What I've Learned...

The dreaded time has come. At 5 PM today, I am officially done with classes at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. This is so sad. I have met such incredible people here at UF and I am so sad to be leaving Gainesville and begin to become a real adult with a real job. FREAKY.
I have much to be thankful for...especially the education I have received from this wonderful school. My dream has always been to be a storyteller. One that my audience will trust and respect. If it wasn't for all the hands on experience WUFT-TV has offered me, I wouldn't be on the right track to reaching my goal. I had the opportunity to be a multimedia reporter once a week, and anchor WUFT-TV's First At Five once a week.  One of the stories I did for my TV shift is this one...You can also check out some of my other stories on my website: Lysette Portales

Over the past year, I have been lucky enough to be a part of the integration of the radio and TV newsrooms. Along with that, I have been able to be a part CMIR, or the Center for Media Innovation and Research. This lab is a great resource for students to learn how to excel in online journalism.  Since social media is a huge part in today's society, this is absolutely necessary. You can even listen to some of the CMIR Podcasts!
Aside from what I've learned at the University of Florida, I have been honored to have such wonderful internships that the school has helped me set up. My first internship was with 93.3 FLZ where I learned how to interact with the audience over radio...and talk about some celebrity gossip! My second internship was with FOX 13 where I got to work alongside some of the best in the business. My most recent internship was with ATL & CO in Atlanta, where I got to help produce and put together a morning show everyday. I even got to do a little on-air stuff myself!

 Overall, my experience at UF and the Journalism College has been exceptional.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.

The Tipping Point

The Tipping Point was a great book.  The title and caption was what drew me in right away.  I started thinking how does this caption have anything to do with blogs and social media: “How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference.”

Malcolm Gladwell wrote this book to look at major changes in our society and how they break out so quickly, and the word spreads fast. I was interested in his biography so I read up about the author, Malcolm Gladwell, and he explains the Tipping Point as when social epidemics take off, and reach their critical mass…that equals the Tipping Point.

The book gave an interesting view of the world around us and how we pick up certain issues, or topics. The overall message was that a very small act could result in a chain reaction. He gave examples on how this happens. One example I came up with was how Justin Bieber started singing his music around his hometown, then he got a computer with a video cam and started recording himself, (one of Justin Bieber's first YouTube Videos Bieber: With You) and then he put it on YouTube, and then one person watched it maybe shared it on their Facebook wall…another person watched it maybe shared it on their Twitter feed, and then before you know it he’s picked up by one of the biggest music agents in the world. And now he’s making millions of dollars thanks to social media.

By the way, the link I gave you that directs you to on of his first YouTube videos has 41,898,911 views. THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

One part of the book I found particularly interesting was the concept of “connectors.” These are the people who are constantly on social media and are helping spread the word about top news, music, entertainment, sports, etc.  They are the social butterflies in the group..the people who are nosy and what to know everything…people like…me.  I am addicted to social media and share a lot of information through social media. I guess that makes me a connector!

In the past I had heard the term "Six Degrees of Separation” but never really looked into it until after reading more about it in this book. The concept totally makes sense.  It kind of goes back to the saying "It's a small world after all"...and just for fun...let me take you on the ride Small World.

Anyways, the book was a great read and a great depiction of how social media really influences our lives.  It showed how one small thing could spread like a wild fire and become a worldwide phenomenon. He even got into some principles that I won’t go into just because I obviously can’t explain them as well as he can, but they definitely made sense. They all related back to how we find out information with examples from Paul Revere to examples in current day.  This book didn’t get on the National Bestseller list for no reason. It’s an interesting read that will make you not want to put the book down. I highly suggest that if you’re a reader you look into this book. You can buy it online right here! Buy The Tipping Point

 

More BLOGS!!

If you haven't gotten the message that I LOVE FOOD, maybe you will after reading this awesome blog about food with a bit of a Latin twist! (my favorite) She posts all types of recipes including some of her Mom's famous ones! My favorite recipe she posted...Arroz con Pollo! (chicken and yellow rice)
Learn more about Janny! (and it's pronounced Hanny!) Janny Rodriguez

Sports Lovers...check this blog out! Mikes Headset's description is "I hear he sounds so good on air, football games continuously beg him to 'Call Me, Maybe!'" Who wouldn't want to check his blog out? He talks about his experience being the voice of a high school football team...really cool!
Learn more about Mike! Mike Biana

FASHION FASHION FASHION! Who doesn't love fashion? One of my friends, Tondrea, LOVES fashion. I mean LOVES. She always has the cutest clothes on and is always keeping up with the latest trends! How does this help you look your best?!...she blogs about it! You will be addicted to her blog once you start browsing!
Learn more about Tondrea! Tondrea Haddly

Check out some of my fellow classmates blogs...

