Rectangles for Hope

I am continuing to work on my story on local women in Muncie who are helping to make 6 x 9 Rectangles, and are sending hope to soldiers in hospitals throughout the US. 

This is one of the things that I love about being a reporter, I have the privilege to hear truly incredible stories. It is amazing how far one persons kindness can go. You can see the website at http://www.rectangle6x9.org/.


Deborah Starobin-Armstrong, started the organization and already it has helped to deliver more than 3,000 Afghans to soldiers. I was glad I stumbled upon this story I feel truly blessed to hear about how one person crocheting, is part of a big cause, of spreading hope, support, and love to complete strangers.


I hope this story will inspire others to get involved with HAP (Handmade Afghans to thank our armed forces Project), or to understand that a little kindness can go a long way to make the world a better place.


I leave you with this quote from Martin Luther King, as something to think about and perhaps something that will change your life if you will let it.


"Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.... You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." ~Martin Luther King, Jr

My First Two Stories

Well, my first two stories have been published to the iPhone, and Black Berry users. It was really cool to see them on my iPod touch.

I think they turned out pretty well one was on the Heorot's 100 Beer Club and the other story I covered was about Halloween costumes. Both of the owners that I talked to were incredibly nice and have really interesting life stories.

My favorite thing about reporting is having the opportunity to meet complete strangers and here their stories.

This week I am working on an incredible story about a local group of Women that make 6 x 9 rectangles that are used to make afghans that are sent to soldiers in hospitals in the US.

Here is a link to the national website, http://www.rectangle6x9.org/ .

I am always amazed that one persons kindness and idea has an ability to change so many peoples lives.

I hope you enjoy the story as much as I an enjoyed hearing from the group of women from Yorktown.

100 Beer Club

Stan Stephens might be one of the coolest people I have ever interviewed. Wow what a story, he was a weight lifter, Social Studies teacher and a pizza delivery man all before he owned the Heorot. 

The bar has such a rustic feel, like your stepping into a time machine and when you enter the Heorot its like the mead hall in Beowolf. Stan spent the Friday afternoon showing me around his bar, and telling me some of the stories behind setting it up and creating the relatively unknown 100 Beer Club. A club for beer coinsures and armature beer drinkers alike, and in the end the prize is immortality or rather a plaque on the bar for as long as it is open. 

It is such a simple concept but, for customers it’s just one of many traditions that makes the Heorot so unique. If you’re looking for a different kind of bar with a wide beer selection of more than 400 then try the Heorot. 

It was the Best Week Ever

Well it truly was the Best Week ever, well for me at least. It was a long and stressful week but I am kind of sad that it is over. I was a member of the Homecoming steering committee that helped plan the week. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to work with some of the most talented students at Ball State.

The group of 16 students that made up the committee really did an amazing job of making it a homecoming I will never forget. I helped the committee in several ways. I was the technology chairman (I created a promo video and I will create a recap of the week), student organizations chairman ( I contacted all of 400+ student groups at Ball State) I was responsible for making sure they got all of the information they needed to get involved, and I was the athletic liaison and I helped to facilitate all of the request for Charlie Cardinal, Code Red, Cheerleaders, and the Football Coach. 

All and all the week was amazing and now I am ready to get some sleep and catch up on school. My interview for my first story got canceled today. However, I am looking forward to interviewing Stan Stephen, the owner of the Heorot later this week. 

My First Homecoming All-Nighter

Well its official, I pulled my first homecoming all-nighter. I received video from last years technology chair, Bernardo Madrigal, on Friday August 28th and I wanted to put together the promo video (located to the left above the youtube logo). 

I needed to finish the video before the fall information meeting on Wednesday September 2. I knew it would be challenging because it was a quick turnaround, not to mention I had hours and hours of footage to look through. 

So on Saturday I went to campus and tried to get into all of the editing labs. Apparently the card access I had last year, has to be redone every year, so here I am unable to capture the video that I need in order to finish the promo before Wednesday at 9pm. 

