additional nutritional values.  Add the sweetener and extract before refrigerating.  Add the fruit before enjoying.

Blueberry:2 teaspoons maple syrup, ¼ c blueberries

Apple: ½ teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon honey, ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce

Peanut butter/banana: 1 tablespoon peanut butter, 1 teaspoon honey, 1/4 cup diced ripe banana

Fruit: 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon jam (fruit of choice), 1/4  cup fresh or frozen fruit of choice

Chocolate Cherry: 1 teaspoon honey, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon finely chopped dark chocolate, ¼ cup chopped cherries (fresh or frozen)

Pumpkin: ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, 2 teaspoons maple syrup, ¼ cup pumpkin puree (unsweetened canned pumpkin)

Tips: 

*If using frozen berries, reduce the milk. 

*The pint or half pint canning jars are perfect for this.  

*The basic recipe can be made and kept in the refrigerator up to five days (if you do not add fruit to the mixture before hand).  So make up a batch on Sunday night to enjoy or the week!

*Can use almond or soy milk, just reduce the amount to a ¼ cup.

*If using non-Greek yogurt, reduce milk to ¼ cup.

*Can freeze basic recipe up to a month.  Take out and defrost in the refrigerator and add in additional flavors the next morning.  Make sure to use plastic containers when freezing.

*If preferred warm, can microwave up to a minute (depending on strength of the microwave)

No-Bake Energy Oatmeal Balls

1 1/4 cup oatmeal (dry)           1/2 cup chocolate chips

2/3 cup peanut butter              1/2 cup ground flaxseed

1/3 cup honey                         1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients together.  Refrigerator for 1 hour. Roll into 1 ½ inch balls.  Refrigerate/freeze and enjoy!

This recipe is great for breakfast, snack or to take with you for a boost during hiking or other outdoor activities.

Options: add in nuts, dried fruit or coconut

Pepsi Max: To joke or not to joke?

I try to avoid soda as much as possible, especially diet sodas (since they have given me migraine headaches), but occasionally I just cannot resist a cold Pepsi.  The ad I picked is the Pepsi Max: Jeff Gordon joke.  It actually made me consider trying the product, even though it is a diet soda.  What drew me to this ad was the practical joke.  I love jokes, especially practical jokes.  

This ad is about a man who comes into a car dealership and takes out a Chevy Camaro for a test drive.  What the salesman does not know is that the man is racecar driver Jeff Gordon in disguise.  "Mike" (Gordon) acts unsure and nervous and even drives erratically at first.  Then he takes off.  The salesman starts freaking out, yelling and swearing, demanding that “Mike” stop the car and by the end the salesman screams and threatens him with the police.  Jeff finally stops the car and comes clean with the salesman. 

In the ad there is very little music, a lot of dialog and you may think the ad is for the car, but its not! The product is shown in Jeff’s hand, on the car and in the beverage holder in the car.  Obviously, racecar followers will recognize Jeff Gordon, though I image most of the America is aware of who he is.  This ad was posted on YouTube and then shared on Facebook.  The ad runs for three minutes and forty-six minutes and I finally saw an edited version on Cable TV about a month after I viewed the YouTube version.  This is the only ad that I have seen so far, but I believe it would be a great campaign.

I think many advertisers are getting more subtle about how they place their products now days.  Drawing in the viewers, enticing them to figure out what the ad is about as they view it.  This ad is a great example of that type of advertising.  Another one I have recently seen on local channels that does this is coveroregon.com.  Like the Pepsi ad, they never tell you that they are selling their product, but allow your curiosity to figure out what the ad is for.  I think this is a great way to draw your viewers in, especially when we are inundated with so much information.

At first you may not recognize Jeff Gordon but the ad is designed to draw you in, making you want to know what is going on, and continue to watch by the the ad.  Once they identify the famous racecar driver, the viewer is let in on the “secret” or practical joke.  This is a great hook for a viewer.

