Project 4 article

Here is my revised, working article for Project 4. It's been shortened since last Saturday's class. I would appreciate any feedback - positive or negative. Thanks!

"Can You Hear Me Now"
Where would Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi be without “No Soup for You!” Would Who Wants to be a Millionaire be half as addicting if it weren’t for “Is That Your Final Answer?” Perhaps you think Rhett Butler should have given a damn. Whatever your preference, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite quotes and slogans from the media.

No matter their origin or topic, words can be very powerful; whether they inspire, anger or merely amuse us, they evoke a sensation. Quotes and slogans can capture a moment, instill ambition, promote empathy or make us fall in love. They represent opinions, time periods, generations and movements. Quotes found in the media have a way of sticking around and become staples in American vocabulary. Between politicians, films, commercials and television shows, many memorable quotes can be found.

Ask Not What Your Country Can Dream About
Politicians are known for their communication – positive or negative. They can persuade our decisions one way or the other based on just a few words. No phrase better captures that power than in the inaugural speech by a charismatic, Massachusetts Democrat in 1961. “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for you country.” Former President John F. Kennedy’s quote struck home with many Americans who at the time were campaigning for a new direction for their country. This seemed to be it; a man who wanted and promoted change for his country and its citizens. Another important speech made by a political advocate began, “I have a dream…” and captured the essence of the civil rights movement. The 1963 speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of equality and understanding among the races during a very turbulent and racially charged period in America’s history. The next year, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, and King was awarded the Noble Peace Prize. President Franklin D. Roosevelt also promoted national courage when facing an economic slump in the middle of the Great Depression. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” from his inaugural speech in 1933 is still used today when trying to counteract negativity over any national decline. Lastly, probably the most infamous statement made by a politician was, “I am not a crook,” spoken by Former President Richard Nixon, when claiming innocence regarding the 1972 Watergate scandal.

There’s No Crying in Baseball When You Have What She’s Having
Dorothy Gale said it best – “I have a feeling we're not in Kansas any more” (The Wizard of Oz). Films take us to faraway places, and provide us with a brief but entertaining break from our busy lives. Perhaps this is why we remember movie quotes so well, and tend to love them even more. While there are a thousand movie quotes worth mentioning, we stuck with the biggest subcategory – the classics. Humphrey Bogart told us, “Here’s looking at you, kid (Casablanca), while Robert De Niro asked us, “You talkin’ to me?” (Taxi Driver). Marlon Brando “could have been a contender” (On the Waterfront) and many years later, told his comrades, “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse (The Godfather).

An older man told a young Scarlett O’Hara, “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn” (Gone With the Wind), and an older woman remarked “I’ll have what she’s having” (When Harry Met Sally) after seeing Meg Ryan show Billy Crystal that yes, women can fake it. We knew it wasn’t fake when there was a problem with a certain NASA shuttle because Tom Hanks’ serious voice informed us, “Houston, we have a problem” (Apollo 13). Two other memorable Tom Hanks quotes include “Life is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you’re gonna get” (Forrest Gump) and “There’s no crying in baseball” (A League of Their Own). Another baseball movie was an inside look into the life of Lou Gehrig, who said in front of a crowded stadium, “Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth” (Pride of the Yankees). A third baseball movie gave us the line, “If you build it, he will come” (Field of Dreams) and captured our love of the sport as well as father-son moments. A not so loving relationship was seen between Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise in a military courtroom as Nicholson yells, “You can’t handle the truth!” (A Few Good Men). Perhaps the truth, and the best quote of all, is a simple line from that Kansas farm girl: “There’s no Place like Home.”