If you LOVE tv and keeping up with all your latest shows, you NEED to check this blog out!
The TV Devotee: Katerina Sardi
She blogs about TV from the first Latino Disney Princess to the comedic ABC show, Modern Family.
In addition to that, she has hilarious TV clips and pictures that will be sure to make you laugh!

Are you into healthy living and RUNNING? See Shannon Run! My friend Shannon has a GREAT blog all about getting fit through running. She even has some delicious healthy recipes up for you to create!...Pumpkin Loaf anyone?! Plus, find out how to get the best running shoe for your foot! Check it out!
See Shannon Run: Shannon McCarthy

Speaking of getting healthy...Alexa has a TASTY blog that will have you eating healthy in no time! One of my favorite posts...Guacamole. I LOVE GUAC. Her recipe for it is delicious. She has some great ideas for snacks and desserts on here too! Get your taste buds ready!
Healthy and Tasty Gainesville: Alexa Padilla

Missed any posts?!

Hello there!
I decided to share a little bit more about myself.  I am 21 years old, and live in good ole Gainesville, FL going to school at the University of Florida.  The city is small, but it's a great college town! Within the next 2 months, I hope to be up in NYC doing an internship at a news network...cross your fingers for me! 
Anyways, I am part of a family of 5, I'm the only girl with 2 brothers. I grew up around sports and love adventures.  I am extremely outgoing and love to try new things.  My dream job would be to travel around the world and tell stories, which is one of the reasons I chose this topic for my blog.
Other things I enjoy: comedies, Motown music, the beach, nail polish, news, talking, and figuring things out!
Hope you learned some more about me and feel like you know me a bit!...

While I'm here I just wanted to remind you of a few of my favorite blog posts!
I just got off a phone interview for an internship in New York City which reminded me of my NYC post!...things to do, and not do in NYC.
Also, Just because I'm feeling adventurous, I want to remind you about one of the most adventurous cities in the world...Interlaken!
And, just to get to know a more about myself, I'll link ya to my resume, and some of my news stories!
The city that never sleeps: What to do in NYC!
Let your blood rush!: Interlaken Adventures
My Resume: Lysette Portales Resume
Learn more about me: Learn about Lysette Portales

Learn some more about me!

I thought I'd give all of you a better idea of who I am and my experiences within the journalism field...
I love what I do, and if I could travel while I reported, I would be the happiest and luckiest girl in the world....
Take a look at my resume and let me know what you think!
Find out more about Lysette!: Lysette Portales Resume

And if you want to look at some of my on camera work...
Check out my stuff: Lysette's Website!

Let me know what you think!

You might want to bring another pair of underwear...

INTERLAKEN, SWITZERLAND. I am OBSESSED with this place and I have never been there. But, my best friend (you'll see her in the pics) went on a weekend trip there in July when she was studying abroad in Spain. So until next July when I will be in Switzerland, I am vicariously living through her adventures and pictures.
Interlaken is one of the most adventurous and thrill seeking cities. There is so much you can do there to get your adrenaline going...which is exactly what I LOVE to do.

First example: Bungee Jumping.

Yes, this is my best friend Kasey. She went bungee jumping. How amazing is this view?!

Second Example: Canyoning.

 Basically canyoning is diving and sliding down a ton of canyons. SO COOL!

Anyways, now that you've seen these pictures, I know you WANT and HAVE to go to Switzerland. And the best part....these are only TWO of the adventures Interlaken offers. 

More Interlaken Adventures: Interlaken Adventure!

Get your trip started with the help of my blog: Plan your trip

Just to get you a bit more excited...Here's a YouTube video of Canyoning! 

Check out Canyoning: Canyoning Video

And remember...you might need to bring an extra pair of underwear after participating in these blood rushing, thrill seeking activities!

Knee Deep in the Water Somewhere...

Imagine yourself lying on a towel in the soft, warm sand, listening to the waves brush up against the shore with a cold drink in your hand...

You can wake up from that dream now! But, if you really want to live that dream, you need to take a trip to Key West.  There is so much to do in this historic town.
If you want to be a bit more adventerous out on the water, they have activites such as these: snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, kayaking, and fishing!
If you don't want to get too wet, you can walk along the beautiful streets, do some shopping, see some museums, and have a bite to eat.
Trust me, Key West is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  One word to describe it: PARADISE.
So while you're planning your next vacation, dig deeper in the sand and look into Key West.  I helped you out by showing you some links that will help you plan that next peaceful vacation. Enjoy!

