Minorly different from Anything else

So Monday at the Pajaronian, Alanna hands me a press release about this Christmas concert composed and preformed by this guy, Rhan Wilson and she recommended that I give him a call to get some quotes and some information I could put into the article, so I could turn it into a story and put my name on it. So I typed up the release and found the number for this Rhan Wilson and while the phone was ringing, I was thinking to myself, 'Rhan? What kind of name is that? Is like that Ron? Or like Ryan?' Suddenly a voice comes on the other line, a friendly "Hello?" I asked if this was "Rhan Wilson" and he said yes. I then told him that I was from the Register-Pajaronian and that I was doing a little piece on his An Altared Christmas concert on Friday. He was delighted and said he would love to talk to me about it. And talk to me he did. What the show was is that he took all this Christmas music and put it all in the minor key instead of the normal key. So it sounds all dark and jazz sounding.

I got some really good quotes from him and we talked for like twenty minutes about the show and how fun it was to compose and explaining to me about this new song that he was completely 'over the moon' about it. 'I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus.' Where instead of an innocent little girl or boy singing it in a playful mood, it was sung by this old lady in a mental hospital who's remembering something that happened to her when she was little: saw her mommy kissing Santa Claus. And in her mind she started to believe that her mom was having an affair with Santa Claus without her father knowing and keeping the secret has slowly driven her insane. At this point, over the phone, I had tried to keep in my laughter, being professional, but once he was done explaining it, I had to break out laughing, I couldn't keep it in anymore. After apologizing to him for laughing, he actually encourage me to laugh, saying that's what he wanted out of people. We talked for at least twenty minutes about what the show was and I understood what he had made it to be, this dark Tim Burtonish sort of deal. I understood so much, he then asked, 'Well you want me to comp some tickets for you?' I was a little flabbergasted to answer, not really knowing if I should or not, but then he explained that sure he wanted to make money out of the show, but he really wanted people to be there that understood it, "and it sounds like you really understand it." So I agreed and he took down my name and said he looked forward into meeting me.

I had just gained two free tickets to a 25 dollar a piece show. I couldn't stop myself from having a little chuckle. Benefits of being a reporter, I thought to myself. So I finished the article and told Alanna and the rest of the crew what had happened and she was really stoked for me, saying that I have to tell them how it was. So apparently I made the right decision. But I told them how embarrassing it was going to be to tell him that he comp tickets for an intern, but Todd, one of the reporters, said that I was a reporter too, to not demote myself.

And the right decision I did make. The show was amazing... words really can't explain how great the music was, it was *exactly* how he described over the phone. The place was PACKED and I was sitting there, thinking that I got free tickets and couldn't stop smirking. But for some reason, I couldn't place which member of the crew was Rhan, none of the people on stage matched the person who was in the picture in the press release, so I thought that I'd figure out that later and enjoyed the show. So after the first half, this man came on stage with an electric guitar in this silver looking leather suit with a purple vest and a large hat with two long feathers sticking out, playing the beginning to a jazzy minor version of "Carol of the Bells." I knew THAT had to be Rhan Wilson.

So after the show, he came out and was swarmed by people all meet and greeting him and knew that I had to meet the guy, he had given me over 40 dollars in tickets, I should meet the man. I will admit, I did have some butterflies in my stomach since this was probably one of the more famous people I've met in a long time, but I put on my best smile and charged into the crowd, weaving through and once he looked at me, I smiled, shoved my hand forward and said that I was Corie Jurisch from the Register-Pajaronian that we spoke over the phone. He knew exactly who I was, 'OH yes, yes, hello, how'd you like the show?' And I told him it was amazing and that it was everything he said and how much I enjoyed it and thanked him greatly for the tickets.

