Three gone in one month

      People have always said that death rolls in threes and at times I know it could be hard to believe.  Fox warned us that  family guy would be killing off a member of the Griffin family on the show’s Nov. 24 episode, but even with advanced notice, nothing could have prepared fans for the loss of such a crucial character. Seriously, not since the death of legendary newswoman Diane Simmons have we been this speechless while discussing Family Guy. So who died, and why? The Griffins’ beloved dog Brian ended up being the character killed off this week’s episode. We learned that Brian had been hit by a car, and unfortunately, Stewie (also voiced by Seth) was unable to go back in time to stop it, as he’d just disassembled his time machine.       Paul Walker best known for his role in "The Fast and the Furious" movies -- died Saturday afternoon after a single-car accident and explosion in Southern California.The accident happened in Santa Clarita -- north of Los Angeles -- and Paul was the passenger in the two-seater Porsche Carrera GT when the driver somehow lost control and slammed into a post or a tree ... and the car burst into flames.Paul was 40 years old. He leaves behind a 15-year-old daughter named Meadow.      Nelson Mandela, the revered South African anti-apartheid icon who spent 27 years in prison, led his country to democracy and became its first black president, died Thursday at home. He was 95. Mandela, a former president, battled health issues in recent years, including a recurring lung infection that led to numerous hospitalizations. He was born on July 18, 1918, in Mveso, Transkei, South Africa. Becoming actively involved in the anti-apartheid movement in his 20s, Mandela joined the African National Congress in 1942. For 20 years, he directed a campaign of peaceful, non-violent defiance against the South African government and its racist policies. In 1993,Mandela and South African President F.W. De Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to dismantle the country's apartheid system. In 1994, Mandela was inaugurated as South Africa's first black president. In 2009, Mandela's birthday (July 18) was declared Mandela Day to promote global peace and celebrate the South African leader's legacy.           It appears to me that around the holiday season there are many tragedies as such all over the world. It's said to hear or see such things happen but it's life. We all live to die at some point in ur lives. My prayers goes out to there friends and family. 

Super heros from the 1850's to now

     A superhero is a fictional character of unprecedented physical prowess dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest. Since the debut of the prototypal superhero Lee Falk's The Phantom in the 1936 followed by superman in the 1938, stories of superheroes ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years ling sagas have dominated American comic books and crossed over into other media. A female superhero is sometimes called a super heroine.
     1850 the first superhero of penny dreadful, Spring Heeled Jack was first a villain, then as a crime-fighter with a disguised, secret lair, and gadgets, hallmarks of superheroes.
     Superheros from the 1900's to the late 2000's were heros from The Scarlet Pimpernel, John Carter of Mars, Zorro, Dazzler, She-Hulk , War Machine, Hellboy, Orpheus, and many more.
       Superheros has grown very largely over the years where they went from comic books to the big screens. There has been very few female Superheros over the years and I often wondered why?  Is it because if what most have been taught that men were the dominant? Or Is it because women were often told to be the stay at home mom?
         I feel that in today's generation we haven't paid much attention to how old stereotypes still affected us in today's society.

LADOT Announces Tap Card Design Contest

      As anyone who rides the metro bus or train have learned for the past year and a half metro passes are not given on what they call a tap card. With this card the customer can load an amount of money on the bus or train station to receive services. These boring blue cars that people refuse to purchase only cost two dollars but the look of these cards doesn't read buy me.
      LADOT announched earlier this week a collaboration with downtown Los Angeles gallery row organization to sponsor an artist competition to design the next wave of LADOT Tap smart cards. This design competition is the first of its kind in any major metropolitan area in the world that has a regional smart card system for its public transportation network.
       The theme for card designs is downtown Los Angeles. The deadline for entries is December 18, 2013. Two winning designs will be chosen, and each artist will be awarded a prize of $500 gift certificate to Raw Materials Art Supplies, an art architectural supply store in Downtown Los Angeles.
       I feel that this is a good way to get the community more involved also it gives those very talented people the ability to show there skills. Metro should get on board with LADOT. Customers are already paying two dollars for just the card. Instead, of Metro looking as if they don't care for their customers they should help with encouraging customers to purchase their products.

Stereotype

    A stereotype is a thought that may be adopted about specific of individuals or cetain ways of doing things,but that belief may or may not accurately reflect reality. However, this is only a fundamental psychological definition of a stereotype. Within and across different concepts and theories of stereotyping that provide their own expanded definition. Some of these definitions share commonalities, though each one may also harbor unique aspects that may complement or contradict the others.
      Stereotype content refers to the attributes that people think characterize a group. Studies of stereotype content examine what people think of others rather than the reason mechanisms involved in stereotyping.
        Why do we stereotype?  All stereotypes aren't negative.

