Miramax Bids Fare-well

In an editorial response from writer Paul Tassi; Miramax Films, the Hollywood studio credited for the releases of movies 'Kill Bill vol. 1,' 'Gone Baby Gone,' and 'Good Will Hunting' has closed its doors.

Tassi's article for Joblo.com stuck to the basic fundamentals. It included sound reports from key officials. The sentences of the report me short, yet included enough detail for the reader to understand what was going on, and it kept attention by listing some of it's popular films or recent years. This may be seen as an effort to appeal to the readers emotions of nostalgia.

What also worked for this article, and for the site overall, is the ability for users to post their reaction to the news. The article was also made convenient for the reader by integrating hyper-links to other topics surrounding the issue. All-in-all, a solid piece. I would have personally liked to have seen a reason for the company's closing on the same page as Tassi's article, but the writer provided a link to a page with a full description as to why the studio was closing, so I can't be all that upset. And there you go, Miramax, sorry to see you go. I wish you well on your journey through un-employment and hopefully the 80 people that lost their jobs can bounce back. Hey. look at it this way people, there's always Sony! (smh...fail).

Here's a link to Paul Tassi's article on the end of Miramax:

http://www.joblo.com/index.php?id=30596

How to Compose an '8' bar verse

Ok, this one's for class boys and girls. Today i'm going to give you the run down on what it would take to compose a standard 8 bar hip-hop verse.

To start, find a track, or a "beat". Depending on what you want to write about should reflect in the pattern of the beat. So if what you're rhyming about is more depressing, the sound of the track should be a bit more somber, should go a little bit slower and have a cooler texture as opposed to lively party songs.

Next, find a standard word to rhyme off of, so if the word ends wit -y, find a word that can tie to the previous line while rhyming with the last line before it.

For example:

"My name isn't Jeff Goldbloom, but I'm fly // I'm kind of hard to map quest because I stay in the sky."

You want to maintain structure to the tempo, which in most cases is the drum pattern in a four-count. (1-2-3-1, 1-2-3-2, etc.)

You want to refrain from saying the same way multiple times for the same rhyme...in other words, being corny:

"I'm so fly like in the sky // Always high like stars in the sky" <-------This will get you boo'd

Musical influences like Outkast, Jay-Z, and Mos Def can further your understanding of what a good "8" should sound like.

Honesty, wittiness, and complexity makes for a good '8'. Master this and you will go far my young padawons.

Year in Review: A look back at President Obama's first year in office

It's been 371 days since President Barack Obama was sworn in as our 44th president, and I wanted to take a look back at some of the hot, and not-so hot moments of Obama's freshman year.

It's pretty much known that when Obama took office America was facing it's worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. In a period many are simply naming "the recession" whose footing can be traced back to 2007, unemployment rates haven't really seen too much improvement.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the number of jobless in the U.S. totals around 15.3 million, leaving the unemployment rate at 10 percent. Obama's plan of attack was a massive $825-
$900 billion stimulus package. In a nut shell this money was and is being issued to provide jobs via the construction and up-keep of infrastructure (schools, roads and highways, and the development renewable resources), state funding, citizen assistance, and tax-cuts. Some of the notable expenditures: $54 billion on energy and $142 billion on education.

Along with America's financial woes Obama focused attention towards diplomatic relations. Last June President Obama visited the Middle-East to speak with the region's political leaders. The ultimate goal was to mend the U.S. relations, as well as discuss peaceful solution to a region torn by violence. Many expected Obama to tackle the Arab-Israeli peace talks, but things didn't shake out as many had hoped due to the new Israeli Prime Minister's development of Jewish settlements on Israel's left bank. Something that Obama is strongly opposed to.

Now, the big finish! One of the major focal points of Obama's campaign that has politicians up in arms. Three words ladies and gentlemen: HEALTH CARE REFORM. Since Obama proposed an over-haul of how our country handles our sick and wounded. According to the Wall Street Journal the country spends roughly $2 trillion on health care each year, but 46 million people can not afford coverage. 14,000 people a year lose their health care plans due to job cuts. Obama's plan would call for reduced public health care. the major rift between his left-wing followers and the conservative republicans is the "socialist" argument. Naysayers of the proposition suggest the plan will take away too much from those that have to benefit those that don't, and in a time where it seems no one's job is safe, it's not the most assuring proposal on the table, but in a time where jobs are indeed a treasure more than some, why not look to the government for help? Just a thought.

In all Obama has taken steps to tackle the major issues of America that many feel are over his head. His current approval rating between democrats (88 percent) and republicans (23 percent) is seen as one of the more polarized first-year ratings in Presidential history. Being that it has only been one year, we can only sit back and watch the plays develop. It's unfair to put a nation's woes on a man who stepped into a situation he didn't create, but at the same time it's time he and his administration address their haters, and put their plans for a changed nation into action.

Let there be BLOG !!!!

Welcome to the first post.
The U.S. Agenda will be a place to discuss entrainment, spirituality, as well as a spot to receive my college credit (sorry).

I guess I'll start by introducing myself, Darin Woodard II, but my alias is Felix Saint Cool. I am a senior attending Georgia Southern University, who's looking to establish a firm standing in opinion journalism.

Since we're here, I guess I'll take the time to do a little self promotion (lol) my group, B.F.O will be releasing our first album Party Animals January 29, 2010. Our first single "Gone" will be available for download on iTunes within the next few days, so be sure to keep posted and check it out.

So there it is. It's not much of a first post, but it is what it is. I will be further developing this blog as an insight to my view on topics, but also as a place to read the opinions of others, so spread the word...oNe.


-Felix St. Cool