CNN - Exchange Notebook

The conversation continues

Tyson Wheatley — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:45:00 +0000

This is the final post for the Exchange Notebook.

For the last 18 months, we've used this blog to help highlight some of the best iReports we've received from CNN.com readers. We want to thank you for being a part of it, and tell you about the next exciting phase of iReports.

We've launched a new site called
iReport.com.

We've been working really hard on iReport.com. It’s a place for news, powered by you, the iReport community. Your photos, video and stories take center stage.

We've got a brand new place to showcase incredible stories for our iReporters and give the community updates on our progress. Check out the new iReport blog.

So please join us at iReport.com. We can't wait to see your amazing stories.

I-Reporter hits (and lives) the road

Henry Hanks — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:55:00 +0000

Have you ever had the urge to chuck everything and just go on the road to explore the country? Well, Angel Hess had that urge too, and he actually did it. Hess sent us an I-Report photo of his truck earlier this week and his story is truly one-of-a-kind.

Two years ago, he bought a purple 1953 bread truck, and set out on the road. He has been traveling from coast to coast, starting at the northernmost point of California. He uses his blog and Craigslist to find places to park for a few weeks, and other donations for his trip. Hess says, "I always say that I wanted to own a house and this is the way I'm doing it now."

Once a design school student, Hess takes pictures all along his journey, and posts them on his Web site. One picture with a prime spot shows him with his truck, as the New York City marathon goes by.

His Web site shows a map all of the places he has stopped over the first three months of his trip. After spending a while in Brooklyn, he has since headed south, stopping in North Carolina.

Hess is currently in South Carolina, on the way to Georgia. Eventually he thinks he will probably head back west, where the solar panels he uses for energy will be stronger.

"I'm just trying to find nice people along the way and make friends," he says.
Catch up with Hess’s exploits on his travel blog, purple53.com.

Got a great travel story to share? Send us your photos and videos and document your trips as you go. Visit ireport.com to upload your stories. Comment below with your own stories you'd like to share.

I-Reporter meets multiple candidates

Henry Hanks — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:20:00 +0000

Joshua Dobias, a graduate student at the University of New Hampshire, loved the idea of having a "front row seat" for the presidential primaries.

Not only that, but he took full advantage of it by setting out from the beginning of the campaign to meet as many presidential candidates as possible.

An Obama supporter, Dobias still enjoyed hearing from all sides, and saw it as a "unique, awesome experience."

Dobias shook hands with all of the major party candidates except for Fred Thompson and former candidate Tommy Thompson.

He also took pictures with Democrats Sen. Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sens. John McCain and Sam Brownback.

And in all but one case, he wore the same lacrosse sweatshirt, for "consistency."

Well, it only happens once every four years, so why not? No word yet if Dobias plans to continue this during the general election.

You've seen what I-Reporters are sending us. Now, comment below and share your story, and send us your I-Reports as the presidential race to the finish heats up.

Wedding cake draws widespread reaction

Henry Hanks — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:53:00 +0000

We've been doing I-Report for over a year now, and every so often, there's one that takes all of us by surprise. When Chidi Ogbuta got married on September 22nd, she probably didn't expect this either.

As I write this, the I-Report by Ogbuta showing a wedding cake made to look like her is in 5th place for "most commented stories" on CNN.com. We also saw reaction to it all around the web, including blogs by Dave Barry and VH-1.

(See the couple have their life-sized cake, and eat it too)

The bride had always wanted a doll made in her own likeness like Hollywood stars. Instead, she asked to have a personalized wedding, including a cake in her own likeness. The photo was snapped by her professional wedding photographer, Uche Ogbonna.

When the wedding guests first arrived, some thought it was a statue of the bride. Many of them took pictures of it with their cameras and cell phones.

Ogbuta said that the cake fulfilled her childhood dream, and her husband was very happy to help her with it.

And for those of you wondering, they took home the portions of the cake that were left and it lasted a full week.

Got a story to tell? Share it with us! Comment below if you feel compelled to add to this discussion.

