Intro To Broadcast - First Package

In my Introduction To Broadcast News class we have been given the task of coming up with a short news package. I decided to do it on the CCSU Soccer Club (it kills me everytime I have to use that word - it's football dammit). It's not due until the 9th, but we have to use the school's computers to do it and I'm not going to be here in time to put it all together so I've done it early. Are you proud of me Mum & Dad? I haven't left my school work until the last minute. It only took me 25 years. 

Preparing For Texas

Spring Break is upon us, they don't have the Easter Holidays here. The only thing that I struggle to understand is that the term 'Spring Break' implies that it is going to take part during Spring. Meanwhile the 'Easter Holidays' just imply that it is going to be held over Easter week.

As I write this, a mere four days before school closes, yet another snow storm has hit Connecticut. Apparently we are to get 6-8 inches over night and into tomorrow (Tuesday 19th). Things like snow on the ground does not imply that we are in Spring, if anything it tells me quite the opposite. As I walk across campus with snow and ice cold wind blowing in my face, this tells me that it is very much still winter despite the clocks going forward a week ago.

When I started to look for things to do for Spring Break I had images of American Teen films of huge outdoor parties by the beach, lake, or pool. When I started to ask the locals they simply turned and laughed at me. Connecticut doesn't allow anything like that in its state. They used to have pretty big parties at UCONN (University of Connecticut) but the police have called a halt to them due to the damage and destruction to the properties in the area. The next closest place is probably New Jersey but it is now becoming popular to travel to Florida for Spring Break.

Meanwhile, Evan and I have been watching 'King Of The Hill' and during a stupid conversation wondered if Alamo Beer (the beer Hank drinks) actually exists. A quick look online showed us that there is a brewery in San Antonio, Texas. I made a fleeting comment regarding how I'd love to travel to the south as I feel that it is more traditional America and I've heard about the Southern Hospitality etc. Evan looked at me and said very matter of fact that he has family in Dallas. A smile crossed our faces but nothing was mentioned further. As the months passed things were mentioned in passing and the idea slowly but surely became more and more real. The next thing we know, we've got a full route planned and a yearning to buy Cowboy Hats, Boots, and obscenely big Buckles. We set off on Thursday night with Hongi in tow sat in the back seat, travelling through:

Philadelphia, PA, Asheville, NC, Knoxville, TN, Nashville, TN, Huntsville, AL, Birmingham, AL, Montgomery, AL, Mobile, AL, New Orleans, LA, Baton Rouge, LA, Houston, TX, San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, Dallas, TX, Oklahoma City, OK, Little Rock, AR, Memphis, TN, Sikeston, MO, Evansville, IN, Louisville, KY, Lexington, KY, Cincinnati, OH, Columbus, OH, Pittsburgh, PA, Lancaster, PA.


However, if we see a sign saying Worlds Biggest/America's Biggest we may have to take a detour.

Cabela's: America's Obsession With Guns

I knew that America loved their guns and knives, but this blew me away. Evan wanted to buy a new pocket knife, why you ask? I asked the same question. The answer is a shrug of the shoulders and something along the lines of, "I've always carried a knife." As he says this Ethan sits polishing his boots with a rag, takes his knife out of his pocket to cut the rag in half before folding it and returning it to his pocket. "I use it all the time, it's just handy to have on you." Nope, I still don't get it. 

Daddy, Can I Have A Gun For Christmas?

After seeing one on Amazon that when folded fits in the credit card slot of your wallet, we took a trip to Cabela's to see if they also sold it. This place is massive and sells anything fishing and hunting related. I have no problem with fishing, and I have no problem with hunting (as long as it's monitored) but this is ridiculous. Mixed in with the fishing gear, clothing, knives, guns, etc there are stuffed animals everywhere. I didn't realise how big a moose is until I stood next to a couple of males rutting in the corner.

So far there is nothing out of the ordinary  just fishing gear. Yes it's a hell of a lot of fishing gear, but still just fishing gear. Then we moved upstairs. At the top of the escalator a large sign alerted me to the 'Gun Library'. This is where the second hand guns are kept in glass cabinets. Upon exiting the 'Gun Library' I notice dozens of people sat on fold up chairs. At this point the shop is only open for another 30 minutes on a Friday night, just keep that in mind. As I looked over puzzled, I heard a man shout a number. Following the sound I see a counter that is far too long full of guns, with even more guns along the wall behind. You had to get a number and wait your turn, just like going to the deli counter at Tesco's. The thing is that there were more people here than Tesco's on Christmas Eve. 

As we walked along the crowd of people I notice the colour pink out of the corner of my eye. As I turn my head I notice a sign saying 'Youth Guns'. Now these aren't air rifles or pellet guns, these are guns that can kill a man, and are aimed at children. I'm sure my mum wouldn't even let me have a spud gun as a child, I can't imagine her allowing me to carry a gun with live ammunition around. Next to the guns there is a mock firing range, and arcade, basically something you'd see at the fair. To me this just teaches children that guns are toys and takes away the all of the dangers, but that's me. 

As we walked a little further we reached the archery section. Why someone feels the need to hunt with a longbow or crossbow I have no idea. I'm sure the idea of hunting is to get a perfect kill. To kill the animal instantly so that it suffers no pain. I have difficulty seeing how that is possible with a bow and arrow, surely that prolongs the agony the animal suffers until it dies, if it dies that is. As I argue my case with Evan, I notice the variety of tips for the arrows. I assumed that they would just be sharpened points, but no. There are tips that spread out on insertion so that it cannot come out, and also mangles up the area penetrated. Tips with numerous points, big ones, small ones. Too many if you ask me, but that's me. One brand has a doodle of a turkey sweating as its mascot.

