Giving Back

In my community I try and clean up my neighborhood when I can. Every 3rd wedsnesday of every month a few of my friends and I go around my neighborhood and pick u any trash we see. We have been doing it for the past year and a half. For future events, as we are going to all join "Hand on Broward" I am looking forward to helping out the community whenever and however I can. Also, as a new years revoultion, I have promised to join more beach clean-ups. As a matter of fact when I was little my grandma was apart of a community helpers, the name escapes me at the moment, but she took me to a beach clean up and I joined in for a day. It was probably the most fun I've had at that age. Also, I keep ranting, but Last year my grandma helped out a soup kitchen out in West Palm Beach and a soup kitchen in Hollywood and it gave me joy to see that I could help people that can't help themselves. So in the future I am going to try and get involved in my community as much as possible and urge you to do the same because giving back is a great feeling.

Robin Williams: From Rags to Riches

            Robin McLaurin Williams, born July 21, 1951, is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 1997 film Good Will Hunting. He has also won two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globes, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and seven Grammy Awards.

            Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois. His mother, Laura McLaurin, was a former model from New Orleans, Louisiana. His father, Robert Fitzgerald Williams (September 10, 1906 – October 18, 1987), was a senior executive at Ford Motor Company in charge of the Midwest region. His maternal great-great-grandfather was senator and Mississippi governor Anslem J. McLaurin. Williams is of English, Welsh, and French ancestry. He was raised in the Episcopol Chruch (his mother practiced Christian Science). He grew up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where he was a student at the Detroit Country Day School, and later moved to Woodacre, Marin County, California, where he attended the public Redwood High School. Williams studied at Claremont McKenna College (then called Claremont Men's College) for four years.

       

     After appearing in the cast of the short-lived The Richard Pryor Show on NBC, Williams was cast by Garry Marshall as the alien Mork in the hit TV series Happy Days. As Mork, Williams improvised much of his dialogue and physical comedy, speaking in a high, nasal voice. Mork's appearance was so popular with viewers that it led to a spin-off hit television sitcom, Mork and Mindy, which ran from 1978 to 1982; the show was written to accommodate Williams' improvisations. Although playing the same character as in his appearance in Happy Days, the show was set in the present day, in Boulder, Colorado, instead of the late '50s in Milwaukee. Mork was an extremely popular character, featured on posters, coloring books, lunchboxes, and other merchandise.

Starting in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, Williams began to reach a wider audience with his standup comedy, including three HBO comedy specials, Off The Wall (1978), An Evening with Robin Williams (1982), and Robin Williams: Live at the Met (1986). Also in 1986, Williams reached an ever wider audience to exhibit his style at the 58th Academy Awards show.

            His stand-up work has been a consistent thread through his career, as is seen by the success of his one-man show (and subsequent DVD) Robin Williams: Live on Broadway (2002). He was voted 13th on Comedy Central's list "100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time" in 2004.

After some encouragement from his friend Whoopi Goldberg, he was set to make a guest appearance in the 1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, "A Matter of Time", but he had to cancel due to a scheduling conflict; Matt Frewer took his place as a time-traveling con man, Professor Berlingoff Rasmussen. Williams, along with Billy Crystal, appeared in a cameo together at the beginning of an episode of the third season of Friends. Both Williams and Crystal's parts weren't originally in the script. They were apparently in the building where the show was shooting and were asked to improvise their lines.

Williams appeared on an episode of the American version of Whose Line Is It Anyway? (Season 3, Episode 9: November 16, 2000). During a game of "Scenes from a Hat", the scene "What Robin Williams is thinking right now" was drawn, and Williams stated "I have a career. What the hell am I doing here?" On December 4, 2010, he appeared with Robert De Niro on SNL in the sketch What Up with That.

His role as the Genie in the animated film Aladdin (1992) was instrumental in establishing the importance of star power in voice actor casting. Williams also used his voice talents in Fern Gully, as the holographic Dr. Know in the 2001 film A.I. Artificial Intelligence, in the 2005 animated film Robots, the 2006 Academy Award-winning Happy Feet, and an uncredited vocal performance in the film Everyone's Hero. Furthermore, he was the voice of The Timekeeper, a former attraction at the Walt Disney World Resort about a time-traveling robot who encounters Jules Verne and brings him to the future.