Crisis in Pakistan

Nicole Saidi — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:03:00 +0000

Amidst the crisis in Pakistan, we received a photo showing a student protest Monday, November 5, at the Lahore University of Management Sciences in Lahore, Pakistan. The I-Reporter who sent it said the protest was in response to the treatment of two professors who traveled to Islamabad to demonstrate against the imposition of martial law. The I-Reporter said about 400 to 500 people attended the protest in Lahore.

I-Reports give us a view of the world and give a voice to the people who give us a glimpse at what is going on around them.

Are you there? Send us an I-Report and show us what's going on. Or, post a comment below to let us know how you feel.

Ohio school shooting holds meaning for I-Reporter

Nicole Saidi — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:56:00 +0000

Jeremy Burnside of East Lake, Ohio, left work Wednesday, October 10, and walked several blocks to SuccessTech Academy, the downtown Cleveland, Ohio, school that had been the scene of a shooting hours earlier.

"I just wanted to see," said Burnside, who took a photo of the scene and sent it to CNN with his cell phone. Before this event, he was writing opinion pieces to voice his concerns about gun violence, and said this shooting only strengthens his arguments.

Burnside was on campus during a January 2002 shooting at Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia. Three people were killed, including the dean, a professor and a student. Three others were wounded.

Looking back, he said he had always hoped if he ever found himself in the position to stop a gunman, he would try to do so. But when he was in the middle of a real-life incident, he waited in the library.

"When it actually happens you're powerless to move. I feel guilty for it, actually."

He participates in annual five-kilometer runs in honor of the victims of the Appalachian School of Law shooting. Earlier this year, he returned to Cleveland after the run and heard about the Virginia Tech shootings in Blacksburg, Virginia, soon after. Virginia Tech and Appalachian School of Law are about two hours apart.

In May 2003, he was in proximity to another shooting, this time at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He had just returned to law school in Grundy after a family visit in Cleveland when he learned of the shooting.

Burnside struggles to understand the coincidences he has seen in his life. He sent in a photo that held more meaning to him than what is apparent at first glance: a few ambulances outside a school following a horrible event. As a person deeply affected by gun violence, he communicated with us as a way of contributing to the ongoing dialogue he has established. He's also building up the historical documentation and interpretation of this event on a greater scale. In that way, a simple picture is worth way more than 1,000 words.

What's your story? Tell us about it. Check out the latest rundown of the Week in I-Report, and take a moment to send an I-Report of your own. Post a comment below if you have any thoughts.

Tweet! Tweet!

Lila King — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 21:48:00 +0000

Here's something fun for a Friday afternoon: you can now follow new topics from the I-Report assignment desk on Twitter! Find us at http://twitter.com/cnnireport.

Of course, you can still keep up with fresh story topics with our trusty RSS feed.

Lighthouse on the move

Nicole Saidi — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 13:00:00 +0000

Imagine if you'd sought after a prized home by the seashore, only to find that the coastline around it was eroding. Some homeowners in Nantucket, Massachusetts, are faced with the reality that they may have to move their home, destroy it or see it go into the water due to the possibility of the inevitable future major storm. I-Reporter Christine Black isn't in such a situation, but she knows it's happening to others who live by the beach.

She documented the complicated process of moving an otherwise potentially doomed lighthouse to a safer spot, at least for now. The Sankaty Head Lighthouse is in danger of becoming one of the shrinking shoreline's next victims, but the structure was being painstakingly pulled away from the water on Monday, October 1, when she captured photos of it. The process was slow, and still reportedly in progress days later. The lighthouse could move just a few feet per day on tracks. Black also sent in photos showing the water just feet from homes, and houses fenced off and flagged. For those of us living on more stable ground, living like this is almost a foreign existence, but I-Reporters give us a front-seat view.

Check out the latest rundown of the Week in I-Report to see other stories from this week. Do you have something to share? Post a comment below or take a moment and send an I-Report of your own.

Firsthand account of a tragic event

Kate Taylor — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:40:00 +0000

This Tuesday we received some images that really took our breath away. An I-Reporter from Afghanistan, sent us a set of photos that he took only moments after a suicide bomber blew up a bus in western Kabul.

