November 22, 2010

Today was a good day. School was good and the weather was really nice. Right now, I am working on a story on teen violence and Halloween. It's a bit late for Halloween but its the holiday that provokes teen violence the most so I chose those topics. Hopefully, I finish this story by Wednesday so it can be published on the website. Well, I sure hope so !

E.T.C SUMMER EXPO 2010

By Ryan Ngala

Harlem, New York WSTN-TV/WRTN-DT

A gallery presentation is open in both the E.T.C Robeson room and the E.T.C Mac lab; it started at 1:00-3:00pm. First I went to the presentation for the “Make Some Noise” at the E.T.C Computer Lab that started at 1:45-2:30pm. Then I went to the rise up exhibition and I saw pictures and ads in every one of them, I saw the mural of different drawings and paintings. I went to the E.T.C Mac lab for the forever young exhibition and I saw a sculpture of the hcz model and the entire neighborhood and a collage. At the tutor room I saw the group called “The Roots” as they were practing for their part of the show as they were stepping and doing their thing. So as the make some noise were getting started the performers who got up to say their part were Leland and Terrance Buckner. I saw a blog for the make some noise site at bestofmakesomenoise.tumblr.com and there were always some refreshments along the way.

At 2:36pm the musical theatre show at the E.T.C tutor room was just getting started and everybody was taken their seats to sit down there were music playing, drummers drumming and so fore. First group was the roots as they were chanting and stepping at the same time, Then Geoffrey has host many plays such as “Birthday Parties” and “The Broken Hearted Girl”, after that they had play the drums especially nick. But unfortunately Tai Garcia the Junior Advisor is leaving the E.T.C Building and as a member of the E.T.C family it was announced by the program director of E.T.C James Horton and for which she is actually leaving the building for tomorrow.

zzzZZZzzz....

So today at Hl its very slow everything is done that was asked to do. Yesterday for my teams upcoming story I gathered some info and formed questions about sneakers. I beleive that this story will have to wait though because tomorrow we are going to the blue man group show im handleing the video portion. Sinc everything is done and there is nothing for me to do im leaving early. seee you tomorrow HL!

My Weekend

I had a good weekend I just hung out with my friends and chilled in the bronx played some ball with no worries.

Another day at HL

so today started off bad i lost my money on my way here and the weather is horrible. Today is just not my day I want to go home! :(

Yesterday!

Yesterday I didn't come into work at HL because I volunteered for the senator of queens at her office. It was a great experience for me because it showed me what politics are like. She had me make phone calls and run errands. I decided to volunteer so I can add it to my college resume because I will be a senior this coming september! xD lol I also did it because at school I'm a part of the National honor society and we need to help our community in any way we can.

another day at hl

so right now im just here doing nothing bc of the team captain lol so i decided to post a blog because i havent in a while. I was out for a bit vacationing in Dr i had a blast i wish  didnt have to leave :(

I'm here to help

People I want you to understand that I am here for you to USE ME. I am here to help edit stories, give advice, suggestions and all of that. Don't hesitate to ask me for help...

Hello PPL

So, it's Monday & a new week. I missed Fridays' presentations because someone (Shelise) gave em the wrong address to the location. However, I will be there for this week's presentations. I did come in on the deliberation process. Remember people this is only the first presentation. If you lost, don't fret. Just improve. Start practicing as early as Wednesday for it & continue to practice until the day for you to present comes. Be sure to include all team members in the presentation as much as you can & as creative as you can.

I'm looking forward to be helping you guys. I'm going to be having a weekly staff meeting with each team to help them finalize their ideas & just to see where they are at. At 2, I'm leaving to head to the Source Magazine. I want to get that done & over with. Then tomorrow, I'm going to start writing my curriculum for my weekly journalism class... Bye Bye folks

Day 2, July 13

So today we went to 42nd and 5th ave to the big library. We had a computer class about search databases. The class was alright but the weather really wasn't. When we came out, it was pouring and the majority of us were, UMBRELLA-LESS! So we all got soaked. Now we're back at the office, and I think by the end of the summer, we will be claustrophobic. We will be starting tomorrow, because of the weather. Quativea's account doesnt open AT ALL, though we keep changing the password, but lets see how that goes tomorrow.

The source is Crap...

Sooo being at the Source is crappy. I'm usually sitting around waiting to be told what to do. So now I have this assignment where I have to read this book full of smut about drug dealers & baby mamas & write a review on it. It has not been released yet so I guess I'm lucky... Woo hoo. The book is titled Welfare Wifeys.... A HoodRat Novel... =/ The title speaks for itself. I'm waiting for these kids to get here then 'm out at 3. I have to read this crap. I'm also tryna wait till the rain clears. Don't wanna get soaked.

Here

Hello people. So I am here and I'm having a pretty good day. I'm getting Kathryn to come teach a memior class. I'm also going to have Sienna come in and teach a class. I'm working on getting Toni Renihold, a famous journalist from Thomson Reuters to come in and keep a journalism class. I think that would be great for you guys. As far as now, I'm teaching a journalism class on Monday at 12 pm. So be there...

Day 2: Scavenger Hunt

Today is the second and final day of the Scavenger Hunt & this time I'm staying in. The guys did a lot yesterday, so we're just fixing up some stuff. Jalice and Kevin just left to finish the other tasks in Harlem and Downtown. I really hope we win, because yesterday was a tough day. We're just finishing up some stuff right now, hopefully everyone comes back by 4:55 ! Now let me finish the work.

Day 1: Scavenger Hunt

So today was the 1st day of the Scavenger Hunt. It was okay I guess because the weather wasn't all that bad. Our group seperated, two boys stayed at the site, kevin and jalice stayed in Harlem, while carmen, lilly, and I traveled Downtown. We had to go all the way to Brooklyn. It was CRAZY! Then afterwards we went to SoHo. It was kind of nice seeing all the stores but then again fustrating since our goal was far away from shopping. We completed a few tasks on our paper and we were DEFENITELY tired. We had gone into one bank, CitiBank, and I have to say it was one of the best places we went too. We were so hungry and thirsty, but eager to win this so we had no chance to consume anything. When we got there, the ac was great and we saw a big jar of lemonade. OMG , I think we drank the whole thing to be honest. The manager wasn't there but one of the workers who seemed very important was interested about HarlemLIVE and we traded contact informations. Hopefully this benefits us later on. After that, we were just going wild searching for the places, until we FINALLY got tired and it wsa time for us to go back. Another day tomorrow !

Hey HL

Hey HL, today was the first day for most of you guys.. It was nice getting to see you & talk to you about this summer. However, I had to leave early because I have an internship at the Source Magazine. I'm here now & everyone is pretty cool. It's a very lax environment ... I like it here, I got right to work & by the way, one of the girls here, her name is Sky, she's beautiful. Anyway, I can't wait to come in tomorrow. I really want everyone to like me & I plan on getting acquainted with everyone... Great day..

break ups to make-ups

So i recently broke up with my boyfriend and its been pretty rough being we was with each other for 2 years but he cheated and that's no acceptable. But now were trying to work it out and i guess ill see what happens from there.

At HL...

So I'm here at the office, and I'm not going to finish my Puerto Rican story because this week is going to be crazy. So I'm going to schedule the interview with the Puerto Rican Affairs for the first or second week in July and then I'll be assigning someone to the story. This summer is going to be a blast. I already see it . So far this summer, I've been having fun everyday. I just plan on being out & about everyday...

Man on the street: LAA v. BOS, GAME 7

So today at Harlem Live, we did something different. Aisha, Maurice, and I went on an outside activity "Man on the Street." Our topic was about Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Celtics vs. Lakers. It was a bit weird for me since I'm not really a basketball fan but I do go for the Lakers, since Celtics are from Boston and I really hate Boston in any sport. At first, it was very nerve-wrecking. I stopped a few people and they were either on a rush or put their headphones on so it can be easy or them to ignore me. OH MAN, I LOVE REJECTION -_- I dead learn a lot today though. About final cut pro, random interview questions, and even about basketball players that I knew nothing about. It was great, now goodbye :)

Person on the street! ( POS)

So today me and my working buddy amy completed our first story on the celtics vs lakers game that comes on tonight. It was a little challenging for me because I was shy and nervous but i soon became a little comfortable....So HL thats all have a gr8 weekend and watch the video on youtube!!!!

