Form Assignment

My survey for the form assignment can be found below, or here

Nebraska, USA (5/5): Travel - REVISED

Nebraska is accessible by many forms of travel:

Interstate

• Interstate 80 spans the entire state, and runs east to west entering near Omaha and exiting at the Southeast tip of the panhandle.
   
• Numerous state highways intersect I‐80 at various points throughout the state.
   
• I-80 is the most traveled roadway in Nebraska, providing access to all parts of the state
   
• Roadside signs point out landmarks and attractions all along Nebraska's highways

Airplane

• In place of an international airport, Nebraska is served by a number of regional ones
   
• Central Nebraska Regional Airport is located near Grand Island in Hall County (http://www.flygrandisland.com/)
   
• Western Nebraska Regional Airport is located Scotts Bluff in Scotts Bluff County (http://www.flyscottsbluff.com/)
   
• Lincoln Airport is located near Lincoln, the state capital, in Lancaster County
  
• A more comprehensive list of the states air facilities can be found here

Railroad

• Railroads play a huge role in the geography of this Midwestern state. As a result, railroad is a popular and scenic way of traveling Nebraska.
   
• Nebraska is accessible by a number of Amtrak rail stations, located in the cities of: Hastings, Holdredge, Lincoln, McCook, and Omaha

Nebraska, USA (4/5): Landmarks/Attractions - REVISED

Hilltop Mini Ranch (http://www.visitnebraska.com/component/myplanner/detail/43/1000006)

• Hilltop Mini Ranch offers visitors a chance to see an actual horse ranch, and view the majestic spotted Appaloosa horses. 

• Located in Phillips, Nebraska.

Carhenge (http://carhenge.com/)

• Carhenge is a replica of the world famous Stonehenge, but it is made of old cars.
   
• Created in 1987 by six families celebrating a family reunion
   
• Located in Alliance, Nebraska, on the panhandle portion of the state. 

The University of Nebraska (http://www.unl.edu/)

• Energetic, exciting state football games take place at the Univeristy of Nebraska
   
• Games take place during the fall season
   
• Located in Lincoln, Nebraska

Agate Fossil Beds (http://www.nps.gov/agfo/index.htm)

• Agate Fossil Beds are a 3,000+ acre site 
   
• The site boasts quarries full of mammal fossils.
   
• Museum on site in home to 500+ Native American artifacts
   
• Positioned a convenient 5,000 feet from Chadron State Park
   
• Located in Northwest Nebraska, just 22 miles from the city of Harrison.

Nebraska, USA (3/5): Outdoors - REVISED

The following parks are few of many which Nebraska is home to, all of which are essential outdoor locations;

Chadron (http://chadron-nebraska.com/)

• Chadron features modern campgrounds with cabins, RV hookups, and bike trails.
   
• The park boasts a swimming pool, biking trails, volleyball court and fishing areas.

Smith Falls State Park (http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/parks/guides/parksearch/pdfs/Brochure308.pdf)

• Located near the town of Valentine.
   
• Home to the state's tallest waterfall
   
• Serves as a nature preserve, home to many rare plants 
   
• There are a small number of campsites available for overnight guests, and reservations can be made up to a year in advance.

Nebraska, USA (2/5): About Nebraska - REVISED

Nebraska: Fun Facts

• Nebraska is home to more than a million people and is the 38th most populous state in the Nation. In terms of area, Nebraska ranks 16th.
   
• The part of the country that Nebraska sits in was at one point known as the great American desert. 
   
• Agriculture and manufacturing make up the majority of the states economy, and Nebraska is currently the leading state in ranching.
   
• Before European settlers arrived, Native American Indian tribes occupied the land, which was known for its fertile soil and hunting opportunities.
   
• The climate of Nebraska varies greatly by season. Summer is known for scorching heat, while winter is generally categorized by bitter cold.
   
• Nebraska sits in Tornado alley, and the state sees its fair share of Thunderstorm activity, which sometimes spawns tornadoes.
   
• Most tornadoes occur in the spring and summer months, although the fall can be quite active during certain years.

Nebraska, USA (1/5) - REVISED

The Cornhusker State

Nebraska is a land‐locked state in the Midwest. It is also known as the cornhusker state, and has been drawing tourists to its borders for quite some time.

