Afirca Blog (Kenya)

Africa Blog

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya#Pre-colonial_history
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During the Pre-Colonial times at around 2000 BCE in Africa Cushitic speaking people from Northern Africa moved into Kenya. While the Nilotic and Bantu- speaking people moved into the Kenya thus forming three-quarters of there population. People in Kenya were very skilled with iron-working. Kenya's economy supported agriculture, fishing, metal production and trade with foreign countries. However around the 6th or 9th century CE Kenya switched to a maritime- based economy and began specializing in shipbuilding so that they could travel south to other port cities such as Kilwa, Masoko, Shanga, and Swahili along Africa's eastern coast. In the Swahili coast of Kenya man Kenyan’s traded ivory and slaves with the Arab world and India. Which meant that close to 90% of Kenya’s population was enslaved in the pre-colonial times.

                The colonial time in Kenya dates all the way back to the establishment of a German protectorate over the Sultan of Zanzibar’s coastal possession in 1885, which was followed by the arrival of the Imperial British East Africa Company in 1888, which led to the Kenya-Uganda railway in which the British built. Which led to the outbreak of World War 1. In August of 1914 the governors or (protectorate) and German East Africa agreed to a truce in an attempt to keep young colonies out of direct hostilities. Also during the early part of the 20^th century the interior central highlands were settled by the British and other European farmers who became wealthy farming coffee and tea. The result of the British and other 30,000 Europeans moving to Kenya resulted in whites gaining a political vote since they contributed so much to the economy.

Kenya gainded independence from Britian by using their strong army which fought Great Briten, and during that sate of emergency Kenya declared the first direct election of Africanti and the Legislative Council took place in 1977. Kenya became independent on Dec 12th, 1963, and the next year joined the commonweath.

Present Day current events that are happening in Kenya included the proposal Prince William gave to his soon to be wife with his mother Diana’s diamond and sapphire engagement ring,  on their holiday vacation in Kenya during October, and this engagement was marked a public holiday all across the UK. Another recent news story from Kenya includes the Glenn Red Squirrel Group which was made as of January 11^th 2011 to help develop a red squirrel Safari.

Some interesting facts that I learned about Kenya were that it was situated on the equator on Africa’s east coast described to be the cradle of humanity, and I learned that Kenya’s full name is the Republic of Kenya not just Kenya and that Kenya’s capital is Nairobi. http://www.bbc.com/ .

Myth Creation Story Connections

Myth Connections

"In the begging" One of the few ways that most myths start was used in at least three of the myths that we read in class and used in both of my online myths. I found this interesting because there were so many other creative options a myth could have started and interesting ways that could grab a reader’s attention, yet still they used the very plain and simple phrase " In the begging" This reminded me of fairytale and fantasy stories because most fairy tales begin with "Once upon a time...".

            Another connection I made while watching the Incan Life Creation myth online was that the creator of people wanted the humans that he made to be intelligent and remember who their creator was, just like how the creators of the other myths kept trying to make humans out of a new material like wood and rock to see which material would make them the smartest, and if the humans forgot who their creator was then they would move on and try another material. I also noticed that in almost all creation myths including the Incan that it starts off with one man in charge who then makes two people either male and female or just two male and then sets them off on earth to discover how to make people and develop the culture and land as humans or people of the same type not just one god who is a spirit.

The other online article that I choose to read and learn more about was the Inuit I found out that they have some very similar creation ideas and yet they also had very different creation ideas. For example the first woman ever made was made from clay just like how people were made in other myths. One difference that I realized was that the first man ever made came from a plant made by a human/raven bird. I found it interesting that the 1^st species of life in this myth was a mixture between a bird and a human because this “god” did not have a big overall power however it did have the ability to fly. I also found it different or interesting that the wings played such a key role in this story because the beats of the raven’s wings created the water and land. One last connection I made with this myth and other myths such as Adam and Eve was that instead of one big special tree there were many pea plants thus still showing a sign of nature and that growing plays a key role in mythology.

INCAN GODDESS CROWN

http://www.mythicjourneys.org/bigmyth/2_eng_myths.htm.

