The Band Perry Music Review

For all those people who hate country you should really reconsider. I use to hate country and now that’s all I listen to and popular rising band you should really know is The Band Perry. You might have heard them before they have two big hits “Hip to My Heart” and “If I die Young” which was #1 on the country music charts and is nominated for a Grammy. They have more than just two songs though. I actually got one of their songs from the free on iTunes on the homepage before they were popular and known. The Band Perry is considered country, the group has a mix of both deep tear jerking songs like “If I Die Young” which was made popular by Kimberly Perry’s soulful voice describing her life up until then if it ended the next day. It’s an extremely sad song not necessarily what you want your first popular known song to be but it is wonderful and it does the job. The band has also upbeat songs like their other big hit “Hip to My Heart” which has a fun beat which is fun to sing along with at the top of your lungs. The band only has one album out right now it was released October 12^th of this year and they performed at the ACAs. They were nominated at the CMA awards for Vocal Group of the Year and then at the ACAs they were nominated for New/Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Duo/Group of the Year. They are even up for a Grammy for Best Country Song for “If I Die Young”. They have gotten really popular in country but still barely anyone knows of them, you only know the big country names but let me tell they are amazing. The Band Perry consist of Kimberly Perry, Neil Perry, and Reid Perry all siblings from Mobile, Alabama. Kimberly Perry is the lead vocalist, her brother Neil plays the drums, mandolin, and accordion and is background vocals and the last bother Reid is bass guitar and background vocals also. The Band Perry’s self-titled album is their only album so far and all I can say is it is amazing from start to finish every song I believe is unique. The music on this album has amazing vocals, Kimberly has an amazing voice that I don’t find gets pitchy or screechy like some other country vocals do. The variety of instruments in the songs really contributes to the bands great sound. My personal favorites on the album are Hip to my Heart, Quittin' You, Postcards from Paris, You Lie, Independence and I Miss You Being Gone.  That is most of the album but I love this albums so much I just put it on repeat while doing my homework, I can't get enough of them.This band is on fire, the lyrics can be quirky in some songs but it works for this country group. I really like this band and I think you should check them out even though they are country. Most people say they don’t like country but they don’t understand what country is but if you listen to The Band Perry you will understand what country is and love it. Look them up and you will be surprised at this popular rising country band from Alabama.

NICK & JAY

In the story of the Great Gatsby, the main character Nick Carroway and Jay Gatsby start to build a relationship that could maybe even be called a friendship. It all starts when Jay invites Nick to one of his extravagant parties that he throws every weekend. The author leads us to believe that this is a kind gesture only because the proximity of their homes but there is a real reason. This true reason is Jay is in love with Daisy Nick’s cousin once removed. They used to know each other when Jay was stationed in Daisy’s hometown Louisville, Kentucky. They fell in love but were separated when he was sent off to war. Daisy then married Tom even though she still deeply loved Jay. Jay moved to West Egg to be near her even though she did not know that. For this reason, Jay starts a relationship with Nick in the hopes he can get closer to Daisy. So really Nick is being used for who is family is. Jay took him out to dinner in New York City and offers his many expensive things to become friends and literally be his wingman. He wanted Nick to set up tea with Daisy but not to let her know he was coming so she would not refuse because unlike her husband Tom Daisy has always been faithful. Therefore, Nick helps him out and invites Daisy to tea and Daisy and Jay’s love starts to rekindle. It was awkward in the beginning because Jay was so nervous to see the women he has loved for so long. But later Nick ends up leaving so the two could be alone together. Jay used Nick to get to Daisy and that is the theme of the relationship. Nick is not the kind of the person to use people to get what he wants he is an honest person so the using to self-benefit is a one-way street. Jay and Nick’s relationship is very beneficial to Jay but Nick get things out of the deal too like dinners in New York, and someone to cut his lawn and many other offers he turned down thinking it wasn’t right to take it all. Therefore, the relationship is beneficial to Both Jay and Nick, their relationship has developed so far in the novel because of Daisy but will Jay continue to socialize with Nick even after he has become friends Daisy again? Where will Nick and Jay’s relationship go from here?

