Steve Coleman

Poetry has been around for ages and is a meaningful way to express one's feelings.

One inspirational poet is Steven Coleman. Steven Coleman is an inspirational poet.  He is a white boy who grew up at an African American High School.  Many people underestimated him and thought he wouldn't succeed because of his surrounding and what he grew up around.

He proved everyone wrong! He succeeded in his studies and worked hard at what he liked to do.  He wrote about his feelings and opinions and expressed himself through his writings.

He made a difference in society in many ways.  He proved that anyone no matter where someone is from or what they so, they can still make it in the world and succeed.  He made a difference- that if you work hard and not care what others say and just do what you love you can do whatever you believe.

He is also a twin!  Twins are the best and I am a twin which makes him even better! =p

This ^^^^ is a video of Steve Coleman reciting his poem -I Wanna Hear A Poem

His poems are inspirational to many people and are displayed in books such as Def Jam Poetry.

Memento

  Watching the movie Memento was confusing movie for me to watch.  AT first I didn't know what was going on and then later on I got the hang of how the movie was set up.  The movie is like a puzzle and the viewer is just trying to fit the pieces in the correct spots.

Although it was confusing I did enjoy viewing it because it was a different type of movie than I would usually watch and it kept me wanting to see more and more.

Leonard, the main character, just wanted to find a reason to live which was to murder his wife's killer.  His reason to live was for revenge.
Leonard has short term memory and only remembers up to his wife's death which is extremely horrible.  I feel bad because people take advantage of him because of his condition and use and abuse him.  He never knows where he is, why he is there, who sent him, or knows anybody around him or if they ever met.  He just lives life by pictures and notes he takes when he meets somebody and uses those when he doesn't remember.

I say what's the point of living if all day everyday you think of your wife dying in front of you?!  If Lenny already killed his wife's killer ( which I do not know if that happened I'm still a tad bit confused) then he really has no point in living.

Questions such as why are you living? What's worth dying for? and such are spread around in this film-these are existentialism questions.

This movie was intriguing and kept me on my toes.  I always wanted to know what was going on and why.

Existentialism

Existentialism- defiance of human existence

During the break I watched the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  This movie showed existentialism in many ways.  McMurphy, a character in the film, showed the patients in the ward how to find their own meaning of life. The patients in the ward start to rebel and have fun and enjoy their life instead of living a strict controlling lifestyle.

McMurphy helped the patients gain freedom and make them want to continue living  a free life than a "locked up" life inside the ward.  He helped the patients think beyond what they were used to and wanted them to realize they were people and not psycho people.

I also watched the movie The Invention of Lying.  The main character in this movie does the unthinkable and abnormal thing to do in society which is to lie.  He helped his community by making them think outside the box and stretch their imagination.  yes, this created hectic chaos but helped society in a major way.  This made the people of society think about what life was like after living.

Both of these films showed existentialism and made people think about the meaning of life.  In my opinion I disliked both movies becasue I found them rather boring and useless but they did show meaning and purpose of the existentialism style.

Many people have different meanings of life.  Existentialism is a controversial style of thinking still in today's society.

Students at work..even when transporting to and from school!

SO ..... I came upon this link and was shocked when I first read it.  This interesting article had information I have never heard of before and was extremely intriguing.

Students from all over the world learn and educate themselves at school...but have you ever heard of them learning on school buses?!

In the state of Arkansas, students are equipped with school buses that provide screens that show educational information through out the time being that they are on the bus.   There are five different screens throughout the school buses that show different content such as biology and such.  This was with the help of the Aspirnaut Program, a product of Vanderbilt University.

What also got me interested was that each seat was provided with headphones fore each student so they can hear what they are seeing and learning on the screens.  This is interesting to me because I have never heard of anything like this .  Students can learn and study just by using materials provide by them.

Also, I think that the students would want to learn on the buses going to and from school because it is new technology and they probably don't even know they are learning because of its awesome mechanization.

These screens on the buses contain channels such as PBS, Discovery Channel, and NASA.  These kids will learn on the buses with the comfort of their seating while having fun watching channels they watch at their home t.v.

Here is a link to more information:http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/currentevents/schoolonbus.htm

This event relates to humanities because this bus ride with educational learning will help students with their studies and help them learn more.  Students can learn more new things daily and sit with friends while doing so!!

Students may also do better on their tests or future tests because they can be more knowledgeable in their studies.  Grades in school might even increase and students may be more confident in school subjects.