Another Day, another Regents

Today's been a long day, and it's not even over yet. The weather is beautiful, hopefully it doesn't rain. I took my chemistry regents, and it was pretty LONG. I hope I passed it, if not, then whatever, i really don't need it. I can't wait to finish this story, I have a feeling it's going to be a good one.

Today.

Well looks like today its just me and my work buddie Amyyyyyyy =] HL is pretty dead right now lol. So far my day was pretty boring i came into work early though so i can have this video class im not so sure im coming in tomorrow bc of a dentist appointment ( BRACE FACE! ) lol but its worth a nice smile. Brb a little later to post my end of the day post.

todays story

Today is the first day I'm actually getting real work done. I found a good story to talk about, about my neighborhood and its "changes" i guess. I was going to talk about littering but I'll leave that for another day since that's always a problem for me. Let's see where I go with this, hopefully a success. To be honest, I'm about to drop this for some other day and collaborate with Maurice since it's about baseball, and its indeed my favorite sport which i talk about every single day ! lol We'll see.

Getting My First story..

So I've decided to do my first HL story on "Future MLB Players". I'm getting all my info together but my main worry is out of the way...getting interviewees I think i have the perfect people. I think no one is more dedicated then my Best friends ( Bros ) when it comes to baseball. This should be exciting im looking forward to doing this.

I'm here...

Hello people, I am back. I'm still working on this Puerto Rican story. I haven't been here in a while and I'm back on track. I want to get this story done with by the end of the month. I;m in the process of trying to interview someone from the Federal Affairs of Puerto Rico. Once, I get that I can start editing. I'm about to transcribe the interview I have already...

My FIRST DAY AS A WORKING MAN!!! =]

Well what can i say... I feel a little proud that I can finally call myself a working man and not only am I happy about having my first job, but im happy that its somewhere that i actually have intrest in. Today I had a little rough patch to mess up the first day of work by getting a bit lost but i didn't let that stop me I stayed Positive. So far everything is good before i came i was talking to my boys about me being nervous because its my first day and i don't want to get on anyones bad side or anything. As usual I over think things today turned out pretty well I think Christian is my boss but anyway... I think he's a cool guy. Im glad that i can make my own schedule but i would like to get one so I can know exactly my hours lol. Im really excited about what's ahead for me at Harlem live. I think this will be a great summer experience for me.

hey ppl

yo whats good bloggers how was yall week and everything.... i went to my prom last week and it was od poppin we had mad fun we was live in dere.... i also went an after party and had fun also. i got home like 4 am

Break ups

So i caught my boyfriend (ex) cheating. Yes. I am pissed. then when i confronted him he denied it until he realized he was caught and broke down and started begging. Smh. 2 years of Bull crap and this is what you do? you have different girls just fir money and clothes but I'm the wife? no. i don't think so. I'm never second best or best kept secret. heart break is the worst especially its your first love.

School's Out: About Time

So school is finally over. There's just two more days left. Well, for everybody else Wednesday was their last day since they don't believe in going to school the last two days, but for me there's one and a half, since my 1st period Chemistry teacher decided to put our final on the last day of school...How Great ! This summer is going to be different..I hope. It's the summer before my senior year and I have a lot of plans, since I have no clue what's going to happen next summer. This school year went by quick, in the blink of an eye. Imagine how next year is going to go. I just want to relax and wake up at 12 PM like i did today, every single day of the summer. Go to the beaches a few times and maybe some amusement parks as well. No more teachers nagging, no more dreadful homework, no more exhausting regents & tests. After next week, that's it Summer 2010 begins.

So excited...

Seli is baaack ! I'm so excited about this summer. I have an internship with the Source Magazine and I''m so stoked. However, I will still be here and this year I am taking on a leadership role. I will be helping all the kids with print stories. I'm so excited.

I'm not quite sure what I'll be doing at the Source but I will be working in the Editorial/Production department. This summer is going to be awesome...

Here

Still working on this Puerto Rican story. I have an interview tomorrow with a researcher of Puerto Rican studies at Hunter College..

College

So my boyfriend is going away o college (buff state) and it kinda leaves me in a fog beacuase im in the cit and he's upstate with the snow and bears.

Prom Cant wait

wow prom is around the corner i cant even wait. i mean it is going to be mad fun. i might go to after party idk yet.

almost done

so at hl this is christians' last week here smh we gonna miss him....but i am almost out of here too after graduation they sending me to a different program with a different job hope they have as much friendly people as we are here and hope to get along with everyone...prom is eight days away and i can't wait i am so ready for everything in store for me....finally made a decision that i am going to the college of staten island for a year or two and then transfer out to marist where i really wanna be for their five year business and fashion program they have which i think is so awesome...so much to catch and i am right ahead to receive it all...i really need the man i am interviewing for my formspring.me story to get back at me as soon as possible so i can finish it up...

I'm at HarlemLIVE now....just set up a new story with a step team in Brooklyn....Havent been to Brooklyn in a minute. Hope i don't get lost.

Descions

I was told that I'm very easily influenced but i don't think so. it saddens me but i guest i gotta change.

Puerto Rican birth certificates

So this is my next story, I'm working on. I've emailed a bunch of organizations to interview them. I find this an interesting topic because everyone doesn't know. I love to inform people with my writing. That is something that I really enjoy doing. If a story does not have an effect on someone's life or it isn't an event then I don't find it newsworthy.

I'm going to call the Department of Education to follow up on the story with Sakariasen & the racist blog. I hope she doesn't think this is over because before I leave that place something will happen & if she is still here in september, I will continue. And I better not have her as a teacher because I will make sure that she falls in place. Bout to do my chore...

harlemlive working on my formspring story my stomach feel so empty smh listening to music and trying to finish up this story....11 more days until prom and school is like so over omg here icome college omg its so sad to part from the people ibeen with for four years smh it so sad....new chapter of my life

So I'm back...

I'm back from being sick for the past week and a half. My asthma is very bad. When I have an attack, I am prohibited from going to school and I must stay home until I get better. So now I'm better now and I couldn't be happier. I missed school so much. I missed all my friends and working as well. Although, I'm finished the blog story, Chris is still working on airing his story on the blog and Ms. Sakariasen.

I can't wait. This is what I've been waiting for. I hope she doesn't think this is over because it isn't. For the mean time, I'm working on a story about the Puerto Rican birth certificates. It's a great story. It's informative and it affects alot of people. Back to work, I plan on calling the people at the Puerto Rican federal Affairs tomorrow. It's after business hours so that's no good.


_Nyiesha

this summer

I can't wait until this summer. I feel like this month is going by so slow on purpose because so many people are hyped up for June/July/August. And besides Regents, I have nothing to worry about, school-wise. That and Collegenow classes. I cant believe im going to be a Junior next year!!! Where did the time go? And me and my bestie are going to hang out at the water park in August. And im trning 16 in July.
Just soooo excited, lol. Where's my summer playlist?

Staying up late :(

after i got home from HL (around 6:30-ish) i ended up going to bed, taking a "nap". but lol that lap was longer than i thought, so now its 1:30 in the morning and i still have a Global History essay, spanish, math, science and english HW. smh....
note to self: do HW first before you go to bed.

Now What?

As the day s grow shorter
and the nights go quicker
I take bigger steps to women hood

You don't like that.

I can not stop the hands of time
so we can always be in child mood

I can not turn back the hands of times
so you can regain what you missed out on

Me.

It is not my fault that i am here
for i did not ask to be.

And now we are both lost
And now we are both confused

now what?

Your love is protection
which turns into a violet emotion

The fear of me going

Going forever
regretting if what you taught
me was good enough

Damn does she know?

I Do.

For I Nyasia Ajanae Elie
will always be your little girl

In your heart at least

Because i am not a little anymore
let me make my mistakes
let me fall into that ditch

Do not cover it up

I have fall

Please realize that even though i seem distant
I am here.

I'm just tired

It's but much a person can take before they explode.

And I Think - this is it

No more I'm sorry-no more I was just trying

No.

Even though I'm leaving does not mean I'm leaving
does not mean I'm leaving forever

Just the situation

I will never leave your heart
I am apart of you even if I wanted to break

Save us the tears
I've seen them before

Save us both the pain
Please.

Just know that our little mansion
well always be our temple

though it was not filled with much

Shit-It was ours!

We hit rock bottom so many times
before we hit the top

We have been though so many trails and errors

How could i ever just walk out on us now?

Never.

