It's a war on war.

I studied journalism at the University of Maryland, and now I'm trying to make something out of that degree. For starters, I decided to run away to Decatur, Ga., to intern for a magazine called Paste.
“

”
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
27 Plays

morgangster:

Harold T. Wilkins, Or How To Wait For A Very Long Time - Fanfarlo

This is perfect cold-and-rainy-Sunday-night music.

Also, perfect golden-Saturday-riding-with-the-windows-down music.

Also, perfect I-don’t-want-to-get-out-of-bed-on-Monday-morning-but-have-to-and-it’s-ok-because-I-can-listen-to-Fanfarlo-again music (we’ll find out tomorrow, won’t we?)

Basically, just perfect music. If I could eat this music, I would. Because it is delicious.

If you have never heard their album Reservoir, I suggest you go to iTunes right this instant and buy it. Yes. Buy it. It’s totally and completely 100% worth the moolah.

She is absolutely right. Yet despite its sheer perfection, (plus much love from Paste), Reservoir still hasn’t gotten all the attention it deserves.

Comments

Blake's Feature Writing Cheat Sheet

Two years at the University of Maryland was not enough to convince me that I needed college courses to learn journalism. This changed in fall 2006, when I met USA Today’s Blake Morrison and took his feature writing course. While convincing me to read Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood and purchase Roy Peter Clark’s Writing Tools, he also encapsulated its most valuable lesson in a Microsoft Word document and distributed it to his students — fortunately, for free.

——-

QUESTIONS TO ASK:

1. What’s the story? Try to summarize it in two or three sentences. If you can’t, then it’s probably not refined enough.

2. Who has the most at stake? And what is at stake? That person — and that “what” — should prove the focus of the story.

WHO: ______________________.

WHAT’S AT STAKE: _________________________________________.

3. What’s the END of the story? It should wrap up the tension and resolve the drama. It should feel natural and bring closure.

END is built around: ____________________________________________________.

4. What’s the BEGINNING of the story? It MUST capture my attention, as soon as the first or second sentence. Each aspect of it should lead to the overarching tension, which will be expressed in the nutgraph or theme sentence(s).

LEDE is built around: ___________________________________________________.

5. Have I developed a rich character? Find your primary character. Now grab five details that make that character UNIQUE:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Comments
pbenitez4: “It’s Autumn” Pumpkin Bread Hits the Shelves Of Private HomesA Canton O’Charley’s cook was put behind bars Friday evening, for driving without a license… leaving his unemployed wife and 3 children to produce $2,000 for his bail out. A co-worker of this imprisoned immigrant is now selling loaves of pumpkin bread that she describes as “a holiday favorite” to help raise money to pay his fine.  —————————————————————————————————- I’m sure many of you stand on all sides of this issue- should we be assisting illegal immigrants to stay in our country and steal our jobs, as the unemployment rate in America continues to raise to an all-time high? Should we be pushing away those who have sacrificed everything they have to bring their children to this land of “opportunity”, that we were incidentally (and thankfully) born in? But, I would plead with you to lay aside all political/economical reasoning. Look at this as an opportunity to help a struggling family, to contribute to the mending of a broken home. Maybe just as your “good deed” of the day. Even just as a chance to buy a large loaf of the most amazing pumpkin bread you’ll ever taste…Price: all by donations (minimum $5 per loaf)Size: 8 x 4 x 2 1/2 (inches) To place your order, e-mail the questions below to pbenitez4@gmail.com. Name: Phone number: Number of loaves: Donation amount: $ All loaves will be delivered between December 3rd and 10th. Thanks! I am Christina Lee, and I, after setting aside all political standpoints and actually tasting this delicious bread, support this message.

pbenitez4:

“It’s Autumn” Pumpkin Bread Hits the Shelves Of Private Homes

A Canton O’Charley’s cook was put behind bars Friday evening, for driving without a license… leaving his unemployed wife and 3 children to produce $2,000 for his bail out. A co-worker of this imprisoned immigrant is now selling loaves of pumpkin bread that she describes as “a holiday favorite” to help raise money to pay his fine. 