I had some free time in my schedule on Monday so I captured all of the footage that I needed. Then that night after most of my homework was done I began editing, I was able to get all of the individual day promo videos done by Tuesday at 8:00 am. 

I spent Tuesday packaging it all together and I am pretty happy with the end result (as you can see if you click the video box to the left). 

Thank you Bernardo without you the video would never have been possible. I plan to shot all events during the week and have video updates available every night online. While Tuesday was my first homecoming all-nighter I have a feeling it will not be my last. 


Get Ready because it's the end of September and that means one thing it's time..... for the "Best Week Ever" Ball State Homecoming 2009. 


-Peter Carr
Student Organizations / Technology Chair / Athletic Liaison

iMedia

My name is Peter Carr and I am a senior Telecommunications major at Ball State University.

I am really excited to be a part of the iMedia program at Ball State. The first project that I have been assigned is the cardinal green way. I have ridden my bike on the greenway three times in the last week and I plan on shooting video of the greenway in the near future.

The trail is a wonderful mix, of nature and a long path for bike riding, running and rollerblading.

My paterner Becky and I have big plans for how to use interactive maps for a moblie appilcation for the greenway. Also we would like to create a weather alert to warn riders or walkers when a storm is coming and where they can find shelter along the trail.

I still waiting to hear back from the trail's director, so I can setup and interview and find what locations on the trail we should showcase in our interactive map with video and photos.

I am really excited to see how the project comes together. The coolest thing about the iMedia class is working with students from so many differnt disiplines to achieve one common goal.

And Then there was 2!!!

Wow I can't believe how fast this summer has gone. I mean it seems like yesterday I was celebrating the forth of July in Tampa with my family and now school starts in about two weeks.

That means the Best Week Ever is less than two months away. After the committees summer meeting in Muncie (followed by an awesome game of laser tag), I have spent all of my free time learning a graphics program known as After Effects.

It has taken me over a week to learn it, but today I created my first intro video, I have not put music with it yet but I think its really cool. In fact I posted it on the Facebook group the video is for the first day of events known as Chirp Factor. The video may seem small its only five seconds long but it took a while to create all of the layers of video that go into it's graphics.

I think I am going to move some of my things into my Fraternity house this weekend. That is the Sigma Chi house at the end of riverside. I am excited to get back up to BSU, I have missed it this summer, and can't wait to see all of my great friends and to begin talking to student groups about all the opportunities they have to participate in Homecoming.

Anyways I have to get back to working on graphics for "BSU's got Talent" of the talent search on Tuesday night of Homecoming.

I am really excited to be a part of the group that is going to make this years homecoming the "Best Week Ever".

Peter Carr

Homecoming Steering Committee 
Student Organizations / Technology Chair / Athletics Liaison

Goodbye NLI Goodbye

What a semester it has been the things I have learned, the people I have met, and the confidence I have gained. It’s hard to believe it is my final week in Newslink Indiana, I would have never thought the time would have gone so quickly. I also never thought I would have 11 close friends after I went through this experience. Sure I knew almost everyone in the program before joining but spending 45 hours plus a week with most of these people has really allowed me to know them no longer as colleges but as friends.

This semester has been filled with some many found memories of late Thursday nights, and just the overwhelming amount of laughter that we all shared. Now I think I will talk to each person individually.

To Eric Peat-

Before NLI I knew Eric through church and a radio show we had together sophomore year. After watching Eric win a few scholarships this year, and the dedication he has to school he is going to be successful in anything he does in life. It was fun convincing Lori that we should cover sectional basketball the day before the game, and I really glad we spent some late nights hanging out together in the news room, that is a spring break I will never forget. I glad we have one year left together before we go our separate ways. Eric I hope you have a great summer, and I hope you get a lot out of your internship.

P.S. I am sorry I did not get to hear you rap, I heard you had mad flo.

