Middle School Act III…Hope?

I remember just three years ago I was headed towards a final year in Elementary school. The very concept of fifth grade was rarely looked upon as a enticing year to endure. At this point teachers were not the problem on most kinds minds. Ironically as my twin brother and I were reaching the top of the tree our older brother fell short. So you have two fifth graders and a freshman in high school, what to do? I try to not even think of fifth grade as a part of Elementary school, but more of a gateway between Elementary and middle. As a man grows so must the environments surrounding. Now eighth grade, months ago I refused to utter such an idea, given the situation…months ago.

Social networking, when approaching the age of 13 to 15, the idea of having friends on a screen and being able to oversee your own little world, may sound pretty cool. It is. Whether you like social networking or not, the battle is lost. Over 500 million people have been introduced to some sort of online “connection.” To be very frank, you are the one who controls the experience online. Showing revealing photos, arguing, tearing up friendships. Or, seeing the very first pictures of your new nephew. Between dateline segments on the dangers of online communication to stories that tell of a 9-11 call placed on a twitter account saving a woman’s life. The back and fourth between good and bad continues on and on. Don’t try to get caught up in it. Many reasons point this way, while many point the other, this is one argument to fight another day.

Many people believe that a second chance is a gift only given to those worthy of a new opportunity. I have been given a second chance, an opportunity that will be faced with pride, power and effort. To be on the very bank of a brand new person is a wonderful feeling. Two years have passed, two years of pain that the strongest men couldn’t endure. As a new school year is days away so is a new chance. While leaving Stanley BPS will be hard, the light at the end of the tunnel looks bright. Eighth grade, Morey Middle School, time to give it all I got, I will do this, I will…

Mixed-Up McInnis

This is not just my inner Democrat looking for just another Republican to screw something up. Granted I love that when it happens, but either way, Scott McInnis, ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!? A well educated rich Colorado native, a good candidate for the open Governor seat in Colorado, Scott McInnis had things going for him. Serving in the US house of Representatives for just over a decade. For the most part Mr. McInnis was looming in the shadows, he lost for re-election in 2005 to John Salazar, the older brother of the current Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar. For the past few years, McInnis has successfully stayed under the radar. Just a few months ago, the Colorado Governor Bill Ritter announced that he would not be running for re-election in 2010. This opened a window of opportunities for McInnis.

Just as Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper was announcing his place “to serve” Colorado McInnis was right behind him, getting ready for an interesting race. Then just as McInnis was rolling in his campaign money, he screwed up. “Twenty percent of registered Republican voters who supported McInnis before this week's plagiarism revelations said they will now back another candidate.” This was just one of many different articles surrounding the Denver Posts website. Along with that continuing to evolve, Fellow Republicans are calling for McInnis to pull out.

More and more of McInnis’ followers are starting to slip away. Mr. McInnis has yet to pull out of the race, let alone even apologize. To be completely honest, I believe that Scott needs to swallow up his pride, be a man and do what is right. Again, this has nothing to do with me being more left than right, this has to do with common HUMAN precautions, this is now a question of right and wrong, not left and right. 

DQ: What should Scott McInnis Do?

Justin Bieber an Insult to the Music World

Many say that it was destiny for music star Usher to find Justin Bieber on Youtube. I will say that it may have been destiny for young Bieber to completely destroy the good that was left in the current music world. Trust me I am not another Bieber hater just because he has money, girls and fame. Granted that may be a part of it, but I honestly would rather have rusty nails shoved  into my eyeballs before I make an attempt to listen to him music. Not only has Mr... Bieber reached the top of my “most terrible artist of all time” list right on top of Richard Nixon. I know what your going to say, “Richard Nixon isn’t a music star!” But his musical talent is equal to Mr... Bieber’s. They are also equally bad people. I decided to get to know my enemy a little more to see if he is decent in any walks of life. I visited his website with a pretty low expectation. I was ASTONISHED that even with an expectation that he would make me throw up, he`is musical talent or rather lack of talent put me in the hospital.