Not only are students equipped with educational screening for them to watch but students also have wireless internet on school buses!!!! This shocked me once again because this is so awesome.  To use this wireless internet students are also given laptops and i-pods so they can learn and such and explore new things and ideas.!!!!!

There is non-stop ways to learn and to help kids learn through new technology and such.  These new ideas help kids learn new things and explore and stretch their minds!!

Here another link to see for more information: http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2009/01/21/03aspirnaut.h02.html?print=1

This helps students engage in learning and have fun doing so! 

 

McDonalds-is it only good for their food?

  We all know the fast food restaurant McDonald's as a playful fun restaurant for kids and adults.  McDonald's has been around for years and has fed people with fast food through out the world.  Of course McDonald's is about fast food but they are also about helping out society.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities help out children and families nationwide.  These Ronald McDonald houses are "a home away from a home" to many people since 1974.  This organization help children where they need it the most. 

These houses are put near hospitals so families that have sick children that are hospitalized can stay near them closely and have them near.  This is better than the family sleeping in hospitals for many days or going to a hotel/motel miles away from the hospital where a families child is left.

Children can have the support of their family near by and not feel like they are too far away.  Especially if the child who is ill is a toddler and wants their parents around this is a good way to keep them near.

There are now 305 Ronald McDonald houses in 52 countries and regions. 

Many families such as Rachel( mother) and Julia( daughter) had a dilemma where they used the Ronald McDonald housing and it was very inspirational to them. According to the "family stories" on the Ronald McDonald Charity website, Julia had to get tested at a hospital for a half hour for four days straight.  This was tiring for Julia because of her illness and found the Ronald McDonald housing a stress reliever.  They had internet and games for her to play and to be occupied and it was near the hospital for convenience.

This charity helps many children and families world wide.  It is a stress reliever and convenient for all families with sick children and family members.

For more family stories or information on this charity the link to the website is :http://www.rmhcofalbany.org/


To donate to this charity there are slots and funds at any McDonald's fast food restaurant where you can donate money to housing for families in need.

 

When people donate to this organizations families are even saving money for hotel rooms,food, and more while they are away from their home.

Every cent counts toward a better and convenient life and time for the ill children who do not have what they need to get better .

If you have a chance to save a child's life and help out families in need...why not help out?

If anyone can help...then help out.

Burlesque

Burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects.

During the weekend I watched the movie Burlesque and I found it interesting.  The main character wanted to be a dancer and singer at a club called Burlesque and do what she loved to do- and that's exactly what she did. 

 Here is the trailer to the movie Burlesque: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2r_8l1c2nQ

This movie relates to humanities by the movie being influenced by the time period of the 1860's to the 1940's.  Dancers danced and based dances as a joke to make people laugh.  These dances were danced in clubs, bars, and theaters.

 

Burlesque made girls dance and have fun on stage and also made them popular.

Burlesque in the 1800's, and as seen in the movie, consisted of three major parts.First there are songs and skits preformed by comedians, then male acts preforming acrobats, singing, and magic, the the last part is when the girls dance burlesque and take over the stage with their talent.

This dance was extremely popular back in the 1800's and 1900's.  Many composers in this time period composed pieces based/for the art of Burlesque. One composer by the name of Max Reger in 1901 composed  Six Burlesque with the piano and also Richard Strauss composed a piece for his orchestra.

Here is a link to Richard's composed piece named Burleske:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9d/Richard_Strauss_-_Neal_O%27Doan_-_Burleske.ogg

To many, Burlesque isn't just dancing it is also art. Many people express themselves by dancing and wearing costumes and such.  They feel comfortable in their own skin and have a blast doing the dances they rehearse.

I think it is amazing that events from the past are being reintroduced in the recent time periods.  This shows that dances and old events are still recognized, acknowledged, and appreciated.  Burlesque was a major form of entertainment in the 1800's and 1900's and is still proudly shown today.  It shows how hard people worked for this form of entertainment and that its not only dancing but also hard work and commitment to what is being done.

Here is a link  from a dance scene in the move Burlesque to show what the dance is:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDPR5EoYqOs


I recommend people to watch this movie because it portrays how dance was back in the 1800's.   Many events including Burlesque is still shown and acknowledged today in present time.  Many people also use themed parties today for Burlesque, 1990's parties, and parties where girls dress up like flappers, or 80's parties where girls wear poodle skirts.  Many events are still going on and appreciated in today's modern world.

Not only is events and such acknowledged, so is music! For example Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, and such.  If it wasn't for the radio or the people today that still bring these old era events to the present time , I would know nothing about it.

