Watermount Jamaica/ Jamaican Reggae

Watermount Jamaica.....No water in households...


In Watermount Jamaica there is no water in households. The water supply comes from one standpipe where not only can you get drinking water but it is also where residents do their laundry. Residents have been promised a improvement in water supply since 1977 and till this day there are lock-offs to different standpipes.

How would u feel if u couldn't just get up and get water? Your shower water is water that people have done laundry in? how does this remind you of school discussions about some countries not having water at all, going green and recycling water? Who do you think is to blame?
 
__________________________________________________________

Jamaican Reggae

Three Little Birds---Bob Marley  <---link
Of course many of you have heard of Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley and Sean Paul.Well one of them, Bob Marley, left a huge impact on society. Well firstly, Bob Marley believed in unifying all black people through music. He believed that if blacks could come together through music, then they could come together through anything. One of his songs that many around the world are probably familiar with, is, "Don't Worry, Be Happy." Marley died of cancer that spread from his foot, to his lungs and brain. Marley left a huge impact on society. He Bob Marley believed that life was too short to be sad and upset. Also, that you should keep a smile on your face even when times get bad. He also said, "don't worry bout a thang" because, "Every little thing is gonna be alright." He changed the world by letting people know that there's no reason to hate each other, no matter race, religion, sexual orientation or their views on life. He also said that since we're all here on this earth together , we might as well share it and love it together to make a better place. what is your opinion of Bob's theories and his vies? Do you agree or disagree? Should other artists be like him?

Music in Cuba/ Cuban Rights/ Uniforms in Cuba

Music in Cuba

Hip-Hop beats first came to Cuba, in the early 90's by the faulting U.S. radio transmissions, picked up in coastal regions outside of the capital like Alamar, and in provinces such as Guatanamo. Rap Cuban-style is a big part of the islands' musical culture. Cuban rappers try not to mimic the more negative U.S. style. The idea of disrespecting women, materialism, illuminating violence or expressing hate for one another, is not the idea at all, Many Cuban Rappers like to speak about what's most important to them and society, such as:racism, sexuality, peace, the environment, poverty and social inequalities. Rappers in Cuba say, " We are ONE, peaceful and positive-but we are also the most insistent voice of youth and it's resistance". What do you think about Cuban Music? Do you think that it's good that they are not choosing to be like the U.S.'s music, and instead have their own kind of music that promotes peace and caring for one another? Do you think that our Music should be more like Cuba's?

[Cuban Music Example: Anonimo Consejo-La Ley 5566]
___________________________________________________________

Cuban Rights

Cuban Rights:

In Cuba many Cuban feel that their basic rights have been deprived. Fidel Castro is the “dictator” of Cuba and his rule has been the longest to date. As of right now Cubans are not allowed to enter the U.S or even really travel outside of Cuba. Many people in other countries have family in Cuba that they are not allowed to see or even really hear from. Families are strained because they are not allowed to see each other. Also in Cuba many children don’t go to school. The children go to work and make money to help support their families. Children are being deprived an education to make money.
How would you feel if you couldn’t see your family?
What would you do if you couldn’t go to school and had to support your family?
_____________________________________________________________

Uniforms of Cuba

[Baracoa, Cuba - Cuban girls walk home from school in their uniforms. Schoolchildren in Cuba wear uniforms with different color (blue, yellow, red, white) tops, bottoms, and scarves to signify their levels]

How will you feel if every school requires you to wear uniforms? Well in Cuba every school requires uniform. Unlike the United States, in Cuba they have different colors depending in what grade and school you're attending. The boys will wear ties to school and the girls will wear skirts. Some of the boys will wear shorts or long pants and the girl will probably wear dresses. The United States is different from Cuba because some of schools, but not al,l require uniforms. Also in Cuba you have to wear uniform from elementary until you graduate. What do you think about this? Should every school wear uniform? Whats your opinion?