The love I have for us.

Shit-It's incredible
Didn't you know?

So wipe your tears and gave me a hug
and I'll return your hug with a lick on the cheek

Feel better?
I know you do.

22 more days

22 more dayss left of school omg graduation is right around the corner imean no prom is even closer icant wait this summer is goona be great....here working on my formspring story am so confused right now but ifeel happy im content with life and ilike the way im living it's great so hopefully it gets better

More Than Just Sex

I have this seminar to go to on saturday. It's about Teen Sex and it's in Brooklyn. I need someone to go with me. I want to cover a story on it but I need a crew with me.. Can't do this alone.

Back At HL...

I'm back & the weather is finally nice ! How great ? Just in here tightening up my point sheet.

.......

At work very tired looking for teen violence organizations for this formspring.me story and professionals who study teen violence....iam so tired might not be able to come in tomorrow because ineed to get my nails done and do many more things...hopefully ifinish this story soon

My week!!!

Hello!!!
I am back after a week of DRAMA!!! so...

Tuesday: my boyfriend was suppose to come from Vegas..but he didn't, plus i had an appointment with my stupid psychiatrist, and he changed my treatment, because he is so stupid.

Wednesday: I had my appointment with my psychologist, and we talked a lot..like always.

Thursday: the side effect of my new treatment were arriving and i spend the day Vomitting, and with fever..It really sucked!!

friday: I lef tschool 3rd period because my vomitting was terrible..so i went to my doctor to find out what was wrong, because i also had these weird rashes on my arm, and he told me that those were the side effects of the stupid new treatment and that they will go away and meanwhile i had to deal with them.

Saturday: I spend my days sleeping without eating anything.
Sunday: I started feeling better so i went out with my boyfriend.
Monday: I went to school..And stay afterschool to finish a midterm i missed on friday!!
Tuesday: Spend it Home
Wednesday:back at HL.

today

thinking on a new story to do because no one wants to be interviewed for this health care reform bill, had my interview for my internship in the summer ithink iwas great so waiting for the out come leaving HL in a few more mintues home not so sweet home then shower and sleep because im so exhausted and tired tomorrow ineed to be very early to work on my thesis paper thats due friday for school

I dont know what else to do.

Things are really getting worse. The closer me and my boyfriend gets the more problem come and trys to seperate us. I dont understand. I thought all my problem would be solved when i got into marymount now i'm just going through hell trying to afford it. I wish things could have been simpler. Im talking to my boyfriend now and i feel bad that our relationship is going to have to be long distance. He's going to feel like lissette does with ali and i dont want to put him through that. I love him.

4/26

this month went by so fast its at it end 45 more days of school dam after this year it's college time omg it's so sad how everything is just coming apart and everything is going to change day of success on june 25 prom june 9 and then everything is over time to start all over again fresh....icant wait to see the world outside of hs it was a nice four years but now it's time for a new start....still working on this healthcare story lets see how it comes out

Create Novels to enjoy Love

Love Is Like reading a book. You read the chapters in order to fall in love the book.Throughout life we have to build chapters to create our own novels and while doing so we have ups like a roller-coaster. And in order for people to love you just like a book they most fall in love with your chapter to enjoy the novel. At least that's what i believe.

Same Shit Different Day

Things are going at the same pace. Just trying to make it through the time that i have left. Hoping that everything goes according to plan. I got my prom dress it great. I'm working my ass off so that i can have a life out side of this hell. I just hope nothing bad happens in the process. I have nothing else to really say. Me and my boyfriend made up.

Rainy Day

Man what a day.... I haven't felt tired like this since a few days ago. Im so tired about doing this for college and that. I just want this to be over. I haven't had a good sleep in a long time isn't that crazy.... Lately i have been missing my boo a lot and i cant get him out of my mind. damn this is crazy.... ummm thats all for now. Ill write another time bye for now.

Today was a long day I'm so tired. School is driving me so crazy but it will be worth it in the long run. I cant wait to get to my dream college. The summer came so quick i didn't even see it coming.

I'm going to go.

Respect the Law

I haven't been here in a while. I wasn't going to come while my grandparents were staying with us.Now they're back across the pond, and I'll be here at least until the summer. I'm going to be part of a four week internship at some different law firms, but I doubt I'll get all for weeks. Each week is assigned a task within of the college bound program I'm a part of. Week 1 corresponds to my semester grade, week 2 is assigned to my performance at their Saturday writing class and so on. I also get paid:)

Sunny Roberts

What a day?

So I'm suspended for defending myself? Sucks. I don't understand why people think just because Cupcakes ( I like to call myself Cupcakes ;) is small and cute that i won't regulate! I don't care if I'm 4'11 and your 5'5 and resemble precious I will always hold my ground. I guess this kind of gave evryone a heads up now that i can defend myself but did we have to go there? no...don't think petty drama is worth me missing school work.

hmmmm....

Working on these stories but its becoming very hard to get potential interviewees because noone wants to talk about the healthcare reform bill and all these hospitals that you can actually use for the story are not even answering or their customer service is just ridiculous....got my back pains again this is becoming common but its w.e i am so tired i jut want to fall asleep....people with no life is pissing me off again and im gona have to call after work to weilse on them because they such losers with no life...

More Problems

So when i think things are starting to look better with my life things start to get worse. First it is with my boyfriend we get into an a rguement that is completely his fault. He made me cry, and then still took his anger out on me. I told him i needed some space and what did he do he took it as a temporary break up. UGHHHHHH! Thats not what i wanted i just wanted some SPACE. But, it's whatever now, we made up but still not together great-_-. My next issue is this college shit. Not having enough money to pay for it is killing me. Having to pay almost 10 thousand dollars a year is crazy not counting the loans i will have to pay back. UGH. Why Me!

Sick

WHYYYYYYYYYYYY, laughing out loud. I just got my period and I'm going through this crazy case of allergies. I dont understand why i have to go through all this pain. It really sucks. Also, i keep having arguments with my boyfriend amd i dont know what to do. I don't feel well at all. And im still here at work trying to do what i have to do.

Listen to your heart

So today i reflect on my big! mistake i have done. Sometimes when you get a gut feeling just listen to your heart. Your heart knows what its doing and that decision may cause yo your life. So i take my mistake as a learning process. just know everything that glitters ain't gold and what you want you can do without.

HL

had a long day ta work not many people was here today did some reseacrh tomorrow im going to start making some phone calls for my interviews hopefully everything goes well.... life is so upside down right now not the way its suppose to be at all but like they say it's life it have its ups and downs we just have to deal with them and go on with our lives because those things are what make us who we are and what we become....

Voice over

So today i had to do my voice over and its much harder then you think. I kept repeating lines and missing up.Ugh! but try until you succeed and practice does make perfect. :)

Cold Day

At harlemlive just spoke to mom in africa and my little sister omg I miss them so much I can't wait to see them again....doing my healthcare reaction story I hope it comes out good... My resume for my summer internship job was sent out to thelevygruop Inc I am so happy right now because they might call me for an interview I just can't be happier if I get this placement it will be great because I will learn so much about fashion and stuff... I am very sick right now alagies and a cold grrg stressful hopefully I feel better soon

So far so good!

I really cant complain. I'm doing what i have to do. I happy for my best friend pearl cuz she got into new paltz, lets go!!!!!!!laughing out loud. But i am still going to miss her like odee. her and my best friend Jackie. These too ladies have been with me through it all. I love them and neva want to lose them. But im not going to think about that right now. I still have time with them and im going to live it up. Also, if push come to shove i still have Jackie because she is going to FIT hopefully.

Good to Go!

So far everything has been ok. I really cant complain, im just trying to do what i have to do to get out. Its only three months left. yay. i went to see the prom venue yesterday n its going to be beautiful. i just ope i have a chance to go. Me and my boy friend is doing ok. I still feel kinda bad how things ended between me and steven but im sure he will find someone great. thats all i can report for now other then my allergies are killin me slowly. other then that life i cant complain about. ttyl

HL today

At HL waiting for my food o arrive I am so hungry I didn't have lunch today, in a few I will start working on my healthcare reform reactions story again. I hope this story comes out good because I have to do interviews for this story usually it's just research, script and voice over and put it together and am good to go so we'll see how it comes out when it's finish for the next HL on air anyways I'll update later....

today

Working on my first story for the next HL on air... my story is on the reactions of health care reform and what people think about it....how others that oppose it are reacting and how this have made history and what difference it will make in the united states because now every citizen will be covered

Bad Decsions

In life you want to follower what your friends are doing, you wanna be hip and try and do anything but tryna be with the in crowd dosent mean you have to be a test dummie. its not always wise to listen to your friends about certain stuff or try certain stuff - just because it fits them dosent mean it might fit you. My experince just use your own brain! being under the influnece is more common then what you think.

