Jessie J

   The new pop singer of 2011, Jessie J is bound for success! With only two singles released and one CD she has already won awards! She was born in Redbridge, London on March 26, 1988. When Jessie was 17 she joined a girl group, but she knew her talent could go farther. Soon after, she signed as a solo artist to Gut Records. Unfortunately, the record company went bankrupt before she was able to release her album.. but that didn't stop her!
    When Jessie was 11, she was kicked out of the choir at her school for being TOO loud. The parents of the other children were concerned that she was too good, so she was kicked out! Jessie was also diagnosed with an irregular heart beat when she was 11 years old.  She had wires put in her shoulder, groin and heart to try and zap it to a normal rhythm. But at the age of 18, she suffered from a minor stroke. Jessie says that having poor health has made her realize that she can't take anything for granted. She may seem like the crazy party girl who does whatever she wants.. but really she stays away from drugs and alcohol because of her poor health.
    After her let down with the record company she turned to song writing and got a contract with Sony ATV. She wrote songs for Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys. You guys know that song "Party in the USA," that is Jessie J's song!!
    Jessie was so desperate to show people that she could sing that she would sing in the subway. She would take her boom box down in the subway and sing her songs for those who are riding. Her voice is so powerful and her music is inspiring!
    She finally got a record deal with Island Records and began her debut album, "Who You Are." Her first single "Do It Like a Dude" (which was written for Rihanna.. but she decided to keep it for herself) went to number two on the charts, along with her number one hit single "Price Tag."
    If you haven't heard Jessie J, check out her singles "Do It Like a Dude" and "Price Tag." and if you want more Jessie J check out her debut CD "Who You Are."

I posted song lyrics and a link to watch her perform in the subway. It is my favourite song on the album "Who You Are"

Who You Are

I stare at my reflection in the mirror...
Why am I doing this to myself?
Losing my mind on a tiny error,
I nearly left the real me on the shelf ...
"no,no, no, no..."

Don't lose who you are, in the blur of the stars
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay...
Sometimes it's hard, to follow your heart.
Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
Just be true to who you are

Brushing my hair, do I look perfect?
I forgot what to do to fit the mould , yeah!
The more I try the less it's working yeah yeah yeah
Cause everything inside me screams, "no,no,no,no..."

Don't lose who you are, in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay

Sometimes it's hard, to follow your heart.
But tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
There's nothing wrong with who you are!

Yes, no, egos
Fake shows like woah
Just go, and leave me alone
Real talk real life
Good love goodnight
With a smile that's my home
That's my home

Don't lose who you are, in the blur of the stars
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay
Sometimes it's hard, to follow your heart.
Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
Just be true to who you are
Who you are

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_pnFhFjNtY

basketball

            I am taken down the court. Bounce after bounce. Hitting the ground over and over again, but it doesn’t hurt. It is power, it is love. I sit in your hands, waiting for someone to be passed to. The power I bring you when you are holding me. Everyone relies on you to not mess up—everyone relies on you to get me in the net. Every person on the opposing team is watching your every move, my every move. I have been passed to someone else. Attention has moved to another player—you’re no longer in the spotlight, but I always remain in the light. It’s a team sport; you have to share the limelight, but I am selfish.

A pass goes into the key, the ball is caught. I watch and wait, hoping someone will use me to get a point. She turns, but her check is standing right in front of her—blocking her from taking a shot on me. I strive for that shot, that bounce off of me. She jabs right, her check falls for the fake, I am going to be used, and oh how I have missed it. The ball echo’s as it hits me. My square target point you look for every time you go for a layup. If you hit my square in just the right spot, at just the right speed, you’ve made me happy. The ball drops slowly into my mesh, falling through my hoop. Two points. You leave the ball there, bouncing on the ground—waiting for someone to pick it up. You leave me alone, to go score on my opponent. I will miss you until you come back.

I am no longer yours; I am now in the hands of the other team. Your job is to fight for me-- get me back. The most dangerous part of this sport is when I am not in your control. Defense—quick feet, aware eyes, ready to pounce for me.

Defend me as if I am your life. The adrenaline that follows a stuff, or a steal. The quickness that follows that. The whole team runs as fast as they can down the court, hoping to put my body to use, hoping to score once again into my lonely mesh. Their basket is no longer in danger, it is me that is in danger—but I strive for that attention. You left your basket, undefended, unprotected, and all alone, but for me I am attended.

