Thursday, November 18, 2010

"Writers Journals"

Music Feature



We remember the brilliant and evocative music Bob Marley gave the world; music that stretches back over nearly two decades and still remains timeless and universal. Marley has been called "the first Third World superstar," "Rasta Prophet," "visionary," and" "revolutionary artist." These accolades were not mere hyperbole. Marley was one of the most charismatic and challenging performers of our time for numerous reasons.
 Bob Marley's career stretched back over twenty years. During that time Marley's growing style encompassed every aspect in the rise of Jamaican music, from SKA to contemporary reggae. That growth was well reflected in the maturity of the Wailers' music. Bob's first recording attempts came at the beginning of the Sixties. His first two tunes, cut as a solo artist, meant nothing in commercial terms and it wasn't until 1964, as a founding member of a group called the Wailing Wailers, that Bob first hit the Jamaican charts. The record was "Simmer Down," and over the next few years the Wailing Wailers -- Bob, Peter Mclntosh and Bunny Livingston, the nucleus of the group -- put out some 30 sides that properly established them as one of the hottest groups in Jamaica. Mclntosh later shortened his surname to Tosh while Livingston is now called Bunny Wailer.
“Simmer down, you lickin' too hot, so
Simmer down, soon you'll get dropped, so
Simmer down, can you hear what I say
Simmer down, that why won't you, why won't you, why won't you simmer down
Simmer down.” Chorus of Bob Marley’s “Simmer Down”
Despite their popularity, the economics of keeping the group together proved too much and the two other members, Junior Braithwaite and Beverley Kelso, left the group. At the same time Bob joined his mother in the United States. This marked the end of the Wailing Wailers, Chapter One.
Marley's stay in America was short-lived, however, and he returned to Jamaica to join up again with Peter and Bunny. By the end of the Sixties, with the legendary reggae producer Lee "Scratch" Perry at the mixing desk, The Wailers were again back at the top in Jamaica. The combination of the Wailers and Perry resulted in some of the finest music the band ever made. Tracks like "Soul Rebel," "Duppy Conquerer," "400 Years," and "Small Axe" was not only classics, but they defined the future direction of reggae.
“Look how long: 400 years, 
Way too long!
That's the reason my people- my people can't see.
Said, it's four hundred long years
Give me patience - same philosophy.” Lyrics from “400 years.”
                It’s difficult to understand Marley’s music without considering Rastafari. His spiritual beliefs are too well known to require further explanation. It must be stated, however, that Rastafari is at the very core of the Wailers’ music.
                In 1972 the Wailers signed to Island Records. It was a revolutionary move for an international record company and a reggae band. For the first time a reggae band had access to the best recording facilities and were treated in the same way as a rock group. Before the Wailers signed to Island, it was considered that reggae was sold only on singles and cheap compilation albums. The Wailers first album, “Catch A Fire” broke all the rules: it was beautifully packaged and heavily promoted. It was the start of a long climb to international fame and recognition.
                After the albums “Burnin’” and “Natty Dread” the “Rastaman Vibration” followed-up in 1976 and cracked the American charts. It was, for many, the clearest exposition yet of Marley’s music and beliefs, including tacks as “Crazy Baldhead,” Johnny Was,” “Who the Cap Fit” and, perhaps most significantly of all, “War,” the lyrics of which were taken from a speech by Emperor Haile Selassie.
“War in the east, war in the west
War up north, war down south
War, war, rumours of war
And until that day, the African continent
Will not know peace, we Africans will fight
We find it necessary and we know we shall win
As we are confident in the victory.” War lyrics
                In 1977 Exodus was released, this established Marley’s international superstar status. It stayed on the British charts for 56 weeks straight. Also it netted three United Kingdom hit singles, “Exodus,” “Waiting In Vain,” and “Jamming.”  Then Kenya was released in 1978 which hit number four on the United Kingdom chart. This album made people see Marley in a different mood because this album was of love songs and of course, homages to the power of ganja. In that same year he also had two extraordinary events occur. That April he returned to Jamaica after he had left in 1976 because of a shooting that almost cost him his life, to play One Love Peace Concert for the Prime Minister   Manley and the Leader of Oppostion Seaga. The end of 1978 Marley visited Africa for his first time visiting Kenya then to Ethiopia, the spiritual home of Rastafari. He revisited Africa in 1980 at the official initiation of the Government of Zimbabwe to play for the countrys’ Independence Ceremony. It was the greatest honor afforded the band, and one which underlined the Wailers’ importance in the Third World.
                In 1979 the albums Survival and Uprising was released. With the Uprising album, it had hit every chart in Europe. With that a European tour came about in which the band broke the festival records throughout the continent, including a 100,000 capacity show in Milan, because of this they were the most important band on the road that year.
                Once the European tour was done the band decided to also do an American tour with an opening spot with Stevie Wonder. Bob had performed two shows at Madison Square Garden then afterwards he was seriously ill. Marley found out that he was diagnosed with cancer. He had fought the disease for eight months but he ended up losing the battle. He passed away in a Miami Hospital on May 11, 1981. A month before he had died Marley was awarded Jamaica’s Order of Merit, the nations’ third highest honor, in recognition of his understanding contribution to the countrys’ culture. On Thursday, May 23, 1981, the Honorable Robert Nesta Marley was given an official funeral by the people of Jamaica. Following the funeral attended both the Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition. Bob Marley’s body was taken to his birthplace where it now rests in a mausoleum. He died at the age of 36 years old. May his legend live on!
Feature Story


