My friend showed me this neat mash-up today: two of my songs meet in a mash-up, where the old meets the new: The Beatles' "Come Together" is mashed up with Lorde's catchy "Royals". Check it out!
Thursday, February 27, 2014
End It.
Today, I woke up and found a Facebook notification that told me I was invited to this event called "End It Movement." This was its description:
Stuff like this is a really creative way to get the word out there for a great cause. And it's small things, simple things, like drawing a red "X" on your hand. Doing things like this will surely arouse peoples' curiosity. People today would glance at my hand and ask what the symbol meant. It's kind of like when somebody gets a tattoo, it draws peoples' attention and they ask for the meaning behind it. Let's all fight for this cause, to end slavery in all forms, whether it be of race, sex, or otherwise.Today is the day! Draw a red X on your hand to show that you want to see the end of slavery! Did you know that there are 27 million people in the world today who are still salves to others? Men, women, and children everywhere are being forced into unpaid labor and sex trafficking all over the globe, even in the heart of our nation. Make the difference. Draw the red X on your hand to show that you want to end slavery. When someone asks about it, tell them about the 27 million and invite then to join the cause! Take a picture of your X and send it to your favorite social media site tagged with #enditmovement. Drawing attention to it doesn't fix the problem, bit the problem can't be fixed without first bringing it to light.
.JPG) |
| #enditmovement |
Monday, February 24, 2014
Random Ramblings
We're all different. It's just that simple. Yet we as human beings find some little thing to quarrel about like difference in race or difference in color when in fact, our differences should be used as tools to help us find that really, we're not so different.
My current major is in Psychology, but I've recently been thinking about becoming a teacher someday, probably teaching elementary or middle school. Something every good teacher has made me aware of is that a teacher has the power to make or break a child. A first impression is everything, and what you say as a teacher really counts in the long run. Using your words and your position, you have the power to push a child farther in life or to shatter his or her dreams. I want to do the former. I want to teach children that they can be anything they want to be and they do not, under any circumstance, have to fall under the status-quo. I don't care if they want to be a doctor, a lawyer, an actor, or a film director. If you believe with all your heart that you have the power to do something, go for it. Do not be lazy. Fight for your dream with everything you have. Education is the key. It can open doors. While college may not be "for everybody", I encourage anyone to go the extra mile and earn their degree no matter how long it takes them.
In my Topics in Diversity class today, we discussed America's flawed historical perspective on the Indians, mainly focusing on cinema. For example, "Cowboys and Indians" is a huge chunk of American culture. Back in the 1950s, Western films and television shows dominated the media; however, they were also severely historically inaccurate. Cinema cast the Indians as the enemy and the cowboys as the heroes of the western frontier when, really, it was the other way around. In order to appeal to American audiences, the film companies ignored and completely overlooked the sufferings of the Native Americans, making it seem like they "politely stepped aside" so we could take their land. Although America is getting better at showing more historically accurate truths, we still need to abandon our old rituals of prejudice that still exist to this day.
On top of what we studied in Diversity, I also saw something interesting in my Intro. to Human Development class tonight: an experiment done by an ordinary third-grade teacher around the time of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s death. She wasn't a psychologist nor was she a psychiatrist. She wasn't even teaching a psychology class; no, she was an ordinary third-grade teacher who went down in history because she did an experiment in her all-white class, showing them the realistic results of discrimination.
Dividing the class into two groups, the "blue eyes" and the "brown eyes", she proceeded to tell the class that individuals with blue eyes are superior to individuals with brown eyes. After a bit of discussion on the matter, she released the children for recess. During those fifteen minutes, the "blue eyes" had a different mindset: "We are superior to the 'brown eyes.'" Name-calling and mild tussling ensued during recess just because of the superior mindset that defines prejudice and discrimination. I'll post the video below.
(Note: the "n" word is used once in this video as a means for the children to understand discrimination. If this offends, you may leave this post.)
