Nancy's Cupcakery-Final Project

In 1796, the term cupcake was first introduced in an American cookbook by Amelia Simms. These mini-cakes can be used for almost any event, from a child’s birthday party to a four-tiered cupcake arrangement for weddings. For eating, the record for consuming these petite treats is 29 in 30 seconds. For baking, the current holder is GourmetGiftBaskets.com who baked a 1,224 pound giant cupcake with over 2 million calories baked right in.

Ironically, today is December 15^th known as National Cupcake Day and many cupcake lovers around the world celebrate their love with tons of flavor and sweetness. In Norman, Nancy Russell celebrates in her store Cookies ‘n’ Cards with sugar crazed college students, as well as children and adults.

Nancy is unique because of her love and passion for baking.

Run Time: 2:20

Video By: Katie Piper, Rachel Santschi, Megan Gay and Megan Lawson

Technology Rules: The cool new stuff for 2011.

The meanies at the IT Store wouldn't let me take a picture, so I
snapped one as fast as I could and then ran away.

Technology has ruled the first decade in the new millennium. But now that the end of 2010 draws near, many people wonder how many more new advancements will dominate the sales next year, and what will and what won’t be sell in OU’s IT Store. 

            As everyone craves for the next hot new Apple product, others wonder what other companies like Dell and HP will come out with to provide competition. 
Since the OU IT store employees threatened to sic their manager on me because I asked too many questions and tried to snap pictures, I decided to take my business else and do my favorite things: ask random people and google until I can't see straight. 
Jonn Stone, a pre-med major and lover of all things Apple, thinks that the new ipad and iphone 4 update will change the world...or at least, his world. 
"My iphone keeps me connected to everything, I can do anything on it, and I can't wait to see what the new update has to offer me."

Apple computer, courtesy of the Internet

Others are more skeptical.

Microsoft tablet, courtesy of the Internet

"I hate Apple. It's a cop-out brand. They want to make everything look cool, not actually make good computers." said Adam Saylor, a Engineering junior. 
Ugh, rude. So what is he looking forward to, exactly? 
"I can't wait for the new tablet from Microsoft. It has everything I want, and best of all, it's not an Apple product."
Aside from all of the differing opinions, 2011 looks like a great year for all of the resident techies, myself included. 

Bizzell: A Place to get your Bizzness Done.

Sara Mcminimy studies for spanish with her clasmates and friends
in the second story of Bizzell Library, on OU's campus.

Ahh, Bizzell. The library that smells like musty paper that I hold close to my heart.  Now that the University has allowed Bizzell to stay open for 24 hours a day, students are bringing blankets and smuggling food into the library to camp out until  their final.

            “I’m so happy that Bizzell is open all day and night. I have no place to study in my apartment that allows me to concentrate solely on what I am studying. I have a Spanish final in two days, and I need to rock it.” Sara Mcminimy, an Elementary Education major, said as she flipped through her flashcards.

            But how did the University finally come around to letting the library stay open for Dead Week and Finals Week? And why doesn’t Bizzell stay open for 24 hours all year around?

            “I don’t know why it doesn’t stay open longer, but I think it’s probably because of employees and costs. I mean, it takes a lot of energy to keep this place going.” Said Nick Towler, a Criminology senior.

            While the student employees can’t technically talk to the press without permission and a supervisor, a female student employee who works at the front desk did say that the library managers have scheduled the 24 hour open library from the Friday before Dead Week to the last Friday on Finals Week to make sure that students received the right amount of opportunity to study in the library. They also said that in order to get into the library after 12:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. you need a valid OU student picture ID card. No food allowed under any circumstances, but many students get past the front desks by hiding the contraband items in their backpacks. The employees don’t check.

            If you need something from the library, but don’t care to brave the masses and attempt to find a table, then the OU library website and system (LORA) can help you find the research you need. If you need to renew a book, simply log into the system and LORA will check out the book for you for another month.

            Bizzell provides the students at OU a place to study, sleep (sometimes) and get the information you need in order to be successful. How much better can it get? 

Dead Week. Hell Week. Whatever you prefer.

The once vibrant South Oval sits empty and cold as
students flock to the nearest library to prepare for finals.

Dead week. The words strike fear in every student’s heart as finals approach and the end of the semester draws near.  Unsuspecting freshman could mistake dead week as a chance to catch his or her breath, to finish homework and papers, and prepare for finals.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that at OU. While the University policy states that no more than 10% of a student’s final grade can be assigned or due on dead week, many professors are starting to disregard the rules in order to play catch up, or speed up finals, allowing them to grade and go home earlier.

