To finish my old story, Aja and I ended up between the barricades the stage and as Kid Rock stepped on stage to perform, we had our eardrums blown out and could reach out our hands and touch him if we wanted to. So that was pretty damn cool. Press were only allowed to shoot the first three songs, then they ushers us out, but that was perfectly fine with us. We fired away and then left. Walked the long walk back to the car and felt really bad when we explained to the valet that we didn't have any money to tip them. So anyway, it's been a pretty wile ride this past week. I didn't even mention that last Wednesday Barack Obama was back in town. I called my supervisor, Pam, to ask if I could use my credentials to weasel into the rally. She said of course and that they were interested in the story and were sending a reporter, so I got paid to be at the rally! And my entire photojournalism class was encouraged to go so I saw my teacher there. He shoots for AP and because I managed to wiggle a spot on the big platform for a clear shot of Obama, I got to talk with my teacher and he let me borrow a 400mm lens for a few frames. It's always fun to have the opportunity to use better equipment than what you have. Obama, by the way, was amazing to listen to. I think he especially strikes a chord with people my age because we're such idealists who are so cynical of the politicians and politics we've grown up with. I got some great photos and the whole experience was just phenomenal. Still loving all my classes, except philosophy. That class is very boring. I've had better philosophical conversations in high school. In my photography class we're finally making prints, which is the best part of the development process. We're making photograms for next week, which is really just taking photos of objects laid on top of light sensitive photo paper. I did a practice one with a couple of leaves and it looks really cool. I'm going to toy around with some more objects that will cast shadows and rough edges. I'm also finishing up my video for my videography class. Spent some lab time on that yesterday. I love my homework; working in labs. It's all hands-on and open-ended. Looking at Kris' homework just makes me gag and really appreciate the stuff I'm doing. I have to say, the class I am enjoying most is with Aaron Brown. He doesn't assign projects or homework, just asks us to participate in discussion topics on Blackboard (a school website). But I'll tell you, I spend more time thinking and doing research for this class than any other. You have to. Aaron makes you think, form an opinion and stick to it. Find facts to back up your point, sound intelligent...he just makes you think. What's more, when I leave that classroom, whatever it is we've talked about, I always want more. Today we saw a video report during Vietnam. I came home and started searching through Youtube for news videos of Vietnam. And then Iraq. And then Abu Ghraib. And then Edward R. Murrow. I even looked for Aaron Brown (which were the lightest and most entertaining of them all). There's something to be said about an invention like Youtube. There's so much potential there. Already I can go through and witness bits of history that I sort of, kind of, remember learning about, but didn't really get. Now it's there, whenever I want it. And as a wiser, more mature student, I get it. I see it and I understand it now. During the first day of class Aaron Brown said his goal was to have all of us leave at the end of the semester and look at television in a completely different way. I thought I already had an enriched perspective since I've taken journalism classes, but I can already see what he means. I can already see the difference. It's not just television anymore. I'm realizing that it really doesn't matter what I think I know today, something will change my mind tomorrow.