Blog Post #20
link: http://www.shortoftheweek.com/2014/08/28/the-most-quoted-man-in-the-news/
The documentary that I watched was about Greg Packer, a man who does crazy things just to be quoted in news publications. He even was the first one in line to get an iPad not because he was a fan, but because he wanted to be quoted in the newspapers. He has been doing stunts like this for so long that the Associated Press sent put a memo to all major publications telling them to find other people besides Parker to interview.
What aspects make it a good documentary?
-An aspect that makes this a good documentary is that clips of a typewriter are continually cut to throughout the length of the film. This gives you a sense that maybe Greg Packer is being quoted about his story of him being quoted in the Associated Press?
What could make it a better documentary?
-This documentary does not tell you much about who Greg Packer is, just that he is a retired highway worker who travels the country trying to be quoted in news publications. Perhaps some more insight into his background would allow the audience to better understand why he does what he does.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Friday, October 17, 2014
Reflection
Blog Post #19
Over the past few weeks I have learned more about Dance Blue than I ever thought I would. I have learned about the event itself, how it was started, and how it has evolved over the years. While doing these research blogs have not been the most entertaining things to do, they have allowed me to see my thoughts progress over the weeks.
In retrospect, I like the idea that the blog posts are all fairly short. This way I can quickly skim over the topics and see which ones I want to further research. I'm also surprised that I've been able to do as many blog posts about Dance Blue that I have been. At first, I thought maybe I would be able to only get 2-3 blogs posts, but here I am at 19 and haven't repeated myself too bad yet.
Unfortunately, if it's not required I probably won't, but writing blog posts I think would help me with other research papers in other classes. Blogging is an interesting skill that I am glad I have learned.
--Stephen Ritchie
Over the past few weeks I have learned more about Dance Blue than I ever thought I would. I have learned about the event itself, how it was started, and how it has evolved over the years. While doing these research blogs have not been the most entertaining things to do, they have allowed me to see my thoughts progress over the weeks.
In retrospect, I like the idea that the blog posts are all fairly short. This way I can quickly skim over the topics and see which ones I want to further research. I'm also surprised that I've been able to do as many blog posts about Dance Blue that I have been. At first, I thought maybe I would be able to only get 2-3 blogs posts, but here I am at 19 and haven't repeated myself too bad yet.
Unfortunately, if it's not required I probably won't, but writing blog posts I think would help me with other research papers in other classes. Blogging is an interesting skill that I am glad I have learned.
--Stephen Ritchie
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Dance Blue-- 5K
Blog Post #18
Topic: The annual Dance Blue 5K run/walk marathon
This fall the Dance Blue will be organizing and running a 5K run/walk marathon to help benefit the Dance Blue cause. On the danceblue.org website there is a teaser video made by students to raise awareness for the event.
The 5K will be on Sunday, October 26 at 3pm. The course will be located at the Coldstream Research Park here in Kentucky. This event will be a fun way to not only get some much needed fall exercise, but to also help raise money and awareness for the Dance Blue cause.
While the video on the Dance Blue website is entertaining, it's not very informative about the event, offering only what day/time and where it is located. They fail to mention of there are any fees associated with participating in the 5K, as there often are, or if you need to be signed up to participate in the marathon to participate in the 5K. These are some questions that would be good to get some answers to.
I think while it's important to do research into the primary topic, the marathon, it is also equally important that this smaller satellite fundraisers also get the attention that they deserve.
--Stephen Ritchie
Topic: The annual Dance Blue 5K run/walk marathon
This fall the Dance Blue will be organizing and running a 5K run/walk marathon to help benefit the Dance Blue cause. On the danceblue.org website there is a teaser video made by students to raise awareness for the event.
The 5K will be on Sunday, October 26 at 3pm. The course will be located at the Coldstream Research Park here in Kentucky. This event will be a fun way to not only get some much needed fall exercise, but to also help raise money and awareness for the Dance Blue cause.
While the video on the Dance Blue website is entertaining, it's not very informative about the event, offering only what day/time and where it is located. They fail to mention of there are any fees associated with participating in the 5K, as there often are, or if you need to be signed up to participate in the marathon to participate in the 5K. These are some questions that would be good to get some answers to.
I think while it's important to do research into the primary topic, the marathon, it is also equally important that this smaller satellite fundraisers also get the attention that they deserve.
--Stephen Ritchie
Dance Blue-- Interview (High School)
Blog Post #17
Topic: Interview done with a student who participated in a high school DanceBlue mini marathon.
Topic: Interview done with a student who participated in a high school DanceBlue mini marathon.
1. How (or why) did you first become involved in DanceBlue?
-I got involved because the first Dance Blue I attended at the University of Kentucky gave me chills, and anything that gives me chills has to be good.
2. What were you expecting from your first marathon? Did it live up to your expectations, if you had any?
-I was truly expecting sore feat, sweaty bodies, and plenty of smiles. Dance Blue met those expectations and gave me a few more for the next year; inspiration, lots of love, new dance moves, and more laughter packed into 6 hours.
3. How did you get involved with the DanceBlue committee? (If there is a high school committee that you’re on?)
-I helped teach some dances for our Dance Blue because I have spent so many summers teaching 9-13 year olds line dances at camp. The high schoolers had about the same level of awkward movements and twitches at first, however their more matured motor skills eventually kicked in.
4. Did you ever expect DanceBlue would grow to the size it is today at Catholic?
-Yes, I expected Dance Blue to be huge at Catholic because that's just what we do. We find a cause to fight (dance) for and we take every opportunity to expand it.
5. What’s some advice you would give to a first year marathoner.
-My advice: drink lots of water and smile every second. Open your heart to love, your ears to stories, and your eyes to the difference you're making.
6. Is there anything you would change about how DanceBlue is advertised or how the marathon is structured?
-No, why touch the most organic campaign based purely on the love of neighbors.