HALLOWEEN

        Halloween a contraction of all hallos evening also known as All Hallows Eve, is a yearly celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows Day. It initiates the dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (Hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departs believers.
         According to many scholars, All Hallows Eve is a christianized feast influenced by Celtic harvest festivals. Typical festive Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, attending costume parties, decorating carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.
          Halloween Today does still share those same historical beliefs. When I was much younger I recall going to harvest festivities. Over the years, this day has become more dangerous for parents and kids to enjoy. Even though there are some people who still enjoy and believe in going out and celebrating the evening there are some who take a negative approach foe the night. Those who doesnt celebrate for religious reason believe this is a day of celebrating the devil. Everyone has there own approach on what this day and it's celebrations consist of.
            I hope everyone had a safe Halloween.

Looking into the silent night

Looking into the silent night

My thoughts begin to wonder

Questions begin to come from nowhere

Some in which I can not answer

I try had to run away, but they always

Seem to stare me in the face

Looking into the silent night

I heard a voice say look around you, what do you see

I see hunger, killing, and thieves

Just than a thought came to me

This isn't the life for my future children to see

Looking into the silent night

I find  myself with any doubts

I wonder is there anyway out?

                     - written by a family member 

      This poem written by a family member is a reflection of how he views his neighborhood and the world that he lives in today. As we get other, in we think about having a possible future, a family, we have to take a look at whats going on around us. Bringing another human being into a world that may not be fit for a better future or life style may not be the smartest decision to make. Everything that happens around us are signs and it is up to us as human to decide how those signs reflect upon us. Some people are afraid of change but in some cases change may be better for us as individuals. Our future and our children future ultimately lies in our hands as the adult. We should be wise and not so closed minded to opportunities.

What is love?

        The word love can refer to a variety of different feels, states, and attitudes that ranges from interpersonal affection to pleasure. Love in its various forms acts as a major facilitator of interpersonal relationships and, owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most common themes in the creative arts.  Love may be understood as a function to keep human begins together against menaces and to facilitate the continuation of the species. According to Wikipedia .
          There is  impersonal love in which a person can say they love an object,principle, or goal to which they are deeply commited ang greatly value. Many may use impersonal love for the things they strongly like that's personal to there lives. Then there's interpersonal love which refers to love between human beings. But I still have the question of what is love because it appears to still be undefined.
            Love in today's society doesn't seem like any of  my previous statements. As you read this you may wonder why did I choose such topic to discuss. This week has been an interesting week for myself. Something in my life has made me sit back and really think about love and if it even exist in today's society. It seems to me that people use this word very loosely forgetting about the meaning behind it.  Love in which use to have a very strong meaning behind it  both physical and emotional has changed in today's society.  Have people forgotten loves meaning?  Do people not care about love anymore? These various questions cross my mind when I think of telling or showing someone I love them. Has love become a game for people? Is love the foul? (street term ) I wish somebody would tell me so that I could better understand where my future stand when it comes to love. Is it something I should be expecting I order to feel loved? I guess I may never know.

Why do filmmakers remake classic movies?

       Have you ever taken the time to think of the reasons as of why filmmakers remake classic movies when the classic movie has already been successful? Today that was an discussion amongst my fellow classmates. Movies such as Superman, Batman, and Twenty One Jump Street. These movies may have been success but why do these filmmakers take the risk of these movies being remaked and it being success or not?
        As we know Superman and Batman has had many remakes and sequels but all based on the same myths. These to movies have been a success both old and new. Movies like Twenty One Jump Street and Shakespeare's Othello may not been as success as the filmmakers have believe them to be.In my opinion the filmmakers try to stay with what's in trend. With modern technology they try to give the audience a better feel in which they could relate. It's much easier to take a movie that already has an successful concept and add a modern twist to it. I feel by these filmmakers doing such is a smart move, because they are giving an audience more to expect rather if the movies is a success they could careless.
        Does a classic movie having a modern twist affect how the audience relate to the movie? 
    