To Megan Reust-

Megan and I were pretty close friends before NLI because of the Greek bond that we share and occasionally anchoring on NewsWatch together, Megan I glad after all these years that we still have a good friendship. I am so glad that we got to do NLI together and I hope that we can do big things together in RTNDA next year.

To Morgan Parker-

You’re my Fratenity brother a bond that brings us closer than the rest, but honestly its this semester that will stand out in my mind. I can’t believe you are graduating, I remember all of the random jokes, and the good laughs that we shared this semester. Like when you poked Jessica in the arm, after she told you to do something about me poking her, and you simply responded he is my brother. Morgan I wish you luck in your internship this summer and I honestly think you represent Sigma Chi very well. I am so proud of you, and I wish you the best in life.

To Jessica Miller-

Wow we had some fun times, we got pared up for two weeks during this semester and I feel like I final got rid of the “the kid who came late to News 202” persona that you had about me. Jessica I am sad that I only have one semester left with you, but honestly I am so glad Camden, Peat and I all talked you into doing NLI. Jessica I know I referred to you as a car in the past, and honestly if you keep working hard soon enough you will be a Porshia. I hope you have a great time in the Armpit of Indiana, and I hope your internship works out well.

To Fei Fei Xu-

Now I still cannot say your name right after all the semester, and I am sorry for that. I watched you struggle through the language barrier. But what I learned from you and Jiegway is that no one can put down your spirit you woman just keep working hard and I know both of you will be successful. It was so nice to share a meal together this past weekend, I really finally got a taste for Chinese culture. Thanks for all of the laughs and all of the nicknames. I am glad you called me Moto Moto.

To Jiegway-

No car, no problem. It’s great to be around someone that works as hard as you and never complains. I would like to thank you for cooking dinner the other night it was amazing. I hope we can somehow stay in touch and one day that our lives will cross again when I come to visit you two in China. I hope you enjoy your remaining time in America, but I know both of you are ready to be reunited with your families after two years.

To BVW- or Bryant

Bryant working with you only for a few days was amazing, you are one of the best photographers I have ever worked with, and you’re a pretty good reporter too. I hope you end up getting a job after the people at your internship see how talented you are this summer. I had this talk with Jessica who is NLI MVP and my pick was you. You can do it all and when Tim is not there you even fill in as director, thanks for the laughs and all of the hard work it has truly been a pleasure working with you this semester.

To PMcG aka Phil McGairk

Phil was another member of my News 202 class, and Phil is graduating this year. But Phil will not be gone to long because he is coming back for grad school. Phil its amazing to see how much you accomplished this semester. I know we have shared some of the same frustrations, but man you made a lot of packages, and now every time you go out you make it look so easy. I think you have improved 10-fold and everyday you and everyone else in the news room has gotten better. I hope our paths cross my final year at Ball State. Thanks for keeping it real man.

To Ryan “Money” Camden

Now I still don’t know why they call you money. But honestly you’re a great friend, and a great listener thanks for some of the conversations in the news room, and if this business does not work we can always open a Pizza Hut. It has been really fun hanging out with you this semester and I hope that we can spend time together this next summer now that you can finally go out. I hope you have a great summer with your internship in Indy and if you’re ever in Richmond come down to Cincinnati so we can cheer on our Redlegs.

To BC aka Brandon Clemens-

Brandon Clemens, thanks for making NLI so much fun. You brought the random fun events to the group, like bowling, skating, and free style Thursday. Brandon having spent a year in immersion with you, I have seen you improve so much and honestly you have all the skills you need to be successful. You’re a great writer and your really creative when it comes to stand-ups I wish you the best of luck in Ft. Wayne and I hope our paths cross again in the future.

To Tim, and Sy –

Thank you for taking me, and teaching me so much this semester. I think my confidence has increased at least by 10, and my speed of turning a package has also increased. I remember at the beginning of the semester you mentioned that NLI was a family and now I final get it , the final week of NLI and it is going to be hard to say good by to this family for the summer. Tim thank you for the constant criticism of my video it has made me a much better photographer and it has helped me to look at the world in a different way.