7. What’s your fondest memory from any DanceBlue marathon?
-I love the dances and the music always. I remember shouting every word to every Disney song they played with classmates while simultaneously wearing floppy Mickey Mouse ears.
8. Through DanceBlue did you build any lasting relationships you value? (i.e. Would DanceBlue be a good idea for individuals who aren’t terribly outgoing?)
-Yes, Dance Blue would be an incredible opportunity to meet amazing people and bond in such a way that is unforgettable.
Dance Blue-- Interview
Blog Post #16
Topic: Dance Blue Interview
The individual who I am interviewing for my documentary, a graduate of UK who was on the DanceBlue marathon, could not be interviewed in time for this week's blog posts. So, I have included the interview that I will be doing with them, and when I can set up a time I will post the results here.
Topic: Dance Blue Interview
The individual who I am interviewing for my documentary, a graduate of UK who was on the DanceBlue marathon, could not be interviewed in time for this week's blog posts. So, I have included the interview that I will be doing with them, and when I can set up a time I will post the results here.
1. How (or why) did you first become involved in DanceBlue?
2. What were you expecting from your first marathon? Did it live up to your expectations, if you had any?
3. How did you get involved with the DanceBlue committee?
4. Did you ever expect DanceBlue would grow to the size it is today?
5. What’s some advice you would give to a first year marathoner.
6. Is there anything you would change about how DanceBlue is advertised or how the marathon is structured?
7. What’s your fondest memory from any DanceBlue marathon?
8. Through DanceBlue did you build any lasting relationships you value? (i.e. Would DanceBlue be a good idea for individuals who aren’t terribly outgoing?)
--Stephen Ritchie
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Dance Blue-- 2014 Annual Report
Blog Post #15
Topic: The Dance Blue 2014 Annual Report
The Dance Blue 2014 Annual Report is a document that can be found on the the official Dance Blue website. It outlines what Dance Blue is, what and who it benefits, and how many funds were raised during the 2014 marathon. It can be found here --http://danceblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/DanceBlue-Annual-Report.pdf--
I've already extensively explained what Dance Blue is, however this report goes into more depth on who exactly benefits from the fundraiser. According to a graphic in the report, the Dance Blue KCH Hem/ Onc clinic benefits over 63 counties throughout Kentucky, with many of these being in the central and eastern part of the state. In 2014, Dance Blue raised $1,436,606.24, with 44% of that money coming from dancer contributions. Over 800 students were in attendance for the actual marathon composed into 62 different teams.
The report put out by the Dance Blue organization is very informative and answers many questions that one would have. A question that's still in my mind is whether or not they will ever change venues, since in years past they have had to turn people away because they reach the capacity of memorial coliseum.
The amount of money that Dance Blue has raised is still staggering to me, and the program was only created back in 2006. The impact that is has had in the few years it has been on campus has been astounding. It has already reached out to 4 high schools and middle schools to do mini-marathons as well.
--Stephen Ritchie
Topic: The Dance Blue 2014 Annual Report
The Dance Blue 2014 Annual Report is a document that can be found on the the official Dance Blue website. It outlines what Dance Blue is, what and who it benefits, and how many funds were raised during the 2014 marathon. It can be found here --http://danceblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/DanceBlue-Annual-Report.pdf--
I've already extensively explained what Dance Blue is, however this report goes into more depth on who exactly benefits from the fundraiser. According to a graphic in the report, the Dance Blue KCH Hem/ Onc clinic benefits over 63 counties throughout Kentucky, with many of these being in the central and eastern part of the state. In 2014, Dance Blue raised $1,436,606.24, with 44% of that money coming from dancer contributions. Over 800 students were in attendance for the actual marathon composed into 62 different teams.
The report put out by the Dance Blue organization is very informative and answers many questions that one would have. A question that's still in my mind is whether or not they will ever change venues, since in years past they have had to turn people away because they reach the capacity of memorial coliseum.
The amount of money that Dance Blue has raised is still staggering to me, and the program was only created back in 2006. The impact that is has had in the few years it has been on campus has been astounding. It has already reached out to 4 high schools and middle schools to do mini-marathons as well.
--Stephen Ritchie
Dance Blue-- As A Fundraiser
Blog Post #14
Topic: The Responsibility of the Fundraisers
People are often willing to give at least something to large fundraisers whether it be Dance Blue of something else. However, people have to trust that whoever is in charge of the fundraiser is funneling the money to the right places and not skimming more off the top than is necessary for operating costs. There have been one too many charities that have gotten in trouble for diverting quite a bit of their donations to unjust causes, often in to individual's personal pockets. A book written by Albert Anderson in the EBSCOHOST database discusses the ethics of running a fundraiser.
The beginning of Anderson's book opens with a quote from Aristotle that reads "To give away money is an easy matter, and in any man's power. But to decide to whom to give it, and how large, and when, and for what purpose is neither in every person's power
nor an easy matter." Since Dance Blue is starting to generator more and more money every year, the committee members must decide where the money should go. In the early days of the marathon this was probably a fairly easy decision to makes, but now that they are raising amounts into the millions, the decision of where it should go becomes much more complex.
As mentioned in my previous blog, a good question to ask would be where does they money from Dance Blue go? Does one single organization benefit from it, or are there multiple organizations? Do they have to fight others to get a "spot," or is it predetermined. A documentary would be a good way to answer theses questions.
I think it's crazy how a relatively small group of individuals controls that much money and decides where it goes. Another question to further research is that since Dance Blue is growing, are their operating costs increasing as well? And if so, at what rate are they increasing?
--Stephen Ritchie
Citation:
Anderson, Albert. Ethics For Fundraisers. Bloomington, Ind: Indiana University Press, 1996. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 9 Oct. 2014.
