BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

Photo: NC Student Power Union

After realizing the effort on the part of the current state administration and legislative body to take away the voice of students, the underprivileged, the elderly and minorities - among others - I have decided to stage my own protest.

Affective Midnight EST Wednesday May 1, 2013, Reflections will go offline for 24 hours. That means you will have zero access to my blog during that time. 

I've had it with this legislative body and Gov. McCrory's administration and feel this is a way to lash out against them.

I'm sick and tired of students and others being ignored and thrown to the curb. 

It's your own personal business who you voted for but, what do you think of these people now? Did you take into account that my education and the livelihoods of others would be jeopardized? 

Probably not.

For that, I'm forever ungrateful.

Please go to the NC Student Power Union's website or Facebook page for more information.

Read More

NMM: Kris Allen

Photo: Beck/Smith Hollywood

This "Idol" alum released his second album almost a year ago but I just now discovered this amazing song on it. "Teach Me How Love Goes" is simple in nature but has a powerful message. 

The song is stripped down to just guitars and a little soft percussion in the background - all you really need for a song like this. This beautifully written song is one that should be playing on the radio right now.

Have a listen!

Read More

'Splash' Too Dangerous Or Critics Too Squeamish?

The first season cast of "Splash" | Photo: Google Images/ABC

Splash, the hit new reality competition show on ABC, has garnered some scrutiny from many news outlets on being too dangerous for the celebrity contestants involved. 

The show has seen its share of injuries. Chelsea Lately star, Chuy Bravo, fractured his foot and didn't even compete. Nicole Eggert, Rory Bushfield and Katherine Webb were among the more seriously injured of those who competed. Others received minor injuries as well.

According to Deadline, an assistant to one of the contestants on the Chinese version of the show drowned in the pool.

Now many news outlets are asking the question: is this type of show too dangerous?

I'm sorry, but the celebrities, trainers and everyone else involved know what they're getting themselves into when they sign up. It's the nature of the beast.

Diving is no cupcake of a sport. You will get injured, especially if you're just starting out like these celebrities. Even the pros themselves get injured. The mentor for the celebrity contestants, champion diver Greg Louganis, suffered an injury during the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. You didn't hear anyone say "diving should be banned" because of injuries like his and many others, now did you?

The bottom line is I hate that anyone has to get hurt doing this. The celebrities on the show have a lot more bravery than I would ever have. But, just because they get injured, we shouldn't be running around and criticizing the show. 

People have gotten injured on other shows before. Look at Dancing With The Stars for instance. A contestant on the current season, Dorothy Hamill, had to leave the competition with a back injury that could've become more serious had she not quit dancing. 

People have also gotten injured on the CBS show Survivor - and had to be taken away from the show for more treatment in some cases - but you don't hear anyone questioning if that show should stay on TV.

I care about the safety of others but, in my opinion, the criticism needs to stop unless the shows are being negligent in the treatment and care of contestants - which they're not. If you're going to criticize one show you need to do the same for others. I can't help but wonder if the same criticism would be given if normal, everyday people were the contestants instead of celebrities.

Read More

ENG 417: Profit-Sharing Proposal Under Scrutiny

(L-R): Audience at the DPAC, Mayor Bill Bell, Councilman Don Moffitt | Photos: Google Images/City of Durham

The Durham City Council scrutinized the rationale on Thursday for a reworking of the profit-sharing agreement between the city and the operators of the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) as part of a lease renewal.

The Herald-Sun reported in an article that the current agreement has theater operators, PFM/Nederlander, and the city of Durham splitting the theater's net operating income 60/40, with the city getting the lesser share.

The new proposal, a rather confusing one at that, would be laid out as the following according to The Herald-Sun:

• Each year, the city and PFM/Nederlander would still split the first $2 million in net income 60/40, with the city receiving the lesser share.
• The operator would get to keep the next $300,000 then the two sides would resume the 60/40 split until income hits $3 million.
• Once past $3 million, PFM/Nederlander would keep 70 cents on every $1 the theater nets.

Tom Bonfield, who negotiated the proposal, said in The Herald-Sun that the new system would add incentive for PFM/Nederlander to bring in top-notch shows.

