Do you know what K-pop stands for? Well, if you donâÂÂt know, then you are probably one out of the 40 percent people who doesnâÂÂt listen to k-pop music. K-pop stands for Korean pop, which is a combination of electric, electro-pop and R&B. In New York City, I would estimate that majority of the younger generation are actually listening to Korean pop music. Korean music had been popular over the past years due to the inspiration of the style and fashion. Music Videos are often highly viewed on Youtube. The music is really stylish and can be great music for dance. In every song piece, they have a dance along with it. ThatâÂÂs why on Youtube, you will see a ton of teenagers/young adults posting videos of them imitating the dance moves for certain k-pop songs.
It amuses me to see how successful a country is with contributing music throughout the world. It is true that I have no idea what the lyrics is all about, however, the music and the rhythm is so attractive that you tend to forget about the lyrics.
There are many different groups in this k-pop industry. The most popular entertainment company at this time is YG, JYP and SM. These are the most well-known company for Korean pop music. Each company produces their own girl groups or boy band. Some examples of successful groups are like 2Ne1, Super Junior, Girls Generation, Beast, Shinee, etc.
I actually donâÂÂt know when I started listening to k-pop, but it was just a trend during my generation. Whenever I have free time, I surf the web on youtube, looking for new music videos and updates.
If you donâÂÂt know what k-pop is, it wonâÂÂt hurt to look up some on youtube and see if you will like the genre.
New skate parks in New York City
As mentioned in my last post, many New York City skate parks have recently closed due to a variety of reasons.
Skaters (there are an estimated 1,000,000 in the city), with no where to go, have turned to local skate spots as their new home. These include park benches, store front ledges, and even the front steps to office buildings.
In short, they are not welcome there. In the past few years New York has opened up a few new skate parks in an attempt to rid the streets of these skaters.
Chelsea Piers skate park was closed down many years ago. They used to charge money for skaters to enter the park and use all the features. They did not draw a large crowd, and soon closed down due to lack of revenue. On May 17, 2010, Chelsea Piers opened a brand new concrete skate park that was free to the public. It has features ranging from stair sets and hand rails, to pools and bowls. No matter if you are a beginner skater or an expert, you will love the park.
Only a few months later, in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, a free skate park was constructed by two brothers Joe and Gavin Maloof. The entire park cost $1.15 million, and is perfect for New York skaters who miss their skate spots. Every feature in the park is a replica of popular skate spots around the city.
Although some spots are closing around the city, parks are continuing to open up for the public to enjoy.
Remember Winn-Dixie
Remember the books from our childhood like Goosebumps, The Unfortunate Events or the Harry Potter. How about the book Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo a classic that every child should read. This book is about a unwanted suffering dog and a lonely girl Opal who lives with her preacher father. Opal desperately wants to know more about the mother who walked out on her and her father when she was just a baby except her father refuses to talk about her mother. But because of Winn-Dixie, Opal’s father told Opal 10 things about her absent mother, 1 thing for each year she has lived. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal made friends for the first time. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal learnes to get to know a person by judging their heart not their appearance. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal doesn’t feel lonely anymore. “Opal spends all that sweet summer collecting stories about her new friends and thinking about her mother. But because of Winn-Dixie or perhaps because she has grown, Opal learns to let go, just a little, and that friendship–and forgiveness–can sneak up on you like a sudden summer storm.“
Bu Bu Jing Xin comments
Most people think that the character Ruo Xi changes her attitude too quickly. But I think that she is the most deeply developed and has a more realistic mindset compared to other time travel characters in other novels and dramas. She is a modern day girl with modern day ideals. She struggled a bit in the beginning because she didnâÂÂt agree with historic cultures and traditions but she later adapted. Too keep her head on her neck; she had to change. If she continued to be reckless and insist on democracy and freedom of speech, Ruo Xi wouldnâÂÂt have been able to survive during the Qing Dynasty where the King creates rules. Unorthodox views of everyone is equal should not even be talked about at all. Those who resist would suffer a really horrible fate. The fact that Ruo Xi was able to keep her fun and charming personality even in front of the powerful royal family is quite interesting. Any modern day person who stumbles into the Qing Dynasty would turn out like Ruo Xi too.