Probably a multi-million dollar website was filled to the top with, shallow, inconsiderate, disgusting and STUPID pictures, videos and of course music. The only word I could use to describe him without being breaking anyone's morals would be “POSER!” Mr... Bieber’s music could tear the skin off of most grown adults. His lyrics are completely unoriginal, just repetitive and stupid. This is one of the few times that I will say, youtube and the internet let me down by making Mr... Bieber a star. Take a look at Justin, a 15 year old only child from Canada! What are the chances that Justin already had a very privileged life, just use common sense. If some kid was a family of 12, living in the projects of New York, I may have been more impressed.

People say that he is a natural talent, playing the piano, drums, guitar and trumpet. Lets take another look at how much sense it makes that he learned that by himself. Not to attack his parents but I feel that it would be very likely that he was provided with the best teachers in Canada. Think about that for a moment. All of his songs sound the exact SAME!! OPEN YOU EARS AMERICA, he is nothing but a kid that obviously had connections in the music world. Do you expect me to believe he got rappers like Ludacris just by his music? I refuse to believe that he did that without a pretty some of cash. 

Hey their twins!!!!                                                        

Backward Alley Investigative Team

In the world of major media, people are “addicted” to news and current events. People spend countless hours writing, producing and creating articles or segments for the public to enjoy at their own pace. The same happens for journalism. Journalists literally devote their life to getting the word out in anyway that is possible. Whether it is a blog, magazine or newspaper, the public has some sort of connection with news. So that leaves an unanswered question: what type of journalism is best for the public? Right now I can say with confidence that it will take you a very long time to answer that question. I am very interested in all types of journalism.  I have tried many different areas of this topic.

For some reason I have been extremely interested in a certain type of reporting. This specific kind of reporting requires patience, great writing, and a lot of research. Investigative journalism is a very challenging area of news and media. Some of our family friends have been reporters for 20 years and just within the last 3 years they were experienced enough to take on the role of investigator. Obviously I am not ready for the NYT investigative team, but starting up a new team didn’t seem too bad an idea. Ever since my magazine stopped being published there has been an empty space in my mind thinking how could I put another sort of “team” together again. Then it hit me! What if I started an independent investigative team? What was the harm? Who could stop us? And most importantly WHAT WOULD BE THE NAME???!!!??

Thus Backward Alley was born! A collection of smart, kind, clever and willing writers makes up the first collection of team members. You may recognize a lot of them from Outcast Party. New faces along with older partners, all very excited to do this. Many may say, “oh its just another one of Noah’s ideas that will be neat at first and then fall apart.” The chances of that happening actually are very high. But for now I’m keeping an open mind, and taking everything into consideration. Please, if you would like to join our cause don’t hesitate to comment below or contact me at my email address noah@noahreynolds.net 

Get ready world: Backward Alley is coming your way!

Tag Line: “Staying strong in weak times”

The Death of Hip Hop

Back in the day their use to be something called hip hop. Hip hop was one of the main sources of music in the 90’s and early 2000’s. But the idea and concept of hip hop has been replaced by rap music. Don’t get me wrong, I love rap, but the way that artists are singing these days is an abomination. All that singers and rappers care about these days is music and fame. It use to be music always came first then the money and the fame. Not to mention the STUPID lyrics coming out of these guys mouths. Very few people still have smart lyrics and good beats. Even one of my favorite rappers in the last few years has let money get to him. Lil Wayne use to be a clever well put together artist until is number one single “Lollipop” he has had good stuff after that but not much.

In his recent mix tape that leaked out, I was amazed and pretty astounded by how well he did. But still with his passed performances I am yet to stay loyal to him. More than half of the time rappers don’t even have lyrics, only three words repeated 20 or so times with a cool beat. I recently went to a concert for one of the classic hip hop/rap artists of all time. Jay-Z is an amazing talent, great lyrics, good beat and a all around classy guy. But guys such as Drake frankly are offensive to what use to be great music.

Another great artist is Mos Def, while he is relatively new he still keeps a consistent career and great songs with his partner in crime Talib Kweli and they make Black Star. But you can’t forget the other classics, Nas, Common, Dr. Dre, Outkast, Wyclef Jean, Biz Markie and T.I. (recently released from jail)  My point in all of this is to get the word out. Take a moment to listen to what you are playing on your iPod, and start caring about the music and not about how “cool” or “hip” an artist is. Keep those rappers above in mind if your in the mood for great music.

DQ: Favorite Hip Hop Artist?

