Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris

"Rather than ignore those who choose to publish their opinions without actually talking to me, I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love."

These are the exact words from one Neil Patrick Harris in November of 2006 after he was comfortably able to “come out” to the public about his sexuality. However, NPH is far more than just a LBGTQ figure.

Neil Patrick Harris (born June 15, 1973) is an American actor, producer, and director. He is known for playing Barney Stinson in the television comedy series How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014), the title character in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–1993), the title role in Joss Whedon's musical Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008), and a fictional version of himself in the Harold & Kumar film series (2004–2011). He has also appeared in the films Starship Troopers (1997), Beastly (2011), The Smurfs (2011), and The Smurfs 2 (2013).

Harris was named as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in 2010, and was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in September 2011. Harris has also hosted the Tony Awards on Broadway in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Harris is a visionary. Gracing everyone from TV screen to big screen, Neil is always a topic of discussion in a positive way.

Neil and his romantic partner, David Burtka act as one to be one of the great symbols of the LGBTQ community and proving that equality can most certainly mean happiness if treated fairly.

One thing that NPH proves more than anything is the overwhelming fact that you should never feel the need to hide from the world who you truly are inside. Being gay has often been victimized for years in the world, and still is today. However, once we can all come together and be comfortable with the acceptance that we’re all different, I believe that even Neil can say this place with be “LEGEN…… Wait for it…… DARY”

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000439/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Patrick_Harris

Oprah Winfrey

She is one of the most successful women known in the world. Owning her own talk show, magazine, radio, studios, film, and foundation. Her reach is internationally, available in 85 million homes. Speaking out to those who are willing to listen, helping those who are willing to accept the help granted. She is encouraging, uplifting, entertaining and giving; she is Oprah Winfrey.

She started out broadcasting in high school, and at the age of 19 she became a new anchor for Nashville's WTVF-TV. Her very own show known as the Oprah Winfrey Show wasn't known as that at first. After leaving Nashville she hosted WLS-TV's morning talk show in Chicago, which became the number one local talk show after she joined. It was then later named after her and it became her own show.

She was the third woman in the American entertainment industry to own her own studio in 1988. For 25 years she influenced her viewers and fans, giving helpful advice and tips on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Her influence reached out to 150 countries, up to 40 million viewers per week. In 2008 she partnered with Discovery Communications created OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network which became the first and only network named for a single iconic leader.

Oprah radio, constantly on and open to anyone who needs some motivation. O, The Oprah Magazine, is her very own women's lifestyle magazine with almost 2.5 million readers per month. Harpo Films, where she has produced multiple films based on classical and contemporary literature. Along with the Oprah Winfrey Foundation, reaching out to those in need of help. She is widely known for her fundraisers, Oprah's Angel Network raised over $80 million in 1998, Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation raised over $40 million in 2000 and her "Christmas Kindness in South Africa" sending 50,000 children received gifts in South Africa.

With her unlimited care for children, she went on to testify in front of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee with determination to establish a national database of convicted child abusers and in 1993 President Clinton signed the bill into law.

With hard work and dedication, she was able to achieve more than she ever dreamed of. Becoming one of the most iconic leaders in America, known worldwide and an inspiration to all.

http://www.oprah.com/pressroom/Oprah-Winfreys-Official-Biography

Blog 5: Alaina Mills

Martin Luther King Jr. 
Social Issue- Racism     

           Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream. He had a dream that “one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'" He believed that what is inside a person should affect how someone views you, not the outside. And he said that your color should not determine your rights to citizenship or certain things.
         
           Michael Luther King Jr. (who later had his name changed to Martin), was born January 15^th, 1929 in Atlanta, GA. He completed high school, college, and graduate school and eventually followed in his grandfather and father’s footsteps by becoming a pastor. He was the pastor Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He met his wife, Coretta Scott, while in graduate school in Boston. They had two children together. Racism in this time was a huge social issue, and because of this MLK was an active civil rights leader and was a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In this organization he took part of a bus boycott that lasted almost 400 days. During this boycott King was arrested, he suffered physical abuse, and his home was bombed. However, the boycott was successful because segregation in busses became illegal.