His music is now the only Christmas music I'm listening to at Christmas for now and always.

http://www.altared.com/live/

What I've "soaked" up

I guess now I'm suppose to tell you guys what I've learned this semester in journalism. Hm. That's a good question. Well I've learned that there were great experiences in that class and there were frustrating ones were I was very much thinking of acting out violently, towards someone in-particular I'm sure you all know who I'm talking about. I honestly think that in-between the overly zealous Voice crew, the two passionate journalism teachers trying to slam every bit of information into our heads and my internship where I got to get my feet wet in the huge career pool that I wanted to swim in. With Tarmo teaching me everything he knows about crime reporting, taking me on Media-ride-alongs with the CHP and practically running the police blotter at the Pajaronian. In just this semester alone, I've learned and received a crash course in what a career in journalism is like. Then it came down to one simple question: is this *really* what I want to do with the rest of my life. And I didn't even need to think about it and answered back: yes. It is.

Meeting Brad's friend John Glionna, the L.A times correspondent, really made me want to get into journalism even more, being inspired by his stories and just about his career. For years I was holding onto an journalism idol who's been dead for three years, soaking up his work like a sponge, even trying to duplicated his gonzo style, but deep in my heart, I knew that wasn't possible. But meeting Glionna made me realize that if I'm going to expand in a career in journalism, I'm going to have to loosen my grip on Doc a bit and expand into something more than just being a Thompson fan. "I knew I was going to be a writer because I'm not good at anything else." I have a lot of the tools I need when I make the jump from Cabrillo to SAC State, but not before one more round in The Voice team. I'm praying that we get more people because it would such an mistake if we had to cut the program because of the lack of people interested. Hopefully Emily's cry for help in the last copy of the voice has rallied people to come and join in on the fun.

Despite what someone said about her, I believe Emily has done an amazing job, especially with the problems that came her way, she didn't crack under the pressure and kicked all our asses into gear to produce a great paper. I really hope that certain individual isn't in the class next semester and if he is, I'm going to tell him for him to be Editor-in-Chief and to do all the work himself because I'm positive that *no one* will want to work under him. So he'll single-handedly bring down the journalism department because of his paranoid everybody is out to get him attitude and the fact that he truly thinks that everyone is under him and when someone knows more than him, he thinks they're flashing around being "experts." *Shakes head* I'm surprised I've done this long before finally cracking down and hitting him over the head with a chair.

Journalism is not dead, it's stealing all the benefits

I'm sick and tired of hearing of people telling me that Journalism is a dying art. Sure just because most the aces that made Journalism the really 'promising' field are gone, doesn't mean that the people left behind can't attempt to carry on the burden to make it as creative and interesting as it was before. I will admit it, it'll be much more difficult to track down the type of weird and eye-catching leads and stories than back in the days where you could find those stories in the nearest bar or government role in your area. Nowadays, it's all about what the president's doing, every time he looks out his window, it's a story, every time he passes a fucking bowl movement, it's a goddamn story. It's almost sickening that way how much we focused on the man in the white house. Of course there's other stories of his cabinet and everyone in that, but come on, we all know what the people want and they want to know what's going on in the White House, the official that America (well at least some of it) have voted for. We wanna know that the Vice-President has shot his friend in the face while quail hunting, and last time I checked, a quail is about the 12th of a size of a human. So he really shoot himself in the foot with that stunt.

If anything, we have more goddamn stories nowadays than what we know what to do with! Politics are a tricky game, but Doc knew how to play their game and even made some new rules of his own. But one thing that I have learned, is that only the strong will thrive in a place like politics. If you don't, you'll be swallowed alive by all the stronger vicious animals in the political pool and be torn from limb by limb. You gotta keep your head above water or you'll sink like a goddamn stone. That's probably the reason I've stayed out of politics all together, despite what Doc said, I really don't think I have a black enough heart or have too much morals (what little ones I have left these days) to write in politics. The minute a piece like mine hits the presses, the wolves would be released to hunt me down, teeth barring and claws sharpened. I wouldn't be strong enough to beat them away, no matter how big of stick I got. "Guns don't work on ugly animals like that," Doc would said, "you gotta out-smart'em with something they don't expect, like bashing them in the heads with sticks." It was always hard to decode his metaphors sometimes, does he really want me to hit someone with a stick or did he mean through words? What about the guns? He wants me to shoot someone now? Fucking Christ, man, speak goddamn English, god knows you write enough of it!

