http://news.distractify.com/people/complex-humans/?v=1

I think this is one of my favorite blog posts I have read in a while. Although it is simple, photos with brief captions, the effect is powerful.

http://www.boredpanda.com/powerful-social-advertisements/

I think this collaboration of advertisements is extremely interesting. They are not just advertisements in public places that can be eye sores, but they are advertisements that address social issues occurring around the world. The ads are effective because they encourage people to stop and think and not only for two minutes while they are walking by or sitting on a bus. The provocative and alarming photos in the advertisements leave a lasting impression on the viewers- which is exactly what distinguishes successful advertising from unsuccessful advertising.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/16/world/gallery/week-in-photos-0516/?iref=obinsite

I really enjoy reading these CNN posts every week. They include pictures of the main events that have occurred around the world with a short explanation below. The posts incorporate striking visual elements and simplistic  writing- it is short but it gets to the point and explains the issue.

“Women in Abuja, Nigeria, hold a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, May 14, one month after nearly 300 schoolgirls were kidnapped by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram. The abductions have attracted national and international outrage.”

Considering I read my story to the class this week, I wanted to create this week’s blog post about the military. I found a blog online that shares photos of couples reunited, military men with their dogs and other photos resembling love in the armed forces.

http://ourloveismilitarystrong.tumblr.com/

And in that blog, I found a post about Chachi.

http://ourloveismilitarystrong.tumblr.com/post/46697586605/poolee-lily-united-states-marine-corps-honor

Although the post did not go into depth about him or what happened to him, it did have the picture below. It was taken at the Travis Air Force base in California when his body returned to the States. I was there that day with his family and it was one of the most difficult and emotional things I’ve had to go through. Hearing the words is one thing, but then seeing with your own eyes that it is true…that’s hard. Every time I see this picture, it takes my breathe away.

As well, online I found some other pictures from that day:

http://www.dailyrepublic.com/media-post/danville-marine-joshua-corral/attachment/danville-marine-joshua-corral-4/

Chachi:

I love to watch Jimmy Fallon and one of my favorite actresses is Emma Stone so when the two joined together for a lip sync battle, I knew it was going to be great. I’ve watched it multiple times and always laugh the whole way through. Their imitations are on point and they interact with the crowd very well.

http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/videos/emma-stone-owns-jimmy-fallon-in-tonight-show-lip-sync-battle-20140429

(the video was too large to upload to the post so I made it a YouTube video and have attached the link below)

STORY 2: SALLIEBETH FINNEGAN

http://youtu.be/rfDpm2diLmE

http://www.businessinsider.com/advice-for-starting-first-job-2014-4

What 9 Highly Successful People Wish They Knew Before Starting Their First Jobs

I thought this blog post was extremely inspirational and motivating. The author, Jenna Goudreau, understands the struggle that college graduates go through- making the transition from the education system’s comfort zone to the new and unfamiliar gray area of the work force. As a soon-to-be college grad, I am finding myself going through this struggle accompanied by all of the nerves, worries and what-if situations playing out in my head. Will I even be employed? For how long? Will I live somewhere completely different? Will I with my parents? What if I am a unreliable employee and disliked by the employers? Will all of the other college graduates, fresh out of college, be more experienced and more reliable than me?

What if. What if. What if.

.

However, this article helped me understand that the STRUGGLE IS REAL. And it is shared amongst all who leave their college town and set out for the unknown. While intimidating, I know must take the faithful leap out of Eugene, Oregon eventually. And when I do, I now know to focus on: being flexible, networking, keeping my options opening, not stressing but the unnecessary, restrain from overanalyzing situations, balancing work with the rest of my life, expect the unexpected, be true to myself without worrying about what others say or think and to not be too hard on myself when I take a wrong turn. Cool!

http://simplytaralynn.com

“I believe people are born with happiness. Happiness is always is inside of us, but a series of unfortunate events cloud that happiness, making it harder to find. No one can take your happiness away, but it can be pushed away. When it is pushed too far, it’s a challenge to bring back to life.”

I found this blog a few years ago and thought, and still do think, it is very inspirational. As a child, Taralynn was bullied for a number of reasons. After her father retired from the Navy and the family settled in Iowa, her peers made fun of everything she did, said or wore. She admits that as a fifth grader, she even considered suicide.  In middle school and high school, the bullying decreased and she made some friends, releasing some of her anxieties. However, through high school, she continued to gain weight to the point where it was darkening her happiness and led her to feel lost.  These emotions continued and intensified through all four years. At graduation, she looked back to freshman year when she had hopeful thoughts that things would change…but they had not. Her weight was at her worst and she had a boyfriend that was verbally abusive. One morning she woke up and realized she was done with the dark cloud. During a summer internship in NYC, she was encouraged through healthy eating and an active lifestyle. Through positivity, she was able to change her whole life around- eliminating the negative and amplifying the positive. She now writes this blog, Simply Taralynn, with healthy recipes, work outs, travel experiences and just stories about her life. Reading through some of the comments by readers, her blog and the stories she has shared, have encouraged hundreds if not thousands of people.

The 19 Things That Perfectly Describe Every Girl’s Love/Hate Relationship With Going Out On The Weekend

Elite Daily: The Voice of Generation-Y
by Ashley Fern

http://elitedaily.com/women/the-19-things-that-perfectly-describe-every-girls-lovehate-relationship-with-going-out-on-the-weekend/

Although this blog may not be 100% school appropriate, isn’t an intellectual news article and really doesn’t discuss actual/meaningful issues…I think it hilariously relates to a large percentage of the female population in their 20’s.  I don’t personally relate to every one of the points made, but I do think Ashley Fern, the author, does a great job creating a voice through her writing. Maybe it was her unique and personable style of writing or maybe it is her uncensored word choice but I literally felt as if I was listening to her speak. When it comes to writing blogs, especially comical blogs, I think it is important to write as if you are casually speaking to the audience, expressing your individuality, instead of formally addressing the topic of discussion. This creates a connection between the author and the reader and eventually leads to a fan base following the blog page.

 p.s.
Sorry it is late! And sorry if the article seems a little too offensive for the assignment!

p.s.s.
bonus blog:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/18/puppys-first-visit-to-the-beach_n_3949002.html