1.)  I hope to walk away with 10 new articles for my portfolio.  If everything I completed is published at this moment  ( I know some will be published later this month)  I reached my goal of having 10 articles for my portfolio.  Whether I will use them or not is another blog post for another day….by the way,  I’m hoping to finish at least three more which will bring my total to 13.

2.)  I want to learn a new skill to enhance my marketability as a multimedia journalist. I learned how to use CCI. Does this count for anything? I don’t know I guess that depends upon what news company I will work for.

3.) I want to learn the basics of SEO. (In my defense, everything presented in orientation that one time was too complicated at that moment. Since I’ve mentally prepared myself, it should be easier next time around if I ever get to it. I didn’t quite get to learn more about SEO here at the Oklahoman, but just because I’m leaving it doesn’t mean I have to stop studying. This will be a goal I can look forward to accomplishing.

What’s next for me…Job search…AmeriCorps…non-stop aggressive campaigning for a job (I know it sounds stalkerish, but I want a job in journalism). I hope this blog has been just as entertaining for you as it has been for me.

Rose:  Finally finishing my amusement park story.

I received the assignment my first day here but it took until nearly my last week before I saw it published.  It was a new experience to write a story that combined history (and a LOT of it) and personal stories.  It took a long time to get it right but once I saw the story, both it’s print and online version (shown below), all the hard work felt worth it.

Screen Shot of Thrills Gone By

To read Thrills gone by – Amusement parks in Oklahoma click here.

Rose (because sometimes they have two buds):  Getting to meet all the wonderful people at The Oklahoman & having my first print newsroom experience.

Everyone was so nice and helpful.  It was just great to be able to spend my summer with such a well respected company and learn from everyone.  (Oh no I’m getting all sentimental.)

Thorn:  Getting in the groove of things with one week left.

I did freelance work for a hometown paper and my school paper but I never spent much time in the newsroom.  I spent quite a while feeling like a fish out of water and really only began to get in the groove last week.  This last thing on my list reminds me of a wonderful 80s movie quote, so I’ll end with that.

Word cloud made with WordItOut

1.) Never be afraid to ask questions - In whatever field your in, professionals who have been in the business have accumulated wisdom. Most professionals, not all I warn, are willing to mentor newcomers and dare I say teach them the ropes. They make themselves available to answer questions one may have. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had questions for other journalists in the News and Information Center at OPUBCO. When I asked, other journalists were more than willing to help. Besides, asking questions can keep you from screwing things up.

2.) Always take advantage of company offers - At OPUBCO, employees are given many opportunities to grow.  The same goes for Interns. Interns are not just interns; they are treated as employees which is one reason why I’ve loved my time here.  Among the many opportunities offered to OPUBCO interns is a writing coach. Because I attended at least one coaching session, I left with tips to improve my writing which will help me after I leave the company.  Sometimes taking advantage of personal development workshops and events can be added to your resume if you participate.

3.) Make yourself stand out for something – If you’re comfortable with just doing enough to get by, step out of your comfort zone.  Interns who don’t push themselves to achieve the very best may stand out for all the wrong reasons.  I believe everyone  in the OPUBCO Summer 2011 Internship class was recognized with different awards for contributions that were made. Certificates from companies hold a lot of merit when your looking for a job. Employers are going to want to know what you contributed. In addition, you never know if your internship is going to lead to a job.  The company is not going to hire someone who just showed up and did a small amount of work just to say something was done.

Karson Wilkerson, 10 of Bethany, spends time kayaking with his mentor, Billy Swindell, at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City, Thursday, July 28, 2011. Wilkerson and Swindell have been together in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for more than a year. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

I should first point out that I am an unpaid intern, but the headline stands; being a journalist allows you to go on some pretty cool adventures.

When I received my assignment Thursday to photograph children and mentors of Big Brothers Big Sisters kayaking, I expected to show up and photograph them getting into their boats and rowing off into the sunset.

Thankfully, this was not the case.

Dave Lindo of OKC Kayak was nice enough to offer to have one of his volunteers, Sharon, escort me around Lake Hefner to get a closer look at the action.

Kayak guide Sharon and I on our Lake Hefner cruise.

View from the passenger's seat.

I’ve done a lot of cool stuff in the last eight weeks, but riding in a kayak for the first time has all that other stuff beat.

Some of the guys on the beach threatened to pull my “man card” for not getting out and helping Sharon pull the boat back on shore, but I like my shoes and expensive camera too much to have any sort of pride in that situation.

Now that I have kayaking behind me, I’m hoping maybe horseback riding is next.

David Curtis, 8 of Oklahoma City, laughs as he paddles in his kayak at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City, Thursday, July 28, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

Read about how Big Brothers Big Sisters lost federal funding here.

To see more photos, click here to see the gallery.

