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  • Chris Sweigart | Community Producer
    by: Chris Sweigart | Community Producer
    Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:44:11 PDT

    It seems lately I’m getting busier and busier, with more obligations, appointments are activities than ever before.

    This summer, I’m planning two big out of town trips, and a couple of activities.  This is on top of my week-to-week events, meetings and good times.

    Over the past several months, I’ve been working to get myself more organized so I don’t forget when I need to be somewhere and where I need to be.

    While I have done a pretty good job keeping myself organized, I’ve realized that increasingly, people like my family, my girlfriend and some of my close friends might benefit from knowing where I am and what I’m doing.

    I’ve been trying all sorts of methods to keep people in the loop.  I group e-mail, text message, and Twitter my updates.  This is great because when my family and friends know what I’m doing, and I know what they’re doing, I get to spend time with everybody more!

    While I’ve had success with the “traditional” tools of modern communication, I’ve been yearning for something better and more effective.  That’s why I was excited this weekend when my father told me about a new website/service he found out about.  It’s called Jott.com.

    This from Jott.com:

    “Headquartered in Seattle, WA, Jott Networks operates a voice to text service that makes staying organized and in touch easy. Jott allows consumers to easily and safely send emails and text messages, set reminders, organize lists, and post to web services with their voice. Since its introduction in late 2006, Jott has made world class voice transcription accessible to anyone with a cell phone.”

    Once I registered for Jott (it’s free!), I started testing out the system.  So far, I’ve set up groups of contacts (family, friends, co-workers).  I’m able to send e-mails and text messages to myself, individuals or groups by simply calling a number on my cell phone, and speaking the message.  This is great when I’m driving around, or don’t have the time to type out a text message.

    But here’s the cool thing about Jott.com:

    I can update my Google calendar.  For my calendar, I just call the number and say something like “Meet Shea for dinner tomorrow at 6 p.m.”  Jott.com translates my voice message and adds the event to my calendar.

    You can also set up your Twitter.com account, and even update your blog using Jott.com.

    There are tons of other things you can do with Jott.com.  Check it out!

    I like Jott.com a lot because I can message anybody even if they’re not registered for the site.  The messages go directly to their e-mail address or cell phone, depending on how I’ve set up that person’s contact information.

    Thanks Dad!

  • Travis Maurer | Assignment Editor
    by: Travis Maurer | Assignment Editor
    Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:02:33 PDT

    Lieutenant Daniel Taylor: Have you found Jesus yet, Gump?
    Forrest Gump: I didn't know I was supposed to be looking for him, sir.

    That’s a rather memorable exchange between characters played by Gary Sinise and Tom Hanks in the 1994 Academy Award Winning movie “Forrest Gump.” This quote came to mind twice during this news cycle as we, the media, did what I like to call “Jesus Found” stories.  We don’t often pay much attention to faith based stories and when we do, it seems that it is either a Holy Day or it’s the ‘Jesus in the piece of toast” or as we saw this week, an ultrasound and marble.

    Now I am by no means an expert on anyone’s faith, but my own, so please do not get offended by what I have to say.

    I first started in television news around the time that an image of the Virgin Mary appeared in the glass on the side of an office building in St. Petersburg, Florida.  I was a little annoyed at the fact that everyone was so focused on this image. People would make pilgrimages to the area just to see what some say was a miracle.  We ran a story almost every week on it for one reason or another.

    You see, I am very practical person even though I do believe in miracles.  I believe that there is a “force” (and no we are not talking about Star Wars,) in this world that just can not be explained or imagined which watches over us and occasionally guides us.  I call this “force” God.  I also believe that evil can be made manifest and that all must be vigilant against the temptations it offers us.  But I don’t go looking for a sign of either existing, I simply know they are.

    I remember having many conversations with my father on the matter of faith and on occasion we would discuss images and signs.  He told me that God gives you what you need to remind you that He is there and that while I may not get anything out of an image like these; to many, it strengthens their belief and faith in a higher-power. 

    My father went on to explain that because of the noise of modern society, it is hard for people to know God because he speaks in whispers.  And while I am able to know God without a sign, not everyone has that luxury and therefore needs to see something that reminds them that they are not walking this path alone.  Sort of the way the moon reflects the light from the sun, reminding us that there will be another day.

    So, while we might get a good chuckle out of these stories (after all, it is a widely held belief that God has a great sense of humor; hence the Platypus), I seriously hope that some of these stories find someone who is in the most need of seeing a sign.

