DCI 2009: Santa Clara Vanguard

I’m attending DCI orlando this saturday, and plan to do the same video project stuff I did last year. As a DCI alum, these sorts of events are exciting in a very unique way. Imagine if you played a sport that only 10% of the population played, and you played it at the highest, most competitive level. You did it all year, and it was apart of your identity. No one really knows about the sport/competitions unless they played it, and you can only play until your 21 years old. For every year after, the only connection to that part of your life is visiting the one competition that comes through every year. That begins to explain how I feel about DCI.

Needless to say I’m excited. I am meeting a friend in Crossmen for the first time in person, plus I like posting the vids and seeing old marching buddies. One of my favorite corps is the Santa Clara Vanguard, seen here. This first video represents what I love most about DCI. A corps in some random field in the middle of no where, practicing their show, trying to get better. Everyday is a new random field, every day the same goal.

video by dzurisintube

This second one is great. There is a trumpet tick about halfway through and the tech gets visually pissed off.  That’s what I love about this activity; no mistakes, be perfect…and that people get that into getting it right…

Craigslist Phenomena: Conclusions

I’ve gotten some more responses from CL people. I posted this ad last night before I crashed, in hope that I would get the late night pervs to give me info:

Crazy USF Chick
You’ve all seen the posts, they are random but all end in (go bulls!). Basically some college chick whoring herself out. I’ve wondered what the fuck this person/company is thinking. If you’ve had any responses with it, I would be interested. I’ve been documenting some of the more entertaining posts, let me know your thoughts. broseph.wordpress.com

Responses

DR:

hey, wtf, who cares?

RG:

hey i think its localsexfinder.com or you can just reply to one of there BS post and they have a link in the email

TM:

Dude, that is just some stupid scam. I emailed her wondering the same shit. Just a scam to get you to register for some sex site.

I got an email from craigslist too!

Sunday, July 5, 2009 11:36 PM
From:
“craigslist”
Your posting has been flagged for removal.

Approximately 98% of postings removed are in violation of craigslist posting guidelines. Please make sure you are abiding by all posted site rules, including our terms of use.

My final action

I wrote this letter to the craigslist people after I got flagged, and pretty much lost interest after reading their automated response:

Sir or madam:

A sophisticated spamming operation has cropped up in the tampa CL personals section. An off site webpage has been posting personal adds, all ending in (go bulls!). Do a search of personals “go bulls” and you’ll find over 500 bunk posts in the month of June.

This is a misuse of CL personals. I am impressed at the content of each ad, and the sophisticated system used to implement it, but their actions violate (my conception of) the CL spirit. Thus, I think steps should be taken to limit/remove these ads.

I have documented many of these ads on a separate webpage and I am happy to share the evidence I have gathered. Thanks.

Conclusions

I think we all can deduce that these “go bulls” posts are bait for some freaky sex/hookup website. Mystery solved. But other questions remain:

a) The posts are pretty well written. I argue humans wrote them, and then “go bulls” was added along with a major. Does the website employ people to write these personal ads? Are they genuine ads but headhunted for and taken? Are they disingenuous posts but the authors compensated?

b) All the posts use the majors: music, history, philosophy, art and theater. WTF? Why not use all majors. Personally I find hooking up with a physics major pretty enticing, especially if she’s a freak. Also, language majors such as french, English, Chinese, ect are just as notorious for sleeping with people. Usually education and psychology majors are whores, generally speaking. The point is, there are few majors not associated w/doing it (math? Engineering?) Why only use those four majors!!!? I find the major thing hilarious as I have degrees in history and philosophy from USF.

c) This all leads up to the biggest question: why say “go bulls” at the end of every post. I suspect that not making yourself known as a spam dating website in these ads is the intention. The use of 500+, unique, decently composed personal ads as bait makes me think the company behind this is smart enough to be inconspicuous. Yet, for some reason, they put the same basic tag line at the end of each post. WTF?? Anyone who visits that site regularly picks up, as evidenced by my e-mailers.

Possible reasons include inventory. I was able to search for all ads by simply searching “go bulls”. Maybe they want to keep track? Also, if this dating site hopes to attract users, perhaps their target audience are not regular CL people, but n00bs with no idea these are spam ads (I was one of those people). Perhaps the hope is these horny n00bs join the freaky sex/hookup site. Honestly though, this last question confounds me.

This is as far as I’m willing to go to solve this mystery. It was fun while it lasted, but was never going to be anything special. Sort of like a CL personals hookup.

Craigslist Phenomena = Spam?

I’m a N00b?

I’ve been collecting clues about the craigslist girl and I’ve gotten some good email responses. I have found myself playing the role of an ignorant n00b, in that many suggest these are BOT ads from online dating sites. I’ve decided to document all of my investigation, evidence, and correspondence as I try and figure out what’s what here.