From elementary all the way up to college, there are about one fourth of students that are being bullied for what they look like, how they talk, or even what their ethnicity is. Numerous teenagers are being bullied for multiple reasons, but it’s just not in front of school peers, it’s also through technology where the public out of school can see it too.
A senior in high school, Krysten Penaranda-Nives admits to being a bully at James Irwin Charter High School. She sent text messages, posted comments on peer’s myspace pages, and even yelled uncalled for names to peers in public. She says JICHS was a school full of cowards and that she could say what she wanted when she wanted to whomever she wanted to say it to. 
According to Pewresearch one third (32%) teenagers that use the internet have been targets of annoying and potentially menacing online activities, such as receiving threatening messages; having their private emails or text messages forwarded without consent; having an embarrassing picture posted without permission; or having rumors about them spread online.
With these activities occurring to certain teens, many of these victims have hurt themselves and people around them.
2% of these teens have committed suicide because the embarrassment, scars, and laughter that the bullies had put upon them.
One example of too far bullying happened at Rutgers University. Eighteen year old Tyler Clementi a gay man had jumped off the George Washington Bridge on September 22nd, 2010.  The reason why Clementi had jumped was because he found out someone had posted a video of him and another man being intimate with each other on youtube. Clementi’s own roommate Dharun Ravi and another student Molly Wei were both charged with invasion of privacy, these charges could reach up to where they can go to prison for 5 years. Right now this court case is still going on, on what their consequences should be.
Not only do they commit suicide but the victims of bullies have also taken it out on other family members and peers from school. Statistics from npr.org show that about 1.5% victims have hurt their loved ones and others who they don’t even know because of being bullied.
                In the year of 1999, two teens had enough of students bullying them about how they dress or what they do as a hobby which was posting blogs about weapons and killings. From all that teasing the two students from Columbine High School went on a rampage. They killed 12 students and one teacher and there were 21 others that were injured. At the end of the massacre they both committed suicide. Innocent people died because people do not know how to keep their rude comments to themselves.
According to James Irwin Charter High School Dean of Students Mr. James Doherty, very few students deal with bullies. For the 6 years he worked there he estimates about 11 situations that dealt with bullying. 6 out of that 11 he says Miss Penaranda-Nieves occurred in them with the use of cyber bullying. When situations like bullying comes up to him various amount of time with more than one student he involves the bully, victims, and their parents.
“I barely deal with students who are being bullied. As for the many years I worked here all students from each grade get along with each other very well. But when it does come down to bullies who spread rumors over internet that’s when I put my foot down and have a talk with the bully, victim, and their parents,” says Mr. Doherty. 
 A victim of Krysten’s bullying Senior Nicole Werner says that she has dealt with Penaranda-Nieves rude comments in public but mostly on myspace since her 8th grade year at James Irwin Charter Schools and that she takes it out on her sister and friends by yelling at them because she had had such a bad day from being bullied.
“Krysten and I have never been on good terms ever since I attended the school. She has put me down various times to where I yell at my friends even my own family because of her. Even though I waited so long to tell an adult about her I’m just glad that I can enjoy my senior without being harassed and embarrassed,” says Werner.
Yet from all that bullying, Krysten has done, one girl stood up for herself and told an adult about the abuse and Krysten was kicked out of the charter school.
Now Krysten Penaranda-Nieves goes to Cheyenne Mountain High School and says that she has become a victim of bullying ever since she arrived at the high school her junior year.
“I’ve tried to avoid all the gossip about me, but it’s really hard when rumors spread through text messages and over the internet,” says Penaranda-Nieves.
Julia Nieves mother of Krysten says that she tries to boost her daughter’s confidence up so that she is a strong woman.
”I tell Krysten that she knows what’s true and what isn’t true so don’t worry about it. The people that talk about you only think about you cause they have nothing better to do but hate on you cause they want to be like you,” said Ms. Nieves.  
                After hearing about the amount of teens who committed suicide within the last eight years Krysten says she regrets bullying because one of her victims would have killed themselves because of her and she wouldn’t be sitting in a classroom right now, she would be sitting behind bars.
                “Man I never put myself in their shoes on how I bullied them. Now that I’m the victim and not the bully I know how they feel. I could be in juvie and not here because of my bullying,” says Krysten.
                 