No matter what types of things you enjoy doing, Nebraska is abundant with amusements. Romantic getaways, historical museums (rich with information and artifacts of explorers, plains Indians and pioneers), art museums, fairs, and shopping, are just a few of the many things to do

Infographics Assignment: Revision

Revisions
 
In this revised timeline, I added sources, and events up to present date in order to give a more accurate portrayal of Three 6 Mafia's musical history.

However, much of their early material lack formal publishing or credible sourcing, so some do not have sources.

The timeline had been adjusted to begin display centered at the year 1991 in order to coincide with its title. The body of text from my last post has also been edited for legibility.

A History of Three 6 Mafia (1991-2013) on Dipity.

What? For my infographics assignment, I created an informative timeline documenting material released by the rap group Three 6 Mafia.

Why? As a music enthusiast, this information is important to my understanding of the history of southern rap.

How? The template and site I used, Dipity, was easily accessible and provided resources that would compensate for my lack of imaging/timeline software.  

Advantages / Disadvantages

I would like to add more material regarding the group's associates, while the abundance of information may make the timeline difficult to navigate or digest.

The timeline itself is best viewed full screen, as the minimized version requires a bit of scrolling to locate information.

The timeline hides certain events due to size limitation; they can be found by clicking on the plus-signs at the bottom.

Infographics Assignment: Timeline

Three 6 Mafia (1993-2008) on Dipity.

For my infographics assignment, I created an informative timeline documenting material released by the rap group Three 6 Mafia. As a music enthusiast, this information is important to my understanding of the history of southern rap. The template and site I used, Dipity, was easily accessible and provided resources that would compensate for my lack of imaging/timeline software. I would like to add more material regarding the group's associates, while the abundance of information may make the timeline difficult to navigate or digest. I find that the timeline itself is best viewed full screen, as the minimized version requires a bit of scrolling to locate information. The timeline hides certain events due to size limitation; they can be found by clicking on the plus-signs at the bottom.

Semester Blog Relocation

In order to increase functionality from a simple text and image based blog to a site with functioning menus and categories, I've decided to relocate my blog from Tumblr to Wordpress. The new URL to my semester blog project can be found here

 

Hot Peppers Pt. 2

Types of peppers, arranged from the hottest to mildest:


Habanero - Tiny chiles; squat and fat. Researchers state the habanero is 1,000 times hotter than the jalapeño. Use in moderation and keep hands protected when using.
  
Color: Neon orange



 




 

Cascabelle - Tiny peppers shaped like fat cones or bullets. These are incredibly hot, second only to the habanero;

Color: Fire-engine red, bright orange, or creamy yellow-green


 





Serrano - The chile of choice for Mexican cooks, serrano peppers resembles a pinky finger with a slight point at the end. These are very hot, and are milder when roasted.

Color: Red or green


 




Santaka and Thai - The size of a small fingernail, they are often sold on the branch or as a whole plant with hundreds of peppers that can be picked as needed. They are extremely hot, and the heat doesn’t soften, even after cooking. 


Color: Red or green


 


Cayenne - Slim and twisted with a long point, the cayenne can be found anywhere between three to six inches in length. Most cayenne chiles are dried for cayenne pepper. Fresh cayennes are very hot; the smaller and more pointed the pepper, the hotter it will be.

Color: Red, green, or yellow-green


 



Jalapeño - These peppers resemble small, plump barrels with thick green skins. Most are as big as a thumb. They are of a middle hotness and the most available of all the fresh chiles. Roasting jalapenos reduces their hotness while enhancing the flavor

Color: Green

    




Fresno - Fresco peppers are shaped like the jalapeño and are just as hot, but bear a distinct color difference.

Color: Bright red or light green

 





 


Santa Fe Grande - This pepper is cone shaped with a smooth outer skin. Santa fe grandes are very hot; hottest fresh, and slightly milder when roasted and peeled. 

Color: Deep red or yellow streaked with orange 

Hungarian Wax (Banana Pepper) - Commonly known as banana peppers, Hungarian Wax peppers resemble long, tapering cones. These peppers range between mild and medium-heat, and can commonly be found pickled in jars.

Color: Creamy yellow. 

Surefire - The surefire is an elongated, cone-shaped pepper with a slight curve or twist. This pepper is of a medium heat.

Color: Deep red or bright yellow. 

Ancho (Poblano) Cone shaped peppers with a long tip, and very shiny skin. This pepper is known for its delightful flavor balanced with medium heat. Poblanos are excellent went served roasted and peeled.

Color: Red or green.

Hot Peppers Pt. 1

Hotness varies between the countless types of peppers in the world. Two peppers, even from the same plant, can be radically different in heat. As a general rule, the longer and thinner the pepper is, the hotter it will be.