Topic: The Responsibility of the Fundraisers
People are often willing to give at least something to large fundraisers whether it be Dance Blue of something else. However, people have to trust that whoever is in charge of the fundraiser is funneling the money to the right places and not skimming more off the top than is necessary for operating costs. There have been one too many charities that have gotten in trouble for diverting quite a bit of their donations to unjust causes, often in to individual's personal pockets. A book written by Albert Anderson in the EBSCOHOST database discusses the ethics of running a fundraiser.
The beginning of Anderson's book opens with a quote from Aristotle that reads "To give away money is an easy matter, and in any man's power. But to decide to whom to give it, and how large, and when, and for what purpose is neither in every person's power
nor an easy matter." Since Dance Blue is starting to generator more and more money every year, the committee members must decide where the money should go. In the early days of the marathon this was probably a fairly easy decision to makes, but now that they are raising amounts into the millions, the decision of where it should go becomes much more complex.
As mentioned in my previous blog, a good question to ask would be where does they money from Dance Blue go? Does one single organization benefit from it, or are there multiple organizations? Do they have to fight others to get a "spot," or is it predetermined. A documentary would be a good way to answer theses questions.
I think it's crazy how a relatively small group of individuals controls that much money and decides where it goes. Another question to further research is that since Dance Blue is growing, are their operating costs increasing as well? And if so, at what rate are they increasing?
--Stephen Ritchie
Citation:
Anderson, Albert. Ethics For Fundraisers. Bloomington, Ind: Indiana University Press, 1996. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 9 Oct. 2014.
Dance Blue-- Cancer Itself
Blog Post #13
Topic: Cancer Advances in Recent Years
While many of those, if not all, who teach at the university level will swear by the use of databases, in trying to do research about a relatively new program theres is no information about it in databases. Unfortunately, the cause that Dance Blue benefits, cancer, also only returns results in databases that are way over the head of any undergraduate. With this being said, I found an article in the INTECH database with an article about advances in cancer research.
The cure for cancer has been the holy grail of the medical field for decades. In the past four decades the death rates from cancer have been steadily declining, largely in part due to advances at the molecular level. Since scientists have been able to more closely study the human DNA, they have been able to sort out 680 different genes that can affect cancer treatment. This means that there is the possibility for more individualized treatments that result in less strain on the patient.
I will admit that this article is over the head of anyone besides a doctor, but it shows that advancements are being made in cancer treatments and finding a cure. However, much of this research isn't just theoretical, it requires very expensive equipment and highly paid technicians to do. This is where Dance Blue comes into play. The money raised from Dance Blue goes towards this cause. A good question for the Dance Blue committee would be to find out where the money actually ends up going, as in what group is the check given to.
By just skimming this lengthy article I've realized just how complex of an issue cancer is. This makes what Dance Blue does even more important.
--Stephen Ritchie
Reference:
Gabriela Mustata Wilson and Yagmur Muftuoglu (2012). Computational Strategies in Cancer Drug Discovery, Advances in Cancer Management, Prof. Ravinder Mohan (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-307-870-0, InTech, DOI: 10.5772/24177. Available from: http://www.intechopen.com/books/advances-in-cancer-management/computational-strategies-in-cancer-drug-discovery
Topic: Cancer Advances in Recent Years
While many of those, if not all, who teach at the university level will swear by the use of databases, in trying to do research about a relatively new program theres is no information about it in databases. Unfortunately, the cause that Dance Blue benefits, cancer, also only returns results in databases that are way over the head of any undergraduate. With this being said, I found an article in the INTECH database with an article about advances in cancer research.
The cure for cancer has been the holy grail of the medical field for decades. In the past four decades the death rates from cancer have been steadily declining, largely in part due to advances at the molecular level. Since scientists have been able to more closely study the human DNA, they have been able to sort out 680 different genes that can affect cancer treatment. This means that there is the possibility for more individualized treatments that result in less strain on the patient.
I will admit that this article is over the head of anyone besides a doctor, but it shows that advancements are being made in cancer treatments and finding a cure. However, much of this research isn't just theoretical, it requires very expensive equipment and highly paid technicians to do. This is where Dance Blue comes into play. The money raised from Dance Blue goes towards this cause. A good question for the Dance Blue committee would be to find out where the money actually ends up going, as in what group is the check given to.
By just skimming this lengthy article I've realized just how complex of an issue cancer is. This makes what Dance Blue does even more important.
--Stephen Ritchie
Reference:
Gabriela Mustata Wilson and Yagmur Muftuoglu (2012). Computational Strategies in Cancer Drug Discovery, Advances in Cancer Management, Prof. Ravinder Mohan (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-307-870-0, InTech, DOI: 10.5772/24177. Available from: http://www.intechopen.com/books/advances-in-cancer-management/computational-strategies-in-cancer-drug-discovery
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Dance Blue-- Reaching For The Stars
Blog Post #12
Topic: Dance Blue raises over $1.4 million for cancer research
An article written by Kentucky Sports Radio brings attention to the truly staggering amount of money that Dance Blue raised in 2014. From its humble roots in 2006 to now, the organization has truly been able to make a difference in cancer research and helping those with cancer and their families. --http://kentuckysportsradio.com/main/uk-dance-blue-raises-over-1-4-million-dollars-for-cancer-research/--
To be exact, in 2014 Dance Blue raised $1,436,606.24. This is an unfathomable amount of money, the bulk of it coming from broke Kentucky students. This just goes to show how much people care about Dance Blue and what it does for people. Even Kentucky basketball's own Coach Cal stopped in during the marathon to see how it was going, which just excites the participants even more.
What's interesting to me is questioning exactly why Dance Blue is so popular. Sure, raising money for cancer is a great thing, but that can be a one time cut check. What is it about Dance Blue that makes college students want to come? Being a freshman myself, I already know how all too valuable sleep is, so the fact that students are willing the stay up straight for 24 hours on a weekend is truly amazing.
By doing this research for Dance Blue, it makes me even more excited to participate this year. I would like to see what exactly happens at Dance Blue that makes it so memorable for students and drives them to do it year after year, and raise more and more money.