          During the time period of 1957-1968, MLK traveled over 6 million miles to different places where there was segregation and protests, giving his many memorable speeches. After giving over 2500 speeches, writing 5 books, and many articles, he began to catch the attention of many Americans. He is most famous for directing the march on Washington D.C. and delivering his “I Have a Dream” speech to over 250,000 people. Due to his strong protests he was arrested almost 20 times and assaulted 4 times. But was also awarded 5 honorary degrees, was the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 35, and was named Man of the Year by Time Magazine in 1963. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 on his balcony right before leading a protest march.

          Although he died young, his legacy did not die with him. He was a brave and influential man who made a lasting impact on the world and the thought of racism. He was a leader and still continues to lead. He is not only a symbolic leader of American Blacks, but he is also a world figure. Martin Luther King Jr. and his dream will never be forgotten.  

 

 

 

 

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

http://wamc.org/post/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-i-have-dream-speech-h-carl-mccall-and-dr-jw-wiley

Michael Sam- TV Williams

Michael Alan Sam was born January 7, 1990. He chose to go to the University of Missouri where he played football. After having four outstanding seasons and being a consensus All American in the SEC, which is one of the best conferences in the NCAA. Michael Sam publicly came out to the media as gay. After announcing to the world Sam took a lot of criticism. With just one announcement Michael went from being one of the most loved football players at the time to one of the most hated, but that didn’t change his view at all. He was happy to be able to free with the world. If he could accept the world, why couldn’t the world accept him?      

            After Michael Sam’s senior season in his collegiate career he was one of the top players in the country with very good reason to believe he would go first round in this years NFL draft. When he released his statement about him being gay, ESPN along with other TV stations started to suspect his current draft stock would drop. Again this didn’t bother Michael Sam at all; he wanted all the pro teams to know of his sexuality.

            Should his sexuality matter to the NFL teams? he played outstanding in college and got along with all of his teammates who by the way support him after his statement but also never had any problems with him being gay while he was on his collegiate team at the University of Missouri. Sam led the Mizzou defense to the SEC championship where they fell just short of the title to the Auburn tigers who would go on to the national championship and loose to the Florida state Seminoles.

            With Sam publicly being gay he would be the first active NFL player to have declared gay publicly. To some this causes hatred but to some he is a hero.

Leitchfield

Most days you'll find her dressed up,
in a raggedy kind of way.
Wearing a ball cap that has seen better days
and an old t-shirt that always looks dirty.

Fishing rods already in the truck bed,
a couple boxes of worms in the cooler.
Bug spray is a must have or you'll be sleeping with bugs that night.
Sunscreen to keep from being marked by the hot sun.

Driving down the one lane road heading to the backwoods.
The dirt road leading to the woods is bumpy
and the trail to the river is overgrown.

Wafting through the woods watching for snakes and spiderwebs.
Sneak peaks of the glistening water can be seen through the trees.
The rough sound of boat motors echoing all around.
Her summer days are her best days.

She doesn't have much to offer with being a small town
mainly a few antique shops, a few schools...
The "city" part has all the restaurants and buildings
however, the best part is filled with farms and wide open land.

Cows and horses can be seen everywhere,
houses are few and far between.
Most businesses here don't stay open long
since there aren't many people to begin with.

A few golf courses and mini golf courses use to be open
along with a bowling alley and movie theater.
Now the things to do in summer are limited...
Unless you drive to the surrounding cities.

One of her favorite days is the fourth of July.
When fireworks are set off over the river...
Bright, expensive fireworks combined with small cheap ones.
Cars lined up on the side of the road for miles,
while chairs and blankets litter the ground all around the river.
It may not last long, but it is an event that gives life to her.


This is about a place I go to every summer, and it's the place where my grandparents grew up at. I call it my home away from home because I come from the city area and this is the country where I can go fishing and swimming in Rough River which is the main attraction there. I go there during summer time with my family and we spend a few weeks there.

STANFORD (BY: Alaina Mills)

One day you’ll find her dressed in her Sunday best,
Hair curled, makeup applied.
Sittin’ in church with her family,
and also half her high school.
Goin’ to church is something everyone in this town does.
Born and raised in a conservative Christian town,
Church was a place everyone enjoyed goin’.

Then the next day you’ll find her dressed in camo head to toe.

Four-wheeling through the mud and creeks,
To the best dang huntin' spot in the county.
Sittin’ in the blind with her daddy just waitin’,
Til a big’n comes into view and she shoots.
Posin’ with a big smile for the picture with her turkey.

The next day you’ll probably find her and her friends,

Friends she’s grown up with her whole life,
Sittin in Coleman’s on main-street,
waitin’ on Orangeades and milkshakes before the big football game.
Then ridin’ with the windows down and music loud,
Down the street to the high school.

