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Are Bloggers Journalists?

Mashable featured an article today about Oregon blogger Crystal Cox who negatively blogged about The Obsidian Finance Group who in turn sued her for defamation. The blogger, who represented herself in court, lost the case. According to Oregon media laws she is not considered a journalist and therefor not protected. A large deciding factor in this case was that she refused to name an inside source who gave her information, therefore not able to prove her blog was truth. Her punishment for defamation? 2.5 million dollars.

Mashable utilized the story to frame the question- are bloggers journalists?

This is an age old debate that comes up time and time again. It’s a question I rarely think about because I do not consider myself a journalist, but as I delve deeper into the world of freelance writing, I feel this might become more pertinent to me.

My blog has never been a news source. It’s a personal opinion site. Are facts intermingled in there? Yes. Do I try very hard to do my (more…)

December 8, 2011 by
Writing

I Studied in the School of Muppets

Trying a new thing today. This is the republish feature on my CultureMap article this weekend about the Muppets.
Hipstercrite Says…

Everything I Always Needed to Know, I Learned From the Muppets

By Lauren Modery

11.27.11 | 02:00 pm

There’s something special about the Muppets. Something that makes you cry within the first 60 seconds of seeing their new movie—and in 15 minute increments there on out. Something that makes you weep uncontrollably while watching them sing “The Rainbow Connection” in said new movie. Something that makes you stare vacantly at the smiling and fixated children sitting next to you in the theater and thinking, “Children, don’t let your youth slip away.”

For 56 years (!), something about these puppets have been tugging at our heartstrings generation after generation (and if they don’t do it for you—it’s possible that you have no soul). Most of us grew up with the Muppets and, whether we realize it or not, they’ve taught us some very valuable lessons. (more…)

November 28, 2011 by
Writing

Who Loves Austin?

Everyone Loves Austin!

And there is a new movement that says so.

My CultureMap story yesterday featured a cool new pride and preservation initiative called Everyone Loves Austin.

They’re doing some really cool stuff and have some super cute t-shirts. Check ’em out!

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When I first met Sophia Erian, founder of Everyone Loves Austin, I was struck by her infectious enthusiasm for the city. She talked about Austin like it was her child. Pride and ardor run deep through her veins and she knows that there are other people out there like her too- tons of us, actually. That is why she created the new movement Everyone Loves Austin.

Everyone Loves Austin is a two-fold initiative. The first part is “merely to make an assertion that we love Austin,” says Erian…

CONTINUE…

 

November 27, 2011 by
Writing

Fall in East Austin

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Sadly and typically I’m unable to go home for Thanksgiving and am the orphaned celebrator, but this is the first Thanksgiving I celebrated with my boyfriend and his family and it was great! We went to Austin’s famous Threadgill’s and then played bocce at Zilker Park. I climbed a tree and played soccer and I can’t tell you HOW F’ING AMAZING BOTH THOSE THINGS FELT. Disconnecting from the computer and phone for a day and being outside felt better than I could have ever imagined. Sad, huh? Well, I’m hooked now and want to go play bocce right now! In the meantime, here are some pictures from the second weekend of the East Austin Studio Tour and Turkey Day.

rogue letters from a working letterpress

the natural drink machine

fell in love with how many Airstream trailers exist in Austin

someone put swings under this overpass. it’s hard to tell, but there are swings in every section heading towards the back.

this piece was made by burnt wood (more…)

November 25, 2011 by
Writing

Using Social Media for Hate

Yesterday, the president of the University of Texas College Republicans, Lauren Pierce, tweeted in response to the shooting at the White House, “Y’all as tempting as it may be, don’t shoot Obama. We need him to go down in history as the WORST president we’ve EVER had!” #2012″.

source

Obviously that shit didn’t fly well with the majority of Americans- Democratic or Republican- and Pierce was not only attacked with a barrage of hate tweets on Twitter but the story was picked up by ABC, Huffingtonpost etc.

I was fascinated by this story. Here was this young lady who has a position of power at a reputable university saying such ignorant crap. Her Twitter photo showed that of a bleached blonde with her boobs shoved together and a big toothy smile. Her Twitter profile said she believes in American Exceptionalism. She is a young Ann Coulter. A hate machine, not even thinking about the consequences of running their mouth. I don’t particularly care for her. I don’t like what she said and (more…)

November 17, 2011 by
Austin, Writing

E.A.S.T. Is Here!