—————————————————————————————————-

I’m sure many of you stand on all sides of this issue- should we be assisting illegal immigrants to stay in our country and steal our jobs, as the unemployment rate in America continues to raise to an all-time high? Should we be pushing away those who have sacrificed everything they have to bring their children to this land of “opportunity”, that we were incidentally (and thankfully) born in?

But, I would plead with you to lay aside all political/economical reasoning. Look at this as an opportunity to help a struggling family, to contribute to the mending of a broken home. Maybe just as your “good deed” of the day. Even just as a chance to buy a large loaf of the most amazing pumpkin bread you’ll ever taste…

Price: all by donations (minimum $5 per loaf)
Size: 8 x 4 x 2 1/2 (inches)

To place your order, e-mail the questions below to pbenitez4@gmail.com.
Name:
Phone number:
Number of loaves:
Donation amount: $


All loaves will be delivered between December 3rd and 10th.


Thanks!

I am Christina Lee, and I, after setting aside all political standpoints and actually tasting this delicious bread, support this message.

Comments

Ted has tried over 10 one-hour sessions to win over his doctor, Stella. At the end of the last session, Ted asks her out to dinner, only for Stella to explain that between parenthood and her job, she only gets two spare minutes out of her day.

It’s scenes like these that have made me fall for How I Met Your Mother.

Comments

Salon: Could "New Moon" be a feminist triumph? 

Even though the Internet is heeding to my request regarding Robert Pattinson, I still cannot avoid the onslaught of articles about The Twilight Saga: New Moon, thanks to its theatrical premiere this week. This one is a noble attempt to see the silver lining in this cloud of werewolf infatuations, citing figures that show New Moon breaking records set by “boy” films (e.g. Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith). Still, I feel no more reassured that New Moon is doing any good for society and if anything, I feel more inclined to make these girls (re)watch Star Wars. After all, who sounds like a better role model to you: spineless, hopeless Bella or the strong-willed Princess Leia, youngest member of the Imperial Senate?

Update: Dan Schwartz was kind enough to provide an immediate response to Salon’s question.

Comments

As their self-titled debut proved, no other band but Vampire Weekend would — and could — convey such strong images of collegiate life with such a firm grasp of African diaspora. But pay attention to the sneak peeks you’ll be getting from Contra, out 2010. Its cover image may be clean-cut, but as their first single and video for “Cousins” (above) prove, the band’s offerings have diversified. And if you like what you hear, then take it from someone who’s been fortunate enough to hear the new album in its entirety* — you will definitely like Contra, and you will love Vampire Weekend even more.

*I love it when the Paste office ghetto-blasts new albums.

Comments

morgangster:

Thanksgiving with the interns… SUCCESS.

When Thanksgiving food is presented in front of me, I don’t have time to pose for pictures.

Comments

My best friend knows what he's doing -- and yet he doesn't.

me:
We missed a whole seasons of concerts together.
JR:
I did make it up with Incubus, no?
me:
UM YEAH. 16-year-old Christina thanks you too.
JR:
Aww, I serviced your inner child and yet don't feel dirty. I'm not sure if this is a cause for concern.
Comments
(Courtesy of The Frederick News-Post.) This boy used to play basketball with my brother, and his father would always take them both to practice. May he rest in peace.

(Courtesy of The Frederick News-Post.) This boy used to play basketball with my brother, and his father would always take them both to practice. May he rest in peace.

Comments

The day of cool videos continues with the trailer for The Decemberists’ forthcoming full-length video album Here Come The Waves: The Hazards Of Love Visualized. Four filmmakers and hundreds of visuals may just be enough to convert me, a devout Castaways and Cutouts fan, into a modern-day (e.g. 2009) Decemberists enthusiast.

Comments
More Information