S. Samimi, a 23-year-old secretary, was on his way to work when he saw the blast. The explosion claimed the lives of 10 people, including civilians, policemen and four children.

Samimi spoke with I-Report on the phone from his home in Kabul. His native language is Farsi, but he has taken courses in English and speaks it fairly well. In any language, the anguish in his voice was clear.

It was the first suicide bombing Samimi had ever witnessed, and the first one ever to have occurred so close to his home. He saw body parts on the ground and lost a neighbor to the attack.

By the end of the day, Samimi was still in shock. People in his neighborhood, he said, were still crying.

"Everyone is so sad," he explained. "They are all worried about the future of peace in this country. They are fed up of war."

As the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq grind forward, we hear about suicide attacks and car bombs frequently in the news. To many outside of the region, the reports may start to sound the same. By sharing his photographs and story with I-Report, Samimi put a human voice and emotions behind a tragic event, and reminded us of the lasting impression that each of these attacks leaves on communities.

Do you have a personal angle on a news story to share? Send an I-Report with your own pictures and story.

Launching into another big week

Nicole Saidi — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:00:00 +0000

I-Reporters cover a lot of interesting stories each week, and they're often quite fascinating themselves. They can teach you a lot about things you would never think about.

Consider the story of Elizabeth May of Merritt Island, Florida, who sent in some pictures of the Delta II rocket launching from nearby Kennedy Space Center. She has aerospace experience from the U.S. Air Force and other organizations, so she has an insider perspective on the "space coast" and its "launch culture." People who live there see every launch and even hear the occasional sonic boom. There may be nowhere else on earth quite like this portion of Florida.

"You become a fan of the launches," May said. "You enjoy learning about what type of vehicle is going up, and who's launching it."

She showed us a different angle on the basic story of this rocket carrying the Dawn spacecraft into space, which one might say is a fitting "launch" into another big week. Over the past few days we saw stories both serious and silly, and we can't wait to see what's still in store.

As always, check out the latest rundown of the Week in I-Report, or take a moment and send an I-Report of your own. Post a comment below if you have any thoughts.

The body as a canvas

Curt Merrill — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:57:00 +0000

CNN.com recently asked readers to submit photos of their tattoos and tell us a little about them. As I looked through the responses and talked to some of the I-Reporters, a few common threads emerged.

Some tattoos commemorate a lost friend or family member, others are personal expressions, but all have some meaning to the person who has them.

Casey Goldsmith honors her dog with a portrait on her leg. Craig Graves included his friend's initials into his shoulder tattoo. Marisa DiMattia (pictured), who says her tattoos are "art for art's sake," incorporates ancient Greek patterns into her pieces as a tribute to her heritage.

Second, almost all the tattoos were well-planned in advance.

"Since they're permanent, I don't want anything spur of the moment," said Angie Royal of Fayetteville, North Carolina, who has 11 tattoos.

"I wouldn't put anything on me that I wouldn't be proud to wear when I'm 60," said Casa Wilson of Watertown Massachusetts.

And people don't stop at just one tattoo. Kris Nequin of Chicago, Illinois, has eight. Tobias Lofton of Kansas City, Missouri, and Craig Graves of Ames, Iowa, have one each, but both plan on getting more.

"They are kind of addicting," Graves said.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to include all of the photos and stories that were submitted this time, but that doesn't mean we can't use the others in the future.

Author's note: I don't have any tattoos... yet.

How do you feel about tattoos? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Indifferent? Leave a comment below or submit an I-Report about your own body art.

Week in I-Report: Your stories showcased

Nicole Saidi — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 01:09:00 +0000

There's so many stories that come in to I-Report that it sometimes boggles the mind. This week, we saw everything from footage showing Taser usage at the University of Florida to photos after an explosion in Lebanon. We also saw scenes from a plane crash in Phuket, Thailand, and images of two flaming taxi cabs in the middle of New York. In between, there was even a car covered in Post-It Notes.

In order to showcase the breadth of topics that I-Reporters capture, we started putting together a collection of I-Reports that give a birds'-eye view of what we've been seeing throughout the week. This way, everything is together in one easy-to-find story page of photos and video. We encourage you to take a look.