After I decided to investigate, I posted this ad on the Tampa CL personals site to see if anyone could provide me information:

Crazy USF chick – 27 (usf)
Date: 2009-07-05, 5:23PM EDT

I’ve been following this chick for about a month now on this thing. I did a search and she has 513 posts ending in “go bulls” WTF? is she doing an experiment or something? Has anyone gotten in touch? I would like to know, I am curious what the hell she is doing.

I did a “best of” on my blog, as some of her posts are freaking hilarious. If you’ve had success I’d like to know, just curious if she actually exists. I emailed her asking what the deal was and she never responded. broseph.workpress.com

Email Responses

JK:
yeah i noticed the same ad, i think it is a scam. she sounds really hot though! the reason i think its a scam is because the story is different in each add. let me know if you find out anymore info

Visson:
shes def fake dude…its so obvious look at the locations…all fake

Ryan:

lol hey i saw your post. every entry you see with that USF go bulls! is some dating website of sex finder that is trying to get you to sign up for their shit. theyre all over craigslist. they will send you fake pics even. dont bother with any post ending in go bulls or the “study art”
fellow craigslist inquirer,
ryan

John:

Whats up? Yea I figured they are fake ads, If I see the go bulls thing, I back out, with all the fake ads, I have become some what good at spotting them, good luck. John

Reaction

I’m working on my response to all of this, but I’m pretty beat and have work tomorrow to think about. I have been following the link I posted earlier, and “go bulls” has posted 8 since my original post. Some are being flagged as spam, which is interesting. My final step tonight will be to send a letter/post on the message board about the spammers. Maybe the genius’s at Craigslist can figure out a way to beat them.

Here’s some funny one’s “go bulls” has had lately:

Living for Today – w4m – 23 (here)
Date: 2009-07-05, 7:20PM EDT

I am very busy person, who likes keeping busy at anything. I work a lot, but I do make time for my friends and family, when they decide to come around. I enjoy all kinds of things and like to try almost anything, except heights. I do like to fly though, go figure! Not much else to mention, that I can’t tell myself later on!P.S If you don’t really have a picture, I am not really interested in you, so get with the program and get a picture on here, because I did!!! Sorry I don’t travel to Calgary or Edmonton or other places, so don’t even ask!!! Plus I am a big girl, so don’t be shocked either! Im studying art at USF (go Bulls!!)

Not really sure what to put here… – w4m – 22 (Fletcher)
Date: 2009-07-05, 7:45PM EDT

So I can’t really think of a good title, because I’m not too sure what I’m looking for. I know I want to find someone to serve the purpose of a good friend and a consistent hookup. I’m not really into screwing up peoples relationships, so no couples unless you both are into that sort of thing and agree to it (I’m bi). I’ll give you my stats and pic and all that good stuff when you reply with yours so I know you’re the real deal. PLEASE no drama or diseases. I’ve got neither. Im studying philosophy at USF (go Bulls!!)

Check out the full tampa “go bulls” posts HERE

Crazy Craigslist Phenomena

I love craigslist.  I get a lot of goods and entertainment out of that wonderful web site.  It’s sort of a dream of mine to be featured on missed connections some day.  I also just type “USF” in the personals section, to see exactly what type of people are whoring themselves out around my area of town.

Recently, there has been this “girl” who keeps posting, trolling for dudes to bang her I guess.  I use the quotes around “girl” to emphasize the fact that this crazy could be male or female and not the 21 year old hottie she claims to be.  She posts like 3 ads per category, per day, under different alias’s and majors. Somehow black, white and hispanic, her race changes from post to post. Sometimes she has kids, sometimes she’s single and alone. Sometimes she lives on campus, sometimes off, other times with her parents. At one point she claims to be a foreign citizen.

It’s fucking crazy (to me) the amount of time and effort this person puts into making up persona’s. I’m intrigued at this point; what a mystery. I’ve counted about 500 posts over the last month which I suspect are all from the same person.

Normally, I don’t think anyone would notice this is the same person. But, she makes a fatal mistake, and I can’t decide if its intentional or not. She always says: (go bulls!) at the end, which is an obvious giveaway (to me anyhow) that it is the same person. What the hell is this person doing?  You have to read some yourself.

Here are some examples of the multiple people s/he claims to be:

Looking for well hung guy to make me cum – w4m – 20 (here)
Date: 2009-07-05, 10:37AM EDT

Looking for a fun guy to spend some down time with. I love sex and I love to share a good time with someone even if we are just talking about it- sometimes that can get nice and hot! I am mainly into older men. I will tell you all about myself when you contact me. I love to be pleasured, and I love to pleasure.Talk to me! Im studying philosophy at USF (go Bulls!!)