Yay... I love the blog!

Well I really don't update y'all on my life as much. Well Spring Break was wonderful, had a great time with the Fams... you know. Just chillin' With some friends reminiscing about being kids even though we still are. Now the transition back to school is terrible. We had such a long break and we face going to school for two straight months. I did score an A on an essay for History class.

wow what a day i had i never made it to school because of the DR. office. that is so crazy, right....man it was crazy to day.....

Things...

i am so frustrated with my college stuff. Now all Cuny's except BMCC rejected me,so tomorrow am going to CUNY of staten island which has my career and is in new york, and is cheap and i called and they say they would accept me. Am also super happy because we only have 45 days until i am finally free from school and out to college life, which i bet is so much easier. Am also happy because am good with my boyfriend and things are going well with my school, and other stuff. I hope i finish my school with the same grade i started, so my family and my boyfriend, and myself are proud of what i have achieve, and to proof to myself that it was hard to go trhough high school, specially this last year but that i made it though anyways!

New here

This is my first blog. When i mean first blog i mean, the first one I've ever written. I've never written or read a blog before and i never realized that writing a blog would be so hard. Hard because it's tough to pick something to write about. While writing this blog i realized that I've never been much of an talkative person when I'm on a computer. I usually do what i have to do and then get off, so writing this is probably one thing i usually wouldn't do, but it's fun.

Got to see Kick-Ass

Omg I have to see this movie. On Friday I'm planing to go see this movie with any one, even by myself if i had to. Uh if this movie isn't funny I'll be so damn mad. The title says it all, this movie has to be Kick-Ass. Well i have nothing else to say for now but would post a blog with more detail when i see the movie :)

Truth

Straight, gay, in love, flirt!

Does it make a difference who you are or what you do.

Lies, hide, cover ups. Truth sounds better.

I can only imagine how it feels hiding a serect, not being true to yourself. There is noting wrong with loving someone opposite sex or your sex. Most of the time teens keep their sexuality to them selves, don't stay true to them selves. Staying true to yourself is something you should always do.

I have this friend who has a rumor circling his sexuality. Some say he's Bi, some say it isnt true. His action sometime does seem metro. Dont get me wrong i love gay guy, but hate when their not true to themselves. Maybe im wrong about him, but if im right i'm the one who wants to help him come true to his self.

Point Sheets

I'm not making excuses, just to put it out there ! However, I'm really bummed that my point sheet won't be counted for this month and I worked my ass off. Like I did so much work this month regarding the story at my school. It really sucks that my hard work can't be counted for march. Uggh =/

My Vows

today was the first day for me to start my vows and i did really well. i'm proud of myself and i feel that as long as i got my head in the game everything will go smoothly. I've celebrated my birthday and it was ok. I actually got to class on time n i believe my english teacher was proud of me, but i dont she will believe it until about a month in it wen she sees im really trying to do what i got to do. Also, i have received information that i may not be getting into marymount. I've tried so hard to get into that school and for them to tell me that i might not get a call for an interview it hurts but ima be strong and hope my mother wil be nice this time to the people.

I'm back

Well, i've had a bunch of work over the past few weeks. I had 2 english projects one after another, my global term project to work on, and to top it off, I've gotten sick with some stomach virus. Since in my school i can't miss a test(Bronx Science), i had to come, sick and all, take the test, then at the end of the day, go home and lay down. Since i'm on spring break, i have a lot of time to make up the work and now i can come back to work on my story.

Im Back! I guess :-/

Ok, so this is the deal a lot of things happened over the course of three to four weeks. Between home, school, and work, all hell broke lose in my life. Im not sure what else to say because im not the type of person to talk about my problems. It's funny because as long as i've been writing these bloggs no one has responed, not that i exspected anyone to write back but gosh it would be nice to hear from someone. but its ok. What's been helping me excape from reality is my music.It's became my life and now, thats all that important to me besides getting into college.

College!!

Hey!!!
i am sooooo worried because all CUNY'S are rejecting me, as of now only BMCC has accepted me and am soo pissed off because my mother do not want me to go to BMCC, because is not a great school. Am also worried because am waiting for city college response, and am almost certain that they will reject me because if, Lehman, and queens college rejected me, then city for sure will reject me, and i am soo scare because it is the only CUNY that has my career. My mother is also worried because she do not want me to go to BMCC, and i am not going to Albany or buffalo because they are just to far away from the City. Well, i hope that next time i write i have the good news that i got into City college!!

another day

work rendering my story that's almost finishing into final cut pro and trying to edit it even tho this is my first time but i think i got this just need to be focused....had nice day today no school lols the best thing ever went to the virtual enterprise trade fair i hope senior investors got many investors because i am sure we all want to save money for our future but i am ridiculously tired my back is hurting and i am sleepy but thank god i did all my 35 homeworks last night so today i am homework free i just want to fall asleep and rest i'll update later adios

tiring

At work almost done with my summer movie reviews downloading the video on quicktime o see if it can finally get to final cut pro I am packed with so much homework tonight no time to talk or anything because my GPA went far too down and I need to bring it back up but I am so tired everything else that's happening right now is in the back of my head because it's that less important compare to reality and my education comes before it all and my life is great and I can live without that part of my life so why not just go stress free and let everything be the way they are if that's how it suppose to be then thank god if not then may he fix it but whatever it is I am happy because everything is great I am still breathing I have shelter and everything I need in my life why stress and confuse myself about little things that never last forever hat are temporary mostly about people who don't know how to act nor appriciate what god have brought into their lives just life your life if someone in your life is messing up let them because if that is meant to be it'll come right back to you because you can do so much better then let anyone but yourself control your mind and heart

ugly day

Tired at work now catching a mean headack and I am so sleepy for god knows what reason lols I mean because I was on the phone like the whole night I tried to go to sleep but I didn't. Just had a final cut pro lesson now doing this blog then put my story together I can hardly see what I am typing. so It's time for me to stop now bye bye will post later because my head is spinning and my mind is everywhere too much is going on right now I am so lost and confused but hey thank god I am still on my feet working my a** off to be better every other day despite everything that is happening

Tongue Ring

So i got my tongue pierced

Hey

Hey guys. Haven't wrote on this thing in forever. Im here on Monday which is one of my days off but I came to get my timesheet signed and Seli's not even here. I don't know what I'm going to do but maybe Chrisitian can sign it... Anywhoo, my weekend was okay. I stayed in and just chilled. I was at my dad's house all day yesterday. He had me running errands, washing his clothes and what not. I called my old friend from middle school to come help me. She lives a few blocks from my dad's house. So we just caught up and talked for a few hours.

My dad's "shawty", so he likes to call her came and cooked. she made chicken parmesan w. spagetti and homemade garlic bread. It was great. My friend Ashley & I teared that food down. Aside from that school was okay today. I made it to all of my classes on time and I did my work. My grades should be coming up this marking period. I'm gone, need to work on my story.

im sooo happy

i juss love liife life izz just tha greatest ever i had the best day ever and my life izz going great and i enjoy liiving alone and havving house partys everyother weekend and my mom coming over 2 clean and do foodshopping 4 meh and going out when evver i want 2 end comming home when evver i want 2 i love going out with my friendz to get my nailzz n feet done love the best part is going the shoppingg with my $550 amonth allownce and gettingg what evver i wnt liife izz good!!!!!!!!my boo loves meh n sometiimes weh spend the night at eachothers house and in theeend i alwayz go 2 skool get good grades .,look cute beh happy beh wit my friendzzand yea go 2 church evvery now n then tidth share my welth im goingg 2 beh happy!!!! love u bii

At work, catching this mean headack life is too funny at times its true when they say the people you love and care for the most are the ones to mostly likely kill you slowly they are killing you without notice its a slow death that you can only feel but cant ever realize until its too late. sometimes i wonder why god put us through so much i cant stop asking why i wish for some answers someday i'll be waiting patiently for answers to all my questions. life is so hard when things feel like they getting back together everything comes apart again, and its time to start all over again but you don't even know where to begining from because you are left at nowhere.