Kings County Legion Headquarters Band

This afternoon my friends and I went to see a band performance of the Kings county American Legion Headquarters Band.  I went to this performance because Mr.Liccardi , my band teacher, told us that he would be conducting and performing in this get together on 18th avenue and 84th street.

It was interesing to see how influential music really is to society. Irwin Meyer, a 92 year old conductor, grew up aound music all of his life.  His sister was a rockette and his family was  into classical music.

Irwin contributed to society by serving in World War Two and saw action in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific theaters and participated in four "D" Days.

Irwin has lived a long life and is conducting a volunteer band.  Music brings him enjoyment and is extremely important to him.  Along with him, many people in this volunteer band contribute to sociey and our community by bringing the joyness of music to everyday life.

Seeing the commitment and the effort the poeple,especially Irwin, puts into this band inspires me.  I saw the percussion section , the section I play in at band, act free and enjoy the music they play. This inspired me to love the percussion section even more.

Here is the link about the performance today:  http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=31&id=41824

This band pertains to humanities because Irwin, along with the rest of the band, contributed music, effort, and inspiration to society and to the community.

 This band also wanted to inform friends and family the history and significance of the old town of New Utrecht and it's landmarks.  These landmarks consist of the New Utrecht Reformed Church and the Old New Utrecht Cemetery.  The landmarks were very important to the community and this band wants to rejuvenate these buildings.  They asked for donations and all of the proceeds will go into the reformation of the church.

This band is not only about playing music they love but about the people in the band that make a difference to humanities.  The performers are once again volunteers who grew up with music around them, fought in the wars to help society, police officers who help defend our nation, bring the community happiness with their instruments, and restoration and care to society.

If this isn't inspirational...I don't know what is?

Piercings and tattoos- a form of expressing yourself or mutilation?

Piercings to many people are a way of expressing themselves. Many people in society especially teens have many piercing throughout their body. Piercings and tattoos are a controversial topic to many people in society.  While many people believe piercings ans tattoos are a form of art , many also believe that that this "art" ruins your body and damages your body for good.

According to Yasmine Blackman, tattoos and piercings is not mutilation:

"Would the literally millions of people all over the world, from different countries, classes, genders,cultures and sub cultures have them selves pierced or tattooed if they thought it was mutilation? The answer, put simply, is a resounding NO."

Link for more details^:http://www.helium.com/items/1020213-tattoos-and-body-piercing-art-or-mutilation

I agree with Yasmine!  Many people have their eyebrow, belly button, ears periced and many people disapprove and judge people because of them.  IF YOU DON'T LIKE PERICINGS OR TATOOS DON'T LOOOK!

Plain and simple its someone elses body not yours!

Also, according to Yasmine Blackman:

"Tattoos and piercings can represent so many things, they can represent milestones-consciously or sub consciously and represent where people are at a certain time in their lives. They can become tributes, or memories. They can be anything the modified wants them to be."

Many people have tattoos to represent their life such as a family members name or a picture such a butterfly that might symbolize something special to the person getting it.  According to some people TATTOOS ARE A FORM OF ART!  People express themselves from piercings to tattoos and feel good about getting them.

According to a Peter from Peicing Forum:

"I myself have several tattoos, and too many piercings to count. My family says that both are mutilation & that the body should remain “unmarked” . I say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder…"

Many people get judged and even bullied because of the excess piercings and tattoos that they have on their body.  Who are people to judge?! (this also ties in with bullying-my previous blog)

HOWEVER

According to Lawrence Rubin and Michael Brody  :

"The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry released a statement in 1999 in which they listed tattooing and 'excessive piercing' along with picking, burning, head-banging and cutting as possible forms of self-injury."

Link to the quote above : http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/popular-culture-meets-psychology/200907/tattoos-and-body-piercing-adolescent-self-expression-or
 
Tattoos and Piercings to many people are a sign of art..art is humanities  =)

I say who cares what people say?!   In my opinion i do not think Piercing ans tattoos is  self mutilation--I know what i am doing to my body--why do you care?!

If people wan to to get inked up and get pierced i say do it!  I say express yourself, its a form of art, it's a part of YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

People feel more confident and good in their skin if they do these actions-do it!

Bullying--why do it?

Bullying has been going on in schools and even in families for many many years. Bullying affects students lives in a major way.  Children get beat. mentally harassed, physically harassed, and verbally abused.  Others break other kids down and its hard for them emotionally to get back up.  