The State of our Hospitals

Years back, I was admitted to a “school” at Denver’s Children's Hospital. This “school” was a school for kids with psychotic problems. Anger management, depression, suicide watch ect. Thos two weeks…the most disorganized, poorly put together and worst place that I could have been. Two years later, I am in the same situation, mean people and terrible service. Before you even say it I know that it sounds like I am describing a bad hotel, but considering the problems that these kids were facing, we should have had freaking room service for the way they treated us.

The teachers were mean, not to mention the rude therapists. Half of the kids are were because they wanted to kill themselves. And the way that we were so mean, rude and unkind being there didn’t help me at all. The only reason I got out of there was because acted like everything was fine and that being there was enough motivation to NEVER go back. For some reason I forgot how bad it really was. I am now back, and regret every minute of my life to get me where I am.

An article was published on medicalnewstoday.com that released the average number of deaths in hospitals each year. The result was astonishing. 195,000 people die of treatable problems in hospitals each year, give or take. To think that this number of people died under the care of professional doctors is a bit frightening, to say the least. For those people that may very well be reading this from the hospital I will not take back anything I say. This should be a turning point for you to maybe make the kids feel comfortable and safe, as apposed to the opposite.

We are there for a reason, if we have an idea of how to fix our “problems” as you call it, LISTEN! This goes for everyone in the medical business from clinics to residential. Your not getting paid to be mean to us! Think about that.

DQ: Have you ever had a bad experience at the hospital? 

Join the Revolution

A revolution is on our hands. A revolution of the damned, the left out and the cursed. A revolution of redemption, of curiosity and for those who care. noahreynolds.net is a new revolution, a revolution of the outcasts, the strange and the weird. For those who need respect and admiration. The ones that need to be taken seriously. Taken by force and taken for a cause. If none come to us, we will come to them. They will scream in terror as they find the ones that where on the bottom soon to be on the top. Through the deepest trenches of dread up to the sky of remorse we will overcome. We build a society under the laws of common sense and basic principles.

The shouts of celebration and merriment. To the fears of bullies and those who don’t care. Maturity is a key thing to life, those who posses this key quality are welcome, and those who don’t will struggle. Friendships will be formed and stay together. Enemies will become acquaintances, and to service those who will rise. This revolution is a new revolution, breaking the boundaries of internet journalism, and journalism all together. The strong will become weak and the weak strong. Nobody will dare question the authority of the revolution.

noahreynolds.net is now a revolution, and many are to follow. To break out of the normality of everyday life and everyday people is a requirement. Now is your choice, will you join up with the strong or stay with the weak? Will you join the REVOLUTION?

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The Future of Print

By Noah Reynolds

 

Many Different blogs, videos and articles that are circulating the internet have a very interesting idea about the future of print journalism. From the Sony Kindle that supposedly is the replacement of printed books, all the way to the new Apple iPad, both seem to be putting the “old school” way of getting the word out down in the dumps. By old school I mean printed. Newspapers and magazines are either turning to the electronic way of spreading the news or even blogs to do the work. On Boston Universities Independent Newspaper “The Daily Free Press” an article states that all of the revenue for newspapers and magazines seem to be suffering tremendously and are having to cut back on the essentials. Lay offs and less issues are all too familiar for most of the Countries best magazines.

My favorite publication “Psychology Today” is one of those magazines that really is feeling the pain. The once monthly magazine has turned to every two months and doubled its subscription price. One thing that seems quite strange to me is that even with the decreasing number of printed publications and the rising number of blogs, people STILL seem to criticize all of the blogs and bloggers. A while back on CBS’ show “Face the Nation” a Washington Post writer compared bloggers and blogging as “Potential Terrorism”

Lets back up one moment, the woman who works for the Washington Post is saying that blogging is Terrorism. The Washington Post that has one of the biggest blogs out of any publication around the US. Things are starting to get strange, on the website publishing2.com an article about this very issue is started off like this “Print is dead and all content wants to be free”

Wow! That is all I can say about the issue, Bloggers are saying that print is dead, printers are saying that print is dead and frankly most of the consumers and readers believe that most of print Journalism is gone. Please people of the internet don’t make print dead, read magazines and newspapers, and read the blogs, like this one.

 

DQ: Do you think print is dead?

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