YouTube and the way we think
Wired magazine has posted an interesting article about changing views about how we can use video to communicate with others and ourselves. Check it out!
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December 22, 2008
December 19, 2008
Reflections
It is hard to sum up what I think of this class and the experiences I have had in such a short way but here goes. I loved this class and am so sad to be saying good bye to digital storytelling. I went into this class uncertain of what to expect but the further we got into the class the more I enjoyed going to class week after week. It helped that both staff were so passionate about their work! I haven't met anyone more excited and energetic about the material they were teaching. Rachel and Walt, you two made this class. I enjoyed the learning the different components of digital storytelling and it helped that you two were willing to share your own personal stories with the entire class. I have learned a great deal about what a story truly is and I thank you both for that.
A story is not always a up and down roller coaster with a happy ending, real stories show struggles and sometimes the harshness of reality. And it is okay to show this. We are living in a world with such negative news with people who are continually trying to be positive, sometimes we just need to know the truth and this is what digital storytelling can do. Telling a story takes a lot of commitment from the creator and editor. Being able to tell a story is not hard, knowing how to a story to receive a reaction is difficult and the whole purpose of telling a story.
Amanda's reflections
I remember thinking when this class started that Walt and Rachel were some of the most enthusiastic professors I had ever had. It's clear that they both are passionately connected to the material taught in this class. That right there says a lot for how the class is set up, because we dealt with issues that were extremely personal and important to people in the class. I've never had a class where students are so encouraged, or even allowed, to share their personal experiences and utilize the class as a way to perhaps deal with some major issues in their lives. I think it's amazing how Walt and Rachel created an environment were people felt safe and comfortable to share their most personal stories, and it made for a very relevant class.
I've never had a class like this one, and I'm pretty sure there just aren't many out there that combine GWSS, Afro Studies, and Digital Storytelling. I think the combination is brilliant and the amount of interesting, important material between the three is endless. I really enjoyed learning about the technology along with the theory, because I think I would have been bored with just learning the programs, as I am not really into computers. But, when you explain the theory of Digital Storytelling through GWSS and Afro Studies, Digital Storytelling turns into something so much more than just making fun little films.
I just want to say that this class has been one of my favorite classes I've ever had, I think it's extremely important that it continues on. Thank you everyone in the class for sharing your stories and thank you Walt and Rachel for the great semester. I've never wanted a class to keep going before!
Final Reflection - Ashley
I’ve really enjoyed this class, I’m very happy that I took it. I’ve learned and thought about things I might not have otherwise, I told stories, that I may not have told, and I’ve met people that I may not have met. I want to say that I’ve enjoyed class with you all, and have learned things from you too. I’ve watched how people restarted stories after spending hours on it, because it had been erased, that takes work!
I also want to send a shout out to Walt, and Rachel, you are the greatest!
December 18, 2008
Final Thoughts (The Dream)
I am glad this semester is over (whew), with the exception of this class of course. I’ve never had a class that has so much to offer. It seems so open that there’s no limit to how much you can gain and learn from it. There should definitely be a follow up to this course and have this class as the prerequisite. But now that it’s over… what will I take from this course?
I will take everything that comes with it, the people, the environment, the structure, the curriculum, the style, and the instructors (no substitutes please). Some of you have asked me why I refer to myself as “The Dream,� well the answer is simple, I chose the name after the first week of class when I started dreaming… dreaming about what I can accomplish and how I can achieve those goals through the curriculum offered in this course. I thought about the power of a story, and how all stories have a special meaning…and only if those stories could be told… now that’s a dream. A lot of people dream about their stories being told because they want their voices to be heard. This course has taught us the importance in telling those stories truthfully, not skewed or twisted like most mainstream media do to benefit their networks and maintain certain stereotypes. If only these stories were told in their true form. Remember the first exercise in class was to state what the best medium is to tell a story. I still stand by my choice that there is no best medium, so long as the story is told in its true context and nothing is taken away.
This course is unique in the sense that it allows for students to help teachers, teachers to help students, and students helping each other, it is an experience to remember. That’s exactly what this course is…AN EXPERIENCE, not a class. It was the start of “The Dream,� a name I never used before, and now I hope that it lives on forever and take everything from this course to benefit society at large. It only takes one voice to start a movement.
To Professors Walt Jacobs and Rachel Raimist, thank you very much, your vast experience and knowledge was a strong part of this courses success; and your personality and characters made it easy and comfortable for all students to feel welcome and open up. To all of my classmates, keep making those stories; you have many hidden talents to express many different ways. If you need some resources to continue developing your talents, stop by MTN (Minneapolis Television Network), public access television at its best. Make shows to air on TV and upload to the WEB with the help of some friendly staff members (yeah me included). If you need more info… go to www.mtn.org or email me at fanuel@mtn.org or tseh0010@umn.edu.
