SDB

That's a wrap...

2007-11-25T20:24:00.000-08:00

A wrap up of the past semester.

I learned a lot - and not the usually 1+1=3...ha just kidding...it = 2. But this past semester has taught me plenty when it comes to priorities and fulfilling each of them.

This class has been interesting though. Honestly, as I am a person that constantly has something to be working on, the class times that morphed in to gossip hour were frustrating. But you bite your lip and move on.

I learned a lot more about graphic design. Creating the masthead - dealing with dimensions...ect. My time spent at the photography studio this past summer definately paid off in this class.

I guess you could say that I learned how to get by. Being that the professor, Dr. Rochlin, had never had me in a previous class - he only has my words to say, "If this was just one semester prior...it would have been different."

And it would have.

I had serious priorities this semester. It was only two weeks before school started that I, along with two other friends, founded Thinking Pink - a breast cancer foundation. My head was completly wraped around this organization. I am the type of person that falls into the natural leadership role...as I did with Thinking Pink. Stressful? Extremely. But when you get your end result...and for me it was the final calendar in my hands - it's all worth it.

Not to mention the fact that I have mentally checked out of UofA. Most everyone close to me graduated in May. I would have also if I didnt make the transfer down to UA my sophmore year for ASU. But again its worth it...I am proud to say that in one month I will be recognized as alumni from this university. I enjoy walking through the halls of the journalism department and knowing people, saying hello...its a small community in a world of 40,000.

I was also a little annoyed with the department. It bothered my that some teachers looked down on my chosen profession. Just because I didnt want to work at a small news station here in Tucson or go cover Washington, didnt make me less of a journalist. And by now, my last semester - I do not feel as if there is one person in the department that I could talk to and they would really agree with my feelings. Understand maybe (and those were far and few that even understood) but agree? No...I didnt feel as if I had a mentor to talk about my desired field. But like a said...you take it and move on.

And on top of all this...there was the fact that I had to deal with my roommate going to rehab in september. No need for extensive details...but from this I learned two things. Just because you went to high school with someone doesnt mean they're 'normal'. And...I also learned that a week before this roommate entered rehab she asked our neighbor if he had a gun...saying that she needed one. I felt a little threatened after that.

So wow...there is my semester in a quick wrap up.

I remember when I was in my first semester at UA - I loved it. My favorite part is still standing at the end of the mall, looking down at Old Main. And then I entered the Journalism Department. I was finding myself! I knew what I wanted to do...and I was finally taking the classes to get me there.

And now here I am...three weeks away from it all coming to an end. So my advice to graduating seniors, take your last semester with a new breath - you might get some interesting stories that way.

The City Bus

2007-11-18T18:43:00.000-08:00

At The Cat Scan, we have posted many different Green Tips for our readers to live by. One of them being to ride the city bus rather than driving your own car.

So how many people have actually taken a ride on the city bus? This past weekend was my own adventure.

I spent some time on the city bus, getting to know people, and just seeing what it was actually all about. For $1.25, you can ride that bus as far as you want to go. Pretty nice - thinking that it probably took my $4.00 worth of gas just to drive to the bus station that I was going to take a ride on.

Interesting people. Interesting stories.

At first I thought that the bus driver was not going to be too happy about the fact that I was interviewing people and such. But after we were able to warm up to each other, he fell in love with my personality and we are now friends. He even let me drive the bus, but I'll get to that later.

The first lady made the comment as soon as me and my videographer arrived that if we were just going to be there to make fun of poor people, she didnt want to be on the video.

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Make fun of poor people? After I explained to her my intentions, a school project, she told me that kids have done that before. Taken a ride on the bus - to make fun. Maybe those kids will be eating their words in the next few decades when our earth has gone to the shits.

Okay so back to my earlier comment, I drove the bus. Well okay no, not really. I don't currently have my CDL - although through movie magic, it really looks like I'm driving the eco-friendly wagon.

One thing I noticed after my bus adventure, is that there are really so many bus stops around the city. Probably two or three every mile! It is definitely one of those things that you do not seem to notice until you actually take the time, and hop on that city bus.

So my advice out there for everyone is to really take a ride - I pretty much enjoyed myself during my time on the city bus!

Tempe In Motion

Self Check

2007-11-12T15:45:00.000-08:00

So no celebrities this week. I am just going to talk...about a 'secret' that I was not going to make a point to discuss. But being that I have this blog...here is a journal entry...from me to you. Understanding that this semester my blog has possibly lacked a sort of focus...then again, if this blog is supposed to relate to me - well then that it! Not that my life is lacking of focus...but I currently do not only have one.

