random

you know how bill cosby had that show "Kids say the Darn-est Things"? i think most of those who really know me know that i say the most random-est things. A LOT. so thanks to my sisters, cf, brothers, friends, family, and whoever else gets to hear the random crap that i talk about for putting up with it or letting it slide. =) sigh. i heart you guys.

Featured Article

(here goes to surfing CSUF's website today at work; don't mind my hair...the suit was the business that day just not the hair)


(Image Caption: This summer's group of T. Howard Foundation Interns working at NBC in Burbank gather with ViVi Zigler, president of digital media, in her office. From left, are Cal State Fullerton student Stephanie Caragan, Lindsey Cohen of USC, Zigler, Kathleen Barth of Emerson College and Kimberly Briggs of USC.)

Hands-On Experience
Communications Student Spends Summer Interning at NBC

July 29, 2008
By Pamela McLaren

Communications major Stephanie Caragan is getting an education this summer — as a T. Howard Foundation intern working at NBC in Hollywood.

Caragan, a junior, began a two-month internship June 9 in the network's digital media department.

"I first heard about the T. Howard Foundation by an email from the Career Center on campus," said Caragan, a resident of Long Beach. "I didn't see any harm in trying it out. So I sent in the required paperwork in December and heard back by February that I had been accepted into the Foundation."

The nonprofit foundation — dedicated to increasing diversity in the multimedia and entertainment industries — made the arrangements for Caragan's internships at NBC.com and held a program orientation for all 50 2008 foundation interns in Washington, D.C.

In addition to meeting with her fellow interns, Caragan met executives from Time Warner Cable, A&E, ESPN, NBC and other networks. "It was a great way to work on our elevator speeches and network with other interns, as well as leaders in the multimedia industry. The experience to be in Washington and see the monuments was amazing!"

Back in California, Caragan is writing copy for the community highlights, featured boards and groups for the network's social network, myNBC.com.

"I also have been working with the Biggest Loser League (a branch of the 'Biggest Loser' show) that focuses on the viewers and fans of the show at home and online. They'll be able to do challenges with friends, family or co-workers," said Caragan. "I've been able to see the full production of developing and launching a website here at NBC. It's been amazing."

Caragan, whose concentration is in advertising, notes that prior to her internship, she didn't have much of an interest in social networking, but that has all changed by being in the thick of it at NBC. Especially working on the same floor at the networks off-air advertising department. "I was able to grab a meeting with the program manager, who then showed me around and introduced me to the department."

By the time she graduates from Cal State Fullerton, Caragan hopes "to have a few more internships under my belt in order to work for an ad agency or back at NBC! I'm really looking into becoming a copywriter in the advertising field.

"Whether that takes me East to New York City or keeps me on the West Coast in L.A. or San Francisco, I'm all for it. I have big dreams to being successful in my future and I'm ready to work for it."

Harry Potter movie pushed back... assholes.

thanks to my brother paul for sending over this horrible news. damn it.



Poof! Next `Harry Potter' flick moves to summer

By DAVID GERMAIN,
AP Movie Writer
Thu Aug 14, 6:04 PM ET

LOS ANGELES - It's summer school for Harry Potter.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," the sixth installment in the blockbuster film franchise about boy wizard Harry, is moving from its planned Nov. 21 release to July 17, 2009, distributor Warner Bros. said Thursday.

The move was made to take advantage of an open weekend in Hollywood's busy summer season, said Alan Horn, Warner Bros. president and chief operating officer. The film had been on schedule, and the change was not due to any production snags, he said.

"The picture is completely, absolutely, 100 percent on schedule, on time. There were no delays," Horn told The Associated Press. "I've seen the movie. It is fabulous. We would have been perfectly able to have it out in November."

The switch will mean a two-year lag between the film adaptations of books five and six in J.K. Rowling's fantasy series. But it will shorten fans' wait between "Half-Blood Prince" and the final two installments, which are being shot simultaneously next year.

Based on book seven, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the last two movies are due out in close order, in November 2010 and summer 2011. Horn said the later release of "Half-Blood Prince" will not affect the schedule for the final two movies.

Horn said the studio has had success with past summer "Harry Potter" releases, including the fifth movie, which was released in 2007 and became the second-highest grossing in the franchise.