Make sure you’re on the lookout for a new breed of shows and storytelling on THE DREAM CHANNEL with shows like “Sounds of the Beat� and many more to come. Once again, Thank You All.
Peace, Love & Prosperity,
Fanuel (The Dream)
Tameka's Final Course Reflection
Hands down this course was one of the best I've taken at the U. It's funny because I added it at the last minute and wasn't sure about taking a Friday class. I'm glad I did because I came out with a lot experience and tools that I will continue to use. It was very important for us to not only learn the technical aspects of how to make a digital story, but also learning how to tell the different types of stories. This course has also helped open my eyes to my community and see the importance of keeping it intact.
Thanks Walt and Rachel for all of your help this semester and good luck to you both in the future. I enjoyed meeting everyone and hope you all have a safe holiday season!
December 17, 2008
Final Blog
Well, Class, I guess we've reached the end of this part of our journey together. I rather enjoyed the time we spent together all the smiles and tears we've shared......etc.etc.
I'm not quite sure what all needs to be said here. I thoroughly enjoyed this class (the curriculum as well as the environment and classmates). I do suggest this class continue to be a presence and a resource within the two departments its offered perhaps as well in another department (journalism?). I had great fun sharing and hearing stories and getting to know you all. This course has definitely equiped me with some valuable skills to be used in the VERY near future. Thank you to Profs Walt & Rachel for hosting and facilitating such a great class, I look forward to working with you both in future endeavors. and to my fellow classmates goodluck telling your stories and remember to make sure you can see light in the eyes of those you interview on camera.
Great class. Great teachers. Great environment. I expected to learn a lot and I learned much more. I hope this class continues on.
...The End...
Sophia N's Final Reflections
Like I said in our final class, I really feel like I got my money's worth taking this course. But it goes way beyond that, I can even contradict myself and say that everything that I learned was priceless. I have gained relationships, new experiences and knowledge in an area that I never knew could be accessible to me. My uncle used to create and edit videos for the family, I have watched many people's work, but never did I think that I could do the same thing so easily (well actually not so easily at first...).
This course has taught me another texture to the issues in communities of color. What I have learned from another course is the psychological residuals of slavery for the African American community. The biggest one being the systematic silencing of Black people, I find that this course forced myself and many of us to learn how to break this long history of silence. We can now speak and tell a story with an even louder voice, in this age of information sharing and youtube anyone can have a voice. I can now pass on this new knowledge to my friends and family. I can teach parents how to do this for their kids, and I can teach others need a channel of expression and voice also.
I stand up and applaud Walt and Rachel for coming together and figuring out a way to make this class happen. I have never seen what I have seen in this class. Everyone being so passionate and open- not one person can say something negative about this class. We have all taken something valuable from this course and we have all learned so much in different ways...some of us already having experience with the technology learned more about the theories in digital storytelling, and for others learning the art and practice of digital storytelling... Thanks again. (And I am definitely helping with the book!!!)
Sophia's final thoughts
I decided to take this class because I had enjoyed Rachel's summer course and wanted to learn more about making videos/ I have enjoyed this class so much over the semester. I have learned about media, culture, and social justice, and lots of tech tools.
I really enjoyed the structure of the class. Being able to read a book and discuss it with the author is a pretty unique and lucky experiences. Having Walt as an example helped me to be honest and real with my first digital story about my family. I also will take with me the idea that videos are gifts and everything that goes in to a video should be in service to that gift. Having us create personal digital stories first helped to create a community within the class where we felt comfortable sharing stories and personal opinions about the current events and media reading we did. The reading shed light on what digital stories can do in community and give voices to marginalized groups of people. I also learned about many important web sites and organizations that are working to effect change and concerned with social justice.
The technology I have learned is this class is something that I will carry with me and be able to apply to things I do in the future outside of class. I have learned about cameras and tripods. That key lighting is ideal and for interviews you want to be able to see their eyes. I also learned about all the components that go into a video; pictures, footage, voice over, sound track, b-roll. Final Cut is pretty crazy at 1am In the RRMC (Rachel Raimist media center YAY!) but we had a lot of fun too.
I have taken away a new understanding of digital media and the power it has to inspire and enable people.
Thanks for such a wonderful class Walt and Rachel.