Check out the Week in I-Report and see what kinds of things are already out there, or take a moment and send an I-Report of your own. Post a comment below if you have any thoughts.

Animals get stuck

Nicole Saidi — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:55:00 +0000

It's not every day that you see a picture of a flight-savvy hawk wedged between tree trunks and unable to escape. But there it is, just to the left. Look down a little farther and you'll see a cat stuck on top of a utility pole.

We don't normally get any stories regarding animals that are improbably stuck somewhere, but this time, we got two that were shot on the same day. Both were shot Sunday, September 16, and later sent to CNN.

In the former case, submitter Joe Unger of Poughkeepsie, New York, says he was awakened from his slumber Sunday by his father to see a hawk stuck in a tree. Unger spent an hour with two car jacks in the morning cold, trying to spread the tree trunks apart ever so slowly. He said he held the bird's talons using a stick and tried to support the bird with one arm while he used the other to operate the jacks. The bird eventually got back onto the ground, relieved itself and flew away.

He says he doesn't know how the bird got there, but he thinks it might have been hunting for something and simply got stuck. He posted pictures for some coworkers and one of them suggested he send the pictures to CNN.

The story of the cat perched on top of a pole comes from I-Reporter Larry Richardson of Booneville, Arkansas, whose rat terrier, Pete, apparently had enough gusto in his tiny frame to frighten a 20-pound cat up a pole. Vampire, the cat, stayed at his high perch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Richardson says. He stayed comfy up there and even took a nap, Richardson says.

Eventually Vampire came down on his own accord, but Richardson didn't see it. He just saw the cat milling about the back porch like he always does. Vampire is so named because he has extra front teeth and looks like a saber-toothed creature when the light is just right. He's 7 years old now, and generally big for his frame.

Richardson said he considered calling the photo "Cat on a stick," but thought better of himself. What he ended up with is a "pole cat." Go figure. You never know what kinds of stories will pop up at I-Report.

What kinds of things are going on near you? Comment below or send us photos and video of what's happening near you.

Coney Island of the mind

Nicole Saidi — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 22:00:00 +0000

When we heard about possible redevelopment at New York's Coney Island, we wanted to hear what our I-Reporters had to say about the development plans and about their experiences over the years at the world-famous amusement area.

I was struck by how vivid some of the memories still are -- after nearly 50 years! (See I-Reporters' photos and memories of Coney Island)

Space limits wouldn't allow the use of all the wonderfully poignant stories in the gallery, but I wanted to share one of these great tales.

Joseph Cassar, 55, of New York City wrote this about his visits to Coney Island as a boy:

"On Wednesdays, in the summer, the women of 66 Orchard Street took their kids to Coney Island to escape the heat and humidity of the Lower East Side. They packed lunches, which for some reason included a large number of hard-boiled eggs.

The women carried the food bags, and we kids grappled with the aluminum beach chairs, which always dragged on the ground because our arms were too short. We walked to Delancy Street to catch the D train to Coney Island. It was a long train ride, and we made a lot of noise. (Watch an I-Reporter's video of a ride on the Cyclone roller coaster)

The women said things we kids didn't understand, but they laughed loudly and their faces turned red. At the last stop, we gathered our belongings and headed for the exit. My mother pointed me in the right direction with a stiff finger jabbed in my back. My sister would give me that sister look of "hmmm, you deserve that!"

The wooden boardwalk was a block from the station. We made our way to the beach and scoped out our spot near the boardwalk so we could change underneath. None of us knew how to swim, and anyway, the water was dirty and cold. So we ate. We ate all day.

In the evening, we changed out of our dry bathing suits back into our clothes. As a treat, Mom let me ride the carousel. I had a hard time getting up on the wooden brown horse, and some carny would come over and toss me on top of the horse.

My goal was to snatch the brass ring, and I would lean over as far as I could and stretch out my arm and try to hook the brass ring. One time, I got the brass ring, and I was so excited. The operator came over, patting me a bit too hard on my head, and said, "Good job, kid," and yanked the ring out of my hand.