So Easy a Caveman Can Leggo my Eggo
Unlike movies, advertising slogans are fed to us on a regular basis. Repeated exposure to the same commercials over and over again force the slogans, jingles and taglines to get stuck in our heads. Who hasn’t quoted the recent Subway commercials with the “five dollar foot long” jingle? It has become embedded in our brain; just like we know that “the best part of waking up is Folger’s in your cup” or that pork is “the other white meat.” We also know that Tony the Tiger thinks Frosted Flakes are “Grrrrreat!” and that a rabbit can’t have Trix cereal because “Silly rabbit – Trix are for kids.” Some advertisers ask us questions – Allstate wants to know, “Are you in good hands?”; the Verizon man is always asking his caller, “Can you hear me now?”; and in 1980s, the little old lady at Wendy’s asked, “Where’s the beef?” Others simply tell us who they are, or offer a bit of advice. Geico is so easy “a caveman can do it,” M&Ms “Melt in your mouth, not in your hand,” and Nike reminds us to “Just do it.” Still, other advertisements dangle temptation in front us. Pringles lures us in with the line, “Once you pop, you can’t stop” and Doublemint gum promises us that it’s “Double your pleasure, double your fun.” Lastly, there are those advertisements that are easy to remember because they are simple or child-like. “Uh-oh SpaghettiO’s” and “Mmm mmm good” are two slogans that Campbell’s Soup uses, and rhyming slogans will never fade, as seen by “Leggo my Eggo” from Eggo waffles and “Oscar Meyer has a way with b-o-l-o-g-n-a.”

Doh! Is That Your Final Answer, Willis?
Because television comes into our homes and we watch it while sitting in our pajamas night after night, we have a tendency to feel comfortable with these shows. Because of this, the slogans and lines from them become part of our repertoire. Who hasn’t seen a game show? They will never go out of style – and neither will their signature catchphrases. Some ask us such questions as “Is that your final answer?” (Who Wants to be a Millionaire?) and “Survey says?” (Family Feud). Others merely state a simple line that is to the point and easy to remember, like “You are the weakest link…Goodbye!” (Weakest Link) and “You’re Fired!” (The Apprentice).

Quotes from popular television shows are prime examples of hearing the same repeated catchphrases and soon enough, they become permanent fixtures in our language. “Dyn-o-mite!” (Good Times) was a staple in American households during the ’70s. At the end of the decade, Gary Coleman’s line of “What you talkin’ bout, Willis?” had inserted itself into our social vocabulary (Diff’rent Strokes). In the ’90s, it didn’t really matter what Tim “the Tool Man” Taylor talked about because his sidekick Al was always there to say, “I don’t think so, Tim” (Home Improvement). Another TV character to repeat a catchphrase was Homer Simpson and his “Doh!” as well as his son Bart’s constant rebuttal of “Eat My Shorts” (The Simpsons). The infamous Soup Nazi in NYC dealt with his rebuttal in another way – “No Soup for You!” (Seinfeld). Lastly, we think the most well-known television song was the way its original show ended each episode back in the ’50s; “M-i-c...see you real soon” (Mickey Mouse Club). We’re pretty sure you know the rest.

Here are my final pieces of Project 3. Below are the postcard, magazine ad and poster ad for my Study Abroad campaign.

American Alphabet

Being a former graphic designer, my mom is always interested in art and logos as much as I am. Last Christmas, she passed out this mini test with individual letters from famous American logos. I have it tacked up at work as a conversation piece and figured it was a great piece to blog about. I can tell you the answers for every letter except D...and unfortunately the website (www.illegal-art.org/print/popups/alphabet.html) does not show the answers. So if someone figures out D, please let me know.

See if you can guess what famous logo each letter is from:
(hint: every brand name starts with the letter that is shown...aka the letter C is for Coco-Cola)

Bad writing

While on topic of good writing, I thought I would post something that I believed to be bad writing. It's not so much that the writing is bad, but that the lead to the newspaper article is long winded and unaffective. This is from last week's Washington Post about the Pentagon shooter:

John Patrick Bedell, whose doomed, cross-country odyssey ended in a gun battle outside the Pentagon Thursday night, was a well-educated but troubled student of science, economy and society who "had gone off the deep end" and believed that United States was controlled by a sinister organization leading it toward a new dark age, according to friends and Internet postings attributed to him.

This lead has the possibility to be good, but it keeps going and almost becomes a run on sentence. In Editorial Style (PBDS 603), we learned how a lead should be written. In entertainment articles, the lead should be descriptive and whimsical, expressing something to catch the read off guard and encouraging them to read the rest of the article. But in news articles, writers should sum up the high points of the story into a quick and seamless paragraph, and additional/supplementary information will be spelled out within the article. While the lead on this article accurately prepares the reader to read an article about the background of the shooter and less about the incident itself, it's still entirely too wordy and doesn't catch the reader, who is now out of breath from reading this incredibly long sentence.