Syressa's Final Thoughts
Wow, I've been sitting for almost an hour trying to figure out exactly what to say. Whenever people asked me what classes I was taking this semester, it was so easy to forget to say "Digital Storytelling." Not because I didn't like this class, but because I liked it too much to think of it as work. It was this daunting journey that hid behind interactive learning and was an inescapable learning process. I learned more about my classmates in one semester than I know about my other friends, and I was able to open up and share my ideas about myself and the community that I live in. Working with the technology, we were able to build up and support ideas from and about communities of color, which is even more incredible than it sounds. To my professors and all my classmates, i want to say how proud I am of what we've accomplished. And even though that final project brought some of this to the breaking point (you know who you are:) it made for a fascinating ride and I would take this class again in a heartbeat. Its too bad its not a two part class, two semesters total. Who knows what we could come up with if we had another semester to work on new projects...
Kris' Reflection
Man... I'm glad to say that semester is over but I 'm sad that this class is over. It will missed but never forgotten. From theories we learned about truths vs. TRUTHS and how to maintain our demons from the past with a ghost box, to learning how to some what master the most-hateed computer by me Macs. But from this class I will take these skills and this hidden talent of mines to show people that stories can be bigger than just a few pictures and words. That stories can exactually say what is sometimes hard to explain to the public. It takes true courage to have someone view a digital movie especially if its your very first. Everyone's a critic but you have to look pass that and stay focus on you goal. Hardwork and commitment, like the 13 hours I spent in the FMC, will pull thorugh in the end and add strength to your skills of presenting your story as a gift.
This class has not only opened me to having another skill but has made a smoother ride of picking a major. I have decided to do a B.I.S which emphasizes Psychology, Afro studies, and New Media studies. With this major i want to try and present to the public through media the issues that our community faces.
So once again thanks Walt and Rachel for guiding me through my educational path of success and also introducing me into a new skill.
Jessica's course reflection
I have to start off by writing that Digital Storytelling in and with Communities of Color is and will be the best class that I have taken as a student at the University of Minnesota. I have learned so much from Walt and Rachel as well as students in the class.
As an aspiring journalist, it is my goal in reporting to make sure that I represent communities of color and serve as a voice for them. I want to make sure that I represent the underrepresented. But, with this class I have learned that I don't have to be their voice--that I can empower them with the tool of digital storytelling so that they can tell their own stories--stories that are often ignored or forgotten by the mainstream media outlets.
So...from this class I will take with me the idea of empowerment, my own empowerment through digital storytelling, and the empowerment that I can give back to the community.
December 16, 2008
Reflections on this Class
I had a great time in this class, even though there are so many artificial boundaries are created between different groups of people--races, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, etc.--we can all relate to each other through our stories...well, that and that Rachel is a hater.
Every one of us in the class comes from such different backgrounds, has had different experiences, and have lived different lives. But whether we were in the story circle or just sitting in class, everyone could relate to stories that were told.
We all have a grandparent or relative who, in our eyes, is a hero. We came from different parts of the country, but we all have experienced the same problems. We've all had unforgettable experiences with our groups of friends, no matter how different they may be.
To me, that is what this last year has been all about. The triumph of unity, tolerance, and understanding over forces that wish to divide us. This year we beat those who believe that race, gender and sexual orientation are worthwhile ways to classify people. Barack Obama stated during his victory speech that we are all Americans with a shared destiny, no matter which ways the conservative forces would like us to be divided.
Our class was a microcosm of this last year--a diverse group that comes together to make a whole. That is what I will remember--the breaking down of division between groups of people who, though traditionally divided, recognize that they have more in common with each other than they realize.
December 15, 2008
Final thoughts/Reflections
Once every few semesters you take a class that isn't the same dry academic noise. Up until this class, I haven't had a class like this since junior year of high school. I love how REAL and so connected the profs were with the students, and most of the time it didn't feel like THEY are the teachers and WE are the students. I think everyone was 100% comfortable saying exactly how they felt about topics without having to "academicize" it. I learned more about media and ways to tell stories then I think I would have otherwise in my life. I never knew how biased media can be, and it really makes me wonder what important stories are happening that they aren't telling us. I also feel that all of the readings, especially the Lambert ones, will be extremely useful in the future to reference. Everyone came from such different paths of life and it was really helpful to hear different perspectives and different stories. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and good luck with everything in the future!
--Tara
Thank you all :)
I bet if you asked anyone on the street if they knew what a digital story is, they would say yes. It is not hard to assume what it might be, but, as we all remember from the first day of class, there are many different perspectives on what a story is and means. When I first enrolled in this class, I didn’t put a whole lot of thought into how difficult and meaningful it is to make a digital story. There are so many different ways one could go about creating one and in this class, I really learned to not be afraid to ‘let my voice be heard’.