--Stephen Ritchie
Topic: Dance Blue raises over $1.4 million for cancer research
An article written by Kentucky Sports Radio brings attention to the truly staggering amount of money that Dance Blue raised in 2014. From its humble roots in 2006 to now, the organization has truly been able to make a difference in cancer research and helping those with cancer and their families. --http://kentuckysportsradio.com/main/uk-dance-blue-raises-over-1-4-million-dollars-for-cancer-research/--
To be exact, in 2014 Dance Blue raised $1,436,606.24. This is an unfathomable amount of money, the bulk of it coming from broke Kentucky students. This just goes to show how much people care about Dance Blue and what it does for people. Even Kentucky basketball's own Coach Cal stopped in during the marathon to see how it was going, which just excites the participants even more.
What's interesting to me is questioning exactly why Dance Blue is so popular. Sure, raising money for cancer is a great thing, but that can be a one time cut check. What is it about Dance Blue that makes college students want to come? Being a freshman myself, I already know how all too valuable sleep is, so the fact that students are willing the stay up straight for 24 hours on a weekend is truly amazing.
By doing this research for Dance Blue, it makes me even more excited to participate this year. I would like to see what exactly happens at Dance Blue that makes it so memorable for students and drives them to do it year after year, and raise more and more money.
--Stephen Ritchie
Dance Blue-- A Mini Visual
Blog Post #11
Topic: Dance Blue Mini Marathon (2014)
The above photo was taken at Lexington Catholic High School during their Dance Blue mini marathon last year. The photo was taken from a wn.com news article about the event. During the 2014 Dance Blue marathon, Lexington Catholic raised over $60,000 for the Dance Blue fund at the University of Kentucky.
Unfortunately you cannot see me in this picture. I attended the 2014 Dance Blue Mini Marathon, however, I was farther to the left than the angel of the camera. But trust me I was there and I had a great time. Not only did it get me service hours to complete my high school requirement, but I found myself having more fun than expected participating in all the events. During a mini-marathon a dance is taught to all the participants that incorporates multiple popular songs from that year. This dance is performed every hour on the hour during the duration of the 5 hours of the marathon. In between dances, participants can play games, eat food, make crafts, or just hang out, but like those at the University marathon they cannot sit down or sleep.
While the mini-marathon is a great event at Lexington Catholic High School, a good question that warrants further research is if other high schools or middle schools also participate in mini-marathons as well.
As mentioned before, I had a great time at Dance Blue, so I believe that more high schools should do it. This way when students get to the University of Kentucky they are already eager to participate in the 24-hour marathon.
--Stephen Ritchie
Dance Blue-- A Visual
Blog Post #10
Topic: Dance Blue Photo (2009)
The above picture is a photo that was taken at the end of the Dance Blue marathon in 2009. It shows that the students raised over $600,00 that year. This picture from the University of Kentucky Spotlight Archives does a good job of illustrating just how much fun students have at Dance Blue and how much good it does.
From the picture it's clearly apparent just how many people participate in Dance Blue, so many that in years past they have had to turn people away because the capacity of Memorial Coliseum is not enough to hold everyone. In the photo you can also see that there are many smaller groups of people that have different colored shirts on. These are different Dance Blue teams. For example, this year there is an Engineering team for Dance Blue that residents of Champion Court I who are in the Engineering Residential College can join. As a team you raise money together, create a team t-shirt, and participate in activities at Dance Blue together against other teams.
Some questions that come to mind with the amount of people in this photo is whether or not the Dance Blue has plans to change venues to be able to hold more people. I would think that Rupp Arena would be the largest indoor venue in Lexington, so maybe one day it will be held there, which would be cool. Also, it would be good to know if signups are on a first come first serve basis, or if certain team have precedence over others.
This should be a very exciting documentary to make. Unfortunately Dance Blue is not actually until February, so we will not be able to get video from this year's marathon, but there is still plenty of resources to explore to make our documentary.
--Stephen Ritchie
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Dance Blue--At The High School Level
Blog Post #9
Topic-The Dance Blue marathon at Lexington Catholic High School
While Dance Blue is based at the University of Kentucky, satellite mini-marathons have been started at surrounding high schools, one of these happens to be Lexington Catholic High School and my alma mater. All the information for this post comes from a primary source and that source is me. While at Lexington Catholic I attended two Dance Blue mini-marathons and enjoyed every minute of it.
Dance Blue mini-marathons are official Dance Blue marathons put on by the high school and are only 5-6 hours instead of the full 24 hours. However, all the same things are done, there is a dance that is learned and performed every hour on the hour, there's free food, and theres' activities to do such as volleyball or cornhole. At the end, usually about 11 o'clock, there is a big reveal for how much the marathon raised. Last year at Lexington Catholic we raised a little over $60,000. This is done through outside donations and every student who participates makes a $50 donation.
When I did Dance Blue I had an absolute blast, and I believe it's a good thing to be doing mini-marathons at the high school level. If I never seen what Dance Blue is all about, to be honest I would be leery of basically spending an entire weekend participating and then trying to recover. Personally I have never stayed up for 24 straight hours and that is an intimidating thing to do. This is why awareness of the event needs to be more readily available in the form of a documentary.
--Stephen Ritchie
Topic-The Dance Blue marathon at Lexington Catholic High School
While Dance Blue is based at the University of Kentucky, satellite mini-marathons have been started at surrounding high schools, one of these happens to be Lexington Catholic High School and my alma mater. All the information for this post comes from a primary source and that source is me. While at Lexington Catholic I attended two Dance Blue mini-marathons and enjoyed every minute of it.
Dance Blue mini-marathons are official Dance Blue marathons put on by the high school and are only 5-6 hours instead of the full 24 hours. However, all the same things are done, there is a dance that is learned and performed every hour on the hour, there's free food, and theres' activities to do such as volleyball or cornhole. At the end, usually about 11 o'clock, there is a big reveal for how much the marathon raised. Last year at Lexington Catholic we raised a little over $60,000. This is done through outside donations and every student who participates makes a $50 donation.