Many students have taken up writing angry letters to the faculty senate, including UOSA, the student government at OU, who asked for a review of OU’s policy on Dead Week, changing the rule of no more than 10 percent to no more than five percent. The Faulty Senate knocked the bill down, in a vote of 19-12.

            “I wish that Dead Week actually allowed us to catch up on studying and sleep, instead of doing big assignments or tests the week before finals. It’s kind of a let down, to realize that you have so much more to do before school lets out.” said Rachel Barclay, a nursing junior at the OU Health Science Center.

            While some students offer their opinion on Dead Week and how they need a break, others welcome the early work and opportunities to take tests early and finish tasks.

            “Dead week actually gives me a chance to power through the week and finish a lot of things early, and it prepares me for my exams while finishing other work.” Said Ally Rahill, a Letters junior.

            Whether students prefer the way Dead Week is right now or not, the policy of teachers offering early exams or assigning more work on Dead Week is not allowed. Without the chance for UOSA or the University to review the policies until 2014, it looks like things will stay the same. 

Nancy's Cupcakery

In a tiny shop on Campus Corner, a woman uses flour, eggs, the oven, and love to create the best cupcakes in all of Oklahoma. She has displayed her pride and joy at her store Cookies 'n Cards for 26 years and will do anything to make her customers happy.

Nancy Russell is unique because of her love and passion for baking.

Runtime: 2:32:11

Video By: Katie Piper, Rachel Santschi, Megan Lawson and Megan Gay

Academic Misconduct: A slap on the wrist or a punch in the gut?

Photo courtesy of the Internet

The University of Oklahoma makes something very clear. Do Not Cheat labels are peppered over everything, on tests, papers, and quizzes, causing students and teachers to take the issue very seriously. But what consequences are actually being used and what is a myth?  Does the administration use tactics to scare or to punish? And are students looking to cheating as a way to ease stress as finals approach?
On OU's website, there is a special portion dedicated to the code of conduct, and how a teacher has the right to report the student or not.  
"An instructor who determines that a student is responsible for an act of misconduct may impose an admonition (warning) plus a grade penalty and/or remedial work, without filing a charge of academic misconduct."

Cameron Newton, photo courtesy of tigerx.com

While I agree that a teacher should be able to turn a student in or not, the code of conduct does not have specific punishments for every type of cheating. Students may be unaware of what cheating actually entails and where to draw the line between quoting and plagiarism. 
Cam Newton, the current quarterback for Auburn, located in Alabama, was recently exposed as a cheater, citing incidents from his time at the University of Florida, where he was caught cheating three times. Although he was punished, Cam Newton still moved to Auburn and became a Heisman Trophy contender. How can three cheating offenses still allow this student to go to a nice school in Alabama? Each case is treated differently, and sometimes it isn't fair.
Although OU students sign a contract every year, many students get away with a slap on the wrist for serious offenses against the university for cheating on exams, papers and quizzes. So what defines the ultimate punishment. Jessica, a junior at OU who was caught cheating on a homework assignment freshman year, says that her punishment was to receive a zero on her homework assignment and her teacher said that she had no chances left. If she messed up again, she was out. 
    "It was definitely a slap to the face. It made me realize what I could lose if I continued to try and do stuff like that."
while Jessica got off easy, other students aren't so lucky.  
But as finals and classes get harder, more and more students are turning to cheating to relieve stress and get their homework and assignments done. Rachel Barclay, a nursing major at the OU health and Science Center, says that although cheating would be way easier, ethically she has more standards. 
    "With the stress that I'm under right now, I wish I could just get a break and cheat. But ethically, I can't justify taking someone else's work and labeling it as my own. I also wouldn't feel like I really earned my grade for the assignment."
  While some students approach the idea of cheating with an open mind as they get more and more stressed out, the university needs to use better methods when it comes to punishments of cheating and stress management.

A few minutes with Ray Bribiesca

Mr. Bribiesca gesturing about his times in the Middle East to
students at Gaylord College. 

Ray Bribiesca does not mince words. As a veteran of the Vietnam War and a dedicated cameraman for 60 Minutes, he has a grim reality of what his job entails, and how easily it can all be taken away. The journalism students at Gaylord had an opportunity to hear Mr. Bribiesca's stories and ask questions last Monday, the day before he was sent on assignment to Yemen, to capture film and travel one last time with his coworkers at 60 Minutes.