I littered this past week. Horrible, I know.

I was with my roommate, pulling out of our drive way - and it was a sucker wrapper. I threw it out the window.

Before I continue on...I do have to say that I am no an everyday litterer (if that is even a word). Even before this class I have been PRO trash cans.

So I really dont know why I threw that wrapper out the car window. After I did it I looked at my roommate, who probably didnt even take notice and said, "I'm in a 'green' class and look what I just did.' Her reply was simply...'Yah.'

So what does that say for me? Am I not green or eco-friendly? My actions sure were not going in that direction. But I felt bad...almost as if I was betraying Dr. Rochlin or the other 14 peers in my class. But for the fact that it has been almost a week since the incident - and I still rememeber it - shows something.

I think it shows how that wrapper impacted me. That the clear wrapper from a orange sucker that I bought for all of the trick-o-treaters that never showed up would be the last piece of trash that I ever threw on OUR ground.

I would like to tell you that I stopped after my realization and picked up the wrapper, but that would be a lie. I didnt. But I make a promise...that I wont ever do it again. And I mean geez...you have written proof now.

Although...I'm not all so bad. Whenever I go back home - my baby cat, Chelsea love to drink running water. Usually when I am jumping into the shower. So I'll turn the water on for her slightly, get the shower, but each time that I get out she is just sitting on the vanity...water still running...done drinking probably minutes before.

Today as I showered to get ready to try on yet another bridesmaid dress, she came into the bathroom with me, I looked at her - and didn't turn the water on for her this time.

Alicia is back

2007-11-05T10:05:00.000-08:00

Alicia Silverstone is taking the opposite approach as Ms. Britney Spears in regards to the media - she can't stay out of the spotlight...but is keeping it all positive.

Alicia has been a longtime member of PCRM, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. She is very focused on childhood obesity issues and how this is going to effect us/community is the coming years.

So this past Friday Alicia was making phone calls.

Well not exactly - but a mass message from Alicia was sent out to members of PCRM - urging them to contact their senators and support the fresh act. By supporting the fresh act it would reform the FARMBILL which Alicia believes is going to be a huge step in ending childhood obesity.

Patrick Sullivan, Communications Director for PCRM, explained that Alicia wanted to do what she could. They [PCRM] have been in contact for quite some time - trying to set something like this up.

Okay - so now the question is - what the FARMBILL?

Basically in a very small nutshell - this bill is put before the government every five year for re-authorization. Worth over 280 billion dollars this bill is mainly for food assistance programs, what families who are on these programs have access to, how much food costs.

Okay - so moving on...what is the FRESH act?

The FRESH act is wanting to reform the FARMBILL. Farmers who grow certain crops, for example corn or soy which is used quite frequently for crops to fatten up animals, these farmers get large subsides from the goverment for doing so.

Basically - produce these high number of crops, and you get a large payment from the goverment for doing so. And ofcourse growing all of these crops organically is most likely not in the picture.

Farmers are activiely discouraged for growing more healthy food - meaning that the fedreal goverment would not provide these certain farmers with federal subsides.

Give props to Ms. Alicia Silverstone for again making a footprint to help yet another thing going wrong in our world right now.

www.stopchildhoodobesitynow.org
www.pcrm.org

Raw

2007-10-30T08:15:00.000-07:00

So for this blog - there are going to be no links - no celebrities - no pictures - no frills. Just read.

So this past weekend I was in Indiana for a Breast Cancer Charity. Rural Indiana. In a town that doesnt have a gas station, so people need to plan ahead, if you need gas its going to be a seven mile drive.

But the world out there is so different. Never once do you see someone on their blackberry checking their email - or rushing off to get the new Ipod, Xbox or Playstation. Kids arent sitting in the living room watching TV or playing video games, they are outside working with their dad on the combine, running around the town causing 'trouble' (not the type of trouble kids would be causing here).

You wont see sunglasses covering people's faces so they dont have to talk to anyone - or better yet the infamous Ipod stuffed into their ears.

Ask yourself this, when was the last time that you asked a store clerk for directions/question of some sort - and you literally had two seperate townspeople come in the conversation and help direct you where to go?

It's too bad that things such as this doesnt happen here. But at the same time who can argue which is better? I do have to say though - when I was there this weekend, I applied for a job at the local newspaper. So I guess you can tell which side I go for.

Move over Alicia - its SteveO's turn

2007-10-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

Before you scroll down - I must let you all know that there are images that is not for the weak. This week I am going to talk about the cruelty to animals - meaning that the pictures are not of your puppies.