When I did Dance Blue I had an absolute blast, and I believe it's a good thing to be doing mini-marathons at the high school level. If I never seen what Dance Blue is all about, to be honest I would be leery of basically spending an entire weekend participating and then trying to recover. Personally I have never stayed up for 24 straight hours and that is an intimidating thing to do. This is why awareness of the event needs to be more readily available in the form of a documentary.
--Stephen Ritchie
Dance Blue--Origins
Blog Post #8
Topic: A brief history of how Dance Blue was started
Dance Blue is a charity event put on at the University of Kentucky to raise money for cancer research. To find information on how Dance Blue was originally created and what exactly it is I went to the most primary source I could find, the About section of the official Dance Blue website.
-http://danceblue.org/history/--
The Dance Blue Dance Marathon can trace its roots all the way back to Jarret Mynear. Jarret was a normal kid who just liked helping people. He had great success in conducting public speeches and throwing philanthropy events including founding Jarret's Joy Cart. The biggest obstacle in Jarret's life however was cancer. By the time he was only six years old he had already been diagnosed with and battled 6 different cancers. In 2002, during one of his last weeks he made a list of things he wanted done. One thing he wanted done was to figure out a way to raise more money for the Pediatric Oncology Outpatient Clinic at Kentucky Children’s Hospital. After his passing the fund, the Jarret Myear Fund raised money to help improve the physical center, however, it was noticed that the emotional needs of cancer patients and their families were neglected. This led to the creation of the Golden Matrix Fund. Jennifer Myear, Jarret's mother, then went on to figure out how to get University of Kentucky Students involved and this led to the creation of Dance Blue, a 24-hour dance marathon where students stay awake and on their feet for 24 hours and make donations to the fund. In 2014 Dance Blue alone raised over $1 million.
Dance Blue is a constantly evolving event and this makes it a perfect thing to research. Raising awareness for cancer research is always a good thing, and the Myears along with the University of Kentucky have found a fun way to do that so this would be a great topic to research.
--Stephen Ritchie
Topic: A brief history of how Dance Blue was started
Dance Blue is a charity event put on at the University of Kentucky to raise money for cancer research. To find information on how Dance Blue was originally created and what exactly it is I went to the most primary source I could find, the About section of the official Dance Blue website.
-http://danceblue.org/history/--
The Dance Blue Dance Marathon can trace its roots all the way back to Jarret Mynear. Jarret was a normal kid who just liked helping people. He had great success in conducting public speeches and throwing philanthropy events including founding Jarret's Joy Cart. The biggest obstacle in Jarret's life however was cancer. By the time he was only six years old he had already been diagnosed with and battled 6 different cancers. In 2002, during one of his last weeks he made a list of things he wanted done. One thing he wanted done was to figure out a way to raise more money for the Pediatric Oncology Outpatient Clinic at Kentucky Children’s Hospital. After his passing the fund, the Jarret Myear Fund raised money to help improve the physical center, however, it was noticed that the emotional needs of cancer patients and their families were neglected. This led to the creation of the Golden Matrix Fund. Jennifer Myear, Jarret's mother, then went on to figure out how to get University of Kentucky Students involved and this led to the creation of Dance Blue, a 24-hour dance marathon where students stay awake and on their feet for 24 hours and make donations to the fund. In 2014 Dance Blue alone raised over $1 million.
Dance Blue is a constantly evolving event and this makes it a perfect thing to research. Raising awareness for cancer research is always a good thing, and the Myears along with the University of Kentucky have found a fun way to do that so this would be a great topic to research.
--Stephen Ritchie
Shark Tank...A Retrospect
Blog Post #7
Topic: Reflection on Shark Tank Formal Proposal
When I first heard that I was going to have to be giving a "shark tank" speech in class I was honestly not too happy. I have never been a huge fan on public speaking, however, looking back on the presentation I'm very glad I went through it.
The writing process I used for this proposal was the same as I have used for any other paper...I say I'm going to write out an outline, work on it little by little, and make a really good paper. In reality, I ended up writing the entire paper on two occasions without an outline. I believe it is a good thing that we had done blog posts on the subject because they acted as an impromptu kind of outline and it gave me a good place to start.
For my presentation, the written proposal helped in giving my speech direction. I'm actually surprised how little I actually could actually say in a 2-4 minute speech while maintaing a normal speaking rate. This made me have to think what were not only the most important points to say, but what points would stand out to the audience since they had to listen to multiple presentations in one class period.
In my written proposal I believe my strength was that I gave a good ratio of background information to persuasive statements. I would go on to say that a weakness in my paper would be that some sentences seemed to go on for too long, or were difficult to read. For my proposal my strength was that I knew what I was going to say and did my best to not have any dull or awkward moments/pauses. Because of this, a weakness that could get me in trouble is if I lost my train of thought, or forgot a notecard, I could have trouble getting through the presentation.
--Stephen Ritchie
Topic: Reflection on Shark Tank Formal Proposal
When I first heard that I was going to have to be giving a "shark tank" speech in class I was honestly not too happy. I have never been a huge fan on public speaking, however, looking back on the presentation I'm very glad I went through it.
The writing process I used for this proposal was the same as I have used for any other paper...I say I'm going to write out an outline, work on it little by little, and make a really good paper. In reality, I ended up writing the entire paper on two occasions without an outline. I believe it is a good thing that we had done blog posts on the subject because they acted as an impromptu kind of outline and it gave me a good place to start.
For my presentation, the written proposal helped in giving my speech direction. I'm actually surprised how little I actually could actually say in a 2-4 minute speech while maintaing a normal speaking rate. This made me have to think what were not only the most important points to say, but what points would stand out to the audience since they had to listen to multiple presentations in one class period.