Need help with assignment

Hey guys. I am working on one last tagline for Project 3. Right now, the postcard says "Want to learn what Confucious really said?" (about China) and the magazine says "Want to learn about the original pyramid scheme?" (about Egypt). Jeanne has suggested I keep this theme all the way through to the poster and nix the "what foriegn city will change your life" tagline. So therefore, I need another tagline. I am scraping the bottom of the barrel for another clever idea. These are what I have so far. Thoughts???

Want to learn what a Billabong was before it was a clothing label?
(Australia - billabong is an aboriginal word for waterhole)

Want to learn the difference between Emo and Emu?
(Australia - picture of an emu)

Want to learn why you wouldn't ride a Kamel in Germany?
(German - Kamel means moron or twit)

Want to mutter German to your mutter?
OR Want to mutter to your mutter?
(German - mutter means mother in German)

Show and Tell 5 - Article

My grandfather, who passed away in 2004, had the wonderful notion of cutting out newspaper articles he thought would appeal to a loved one and mailing it to them. With today's easy access to online articles and information, people never cut out newspaper articles any more. This is why I thought it was neat that his son, my father, cut out an article from the Washington Post earlier this year and mailed it to me. Cleaning up my apartment last weekend, I found it and re-read it.

This article is about Ray Rice, one of the newer running backs for the Baltimore Ravens football team, and his background. I have become interested in the Ravens since my boyfriend is a Maryland boy and therefore, a huge fan. And thanks to him, I received a Ray Rice jersey last Christmas. If you had told this previous "football ignorer" that she would have a jersey at one point, she wouldn't have believed you.

But I really do love this article. I think it's very well written and reminds me why I like to write. I like how the writer captures Ray's childhood experiences and describes the wonderful relationship he has with his mother. He doesn't have to write how/why they love each other; instead he writes of experiences between them that bond them and we know why they are so close. He doesn't tell us, he shows us. The article covers very little of his football days, focusing mostly on his childhood and how is affects his life even today. I thought it was a great profile piece.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/15/AR2010011502158.html

Jason Santa Maria

My boss always raves about this self-taught graphic designer named Jason Santa Maria and how amazing he is.

This morning at work, my boss directed me to Jason's website, which currently has a great layout (I "snagged" a picture of the screen because in a few days this design on his homepage will probably change). I love the juxtaposition of the text within the crook of the books. It seems like a lot going on in a small space, but the white space on the right gives it balance.

You can view his regular page at http://jasonsantamaria.com/ and I've pasted the image of today's layout above. Another neat thing about this layout is that each individual book contained links to individual pages on his site that gave a summary of each book. Pretty cool :)

Final Text for Projects 1 and 2

Below are the final text pieces for Projects 1 and 2. They have only been slightly edited since first being shown in class. Enjoy!


Project 1 Final Text
Words & Images
# of words: 370

Scooping Up Memories

Ice cream can be found anywhere, but there’s magic waiting for your family at your local ice cream parlor.

Every time the door to my favorite childhood ice cream store was opened, a small bell would ring. Your nostrils were then greeted with the luscious smell of sugary sweetness and you couldn’t wait to have that ice cream in your hand. I always got chocolate. My mom always got Pralines and Cream, and my sister always got Daiquiri ice. But it wasn’t about the ice cream. It mattered that we were there together, as a family.

After getting cones from our local Baskin-Robbins store, we would sit on the sidewalk step outside to eat it. Our trips would usually be just after dinner, when the warm sky was alive with pink and purple washes from the sunset. The air was calm and the hectic schedule of daily life seemed to stand still for just a few precious moments, freeing us from homework, chores and jobs, and allowing us to talk to each other. It was in those moments that I found my family.

“Being part of a strong, loving family helps children feel loved,” says Dr. Glen Early, child psychologist. “Children don’t remember things that you buy them, but really remember you got up every Saturday and made pancakes with them.” Making a child feel loved and valued “gives them the emotional muscle to succeed in the world.”