In 1998, he won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for his role as a psychologist in Good Will Hunting. Williams has also starred in dramatic films, which earned him two subsequent Academy Award nominations: First for playing an English teacher in Dead Poets Society (1989), and later for playing a troubled homeless man in The Fisher King (1991); that same year, he played an adult Peter Pan in the movie Hook. Other acclaimed dramatic films include Awakenings (1990) and What Dreams May Come (1998). In the 2002 film Insomnia, Williams portrays a writer/killer on the run from a sleep-deprived Los Angeles policeman (played by Al Pacino) in rural Alaska. And also in 2002, in the psychological thriller One Hour Photo, Williams played an emotionally disturbed photo development technician who becomes obsessed with a family for whom he has developed pictures for a long time. In 2006 Williams starred in The Night Listener, a thriller about a radio show host who realizes he has developed a friendship with a child who may or may not exist.

He is known for his improvisational skills and impersonations. His performances frequently involve impromptu humor designed and delivered in rapid-fire succession while on stage. According to the Aladdin DVD commentary, most of his dialogue as the Genie was improvised.

In 2006, he starred in five movies including Man of the Year and was the Surprise Guest at the 2006 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. He appeared on an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition that aired on January 30, 2006.

At one point, he was in the running to play the Riddler in Batman Forever until director Tim Burton dropped the project. Earlier, Williams had been a strong contender to play the Joker in Batman. He had expressed interest in assuming the role in The Dark Knight, the sequel to 2005's Batman Begins, although the part of the Joker was played by Heath Ledger, who went on to win, posthumously, the Academy award for best supporting actor.

He was portrayed by Chris Diamantopoulos in the made-for-TV biopic Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Mork & Mindy (2005), documenting the actor's arrival in Hollywood as a struggling comedian. So to conclude, robin Williams did not have the greatest childhood, his family struggled to meet ends meet, but in the end thanks for his comedic relief he has now become one of the biggest names in comedy, and for that, he will live on in people’s hearts, and people’s funny bones, forever.

Living in Poverty

There are two basic versions of the federal poverty extent: the poverty thresholds (which is the main kind) and the poverty guidelines. The Census Bureau issues the poverty thresholds, which are generally used for statistical purposes—example, to estimate the number of people in poverty nationwide each year and classify them by type of residence, race, and other social, economic, and demographic characteristics. The Department of Health and Human Services issues the poverty guidelines for administrative purposes—for instance, to determine whether a person or family is eligible for assistance through various federal programs.

When the Johnson administration declared "war on poverty" in 1964, it chose an absolute measure. The "absolute poverty line" is the threshold below which families or individuals are considered to be lacking the resources to meet the basic needs for healthy living; having insufficient income to provide the food, shelter and clothing needed to preserve health.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_the_United_States)

Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names. Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen.

1 billion children live in poverty (1 in 2 children in the world). 640 million live without adequate shelter, 400 million have no access to safe water, and 270 million have no access to health services. 10.6 million Died in 2003 before they reached the age of 5 (or roughly 29,000 children per day).

           

The Department of Agriculture found that families of three or more persons spent about one third of their after-tax income on food. For these families, poverty thresholds were set at three times the cost of the economy food plan. Different procedures were used for calculating poverty thresholds for two-person households and persons living alone. Annual updates of the SSA poverty thresholds were based on price changes in the economy food plan. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_the_United_States)

"come on man, everyone's doing it, relax it'll be fine"
Those are the words you hear today. Everyday adolescents are pressured into doing things they don't want to do, whether it be stealing a piece of candy to doing drugs or drinking alcohol. Even though teens/ adolescents do not want to do any of those bad things, they do it to fit in and that's what everyone is so worried about in today's society..... Fitting in. As a adolescent I have been pressured into doing things I wouldn't want to do, but again I wanted to fit in and did things I now regret doing. Teens are also being pressured to do things they don't want to do because they don't get enough attention at home. I know a friend who is an alcoholic at the age of 17 because he doesn't have the attention and love and care he has at home. He said he never had a positive role model in his life so he decided to become best buds with his friend Corona because they will never let him down or leave him. People who underage drink and do drugs, etc. are more likely to develop brain defects and develop mental disorder by the time they're in their 30's. So here's the deal. Don't fall into peer pressure no matter how hard you want to "fit in" because it's not worth it, think of the long run, and make the right choice.