The recent Writers Guild of America strike also had affected Hollywood's lineup in next summer, leaving a key date open for Warner to slot in "Half-Blood Prince," Horn said.

The July 17 release will be over the same weekend that Warner debuted this year's blockbuster "The Dark Knight," which had a record-breaking opening weekend and is on its way to $500 million domestically and the No. 2 spot on the all-time box-office charts behind "Titanic."

"Half-Blood Prince" finds Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) returning to his wizard classes with a clandestine assignment to root out dark secrets about the early years of his archenemy, the dark Lord Voldemort.

The film is directed by David Yates, who made the fifth movie and also is shooting the final two.

getting back to the usual

so i'm feeling "officially back" in LB and at FNL again. back to my new office hours. prepping for the new school year with some new chapters too. 14 in all; managing the website, and writing the newsletter. and a raise! but that's due to a cut in hours, which evens out. i'll have more time for school. mondays will be the most difficult, but here's the schedule:


monday:
mktg 351 9am-950am
amst 300 10am-1115am
FNL 1230pm-6pm
comm 407 7pm-945pm

tuesday:
FNL 9am-6pm

wednesday:
mktg 351 9am-950am
amst 300 10am-1115am
1230pm-6pm

thursday:
FNL 10am-430pm
comm 353 7pm-945pm

friday:
mktg 351 9am-950am
FNL 11am-6pm

ahhhh! back to school. back to school. (word to billy madison)

summer was a time well spent and worked. =)
look out for a short-term and long-term goal list.

thank you

for the second pair of eyes. and no, i'm not talking about glasses. on a lighter note, this song makes me feel better.

winds of change

often times we don't realize how much we change until we notice the people and environment around us change. or is it that our ideals change and those around us no longer share commonalities? i'm afraid of the words "best" and "friend" when put together.

ambition

i wake up every morning reading the quote "The world makes way for those who know where they are going." I'm serious. It's on the wall with a picture of a boat dock on either an ocean or a lake. i googled it:



i'm young, i know that. but most days i feel like i run way ahead of myself and away from where i sure as hell don't want to end up staying. and sometimes i feel that i'm by myself on that one or i'm not surrounded by those who feel the same way or there isn't the time for it. whichever the case, i'm having one, two, three of those days or moments right now. feels like i'm growing up more and more, yet celebrating on my own. and if that isn't the emo-est that i've been in a ridiculously long time, i don't know what is. there's a deeper meaning behind this but i'll keep that to myself until i can gather all my thoughts again and write it all down to make sense. in the meantime, back to work. ah yes, work. what i do best. what keeps me busy. and what makes me money. what kicks me back into reality.

Definitely, Maybe

thought i'd watch a movie with my cousin. =)

first of the month... again

Happy August, you Leos and Virgos! So, I wrapped up my time at NBC.com but I got some good stuff out of it. I might be part-time for them and write some content for a bit; just waiting on approval for the position. AND, I got some freelance work with a marketing/ad group based out of west l.a. I'm not sad that my internship is over because I'm way too excited on what's ahead. I'm fortunate and grateful to have experienced the time I had at NBC/Uni; I freakin' LOVED every minute of it. No complaints, whatsoever. =) I'm back at FNL full-time again. Good to be back and get organized for the upcoming school year. back to what i'm great at and passionate about. and, i got a raise! holla! but i'm cutting my hours down so i can focus on school that much more. although, if i get further with digital media, marketing, and advertising... i'll definitely take the route where I can learn more to do more. I planned out everything for school so it looks like I'll be walking Spring 2010. keep that in mind. =) i'm working like CRAZY to finish. and for those of you who actually know my schedule, you know it's the truth.

my schedule's looking nuts, but i'm not stressing about it. i had a great summer and it's not done yet but i'm not sure when i'll be blogging next. i figure i'm that much closer to where i want to be and if i keep my focus, i'll get there sooner than i know it. motivation, baby!

while i'm blogging this exact entry... i'm watching Unwrapped on the food network. and, i had to share what "treat" they were featuring from texas...

Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince

this makes me want to read the book all over again. i can't wait! yes, i'm a nerd, i know. November 21st!