Cupcake Craze
Crumbs, Magnolia, Baked By Melissa, Sugar Sweet Sunshine are just a few of the famous bakeries that have taken New Yorkers into a sugar rush storm.
Why? No one really knows what has gotten into us.
ItâÂÂs probably the bright colors of the frosting; maybe itâÂÂs the kaleidoscope-like sprinkles. Or has everyone suddenly grown a sweet tooth?
My obsession started at Crumbs. I was looking for an oversized cupcake for a friendâÂÂs birthday. I was sure no bakery sold such a thing, but Google told me otherwise. This small shop off Wall St. was kind of hidden from the crowds of businessmen and women. As I walked into the burgundy and red themed bakery I felt a jolt of happiness. The array of colors incased in a glass display made my tummy fizzle. I had to try a classic, just to make sure the hype about this place was up to my expectations.
My expectations were not met, they were exceeded. A sugar bomb exploded in my mouth.
Ever since than IâÂÂve been on a expedition to try every cupcake-oriented place in NYC.
The Amazing Spider-man Movie Review
The Amazing Spider-man was a great movie. I think it is one of the best movies that has come out so far and the best spider-man movie that has come out ever. The actors that were in the cast were well chosen. i believe Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield were the best choices to play Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy.
The movie was well written, with its fair share of comedy, action, romance, and drama. i easily believe Andrew Garfield is a better choice for the nerdy high school student Peter Parker. i think this movie would have been better if the actors who played Peter’s aunt and uncle were more realistic. one was significantly younger looking than the other.
Other than that the movie was really good. I think everyone should go see it even if you havent seen the orignal spider-man movies. The the story line for this movie was fairly the same, just a series of different events. New viewers would quickly caught on to the plot of Spider-man.
Disgusting Photo of Burger King Employee
It was reported that two days ago (July 16) a photo was taken of an employee at Burger King standing on two containers of shredded lettuce taking a picture of it and posting it online stating, “This is the lettuce you eat at Burger King.”
Not only is this absolutely disgusting but this gives Burger King and other fast food joints a negative image. This will also hurt the other employees who work at that Burger King because after this image was released, no one will ever want to return back to that Burger King.
This image shows that Burger King is dirty and the employees do nasty things to the food. When someone goes somewhere to eat they expect their food to be served clean and properly cooked. Serving dirty or improperly cooked food can affect someone’s health.
This photo will certainly cause controversy and give to that Burger King and fast food in general.
Future Interviews
The past week i tried to get an interview with an immigration lawyer and today i called around 4 and i talked to the lawyer and she gave me an appointment for Friday at 11am. I am really excited because i am finally going to interview the lawyer and also because i have my expert source. I am very excited about writing my article.
Book Review of Graceling
The book, Graceling, by Kristen Cashore is one of the best books I have ever read. Personally, I loved it because it is science fiction. The setting of the book in during the Medieval Times, which is another reason why I love it. This is not your typical love story, like Twilight (ew). The book have a very cool view of superpowers. It is not you typical âÂÂif they have superpowers, they are loved by everyone because they are heroesâ thing. The people with special powers in this book are outcast because the norms (what I call normal people) are scare of not knowing what powers they have. How are these special people distinguish? The have two different eye colors. Our heroine, Katsa, have a blue eye and a green eye. While my favorite character, Po, has a silver and a gold eye. The book is unpredictable, not in the way that it does not make sense. The only thing I did not like about it was that the beginning was a little slow. Surprising secrets are found out in the book and it shows how our heroine deals with people using and outcasting her.
Guest Speaker Caroline Linton
Yesterday guest speaker Caroline Linton, the online webpage editor for the Daily Beast, was great. She was funny and I know that I and a few others laughed at some of the things she said. I am thankful for the free Newsweek magazine given i’ve never read articles from Newsweek besides what I had for homework. Her description of an editor’s job was good as well and it gave me an idea of what I want to do since i’ve been considering editing instead of reporting. During the newsroom war I got a taste of what it was like to be a managing editor and I have to say it was difficult because I tried to please everyone and put their quotes in the story. Later I spoke to a teacher of mine who’s friend is an editor of a magazine who said, “I know i’m doing my job right if everyone hates me at the end of the day.” Next time I know that its about getting the story done in the most effective way and not about pleasing everyone.