Long story why I made this map. It’s one of the many things I’m involved with as newbie journalist, and I wanted to share. Below I mapped out all of Chicago’s June 2009 festivals. Click on a blue dot and it will tell you the date, locale and Web information of said festival. Interestingly enough, I can overlay this map with a registered sex offender map I did in grad school. But that might dampen the mood, yes?

As a journalist, it’s humbling to learn how journalism was conducted, produced and distributed long before computers. While technology has made our industry so efficient, it’s also the same beast that is hurting us today. As I watched the video before, I tried to imagine where we would be as an industry if we still had to use the Gutenberg printing press. Interesting thought. And for all you Radiohead lovers out there, enjoy the music…

KLUGE from Northern Lights on Vimeo.

If I could be two places at once I’d be a) exactly where I am now (Chicago) and b) the Dominican Republic (surprised I didn’t answer Texas?). It’s been almost two years since I went to the DR for the first time on a mission trip. The experience left me so changed, I quit my insurance job exactly one month later just so I could move to the DR on a more permanent basis. My acceptance into grad school cut my time there short, but I can’t help but think that I would be there now if I hadn’t decided to pursue journalism and a higher education.

My good friend Cara (and DR roomie) just recently started a DR blog (carajanewelch.wordpress.com), which is the reason I’ve decided to drift down memory lane. Since her last blog post, I’ve been reflecting on my life here in the states, half wishing that I could be back in the DR with all those people who need help. I love where I am at right now, but it’s hard to see the good that I’m producing in a real, tangible way.