My current major is in Psychology, but I've recently been thinking about becoming a teacher someday, probably teaching elementary or middle school. Something every good teacher has made me aware of is that a teacher has the power to make or break a child. A first impression is everything, and what you say as a teacher really counts in the long run. Using your words and your position, you have the power to push a child farther in life or to shatter his or her dreams. I want to do the former. I want to teach children that they can be anything they want to be and they do not, under any circumstance, have to fall under the status-quo. I don't care if they want to be a doctor, a lawyer, an actor, or a film director. If you believe with all your heart that you have the power to do something, go for it. Do not be lazy. Fight for your dream with everything you have. Education is the key. It can open doors. While college may not be "for everybody", I encourage anyone to go the extra mile and earn their degree no matter how long it takes them.
In my Topics in Diversity class today, we discussed America's flawed historical perspective on the Indians, mainly focusing on cinema. For example, "Cowboys and Indians" is a huge chunk of American culture. Back in the 1950s, Western films and television shows dominated the media; however, they were also severely historically inaccurate. Cinema cast the Indians as the enemy and the cowboys as the heroes of the western frontier when, really, it was the other way around. In order to appeal to American audiences, the film companies ignored and completely overlooked the sufferings of the Native Americans, making it seem like they "politely stepped aside" so we could take their land. Although America is getting better at showing more historically accurate truths, we still need to abandon our old rituals of prejudice that still exist to this day.
On top of what we studied in Diversity, I also saw something interesting in my Intro. to Human Development class tonight: an experiment done by an ordinary third-grade teacher around the time of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s death. She wasn't a psychologist nor was she a psychiatrist. She wasn't even teaching a psychology class; no, she was an ordinary third-grade teacher who went down in history because she did an experiment in her all-white class, showing them the realistic results of discrimination.
Dividing the class into two groups, the "blue eyes" and the "brown eyes", she proceeded to tell the class that individuals with blue eyes are superior to individuals with brown eyes. After a bit of discussion on the matter, she released the children for recess. During those fifteen minutes, the "blue eyes" had a different mindset: "We are superior to the 'brown eyes.'" Name-calling and mild tussling ensued during recess just because of the superior mindset that defines prejudice and discrimination. I'll post the video below.
(Note: the "n" word is used once in this video as a means for the children to understand discrimination. If this offends, you may leave this post.)
On another note, I want to make it clear that I am in no form or fashion a supporter of racism, prejudice, or discrimination. This is a point I want to stress on students if I do, in fact, become a teacher in the future. Because of society (and in some cases, their parents' beliefs and ideals), children break off from each other at a certain stage of their childhood and begin to form groups. Usually, mocking aimed at the different groups begin to ensue after this. Although this is a natural part of growing up and being a child, I want to discourage this behavior and activity as much as possible. The sooner the next generation can learn that we can live in harmony despite our differences, the better off we'll all be.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Valentines Day and Farewells
This
Valentines Day was a very interesting one. I'll start on the day
before, when the college had their Valentines Day on February 13.
The college was hosting a scavenger hunt; so, seeing as the only reliable option was to team up with my buddy Zach Knox, we took up the pseudonyms "Ranger Smith" and "Dr. Strangelove." Our mission was simple: to rid the darkness of peoples' hearts by using fluffy animals and things that shine. We set out to work.
The college was hosting a scavenger hunt; so, seeing as the only reliable option was to team up with my buddy Zach Knox, we took up the pseudonyms "Ranger Smith" and "Dr. Strangelove." Our mission was simple: to rid the darkness of peoples' hearts by using fluffy animals and things that shine. We set out to work.
 |
| Group hug! |
 |
| Mission: accomplished. |
Following
this, some friends and I went out to eat at the Plant Cafe downtown.
That night at 9, The Pine Box Dwellers took the stage at LL Creek to
play some tunes. All in all, a great pre-Valentines Day.