In my written proposal I believe my strength was that I gave a good ratio of background information to persuasive statements. I would go on to say that a weakness in my paper would be that some sentences seemed to go on for too long, or were difficult to read. For my proposal my strength was that I knew what I was going to say and did my best to not have any dull or awkward moments/pauses. Because of this, a weakness that could get me in trouble is if I lost my train of thought, or forgot a notecard, I could have trouble getting through the presentation.
--Stephen Ritchie
Thursday, September 18, 2014
William T. Young Library--The Man Behind the Name
Blog Post #6
Topic: William T. Young Himself
Many know about the William T. Young Library, but few know much of anything about William T. Young the man. Unfortunately, he died in 2004, however the New York Times wrote and article commemorating his life. -http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/14/sports/william-t-young-85-owner-and-breeder-of-racehorses.html--
William T. Young was born in 1918 and in 1939 he graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He went on to become a prominent thoroughbred owner and founded the company that would one day turn into Jif peanut butter. Young was very successful in the horse industry and raised a horse named Storm Car, who while was never a huge success on the race track, he could fetch stud fees of $500,000 easily. Also at one point in his career Young owned a very large amount of Royal Crown and found himself on the boards of both Arby's and KFC. Through all this he is most well known for his 1996 Kentucky Derby winner Grindstone. Shortly after this in 1998, the William T. Young Library was finished with a generous $5 million donation from Young himself.'
With all the success that William T. Young had, one can't but wonder why he remained in Lexington and the University of Kentucky. Was it just because this is where horses are king? Or could it be that because he graduated from the University of Kentucky he had a certain attachment to the school. Looking into the events of his life would make a great documentary and is worthy of further research.
--Stephen Ritchie
Topic: William T. Young Himself
Many know about the William T. Young Library, but few know much of anything about William T. Young the man. Unfortunately, he died in 2004, however the New York Times wrote and article commemorating his life. -http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/14/sports/william-t-young-85-owner-and-breeder-of-racehorses.html--
William T. Young was born in 1918 and in 1939 he graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He went on to become a prominent thoroughbred owner and founded the company that would one day turn into Jif peanut butter. Young was very successful in the horse industry and raised a horse named Storm Car, who while was never a huge success on the race track, he could fetch stud fees of $500,000 easily. Also at one point in his career Young owned a very large amount of Royal Crown and found himself on the boards of both Arby's and KFC. Through all this he is most well known for his 1996 Kentucky Derby winner Grindstone. Shortly after this in 1998, the William T. Young Library was finished with a generous $5 million donation from Young himself.'
With all the success that William T. Young had, one can't but wonder why he remained in Lexington and the University of Kentucky. Was it just because this is where horses are king? Or could it be that because he graduated from the University of Kentucky he had a certain attachment to the school. Looking into the events of his life would make a great documentary and is worthy of further research.
--Stephen Ritchie
Thursday, September 11, 2014
William T. Young--Getting Work Done
Blog Post #5
Topic: Study Areas In Willy T.
The biggest activity for students that go to the William T. Young is studying, either on their own or often in small groups. The library was designed with this in mind and has more than enough accommodations for students looking to get assignments and studying done. For this post, I cheated and used Wikipedia for some basic statistics however much of the observations come from my own experiences in the library. -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_T._Young_Library--
By code the William T. Young Library can accommodate up to 4,000 individuals. This can consist of UK students, BCTC students, and those just looking for a place to study. Approximately 3,000 of these individuals can be seated in any of the open areas of the library. This includes large wooden tables with lamps, data connections, and power outlets on top of the table. These tables hug the railings on each floor that look out into the atrium. On some of the floors there are also smaller study areas that are separated from the rest of the library by small wooden dividers. These areas could fit four people comfortably. From hearing others' stories, these alcoves become worth more than gold during finals and people have been know to nest in them and stay for hours on end. The remaining 1,000 patrons can be in any number of study rooms. These rooms are completely separated from the common area by full-sized walls and doors. Since the library is supposed to be a quiet place, these areas are perfect for groups that will need to communicate but also need a common area to meet.
While the point of a library is to house books for reference and checking out, in the continuing modern age the question arises on how much longer libraries will be for books, and when they will become solely places for students to have a quiet place to study.
This is something that I believe should be researched further. Perhaps take a survey of students asking if they have ever checked a book out from the library, or just use it to study. It would be an interesting topic to explore.
--Stephen Ritchie
Topic: Study Areas In Willy T.
The biggest activity for students that go to the William T. Young is studying, either on their own or often in small groups. The library was designed with this in mind and has more than enough accommodations for students looking to get assignments and studying done. For this post, I cheated and used Wikipedia for some basic statistics however much of the observations come from my own experiences in the library. -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_T._Young_Library--
By code the William T. Young Library can accommodate up to 4,000 individuals. This can consist of UK students, BCTC students, and those just looking for a place to study. Approximately 3,000 of these individuals can be seated in any of the open areas of the library. This includes large wooden tables with lamps, data connections, and power outlets on top of the table. These tables hug the railings on each floor that look out into the atrium. On some of the floors there are also smaller study areas that are separated from the rest of the library by small wooden dividers. These areas could fit four people comfortably. From hearing others' stories, these alcoves become worth more than gold during finals and people have been know to nest in them and stay for hours on end. The remaining 1,000 patrons can be in any number of study rooms. These rooms are completely separated from the common area by full-sized walls and doors. Since the library is supposed to be a quiet place, these areas are perfect for groups that will need to communicate but also need a common area to meet.
While the point of a library is to house books for reference and checking out, in the continuing modern age the question arises on how much longer libraries will be for books, and when they will become solely places for students to have a quiet place to study.
This is something that I believe should be researched further. Perhaps take a survey of students asking if they have ever checked a book out from the library, or just use it to study. It would be an interesting topic to explore.