Did you right ma nayme on tha overpass?SWF – w4m – 20 (here)
Date: 2009-07-03, 11:31PM EDT

Hi I’m slim, petite and very highly sexed in a loving cuckold relationship with my partner Mark. I am seeking a special friend for longer term sexual friendship, someone who is comfy with the idea of me cuckolding mark. Looking for a genuine fun loving guy, preferably who can fuck me in front of my partner, but not essential. Seeking a genuine guy who wants to be my main source of fun, who is prepared to on occasions stay with me at my partners. Im studying history at USF (go Bulls!!)

Office fun – w4m – 21 (Maple)
Date: 2009-06-19, 12:49PM EDT

I have a huge office fantasy. I want to come into your office, shut and lock the door, sit on your desk, lift my skirt revealing no underwear on underneath, and have you lick and suck my pussy until I explode. I will try to not scream. I then pull my skirt down and leave you hoping I’ll cum again tomorrow. Please be sane and D/D free. Send a pic and Ill send you mine. I’ll be calling your secretary to make an appointment soon PS: If you dont have an office, I can host. Im studying art at USF (go Bulls!!)

Are you good at graduate math? – w4m – 22 (Hamner)
Date: 2009-06-20, 11:40PM EDT

Are you any good at graduate level probability and statistics? I have a project due in two weeks. This may sound weird but I want a study buddy that can tutor me through a project I have to submit while we take breaks relieving the stress and tension of it all. I get very grateful for any help provided if you catch my drift. This will be a lot of work in the evenings the next few weeks but hopefully will be fun as well. Pls send qualifications (just a few sentences) to the tutoring part. For example,I have a Masters in X and am a statistician or whatever). I have a private place for this.I’m good looking and in good shape. And if we are interested in doing this, I’ll send a pic. Im studying art at USF (go Bulls!!)

i would like to meet someone who will make my stay in USA nicer – w4m – 22 (here)
Date: 2009-06-21, 1:19AM EDT

i would like to meet someone who will make my stay in USA nicer … and more interesting … i will be here till next jun. would like to experiance someone who would make me lough. and who likes to play pool and to watch movies. and who likes huging. i love to be huged Im studying art at USF (go Bulls!!)

Complete Fulfillment – w4m – 23 (Sylvia)
Date: 2009-06-19, 5:46AM EDT

I am an attractive female looking for intimate companionship during the week late at night and on the weekends. I am a full time mother of 2 and have needs. I have my own house and am very passionate and sexual. I am 5′5 155 attractive,big blue eyes,nice lips,curvy sexy body:) Pic for Pic…. Message me if interested! Im studying art at USF (go Bulls!!)

Practicing Lesbian picky about my men – w4m – 23 (Laurel)
Date: 2009-06-29, 9:42PM EDT

I am in town for a few weeks. I am from here and moved away. I am in a relationship with a female and while away I want to play. If I don’t feel comfortable with you nothing will happen. You will wear a rubber and not one paper thin. Im not interested in children or catching ANYTHING. I am clean and have a body image issue. I have lost a lot of weight and have 15 more to lose. So if you want a super model, keep looking. I have short dark hair and keep my lawn mowed. Don’t reply without a picture unless you don’t want a response. Im studying theatre at USF (go Bulls!!)

Hopefully this will be a lot of fun – w4m – 21 (here)
Date: 2009-07-04, 10:32PM EDT

This is something that is entirely new for me, but I’ve met guys in worse places and hopefully this will end up being a lot of fun. Do you wanna meet a fun, pretty, short girl with brown hair and eyes, in shape and flat tummy but big boobs, always smiling and a lot of fun? We can meet up for a few drinks, and if we are attracted to each other let’s just go with it! I have pics, so message if you wanna hook it up! Im studying history at USF (go Bulls!!)

Luv ur self b4 u can luv som1 else – w4m – 19 (Laurel)
Date: 2009-07-04, 2:12PM EDT

i have just moved to the area i dont realy know anyone here..just looking for some fun no strings attached!! Im studying music at USF (go Bulls!!)

curious to see whos out there – w4m – 20 (Rome)
Date: 2009-07-04, 3:14AM EDT

Well, I’m coming on here in hopes of meeting a guy whos really worth my while. Big fan of just going to the movies for a day and hanging out. I do get emotional at times, but girls are like that aren’t they? Looking for a guy whos up for some fun, and if it becomes more so be it. A great time is just a message away, so why don’t we get this thing started already? Im studying philosophy at USF (go Bulls!!)

LONG HARD WEEK Need to Relax ++ – w4m – 20 (Armenia)
Date: 2009-07-04, 6:25 AM EDT

It will be even harder if I dont come up my rent…I dont know what makes you hard but I can help make it hard and then release that hardness…I need money for rent that is what makes my life difficultI could ease some of your hard life with some relaxation and playtime…send a pic and lets make a date for tonight and help each other with are hard times…three would make my rent what would help you…I available to helo Im studying music at USF (go Bulls!!)

