If you've been on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram lately, I'm sure you've noticed the increasing number of #IceBucketChallenge videos taking over your feeds ... Maybe you've even posted one ... But are you even aware of what the videos are even about?
These videos are meant to bring awareness and raise money for various ALS foundations.
Yes, that's right. You either accept the challenge within 24 hours and dump a bucket of ice water over your head or donate to an ALS foundation of your choice.
Now I am all for a bit of fun and games, but how many people do you think are really donating towards ALS foundations? All this shenanigans seems a little self-congratulatory to me, just another way to get some likes on Facebook. I mean, why not donate either way, whether you choose to accept the challenge or not? It all seems like another giant case of SLACKTIVISM.
I think as a generation, we (yes, I am no saint), have gotten pretty lazy when it comes to supporting social issues and causes that are supposedly important to us. We are happy to "like" a charity Facebook page, or retweet a celebrity when they are vocal about some timely issue, but we are so much less likely to actually go out and protest or fund raise for the very same causes.
While there is a place for slacktivism, actual activism is also important for our generation. We want to change the world, but we cannot do it while continuously sitting in front of our computers and clicking and uploading - we need action, as well.
It's time for you to get up and act and DO when it comes to the causes you care about ... So go ahead and do something, anything. Remember little things add up, and can help to make change.
If not us, then who? If not me and you? Right now, well, it's time for us to do something. If not now, then when? Will we see an end to all this pain? Oh, it's not enough to do nothing. It's time for us to do something. (Do Something, Matthew West)
Y'all are gonna like this one ... Wait for it. Wait for it ...
At work a few days ago, I had a grown ass man ask me if I was related to Saddam Hussein. If it was a child at the school that I work at, I would have written it off as curiosity and a learning experience, but when you are a TEACHER, it gets written off as ignorance and stupidity, sir.
Now, I have had my fair share of people ask me that question, and my fair share of times, I have looked people straight in the eye, deadpan, and said, "Yeah, he's my uncle." Just like Will Smith is related to John Smith, and Denzel Washington is related to George Washington (for all I know, they might be, I did not research this ... But, for the sake of making a point, there you go).
Usually after saying that people realize, "Shit, I look like an dumb mf-er right now." Nope. Not this guy. He straight up was like, "Nooooooo wayyyy." Ummmm, first off, our names are not even spelled the same, bro. Second off, NO. We are not all related. And, lastly, comparing me to one of the world's most hated men and maniacal terrorists in the history of time - super offensive, especially in light of recent events.
For anyone who may have this compartmental way of thinking - yes, it may make your black and white life easier - but it is NOT RIGHT.
When you talk and you say things like "People from there are blah blah blah" or "I guess it was the so-and-so's again" and "The terrorists did this ..." you are simply exacerbating an already hateful world. And when you do say these things do you think about who the "people" are that you are referring to and who "the terrorists" are? When you say things like that, you have already painted a picture of who the problem is, and of who a terrorist is. You are simply adding fire to an already humongous flame. A terrorist can be anybody. Terrorism knows no creed, color, nationality, religion, or ethnicity. Yousef Erakat of FouseyTube put out this video today, which I think sums it up wonderfully, especially when hate crimes have already been on the rise in the past week against what many people paint as the stereotypical "terrorist" in today's society.
Now, am I saying that a terrorist is never a Muslim? Obviously not. Am I saying that they are never of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent ... No. I'm not that naive. What I am saying is that there is no reason to paint all people of one faith, or one color, into one horrible picture, and to put them in one small box. That is simply ignorant.
And, on top of that, I refuse to get into the "But guys, you need to understand you shouldn't do that because Islam is a peaceful religion" argument ... Because, you know what, personally, I am tired of having to apologize for the sins of others. I am tired of having to think, after every horrible tragedy, "I hope it wasn't a Muslim" for fear of all Muslims being blamed, and I am sure that this is the feeling of billions of Muslims all over the world.