The Real Meaning of Winter Holidays

You know Christmas and Kwanzaa

And Hanukkah and Al-Hijrah

Winter Solstice and Rohatsu,

New Years and Pancha Gatapati

But do you recall the importance of them all

The greatest thing of them all is being with your family through it all

It’s not the gift you open or the gifts you give, or

The candles you light, or

The songs you sing.

It’s not where you spend it, or how much you spend.

It’s being with your family on the cold winter’s night

It’s laughing until your stomach goes tight

It's building a snowman that might get up and jam

It’s about catching snowflakes on your tongue.

It's making a snowball with the first snowfall

It’s the crackle of the fire while you warm on the couch

It’s the crunching the snow makes when you step outside when all you can do is count down until its sand and shell and no more snows between your toes.

It’s not about which holiday you celebrate

It’s about enjoying winter with your family which makes it so great

It’s not what you get, it’s who you get to share it with

So Merry Christmas, and Happy Kwanzaa,

Happy Hanukkah and Al-Hijrah

Happy Winter Solstice and Rohatsu,

And Happy New Year and Pancha Gatapati.

But just remember to says to the ones who care

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

Fun Facts :

Al-Hijra: Islamic New Year

Rohatsu- Japanese Buddist Holiday on December 8^th. It marks the day that Buddha achieved realization or enlightenment. They celebrate the day every year for the chance they can do the same.

Pancha Ganapati: Is a Hindu religion- it’s a 5 day festival from December 21 through 25^th and celebrates Lord Ganasha who is the patron of Arts and Gaurdian of Culture.

Kwanza- Is not religious holiday, it celebrated by African American celebrating their people and history. It can be celebrated by anyone.

(All these holidays are celebrated around the same time in December)

I am Thankful for a Classmate

Thanksgiving. That’s all that needs to be said. I don’t especially like thanksgiving, it has to be my least favorite holiday of the year. I do however like the message behind the holiday, which is to get together with your family and celebrate the things that you are thankful that you don’t think about on a daily basis. All those things that you take for granite that you are suppose to appreciate. You are SUPPOSE to dig deep and admit you are thankful your little sister and those parents that are always on your back about cleaning your room. In that aspect thanksgiving is not that bad of a holiday, I don’t even know why I don’t like the holiday. I can’t pin point it exactly but I have never been a fan. I don’t get that warm feeling when we are at the dinner table with the family and it’s not the family because I love my family. It’s just something about thanksgiving.
I do however LOVE my American lit class and I am very thankful for this class. This class actually makes me laugh which is exactly what I need early in the morning to get me going. This class is my favorite class and it’s because the people.
I am especially thankful for (CORNY ALERT!!!!) sorry it was necessary for this blog
Lina Tan- I have known you since freshman year. You are such a nice person and you always make me laugh. You are always willing to help me when I need it and always willing to text me the homework when I forgot to write it down or wasn’t paying attention. You would always come to the girls volleyball games to cheer the team on, which was awesome that someone stayed for jv games and even cheered for us. You are always so kind to everyone. You act really quiet in class but I know you better that as soon as you walk out of the class you just start talking and talking. I am thankful for you and how you are so nice to me every day, you start my day on a good note every day. I am so thankful I have a class with you this year.
I am very thankful for the whole class but a special shout out to Cecily, Nikki, Gordon, Dominick, Carl, Jose, Kamal, Jaleel, and Josue who make the class even more enjoyable every day. You guys make the class funny and make me want to pay attention every day. I am thankful for the entire class but you guys are pretty fun to have around in class.
Not considered under the classmate category would be Mr. McCarthy. He is such a awesome teacher. A lot of people say that but I don’t think that actually covers it. He gets us to actually like coming to one of the most boring subjects in school. He teaches us in what I think in a comical way which makes us laugh and keeps us learning. He jokes around with the class and gives people nicknames (Hurley) which I think is funny. I am thankful to have gotten him as my teacher this year for American literature
There is a lot to be thankful this year and from a school perspective I am very thankful for this class. Thanks 3rd period for being so awesome this year. I have officially over used the phrase “I am thankful for” in this blog but I am thankful for my American lit class this year.