It’s East Austin Studio Tour time and once again I made stuff.  Stuff being the appropriate word here because I’m not really an artist. This is something I share in great detail today on my CultureMap post titled, “The Subjectiveness of Art: Why I Can’t Help Judging Mine (And Why You Should, Too)“. There I talk about my love for making serial killer-related art, Frank Zappa masks and how I blow hate-filled kisses towards Miranda July. I’m usually not one to ask this, but if you read the article and kind of like it, please hit ‘like’ on the Facebook icon. This way CultureMap won’t think I’m a loser.

I love E.A.S.T.  I love walking around the eastside and seeing interesting art and running into old friends. Every E.A.S.T. our group at Super!Alright! puts on an exhibit and tonight is the big opening party! Usually 500+ people show up and by 4AM we have rainbow-color Four Loko puke on the walls. We are featuring some pretty big name artists and have complimentary drinks from Treaty Oaks (more…)

November 11, 2011 by
20-Something, Hipstercrite Life, Writing

When Good is Never Enough: A Dilemma for the Twenty-Something Blogger

I switched my blog over to WordPress a little over a month ago and I love it. Well, actually my wonderful web designer did because I couldn’t figure out how to do it. I mean, I could have maybe figured it out but I resorted back to that illogical fear that I’ll somehow make my blog implode by pushing the wrong button.

I love the options, the freedom I feel in writing multiple posts and the ability to respond to individual comments that the new blog brings. I still need to add some design work, but all-in-all, I’m very happy with the change.

One thing that stinks is that my traffic took a plummet. I’m still trying to figure out why and trying to correct the problem- if that’s possible. It kind of stressed me out. More than I care to admit. A lot of aspects of my writing have stressed me out lately and I hate to say it, but they’re for fairly superficial reasons.

Writing online is both extremely rewarding and mind-f’ing. One post you get a bunch of feedback or shares or likes (more…)

November 10, 2011 by
Writing

YOU DON’T OWN ME BLOG!

Wrapping up my work trip home this week. I’ve had a great time but looking forward to getting back to not writing overly sentimental posts about where my childhood went.

In the meantime, check out my post over at CultureMap about how to become a successful blogger without taking off your clothing.

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I love reading internet self-help lists. Lists that tell you how to balance your life, lists that tell you how to follow your dreams, lists that tell you how to be better at your job/art/money management/McRib tolerance, lists that tell you the best way to prevent yourself from becoming Howard Hughes and developing atrophy due to sitting inside and reading internet lists all day long. Lists are easy, short and to the point. They work easily with my newly developed squirrel-like attention span caused by social media.

Occasionally I like writing lists. I really don’t know what I’m talking about most of the time, but once you’ve been doing something long enough your brain liquefies (more…)

November 4, 2011 by
20-Something, Writing

Life of a Freelancer in Pictures

A wise man once told me that the key to being a balanced freelancer is making sure you change out of your pajamas every day.

So far I’ve failed miserably.

Changing clothes, brushing hair, going outside are all things I no longer know how to do.

Instead of telling you about my now two months as a freelancer, I thought I would show you in pictures.

Coffee no longer relieves headaches- it gives headaches

When you can no longer sit at your desk out of fear you will develop atrophy, watering dead plants is your only solace.

“Did I change my underwear yet today?” she wonders…

Staring at the ceiling fan pondering if you might die from lack of social interaction.

Going outside and looking for feral cats in the neighborhood because you’re not sure what else to do.

Excited to finally have time to cook but end up heating up  peanut butter with stuff.

Standing outside the window questioning whether you’ll ever being a human being again.

October 25, 2011 by
Film, Pop Culture, Writing

CSI- Legoland

You’ve seen the Youtube hit Mario, right? RIGHT?! Like who hasn’t? When it premiered at SXSW 2011 it blew up the Youtube like cray-cray. Who doesn’t love a dramatization of the life and loves of an Italian-American plumber? Well, the director behind Mario is back with another delightful gem. Local director and Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film” honoree Joe Nicolosibrings us CSI: Legoland.

Check it out!

*Warning- This video contains graphic images of Legos being decapitated. Viewer discretion is advised.

October 21, 2011 by