Dear J.K Rowling, I am still waiting for my ticket to Platform 9 & 3/4 [Media Meditation #04]

With November 19th drawing near, Harry Potter fanatics everywhere are biting their nails to see the first half of the final movie. The screenwriter, Steve Kloves, was the one who decided splitting the final book "The Deathly Hallows" into two separate films.

"And, personally," says Kloves, "I feel we owe it to Jo [Rowling] — in order to preserve the integrity of the work — and the fans — for their loyalty all these years — to give them the best and most complete experience possible." With this established, Part 1 will premiere in a mere 20 days. Part 2 will be showcased on July 15th of next year. Now here is the real big question.

Even with splitting the 759 page novel into two movies, will it still satisfy fans?

(Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Theatrical Poster [Part 1] - Image courtesy of Wikipedia.)

According to Media & Society, Harry Potter is one of the "most successful original book series of this generation." However, it ranks number one on the list of "Ten Most Challenged Books of the 21st Series!" The Harry Potter series has also "generated some of the highest-grossing movies of the past decade." Despite the large sum of money these movies pull in, are they really satisfying the fan base? For example, every time I watch "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" I die a little inside. There is a scene where the characters take place in the 'Yule Bale', a holiday dance. In the book, it specifies that Hermione Granger is wear a blue dress. She is way hot in her blue dress! J.K Rowling says so! But in the movie, Emma Watson wears a light pink/magenta dress. Come on, Mike Newell and David Heyman! You are the director and producer for the movies. I'm sure you've read the books. It doesn't take much to stick to little tidbits of information like that. If J.K. Rowling specified a blue dress, why is Emma Watson in a blue dress! Absolute poppycock.

Harry Potter is a series that has really branched out from one medium to the next. From books, to movies, to movies playing on TV, to movies being played on TV, to fan-made parodies and spin offs. For example, take A Very Potter Musical, a fan-made musical parody of the Harry Potter series put together by students from the University of Michigan.

So, will "The Deathly Hallows" spark more anger from me on costume choices and editing? Will it spark more spin-offs? Will Harry Potter fans be halfway satisfied come November 19th?

Sup world of fancy phones, nice to meet you! [Media Meditation #03]

My first cell phone was a birthday present when I turned 15. I kept it for two years, before finally getting a replacement. The next phone I got, was the Sprint Rumor. It looked like this.

(LG Rumor, image courtesy of LGRumorReview)

It was a brick of a phone. No touch screen - simply texting and phone calls. There was a calendar option and I was able to write myself memos. It also played media files, but I never found that too important because that's what my iPod is for! But for two whole years I struggled through using my Rumor. On the plus side, it was a tank. I could drop in on concrete, and not a thing would happen. The paint had chipped a bit on the corners of the phone and some of the writing on the buttons had worn off, but it was perfectly usable until about two months ago. It began powering off all the time, even when I had full battery! I would be right in the middle of a text and all of a sudden, black screen. It was time for an upgrade. Behold, the Samsung Intercept.

It has a touchscreen and Google! Oh, and QWERTY slide out keyboard so I can text to my heart's content. It also has downloadable apps, just like Tumblr and Facebook, and has visual voicemail! It came with Youtube preloaded onto the phone. I can text, call, sync my phone with my Gmail and Google calendar, surf the internet, watch Sprint TV, and record videos.

(Image courtesy of Sprint.)

Here is a review of the Intercept.

So far, I am pretty satisfied with the phone. I've had a few struggles with lagging, and not being able to unlock the screen or drag down my notifications page. It freezes sometimes, and I can be hearing my phone ring but it won't unlock and show me who is calling. But the Intercept is such an upgrade from my old phone! I can take video off this new phone, and upload it to Facebook, Youtube, and Tumblr with three clicks. It's that world of convergent media!

I find the phone a little difficult getting used to, after having such a simple one for years. It's like using slip on shoes for years and then learning how to use laces. You have to try, and fumble, and tie things in knots and get help from your mommy for a few weeks before you really get the hang of it!

Celebrating 25 Years of Alternative Press.

(AP 25th Anniversary Collectors edition, image courtesy of limewire blog.)

Thesis: To inform and give the inside scoop on all aspects of the alternative/pop-punk/hardcore music scene.

Five Facts: - Chris Lombardi is the founder of Matador Records.

