Unnamed Blog?

The schedule on the class site said just that there was a blog due and there was no topic. No one seemed to know what the blog was to be about so I just assumed it was about our research project's progress. I hope that was it so I'm going to go with that. Overall I'm surprised that I was able to get the 3 essays together in this piece because when I started this in the very beginning, I was nervous beyond belief that I wasn't going to get everything that I needed to write a developed and effective project. Looking at what I've gotten together now has really been unexpected for me and I feel better about making similar projects in the future.

Chantelle's ill research!

The paper is a bit difficult to read in the font that's typed in but if you copy and paste it to a word document then it's no problem. There's barely anything to say about it that isn't positive about the descriptions and the overall structure of the paper. Descriptions of everyone goes beyond the simplicities that most people use in their research. Strawberry blonde hair of the teacher or pigtails and striped sweaters on the little girls can actually give a mental picture and there are the actual interactions between everyone and conversations. Overall this piece does great on putting the reader in this place and can imagine what it's like from all the actions that are going on and what everyone's saying and looking like. Fantastic stuff!

Drafting and Whatnot

the current reading in the book from 419-423 and 460 was the most interesting reading to date because there are several pieces in there that I can relate to more than anything else. Most notably how it is early impossible to get started with writing and that getting distracted from starting or continuing is almost guaranteed. Everyone has their processes to get started and mine personally is listening to music quietly. Another thing I feel is good about this reading is that the point of a first draft being just the starting point where perfection isn't stressed at all and that idea isn't made enough in my opinion. My first drafts are usually pretty awful but that's idea of it, to shape something close to perfection out of a sloppy mess of writing.

Bowling Interview

I liked the history piece in the opening of the paper which gave very interesting information that probably most readers did not know. The team names are all awesome; I've never heard those names for any game or sport ever. I might use of those for myself next time I have a basketball game. Didn't think it was an option for leagues to move from venues. Never thought of specific reasons for it, just didn't think it was something that happened. Something really strange though was how the men's league is much smaller than the women's league and less competitive excpet the one Laura mentioned. I thought it would be the other way around just from usual observations when I used to go bowling. I thought the introduction to the two boys was funny and typical of little brothers; it reminds me of me when I was that age bowling. Through the rest of the paper that details bowling heritage is surprising to me. I never had an idea that something like bowling is passed down through family generations like other games such as basketball, football, or track is with most others. Overall, the observation is great because of how it offers more insight into bowling that people wouldn't know about otherwise. Makes me want to bowl right now kind of.

Prtfolio......Finally >:(

http://www.judgie136.com/

(if it is a non-clicking link then right click the address and select either "open in a new tab" or "open in a new window" to access it.)

"Lay of The Land"

Timothy Judge

March 8, 2011

Professor Williams

“Walking The Course”

Most businesses try to design their buildings in such a way that it will make the customer more likely to buy the products from them based on the presentation of the store. This is something that appeals to me and tricks me somewhat into buying something when I make visits. I guess I could say that I’m a “sucker” to it and buy something based on the store itself rather than strictly what I do or do not need. Marathon does use this strategy to more effectively coax people who visit to get something from them in their trip instead of leaving empty handed. It may not be very noticeable at first glance but after a little time and paying attention, you notice that everything is placed where it is as part of a strategy.

The building itself stands on the main road of Washington Street in Norwell, Massachusetts. Across the parking lot on the right if you were facing the building, is a gym with an indoor pool that is visible through large windows that personally, always catches my attention when I pull into the lot. When you walk through the doors, the main footwear is at the very end of the building. It takes up the entire back wall for both men and women and has track spikes on a mini wall next to it on the right that are arranged by XC at the top to sprinting and throwing at the bottom with both boys and girls. This is probably the main staple of the entire building and brings the most business by attracting more than just competitive athletes for footwear. The brands of shoes that are sold in unisex are Saucony(personal favorite), Nike, Adidas, Asics, and Mizuno trainers. Somewhat on the same wall are road racing shoes that are from the same brands but are in very limited supply. The track spike mini wall on the right offers mainly Nike, Saucony, Adidas, and Asics for both XC flats and spikes and sprinting to long distances spikes for the rest except for Nike being the only throwing shoe at the bottom. Further right from the main trainer shoe and spikes walls is the space in the building that sells road racing attire for women such as sports bras, shorts, and running hats by the wall and on the floor. In this area are treadmills for the employees to observe how customers walk and run to judge which shoe is best individually for their needs and three changing rooms. At the end of this space is a doorway that leads to offices of the employees and the stock room with all the pairs of shoes are stored. There isn’t as massive a selection of shoes as there would be in places like Footlocker or Champs or Dicks Sporting Goods but they probably have the most of what you actually need and can certainly make sure that you’ll get the shoe that is right for your style and stance.