On
the actual holiday itself, myself, Jody, and Matt Knox traveled to
Brunswick to eat a hearty breakfast/lunch at Denny's, and then got a
flat tire later on in the day. Plot twist. Well, we showed that tire
who was boss after attempting two calls to local towing companies. Jody
Superman'd the plate off, we improvised in raising the jack (as one of
the parts was missing), we loosened the nuts, and we slapped a new tire
on, all before 6:00! ...Kind of. Well, it was 6:12 before we hit the
road, but... I blame it on the gnats.
 |
| Matt Knox, showing that tire who's boss. |
Finally,
we ended the night by eating at Applebee's as Justice's farewell dinner
before she conquers the world at Full Sail University. Joined by her,
Shay, Marisa, Jody, and Carmen Howard, we enjoyed a nice meal and a
bittersweet departure. But, she'll come back of course. If she
doesn't, I'll have to go down to Orlando.
This
just goes to show that Valentines Day can be for everyone, single or
not. I may not have a girlfriend, but I have the best friends a guy
could ever ask for, and I wouldn't trade that blessing for the world.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Brighter Days
This post won't be about any specific topic like the ones preceding it (i.e. politics; self-motivation; etc.) No, this will simply be about myself, what I've been doing recently, and what lies ahead.
I'll start by saying that this weekend was one of the best weekends I've had in a while. I spent Friday with The Pine Box Dwellers in Vidalia, GA for open mic night at the PAL Theater. What a great show! I want to thank Curly for inviting us back. We were originally supposed to play a free fifteen-minute performance, but Curly and the audience insisted on us pushing the time and continuing to play. The audience was a terrific one; they loved our music so much that they all pitched in some money, earning us a whopping $200 in "tip money" alone! Again, Curly and the rest of the audience deserve a big "thank you" for making it possible again. If you missed out, don't fret! Follow the link posted below and you'll be on our Facebook page. Be sure to click 'Like', and if you're feeling generous, scroll over the 'like' button and click on 'Get Updates' so you're pretty much stalking us. We don't mind. Scroll down a little on the page and you'll find a video or two of our performance this past Friday.
https://www.facebook.com/thepineboxdwellers
In Brunswick, GA, some very talented friends of mine were performing some awesome music for First Friday. Jody Rollins; Matt Knox; Alec Bunkley; Trey Hickox; and Carter White, together known as The South Sandwich Islands (minus Mark Karle, who currently resides in Nashville), had one heck of a night, from great music to pretty girls to a pie in the face! They've got a wide variety of songs old and new, each with their own style added into the mix. Check 'em out here:
https://www.facebook.com/TheSouthSandwichIslands
Also, here's a few pictures from their big night, courtesy of Dirt Road Diva Photography:
With Saturday came movie day. I met up with some buddies of mine and we all headed to the movie theatre near the mall to catch the LEGO Movie. Of course, it was cheesy at several moments in the movie (it is meant to be a kids' movie, after all), but we enjoyed it nonetheless, especially when (*SPOILER!!*) Will Ferrell steps into his basement to find his kid ruining his "master design." Oh yeah, and Batman's in it, so there's that. After the movie, we hung out at Shawn's house playing a game of Fact or Crap, until...
Finally, Sunday rolled around. The only thing I wish I could still do on Sundays is have a way to get to church. That would've made the day perfect. That day, myself and a talented group of musicians worked more on an original song I'm working on called "Day One". The first recording session, back in November 2013, focused on Jody Rollins on keyboard; Jey Parr on acoustic guitar; Justice Mousa on vocals; and myself on vocals and drums. This time around, the great Matt Knox was laying down the bass track and the talented Chase Sharp played an incredible electric guitar solo over the intro. Our time was limited, so right when we stepped into the studio we got to work. Jesse Herrin is doing an incredible job producing the song and mixing everything to make it sound perfect. I'm just thankful all these talented people can deal with me. Although we will still have to take another bass track and put the rest of the electric guitar part in, we all left the studio with a sense of pride and accomplishment. I'm proud and thankful for everyone who has helped me on this project so far, and I hope they're having just as much fun as I am with it. Sunday was the best day of the weekend by far, and the days ahead are sure to be filled with some great surprises. If you want to hear the finished product of the song when it comes out, check out my musician page on Facebook and stay updated!
