MUSIC REVIEWWWWWW!

Let me start off this blog by saying, Damn. This was a hard decision. Out of the bajillions of artists and cd’s there are in the world, I only got to pick ONE? How was I ever going to do this? I decided to put on my iPod and just listen to what I had, maybe an idea would come to me. Originally, I was thinking of writing about some unknown artist and expose them to all my peers. However, on my iPod shuffle a certain song from a cd I hadn’t heard in a while came on. I set my iPod on only that cd and just listened to it. That is how I came to the conclusion on what cd to write about. It may not be the most current or unknown artist/cd. It’s actually sorta the opposite, kinda, in a way. But this cd, it just makes me feel good.  Enough though, let’s get started with the cd. I present to you…Waking Up-OneRepublic.

                Imagine the pressure of being OneRepublic. Your producer works with megastars like Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, and Missy Elliot. You’ve already made a slight mark on the Billboard charts with the overplayed sing Apologize. Your first cd “Dreaming Out Loud” sold over 1 million copies worldwide and you play at sold out concerts. Wow. I can’t imagine that.

                Ryan Tedder is the chief songwriter of the band. He definitely has a way with words.  I think his approach to this cd (Waking Up, in case you’ve forgotten) is sort of like telling a story. However, you don’t always catch the real meaning the first time you listen to the cd. Just like a book, sometimes you have to read it a few times before being able to appreciate it entirely. That’s exactly like this cd. The first time you listen to it, sure, pretty music, nice lyrics, blah blah blah. But listen to it again, and maybe one more time. There’s a story behind each song that links it in a way to the next.

                The songs that got the most “airtime” were All the Right Moves, Everybody Loves Me, Good Life, and recently, Secrets. These are all amazing songs. They’re a little bit…eh. Predictable. BUT. Listen to the less obvious songs on the album. These are the real treasures.  All this Time is a beautiful love song that just hits me straight to the heart (yes. I’m a hopeless romantic, but I’ve asked guys and they’ve said they like this song too!) The last song on the album is Lullaby…and boy is it a closer. Its haunting sound really makes you want more. 

                I love this cd, It just makes me feel calm. The dynamic instruments and sound gives each song its own separate personality. When I listen to music, my dad accuses me of having ADD. After  15 seconds of a song…it’s on to the next one! Let me just say though, I never skip a song on this cd. That’s saying a lot.

(This picture just makes me laugh. I want to know what they're staring at!)

Mr.Gatsby and...Mr.Gatsby's new friend!

Jay and Nick. Nick and Jay. Seems like a nice duo, huh? Both smart men, going somewhere with their lives. Jay seems like a good guy. He's the kind of "upper-class guy" that you'd want to be associated with. He knows what he's doing, he knows how to act and what to say. He's educated and likes to show it. But, like any other person, he has his weakness...which happens to be Daisy. He gets nervous around her and doesn't even have the ability to invite her over, he asks Nick too.
Now, ask yourself. Is this a good relationship as of now? Jay is sorta asking Nick to do his dirty work for him. Nick invites Daisy over, Jay gets to see Daisy, bada-bing bada-bang, Jay gets what he wants. This may seem like sneaky word, but honestly, i think Jay is just a scared man. He doesn't know what to do, so he asks for help, and now he's stuck with the guy he asked for help from. Sure, Nick may have been "used" but there's something else there. I personally can see a real connection between these two people. Nick see's who Gatsby actually as. Past the bookshelves of unread books and the war stories. Nick sees a man, a personable man, that he may have a friendship with in the future. These two are both very unique people, two one of a kind people. What do you get when you combine two different, yet very similar people? I don't know...we'll soon find out...

Winter Poem

"Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look what they do when they stick together.”

Verna M. Kelly

---

Slowly falling down

Peacefully, gently

Landing on the cool ground

Cold, alone

No two are alike or so it’s been said

Unique, individual

Blown away, this way and that

Dizzy, Wild

Stay in one place, Please, stay in one place

Consistency, Need

The question of tomorrow

Mystery, Suspense

Sticking for a Moment

Calm, Secure

Melting Away as a memory

The past, goodbye

Starting all over again

The future, hello

A blog dedicated to the most beautiful, incredible, amazing, perfect person I know....Alaina.

