Blogging

Blogging has given many the opportunity to voice their thoughts, questions, and opinions. It has given the term citizen journalism actual meaning. Blogging allows the world to connect on many different levels. We were able to learn about the thoughts of a soldier while at war, a recently unemployed woman's venting of her life after her career, the up to date news from a student that was there during the Columbine shooting, and the thoughts of a corrupted government from a woman in Cuba. Blogging has provided many advantages for the average Joe, and will continue to do so as long as the public has something to say.
Yoani Sanchez, a well known blogger all over the world is one person that is smart enough to take advantage of citizen journalism. Citizen joirnalism, as Sachez puts it is someone with no professional training who cares enough to document their life through words, and images. Individuals that are part of events worth recording are citizen journalists. She says she started blogging as a platform to vent her frustrations of everyday living in Cuba sort of like an exorcism of thoughts. Blogging has allowed Sanchez to express her opinions and thoughts and at the same time affecting others by those same thoughts and opinion. She has gained an international following as well as raised some eyebrows within in her countries governement. Through Yoani Sanchezs' online magazine Contodos she has been given a public forum to express the injustices and corruption going on with her country in a tasteful and respectable manner. Sanchez has been recognized not only in her country of Cuba for her work but in America and many other countries as well.
Although there are so many positive things being gained through one persons thoughts, there are pitfalls and liabilities from this as well. Readers might have a tendency to follow ones thoughts religiously that it affects the thoughts of the indiviual, in turn swaying their opinions into the bloggers opinions. If one were to rely solely on Yoani Sanchezs' blog then they are at a huge disadvantage because this is the opinion of one person. Relying on one persons thoughts about an entire country doesnt allow the viewer to fully experience their own ideas of the country or subject. The individual wont be able to make their own opinions or thoughts because it has already been skewed by the blogger.
Ultimately blogging has become a positive outlet for one to express their thoughts and feelings on certain subjects. It is a way to preserve relationships, vent frustrating thoughts, and also allow others to walk a day in their shoes. Though in many countries the thoughts of individuals have been monitored and tracked, followers find creative ways of getting those thoughts through the public. Citizen journalism has given the public the truth that mainstream media might be to afraid to reveal. We have individuals like Yoani Sanchez, Salam Pax, and Citizen Smash to thank, all bloggers who felt it necessary to show us what it is like to live a day in their lives.

Rolling 101

So I was on the train a few evenings ago as usual I was playing solitaire then stopped to play bubble breaker,awsome game game by the way. The train was emptying out and only a few passengers were left in my car. I noticed there was a guy correcting papers, so I suppose he was a teacher. When he was done grading his papers he pulled out a different type of paper, rolling paper. This guy rolled a joint right in front of me, I was blown away.
I have nothing against people that smoke up, most of my friends have been known to do it here and there. I see nothing wrong with it,to each his own. I just hope that smoking isn't affecting the way he educates his students. We already have a horrible education system and I would hate to think that his students are suffering just because their teacher wants to toke up.

Kids today ....

The other day I was on the train and a whole bunch of high school kids got on at the same time. This is the time I can get get my studying/reading done, but not this time. These kids were talking so loud, they were practically screaming. I don't understand they were in the same group, why did they to spread out throughout the car. There was this girl talking/screaming to one of her friends on the other side of the train. The language they were using was also disgusting, every third word was F this and F that. There was another girl who kept bothering everyone on the train, lucky me I was sitting right next to her. I wonder why she didn't say anything to me, I think it's because I was sitting next to her ,she only bothered people who walked by her or who she knew was getting off the train.
Sometimes I feel when people/ kids engage in this type of behavior they just want people to listen to them. Maybe they have no one to listen to them at home, and feel by acting this way their friends will think that they are cool...I don't know why... The strangest thing though one of her friends commented "girl you are so loud, are like this at home?" she replied, "hell no, at home I am so quiet." I usually get very annoyed with this type of behavior because like I said this is my study time. Then I think to myself there has to be a reason why they are acting this way...... this calms me down.At home she might not get the chance to be herself and over does it when she is with her friends or maybe she is someone who feels she has to act this way in order to keep her friends entertained. She seemed like a sweet girl overall, maybe she does need someone to hear her out...... maybe.

Self Improvement or Something to Hide?

I was on the train yesterday evening and once again everyone beat me to a seat. I found a pole to grab on to dear life and proceeded to play solitaire, as i looked up I noticed this girl was reading a book. I usually like to see what people are reading these days, and maybe add to my Summer reading list. The book she was reading had an interesting title " How to Gain Friends and Influence People". I thought to myself do these books actually work. I mean I see so many self-help books out there but they all get lost in the sea of so many others.
She seemed to be really into this book with all the high lighting and note taking between the margins. The funny thing is when she saw one of her friends, I suppose and old friend, she immediately put the book away as if she was embarrassed about it. It made me think do we really know who are friends are, do they have hidden lives or issues that they are to embarrassed to admit. I also thought about what Prof. Henken spoke about in class, how everyone portrays a certain identity with certain people. I just thought it was really interesting.

Crazy People

So I was coming home this evening , the trains were packed as usual ...... everyone was in a rush to get home. I was busy playing solitaire on my phone, not paying attention to what was going on around me. All of a sudden I hear some really loud banging noises coming from the end of the car. This definitely caught my attention, so I started to look around... who or what do I see, this guy talking to himself and banging on the seat next to him. He was wearing a sheerling vest with no shirt under it, and looked a bit scruffy. At first I couldn't make out what he was saying, he started to yell louder and louder ,"Sheepshead Bay no Jews, no Blacks, no gays." I have lived in Brooklyn almost all of my life and never have I heard or experienced anything remotely pertaining to this type of discrimination. I have always thought of Brooklyn as sort of the United Nations of all the boroughs. Anyways thank god my stop was next because he seemed to be getting more angrier and angrier.

Too Funny

Don't you hate it when people push you out of the way in order to get a seat .... well thats exactly what I saw today .... The train was really packed and one of the passengers had gotten up to exit the train. This woman pushed another woman out of the way with her grocery bag in order to get the seat. The woman that was pushed started to curse and mutter things under her breath ..... it was hilarious. The other woman pretended like the other woman didn't exist. The funny thing was that half the train got out on the next stop ... seriously is a seat worth all that?

Unbelievable!

What do you do when a pregnant woman gets on the train? ... you get up and you give her the seat right...... I mean thats what I do all the time no matter how crowded the train may be ..... Today not a person got up for this woman. Her stomach was totally visible and any one could see that this woman is clearly pregnant. I just dont understand how some people can be so inconsiderate.

Go Yankees!

Friday was insane never have I seen so many New Yorkers come together for the greatest baseball team in history. The trains were flooded. I met a very friendly family that was able to get some incredible pictures of the players up close. They offered to email it to me and I was so greatful for that. On the way home, my friends and I being a slightly bit intoxicated started making friends with random strangers. They were all so nice to us at least thats what I thought, remember were were under the influence. A really nice Guyanese woman allowed us to take a picture with her. She spoke about the area she was from, I believe it was George Town. My brother decided to try and hang up side down from the train railings, sadly he was left with a slight concussion .... lesson learned.