As far as what comes next, I will be performing in the Waycross Area Community Theatre's production of The Wizard of Oz on March 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15 at 8pm with two Sunday matinees March 9 and 16. I hope to see everyone there! The theatre always does an amazing job putting on its shows and this season is no exception; in fact, I've been hearing that this is the best season the theatre has had in a long time, so you know you'll be missing out if you don't come and enjoy this classic!
Sarah Crutcher plays an amazing Dorothy Gale with her trio of looneys: the Scarecrow, played by Blake Kildow; the Tin Man, played by Michael Hawkins; and the Cowardly Lion, played by Stephen McQuaig. The rest of the cast is doing an amazing job as well, including the Wicked Witch herself, played by Nadine Borrelli. Stanley Sinkfield will be directing and Mrs. Cyndi Etheridge and Mrs. Kathy Cox will combine forces as usual to conduct the orchestra pit. It's gonna be a great show!
I'll start by saying that this weekend was one of the best weekends I've had in a while. I spent Friday with The Pine Box Dwellers in Vidalia, GA for open mic night at the PAL Theater. What a great show! I want to thank Curly for inviting us back. We were originally supposed to play a free fifteen-minute performance, but Curly and the audience insisted on us pushing the time and continuing to play. The audience was a terrific one; they loved our music so much that they all pitched in some money, earning us a whopping $200 in "tip money" alone! Again, Curly and the rest of the audience deserve a big "thank you" for making it possible again. If you missed out, don't fret! Follow the link posted below and you'll be on our Facebook page. Be sure to click 'Like', and if you're feeling generous, scroll over the 'like' button and click on 'Get Updates' so you're pretty much stalking us. We don't mind. Scroll down a little on the page and you'll find a video or two of our performance this past Friday.
https://www.facebook.com/thepineboxdwellers
 |
| Giggin' at the PAL. |
 |
| Sean Clark: songwriter, vocalist, guitarist. |
In Brunswick, GA, some very talented friends of mine were performing some awesome music for First Friday. Jody Rollins; Matt Knox; Alec Bunkley; Trey Hickox; and Carter White, together known as The South Sandwich Islands (minus Mark Karle, who currently resides in Nashville), had one heck of a night, from great music to pretty girls to a pie in the face! They've got a wide variety of songs old and new, each with their own style added into the mix. Check 'em out here:
https://www.facebook.com/TheSouthSandwichIslands
Also, here's a few pictures from their big night, courtesy of Dirt Road Diva Photography:
 |
| Alec Bunkley, lead singer and guitarist. |
 |
| Trey Hickox, percussion. |
 |
| Jody "I-Wish-I-Were-a-Jellyfish" Rollins, keyboard and vocals. |
 | ||
| Trey giving Matt Knox, the bassist, a pie in the face! |
With Saturday came movie day. I met up with some buddies of mine and we all headed to the movie theatre near the mall to catch the LEGO Movie. Of course, it was cheesy at several moments in the movie (it is meant to be a kids' movie, after all), but we enjoyed it nonetheless, especially when (*SPOILER!!*) Will Ferrell steps into his basement to find his kid ruining his "master design." Oh yeah, and Batman's in it, so there's that. After the movie, we hung out at Shawn's house playing a game of Fact or Crap, until...
Jody arrives and he and I head to Matt Knox's house real quick-a-like. Our friend Mark Karle was back for one quick night, so we both dropped by his house, played a little music, and ate a bit of pizza. After dropping Matt back off at his house, Jody, Mark, and I dropped by to see our buddy Alec. What an interesting night that turned out to be. All I'll say about that is that pizza should not be cooked whilst resting on the cardboard that comes with it.
 |
| The LEGO group! |
Finally, Sunday rolled around. The only thing I wish I could still do on Sundays is have a way to get to church. That would've made the day perfect. That day, myself and a talented group of musicians worked more on an original song I'm working on called "Day One". The first recording session, back in November 2013, focused on Jody Rollins on keyboard; Jey Parr on acoustic guitar; Justice Mousa on vocals; and myself on vocals and drums. This time around, the great Matt Knox was laying down the bass track and the talented Chase Sharp played an incredible electric guitar solo over the intro. Our time was limited, so right when we stepped into the studio we got to work. Jesse Herrin is doing an incredible job producing the song and mixing everything to make it sound perfect. I'm just thankful all these talented people can deal with me. Although we will still have to take another bass track and put the rest of the electric guitar part in, we all left the studio with a sense of pride and accomplishment. I'm proud and thankful for everyone who has helped me on this project so far, and I hope they're having just as much fun as I am with it. Sunday was the best day of the weekend by far, and the days ahead are sure to be filled with some great surprises. If you want to hear the finished product of the song when it comes out, check out my musician page on Facebook and stay updated!