But Mayor Bill Bell and City Councilman Don Moffitt don't buy it.

Both Bell and Moffitt noted in the article that the proposed agreement would short change the city. And the numbers don't lie.

According to The Herald-Sun, administrators explained if the DPAC earned $4 million in a year the city, under the proposed split, would receive about $1.4 million. The straight 60/40 split in the present lease would yield it $1.6 million.

Moffitt said a straight 60/40 split "would seem to give the operator plenty of motivation."

I'm no business or economics guru but I'm intelligent enough to see that this is short changing the city which has invested quite a bit into this theater. $200,000 adds up fast and the city would be losing that each fiscal year. 

I guess I can understand a new profit-sharing system if the operators were struggling to get high-quality shows into the DPAC but, from the look of the venue's lineup, it doesn't appear that way.

Why not make it simple and keep it the way it is?

Full Story 

Read More

NMM: Light 'Em Up

Fall Out Boy

Let's be honest, I'm not that big a fan of rock music (Daughtry is about as far as I'll go). But when I heard this song by Fall Out Boy I really couldn't help but love it. I also thought it's time I throw in a different flavor to my New Music Monday posts.

After about a five year hiatus, the band is back together and has released a new single entitled "My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light 'Em Up)." Whew! Long title but a great song.

The song's meaning is really up for interpretation which makes it a genius work of art. Yes I said art. It's undoubtedly a rock song but there is a nice pop/hip hop-esque beat in the background which keeps you jamming throughout. There's no doubt Fall Out Boy is back.

Read More

Ring, Ring!

Judge Raymond Voet | Photo: AP

A Michigan judge is in a whole heap of trouble...with himself.

Judge Raymond Voet, who's known as a stickler about cell phones in the courtroom (even confiscating them from police officers), found himself in a pickle when his new fancy schmancy phone went off during closing arguments of a jury trial. Disgusted, the judge found himself in contempt and even gave himself a $25 fee.

A report by Consumerist.com said Voet explained his phone started asking for voice dialing commands and he didn't know how to stop it.

Voet continued by saying that, if he can't live by the rules he enforces, he has no reason to enforce these rules.

Well, at least we all know he abides by the rules. Talking about embarassing!

Read More

ENG 417: The War On College Students

A college students' group protesting in downtown Raleigh against suggestions that proposed cuts for the state's public universities could include closing some UNC system campuses. Photo:WRAL/AP

The N.C. General Assembly apparently hates college students.

Why?

Let's begin with Gov. Pat McCrory's proposed budget that would cut an additional $139 million from UNC System schools.

It’s just a proposal but the cuts would make getting a higher education that much harder for students.
The cuts come after an already steep cut of $400 million to the system in recent years.

Sen. Pete Brunstetter, a Republican from Forsyth County, is the co-chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He said in an interview with WRAL that he and his colleagues are concerned over “how the money is spent and thus want to trim duplicative programs across UNC campuses.”

That means the system could very well consolidate its campuses, possibly resulting in the joining together or the closing of some of its 16 campuses across the state.

Lawmakers insist this won't happen but it will definitely put further, unneeded stress on hard working college students regardless.

McCrory also proposed a 12.6 percent increase in out-of-state tuition which could deter out-of-state students from coming to North Carolina for school.
The cuts will have a detrimental effect on UNC system schools and will probably trickle down to local public school systems as well.

And as if that wasn’t enough. McCrory’s pals in the legislature are cooking up yet another bill that could hurt students.

Senate Bill 667, better known as the “Equalize Voter Rights” bill, could limit the ability of college students to vote where they live.

The bill would remove the state income tax deduction for dependents who register at an address other than their parents. In other words, parents of college students would be punished with a new tax simply because their son or daughter registered to vote at school rather than home.

This would, in a roundabout way, serve as a poll tax on college students, therefore pressuring them not to vote altogether. If it’s not convenient, many students would likely become apathetic about voting.

College students typically lean Democrat so this bill would cut out a key demographic, just what those boneheaded Republican lawmakers want.

These proposals before the General Assembly are direct attacks on college students. It’s time for the people of North Carolina to wake up and realize this is a slippery slope.

We need to fight to give students across the board a chance and a voice.

Read More