Peer Pressure on Teen Drinking

        Many teens feel like an outsider and crave the feel of acceptance and want to be liked by their friends. This urge can be so strong that they involve themselves in drinking or drug use to help them make friends, fit in or be accepted. Teenage drinking and drug use may give kids an in with a desired clique because if the kids your teen wants to hang out with are drinking or doing drugs, they may feel like they need to do them as well. Also, kids may use drugs or drink to change their image. Some teens are under the influence and engage in teenage drinking as a way to change or uphold a reputation at school to one they see as more "dangerous" or "uneasy." Underage drinking occurs in social settings: According to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among teenagers, aged 12 to 20 who had used alcohol in the past month, most (80.9 percent) were with two or more people the last time they drank alcohol. Teens may use alcohol to fit in when moving to a new school or town. According to whydrink.com, students who move to a new school are 56% more likely to drink and do drugs just so they can be accepted and have friends and not be secluded and lonely. Some kids perceive drugs or teenage drinking as a way to easily fit in and make friends in an unfamiliar environment. Everyday more and more teenagers all around the world die of alcohol poisoning; is it worth it? Is it worth you're life just to "fit in"  If you get pressured into doing anything by your so called "friends" then those friends aren't worth having! Live your life... Only got one! So why not make it out to the fullest? Stop drinking.

We Came. We Saw. Blue Tape

      You have seen everyone's blog about how blue tape is "important" to our "education" But you do not realize HOW important blue tape is. Every day I walk into class all tired and annoyed because of how early we have to be in school , that's a whole nother blog story, and sit down at my desk waiting to be given piles of work; when all of a sudden a smile creeps along my face! "Blue Tape" I cry out in excitementit never fails and I am so relieved there is blue tape on the board because without it, I am not capable of focusing in class. Oh my gosh the blue tape! with its blue... tapeness standing out on the board! I love it! Every teacher who doesn't have blue tape in their classroom the students will not be prepared for when they get out into the real world, isn't that what High School is about? getting us ready to go into the real world? Plus blue tape is also a good way to keep a student quiet; It helps calme the mood of the class so the class doesn't misbehave. I think every teacher who doesn't have blue tape should be severely punished.

      Now... let's get serious... Blue tape is a complete waste of time! Having blue tape does not do anything but take up space on our board and cause distractions in class. People are sooo worried about how funding in school is so low, blah blah blah, when the school has to go out and WASTE their money and buy blue tape for the teachers to put in their classroom. What is it suppose to do anyway? Keep us focused? Better our education? I didn't even realize my teacher already had it on her board! We should be focusing on the more IMPORTANT things to do in the schools and not waste our time putting blue tape on the board! I know I sound very repetitive but you also have to tell a child more than once do something for them to get it done. So as I finish I just want to say how blue tape is a complete waste our time andshould not be put in our schools.

The tea party movement

            On January 19, 2009, Graham Makohoniuk, a part-time trader and a member of Ticker Forum, posted a casual invitation on the market-ticker.org forums to "Mail a tea bag to congress and to senate." a tactic that had first been attempted by the Libertarian Party in 1973. The idea quickly caught on with others on the forum, some of whom reported being attracted to the inexpensive, easy way to reach "everyone that voted for the bailout."

            The founder of market-ticker.org, Karl Denninger,published his own write-up on the proposed protest, titled "Tea Party February 1st?," which was posted in direct response to President Obama's inauguration occurring on the same day, and railed against the bailouts, the US national debt and "the fraud and abuse in our banking and financial system" which included the predatory lending practices currently at the center of the home mortgage foreclosure crisis Karl Denninger, who helped form FedUpUSA in the wake of the March 2008 Federal reserve bail out of Bear Sterns, had been a guest on both Glenn Beck and CNBC Reports by February  the idea had spread among conservative and libertarian-oriented blog forums, websites and through a viral email campaign, and Denninger has since been credited as one of the founders of the movement, and the organizer for the first Tea Party event.
           
            The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009. It endorses reduced government spending, opposition to taxation in varying degrees, reduction of the national debt and federal budget deficit, and adherence to an originalist interpretation of the United States Constitution.

            The Tea Party movement has caucuses in the House of Representatives and the Senate of the United States. The Tea Party movement has no central leadership, but is composed of a loose affiliation of national and local groups that determine their own platforms and agendas.

            The Tea Party's most noted national figures include Republican politicians such as Ron Paul, Sarah Palin, Dick Armey, Eric Cantor, and Michele Bachmann, with Paul described by some as the "intellectual godfather" of the movement. The Tea Party movement is not, as of 2011, a national political party; polls show that most Tea Partiers consider themselves to be Republicans, and the movement's supporters have tended to endorse Republican candidates. Commentators including Gallup editor-in-chief Frank Newport have suggested that the movement is not a new political group, but simply a rebranding of traditional Republican candidates and policies. An October 2010 Washington Post canvass of local Tea Party organizers found 87% saying "dissatisfaction with mainstream Republican Party leaders" was "an important factor in the support the group has received so far"