"I believe in music the way some people believe in fairy tales, open your heart and listen and you will believe too,” a brief but strong statement that one Caleb Oslyn chooses to live his life by. Caleb Oslyn, age 21, is from the north suburbs of St. Paul, Minnesota in a small town called Centerville. Oslyn is a musician that says, “Music is more than just a hobby for me, it is a way of life.”
Oslyn has had an interesting life from having troubles at home to having troubles dealing with his disability. “The day I found out, I was too little to comprehend what it really meant, but I knew that I was a little different than the other kids,” Oslyn explains. Oslyn suffers from a learning disability, something he admits to having a great impact on his life, but it has not kept him from his true passion. “Music is something that just felt natural to me, so I decided a long time ago that I am not going neglect the gifts that God has given me and I am going to use them fully, to do music for Jesus as a career,” he says. Oslyn is gifted in knowing how to play drums, bass, guitar, vocals and keyboard however, his primary instrument is guitar.
Oslyn has been in many bands in the past, and all of them different styles, genres and different musical journeys. Oslyn explains, “I have tried a lot of different things, from pop music, to hardcore music, to metal, and to just straight up rock music.” When asked what Oslyn’s favorite style of music to play is he said, “I like them all to be honest, but I would like to draw my influence from all styles of music and to do something new that people have never heard before.” Oslyn is a part of a band that is doing just that. “Our name is Heart like a Hero I just kind of joined and we are kind of going through a transitional period with members but we are already entered in this year’s Club 3 Degrees tournament,” Oslyn says.
Club 3 degree is a famous music venue in down town Minneapolis, which has held a Christian music tournament for over 30 years and has gotten many bands signed, such as Children 18:3, Write this Down, and Sara Runner. Oslyn’s dream is to win the tournament so his band could have a shot at the big time. “I am not just some kid from one of those inspirational music movies looking for a happy ending; this is real life for me,” he explains.
When ask why Oslyn is so set on being a musician for a living he explained, “Well I tried the whole college thing and that did not work, unless it was a music class and I just do not have the attention span to do it. I have also tried to just get a job and just hope that I fall into something that I love, but that has not happened yet and I keep coming back to music as being my life’s calling.” Oslyn is currently Unemployed much like most people living in Minnesota, but he says he is not just sitting around on Facebook and playing video games, he says he is practicing like crazy. ”I write at least one to three songs a day. Usually I end up getting rid of half of them because to me, they are not good enough. I also am learning new cords and scales daily to try and expand on my musical knowledge. Sometimes I just watch YouTube videos of music videos, and guitar videos just to see other stage moves and other guitar playing techniques,” Oslyn expresses.
Despite Oslyn’s Unemployment situation or his disability he is set on not ever giving up improving on his musical skills and trying to live his Dream. I asked Oslyn if there was anyone out there with disabilities or other life problems, that were trying to pursue a career in music, how you would tell them to stay positive and have the attitude of never giving up. Oslyn replied, “Just believe in yourself and the gifts that God has given you. I always remember a quote from one of my favorite movies August Rush ‘I believe in music the way some people believe in fairy tales, open your heart and listen and you will believe too.”’
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
More fans watching Vikings on TV, fewer customers finding their way to some businesses
Due to the vikings doing so well this year, there seem to be less people doing things on Sundays. Some business are actually being effected by the success of the vikings. Real estate agents defiantly notice it because open houses are on Sundays, and they say they actually schedule the open house around the vikings game. The owner of The Pine-Tree Apple Orchard says he loves watching the Vikings but the better they do the worse his Sunday Business is.
911 Emergency
One man killed 17 people, but could one have been saved? Jeffery L. Dahmer, 31, killed 17 people including a 14-year-old boy, Konerak Sinthasomphone, whom the police might have saved. Dahmer has confessed to the killing of 17 people and is pleading insanity. When he was arrested he told the officer that police had been to his apartment two months earlier and after he left he killed the boy. The police were there to investigate a 911 call.
The first 911 call was made by a woman who was walking by and saw a man butt-naked on the corner of 25th and State. She explained, “And there is a young man. He’s butt-naked and he has been beaten up. He is bruised up. He can’t stand…He is really hurt. And I, you know, ain’t got no coat on.” The Dispatcher figures out where she is and transfers her to the fire department.
The fire department asked her if he was awake, and she says that he isn’t and that every time they help him up he falls down. The fire department sent an ambulance and an officer was sent out. A Milwaukee emergency operator received information from the sheriff’s department about another call that reported a male dragging another male who looked injured.