Mr. Bribiesca didn't waste any time at the beginning of the session, merely letting his work show what he does for months at a time: attempt to get the perfect camera shot, while trying not to be riddled with bullets. On the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, a small, dangerous military base for American troops stands alone in the desert. The men and women who are sent to this area know the dangers of the area, but civilians living in America have no idea how dangerous and terrible this region is for American soldiers. Thanks to the efforts of Ray and his reporter, we saw what terrible conditions these men and women live in. In one scene, while the troops were coming home from trying to help a small village with some repairs, their truck stalled from trying to get over a big rock, and everyone was forced to get out of the car to push it over. Within minutes, the area was surrounded and men from enemy troops started shooting at them. Instead of running for cover, Mr. Bribiesca went out into the line of fire, trying desperately to get the shots that he needed to make the story. He didn't miss a beat. 

·            "Crazy shots are a part of the business.  I wanted to get those shots of the soldier’s faces to make it more personal." 

Mr. Bribiesca talking to the students after viewing one of his
segments on 60 Minutes.

Ray first started taking classes to be a cameraman in Oklahoma City, going to Oklahoma City College to earn his degree. From there, he started working for Channel 9, and eventually landed a job with 60 Minutes. He has traveled all over the world, from taking pictures of caribou coming over the mountains in Alaska (that picture took him 10 years to get) to going to the Middle East and covering the war news there. He has been wounded multiple times, and taken hostage once. It's very clear that this man is tough. 

Mr. Bribiesca is going to Yemen on one last assignment for 60 Minutes, over the troubling problems in Yemen, where many soldiers from the Middle East travel to be trained. While he is cautious, he knows what the job entails and how to twist and turn with every new discovery. Although he is leaving his job now, we can certainly expect him to do amazing things somewhere else. After all, to quote his signature line. "You’re only as good as your last story.”

 

The Brides of Oklahoma

It’s the moment every little girl dreams of, a far off wish that could come true and be the happiest day of their life. Her first karate black belt.

Okay, I’m joking. Of course I’m talking about their wedding day. The day that Prince Charming finally comes and sweeps her off her feet. And although most women would lose that fantasy later on in life, it’s fun to relive those feelings for one more day. Kami Huddleston and Ashley Bowen Murphy, the creators of The Brides of Oklahoma, have made it possible for thousands of women to plan the perfect wedding in Oklahoma, and plan to pay it forward. These women, both relative newcomers to Oklahoma, decided that a bridal magazine was needed in the state to help women plan their weddings.


“We were both from different states, and decided to get married in Oklahoma. There weren’t a lot of options and help to find a good venue and catering, so we created a magazine that lets brides see what kind of options they have.”
These women have created a popular magazine throughout Oklahoma in just over two years. The inaugural issue of The Brides of Oklahoma came in January 2008, and has done so well that Kami and Ashley opened The Brides of North Texas in 2009, and the magazine has already outsold D weddings and other popular bridal magazines in the Dallas area. Kami, who worked as a graphic designer before starting the magazine, is the publisher and designer, and Ashley, a lawyer, takes care of all of the legal work.
The Brides of Oklahoma and The Brides of North Texas come out biannually, allowing the staff to really stuff the magazine full of advertisers for weddings. They pick out the best places in the area to get married, options if you are on a tighter budget, and best of all, the magazine features real brides and wedding stories from ordinary people.
“One of the things I love about the magazine is that we always feature a real bride from the area on the cover.”
These stories provide inspiration and excitement to brides, and their mail is full of submissions to be a part of the glossy wedding section. Each bride chooses their own wedding photos to turn in, letting them pick their favorite shots from their special day.
Before starting the magazine, Kami and Ashley did their research, figuring out how to bring in advertisers and circulate the magazine, selling their product to big companies like Wal-Mart and Barnes and Noble. They send new copies of the issues to retailers and college campuses, and get their name out in every bridal show. Although the newspapers and television programs say there is a recession, their magazine has only reached new heights as the years go on.
While Kami and Ashley’s wedding days have passed, they love helping others plan their special day, and enjoy creating a magazine that provides so much help to brides.
I had the privilege to go see the office that they create the magazine in, and have chronicled the magazine process, from writing down new ideas on the board, to creating inspiration boards to plan the magazine design.