The football games at Death Valley attract the whole town.

The whole student body and teachers and parents.
Dressed in red, white, blue, cheerin’ the Patriots.
Today she’s wearin’ these colors with her friends,
Cheerin’ on the team in the pep section.
School spirit is something’ she and everyone has.

It’s the summer days that are her favorites though.
She’ll sing and dance next to the bonfire,
Shootin' the gun, practicing for huntin' season.
She’ll play 18 holes with her daddy at the golf course,
Before walkin’ over to the pool at Dix River Country Club.

Her favorite thing to do though is go to the Drive In,
Friends haulin up in trucks,
Meetin’ the whole high school there.
Then headin over to the Dairy Dip for ice cream.

Her life is simple, small town livin’ on the farms.

She knows everyone… wavin’ on the road is common.
She’s sweet but you best believe her tea is sweeter.
Yeah, she’s just a good ol’ Southern girl,
She is Stanford, KY.


**I am from Stanford, KY. Its south from here about an hour away. It is from the point of view from a high school girl. I would say specifically myself, but everyone there is the same! So this description describes myself, a lot of my friends, and pretty much every other teenage girl in Stanford, which is why I chose this. I come from a very small simple country place. Not a lot happens and when something does happen everyone knows. To do this blog assignment I just made a list of the first things that came to my mind when I think of home and incorporated them into this description. (P.S. the football stadium at my HS was nicknamed Death Valley)***

-Alaina Mills  

 

WELCOME TO SAN DIEGO: Leon Cummins

Welcome to San Diego, California’s second largest city, where blue skies keep watch over 70 miles of majestic coastline and a gentle Mediterranean climate and friendly locals create a welcoming vibe all its own.

Go-to get-away destination.

spur-of-the-moment.

Ideal weather.

beautiful place.

lots of restaurants.

Large malls:

·         Torrid

·         Hot Topic

·         Buffalo Exchange

·         Frock You Vintage

·         American Apparel

Sublime Music Atmosphere:

·         +44

·         Blink-182

·         Angels & Airwaves

·         Pierce The Veil

·         Rocket From The Crypt

·         Box Car Racer

Beaches.

Laid-back vibe.

Active people.

Lots of dog-lover.

Lush.

Green.,

Sunny.

That's what this leather jacket wearing, tattoo having punk adores.

The diverse neighborhoods of San Diego are spread out over 4,200 square miles, offering endless opportunities for exploration and activities.
"This is where I belong"

Spending days relaxing in one of the many beach communities, then hiking in the east San Diego County mountains the next.

Exploring the urban neighborhoods of San Diego’s downtown.

The regions are so unique and diverse; there are plenty of options to discover something new each time you visit.

The heart of every city lives in its downtown, and San Diego is no exception.

Accommodations.

Activities.

Dining.

Cultural attractions.

Walkable city blocks.

Take a stroll along the Embarcadero.

Catch the trolley.

The world-famous San Diego Zoo.

Old Town San Diego. 

And when the sun goes down, the city's Gaslamp Quarter comes alive as it takes center stage in San Diego's happening nightlife scene. 

And That’s just downtown.

Let's talk about Atom's favorite part of San Diego (as if there was JUST one)

Hillcrest

A true neighborhood of locals with a warm and welcoming spirit.

The center of San Diego’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community.

Main streets are lined with 1950’s style storefronts.

Colorful awnings.

One-of-a-kind boutiques.

Salons.

Great restaurants.

Adjacent to Balboa Park.

A more "local" San Diego.

Uptown local vibe. 

What more can you ask for?

This place is awesome.

A+

I will definitely come back to visit.

San Diego is more than just a residence.

It’s a way of life.

A true paradise.



I adore the San Diego/Encanitas/Hillcrest area more than any other place in America. I visit there at LEAST 10-12 times a year. Sometimes with extended stays. It's just an unmatched atmosphere, and it's pretty much my second home. I took some site summaries and personal reviews to map my place. San Diego is so much that you can't even begin to describe all its glory in 300-500 words. I also look to work for MacBeth, Glamour Kills, or any of the alternative/punk/skater based apparel stores when I finish with school. 

My character's name is Atom, because he is a former member of Angels & Airwaves. They are an alternative band from San Diego, and I just chose one of their members to base this off of.