-Garett Fisbeck

Street Kingdom

I was a little upset with Street Kingdom. I’ve watched them dance in Rize, so I know how talented they are. If anyone deserved to win Season 6 they did because they fought so hard to overcome their circumstances. Surviving in South Central L.A. is not easy due to the amount of violence they have to live through everyday. Krumping became their escape. It gave them hope. Unfortunately, they were not able adapt as well as they should have on stage. In spite of their loss, I still love Street Kingdom and all they are doing to make a difference in their communities.

Beat Freaks

As an all female dance crew Beat Freaks continually amazed me on ABDC season 3. I was rooting for them to win, but they were beat out by Quest Crew. Here’s a clip of Beat Freaks dancing during the Illusion challenge.  This is hands down one of the most impressive routines I have seen  in ABDC’s history.

Jabbawockeez

Many talented dance crews have graced the stages of America’s Best Dance Crew since being founded by Randy Jackson. But, Jabbawockeez has always been among my favorites. While Jabbawockeez, is not first on this post, they will always be able to say they were the first crew to win ABDC. 

Velociraptoring Example

So everyone has heard of planking and probably to a lesser extent owling.  This past weekend as I enjoyed a short vacation with my family, I tried to explain these things to my sister.  She didn’t understand the reasoning behind laying face down on the ground with your arms held tightly to your side – in fact neither do I.  These odd past times are sweeping twitter feeds and will soon even be featured on pages of The Oklahoman (Krystle Wagner is working on the story as I type).  So as my sister and I discussed this cool new trend we decided we’re not going to follow the crowd.  Rather, we’re starting our own – Velociraptoring.

‘What is velociraptoring,’ you might ask.  Well it is much like owling and planking in which you pose for pictures in a particular and recognizable stance.  In this case you hold your middle three fingers in a claw like position and look like you are stalking prey.  The last bit is very important because, as the pose’s name suggests, you are trying to resemble a prehistoric carnivorous dinosaur.  The rest of the weekend was filled with impromptu velociraptor poses.  We even got my parents to join in.

Here are a few reasons why I think it should work.  First, who doesn’t love dinosaurs?  Second, it doesn’t involve laying on the floor or standing on furniture – so you can remain looking fairly normal and may not draw so many glances of curiosity and disdain.

I am aware that anatomically speaking the three middle fingers pose is incorrect because velociraptor‘s claws more closely resembled the thumb, pointer and middle fingers.  So despite that small inaccuracy who’s on board for making velociraptoring the next big thing???  Come on, I know you want to!  And if you do… add your pictures to the Facebook fan page.  You can find it here.

Sitting on the beach in Destin, Florida. I’m held hostage by the white sand, blue water, orange juice and sparkling wine.

I did a phone interview for a story my first day here.  Since then the beautiful weather and steamed shrimp has stifled any motivation to do more than dig my toes deeper into the refined grains of rock and minerals of the Gulf of Mexico.

I intend to finish three stories while I’m here, but you know what they say about good intentions.

This time last year there was a black hole bleeding approximately 798,000 gallons of toxic Texas tea into the gulf daily. One year later many victims are still waiting for compensation.

Their lawyers say BP has failed to comply with “the letter and spirit” of the U.S. Oil Pollution Act by using “coercive tactics” to force people to accept inadequate payments. They convince the victims that they are only eligible for a small amount of money and they have to sign a full release to receive it. Many have accepted the terms because they can’t afford to wait anymore.

BP set up a $20 billion account to pay victims and damages last year.  To date, the company has paid more than 20,000 claimants for a total of $250 million, fund administrator Kenneth Feinberg said. Altogether BP has paid about $4.3 billion in damages.

But the company is doing extremely well financially.  They reported a $5.3 billion profit for the second quarter of 2011. It’s a shame the property owners, businesses, and people that live in the Gulf aren’t doing as well as BP is one year after the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

Like the hole that spewed 205 million gallons of oil into the gulf, there is a hole in our system that allows the elite to abuse it.  They have the financial means to jockey the courts, destroy environments and ruin lives while making ridiculous profits.

We should slash the red tape of our legal system and use it to bind the hands of giant corporations that use it to exploit the country’s middle and working-classes.  Some of these bloated companies would inevitably get tangled and asphyxiate trying to get free. Like animals in an oil spill.  But capitalism is survival of the fittest.

This 90 degree heat and cool ocean breeze must be getting to me. I’ll just listen to the waves crash, go back to burying my toes in the sand and consider doing the same with my head. After this mimosa.

I’m back with another TOP 3.   I say “I’m back”  as if  I’ve actually been  gone somewhere and haven’t been blogging regularly…to continue… I always enjoy reading and hearing about stories where people triumph over adversity.  It always inspires and encourages me along the way. So, I want to share the TOP3: poems that are inspirational.

The first one its not a poem, but today it will be.

Smile - words by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons, Charlie Chaplin composed the music, sung by Nat King Cole

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

A Creed To Live By - Nancye Sims

Don’t undermine your worth by comparing
yourself with others.
It is because we are different that each of us is special.
Don’t set your goals by what other people
deem important.