The new Social Media Network may not be bad in some situations

     People may have their own perspective of how the new Social Media may affect their lives.I question alot of what I see on the only Social Media that I have Instagram. Some of what I see may have a postive effect in my life and some may be negative. There was this one company I came across on Instagram which made a positive effect on my life. This company is very inspiring.
   While scrolling on one of the newest Social Media Network I came across this fashion line called Urban Trademarked. Urban Trademark is a line of snapback hats. These hats aren't just your everyday ordinary snapbacks. SnapBack is an urban slang term for an adjustable, flat-brimmed baseballcap with snap fasteners on the back. The creators of this brand were very creative to where they took the brim of the hats in changed them with various fabrics. This might sound a bit amateur,but this is creative. I had gotten so interested in this line to even notice that they have a store located in Inglewood, California  and also found in Tradition a store located in the Beverly Center Mall.
    I took it upon myself to try to find out the beginning of this company. How they got started? who are the creators? And What made them take this idea in make it into a business? I found that they had a six minute and forty seven second long video on YouTube where they explain most of what I wanted to find out about this company. Gordy and the founder of this company and Malika is the C.E.O. How his company came about Gordy had gotten out of jail and was looking for positive ways of making money, so he took it amongs himself with a friend to start designing custom SnapBacks. UTM started as a mobile hat service in the inner city of Los Angeles, also exploring tourist locations such as Venice Beach. After their successful journeys they decided to bring it back to their local community barber shops and salons selling their products at discounted prices. Their designs were inspired by the summer designs.
    Many celebrities have gotten familiar with this company and have helped them further their dreams. Celebrities such as Kevin Durante, Miley Cyrus, T.I, The Game and many more. I credit the fonder of this company  because he took what he considered a dream and made it reality. My purpose of blogging about this company is to show people that everything that we may see may not be a bad thing. Some could be inspiring to your life. I would like for people to take the time out to check this company out. Their Instagram is @urban_trademark. Website is www.UrbanTrademark.com. Their store location is 114 S. La Brea Ave.

Celebrities need a background check before fame

        It appears to me that there are some celebrities who should have received a possible background check before fame. I don't know if it's that they have anger problems or if there is really wrong with them from childhood or some sort.Celebrities much known for their talent are seen in most eyes as icons. We all have looked up to one at some point in our live.Many have been known for getting into some form of trouble. Lindsay Lohan, Chris Brown,Charlie Sheen, DMX, and many others. Why is it that these various celebrities get chance after chance and still not get it right?
        I personally feel that a background check done before these celebrities get there foots through the door. Just becuse I feel that these celebrities should have gottenblack ground checked before fame doesn't mean that they're bad people. Some just maybe a bad influence to their fan life's.Its not fair for those fans who look up to these celebrities to keep watching them get in trouble and basically leave free of charge. That's not how real life is for those of us who do not have the lifestyle they live. I do know and understand the famous line C.R.E.A.M (cash rules everything around me), but it's real life. I feel that watching these fans continously get in trouble damages or affects a fans future. They are icons role models.
          If we probably look back into some of these celebrities lives before their fame there might be a sign of potential problems. Now,that may not be true for every celebrity. Some might have got the fame and let the fame change their life. What comes with fame? Wealth. Wealth could drive a person into doing various things.Drugs have been known to be a change in many celebrities lives over the years.Example Lamar Odom, Lindsay Lohan. These two are big iconic factors in some people's life. Recently known for their trouble with drugs. I know that for those sport celebrities a drug test is performed but what about the actors/actress?
            As an outsider looking in, How should we feel about these celebrities we look up to? Should an background check be performed before their fame? Besides the obvious, Why does these icons/role models keep getting second chances? 

Is this why the lakers traded Lamar Odom?

      Lamar Odom 33 years of age former Los Angeles Lakers allegedly has been found doing crack cocaine and cheating on his wife. When he married  the youngest  Khole Kardashian in 2009 one would only assume that his life would just be glorified. Who would have  thought that it would be in this mannerism. Being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2011 then going to the Dallas Mavericks. Having a trouble season on the mavericks made everybody keep their eye on Odom. In 2012 returning back to Los Angeles with the Clippers we only expected the best. The Odom that we all knew as a  two time champion, six man of the year, all rookie first year player was gone. Did the Lakers see this coming? What made the Lakers trade Lamar Odom back in 2011?
      August 30, 2013 Odom was stopped and arrested for driving under the influence. He was suppose to have been checking to into rehab center because of his wife threating to loose ties with him if he didn't. After checking himself out of  rehab for one day he was seen walking around downtown Los Angeles with a male friend Monday night. It was said that he walked into Wakcano restaurant but didn't sit down to eat."It was odd that he didn't sit down to eat,"said the server of the restaurant.

"He actually seemed distracted. He's normally very friendly,but he seemed like he was in a rush." He then reportedly went to a nearby store called Famima where he got some fruit and had a conversation with one of the employees.
      It doesn't surprise me that now the main focus in the Kardashian family would be Lamar Odom. He just took the spot light off Kourtney and Scott's dysfunctional relationship and not to forget Kim and Kanye West. You would think that Kim and Kanye would be the topic of discussion considering they just had a baby an named he North West. Lamar shouldn't be surprised of the outcome of marrying a Kardashian. If it wasn't for Ray J i don't think anybody would know who Kim, Kourtney, and Khole Kardashian. I think the Lakers probably seen it coming so, to better themselves an save themselves headache they made the best decison as to trade Lamar Odom.
      Does he really have a drug problem? Or will we ever know. Just keep up with the media and let them keep us informed.