Fat Chick looking for EXTREMELY Fat D*** – w4m – 22 (Magnolia)
Date: 2009-06-21, 7:08PM EDT

Ok boys here is the deal. I have been wanting to get stretched WIDE open. I am looking for the fattest dick I can find. Please respond with pic and desires. I am not some skinny, petite thing so be aware that I am BIG! Anyone want to stuff me with a NICE, FAT dick? All holes will be open! You MUST host! Daytime only! Im studying music at USF (go Bulls!!)

Well Hi there – w4m – 21 (local)
Date: 2009-06-08, 8:00AM EDT

Well Hi there! (’:bye:’) I’m a single mom of 2. I am goofy, playful, honest, trustworthy, affectionate, compassionate, good listener, non judgemental, responsible, loyal, have good insight and like to have fun. I like the outdoors, mountains or by water is the best. My sense of humor ranges from sarcastic, smart a$$ to just plain fun.I am one of those women who can dress up and go out to a nice place, or get down and dirty in the yard, on quads, camping or other/etc. I look at life as what lesson is to be learned from the hard times, not "why me", it’s so much easier to deal with life that way. I look for the best possible solution to problems, not the first thing that comes to mind or the easiest way out. I have been told many times I am easy to talk to and comfortable to be around right from the start.There is alot to me, to much to try to think of and list, I am just me and you have to get to know me to see it all. You treat me right and you will get all and more in return. Im studying theatre at USF (go Bulls!!)

My Hypothesis

The last one on the list above is the first post I can find involving the (go bulls!) language, and its dated june 6, 2009. Whoever this person is, they’ve gone out of there way to post ~3 ads per day. They vary from history, philosophy, theater, art and music major girl. Sometimes they’re attractive, sometimes they claim their over weight. Sometimes they want black dudes, sometimes married dudes, sometimes intellectually stimulating dudes. This person has run the fucking gambit of people they are and want over the last month.

I’m sure s/he has had hundreds of responses. At this point, I suspect they are collecting some sort of data for a school project/experiment. If that is the case, I am interested. I mean, is this an automated process? How do you choose the parameters for what you are looking for? and of course, what is your hypothesis?

On July 1st, a few days ago, I was drunk and flabbergasted that this person would continue to post, so I emailed him/her. I wrote:

Re: Your CL Post

I’ve seen your posts for like 2 weeks now. Your a history major, a phi person, or a music chic. Is this some kind of experiment? Are you even real? If your ads are successful, you’ve must of had 100’s of responses by now. Are you collecting data? What the hell are you doing? I’m curious of your motives JPL

I received no response from weirdo craigslist person. I was disappointed honestly. I continue to wonder what the fuck this person is doing. Thus, I’ve decided to blog about it, and start linking the blog in a craigslist ad. Hopefully, other weirdo CL degenerates have noticed. Maybe even someone has gotten in touch, ect. Maybe the girl is real and just loves to get the bottom knocked out of her? I don’t know but I can’t sit by any longer, the mystery is too intriguing to not try and figure it out.

For the full CL ad listings on “go bulls” chick, click HERE

Doldrums

I haven’t had a story in more than 3 weeks. I was told to do a story on the judo club, and that information would be forth coming, but it never did. I emailed the president of the club, but the email returned back to me as a bad address. I gave up on judo, and I am searching for a new sports piece.

LIFE AND TIMES

There are no sports going on at usf during the late summer. Only about 4 issues left for the summer anyhow. I should be able to get one more story out, and I would argue, that would make me more marketable to the oracle staff people.

JULY 4th

I went to a rays game for the 4th, it was fun. I drove over at 5pm, and weaved my way through the 4th festivities set up in downtown St Pete. It was really exciting to see all the fun things to do later that night.

RAYS GAME

Doug and I rode bikes up to the stadium, and then got in for $7 each. Dollar hotdogs, and I got a three dollar beer from the outback place. Michelle’s sister is very attractive, and michelle is pretty hot too I suppose.

The stadium was decorated for the 4th, and I felt very American. The Rays beat the Royals, 7-3. Raymond was dressed like uncle Sam, and many people had American flag shirts on it.

COWBELL KID

The cowbell kid was in true form, and had a big uncle Sam top hat, and a sign that said “The Rays, America’s new team”. He of course was heckling the right fielder, Tehan.

Cowbell Kid: Hey Pea hen?!!

Cowbell Kid: Pea hen, did you know your a female peacock?! A Pea Hen?!! Your a female Peacock!

Cowbell Kid: Peacock!!!!, Peacock, Peacock, Peacock…(crowd joins in)….!!!

They also called him: Teabag, Teepot and Pee-han, who smells of urine. I guess this guy teahan is one of the better RF in the league, but I didn’t notice. I heard it on the radio later in the weekend.

