Johnson Park

On Friday May 11th I visited the Johnson park in Somerset, New Jersey. There is a zoo at the Johnson Park where you can view and even feed the animals. The park has different animals like foxed, racoons, deer, llamas,goats,chickens,peacocks,snakes,horses,emus,donkey and turkeys. The park also has a stand where you can purchase animal food to feed the animals. The aniamals that showed the most activity were the goats because they were greedy. One of the goats tore up the bag when I was trying to feed it. The foxes were enterating as well because it was the first time I've seen them active. A week ago, when I was on my way back from the movies, I saw a strange animal on the side of the road. It was nighttime and I had no idea what it was but it didnt look like the average rodent like the ones I am used to seeing. I remembered the ears and the tail and after the zoo visit, I came to the conclusion that it was a fox that I saw. I didn't know foxes lived in New Jersey, especially northern New Jersey so that took me by surprise. The whole visit was a lot of fun. Even though the zoo is small I loved it because I love animals. The Johnson Park is a great park to visit and I encourage everyone to go.

1,100 Backpacks

Hofstra University held an event on Thursday, May 3rd on campus raising awareness of suicide. Active Minds was in charge of the event. It was a very heartbreaking and moving event because suicide is a sensitive subject to most people. According to 1,100 backpacks, 1,100 students die by suicide each year. The backpacks on the ground symbolized the students that have committed suicide due to a number of reasons. Some of the backpacks had stories attached to them of students who have killed themselves. There were counselors available that were asking questions to anybody that was walking through. They handed out pamphlets and phone numbers for anyone that may need help.They provided a phone number for suicide prevention and they can reached at 1800-273-TALK. There is also a website that anyone can visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org and if anyone wanted to share a story of a family or friend who has committed suicide can visit www.activeminds.org/shareyourstory When of my friends from high school attended Cornell in New York for four years and she told me about the suicides that occurred there. Students at the school were jumping off the bridge close to the school because they couldn't handle the overwhelming work and stress of Ivy League education. Another story that was big was the story of Tyler Clementi, the Rutgers student who jump off the George Washington Bridge because he was struggling with being gay. Suicide is a serious issue and it should be addressed more often. I am so happy that Active Minds decided to come to Hofstra. Especially around this time with finals coming up many students are feeling pressure and they are stressed out.

Spring Break 2012

My Spring Break started off bad because I was sick. I wasnt sure what I was sick with but I had to stay in bed for a couple of days. Then on Friday, April 6th I fainted at work for the second time. It was strange because I was feeling a lot better that day but in the middle of helping a customer, I started to feel sick and dizzy. As I walked to the back to have a seat, I passed out, fortunately my co-worker was there to catch me before I fell. They had to call the ambulance for me but I refused to go to the hospital. I am still not sure how I got sick but I felt better the next day. On Monday I went to Atlantic City with my boyfriend and we had a great time. We stayed one night at Ballys Casino because I recieved a great deal that I couldnt pass up. That day we toured the new Revel Casino and hotel and it was beautiful. Then we walked the boardwalk and drank a little bit. Then we rode in a pushcart to the other side of the boardwalk and we ate at Hooters. Finally at nighttime we went to a nightclub at the Borgota and we stayed there until 4AM. Overall besides my trip to Atlantic City, my spring break was very uneventful but I was grateful because I needed a break from school and I love that when we come back from break, we only have a month left of the semester.

Justice for Trayvon?