As the innocent bystanders of these horrible incidents that occur, we also deserve the time to grieve alongside the rest of humanity but oftentimes we are not given that because we are too busy worrying about apologizing for the actions of others, but you know what? I'm sorry I'm not sorry. There is no reason that the innocent should have to apologize for the misguided actions of a select group. What I should be able to be sorry for are the families who lose loved ones in these tragedies. I should be able to mourn the lose of life due to these actions ...
But the one thing I will not do from this moment on is apologize for the actions of others.
Why can't we talk it over? Always seems to me that sorry seems to be the hardest word. (Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, Elton John)
Seriously? I have no words for this one ... Just watch the video.
Then immediately judge Mama Bear. She's one for the Guiness Book of Worst Parents, if you ask me.
So what we get drunk. So what we smoke weed. We're just having fun, we don't care who sees. So what we go out. That's how it's supposed to be - living young and wild and free. (Young, Wild, and Free, Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa)
Carly McKinney, the 23-year-old math teacher at Overland High School in Colorado, must be the dumbest teacher on the face of the planet ... with a lot of supportive students. Any teacher (any person who works directly with children in any aspect) knows that there are certain aspects of your life that are just not meant for the social media sphere because sooner or later (and most likely sooner), those children will get to seein' them. So what inclined this woman to post this online is beyond me ...
c/o Twitter ... @KatiePatrick2
I get that what she does outside the classroom is her business and all that ... But either way, I mean throw some privacy settings on your accounts. Or better yet, have some better judgement. I thought that once most people even entered the job market, they quickly took down anything slightly scandalous from their social media sites, especially considering the fact that more and more employers are using social media to look for/weed out potential employees. Even throwing that aside, this woman needs to understand that as a teacher, as a YOUNG teacher, that she makes a very big impression among the teens she is interacting with day to day. That can easily be seen in the amount of students flocking to their social media sites to support her.
So, seriously lady ... put on some clothes, put down the joint, and grow the f- up ... Got it bad, got it bad, got it bad. I'm hot for teacher. (Hot for Teacher, Van Halen)
GQ magazine recently released its list of the "100 Hottest Women of the 21st Century" ... despite there still being "987 more years in this particular millennium," according to the article.
While the list contained some common hot names such as Beyonce, Shakira, Eva Mendes, Halle Berry, and Megan Fox ... There were some surprises on it such as Seth Meyer's celebrity survey choice of Hillary Clinton, about whom he said, "I think somebody who is getting sexier every year is Hillary Clinton. Every year she seems better at whatever she's doing. By the end of the millennium, she's gonna have it locked down."
However, that was not the real surprise ... Amongst its list, GQ found it appropriate to include the following categories:
- Hot Chinese Chick: Zhang Ziyi
- Hot Italian Chick: Monica Belluci
- Hot Indian Chick: Freida Pinto
- Hot Pregnant Sri Lankan Chick: M.I.A
I am at a loss to understand why these women were singled for their nationalities and/or ethnicities on this list of so-called hot women, in the first place. Why weren't Beyonce and Halle Berry listed as "Hot Black Chicks" ... and why wasn't Shakira the "Hot Colombian Chick" or Eva Mendez labeled as the "Hot Latina Chick?" ...
OHHHHH, because those some of those might have been considered offensive. I get it. The media gets to sexualize certain women ... But if they think they'll be in hot water for other choices they make, they steer clear of those stupid choices.
For the record, the hyper-sexualization of any race, nationality, or ethnicity is wrong. If GQ wanted to list the 100 hottest women of this (incomplete) millennium, it should have just listed 100 women straight through - not pulled some out based on their "look."
And we read in the gospel of Vogue that we're all supposed to dress and move and be visions of perfection, such a misconception, 'cause the real connection is deeper than the eye can see. What's inside of you? What's inside of me? The hands that made the moon and stars, the mountains and the seas, made you wonderful, beautiful, marvelously. Let the whole world see your true beauty. (True Beauty, Mandisa)
PS. Can you say airbrush?! I mean I know it's winter and everything but ...Beyonce is not that white ... ever. They whitewashed her like woah.