I lived my whole life thinking that when someone loves another with all their heart and care for them they are supposed to be loved and cared for the same way but as i grow more i realize that its all fantasy because this world is so much more different the people you care for and love the most are the people who tear you apart and treat you like you mean nothing to them like you just some piece if trash laying around waiting for them but it's never like that i truly believe that when someone loves you and cares for you, you should love them and care for them the same way because pay back is a b**h and it will hunt you down because if you hurt someone that loves you someone who you love will one day hurt you in the meanest of ways but hey as they say this is life it goes on we all have our ups and downs we just have to learn how to deal with them and move on with our lives

Spring Cleaning....

Well its officially Spring! and that means Spring Cleaning! We have successfully revamped and freshened HarlemLIVE. I am pretty bummed that now Spring has started but it will rain for the next two weeks ultimately ruining spring break. Hopefully the future wont unravel itself that way. Considering how the weather has gone the last week I wasn't expecting this sort of weather.

The biggest news come this spring was the passing the Health care Reform! Even though some questions were left open ended, we are one step closer to becoming a nation of good humans. Over the weekend I did go to Coney Island. It was nice we went to the kiddie carnival area. Some rides were closed but lines were short and the weather was fantastic.

future meeeeee

idk im lost riite now cause im not even sure what i wanna be in liife anymore im stuck i use 2 have it all planed outr but now its liike the closer i get to my future tha more lost and confused i get about who n what i wanna be!!!!! before i use 2 want 2 be a singer soooo bad buhh little did i knw i couldn't singg then once i got to my new school i then relised i wanted 2 act i wnted to beh dramatic and be on stage!!!! but now its like i dnt knw what i wanna do in liife anymore!!! i dnt wanna beh on tv anymore cause i just wanna live a normal; liife likke i dnt wanna deal witha tabloidzz and ppl starting rumors n all other tyupes on nonsense liike i just dnt wanna even deal with it i want a good paying job that i love that doresnt involve tv.

AM Back!!!

Hellooo!!!!!!
am finally back.!!! i am super excited to finally be back to HL. Its been 2 months since the last time i was here. I came really excited expecting to see Selli, because i had a LONG time without seeing her, but unfortunately she was not here, but christian was here, and i was very excited to see him. Things at HL have changed a lot since i was last here. Everything now is very organized and i see that now everybody have a story to work on. Also Jason is not here, and there is a girl named Aisha who is now here helping the students.I am very excited because now am going to be doing office worked, and i soooo love paper work!!! so am excited to see how that goes.

Now am trying to get my life back together, because i did horrible last marking period in school. I had a 46.21%, which is terrible, because i was used to seeing 85 and above average on my report card. Now am doing soooo much better because i started to go to my 1st period class, and am not missing any of my classes, and i started to come to HL again, which is GREAT!!!

Can you trust em'

"baby i care for you".blahh blahh blah. That the first thing most girl believe when a guy tell them that. "baby your the only one I'm messing with" umm yeah right. High school guys are so into their self. They tell girls what they wanna hear, lie and spread thing that is not even true.

Well to start things off their this boy in my school, he was trying to talk to me since December. My friend told me not to even bother with him. But im the type of girl that wants to find out things out on her own. Everything started off good between us, he cooked for me, we chilled, he told his friend im his boo, he wanted me to meet his family and blah blah blah. Omg i thought that was soo cute. From the first time he got my number he called all the time, after a while the calls began to become less and less. I thought it was good between us, meaning that him & I never did nothing, he never brought the topic up, that was something different. A little more then two weeks ago the calls came to a stop. Word got out that him & i was dating. He's the type of person that doesn't like people in his business. I guess that's the reason he wanted to be friends.

This weekend I found out that he was wifey up, i found out that he told people he had sex with me. At the end of the day he lied on himself. So my ? is can you trust em', When little boys act like this. Would you trust em'

At HL, I was outside for like 15 mins before I got in these ridiculous boys outside like for real don't stop me I am not interested in talking to you. It's so dead in here today like I don't know we need more energy in here everyone is just like blahhhhh. We need to work some magic in here today. I am tired and still a little sick I don't know why because I should be feeling better by now. School was so much fun today, we was playing double dutch laugh out loud even though I can't jump rope for nothing but it was so funny because we was recording it and our gym teachers were jumping with us. We had a great time. College people coming back today can't wait wink wink lolss

A day is not just a day when i'm around

Today really sucked. One i'm hungery. Two, i have no money. Three im full of emotions that makes me depressed. Now i need my fasfa done no matter if my mom did it or not. This is crazy cuz work is not the same but nothing is the same anymore. I'm so tired it not even funny, guys are over here playing games and i dont have time for that. the only person i can say have been here for me while not actually being there is steven. No matter what people may say or think i dont care, i'm glad i'm talking to him and messing with him and being friends. Cuz if its not for him i dont know how i would surivive. On top of all of that my sister tried to kill herself, and this week is not going to be good i can see it. I have this huge scar on my forehead and i know its not going to go away for my birthday. So the rest of my three weeks are ruined. Great. FML.

BIG DAY FRIDAY!

This Friday is the big day for me! I'm a poet in case you didn't know and this friday I'm performing at the semifinals for the Annual Teen Poetry Slam. For years I been "feenin" to make it to Apollo Theatre. To be on stage in front of all those people make some ppl nervous, but that feeling I get when I'm performing sends me to on a high minus the plants. Performing makes me feel powerful....but more than that. I just can't find the words for it. WISH ME LUCK!

idk man

i dnt evven knw what i wanna do with my liife at this point liike i feel liike acting jusst isnt my callingg anymore!!!!!!!!! i use 2 beh just sooo passionate bout acting n now im not idk what 2 doo imm done

If I could talk to someone dead it would b....

I would loooove to meet and talk to Jimi Hendrix. He is one of the most creative souls that I have ever read about. His music is the epitome of free thought and his guitar playing is a whole another story. He is the reeeaal pioneer of Rock N' Roll. Noo one else has ever blessed the strings of a guitar like that man. So what if he experimented with drugs? That doesnt make him anyless of a genius. Just a misunderstood artist. If Jimi Hendrix was a feeling he would be the great feeling you have when you finally get to sneeze...yes

I Came back... From Ecuador!

So I went to Ecuador for two weeks. And it was a great trip! I loved it. I spent the time with my extended family because I have little family here in the US of A. The weather was beautiful just a constant 60 Degrees and the sun would always set at 6. It was never too hot or to cold. Ecuador is on the Equator so it is a magical place. I wanted to put a picture up but the bloggy thing is not letting me. The place I went to is Cuenca, a city located on the Andes Mountain range. It was full of hills valleys and barely any traffic laws. People went on their own speeds and performed unsignaled turns. The people spoke Spanish, its located in South America, and the food was fresh and wonderful! The place is beautiful because you notice the industrialization and modernization almost colliding with the natural beauty of the country. This opposite was something out of the ordinary and unique. The city features a colonial center that is wonderful with brick paved side walks and fresh market centers. Just by talking I miss it already and all my family. Well back to HL for now.

Rainbows & Butterflies

Today at HL is as usual, structed chaos. As the weather gets nicer procrastination sets in amongst the students. The stories for the upcoming newscast are sluggishly coming along.

Yesterday I was in the 24-hour computer lab at Pace's library for nearly all 24 hours. After leaving the lab at 5 AM with various incomplete assignments; I spent a couple hours chatting with a friend about the usual college student dilemmnas. Unintentially missing the Oscars, I guess my accidentally attempt to finish school work was a mini accomplishment.

Also over the weekend I attempted (again) to party with my friends after failing (again)we resulted to a dance session in the bathroom dorm mirrors. Next time I guess.

"Optimism is key" is the phase I live by. Although the unsuccessful endeavors were discouaging I am hopeful and I believe that the next day will be better than the last.

Todays news

At work now just had a good meal at jumbos and burger king with Amina. She fronting like she don't want to work here over the summer. News is young money CEO Lil Wayne is going to jail today. Many people are happy with this news many aren't; I really like young money I enjoy their music it's really good. Now that Lil Wayne might be in jail I ask myself how is young money going to do with out their CEO? Is everything going to be the same or are things going to change up a little? Is Lil Wayne going to mange his business while in the island or is he going to put into the hands of one of his young money rappers. I also wonder if they are going to be able to succeed without Lil wayne. Well I hope all is well with young money and Lil wayne because he surly is a great rapper and his business looks good for all the people out there that are truly good rappers. This business is not only bring many people together is giving a lot of opportunity to young rappers out here that find it enjoying and worthy for a living career. I believe this is a great cause he is doing regardless of things that he have done in the past, he is showing the world that no matter what happens in your life and no matter the mistakes you make you can always get better and do things to help others that needs it.