I am a Plow

Plow
–noun
1.
an agricultural implement used for cutting, lifting, turning over, and partly pulverizing soil.
2.
any of various implements resembling or suggesting this, as a kind of plane for cutting grooves or a contrivance for clearing away snow from a road or track.

I am the plow of my life. A plow is a tool that makes and forms the fields so they can be planted and grown. I am the plow of the field that is my life. I form it and work my life so it can grow and flourish into the future I want. I can choose what direction to go and the way I do it because it is my life and I am plowing it, not anyone else. I form my destiny just like a plow forms a field. A plow also makes the rows of the field to make the paths within the crops. I plow my paths in life to achieve my goals. Right now I’m half way through the field which I consider high school, plowing my way to my goal of college. I am continually working and forming myself to graduate and get to college. Being a plow is completely metaphorical but it is still completely true, we are all the leaders of our futures only we can decide where we go and what we do in life. We are the ones that work to reach our goals, no one is going to reach our goals for us. Sometimes when plowing our lines they become crooked as we stray from our goals but we always reach the end of the field eventually which is our goal. You can be a plow and still can be plowed. You are plowed by family, friends and even teachers at school, they form and mold you into the person you are suppose to be when you become older just like a plow. A plow splits the fields and loosens the soil which is what also happens to you when we are plowed. Our minds are opened to the knowledge of the world which expands who we are and molds our thoughts, opinions, ideas, and our way of thinking. I am a plow but I am always willing to be plowed by the people I encounter every day. (Metaphorically)

Which Way Now ???

The beginning of the year has come to a close with the first quarter just like all things have to. The only drag is you can’t use the excuse with your teachers sorry it’s the beginning of the year I forgot my book can I run to my locker or it’s the beginning of the year I forgot to do my blog can I do it today and still get full credit. We can’t use the sorry I’m new excuse and now more is expected from us. In another ten weeks were going to be freaking out about finals instead of what is Mr. McCarthy going to say to my mom when she comes for report card pick up.
Personally American lit this year is my favorite class and I’m not just saying this because this blog is for American lit and Mr. McCarthy will be reading it. I especially like independent reading Thursday or it now goes by its new name Devin’s day. It has to be my favorite day OF ALL TIME or just the week either one. I find it relaxing to sit down with a book that I have been meaning to read all week. I always try to make time to leisurely read during the week but I usually end up having too much homework or I try to read right before bed but 9 out of 10 times I fall asleep after the first sentence. That’s why on Thursday when I get my time to read the book I have been trying to read I get really excited. Another aspect of the class that I really like is that we don’t get a lot of homework I find we learn the same amount as the other classes just not through homework more through class work and class discussions(which gets side tracked really easily, but I don’t mind its usually very entertaining). The blogs at the beginning of the year I thought were going to be horrible, I absolutely hate to write. I found though doing the blogs every week is kinda fun. If I don’t know anything about the topic I research it briefly and I learn some new things. Blogs have actually become a fun assignment to do every week.
The only negatives I have for the class is that when we have to read for homework we have to read a billion pages at a time. Let’s be honest it wouldn’t be bad if it was our only homework but it’s very time consuming and I have 6 other classes to work for also. Not to mention the books were reading are really REALLY boring it sometimes takes even longer to read just for the fact that you can’t get into it. Lately it’s even worst because the Crucible wasn’t’ that bad but the House of the Seven Gables is awful. Then we have to read it for homework and read ahead but in class we are a couple chapters behind. This makes everything very confusing. This I don’t think will last long because some of the books we are going to read I hear are actually good like the diary of a part time Indian. I like this class a lot, it’s a lot of fun like watching Pelada this year is going to be really fun.

