Financial Crisis

In the articles written by Michael Lewis. He explains the financial crisis in both the United States and over seas in Greece and the European areas.  The way he writes both of these stories is as if you are talking to the interviewee yourself. Instead of just reading what another person has written you feel as if you are there the whole way as it goes on. There is one thing that should possibly be specified as we go on here before the analysis fully begins. The difference between craft and art, craft is that it is a skilled task of doing something, when writing on a specific topic you must be able to learn and adapt to what it is as it goes on. You can not just walk into write a story and have no clue on what you are doing, you must be ready and know what the topic is in which you are writing on. Many writers even will try the task that they are writing on, such as horseback riding or painting. An art on the other hand is writing something that you are creating, you have to create the story to connect to the people you want to get it too. Art and Craft can go together though in a sense you have to know what you are writing but at the same point you have to be creative in your writing also.

            As reading California and Bust, it is amazing to me to see how as you read you feel you are right there along with them. You feel as if you are riding a bike with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael Lewis. The way he is explaining what all they are doing and as they are riding along Ocean Avenue. It is crazy to think how realistic this writing is as you go along. Murray would greatly appreciate this style of writing for how well it is done and how realistic it is written. As he is riding along if you have ever been to California you know the areas he is talking about or you can visualize what he might possibly be talking about as he goes one this ride. You see Schwarzenegger in a different light in his shorts and loafers, and his fleece sweater .

            As Lewis is explaining how he is going along with Schwarzenegger and the roads they are taking and the what they are doing. He explains in detail how they are riding along and people see them and one woman says while on the telephone “oh my gosh its Bill Clinton”, when in all reality it was actually Arnold Schwarzenegger. He just laughs and keeps going as the woman then again states “oh wait maybe that wasn’t Clinton” . He rides along through California as if no one knows who he is, which they seem to not know at all. As Schwarzenegger runs red lights, and go through do not enter signs, Lewis is keeping up with him, He has no body guards with him and no one else who is there to protect him. He takes Lewis to a wall where he first built when he came to the United States, this was the only work he could find while doing body building. It seems so realistic while you are reading this.

            In Lewis’s Vanity Fair Article on “It’s the Economy dummkoph!”  This article shows the money problems in Greece and Ireland, and others. Germany is the only one who can save them from this problem, but they really do not seem to want to help at all. They are just as worried about their country as any other of them are, they are having some money issues too but they don’t show it as freely as some countries do. Germany is an economy who has some of the biggest financial areas in the country and they have some of the oldest banks that hold the money of many other countries. They in a sense have the key to the money because the other countries have placed it in their hands to keep an eye on it.

            The way Lewis writes is how I see Murray writing, he is very creative in the writing that they do and explains in detail what is occurring and is using craft very well. All of the writing that is occurring in how Lewis writes is creative and using the craft Murray talks about in Chapter one. Murray explains how he notices all that is around him and that is the way Lewis is too, he is very explanatory in what all he does. Lewis shows you all the details in where they are and what all has occurred. He gives in deep detail the roads he goes down and the sites in which he sees while riding his bike. He gives details of California so well that you feel you are right there along with him and that in every aspect of the ride. He even explains the details he sees around him and the bike that he and Schwarzenegger are riding.

            In the paper about the reform in Europe he explains in deep detail what all he is seeing and hearing while in this economy that is down falling quite quickly. He gives detail of those who he is talking to as if you are seeing them, for their baldness, to the way his voice is. You seem to be almost sucked in by the explanation of this people as you put in your own imagination of who they are and what they do. You see these people for who they are in your own head and how you visualize them. You can see how he takes in all the details of the person who he is interviewing and that no matter how you want to try to not see them you do. You get a feeling and sense you are there when in all actuality you are not.

            Murray explains this type of writing in his book too , he really shows you want to read or want to be connected with, even though you may not fully know yourself you get into it and understand it in detail for the words he is explaining. Lewis writes for those who have a vivid imagination and can visualize in detail what you are reading m I know as I was reading this I was getting the visualization of the characters and who they were and what they were doing. In any sense you see these stories for what they are and you understand them because it is as if you are there and aren’t just reading it. As a reader you feel all the details and you understand them so detailed in every sense no matter what it is. I feel that Murray and Lewis write much alike and there writing is one I actually enjoy reading because it captivates you in all the details that you would possibly miss if it weren’t worded the way it usually is. Both these writers know how to write well and in deep detail , they can capture any audience with their readings.