Circumcision in Africa/ Dance and Music of Africa/ Forced to Eat for Beauty

Circumcision in Africa

Every year, in many African countries such as South Africa and Nigeria, many males  get circumcised. Here in America we have the choice if we wanna circumcise our sons, but in Africa it is part of a ritual and is required. Unlike American males, African males are circumcised from the age 15 to age 25. Young Abakwetha (male initiates) are hospitalized or die from circumcision wounds undergone during traditional initiation rites. In some cases males can contract HIV/AIDS and infections just by undergoing this procedure.
Should males in Africa go through this procedure as a ritual despite the risk? Or should they be able to say no and not put their life in danger?

_____________________________________________________________

Dance and Music of Africa

African Dance? Everyone Looks And Asks Why Do They Dance Like The Way They Do. Do Yu Know Almost Every Dance That We Do Now A Days Is Originated From African Dancing. They Dance For A Celebration. When They Are Happy For Something Like Making More Money Then They Did Or Anything That Might Make A Difference In Their Life They Really Get Up And Dance.
They Also Teach Social Patterns And Values And Helps People Work, Mature, Praise Or Criticize Members Of The Community While Celebrating Festivals And Funerals, Competing, Reciting History, Proverbs And Poetry; And To Encounter Gods. They Are Very Spiritual In There Praise.

Here’s An Example.
Video:






[Bamako is the capital and largest city of Mali, and currently estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa. Bamako is the nation's administrative center as well as a circle. Bamako is the 7th largest West African urban center after Lagos, Abidjan, Kano, Ibadan, Dakar and Accra. The name Bamako comes from the Bambara word meaning "crocodile river".]
_____________________________________________________________

Forced To Eat For Beauty

In different parts of Africa women and young girls are forced to eat food for beauty. In Mauritania a desert oasis, bigger women there are seen as beautiful, which means the bigger you are the most likely you are to get married. Although force feeding is frowned upon in the United States. In Mauritania they force feed females so they can become overweight when they get older. Since force feeding is such a hard thing to do they take breaks from feeding the girls. Force feeding causes people to throw up so when the girls throw up they make them eat more afterwards. What if in the United States bigger women were seen as beautiful to everyone? What would you do and how would you react if you were forced to eat for beauty? Compare Africa's force feeding to the United States's eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia.

Music in Japan

Even though Japan is on the other side of the world, the U.S. is more similiar in music to Japan than many other countries. Japanese teenage music is fast with a lot of techno. Also, depending on the artist, their music sounds just like ours, just in a different language. Many Japanese artists get their inspiration from the Rappers we listen to everyday. So Japanese teens aren't that much different from us after all. Most Japanese rappers have the same style and swagg as some of our rappers. It is believed that Japanese performers get paid much more than U.S. rappers. If Japanese and U.S. music is similiar, then why is it that the two countries differ? Also, do you think that their music influences them the same way that our music influences us?

Music in Japan

Drinking Collagen, Would you do it?/Mutants in China!

Drinking Collagen, Would you do it?

Some women in China drink collagen yo enhance their beauty. Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue in animals and the most abundant protein in mammals. Do you think women in America should drink collagen to enhance their beauty? How would it change American society and culture? Would you drink collagen? How far would you go for beauty?
________________________________________________________

Mutants in China!

Villagers were shocked after a monkey-like piglet was born in China. The pig belongs to Feng Changlin of Fengzhang village in rural China. Reports say the piglet looks just like a monkey with two thin lips, a small nose and two big eyes. It's rear legs are much longer than its forelegs, causing it to jump instead of walk. The piglet is one of five newborns, all of which look normal, which the family had raised for nine years. It is called hideous so no one will buy it. Neighbors suggest keeping it to see how it matures. What do you think? Is this the result of mating between species or a twisted experiment gone wrong in a chinese lab when a try at advances in controlling genetic manipulation were concocted.

What's Music got to do with it?