Modern Slavery: Is America any Better?

This week’s blog is about modern day slavery but what is slavery really? If most of were asked to define slavery we would think of the civil war and African slavery in the south. This is a false idea that we have developed from school, there are many forms of slavery. We don’t take the time to think about it but a percentage of our belongings were made by slave workers or forced workers somehow had a part in making it. Today slavery is still much alive just in different forms like human trafficking and forced prostitution. Everyone thinks it’s only in foreign countries like Cambodia, Thailand, South America and eastern Europe but your wrong it is a huge deal in America right now. Thousands of American girls every year are abducted or lured away from home and forced to be a sex slave. The average age in America for girls being forcing to be a sex slave is 11 years old, the range however is as young as nine to 19 years old. There are 300,000 girls kidnapped every year. The popular website Craiglist last year made hundreds of thousands of dollars from sex slavery, many ads on the site are used for these purposes. It’s a big deal that doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
This is a form of slavery that doesn’t get much attention but I think it’s really needs it. Many girls are taken by friends and people they trust. The numbers are so high something needs to be done about it. Many people think slavery doesn’t exist close to home because they don’t see it but it does. Something needs to be done, this is running these girls lives. These girls are scarred for life and many girls are killed. Slavery still exist and needs to get attention to get it to stop but many people think since it doesn’t affect them then they don’t have to worry about it. We need to wake up and care for the well being for others. No one wants to be a modern day slave in any form we need to help stop it. There’s a saying we learn from our mistakes but has America really? What has changed from civil war slavery until now?

Puritan Influence on Present day society.....

   

           The Puritans were a group that sought religious persecutions from England by immigrating to the new world of America. They were extreme Protestants in the Church of England that were trying to purify the national church of the England. They had to completely start over when they came to America, they had to start living by a completely new lifestyle compared to the ones they lived in England. They made their new society strictly religious, for examples they were required to read the bible to show religious discipline and how deeply devoted to god they were. If they were not following the rules of the church like by not going to church on the Sabbath or not reading the bible they were consider against god and someone who worships the devil. This was especially true in Salem, Massachusetts, where the infamous witchcraft trials occurred written about in the popular book The Crucible. This is where many people were excused of using witchcraft and working with the devil. Salem is also known for the famous House of the seven Gables written about in the book House of the Seven Gables.

             The Puritans were not just know for the witch trials they were also know for many things still present in even today’s society. They set up the first school formal school for education of the colonies. They also set up the first successful government in the New World. They were the first poets of the American colonies, they wrote poetry to examine their Christian lives.  Religion was a huge part of their lives and that was what their government and society was based around. This is not exactly how our government runs now but there are still the extremist religious groups still around, they are like the puritan groups today. They believe so deeply in their religion that if you don’t believe too you are evil. Many terrorist groups are like that, I’m not saying the puritans were terrorist I’m saying that they share the same narrow mindset as them. They believe there is only one right thing and its theirs, an example of the puritans was their violence with the witch trials excusing others of being against god. They targeted people who had different beliefs and practiced different lifestyles. The terrorist actions today are more violent, disruptive and wide spread which is because the technology we have today.  Terrorist today also target larger groups today but the message is still the same of nonexceptance of other people. Others will probably disagree with me but I believe puritans are like present day terrorist they share the same mindset and deep beliefs as the puritans.

     

The Moment I Knew I was an American......

When you grow up in America you never classify yourself as an American. You never think of it that way, you take advantage of the fact that you are because everyone you come into contact with is an American. It’s something everyone shares in common, it doesn’t make you unique like being the fastest runner or the smartest in your class. You take for granted that you are an American and you never describe yourself in that way. Only some people experience being classified as an American and this is when I realized I was American.