OMG

IDK Y BUT I FEEL LIIKE SOMTHINGG GOOD IZZ GOINGG 2 HAPPEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally Home

As of March 8,2010 my father will be coming home from a 9 year prson sentence. Im i excited-yes. Am i nervous-yes. I have mixed emotions because i know he is my father, but i don't know him. Hopefully i can relight an old flame and we can build a healthy relationship and a good one. Im SO HAPPY! and at the same time I know alot of bad will come out of this because that just how things are in life people hate,envy,jeolously i just hope nothing dramastic occurs. Ive been waiting so long for this too long if you ask me and i be damn if another excuse or situation will keep me from this.

Hey what is going on with everyone today. My day has been so crazy. all of this college and high school things are driving me up the wall. Filling all of this paper work is a lot of work. But it all will play off at the end of the day. Well ill write to e everyone soon.

Just one of those days

Well today was kind of interesting. Reesse sort of backed away from me now and im starting to worry. I'm not sure if i should come on more to him or back away more. I haven't talked to the love of my life and last night i ran into William at pathmark and boy was it chemistry. I don't know what else to say behind that. Like i like him and i at a lost. A love triangle is one thing but a love square is another. Plus our discussion today in health class was sought of a depressing one for me. So now i'm kind of down hope my spirits will change for later on tonight.

Just the regular day

Today was just a regular day but most of all it was a happy day. Reese and I have gotten closer and my classes are fine. I might have to fail this kid in my class because now he's lying to me about doing his work. So that really sucks. But now that things are looking up i know things are about to get bad. I dont know when but i have that feeling. It's just the way things work with me. I know it sucks. I have nothing else to say right now because things are going good.

School is tiring

Today at school, the funniest thing happened... My chem teacher was absent so we went to study hall. I played Chinese poker w/ some friends. we all won at least one game each. But thats not the funny thing. The funny thing that happened was i fell asleep in english class and had a dream about the book we were reading, A Tale of 2 Cities, and I was in the story talking to Jerry Cruncher and Sydney Carton. When I woke up, we were discussing Sydney Carton and I was able to go in depth about him, due to my dream.

Wrongs of Woodhull Hospital

Ok I have a story that is totally crazy. On Wednesday, Febuary 24, 2010, My mother was going into that hospital to have a check up. Where she had seen an elderly lady and decided to help her into a seat. Yet at the same time the nurse called my mothers name where my mom told her that she will be there in a moment when she finished helping the lady. Even though my mother told her serveral times that she will be right there, the nurse still had an additude and on top of that she was known for being rude. When my mother was finally able to get her check up the lady was waving papers in her face and yelling about her to another nurse. So my mother ended up choking her, then the nurse bit my mother and my mom just started punching her. Though my mother was the only one caught on camera hitting the nurse the nurse got off scotch free, wile my mom went to jail. Where they messed up her paper work causing her to stay long in jail. She finally got out Friday, Febuary 26,2010. Even though this woman is my mother doesn't mean I'm taking sides it's just how it went. Life really is unfair and it just happens it was my mother this time.

Snow Day

School has been so tiring. Thats why i'm glad about the past snow day on Friday. It was a way for me to catch up on sleeping and massive video game playing. Today, I'm back at HarlemLive and I hope to come up with good ideas for stories. The time i spend at HarlemLive I hope will be beneficial to me and all the other people here.

Blog#3

I'm finally back to HL after a week and i miss this place a lot. I'm glad to be back because i like being part of a creative group. i found out yesterday that i have a term paper in global history and it is all about creativity. The whole time I've been gone, I mostly was at home for school break, doing school work. I also had to stay after school to start my term paper for history yesterday. I'm thinking about combining several movie ideas involving time traveling.

Home Copked Food Yum :)

So yesterday i finally decided to go home-sweet-home and i was expecting a home cooked meal. I get in all the light were off. i look in the refrigerator what do i see....a desert. there was crusted noodles a bottle of orange juice was no top and cheese but no sandwich meat.i was pissed!!!!!! i end up eating some Ramen noodles.ugh! It was a Sunday i was expecting a home cooked meal! i left my grandmas house and she don't even cook for me..come on shes grandma man! i just want a home cooked meal with aloft of love I'm tired of fast food!

Here...

B.B. Simons Belts

So i don't know the big thing about freaking BB Simon belts. I mean they are pretty and studded out but not for no $300. i think they should at least start at $100. So my boyfriend wants one and its $300 the things we do for love-i guest.

Winter Recess is here, but everyone is stressed. WHY? because almost all of our cameras are broken. The cameras we have are really old but it's probably cheaper to to get them repaired than to buy new ones. I'm hoping to go out with my new vintage camera and take shoot some of my fave spots*wahooooo*

My First Day

Well, this is my first day here ever since i quit my last job because of my mother. I use to work with a florist that was ripping me off my money and that didn't make my life any easier. I finally got an interview from this place that I'm working at now ( thank god). It's been nice so far even though today is my first day I think everything is going to go great. A part of me don't want to go home even though I have to because I'm not eighteen yet. So we will see how that goes. Also, theres this stupid love day is coming up. Even though i don't have a love I like this guy and he's like an off and on switch. it really sucks. Maybe i'm just hating because I don't have no one to celebrate this day so that hurts.

Blog #2

So as i'm thinking about my day, i'm wondering if i could of done different things today. My answer is yes, i should of payed more attention in school and talked a little more in class. I think today went pretty well so far and there is no school tomorrow!!! I'm so happy because now i can sleep more and have more time to myself. All my friends are excited for this as well as psyched for this!

First day at HL

So I come in early and I'm hyped because I thought I was going to be late so yaya me go kadija; First thing first I'm working with christian on the HL Newbie little paper and I am hungry for real like all I ate the whole day was a bagel, anyways back to Hl I think I'm going to have a lot of fun here and when I get use to everyone here they better be ready for my sillyness. As I make this blog me and christian is discussing phone plans; he is very nice I like him a lot he is funny he calling his boo I am laughing because I want to call mines too. Okay I am done here I'll update later :)

An Underground New York Landmark Goes Away

An Underground New York Landmark Goes Away
“Brooklyn Banks” a national skateboarding landmark set to be closed until 2014.
By Frank Dutan

A skate park located next to the Brooklyn Bridge, called the Brooklyn Banks, has over the years become an iconic skating spot in New York City. Although strewn with broken beer bottles and the acrid stench of urine, the Banks, which is about the size of a football field, offers skaters - novices and professionals - a brick paved road resembling a valley with several skate ramps and an obstacle course. With the marble ledges and smooth rails in Midtown Manhattan and the Wall Street area heavily guarded, the Banks offers skaters, those who do not want any trouble with the authorities, a safe haven; achieving its iconic status as one of the premier skate spots on the East Coast because of its street like feel.
In 2004, the Banks became so popular that city administrators stepped in and proposed a plan to reconstruct the skate site as a green park and placed barricades to make sure skaters could no longer use the space.
When Steve Rodriguez, owner of 5boro Skateboards and a skateboarder himself, learned of the city’s plan, he decided to come to the aid of the Banks and managed to convince the city of the skate site’s benefit to many young people; eventually he became a skateboarding consultant for the city.
Recently, protests increased against closing the Banks. The New York City Department of Transportation issued a statement, which said that a Brooklyn Bridge rehabilitation project is slated to begin in 2010 with an expected completion date sometime in 2014.
“After the painting work in this area is complete, anticipated for mid 2010, the park will be reopened with the exception of the storage area,” said the DOT in its statement. This means that by mid 2010 only half of the Banks will be available.
While there are insufficient rinks for skaters in New York City, those that exist do not offer free skating. There is the Houston Skate Park on the city’s West Side, which charges $10 admission, and insists on that all skaters must wear a helmet and sign a waiver if the skater is under 18 for insurance coverage. However, in the vicinity of the Banks, there are a few free skate parks, but none which are able to cater to the number of skating enthusiasts the Banks attract.
But, while the Banks is not equipped with 12-foot high half pipes, ramps and other amenities as in other protected spaces, it offers instead street curbs and the edges of benches: all essential to the street skateboarding scene.
A frequent skater, 15-year-old Alexander Barna, complained, “That sucks. I don’t think the city would keep their word. What if they return it in bad condition? The place is fragile already. I mean there are so many spots around here but it’s hard to find one as convenient as the Banks, plus one without security or free. I don’t know what I’ll do without skating. The city should at least give us something back in return, it’s not like were committing crimes”

