Better Living Blog Project

  As we’ve explored the power of media in class, I’ve started to notice a real shift in how I engage with the content around me. What used to feel like passive consumption has become something much more intentional. I now pay attention to the tone of news stories, the framing of headlines, and even the subtle use of images and language designed to influence emotion. Media no longer feels neutral to me, it feels constructed, shaped by specific goals and audiences. Personally, one of the biggest changes is how I observe behavior in others, including myself. I notice how quickly opinions form after exposure to certain media outlets, especially on social media. Conversations with friends or family often reflect trending narratives, and I can sometimes trace those ideas back to specific platforms or sources. This has made me more critical, but not in a dismissive way. Instead, I find myself asking more questions: Who created this message? What is their intention? What perspectives are m...

 Have you ever been to church, and seen the guy singing on stage and wonder: What else does this guy do beside sing on the weekend? Well you're in luck, because the music nerd Austin Manore is back, and Im here to tell you all about what we do on a normal week day! Today I will dumb it down to 3 main tasks that we do! Lets find out! 1. They invest time in personal and spiritual preparation. Leading others in worship requires more than musical skill it calls for authenticity. Throughout the week, worship leaders spend time in prayer, reading scripture, and reflecting on the theme of the upcoming service. This helps ensure their leadership flows from a genuine place rather than routine. Their private devotion shapes the tone of their public ministry. 2. They focus on planning and coordination. This includes selecting songs that align with the sermon topic, arranging music, and sometimes adapting keys or structures to suit their team. Communication plays a big role here—emails, group ...

 Hello everyone! It's me Austin Manore again! Today you're going to get another different kind of vlog, but it'll still include music somehow, so you can never get away from it! In today's vlog we are going to be talking about hashtags. Have you ever wondered, what is a hashtag? How can they be used and how they're involved in our everyday lives? Well today's vlog will tell you all about that, with the example of music, so stay tuned! For starters, let's begin by looking at what hashtags really are, According to the Merriam-Webster.com a hashtag is "A word or phrase preceded by a hash symbol {#} used on social media platforms to categorize content, making things easily discoverable in search results. It was originally popularized by Twitter to group topics, however, hashtags are now widely used across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Etc, to connect users with shared interest or ongoing discussion." Wow that was a lot, but I hope you guy...

 Hi! It's Austin Manore again! In today's blog I'll be talking about MORE MUSIC! Anywho... have you ever overflowed with anticipation for your favorite artist to release a new album? Then listened to it over and over again? Well if you're into music like me, then you certainly have. Phil Wickham is my jam. In this blog, let's talk about why Phil Wickham's new album, "Song Of The Saints," is arguably his best!  Phil Wickham has released over 28 albums. Some of his more popular albums being: "Hymn Of Heaven," "I Believe," "Children Of God," and so many more! Out of all 28 albums, Wickham's album "Song Of The Saints" has been deeply impactful (at least within my circle of friends). Let me point out some examples and entice you to listen. For starters, Phil Wickham makes the first song of his album a real "banger" (for those of another generation, that means "really good")! The song is called ...

     Arizona Governor Doug Ducey argues that the state needs more college graduates to stay competitive in today’s economy. His position is based on the idea that higher education leads to a stronger workforce, better-paying jobs, and long-term economic growth. While this argument sounds reasonable on the surface, I don't fully agree with it. Especially as a college student. The assumption that more college degrees automatically lead to a stronger economy overlooks the value of skilled trades and alternative career paths. Not every job requires a four-year degree, yet many of these roles such as electricians, plumbers, and technicians are essential and often pay well. By focusing too heavily on college education, we risk devaluing these important professions and pushing students into expensive degree programs that may not suit their interests or career goals.        Arizona should invest in a more balanced approach. Expanding vocati...

 Hi! My name is Austin Manore and you guessed it! We are going to be talking and learning about more music! Now, I don't know how many of you all play an instrument, however i'm sure you know it takes a lot of maintenance to keep one healthy! So, in today's blog we will be specifically focusing on guitar and how to change the strings!  Before we get into the actual steps, there is one thing that needs to be covered. You need to pick out the right strings! If you're a guitarist you'll know, there are strings out there that are really bad! So I'll provide a link just in case y'all need some! Don't mind the price -  https://elixirstrings.com . Ok, now that you have your strings let's get into how to change your old rusty strings to these new nice strings! (By the way: This is for electric and acoustic guitars) 1. Remove old strings  Loosen the strings by turning the tuning pegs down all the way, once this is completed, by hand you're going to unwind...