Find Adventures in Key West: Key West Adventures
Learn about Duck Tours: About Duck Tours
Key West Duck Tour: Key West Duck Tour

One more thing! Don't forget to take the most popular picture while in Key West! A pic of you standing at the southernmost point!

Just Get Away!

Sometimes you just need to get away, but saying it is a lot easier than doing it. To make it a tad bit easier for you, I'll introduce you to some great websites, or websites with websites, to help you start planning that weekend trip, or dream vacation!

First off, need a passport?!: How to get a passport
Get Started: Best Travel Websites
You need to eat: Find restaurants near you
Learn to take photos for you trip!: Travel Photos

Hope these links help! Also, if you want to learn more about a specific place...like things to do there, or food to eat there, etc, send me a request and I'll blog about it!

Explore New Orleans

This was the perfect time to post about New Orleans...a city close to Death Valley where those LSU Tigers play. Since we beat them yesterday (14-6) I must say, GEAUX HOME LSU!...But home for you is a wonderful place full of excitement!
Last year when I was in NOLA, I took lots of pictures and video so I can make a short little video to show you what you can experience when you go there.  The food is AMAZING, the streets are full of street performers, and the night life is so much fun (Pat O'Briens is my FAVORITE bar...the dueling pianos are phenomenal.)
Watch my short little NOLA video, and you will be on the next flight there!

DON'T MAKE ME THINK!!!

Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug was a very informative and helpful book.  He dealt with real examples on practically everything you need to know to set up a website and maintain it.  No matter if you are an amateur with the web, have some practice, or are an expert, this book will help you! I thought it was funny as I kept catching myself saying “wow, that does make a really big difference” every time he would point out something that could be altered a little bit…or a lot.  The majority of the stuff he points out is kind of obvious, but it is not stuff that we usually think about….at least I didn’t until I read it! He easily teaches you how to make your website user friendly, and how to keep the viewer’s attention. Every example he used, he explained why it was necessary, unnecessary, helpful or unhelpful etc. (The examples were the most helpful part of the book) This really made me start to think of what I should and shouldn’t change on my site.  I feel that most people have a sense of how to use the web, but this book focused on the changes you can make to make your site better, or even what to look for on other sites when you are looking for something specific. One of the sections I found very interesting was the “Usability Testing on 10 Cents a Day” chapter.  I’ve never really thought about that kind of stuff.  Testing your users will definitely make your website that much better.  After all, we want to make the viewer happy, don’t we? But, my favorite part of this book was when he wrote about omitting needless words.  One of the quotes in the book was this: “Get rid of half the words on each page, then get rid of half of what’s left (Krug’s third law of usability).” This was my favorite chapter because every time I go to a website I expect to find exactly what I’m looking for.  More often than not, I find myself becoming very frustrated with websites that aren’t very user friendly and have way too many words and content on the page.  If I actually take the time to read it, I say to myself “hmmm, they could have really explained that in a much more simple way.”  As I am posting to my blog, I keep this in mind.  Be creative, say what you need to say, but don’t over do it! Overall, the book truly opened my eyes to what a website needs and what it can also do without.  After I get more proficient in using the web, and designing a website, some of the other content will help me much more.  I wasn’t too excited about reading this book at first, but it just so happened that I finished it in two days because I was actually very intrigued! I am confident that my blog will be much more user friendly and accessible as the semester goes on, and if I ever create a website, this book will definitely be opened again!

"Eye" See London

My Dad just got back from London on a business trip and I was asking him all about it since that is one of my destinations next summer.  He told me that one of the coolest things there, is the London Eye.
This is what it is: You go in a big "ferris wheel looking big ball of glass" to see the city. It is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom...so you absolutely have to experience it if you go!
Here are some great pics my dad took of it to give you an idea of what it looks like, and what you will get to see! 

I mean seriously...how much fun does that look?! If you are going to London, or have been on the London Eye share your experience by commenting on this post!

Quack...DUCK TOUR!

The Duck Tour!...A really cool, and fun way to see the city you're visiting!  I went on the Duck Tour when I was visiting my roommate's family in Philly, PA.  The great thing about the tour was that it showed me around a city that has so much history...
But, that's not the only "cool" thing about it. The tour bus takes you around the city on land....and water! Not only do you get an up close look at the city on the street, but you get to enjoy a relaxing float on the water to view landmarks!
Duck Tours are everywhere...Boston, South Beach, San Fran...and so many more!
I highly suggest you look into a Duck Tour if you want to learn all about the city you're visiting!...Just Google "Duck Tour in _______" and you won't regret it!

Before the tour!

View from the water!

Peachtree...Atlanta.

