The article can be seen here: http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/16589727.htm
Alright. I certainly agree that the blackface and the padding of rear ends was a little over the top. HOWEVER, I don’t these kids were really as out of line as many older people thought they were. Really, if the white kids didn’t use the N word in a demeaning way towards blacks, then what is the harm? Yes, it recalls memories of when white people called African Americans that in a way meant to belittle them. But when African American rappers, and other blacks use the term on a day-to-day basis to address each other, then this is really taking the negative connotations out of the word. I’m not saying I go around calling people, regardless of color, the N word but, in a way, not allowing white kids to use the term is a form of racism. I mean if you completely trust that these kids aren’t racist, then why not just let them use the term? Disallowing one race to use a word could easily be construed as a type of racism. And, with the parties, perhaps the “gangsta” ideas are just themes of the parties. Are there cries of injustice (from older people by the way) when white people have a fiesta or use a pinata? No. And if the current generation of African Americans, which the article completely ignores by the way, and not the older, stuffy people see nothing wrong with these parties, then what exactly is the uproar? Old people complaining about something young kids do these days? So what else is new? The same could be said for “freaking,” the “explicit” type of dancing kids do nowadays. Again, when these ideas are taken to the extreme, then someone needs to step in. But if they are no ill intentions, then what’s the harm? They’re just kids being kids.
On a totally different note, or at least a lighter one, Mistah F.A.B., the well-known hyphy artist in the Yay Area, has just released the video for his song “Ghost Ride It.” Here it is (the first attempt at embedding too, by the way):
California Assemblyman Lloyd Levine has planned to introduce a bill that would require all Californians to use those funky spiral fluorescent light bulbs, claiming that the benefits are far too enormous to pass up.
Normally I am against government making my decisions for me, but this one seems to make sense. Incandescent light bulbs waste major power and money (a fluorescent light bulb is around four to six times more efficient than its incandescent partner). Californians might just need a little push to make the right decision. Besides, it wasn’t that long ago that California was traumatized over those rolling black outs: here’s a great opportunity to learn from our mistakes. California already has a reputation for its large green conscience such as promoting hybrid vehicles and wind energy, light bulbs seem like a simple step forward to a better energy policy.
Any actual problems that the switch might entail will surely be addressed in the legislature – that’s the beauty of our government. But if we can’t go around switching off every light that isn’t in use, we can at least make sure that we’re wasting energy in a responsible way.
I too was forced to wear those disgusting, itchy uniforms during my private school days.
My parents are fairly religious people, unlike myself, and had the notion that I would get a better education if they sent me to a Catholic school. I attended St. Agnes from kindergarten to the fourth grade and can truly say that I despised it. There was no way that I could have taken nine years of the place.
Nevertheless, after my public middle school years came to a close and high school was approaching, I decided to give private school another try. Although I only lasted for a grand total of about four days, I was able to gather some insight about the phenomenal academic program that the school offered. For example, in my English class we were learning about how to write a paragraph. Yes you read it correctly, a paragraph.
Apparently some students (who had attended private schools before this one) were having difficulty understanding the concept. What wonderful education good money can buy!
Granted, some private schools can have their advantages, but in all honesty, the classes in public schools don’t seem that much less advantageous than those in private
schools. I also found that I learned much more about life in general while attending public school. Because after all, being sheltered from the real world isn’t what I would call a good educational opportunity. My parents aren’t the ones spending tens of thousands of dollars on a “better” education either. And besides, I’m the product of a public school education and I think I turned out quite all right.
Hey, at least I know how
to write a paragraph!
–Michelle Trosclair
I admit to having driven while talking on the cell phone and eating a six inch sub at the same time. These are some of the things NOT to do while manning a thousand pound vehicle at high speeds.
Studies recently conducted by State Farm Insurance and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia revealed that teenagers routinely deal with behind the wheel distractions, leading to about 5600 deaths in 2005 alone. 92 percent of the surveyed teens reported witnessing a peer speeding, while 89 percent saw them also yapping on phones.
In a society where multitasking is seen as a survival skill, it unfortunately leads to the death of thousands of teenagers every year. Seriously, playing handheld games and text messaging while driving are the dumbest things I’ve ever heard of. 53 percent of the surveyed teens reported seeing this happen while they were riding inside the vehicle. Is earning a high score in Mario Kart or sending an 8 word message to a buddy worth risking one’s life for?
According to statistics, the risk of a fatal crash doubles when a teen driver carries a teenage passenger. It is even five times higher when more ride along. I agree that it is easier to get distracted on the road when my friends are joking around in the back seat. I can’t help but feel a little more daring to speed or beat a traffic light when I have company also.
I’m 18 and have had my license for well over a year now. I occasionally have my share of mishaps on the freeway, but I prefer to keep my eyes on the road rather than the volume dial to my stereo. Death has the ability to take life in the blink of an eye. I love life too much to lose it tomorrow or the day after.