At dusk, we went to Nathan's (in those days there was only one Nathan's) and we ate some more. We had hot dogs, fries, pizza and sodas. The ride back home was quiet. We were stuffed and sore from our sunburns. The kids fell asleep against the broad arms of their mothers. We all dozed off, but we never missed the Delancy Street stop.

That was a long time ago. My Coney Island is in the past, in the mist. My photos are memories trapped in the fog."

Posted by Rich Cook

Citizen journalists focus lenses on Ohio flooding

Nicole Saidi — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:47:00 +0000

Inundated by water, citizen journalists came out to tell the story of how flooding has devastated Findlay, Ohio. CNN received dozens of I-Report photos and video capturing the scene in the town, which has a population of about 40,000 people.

(View I-Reporters' video and photos capturing the scene of the flooding)

I-Reporter Scott Courtad of Arlington, Ohio, took photos of water filling Findlay's downtown area on Wednesday. Boats cruised down thoroughfares supposed to be used by cars. He also photographed houses sitting in several feet of floodwater and said a shelter had been set up inside an area ice rink.

Another I-Reporter who was there is Ryan Stillings, who sent excellent photos of a fan boat rescuing citizens from their flooded homes in boats. Stillings said his home was not damaged, but most of the other homes were. The flooding scenes he captured were right in his neighborhood.

Other I-Reporters weren't able to escape the flooding. Adam Craig said he had a few feet of water in his basement bedroom, while Tonia Borowski said she had a few inches in her basement coming in from a couple places. Both Craig and Borowski said although they were trying to pump out the water, there was damage to their basements and they had appliances such as water heaters that would have to be replaced when the water was taken out. Borowski said it was difficult to stop the floodwater from coming in.

"Like the little boy who sticks his finger in the dam, I feel like I should try to stop it," Borowski said.

What's your view of the flooding? Comment below or send us photos and video of the aftermath.

Dean dishes out surprises for travelers

Nicole Saidi — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:10:00 +0000

Hurricane Dean's destructive path made two I-Reporters' travels a lot more interesting than they otherwise would have been. They sent in photos and video of their experiences with the storm, like many other readers. (See the storm through I-Reporters' camera lenses)

Nicole Leffler got an unexpected extension of her a honeymoon in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. She was supposed to leave the resort where she was staying on Sunday, August 19, but had to stay until the storm subsided. That day, she captured photos of the resort being boarded up to protect it from the force of Dean. A group area was set up to entertain guests, she said. The Orlando, Florida, resident said she's used to hurricanes, but it's different when you're not on your home turf. She's not the only I-Reporter whose travel plans were affected by Hurricane Dean.

Harry Greenstreet of Dixon, California, got a memorable trip of his own in Cozumel, Mexico. He was in Mexico for a scuba diving challenge when Dean was approaching. At his hotel, he saw dolphins being transferred to the pool from Dolphin Discovery Cozumel, a facility where people can see marine life including dolphins. Greenstreet said the dolphin park is right on the water, so the trainers put them in the hotel pool to keep them safe during the hurricane. He saw about 20 dolphins total in the pool and said hotel guests' cameras were out to capture the spectacle.

"The trainers took excellent care and stayed with the dolphins during the storm," Greenstreet said.

How has Hurricane Dean affected you? Comment below or send us your I-Report.

ATMs for Jesus?

Robyn Sjogren — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:20:00 +0000

As a nation, we're generous. REALLY generous. And when it comes to putting money in the offering plate at church, most of us are more than happy to give. But what if there were an ATM in your church lobby? Is that crossing the line?

"Prime News" viewers like filmmaker Sal Castellanos and Pastor Josh Roberts are fired up and sending us their video mail. (Watch their video)

You can, too!

Got a question or comment for Erica Hill? Just log on to CNN.com/PrimeNews, follow the instructions, and see if your video has what it takes to make it on the air.

For the love of I-Report

Nicole Saidi — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 18:26:00 +0000

With I-Report having celebrated a poignant first birthday amid the bridge collapse in the Mini Apple of Minneapolis, Minnesota, we're all looking back and thinking about the memories we're making of working here.