    “My soul hopes for the Lord, more than watchmen wait for the dawn; more than watchmen wait for the dawn.” -- Psalm 130:6

     

  • Christopher Hyde | Webmaster
    by: Christopher Hyde | Webmaster
    Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:46:56 PDT

    For those of you who stayed with us through the transition of old to new website, I'm sure you noticed the changes.  Some things disappeared, others were brand new.  Since we relaunched on 5/13, we've been examining what the most elements are on this site.  We're tracking what you like and don't like, what you'll click on more frequently and what should come back that may have left or gotten moved on the new site.

    During an average day, it seems Photo Galleries are about the most interesting thing you find on our site.  So, we've started a segment called "Today in Photos" to help guide you to images that are making news today.  We launched yesterday and it was the #1 most accessed interior page.

    blog post photo

    We're making this a daily segment M-F and we hope it gives you just one more reason to come back to us and interact with our online community.

    Remember.. if you have a comment or question, you can reply to this blog and I'll get you answers.. hopefully the one you're looking for!!

  • Chris Sweigart | Community Producer
    by: Chris Sweigart | Community Producer
    Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:43:05 PDT

    “Is this news?”

    “Must be a slow news day.”

    I come across these comments and comments like them almost every day on 11Alive.com.

    Most of the time the comment is in reaction to a story that isn’t necessarily “hard news” but instead something softer.  Usually it’s something that’s more a “water cooler” conversation story.

    Most recently, I saw the comments in a story about women ditching pantyhose in the workplace.  Two of the first three comments in the story questioned whether or not the article was newsworthy.  Those first two comments were followed by a health discussion of wardrobe in the workplace in general and whether or not a relaxing of wardrobe policies (for men and women) has impacted productivity.

    Every day I read through dozens and dozens of stories produced locally, and on the wire feeds.  I’m constantly in touch with our reporters and assignment desk managers to keep up with local stories.  I have to make decisions about which of those stories are the most important, the most interesting and the most likely to stir conversation.

    The balance of articles and topics presented on the front page of 11Alive.com is a responsibility I take very seriously.  Articles posted to 11Alive.com should provide valuable information to our readers and present important issues in a balanced manner.

    While the responsibility for selecting those stories is mine, visitors to our website play an important role in the selection of those stories.

    Essentially, every click of your mouse is a vote for an article.  Even if you think a story is silly, and not newsworthy, if you click into the story and comment, I may be more inclined to leave the story in a featured position.

    Most of the time, I’m glad I ran with the feature stories.  Those stories often spur the most engaging, enlightening, and sometimes fun discussions on our website.  If an article, even a silly feature, stirs a good conversation, then the there’s no doubt in my mind that the story IS news.

  • Jerry Carnes | Reporter
    by: Jerry Carnes | Reporter
    Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:30:19 PDT

    I didn't celebrate Father's Day this year. Instead, I honored Father's Week, seven whole days devoted to my dad. He deserves it. He needed it.

    So did I.

    It's been nearly thirty years since I kicked the dust of Gainesville, Florida, from my shoes and set out on my own. I never looked back. Don't get me wrong, I love my mom and dad, but I've never been the kind to call them once a week. I'm a big boy now. No need to check in with the parents. I'm way too independent for that.

    My, how times change.

    My father has cancer. He was diagnosed nine months ago. By the time doctors discovered it, the black disease had crawled into his bones. He just finished his second dose of chemotherapy, a process that has rendered him weak and exhausted. He's lost some hair, along with about ten pounds, maybe more.

    Now, I don't want to sound maudlin, because there's no way in the world that cancer is powerful enough to conquer my dad. No way. While the illness has taken some energy from him, it has in no way diminished his will. When he talks about the challenge of cancer, a thief that took his father and three of his five sisters, he talks about how he's going to spend the next twenty or thirty years. More than anything, he wants to spend every possible moment around his family.

    I must admit, I'm feeling mighty selfish for trying so hard to wriggle free from the people who raised me so lovingly. It took cancer to make me realize what a five-minute phone conversation can accomplish. When I talk to my father, I hear a keen sense of appreciation in his voice. He's always known how much I love him. Now, more than ever, he wants to hear me say it, over and over. Guess what? I'm going to oblige him every opportunity I have.

    So, last week, I took a week's vacation and drove to Gainesville, Florida, to spend some time with the man I've always admired more than anyone in the world. We had nothing special planned. We watched movies together on t.v. We drove down to Orange Lake and looked at alligators. We drove to Cedar Key for lunch. We read books. Pretty boring stuff, by most accounts, but it will be a vacation that I'll hold dear simply because my father and I were in the same zip code.

    The doctors say my dad is getting better. So far, he's responding well to treatment. The outlook is encouraging. Modern medicine will save his life, but it's family love that is keeping him strong.

     

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