Thanksgiving Blog

Lauren's Thanksgiving Blog

Top 5 Things I am Thankful For
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year with many family gatherings and a wide variety of delicious foods. When it comes to being thankful I'm thankful for many things including my lovely family. Family gatherings are great because every year my mom and dads side of the family meet at my grandmas house. Our traditional Thanksgiving feast included a delicious turkey, cheesy potato's, strawberry fruit jello, and a salad. Another thing I am thankful for on Thanksgiving is autumn atmosphere with the bright red orange and yellow leaves falling to the ground. The way they flow through the cool crisp breeze is amazing. I am also thankful for my best friends because they are always there for me, there funny and amazing. Skating is another thing that I am thankful for because without it I don't know what I would do. Skating is by far my favorite sport because when I am on the ice there is nothing that could stop me especially when I am doing my camel sit spins and split jumps they are so much fun.

My All Time Favorite Thanksgiving Menu

Turkey is by far the best food on Thanksgiving because it’s an original a “must have food” on Thanksgiving. However one food that I absolutely despise of sweet potatoes they are the worst thing put on our dinner table, even though many of the adults in my family love sweet potatoes I can barely look at them even imaging the texture of the sweet potato sliding down my throat is disgusting. Many people have tried to convince me to try sweet potatoes with corn syrup or marshmallows; and every year when I try them they get more and more disgusting. Year after year day after day sweet potatoes will never be an item on my Thanksgiving menu. On the other hand cheesy potatoes are absolutely amazing. The delicious Cheesy potatoes are delicious because they are potatoes covered with cheesy creamy goodness baked to a perfect light brown color, and on special occasions we even add some corn flakes or potato chips scattered across the top of them. These are some items on my delicious Thanksgiving menu.

The Rabbit Proof Fence

The Rabbit Proof Fence

Just imagining getting taken away from my parents by a complete stranger scares me, and is frightful even to think about. While watching the Rabbit Proof Fence it amazed me how different cultures can survive in the wilderness. During the movie I noticed that in the begging they used the foot prints of the lizard to track it down in which Molly the oldest child spotted the lizard in the tree. Also there culture is not afraid of killing the animal and eating right afterword while our culture is a little hesitant. When the children Molly, Daisy, and Gracie first reached the camp the expression on their faces were frightened and in disbelief the nun helped them to their cots in the room filled with many other half cast children. Half Casts are aborigine children that were born with one aborigine parent and one whit parent. Due to this action more and more half cast children's have been being born in Australia. Nevil the man in charge of eliminating the half cast has a plan and this his plan is to train the half casts to follow the so called "civilized" way of life by praying to one god, making their beds daily, speaking only English, and singing Nevil's favorite song daily.

Unhappy with this lifestyle Molly, Daisy, and Gracie decide to run away and escape from the camp and try to make it back home, they decided to escape when they saw a storm clouds coming in, since they knew the rain would cover up their tracks. Due to their traditional lifestyle they were able to survive in the wild. However a mysterious man lies and tricks Gracie, telling her that her parents are at a train station while really tell her this to capture Gracie at the train station and take her back to the camp, while Molly and Daisy make it safely back home. This movie gave me goose bumps because I have seen animals been breed before but never humans, the thought of trying to breed the half casts out in three generations is inhumane and should never of happened, this is why I refer to Nevil as “Nevil the devil”.
       

Lauren's Halloween Blog.

Halloween Blog

 It was 2008 on Halloween night when I, Lauren McAlinden discovered the best Halloween candy in the world, the Kit Kat. The one and only Kit Kat is by far the best candy there is, Kit Kat bars are crisp vanilla flavored wafers, covered with smooth milk chocolate. Every time I take a bite into one of these I immediately fall in love. The Kit Kat is by far the best candy there is because I mean what other candy can compare to this crisp, sweet, wonderful work of art. At least Kit Kat's are an original, while Milky Ways and Snickers only had to add one different ingredient to the other original candy, the 3 Musketeers. For example Milky Way's only had to add Carmel to the 3 Musketeers Bar and Snickers only had to add peanuts to the Milky Way bar. In conclusion Kit Kat's are the best chocolate candy.