Also there is a little nudity as well - Stevo from Jackass is working with PETA this month - and you definately get to see his ass.

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Seems like Alicia's nude campaign is already old news - SteveO from the MTV show Jackass is the headliner now.

And then after doing some research on this cause - animals being used for fur - it made me think, we have had 2 PSA's in the past month on this issue - is it going to catch on? Like the green movement did thanks to Al Gore.

I mean check out some of these pictures,

Now for some reason I thought the fashion of fur was dead. And personally wearing a dead animal on my body actually grosses me out. But then after seeing images like this - that poor puppy - I would NEVER wear something like that on my back.

And then you have a guy like Stevo - jumping on the bandwagon to help out Peta.org.

Either - "I'd rather go naked than wear fur." Or, "Ink not mink."
These are the two lines that are graces the ads for Peta - with the jolly image of Jackass' ass.

The Ripple Effect

2007-10-14T23:11:00.000-07:00

This past week was not one of my best.

The week of special projects - which I will get into later.

The week of RPA.

The week that showed the first barricade that my charity Thinking Pink has come across.

The week that I got into an discussion/argument with a professor about "what is news" - and the fact that I will not conform to the professor's beliefs on what news is.

The week of me getting turned down for an interview - I'm not used to this part.

Okay so moving on the special projects.

It started off with doing an in depth look into the one and only Steve Nash. I mean write about what we love...and I love entertainment (which is not news...although I disagree...it's not hard news...but its entertainment news).

So I take my steps to set up an interview with Steve - he has a foundation in Canada, where he is from,
www.stevenashsportsclub.com

Basically it is a gym going green. The building aspect of it that is.

Taken from the site,
"Steve Nash Sports Club has integrated green design to create a new kind of fitness club. Green design improves the quality of our surroundings and can impact both our personal fitness and the goal of sustainable living for the health of the larger community.
The interior of the first Steve Nash Sports Club in downtown Vancouver follows the green design standards set forward by the LEED rating system for Commercial Interiors. Using this guideline, the club has gone green and created a healthy workout environment with a positive impact on our community. We've minimized any materials containing toxic emissions or VOCs, used rapidly renewable or recycled materials - from bamboo floors and locker panels to rubber flooring made 100% from recycled car tires - and implemented energy efficient lighting and appliances, all to reduce the carbon footprint of the Club."

Okay now with understanding this all sounds wonderful - even a little confusing. But the point is...it went green. Pretty cool. And the fact that Steve was behind it. Wanted the green club.

Well this is wanted I wanted to talk to him about. Unfortunately I guess the 2 time MVP is a little busy right now getting ready for a new season... - I guess I understand. :)

So I was able to get a quote - one that I agree with.

In an e-mail, Steve Nash responded to the question as to why making his new sports club green friendly was important to him, “Just to help, to spread awareness and try to improve in that area of my life. To see if we can create a ripple effect that hopefully will make a lasting impression on our environment.”

The best part I like about that quote? "A ripple effect." And maybe that's all we need. Maybe by Mr. Nash starting a green sports club will make only 2 or 3 people become aware of the "green" cause. But then those 2 or 3 people spread the awareness on...fastforward a few years from now and this may be something that us, as a world/humanity, can come together and fix the problems that we have caused.

Steve Nash insists on Green Sports Club

2007-10-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

Ok - before I begin on Steve Nash and his Sports Club in Canada - let's make sure we all have a good grasp on who he is. Two time MVP - and this past season - ask any Phoenix fan...he should have recieved his third MVP trophy. But no - Dirk got it anyway. Here's a quick clip - pay attention though...he's quick!

Okay - so now that we have seen his ability - let's talk about his Sports Club. It is only natural for something like this to come about. Past Phoenix Suns players have restaurants downtown - Amare and Marjle. Steve Nash decided to go a different direction. With a sports club.

And he had only two requests...make is green - and the location would be in his hometown in Canada.

Programs from cardrio hip-hop to striptease to Nash's Knockout, a high intesity cardio class - there is something for everyone.

Cable Guy & Me

2007-09-30T22:19:00.000-07:00

Well first off - I must say that this was by far my biggest celebrity interview. And yes even though I am not a huge fan of doing over the phone interviews - he wanted the publicity - I wanted the interview...we compromised.

He was 20 minutes late calling me back. I understand he is a big time celebrity but still...that would be the same as being 20 minutes late to an interview in person - although over the phone is just a lot easier...just pick it up and call me!

