Former DC Mayor Marion Barry Dies at 78

Marion S. Barry was an African American politician. He was the first black activist to have been elected mayor of the District of Columbia, and was currently member of the Council of the District of Columbia, representing Washington D.C’s Ward 8. In the 1960’s, Barry was involved in the African-American Civil Rights Movement, serving as a chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which gave him his start in D.C politics. During his time serving as the mayor, Marion Barry did things that both helped and hurt the City of Washington and its people. Marion Barry died early Sunday at United Medical Center in Washington. He was 78. The D.C. medical examiner said Sunday evening that Mr. Barry died of a cardiovascular disease, with kidney disease and diabetes contributing to his death.

During his time leading the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee SNCC, Barry led protests against racial segregation and discrimination in Washington D.C. During his time as the mayor he spent millions of tax dollars into summer jobs programs, senior centers and an array of social welfare programs that ranked among the most generous in the whole country. He also used the city’s bureaucracy as an employment program to help foster the growth of the black middle class, hiring more municipal employees than any other city in America. He created an organization named Pride which helped people who couldn't get jobs to work. These people were usually male African American who had served jail time and were given a criminal record afterwards.

Photography - A Powerful Medium

Photography is a powerful medium. It can expose truths and show emotions that words never could. It can turn a mirror to our deepest fears and give us hope for humanity. Photography can change the world. Since 1942, the Pulitzer Prize has been awarded to the most excellent photographs and photos taken every year. Usually awarded to news photographers, the award-winning images include some of the most iconic photographs ever taken.

This photo, taken by Ron Edmonds in 1981, shows Secret Service agent Timothy J. McCarthy, foreground, Washington policeman, and presidential press secretary James Brady, background, laying wounded on a street outside a Washington hotel after shots were fired by John Hinckley, Jr., who pushed a pistol through a cluster of bystanders and fired six shots at President Ronald Reagan. Brady was permanently disabled due to the attack and later became a gun control advocate.

Favorite Female Artist - Jessie J

The Brit behind Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A", Jessie J, has stepped out into the light to claim her own fame. Born as Jessica Ellen Cornish on March 27, 1988 After attending Collins Performing Arts, Jessie was cast at Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End play "Whistle Down the Wind" at the age of 11.

She went through High School and began channeling down her talent again when completing her study at the BRIT school and joining an-all girl group. Her first push into the real business began when she was signed to Gut Records. Unfortunately, the label went bankrupt before she even released an album. Determined as she is, Jessie continued writing songs and gaining a contract with Sony ATV.


It was in November 2010 when she began to step out as a solo artist, releasing the single "Do It Like a Dude" which quickly came at number two on U.K. Singles charts. The success was followed by a greater one with the release of "Price Tag" in which Jessie collaborated with rapper, B.0.B.. It became her first number one single. Due to the amount of success, Jessie was a regular name at awards events. She won 2011 BRIT Awards' Critics' Choice and was nominated for BBC's Sound of 2011 list. Her first debut album, is called "Who You Are", and her third album which came out very recently is titled “Sweet Talker”. Something that I really like about Jessie J is that she is a very different and original artist.

Something that I really admire and love about Jessie J is that most of her songs have a very positive and true message. She uses her talent to help others overcome certain situations and to inspire them as well. She's always very transparent and true to herself and that's really something that makes her so different to other artist who just perform for the money and the fame.

Playlist Recommendation -

1. Said Too Much
2. Do It Like A Dude (Explicit)
3. Price Tag
4. Nobody's Perfect
5. Big White Room
6. Who's Laughing Now
7. Who You Are
8. Stand Up
9. Casualty Of Love
10. You Really Don't Know Me

Favorite Male Artist - Ed Sheeran

Flame-haired singer/songwriter, beat boxer, and guitarist Ed Sheeran's style blend of acoustic pop, folk, and hip-hop has been acclaimed by many people. Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England in 1991, Sheeran released his first EP, "The Orange Room", while still at school, and his first two albums, his self-titled debut and Want Some, by the age of 16. After moving to London to gain more live experience, his performance of the self-penned "You Need Me, I Don't Need You" on YouTube gained him half a million viewers and attracted the attention of actor Jamie Foxx, who later invited him to appear on his Los Angeles radio show.

In 2011 he released his major debut studio album +. The album was a massive hit, selling over a million copies in the U.K in just six months, and charting highly in many countries. Sheeran worked co-writing songs for One Direction and Taylor Swift. He toured the U.S. with Swift on her massive 2013 arena tour, and saw his song "I See Fire". His latest album is titled X . Appearing in June 2014, X contained his acoustic/hip-hop sound, but also had a new R&B feel in places along with pop.

Playlist Recommendation -

1. Don't
2. Thinking Out Loud
3. I See Fire
4. Sing
5. Lego House
6. Give Me Love
7. The A Team
8. You Need Me, I Don't Need You
9. Bloodstream
10. Tenerife Sea

Understanding Sensationalism - Fighting Fear with Facts

Ebola is a virus that first appeared in 1976 on Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.The disease is mainly found in tropical Central and West Africa, and has a 90 percent mortality rate. The current epidemic began in Guinea when a 2-year-old boy died on 6 December last year. His mother, sister, and grandmother then became ill with similar symptoms and died.

People infected by those victims spread the disease to other villages, eventually crossing into neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leon. It is transmitted through close contact with sweat, blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected. Experts conclude that America’s hospitals have notable advantages that West Africa’s hospitals generally don’t. More resources to devote to round-the-clock care.

U.S. Airstrikes Target Islamic State in Iraq

Today the United States has launched an airstrike near Baghdad in what defense officials said, and many fear is the start of an expanded action against Islamic State extremists in Iraq. The officials told USA Today the strike was in support of Iraqi security forces south of Baghdad who were under attack.


The strike was described as the first to provide aid for Iraqi forces fighting the Islamic extremist group, as previous actions were conducted to protect U.S. personnel and interests.President Obama last week announced that a broader campaign would be in the quest of trying to "degrade and ultimately destroy'' the Islamic State group, which sometimes is referred to by the acronym ISIS.

Iraqi forces were being fired on by the Islamic State fighters before the air strike destroyed their position, the official said. Since air strikes began last month, the attacks had been centered on Islamic State fighters in northern Iraq. Secretary of State John Kerry met today in Paris with diplomatic leaders from more than a dozen countries as the administration tries to assemble allies to help battle this extremist group.

My Media Self

I mostly like to watch television. My favorite shows are Wipeout, America's Funniest Home Videos, Family Feud, Adventure Time, and Modern Family. I also like to watch movies on TV and go to the movies when a new movie that I'm interesting in comes out. I like to listen to the radio when I am on the car, and on my PSP when I am using the metro.

On my laptop I like to go on Facebook and talk to my friends and relatives. I like to go on YouTube every now and then to see what some of the YouTubers I've subscribed to have uploaded. Three of my favorite websites to go to are BuzzFeed, Vine, and Imgur which I mostly use for entertainment.

I get my news from television on the ABC channel. I only trust what the news says if they give strong evidence to prove that what they are saying is right. If they don't give any proof then I am not going to believe what they are reporting.

I am a media content creator because I have posted a few pictures on my Facebook profile. This post on my new blog also makes me a content media creator. I guess that's the only way in which I have been a media content creator. I have never uploaded a YouTube video or anything similar to that.