     If I ever had to argue with someone on whether or not there is such thing as perfection, I would win without a doubt. If I ever had to argue with someone about whether or not there is such thing as an incredible friend, I would win. If I ever had to argue with someone on whether or not the sweetest person in the world exists, I would win that there was. All I had to do was mention one name...and that name is...Alaina.
     Now, I probably sound crazy or obsessed, but the moment you meet Alaina you can't help but just fall in love with her. She is such an incredible friend. If I never need someone to turn to, I know I can turn to her. She helps me think of things in class that otherwise I would have never thought of! She's such a positive contribution to the classroom and to my life! In the morning, when i'm half-dying and not looking forward to the day ahead, Alaina makes it so much more bearable. She always puts a smile on my face. And HER smile just lights up.
      Billy, Casey and I depend on her so much. She is the rock that keeps us up. She SAVES us. American Literature without Alaina? I would feel like there was an emptiness in my soul. Whenever she is absent, the class doesnt feel complete. But alas, we know she's doing something crazy like delivering a baby, so its all okay.
     Now that Alaina is in my life, I can't imagine a life without her. Our laughs, Harry Potter Jokes, sweet comments, everything. It means so much to me. Alaina, you are a real best friend. I love you(: <3

Plow

I try to be different
I try to be me
But its never been easy
Being a teen in society
Wear this and wear that, who knows what to do
Watch everything you say
It can come back to haunt you
I don't wear the lastest fashions
I don't spend billions when I shop
I may not know everyone
I'm not on the social mountaintop
The crazy party last night?
Sounds like fun, I can see!
But losing control?
Nah, thats not my cup of tea
I like giving my opinion
It can be social suicide today
I'm sorry I let my imagination go wild
It sometimes runs away
Who decided what to look like?
How to talk and what to wear?
The sad thing is though
That deep down we all really care
We want to fit in, you as well as I
But what are we fitting in to?
Is it something concrete? Or is it just a lie?
I know who I am
You know who you are
With a little self-confidence
We can both go far
We only have one life to live
But the question is how?
Don't be a follower...
YOU be the plow.

There's Modern Slavery? What?

       Slavery is a system in which people are the property of others. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation.  In some societies it was legal for an owner to kill a slave. In others it was a crime to kill a slave.
        The number of slaves today remains as high as 12 to 27 million,  though this is probably the smallest proportion of the world's population in history. Most are debt slaves, largely in South Asia,  who are under debt bondage to lenders, sometimes even for generations. Human Trafficking is primarily for prostituting women and children into sex industries. It is the fastest growing criminal industry and is predicted to eventually outgrow drug trafficking.

        The slave trade in Africa was officially banned in the early 1880s, but forced labor continues to be practiced in West and Central Africa today. UNICEF estimates that 200,000 children from this region are sold into slavery each year. Many of these children are from Benin and Togo, and are sold into the domestic, agricultural, and sex industries of wealthier, neighboring countries such as Nigeria and Gabon.
   This is just one example of slavery today. Though we may not give it much attention, its happening. To be honest, before this blog, I had really given modern slavery a second thought. I knew that it was happening, but i didn't know it was this severe. There are kids being mutilated in Sudan so that they don't run away. Making carpets in India for little to no pay. People are being shackled together. Many AMERICANS think that slavery was abolished when the Emancipation Proclamation came around, but the scary truth is that the horrors of slavery still flourishes today.

What Happens in the Classroom...Stays in the Classroom?

class·room

[klas-room, -room, klahs-]

–noun

1.

a room, as in a school or college, in which classes are held.

2.

any place where one learns or gains experience.

 

     The Classroom, I spend about...7.5 or 8 hours in a classroom. Class Discussions, taking tests, quizzes, etc. To be completely honest, I don't even mind being in a classroom! I love listening to what other people have to say and I love learning. There are so many things in the world that we have yet to even think about, and the classroom helps us think about that.

     Along with classwork there comes **queue the horror music** the homework. Oh the Homework. The crazy **or sometimes invisible** amount of outside classroom work that takes over what I like to call my social life. Now, don't get me wrong, sometimes I enjoy doing homework. There's a feeling of success and pride when you finish a 15 step proof or complete a science fair paper. Homework is necessary, though many of my peers would challenge me on that. Homework is here to reinforce what we've learned and prove that we understand it...but what if we don't?

      I think that teacher should set aside maybe once or twice a weeks to spend fifteen minutes or so doing homework IN class. If a student doesn't completely grasp a concept, then goes off and does the homework, then they're just reinforcing the wrong things. If time is set aside to do homework in class and thoroughly go over homework, I think people will understand the ideas better. And plus, if you understand a concept, isn't it so much better doing the homework because you ACTUALLY know what you're doing?

     Also, I think that every once in a while, taking a break from the typical classroom surrounding will benefit the students. If you look at the definition (above) you will notice that a classroom is ANY PLACE where one learns or gains experience. Teenagers get tired and bored easily, especially of the same things all the time. If teachers maybe tried to spice up class a bit, take us to another classroom, the tech center, ANYWHERE, it will keep us interested.

     I have a bittersweet relationship with the classroom. But then again, can I really blame the classROOM on what I think is wrong or should be change...or should I blame the class itself?