The Extent of Education Provided by Schools

             Schools are institutions set to educate and broaden the minds of the youth. However, how far can that go if different types of learning methods are restricted and certain types of intelligences are avoided from being taught. Most schools focus on establishing "book smart", but not much "street smart". Critical thinking for important futuristic responsibilities and duties need to be set in the curriculum; from setting up a business plan to making wise contract decisions. Artistic intelligence has also been degraded and valued less in comparison to materialistic intelligence. The only well-rounded subject is English, which emphasizes all types of intelligence including linguistic, interpersonal and intrapersonal. As much as the main five credit courses hold important intellect as well, there are other various knowledges that need to be looked into.  If subjects are limited in teaching, most probably so will be the class routines. The old notes-homework-test program can bore students and rid the curiousity of knowledge they may have used to obtain. Since experience is another type of learning, field trips should be promoted more often to excite the pupils back into education. It is tactics like this that revive the thirst to learn more. Although most schools do provide programs like these, it is to a low extent. Therefore, I believe that the education a school gives needs to cover all types of intelligences in order to reach 100%, otherwise, the students' minds will ever be so close-minded.

Italian Artist Paints Up His Own Nation

           Huffington Post's "Opiemme Writes Poetry And Letterforms Across Italy" article was written on October 23rd, 2013 by Steven P. Harrington and Jaime Rojo. 

            Italy is given a makeover top to bottom all thanks to the unique street artist, Opiemme. He set out on a country-wide road trip to beautify the streets this summer with his "journey through painting and poetry," a project inspired by poets he loves. His graffiti work covers  fourteen cities with words from Italian literature, including Rome. His masterpieces are scattered on the walls and sidewalks of densely populated areas where people can interpret the meanings behind the paint. Opiemme's messages usually revolve around spiritual love, wisdom, and government corruption. "Opiemme says he likes to explore the border between poetry and image, public and private, and to use the printed word as a graphic element on which to build more meanings, even as he sometimes disconnects the letters from their original context", the article reports. That through his kilometer wide murals, a certain environmental or social theme will be understood. It is the virtuoso of artists like Opiemme who shape the world around them according to their eye. No matter if they paint the alleys or the Sistine Chapel. 

Male Dancers Are Not Homosexual

            The blog is based on the Huffington Post's "Nigel Lythgoe, 'So You Think You Can Dance' Producer, talks Gay Stereotypes of Male Dancers" interview article on 10/5/13 (author unknown).
            Many claim that society is open-minded and less conservative nowadays. However, that tends to be the opposite. How come people are still being classified with such ingorance based upon what they love? Nigel Lythgoe, producer from "So You Think You Can Dance", is outraged on the American stereotype which assumes most male dancers to be gay. "In this day and age, what the hell? Why should you be labeled in anything that you do?" he states. Furthur into Europe, professional men stand tall and broad performing magnificient dance routines with all due respect. While back at the English culture, only major popstars who sing alongside choreography are accepted. Many mock the guys in tights who do ballet, when most are oblivious of the atheletic strength those boys have to obtain to carry out that dance. 
            Although Lythgoe is dissapointed in this era, he was certainly optimistic on the future generations ahead. He had seen an increase of fathers applauding their sons in their dance careers. Big time quarterbacks after practice head to the studio to practice their ballet. By working on their flexibility, the risk of being injured during a football game is decreased. Dance has become its own sport. Unfortunately, most of America has not realized it yet. 
             As out and about this decade has become, the hater spirit arousing has to be halted. Hobbies and sports people love to do are being put down based upon irrational criticism. It is time to stop judging individuals opon their uniqueness. 

Our Fat Furry Friends

             The Huffington Post's " Fat Pets A Growing Problem as 1 In 4 American Dogs And Cats Declared Overweight" was written on October 9th, 2013 by Stephanie Pappas.
             Pets in the household are treated like family. However, if parents strive to be a good influence on their children, maybe they should do the same for their furry friends. Unfortunately, one's bad eating habits reflects directly on his or her animal. That's right. According to statistics by the Banfield Pet Hospital, one out of every four dogs and cats are overweight in the U.S. When obesity rates rose in the country for people, who knew it would affect animals as well? The issue has even initiated a "National Pet Obesity Awareness Day" on October 9th.
            "Banfield collects nationwide data on pet health through its 800 animal hospitals spread over 43 states", the article states. Research proves that overweight dogs have become 37% more prevalant compared to five years ago. And shockingly, overweight cats have become 90% more common. 
            However, even with the sickening evidence, around 70% of pet owners do not recognize this as a problem. Veteranarians declare the need to put the creatures on a diet because extra weight means a higer risk of arthritis, heart disease, and respiratory trouble. The same health issues apply to them as well as to humans. It is time for animal lovers all across the country to wake up and pay attention to their pets' health. 

                                                                        

The Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

         The presentation is based upon the speech Robert F. Kennedy gave on the assasination of Martin Luther King Jr. His message to the people comforted and assured many on the steps he will take as president to rid all injustices, including the discrimination of color.  He  informed the citizens of the tragic event, yet proposed a change. Kennedy urged all Americans to unite and destroy prejudice of any kind once and for all. The speech covered every literary aspect except classical oration, induction and the toulmin model. However, the other points made were superb and almost impossible to argue against. The deduction of the passage expressed the purpose of the speech percisely. By referring to Martin Luther King’s assassination, he is able to show an example of how discrimination can ruin a country. Therefore, his argument is clear on why it should be stopped.          

        Props are given to Annie and Arus for having crisp points describing every existing aspect of the speech. They were to the point, yet said all that had to be heard. Presenting, they had great communication skills with the audience by having constant eye contact while keeping an exciting tone of voice. Although a few more pictures and a better color scheme would have made the presentation more vibrant, the content of their work remains excellent. The topic was intruiging and educated many on this shaky period of American history. Well done! 

The Musical Village

        The Huffington Post's "Inside The Plan To Transform New Orleans Into A Giant Musical  Playground" was written on October 3rd, 2013 by Priscilla Frank. It was based upon a headline sure to turn heads.
        The ramshackle of an old run-down New Orleans town is transformed by a zealous group of street muscicians. The Dithyrambalina is a 150-year old village transfigured into a giant musical playground by creating musical instruments out of the structures of the cottage houses. Stairs became pipe organs while floorboards became amplifiers. The streets glow and are enchanted with lanterns, as the whole town is awaken with music and light. Many describe this unique place as a village that “popped right out of an urban fairytale”. One can even consider it a real-life Disney movie. However, it is not the storybooks that have brought this town back to life, it is the people who go to it. The article states that “throughout its life, the village welcomed 15,000 visitors and 500 students to practice and study musical arts over there”. So far, major art guilds like the Mardi Gras Indian Tribe and the New Orleans Master Crafts are partnering up with the village.  

         "The most important thing to us is the idea that old, run-down looking things still have value," the Dithyrambalina co-founder Jay Pennington explains. "And that the value that they have is in the stories that they carry. And those stories can be brought to life through music. Giving life to architecture, so that people can live with it, experience it, and learn what there is to learn from what's left behind."

         It is innovative minds like Jay Pennington who do not exist in their surrounding world, but whom create it. Surely the Dithyrambalina will prosper into a symphonic city, in which a musical revolution will begin.