I Scared The Hell Out Of The Workers
Taking This Picture

Finally getting to the knife section Evan's face dropped as he couldn't find one suitable for his needs, whatever they are. I fail to see what a pocket knife can do that a pair of scissors can't. Despite being in the knife section, where knives are available as big as my forearm, you are never too far away from a gun. I noticed a brand of gun that says 'Zombie' on the side. Apparently this isn't a gun you'd go hunting with, but one for just 'shooting stuff' as Evan put it. Again I fail to see the point. It was also amusing to see the lack of people looking at the gun safes. Surely with all these people buying guns they will need a gun safe? If they already have one that means they already have a gun, so what need do they have to buy another? 

One of my friends back home was brought up hunting and loves it. My only experience shooting a gun was clay pigeon shooting with him and he told me how things need to be killed to control their populations. If they were left to breed then things would get out of hand. A reasonable argument I believe, especially when you have to jump through hoops just to get hold of a gun in England. By making it difficult to obtain weapons, only a handful of the population will hunt so the population of animal x will lower slowly rather than overnight. 

Apparently to own a shotgun in England you have a fire arms officer come to your home and fill out some paperwork. He also has a look at your gun safe to make sure that it is adequate. To have a rifle you have to jump through more loopholes and are more likely to have it rescinded should you do anything wrong. From being drunk and disorderly, to driving offences. Regarding handguns, you have no chance in hell getting one legally in England. 

I recently read that from April you can now carry certain knives on board American aircraft. I wonder what would happen if someone middle-eastern looking was seen to have a knife in his pocket getting on a plane in America? 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21678267

As we left I heard a number being called in the 40's (so over 40 people bought a gun on a Friday) and people were still coming into the store despite it closing anytime soon. Also remember that this is in Connecticut, one of the strictest states regarding guns in America. What a Cabela's in the south would hold is frightening to think of.

http://www.cabelas.com/home.jsp?WTz_l=Header

Broken Finger

So it seems that I have broken my first bone. Well, I've smashed my nose in plenty of times but that's cartilage; this is a real fracture that required an x-ray, so in my mind, my first broken bone.

A Slight Twist In The Wedding Ring Finger

Being from the Papa North school of health, I didn't go to see anyone about it for 3-4 weeks. I was brought up under the thinking that 'it'll be reight.' Giving myself the once over using a perfectly good method I learnt at a young age, all seemed in working order. This method is called the 'Ow' method. Basically you flick the area surrounding the problem point, and if it doesn't hurt to flick the problem point on the button. If you're not in excruciating pain, job's good.

This all started a day after the blizzard when Evan and I began to wrestle in the snow. At no point did anyone hear a crack, nor did I get a sudden rush of pain. Picking ourselves up after my defeat we sought out warm and shelter back at Carroll Hall. Sat in dry clothes I realised that my finger was a little bit swollen and turning black. I bent my finger to see if it moved, it did. I grabbed the tip and wiggled it, no pain. We concluded that it must just be bruised or at worst, a pulled tendon.

3 weeks later we're sat in the canteen when Sofia asked how my finger was. I showed it her as it's easier than speaking. It was still swollen, pointing in the wrong direction but the colour had gone. Taking the role as my mother, she ordered me to go to the health centre. Now if she could fill the role of my mum to perfection, I knew that there was no point in arguing; I didn't take any chances. The day after I went to the health centre and found that it is just as infuriating as home. See the nurse, she tells me to book an appointment with the doctor. See the doctor the next day, she tells me to book an appointment with the orthopedic doctor. All passing the book.

Not Normal

On the day seeing the orthopedic doctor I had all my over priced insurance documents in hand as I stood in this shoddy building with wallpaper peeling off the wall and decor that came straight out of the 70's. The girls behind the window seemed obsessed that I was English and like a wind up toy, had me say certain words as I filled out the paperwork.

Finally in a room with someone who can sort me out he first diagnosed me with mallet finger. Being a Cabinet Maker in a previous life I immediately picture some poor sod hitting his finger with a hammer, apparently this isn't what mallet finger is.

In medicine, mallet finger, also baseball finger, dropped finger, dolphin finger and (more generally) extensor tendon injury, is an injury of the extensor digitorum tendon of the fingers at the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP). It results from hyperflexion of the extensor digitorum tendon, and usually occurs when a ball (such as a softball, basketball, or volleyball), while being caught, hits an outstretched finger and jams it - creating a ruptured or stretched extensor digitorum tendon.  

Thank God for Wikipedia. 

Home Made Splint

For routine he sent me for a couple of x-rays that later showed it was in fact a fracture. Great work Doc. Squeezing my finger at the point of the fracture harder than necessary he was convinced by my squirm that it was the right diagnosis. Giving me a piece of metal and tape I've to keep my finger in this make shift splint for a couple of weeks to try and straighten my finger before returning. 

It didn't take long for the novelty to wear off as I struggle to type and hold a knife and fork. When the Spanish girls next saw me, Alejandra took it upon herself to play the role as Mother as she put her hands on her hips, tilted her head a little to the side and said 'I told you so.' She even the the 'know it all' look in her eyes. Women are the same regardless of their nationality.