Only you know what is best for you.
Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life, for without them
life is meaningless.

Don’t let your life slip through your fingers
by living in the past or for the future.
By living your life one day at a time,
you live all the days of your life.

Don’t give up when you still have something to give.
Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect.
It is this fragile thread that binds us to each other.
Don’t be afraid to encounter risks.

It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give love.
The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly;
and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
Don’t dismiss your dreams.

To be without dreams is to be without hope;
to be without hope is to be without purpose.
Don’t run through life so fast that you forget
not only where you’ve been, but also where you’re going.
Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored
each step of the way.

Passion Of Life - POOJA NATARAJAN

To achieve something great in the world you need Passion
To fulfill vision, a great leader’s courage comes from Passion
Whatever it may be, you must find your Passion
If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins
Follow your passion and success will follow you!

Never underestimate the power of passion
Without passion religion is spiritless
Without Passion history is meaningless
Without Passion art is useless
Follow your passion and success will follow you!

When you take up a mission with passion
There are no dreams too large
No innovation unimaginable
No frontiers beyond reach
Follow your passion and success will follow you!

Our passions are the winds that propel our vessel
Our reason is the pilot that steers her
Without winds the vessel would not move
Without a pilot she would be lost
Follow your passion and success will follow you!

There is no end and there is no beginning
There is only the passion of life
Passion is universal humanity
Passion is the genesis of genius
Follow your passion and success will follow you!

I hope you were just as inspired by these poems as I was.

-Tiffany

Players of the Oklahoma City Royals pray before beginning a game at the Plex Sports Complex in Oklahoma City, July 5, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

For the last few weeks, I have spent some quality time with an extraordinary group of gentlemen.

The Oklahoma City Royals are a group of 75+ senior softball players that get together every Tuesday night to fellowship and play the sport they love.

Sports intern Tariq Lee and I worked on this story together. I produced a slideshow separate from his story and we somehow came out at the end of it with a great package that is featured in the sports section of the Oklahoman and on its very own nDepth page on NewsOK.com.

One of the most profound moments I witnessed while doing this project was when one of the guys pulled out a piece of paper with the name of a condition he had been diagnosed with.  He had to write it down so he could remember what it was called and tell the other guys about it.

A player for the Oklahoma City Royals reads a new condition that he has been diagnosed with, Polymyalgia rheumatica, to his fellow teammates at the Plex Sports Complex in Oklahoma City, July 5, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

The condition was polymyalgia rheumatica, a syndrome with pain or stiffness, usually in the neck, shoulders, and hips.

I was inspired by the positive outlook of the players. I won’t ruin any more of the story for you, I’ll just say that I hope I’m this cool when and if I turn 80-years-old.

Check out Tariq’s story and my slideshow here:  OKC’s Boys of Summer

Ray Rowland gets ready to bat during a game at the Plex in Oklahoma City, July 19, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

Loal Buttram runs onto the field during a game at the Plex Sports Complex in Oklahoma City, July 5, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

-Garett Fisbeck

The Oklahoman broke the news to the world this morning that the now defunct Oklahoma City Arena now has a new name.

Chesapeake Energy Arena will be the newly named home to the Oklahoma City Thunder and its fans and quite frankly, OKCitians should be delighted with this outcome.

With arenas and stadiums all over the succumbing to big business names such as PETCO Park where the San Diego Padres play, the Jobing.com Arena for the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes, EnergySolutions Arena for The Utah Jazz in the NBA and probably the worst the KFC Yum! Center for University of Louisville basketball; Thunder fans and fans of Oklahoma in general should be happy that the name is as plain as it is.

So I wanted to brainstorm a few ideas that could have been a lot worse than the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

In no particular order, here are your top 5 worst possible names for the Thunderdome!

1. Knippelmier Chevrolet Arena
Really can’t think of much that would be worse than this, especially because all the visitors to our city asking way to many questions about how to get the “Knipple” and where is the best place to park around the “Knipple”? My dad would blush so hard each time that happened that you would think it was 100 + degrees all years round.

2. Mutts Amazing Hot Dogs Arena
Though the food inside would definitely be an improvement… wait this would only be bad because we would be the Mutts Arena. I’m totally for this one actually, bring on the Tatonka dog!!!

3. Toby Keith’s I love This Basketball Arena
I can hear the lyrics now!

“We got winners, you got losers
Kevin Durant beats Carlos Boozers
And we got Rumble, we got drummers
We got overpriced beer and water
And the girls next door dress up like Gov. Fallin’s daughter
Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this basketball Arena”

4. 1-800-2 Sell Homes Arena
I just have this awful vision of the lady from those commercials blasted up on the side of the arena reading cue cards… OH THE HUMANITY!!!

5. CityWalk Presents Up in the Club Basketball Arena
Seriously… I don’t know if there is a worse place in the city. But if you have doubts in CityWalk’s evil, try their website out. http://www.citybrickwalk.com/

PARTY ON KD!