FInal Essay

Alexa T. DosReis

1-20-14

Period F

Journalism

Today this country experiences a constant battle between good and bad, right and wrong, and what in the end is best for the United States of America. Right now we see debates on drugs, suspicions regarding the Olympics and terrorist involvement. Politicians are all over the news stating their side, their opinion, what they have educated themselves on. When one president goes another one prepares to fight for the open position.  The candidates spend millions of dollars campaigning, getting out to the world the change the could accomplish to make a difference for the country that allows every one to thrive. The terminology the use and the ideas they suggest might sound familiar to the politically educated man or woman, but what about the youth of America? Do the young adults now in college, ages ranging from 18-25, know exactly what they are listening to? So the question of my essay  is, are high school students educated enough to vote properly? In my search to find this out I decided to start with who influences us the most, adults. I went around and asked my teachers a series of questions just to see how they view certain aspects out our economy, society, and just how they got to the point to form their opinion. 

Question 1: Are you a Republican, Democrat, or Independent?

First I would like to provide the definition of each political party: "Republicans believe that each person is responsible for his or her own place in society. The Republican philosophy is based on limiting the intervention of government as a catalyst of individual prosperity/ Democrats believe that it is the responsibility of the government to care for all individuals, even if it means giving up some individual rights and/or subordinating enterprise and initiative/ Democrat Party administrations have pushed for the centralization of power in Washington D.C, with only secondary consideration for the rights of both individuals and communities/ Independents based their political decisions based on the candidate, not so much the party itself." (California Republican)

This question was indeed very straight forward; however you will see how it will be of help to me to know so I can understand why they gave answers they gave me for the questions I will cover later. I interviewed five teachers, and found there to be more of a variety than I had anticipated. I expected the stereotype of every teacher to be a registered democrat to ring true for a typical high school such as Norton High School. Four were registered Independent, and two were registered Democrat.  However one teacher of the independent party claimed they do tend to vote more republican, and one registered democrat claimed that if they could, they would go back and register as an independent. 

 

Question 2: Why?

I found that the Democratic teachers all gave similar responses. They felt the Democratic party respected the profession of an educator. Education as a whole they felt was valued more by this party than by that of the republicans. Now the registered Independents also had similar opinions. They felt that there was no need to sign up for just one political party when then can have the best of both worlds so to speak. Issues become different so this way as an independent, it is less risky not to subscribe to just one party. However the one teacher that said they leans more towards republican views, said I could in fact just mark them down as republican. This teacher gave a noticeably different reason for why they feel the way they do. They appreciate stricked immigration laws, and wants less handouts. 

Question 3: How do you feel about free enterprise?

Free enterprise is an "economic system in which private businesses operate in competition and largely free of state control." (The Free Dictionary) 

In oder to avoid the overuse of this teacher, I will identify each teacher as Teacher 1, Teacher 2…etc. Therefore, Teacher 1 felt free enterprise is good as long as there are core regulations in order to prevent monopoly. Teacher 2 is a supporter of it, but does also believe some regulations are necessary. Teacher 3 partially agrees with the idea of free enterprise, and does find some regulations needed. Teacher 4 feels it is essential for a healthy economy. Finally teacher 5 believes in it completely. 

Question 4: How do you feel about redistribution? 

Redistribution is "distribution; the transfer of income, wealth, property from some individuals to others caused by a social mechanism such as taxation, welfare, and stimulus…etc." (The Free Dictionary)

Teacher 1 commented saying taxes should be percentages based, but redistribution needs to be tightly constructed and monitored. Teacher 2  feels that when people who work hard for their money, it is hard to redistribute that. Teacher 3 wants higher taxes for the rich, and more help for the lower class people. Teacher 4 says it is fair,  but difficult to make work properly. Finally Teacher 5 says that people deserve what they earn. 

Those last two questions are two life changing concepts. Adults by now have a better grasp on the ideas better than a high school student would which led me to think of how much college students are aware of current political affairs. So I decided to ask one. This student is  senior at Wheaton collage, and I asked the same questions as I did for the teachers. The answers followed as:

-Democrat

- Feels strongly towards social issues like gay marriage and abortion laws, but does feel Republicans are better financially.