And after that hour and half, both teams leave. One a winner, one a loser. A hard fought game that has come to an end. You leave me—a poor orange rubber ball alone, for I am no longer a use for you at this time. I am put away, no more control, no more attention, just loneliness as I wait for my next opponents to fight for me.

And I am left to hang, no one to protect me, no one to score on me. No need for anyone to protect me at this time. For I am like the ball, in order for me to be loved, the ball must be too. I dangle there, waiting for the ball to hit my square. Waiting for the sensation of the ball when it falls through my mesh—waiting to defeat my opponent hanging on the other side of the gym.

Everyone is left waiting—the players, the circular rubber ball, and the plastic backboard. All left to be, until the next game comes. Until those players decide they miss the ball and net. Until they realize they miss the spotlight, and the power. Until then, everything is left alone to rest.

Love or Lust?

Love:                                OR                                   Lust:


- a profound, passionate affection for another                                 - intense sexual desire or appetite.

-  a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection             - a passionate desire or craving

      "Love is patient, love is kind. It has no envy, nor it boasts itself and it is never proud. It rejoices over the evil and is the truth seeker. Love protects; preserves and hopes for the positive aspect of life. Always stand steadfast in love, not fall into it. It is like the dream of your matter of affection coming true."

      Love is what everyone looks for; they spend hours on end trying to find that one person. But lust is what most will find on their search for love. Does that mean that lust is love? Or simply that in order to find love, you must experience lust to know what love is?

      There is a drastic difference between love and lust. Lust is simply having an attraction to someone, and acting upon it. Love is to have that attraction, but also to have passion, attachment, and unconditional feelings. When you are in lust you can easily get over that person. If they upset or hurt you, there are no deep feelings that keep you connected to them. Being in love means you stand by that person regardless of how they hurt you. Yes there are situations, in which this does not occur, but you get over your differences, you learn to accept one another for the good and the bad. Love is a feeling that is different for everyone. Love holds you captive, it releases all your emotions, and it makes you vulnerable.

     Everyone will go through that lust.  Maybe that lust will turn into love, who knows. Each and everyone of you will experience both love and lust. But every one searches for love, and when love cannot be found, lust is what is turned to.

So what is it for you? love or lust?

My Best Friend

We spent all our time with one another,

And some problems came into sight;

We never could get anything just quite right.

But we learned to appreciate our friendship so the future could be bright.

We played with games and toys, until we started to enjoy,

To drain our brains with those silly boys.

We grew older with time, but you were always by my side,

My emotions were concealed, but you never failed to try,

You introduced me to my pride.

Forever was obtained.

We have become two new people, though we’re still the same.

We promised to always be there,

Friends Forever, that’s what we share.

Media

       Pictures of size zero models. Make up covering their faces. Tight clothing. Small clothing. Barbie. How to look-- how much to weigh-- how to be pretty. The media places so much pressure on how a women or a girl should look. You're only attractive if you weigh a certain amount. Models everywhere do not represent the average girl in society. If you were to look at a group of people, you would be more likely to see girls with hips, and a waist, than you would to see a stick figure. The media has taken this too far. More women then ever are uncomfortable with their bodies. Commercials, magazines, advertisements everywhere telling you how to lose those last 10 pounds. Millions of diets that people can sign up for. How often do you see an ad for weight loss and a man is the spokesperson? The media targets women. They have worked so hard to make women feel unhappy with their bodies, that they will believe these diets work. They're desperate to become "skinny." But honestly, what is skinny? Weighing one hundred pounds? Exercising constantly? Eating little to no food? Being skinny is a lifestyle. One cannot do all that work to lose weight than go back to their old habits. If you're going to weigh one hundred pounds, you will have to work for it each and everyday.
       The fact that the media has targeted children in unbelievable. Girls look up to barbie, her beautiful face and hair, her tiny waist, but large breast. Media has created an image for girls, but the image is not even realistic. They want to wear tight jeans, and small shirts. They want to be "sexy."  The image that every little girl wants is unrealistic. I see girls who are in grade three wearing make-up and inappropriate clothing. They are being stripped of their childhood, of their innocence.
       Media is taking over our society. So many self-conscious girls, eating disorders, inappropriate clothing. Our society has taught us that one can only be beautiful if they are skinny. One can only be happy if they are skinny, if they are sexy This image needs to change. Happiness doesn't come from appearance, it comes from acceptance.