After analyzing examples of digital stories from websites like the Center for Digital Storytelling and Amplifying Voices, I got a feel for how I might want to carry out my stories. Being a part of this class during Fall 2008 was good timing with the presidential election and the Standing on the Shoulders of Giants youth conference. This session really motivated me to keep going in this class and made me excited to work on the projects and assignments. Both the conference and the election were inspiring and contributed to my progress in this class. Earlier in the class, when Davey D stopped by to talk with us about his work, he reminded us how important it is to speak truth to power. That is, always be honest with your words and be careful about who and what you represent. What awesome timing, as he just finished covering the Republican National Convention.
I guess I would have to say the most important thing I will take from this class is to never be afraid to say what you mean because you always have something important to say and others will always learn from you. (And you will learn from yourself.) Everyone has some sort of talent and you should express it in every way you know how.
I hope you all continue exercising your awesome, powerful, and engaging voices. I have learned from each and every one of you!
Tsinu's final thoughts
out of all the classes i took in college, this is one of the few classes i enjoyed the most. I really feel like i've learned things i could use for many years to come. The very intimate class atmosphere was ideal in allowing students to learn from one another. And having instructors who are easily accessible was very helpful in the learning process.
As a cinema student, it was an eye opening experience for me as we discussed different types of media representation we didn't quite cover in any of my other classes. One the main things i took from this class is the topic of underrepresentation and misrepresentation in the mainstream media. It helped me become more aware of the issue. I now have a better understanding about the importance of representing different faces in the media, so that some people are not forgotten from the pages of history. As i produce different videos in the future, i will definitely use what have learned from this class to tell the stories of many people whose voice have been silenced. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to discuss important issues in class and in the process learn about myself and society at large. I hope the class will continue in the future so that others will have the same great experience i had taking this class.
Good Luck Everyone.
God Bless.
TSINU
December 12, 2008
IT'S A NEW DAY
The themes of empowerment, community activism and making sure your voice is heard--combined with the power of youth can be an awesome thing! Watch as we talk to youth in Minneapolis who are taking a stand to seek and create change in their communities.
Caramel
This video is all about race and what it means through a child's eyes. She's my eight year old sister, so I want to thank her for being a part of this project.
Sounds of the Beat
Coming from the heart of the Twin Cities... Vocalist, MC, and Artist Maria Isa has been making waves in the Twin Cities and Puerto Rico.
Recently, we caught up with Maria to see what she's been up to. She gave us her take on the recent presidential election and the role of women and persons of color in politics. She also spoke about her role in society as an artist, the impact of music, and some the work she's doing in the community.
Maria Isa in her own words...
Check it out!
(Click here to watch the video.)
or go the the following link: http://blip.tv/file/1567748
ES AND KK WOMEN IN AMERICA
Final project: Radio On!
December 11, 2008
Family, Friends and Food
What brings people together more than food? I have been taught many lessons through the art of creating beautiful dishes, eating with my close communities and tying the importance of the practice of culture through food. Food is what often introduces people who are unfamiliar with your background to your culture. Even if I am not a parent yet, I strongly advocate teaching children their culture through food. Even just eating together and talking with the family is what opens up the discussions on culture, politics, family values and love that many families struggle to find.
As I reflect on this course, its funny now that I realize my first blog on my top ten favorite was done on, of course, FOOD. So funny...
Self Identity
Here's my dig story for the final project. Sorry it's late. But a quick idea on what it's about:
The main idea of this story is told through one person's point of view, and it deals with the pressures of self identity, which I think everyone of us faces. But I focused mine on being Hmong and living in two worlds. It has the idea of being unsure of what it means to be a young Hmong person living in two worlds, and the issue of wanting to embrace our past and history or cutting it from ourselves. I think this issue is very important to address and towards the end, I hoped to open the question up to Hmong youths out there.
Express Yourself
This is a exploration into Student Activism in Black communities, students talk about how prevalent it is, and why its a necessity...check it out, you might just like it, it might even make you want to get active. If you notice yourself wanting to stand up and get out of your chair, don't say I didn't warn you...
Saturday Homework help at Central
My final video project is about the Saturday homework help program at the Minneapolis Central Library. I have been a tutor at Central this past semester. This video is highlighting some of the people who attend and the importance and impact education has.
Make It Stop
This basically became a promotional video for the organization due to time and resource constraints. Enjoy
December 10, 2008
Tsinu's Final Project-Can I Live
My first plan didn't quite workout so i resorted to plan B and here it is.
Reflections on 2008
Hey everybody, here's my final project. It combines footage of Obama's victory speech with both Walt and August Nimtz reflecting on what this election means.
the Life of Peter Yang
This is a brief story on my grandfather and some of his greatest/coolest accomplishments that he's completed in the past 90 years of his life. Sorry I can't get an embedded image and everything, I've been trying to upload this since last night and all I've been able to do is get a link. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy this!
