“Whadda ya , whadda have em on,… whadda gas em up with(referring to the seemingly giddy audience members)?”Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner, Joaquin Phoenix, 34, had many people speechless and in stitches when he made an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. Promoting his new movie, Two Lovers starring Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow , and Vinessa Shaw. Phoenix was full of mumbles and quick one-liners such as “yes…..” Dressed in all black, sun glasses and bread that was nostalgic of Andy Kaufman when he pulled in homeless prank on the same show in 1980.

“I don’t understand this maniacal laughter…I don’t know what the clip ? Your doing fine……..” Phoenix blurts at Letterman who replies with “I come to your house and chew gum” to which Phoenix responds by removing the gum his mouth and placing under Letterman’s desk.

Many parodies have appeared since its initial airing. The internet is speculating that the interview was a joke or prank considering that Phoenix conducted an interview early that day and he was coherent. Only time will tell if the phoenix witnessed by the Late Show’s audience will rise again.

Solo Star Indeed

After five years of silence, Solange Knowles is back and this time she is taking no prisoners with her sophomore effort SoL-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams. This go round Mrs. Knowles manifested her destiny by creating an album that is a true reflection of who she is as an artist. Solange has managed to avoid many of the pitfalls of her first album SoloStar , by taking creative control of her career. At first listen to the single’s “I decided” and “Sandcastle Disco”, the audience get’s the impression that this album is paying homage to the greats of Motown. Although, that is what the singles may say to the public ,the album’s standout tracks scream of an artist who has found her voice and is unafraid to utilize it. Songs such as T.O.N.Y , This Bird, and Would’ve been the one truly showcase Knowles voice and lyrical content . T.O.N.Y is a song about a guy who solange met and just can’t seem to shake. The songs infectious chant “I would have been in love by now if it wasn’t for T.O.N.Y , T.O.N.Y” ring in the listeners head well after the song has ended .and if the fact that the song was catchy wasn’t enough , Solange uses T.O.N.Y to invoke the spirit of Martha and the vandellas at their prime in 1965. Another song where Ms. Solange struts her stuff is the Jack Splash produced “Would’ve been the One”. Knowles proves she has guts by belting about the misfortune of a lost love. Solange does not have the robust voice of her sister, in spite of this she manages to impress those who doubt her vocal ability. Solange’s agile soprano is something to be in awe of. In an age, where many artist are restricted to a three note range, it is refreshing to see a pop singer who can sing, and not yell. Hadley St. Dreams, like all albums does have its sour moments. The errors are minor, but they are errors nonetheless. At times Hadley St. Dreams can be a little too eclectic for even this journalist’s diverse taste. The song “Cosmic journey” has a melodic tone that is easy on the ears but after three minutes and eleven seconds the song takes and unexpected twist into “techno town”. Often, times artists change the directions of a song in order to take the listener on a journey, but Cosmic Journey takes me on a trip I wish would end. Another moment where Knowles takes liberties is “This Bird” a musical declaration of self-love. The song chronicles her struggles and victories in life. The issue with the song comes when she starts talking and the song changes directions again, leaving the audience scratching their heads. Solange Knowles has made an album that will cause many to forget about the mishap that is SoloStar. SoL-Angel and the Hadley St.Dreams was given the world the opportunity to see that Solange is more than Beyonce’s baby sister. Solange is a sister but, she is also a mother, daughter , song writer , actress, and now she is a recording star. Stepping out on one’s own is never an easy thing to do, but Ms.Knowles has managed to do just that.

Hip - Hop goes Pop

Forty years in the game and she just ain’t the same she was raised in the Bronx ,New York, She stood proud, strong, and true. And those who love her dear ,say she has lost her value. In the 1970’s, she helped SugerHill Gang find their “Rappers Delight.” During the 1980’s, she helped Public Enemy “Fight the Power,” yet she never forgot her girls. She and MC Lyte let the fellas know that if they are gonna “spit” game it better not be “Paper Thin”.

She has been there from the start in the beat, rhythm, and hearts of those who admire her. She’s experienced many highs and lows. Common thought she lost her way when she moved out west and started “hangin” wit those “gangstas.” She has always been the star of show garnishing attention everywhere she went. Nowadays she has hooked up with an all new crew, guys named Kanye ,

Wayne , and a cat named Lupe.

Some men claim to love her yet use her to get by. What’s become of her cannot be denied. She’s being loved but is not in love with who she’s become. Alphonse McCullough, former Source magazine writer and producer of Rap City, says, “In my opinion hip-hop is a youth culture” and as a matter of fact that is the truth. Hip-Hop is providing the masses with what they want. Some claim hip-hop as culture has maintained its vigor and essence, however there are those who feel that has been a serious loss of substance. She is a part of pop culture, yet the culture she targets consequently does benefit the one, that reared her up.