It's been a little while since I've blogged for y'all and I can say that is because I have a J.O.B. What uppppp?!?!!! I've technically had one since graduation but it's getting kind of crazy in the office because we are down to the wire for a shoot we are doing in the coming weeks ... And that's all I can say about that.
But ... BUT ... the fact that I am using work as an excuse is the main reason for this blog post ... I have been working ten hour days and running around like a chicken with no head and have noticed that a lot of the world is doing the same. It's just all rushing, all the time.
People need to calm the heck down. The world is not going to end, people. I mean maybe considering that whole Mayan 2012 thing ... But, it's not going to end because you didn't finish your expense report or because you didn't log some silly tape or you forgot to ask some customer if he needed fries with that or some other odd job that needs to be done before so-and-so a time. Everybody just needs to take a chill pill and calm down.
... And I found the best site for it - I mean at least for me, who falls asleep to nature sounds almost every night. It's called calm.com and you go to the site and do nothing. Literally. You set yourself up for either two or ten minutes of either guided or unguided nothingness ... And it's awesome. I can't say that it will change the course of your life or greatly alter your stress levels ... But if you want a little peace in your life, check it out. And if you're having a particularly hectic day at work, throw on some headphones and do a little bit of nothing for two minutes - it's better than finding out about the twelve new people from high school who are now engaged, married, or pregnant (or all of the above).
So go ahead, take a second, stop rushing, and just be.
Before you went to work this morning in the city, well did you spend some time with your family? Did you kiss your wife and tell her that she's pretty? Did you take your children to your breast and love them tenderly? You've got to stop and smell the roses. You've got to count your many blesses everyday. You're gonna find your way to Heaven is a rough and rocky road if you don't stop and smell the roses along the way. (Stop and Smell the Roses, Mac Davis)
If you hear me ladies, leave a comment with your man horror stories and I will post the funniest/worst/saddest ones and give my two cents about them.
Cheap date, bad taste, another night gone to waste, talking about nothing in so many words. It's not like I'm not trying 'cause I'll give anyone a shot once. And I close my eyes and I kiss that frog, each time finding - the more boys I meet, the more I love my dog. [The More Boys I Meet (The More I Love My Dog), Carrie Underwood)
I've been blogging for quite some time now and if you've been following, you know that I am pretty passionate about media representation issues and how they affect women, so this story hit me like a brick when the Roomie sent it to me.
Be prepared because it's another story of parents and their lack of sense when it comes to raising their children to have some idea of a healthy body image.
Sarah Burge is a mother of very nontraditional gift-giving.
You may remember her as the so-called "human-Barbie" woman who, last year, gave her daughter a birthday voucher for a boob job when she turns the ripe age of eighteen.
Well, friends, she's done it again. I hope you're no longer comparing holiday gifts because you may be in for a disappointment.
This year for Christmas Burge gave her seven year old daughter, Poppy, a liposuction voucher worth about $11,000.
Burge (far right) with Poppy (the young one, obviously) ... Photo c/o http://www.thesarahburge.com/
Seriously!? What is wrong with this woman? I can understand if she wants to undergo cosmetic surgery herself, but to teach her daughter at such a young age that she basically needs to change herself in order to fit some type of ideal? ... Now that's just wrong.
And as much as she tries to defend herself, there's no hope, especially considering her daughter has been quoted as saying things such as, "I think it's great because you can change yourself if you're not happy."
Aren't there already enough influences in this media-driven world telling young girls that they aren't good enough without their parents basically implying that they won't be good enough as they get older? Because that is basically what Burge is doing ... even if she doesn't realize it, or won't admit it to herself. By presenting these types of gifts to Poppy, who is extremely impressionable as a 7-year-old, she is ultimately harming her daughter's body image and her ability to form a healthy relationship with food, fashion, mirrors, men, and a slew of other things that stem from having a healthy body image.
The fashion and advertising industries alone can kill a girl's self-esteem and considering Burge is in the limelight, Poppy was going to be bombarded with images of unhealthy models and the media's portrayal of the ideal body at a young age ... So by pushing the so-called benefits of cosmetic surgery on her daughter, Burge simply exasperated a problem that could harm her daughter greatly.