KMOJ 89.9FM: The Peoples Station
My final project is the community non-commercial radio station KMOJ, which is located in Minneapolis. This past September, the FCC awarded KMOJ a 400 watt increase. KMOJ was started in 1976 by the Center for Communication and Development, and started as a 10 megawatt station. The increase also increases its coverage, and I what I wanted to learn from the staff and personalities of KMOJ, was what it meant for the station, the community it serves and also the future for KMOJ.
December 7, 2008
American-Arab Anti Discrimination
http://www.mediathatmattersfest.org/4/index.php?id=9
In my Global Politics class a few weeks ago, we discussed habeas corpus and the ways in which the government has been bending many of its rules since 9/11. I had been pretty ignorant to all of this because as Americans, we are hardly exposed to the truth.
(If you want to learn more about habeas corpus and what is going on at Guantanamo Bay, visit this site.)
(http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=331)
As I was browsing through the Media That Matters Film Festival website, I came across this video about the ways in which Arab Americans, Muslims, and South Asians are being discriminated against because of the War on Terror. People assume that they have some sort of connection with the attacks or assume that they are terrorists themselves. This is ridiculous and unfair and these people want to educate others about the prevention of anti-Arab discrimination. This resonates with a few different themes from this class because we now understand what a story really is and how we can effectively communicate our message using creativity and technology.
The makers of this video drew a connection between the internment of the Japanese Americans during WWII and the secret detentions of Arabs and Muslims in the US today. The Day of Remembrance is an event held annually in cities around the US which observes the anniversary of the passage of Executive Order 9066, which led to to the internment of 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry. The video focuses on raising awareness of the unfortunate civil rights violations that are currently occurring in many US Arab and Muslim communities.
When we think of people of color, we often don’t think of Arab or Muslim Americans. Digital storytelling is a tool which allows people to reach many other people in sending a message which matters to them. This short digital story, or documentary, features the story of Nadin Hamoui, a 19-year old girl who was detained for 9 months because of her ethnic background. She is telling her heart-wrenching story because she hopes the world will understand that how she was treated was wrong and unfair. She is calling out for unity and vigilance and is able to do so because of technology.
I want to conclude with this video; it is a short comedy about what people might say when they hear that you are from the Middle East. It is funny, yet sad, and yet it is still a “story� with a message that some Middle Eastern Americans want us to know about them.
December 5, 2008
Black Prescence in Nova Scotia
(This film shows part 1 of the 3 parts on youtube)
While this film is dated in 1992 (almost more than 16 years ago), I still never knew of Black presence in Nova Scotia. In this video documentary "Speak It! From the Heart of Black Nova Scotia" I learn of a different population of the African diaspora that share similar experiences that I do hear in America.
As I accidentally stumble across this documentary, I thought it was very powerful to see the different views coming from the adolescents and adults on the various issues in the Black community in Nova Scotia. Its familiar now, learning about the complex issues of the communities of colors in France from Trica Keaton's The Muslim Girls of the Other France, these stories can correlate and teach people on the global issues of racism and classism. If more people in communities of color were aware of these forms of communicating through digital stories there would be more unity amongst them. One of the main problems of pan-Africanism is unity of the members of the African diaspora. In this time in history, pan-Africanist movements can be made through digital storytelling. Its just a suggestion and maybe an answer to how many people can use digital storytelling to find understanding of one another.
(In this analysis I used information that I have learned from my AFRO 1012 course and my AFRO 3864 course this semester) .
The Dream’s Online Media Analysis
I visited a website that’s dedicated to training individuals and groups about how to make stories that reflected themselves and their communities. They do this through the power of words and images, their main tools for making these stories being writing or photography. The site is called What’s Your Story? Check them out at www.storiesmatter.org
What’s Your Story? tries to bring out the talents that are hidden inside these individuals and groups by helping them develop their art and crafts. Their main objective is to help these individuals through the creation of their stories, but not do it for them. They state on their website, “As facilitators, our goal is to guide, not dominate, creative processes.� (www.storiesmatter.org) Individuals and communities have many stories to tell; now it’s up to them to decide how they want to be represented, if at all.
Communities share a rich history and culture. Individuals belong to these communities. How they come together and tell the stories that capture the essence of their nature and histories is the power that is bestowed on them that they must do so responsibly.
The following quote caught my eye on their website…
"Everything is held together with stories. That is all that is holding us together, stories and compassion." - Barry Holstun Lopez
USDA 2day
USDA2DAY is a new online networking website for Jeezy fans that honestly focuses more on highlighting articles on individuals in the Black American community specifically. The site is not without it's flaws as it hosts some images and applications that are clearly tools of objectification and exploitation of women of color. What the site does besides that is allows for networking among those Hip Hop enthusiasts of the next generation.