          When I was in 3^rd grade my parents took my family to Australia for a two week vacation. We got the pleasure of going to school with the children of my dad’s friend on one of the days we were there to see how school was different for them. And oh boy was is, this is when I knew I was American. Whenever I was introduced I was always the “this is my American friend” or “that American girl”. I never would have generalized myself in that way but to the Australians I wasn’t part of their culture, I was a foreigner. I was asked a million questions about what we do, eat, see, learn, and wear in America. I had always taken advantage of those things, not thinking anything of it until this day. I was not in the United States where everyone just understood these things because they experienced them. No, I was all the way around the world where I was the “American girl”. Being called an American for the first time made me realize who I really was since I didn’t really belong to these people. When I went to Australia I realized I was not just me, I was an American.

Us vs. Them.... Us and Them

The Crucible is filled with many conflicts between the characters and the town both public and internal. Many of these conflicts led to the death of many members of Salem. A perfect example is the affair of Abigail and John Proctor. This was a personal conflict kept from the town but the readers were aware of it. Abigail wanted John Proctor so bad she was willing to kill Elizabeth his wife to have him. Many conflicts led the people in the town to claim witch on someone so they would be executed. I feel the conflicts in Salem became too much for some people so they took the opportunity to take the person out forever so they wouldn’t have to deal with them anymore. I don’t understand why someone couldn’t just problem solve, why does everything in the world have to lead to violence and killing.

                Personally I would not be able to kill someone. I have the biggest conscience, I don’t know what to do about it I feel bad about the littlest things. Not only that but I wouldn’t be able to just take someone’s life, how could someone live with that? I don’t understand how people in the world kill others and don’t even feel bad about it themselves. Everyone in Salem used killing and persecution to solve their problems for them.  So in this situation it is hard to relate to the characters in the story. For people of such a strict religion where god will drop you like a puppet how could they do such a thing. I truly don’t understand, in this case I had no way of relating to the book or the characters. Killing is not a way in any case to solve a problem but no one in Salem got this message.

John Proctor, Hero or Stooge?

In a novel a character has many chances to define who they are and fix their mistakes. In the case of John Proctor in The Crucible he has proved himself to be a stooge in my opinion.  A stooge is known as a chump, idiot, oaf, goof, fool, and dummy. I feel all these words perfectly describe the character of John Proctor. He had so many chances to fix what he started in the book but he was foolish enough not to do anything so many people died. By having the affair with Abigail the niece of Reverend Parris he started the Salem witch trials. Only Abigail, Elizabeth Proctor and himself knew about the affair, no one in the town had any idea about it.  So when the girls were running around in the woods they were performing a ritual to have Elizabeth Proctor killed. Abigail wanted Elizabeth dead so she could take her spot as the wife of John. This started the witch trials because everyone thought that the women of the town were performing black magic like the girls were caught doing in the middle of the night. John Proctor was completely aware of this but he did nothing to stop it not wanting to spoil his good name. If it was found out that he had an affair he would be looked down upon and horrible things would happen to him since he had sex outside his marriage. So many women died because of an affair he wanted no one to know of. Those are not characteristics of what I define as a hero.

John Proctor stood aside while many people in his town died because they were accused of being witches.  Witches were only being accused because of his affair that he wouldn’t own up to. That is what a coward would do not a hero. John Proctor looked out only for himself and no one else that is what a stooge does not a hero, he saved no one but himself in the book.

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

In a puritans point of view this idea of doing the slightest thing wrong and you would no longer go to heaven in my opinion is absurd. This is what the minister Jonathan Edwards traveled around and preached to anyone who would listen. I think he used fear to control people, to make sure people didn’t sin and followed strictly to the religion he also believed in. If I was a puritan I would be scared out of my mind to do anything wrong. I wouldn’t be able to say I don’t want to be part of this religion anymore. You couldn’t do that when everyone you knew believes in those beliefs and follow them. You can’t be the one that goes against the mass because you think differently, unless it’s up to morals. At the time though most people didn’t have a choice of their religion, some towns would all be one religion and so you were part of it no matter what. So many believed out of fear of god’s wrath and others just because everyone around them was part of that religion.