It would be a lot better for Burge to teach Poppy to love herself for who she is - especially as a little girl. If she wanted to promote cosmetic surgery when her daughter was older, then whatever ... I still think it's strange as a mother to tell your daughter to change herself ... But at least Poppy would then have made the decision on her own. As much as Burge says Poppy wants the boob job and liposuction, it seems like she is making these decisions for her daughter, and that's just wrong.
Hey, little girl with your tangled hair, your tattered clothes - you're fifteen and you're about to bloom just like a rose. You’re wishing that you had designer jeans like the ones you see in magazines. Now I know you’d give anything just to fit in but your worth ain't on a price tag, it comes from within. Don’t you know you’re beautiful? Don’t you know you’re beautiful? Don’t you know you’re beautiful? Just the way you are! (Don't You Know You're Beautiful - Kellie Pickler)
Side Note: Check out this site ... Just discovered it and love it!
Let me paint you a little picture here ... assuming you're in your mid-twenties, early-thirties and we grew up in the same kind of suburban Desperate Housewives neighborhoods ...
You're back in middle school and sniffing markers is the coolest new trend (if you weren't snorting pixie stix in the bathroom) ... You remember, right? You feel like a total badass whenever you took a whiff.
It's every kid's gateway drug into huffing paint and glue.
Ahhhh, those were the days ... Not that I was a huffer or anything ... I mean, I did enjoy the occasional whiff of a Mr. Sketch every once in a while but I mean, honestly, who didn't!?
Once middle school ended and we moved onto high school, if we didn't take the actual drug route, most of us were too busy trying to find ourselves and too busy with shitty high school drama to make up new, crazy trends. But, it seems like today, every time you turn on the TV, kids are doing something insane and weird that any normal individual would think absurd ...
Part of me thinks it's because they have too much time of their hands because everything is computerized and technological for them but that's another story for another day. So, in their free time ... they do things like this ...
Trend One: The Choking Game
This "game" involves basically cutting off the oxygen to one's brain in order to either faint or get a short feeling of euphoria. Most cases involve kids choking each other, but there have been cases where kids choke themselves. Kids have been hospitalized, suffered brain damage, and died as a result of this game. Crazy shit.
Trend Two: Vodka Tampons and Butt Beer
This one simply blew me away ... and was actually the inspiration for this blog post ... so thank you to the genius behind this little act of idiocy.
Teen girls have been soaking tampons in vodka and then doing the obvious ... I mean, DUHHHH, what else would you do with a vodka-filled tampon? ... They are inserting them into their vagina so that the alcohol is absorbed directly into their blood streams. Teenage boys are inserting the tampons into their rectums. Apparently, a lot of teens seem to think that because they are not drinking the alcohol, they will beat a breathalyzer test.
On top of this - to go one stupid, gross step further ... teens (and I am generalizing this to teens because I hope that no one older is stupid enough to be doing this shit ... or younger is being exposed to it) are funneling beer straight into their anus using a beer bong. WTFFFFFF!!!!!
Couldn't they just sniff some markers? ... This is enough for me to want to lock up my potential, hypothetical future children in a closet for all of their teenage years and let them out when they are eighteen ... even if it means they will have to be a little socially awkward for a while - middle school years are awkward anyway.
If I scared even one parent into talking to their kid about not putting a rope around their neck or putting beer in their butt, my job here is done.
Bring your friends. It's fun to lose and to pretend. She's overboard and self-assured. Oh no, I know. A dirty word ... With the lights out, it's less dangerous. Here we are now, entertain us. I feel stupid and contagious. Here we are now. Entertain us. (Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana)
Side Note: If you or anyone you know is involved in Choking Game activities and need information or help, visit G.A.S.P., Games Adolescents Shouldn't Play, or the Dangerous Behaviors Foundation. Similarly, if you need information or help about alcohol abuse, visit SAMHSA at 1-800-662-HELP (24/7) to receive free resources and to get referrals for treatment centers in your area.
