Drake Matney

 As we continue to discuss and talk about media topics, I have found myself becoming more aware and critical of the media that surrounds us on a daily basis. Before this class, I never really paid much attention to the influence of media on my thoughts and behaviors, but now, I can't seem to escape it. One of the main things I have been noticing is the behaviors of people around me and how they are linked to certain media outlets. It's almost as if the media has a power to dictate our actions and opinions, whether we realize it or not. For example, I have noticed friends and family members engaging in heated debates about political issues, and when I ask them where they got their information from, it is often from a biased news source that aligns with their beliefs. This has made me realize the importance of being critical and finding information from multiple sources. I have also become more critical of the news and other television shows. In the past, I would just accept what...

 As a College Athlete, I am always seeking inspiration and motivation in my everyday life. Whether it's overcoming personal struggles in life or achieving insane goals in baseball, I always look for examples of resilience and determination to keep pushing forward. And one person who has truly embodied these qualities is the legendary Bo Jackson. For those who may not be familiar, Bo Jackson is a retired professional athlete who is often referred to as one of the greatest athletes of all time. His story is one of perseverance, hard work, and an unbreakable spirit. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks in his life, Bo never gave up and became one of the most dominant forces in both football and baseball. Photo From Google. Growing up in Bessemer, Alabama, Bo faced poverty and struggled to stay away from the dangerous temptations in his neighborhood. But he found comfort in sports, and it soon became his escape. From a young age, Bo displayed exceptional athletic abilities, ...

 When it comes to social media, we have all seen the hashtag symbol followed by a word or phrase. They are everywhere, from Twitter to Instagram to Facebook. But what exactly is a hashtag and why has it become such an important part of our digital world? Firstly, for those who may not be familiar, a hashtag is a word or phrase preceded by the # symbol, used to categorize and organize content on social media platforms. It allows users to easily search for and find posts related to a certain topic or theme. I have been an avid user of hashtags since I joined social media, and I have to say, I find them quite useful. They allow me to find posts related to my interests or current events, and they also make it easier for my own posts to be discovered by others. However, I also think it is important to use hashtags wisely and not overdo it. Using too many hashtags in a post can come across as desperate for attention and can make the post difficult to read. One of the most interesting thi...

 What does it take to be a rancher? Well, in my opinion, not a whole lot. It probably takes about two or three things, maybe more: a truck, barbwire, some more barbwire, hay, and A LOT more hay. So like I said, ranching is not super hard. The only hard parts are the heat and running cattle all over the place. I myself have never liked ranching a whole lot due to doing it my entire life, so in my case, it's really not even ranching anymore. It's just an everyday occurrence. Now, what goes into ranching? Well, you got your cattle to either slaughter for some meat to feed your family or several families; you have your hogs to breed and to either sell off or butcher; you got your horses, chickens, goats, and even llamas if you're really weird. But you're probably asking, "Drake, what are you trying to get at here?" Well, I will take you through a short day of ranching. We've already gotten through the simple things, not we get into the tedious things, the crap...

 As a resident of Arizona and a college student myself, the topic of higher education in Arizona is one that hits close to home for me. After reading both articles from azcentral.com, the first thing that struck me was the tone and rhetoric used by the two authors. While Governor Ducey's article focused on the economic benefits of higher education and the need for more college graduates in Arizona, the second article took a more critical approach, questioning alot of the accessibility and affordability of higher education in the state. As a student, I can relate to the struggles of balancing the rising costs of college with the desire for a higher education. Though, I also see the value and potential for growth that comes getting a college degree. Governor Ducey's article makes a good argument for the need for more college graduates in Arizona, using statistics on the benefits of a college education like increased earnings potential and economic growth for the state. As a resid...

Today, I'll be talking about what it's like in the day of a hard rock mining workforce, just like any other day, my father, coworkers, and I, in the same truck. Heading out to start the day. Oh, and if you were wondering how and why my coworkers drove off with us, no, they don't stay in the same house with us every morning; they meet at our house. So after driving off, we stop by the old cafe in town, get a few breakfast burritos, we take off from there to the office now a little context we have two main places that we spend most of our time at, the office and the site if we go anywhere else other than it's to get parts or equipment, So, we stop by the office for a quick briefing on what the plan is for the day run through what we need to get done, make sure we know where to start drilling then we take a couple of guys in aka what we call "The Crew" and head on out to the site to get some work done. Photo From Google Now, a lot of what goes on is confidential ...