I thought it was interesting how he introduced himself to me. Hi is Sarah there? This is Larry Daniel. His real name being Daniel Whitney - but he has been going by Larry the Cable Guy since the beginning of his career. Although he did admit that if he could do it all over again - he would go by his real name.

It sounded like I was talking to my family back home in Indiana. He said he was happy that he made me feel comfortable about his accent - so from the beginning - he was just a normal nice guy.

Now usually when I am interviewing some public figure I stay very professional - ofcourse no..."Will you take a picture with me" or "Can you sign this?" But I had to stray away from my usual behavior. My little cousin back home in Indiana is a HUGE fan of Larry the Cable Guy - so I figured I would atleast ask.

"Larry would you mind saying Git'R Done for me - my little cousin is a huge fan."

Not only did he oblidge to say his catch phrase he even added his own little touch. Daniel did voice overs for the movie Cars earlier this year - he even added in a little touch of that.

So for my Larry interview - I must say thanks Mr. Whitney.

Here are some of my favorite moments...even though it is really hard to pick...there are so many!

Alicia in PETA

2007-09-23T20:22:00.000-07:00

Well well well - somebody has sure grown up from her overbearing, fashion addicted character in Clueless. Alicia Silverstone is baring it all this month in the new PETA public service annoucement.

Alicia explains how cows and pigs are just like our everyday cats and dogs. That they want to live and feel the love just as much as our house trained animals do. She pushes viewers to feel the love with her - pushing that after she went to a vegan lifestyle she feels better than she has in over 11 years.

Alicia also points out some helpful beauty tips for the viewers. Using only cosmetics that do not use animal testing - such as the company Aveda. Which personally I must admit that Aveda is the only type of hair product that I will use. It really is the best - and affordable.

I talked to manager Anna Wilks, manager of the Aveda store in the Chandler Mall Fasion Center. She told me that so many of their customers are people who "care about the ingredients" to their products.

She also suggested a book, "Don't go to the cosmetics counter with out me" Wilks said that most of the high end makeup lines will still test on animals. Or hire out companies that will do so for them. In the book that she suggested is all of the information that consumers should know what all the different chemicals they put in make-up.

One example in particular, Wilks said that mascara is made out of tar - quite often.

Aveda on the other hand is all plant and water based.

Interesting.

Alicia Silverstone’s Sexy Veggie PSA
Order a FREE vegetarian starter kit at GoVeg.com

2007-09-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

I'm going to side track for just a second before I move on to Morgan Freeman and his recent interveiw with Grist Magazine.

It has been a whole week now since the 'comeback' performance of Britney Spears. As as I agree with many that the performace was not up to her standards - the headlines plastered over almost every media outlet the next morning commented on her weight.

One that really struck me was, "The Fat Lady has Sung."

Now looking at this mother of two - I thought, along with many of her fans, that she looked pretty amazing! Even though I knew as soon as she came out on that stage that the 'media' was going to have their way with her.

So how does that look for our children? Young children, 13 and 14 year olds are watching the VMA's. Then getting on the internet the next morning to check the MySpace and see the headlines, "The Fat Lady has Sung".

After this whole situation it makes me sick to say that I am going into a career in journalism.

Now, moving on.

This past week Morgan Freeman took time aside to speak with Adam Spangler from Grist Magazine, which contains enviromental news and commentary.

Taken from the interview which can be fully read here:

http://www.grist.org/feature/2007/09/14/freeman/index.html

Spangler askes, "With four decades in the entertainment industry, how do you view the negative press some celebrities have received for jumping on the eco-bandwagon? Critics admit the celebrity voice can help spread the gospel, so to speak, but is there a point where it becomes empty rhetoric, or even hurts the cause?"

Freeman responds, "We celebrities all know our trump card in this game is to pull focus. If we have an audience, and we have someone we can talk to and say, 'This is a good idea,' that's it.
I'm not a speaker, so I don't go to environmental events and get up on the podium. This is about as high as I am going to get, podium-wise ... [Celebrities] start talking about something that we find -- I don't want to say of interest, but of necessity. It's no different than pulling together to help people in catastrophic conditions. This qualifies. Our situation, with global warming and air quality and all of that, has gotten to be catastrophic. Otherwise, nobody would be paying attention."

Sienna Miller blogs to help save world

2007-09-09T20:26:00.000-07:00

So it looks like the Cat Scan staff are not the only ones blogging this fall. Movie star Sienna Miller was busy posting blogs during her trip to India promoting the carbon campaign as an ambassador for Global Cool.

Global Cool's basic goal? "To get a billion people to reduce their personal CO2 emissions by at least one tonne." Their slogan is "Be one in a billion."