I went to a lecture this week by Peter Maass called "Seeing Revolution: The Altered Image of War in New and Old Media." I found it an extremely talk considering the fact that last year for one of my classes, I wrote a paper touching on many of the same topics on which Maass spoke. My paper was called Revolution in the Middle East and the Impact of History vs. Social Media. Maass spoke about the technical aspects of how images of war have changed in the past years - for example the types of cameras and mics that were used by journalists when reporting on the Bosnian War vs. the wars of today. What I was most interested in, however, was the idea of the rise of the civilian journalist.
Even back in the 90's, the people of Bosnia could not tweet or facebook about the horrors of what they were facing ... But today, we see in places like Egypt and Iran, hundreds of people taking to the streets for what are called "Facebook Revolutions" and "Twitter Revolutions." People all over the world are seeing the images and words that are being posted by these everyday journalists and are also getting on board.
Our mainstream media are quick to dub the revolutions that happen around the world with catchy names like the "Wikileaks Revolution" in Tunisia and the "Facebook Revolution" in Egypt, and stream youtube videos posted by civilian journalist and use that as news, however, they often neglect the deeper issues at hand when it comes to war and revolution. And, they are the ones that need to be focusing and bringing to light the deeper issues at hand, because mainstream media are where most people go for their news.
The truth of the matter is that every country that has a revolution has a long and, probably, convoluted history involving deception, take-over, lies, and killings. When writing my paper, I just focused on the most recent revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, and Iran, and just the histories of those countries - simply going back to the late 19th century and forward - had long-stretches dark histories. These histories cannot be ignored. Mainstream journalists cannot just choose one of these:
And assume they have enough information to go on when describing a revolution. It's a revolution for goodness sake. People are clamoring to make change. They are clearing angry about something, and that pent up anger is not over one spilled cup of tea - it's over years and years of water boiling out of a pot over the people.
Don't look back. Keep your head held high. Don't ask them why because life is short and before you know you're feeling old and your heart is breaking. Don't hold onto the past. Well, that's too much to ask. (This Used To Be My Playground, Madonna)
I was walking along today and you want to know what I saw?
A little bit of this.
And a little bit of that ...
And a few cases of this ...
People are consistently cutting themselves off from the world around them. They are disconnected and far off from humanity. It may be because people are increasingly more wary of society, in general ... Or maybe it's just because people have lost the ability to interact with each other --- at least in the face-to-face context because we all know that we are plenty connected via our cell phones and our email and our Facebooks! Heck, I know some people who talk to each other more via their xBox consoles than they do in person ... and it makes me kind of sad to know that.
Face-to-Face interaction is an important part of development for children and teens, as well as an important part of life for adults. We all need human contact and when we are walking around consistently cut off, with our headphones in and our cell phones on, we are not getting the chance to interact with people. I was walking to a new gym the other day (or let's say trying to get to the gym) because I couldn't find my way ... and there was basically nothing I could do. I WANTED to ask directions from someone along the way but I literally passed by three or four people who were making themselves unavailable to outsiders.
And then we all wonder why so many people are complaining about loneliness ... Well, maybe it's because we don't know how to meet people. I heard about one girl who went running every night with her iPod and the one night she forgot it, she stopped to look out on the waterfront, and it just so happened that a guy stopped too. They started talking and ....... No, sorry, no fairytale ending, but still ... At least they started talking and they were interacting with each other and they went out a few times.
Meeting people. Going out. Living life. That's what it's all about. That's what we need to be doing. We need to interact with each other to learn about each other. That's how we will grow as a country and as a nation. That's how we will learn to accept differences and make changes that need to be made. And to think it can all start with taking out the dang ear buds for a few minutes a day!