The best part of this job is all the interesting conversations you get to have with people. There have been discussions about subjects ranging from the taste of booger-flavored Harry Potter jelly beans to the mating habits of desert lizards. Our contributors are an intriguing crowd. (Check out a review of our first year, including a gallery of I-Reporters)

One of the most intriguing I-Reporters I've had the pleasure of speaking with is Greg Holmes of Hutchinson, Kansas, who travels with a jackalope that he's named Ace. A jackalope (cover your ears, Ace!) is a legendary combination of a jackrabbit and an antelope, popular in the American West.

Ace has been all over the country, traversing long stretches of highway to find national parks and landmarks of note. The duo started sending I-Reports of winter weather around them, and they became regular contributors after that. Holmes even took the extra step of making Ace a special little I-Report T-shirt.

Another contributor that was a whole lot of fun to speak with is Steve Sarner of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sarner sent a series of photos showing iguanas catching some sun in his backyard in the middle of February, while the rest of the populace was freezing its collective buns off.

The former Chicago, Illinois, snow shoveler described the creatures as his "10:00 lizard." The lizards have a daily routine of moving about his yard and tropical pool area, which includes a bar area inside a faux grass hut.

"It's a big slumber party all day with these guys," Sarner said.

These kinds of discussions make our day. It's really funny sometimes, and it's dead serious at other times, but it's always great to hear everyone's stories.
In the end, the people are what make I-Report great. Now, comment below with your thoughts and send us an I-Report if you've got something up your sleeve.

I-Reporters proclaim their love of 'The Simpsons'

Henry Hanks — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 14:09:00 +0000

The new "Simpsons Movie" just hit theaters and I-Reporters let us know all about their love of the denizens of Springfield. (View a gallery of their photos)

One such I-Reporter has a simply staggering collection of "Simpsons" memorabilia. Glenn Thibert, formerly of Springfield, Massachusetts, (of course) had a room full of "Simpsons" toys in his former home. Unfortunately, he's not able to accommodate that now that he lives in Chicopee, Massachusetts, so he has to "spread the wealth" of "Simpsons" merchandise around the new house. No matter how it's presented, this collection surely rivals that of any other Simpsons fan in the world.

Ian Souter took us inside one of the 7-Elevens remodeled as "Kwik-E-Marts" (based on Apu's place of employment on the show). It was truly an ingenious promotion for the movie and thanks to I-Report, we got a close look at the meticulous attention to detail at a 7-Eleven in Chicago, Illinois. There are Krusty-Os on hand for all, and it looks like poor Jasper has been in the Kwik-E-Mart freezer for quite a while.

Are you S-M-R-T? Elsa L. of Ruckersville, Virginia is. She took one of the many "Homer-isms" from the show and made it her license plate. Pretty S-M-A-R-T idea.

Are you a big-time Simpsons fan as well? Send us your photos and video and tell us all about it. Or, comment below and let us know what's on your mind.

Our beloved bespectacled boy wizard

Nicole Saidi — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 17:52:00 +0000

Speaking on a strictly personal basis, working with all of the Harry Potter I-Reports that have been coming in has been a literally life-altering experience.

Our submitters' unbridled enthusiasm for the books and movies has turned at least one staunch nonfiction lover -- who will remain unnamed -- into a big fan. Granted, it's still hard to tell a Gryffindor from a Ravenclaw, but that will all come in time. (View a compilation of Harry Potter devotion)

Take Ken Johnston Sr. of Belen, New Mexico, a NASA veteran who used to train Apollo astronauts. He currently holds the title of "solar system ambassador," and when he's not representing the nearest eight or nine planets, he's dressing like Dumbledore at Harry Potter-related events. For the fifth movie's opening night, he said he wore the robes and mask during the entire film. Spirit gum made the mask easier to wear. At one point, he used his eBay store to auction off a signed copy of a Harry Potter book to benefit a local library. During the ceremony to hand the book to the winners, he was there once again with his costume on.