- Feels OK about free enterprise, and think Republicans have a better financial enterprise. 

-Feels redistribution is the biggest economic issue, but is still the student claims he is still learning about the economics of the country. Finally, this student feels redistribution should be  taken care of through social security.

In school I have a teacher that somewhat hints at her political preferences. This teacher always mentions Hillary Clinton, and how amazing it would be if we had a female president soon, and if it was her. My problem is, I do not know anything about her. I have no idea what she stands for because when politicians say they'll do something, it is most likely not going to happen. I feel lost when the news comes on and they are talking about foreign affairs, the confusion gets even worse when they talk about the economy. That is why I created this question because I am not alone on this. Our world, our nation, will be much better off if future generations are properly informed on the different ways our country functions, and to make it run properly.

Humor Piece

I am an introvert. It was made official during a psychology class I had, and the teacher must know what he is talking about. I guess deep down I knew it to be true, but I was not going to be the one to say it out loud, not my thing. So I just go about my day talking to a select few of people. People comment on how quiet I am,  I'm not that quiet I just don't talk to you. Oh shoot that was rude. However my ability to keep my mouth shut during confrontation has in fact come to my rescue at times.
I have only one confrontation in my life thus ar. Thank heaven because I don't know how I could possibly function with anymore human contact. A conversation between two introverts consists of awkward eye contact and a quick and quiet haste towards the nearest exit. It is amazing how I have friends. Anyways, back to the confrontation. This girl and I had been best friends for years. I do not want to call anyone out so I'll just call her Girl ( solid 10 points on name creativity). Girl had been the most out going girl I have ever seen, and I was hoping for some of that to rub off on me. Little did I know her parents wanted me to rub off on her. She is the only person I have seen that can live with a one sided conversation with no need for input or opinions from anyone as long as they line up with hers. A few years have gone by and I begun to notice that as she talked I just sat there thinking, bla bla bla bla bla,kill me please,bla bla bla bla. Then there was a change in her, she started being pretty nasty to people and I was never going to be a part of that. I personally treat people the way they want to be treated.....I leave them alone.
So that relationship didn't last. After I blew up when she started attacking me. Congratulations Girl! You angered an introvert! Don't you know to watch out for the quiet ones. We are thinkers, we sit and we plot and we analyze. I was actually waiting for her to turn on me, so in preparation for it I had come up with the ultimate comebacks. I envisioned her take down to the very last word I would tell her. She would walk up to me in school with that, I'm going to be such a good friend to you right now, stupid look on her face, and I would be standing by my locker. After a soft sigh, she began her rant and after she was satisfied I would have my glorious moment. I also envisioned her hitting me, like one little slap to the face and then it would be on! We would brawl and I would take her down, more than just physically because I am still 17 and she is 18, so technically I am underage and I could possibly get her sent to prison. No woman in prison will take her crap in jail, but someone has to set her straight. INTROVERT: 1    EXTROVERT: 0.
Of course none of this went down as I planned. She texted me her complaints with me. Wow glad to know our relationship meant that much to you that you feel an extremely long text will suffice. Good Joke. I hate myself for not speaking my mind and telling her off . I had decided to tell her this was not working and we are no longer going to be friends. After that I ignored her for the next few days. Ignoring someone is my strong suit and shutting up clearly wasn't hers because I continued to receive texts from Girl. So it turns out that ignoring the out going angers them even more than letting them argue with you. Who Knew! I felt achieved and I went on with my life with that little victory that know one will every know about because I am not going to talk about it. Forget that.



Long story short, I really should have started this yesterday because I am not that funny, I need time for that to be a thing.

Summer Assignment

Summer vacation to students in the US is an expectation that no one wants taken away from them. Personally I do not want summer vacation to be touched; however changes could be made during the school year that could help students to be better focused on their lesson plans. I would like to propose having shorter class periods because after ninety minutes of nonstop focus, the brain tires and my motivation personally starts to fail me, unless I am in a class that I am interested in. If shorter class periods is out of the question then another option to consider might be giving us Mondays off. A three day weekend would be a good way for students to catch up on work and hopefully they will take the opportunity to be better prepared for class on Tuesday. That's my opinion for the situation regarding reducing or taking away summer vacation. Summer vacation is definitely a must have break and it is worth all the hard academic work leading up to it.