First off, if you're in Atlanta and your GPS is telling you to go to Peachtree, make sure you know which Peachtree you're going to. There are a million, literally a million, roads that are named Peachtree!
Anyways...whenever I travel north, I usually pass through Atlanta.  I also interned there this past summer and was told to do so many different things! There really is so much to do in ATL, so I'm gonna list some of my favorites so you can spend your time going on the BEST adventures in the city.

1. Georgia Aquarium: The COOLEST aquarium I ever went to. There are so many attractions and it's great for the whole family. Definitely suggest  checking it out. Here's the link to their website to give you an idea of all they have! GA Aquarium 

2. CNN: Maybe it's because I'm a news geek, but I loved taking a tour of CNN. It's incredible. It looks like a huge mall. Go on a tour...The prices range from about $10-25 depending on what tour you do, but it's worth it. You get to see what goes on in the control room, a live show going on, and what it takes to put a newscast together...Check it out!

 

 

Inside CNN

3. Shoot the Hooch: It sounds a little scandalous, but it's just a float down the Chattahoochee River. This was the first year I was not home (at the beach) for Memorial Day Weekend, so I decided to "Shoot the Hootch" with some friends. The water is beautiful, and it's the perfect temperature for a hot day. You can even rent a floating cooler to bring along some lunch...and some booze ;)

"Shooting the Hooch" with Michelle!

4. SweetWater Brewery: Obviously, it's a brewery. But, for $10 you get 6 drink tickets, a tour of the brewery, and a glass for your beer! It's really fun if you like to drink beer, like myself. (SweetWater Blue is my favorite!...it's a refreshing blueberry beer that I highly suggest!)

SweetWater with Emily!

DOs & DON'Ts in the Big Apple

New York City...The #1 television market in the country (I guess I have to say that since I'm a Telecom major), and the city that never sleeps! Every time I go to NYC, I am so overwhelmed. There is so much to do, but not enough time! The goal of this post is to list some things that you should do and shouldn't do so you can best spend your time in the Big Apple...

DOs:
Take a walk in Central Park: Central Park is beautiful. If you're looking to relax and spend some time outside, this is a must! First of all, it's huge, so it's easy to get to. Second, there is always something to experience....whether it's the street performers, the zoo, or a few students producing an independent film in the park, it's always exciting, but relaxing.

Taking a stroll in Central Park

Amazing street performers

Eat at Shake Shack: Seriously, this is like heaven on your taste buds. The BEST burger, fries, and milkshake I have ever had in my life. You may feel like a cow afterward, but it's so worth it!

Go to a random bar: The "going out" scene is very different in NYC (very artsy), so just walking into a random bar really gives you a feel for the night life there...One of my favorite things to do: KARAOKE! Plus, if you're shy, this is a great way to open yourself up to something new, because you probably don't know all the people who are laughing at your terrible singing skills.

Go see a Broadway show!: I've never seen a Broadway Show that I didn't like...Open yourself up to something new. One that I highly suggest is "Jersey Boys"...such a great show!

Singing Karaoke with Ricardo

DONTs:
M&M store: We thought it was cool to go to the BIG m&m store...and we were wrong. Really, the only thing to do is look at different colors of m&ms.  I would only suggest this if you absolutely LOVE m&ms...but the NYC m&ms don't taste any better than the ones at your local CVS, so don't waste your time.

Take a Taxi: STOP. Do not raise that hand and wave down a taxi. There is so much to experience in NYC that you can walk, or take the subway! Plus, I really think the taxi drivers are secretly trying to kill you with the way they drive (going 65 in a 30)...SO AGGRESSIVE! Enjoy the scenery from outside a car.

Messing around in the M&M store

Misbehaving at the Museum...

Museum of Natural History: I know people are probably going to disagree with this one.....oh well. I actually like museums but I wasn't a fan of this one. The only thing we did was take pictures. Basically, you look at animals and people inside a glass case. Not too exciting unless you really enjoy stuff like this. Also, I was so excited to be in NYC that I just really wanted to be outside. If anyone has suggestions for things to do at the museum, please let me know!!

WELCOME to my new BLOG!

Hey everyone! My name is Lysette and I am in my 4th year as a Telecommunications-News student at the University of Florida. For my online interactive media class, we are assigned to create a blog and post to it at least twice a week. I didn’t have to think a lot about what I wanted my blog topic to be. I love to travel, and plan on traveling abroad for three months next summer. I figured this blog would get me ten times more excited to travel…if that’s even possible! But this blog won’t just be about international travel. It will be about so many different places to see, things to do, and so on and so on…Keep up with my blog and maybe you’ll be joining me in my travels next summer!