Denver Debate

Last week, KBYU sent me over to Denver to analyze the first presidential debate, and it was one cool experience. 

We left early Tuesday morning and drove the 8.5ish hours to Denver in one of BYU's luxurious 12-passenger vans. There were nine of us, two communications professors, four print journalists, 2 broadcast journalists, and one political science student. 

Tuesday night we got settled in, and prepped for the debate. For me, that meant going over the debate topics and subtopics and trying to anticipate which questions would be asked. It also meant that I needed to evaluate what each candidate needed to accomplish in order to "win."

On our way to University of Denver

Wednesday morning we were up bright and early and on our way to the University of Denver campus. After we got there we set up our work station, and then went to explore downtown Denver. We saw the state Capitol building, the Denver Post, City Hall, the Money Museum, and had lunch on 16th Ave. Denver's a pretty cool city. 

Money Museum

Downtown Denver

16th Ave

We spent the hours leading up to the debate at Debatefest, a huge rally complete with local bands, a live Twitter feed, and every issue/candidate booth you could ever imagine. 

Debatefest

Wednesday night was when I really started working. We watched the debate in a room full of reporters and as soon as the candidates started hugging their wives we went to work. Karen and Alexis wrote the broadcast package while I went to work on my analysis. I won't bore you with my complete analysis, but the nice thing about being an analyst and not a journalist is that I can be more adventurous in what I say. I can even declare a winner. Later that night, I talked to a few of the Daily Universe reporters about the debate and you can read their articles here and here.

A couple hours of sleep later we were on our way back to the University to film our segment. While we were waiting for the sun to come up and give us enough light to film, we literally ran into Senator Hatch(pretty unheard of), and were able to snag him for an interview. Those fancy D.C. people aren't usually around, so that was cool. He asked us when BYU girls got so beautiful, and we were sufficiently flattered. 

Senator Hatch

We filmed our bit, emailed the edited package back to BYU for the noon news and hopped back in the van to drive back to Provo. Here's a link to our 11 News at Noon segment, we're the first five minutes. Pretend my voice sounds normal, and that I'm not standing like a noob. It was cold, ok?

But in all seriousness this is one of the best experiences, if not the best experience, that I have had here at BYU. It's so awesome to have the opportunity to jump head first into field that you're interested in before you graduate. This quick trip reaffirmed my knowledge that politics is where I belong, and it feels pretty good. 

Colorado Captiol

PS: This is my 200th post!

A Look-Like-Lauren Party

I think she was sufficiently surprised and also scared.

Everyone loves looking like Lauren.

Happy Birthday!

The funfetti cake was demolished. 

Serious.

Funny?

I think we all had a pretty good time. 

Classic Tuesday.

Go Rattlers.

Kate just had a really great time.

Oh hey there Leslee.

Don't let the arms fool you, Anna was a pro.

Anna and I took Gold and Silver.  

What does your Tuesday look like?

A litte ward Christmas party for you.

World Gingerbread Competition Part 2

A  few weeks ago our ward had an auction, and my roommates and I entered the dating raffle. And well, we won 3 handsome men. We had the privilege of taking them out, and we decided to do yet another gingerbread competition. Same rules, same materials, new teams, and a new world champion.

The Contestants:

Team 1: 

Me and Stew

Egyptian Pryamid 

Team 2:

Anna and Eric

A Little House 

Team 3:

Willow and Nathan

A Castle 

Team 4:

Nathanial and Sabrina

A Cathedral 

Team 5:

Tais and Daniel

Santa Visiting a House

The Results:

5th Place! 

4th Place! 

How do I keep losing? That pyramid is awesome.

3rd Place! 

 2nd Place!

1st Place!

Here's to another fantastic WGC.

World Gingerbread Competition part 1

So my roommates and I did a weird thing, we asked boys on a date. I know, I know, we're a bunch of feminist freaks.

We planned the most intense gingerbread house competition we could.

The Contestants:

 TEAM 1: Me and Steven.

TEAM 2: Anna and Matt 

TEAM 3: Willow and Jake

The rules: 

Each team was given 30 minutes to build and decorate a gingerbread house.

After the 30 minutes of competition time expired two certified WGC(World Gingerbread Competition) judges arrived and examined the houses.

Shortly after the judge's departure the Master of Ceremonies arrived to announce 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners to the tune of "The Final Countdown."

The Masterpieces:

TEAM 1 - Rapunzel's Tower 

TEAM 2 - Neuschwanstein 

TEAM 3 - A Cathedral

It was a nail biter, but 

The Results:

 3rd place!

2nd place! 

1st place!

We had fun, and we hope the boys did too. 

Thursday Night in PTown.

I'm pretty sure I'm wearing a pajama top and Katie is wearing a 70s polo shirt,

but who doesn't love an ugly sweater party?