Monday, November 15, 2010

~*WeEk 14*~

Nov 11 2010

Kiwini Vaitan is just a typical islander trying to reach the top of the mountain and show everyone what his made of. Kiwini is part of the Lost Coast record label with other great island artist like Fiji, J-Boog, and many others. His album Independently Bizarre was released December 2009 featuring Laga Savea, Fiji, and Siaosi. This album was top seller in the Pacific Islands. His album is based off of island beats that many people love dancing to because its smooth and rhythmitic. If you like listening to jams like Bob Marley or Pacific Stars this is the CD to buy.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

~*wEeK 13*~

Nov 2 2010

My Music Feature Article is going to be based on the Reggae King himself Bob Marley.

Since he has passed away and I can't get any primary source on him my 3 main secondary sources will be:
- Bob Marleys' family
- Artist who have worked with Bob Marley
- Bob Marleys' fans

Thursday, October 7, 2010

~*WeEk 9*~

Oct 7 2010
DIRECT QUOTES & PARAPHRASING

Listening to music while doing homework: Jericho Asi

Paraphrase: Sophomore Jericho Asi says he has to listen to music when he is doing his homework because it helps him concentrate. Even though his parents disagree with him.
Quote: "I know my parents think I shouldn't be listening to music but for me it helps me concentrate. So I got to have music when I'm doing my homework," Asi says.

Curfews: Ashlie Peters


Paraphrase: Senior Ashlie Peters says having curfew is a terrible thing and if you have curfew than your just part of a baby clan.
Quote: "Curfew is wack! The only people who have curfews is people that are part of the baby clan. Thank you lord I ain't gotta curfew," Peters says.

School Uniforms: Heti Lefano

ParapharseHeti Lefano says that he has been to a school with uniforms and he hates it very much. He's glad that he goes to a school to where he can be himself and his mom doesn't have to waste money on uniforms.
Quote: "Man, I've been to a school with uniforms and i hate it with a passion. My mom spends more money on uniforms than food. Dang! I'm happy I don't go there anymore cause now I can just be myself in my own clothes," Lefano says.

 

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

~*Week 7*~

Sept 22 2010

My article is going to be based on bullying through technology and face to face.

Sources.
Teens who have been a victim of bullying
Teens who are bullies
Police Officer
Counselor

Thursday, September 9, 2010

*~WeEk 5~*

Sept 9th 2010
"Well, I went to Crenshaw High School. After that, I went in the Army. And when I came out of the military, I got right into trouble," said Ice T.

He got in trouble, says Ice T once he came out of the military.