Race fails to heat Broadway

Race fails to heat Broadway
By Nyiesha Showers

The Broadway production of "Race" brings heat to the Barrymore Theatre. The play’s title could mean many things, from the participants in an unfair presidential campaign to someone running a 100-meter dash; it is a story about the relationship in American culture of Black and White, the seemingly never-ending topic of racism.
This controversial story, written and directed by David Mamet, cast the actors for the production, including David Alan Grier, James Spader, Kerry Washington, and Richard Thomas. According to the casting, Grier, known for his involvement in "In Loving Color" assumes the role of Henry, a black lawyer who works alongside Spader, who plays Jack Lawson, and Washington, as Susan, the new legal assistant working for both lawyers.
At the play’s Dec 5 preview, the cast weren't the only celebrities present. In fact, the audience was full of different actors and producers, including Marie Janella from “Everybody Loves Raymond” who was dressed in a comfortable pantsuit and a brown, flowy shawl, Damian, who was casually dressed, Damian Jr., and Kim Wayans, who wore a black wool coat and a gray fedora; fitting in perfectly with the other audience members.
For a play that addressed the issue of race in the American society, it wasn’t an unreasonable expectation for the composition of the audience to be predominantly Black; rather, there were more whites than Blacks who were sparsely located in the theater.
In this presentation of “Race” the director shone the light on the unspoken issue of discrimination and prejudice. The plot surrounds a group of lawyers who takes the case of Richard Thomas, a rich white executive who's accused of raping a black woman. Disagreements between the lawyers about his innocence creates a dissension between Jack and Susan.
Henry believes Thomas is guilty. Grier plays his character smart, giving off the impression that he resents white people. In response to the question do all blacks hate whites, Henry excitedly says “You bet we do.” Despite this, he still keeps his cool while representing the client. The play’s director chose to display Susan more stereotypically; she's just another petite black woman whose beauty could be described as "easy on the eyes". But, controversy rears its head in the law firm when Susan goes behind Jack’s back and requires evidence against their client. Spader does a good job giving conviction as a demanding force over both Henry and especially Susan.
While attention was brought to bear on the touchy issues of racism and discrimination, as the play unfolded, there were moments when the audience was held in suspense, but the absence of a resolution when there was no verdict against Thomas led to an overwhelming sense of disappointment.
The production's downfall has nothing to do with the actors, who did their job delivering a performance. Rather the problem was with the script. The play contained two significant social constructs: Mamet's idea to expose sexism in the workplacee was good, except that he only had execute it better. the entire production could have been great. Second, racism, as the play’s central focus was tackled tastelessly. Listening to the dialogue between the lawyers, one was aware of the liberal use of generalizations and stereotypes of both races.
Despite its shortcomings, the play had a few commendable elements, one such was the revelation that Lawson had investigated Susan before hiring her, a process, which seemed as though taken from an episode of the television show, “Law & Order”.
But, Susan brings the play to its conclusion with a testimonial; she commanded the spotlight on the stage when she said that the reason why Thomas is guilty is "because he's a white man", and which delivery was made with such force and passion that it too could not avoid being stereotypical. What is clear about this play is that the election of a Black president meant nothing to the writer who wrote a piece about hating another because of their race.
Once again, history repeated itself; this time on the stage.

Countdown Clocks Alert Bronx Commuters MTA expands beyond the “L” Line.

Countdown Clocks Alert Bronx Commuters
MTA expands beyond the “L” Line.
By Frank Dutan

New York City commuters no longer have to strain their necks and bodies or do the “platform lean,” to see if their train is approaching the station.

As promised, the MTA installed countdown clocks in five stations along the 6. train line. These countdown clocks will tell commuters exactly how many minutes until the next train arrives. The MTA will test the effectiveness of the clocks with hopes to release the technology and make it available to all 152-subway stations by mid 2011.

Riders on the 6. line aren’t the only commuters to receive this luxury. The MTA has also installed countdown clocks on the L line. Bronx straphangers like Ms. Kennedy, a mother of two, greatly appreciate this service, “It’s pretty cool, and it lets the customers know what is actually working… They need to put them in all stations” and young Alton Thomas, son of Ms. Kennedy, finds the clocks fun and useful, “It tells me six minutes sometimes four maybe 11 and its fun”.

Rose, another Bronx commuter, grateful for now being able to use her time more productively and no longer being in harm’s way while performing the “platform lean,” “It gives me enough time to take out my stuff and go into the train. I don’t have to be glancing for the train, which is very dangerous you might lose you balance and end up in the middle of the tracks. I think it’s a great idea and I agree with it”.

MTA’s officials said in a statement to HarlemLIVE , “the testing period [on the 6. Line] is open-ended” when asked about plans for clocks on other lines they responded, “Clocks will not come to lines, but to stations who are located next to the right [electronic] equipment” and that “it is based on areas where the stations are located”. The clocks will be placed in the outer boroughs first. The timers will move on to the rest of the Bronx, and then Brooklyn for now. In a city where commuters move at such a rapid pace, countdown clocks will be able to improve proficiency among riders.

Disposing Christmas Trees the Green Way

Disposing Christmas Trees the Green Way
The city’s commitment to a recycling program
By Frank Dutan


By the time Dec 26 has rolled around, the frantic preparations and celebrations of Christmas are over. Even though the holiday season still continued to include New Years, those who bought those fresh evergreen Christmas trees from street vendors were usually clueless about how best to dispose of the trees and the city was burdened with piles of discarded trees blocking sidewalks.
Luckily, in New York City, a lot of information is available about recycling on the city’s Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Website, where the claim is made that “NYC has the largest, most ambitious recycling program in the nation”, which according to the Website, the city instituted in 1995 its Christmas Tree Recycling Program. City residents have learned that with the trees, if not properly disposed and left unattended for an extended period, they begin to fall apart, with mounds of fallen pine leaves accumulating at the base and an awful stench of rotting vegetation permeating any enclosed space.
For this Christmas tree season, from Jan 4, 2010 to Jan 15 2010, city residents could place their Christmas trees, after removing tree stands, tinsel, lights, ornaments, and other decorations, on the curb outside of their apartment building or house. The city wants to make sure that all trees can be recycled and be of benefit to the city. DSNY regulations state that if when trees are discarded and still have decorations attached, that since most decorations cannot be recycled, that the tree would be thrown into a landfill with other garbage and not reduced to chips. But, for those Christmas trees to be recycled, they are fed into a mobile processor, which reduces them to mulch for parks, playing fields, and community gardens throughout the city. And, about this time of the year, the city holds its NYC Parks & Recreation Mulchfest, which allowed New Yorkers to participate by bringing their trees to designated sites throughout the five boroughs, which took place on Jan 9 and 10 from 10am to 2pm and for those who wanted, free mulch was available.
One famous tree, the 76-foot-tall Norway spruce, the city’s pre-eminent Christmas tree, which adorned Rockefeller Center, like its smaller cousins, is also recycled. At the end of the Christmas season, when the tree is taken down on Jan 7, it is donated to the non-profit organization Habitat for Humanity, which specializes in building “simple”, “decent” and “affordable housing” for low income people. According to the organization’s Website, the 2008 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was milled into lumber, was used as shelving, and is now part of 41 homes that were built last year in the Ocean Hill section of Brownsville in Brooklyn, New York. Contacted for plans for the 2009 tree, Habitat for Humanity said that the tree would be milled for a home for Iveth Bowie and her four children who live in Connecticut, incorporating the entire tree into the walls.
In a press release issued last year the DSNY announced that the Christmas Tree Recycling Program managed to collect over 166,638 trees and the Mulchfest brought in 13,137 trees. The number of trees collected in the Mulchfest this year show an increase over the 11,000 collected from the previous year. According to the DSNY, this increase means that city residents have become more aware of the need for recycling and have become more active participants, especially with the city facing serious economic problems; the mulch from the trees relieves one expense, organic fertilization for trees in parks citywide.