When the officer was finished on the scene he reported back to the dispatcher and laughingly said, “36…Intoxicated Asian, naked male. Was returned to his sober boyfriend.” He finishes by saying that it is going to be a while because his partner is going to get deloused.
There was another call about a woman, Glenda Cleveland, wondering why a police officer didn’t take down her information when she witnessed a young boy being molested. Cleveland was eventually transferred to the officer she talked to on the scene, officer 68. She asked the officer why he didn’t need their names and he said, “Nope it’s an intoxicated boyfriend of another boyfriend.” Cleveland then asked, “Well, how old was this child?” The officer reply’s by saying that it wasn’t a child. She asked if he was sure and the officer says, “Ma’am. I can’t make it anymore clear. It’s all taken care of. That’s, you know, he’s with his boyfriend and, ah, his boyfriend’s apartment, where he’s got belongings also. And that is where he was released.” Cleveland reply’s, “Isn’t this, I mean, what if he’s a child and not an adult. I mean are you positive this is an adult?” The officer goes on to assure her by explaining there are pictures and that everything appeared to be fine.
The two officers’ that reported on the scene were suspended a week ago with pay and their names are not being released.
The first 911 call was made by a woman who was walking by and saw a man butt-naked on the corner of 25th and State. She explained, “And there is a young man. He’s butt-naked and he has been beaten up. He is bruised up. He can’t stand…He is really hurt. And I, you know, ain’t got no coat on.” The Dispatcher figures out where she is and transfers her to the fire department.
The fire department asked her if he was awake, and she says that he isn’t and that every time they help him up he falls down. The fire department sent an ambulance and an officer was sent out. A Milwaukee emergency operator received information from the sheriff’s department about another call that reported a male dragging another male who looked injured.
When the officer was finished on the scene he reported back to the dispatcher and laughingly said, “36…Intoxicated Asian, naked male. Was returned to his sober boyfriend.” He finishes by saying that it is going to be a while because his partner is going to get deloused.
There was another call about a woman, Glenda Cleveland, wondering why a police officer didn’t take down her information when she witnessed a young boy being molested. Cleveland was eventually transferred to the officer she talked to on the scene, officer 68. She asked the officer why he didn’t need their names and he said, “Nope it’s an intoxicated boyfriend of another boyfriend.” Cleveland then asked, “Well, how old was this child?” The officer reply’s by saying that it wasn’t a child. She asked if he was sure and the officer says, “Ma’am. I can’t make it anymore clear. It’s all taken care of. That’s, you know, he’s with his boyfriend and, ah, his boyfriend’s apartment, where he’s got belongings also. And that is where he was released.” Cleveland reply’s, “Isn’t this, I mean, what if he’s a child and not an adult. I mean are you positive this is an adult?” The officer goes on to assure her by explaining there are pictures and that everything appeared to be fine.
The two officers’ that reported on the scene were suspended a week ago with pay and their names are not being released.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
poll story
Online Struggle Cont…
According to The Sloan Consortium there has been nearly a 40 percent increase in online enrollment since 2005. So if you have ever wondered if you are alone you are not. There are 66 online classes in session right now at Anoka-Ramsey Community College with at least 30 students in each class, so that is roughly 1,980 students enrolled in an online class.
There were 14 people polled, six out of 14 are full time students. Many students are not just taking online classes 87.5 percent are also taking both online and courses in the classroom at Anoka-Ramsey Community College.
If you feel that online classes are harder, 71.4 percent agree. One student polled said, “I prefer the live interaction & stimulation of regular classes. But, it's a constant challenge to keep up with online because it's out-of-sight and I am not that organized, although I have done better this year with online.” 64 percent said that they took the class because it is convenient to take an online class. One student polled said, “I wanted some more credits without having to drive to a campus.”
“It was the only way the class was offered,” a student of Anoka-Ramsey Community College stated. 29 percent of students polled said the only way the class was offered was online. Four out four students polled that said that online is harder also said it was the only way they could take the class. One student said, “Online seems to really increase the work load and homework.” Some students would like to strictly go to school but do not have that option because not all of the courses are available to take on campus. When asked if they think it is fair that not all students could take certain courses at the Anoka-Ramsey campus, 50 percent said they do not think it is fair. One student polled responded, “No. I think if you are going to have the degrees available, you should have the classes for them available as well.” 36 percent of students feel that it is fair and that it does not matter. “Yes, I think it is fair because an individual has the freedom to take classes elsewhere,” a student said.
