10/30-Are you for or against Halloween?

I do not wish to dress up or "trick or treat" this Halloween. For one, the holiday has negative connotations. It is also known as the "festival of the dead." During ancient times in Europe, a people named Celts believed that the boundary between the Otherworld and ours became thin on this day allowing spirits to pass through. It was said that the harmful spirits would disguise themselves so as to not be rejected from our world. Hence, thye idea of wearing costumes came about for this day. Around 7th century A.D. the Pope Boniface IV attempted to create a holiday that aimed to uphold Christian beliefs and honor the dead at the same time. The terms Hallow's Eve and All-Hallows were initially used. Eventually the name Halloween came about. The notion to celebrate the dead is a good one but I'd rather honor my deceased loved ones on my own time. I don't believe that honoring the dead on just one day is acceptable. Besides, America has transformed the holiday into a demonic celebration. For two, it's pretty lame to me for someone to dress up in a ridiculous manner. Candy is empty calories and detrimental to your health, not to mention your teeth. I may attend a friend's party but that's as far as my Halloween spirit goes. I'd much rather sit home and read a book. However, I do appreciate the Halloween movie series. Great laughs!

10/28-Write about what you wish...

I just would like to elaborate on how as you grow, you naturally mature. I have noticed that as I experience more situations and see new sights everyday, I'm becoming a new person. Certain habits of mine are quite unnecessary (i.e. cussing) but I'm working on them. In a way, I can tell that there is a new attitude arising within myself. I just want to appreciate all that life has to offer. I've learned that you should never be ashamed to be yourself or be original. The saying is so cliche but it should be followed. I also believe in the saying no pain, no gain. I know that the things that I got through are like stepping stones for me. And they make me stronger even by the smallest token. Although we don't all reside in the same state, I'm happy to have my family. I can usually count on them in some way or the other. For the past year, I've had thoughts of getting a degree in secondary education. It's just been a lingering thought so I figured I should act on it. I'm not sure if I could get a major in biology and a minor in education so I'll have to look into that. But at any rate, I really feel that teaching would be such a fulfilling job. It makes me smile just thinking of it. Finally, I believe that I have grown spiritually. I pray often and I've become grateful for everything that has shaped my life in some way or another. More to come!!!

10/26-Sidney Bechet-Why is it we correlate talent and insanity?

Well there are many reasons as to why people may label a great musician insane or unstable. In Bechet's situation, he was extremely serious about his work. Many great musicians are very dedicated to their work. They aim to be the best at it. Their unwielding determination to perfect their music may seem unusual to relatives and musical audiences. But I be believe in order to be considered a musical genius, you should be dedicated to your work. At times, talented musicians attain characteristics that people create because their talent seems almost impossible. People can't believe that what they are seeing or hearing is real and so they create stories or myths about the artist in order to generalize their person. People often lie about things they fear or understand. I believe that labeling them is cliche. Kanye West is often referred to as unstable or loony because of his outbursts. I'm sure many people share Kanye's feelings but Kanye is labeled because he actually speaks on them. However, many of his works have been great hits throughout the world. Musicians seem to possess a great passion for what they do and it shows in different situations (like Bechet's case). I do not believe that this makes them crazy, it just makes them a true musician.

10.23-Write about what you wish...

I had the privilege of viewing a moving documentary today. It was detailing the life of a young man named Darius Weems and his travels throughout the U.S. He had been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy which is disease that gradually shuts downs the use of a person's muscles. One in every 3500 children born will have the disease. People who are diagnosed with muscular dystrophy die between their teen and early twenty years. Darius wanted to raise awareness about his disease to the people of our generation. His older brother had died from the illness at just 19 years of age. As Darius and eleven friends from his communtiy center take a road trip, they stop at various sites and attractions in different cities. Many places weren't wheelchair accessible. This was another reason that they filmed the documentary, to show the world that everyone wants to be able to use a facility just like those without a disability. When they stopped in Los Angeles, their main destination, they were hoping that they would be able to have MTV "pimp" Darius' wheelchair. But to no avail. Although this deeply hurt the crew and shattered Darius' dreams, they continued on their cross country road trip. I admired this young man so much. He was very happy and outgoing and he was going places that many will never see in a lifetime, all while confined to his wheelchair. He knew that soon one day the disease would take his life but it was as if he didn't care. His main goal was to raise awareness about his illness. The documentary moved me but it reiterated the fact that you should cherish your life. And now I want to help support his cause.

