When life happens

November 13, 2013

Since we can write about anything we want for the last blog post, how about an apology?

I haven't been all that consistent with posting on this blog all semester. It's kind of amazing actually, because it's so simple, but I just couldn't find the time to sit down at my computer and spend a few minutes to type up a quick post.

I've had so much to handle this semester between work, school and my obligations to the Temple News. I ended up getting to the point where I had to cut some corners in order to make the time to fit it all in. This blog, as well as some other stuff not even related to this class, suffered as a result. 

I got the blog posts done at the end of the day, but most of them weren't posted around the respective deadlines. Even though they were soft deadlines, I still hold myself to a high standard and pride myself on getting stuff done on time.  I didn't do that for this and I completely botched the photo scavenger hunt.

It was never a case of me not wanting to do any of this, it was a matter of me having little or no time to do it.

I know this is a part of my grade for the class and I'm well aware that this could hurt me at the end of the semester, but there is nothing I can really do now except take whatever is given to me.

I've done so much over these past few months, but had to make some decisions along the way that could come back to haunt me.

I thought I figured out how to manage everything last year, but it turns out that I still have a lot of issues when it comes to dealing with everything I need to do.

I'm sorry I wasn't consistent with the blog.

If there is any positive from this, it's definitely a learning experience and that's why I'm in school at the end of the day.

How InFamous came to be

November 13, 2013

Video link: http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2013/05/22/the-origins-of-infamous.aspx

This video is about the video game development studio Sucker Punch Productions and how they created their video game franchise InFamous.

The developers who worked on the game go over the entire development process in the video. They talk about their original ideas and concepts, how they transitioned from the Playstation 2 to the Playstation 3, the pitch they made to Sony (creators of the Playstation brand) and what it was like to go through the process of making a superhero game with ambition of having an entire city at the player's disposal.

What I really like about this video is that the story is told through just the developers. No voiceovers, no standups. The story is told just by the people who worked on the games.

Also, I really like the InFamous games.

(Image and link from GameInformer.com. Sorry, there was no option to imbed the video.)

The TSN Mobile App

November 3, 2013

Link to TSN Mobile: http://www.tsn.ca/feature/?id=11705

This app may not necessarily be new, but I feel like it's something that not too many people know about stateside.

Ever since I downloaded it over the summer, the TSN mobile app has been one of my go-to sources for my hockey news.

It's not really the sleekest or most well-designed app out there, but it's easy enough to find whatever information you're looking for on it. 

Stats, standings, scores, it's all there in front of you and nothing is ever really buried or hidden away. I've also read a lot of articles on players and trade rumors around the NHL. It's not that I can't find these kinds of stories anywhere else, but so far TSN has been the most in-depth and comprehensive source I've come across.

I use this app pretty much every single day, especially when hockey season is in full swing. 

I may not be able to get TSN, which is basically Canada's ESPN, on TV, but this app is the next best thing.

(Image from AllHabs.net)

The World Series in Photos

November 3, 2013

It's pretty recent, but I love this photo gallery from Sports Illustrated. For me, it perfectly captures the moments that made the Red Sox's title clinching game six so memorable.

From the beards, to John Lackey. From Shane Victorino's three-run double to Koji Uehara throwing the final out. From the post-game celebration to World Series MVP and fan-favorite David Ortiz taking it all in.

In my opinion, everything you need to know about the last game of the 2013 Major League season is captured right there pictures.

The several photographers who took these photos for SI did a great job putting this all together.

(Link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/photos/1310/world-series-champions-boston-red-sox-st-louis-cardinals/14/)

Photo Scavenger Hunt

October 14, 2013

Brian and his horse Blueberry look to take tourists on a historical tour around Old City during a sunny afternoon on Oct. 14.

People await their trip home at the Septa station in Market East Gallery on the afternoon of Oct. 14.

Darryl Durham sketches portraits along Market Street on Oct. 14.

Darryl Durham sketches portraits along Market Street on Oct. 14.

Darryl Durham sketches portraits along Market Street on Oct. 14.

The Wanamaker Organ overlooks shoppers inside of Macy's on 1300 Market Street (Oct. 14).

The windows of the Mitchell and Ness store at 1201 Chestnut Street display images of some of Philadelphia's greatest sports figures (Oct. 8).

Anna Scheirer prepares and order at Mama's Vegetarian on S. 20th Street during a sunny afternoon on Oct. 8.

Because of the government shutdown, Independence Park is closed (Oct. 8).

But that hasn't stopped anyone from taking in the sites in front of Independence Hall (Oct. 14).

- Photos taken with a Samsung Galaxy S3.

- All images taken are my own

Off-the-record doesn't exist for Miller

October 1, 2013

I'm pretty big on morality, so making sure that, as a journalist, I do my job and do it the right way is something that is extremely important to me.

I wan to write the best stories I possibly can, but I want it all to be the truth.

At the same time, however, I do realize there are lines that can be crossed. If someone being interviewed wants to say something off-the-record, then I have enough respect to keep that promise and keep it out of print.

Unfortunately, former Flyers beat writer Randy Miller (South Jersey Courier Post) didn't have the same idea.

The Flyers bought out the contract of goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov at the beginning of the summer. Now, Bryzgalov was always a topic of conversation for Flyers fans due to his unique personality and inconsistent play and there were many fans that didn't like him because of that.

Bryzgalov also developed issues with the Philadelphia media towards the end of his two year run with the Flyers, calling the reporters out for being unprofessional after a report of him falling asleep in a team meeting came out.

When Bryzgalov finally got bought out, Miller called him for a quote, but Bryzgalov hung up on him. Then Miller opened up the floodgates with a bunch of tweets revealing information about the goaltender that was never reported on.

Miller then tweeted this when he started getting some backlash:

So instead of keeping off-the-record material actually off-the-record, Miller went ahead and put all of that out there for the world to see.

This happened at the beginning of the summer, but this still doesn't sit right with me to this day.

Miller has since been laid off by the Courier Post, but cutbacks were cited as the reason why.

(Image from Philly.com)

(Tweets captured by CrossingBroad.com)

Barkley on WIP

October 1, 2013

http://nyc.podcast.play.it/media/d0/d0/d1/d3/dI/dQ/dS/13IQS_3.MP3?authtok=5562178127538395614_DKEaVhOSd3qMwhVLr0fuq86eQsc

This interview may not be the most professional one in the world, but I love hearing Charles Barkley sound off on stuff because he doesn't hold anything back.

(Interview from the 94 WIP Morning Show)
(Image from NewsOne.com)