- The top single in 1997 was Elton John's Cand In The Wind"

- The guitar heros of 2010, are: Shawn Milke, JB Brubaker, Christ McPeters, Eric Lambert, Jason Hale, Ben Weinman, Jordan Buckley, Laura Nichol, Nick Diener, and Jamie Rhoden.

- Attack Attack! is a mix of screamo signifiers and rave-core programming, earning the bad both devoted fans and massive disdain.

- The Fearless Friends tour showcased near Burlington on the 17th of October.

8 Trends: AP Magazine uses not only traditional printed word, relying heavily on it's magazine to spread news, but also runs a website, Twitter, Facebook and street team. Look at all the ways you can connect with AP magazine online! Oh, digital media.

7 Principles - AP Magazine relies heavily on production techniques, using certain fonts and colors to portray a certain image. You can see when talking about different genres of music how this plays out - brighter, poppy colors used for the indie or powerpop bands, with black backgrounds with dark images used for heavier music.

Persuasive - AP Magazine uses a lot of humor (when doing music reviews) and testimonials. When talking about political topics (they feature "The AP Poll" every month, which is a hot issue topic like "Is Capitalism the most Democratic Economy?") they always feature what they call "Rockers Respond" where members of your favorite band pitch in to the conversation!

Bazinga! - Midterm Reflection

Alright, Media & Society! You want me to evaluate you? I'll evaluate you so good. As I typed that, this popped into my head.

So back to this reflection. During the first eight weeks, I have honestly learned a lot in Media & Society. The foundations of newspapers, television, radio, movies, and music. Something else I've learned that I find to be of extreme value is persuasive techniques. It would come in handy no matter the career field you wanted to pursue - politics or advertising or publishing, knowing that audiences respond to humor and warm fuzzies will give you the upper hand.

As a thinker, I've learned it takes me a little while to piece things together. When we do our grid quizzes in class, I can remember the power tools, but it always takes me a little time to connect the material to the video. As a reader and a writer, I am at ease with the material.

If I were to take Media & Society a second time, and get a mulligan on this semester, I think I would spend a little more time with the power tools. Just because I can remember the persuasive techniques no problem, I do struggle a little with the 8 shift and 7 perspectives.

Your class be rocking Dr. Dubs. 101 percent honest, I really enjoy your teaching style, the videos you show, your set up, all that jazz.

Usefulness of power tools, course blog, personal blog, class quizzes, films and books, come on down! You get to contend on the Price is Right!

I give the power tools, course blog, personal blog and films 5 whole stars! All fantastic. Make me critically think, work hard for information, examine what I'm learning. There is no regurgitation of facts, it is long term knowledge. All of these make me really examine media and what it says.

However, the in-class quizzes and text book get like, a good three stars. The book is good information but it's boring. It's like a hit and miss, occasionally it's really interesting, and other times chapters feel as boring and as dry and my grandmother's turkey. The problem I have with in-class quizzes is not that the text or media is boring; I really like the videos that we analyze. It's just that I feel like I just repeat the exact same power tools on every single quiz.

(Bob Barker, long time host of the game

show, The Price is Right.

Image courtesy of Fanpop Images.)

Camp Champ Radio Spot: The Rubber Duck Parade Production

St: Welcome!

L: Bienvenue!

Sa: Willkommen!

M: Benvenuto!

St: Once upon a time, at Champlain College, freshman frolicked on our sprawling Aiken lawn. Whether you know it or not, this is the place where dreams come true.

L: Champlain College is right out of a fairy tale, with a picturesque campus located in the heart of Burlington’s residential neighborhood.

Sa: Your escorts to and from each class can be cheerful squirrels and chirping birds!

M: Multiply the 7 dwarves by 3 and you have the average class size for Champlain College!

St: Champlain offers you an intimate community where we appreciate you for the prince or princess that you are. Let’s hear from one of our prospective students, Cinderella.

L: I just couldn’t wait to take part in the Equestrian club and Muggle Quidditch! It’s much more fun to ride a broom then to clean with one! And the possibility of living in one of Champlain’s renovated Victorian era mansion would be just like living in Prince Charming’s castle!

Sa: But life on campus never gets boring! There is lots of adventure waiting for you at Church Street and the waterfront, both a short stroll from campus!

M: You don’t have to be a prince or princess to attend Champlain College! We can help you go from rags to riches or pumpkin to carriage with our BYOBiz program or study abroad opportunities!

St: 96.7 % of Champlain alum enjoyed this broadcast!

L: So come find your happily ever after at Champlain College!