Stax Records-Importance & Influence

Stax Records was one of the major vessels that put the genre of soul music on the scene in America back in the sixties. Beginning as a small record store in Memphis, Tennessee, it eventually evolved into a major recording studio. Many of the artists that were featured on the label during its first years were Otis Redding, Johhnie Taylor, The Emotions and Isaac Hayes. These people sang the music of my parents' generation. However, there music is celebrated by innumerous members of newer generations including my own. Growing up, I enjoyed listening to Otis' "Sitting On The Dock of the Bay" and The Emotion's version of "Don't Ask My Neighbor." Artists like Issac changed the format of soul music by incorporating orchestrated versions of different songs. The initial songs produced on the label were usually a short 3-4 minutes. His song "Shaft" broke records by remaining on the charts for an amazing 60 weeks. The song was featured on the movie's soundtrack and opened doors for black music writers to write music for motion pictures. Stax was a very integrated company at a time when segregation was a major part of southern living. Stax produced other cultural genres including movies, comedy, rock, jazz, and spoken word and gradually became a large multi-media company. Now the label features artists like Teena Marie and Angie Stone who are great singers with a history of creating excellent music. Numerous artists on the label have received Grammies and Oscar Awrads for their work. Noting the label's longevity and its artists, past and present, I know that Stax Records has cultural "clout," if you will.

10-19 Blog Write about anything today.

I have to say that being unemployed really blows. I've been employed ever since my 9th grade year of high school. Ever since I started college my school schedule and work schedule seemed to throw off the other one. Eventually I decided to let working go to focus on school full time. It's possible that I may have to go on hiatus from the world of working. At times I do appreciate the extra time to be able to complete homework. At the same time, I've developed an appreciation for working for myself. I'm not used to having to depend on my parents for everything and now, at a time when I'm supposed to be striving for independence, it seems as though things have back tracked. I now have to rely on my parents financially. I will admit that working gives you a sense of being responsible and can help you to mature. Now that I am not working, it is very difficult for me to keep still. I'm so used to moving about and keeping busy at work, it just feels strange to lounge around the house after my classes. But hey, maybe this is a sign. Perhaps, God is trying to tell me to take a break. After all, I've been working for 4 years straight now. Many people my age can't say that about themselves. It's neither a good nor bad thing that I've worked that long. However, my work experiences have helped me to grow.

10/16 Class Blog

Jon's statements express what some people think about on a daily basis when watching the news. His poking fun at the media and politics provides a humorous perspective on daily issues. However, his statements aren't backed up by facts. He is merely making a mockery of the news. Some of his statements were true. The news often reports issues that are unnecessary and irrelevant. Surprisingly, people watch his program to get information instead of the news. While CNN and other news programs report issues that aren't of importance at times, their stories are researched. Stories are proposed to viewers in a professional tone and they are displayed frequently if necessary. Although Jon's stories are displayed in a humorous manner, his show is not a dependable network. If you need to know information on a serious or emergency matter going on in the nation, you cannot check his show or website for these breaking news updates.
Glenn Beck offers a news review with a quirky yet opposing attitude. He does make some good points about Hilary Clinton. It seems as though she has been aiming to reform health care in all her years a politician. She speaks for a great cause but I'm not so sure if I can see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to her administration. Many of her efforts to change health care for America have been futile. So I will have to agree with Glenn on that fact. Nevertheless, these two forms of news delivery are biased being that they are expressed from the hosts' point of view.