Missions Conference Feature

                At Biola University most students understand the doctrine of God’s omnipresence; however over a three day period known as Missions Conference some students had different feelings as to the effects of such an event. As Junior Mike Heineke put it “Missions Conference is a time that sets up a mindset on God.” Heineke made clear that while he always strives to look for and listen to God for him Missions Conference was a time where he indeed felt an increased presence.

              o  Others however such as senior music major Allie Nordy who did not attend Missions Conference this year because of a Crowell Music school tour felt differently about the event. Nordy stated that while she “heard great things” about Missions Conference this year she prefers Torrey Conference over Missions. She felt Missions Conference left her with a “guilty feeling.” Additionally Nordy commented that the after Missions she felt that increased spiritual atmosphere did not carry over the same as with Torrey Conference because Missions Conference is so focused on those who feel called to missions work.

                Again when interviewing freshman Dan Marino the sentiments of Mike Heineke arose again that for Marino he tries to see God in everything. Marino stated that he “doesn’t feel called to missions” but that “he felt a call to pray.” However when asked if he felt that the spiritual climate carried over he said “I guess it doesn’t feel like we had a big conference deal that just a happened.” Marino’s final analysis of Missions Conference was that perhaps it is just "too soon to tell" whether or not the event had an effect on the campus as a whole. 

Feature Lead: Smell

Smothered in the thick noxious scents or perfume his nose hairs twitched with discomfort. Girls smell best when they don't smell at all. Too much perfume is a message of too much trying. It repulsive and head spining they way girls smell. The best smell is no smell. If only it was so.

Chicken Fried Steak

                Like a mouthful of sea water and the crunch of packing peanuts a chicken fried steak is the best. It is not a food so much as it is an experience. To know what it feels like to have the thickly breaded and fried coating fracture under your teeth is something that cannot be imagined. The smooth gravy sliding over your tongue and the pinching pepper aroma is all too much to be spoken of. A chicken fried steak taste like what a hard day’s work on a farm feels like. It is not subtle, it is not cute; it is an old friend that will crush your hand when he shakes it but leaves you with that warm feeling inside of companionship. Thick salt covers your taste buds and burns the edges of your lips. 

Sensory Details of Biola

The hard smooth plastic like bench beneath me made my muscles ache as the blades of  grass before me that was still yet untamed by the trolling lawn mowers fell slumped over the many shoes that had trod upon them. A day described by a passerby as “warm and pleasant” was more of a day of stark contrasts.

                The waxy petals of a broken flower cooled my fingertips with the morning dew that clung upon them while my ears cringed because of the clanging echo of mechanized movement flowing from over the fence punched with holes. My nose tingled with the aroma of freshly cut crass and my nostrils became frightened by the pollen drifting upward in a breeze of warm spring air.

                As the tiny ants danced along their way the smooth sounds of shuffling student’s feet eased my ears as the pounding of metal machines carried on. Leaving the bench and back into the cool of the library's shadow I paced along the spiritless pavement back to class and was comforted by the sight of a lone scrawny twig braving the plains of the concrete desert. 

Dissecting a Feature: Half the Game is Mental; So is the Other Half

This feature begins with an effective lead because it uses very descriptive and vivid language. The opening line about the narrow room transports the reader and places them right in the room with the students memorizing away. The lead is effective because of its descriptive qualities.
This story gets told by beginning with several descriptive paragraphs framing the nature of the story but not the purpose. Not until the fifth paragraph does the story reveal what exactly the purpose is. Telling the story like this with a strong lead and then lots of descriptive paragraphs draws the reader in and keeps them around long enough to find out what this story is about.
The feature uses quotes from competitors and their coach which mostly detail the rigorous routines for memorization they go through. Using short quotes throughout to inform the story there is a noticed lack paraphrased quotes or lengthy ones at that. Additionally direct quotes used from the coach informs the story line about how memory games have not become very popular as a competition but then proceeds to cite the benefits of it. Additionally quotes are used to inform the background story and how memory teams and competitions came to be.
Sensory description is used effectively when describing the methods by which the students on the memory teams go about their practice. Additionally descriptions of the environment surrounding the students gives the reader a sense of place when imagining these students engaging in their practice. Descriptions of the items and positions used for memorization also add to the sensory descriptions in this story. One description in particular stood out as effective when the author described the student as being handed a "blank sheets to unspool their short term memory."

Supreme Court Ruling: Reaction

What the Westboro Baptist Church (http://www.godhatesfags.com/) did is wrong. I do not agree with what Westboro did but there is no denying the simple fact that it was legal. One can argue about hate speech and invasion of privacy but the fact remains that the church's messages were not directly pointed toward the dead solider nor were their protests in the immediate proximity to the funeral.
Over 1000 feet away toting signs with messages of heated condemnation the Westboro Church was well within their legal rights. To rule against what the Westboro Church would be a mixed bag. On the one hand it would be a good thing for this hateful speech to be shut down but that is inconsistent with the First Amendment. I suppose my perspective on this issue ultimately comes down to my understanding of the First Amendment. With that in mind perhaps if I studied it more closely I would understand it better and perhaps find a place in it for a ruling against the church; as I am sure some have done.
For now though it saddens me that people would use the First Amendment in such a terrible way. That is reality however and no law is perfect to matter how carefully crafted. There will always be loopholes and exceptions no matter how hard we try and with those flaws I am willing to accept the consequences. In turn for accepting those flaws and their consequences however I am able to enjoy freedom and a country the likes of which the world has never seen.
Perhaps there may be another way to defeat this church. Counter protests and rallies against them. Public pressure and community activism should all be used against them. This church is able to rally a group of passionate people for their crazy reasons so also I think we should in response against them. I believe the Supreme Court made the right choice and I believe what the Westboro Baptist Church does is wrong.
Some however believe that the speech of this church should be stopped in light of the First Amendment. Lindsy from Boston like me blelieves that what these people do is disgusting and should not happen. This is true, and I agree, but that does not answer the question as to if it is legal in light of what the First Amendment means. She says they are abusing the First Amendment, I would also agree with that but like I said above we live in an imperfect world with imperfect laws and I will take the negative in order to enjoy the positive that it affords me. Really this whole thing is terrible and sick and serves to remind me again of what a fallen world this really is.
Full Story Below:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/03/us/03scotus.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&sq=supreme%20court%20rule&st=cse&scp=3

The next step.

The next step after having written my first story is to take more time. The next story I do will involve more preparation and forethought. I will also write in a style more consistent with whatever type of story it is and check this by the AP style book.