The rest of the store displays different clothes and some accessories that you can wear for road races, triathlons, hiking, or just simple wear for each season of the year. First to be noticed when you would walk through the door are a few islands that have different types of t-shirts, shorts, long sleeves, pants, and jackets depending on races of the season and their functionality. Specifically, there’s a single island that contains just Livestrong gear from books to clothing and the wristbands with the Nike shoes. To the right, on the far wall are various tops, shorts and under armour material shorts/pants. My favorite item sold in this area at the front of the store is a tall display case of fancy sunglasses on the right that are way too expensive for me to ever buy but they look awesome and are fun to try on. On the left wall and nearby islands are clothes sold on discount which are rarely the size or style that you need or would even want to get.

In the center of the building is the front desk where you pay for the merchandise, a pillar for gloves and hats on one side and then other limb warming wear on the other, hydration items like bags with water bottles in them or just regular water bottles, speed suits and other race wear, swim wear, and other accessories for your shoes or clothes like scented fresheners and watches. On the front desk are these cool stickers for various things like marathon or cross country or track that go on your car and they have protein and granola bars which I haven’t had myself but I assume are pretty tasty. There is even bicycle race gear with the speed suits I think but I’m not completely sure that their specific for bike or just open to several categories of racing with bicycling included.

The most important items or space within the store however is the shoe wall at the far end which was previously mentioned. Probably 90% of the time that I have gone there personally is for new running shoes to train with or to get a new pair of track spikes for competition. All of my friends on the team have gone there strictly for the same reason as well whether on their own trips or coming with me in a car pool type of deal. Any sort of media that is promoted for that particular store or for all of them in the franchise, promotes that wall of shoes and spikes as the main attraction somewhat. It’s kind of like the parquet floor to the original Boston Garden that makes Marathon Sports special from other sports wear franchises.

The other attraction of the store are the people that make up the Marathon personnel. If someone were to go to any other store that is similar to Marathon in the region, the biggest difference they would notice is customer service and overall atmosphere. Every staff member at Marathon is a polite and helpful employee that will go far beyond what another store will be willing to do. People there ask questions and not generic ones but the right ones that will make your visit to the store more pleasant and have you leaving satisfied with what you bought. You’ll walk shoeless for a few steps and they will watch how you strike the ground and what your stance is. Depending on what you walk or run like, they will get specific shoes that are designed to suit the needs of your style. Employees will even watch you jog or run on the treadmill with your shoes to see if they they ride smoothly and correct any problems you had with your stance before wearing them.

The customers are also set apart from most other business with a similar purpose and target market. Every time I go to Dicks Sporting Goods or Footlocker, the people there are usually men in their mid 20’s who are looking for jerseys and high top basketball sneakers, probably for style and no function. I’ve never seen one person ever get a pair of running shoes from those places or even try a pair on. The personality differences between Marathon’s customer base and other places are very noticeable. People at the other places are young people who are mostly into hip hop and rap who speak with lots of heavy slang. The customers at Marathon are usually much older and are looking for shoes to serve a functional purpose; not just for the style of it. The way they interact with staff members are very different in how they ask for shoes and describe what they want. Younger guys at other places will just request a shoe without actually asking for it and aren’t polite about it; although that’s not to say they’re disrespectful too. People at Marathon will politely ask for a type of shoe to help with joint problems and will even engage the staff member in a minor conversation and try to be humorous and pleasant with the staff.