Reminiscent of Realraptalk.com in combination with MySpace.com USDA2DAY.com allows for more web interaction and it has a stronger focus on the people in the community rather than the artistry and the artwork.
If used appropriately "The Official Media Source for the Hood" as the sub title claims is a powerful tool to get important information disseminated out this particular community of people so that each is updated on the latest news and issues. A potential problem for this site that I can already see coming into fruition is that it might become used primarily as the official smut/porn source for the hood where girls go to learn how to dance as provocative as possible with out being kicked out of the club.
I appreciate the site for what it wants to be, I just hope it can achieve and maintain that status with the lack of censorship on the site.
Here's an example of what I mean:
In an instant, one of the gunmen vaulted over the counter and pointed a gun at Saint Fort, telling him to drop to the floor. The 23-year-old college student, who has worked the night shift for three years to put himself through school, believed he would be killed.
"I thought that was it," he said.
Moments later, one of the gunmen opened fire, shooting three customers inside the shop and another man who was driving by.
Those inside the shop at 4800 W. Atlantic Ave. on the night before Thanksgiving Day expressed relief Wednesday when the Broward County Sheriff's Office announced the arrests of three men who it believes were involved in the shooting as well as a series of other violent robberies.
James Herard, 19; Calvin Weatherspoon, 20; and Jonathan Jackson, 23, were taken into custody Tuesday in an unrelated case.
According to Broward County sheriff's officials, the three admitted their involvement in Dunkin' Donuts shop robberies in Tamarac, Sunrise and Delray Beach, as well as the robbery of a 7-Eleven convenience store in Pompano Beach.
When asked why they shot patrons of the Delray Beach Dunkin' Donuts who were lying on the floor during last week's robbery, one of the suspects said he "just wanted to up the body count," Broward County sheriff's Sgt. Neal Glassman said Wednesday.
Herard said he had no soul, Glassman said. The 19-year-old added that he could shoot Glassman and another detective and it wouldn't mean anything.
"It was sport," Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti said Wednesday. "These are just coldblooded thugs who enjoyed doing this."
The case broke on Tuesday when Lauderhill police working in a high-crime neighborhood spotted a white Toyota Camry similar to the one that witnesses saw leaving one of the shops that had been robbed. Police followed the car as it stalked a man walking his pit bull.
Two men jumped from the car, attacked the man and tried to steal his dog. Police arrested both attackers and the driver, then called the Broward County Sheriff's Office.
On Wednesday, the men were charged with armed robbery in connection with the pit bull theft. They were being held without bail in the Broward County Jail.
Though investigators say they do not doubt the trio's confessions, they have held off on charging them with the violent robberies and shootings until they can obtain additional evidence.
On Wednesday, deputies were serving several search warrants, including one at the home the men shared in Lauderhill.
The deputies are still trying to identify the shooter and are looking for at least one other suspect.
All three men in custody said they were in the Crips gang. All have a history of arrests ranging from assault on a police officer and drug possession to counterfeiting.
"I'm glad they are off the streets," said Arthur Scuotto, 52, who was at the Delray Beach Dunkin' Donuts on the night of the shooting.
Scuotto and a couple of friends from the Las Verdes condominiums in Delray Beach go to the shop for coffee after playing cards almost every night, he said.
Scuotto's friend and neighbor, Henry Bornstein, 84, was shot in the face.
Though the shooting appeared random, Scuotto said, it is possible that Bornstein was targeted because he could not drop to the store's floor fast enough.
"He does have problems with his legs. He does walk very slow," Scuotto said. "He couldn't get down very fast." Scuotto said he visits his friend at the hospital every day and expects his recovery to take months.
Saint Fort, the cashier, said he saw an opportunity to flee as one of the gunmen rifled through the register.
"I said, 'I'm going to run. I'm not going to stop. Just run,' " Saint Fort said.
He made it out the shop's back door and did not stop sprinting until he was behind a nearby bank, where he stopped to call 911. When Saint Fort later watched video from a surveillance camera, he saw that one of the robbers had started to chase him with a gun as he dashed for the door.
"I said, 'Oh my God. I was very lucky,' " he said.
Delray Beach police are offering a $5,000 reward on top of the $2,500 offered by Crime Stoppers for information leading to the arrests of the remaining attackers. Dunkin' Donuts is offering a $20,000 reward.
RESPONSES POSTED:
Sade Comment by Sade 18 hours ago
first
chopperlocka Comment by chopperlocka 18 hours ago
it's a recession what you expect
grownbootytubedotcom Comment by grownbootytubedotcom 17 hours ago
lock them up
SEE WHAT I MEAN?...