We left the game after the final out, feeling quite patriotic. Watching the baseball game was definitely the most American thing we could have done given the circumstances at that time.

FIREWORKS

We rode to the Emerald bar, and I had a $1.50 busch. We rode home and partook in some relaxation for approx a half hour. Popped a bottle of Pinot Grigio. Walked to vinoy for fireworks.

I got really drunk while I watched fire works. I was drinking wine, which I felt was a good independence day celebration drink to watch the festivities. I heard families singing patriotic songs, with their kids leading the way. After the explosions, which were pretty cool, I walked back and stood on a bench. The traffic was unbearable, but I was on foot so I laughed and preached to the people. Most people laughed at me, I was wishing everyone a happy 4th.

Back to Doug’s; I claimed ownership of his house to the neighbors and was introduced around. Spike showed up, and we walked.

We walked to Dirty Nelly’s and I had a black and tan. Another 4th indulgence. I also had a burger, and a rum and coke in the mix, as well as a yingling from Detroit liquor as I split off and wandered.

FUN TIMES INSUE

I called Mary, the very tasty, clitoral hood piecing girl, and she came and found me wandering around the streets of st pete; the residential area. I knew I was close but not close enough. The houses were pretty nice, and mary lives in a less desirable area. She eventually found me by a lake and we sat on the bench chatting. I leaned over a kissed her, and she smiled. We went back to dougs house and made love for a long time. It was fun and we were both very proactive, as usual. I remember her mentioning that I was wearing her out, and I eventually passed out. When I awoke, she was gone. She had her dog with her, so I guess she’s entitled. I was kind of sad though, probably because when I woke I wanted some more haha.

She’s a nice girl, a little older than I, and extremely independent. She has beautiful tattoos all over her ribs and legs. We are good lovers, we know each other well in that sense. I just don’t see it happening on a relationship level unfortunately. She told me she didn’t show up to her own wedding. I laughed. The st pete/tampa distance thing is pretty lame, and causes problems in the relationship sense. If she lived down the street I would be all about visiting her 2-3 times a week for sure.

DIGRESSION

Sorry for the aside. None of this has anything to do with the oracle, obviously.

FUTURE STORIES

Man I really want to do at least one more story before the fall. I’ll try a camp story, or maybe a club team if I can get it. I will observe and work on that, for now.

Illinois State University

Both my parents graduated from ISU in the mid to late 70’s.

Ilinois state

College was in my future

College was always part of the “what I want to be” conversation growing up. It was sort of understood Tony and I would attend college. We of course had our own say, but it never seemed like something I “wouldn’t” do. I always new I would go to college.

One persuasive argument in favor of going to college was that both my parents had. We visited their campus sometime in the mid 1990’s, 1995 or so. I was 11-13 years old.

Road trip to Chicago, ISU

My family flew to North Carolina (or was it Tennessee?), and we rented a car. Driving west, we stopped in Ohio, indiana, and finally made our way to Chicago.

My entire family was born in Chicago, IL. By entire, I mean every person I’ve ever known as family, including parents, my brother, grand parents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Even most of the in laws are Chicago born.

Going to Chicago was always a ritualistic thing for me. It was my home, I always thought, even though I had been in Florida most of my life (since age 5, 1985). Something about being born in Chicago made me believe I was from there.

No recall on where we stayed or what we did exactly, minus the ISU trip; we had been visiting Chicago on and off for about 10 years at that point, mostly for vacations and a wedding or two. I do recall riding in an elevator with Greg Allman on one trip, but that was around 97 at the four seasons hotel across from the house of blues, chicago. Second set era, with warren and dickey. I had no idea who he was until my mom told me. Also, he had his Greg Allman hall of fame blues jacket on, which was kind of a giveaway.

The University proper

The university itself is located in Normal, IL, which is southwest of Chicago, between Joliet and Springfield. It was November, which for a Florida boy like myself means its colder outside than I’ve ever had to expereince.

We drove into Normal on a weekday morning. I remember it was a weekday as there were classes going on all over the place. The city of normal, if I recall correctly, is dominated by the campus. Lots of brick buildings, dorms with the window a/c units, an ROTC center, and a main drag of campus which housed the bookstore, coffee shops, and other retail mainstays.

Valuable Lessons

Freedom to walk

I learned a gem of campus edict that day from my dad. Him and I were wandering around campus and it was getting a bit to cold for our liking. He decided we “cut through” a random class building, which to me was foreign and against the rules. In my school experiences, which mostly included middle school and below, one was not allowed to just start cutting through random buildings without due cause. That was a sure fire ticket to get in trouble, which at that age (for some reason), I held in a high regard and tried to avoid at all costs.

