my senior year

This year I have learned a lot. I have learned a lot about journalism and a lot about myself. At the beginning of this year I was assigned the sports editor position. I was a little nervous at the start but knew that if I worked hard and wasn't afraid to ask for help when needed then everything would be fine. As the year progressed mistakes were made and the rush for deadlines marginal, but throughout it all I learned from it. I figured things when I was stuck and I just tried to stay positive and calm. With the last issue coming out and with eight pages of sport I'm happy with all the effort and the outcome. Jacob ad Jesse have been a blessing and without the two of them the sports section would not be half as good. I know the paper is in good hands with those guys taking over. Both guys are great writers and have a great future. I'll look forward to reading some classic Breems in the future.

Personally I learned that I could handle tough situation and tough people well .There was times when tension was high and things weren't been done but again I learned the importance of staying calm and getting things done. I have learned how to apply leadership without coming across as arrogant or annoying. I appreciate the work that people did for me and for the paper and hope I reflected that in my attitude towards them.

This year has been great. I have made great friends, a great mentor in Maryann, and developed great confidence in my ability. I will miss 'The Banner' and miss the deadlines.

Thank you to everyone and I hope we can maintain and better the standard we reached this year.

yours in sports

Midterm - Beckham- should he stay or should he go

He was supposed to be the savior of the MLS, but just over a year later the MLS still remains (slightly) off the radar.

At the conclusion of the MLS season Beckham was loaned to Italian giants AC Milan. The loan period was supposed to a chance for Beckham to stay fit in order to stay in contention for a spot on the English national team. The spell however as been a bad one for the Galaxy. Since his arrival to Milan and into the bubble of one of the worlds biggest clubs Beckham has refound his love and passion for the game and the form that made him a household name.

The move has been a great one for Beckham, we has been playing well, picked up a record tying 108 cap for England and put his name in the hat for the England team as the continue their pursuit for a spot for the 2010 World Cup.

This is bad news for the Galaxy. Beckham has publicly stated that he wants to remain in Italy as he feels it is the best for him and his international career. The Galaxy however have invested alot of money in Beckham and have refused to let him go without a fight.

Beckham is due to return to LA March 9th but discussions are now happening about where is future lies. But is it worth having a player at a club that does not want to play there. So should the Galaxy just try cash in on him while they can?

Beckahm has a clause in his contract that will allow him to leave the Galaxy as a free agent Jan 1st 2010. So would it not be worth their while to bleed whatever they can from Milan and cut their loses.

To be honest I don't think the league will miss him. He had a really average season and failed to make the MLS best 11; he wasn't even close. It is fair to say that he has made an impression and made people aware of the MLS but it was his name that did this not his displays on the field.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4996013,00.html

A special person

Throughout my travels ( I've always wanted to say that) I have meet a lot of wonderful and interesting people. Some of these people have come and gone and others have remained. Those who have remained I have built really close relationships with and am currently building relationship with. I have made friends who are all cut from very different molds but each possess that little something that draws me to them. But no matter where I have been and the people I have met there is still no nobody that can compare to the bond I have with my mother. Or ma or Mrs. D as she is known to most:)

I have always been in awe of my mother and how she has kept her sanity and remained the pillar of strength for my family even after raising seven boys. There have been times she has been knocked back and thrown throw a loop but she has always prevailed with the right thing to say, that shoulder you need to lean on or that ear you need to talk to and on some occasions the hand you need across the backside.

I know it hasn't been easy for my mam with me being half way around the world. If anyone could put their feet in her shoes it would be me because I'm sure I miss her just as much as she misses me. But my mam has been great with advice and encouragement. She knows why I am here and the desire I have to better myself and she is fully supportive. We talk a lot on the phone and she always reminds me that home is only a plane ride away but that I'm not missing out on anything anyway and everybody is fine. She always jokes, 'sure why would you want to come back to this weather.' She always has the right think to say when I need it most.