It's been awhile. I know I shouldn't have kept you waiting but I'm here now ... Oh, looks like we're alone now. You ain't gotta be scared, we're grown now. I'ma hit defrost on you. Let's get it blazin'. We can turn the heat up if you wanna. Turn the lights down low if you wanna. Just wanna move you but you're frozen. That's what I'm saying - Let me break the ice! (Break The Ice, Britney Spears)
Seriously?! Seriously. Politicians are being PAID to show up at Ground Zero for the Tenth Anniversary Ceremony of 9/11 yet the first responders ... the police officers, the fire personnel, and the other rescue workers who RAN IN when others were RUNNING OUT ... are "not invited" because of lack of space? I find that to be a disgrace ... An absolute disgrace and a dishonor to them and their fallen brothers and sisters in uniform who died that day ... I cannot believe that city officials are actually using that as an excuse to get away with this.
Yes, I do believe that the victim's families have an absolute right to be there. Yes, I do believe that certain politicians need to be there [a total of 4 ... everyone else can stay home ... President Obama, Former President George W. Bush, Mayor Bloomberg (tsk tsk!!), and Former Mayor Giuliani], and, yes, clearly not every single responder can show up to the ceremony ... But telling emergency personnel that they are not invited and that there will be a separate ceremony for them on a different day. That is just disrespectful.
I don't even have anything else to say to this ... Besides, shame on you, New York, shame on you.
I want to wake up in that city that doesn't sleep and find I'm King of the Hill, Top of the List, Head of the Heap, King of the Hill ... These are little town blues. They have all melted away. I am about to make a brand new start of it, right there in old New York. (New York, New York, Frank Sinatra)
And now this coming weekend, New Jersey is about to be hit by Hurricane Irene ... one of the biggest Hurricane's it has seen in decades?!
What is going on with Mother Nature? Why is she hatin' on us? ...
I actually have a theory.
YES! "Jersey [Freakin'] Shore."
She wants them off the television, and off our shores, as much as the rest of New Jersey does. Whether she needs to shake them off the shores and have them fall into an Earthquake crack ... Or she needs to sweep them away in a gust of Hurricane wind ... She'll have her way ... Considering they probably won't heed any potential hurricane evacuation warnings because the only hurricanes they know are the ones they order at Karma on Friday nights.
Although I whole-heartedly agree with Mother Nature's intentions, I just wish she'd leave the rest of us out of it.
If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops, oh, what a rain that would be. Standing outside with my mouth open wide, ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah. (If All The Raindrops, Barney)
Does this look like the face of an animal hoarder?
How about this?
Well, they both are!
Pennie and Steven Lefkowitz, owners of Haven Acres Cat Sanctuary, were accused of hoarding between 500 and 700 cats. They were subsequently arrested.
Alachua County Animal Services removed the cats from the sanctuary in High Springs, FL back in June. 100 of the cats had to be put down.
According to the Haven Acres website, the sanctuary is a "private, no kill animal shelter" which was formed because the Lefkowitz's were "concerned about the high euthanasia rate at Animal Services." The website boasts that "since its inception, no cat that has needed help has been turned away."
While I commend the original intentions of the Lefkowitz couple, at one point they needed to look around their "haven" and realize that what was once a sanctuary for these animals was probably turning into a hell.
The couple were given a special zoning permit to hold up to 200 cats at their sanctuary; once that number starting rising above that they should have sought help from outside organizations. According to one article, a large warehouse was used to house the cats. Animals need space to move and play, and they need individual attention. There is no way that the Lefkowitz couple could have given attention to all these animals.
Animal cruelty is a sad and prevalent situation. GOD even knew about it from the beginning of time and said for people not to do it ...
We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures. (Holy Quran, 21:107)
The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. (Proverbs, 12:10)
And then when God couldn't get people to listen, He sent Sarah McLachlan. I mean don't you remember the first time you saw this commercial and started crying over it? Every time I am sitting at the TV, and I hear "Angel" start to play ... I know the waterworks are about to come flooding out.
I mean even babies know how wrong it is. This kid made me cry even more than just seeing the commercial.
We, as human beings, need to learn that we are not the only ones who matter in this world and that all living things are worthy of love.
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true. Don't be cruel to heart that's true. I don't want no other love. Baby, it's just you I'm thinking of. (Don't Be Cruel, Elvis Presley)
Side Note: If you would like to learn more about how you can help fight the fight, visit the Humane Society. You can either donate or follow them on Twitter. You can also visit the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and donate or follow THEM on Twitter.
