Muck Raking

According to dictionary.com, muck rake is a verb defined as “to search for and expose real or alleged corruption, scandal, or the like, especially in politics.” This means that in order to be a muck raker, one must investigate real and alleged wrong-doing and report on it. As we’ve established in class, muck raking laid the foundation for investigative journalism which tremendously helped the field of reporting simply because it changed the focus of the news. Now, instead of reporting the fact that there is a rumor circulating about some prominent figure, the reporter would investigate the rumor and report the truth behind the stories. This is the process of muck raking, digging to find the truth of the story. Is it taken too far sometimes? Sure, but I feel like the benefits certainly outweigh the costs. The public has a right to know what kind of people they uphold as prominent figures in society, they also have the right to know information about sensitive topics such as race relations in America. Remember the Jena 6 situation? The American people would have never known about this had it not been for the work founded by the muck rakers. Reporters went to Louisiana and dug to find the information the public needed to know. Because of their admirable and ethical work, people were able to organize and travel to the small town of Jena Louisiana and protest to enact the change that they wanted to see. America has no space for racists and bigotry and these white students needed to be punished. Had it not been for the work of muck rakers, or rather the direct descendants of muck rakers, America may have never known about this story and the small town of Jena, Louisiana would have been undisturbed.

One aspect of my life

If there’s one thing in my life I can’t do without, it’s music. I’m sure that’s fairly cliché due to the fact that everyone enjoys calm days, lounging on their sofa with a drink, a cool breeze, and having the soundtrack of their lives playing softly to accentuate the mood. Just that brief description probably sent you onto some exotic island like a clip from a Corona commercial; for me things are a tad bit different. I am completely and utterly enamored with the idea of music. This love of music is the reason that I can enjoy just about any tune that a friend plays and spaz quietly over the harmonic textures and the hints of counterpoint here and there that occasionally accent pop arrangements from the Top 50’s billboard charts. Because of this, I can’t help but involve myself in the creation and edification of musical ideas no matter how abstract. To accent this point, I submit to you a group by the name of Death Grips. Now right off the bat, I’m sure you’re sitting there with some preconceived idea about how this group will sound. You’re anticipating some kind of hardcore screaming and lyrics that tip toe the lines of Satanism and demon worship and in that since you’d only be half right. Death Grips is an experimental rap group from the west coast that sounds, “Brutal, bodacious, ugly like twisted-metal, obnoxious as a shot-out kneecap, completely barmy.” Crazy, right? In case you’re still afraid then allow me to try and ease your mind. The frontman, Flatlander, raps about dystopias and divine retribution (you know, typical Sunday sermons) to the sounds of complete and utter chaos typically found in hard rock/electronica. It’s completely awesome to me, yet juxtaposed to the mellow and calming sounds of Nujabes.

Tie your shoes!

1. Take laces in hand
2. Loop one over the other; pull taunt
3. Fold both laces in half and bring them to meet in the middle of shoe
4. Twist laces and pull taunt

Dear Mom

Hi mom,

How are you doing? I'm doing just fine here, still adjusting to college life and all that. My switch to mass comm seems to be working out fairly well, there's a heavy writing emphasis so that's right up my alley. How's T'airra doing? I'm sure she's enjoying her paycheck now that she's making some real money. Well I guess I should be going now, I'm running out of things to talk about so I guess we'll talk later.

Love you,

Toney

Musician Dies in Space Shuttle Accident

Toney Gaines, world renowned musician and poet recently died in a space shuttle accident on May 26th, 2042, three days after his 50th birthday. Reports indicate that the space shuttle exploded due to a fuel leak that was ignited upon re-entry to the Earth’s atmosphere.
Toney Gaines was born to a family of modest means in 1992. After years of growing up in a single-parent home, he discovered a passion for music and quickly learned how to play saxophone in his middle school years, developing his own unique and eclectic sound by blending heavy influences from hip hop, electronica, and jazz.
Everything changed for Gaines in college. Gabriel Smith, a long-time friend of Toney’s, was quoted saying, “…I don’t know, he just always seemed to be looking way off into the distance you know? Like he saw something no one else did…” His visions seemed to pay off. Due to his hard work balancing school and concert events, Toney Gaines started to gather a lot of attention, enough attention in fact to catch the ear of Kid Cudi and be signed to G.O.O.D. Music.
20 years later, Gaines retired from the music industry to enjoy a quieter life in southern France. Here he began to invest in his dream of space travel, buying stock in a new and energetic private spaceflight company. After 10 years of planning and investing, the company was prepared for its first commercial flight in which the CEO, Gaines, and his family would participate. Unfortunately, the return trip ended in tragedy as all three passengers died. Toney "Vega" Gaines died the way he lived, in a blaze of glory.

Introductions: Toney Gaines

Hi there everyone, my name is Toney Gaines. I am awesome. Like seriously awesome. Like so incredibly awesome that even Superman would be like, "Dang son, you're too fly for me." Yea, that fly indeed. So as you read the world-shaking material I have yet to post, just remember one thing. You'll never be as awesome as me.

#swag