That's the life I want

I've discovered the ultimate pleasurable feeling and it doesn't come from eating chocolate or having sex and it's not finding true love. I believe the ultimate feeling is having a strange whom you never met before, know exactly who you are, in a positive way, from your writing. Just that feeling of importance that the stranger took the time out of their day to read your article and have nice thinks to say about it.

I've tasted this feeling and I've become an addict by just the small amount I was fed and I want more.

At the Brush fire in Watsonville I covered with Tarmo for the Pajaronian, I was introduced to the Fire Battalion Chief of Watsonville, Will Farr by Tarmo. He looked at me for only a second while shaking my hand before saying the words I will never forget for the rest of my life, "Oh yea, I read your article in the paper, it was really good." A complete stranger had known my name from my writing.

The feeling that flowed through my body, the warmth, I truly couldn't explain it, but I loved it and wanted more.

Writing articles or pieces for the newspaper or magnetize and being introduced to a stranger who has read my writing on a weekly or daily bases. That's the life I want, that's the life I wanna live.

After editing the Cabrillo Paper and seeing how great it's going to be, I honestly thing that everyone will get noticed for the things they write on campus, especially with the crew we got.

New First draft

The Student Senate met on Sept 11th in Student Activity Center in the East Wing to vote on action items, such as getting purified water for the Student Center to getting a budget going for office supplies for both the Aptos campus and the Scotts Valley campus and voting for a new Senator for one open spot in the senate. The Student Senate are made up of certain individuals on Campus, elected into office by the Student body to help budget the college’s money, events for the college and come up with regulations for the Campus and the students to follow. The Senate governed by President Rebeca Villafana, Vice-President Lupe Ortiz, and Student Trustee Gary Meyer with Legislative Representative Anthony Garza along with a series of student Senators, and the ICC chair, M..G Sample. They are currently seeking Watsonville campus and Scotts Valley representatives for the Senate, so if you are interested in this position, contact Advisor Gabe Guierrez. The senate address issues involving the college and issues going on, on campus and anything involving Cabrillo. They spent $15,000 for textbooks on reserve in the library, $5,000 for textbook loans so students can receive their books in time for the beginning of school. They are also responsible for the free parking for the first week of classes at the beginning of each semester.

They hold conference every other Thursday at 3 p.m on the dot in the Student Activities Center (SAC) East. At each meeting, after roll call and going through notes on last meeting, they go through current action items that require votes for the motion to pass, information items that are facts that are brought to the senate’s attention and official reports from the treasurer about the college budget and the president. Everyone and anyone is invited and encouraged to come speak their opinions and ideas to the Senate as “public comments” towards the beginning of each meeting.

The dark blue and green chairs are filled around a wooden table by the members of the Senate as they began the meeting after going through roll call and looking over last meeting notes for errors and unnecessary statements. They started with the first item on their agenda: voting for a new senator to the opening in the Senate. They were faced with two potential members, both speaking out on their behalf: Amanda Martinez and Ruben Witis. Through a secret vote, Martinez was awarded the opening. But recently, Martinez has withdrawn from the senate, “My main focus is my classes, and the Senate seems like a big commitment,” she says, “it's not right for me at this point.
”
Because the Student Senate is made up with students of Cabrillo, they take the time out of each meeting for public comments from anyone who needs the time or the attention from the Senate for anything from bringing attention to certain items on campus and to request funding for events. Phil Rodriquez, a candidate for the College Broad of Education proposed if he could campaign on Campus for his campaign. Jessica Davies, an acupuncturist, proposed the idea of using acupuncture and massage on Campus to help relieve the stress of the students during the Semester and all she required from the senate was support, volunteers and the commitment needed to keep the project going. The Library director, Johanna Bowen, spoke about the cost of increasing an over-due textbook for the “book-on-reserve” program. Anyone and everyone are welcome to come speak about any issues regarding on anything on campus.

The Senate brings up current important action items for the college that they got through each item, on by, one to vote to either pass the motion or vito it. One important issue was the $34,000 to help maintain the 900 Building on campus, to keep it for the students, “I’ve been there when they first started to ‘axe’ things out of the building,” says Barbour, “we need to get something in writing about it, keep it for the students.” After a quick discussion about it with the senate, many stating that they need protection to make sure the building doesn’t get taken away from “us”, speaking as a whole, it was voted on and the motion passed to get something in writing for the motion and for the amount of $34,000 to keep the SAC building mantained and for the 'students.'