Seeing how the riots are going down in London has got me thinking ... A lot of young people in this world either feel disconnected from society or entitled to everything they want. Clearly there is a whole bunch of other things that factor into the equation ... but the beginnings of the problems we see are either one of those.
If you are following the news of what is going on in London right now, the riots are not middle-aged people who are angry at the government or the state of the economy ... It's young people who are going out, being violent, and taking what they want. And it's not just London that has seen this problem. There are stories everyday where we see young people who just get up and start rioting for no reason whatsoever ... other than the fact that they are young, and there are lots of them, and they feel in control. Heck, Rutgersfest 2011 at Rutgers University saw mob scenes that ensued in one night that I had never seen in my combined six years at the school. And just this week, the mayor of Philadelphia announced stricter curfews for teenagers because of the growing trend of flash mobs turned violent in the city.
It's horrible because when I see things like this and hear that some of these kids are justifying their actions as "good fun" and then they go blame it on the government (yet they don't even know who their government is) ... It's just sad. Then they have the nerve to say that they are targeting rich people with businesses ... Do they not realize that a shop owner who sells grapefruits and pomegranates is not exactly making it big in London? It just makes me angry that they are trying to justify their clear lack of direction when what they are really doing is going out and having their version of a good time, and doing what they want, and getting what they want.
It's also sad when you read that some of these kids are not even teenagers yet and I imagine that they are just doing it for attention. They are basically throwing themselves on the ground, banging their hands and feet, and screaming like a four-year-old ... begging for someone to listen ... be it their parents, grandparents, a teacher ... someone. Just someone to reach out before they really screw up their life. These kids need a value system and some of them are probably begging for one, even if no one sees it.
I think it's good that London is starting to lay down the law and is arresting at a higher rate than in the past because these kids need a dose of reality. They need to know that their actions have consequences and that they can't just get away with doing what they want and getting what they want, because I'm sure some of them feel like they can.
I know you can't learn from my mistakes. You got your own roads you gotta take, and they might look like they're paved with gold. Just remember that you'll have to reap all the seeds you sow. Rebel Child, won't you heed my warning? One of these days the rain will come pouring. Some of those sunshine blue, sky mornings might just turn to gray. (Rebel Child, Gretchen Wilson)
This week the New York Times reported that Kansas, which has one of the country's smallest state arts budgets, decided to shrink it further - to zero. While that is an extreme end of the spectrum, many other states are also slashing their arts budgets. Wisconsin is cutting its aid by 67 percent, Texas by 50 percent, and New Jersey by 23 percent.
The funds which are being cut generally go towards smaller theaters and cultural attractions, which depend on grant money or individual donations to help them survive, such as the Paper Mill Playhouse and the NJ Ballet Company.
These types of organizations often look to the state for grants, but when the state doesn't have the money to give, what can they do? Are they just suppose to close their doors to the public and be done with their work? I don't think that is right in any way, shape, or form.
I think this country has a partial obligation to its citizens to provide for its cultural upbringing - as do the citizens of this country to its neighbors. We should be avid supporters of the arts. We should be going out and supporting the cultural attractions in our states. We should also be fighting for arts education in our schools. I think everyone has heard the statistics about how children who play musical instruments do better in math and science, so I shouldn't even have to bring that up. But I don't even think that's the important thing about arts education in schools ...
Having music, and drama, and writing, and reading, and all those things give kids something to look forward to everyday. It gives them something to be happy about. I played violin for 6 years, and I was always lousy at math. And I was never really that great at violin. But I had a whole lot of fun (while breaking a whole lot of ear drums in the process). And during that time, I learned a thing or two about myself --- like that I was not cut out to be a concert violinist BUT that I was cut out to be a writer ( ... I learned that in Writer's Workshop which I participated in simultaneously with my violin lessons ... Both of which were paid for by arts education funds).
There are plenty of things you can do to support the cultural activities in your area, the arts in general, and arts education specifically, and it doesn't necessarily have to be monetary. Go see a show at your local theatre. See a play (or concert or comedy show or what-have-you) in the park --- they are super popular over the summer! Visit museums and gardens. See a dance performance. Go see the world's largest rubberband ball, if that's your thing. Just go out and DO SOMETHING. These places and performers need your support.
If you want to open your pockets and make a monetary donation to help the arts, here are some sites to check out (or to just peruse for informations sake).
But I have talent, a wonderful thing ... So I say, thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing. Thanks for all the joy they're bringing. Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty. What would life be? Without a song or a dance, what are we? So I say, thank you for the music - for giving it to me. (Thank You For The Music, ABBA)
Remember those warm summer days selling lemonade on your front lawn trying to raise money to go to your local amusement park or buy the newest toy on the market to make everyone jealous (or in the case of the kids in my neighborhood nowadays, grape juice plus 3 free jelly beans)????
Well, it seems like those days are over because police are becoming way overenthusiastic in their jobs (or bored during the long summer days) and shutting down poor, little kid's lemonade stands one-by-one. In most cases, it happens because a lot of cities require food and business permits before someone can set up shop (even if that shop happens to be on a front lawn run by a bunch of 7-year-olds).
This situation happened two weeks ago in Midway, Georgia, when three girls decided they wanted to sell lemonade to raise money to go to a water park.
Well, all was good until the police chief rode by and told them they were breaking the law and they had to close down their business because, although they were young, he needed to "enforce the laws." Health issues were apparently also a concern because, ooooo scaryyyyyy, no one knew who made the lemonade!!!!!!
I understand that police have an extremely important job and that they do everything in their power to protect us day to day, but can't they leave the little things in life alone ... like kids with lemonade stands. I mean, come on. They are not trying to take over the world or anything with the money they are making ... Or are they?
Yeah, I doubt it. I'm pretty sure most of them are just budding entrepreneurs who just want a little extra cash for the summer. So, just do those little Donnie Trumps and Billy Gates a favor and just go about your day patrolling the mean streets for real criminals.
I really can't believe someone would want to crush a child's little dream like that, in the first place.
And that's what wrong with the world today.
A firefly glowing on my left hand, I used to pretend it was a wedding band. A tall, cool glass of mama's lemonade - sold from a stand that me and my sister made. We'd count our quarters in the shade, underneath the trees ... Oh, those sweet memories. I love those summer days. Driftin' on by like a slow parade. And everything feels fine in the warm sunshine, when your world unwinds. And you kick back in your flip flops. And you don't care about the tick-tock. And the world is full of music, dreams, and lovers. There ain't nothin' like the summer. (Nothin' Like The Summer, Carmen Rasmusen)
As someone with a background in Journalism, I would like to think that journalists do their job and report and inform the public in an objective and honest nature ... But this past week, I was disheartened when an entire publication ended a 168-year run after their reporters were caught in a phone hacking scandal. Granted it was a tabloid newspaper, but either way, journalists should hold themselves to higher standards than that.
Despite having had past problems with phone hacking, News of the World, a British tabloid newspaper,printed its last edition this past Sunday after further allegations were made that reporters hacked into the voicemail of a murdered middle school student named Milly Dowler who was killed in 2002.
I am absolutely disgusted by actions of the journalists allegedly involved in the hacking of that girl's phone. What did they think they were going to get out of that? Did they lose all sight of their ethics?
As a journalist, occasionally there are times when things may not seem absolutely black and white, there may be gray areas when you are not sure what to do - but this? Hacking voice mails of a murdered child? This was not one of those times. This was a time when you should stand back a say "No, this is absolutely unethical ... and illegal."
The fact that there are actually journalists out there who would actually consider this to get their story is appalling.
And that's what's wrong with the world today.
Look at the pictures taken by the cameras, they cannot lie. The truth is in what you see, not what you read. Little men tapping things out, points of view - remember their views are not the gospel truth. Don't believe it all. Find out for yourself. Check before you spread. News of the world. (News of the World, The Jam)