Honestly when I first heard this I was like, Okay sounds great. But my question was...what is a tonne? My personal advice to the marketing team for that concept is to do a little more brainstorming and find a more common word that the majority of people would know. But moving on - a tonne is a measurement of carbon emission.

So back to Sienna - she recently spent time in India promoting this campaign - all while keeping a blog of the adventures.

A small excerpt from her blog states,

"The beach was our next stop. Obviously with global warming and rising sea levels it is this area that is most vulnerable. We were very shocked to see that people live on the beach in huts, in fact small slums have developed along a lot of the coastline of Bombay. This is a dangerous place for people to live because any slight change in weather I.E. a big storm could see these people and their homes washed away again highlighting just what a threat climate change is to this fragile country."

To view Sienna's full blog go to:
www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MID=367137231&MemberId=4413693135

After returning from India, Sienna made an appearance on the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) in hopes to continue the promotion of the carbon campaign.

The interviewer slashed back at Miller asking her, "So is that fewer flights to Hollywood as well?"

She replied in a delightful manner saying, "Those are certainly obviously unavoidable things that I have to do with my job."

To be a great interviewer I dont think it entails making rash comments to your guests - but then again - I'm sure the interviewer's dream is to be the next Larry King...good luck to him.

To watch the full interview with Sienna at BBC go to:
http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?tab=av&q=sienna%20miller%20carbon%20plea&recipe=all&scope=all&edition=

Brad Pitt helps Katrina Go Green

2007-09-03T12:27:00.000-07:00

Brad Pitt seems to be a pretty busy guy lately. Just helping raise four children with Angelina Jolie has got to be a job in and of itself - but now he is determined to show New Orleans how to live green after Hurricane Katrina.

Partnering up with Global Green USA, the national leader in building green and making it affordable housing, schools and communities and The Home Depot Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the health of local communities by supporting the development of affordable, healthy homes for working families.

They have launched the Holy Cross project, which is only the first of many. According to the Global Green website the homes are being built with "green products and energy efficient systems". The Holy Cross project will include 5 single-family homes, an 18 unit multi-family building and a community center with resources for working families such daycare facilities and retail space.

Pitt commented on the "man-made disaster that occured two years ago" on the Global Green USA website, www.globalgreen.org saying, “What happened two years ago was a man made disaster, and this building offers a man made solution. This home proves we can build more thoughtfully, affordably and provide a better quality of life for the families within."

Brad Pitt sat down with Ann Curry to talk about this project which will air on the Today show. Check out his full interview at http://icydk.com/2007/08/22/brad-pitt-goes-green-with-his-next-project/

So whatever team you prefered Brad to be on, Team Jolie or Team Aniston, one this is for sure, helping out the community is definately one of his main priorities! Ofcourse after being a daddy.

Want to see pictures of Brad Pitt going green this past week? Go to
http://justjared.buzznet.com/2007/08/21/brad-pitt-global-green/

Check out the designs for the upcoming building projects in New Orleans
www.globalgreen.org

To learn more about the Home Depot Foundation check out their website at
www.thehomedepotfoundation.org

Sophia Bush barefoot

2007-08-27T10:10:00.000-07:00

Sophia Bush from the hit tv show One Tree Hill hit the beach this past weekend in North Carolina to help pick up trash.

According to the foundation's website, "Barefoot® Wine and the Surfrider Foundation as they rescue, restore, and renew seven beaches across the U.S. in an effort keep America’s beaches beautiful and barefoot-friendly. Each year 18,000 beaches across the country are closed or posted as unhealthy."

Bush, along with about 100 other volunteers walked up and down the beach picking up trash that could put forth harm to the wildlife, along with cigarette butts, bottles and cans.

To learn more about Barefoot Wine Foundation go to their website at www.barefootwine.com

Going green and celebrities are now coming hand-in-hand. Check out www.ecorazzi.com for the lastest.

Why...hello there!

2007-08-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

Let's quickly get through the boring introductions and move on to more important matters.

My name is Sarah Bruner and I am graduating this December! I'm sure all the seniors would agree - these past four years (four years and a semester for me) have flown by...so the real world is only a few months and a couple of resumes away.

So my blog. We are supposed to incorporate what interests us - and to be honest I have not found myself compelled to most of the journalism that we are taught. Call me cheesy - but I'd like some classes on how to write for a celebrity magazine! If not that - atleast some sort of fashion magazine type of angle.

So here - at my blog - you will find celebrities and their involvement on saving the world! Doesnt that sound so intense!!??! :)

Sarah D.