            Today these strict religions still exist today, an example is the Amish who follow strict beliefs. I think though using fear to make people believe in a religion is wrong. People should be part of a religion because they share those common beliefs not because they are told if they don’t believe in this, god will smite you. People should be part of a religion because they want to be not because they have to be, religion is a choice and always should be.

Well there goes the Neighborhood !

America is known as the melting pot. I don’t think this statement is entirely true. America is made up of many different cultures but they don’t always blend together. Many cultures stick together because they share beliefs and views in common, yet most don’t really branch out.

I think I live in a very diverse neighborhood, but there still have been some challenges in the past that are still present and visible today.  After prohibition, when alcohol was banned in the 1920’s, each precinct in Chicago got to vote if they wanted alcohol in their precinct. This is why in Beverly the west side of Western Avenue is the “wet” side, meaning that alcohol could be served and sold. This is also why in my neighborhood all the bars are only on one side of Western Avenue. In the 1920’s all the Irish Catholics lived on the west side of Beverly, which was also the poor side. They voted to have alcohol in their neighborhood.  They believed that there was nothing wrong with it.

On the other hand, the Baptists lived on the east side, which was also the rich side, but they didn’t believe in alcohol. It was against their beliefs and the Baptists didn’t want it where they lived. This caused fights between the two groups, each fighting the others beliefs on the topic. When it all was settled, west would be the wet side and east would be the dry side where you can’t buy or serve alcohol.

Even to this day this is how my neighborhood is set up. After many decades and the mixing of the neighborhood with other ethnicities (not just Catholics and Baptists) nothing has changed.  People have tried to change it and have petitioned to add alcohol for restaurants, but it has been rejected every time. It seems that no one wants change.  This is what they know and have grown up with.

Sometimes the clashing of cultures can have positive affects and I think cultural mixing is healthy for people to grow.  Clashing is not always bad. What do you think? Would you be against alcohol or for it?

Introduction to Me

Hello! My name is Devin Hurley and I am sophomore in American literature this year. Literature isn't one of my favorite subjects but I still enjoy it. I love to read when I find a really good book that I can’t put down until the last page. My favorite classes are my sign language class and my chemistry class, I really enjoy learning those topics. I attend school every day with brother who is a senior this year and my other brother graduated last year when I was a freshman and also my little sister wants to attend next year. We live in Beverly so we take the Metra then the blue line. My brother doesn’t like to sit with me so I sit with my friends and him with his. I like going to school and learning but I think it would be more enjoyable if there was less homework.

I have been playing volleyball since I was in 3rd grade and now I play for the school team. I was captain of the freshman team last year and this year I am the captain of junior varsity (jv). When I’m not playing for the school team I like to play club volleyball and we travel all over during the weekends which always gets in the way with doing my homework. I also played on the Whitney Young softball team we had one game before the season was cancelled last year. I didn’t do any clubs last year but I want to join to this year like yearbook. This year I plan to join Habitat for Humanities also because my brother graduated and left the club. I wasn’t aloud to be in the same club as him because he didn’t want his freshman sister following him around and being in the same clubs. I think this year is going to be super exciting and I’m excited to get started even though it mean saying goodbye to the late night of summer and hello to the long night of homework.

In my free time I love to just relax, listen to music and hangout with some friends. I love being creative and I love working and making stuff with my hands. I really enjoy sculpting and molding things out of clay and I’m going to take a class for that next year. I wouldn’t say I’m a animal person but I like dog, birds and squirrels freak me out. My family and I travel a lot and I have been all over the U.S and out of the country. I have been to Australia twice in my lifetime and my family and I go every 4 year. I have friends there that we keep in contact with. I love to travel and I want to travel all over the world when I get older. I live in Chicago the big city now but one day I want to live in a place like North Carolina or Georgia near the ocean where its quiet and calm away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. There I want to study and be a marine biologist in the future. I love challenging myself and I always look forward to a new challenging starting with American literature this year.