Mankind is No island
This video is the winner of Tropfest 2008, The worlds largest short film festival.
"Tropfest originated at the well-known Tropicana Café in Sydney in 1993. Over the past fifteen years, it has evolved into the “Olympics of Short Film� and into an Australian cultural phenomenon with the festival screening live via satellite to over 150,000 people in eight cities across the continent." from www.tropfest.com
Here is a bit about the video and production from the same website
"Mankind Is No Island uses found signage on the streets of New York and Sydney to tell a touching story from the very heart of two cities and was shot entirely on a cell phone. The entire budget for the film was $57."
Wow, Wow I am amazed by this video and also the story of the guys who made it. This video speaks volumes about the advancement of technologe. It gives hope to anyone with an idea to follow though with it regardless of funds, or equipment. It also provides a broad link of community and accesse across countries with where the filming took place and across the distribution methods of the film festival.
The language this video uses is simple and precise. The many street signs used gives the feeling of travel, uniquness. The words structure and move the story. I was so drawn to this film because the words are so honest, they are things I have asked my self. I feel that the first part of this video is trying to make people feel a sense of community. That it is our New York, our Sydney. That people will think about any community they are apart of anywhere not just a big city. The story centers on people who are homeless and their place in society. The images again are universal in that people get hurt and mistreated all over the country. What do they need, or deserve? Is it a communitys responsibility to take care of their people? What kind of a message are we sending out when people are so willing to walk past, ignore, disregard other people? What sense of community and pride does that address? These are just some of the questions this video made me think about.
The power of this video being made on a cell phone is huge. It makes the possibility of making a movie seem so much more acessable and possible as long as you have a vision or passion.
Housing Issues in the Twin Cities
Housing costs continue to rise in the Twin Cities, but wages don't. This is the story of many Americans. To tell this story MPR interviewed Gwen Hollins and used her story of struggle to pay rent. The cause and effect of the housing issue is the fact that there's less vacancies available due to home foreclosures. The story ends with Hollins saying that she's still optimistic for her future and that she's applies for Section 8, but she doesn't know yet if she's on the waiting list. In fact the waiting list for Section 8 can be up to 10 years! As I'm sure everyone's either known someone or heard a story about someone who's abusing the system and complaining about paying a $43 monthly rent. Housing is taking up for some people more than 50 percent of their income. It raises the question of how can we pay a rental increase after a year, if we don't get a raise?
The fact is Hollins' issue of not being able to afford rent, is an issue that is triggered by other parts of society: housing, employment, class, and race. The story helps provide a face for what a lot of people are experiencing, but what is the goal of the story? Are they going to get Hollins in touch with the resources to get her a higher paying job? Affordable housing? The fact that Hollins didn't have access to the Internet is another sign of the digital divide between people of color and technology. Although the majority if not all libraries have the Internet, what good is it if people don't know how to use it? Although the story mentions a few local nonprofits that gave commentary it didn't sound like it was offering those places for people in need.
Read the story online:
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/09/18/rent_foreclosures/
Tsinu's Online media analysis
"When you lose parents to a disease that nobody wants to hear about, the whole world collapses."
This a powerful quote from a digital story on the Resource Center Multimedia website. The short story was created by Elizabeth Musonza a member of Table in Harare an organization for women. She is also an HIV/AIDS activist. Surfing through this site, I found out that the website is a place to share the stories of people who live under a great stigma in their communities. The videos on the site come from workshops held all over the southern Africa. The website promises to give a voice to people who have been ignored or pushed away from their own communities. HIV-positive, gays, disabled and so on.
The particular short story I watched is about a family that gets broken up when Mom and Dad die because of HIV/AIDS. The children that get left behind struggle to survive. You can read books and hear stories about this type of problems that exist all around the world. However, watching the faces of the people in the story and hearing it from the very people, gave this short story a deeper and stronger meaning. The heavy accent of Elizabeth Musonza does a great job in showing how far the story has traveled. This is a very good example of the potential new media technology has to bring the whole world closer. However, if it’s not used properly, it could also be responsible for misrepresentation and underrepresentation of different communities.
December 4, 2008
Black Soldiers in WWII
In my American History class right now, we are studying World War II. This last week, because class on Tuesday was canceled, we were assigned videos to watch, regarding the participation of different groups in the American War effort. One video glorified the enlistment of young men, though the only images it gives are young white men. One talked about the participation of women, yet still it ignores racial issues. The final video (and the one I embedded below), speaks about the involvement in the war effort of Black Americans--how they would sit unused in army units, and how eventually some made it into the marines. It speaks of the efforts by some to integrate the armed forces. They argued that an efficient fighting force could not be segregated.