Another item on the list was to provide and 700 dollars for the Wellness and Health Fair which is being held on Sept. 25th, “it’s an active place for students to go,” says Barbour, speaking highly about the Fair and believing it was more of a culture event. Two other items were for money for office supplies for the Aptos campus, $500 for staplers and colored paper and other office supplies and for the Scotts Valley campus, $130 for Office supplies for student support. The Senate carefully and professional handled items that involved the Campus money budget and spoke about certain informational items that needed to be addressed from Free Speech to creating an Eligibility Center for distributing 10,000 dollars in Scholarships for students. There was also a matter of taking a set amount of money, $1,000 to bring over Dr. Bruno Pisaro from Italy for a lecture on Greek Culture of Northern Italy. Pisaro was brought to Cabrillo last year for a lecture on Pompeii. “There was literally no room around the doors, it was that packed!” says Fortune, who speaks about attending the lecture last year and about how successful it was. It seems like Cabrillo are in for some fascinating changes this fall by the slightly unorthodox, but very passion group of individuals that make up the Student Senate, more high-quality changes are to come down the road and the students will not be disappointed with the plans in store.

(Again more to edit, but it's looking a lot better.)

"Senate makes plans for new Semster"

(So after listening to a lot of music from the up-coming movie Repo! The Genetic Opera... well more like just one song over and over again... I've finished the first draft of my first *official* article for the Voice, I still need to research some names and reword some things before I can call it done.)

The dark blue and green chairs were filled by the Student Senate on Sept 11th in Student Activity Center in the East Wing to vote on action items, such as getting purified water for the Student Center to getting a budget going for office supplies for both the Aptos campus and the Scotts Valley campus and voting for a new Senator for one open spot in the senate. With a soft ring of a small bell at 3:06, the Senate began their meeting after going through roll call and looking over last meeting notes for errors and unnecessary statements. After, they start with the first item on their list: voting for a new senator to the opening in the Senate. They are faced with two potential members, both speaking out on their behalf: Amanda Martinez and Ruben Witis. Martinez is up first and she explains why she thinks she would be a good choice for the Senate, “have been interested for weeks,” she says, “I think it’ll be fun and cool,” she states, slightly nervous with her gold airplane earrings bobbing around by her neck. She expressed interest in both the Democratic Club, getting involved with the Republican club and for the issue of Health care. Witis is up next, also giving details on why they should pick him and states that he likes the fact that he’d be making his own choices and decisions. Senator Eric Barbour expressed interest for Witis to be “the Voice of Watsonville to the Senate.” Silence comes over the room while the secret vote is casted and Martinez wins 10 to 6.

After a few public comments including a Campaign presentation by Phil Rodriquez who is running for the College Board and Johanna Bowen, the Library Director speaking about the cost of an over-due text book along with a quick president’s and budget report, the Senate soon bring up current important action items for the college, one being for money to help maintain the 900 Building on campus, over 34,000 dollars and 700 dollars for the Wellness and Health Fair on Sept. 25th. Two items were for office supplies for the Aptos campus for staplers and colored paper and for the Scotts Valley campus for Bluebooks and Scantrons. The Senate carefully and professional handled items that involved the Campus money budget and spoke about certain informational items that needed to be addressed from Free Speech to creating an Eligibility Center for distributing 10,000 dollars in Scholarships for students. There was also a matter of taking a set amount of money to bring over Bruno Pisaro from Italy for a lecture on Greek Culture of Northern Italy. Pisaro was brought to Cabrillo last year for a lecture on Pompeii and his appearance completely packed lecture hall with students sitting on the floor and crowding around the door. It seems like Cabrillo are in for some fascinating changes this fall by the slightly unorthodox, but very passion group of individuals that make up the Student Senate, more high-quality changes are to come down the road and the students will not be disappointed with the plans in store.

(Not too bad if I do say so myself, especially with it's content... but it's a work in progress...)