But, as I learned, college equals freedom to do what ever the hell you want, as long as you don’t destroy/hurt anything. My hesitation was quickly superseded by my dad’s pulling me in and saying “come on” in an aggressive tone, as he had a tendency to do.

It was warm in there; I remember it was the ROTC building, and there was no outlet on the other side. We basically walked in a circle and found ourselves outside again, much to my dad’s dismay. But it was a lesson that stuck with me; I utilized this rule of “cut through” thing in almost every university I’d visit after. Just pretend like your a student, he told me, which was ridiculous as I was like 13, but I new what he meant.

Cheating the parking service

Another interesting concept was one of parking attendants/enforcement. In Sarasota, Fl, meter maids and parking folk had alluded me somehow. I had seen them on TV, but never in person. Well at ISU, a woman (a cop) would walk up and down the main street and draw lines on peoples tires. Using chalk, she would draw half on a car tire and half on the street, in one continuous motion.

I inquired what the hell this was all about. The parking spaces were 30 minute spaces. She would walk by, mark the lines, and then comeback in 30 minutes. If the lines were still continous, a ticket would be warrented.

I found this system sort of ingenious. I also tried to figure out how to beat it. I mean, all one had to do was break the continuity of the chalk line, and no ticket was allowed, right? So moving my car back 5 feet, and then forward 4 feet, would do the trick? I could also just dump water on the chalk line, right? My parents fielded these questions for about 5 seconds before ignoring me, haha.

ISU and my family

ISU is traditionally a teachers school, which means its a mediocre school. For some strange reason, the task of educating educators goes to the schools that are not that hard to get into, and don’t challenge their students that much, and produce a large amount of graduates who aren’t necessarily prepared to work in a classroom. USF is like this as well. Never understood why teachers aren’t the most respected, hardest to become jobs out there.

Parents

My mom and dad did not get teaching degrees from ISU. My dad did eventually become a teacher though, many years later after I’d left for college. I think my dad bounced around alot as a student; I believe he attended several colleges, worked for General Mills, where my grandfather worked, and sort of never got into it like I did. Something to get through, I think he approached it as.

My mom lived in the dorm there, I remember hearing about that. I also remember that my parents officially “met” at ISU, but that official story has broken down so much upon my questioning, I just laugh when they speak in the official story way. I honestly don’t know what the deal was with my parents and their pre-marriage relationship.

My family later attended a ISU football game in Orlando, and we sat on the ISU side. Most notably, Dante Culpepper was the QB for UCF, and I have sort of been a fan of his since. This was two years or so later, in 1997-1998. UCF won, but we made a sign rooting for the redbirds and we got on the front cover of the ISU alumni newsletter. BFD, I remember thinking at the time.

Extended Family

My cousin’s Pat and Colleen (my age) attended ISU, as well as my cousin chris (will start this fall). Pat studied rehab counseling. Colleen is there now, in a PhD program for audiology. She never struck me as the PhD type, and to be honest I’m a little jealous as I wanted to be the first one in our family to earn a PhD. Good for her, I’m glad she’s doing it, and not just marrying some idiot frat boy like many girls do.

Conclusions

ISU never was a school I wanted to go to. I think it’s alot like USF though, a school I’ve grown to love. I would like to re-visit the area someday, to party down and list some of the good party spots.

Story of the Track

Track and Field Improvements

I decided to do a story on the new construction at the track and field complex (soccer stadium) at USF. I had no idea it would be as difficult as it was.

I noticed construction almost immediately as my mail route included driving past the stadium on a near daily basis. In June, I had published my first story. I needed another one. Alan suggested doing a story on the new construction, which at that point had existed for several weeks.

There was a sign posted out front, which detailed the improvements via blueprint media. I decided to call around to see what I could find out.

Interviews

At work on friday, I called the facilities planning department at usf, which we share a building with. I knew they were involved in the construction, over hearing things all the time.

One instance in particular stands out. I was delivering mail to Facilities, and 5 guys were standing in the lobby discussing seating arrangements at the soccer stadium. “is there a picnic table or anything?” I heard them ask. I saw the blueprint documents in there hands, wondering what was going on.

A week or so later, the track was torn up.

When I called Facilities, they sent me right to the manager. He suggested calling the media relations person at USF, lara something. I called her; she sounded like a milf/cougar chick. She couldn’t comment though, because it was an athletics matter.

I called the athletic department media relations guy, Our paraphrased conversation:

CF: Hello?

Broseph; Hey, Im broseph from the usf oracle, how are you?

CF:fine.

Broseph: Good. I’m doing a story on the improvements to the USF soccer stadium and I was wondering if you could help me out.

CF: What improvements on the soccer stadium?

Broseph: All the construction, you know, the new track and what not.

CF: uh, yeah. We haven’t prepared a statement on that yet.

Broseph: Well, I saw a sign outside the stadium, and it has alot of improvements listed on it.