Some of the popular national chains of ice cream stores include Häagen-Dazs, Baskin-Robbins, Bruster’s, Carvel and Ben and Jerry’s. If you’re looking to create your own ice cream sundae, try visiting Cold Stone Creamery where you can choose from various combinations. Or try Friendly’s and Gifford’s ice cream shops; both offer an old fashioned feel while you spend time with your family.

No matter the reason—whether a good report card had been received, a great softball game had been played, or just as a special family outing—those precious moments with my family at our local ice scream store are ones I will cherish forever. Whether it was through a scoop of Rocky Road or a banana sundae, spending time together made me feel closer to my family. And eating ice cream was the cherry on top.


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Project 2 Final Text
Words & Images
# of words: 771

The Best for Less

What’s better than a dollar movie, complete with a beer, an order of wings and some of your best friends? Most people would say not much. Except maybe you’d prefer a glass of wine and an order of nachos - well then, it’s a good thing they have that too.

The Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse, in south Arlington, is one of the area’s most prized gems for anyone who likes cheap movies, cheap food and a good time. The Drafthouse offers cheap admission to slightly dated movies, usually ones floating between the big screen and DVD, but that’s just one of its many treasures. In addition to offering a wide array of drinks and food, it’s also home to comedy nights, weekly sports games and the occasional costume event.

Converted from a 1930’s Art Deco theater, the Drafthouse, located on the corner of Walter Reed Drive and South Glebe Road, breathes like an old fashion theater with a modern day flair. The slightly dated design, complete with a retro box office window and tiny bar, only add to the establishment’s charm. Large, comfortable chairs surround endless tabletops waiting for customers to order from a full menu, offering a vast array of food ranging from the usual bar food, such as mozzarella sticks and pizza, to the occasional modern item like the Mediterranean Chicken Wrap and the Black Bean Veggie Burger.

Regular customers can be seen making their way to the floor in front of the huge screen, while new ones may be confused and wonder if they place an order at the bar first. The friendly bar staff will inform them to find a comfortable seat and the wait staff will be with them after they review the menu, raising the small table flag to indicate they are ready to order. Each new level of seats require a step down, so those who use wheelchairs or have trouble with steps should stay on the top level upon entering the theater.

Given its name, the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse also prides itself on its large selection of wine, mixed drinks and of course, draft beer, which is also available in large pitchers. All food and drinks are available through your eccentric, attentive wait staff, who wear black shirts with “ACDH” scrawled in funky, white letters, emblematic of ACDC’s signature logo. After receiving your bill, customers can now pay with a credit card, but remember to bring cash as well. Because even though the costume you’ll wear to the monthly showing of the cult movie “Office Space” may win you a prize, you still need to pay for your ticket in cash - or possibly loose change if attending the popular dollar movie Mondays.

In the fall, Sundays are home to big screen showings of football games of the Washington Redskins and college favorites, and most weekend afternoons are filled with a variety of childrens events, like movies, magicians and singers.

Every evening, the Drafthouse is filled with people of all ages; the older crowd enjoying the widely acclaimed Oscar contender while sampling this month’s wine selection, or the thirty-somethings enjoying the jokes by the former Saturday Night Live headliner; the local, young professionals who walk to the establishment to partake in a beer tasting event, or the suburban parents who park in the tiny but useful parking lot behind the theater to appease their children’s desire to watch all day Christmas movies.

Voted the best movie theater in the Washington DC area in 2008 by the Washington Post’s “Best Bet” competition, and selected as “The Best Thing to Do on Friday Night” by the Washingtonian Magazine in 2009, the Arlington Drafthouse is one of the most popular places in the area.

While the food isn’t exactly restaurant quality, how can you beat a large selection of reputable, affordable eats to pair with this year’s best comedy at a discounted rate? After years of management changes, the building does sometimes provide you with the occasional whiff of retaining cigarette smoke, but the Drafthouse is now smoke free and offers too many events to notice any lingering smells.

Make sure you arrive early as the place fills up quickly, but don’t worry – the noise level is only moderate, and only prior to the event starting. If you’re looking for a louder, bar like experience, try the establishment next door that was bought by the owners of the Drafthouse and turned into the accompanying Drafthouse Grill.

Lots of things are happening at the Drafthouse, and even though the building has been around for more than 20 years, it seems to never go out of style.