I think most mothers can have confidence in telling their kids that they know them better than they know themselves, this is where the special connection comes in, they have watched you grow. Its not easy for mothers to see their kids grow up and leave the nest. Its hard to watch their kids fail or be hurt as it is equally rewarding to see them succeed. What separates mothers is the they will always be the there no matter what the outcome and love you all the same.

what ethics means to me

For me being ethical is doing something or saying something while keeping your integrity. It is making decisions that you feel to be right and just. It is standing up for who you are without having negative connotations that might effect or hurt others. Ethics is doing the right thing. It is doing things by the book.

That saying 'doing things by the book' has always played on my mind. I never knew there was a 'book' on ethics, but it dawned on me the book could refer to the Bible. The Bible is what we have used to shape our lives, laws and code of ethics. Everyday we try our best to follow these rules and live up to these expectations but we are only human and therefore are faced with tough decisions, decisions that call our personal code of ethics into play.

Lying, cheating, stealing etc are all unethical but are still done everyday but I can bet you more times than not these people do not have an once of integrity or self worth. I can sleep comfortable at night knowing the decisions I make are done by the book to the best of my ability.

One practice that I find really unethical is when people use others for there own personal gain. We they take advantage of others in a harmful way. It was released this week that the Sean John clothing line, manufactured by Pdaddy or puff diddy or whatever he is calling himself is making top of the line gear in sweat shops exploiting people. it was reported in Vogue by a former worker that, "workers were forced to suffer horrific abuse every day. We were forced to work like slaves. We were enslaved... that they were constantly verbally and physically abused, forced to work unpaid overtime, limited to two bathroom visits per day, given mandatory pregnancy tests, fired if found to be pregnant and paid just 14 pence for each £30 Sean John sweat shirt they made."

How could somebody have integrity doing something like this?? Where do ethics come into play?

Mocha Banner

I was asked by Mocha Club to write about the concept of why ‘I need Africa more than Africa needs me.’ Mocha Club [www.mochaclub.org] is a community-based website where members can start a team and invite friends to join them in giving $7 a month – the cost of 2 mochas – to support a project in Africa. Mocha Club's vision is to provide a way for people who don't have hundreds or thousands of dollars to make a difference in Africa

I need Africa more than Africa needs me.

I remember growing up sitting around with my family watching concerts put together by the best musicians in the world to help aid people in Africa. I was always oblivious to what was going on. I never really knew how big of an issue it was. I remember however seeing those images of the kids, who were sick or who had nothing. They wouldn't have been any older than I was at the time and I always thought to myself that it was like something out of a movie and that it could not be real. How could these people live in these places when I lived in a house, how come they had to walk miles for water when all had to do was walk to the kitchen and turn on the tap. I seen kids that had no clothes when I had a closet full of stuff I hardly ever wore. I remember just seeing the sadness and innocence on their faces.

This is something I have never forgotten. It makes me take for granted everything did I have. It makes me humble, It makes me not worry about the little things, I make me thankful. It makes me need Africa more than Africa needs me.

Share your thoughts in my comments, and even blog about it yourself. Join in the worthwhile cause!! Come back Dec 1st to see what Mocha Club is doing about reforming that image

Patriot Act - Midterm

This semester, for the first time, I have had the chance to study American history and the history of American politics. From my last blog you are probably aware that I do not have a huge interested in politics but I am frustrated at the level of some people's ignorance and stupidity.

Although I do not care too much about the current political race I have been very intrigued about the past leaders and the founding fathers of this country. And it was very interesting to see how this country has evolved over what it is a short time compared to their European counterparts. It is crazy to think about how the country was gone from slavery, segregation, the civil rights movement to a possible black President.

It really is astonishing, If someone had of told Thomas Jefferson (a slave owner) that there was going to a black president he probably would have laughed. I just think it is great that a country can learn and grow and evolve with the times. But anyway… In class we were discussing the Patriot Act. A lot of the class knew a lot about this and I just kind of stopped listening and was daydreaming a little. We are then asked to do questions for a homework assignment. So I thought it best to do some research and find out the bones of it. It was quiet shocking and highly interesting what I found out. It might not be as interesting for you, as most of you probably know a lot more about it.