Holiday Market at Union Square

Holiday Market at Union Square
Nyiesha Showers

The holiday season is here! That means ice-skating, tree lighting, skiing and most of all shopping. With Christmas on its way many are buying gifts for their loved ones. If you're looking for something unique, stylish and affordable you should definitely check out the Union Square Park Holiday Market.

Stationed in the middle of New York's busiest area, Union Square Park is the heart of the Lower East Side. The Park's been opened since 1839 and served as the home base for lots of community events and festivals like the First Labor Day parade and the popular Greenmarket. Winter is nearing and the Holiday Market is back for its 14th year.

There's not a specific type of product sold at the holiday market. At every corner, there's something different. You may smell coffee at one intersection and turn around to find an eco toy company. In fact, Mariette Papic sells eco-friendly toys made from organic cotton and rubber wood. The toys are made from low impact packaging that is also earth friendly. Papic is good friends with the designer who's been in the business for 10 years. The toys are animals such as elephants and monkeys. The price range for the toys are $20- $45. Papic describes the monkey as an ideal holiday gift, saying it has no age group making it ideal for infants, teens and adults.

Across from her vendor sat Tom Hart who specializes in graphic t-shirts. He's been doing this for five years and heard about the market through a friend. His ideal holiday gift would be his hand painted boots that are priced for $150. When asked his biggest competitor he says he hasn't checked out anybody else, but everything there is "random". That brings me to Gili who sells handcrafted candy wrapper handbags. "We have no competition because our stuff's great!" she says. These colorful bags are made of all different candy wrappers.



Down a few stations from Tom was a coffee vendor. The aroma of coffee beans was thick and provided a feeling of warmth. Around the corner was a pastry vendor who sold chocolates and next to him was Shani. Shani sells wine boxes and other wine products from Thailand. She says since the weather's been nice, she's been doing pretty well financially. "It's better than last year,” she says. "Last year was the beginning of the recession. Now everybody’s prepared.” She does admit that people are a bit hesitant. Papic agrees, saying that people are really shopping. “They’re looking before they buy”. According to Fox 5 news, the overall revenue intake on Black Friday increased this year, yet the average amount of money spent per person decreased.

“Our biggest competitor is the economy,” says Panic in reference to the market. Come out and support the local businesses at Union Square Park. They’re there everyday until December 24th. Check out nycgovparks.org for additional information.

Bad Weaves

So today i have seen the most bad weaves since lace fronts came about. One girl at my school had the nerve to put in the front of he hair Pink and Purple pieces so high like a pineapple. Then had the nerve to have her natural hair not permed so it looked as if she just curled it then had the matching contacts to match. Also another girl had a long just nappy nappy weave in. Then a bad lace front. Idk why people let them come out the house like that its like do you look in the mirror before you leave? lol

Day 1

Hello, I'm writing this to reflect on my first day at HL so far. It is really cool. So far the people I have met today were amazingly nice, cool and fun.

My Life...

hello, its been a while since i last wrote on this BLOG!!!
well my life is the same, nothing have change except that I am busier now with my school work and with all this college stuff. I also met this super wonderful guy that is keeping my life happy in this moments of my life which i pretty cool because i needed happiness is my life already. I was also out this whole past week because i was dealing with some problems but thanks god everything is getting better. I am also super scared because i think i fail chemistry which is super bad now that am a senior, but i hope am wrong.Well that's whats going on my life right now!!

long time

Wow i see there have been a lot of changes in the office. I miss all you hl people. I also see there are many new sudents. I so wish i could stop in, but with college and all thats not too easy =/. I would like to see the new editor in chief and see how they are doing. I may be able stop in soon, we'll see how that works out... To all the current students, good luck and i hope you are all doing well!!

Waiting...

I'm here just waiting to finish up the voiceover. I've been here forever waiting on these video folks... they're like so dysfunctional. Uggh and I'm still waiting. However today was a half decent day. I have to start going to my 8 and 9 period... but it drains so much out of me... and I'm still waiting...

Update on HL...

Hello people. It's been a while since I've wrote because I've been so busy. I've been busy writing stories and scripts and just working hard. Things have been changing at HL and I like the changes. We just rearranged the space and there's no more video room. Everything is in the office. All the computers are in he space that Seli used to sit at. Now, Seli, Christian and Jason sit in the area where the computers used to be.

I actually have to go now because I'm holding someone ow who needs this computer. Nice chatting with you guys!

_Nyiesha

Unjustified Exposure Vs. Privacy

Chilling encounters today with some venomous and really wicked reporters around my school. I don't need to get into the details, but 2 women reporters were hanging around my school looking to interview kids about a recent news story, a story that definitely crosses the line between privacy and public news.

But, in all reality, in one of the biggest cities in the world, where is that line?

When did it become alright to shove cameras into teen's faces? To literally stalk kids to get an interview. It's wrong. I think the idea of news is great, but now that I've actually experienced being in the news first hand, I see that documenting events and people isn't as wholesome as it sounds, and can easily be molded to fit a political ideal....Let's just say, the news didn't report the story correctly.

It seems like everything nowadays is news in New York City...

Race fails to heat Broadway

Race fails to heat Broadway

By Nyiesha Showers

The Broadway production of "Race" brings heat to the Barrymore Theatre. The play’s title could mean many things, from the participants in an unfair presidential campaign to someone running a 100-meter dash; it is a story about the relationship in American culture of Black and White, the seemingly never-ending topic of racism.

This controversial story, written and directed by David Mamet, cast the actors for the production, including David Alan Grier, James Spader, Kerry Washington, and Richard Thomas. According to the casting, Grier, known for his involvement in "In Loving Color" assumes the role of Henry, a black lawyer who works alongside Spader, who plays Jack Lawson, and Washington, as Susan, the new legal assistant working for both lawyers.

At the play’s Dec 5 preview, the cast weren't the only celebrities present. In fact, the audience was full of different actors and producers, including Marie Janella from “Everybody Loves Raymond” who was dressed in a comfortable pantsuit and a brown, flowy shawl, Damian, who was casually dressed, Damian Jr., and Kim Wayans, who wore a black wool coat and a gray fedora; fitting in perfectly with the other audience members.

For a play that addressed the issue of race in the American society, it wasn’t an unreasonable expectation for the composition of the audience to be predominantly Black; rather, there were more whites than Blacks who were sparsely located in the theater.

In this presentation of “Race” the director shone the light on the unspoken issue of discrimination and prejudice. The plot surrounds a group of lawyers who takes the case of Richard Thomas, a rich white executive who's accused of raping a black woman. Disagreements between the lawyers about his innocence creates a dissension between Jack and Susan.

Henry believes Thomas is guilty. Grier plays his character smart, giving off the impression that he resents white people. In response to the question do all blacks hate whites, Henry excitedly says “You bet we do.” Despite this, he still keeps his cool while representing the client. The play’s director chose to display Susan more stereotypically; she's just another petite black woman whose beauty could be described as "easy on the eyes". But, controversy rears its head in the law firm when Susan goes behind Jack’s back and requires evidence against their client. Spader does a good job giving conviction as a demanding force over both Henry and especially Susan.

While attention was brought to bear on the touchy issues of racism and discrimination, as the play unfolded, there were moments when the audience was held in suspense, but the absence of a resolution when there was no verdict against Thomas led to an overwhelming sense of disappointment.

The production's downfall has nothing to do with the actors, who did their job delivering a performance. Rather the problem was with the script. The play contained two significant social constructs: Mamet's idea to expose sexism in the workplacee was good, except that he only had execute it better. the entire production could have been great. Second, racism, as the play’s central focus was tackled tastelessly. Listening to the dialogue between the lawyers, one was aware of the liberal use of generalizations and stereotypes of both races.

Despite its shortcomings, the play had a few commendable elements, one such was the revelation that Lawson had investigated Susan before hiring her, a process, which seemed as though taken from an episode of the television show, “Law & Order”.

But, Susan brings the play to its conclusion with a testimonial; she commanded the spotlight on the stage when she said that the reason why Thomas is guilty is "because he's a white man", and which delivery was made with such force and passion that it too could not avoid being stereotypical. What is clear about this play is that the election of a Black president meant nothing to the writer who wrote a piece about hating another because of their race.

Once again, history repeated itself; this time on the stage.