Finally to Jared –

Thanks for always being there to listen, and being a friend. Jared I remember when you pitched the idea simply because you wanted to keep your GA spot, but I am so glad I signed up. This semester has left me with some outstanding memories and amazing friends. Thanks for making everything I write sound so much better.

Well that’s it, that’s everyone a few days left and my NLI experience is over. I would like to thank everyone that helped me to learn and everyone in NLI for being such amazing people and friends. Goodbye NLI Goodbye.

It's Chirp Time

Well this is officially the first Blog for Homecoming 2009. Sixteen students from different backgrounds will come togeather as voulnteers to plan, promote and create a memorable homecoming next fall.

I am currently on spring break back in Cincinnati, spending time with my family.


One of my positions for the homecoming steering committee is Technology chair, that is the reason I created this blog.



Currently we do not have a theme finalized, but I am confident that we will have one in the next week.


I am so happy to be a part of the committee and I am really looking forward to making Homecoming 2009 one Ball State will never forget.



Peter Carr
Student Organizations / Technology Chair / Athletic Liaison

24 hours is not ENOUGH!

On Friday I was selected for the 2009 Ball State’s Homecoming Steering committee. It made me
think, about why I am, the way I am. The reason I added another commitment, to my very busy
schedule.

A schedule full of NLI, reporting for Off the Bench with Kellie Packard, NewsWatch as an anchor,
sports anchor and any roll on Thursday nights show, Sigma Chi Scholarship Chair, and other
fraternity commitments, and coaching at the YMCA on Friday’s and Saturdays.

Sometimes I feel like there are not enough hours in a day. There is just not enough time to get
everything done.

I am a very optimistic person and highly ambitious.

I want to do everything.
I want to live.
I want to experience everything life has to offer.
I want to strengthen my faith in god.
I want to be healthy.
I want to be happy.
I want to bike across America.
I want to laugh loud and often.
I want to enjoy the company of my family, brothers, and friends.
I want to help complete strangers.
I want to give back to Sigma Chi.
I want to serve Ball State, a place that has given me so many wonderful opportunities.
I want to serve this country, and this world.
I want to grow up to be like my dad, and my grandpa.
I want to give it everything I got, and then I want to wake up and do it all over again.
I want to live each day like it is my last.
I want to make an impact.
I want to be remembered, for what I did, and for who I helped along the way.

I want, I want, I want…. so many things that sometimes people say I stretch myself to thin.

The truth is they are probably right.

I work till my body has nothing left to give and then I sleep. After a few hours in bed I wake up to
do it again the next day.

In Latin the term is Carpe Deim, which means seize the day.

I might not accomplish it everyday but I try to live my life to fullest every second I have on this
earth. I try to “LIVESTRONG” like Lance Armstrong. In fact I have worn a LIVESTRONG bracelet
everyday of my life since it came out in 2004. I have had multiple bands but I still wear it as a
reminder to enjoy life, and to live it every second of everyday.

It reminds me of this poem that I first encountered my junior year in high school. I first heard this
poem at the American Legion’s Buckeye Boy’s State.

Time- Author Unknown

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during
the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course!!!!

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow". You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today.

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.

To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.

To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident.

To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time.
And remember that time waits for no one.
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present!!

Today truly is a present. I am thankful for everyone in my life, and for my fellow man on earth.

I am thankful for the complete stranger who I have not met, but who one day may smile at me or
may share some small act of kindness which brightens my day.

I wanted to write this to show my ambitions, my dreams, and tell more about my life. Sometimes
I feel like there is just not enough time for me do everything, I want to do in this world. But I am
trying; I am trying, to be the best man I can be.

Quote of the week:
“Forgive as you have been forgiven.” – St. Anne Catholic Church Lent theme.