Was This Family Treated Unfairly ?

Was this Family treated unfairly?

The Harris family has lived I the Chicago area for years and in this house since 1970 when he bought his home and the home next to it. Over the years he had worked odd jobs such as dumping rocks, loading ice, piling huge water jugs on skids. For 25 years he worked as a custodian for the Chicago housing Authority and had to leave on disability only after he blew a disk in his back from lifting a 55-gallon garbage container. His wife worked as a file clerk. The Harris family has shared their home with many people over the years, from family members to friends; they have tried to help them out when they needed it. They always kept the family time in order to make sure that they would not be missing out on enjoying time together. Neighbors spoke highly of the Harris family that they were always kind and that they are good people.

Something began to happen and the Harris family was unaware that their life was about to be torn apart around dawn on the last day of August.  Mr. Harris who is 77 years old was lying in bed when he heard a large banging on his door, then police broke in and came in their home.  None of the family knew what was occurring at this time.  In the article it shows that Mr. Harris was thinking all that the police needed to do was to knock and they would have answered. No one understood what was going on that morning. The police had about 40 officers armed and ready, and for what?  Some neighbors heard it might possibly be meth or animal abuse. The police arrested two family members on animal-related misdemeanors and took away 4 dogs. The main question here was why did they need 40 officers? No one really knew. The police had set off gas bombs too in the house when they came in.  

Next thing the Harris family knew once the smoke had emptied and the police had left an inspector came in and began to write down multiple infractions, and the family had never before been issued any building code violations. They were given an immediate emergency order to vacate the property. The family had no idea this was coming and just like that it occurred. They would have to pack up and leave their home that they lived in for over 41 years and owned. All the memories at this home will now be demolished by the horror of remembering what occurred that day their home was ruined.

How does this occur? Their neighbors saw nothing that was wrong with them and that they were not hurting animals. One neighbor Wendi Taylor who is active in animal-rescue causes said “ “I’ve petted some of those pit bulls,” I have never seen abuse. Had there been, I would have been ahead of the police. We’re just heartbroken.” If this neighbor who is an animal activist didn’t see problems with their animals then why did the police think so.

            This story makes no sense because what is seen in this story is that this family was well known, and liked in the neighborhood they seemed to have enjoyed the family. This family had lived there for years, many contractors had come in trying to get them to sell, and they would always say it wasn’t for sale. This house was not just a house or a piece of real estate it was there home. They had gotten jobs shoveling snow, working on cars and any other odd jobs with their neighbors.

             This story seems to have some underlying issues here. Why would a family who had become known in the neighborhood be kicked out of their home for issues that weren’t even there? Was this so that they could build a bigger house that is worth more? Or because they were the only African American family who still lived there? I do not believe the police had enough information to do what they did and enter the house and smoke the place out, then kick them out. I feel like the police over did this situation and it could have been handled much differently.

Chapter 1-4

In Murray’s Book Writing to Deadline really explains what Murray went through as a beginning writer and through learning what he would have to go through. He really tell this book as a story to explain how to write and be seen. He answers the questions that so many people wonder while they are writing. First off the five W’s s the most important, Who , What , When, Where , Why , How ? But on top of that there is also the underlying questions that are being asked, all the details and the meat of the story.  Murray explains how the Craft of Writing is,  Write with Information, we must know the details that any reader will want to see and be in tune with. You must write specific details and concrete images, readers want to be able to be in the story in a sense. Of course then there is Accuracy, you must write accurate. Names spelled correctly, ages of victims, where were they when this occurred. In Chapter three it talks about Reporting for Surprise. The first line explains it very well, “The best writers seek surprise, delight in what they do not expect to find” This is so very true , you have to seek what is totally unexpected. In Writing you have to be ready for whatever you may not expect. Although you have to know that the expected will not always occur. The lede or lead, this goes right along with the inverted pyramid this is what will get the readers attention.  Less is more has to be my favorite here, how many times have we been told “Less is More” when telling any type of Information we must be able to tell it in a sense of understanding. As a writer you do not want to use words that your readers will not understand, you want them to be able to understand it  all and not be confused along the way at all.  When writing make sure your order is correct again going back to inverted pyramid the most important news on top going down to the less important. The beginning of your article is what will get your readers attention first and foremost.

