~Notes From Nessa~

  "Information is Only as Reliable as The People Who Are Receiving It." ~ Julia Koller How many times have you seen something posted on Facebook or Instagram that you automatically believed, only to find out later it was false information? I have countless times! Social media is full of misinformation and fake stories. Tabloid magazines pride themselves on uncovering the "secrets" and inside scoops of celebrities that aren't even true! These fallacies generate views and profit so the media prints them without question. We automatically assume it's true just because the media said so.  Carl Bernstein, an investigative journalist, once said,  "The lowest form of popular culture - lack of information, misinformation, disinformation, and a contempt for the truth or the reality of most people's lives - has overrun real journalism. Today, ordinary Americans are being stuffed with garbage".  After practicing critical reading with the "reading wit...

  "Good Food is The Foundation of Genuine Happiness" ~Auguste Escoffier "How do you stay so small when you eat SO much?!"   While I'm not exactly sure how I stay my size when I eat enough for two grown men (& I'm allergic to exercising LOL), one thing I do know is I LOVE FOOD! I'm such a foodie and I have no shame in it. I particularly love to visit restaurants unique to where I travel. I have a whole process for finding good eats. Since I usually crave pasta, first I may search "best Italian restaurants in (whatever city I'm visiting)" on Google. Next, I scroll through the options until one stands out to me. They could stand out because of their unique name or different food highlights. I'll check out the reviews on both Google and Yelp (this takes a while going back and forth), the description, and pictures. Then, I click on the restaurant's website to view their menu. If I'm not feeling it, I'll circle back to Google ...

    "Don't Let Anyone Steal Your Joy" ~Momma Taylor Hey ya'll! My name is Vanessa but everyone calls me Nessa. I am 23 years old and currently a senior at Ball State. My major is Criminal Justice with a minor in African American Studies. One fact about me is that I love cats! They are the elite animal, honestly. I have two cats named Rajah and JC, both of which I adopted. I also enjoy anything crime related (obviously, I'm majoring in it!). I spend most of my free time watching Criminal Minds or listening to podcasts. Another thing to note: I am a proud Black woman who loves her culture in every aspect. Growing up, Black people were unfortunately not (and still aren't) educated enough regarding our history and culture. We learned what we know from family, friends, and our own lived experiences. The option to minor in A.A.S gives Black people the chance to gain more knowledge and sense of self, and I love that. I chose blogging as a journaling method because it...