Christmas Shopping Spending

                During the holidays consumer expenditure rockets through the roof as the average spending peaked in 2001 at $1,052; however the average spending has recovered and the predicted spending for 2013 is below the typical norm of $859 from the year 2007. Of course Christmas is the first holiday that comes to everyone's minds when it comes to big spending, and many may be quick to harshly judge this costly tradition. Truth is, people have the right to spend as much money as they please on their kids, family, even themselves, but is it time to stop making Christmas such a publicized event and go back to the simplicity of it all? When did Christmas start becoming a main focus on receiving physical favors rather than spiritual ones?

                People today are all about the obtaining the physical items that they think will make them happy. Sure if you have the money go for it, heck buy yourself something pretty, but in most cases people are putting themselves into debt trying to buy what everybody else has just so they can say they have it to. This usually leads to a series of unfortunate events such as; maxing out one’s credit card, getting oneself into debt, and realizing that Christmas is not the fun it used to be. It used to be all about baby Jesus coming into this world, December 25^th is not just a day about getting presents but it when our messiah, our savior came into this world and we tend to look past that.

                Commercializing Christmas has taken away the simple joy it brought and family values are becoming less important. Stores have a quota they need to make and our parents’ generation was a very profitable one where there was a lot of work, and the economy being so bad right now, prosperity is not as easy to come by as it used to be. Therefore people should not impoverish themselves to enrich others.  

Merry Christmas!

Albulm Review

 Emblem3 Nothing to Loose (deluxe edition)

        Emblem3 is an American pop band consisting of brothers Wesley and Keaton Stromberg, and their friend Drew Chadwick. After rocking four seasons of stellar performances on The X Factor USA, they signed with Simon Cowell's record label Syco records and Columbia records. Their first single Chloe was released April 15th, 2013 and their completed album Nothing to Loose soon after on July 30, 2013. 

         The overall theme of the album is fun and uplifting. Listening to their songs can be a real pick me up on those upsetting days. It is very L.A and you just get drawn into the atmosphere their catchy lyrics create. They album does not typically have slow song, but always positive and leaves you wanting to listen only to the sound of their voices!

 

          Chloe was the first single released and was a big crowd pleaser from the start! This type of song is what makes all the ladies out there want the boys to be singing about them. It is one of my favorite songs produced by these boys and I cannot wait to see what awesome work comes from them next time! Sunset Blvd is what the boys decided to audition with for The X Factor and made them stick out to the judges! It was a lovely change from other sugary pop songs that all sound the same. A favorite slower song of mine from the album is called 3000 miles. This beautiful, emotional song of wanting to be home makes me feel glad I get to be home, not that a life of fame and fortune would be nice, but you know what I mean. This album is absolutely addictive and I suggest that every single teenagers goes and purchases it right away!

 

Album Review Samples

Daughtry    Baptized    19/RCA

Rolling Stone: star rating: 3 1/2 stars          

Community: star rating                                    

5 2.5 0

 

By Chuck Eddy

November 19, 2013

Seven years after he placed on American Idol, Chris Daughtry and his band are opening up their would-be grunge to more nuance: folk instruments and synths, smoother high notes tempering Daughtry's bellow, "boom-b'boom" vocal-bass hook lightening the gender war in "Battleships." The sound on Baptized somehow links U2 to Rascal Flatts, adding Springsteen stances in "Wild Heart." More unexpectedly, there's also a banjo shuffle where Daughtry chooses Van Halen over Van Hagar, catalogs some of his other heroes and wonders who wrote Hole's songs. "Long Live Rock & Roll," it's called – a defense, perhaps, against anybody claiming guys like him helped kill it.