--Stephen Ritchie
William T. Young--Refueling
Blog Post #4
Topic: Food/Drink at Willy T
Besides studying, the next priority on any college student's mind is eating. The designers of the William T. Young library kept this in mind with the addition of Ovid's Cafe and Starbucks to the library. While everyone knows about Starbucks and their generally overpriced coffee, not many individuals outside UK students know about Ovid's. The Kentucky Kernel wrote an article about Ovid's, especially the Spicy Beef Wrap. --http://kykernel.com/2012/01/25/secret-behind-the-spice-ovids-spicy-beef-wrap/--
The food at Ovid's is considered some of the best that can be found on campus outside maybe the new K Lair. The basic idea is that you walk up to someone working at the grill, you tell them what you want, and they cook it right there in front of you. The grill menu is not spectacularly diverse, but with the deliciousness of all the available meals there is really nothing to complain about. You can order items such as a Philly Cheesesteak, a Portobello Burger, or the ever popular Spicy Beef Wrap. The Kentucky Kernel describes the wrap as "crispy on the outside and cheesy on the inside, filled with Philly meat cooked to perfection with fresh toasted pepper and onions (or not, for the picky ones), and a special juicy, mysterious sauce that overflows the tomato wrap as you bite into it." It's an item that never fails to impress and is always on the hotlist. Because of its popularity, you can almost always expect the line at Ovid's to be extremely long unless you go at a weird hour.
If the Ovid's location in the library is so popular it begs the question as to why the University hasn't opened a second location, maybe on North Campus (only saying this because I live on North Campus of course). Although perhaps putting a good eating establishment near the library may be the University's way of encouraging students to go study.
The fact that Ovid's is so popular with students is a great reason for further research. What is it exactly about Ovid's that makes it so good? Is it truly the ingredients? Is it the fact that you can see it being made and assume it to be relatively fresh? Does its proximity to the library really make students go study? These are all questions that warrant further research.
--Stephen Ritchie
Topic: Food/Drink at Willy T
Besides studying, the next priority on any college student's mind is eating. The designers of the William T. Young library kept this in mind with the addition of Ovid's Cafe and Starbucks to the library. While everyone knows about Starbucks and their generally overpriced coffee, not many individuals outside UK students know about Ovid's. The Kentucky Kernel wrote an article about Ovid's, especially the Spicy Beef Wrap. --http://kykernel.com/2012/01/25/secret-behind-the-spice-ovids-spicy-beef-wrap/--
The food at Ovid's is considered some of the best that can be found on campus outside maybe the new K Lair. The basic idea is that you walk up to someone working at the grill, you tell them what you want, and they cook it right there in front of you. The grill menu is not spectacularly diverse, but with the deliciousness of all the available meals there is really nothing to complain about. You can order items such as a Philly Cheesesteak, a Portobello Burger, or the ever popular Spicy Beef Wrap. The Kentucky Kernel describes the wrap as "crispy on the outside and cheesy on the inside, filled with Philly meat cooked to perfection with fresh toasted pepper and onions (or not, for the picky ones), and a special juicy, mysterious sauce that overflows the tomato wrap as you bite into it." It's an item that never fails to impress and is always on the hotlist. Because of its popularity, you can almost always expect the line at Ovid's to be extremely long unless you go at a weird hour.
If the Ovid's location in the library is so popular it begs the question as to why the University hasn't opened a second location, maybe on North Campus (only saying this because I live on North Campus of course). Although perhaps putting a good eating establishment near the library may be the University's way of encouraging students to go study.
The fact that Ovid's is so popular with students is a great reason for further research. What is it exactly about Ovid's that makes it so good? Is it truly the ingredients? Is it the fact that you can see it being made and assume it to be relatively fresh? Does its proximity to the library really make students go study? These are all questions that warrant further research.
--Stephen Ritchie
William T. Young Library
Blog Post #3
Topic: William T. Young Library
After being at UK for a few weeks, I have realized that I have begun to spend a fair amount of my time at the William T. Young Library. To find out more about it I went to the University of Kentucky's online library database to find out more about all that the library has to offer.
-http://libraries.uky.edu/WTYL--
While there are a few smaller satellite libraries on campus, William T. Young "Willy T" has become the central library on campus. It is also the largest by far at 350,000 square feet. Besides being a source where books can be checked out, Willy T has been designed to appeal to all students with the variety of spaces and equipment they have. One example is The Hub; The Hub is located in the basement of Willy T and is a space where students can go for any kind of computer needs or help. According to the online database, there are over 200 Windows computers available for usage along with a full iMac lab. Throughout the six story building there is everything from powered bookcases to study rooms to open tables for general studying. Finally, for when students get hungry, the Ovids cafe is located immediately outside the library. One of the biggest draws of Ovids besides the quality of food is that they take a UK Meal Swipe, which is a big deal for UK students.
One question that immediately comes to mind about the library is whether or not all the computers are really necessary or not. In an age where nearly all students come to college with their own personal computer, are library computers really worth keeping around? Another question is why the library was given so much extra landscaping space. Does this help students by seeing some green space? Or is it wasted space that could be used for more education buildings, food options, etc.
I would be hard to convince that I'm the only one making use of Willy T. Especially since all the times I have been there, at all hours of the day and night, it is comfortably full. William T. Young's location is central on campus and central to many students' lives, therefore it would be worth it to further investigate.
--Stephen Ritchie
Topic: William T. Young Library
After being at UK for a few weeks, I have realized that I have begun to spend a fair amount of my time at the William T. Young Library. To find out more about it I went to the University of Kentucky's online library database to find out more about all that the library has to offer.