East to West, North to South, few could say they didn’t know what she was about. Those who doubted her would come love her, name her, and call her hip-hop. . Hip-hop is now a brand, something that stands to make many people a lot of money. An example of how hip-hop has become a brand is the creation of “KarmaLoop, an urban streetwear website” founded by Greg Selkoe in 2001. Since its conception, the karmaloop website has managed to garnish 2.5 million visitors a month.

She grows financially in worth, but her soul is hurt. Jesse Marbury ,a junior education major, believes that“90’s hip-hop was the pinnacle of hip-hop. Dance moves were simple, now they’re complex.” Marbury, a native New Yorker, claims that he cannot even listen to it anymore. Edwin I. Johnson, Morgan Alum and Higher Education Administrator, says “Hip-Hop has been overtaken by commercialism.” Johnson goes on to say “Rap music was more positive. Krs One called it Edutainment, It motivated you to learn.”

Hip-hop’s followers are immense in numbers , but her true lovers stand the test of time Morgan’s own rap group. Any Means Necessary (AMN), consists of four group members Dwine (Dweez),Craig (young Mab), Donnie(Don), and Flor (Ladi). Meeting three years ago, these young men found they shared a common love of Hip-Hop rapping back in O’Connell hall. When the group asked what direction Hip-Hop is taking , Dweez responds “It’s on its way [to being pop].” Ladi follows up. “There was a message, there is a lack of substance. If you’re gonna do pop, still have a message.”

A mother to a generation, she appears ageless throughout the years Alphonse McCullough says “Hip-hop is meeting the needs of the people.” It appears that hip- hop is meeting the needs of the people. Hip-Hop is included in every aspect of society. Nowadays rockers are rapping, suburban kids are break dancing, and elderly people are using the slang. At first thought this transition to the main stream maybe humorous but the central themes are disappearing. No one is pointing out the ills of society or taking responsibility for the affects the music is having on “urban youth” . Johnson states with what appears a sort of remorse “Artists are socially irresponsible , they fail to realize the impact their content has .”

Forty years in the game and she just aint the same, she was raised in the Bronx, New York. She stood proud, strong, and true and those who love her dear, say she has lost her value. Ladi, of A.M.N says, “I want people to have hope and feel refreshed, I want to be the defibrillator that revives music.” Ladi speaks of hope and that is something hip-hop thrived on, giving people who, society wrote off “Hope” to make a change. As time goes on she will grow and change, and the more things change, they will stay the same.

Me

Green Movement Lacks Color

One’s ethnic background has always been a hot topic of discussion, in America; despite the arrival of more pressing issues such as global warming, one begins to wonder when the waves of racism will subside. As a community, blacks have been trying to catch up with the majority society since post slavery moreover; Minority participation in the Green movement is almost non- existent. The rate in which global warming is occurring is quite alarming. Movies such as The Day After Tomorrow are now becoming reminders of what the affects of global warming are. There has been a sort of “call to arms” in response to the Earth’s climate.

Many have heeded this “call to arms”, however, people of color have somehow “missed the memo.” The Green movement or Energy Coalition lacks diversity for a number of reasons. The pressures of Dailey struggles tend to overshadow the need to worry about the environment. Never the less, there is a need for the effects of climate change to be properly communicated to ethic people.

Urban communities are falling prey to environmental crimes that place their livelihoods and health at risk. Environmental crimes are white-collar crimes, which target ethnic or low-income communities and place health risks such as power plants near homes. Scenes such as this one are all too familiar thus, allowing the cycle to continue. Another common scene is the suburban area that does not have a power plant in the community.

The difference between these to two scenarios is the people in the suburbs go to their council members about environmental issues and they take an active part in their community. Meanwhile, people living in urban communities to maintain the status quoi and suffer. People of color want to get involved in the green movement, however they may not know how. The need to educate all people about the effects of the changing climate is one that is quite dire.

The Green Movement has always been a white movement but this can change with the involvement of minorities. Communication is a key factor in getting people involved in the environmental movement. The Information should be provocative. People should understand how they are personally affected. If someone were writing a song, it would have a target audience in mind, during the creative process. Information should meet people where they are , moreover so it can be applied to their personal lives.

Minorities have to voice their concerns about their communities, or no one else will. Yes, the Green Movement is a wonderful thing that is getting people from all lifestyles involved. There are many different types of organizations dedicated to bringing more people of color into the movement, Organizations such as Environmental Justice Climate Change Initiative (EJCC).