It’s the lovechild of my mP3 player: musicians from Blur, The Verve, The Clash, and Gnarls Barkley have combined, mingling genres in their fantastic album, The Good, The Bad and The Queen. This collaboration, produced by Danger Mouse (half of musical team Gnarls Barkley), features vocalist Damon Albarn (Blur), bassist Paul Simonon (The Clash), guitarist Simon Tong (The Verve), and drummer Tony Allen (Africa 70, formerly Fela Kuti).
And what a wonderful mixture it is. It’s easy to see the future of good music heading in this direction, and with Danger Mouse producing, you really can never expect what to hear. This “superpop” group takes something from each member to form a creative and unmatched sound. Check them out here.
Brian Mertens
Seeing as how the theme of this blog is not doing homework, I figured procrastination would be a fitting topic to talk about.
Procrastination is states of mind based on the premise that ignoring problems will make them go away. The way I see it, however, is that I’m establishing an environment in which the creative juices can flow. For some reason my best work is always done at the last minute, whether it be working on a project or studying for a test. I just take my time, and the ideas begin to flow.
It all starts the moment I learn of an assignment. I scoff at the preordained date, laughing at its puny attempts to strike fear into my academic conscience.
“HAH!” I arrogantly exclaim to my peers. “It’s due in five days? I have FOREVER!” Not bothering to write it down in the planner I had already lost, I don’t care if it’s a project or a term paper (just so long as I don’t have to turn it in tomorrow). Instead, I make a brief mental note and prioritize it between “wash the dog” and “tape this week’s 24.”
Days go by, and I am somehow able to ignore the impending weight of work that is slowly building up. Each night I go over my checklist of homework and fail to remember the most important assignment, almost as though my brain automatically blocks any sense of responsibility. As the due date comes closer, my classmates begin to resemble headless chickens. “How much did she ask for?” “Is this good enough?” “What were the guidelines?” Even then I am optimistic, for I know there is no need to panic. I’ve got two days left.
All too suddenly, however, I am cursing myself for ignorantly throwing away all those nights. I slip into panic mode, triggering a process I am sure everyone can relate to. To illustrate my erratic work patterns, I will list each and every action I typically go through when writing an English essay.
Get your last figure eights in now: Berkeley’s (in)famous Iceland is closing its doors for good on March 31.
I visited the rink for one last skate and pleased to see that it hadn’t changed a bit. Everything (the blisters, the arcade games, the rink’s soundtrack) has remained the same. 3 Doors Down’s Kryptonite is still playing after all these years.
Iceland built a skating community, a place where thousands have learned how to skate, regardless of the outside temperature. This announcement has raised quite an outcry and has given birth to a campaign and, of course, a Facebook group.
Yet sadly, yesterday was probably the last time I would skate across that rink. This along with the Oakland A’s moving to Fremont is seriously wiping out my childhood.
Brian Mertens
333, on the other hand, is beautiful, round and chubby. This is the way Daniel Tammet, Britain’s “Brain Man,” sees the world — in colorful landscapes visualized in his head.
In an interview with Morley Safer on this week’s edition of 60 Minutes, viewers were introduced to the 25 year old who was able to recite the the infinite number Pi (3.14….), or the first 22,354 it embodied, in a matter of five hours without a single mistake.
He is diagnosed with the savant syndrome, a condition immortalized in the film “Rain Man,” starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. Usually gifted in a specific area of study but limited in other aspects of life, Tammet appears more normal than most who possess it.
It was interesting to watch him glance at a set of numbers on a piece of paper and recite them backward and forward soon after. The power of his memory isn’t just limited to numbers; Tammet was able to become fluent in an Icelandic language in all but seven days. It lifts my spirits to learn about extraordinarily gifted people like him who exist in the world.
Awe and wonder aside, I do have to disagree with Tammet on one thing.
The square root of 289 is 17 — to me — a gorgeous, slim number.
Über skinny models are flat-out gross. I can’t imagine how anyone could find a woman with a visible skeletal outline appealing to look at. Runway models are looking more like wire hangers for their designer clothing nowadays.
What the Madrid fashion week organizers did by banning models with a body index (BMI) less than 18% was a major step in realizing the fashion industry’s weight problem. There is too much unnecessary pressure on models to be thin that it sadly translates into the image of what young women are supposed to look like to appear beautiful. It is sad to hear of stories like that of Brazilian model Luisel Ramos, who died from a heart attack after months of eating lettuce leaves and Diet Coke.
Why can’t models be less like Twiggy and more like Cindy Crawford? When Marilyn Monroe dropped jaws in her hey-day, she had a BMI of about 20%. Case and point, thin doesn’t necessarily have to be “in.”
for more on this topic, read Jessica Yadegaran’s article in today’s Times, “A Sizable Problem”
I haven’t had cable TV since I was in the fifth grade, but it is days like today, when I am incredibly sick, that I wish I had more options of junk to watch. Yes, reading a book may be more productive, but if you have a throbbing headache, the best thing is just to relax your brain.
I was flipping through the TV Guide when I noticed that FX has a “That 70’s Show” marathon, and I felt my heart racing in the hope that I have the channel. And by the way, no, I don’t have FX.