-http://libraries.uky.edu/WTYL--
While there are a few smaller satellite libraries on campus, William T. Young "Willy T" has become the central library on campus. It is also the largest by far at 350,000 square feet. Besides being a source where books can be checked out, Willy T has been designed to appeal to all students with the variety of spaces and equipment they have. One example is The Hub; The Hub is located in the basement of Willy T and is a space where students can go for any kind of computer needs or help. According to the online database, there are over 200 Windows computers available for usage along with a full iMac lab. Throughout the six story building there is everything from powered bookcases to study rooms to open tables for general studying. Finally, for when students get hungry, the Ovids cafe is located immediately outside the library. One of the biggest draws of Ovids besides the quality of food is that they take a UK Meal Swipe, which is a big deal for UK students.
One question that immediately comes to mind about the library is whether or not all the computers are really necessary or not. In an age where nearly all students come to college with their own personal computer, are library computers really worth keeping around? Another question is why the library was given so much extra landscaping space. Does this help students by seeing some green space? Or is it wasted space that could be used for more education buildings, food options, etc.
I would be hard to convince that I'm the only one making use of Willy T. Especially since all the times I have been there, at all hours of the day and night, it is comfortably full. William T. Young's location is central on campus and central to many students' lives, therefore it would be worth it to further investigate.
--Stephen Ritchie
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Blog Post #2
Topic: Free Speech Areas
Now that I have been introduced to the Free Speech Area at the University of Kentucky, I decided to look into the history of free speech areas at campuses across the nation. --http://www.splc.org/knowyourrights/legalresearch.asp?id=78--
In the 1980s the first "Free Speech Zones" were first introduced into college institutions. They started off as pretty rare places, but as time went on they gained more and more traction to the point where almost every major higher learning institution has one. Theses zones on many college campuses are marked off areas ranging from 20 feet by 20 feet to the size of a small city block. Many college administrators use these areas to help show that they care about the free speech of their students and other individuals, however, many receive criticism because if one ventures beyond the confines of these Free Speech Zones they can face major academic or criminal prosecutions. There are some that say by zoning off the areas where one can express their thoughts freely, they have turned "the First Amendment on its head"
Having cordoned off areas for free speech does bring up a good question. If you can only do it in a confined area is it still free speech? Do universities and colleges really have the idea of free speech at heart or are they simply trying to pander to free speech activists? To that I do not have the answer, although I would venture to guess it is a combination of the two.
--Stephen Ritchie
Topic: Free Speech Areas
Now that I have been introduced to the Free Speech Area at the University of Kentucky, I decided to look into the history of free speech areas at campuses across the nation. --http://www.splc.org/knowyourrights/legalresearch.asp?id=78--
In the 1980s the first "Free Speech Zones" were first introduced into college institutions. They started off as pretty rare places, but as time went on they gained more and more traction to the point where almost every major higher learning institution has one. Theses zones on many college campuses are marked off areas ranging from 20 feet by 20 feet to the size of a small city block. Many college administrators use these areas to help show that they care about the free speech of their students and other individuals, however, many receive criticism because if one ventures beyond the confines of these Free Speech Zones they can face major academic or criminal prosecutions. There are some that say by zoning off the areas where one can express their thoughts freely, they have turned "the First Amendment on its head"
Having cordoned off areas for free speech does bring up a good question. If you can only do it in a confined area is it still free speech? Do universities and colleges really have the idea of free speech at heart or are they simply trying to pander to free speech activists? To that I do not have the answer, although I would venture to guess it is a combination of the two.
--Stephen Ritchie
University of Kentucky Free Speech Area
Blog Post #1
Topic: Free Speech Area at the University of Kentucky
Without knowing anything about the Free Speech Area at UK, I first went to the official UK website to find out more about it. --http://www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Code/part3.html--
The specific page I was looking at falls under Part III of the Student Code of Conduct.
In order to ensure that all students have the ability to freely speak their minds, an area has been set up on campus where individuals can go and will not be prosecuted for what they say. This area is called the Free Speech are and is "located west of the Student Center and Alumni Gymnasium and bounded by those two buildings‚ Administration Drive‚ Limestone Street‚ and Euclid Avenue" This area is available without reservation at any time of the day as long as the University is in session. Individuals making use of the free speech area can even get free access to audio equipment as long as they give the University 30 minutes prior notice to prepare, however, the volume of the audio and the direction that is faces is up to the discretion of the University at any time. There is no regulations regarding what can be said as long as it does not become violent, hate or racially motivated, or otherwise deemed insensitive.
Realizing that there is a Free Speech Area at the University of Kentucky made me question why it is located in a specific area, and why there is even one in the first place. I would venture to say that its existence can be accredited to the fact that many other universities and educational institutions have similar places, so it may have been created simply out of tradition. The location makes sense, it is essentially in an area where there is a lot of foot traffic from university students at most hours of the normal school day with people going in and out of the Student Center.
--Stephen Ritchie
Topic: Free Speech Area at the University of Kentucky
Without knowing anything about the Free Speech Area at UK, I first went to the official UK website to find out more about it. --http://www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Code/part3.html--
The specific page I was looking at falls under Part III of the Student Code of Conduct.
In order to ensure that all students have the ability to freely speak their minds, an area has been set up on campus where individuals can go and will not be prosecuted for what they say. This area is called the Free Speech are and is "located west of the Student Center and Alumni Gymnasium and bounded by those two buildings‚ Administration Drive‚ Limestone Street‚ and Euclid Avenue" This area is available without reservation at any time of the day as long as the University is in session. Individuals making use of the free speech area can even get free access to audio equipment as long as they give the University 30 minutes prior notice to prepare, however, the volume of the audio and the direction that is faces is up to the discretion of the University at any time. There is no regulations regarding what can be said as long as it does not become violent, hate or racially motivated, or otherwise deemed insensitive.
Realizing that there is a Free Speech Area at the University of Kentucky made me question why it is located in a specific area, and why there is even one in the first place. I would venture to say that its existence can be accredited to the fact that many other universities and educational institutions have similar places, so it may have been created simply out of tradition. The location makes sense, it is essentially in an area where there is a lot of foot traffic from university students at most hours of the normal school day with people going in and out of the Student Center.
--Stephen Ritchie
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