These organizations are trying to promote ethnic participation in the movement. There is a great need for the Latino’s, African - Americans and Asians to take part in the Energy Action Coalition. If minorities fail to their voice their opinions, they will proceed to lose the rights in the process. There are many things to be concerned about, but we cannot be concerned about anything if we do not have a place to call home.

Toxic Village

China is home to 1.3 billion people and is a nation that is on the cusp of becoming one of the world’s leading super power. Constantly developing and growing china must find a means in which to support its vast populous and it appears that this budding nation may have found a means to and end. Electronic waste or e waste as it is referred to with great disdain has been the cause of many health problems such as birth defects, miscarriages, and lowered IQ’s in children.

Recently I saw a video called Toxic village that defined e waste and also discussed it’s many health risks that associated with e waste. The villages of Nanyang and Guiyu are home to many migrate workers whose job it is to dismantle any electronics that come are exported from America. After failing to sign the Basel Ban of 1994 America has continued to export electronics to villages in china. The streets on Nanyang are littered with stacks of dismembered electronics that are waiting to be burned or reused. At twelve dollars the migrate workers are exposed to a number of poisons such as Mercury, Lead, and congou that . Dr. quo reported that “ the blood lead is higher than in other groups.”

Prolonged exposure can cause a person to suffer a number of health afflictions such as learning disorders and a lower IQ. It’s been stated that the air in these villages are foggy, dirty, and dusty, inducing headaches and respiratory issues for outsiders. the Health defects may also be a bi product of the fact that parts that cannot be “recycled “ art burned in a local power plants . Government has made a point to keep the atrocious acts a secret from the rest of the world. People who carry video cameras are met with resistance on the part of the residents who appear protective of their communities.

The growing mass media in china has made it their mission to hold the Chinese government accountable for pollution they are pumping into these communities. The Chinese government has had little to no choice in the matter of cleaning of towns that piled to the brim with e waste. The news feed of Toxic village was filmed in 2003 and as of 2005; the rate of which e-waste is being shipped to china is being regulated. The numbers of people with high lead blood problems in Nanyang and Guiyu has been reduced to 25 percent, however this is still higher than what normal people are living with. America could take heed from China’s efforts to reduces ewaste, after all America is the largest producers of ewaste yet fails to acknowledge the contribution. this is the Toxic villsge video with footage of the e wastelands in china http://current.com/items/76355482/toxic_villages.htm

What's done in the dark...must come to light!

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What's done in the dark...must come to light!
Reginald Larkin
Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: Campus Life

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The year 2009 , is being considered a time of change with the election of first African American president , Barack Obama and the record breaking numbers of people who showed up to vote. While it appears that change is occurring on a national level, it appears that Morgan State University is experiencing change in a rather less conducive manner. According to the Maryland State archives, Morgan State is home to 7005 students, 891 of whom are graduate students and 6114 are undergrad, moreover each student pays $1,079 dollars in student fees per semester. Over the course of 4 years, each student has paid $8,632 dollars and if a student were unable to graduate in four years and stayed for five years they are paying $10,790 dollars for student fees, the undergrad students alone are contributing an estimated amount of $52,776,048 -$65,970,060 dollars to Morgan State University.
Student fees pay for the use of athletic facilities, Student Government Association (SGA), Spokesmen newspaper, health insurance, student center operations, Shuttle bus, and the maintenance of the academic facilities on campus. SGA has two people whose job it is to monitor the funds of SGA, the advisor for SGA and comptroller both handle the financial dealings of SGA.
The comptroller is a student who is appointed by the President and vice -president to supervise the accounting and financial records of SGA, however the comptroller from Coley - Briggs administration resigned, while the facts behind the resignation are still vague. The SGA constitution states that the President or Comptroller must sign off or request any funds that are used by SGA. The president must take over the responsibilities of the comptroller. Around the time, SGA lost its comptroller the SGA advisor has lost her responsibilities, which consisted of ordering supplies, print shop orders, and the processing of all financial records and contracts that come through the SGA office
. The students of SGA hold the power to decide whether their advisor will receive, overtime for working student ran events. The loss of her responsibilities also took her over time. The over time is currently facilitated through the office of Student Activities, also over time is given to employees appointed by student activities and are receiving pay for their work. The workers have no history of employment in the SGA office yet, they are payed for through student funding.

The SGA Advisor is answering phones while all of her responsibilities are redistributed to Student Activities. During the absence of the comptroller and the removal of the advisor's responsibilities, peculiar transactions began to appear. The transactions list names and amounts but no description as to how the money is spent. The amounts ranged from $2,000 .00 to $122,900.00 dollars. The sentiments are communicable with both staff and students alike as one SGA member states, "they (President and Vice President) won't let us see any of the records; they say it is not for us to see." One faculty member says "Questions need to be asked and answered," indeed if students never inquire about how students fees are spent they will never know