Trayvon Martin was a 17 year old boy who was visiting his father and his stepmother's house in Sanford, Florida. He was watching the NBA all star game and he decided to go to the convenience store for some candy. On that night, February 26, he was shot to death by the neighborhood watch captain. George Zimmerman was the shooter, a 28 year old man who claims he shot the boy in self defense. Zimmerman was a white man who thought Trayvon(who was black) was suspicious and he called 911. The police chief Bill Lee, said that the 911 dispatcher advised Zimmerman not to approach the boy. The police arrived, and Trayvon was dead.He was shot in the chest. The only items they found on him were a bag of skittles, some cash and an ice tea. This case is controversial because Zimmerman has not been charged with anything. This tragedy occurred on February 26. The Martin family is devastated and they want the 911 calls to be released. The police will not release the calls until the investigation is complete. Many believe that Trayvon was targeted as being "suspicious" because he was a young black man in a gated community. There are a lot of unanswered questions. What was Trayvon doing that made Zimmerman call 911 on him? What did Trayvon do for Zimmerman to shoot him? Why hasn't Zimmerman been charged yet with anything? I don't know if this is a racial profiling case but I know that I have been targeted many times in my neighborhood for absolutely no reason. I have had one of my neighbors tell me and my group of friends to "go back to where you came from" when I lived in the same neighborhood as he did. This man was also a police officer and he threatened to call the cops on us for being too loud. This story is very sad because it reminds me of what I have been through living in a white neighborhood. I hope a full investigation happens and hopefully they can get to the bottom of this. It is a shame that a 17 year old boy is now dead for apparently no reason at all. http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/12/justice/florida-teen-shot/?hpt=hp_t2

Houston Family Outraged over picture of Whitney's body

According to  TMZ the Houston family is "disgusted" about the recent leak of Whitney's casket picture. The picture shows Whitney in a purple dress laying peacefully in her casket. Unfortunately the picture will be on the front cover of the National Enquirer. The picture was taken in the Whigham Funeral Home in Newark, NJ. Of course the funeral home denies any wrong doing. Carolyn Whigham the owner of the funeral home said, "We have no comment but it was not the funeral home. Whitney was a personal friend to me and my family. We would not do that. I am very angry, very upset just like the family, just like the fans"


There have been reports that the photographer of this picture can make up to 500,000 dollars.




The National Enquirer should be ashamed of publishing a picture and even worst, put it on the front cover. I understand that they have a business to run and they need to make money but this is just disrespectful on all levels. They made no apologies either. The editor of the National Enquirer, Mary Beth Wright says "I thought the picture was beautiful." They also refused to give up the photographer's name.
Yes Whitney looks beautiful in the picture but they are using a very sensitive issue to make money. I feel horrible for Whitney's family especially her mother and her eighteen year old daughter Bobbi Kristina. The family has already been through enough with the negative press and now they have to deal with this issue. The Houston family were very kind to broadcast the funeral service on TV and on the Internet so her fans can say their final goodbyes to the singer.

I hope that it wasn't any close friends or family that took that picture. It would be less heartbreaking if a complete stranger did this horrendous act than an actual family member or friend.

There hasnt been any word if the Houston family will do an investigation on who submitted the picture or seeking any legal action.

Will Chris Brown ever be forgiven?

Singer Chris Brown won his first Grammy award last Sunday, he also performed twice. Three years ago Chris Brown and his girlfriend Rihanna got into a physical altercation on the eve of the Grammys. Since then he has apologized numerous times and he  served his sentence. Alot of people were not pleased that he was able to attend the Grammys and they let their feelings be known on Twitter. Country singer Miranda Lambert was not happy and she questioned why he was able to perform twice and she also took it upon herself to remind everyone that he beat on a girl. At one of her shows on Saturday, she said that "where I'm from, beating on a woman is never okay. So thats why my daddy taught me early in life how to use a shotgun" I think Miranda and everybody else needs to let the boy live. He has done so much to change his behavior by attending anger management classes, he served his sentence and he apologized numerous times. I am in no way condoning what he did because it really was a horrible situation but at the end of the day, none of us were in the car when the incident happened. People do make mistakes, nobody is perfect. What is Chris supposed to do not make music anymore and work at McDonalds? The man has to make a living too and if everyone's faults mattered then nobody will be able to work. Rihanna has even forgiven him and they have recorded a song together called "Cake." I know alot of people will be very angry with Rihanna  because she is allowing Chris back into her life and she doesnt seem to care anymore. If they can move on, why cant everybody else?

First Three Weeks Of Spring Semester

My first three weeks of the Spring Semester have been going well. I enjoy all my classes so far and I made a better schedule this semester. I do not have any early morning early classes like I had in the Fall and four of my five classes are in one building. I dont have a Friday class this semester. I am also working on different projects like a Youtube channel and I also continued my membership with HABJ. I hope by the end of May I am a member of NABJ. I also want to start a blog and get my Youtube channel in order.