A student by the name of Asher Brown from Cypress Fairbanks Middle school in Texas was effected so much due to being victimized by others that it led to a horrific tragedy. According to the New York Times newspaper:

"Asher, an eighth grader at a Cypress-Fairbanks middle school, shot himself last fall after what his parents said was two years of harassment for his small size, religion and perceived sexuality. "

Asher's death gave people the courage to make groups and laws about bullying and how to prevent it.  Theses groups are the Anti -Defamation League and the American Civil Liberties Union.

“It’s like passing a law that says you shall be nice, and then trying to define nice and requiring school districts to report when they deem someone not to have been nice,” said Mr. Smith, who sits on the House Public Education Committee."

 Also, according to TIME, many students are harassed everyday and some also commit suicide because of it.

In the past few weeks, at least three teenage boys — one in Houston, one in Greensburg, Ind., and one in a small central California city called Tehachapi — have committed suicide after being bullied.

I think it is RIDICULOUS that children abuse and harass others especially those who are weak and can't handle it.  Just because someone is a different religion, ethnic group, or sexual preference than you doesn't make them non human!  STOP THE ABUSE! Many families are loosing their children daily because kids want to abuse others greatly. According to the TIMES:

"And, on Sept. 22, a freshman at Rutgers University, Tyler Clementi, threw himself from the George Washington Bridge in New York City. His roommate had secretly recorded a video of Clementi kissing a guy; the video went up on YouTube. On Facebook, Clementi offered a final status update: "jumping off gw bridge sorry."

 <------ Why should we let kids get beat and loose their confidence everyday?!  Why don't we try harder to prevent it instead of just putting a "a no bully free zone" on the wall of a classroom like that is going to help?   

The famous question is that many people ask is; "If you see someone getting bullied would you help the victim out?"  To be honest i really do not know what i would do myself.  I say this because it is really non of my business and i do not like to get involved in things and situations.  HOWEVER, If i see a kid getting beat or abused in front of me and  I know the victim cannot speak up for themselves because they are weak and afraid, I would definitely speak up for him/her... I don't want the child being harassed to kill themselves or to grow up to be a mass murder from all the messed up things that have been done to him in his/her lifetime.

What kind of society do we live in that even kids are afraid to walk to and from school by themselves?! 

According to the New York Times: 

 “People don’t mess with groups of people,” he said. “But they see someone walking by themselves, and there’s no fear there.”

 I agree with this quote by the New York Times 100%. People do pick on a kid when no body is there to protect or defend the victim so they can abuse him to the full extent.  I think no matter how many groups , signs or lessons that schools and such have on bullying, harassment is still going to happen and there's no way of stopping it.

Bullying is not just physical.  Children get teased because of their height, appearance ,and much more!....I think people should come together at schools and bring this teasing and bullying to and end. Even though ,in my opinion, bullying will never go away because many people judge and criticize people's every move, there is still hope!....nobody wants another child dead...or mentally messed up in the future.

abortion

 I was online the other day and I saw on the internet that Justin Bieber was interviewed on Rolling Stones magazine and answered a question on what he thinks about abortion. I read the interview ,because I was bored with my life, and he said he was against it and even if a girl got raped everything happens for a reason.  I'm sorry but are you dumb?! I didn't like him to begin with and now he just annoys me even more.  He has a lot of fans that are obviously girls and what if one of them were raped and she just listens to his music because she likes him and then hears his abortion statement?....like stop your annoying. The problem in society is not thinking before speaking. It amazes me that guys have so much to say when it comes to abortion.  Your not a girl...stop being ignorant.

Rolling Stones magazine interview excerpt below:

He does have a solid opinion on abortion. "I really don't believe in abortion," Bieber says. "It's like killing a baby?" How about in cases of rape? "Um. Well, I think that's really sad, but everything happens for a reason. I guess I haven't been in that position, so I wouldn't be able to judge that."

Maybe I just don't like him so I am looking way into what he said but oh well.

I do believe in abortion even if a female didn't get raped and just wanted to get one.  I think what ever a woman wants to do with their body they can do it and nobody should tell them if its right or not.  If you think about it, who is someone to tell a woman who doesn't want to bring a baby into the world that they have to conceive it?!  If you get an abortion early enough you are not even killing a baby because a baby isn't even developed yet; so nice try people. Also, many people are trying to make abortion illegal which is pathetic because what if someone really does get pregnant and can't afford it, got raped, or is homeless? What is that person supposed to do?  It's the twenty first century people... wake up! People get abortions all the time get over it! If an abortion makes you happy then get one..it is your life you can make your own choices.

- hope you enjoy blog numero uno =p