Student Senate Notes

I'm starting to translate all the notes I took in the Student Senate today and see where I'm putting them all and especially if I'm going to use them all. Of course a lot of what I wrote was what I heard in certain issues, about five pages of notes in my little notebook. I was just gonna type them all up and see what I can use and what I can't. So here goes.
(Note: Emily, if my "action items" don't match up with the ones you have on the Agenda, please give me the connections)

*Senate Notes

*Electing new senator
-choices in-between: Amanda Martinez and Ruben Witis (SP on name)
-Amanda: Interested in a senator for weeks, thinks it'll be fun and cool and has a strong interest in political science, not involved in any clubs, but expressed interest in the Democratic club and interest in making or getting involved in the Republican club, has interest in the health issue since she, herself, has none and talked to a counselor about it and you have to pay a fee about it. Strong interest in this subject. is taking 13 units and her application has been passed.
-Ruben: Interested in senator, likes the fact he'll be making his own decisions and choices and likes the power. No clubs, but expresses a Spanish club interest. Has no strong issues, but there's "always stuff coming up" Trustee Erik expresses that he could be "The voice of Watsonville to the Senate."
-Expressed a lot of interest in connecting Ruben (if elected) to the Watsonville campus) even added more minutes to question.
-Voting: Amanda Vs. Ruben (Secret vote)
-Rip off a piece of paper and writing down the vote and sticking it into a brown paper bag.
-Long silence while the counting of votes
-Results: Amanda- 10 and Ruben- 6, Amanda wins

*Public Comments
-Craig (Find out last name) about the "Master Plan" (*Contact Lucas about possible connection to his story) There are five task goals with five goal area teams, 3 Vice-presidents, a president and a dean with each group. Recruitment for program and wants some of the student government on the teams. Will be integrated and possible update with "Master Plan" for Watsonville.
-Trevor (Find out last name) the Academic counselor for Data High School and invites the Senate to do presentations at the school, talk about student activity cards and about what they do, etc. a CG class. 30 minute talks for the presentations.
-Elizabeth (Find out last name) four year Nursing student asking for money for the nursing program and graduation for the nurses. Short on money, need about 5-700 dollars. Venue needed, 100 a piece. Possible sponsor for program.
-Jessica (Find out last name) acupuncturist and massage specialist. (*Contact Stress on campus writer about possible contact for story) Wants to put acupuncture and massage on campus to help students reveal stress only for a new dollars. Need support for the idea and volunteers and commitment.

*Presentation Campaign for Phil Rodriguez
-Running for the College board and believes in stewardship and spend six years in the school board and in a two year problem in Sacramento and did a consulting business. Very interested in funding for school. Expressed interest in community help especially with Cabrillo's anniversary coming up, wants to balance out the respect for the old staff and bringing in new people. Member of the Democratic club. The spark that got him going: commitment for public education.
Marco: Money's tight, hard job on the board, possible disgruntled employee from Cabrillo?
Phil: Not disgruntled, was lead away by another job and helped pass a bond while at another school.
-Changes and possible partnering up with the community, life learning and businesses coming into classes and spending "money the most effect way."

*Joanna Bowing: Library Director. Brought up that a lot of student ideas that have become policies and grants for expensive books. Need more books, of course, more staff and "stretch" money. Quite happy with how things are going with the rental program, "too much of a success" a lot of people in the library "What do you want me to fix?"
-Microsoft word on the main computers?
-Harder to bump people working on term papers on the main computers when they're needed for other things.
-Possible books that are needed in library, they're responsible for reporting a book they don't have and need.
-Can't put a book in each campus
-Harder to get rid of college things because of the strict rules, can't just sell the unused books and just end up discarding them
-Sentor Erik: Most are doing Facebook and Myspace and difficult in printing word docs on main computers
Joanne: Microsoft "Readers" help with the printing
-Had a chance to block Myspace but didn't. "Not everyone's happy" and wants to keep the price of the books at 50 dollars of the ones in the library
-Same information that's in the old text? Still sitting in the library to use
-Anthony: It's the teacher's choice to get a new book.
-Cost of an over-due book is 30$ for the whole semester and some students just keep the book the whole semester and return it at the end, wants to change it to cost of the book, expensive ones, for the whole semester, adding it as a library policy.
(*Extended over four times, very important issue*)