Sagging Fashion

                     A big controversial topic among men is/are about those sagging pants that appear to most to look very uncomfortable. Sagging pants has become a major fashion statement in the last couple of years . Well in today's society we just cant point out the men because there are some females who wear them just as low. Sagging pants  a look to wear the under garments are shown. People who wear such were known as the "sagger".

                     According to Greg Mathis, sagging was adopted from the United States prison system where belts are prohibited to prevent prisoners from using them as weapons or committing suicide by hanging themselves. This style was later made a fashion statement amongst the hip-hop community in the 1990's. People have there many objectives to why they feel this look is not appealing to the eye. You may hear people make comments about the sexuality of those dressed that way, because as many fellow prisoners believe that the look of another man with the behind showing was a sign of him being gay. Others may make comments on a person behavior because of the fashion statement. Either way its not very good reviews.

                     Sagging pants over the years, mainly in the beginning of the 21st century has started many controversial arguments among local government, school system, transit agencies, airlines passed laws federal and state authorities. This issue has brought fourth major meetings among the government which lead to few states trying to passing a sagging pants law. On November 23,2013 in Albany, Georgia passed a city ordinance that banned the wearing of pants or skirts with top more than three inches below the hips, and imposed a fine of $25 for the first offense, increasing up to $250 for subsequent offenses. By September 2011 it was reported that 187 citations were issued and fines of $3,916 collected. States such as Tennessee, Michigan,Florida, Texas and New Jersey have taken measures to ban sagging. Things such as many music videos have prompted these measures to begin.

                       My opinion on sagging pants is that it has become a fashion statement whether positive or negative. The picture on the right displays what it looks like to stand behind someone who is sagging 3 inches or more. It appears to look as if the person is some type of creator. ( a person who body seems to look inportioned) The picture of the right displays it as a fashion statement. Something similar to " the MC HAMMER Pants." My partake is that i get the whole point of trying to wear something that is comfortable. Pants sagging an 1 inch to 1.5 inches isn't a bad look. In most of my pants I do have a little sag but not to were my whole bottom is showing.What people need to realize that there is a time and place for everything. 

THE NEW GENERATION OF TATTOOS

           NO MATTER WHERE YOU MAY GO IN THE WORLD TODAY YOU WOULD SPOT YOU A GOOD HAND FULL OF PEOPLE WITH TATTOOS. THE WAY HOW JUST ABOUT EVERYONE NOW HAS TATTOOS YOU WOULD THINK THAT TATTOOING JUST STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. THE HISTORY OF TATTOOS AND TATTOOING GOES BACK  CENTURIES AGO. I DONT KNOW WHY IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE NEW GENERATION HAS STARTED A TREND OF FACIAL TATTOOS IN WHICH MOST WOULD CALL FACIAL GRAFFITI.

             FACIAL TATTOOS IN OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE  KNOWN AS A TRADITIONAL STATEMENT WITH MULTIPLE MEANING BEHING THEM. THE THINGS THAT WE MAY SEE NOW TATTED ON SOMEONES FACE NOW DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS WHICH THEY DID BACK THEN. 

              MY OPINION TOWARDS THE NEW GENERATION OF FACIAL TATOOS IS THAT IM NOT TOTALY AGAINST TATTOO CONSIDERING I HAVE THEM. BUT WHAT IM NOT UNDERSTANDING NOW IS WHY DOES TATTOOING HAVE TO GO AS FAR AS PLACING THEM ON YOUR FACE NOW. IN TODAYS SOCIETY PEOPLE HAVE CREATED MEANING TO TATTOOS THAT APPEARS ABSURDED TO MOST IN THE POPULAR CULTURE.  THE AVERAGE PERSON WOULD LOOK AT THEM AND FORM NEGATIVE CONNOTATION THAT COULD BE COSTLY IN FORMING RELATIONSHIPS, GAINING EMPLOYMENT, AND FITTING INTO MAINSTREAM SOCIETY.  

             What brought me fourth to the topic of conversation is that I know this young man in his mid- twenties who just gotten fear God tatted on the right side of his face. When asked him why he had gotten the tatted placed on his face and whats the significance behind the tattoo on his face, this young man then replies, " gucci man told him to get it and that he is going to get more". My understanding of what he told me was plain stupidity and ignorance. How does he expect to move forward in life and receive an good audience? This is someone that in the next couple of years is expected to be bettering our future youth. Hard to believe right?