original essay 1

Timothy Judge


Essay #1


The main reason I chose the Marathon Sports as my site is because I am a person who obviously goes there quite a bit and purchases the merchandise that they offer. Along with that, it’s a place I just enjoy visiting very much because it’s a place that promotes one of the things that I believe most in and that’s physical fitness. Thus, a thesis statement for what I could try to explain or develop on my reason for choosing Marathon might be that that I am apart of the culture of people that make that place what it is and that it is a place that shapes who I am. I feel that is my best choice since it ‘s changed who I am indirectly since I’ve been going there for almost 3 years now.
The overall culture of Marathon Sports that I know of is that of an average person of either gender and any age that enjoys running basically. The specifics of how much they run or how dedicated they are and what they look for in the store varies from just moderate enough to be more active than the average person or near professional status where they know exactly what to get and have top of the line gear. More often then not, it’s a combination of either HS athletes in the area looking for track spikes, like myself at the time I started going, and running or racing shoes for cross country. If it isn’t young athletes in school looking for spikes or trainers then it’s the middle aged group of people than can range from mid 30’s all the way into mid 70’s that are either looking for trainers to get certain miles in a week or just a better shoe to walk around in.
It would be fairly reasonable to say that I am apart of this culture because I am like soo many other people that are apart of it there. I have similar upbringings and social status along with the same reason for being at the store and doing the same types of activities as the others. If I wanted to get more in depth, I could say I also share the same values of the people there as employees and customers based on running and fitness as a way to better a person in many ways more than in the physical sense. To improve someone’s personality traits through running or things about themselves such as their optimism and their willingness to succeed in life. All other basic aspects of social life, I feel that I share many of the same similarities as many others do. I’m a white male as many other patrons are along with things like I’m single or I go to school and compete or that we have many similar outlooks on life based on running and track.
The other reason I chose Marathon Sports as my site to research is that there are some things that I don’t know about it even though it’s one of my highest regarded places to visit and purchase sports wear from. Something that’s a possibility is that the store very well might not have been what it is like today when it started out a few years ago; back in 2005 I think is the founding year. Inventory might’ve been smaller or arranged differently throughout the store and the selection of it might have been different. The same amount of people who currently go to the store very well could not have been the same number when it started out. Could’ve been that unknown where half of the customer base was there originally to act as it’s population. Even the same type of people might be something that’s changed over time. Taking into account the type of recreational runners that were the only people that went there rather than serious runners who compete in races and high school to college athletes looking for gear to compete in that area as well.
Since I’m already familiar with this location and very passionate about what it’s based on, it would seem that those aspects would somewhat affect my ability to observe and report on the area. To be as fair and honest though, I believe that won’t be the case because there’s nothing negative for me to report about the store in a way that is obvious to me so I won’t need to have a biased opinion of it. I will try to praise it where praise is needed or deserved but if there are any shortcomings on it’s part then I will report on those as well.



Essay Uno

Timothy Judge

“Runners, on the line”

The main goal of the research project is to get a greater understanding of the culture that lies within many areas. Culture developed from the people that occupy a space like a small community and it’s even developed from the space itself. I have chosen to research and get a greater understanding of the running apparel store, Marathon Sports, in Norwell, MA. Through this project, I will try to show how I personally fit into this culture that is there. I feel that is my best choice since it’s changed who I am indirectly since I’ve been going there for almost 3 years now and I never even noticed until I had to think about it.

Marathon Sports is a running shoe and exercise apparel retailer located in Norwell, Massachusetts; which is a little more than 5 minutes north of the Hanover mall. They offer everything from running shoes, track shoes, barefoot simulating footwear, and various clothes for running or triathlons. It’s located on a main road that handles a substantial amount of daily traffic so therefore it’s busy more often then not. It is not jam packed though like other sports retailers are such as Dicks Sporting Goods and Champs. What makes the store unique from most others is that the staff are avid runners themselves and understand what people need in footwear. They will ask you several questions about what shoes you tend to wear and what qualities you would be looking for. When you try a pair on, they also watch your stride and see if it truly works for you or not and will suggest more options. On top of these features, the store also used to offer 25% student discount on all merchandise but it’s recently dropped to 12% as I found out from my last visit.