In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, the day that shocked the world and had huge traumatic effect on the whole of America… Off the point, but it is weird living in America now as I can remember sitting in my house when it happened, I had just got home from school and was watching the news. It was unreal, like a movie. But I remember in school the next day and how everybody said that they would never live in America, and I was the same, but here I am now...weird. But anyway back to what I was saying.


I was shocked to learn On October 26, 2001 President George W. Bush signed a bill designed to combat terrorism. The bill passed hardly a week after the terrorist attacks and was passed with little debate. The bill was the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism, also known as The Patriot Act.


I also learned the Act increases the ability of law enforcement agencies to search telephone, e-mail communications, medical, financial and other records, and also eases restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering within the United States.

I thought this was crazy. My view of America was a country of independence, a place that prides itself on personal freedom. I just can't see how this Bill passed with little or no opposition. And how long would this last? I figured American's, due to being upset, angry and wanting protection did little to question this Bill. But as the grievance settled and emotions were replaced by rational thought a lot of American have come to realize that this Bill is not all that it was cracked up to be. Or is it?

Yes the large scale of the 9/11 attacks exposed some obvious and laughable security flaws in the American system. Terrorists easily slipped through immigration and airport checks, and even managed to live, train, and plan in the U.S. for several years. This undoubtedly has added an extra element to people’s fears. For all people know a terrorist could be living next door and this has put the nation at a great state of unease.

But where to you draw the line between personal freedom and national safety? The conclusion that I have come to is that if people want to live without fear, or a less degree of fear, then their personal liberties are going to have to take a step back from the forefront and make way for an Act that has been put their to protect them. I do not mean that they must give up their independence entirely but instead just embrace and try work side by side with a system put in place to help. And yes there are flaws in the system and in what system aren’t there flaws? That’s way America must try to work together to figure it out. And in the mean time if a diminutive part of peoples personal freedom is at stake then that is a small price to pay for the potential loss of millions of innocent people.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/terrorism.html
www.aclu.org
www.Wikipedia.com

Presidential Election- midterm

Just like the rest of America and the rest of the world I cannot do anything to avoid hearing, speaking or debating the upcoming election. I have turned off the television, flipped through the pages of the newspaper, skipped the emails and even walked out of rooms but no matter what I still end up getting involved in some sort of debate.

The reason for this is, put simply, is peoples stupidity. Some off the things I have heard coming out of the mouths of people is ridiculous. I just wish these people would learn to have an opinion before they spoke and not just regurgitate some tripe that they heard on the radio or heard from their friend - who just happens to be a political expert due to that one political science class they took one semester, or the one whole debate they watched! (Which was for extra credit, not because they wanted to be there.)

To me it just seems like a big popularity contest. I know it is in a lot of ways, but for that one person to become the most popular and eventual winner, I would like to think that they were put on that pedestal for the right reason. Not just because they had a better ad campaign, were a better public speaker, were black or white, man or women, or whatever it may be. I would hope that they are in that position because it is the right decision. That the views and aspirations of the elected reflect what the people need and what the country needs in this time of crisis.

This is the most powerful country in the world and it is not an easy job to run it. It just seems moronic that the a decision so difficult to make is going to be decided by a lot of people who do not have a notion of what is actually going on.

The one thing that really gets me is that I am not even from this country nor able to vote but still have more of a clue of what is going on with the political 'leaders' that a lot of people I have overheard and got involved in conversations with. I check the news daily, flick through the papers, listen to the radio but I don't study the political form guides.

To be honest I don't even have a huge interest in politics, whether it is Irish politics or American. I always felt that i didn't know enough about it or the parties to make a fair decision, and was never interested enough to research it. I lost count of the number of times I heard, "its your future." And I thought to myself, you know what they are right! and for that reason I definitely did not vote. I figured it best to leave it in the hands of the voters who knew what they were doing.

REAL voters don't disagree with someone just for the sake of it, they disagree because they do their homework and come to the conclusion that one parties' views and policies best reflect what is best for the country. And yes you are going to have people with different views. But there is confidence in knowing that the majority vote went to a worthy candidate. And that that candidates views are decided by people how know what they are doing, not just a bunch of people who think it is cool to vote for a person, or voting because the color of the opponents skin.

To be continued!!