 |
| Chase Sharp on electric guitar! |
 |
| Matt Knox on bass guitar! |
 |
| Sonic after the session! |
As far as what comes next, I will be performing in the Waycross Area Community Theatre's production of The Wizard of Oz on March 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15 at 8pm with two Sunday matinees March 9 and 16. I hope to see everyone there! The theatre always does an amazing job putting on its shows and this season is no exception; in fact, I've been hearing that this is the best season the theatre has had in a long time, so you know you'll be missing out if you don't come and enjoy this classic!
Sarah Crutcher plays an amazing Dorothy Gale with her trio of looneys: the Scarecrow, played by Blake Kildow; the Tin Man, played by Michael Hawkins; and the Cowardly Lion, played by Stephen McQuaig. The rest of the cast is doing an amazing job as well, including the Wicked Witch herself, played by Nadine Borrelli. Stanley Sinkfield will be directing and Mrs. Cyndi Etheridge and Mrs. Kathy Cox will combine forces as usual to conduct the orchestra pit. It's gonna be a great show!
As for The Pine Box Dwellers, we have a gig coming up this Thursday, February 13 at LL Creek in Waycross, as well as two back-to-back Albany gigs: Feb. 22 at Harvest Moon and Feb. 23 at Loco's Bar & Grill. Come out and enjoy the music with us (and check out these cool flyers Sean designs for us):
While I'm on the subject of music, we're also playing at two festivals coming up, so mark your calendars! The first one will be the Third Annual Norristown Throwdown at Hoopee Music Park in Norristown, GA; March 15, 2014 beginning at noon. Other acts include Dirty Uncle Bob & Friends; Wade Coleman; and Sam's Drive In Band!
Secondly, you definitely don't wanna miss out on Waycross's very own music festival, the Fourth Annual Swamptown Getdown, held at the Okefenokee Fairgrounds March 28-29! The line-up includes yours truly; The Corbitt Brothers; Georgia Soul Council; S.P.O.R.E.; Laurie Rider; The Woodgrains; dangfly!; and many more! There's some great musical talent in Waycross... you definitely don't wanna miss it for the world!
While I'm discussing things around town, I would also like to mention the Okefenokee Heritage Center's Writer's Guild. If you show any interest in writing, reading, or the like, you are more than welcome to join us! You can stop in freely sometimes, but to become an official member or to participate in activities such as "Artist of the Month", you need to pay in order to become an official member of the Heritage Center. Meetings are held monthly, usually on a Tuesday; this past month's meeting, however, was held on a Monday and featured a very special guest who happens to be my uncle... Mr. Gary Griffin of the Waycross Journal Herald, giving you the Southeast Georgia News every day on the radio! He talked a bit about what he does at the Journal Herald, what to look for if you're pursuing a career in journalism, and the changes in journalism that have taken place throughout the years. The Guild usually holds story contests monthly, each month with a different theme. The next meeting will be held in March, with featured Artist of the Month, Mrs. Barbara Griffin!
As far as everything else, well, surprises greet me every day. The way I see it, my life is in God's hands and I wouldn't have it any other way. I hope you all enjoyed my first "everyday life" post. Hopefully my life will be a little more interesting by the next one. ;)
Thursday, February 6, 2014
The Red, The White, The Suits & Ties - Sexism, Health Care, and Other Issues
I am not a big political person. At all. Period. However, I've been pushing myself to at least get involved in some of the issues that our country is facing. The way I see it, if I'm "neutral" about everything or just don't care, then I have no right to complain.