The overall culture of Marathon Sports that I know of is of average people of both genders who enjoy running. The specifics of how much they run or how dedicated they are and what they look for in a store varies from person to person. It can be just moderate interest or be a serious runner that might even hold professional status; who knows exactly what they’re looking for and doesn’t bother with browsing for anything else. More often then not, it’s a combination either HS athletes in the area looking for track spikes, like myself at the time I started going there, or running and racing shoes for cross country. If it isn’t young athletes in school looking for spikes or trainers, then it’s the middle aged group of people that ranges from mid 30’s towards 70’s. People within that group are just looking for trainers to get a certain amount of miles a week or walking shoes to have a more comfortable day.

It would be reasonable to say that I am apart of this culture because I am like so many other people that are apart of it there. I have similar upbringings and social status along with the same reason for being at the store and doing the same types of activities as the others. If I wanted to get more in depth, I could say I also share the same values of the people there as employees and customers based on running and fitness as a way to better a person in many ways more than in the physical sense. The biggest goal is to improve someone’s personality traits through running or things about themselves such as their optimism and their willingness to succeed in life. All other basic aspects of social life I feel that I have in common include the fact that: I’m a white male as many other patrons are, I’m single, I go to school and compete, or that we have many of the same basic outlooks on life based on running and track.

The other reason I chose Marathon Sports as my site to research is that there are some things that I don’t know about it even though it’s one of my highest regarded places to visit and buy sports wear from. Something that’s a possibility is that the store very well might not have been what it is like today when it started out a few years ago; back in 2005 I think is the founding year. Inventory might’ve been smaller or arranged differently throughout the store and the selection of it might have been different. The same amount of people who currently go to the store very well could not have been the same number when it started out. Could’ve been that unknown of a business that half of the customer base was there originally to act as it’s population. Even the same type of people might be something that’s changed over time. Taking into account the type of recreational runners that were the only people that went there rather than serious runners who compete in races and high school to college athletes looking for gear to compete in that area as well. Possible things to do would be ask people that go there and see how long they’ve been going there or how they’ve heard of this place. I could also questions the staff of the building and find out what it was like when it opened? What regulations have changed since, or if they plan to expanding or upgrading the franchise or just the building itself soon.

Since I’m already familiar with this location and very passionate about what it’s based on, it would seem that those aspects would somewhat affect my ability to observe and report on the area. To be as fair and honest though, I believe that won’t be the case because there’s nothing negative for me to report about the store in a way that is obvious to me so I won’t need to have a biased opinion of it. I will try to praise it where praise is needed or deserved but if there are any shortcomings on it’s part then I will report on those as well.

No title

Sooo yeaa every time I do my math homework, it's usually 11:30 or later and I barely get any sleep. Then I sit through that class and English and have a good enough wind to stay attentive but it catches up with me at psych around 20 minutes into class. Need to change this man

Marathon

I firmly believe myself to be apart of the culture that is in Marathon Sports. I am the same type of person that goes there as everyone else does. A casual runner and or track and field athlete who greatly enjoys the feeling I get from either and wants to continue them for as long as I can.

I know a lot already about the store but there are some things that I'm not really sure of and have some questions about. Mainly what the store was like right when it opened and what things were different. Questions about staff qualifications too such as if you have to be a seasoned runner or t/f athlete to get the job over someone who isn't.

Wow been a while

Soo yea my last post was from junior year of HS in Journalism with Savage. A whole 2 years ago and it's kinda strange just being on this again. Doooodee

2012 about 2012!!!!!

If anyone has ever payed attention to the global warming and nature under attack deal, you'd probably know about the 2012 apocolypse. Under the Mayan long term calander, 12/21/2012 is the end date of the current cycle and then it starts anew. Well you figure its a long calander made by a ancient civilization

Took long enough

Well last saturday I finally got my licence after a whole year of procrastination. I should've got it back in Febuary....OF LAST YEAR!!!!!!! At the registry in Brockton during the waking hours of 8:00 AM, i waited in the car in 21 degree weather and Paul and Kyle O'Brien were there too and they passed as well. Once in the car it was 10 minutes of just driving down the road while the rookie trooper I was with was talking to the instructor about jobs and income and just stuff. When I got back to the registry I passed the test even though I had to parrallel park twice. However as all of this was happening, the East Bridgewater Vikings were at the re-scheduled Winter Festival which I wanted to be at soo badly. My test was supposed to be the week prior but my little panzy ass trooper officer Michaels (not as cool as Seth Rogan)decided not to show. Well there's always next year when I'm a senior but that sucks that will be my only time there. I really wish i did track freshman year and last year over basketball.

