I've Changed My Mind ... Do I really want to become an author? (PB)

I guess my title contradicts itself since this is supposed to be considered a passion blog, but in reality, I've lost my passion for writing or doing anything related to it. I had to complete this story I wrote about a year ago for this writing contest due this Friday 2/7/14. I tried bringing myself to write this story, until I realized I'd lost all desire and passion to continue unraveling this story line into something much more interesting for someone other than my own eyes to take interest in. In the midst of being halfway into my senior year, I am now beginning to question whether or not writing is really my "passion" and if its simply just a hobby of mine. I am reading books off this app called Wattpad. This app consists of so many different and amazing writers who write such crazy stories that you can't help not to glue your eyes to each word as every single one continues to reel you in, just as the author is expecting you to. I am not sure if I have the capability of doing that. I know I probably shouldn't compare myself to other people's ideals of what it means to truly write a good story, but I am not saddened by this revelation either. I think life simply might have other plans for me, and I am simply hiding behind this facade of mine because I am afraid to reach my full potential. I think I know what I want to accomplish now, and although it has been there this whole time in front of me, I am going to stop comparing myself to others and simply do what I have always been told to do, believe in myself.

Why Do We Like to Watch Rich People on TV and in the Movies? (EXTRA CREDIT BLOG)

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/23/why-do-we-like-to-watch-rich-people-on-tv-and-in-the-movies/?_php=true&_type=blogs&module=BlogPost-Title&version=Blog%20Main&contentCollection=U.S.&action=Click&pgtype=Blogs&region=Body&_r=0

There is a huge coincidence. Today I watched the Wolf of Wall Street, had A LOT to say about the film. First and foremost, the movie was really good, BUT it is just ridiculous how much money, greed, drugs, and sex can just change a person. To answer the question above, "Why Do We Like to Watch Rich People on TV and in the Movies?" is very simple to answer. The reason we do this is because for years America has made living "fancy" a sort of trend we---the people who wish could live like the rich---have seen as model figures we wish we could be like someday. Since the mid 1900s, when have you seen a film where women weren't poised gracefully with a maid or butler in the house, a husband who is the supplier of income, and lets not forget the children who never do anything wrong and are just heavenly angels. On top of all that, the "perfect" family lives in a big home. It is something Americans always looked to when they needed an escape from their own lives, so that they could find entertainment in the lives of fictional characters who are living ten times better than the viewer himself.

I agree with Farnoosh Torabi in the sense that she says, "...Soaps offered an entertaining escape to where budgeting constraints and bad hair days didn’t exist, where we could see how the “rich” lived, and experience — even if just for an hour a day — a part of their fictional lives that seemed vastly more exciting than our own." This not only refers to soap operas but for anything we watch on TV/Movies in general. I agree with Bruce Levine because he makes an effective point that today greed is seen as both normal and acceptable by the mass media and mainstream politicians. Greed is something that is common in people everywhere it is one of the seven deadly sins but it shines brighter when we obtain a deep desire. With desire sometimes comes greed. Just like in the Wolf Of Wall Street, which is based on a true story, when Jordan Belfort got a good amount of money coming into his hands, all he could think was obtaining more and how fast he could get it no matter what the cost. I think all people can become like that, but it doesn't mean everyone necessarily will.

On that note, we watch people with money on television and on movies become the reason we stay home on a 9'o clock PM time slot because we would rather sit and watch how other people are living the rich life because it is good entertainment from our own lives, just like everything else we watch on television non filthy-rich and greedy related.