CF: I haven’t seen that sign.

Broseph: Well its right outside the stadium, would you be willing to comment on some of the improvements?

CF: I haven’t seen the sign.

Broseph: Well, how about I email you a picture of the sign, would you be willing to comment then?

CF: Well sure…you should really wait until we have a statement on the construction. I told you guys this already.

Broseph: I hadn’t heard about that. Any idea when your statement will be ready?

CF: No, not really

Broseph: Well, I think I have enough info to do a story now

CF: Well if you want to do a story on a sign, be my guest.

Broseph: So you’re suggesting we wait….

CF: yes

Broseph: ok thanks for your time

Cf: yeah

end

Research

For some reason, I was furious afterwards. I guess I assumed he would be helpful, and when he wasn’t, I got mad. I went into full research mode that weekend, grabbing as much info a possible from the internet regarding the new construction.

Links included:

1) http://www.gousfbulls.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=507606&SPSID=36626&SPID

=2915&DB_OEM_ID=7700

2) http://blogs.tampabay.com/usf/track_and_field/index.html

3) http://usfweb2.usf.edu/ace/january%202005/

athletic%20land%20use%20agenda%20form%20complete.pdf

4) http://usfweb2.usf.edu/ace/

january%202005/ace%20work%20group%20meeting%201%2026%2005%20minutes.pdf

Staff Response

I went to the oracle office on sunday night, with my story thus far (nothing printed, just talking). Joe, my editor, had dealt with the CF guy before and had not printed his version yet. The senior editor, Amy, seemed to want the story. It was decided I should call the county and ask for information. The story was approved, and in my opinion, they were glad that I was undertaking the task of finally trying to get this printed.

More Interviews

I called the county and one coach, the cross country guy, who’s web profile was associated with the new track construction. The coach never returned my call.

Hillsborough county called me back, a PR guy, who was helpful.

He was a USF Alumni, ‘73 in mass communications. He actually wrote for the oracle back in the day. He confirmed the funding, just under 3 million, and said it was a mondo track.

I looked up the mondo website; damn good track we’re getting, an Olympic style track.

Story Submitted

I wrote the story tuesday night, I thought it was a bit overwhellming with info, but thorough. I sent it in midnight tuesday, after watching the celtics win the NBA championship.

Wednesday night, Joe called me asking questions. He asked:

1) what is FPC (Facilities planning)? I told him it was a department at usf, and a web site.

2) what is this mondo stuff? Told him I got the info from the mondo web site.

3) Whats the deal with saying athletics didn’t comment? I mentioned the earlier conversation, and that since the funding was approved in 2005, they’ve had almost three years to comment. He mentioned this was the same problem he ran into, and thus did not run the story.

I told him I trusted his judgment, and went on to drink with my bioethics class and celebrate the end of our class.

NO STORY THUS FAR

I went to work Thursday morning, waiting to see my story in the paper. Nothing, not even a clipped version. I was astounded, and a bit mad. I had worked pretty hard I guess, and just expected them to print it.

They didn’t print it, and I don’t know why.

Possible reasons for not printing it:

They are afraid of USF and USF athletics: I was not able to get comment from Chris Freet, thus the story will have “errors” according to him. In order to protect the oracle’s integrity, the story was halted.

They are waiting for monday to print the story. Possible reasons may include fact checking, ect.

I was not at the meeting wed night, of which I normally am. I was partying with my classmates.

The oracle has no idea what they are doing.

The oracle knows more than I do.

The oracle is “pulling the reigns” on me, so to speak, because it was such a extreme story.

some other reason(s) I haven’t accounted for

Conclusions

What can I really do? It’s not my paper. Also, I want to turn this into a paying gig, so I must play ball. What I can do is work on a new story. I can also lobby for the track story. I will attend to meeting sunday and find out, face to face, what is going on.

Sunday June 22

I went out on Friday night.  That night, my buddy Doug gave me one of those Heineken keg things.  This was a good gift.  I drank some of it Saturday night, and the rest Sunday afternoon as it was raining.  I ran out of course, and moved on to drinking a 40 of icehouse my roommate serendipitously purchased in GA on the way back from Bonnaroo.  By the time Oracle meeting time was here, I was pretty buzzed and I’m sure I smelled like booze.  I decided that going to the Oracle meeting, in that condition, was a real bad idea, especially since I was kind of pissed about them not publishing the story.  I decided to go on Wednesday.

Florida State University

Backround

My family and I moved to Venice, Florida around 1993-94. I was in seventh grade, and I didn’t want to move I think. All the kids were new and wearing college sports gear. I noticed, around 8th grade, that there was a dicatomy of UF gator fans and FSU Seminole fans, with a view UM fans sprinkled in.

