You are browsing the Blog for Jonathan Machemehl.

Comfort to our ears

July 21, 2012 in Uncategorized

Comfort to our ears

It is the art that will continue to live on even with the changes in technology. Music will always be there for people to connect to events that are occurring in their lives.

Storified by Jonathan Machemehl · Tue, Apr 10 2012 22:15:29

Music is the art which people go to in order to express their feelings and contemplate events happening in their lives.  It would be hard to say that you could not find a song to express how you feel as you encounter each event in your life.  People look to music when they are sad, happy, excited, depressed, grieving, and any emotion in between.
MUSIC in today’s life is essential. Without music the world would be a very quite place. Music is the perfect art. Music does not restrict the audience in the way that movies or graphic art does. The listener can create whatever image she or he wants to when listening to music.

Everyone takes for granted someone they are able to call on anytime when they are in trouble or need advice from that person. They could be friends, parents, grandparents, relatives, or mentors.  There is one song that is the go tofor me when one of these people is lost in my life, Brooks & Dunn, Believe.

i believe brooks and dunn w/ lyricsleviohman

This song was on repeat when I found out mygrandfather had passed away in April of 2010.  The song was an inspirationand reminded me of the goals I wanted to achieve and the support he always gaveme towards those goals.  I also have to admit I did not call him as muchas I would have liked during school, which is one reason I relate to this song.

My grandfather visited me during move in day andmentioned he wanted to come up because it would be his only chance.  Thispuzzled me since I was planning on staying at SouthernMethodist University for four years.  I do not know if he had afeeling or why he would make the comment but I know I am glad she and my grandfather decided tocome up and see why I am proud to go to the university I do.

Fbcdn

Since loosing my grandfather, there have beenother people that were mentors to me that keep this song fresh in my mind. Everyone tells you to find a mentor and I followed that advice but thatoften means finding someone that you grow attached to and hate to ever saygoodbye one last time.

"Believe" is a single by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was the second single from their album Hillbilly Deluxe, and it won the Country Music Association’s 2006 awards for Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year.[1]
The song was a hit across the country winning numerousawards.  The song is a time for reflection and a time for me to evaluatehow things happen when you least expect it.  I knew I had to go above andbeyond in college in order to fully honor the life that was lost.      

Jennifer Hudson rerecordedthe song in 2011 and felt the song tied into her new album she was going torelease that year. 

Jennifer said she titled the album ‘I Remember Me’ because it is helping her "to remember the old stuff and celebrate the new."

 Everyday I set my goal to make sure what I amdoing would make my grandfather proud.  I think everyone finds inspiration to getthrough tough the times in his or her life and music is something that will alwaysbe there for you to relate to.  Whether it is blaring the radio to hardrock when you are frustrated or upbeat songs by Colbie Calliat when you arehappy, music never lets you done.

Jennifer Hudson – Believejhudfans

No Comments »

Sad end to a long day at SMU

July 21, 2012 in News

No Comments »

Social media and the Super Bowl

February 13, 2012 in News, Social Media

It is the most anticipated event in football where friends and family get together to watch the biggest game of the year, the Super Bowl.  Super Bowl XLV set a new record for the most viewers, breaking the record held for 27 years by the television show M.A.S.H.

The television event is most commonly known for industries to introduce new commercials, which will run for months to come.  However, this year many companies looked toward social media as another way to interact with the audience providing hashtag and online options.

Coca-Cola launched an application that had polar bears, which interacted with viewers via Twitter and Facebook.  The two bears each supported a different team showing reaction for each play that was made during the Super Bowl.  The polar bears would also react to the commercials including falling asleep during rival Pepsi’s commercial.

Other companies such as Budweiser, Audi, and H&M showed hashtags during their commercial in hopes of getting viewers to talk about the commercial on Twitter. The commercial advertising David Beckham’s new line of clothing for H&M was one of the most talked about commercials of the night.

While some companies succeeded in embracing social media others like Toyota took their measures too far.  Toyota made the decision to spam Twitter accounts with phrases that mentioned “Camry Effect a Friend Giveaway.”  Toyota’s efforts were unwelcome by many and were vocalized by a blog on The Next Web.

Proof of the large impact social media had on this year’s event was with the statistics.  Twitter reported 13.7 million tweets about the Super Bowl this year.

#SB46 showed viewers are embracing social media and ready for companies to continue to use the platform for them to take their thoughts beyond the party.

Tags: ,
No Comments »

The code of a Mustang leader

February 6, 2012 in Leadership

“Be a Leader.” “This student showed great leadership in all of his/her actions while working on this program.” We hear phrases like these at almost every conference and award ceremony you attend but they never give the specific characteristics that make a good leader.

A leader is the person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country according to the New Oxford American Dictionary.  Does this definition really define what a leader is?  Better yet, does this definition define what a great leader is or does to be considered one?  During the All University Crain Leadership Conference, Dr. Lori White, vice president of student affairs atSouthern Methodist University, presented us with a code, which a leader should follow.  Looking at this code, I see it as a checklist to determine whether you fit the classification of a leader.

They are as follows:

  • Make a commitment to be the best student leader you can be.
  • Understand the value of diverse viewpoints and perspectives.
  • Stand up for what you know is right. (even when others are not willing to do so)
  • Treat everyone fairly and respectfully.
  • Avoid making negative comments about other individuals or groups. (that includes in person and on social media sites)
  • Never compromise ethical principles.
  • Get out of your comfort zone.
  • Serve as a model for all individuals through your words and actions.

If you did not notice the list is an anagram for the word mustang but that is irrelevant.  This is a code that a true leader follows.  We all wobble and have our faults but should always strive to live up to this code throughout our lives.

 

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »