All Grown Up: The Internet

The article and video on "growing up online" said the same things I've talked about in classes before. Adults are freaking out because kids spend too much time on the internet and it's not safe, and kids think it's safe and parents are overreacting. This isn't anything new. See, here's the thing: yeah, the internet is a very open place for creepers and pedophiles, but if kids just don't do stupid things, like post their addresses and numbers on facebook and myspace, they should be okay. Just be smart when on the internet. Kids that post videos and crude pictures of themselves are just asking for creepers to come and get them. Although I think parental blocks are unnecessary, because they just make kids want to go to blocked sites more when they have their own computers, parents should monitor a bit of what their kids are doing IF they suspect their kids of doing something inapropriate. If a parent has no reason to believe that his/her child is being a freak online, no parental controls should be set. A lot of kids really aren't idiots online, everyone just thinks there are because every time a kid does something ridiculous, it seems to show up on the evening news. If adults would stop freaking out making kids want to rebel, and if kids could use the internet in better ways (like networking and studying) the internet wouldn't seem like such a bad thing.

Black Money

When I first saw the topic of the video entitled "Black Money", I thought it was going to be about money and race relations. I was wrong, "Black Money" is about international bribery, specifically international bribery in business. Did you ever think that your favorite company was doing dirty business? Hopefully no one would just think this about a company, but it’s unfortunately happening as we speak, but the government is starting to crackdown on this “Black Money”.

With a story that seems like it could be set in the days of the mafia, black mail, princes, prime ministers and many people of power are involved in a serious money case again involving “Black Money”. In this international money scandal the people who are involved are upset because they are now being reported on, but one must remember that “ black money” is money that any can lay claim on or steal because it is of underground origin.

My interest in this case goes beyond the case it’s self; I’m more concerned about the need to have “black money”. Underground money only increases the problems of the world. What is to make of the world when those who are supposed to be wealthy start dealing under the table for cash?

Inside the Teenage Brain

Okkk besides the fact that this story was shown to the world on my birthday it also has my home town and one of my old teachers in it! Woo woot yeah Minnesota!
But on a more serious note.

I have never felt more understood in my life. The episode really made me realize just how mch my thoughts and sleep patterns and interactions with my mother has changed in the past 5 1/2 years.The studies show that when your a teen you basically are having the most brain growth of your life other then when your in the womb. The whole FRONTLINE episode was based off brain growth, sleep, mood swings, decision making and parent interaction with their kids. I think every teen and there parent should watch this episode because I learned that Im not just some psycho moody crazy girl and that my brain is going through changes with how it functions and how my emotions are handled. It was stated that teen brains read emotions different the adult brains. That teens see sadness and anger when the emotion may be surprise. This episode says that teens need up to 9 and a half hours of sleep a night and if that sleep is missed it changes the way your brain reacts for the whole day. Studies show that after learning a task and sleeping 150 minutes of R.E.M. sleep ( rem being the most important type of sleep and the most peaceful) (( AKA being KNOCKED OUT)) you improve 10% more then a person who has 55 minutes of R.E.M. sleep. This shows that with a good nights sleep anything you learned the day before should be better when you do it the second time. The whole video basically tells teens and there parents whats going on in their brains and why things may have gotten so weird in the past years. There are stories i relate to personally and i feel that any teen would.

The Merchants of "Cool"

Wow that really opened my eyes! I knew that we as teenagers were already exposed to ads all around us but I never understood the business side of it. We as teenagers make up almost 150 billion dollars in the US economy. That's just one of the many things I learned from this episode of FRONTLINE. The first thing that really shocked me is how company's look as teens not as people, but as a market. How they go to kids houses and try to understand whats hot in the mind of teens today but more importantly, how they can market whatever that thing is. That thing is what they call "cool". Company's send marketers to concerts and other events where mass amounts of teens gather to see what's new and exciting in terms of fashion, slang, and pop culture. However the paradox with this is that once something that was once new and innovative makes it's way to the mainstream, it's no longer considered cool.
Another point that was brought up was the MTV "machine". MTV's market is directed completely towards teens and young adults. However the secret behind MTV's success isn't that it knows its market. In fact, MTV works due to the fact that it has accepted the fact that "cool" is in the hands of teens, not MTV. What MTV and other big marketing company's have done is studied which products work and which don't, then placing their name behind them and producing them on shows like TRL and Sucker Free Countdown. It may seem like a maze of information but if you follow the rise and fall of certain bands, it becomes more clear. Bands like Limp Bizkit, who made it big soon after MTV started playing their music videos on TRL. By pushing new albums on shows like TRL, the sales skyrocketed and toped charts. The true genius behind all this was that MTV had no idea what "rage rock" was or what it stood for. However with a following of almost 50 million fans in that genre alone, the numbers talk for themselves.
I could go on about how there is hidden marketing in almost everything teens are exposed to, as well how girls are being consumed my appearance. In my honest opinion, I feel that we will never be free from MTV's grip on us, not because it tells us what to wear or how to act, but because we as teens need MTV and other companys just as much as they need us. They are not cool and probably never will be. They need us to them what really is cool and exciting. Maybe if teens wise up to this hidden world of marketing, they can take back some of the power and reshape pop culture. Just a though....

Peace

From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians

The episode I chose to watch was “From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians.” This episode examines Jesus life and how Judaism and the Roman Empire influenced Jesus teachings. Jesus grew up in a village called Nazareth and was known as a humble carpenter. After that he ended up leaving Nazareth to become a preacher not to abolish people’s minds, but to fulfill it.
His first stop was Galilee and he cured every disease or sickness that was around. Even though everyone loved Jesus and his teachings the Romans did not approve of his ways and death was soon to be put upon him.
The next stop for Jesus was Jerusalem and that was directly owned by Rome. The reason why he came here was because of the Passover. In Jerusalem there was a temple and that was considered the house of God in everyone’s eyes, but Jesus though different because the Romans wanted to put a statute in there of Augustus Cesar.
Jesus symbolically destroys the temple and this is what caused for his arrest. If you questioned the authority of the Romans they would crucify you and they even had a place where this took place and that was Gogol which stands for “Skull.” This death was slow and painful for anyone and this is where Jesus was nailed on the cross. Jesus was the king of the Jews and the Romans needed to make an example of him, but Jesus teachings will never be forgotten and they will live on forever.

Wally-World!

This episode of frontline was very interesting 2 me and it made me really re think my thoughts on walmart. I didnt realize how competitive they were and how they really treat their employees not the best.

They as a company are really not the best people to buy or sell from. They pressure all of there suppliers to give them the lowest prices possible. This shows that they are very cheap. It also showed that this company bullies many of there suppliers. They just do it to like I said before, get the cheapest stuff possible. So we are out at walmart buying the cheaper version of different stuff.

However they do in this show to us that walmart is not always the lowest price. There is a lot of fishy things that happen at walmart. They price-match. They have different aisles were there are lower priced items but they hide them and put the highest priced items in a more noticeable spot. They call these "side aisles".

I think in my opinion as horrible as frontline made walmart sound, I think that america would suffer without it. Many people from from the lower class shop there for there low prices (even though they could be lower). So many jobs would be lost. I think that walmart is a good place to go. People should appriciate it.

Uncovering meth's History and spread

In this front line episode we are looking at the affects of meth on a certain community in Oregon. This video show the fall and rise of meth through the years mostly just the 90s. Also the spread of meth amphetamine through mostly the west coast and mid west. The video shows the effects of meth on the human body mostly facial imperfections like facial disintegration and other things of that nature. The video briefly goes over the purity of the meth how it changes over time. if the meth is pure more people will be hooked on it if it was not pure they were less likely to be hooked on meth. There are numerous arrests in the video because of meth usage for example a man is arrested of a bus for meth how they found him I do not know. In the video they go over how meth can have a serious affect on children. There is a family on meth that have a child and they abuse her because of the drug you guessed it Meth. the child claims to be woozy at certain times of the day because of the meth in the household. and also she was sexually abused because of her parents under the influence of METH!!!         

When Kids Get life:Is a abuse a reason for murder

This particular story was about Jacob Idn. At the age of fifthteen he murderes his mother and stepfather. His motive was abuse. His brother testified that him and Jacob had suffered from physical, emotional, and sexual abuse from the stepfather. The family seemed picture perfect, nice house great neighborhood, but Jacob encountered demons when he arrived home. It was said that Jacob was concieved to save his mother's first marriage, but it didn't work so she had resentment towards him. Jacob's older brother left the home when he turned eighteen leaving Jacob, but soon to come back to get him. Before his brother could Jacob had committed murder. Both Jacob and his brother had suffered this abuse that was kept hidden. Jacob could take it anymore that he ended two lives. I find his story sad, but yet I feel its no reason to committ murder. I think Jacob longed for help but it was ignored and he felt his only motive was murder. I sympathize because a child is defensless in the hands of an abuser. It's sad no one recoginized the signs of abuse. I think there were other ways for Jacob to cope other than committing murder. Now he has life with no parole, no hope of a future, but life in cell. Of course Jacob has alot of inner demons, but chossing something other than murder could have saved him a life of less pain.

Growing Up Online

This video was about kids and teenagers and how all they do is devote themselves to the internet, phones, and video-games. When I was looking and listening to this video, I found myself kind of on the fence about it. I disagree with it because I mean I think that it's the only thing available for us to really use, and besides in college that's how you get your homework done. I also disagree because despite popular belief, there are some educational sites and games for kids to play and learn and it's not all bad. I agree with it because I do think there's more to life other than the internet and that you should do other stuff. I think you should exercise and be outside more and not just sit up in the house on the computer. I also agree because I don't think that you should play video games 24/7 all the time either, I think there's more to life than video games. There is a lot of good that can come out of it though. For example if you get into a fight with your mom maybe playing video games or getting on the internet will be a stress-reliever for them. Maybe they don't want to talk to their friends, so instead maybe they can just text them because maybe it's very convenient. So I just think that people need to look at the big picture before they start judging, and look at it from a different perspective.

Memory of the Camps

Imagine waking up everyday to the smell of death, typhus, barely any food or water, and no hope. Welcome to the death camps of germany. In the episode of frontline they featured an old documentary on the death camps of WWII never released until now. The documentary is very chilling. There are tons of bodies everywhere in the camps. All of them deformed and unbearable to look at. It makes you wonder how screwed up the country of germany at the time really was.

The Nazi SS officers and staff of the camps were forced to bury the slaughtered innoccent people after the camps were liberated. The creepy thing is that when they buried them they were happy and showed no remorse for the 11 million people they slaughtered, 6 million of them Jewish. The fact that there was 300 camps with each camp asking for the deaths of 600 jews each day is just not humane. to just not care about these human beings and they the condition for human life is just horrible.

When the prisoners were liberated from the camps they still had to stay there because the camps outbreaked into Typhus. This is proof that the nazi's did not provide soap and water to their imates which caused lice to appear. Thus lice can infect people with Typhus. Typhus was not the only thing the inmates had to deal with. The inmates were forced to carry the dead and put them in a pit or burn them. That is probabaly one of the most horrible experiences of the camp.

Imagine yourself as a solider during that time liberating a camp. You are in the german country traveling. You look around and you can see beautiful scenry. everything seems peaceful but do you smell that horrible stench? It's the smell of millions of corpses out in the open at deathcamps. You witness these bodies in different pits each pitt containing 5 thousand different people. It is because of this tragedy in the past we can learn from our mistakes to not repeat them.

Blog Post #3: Frontline

For this week you will write a 200 word or more review of an episode of Frontline. You can watch the episodes here.

This time I want you to select an episode and in the comments tell your classmates which episode you chose. Then you will post a blog entry. You may not choose the same episode someone else has chosen.

As usual your post is due before class next Wednesday.

Influential Friends!

When i think about who has helped to shape my life and my thoughts, only one person comes to mind, my best friends Kevin and Pat. I met Pat when i went on a retreat through my school my junior year of high school. At first i didn't think i would get along with him all that well but to my surprise we connected great! We both loved the same music, hung out with the same group at school and we both were on the the retreat for very similar reasons. After that, we were inseparable. We went to concerts together, partied together and even just sat around and talked about life. One of the greatest things I learned from Pat was that life is to short to be upset or angry all the time. We should take time to reflect on what good things are happening or at least try to see some good in everything.
My other best friend Kevin, is a little more down to Earth then Pat. Kevin and i met in sophomore year and have had classes together ever since then. We always just seemed to have a good time when we were together. We didn't always talked about life but when i ever had a problem, Kevin was always there to hear what i had to say. Kevin has also shaped my ways of thinking by helping me to relax and not get so stressed out by all of life's little problems. Life really does move at a quick pace and if you cant slow things down, you miss a lot of the fun and great opportunities being young has to offer.
All the people i surround myself with teach me more and more as time goes on. My friends especially help me to get over the stress that each new day brings. I feel it's the friendships like this that will last for a long time

Peace

the most influential person in my life. and look who's doin there blog

I think the most influential person in my life is my grandmother. She is my savior I moved in with her a couple of years ago (because of certain reasons). although she was not keen on the idea at all she didn't ask question. Everyday since the day I kinda dropped in on her she has been my support through various trials and controversies. even though I am a little bit of hassle to deal with all she saw was her little grand sun (aww). My grandmother help me pay for numerous investments into my future as I call it for example, my instruments of life A.K.A my guitar and other things of that nature. She also dealt with the ever growing appetite of a 15 year old boy (who wants to do that)? over all she is what some would call a hero and inspires me to go farther than people tell me I can (or cant...).”Shoot for the moon and fall amongst the stars.”          

Uncle Nick

One person I could think of that has influenced my life has to be my Uncle Nick, because he was a father figure since my dad died when I was very young. He provided love, comfort, support, humor, and just was a great guy to be around.
When my brother and I were young we use to go spend the night by his house and we would watch movies, play hockey, football, baseball, and wrestle in the living room. Looking back at these things we did together means the world to me because he didn’t have to do any of that, but he did and I enjoyed every second of it.
On top of that he also had two younger kids who were 5 and 3, and a wife. For him to spend time with us and to take time out of his life I believe is a remarkable thing. I am very grateful to still have him in my life and there for support. Growing up we all need someone for us to lean on and make us smile and he was the one who I turned to and I will always love him and be thankful for everything he has done for me.

M-O-Z-E-N-A defines hero

I know this very cliche, but my hero is my mother. I think of her as a hero because she possesses many gifts of trade. She is a wonderful mother, teacher, Godmother, aunt, Youth leader, daughter and friend. I have always looked to my mother since I could remember. It's always been my mother and I while growing. I saw her as hero because she was hard working woman, juggling two sometimes three jobs, a daughter and school . Never once did she complain. She worked her hands and knees to provide the best for me. She raised me in a safe enviroment and went to the best schools. What tends to amaze me is with her schedule and my busy schedule she was always there. She was there for me physically and emotionally. physically she was every performance I had. I've had many, some performances running three weekends in a row. She was there. Every ballet recital, marching band competetion, choir concert, solo& ensemble competetion, theatre performance, there my mom was in the audience supporting me one-hundred percent. She was known k-12 as 'active mom". My mom has held the position of PTO President, band mom, choir mom, dance mom, theatre mom. All through school my mom had establish relationships with the administrators and my teachers. She has played a very active role in my education by going to every open house and teacher-parent conference. She cared about my education and success in school. When my mom would come to my school everyone knew who she was because she was active at my school, "That's Shay's mom" everyone would say. Not only was she there for me physically but emotionally. My mother would tell me everyday how beautiful I am. She would sit and talk to me and ask me what are my goals in life, and how will I achieve them. She'd ask how I was doing in school, and ask me everyday how my day was. That meant alot to me to know my mom cared about how I performed in school, my goals in life. My mother established with me early on was I could talk to her about anything. I believe it's true. I can go to her about anything and know she will love me regardless. My mother is more than just a mom but my best friend. I know she will never let me down. I honor her strength as a single parent, and as a woman. She is not just my hero, but hero to all. My mother is the living proof of hero because she is a "jack of all trades'.

You Are My Influence!

When it comes to a person that I truly admire and who has inspired me to do what I do would have to be my mother. My mother has been my inspiration for the 18 years that I have been alive. When I was born my father wasn't around as much and didn't really take care of me. So that's when my mother stepped in and took on the role of both parents. She has made a lot of sacrifices for me, and has suffered the heartache of raising a child on her own. My mother is one of the reasons why I dance today. She was a dancer all her life and she danced all 4 years in her high school as well. I'm glad that I was raised by her and not by my dad because it seems like my dad would know nothing about me. He's trying to be in my life now, but sometimes I feel like what's the use? He doesn't know that much about me like my mom does which sometimes makes me sad for him because he wasn't a part of my life. But I love my mommy to death, and I don't know what I would do without her, and I love her so much!!!!!!! LOVE YOU MOM!

Mizz McD

Mary Theresa McDonough.
(Aka Mah)

This is my Hero, Role model and Mother. This woman has been there for me sence day 1. when i was younger she would pick me up from school and ask me questions like " Sewwww did you meet anyone interesting today" and i'm like " Haha not really mama there jsut like me." then she would say " theres no one like you, No one has the light that comes the your eyes when you smile" as a kid i didn't listen to her but when i got older i learned that a lot of the time mother does know best sometimes. she is always there to re instill confidence in me. I love the way she can say the simplest things and make me feel like a million bucks. She is my mother friends and possible business partner for the future. i love the fact that when i need to confide in her shes always there but never there when im looking for a cruch. She is not the person to hold you back and Defiantly no the person to take you every step of the way. She makes me smile and laugh and that's why my mother is my hero. She is what i want to be when i " grow up" Amazing at everything i set my mind to. Thanks mom. you inspire me. xoxoxxo

My Influence

Now I know that there will probably be many posts on here that read that there parents are the most influential people in there lives. However, to me my two mothers are the most influential people in my life.

Growing up with two lesbian mothers in the sticks of New Hampshire was hard. People weren't excepting of it. They just didn't understand. People would think that there always needs to be a father in a healthy growing child's life but I am living proof that that is not the case. My Moms have always been there for me through the good and bad moments of my life. They have taught me right from wrong and have made me the mature person that I am today. Moving here to Chicago and leaving them was probably one of the most hardest things that I have ever done in my life. My Moms were my rocks and knowing that they are not close by makes me feel completely weird. I know that they will always be back in NH or are a short phone call away but something that they have taught me is that I need to be on my own. I am facing the reality of life so I must now move on.

I don't think that I will ever meet any people as amazing as them. I love them with all of my heart and cannot express enough how grateful I am to have them in my life. I love the person that I have become today and when I think of that person (myself) I think of my parents because without them, I wouldn't be this amazing person that I am here today.

Rosena Allen

I never realized how much influence my great-grandmother had on my life until recently. When I look back on my life, my great-grandmother who we call RoRo has been there as more of a silent support for me, my mom throughout my 18 years of life. Now that I'm older I have found out all the things that my RoRo has taught me when I was to young to even remember. My RoRo was one of the people that taught me my colors, and help me learn to talk and understand many things at an early age. As I got older I was able to find out more about my great-grandmother and her life. My great-grandmother worked for most of her life, but i found out that she loved to travel and has been able to go to Spain. I still don't really know all I want to know about my great-grandmothers life, but I'm just thankful I am able to still have her around. I choose to write about my great-grandmother this time around and not anyone else, because I wanted to really try and put into words how much my great-grandmother has been a major part of my life and how much she means to me.

He couldn't spell "Daniel", so he went by "Ryan"

My big brother Ryan means the world to me. We have been the best of friends since before I was born. Before my parents ever said anything to him about possibly having a sibling, my brother would pray for a little sister. Then, when he found out he was getting one, he became the best big brother ever...even before I was born. He helped my parents try to think of names for me (luckily they didn't go with his choice of "Britney" haha) and, while my mom was relaxing, would go up to her stomach and talk to me about all the fun things we were going to do when we were older. He's the one who taught me how to talk (his name was my first word), how to walk, the only one I would let feed me that mushy baby food for a year, and the one I learned everything from. Still to this day he has been teaching me and helping me through life. He was really involved in this program SEARCH, working on the team and eventually co-directing the retreat and was ecstatic when I followed exactly in his footsteps and also became a co-director. He's an amazing athlete and student, is absolutely fun-loving and hilarious and no one disliked him. Literally no one. He helped me through my first year of high school, and from afar during sophomore year when I had to deal with him leaving for college all the way in Colorado and my dad living overseas with the military.

Not only is he my hero, but he's one of our nation's heroes, too. Ryan is a senior at the US Air Force Academy training to be an A-10 warthog fighter pilot. His dedication to his country stayed strong even when people back home (stupid pacifist hippies who thought the military was a bunch of killers) criticized him and didn't understand how he could possibly think about being in the military. He is my rock, my inspiration, and my hero.

The Imperfectly Perfect Hero

A hero to me is someone you look up to, someone you want to be like. Your own personal superhero. My hero was my dance teacher Marva Joyce. I met this lady when I was almost 3. This women, I can't even describe how much of an impact she had on everybody she met. Seriously, you could have met her once, and you would have never forgot her. She is the type of person who is a strict and a hard ass, but its all out of tough love. She is a pusher. She worked in Waukegan (my hometown) for over 50 years, just being a dance teacher. Keeping kids off the streets. She would put on a dance show every year. It was amazing. I can't tell you how much she meant to me. Just talking about her, and reminiscing on all the memories. I danced at her studio for 14 years. I grew up with her, being my second mom. She gave the best advice and loved everybody. But in 2004 she was diagonsed with brain cancer, and passed away in 2005. She will always be in my heart as a strong, determined, helpful hero.

The Influential Parentals

Sometimes most people never really think of their parents as the heroes in their lives. For me I would have to say my parents are very influential in my life. They are always there for me no matter what the situation. They were the ones who gave me life. Without that I probably would have never existed to live in this amazing and expansive world. They always influenced me to make good choices. They always told me I have a good head on my shoulders, it's not there for decoration use it. It's because of them being a good example to me that I have stayed out of trouble. (although sometimes trouble does have a way of finding me) I love my parents so much. There were times in my life that I failed them a lot but they always kept giving me a chance and that's why I am so grateful to them. They always gave me what they never had as children. They inspire me to go and live my dreams and make them a reality. Without them I probably would have never come to Chicago. I would have never had the chance to take some of these amazing classes. I always try to live by what they taught me and even though sometimes I make mistakes I always learned that I'm not perfect and mistakes mean there is always room for improvement.

Blog Post #2: Influence

Choose a person to write about who has influenced you. This can be someone famous, a friend, a family member, whoever you respect and have learned from. In a new post, in 150 or more words, tell everyone about the person you chose and why you chose them. This is worth 20 points and is due next Wednesday.

My person would probably be Gary Snyder. He is a Pulitzer Prize winning poet, but I think I respect him more for the way he lives his life. I know a little of how he lives because he writes a lot of essays and those are my favorites. He is a Zen Buddhist and lives a life of simplicity and contemplation. He tries to live in balance with his community and the land. I strive for a similar kind of life. Snyder works at building communities. He is a strong believer in sustainability, not taking any more energy than you give. I know I do not always live up to this, but I hope to, and strive to. Often who we are is who we have been taught to be. We learn from our family, friends, and a myriad of others. Snyder is someone I would like to emulate both in his writing and his life. Here is a poem by him that I particularly enjoy.

Riprap

Lay down these words
Before your mind like rocks.
placed solid, by hands
In choice of place, set
Before the body of the mind
in space and time:
Solidity of bark, leaf, or wall
riprap of things:
Cobble of milky way.
straying planets,
These poems, people,
lost ponies with
Dragging saddles --
and rocky sure-foot trails.
The worlds like an endless
four-dimensional
Game of Go.
ants and pebbles
In the thin loam, each rock a word
a creek-washed stone
Granite: ingrained
with torment of fire and weight
Crystal and sediment linked hot
all change, in thoughts,
As well as things.

All About.....ME!

Whats going on everybody? My name is Tim Worley and I'd like to start things off with a little background about myself. I was born and raised here in the wonderful city of Chicago and couldn't see myself leaving here for some time. I live in a small suburb on the north side called Lincolnwood. It's a small town where nothing to exciting seems to happen, except if you're looking for it!

Acting is my passion. Pure and simple. I've been acting for as long as i can remember. I started with the small shows done by my grade school and with a local community theater and eventuality moved up to doing large scale high school shows and I've even been used in some TV commercials. I was inspired to continue to act after my senior year of high school when we were lucky enough to put on RENT. I was given the part of Angel and it was a life changing experience. Afterwords I knew that I wanted to do something that could move people and inspire the good in others and theater was how it was going to happen. However there's more to me just just theater.

I love music. I listen to almost everything (except country but I'm cool with bluegrass). Some of the bands you'll almost always hear me listening to would be Tool, Sublime, Rage Against the Machine, Muse, Kings of Leon, Daft Punk, Pearl Jam, Third Times the Charm, and Foo Fighters. Of course i listen to so much more but I really don't feel like going into every single band I enjoy. This is just a quick sample.

Going to school at Columbia has always been a dream of mine. Just being in this great city studying what I love is every artist's dream. While I do not know what the future may bring me, I feel unafraid of it because I make my own luck and I'm in control of my own fate.

Peace

On Point Mitnight

Aiight Lets Do Tha Dam* Thing!
Im Olivia Elizabeth Anne Parker-McDonough. They call me Olay, Olee(Oh-lee), Olifer, Olzeeboo and that singer girl. Just because Im big and black does not mean that i sing like ol' girl from Glee. Girlee can Blow am i right?? I am workin on a demo and trying to figure out my sound. I am in love with Adele and Jason Mraz. Music is my thing. If i could spend my whole day listening to Cd's Records even tapes i would. I belive that music is goin down the toilet, i mean dance crazes are cool and all but is that what we want to be remembered for... the rickey boby and the stanky legg?? . i belive im the one to bring it back. Using that oldschool sultry melody with the new technoligy i think i can create the next big thing. and bes' belive this is where I'm gon' do it.

I was born in Conroe, Texas , a city north of Houston, on January 31, 1991. I was adopted by two of the coolest women around according to my friend Dilen! i have a younger sister ( maya) and brother (Lucien). I have 2 apointed older brothers (greg and Enzi) and they are forever watching out for me. the strangest thing is when teachers ask me to go home and make a family tree or do something involving asking an older family member where im from. i could say" my family is German, Irish, Indian, African American, African and Polish but usualy i say " it starts and ends with me" i have no idea where IM from. i mean seriously for all i know i could be cousins with Oprah! ill never know. I love my moms and my siblings, don't get me wrong, but just once id like to see who i look like, who's nose i have or who's hair or eyes. I think one of my biggest pet peves is when people ask about my father... your guess is as good as mine. I am from Minneapolis Minnesota . and yes my O's sound funny to some people. i dont say melk as Milk and ruff and roof. but i do say Food funny acording to Shay and Te. I lived on a farm for part of my childhood in Wisconsin with my grandparents. Life was Good!

As a writer i am not strong but the words that i try to spell correctly are powerful. I have been diagnosed with dyslexia which makes writing, spelling and reading an interesting process.
If i could live anywhere i would probably stick with Minneapolis or Chicago. I have always wanted to travle to Itialy and study with a resturant owner because food is something im really good at. My room mate says that im crazy because i made something as boring as ramen taste like something delicious. I guess its something in my blood to natural know what will work together and what wont. i make dishes totally from scratch and have no idea where the idea came from.

If I could wish for one reasonable thing i would wish to meet Mr President Obama! My goodness is that a beautiful man! My mom says it the EARS but i say its the charisma. I didnt get to vote in this last election but i worked with my mom on the streets registering people to vote and taking them to polls in there neighborhoods. it was quite exhilerating.

I hate Spiders and i just had to kill two! but it was a team effort! love ya Cassie! i think the most fun i've had here is killing spiders with my roommate and i think it brings us closer every time. She is witty and a brilliant actor! My goodness!

YEAPP

liven it up.
Ollie PM

learning and me

Since I have a learning disability it makes it hard for me to stay on the same page or catch up to other students if I am behind. I get confused Farley easily when its small things like do your home work by this date or make sure you do your homework at a cretin time. When sitting in class it’s hard for me to pay attention or stay on topic when the professor is teaching or there is a movie going on. I have to work extra hard to overcome the harsh reality that it ADD or ADHD whatever it may be I got it bad.
It is so sad when you have to do a single paper and you cannot get the thoughts out of your head when you have a day left. Because I have whatever the therapist may call it is hard for me to get thoughts out of my head to speech. It usually never makes since when I try to express an intelligent thought because when it comes out the sentence is not fragmented correctly or something along those lines. My teachers think its cause I am lazy or don’t take time to go over my work but that’s not it I just have a hard time comprehending what the class is about. I usually get into trouble because my papers “look half assed” but that’s not the case I just hard for me to over achieve because its world harder just to stay at par.
At the end of the day with help from lots of different sources I get through if by a lot or a small sum it comes together sort of…? If I get the time and help I don’t do so bad just enough to get where I am trying to be.

Coming Together In Words

Hello to everyone!!!!! I hope you feel my excitement with those exclamation points. My name is Jeramie Robert Sanchez and I was born July 23, 1990 and grew up on the south side of Chicago my whole life. It has always been a dream of mine to attend college for music for as long as I can remember and I am living it! Music is my life, it’s my escape, my obsession, my therapy, my energy, It’s everything to me. I also love to make my own music whether it’s with my guitar, piano, writing lyrics, or voice it will always be a part of my life.
Meeting new people is another thing I enjoy because everyone is different and that is interesting to me. For example I met this girl and she thought it was so cool that I still bought cd's haha idk she was fascinated by it. It’s amazing what little things like that do for people.
Driving around is another hobby I have grown to love because it’s cleansing to the soul and mind. It gives you an opportunity to reflect on current or past situations which have happened to you and that is important when trying to figure stuff out.
Djing is another activity I have grown to love, because it is a way to express yourself without saying anything, its speaking without words. Mixing completely different genres is simply awesome I think. I don't like to just spin house or euro It gets boring. If you mix an O.A.R track with a House/Electro one then you have created something unique. You can’t follow everyone else be true to yourself.
Reading Books has become a great interest to me these past couple of years. I feed off knowledge and like to know everything. They are beneficial in many ways depending on what you are looking for. They can add new ideas to your mind or just simply tell you something you never knew.
Another interest of mine is to live every day like it is your last. It is hard at times, but you have to if you want to leave this earth fully filled with fun memories. Life is too short to worry about useless thoughts or hold a grudge against someone. Move forward and expect the best of yourself.
I believe that sums up who I am and my interests. Hope everyone enjoyed!!!!!

"What' In A Name"

Hello,
My name is Chartamia Janae Turner but to everyone I am known as Shay. Where do I begin? Yes, I was born the 22nd of April, 1991 at the University of Chicago Hospital( and yes the Obama girls were born there) to a beautiful and wonderful woman named Mozena. Now your probably wondering where the name Chartamia came from? It's not a foreign name, or the name of a little Caribbean Island, it's not an alcoholic beverage, or a tribal name. Then where does it come from, your probably wondering? To be honest, I don't have a clue. The story I have been told is, my name came from another little girl named Chartamia. This girl should be in her mid-twenties. Back to my name, when my mother found out I was going to be a girl and not boy, she hadn't thought of what to name me. So my mom's friend, who is my Godmother said she would name me. So one day my Godmother and Godsister are in a clothing store and an older woman is yelling at child called "Chartamia" to stop playing in the racks of clothing. Well my Godmother wanted to name me something beautiful and Chartamia was up to her standard of a beautiful name. My godmother told me she saw the little girl pop out of the clothing, "and she was the cutest little girl you'd ever seen",so she had to get the name because she knew I was going to be a beautiful baby. She went to the older woman and ask her what was her granddaugthers name again and the lady said,"Chartamia". So my godmother told her the story of my mom having a girl and she hadn't picked out a name yet, and she thought the name Chartamia was so beautiful. The older woman gave my godmother the spelling and pronouncation of the name. Then my godmother took it to my mom and told her how to spell and pronounce it. That is how I got the name Chartamia.

The nickname Shay came along because Chartamia is a mouth full to say(how on earth did I learn to spell a name like that at two). My family thought my name was to hard to pronounce. So my mom gave the suggestion of them calling me "Char", but even that was to hard for them. So they kept at it until one of my aunts came up with the name "Shay". Chartamia is nowhere near close to Shay, but I have been Shay ever since. Do I like my name? Sometimes yes/no. I like because its different, how many Chartamia's are going to be in a room, not many. Then, there are times I don't like it because most times people butcher it. They call me Chartamaea, Chattmra, Chertemia, Chaertemia. It's really its not that hard to pronounce Char-ta-m-ia, four syllables. Even my principal for Graduation rehearsal buthcered my name, thank god it was rehearsal. Shay is alot easier to say, remember and easier to write, only four letters compared to nine. What I also like about others not knowing my name is that, I get to keep it to myself and between the other few selected Chartamia's ,and we don't have to worry about people naming their babies after us. Who wants to name their baby a nine letter name that's not common and their poor kid will never be able to find the meaning of it or it's origin; not even a license plate sticker with their name. I don't know to many. So now you know my name, and I hope you remember it because it will be in shining lights. At least the Shay will be and Chartamia will stay to me.

This is me!

My name is Sam Getty and I am 18 years old and I hail from the state of New Hampshire. I am here at Columbia as a Musical Theater major. Theater is my passion. Ever since I was little I had always wanted to be a performer. My family would take trips down to New York City and we would see Broadway shows. Every time I would see a Broadway show, it would just inspire me in so many ways! Performing was something I knew had to be apart of my life. I have since been in many shows and am here at Columbia to grow as an actor and become successful.

I grew up sort of different then most people I know. I have two lesbian mothers. Through out middle school it was probably one of the most difficult things because I was teased and taunted because I wasn't like everyone else. With all this however I feel that it has made me stronger. I feel like i could deal with pretty much anything! It was very hard also for me to be growing up gay in NH. In NH it is really not excepted by most people to be gay. I was also very much taunted in school for being gay and it hurt me both mentally and physically. There were some days I couldn't even go to school because the every day harassment made me physically sick. I was scared to go to school. However once high school hit, I didn't give a shit what people thought of me. I am who I am and I refused to change for anyone. This is something that I also believe has made me stronger as a person.

I feel that there is so much more that I could mention about myself but I don't want to take up to much room. In closing I just want to express how grateful I am to be here at Columbia. I feel like one of the most luckiest people in the world to have this opportunity to be able to make something out of my passion. I am very excited for this year and the beginning of the rest of my life!

They Call Me Lizzie

My full name is Alisha Kathryn Workman, and I was born in Fort Worth, Texas on February 4th, 1991. I am a Catholic, but disagree with a bunch of the teachings, so when I'm not around my parents, I say I believe in a higher power and that's that. Politics drive me crazy, so don't try to talk to me about anything political. I really couldn't care less. Anyway, I lived in Texas for about three months before moving to Omaha, Nebraska where I lived for three years. After Omaha, we moved to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, stayed for three years, then moved to the middle of nowhere, Great Falls, Montana. Following the pattern, we stayed there for three years and then moved to hell-on-earth, Newport News, Virginia. Why do I call it hell-on-earth? Because I spent two years at a horribly racist school (I couldn't sit at a certain section of the lunch table because I was white and would get made-fun-of all period), and one year at a Catholic school that had a really fucked up cirriculum and teachers who told their students "I give up on you. Go sit down." Finally, things got brighter when we moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. We stayed there for, not three, but six years! I was lucky and only attended one school, instead of two or three as I did previously, for high school. Yay for being an Air Force Brat!...

My dad is a retired Air Force major. He attended the Air Force Academy in Colorado and has been stationed here in the US (obviously) and in Greenland and Doha, Qatar. His most exciting job was in Doha, as the head of security for the Doha Asian Games, their version of the Olympics. My mom was originally a kindergarten teacher, but one day decided she wanted to work with the elderly and is now an Occupational Thearapist at a Skilled Nursing Facility in North Carolina. She is the mommiest mom you will ever meet, and if you do meet her, come with an empty stomach because she's also extremely Italain and has to feed everyone all the time. I have an older brother, Ryan, who is a senior at the Air Force Academy. Ryan is a super athlete, having been a top player in football, baseball, hockey, soccer. basketball, and cross country/track. He was born on leap year, so is technically only 5 years old. Also, he had his private pilot's license before his driver's license and hopes to fly the A-10 warthog fighter jet.

Now back to me...where to begin. I don't really like talking about myself like this...I used to be an athlete, trying volleyball, cross country, ice skating, and lacrosse. Girls' lacrosse is probably the dumbest sport ever, because there is zero physical contact and there are so many rules against everything...I was kicked out of a game because I made an "angry, vicious sound" when checking a girl's stick. I'm sorry I released breath when properly checking someone. The sport is lame. I used acting to get out of sports and when I got to middle school, I finally had opportunities to do so. I did my first play when I was 3 (Sneezy in Snow White), but I never lived anywhere where there were any opportunities to explore theatre until middle school. I made up for my lack of theatre in high school when I did a total of 15 shows all four years. I love theatre more than anything. Performing gives me such an awesome rush that I can't get anywhere else. Acting is all I'm good at. I literally can't do anything else....which sucks because this is the worst career to not have a back up plan for.

I think that's all you need to know for now and I'm pretty sure that took up way more than 200 words, so there you go. :)

All About Me- Rachel

Hey! I'm Rachel Russell. I'm 18 years old and my is April 6, 1991. I was born and partially raised in Baltimore, Maryland, but I now currently reside in Severn, Maryland. I dance and music. I started dancing later than most dancers, and started dancing in the 5th grade (I think). Before I started dancing I practiced gymnastics and played basketball, but I gave it all up for dance. If you haven't guessed it already I'm a dance major here at Columbia! I plan to also minor in management, because I plan to eventually open up my own studio someday. Although dance is my main passion, I love photography, acting, painting and drawing. I love all art! I went to Old Mill Senior High School, where I was involved in the Old Mill Dance Company, Sister's in Action, and the Anne Arundel County Dance Ensemble. I got a chance to do a little dancing in all three groups!

One of my most common questions I've been asked so far is "How did you find Columbia?", so here is my "how I found Columbia" story. I found Columbia in one of my dance magazines, looked at the website, and fell in love with the school. After falling in love, I told my Mom about Columbia and we came to the open house to see what Columbia was all about. After the opening show of the orientation, my mom officially fell in love with Columbia as well. We both thought that the open house was the best we've ever been to. I've been to an open house that the school gives a show! Well hope everyone enjoyed my little blurb about myself.

Welcome 2 The Wonderful World Of Danielle!!!

Hello Everyone!!! My Name is Danielle but most people call me Pinky because I adore the color Pink! I am 18 years old and my birthday is June 26, 1991. I was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois (which is an hour and a half away from Chicago). I absolutely love to dance but I have it as a minor and my major is journalism just because I think I can make a real living off of it.
Every movie that has anything to do with dance I ADORE!!!! I love Save The Last Dance, Step Up 1&2, Bring It On........ I also love animals as well, my favorite animal is the horse because they seem so graceful, and very majestic. My granny has a farm next door to her so whenever I come over, I get to ride the horses. I love riding horses because they just seem so powerful and so in control.
I went to Auburn High School and was in almost everything at my school. I was in French Club, National Honor Society, Poms Squad, Cheerleading, and Volleyball. I was also in a program called Creative & Performing Arts better known as CAPA. I absolutely loved being a part of my school and loved being noticed as well. My favorite singer of all time is........BEYONCE!!!! I absolutely love her, the way she walks, talks, also her alter-ego "Sasha Fierce".
So that's me in a nutshell......I hope it made you know a little bit more about me!!!!!

True Life: I'm Samantha Stratton

Hey ya'll! My name is Samantha Jean Stratton, but I do usually go by Sam. But since we have a Sam (who is a boy) in the class already, Samantha is more suitable. This 200 or more words thing describing myself is actually pretty hard. I don't want it to be my whole life story. It has to be long enough to keep it interesting but short enough to keep the reader wanting more...

Well anyway, I was born September 6, 1990 (Yes, my birthday was this past Sunday). I was born in Waukegan, Illinois and I have lived there, in the same house my whole life. I live with my younger brother Ronnie and my mom Paula. It might not seem like it, but my family is more confusing then others. Here is a piece of it.

My real father, (I call him the sperm donor) John, has 6 kids including me, and 2 step sons. And my stepfather (the one I call daddy) Bill, has 3 kids, inculing my brother Ronnie. So needless to say, I am one of 11.

I have dance my whole life. It is my absolute favorite thing to do. I have danced Tap, Ballet, and Jazz for 16 years. And hip-hop for the past 4 years of high school. I have also taught Tap for 3 years.

I am very atheltic. I have played Basketball, Softball, Girls Football, Hockey, Volleyball, Gymnastics, and Badminton. I love sports.

But yeah, what can I say.. That sums me up in a few words. Right?

True Life: I'm Samantha Stratton

Me, Myself and I : A 200 or More Worded Blog About Me

Hello,

My name is Andy Pierce. I have brown hair and brown eyes. I love animals. I like any kind of music except only certain kinds of country. If it was johnny cash then I will listen to him. OK I can probably just tell you these little facts about me or I can probably just cut the crap and give you an epic story.

I was born on November 21, 1990 in Sacramento California. I have two parents from two different parts of the world. My mom, Maria Lourdes Esteban, is as you probably guessed from Spain. She is from a city in between Madrid and Barcelona called Zaragoza. My dad, Mark Anthony Pierce, is an American and from Worcester, Massachusetts. Now your probably wondering how these two human beings from very different parts of the world met and had me as their first born son. Two words: AIR FORCE.

My dad was enlisted in the Air force but became an officer eventually through hard work. Now with my dad being in the military, that meant that as soon as I was born I would become endowed with the title Air force brat. The one thing I loved being about an Air force brat is the fact that I move a lot. I know most people don't like the Idea of moving around, I know I did not like it at first. But I eventually liked it. I loved going to new places. I moved around a lot.

I think the best place I lived was in England. I lived there for four and a half years. I know my parents never really liked it but I loved it. My mom was not to fond of the cloudy and rainy weather there. I loved it when it rained. I love the sound it makes when it hits the roof or window. It sorta sooths the nerves for me. I loved England for there castles and strange customs. Like for instance did you know the the peace sign backwards is considered to be giving someone the middle finger in England. I loved how the language was English but yet they would call some things differently. An example would be bangers and mash, which over in America we would call it sausage and mash potatoes. Yep pretty much the greatest place in the world is England.

I eventually moved again but only three more times and I would end up in Yorktown, Virginia as my final stop as a Air Force Brat because my dad would eventually retire and end up getting another job at Boeing. I was in 8th grade. I still had no Idea what I wanted to be. As I entered high school I slowly began to realize what I wanted. As I entered the drama program I then knew what I want to be. I wanted to be an actor. And so as I realized what I wanted to be I looked for colleges that had really great theater programs. But some of the colleges had requirements that I know I did not have. My grades at school were horrible. Until my senior year when I found Columbia College Chicago. I then began to work hard ever since and the time came to where I was accepted to this college. I now currently live in Chicago. Attending some really amazing classes. I think I am really going to like it here.

Welcome!!

For your first post I want you to tell us something about yourself in 200 or more words.

Also be sure to post a recognizable picture of yourself on your Blogger profile so we can all get to know each others names a little better.

This post is due next Wednesday the 16th and is worth 10 points!

And remember that there is no class on Monday, September 14th.