I think the biggest issue I have is lack of respect for your fellow people. I'm gonna go ahead and quote Pokémon here, just because it fits so well:
Also, here's an interesting picture I found on Facebook the other day thanks to a good friend of mine:
A second big issue I have is the health care "requirements." While I don't know too much about the whole scheme of it all, I know enough to say that there is absolutely no reason that anyone should have to actually pay to get health services. I watched a video in one of my Sociology classes at SGSC Waycross last semester about how citizens are being refused because certain requirements are not met, some of them even involving factors such as weight and appearance. These people are dying because they simply cannot get help. Up north in Canada, they laugh at the idea of having to pay for medical care. Yep, America, it's free, and in my opinion, that's how it needs to be everywhere. Prove to us that you're human and show us a shred of emotion instead of being the stone-faced suit-and-tie that says, "You don't meet the requirements for our heath care benefits."
Finally, I encountered this issue in Environmental Science when I was a senior in high school. It was then when I dubbed America "the spoiled teenager of the world" because of its careless amount of natural resource overuse compared to other countries. "We just gotta use it all up!" says America. There was an accurate chart of global natural resource consumption in my textbook that I can't find anywhere online, but it pretty much proves that we're just using everything up without thinking about the generations to come. As Americans, we also need to remember Mother Earth. She can only bear our burden for so long, and one day we're going to pay for it. Think responsibly, think alternatively, and think environmentally.
I think the biggest issue I have is lack of respect for your fellow people. I'm gonna go ahead and quote Pokémon here, just because it fits so well:
We do have a lot in common: the same Earth; the same air; the same sky. Maybe if we started looking at what's the same instead of always looking at what's different, well, who knows?Believe it or not, that was a quote from the first Pokémon movie. We can easily apply that to America. Racism, sexism, and plain old discrimination and prejudice are still out there, alive and kicking. It can be as big an issue as the close-minded views of people still saying the "n word" or as subtle an issue as womens' shirts costing more than mens' for no reason other than the difference in gender. Whatever the case, we, not only as Americans but as human beings, need to learn to cooperate with each other and respect each other. We all come from different backgrounds and different lifestyles. Just because you own a Ferrari doesn't mean you're any more superior to the guy down the street who owns a Cadillac Catera. What difference does it make if you're woman or man, black, white, Indian, Asian, or otherwise? You have just as much right to be in this country as we all do. One thing I don't think any of us has a reason to complain about is the 2014 Coca-Cola ad for the Super Bowl. I mean, come on, people. It promotes unity under the star-spangled banner. How is that offensive in any form or fashion?
Also, here's an interesting picture I found on Facebook the other day thanks to a good friend of mine:
A second big issue I have is the health care "requirements." While I don't know too much about the whole scheme of it all, I know enough to say that there is absolutely no reason that anyone should have to actually pay to get health services. I watched a video in one of my Sociology classes at SGSC Waycross last semester about how citizens are being refused because certain requirements are not met, some of them even involving factors such as weight and appearance. These people are dying because they simply cannot get help. Up north in Canada, they laugh at the idea of having to pay for medical care. Yep, America, it's free, and in my opinion, that's how it needs to be everywhere. Prove to us that you're human and show us a shred of emotion instead of being the stone-faced suit-and-tie that says, "You don't meet the requirements for our heath care benefits."
Finally, I encountered this issue in Environmental Science when I was a senior in high school. It was then when I dubbed America "the spoiled teenager of the world" because of its careless amount of natural resource overuse compared to other countries. "We just gotta use it all up!" says America. There was an accurate chart of global natural resource consumption in my textbook that I can't find anywhere online, but it pretty much proves that we're just using everything up without thinking about the generations to come. As Americans, we also need to remember Mother Earth. She can only bear our burden for so long, and one day we're going to pay for it. Think responsibly, think alternatively, and think environmentally.
I'm kind of new at the whole political scene, so the last thing I want to do is act like I know everything, because believe me, I'm far from it. What I do have are opinions and I will support them with as much fact as possible. Feel free to argue, criticize, or otherwise. I'll get around to posting more specific "political posts" eventually, but for now, God bless America.
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