The Wanted

Word of Mouth

Island

Rolling Stone: star rating: 2 stars                                   

Community: star rating

5 2 0

 By Mike Powell

November 18, 2013

The Wanted are a boy band with a man's disposition: They drink, they get into arguments, and they tend to see women as passive creatures waiting around in heels to be redeemed or get their hearts broken. They cloak their casual misogyny in trying to look sensitive, alternating rakish club pop like "Walks Like Rihanna" with post-Coldplay ballads in which everyone gets a chance to brood. In either case, the sound is big and lead-footed, using gang choruses to remind you to have fun and string sections when things stiffen and get sad. The truth? The promise that they're gonna pour their love all over you is twice as charming – and half as creepy – as the one that they're gonna keep you safe.

 

Jake Bugg

Shangri La

Island

Rolling Stone: star rating: 4 1/2                                   

Community: star rating

5 3.5 0

           

By Jon Dolan

November 19, 2013

"I wake up/Check my phone/Jump in my whip/And off I go," Jake Bugg sings on "Kingpin." It's a song about the lush life of a drug dealer with a steelback giddyap that connects Eddie Cochran to the Smiths' "What Difference Does It Make?" And that knack for yoking today's restless energy to yesterday's jangle is what makes the 19-year-old U.K. chart-topper likable. Bugg's debut was at its best giving '62 Dylan and Buddy Holly a cocky Oasis charge, and the Bugg Man backed it up by calling fellow roots lovers Mumford & Sons "posh farmers with banjos." Dude has balls as big as Rickenbackers.

Lady Gaga

Artpop:

Streamline/Interscope

Rolling Stone: star rating: 3 stars                                   

Community: star rating                                   

5 3 0

Comment

100

By Caryn Ganz

November 13, 2013

Lady Gaga is at her peak when she's playing the neon queen of all the world's outcasts. And with her constant prodding, her Little Monsters have filled the biggest big tent in modern pop. But in the five years since Stefani Germanotta's arrival, weird has become the currency that overwhelmingly fuels pop culture – from seapunk Tumblrs to American Horror Story. So for Gaga to stay on top in 2013, she has to keep cranking up the cray.

The Who

Tommy: Super Deluxe Box Set

Geffen/UMe

Rolling Stone: star rating: 5 stars                                   

Community: star rating

5 5 0

Comment

2

By Will Hermes

November 12, 2013

As the first popular "rock opera," Tommy has plenty to answer for. But measured against pale 21st-century Broadway offspring, the Who's magnum opus still rules. Besides an impressive book, the news on this box is a virtually complete set of Pete Townshend demos, with the composer's warm tenor taking lead on every song. It makes for remarkable alternate versions. "The Hawker (Eyesight to the Blind)" hews closer to its Sonny Boy Williamson roots; "Sally Simpson" as a sort of music-hall piano romp. Semi-acoustic versions of "Acid Queen" and "Pinball Wizard" are delicious; a minor rocker ("Trying to Get Through") and a backward-tape jam ("Dream One") appear as well. The fierce '69 live recording comes from tapes that were thankfully stashed away by the band's sound man after Townshend ordered them destroyed. They prove the music's power even without actors – just the four dudes who cooked it up in the first place.

Various Artists

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Soundtrack

Republic

Rolling Stone: star rating: 3 1/2                                   

Community: star rating

5 2.5 0

Comment

2

By Rob Sheffield

November 19, 2013

Phil Collins has retired, but his legacy endures in the new Hunger Games soundtrack, which channels his recipe for Eighties melodrama: synth strings, croaked vocals, crashing drums. (Even Lorde's cover of Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" sounds like she'd rather be singing "Against All Odds.") Apparent Hunger Games superfan Patti Smith does better with the Katniss-worshipping "Capital Letter," and Santigold contributes a blatant cop of "I Know There's Something Going On," a 1982 hit by Abba's Frida – produced and drummed by Phil Collins. Come back, Phil. District 12 needs you.

Bullying Repsonse

     Bullying is the same anywhere it occurs.  Whether it would be on the internet, the locker room, between adults or children, it all ends with the same patronizing effects. Professional athletes are bread to be ruthless and aggressive because they need to be strong for the game, and that includes mentally so it only expected when behind closed doors the level of banter escalates causing inappropriate behavior that should be dealt with in sensible terms.