You can reduce the heat of a pepper by cutting it in half and removing the innards and all the seeds. This is where you can find most of the heat of a paper. Most of the flavor is in the outer wall, the fleshy part. 

Buying: This criteria applies to all types of peppers;

• Skin should be tight and glossy
• Flesh should be firm without bruises or soft spots

Storage: Store fresh chiles in a paper bag in the refrigerator, most peppers can be stored for up to two weeks

Caution: It is well worth iterating that you must take certain precautions when working with hot peppers;
 

• It’s best to wear rubber gloves or cover your hands with plastic sandwich bags before touching chile peppers 
• Wash your hands thoroughly when you are through; 
• Never rub your eyes or touch your face; 
• Peppers can cause second-degree burns, and can take up to twelve hours for the pain to subside

Lil Hennessy on Tumblr

a link to what my semester project currently looks like can be found here

I've decided to use Tumblr as a hosting site for now because of their user friendly interface, and the ability to access its features on mobile devices. Also, community generated themes are abundant, and they are all customizable. I would like my prospective blog to feature a two column layout, one for my title and menu, and another for all the content. The content will be featured in a traditional blog layout; new posts appear at top while old material recedes towards the bottom of the page. I have a basic knowledge of web design that I believe will be helpful in sculpting how I want my final product to look and function.

Semester Project Proposal

Hip Hop Blog: "LIL HENNESSY"
  
Using my DJ name as the title for my website, my blog will feature writing and information based in the local and global hip hop community. I will use this platform as a way to discuss events relevant to this subculture. Between news and reviews, my writing style will feature an element of subjectivity that gives my blog a more personal feel, as opposed to being an objective news-only outlet. I feel that if executed correctly, this blog will add a a new dimension to my personality as a DJ, serving as a platform to promote my own music as well.

Local Hip Hop News

• New Artists: Chicago has an newly emerging context for young artists in hip hop culture. with new rappers, DJ's, and producers constantly appearing on the scene, there is always an abundance of new artists to report on. I will be using this platform to discuss the material they release, and keep track of their creative developments, whether they be solo or collaborative.

• Tours & Shows: There is also an abundance of venues, promoters, and event planners in Chicago's hip hop scene that plan and throw local shows as well as host regional tours that pass through the Midwest. posting about these events will add a practicality to my blog, and enhance its purpose as an information hub for those interested or involved in Chicago's hip hop culture. 

Global Hip Hop News 

• Album Releases & Reviews: Aside from reporting on local artists, I'd like to feature a series strictly for reviewing new albums that are relevant to the broader global hip hop community. These reviews will be written based on a number of specific criteria:
  
  
  • No star, or numeric rating system: In order to make a review more about my listening experience, as opposed to whether I think it is "good or bad", leaving out a rating system will allow me to discuss both pros and cons
  • Producers: Which entities, corporate, local, unnamed played a hand in producing the beats and sound of the album? What styles or elements did these production teams add to the sound of the release.
    
  • Artist development: Reviews will feature comparisons between an artists material that predates what is being discussed. This will create a context with which an audience can understand how a rapper or producer's style has changed over time, at least since their most recent release.
    
    

Live Broadcast Module

• Aside from being a place to access hip hop news and information, I want my site to feature a module with which to feature a media player where my live internet broadcasts can be streamed through. This way, if a viewer is on my blog at a certain time of day, their experience will be accompanied by my live DJ presence. these broadcasts will be scheduled, so that if a viewer is reading while I am not on air, they may have the chance to plan to tune in to my next broadcast.

"Drama"

• Hip hop culture is notorious for being a hotbed of controversy. Rumored gang affiliations, beefs or rivalries between rappers, and personal issues coming to the light of common knowledge, are all popular trends those in the culture tend to follow. Reporting on these will not be a primary focus of my blog, but be more of a way of attracting a potential audience. Following these ongoing dramas may give people a reason to return to my blog.

First post! I check a blog called Rap Up daily to keep up with important news regarding the hip hop community. Aside from my interests in photography, I am a DJ, and an avid music enthusiasts. This blog stays up to date with important record and mixtape releases. This is especially important so that I can source new material to incorporate into mixes I may be working on. Aside from release information, Rap Up is also a good source for gossip and news regarding important figures, or upcoming figures in the broader hip hop circle. Their writers are incredibly talented, and present their information and news objectively.