I think this ad style is new and very different than a great many other ads.  I have noticed this being used in the last 6 months to a year.  This ad not only makes you figure out what the product is, it uses a famous celebrity, a fast car, and a practical joke, a wonderful quadfecta.  The ad will appeal to most age groups, both male and female.  The only groups that I think would not be drawn to this ad are older females and professionals (though I know many professionals who enjoy this kind of practical jokes).

The ad does include several stereotypes that help set up the joke in the ad: “Mike” is made to appear older, slightly built, and kind of wimpy looking; he's southern accent; his comments that he drives a minivan; he is not really in the market for this type of car that in fact makes him nervous; and states it’s (the car) “a little more than I’m used to." 

Since this ad draws in the viewer by making them a part of the secret of the practical joke that is being played on the salesman makes this ad unique and makes views enjoy it, time after time.  When I considered what ad to write about, this is the first on that came to my mind.  When I first saw it, I watched it several times and shared it with my friends and family for a good laugh.  The one weakness is perhaps the lack of product placement.  I remembered it was a Pepsi product, but not which one.  Unlike the Pepsi commercial with Cindy Crawford that also included a fast car, a model and the new Pepsi cans.  Even after more than twenty years, I remember the product.  This ad will remain in people’s memory because of the joke that was played on the car salesman and I think that most American’s would consider it a humorous practical joke.

Pepsi is known for their commercials that grab the viewers.  As the largest soda company, they spend a lot of money to draw in their consumers and have proven their cutting edge ads succeed in catching the viewers’ attention and make them desire to buy their products. 

I think this is a great ad and I shared it with friends and family for a good laugh.  However, I would not recommend the product to people because I do not think the artificial sweeteners are safe to consume.  Even though I am not a huge NASCAR fan, I recognized Jeff Gordon and thought it was a perfect set up.  I learned that at times if an ad gives the viewers the clues about a product they will take the time to discover what the ad is about, so an ad does not have to be blanketed by the product.  Finally, an ad that entertains and have multiple facets, like a celebrity, a good story and items that make a person want to be involved in, will draw a viewer to the product.  An ad that uses similar components in a different fashion that is much more straight forward is the diet Mt Dew ad with Dale Earnhardt, Jr.  Both ads are for soda, featuring famous racecar drivers, fast cars and an average Joe, but I find the Pepsi commercial more persuasive and I want to watch the ad again and again.

Mohawk Valley Rural Fire District Photo Essay

A Day in Training with Mohawk Valley Rural Fire District

Mohawk Valley, Oregon

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Fire Chief Dennis Shew helps secure the air to Engineer Nick Townsend's mask before he enters a burn to learn.  The Mohawk Valley Rural Fire District had the opportunity to train in the Mobile Fire Training Unit, provided by the Department of Human Safety with live fire and heat.

Dousing the flames with a straight stream, Engineer Nick Townsend and Captain Dan Wallace do the initial attack during a training simulation.   They were on pair of three teams that practiced a simulation of a house fire.  Backing up Townsend and Wallace: a secondary attack team, a backup team, an engineer, safety officer and incident commander

Steve McCain controls the real fire and heat simulations from his control panel in the Mobile Fire Training Unit.  McCain is a veteran firefighter with Springfield Fire Department and now helps train other departments as part of the state agency, the Department of Human Safety.  This is a great tool for smaller fire districts that can not afford a live fire simulation training building.

Firefighters retreat from the heat of the training unit after the live basement entry simulation is completed.  Firefighters were completely suited up with fire resistant turn outs, gloves, helmets, hoodies and MSA units.  They trained in three men teams and had two additional teams ready for back up.  This style of training help build skills and teamwork with in this rural, volunteer fire department. 

 Hot and tired, firefighter Dmitri Iazikov rest after training in the Mobile Fire Training Unit.  He removes his protective equipment to cool down after temperatures reached 350 degrees fahrebhite inside the training session with live flame and heat.  Iazikov has been a firefighter with the Mohawk Valley Rural Fire District since 2011.

Photos of Mohawk Vallery Rurual Fire District

Chief Dennis Shew

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