*President's Report
-Help check the messages for the Senate (They *do* listen to them and wants to hear from the students)
-"Important to do the best job possible"
-Evaluation form for the president, be a better president "for you"

*Budget Report
-"Do we have money?" "Yes" *Claps and laughs*
-Retiring treasurer
-Thanks the senate, never balanced a check book, look at the big picture, Stiff budge crisis in the world today. Show that the senate can manage the money. Plan ahead- setting goals and keeping on those goals. Spend wisely and found out if you can spend outside of senate funds. Listen to the experienced

*Action Items*
1. Leadership Conference- Recommended 1 Adviser and 8 Students cost of 7,500 dollars
-Ask how money people wanted to go: 10 hands were raised
-Could spend more and send more, but would need two advisers
-29,000 budgeting and include 11 students
-Motion passed for upgrade of 11 students, 2 advisers and 8,5000 dollars
2. 100 dollars for purified water for Student Center.
-Change student center fee to programs
-Motion passed for 100 dollars from Programs fee
3. 3,500 dollars for Student Center for flooring and signing and for the 900 building.
-All would got to the 900 building and to maintaining the 900 building
-The hub of the planning and keeping the building for the students
-*NOT* a business office, it's a cafeteria
-President: Need a plan of action
-Very slippery slope, would need a written agreement for student activity building, to help from it not being taken away from us.- Eric
-Floor Planners do not have the authority, they just process everything.
-Not moving clubs or Senate out of 900 building. Being a bit defensive about how it look on the project.
-Move to put something in writing to protect the 900 building and change the budget to 34,000
-Motion passed
4. Tabled
5. 500 to office supplies account, original 1,000, but didn't have the money, moved to change to 500 and did.
-Money for staplers and colored paper
-Move to 700 from the student center and passed
-Motion Passed
6. Tabled to next week
7. 700 dollars for the Wellness and Health Fair
-800 from Cultural Events account instead of programs account because it's more of a cultural event at the college
-Active place for students
-Fair Sept 25th.
-Motion Passed
8. Tabled
9. Need office supplies for Scott Valley Campus 130 from Student Center fee.
-100 for Bluebooks and Scantrons and rest for pencils and staples, etc
-Motion passed

*Information Items
-Free Speech. Not being respected. Expressed interest in letting everyone talk as long as they're not being rude or using bad language
-Review two architectural plans for space. Great benefit for the the senate to make a doc and send it in on the plans, something in writing
-Outdoor patios for Sac, three patios with umbrellas for different areas around Sac. Approval for funds and be in Actions next week. Good for foot traffic in that area.
-Creating eligibility Center for the distributor for the Scholarship and emergency association. 10,000 dollars to give out scholarships. Need a for a committee to create a plan
-1,000 dollars from Cutural events to bring Bruno Pisaro from Italy to lecture on the Greek culture of Northern Italy. 500 dollars last year and lectured on Pompeii. Worked very well and was a lot of fun (Lecture would be in Italian) charge admitions for lecutre. So crowded last year people sitting on the floor and around door. PACKED.

So my notes stopped when I left, but I imagine that I'd probably most likely write about what the senate voted on and what was going on with money and such anyway, plus it was getting late. But I did get a lot of stuff. I imagine I'll be doing this every week, posting my notes and please be patient with me when it comes to notes, I'm use I'll come up with a system so I'll find what I should write down to what's going to help, instead of just everything I hear.

Dear Doc

I made one of the newspaper editor for a lot of the clubs and such and will be sitting in a lot of the Senate meetings. (That, I know you'll be amused by, me doing what you did, except me actually writing notes and you just sitting there.)

Thought you'd be proud or at least amused. I imagine you saying "Good. Don't fuck this shit up or you'll be shit outta luck, kid and don't let'em silence what they say in those meetings!"

So this should be interesting enough, we'll just take a few drinks and see where this goes.