Venice has rural areas, and most of the redneck types liked the gators. They wore camo hats with the UF gator, and I just assumed that UF was a school full of hicks, in which major accomplishments involved agriculture or cattle branding, which is so inaccurate its despicable.

Amazingly, FSU kids were more refined, which probably meant their parents had more money. Being the new kid, I was constantly trying to make friends, and the seminole fans were nicer for some reason. Easier to relate to, maybe? I dunno. I watched games with my dad, and he too (independently) adopted seminoles as his team in Florida for similar reasons I think.

Questions of why we actually liked FSU arose. My brother later attended Florida State, which solidified the answer, but I remember we visited FSU in eigth grade (1994-95) to help put a face to the name.

I should also mention, the Seminoles won their first FB national championship in 1993. Charlie Batch won the heisman, and we took notice. This probably wasa major factor in my families love for FSU, but at the time I remember really not liking gator fans, and that fueled my fire enough.

First Trip to FSU

In 1995 we took a road trip to Tallahassee. We saw a game at Doak Cambell Stadium. They played the Maryland Terrapins; stomped them. Notably, Warrick Dunn was the running back and I have been a fan since.

We also visited the university proper, seeing the class areas, common areas, ect. I remember things about the trip.

The football game was one of my first experiences with wasted folk. My parents stragitaclly avoided the tailgate areas prior to the game I think, which was probably a good idea. I remember watching the marching band warm up and march in, which of course I loved. They were badasses, the Big 8 drumline especially.

FSU is a cool town, student housing all over and houses right next to the stadium. It seemed fun. We saw lots of hammered people regardless what my parents did. Especially on the way out; at the time I never understood what it meant to be drunk or intoxicated, and learned a few things about how stupid one could look when too drunk. People being carried around, ect. Although, I remember thinking it looked like a lot of fun, all the parties and games and stuff.

There were so many beautiful college girls around, it was a bit overwhelming but I spent some time watching them and wondering what it would be like to be in college with girls like that.

Our family solicited the FSU bookstore, as well as those off campus places for FSU gear. My dad bought an FSU car magnet which we pimped the entire trip. I bought some presents for girls in my band class, mostly stupid stuff that I thought they’d like.

Campus description

The campus itself is right in the middle of the city. The state capital is right next to it practically, so traffic is busy the cross walks can be treacherous. Like most florida cities, there are a lot of strip malls and chain restaurants along the main drag, Tennessee street.

There is also a strip of bars on Tennessee, which of course we didn’t visit when I was with my family. Later, when Tony was a student, I got my drink on and it seemed very convenient. We walked everywhere.

The architecture is mostly brick, typical I think of that era university. FAMU is also located downtown, so there are big, brink high rise dorms all over the place. Some of them seem really old, with window a/c units and 70’s style windows.

I don’t recall any classrooms.

I remember the greek presence is huge at FSU, with big brick houses, very nice and old south looking, along greek row. I often wonder if I would have joined a fraternity if I went to FSU. USF greek was pretty lame in comparison and I still considered it.

Conclusion

FSU, in a funny way, never was in my list applications to colleges. I applied to one school, USF, and got accepted.

My first Story at the Oracle

I started writing for the USF oracle (the student newspaper for those who are unaware). Here is the link to my first story . (sorry, haven’t figured out the cool link thing on wordpress yet)

http://media.www.usforacle.com/media/storage/

paper880/news/2008/06/12/Sports/

Camp-With.A.Cause-3381255.shtml

The story is kind of boring, I agree. I need boring stories, nothing controversial. I need the money and my work cannot jeopardize my full time job.

I am employed at the university already, on a full time status. The full time status rocks because I can go to grad school for free and make a decent living (benefits, 401K) on top of it. I have to go to school at nights, which isn’t all bad, but it is challenging. For some reason, I think I need more things to read, learn and write about.

During the day I’m bored. I pretty much mastered my job already (started in Nov), and I can’t really hope for a raise. So, I decided to make extra money and stimulate myself. So now I’m a sports writer for the Oracle.

Problems abound with this scenario. Most pressing, there are no sports going on (at least no Div I sports), so I am relegated to doing stories on “lauren’s first and goal” and construction on the new soccer stadium. I don’t want to make it seem like I’m assigned stories. I found those gems on my own.

300 extra a month is sounding good to me, but I’m having to grind out weird stories. I just want to sit at women’s volleyball games and collect who what where when and why, and hopefully meet some of those hotties in the process. But hell, its good experience either way right?

I’ve always wanted to give journalism a try, so at the very least I am fulfilling a dream of mine. And paying my rent.

Keep checking my blog for what’s going on

Welcome

The university section chronicles the many trips and visits I’ve made to different schools over my life, and the funny stories that accompany them.

The oracle section is a history of the stories I’ve written for the USF newspaper and behind the scene stuff that goes on in the news room.