Heart of Darkness (CRR)

In English class we have finished up the book the Heart of Darkness. In my opinion, I disliked reading the book, because it was very difficult for me as a reader to understand. That was my initial thought during the first few pages of reading the book. Once I finished the book, sort of, I began to understand the symbolism behind the book while also understanding the main character, Charles Marlow. This book isn't exactly the best book ever written, in my opinion at least, but this book did show how much the impact of your environment can truly consume your inner being and change you without you realizing how. Marlow was just an innocent being who had little to no experience of what it was like being surrounded by African natives in the Congo. Not only did he not know how to react towards them, he didn't know or understand the hatred they were getting by the Europeans who dehumanized and enslaved them. Marlow was an innocent soul who arrived to the congo at the wrong place at the wrong time. His ideal perception on life was completely turned over as the book continues to depict each timeline of his life there. Before I give away the entire book, this book was an utter disappointment but eventually found some place in me that made me understand why the characters were written the way they did, and why this book was written in the first place. This book is a version of how life is set up in the form of a semi-fictional tale. Greed and corruption basically sums up the story, but it is a perfect example of just how much people can easily change when these two things enter your system.

Hairs & Fibers (ID)

In my forensics class, we are currently studying the cuticle patterns, medullas, cortex, and hair origins of both human and animal hair samples. I never realized how interesting the human hair was. I was able to identify what my hair type was which i would have never known without this class. It was very interesting finding out how to identify the differences between hair types and specific classifications of hair. I'm not a huge fan of science but anatomical science is my favorite, and I feel like a little scientist in the making.

Endless Time By Rabindranath Tagore (FC)

Time is endless in thy hands, my lord.
There is none to count thy minutes.

Days and nights pass and ages bloom and fade like flowers.
Thou knowest how to wait.

Thy centuries follow each other perfecting a small wild flower.

We have no time to lose,
and having no time we must scramble for a chance.
We are too poor to be late.

And thus it is that time goes by
while I give it to every querulous man who claims it,
and thine altar is empty of all offerings to the last.

At the end of the day I hasten in fear lest thy gate be shut;
but I find that yet there is time.

Haitian-Dominicans stripped of their Citizenship. (PB)

http://www.npr.org/2013/11/28/247635908/many-haitians-leave-dominican-republic-after-court-decision

This weeks post will be about something I am passionate about, which is helping causes in hopes of gaining independence.

I have just recently heard of everything going on in my country. Apparently, anyone born after 1929 (basically around my grandma's age) who was born and raised in the Dominican Republic has to leave all that they're known and used to because a new Dominican Court Ruling said so. It bothers me that I can't do anything about this, not because it will affect me personally, but because it is unfair. no matter where you go you are treated unfairly. It is racist and what gets to me is how not many people are really doing something about it except for some of the Dominicans already living here in America. I have a cousin who is half Dominican half Haitian. I don't know her personally, but I wonder how this would be affecting her. I wish I could do something to help out these people, it bothers me I don't know where to begin to help out. It isn't fair, none of this is fair at all.

Deaths of 2013 ...RIP❤️ (SSR)

http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/12/05/paul-walker-nelson-mandela-death-tribute-fans-twitter/

In the amount of one week we lost two good souls. Nelson Mandela not only a man with a good heart, but a leader, a fighter, and man of honor fought against Apartheids Uprising during one of Africa's troubling eras of nonstop turmoil. Nelson was incarcerated for almost 30 years & after he was freed, he became the President of Africa and was was given nothing but respect & appraisal for all he's done for the lives of Africa. Nelson Mandela once said "I'm not a saint, but a sinner who never stops trying." On that note R.I.P. Nelson Mandela.

Another man who lost his life but a well respected actor at that was the Fast & Furious movie series very own Paul Walker. Paul Walker gained fame starring as one of the main cast of the famous Car movies. The Fast & Furious movies were one of my favorite movies and it's sad that he is now gone. Paul Walker was acting prior to making these films and during his spare time he devoted his time to helping others, which is someone who's selflessness is worthy of respect. So, RIP Paul Walker you will be missed as well. 

Another soul lost this year has been Glee's very own Cory Monteith. He was a good actor, funny to watch on my tv every Thursdays, and was one of my favorites as well. RIP Cory <3 

Aside from all the deaths that have occurred this far, I lost my great aunt. Also, a lot of people I know have lost about one or two people close to them. On the behalf of everyone, RIP to all the lives lost in 2013.