I thought that it would be nice to combine these two classes by using this digital media. It seems to me that we never were taught the racial issues within the war in grade school. We were never taught that the armed forces were segregated, that blacks were not allowed to be marines, or that some leaders in the military (like George Patton) were against such regulations. I feel that this is an often ignored part of the history of the war, and that this short piece of media contains a lot of information.
It is useful to have these types of videos online, because they are key to our history and record keeping. Without them, the roles of different groups of people in key historical moments could be forgotten entirely. We are taught that we fought in World War II to protect democracy against fascism, but what is it called when an entire group of people are prohibited from protecting their country because of the color of their skin?
Ekowisa
How could one hit the creation called woman ? The one, who if it weren't for their existence, man wouldn't exist. In Alayika story she explains story with pictures from her life before, during, and after the domestic violence she endured. She speaks out to others that domestic violence is not something you have to live. Cause some aren't even fortunate to even be in the same position as her.
In the beginning of the video Alayika speaks out on things beteween her in husband use to be along with cartoon posters speaking out against domestic violence. She uses of photo of them smiling and standing next to her. This photo goes to show that things were't always bad. As the marriage went on her husband started abusing her to point where, from the look of pictures that were displayed, her arms were damaged so badly where they couldn't
function the same. Her head was also damaged to a point where she had to be medicated to avoid headaches.
Towards the end, Alayika shows pictures of her survival of doemstic violence of where she speaks to the community to other women. Not just from her narrating her experienc but along with pictures, helped give the audience a feel for how greatly domestic violence affected her.
December 3, 2008
Gordon Parks High Public Radio Storytelling Project
Recently I wrote a profile story on a public radio storytelling class for high school-aged youth at Gordon Parks High School in St. Paul. While researching and gathering additional information on the program, I came across an article written by Will Wright, one of the facilitators of this project who works alongside with journalism Professor Catherine Squires.
Reading Wright’s article and reflecting on my experience in the classroom with the students, I know that many themes in this project resonate with themes that our class has discussed this semester.
This project began when Paul Creager, a teacher at Gordon Parks High and local filmmaker, contacted Squires and Wright to create a class for students interested in media making. Gordon Parks High is an alternative learning center for students who’ve dropped out of the “traditional� area high schools, and are deemed “at risk� by uninformed administrators.
The students have learned how to work with audio recording equipment and have learned useful skills such as editing, and interviewing techniques. They have produced stories on topics such as immigration and race, and the influence of rap in politics.
For me, one of the central themes in this class revolves around the idea of empowerment through technology, especially for communities of color and all other underrepresented groups. Most of the time, communities of color have no voice in the mainstream media and are therefore underrepresented, misrepresented, or simply forgotten or ignored. We’ve explored various scholarly articles that touch on the (unfortunate) historical relationship that African Americans (people of color in general) have with technology, and how technology has been used over the centuries against underrepresented groups basically making “us� afraid to utilize a tool that can finally project our voices and bring forth change. This makes me think back to some of the young African American girls in the class who, prior to this class, never considered going to college, never considered working in the communications field, and who never thought they had a voice. To see them transform, blossom has inspired me to continue my own journey in digital media storytelling.
December 2, 2008
An Inconvenient Truth
I watched the digital story titled, “An Inconvenient Truth�. This story was about a man named Daniel whose partner of 8 years died of AIDS, and he himself has to live with HIV. I really felt this story because my close friend’s godfather has HIV as well and I lived with him in Hawaii for part of the summer a few years ago. Although I did not know at the time, his long term partner had died from AIDS and he now suffers from HIV. In this digital story, Daniel’s biggest obstacle is accepting his fate and his disease and not allowing it to define who he is. He talks a lot about how at the beginning people told him to interact only with HIV positive men, and he felt that other men would look at him like he was dirty. Though unfortunate, I do find it interesting that there is preudice within the gay community about gay men with HIV/AIDS. It relates to racism within races which we talked about in class.
In the end he finds his strength through spirituality and the belief that “My body carries a virus, my heart and soul do not�. I don't think that the mainstream media would have reported this story, because some people haven't even accepted homosexuality yet and I feel that the main stream media is unfortunately not comfortable enough to report about the struggles of a gay man. I'm really glad that Daniel took it upon himself to create his own digital story and to post it on youtube, I think that it helps with his personal healing just by putting his story out there. I think people within the gay community will be able to relate to his story, and some might even take strength in it. Maybe it will motivate anyone who watches it to take action as well. Along with helping the healing process, Daniel's story actually preserves his partner Christopher's story and educates people in the personal struggles that results with HIV/AIDS.
the link to the digital story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4FvVGqVGLs&mode=user&search=