Signed,

Vicious Stabbing at Local Liquors: "First Lead"

"Two out of three Watsonville men were brutally attacked by suspected gang members outside of Cabrillo Liquors in Aptos, Friday Aug. 29, just 7 minutes away, 2.8 miles down the street from Cabrillo College."

Eh... sounds like it needs work, maybe some different wording and stuff, but not too bad if I do say so myself.

I've seen from googling the facts, the only paper with an actual story on it is the Watsonville Pajaronian and a couple other ones, but nothing big, which make sense seeing how the guys were from Watsonville. I can see this working in the Voice because it happened just down the street and in town.

*~*To Do list*~*
-Interview C. Liquors owner
-Question neighbors to C. Liquors
-Call official officer on case (not much there, but it can't hurt, plus they'll probably pity me because of me being a student)
-Talk to the hospital and see if they can share any information about the guys and how they're doing.
-Ask a few students/teacher about how they feel about it, get the opinion of Cabrillo as a whole.
-Research other gang attacks in area
-Gather up facts together and form draft.

"The King is dead."

The world was saddened by the passing of the King of trailer voice-overs, Don LaFontaine, who died Monday. He had been having complications from the treatment to his lung-related illness. He was 68. You may know him as the “movie voice” during every trailer from 1980’s “The Elephant Man” starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt, to 2000’s “Cast Away” starring Tom Hanks and over a thousand more and saying those four words that made the world’s ear perk up with interest to which ever preview was playing at the time, ‘In a world where…’

He was famous for his deep and theatrical booming voice, being heard in commercials and radio from McDonald to Geico insurance. He didn’t just do movie trailers and commercials, he also did voiceovers for TV also. He had been heard on “The Insider” and ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, UPN, TNT, TBS, even the Cartoon Network. His deep dramatic voice that made you stop what you were doing to listen, was also used for the announcer for the Academy Awards and the SAG awards.

According to Yahoo TV’s journalist Barry Garron, LaFontaine talked about the lung-related illness in the SAGWatch blog on Aug 11 2008, that he had been fighting for 30 years now from ‘on-and-off smoking.’ He had quit smoking 20 years ago, but apparently the damage was still there. “There are still a few miles to go before I’m back to 100%,” he writes with an optimistic attitude, “But that, I can assure, is going to happen.” He had a very confident on his full recovery up until the end.

In 2005, LaFontaine was awarded a lifetime achievement honor at The Hollywood Reporter’s 34 annual Key Art awards. Even though most people these days, when presented with his name, wouldn’t have any idea who he was, but when they heard his voice, would know exactly where they heard it from, known as “The Movie trailer voice.” Apparently he didn’t have any problem with people not knowing his name, causing him to live a quiet life with his wife, Singer-actress Nita Whitaker and three children, all daughters.

LaFontaine did his first voice-over for a film promo in 1965 for MGM, the film “Gunfighters of Casa Grande.” MGM was fond of it. Up until his death, he was doing about 7-10 voiceover sessions a day, still using that unfathomable and memorizing voice to catch all of our attention.

SAG president Alan Rosenberg had this to say about the passing of the most inexhaustible and recorded SAG actor of all time: “Don was a phenomenal actor and a prodigious and amazing voice talent who could, like the best voice artists, make any material uniquely his own. His contributions on and off ‘mike’ enriched the profession and the guild. He will be greatly missed by all of us.”


Not to bad for one of my first articles.

Letter to a Dead man

Dear Doc,

I feel like I'm slipping, I can feel the pressure of the outside world closing in and their slimy claws grabbing and scratching at the back of my neck and I really don't think I can fight them off anymore. I usually just toss them a bunch of facts and ideas of the future to slash up and tear to pieces with their razor like nails and that would usually keep them satisfied for at least a couple months or so, but I'm starting to feel like I'm as up to par as I used to and I'm finding that the beasts are going through my bullshit quicker and quicker and only getting more hungry after each one. I don't think I can fend them off anymore. I think it's only a matter of time before their bust through the gates and come for me, tear me apart limb from limb, munching on my flesh like jerky to dogs. I'm running out of ideas of what to do and I'm really starting to feel the pressure. I know you've always told me to never take shit from nobody, never to let anyone tell you what you can't/shouldn't write about. I should write what flows through me, whatever the fuck it may be. You always had the best advice, maybe not the smartest or the most clear, but definitely the best.