Step back in time with Classic 50s in Norman

One of the first things that incoming freshman see coming to the University of Oklahoma is Classic 50s, a brightly colored drive-in on Lindsey Street. Known by its first name, Classics is a residental hot spot for college students and families living in Norman when they want a greasy hamburger and slushie to drink. Classics is commonly known for it's drink specials, offering varities of specialty drinks like a sprittle, a sprite mixed with a bag of skittles.
This popular fast food joint is a defining mark in Norman, Oklahoma, and provides students with a place to hang out with friends, while enjoying some hot pickle-os (fried pickles). Classics also is a great place to get a job near campus, with employees earning tips when delivering food to the consumer's car. When asked about the job atmosphere, employee Candace Hewitt said it was a favorable place to work.

"There are some rude people, but I think you get that anywhere. It's a good place to work, and I make more money here than anywhere else that I've worked."
While Classics is a fun place to grab a bite to eat, there are a few things that consumers should know. While the drinks are fun and the food is good, the employees there can be a little unfriendly, oftentimes not even saying hello. The wait time on your drinks and food can take up to 7 minutes, and there are more affordable places to eat if you are on a budget. The rising number of feral cats sitting at the back door of the kitchen is a little alarming, but Candace said they are working on getting rid of them.
"I generally like it here," Candace ended the interview with a smile on her face. "It's always busy, but that's okay."

Coffee with some extra cream: Michelangelo's Coffee and Wine Bar

Michelangleo’s Coffee and Wine Bar is a quaint coffee and wine bistro located on Main street, providing delicious food, wine and coffee to the residents of Norman. Owned and operated by Michael and Paula Palermo. The shop gives everyone a place to study, chat with friends over coffee, and listen to the local music scene every Tuesday night. Although the shop does get rather loud with the music and the constant stream of people coming in, it is a unique place that Norman is lucky to have.

         Michelangelo’s is popular with college students for their coffee and chocolate, although the cost is a little higher than a student would like to pay. At $2.50 for a large plain coffee, the shop’s prices are comparable to Starbucks or Crimson and Whipped Cream. The décor and unique arrangement of furniture and knickknacks provides an interesting atmosphere to sip on coffee and study. Older Residents of Norman often stop by to have a glass of wine with friends and talk with the storeowners, who are well known throughout the community.

         Michael Palermo, the storeowner who opened the shop and still manages it, credits his father with his desire to become an entrepreneur and finally created the first Michelangelo’s in Denver Colorado. After meeting his wife and deciding to move to Norman, the Palermos opened the second Michaelangelo’s, and are here to stay. While Michelangelo’s has the feel of a unique coffee shop, many students are surprised when they find out that the original one is located in Colorado.

         Tayler Pierce, a frequent visitor of Michelangelo’s and coffee lover, says that Michelangelo’s is a huge help to her during school.

“I love Michelangelo’s because it gives me a good place to study outside of my house, and I can relax and drink good coffee while doing my homework. Everyone gets free wireless Internet if you buy something, and the baristas are friendly. The only thing is sometimes it takes a long time for them to make your order.”

Michelangleo’s is located in downtown Norman on Main Street, next to Bison Witches. For more information on Michelangelo’s, visit www.michelangeloscoffeeandwine.com.

Award-Winning Blogger Says Social Media Will Change Middle East

Award-winning columnist and social blogger Mona Eltahawy gave a presentation on social media in the Middle East entitled "Blogging for Social Change" in the University of Oklahoma's Memorial Union on Wednesday, September 15, 2010. Talking about her native Egypt, Eltahawy says that social media has given the people a voice when the government has tried to oppress them. Eltahawy, a self-professed proud liberal Muslim, lectured on how social media expands the news and how it gets the word out on political issues. 

She doesn't expect social media to reach the Middle East in a few decades-she claims it has already started changing the region, giving hope to the public as they learn more about their political freedom and start writing new laws against corruption. In an interview with Voice of America, Eltahawy says this:

"I find social media to be one of the few tools in the Middle East that keep me optimistic about the region.  Social media have given the most marginalized groups in the region a voice.”

This is a huge development for the Arab community in the Middle East, encouraging people, including minorities, to branch out and educated themselves on the country’s political activities. Arabs and Muslims in other countries, such as America or England also feel the impact of this social change on traditions and culture.

From a bystander perspective, I not only think it takes courage to encourage members of her old community to stand up for themselves and share news with each other, but as a woman and feminist, Mona embodies the new spirit of the woman of the 21^st century, strong, empowered and bold, and she teaches other Arab women to do the same. Arab women will help bring the social change that Mona and others like her cry out for.

Change is inevitable for social media and the Middle East. With change we can look forward to a new era in the Arab world, complete with new laws and a possibly new democratic society. For more information, please visit Mona Eltahawy’s website www.monaeltahawy.com.