       Even though I love Halloween candy, scary movies flat out scare me. Watching Psycho in the school auditorium last Thursday night was completely terrifying. However after the movie I realized that there was no way that movie could have been a true story. Discussing the movie helped me understand how Psycho was made and how all the special effects were incorporated into the film. Learning that the symbolism that Alfred Hitchcock used was on purpose and not by accident proved that Alfred Hitchcock was a very clever man, his camera angles showed many similarities symbolizing many key factors in the movie; such as when he used the shape of a circle in many different scenes, such as her eye when she is lying dead in the shower and the shower drain. Knowing Halloween was only a few days away also caused much excitement and fear in the air during the movie, like having the feeling when you know someone might sneak up behind you.

            Halloween is not complete without Trick or Treating. This year on Halloween I was a nerd; I wore glasses with duck tape and a button up white shirt with pens in the shirt pocket. I would have to say dressing up for Halloween is a close runner up to the candy that we get to eat. Running from door to door yelling trick or treat anxiously waiting to see what type of candy is being passed out is extremely fun, especially when you get to spend such a great Holiday with your family.

                  

Aritcle Responsce Nobel Prize Winner Bolds Right's

Does Liu Xiaobo Deserve to be in Jail while Being A Nobel Peace Prize Winner???

Thesis: Liu Xiaobo should not be in jail due to his so called "negative" actions.

Liu Xiaobo should not be in jail for eleven years because he has only tried to help and improve his country making it more people friendly. According to the article "This Nobel Prize was Bold and Right-but hits China's most sensitive nerve" from http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/oct/13/nobel-peace-prize-liu-xiaobo-chinese-state it states that for "twenty years Xiaobo has consistently advocated nonviolent change in China, and is trying to move in a direction toward gaining more human rights and a democracy". By gaining more human rights this will give China's people a opportunity to voice their opinion toward their country thus helping China. Also Liu Xiaobo should not be in jail because after all he won the "Nobel Peace Prize of 2010" (Timothy Garton Ash). The Nobel Peace Prize in considered the biggest Nobel Prize there is and is always carefully given to the person who truly deserves it; in which case means that Xiaobo means well for his country and should definitely not be in jail. Liu Xiaobo is not living the lifestyle a Nobel Peace Prize winner should be living, however Xiaobo has influenced China to look at their government with a new prespective.

      

Blog #2 My Overview of the Michigan Gubernatorial Debate

The debate that was held on Sunday from 7:00-8:00pm in Wixom Michigan was between candidates Rick Snyder and Verge Bernaro. Snyder was our Republican candidate while Benaro was our Democratic candidate.

Since Rick Snyder was a republican he wanted to help make more jobs, keep young people in the state and repair our broken culture. Snyders opinion focused more on just the high class citizens. Snyder wants to create a new budget system that focuses on what he says as “jobs jobs jobs". The jobs that he wants to give to Michiganders are placed all around the world such as California and China. While Synder admits he will make some sacrifices. Synder also wants to make sure he enforces the rules and laws in Michigan stronger. However, Snyder wants to eliminate the Michigan business tax and personal property tax, and have the community win and succeed together.

Verge Bernaro on the other hand is definitely a Democrat because every action he takes is for the people. Bernaro wants to make every effort he can to help everyone from the rich to the poor. With his bold leadership he wants to provide an opportunity for everybody. Bernaro does not want a tax increase and has a specific set priority of knowing what money is going where, while also wanting to make an investment in info structure. Bernaro is willing to make Michigan a green technology manufacturing state, and supports a global economy; however he wants to keep all jobs in Michigan and keep people in their homes.

Now in the field of education, Bernaro is a strong supporter. Bernaro states that “every child deserves good quality education". Since Bernaro’s wife works in the education field he has much background knowledge on this topic. Also in Bernaros opinion education is the key factor to economic development. According to rick Snyder he states on channel 4 broadcasting from Wixom that "children are not the goal anymore" due to the crime rates going up and the money we are having to spend on jails, but what we really need to do is" represent all people". Also Synder states education not only involves teaching the children but also teaching them how to engage in their communities more, and when kids learn how to engage in their communities more they will be succeeding together.

At the debate in Wixom candidate Rick Snyder appeared in a white shirt with a black suit, blue tie and a Breast Cancer pin on his right side. Snyder’s opponent Verge Bernaro appeared in a white shirt with a striped suit on a blue tie and a American flag pin on his right side.

Overall both candidates had a great plan for Michigan’s future, and it will be exciting to see who wins!!!