NEW POST OF 09........PEANUTS!!!!!!!!!

Well this is my first post of 09 I think but idk because i still have one that i made fromyesterday but i havent posted it yet.....Maybe i should get to that today but idk, idek if i can use texting right now for a blog but w/e no prob.Finally won our first meet yesterday against WB but they're terrible soo it kinda doesnt count. Finally made states in 55 hurdles and beat Pete with a new PB of 8.4 secs........YES!!!!! Also won the long jump too with only 18'3 and thats not even close to good enough for me. Their long jumper can get 19'6 but I was still told that I won soo hells yea. New PB for my split in the 4x400 with 57.5 secs but still not fast enough and I feel that if we all run times as fast or a lil faster than that and with Dusty as the anchor leg we'll be very good. Still I want to get better in everything by jumping 20ft, hurdling 8.1 or 8.2, and getting a 52 for my 400 split like coach says and if I put enough effort in and workout like a freak than i can do it. Also Tomorrow I have my road test and I really want my licence but im nervous I'll fail. I already have a car even though it WAS my bros and he gave it to me, I still need my licence soo badly.

Make Love Not WarCraft

Recently there have been many commercials promoting the online computer game World Of WarCraft. Such stars as Mr.T, Verne Troyer, and Ozzy Ozzbourne has been famous faces to promote it. However people dont realize that the fictional world they think isn't real, is actually quite real indeed.Epic battles have continued on WarCraft and innocent avatars have been murdered for no aparebnt reason other than theres a griefer within the system purposly killing for no reason other than to annoy everyone. Everyone must be made aware that war is not answer to the craft, just make love(bow-jigga-wahh-wahh) but only after this griefer has been viciously castraded and given third degree burns by a piece of toast.

PEANUTS-3!!

STARTING SCHOOL LATER, GREATEST THING EVER! Well it might not be the greatest thing ever but I feel that it is something that should be incorperated into the education system.

Currently the starting bell for school's across the nation is on average 7:30 A.M and the ending bell is around 1:50 P.M for high schools and most middle schools. Being the average teenager I do dislike these customs quite a bit but as a unbiased person rather than typical teenager I feel that this isn't right.

Its no secret that people aren't quite at their best in the morning but what can you say about someone waking up at around 6:00 A.M. Once people do get to school, teachers and students alike not just only one of the two, take a little while to get going into the day. Granted some students do abuse the schedule and just chose to have rough lifestyles that make it even more difficult to start but most other normal students and even Valedictorians still cant just get up and go.

Most students and teachers on average go to bed at a reasonably late time at around 10-11:30 and wake up at around 5:30-6.

PEANUTS-2!!

Hurdling is without a doubt the greatest activity in Track & Field as well as any sport in the world. It's fast, intense, and just plain amazing to watch happen and only the greatest athletes ever such as Tim Judge can be successful at this event. Unquestionably the greatest assest to the Vikings track team is hurdling as evidenced by the recent record breaking 1:03.7 second run by the shuttle team that broke Wayland High's 25 year old previous record.

PEANUTS!

My name is Tim Judge and I run XC and it sucks a lot. The beginning of the school year I was just doing my own thing and not really thinking at all about sports until the winter. Before this year I have never done a fall sport and never even thought much about it since I can't play soccer of football very well I was just not going to do one. This year though when shool started though I was kept getting asked to join the Cross Country team which is very successfull but I've never really been able to run more than a mile let alone running hard FOR 3 STRAIGHT!!!!!!!!
Ever since I tried Track in the spring for the first time and had a really good year, the xc/track team has wanted to bring me into the team full year. Well cross country is almost over but when it is I have to decide either basketball or winter track and it sucks because I love them both the same and I'm constantly getting pulled in both directions for each........DAMN!