The Grudier family is also quite enthusiastic. They attend IMAX 3-D showings. They read the books. Even the easter bunny gets in on the act by bringing themed easter baskets featuring sweets seen in Harry Potter stories. For example, baskets include Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, a thinly veiled parody of the jelly beans that come in every flavor under the sun. But these beans, manufactured by one of those same bean companies in the Muggle world, include earwax and boogers and other appetizing flavors. The "cockroach clusters," chocolate candy in the appropriate shape, don't seem much safer.

And don't even get Lauren Mendelson of New York started on her love of Harry Potter. She's a frequent attender of the "midnight magic" book release parties and the Diagon Alley replica constructed in the SoHo district. She has a shirt that reads "I solemly swear that I am up to no good" on one side and "Mischief managed" on the other, alluding to words that reveal and hide a map that appears in the stories.

This doesn't even include Hairy Putter, an aptly named dog who bears an uncanny resemblance to Harry when dressed properly, or Reggie, a Jack Russell Terrier who only goes by Hairy Potter on a part-time basis. These are just a tiny sampling of the many ways I-Reporters have shown their devotion to the Harry Potter series, and it's pretty contagious. What about you? What's the craziest thing you've ever done in the name of Harry Potter? What do you think about the future of the series, including the final book and the movies? Comment below, or send us a Harry Potter I-Report of your very own.

I-Reporters help track massive wildfires

Nicole D. Smith — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 17:29:00 +0000

The numbers of the Lake Tahoe wildfire speak for themselves. Just think about it. Hundreds of homes destroyed. Thousands forced to evacuate. Millions of dollars in damage. CNN received immeasurable help from I-Reporters tracking every step of the intractable blaze. Day by day, moment by moment, we could count on you to send new pictures and fresh video of a fire that put up a big fight. (See: Your photos, video of the blaze)

Kyle Conroy, 18, just graduated from South Lake Tahoe High School. Conroy says he and a friend heard the fire was coming close to the school. They then drove as close as they could to the scene to shoot the video, illustrating the massive inferno residents in the area are facing everyday.

Another teenage I-Reporter, Mark Dalmacio, 18, was raised in South Lake Tahoe, California. He says the sky is gray and “looks like a war zone” with fire trucks constantly on the horizon. “You can’t see the other side of the lake,” Dalmacio said, as he described the thick smoke. “You can barely see the tops of the mountain.”

Burning bush and falling ashes are darkening the California skies. Emergency helicopters are dropping water. And, all of this was captured on camera and then quickly sent in as I-Reports. We couldn’t have done it without you.

A family's sacrifice

Aaron Y. Rustom — Wed, 30 May 2007 17:06:00 +0000

This Memorial Day, the "News to Me" team wanted to do our part to honor the sacrifice of all the men and women who’ve given their lives in defense of this country. We looked through the many touching and heartfelt I-Reports sent in to CNN.com. There were so many stories. The feeling you got looking at these photos and reading the descriptions, made you wish you could feature all of them. One in particular left us truly touched.

Nicholle McLochlin sent in a photo of her with her three children, Connor, Kennedy, and Darby. The photo description simply read, "three days after my husband’s death." Nicholle went on to tell us that her husband, SGT. Major Jeffery A. McLochlin, a prior Army Ranger serving in the Indiana National Guard, had been killed in an ambush July 5th, 2006 in Afghanistan. In his civilian life, Jeffery was a police officer, but as Nicholle put it, "his true love was being a father of three."

This one submission summed up everything Memorial Day stood for, honor, family, sacrifice, and hope. The story of SGT. Major Jeffery McLochlin was the story for every man and woman who had given their life in all the years and in all the wars.

We asked Nicholle to tell her share her story on tape. We never knew what we were going to get would be so powerful. Watch Nicholle’s video diary. For more information about Jeffery McLochlin, go here.

Every now and then you get to tell a story that reminds you of why you work in the news business. The funny thing is we didn’t tell this story as much as let the story speak for itself. Our mission and goal at "News to Me" is to let the citizens of this country report and speak freely, much like the mission of one SGT. Major Jeffery McLochlin.