I was fine with it, it was a stupid fucking move and selfish as all hell, but I was fine with it. Unlike everyone else completely shocked and confused, I knew. Working aside you for all those years, I should know. You had been playing with the fucking idea of doing it for years, Ralph knew it and I knew it. Hell you always told him to watch over Amita, Juan and I after you were gone. But I just think any of us knew how soon it really was. You fucking bastard. It wasn't fair, I wasn't ready and you just go and leave like that. This final lesson of yours fucking sucks, it's too goddamn hard and we both know I'm not smart enough for this... you always said to stop saying that, I was a genius compared to most and that if I wasn't, you wouldn't have picked me. I just feel like your voice in my head is fading, how matter how hard I try to tie it down, it seems to always be pulling away. I'm scared. I'm scared shitless that I won't have my teacher as my voice as reason (well as reasonable as you ever were) anymore. What the fuck am I suppose to do?! I don't know what stories to write, what leads to follow! You fucking left me in the goddamn dark forest without as much as a flashlight or a goddamn lighter to fucking see with! Goddamn bastard. I miss you too damn much not to be pissed off at you.

I'll try damn it, you can't ask anymore than that.

Signed,

Headlines: "Indecisive student changes majors... again!"

Indecisive Cabrillo student, Corie Jurisch, 21 who has been at the community college since 2005, has plans to change her majors for a fourth time this week. "First I was thinking about criminal psychology after taking a criminal behavior class," she told us and chuckled while rolling her eyes, "yea I fit in quite nicely there with all the rest of weird people who's fascinated by criminals." To go along with her major, she took abnormal psychology and general psychology, both which she passed. When asked about it, she seemed disappointed, "I don't exactly test well, that's not surprise," she sighed and pulling her eyes away, "I mean I was interested in the subject, but with all the extreme studying and testing, it's no surprise I didn't get an A." After the disappointment with no A's in the classes she wanted, she took another set of classes that made the curious brunette change her majors for a second time to one that seemed perfect: Film. But after yet another set back with transferring and over all self-realisation she says, "I realized that my criminal psychology books out-weighted my film books about 1:4 and found my interest for it was still alive." But for this indecisive eccentric student, she changed her majors for yet a fourth time this week and when asked about it, she was a little frustrated about it, "I mean I'm starting to think that my mom's gonna end up cutting her loses but just shooting me in the head," she laughed nervously, "but I honestly think that this might be the field for me. Especially since my favorite writer was in the field." And who is the writer? No other than the late druggie and extreme journalist Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. She quoted one particular quote that the late Doctor of Journalism said in his documentary Breakfest with Hunter, "I knew I was gonna be a writer because I wasn't good at anything else." She honestly thinks this might be it and maybe then she'll finally get out of Cabrillo for good. "I've been here too long when I can walk right into the video section of the library and know the exact location of a certain movie. Yea, I'm ready to get the F**k out of here."

------------------------------------------------------

Yea if only I was that important, but that's what's going through my mind. It seems like everytime I take an interesting class, I wanna do that for a major. I'm just way too fucking indecisive and can't make up my mind! But who knows, this feels different from the last ones. I honestly think this might be the one. I've asked my family and friends about me being like a crime journalist or something, they honestly thought I could do it, the main thing me being a writer. That was the main point, I've been like writing since I can remember, but I just didn't have any idea of what I wanted to write and doing it as a career! I mean fiction would be nice, but I haven't finished anything worth doing anything with and the stuff I think is good I haven't finished. Of course they're works in progress, but I think that's all they're gonna end up being. Who knows, maybe this is what I'm suppose to do. Maybe I am suppose to follow in my idol's footsteps.... just hopefully not in his style. I mean it's good, but most people thought of him more as a writer than a journalist since, let's face it folks, most his stuff was more about himself than the actual story he was suppose to be covering. But that doesn't make him any less of an artist, a genius than than he was before.