            In Chapter two it talks about “Writing to Deadline” This is a very interesting way of looking at it since most people really do not know how writers get what they need accomplished. You have a deadline that has to be met, if you are writing and you are on crunch time you will find out when you have a article due. You have to make sure it is done by then to be able to see what the readers want and what they expect. In the newspapers there are stories that are breaking news and if they are no written and done by the time the newspaper is to go out you did not meet your deadline. No matter what you are writing you must know what all the criteria is, whether it be 300 words or a 20 page book. You have to know exactly what you are to do so that you can then meet all in the criteria that is expected of you. You must stay focused on the job at and because if you aren’t you will not know what they expect and you have to get your article done on the timeline that is intended for this story to go out.

            Reporting for Surprise, the best writers seek surprise and want to report on what they do not expect. Unfortunately this can be difficult especially when they  have done some stories over and over , not meaning it’s the same but some in the same context. Floods, tornadoes, Sports events, they all are reported pretty much the same and will be used in the same context as stories before them.  The writer has 10 senses that must be used, Sight you can see what is occurring,just sit and watch what is occurring. Is the child in the cart grabbing things off the shelves and the mother is not noticing, or is there a suspicious person right outside of the crime scene that looks as if they do not belong in the scenario they are in. Use your senses you don’t have to only use your ears, look around and see what is occurring around you. Hearing, as Murray says many people are horrible listeners we always want to respond or don’t even really pay attention to what people are saying.  We need to pay close attention to every detail that is being said. Touch use this sense to be able to write exactly what readers want to hear, our society is very visual, while reading they want to feel as if they are there. Explain how the weather was that day or if at a crime scene how there was an odd feeling amongst everyone. Use your sense of smell explain what the smell was even if it was a horrifying smell or a nice perfume, explain this your readers want to know exactly what it was like. Taste although this may seem like an odd one to need to utilize it really isn’t. Use this sense to explain how a child enjoyed a piece of chocolate or how a man in the fighting rink could taste the blood in his mouth, Change, Effect, conflict context and self are the last of these , these can all be tied in together to be used correctly.  they are so many ways to use each of these you just have to find your niche in writing and use them.

             The surprise factor of this is to write for what the reader is wanting, as a writer you must look in between the lines for what is there but is not right in front of your face, make sure you are ready write on it and explain it all in detail. The small things are some of the most important you will use when writing so make sure you write and use them well. These chapters have been very helpful in explaining what a writer should do and what else to look for.

Surtees

1. 1.)Hard News- Immediate, or "breaking," story that can't wait for publication. Soft News- A story that can wait for publication and is usually about a trend, an on-going event or about an interesting person. I would much prefer writing Soft News because I wouldn't feel so pressed for time and would have more time to post interesting information. Hard Lead is a term that is used because the post that is at hand is much more forward and immediate. A soft lead is that of a story just explaining what has been said or being quotes. I would personally utilize either one of them varying on what type of story I was writing.

2.) He says they like to be suprised but not too much. They want some suprises but not ones that will hurt or hinder their story. I do like some suprises but it varies on in what type of context they are in. Suprise flowers or a thank you note is always nice as for a suprise with my car or tires no, no suprises like that.

3.) I have heard of this name and my book is in the mail somewhere and will be coming soon :)
4.) I learned a lot from his readings and one thing that kind of suprised me was the fact he said you will learn from listening and get a story , I would think from listening you would get good information but you also need more than just listening. I would go through all his steps and find a way that works best for me and be able to utilize it for myself.

Photography Blogs

Blogs today are used in so many different aspects of life and work. One way that it is utilized in my field is that Photographers blog about the different ways cameras work, the new techniques they have figured out, new cameras that have come out an so many other ways. This a great way to use blogging because then it shares the information photographers have found and always them to let other people know what they have found out. Photographers can ask others about techniques or cameras if they need to know about them and people can answer them, and help them out.
I can personally use this as a a tool to talk about my business and post deals. I can also show my work and get peoples views and ideas on what they think i could do to change it or differently utilize what I am doing. My field of work is so broad their are so many different ways to get peoples aspects and with all the social networking and blogging now everyone can share what they want to see or learn.