Star Wars memories

Meryl Page — Thu, 24 May 2007 13:00:00 +0000

A good film sticks with you for a while, but a great film can be a lifelong love affair, such is the case with "Star Wars", its prequels and sequels. All the I-Reporters I spoke with said they were hooked on it from the words "A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away..." And their memories seem timeless. John Granger of Northport, New York saw it on his 11th birthday and was so excited he sat on the edge of his seat. Now 30 years later, his kids are fans too.

Another I-Reporter, Jennifer Korin of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, saw it when she was 12 years old and became an instant sci-fi fan. Now her whole family debates the various merits of the film around the family dinner table.

Following a similar vein, Alan Ibarra of Virginia Beach, Virginia, makes his "Star Wars" passion part of his daily life. He’s a member of Garrison Tyranus, which is a local chapter of the 501st Legion: Vader’s Fist, a costuming group. The entire legion is made up of bad guys; Storm Troopers, Tie Pilots, Snow Troopers, and Tusken Raiders, etc.—all villainous characters from George Lucas’ fertile imagination. Each member of the group foots the bill for the creation of his own costume, which can cost hundreds of dollars. The group has been promoting 'Star Wars" at various events for a decade and donates the proceeds to charity.

I-Reporter Charles McLeod of Portland, Oregon, used the adventure and romance of "Star Wars" to help him navigate a tricky social situation. As Storm Troopers took the Jedi-clad McLeod and his girl friend hostage at a "Star Wars" museum exhibit, he proposed. She accepted. They began a new episode in their life together.

But the sci-fi love affair doesn’t end there; see what I-Reporters shared with us about why they love "Star Wars" in our gallery. And read e-mails about why others say its their most memorable movie. Their reasons might surprise you, or they could mirror your own.

Bygone times in a town of dreams

Nicole Saidi — Wed, 23 May 2007 18:10:00 +0000

Greg Holmes was taken by the charm of Greensburg, Kansas, when he visited last year. Before it was wiped out by a tornado May 4, the town was a smorgasboard of Americana. From the charming buckaroo smiling down over The Cowboy Supply down to the deepest depths of the city's famed well, Greensburg seemed to be the kind of small town in which most people can only dream about living. The Hunter Drug Store had an old-fashioned soda fountain and a well-known soda jerk to make use of it. But the storm left the town flattened down to a tangled mess of debris.

Holmes returned May 9 with his camera ready to capture the destruction of the town's beloved landmarks, and he found much to see. Identifiable remains of the things he'd seen before were everywhere, and he pieced together a few striking sets of photos showing the town before and after the tornado hit. (View a gallery of his before-and-after photos)

He then sent these photos to I-Report and posted them on his personal blog, using the power of personal experience and citizen journalism to show how the storm changed a part of our world forever. (View I-Reporters' tornado damage photos)

It wasn't his first submission to CNN. Several months ago, during a winter storm, his offbeat photo of an icicle hanging off the nose of a fiberglass storefront cow caught our attention. But now he's told a major story in a way that might not otherwise be told. Individuals often have perspectives and resources that give them the unique ability to give the rest of the world an on-the-ground look at what they've seen, and Holmes is a perfect example. By sending these photos and telling his story, he ensures that the spirit of this destroyed town will live forever and perhaps find a life anew somewhere else.

What do you think of Holmes' storytelling? Where is your favorite slice of Americana? Comment below and speak your mind.

News To Me

Mike Kane — Thu, 17 May 2007 19:18:00 +0000

A tortoise bites a cat in South Africa. A guy videotapes it, e-mails the clip and within minutes, it’s front page on CNN.com for millions to see. And now the turtle needs an agent.

The Web has become a weird, wonderful world indeed, but who has time to sift through all the non-turtle related content? Who has time to watch hundreds of crappy videos, hoping to find something interesting?

Who? We do: the goofballs behind "News to Me", a new program coming to CNN Headline News on May 19. Hosted by Eric Lanford, NTM showcases the Web’s most outrageous videos, cool sites, blogs, vlogs and general worldwide weirdness.

But that’s just part of the equation. We want YOU to become a regular on the show. It’s pretty easy. Just log on to CNN.com/NewsToMe, follow the instructions, and show us what you got, be it serious, silly or surreal. Who knows? You too might end up as famous as a turtle.