What's Music got to do with it? Everything. The way we live, dress, treat each other, and our everyday actions are influenced by Music. How, you say? Well a lot of youth believe that the lifestyle they should have is: many cars, many houses, mad money, and mad honey's. They look at the rappers or the huge music artists and believe that their life should be that way. Sucess is obtained through record deals or having songs at the top of the chart. But also, by becoming doctors, Lawyers, Nurses, Biologists, Scientists and many more. Many who chose these careers have enough money to buy many cars, many houses. Success does not only come with degreees, but reaching your goal, trying your hardest, and letting no one get in the way of your dreams. The clothes we wear and the new styles that we style out, were first worn by a musical artist and then the public rapidly. For examples, scarfs, skinny jeans, "Kanye Shades", checkered belts, hairstyles,etc. Let's not mention our style of language, swaggs and our whole mentality. Do you think that Music is a good influence on teens, that if it changed for the good that it could improve teens? Or do you think that Music is a bad influence on teens, and will make them worse? Let's talk about the way we talk to each other. Women are being called a lot of names. Names that are harmful and uncalled for. One day a rapper comes up with a new name for a female, and the next day, a youth is being suspended from school for calling a female that. Music is the author of our language,the way we treat each other and music shapes society. Do you think that Music is a good thing and that if it changed for the good, that it would improve teens? Or do you believe that Music is bad and it makes teens worse?

News about Teens

Many people say that the Rochester region, is one of the worst places to live. Is that true? With Rochester's high crime rate and deaths tolls rising higher than highway tolls? And everyone blames each other for it. While the East side blames the West side and the West side blames the South side, everyone outside of the Rochester area are blaming every side. The East side, West side, South side, North side, Up side, Down side, and the Flip side. Each side is still Rochester as a whole. Many suburban regions believe what they see on the News and what they hear from other people who have "visited" the city. The city of Rochester is not a bad place, Rochester just has some bad people. So everyone is bad? Of course not. There are just many people who value their weapons and their reputation more than their lives or their family. Recently, the Rochester Curfew was abolished and ruled unconstitutional. Do teens need a curfew? Is it the parents' job or the police's job to make sure their teen is off the street at night and home studying for that big state exam tomorrow? What do you think? And how do you feel about every minority being dipicted as having "Baby-Mama-Drama", or that they're;a drug dealer, a criminal, or going no where in life? What part of a person should be looked at and judged? Their situation, their living standards, their community, rumors, the color of their skin, gender, sexuality,race, or character? What do you think?

The "New Boyz Fashion"

Lately, you may have noticed that a lot more boys than girls are rockin' skinny jeans. Could it be the influence many have gotten from the New Boyz "Jerk" video? Now ladies how do we feel about males rockin skinnies? And boys how do you feel about either you or ya' homies rockin' 'em? Are skinnies for everyone? Some say no, and some say yea. What do you think? This is a prime example of how Music influences our Fashion and our "Teenaged World". Do you think that boys should stop rockin' them and leave the skinnies to the girls? Or should everyone be able to wear what they want? What's you opinion? Boy or Girl, every comment and thought is important.

Teach Me How to Jerk---Audio Push

The song "You're a Jerk" by New Boyz got some people out of their seats but many found the dance difficult to do. New dance crazes have been sweeping the nation. These dances have them bobbing their heads again to fresh new beats. The dance crazes;the jerk, the reject, and "dippin' " are viewed from the music group, Audio Push's new video: Teach Me How to Jerk. Although many absolutely love this song and jam to it with their friends all the time, there are a few who dislike the new dance crazes.

_______________________________________________________________

Some find them harder to do than the original jerk by the New Boyz and find it falling flat on the charts. Are the dances something to praise up or shut down? Which dance is easier the New Boyz "jerk" or Audio Push's "jerkin' ", "reject", and "dippin' "? What's your opinion of Audio Push?

Are they better than the New Boyz?