There are 28.6 percent of students taking only online classes. Some of the courses are not offered as an online course. Only 14 percent said that it is not fair that there are not more classes offered as online. On student stated, “It would be nice if more were offered online.” 43 percent of the students said that it is fair. “There are many classes that are just not feasible online as most hands on classes such as art, science, music...some of these would be virtually impossible to take in an online format,” one student replied.
What about online degrees? There are five online degrees available at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, some of which include, Associates in Arts and Accounting. With an increase in students taking online courses there is also an increase in academic advisors accepting that online courses are just as effective or even more effective.
According to The Sloan Consortium there has been nearly a 40 percent increase in online enrollment since 2005. So if you have ever wondered if you are alone you are not. There are 66 online classes in session right now at Anoka-Ramsey Community College with at least 30 students in each class, so that is roughly 1,980 students enrolled in an online class.
There were 14 people polled, six out of 14 are full time students. Many students are not just taking online classes 87.5 percent are also taking both online and courses in the classroom at Anoka-Ramsey Community College.
If you feel that online classes are harder, 71.4 percent agree. One student polled said, “I prefer the live interaction & stimulation of regular classes. But, it's a constant challenge to keep up with online because it's out-of-sight and I am not that organized, although I have done better this year with online.” 64 percent said that they took the class because it is convenient to take an online class. One student polled said, “I wanted some more credits without having to drive to a campus.”
“It was the only way the class was offered,” a student of Anoka-Ramsey Community College stated. 29 percent of students polled said the only way the class was offered was online. Four out four students polled that said that online is harder also said it was the only way they could take the class. One student said, “Online seems to really increase the work load and homework.” Some students would like to strictly go to school but do not have that option because not all of the courses are available to take on campus. When asked if they think it is fair that not all students could take certain courses at the Anoka-Ramsey campus, 50 percent said they do not think it is fair. One student polled responded, “No. I think if you are going to have the degrees available, you should have the classes for them available as well.” 36 percent of students feel that it is fair and that it does not matter. “Yes, I think it is fair because an individual has the freedom to take classes elsewhere,” a student said.
There are 28.6 percent of students taking only online classes. Some of the courses are not offered as an online course. Only 14 percent said that it is not fair that there are not more classes offered as online. On student stated, “It would be nice if more were offered online.” 43 percent of the students said that it is fair. “There are many classes that are just not feasible online as most hands on classes such as art, science, music...some of these would be virtually impossible to take in an online format,” one student replied.
What about online degrees? There are five online degrees available at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, some of which include, Associates in Arts and Accounting. With an increase in students taking online courses there is also an increase in academic advisors accepting that online courses are just as effective or even more effective.
How I relieve stress
I relieve stress by either playing music or watching TV. Playing music is probably the better of the two options but sometimes I just feel like doing nothing. I sort of get lost in TV and it takes my mind off of whatever is stressing me out. It is a temporary fix but it works. Playing music I do less because it takes more thinking but it is a more permanent fix. Playing music and watching TV both relieve stress for me.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Quiet Shift in Budget Rules May Prompt City Job Cuts
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg says he is trying to avoid cutting jobs but says its hard when the internal budget maneuver encourages it. The maneuver has not been disclosed to the public. The administration plans to trim spending $1.7 billion. To make that trim happen the city is going to cut jobs by layoffs or attrition. Now 305,000 people may face the first significant reduction in years. -MICHAEL BARBARO; NY Times-
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
online struggle
Have you ever wondered if you are the only one attending classes and taking online classes or if you are the only one struggling with the online class you are taking? Well you are not alone. There are 66 online classes in session right now at Anoka-Ramsey Community College with at least 30 students in each class, so that is roughly 1,980 students enrolled in an online class.
There were 22 students polled; 73 percent of them are full time and 82 percent of them attend class and take an online class. So are online classes harder then attending classes? Many have argued either way. 70 percent of the 22 students polled say; yes online classes are harder while 25 percent say doing both online classes and attending classes is harder. 63 percent of students say the reason they took online classes was because they were convenient or it worked better with their schedule. While one of the students polled, in regard to why they take online courses, said, “Good pace. I love them. Fit into schedule easy.” Some students are forced to take an online class because that is all that is offered for that specific class. Five out of the five students that said they had to take online classes because that was the only way they could take the class, also said online classes are harder.
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