Ok. I can admit that maybe some of our dreams may have been very naive like girls wanting to be princesses when growing up. But some of us have realistic dreams such as being a teacher, an artist, a director, a doctor, or a lawyer.  Some of these careers require long years of schooling, and training before you can even enter the field. But once you finish you have a good chance of making a nice amount of money. Other jobs (doctors, lawyers) may require just 4 years but you have an easier chance of finding a job right away. Teachers are always in demand around the country.

But you have to wonder about artists and directors. Both are difficult career paths with no guarantees of success. There a chance that you paintings may never be sold. There is a chance that you’ll never make a big film. I was able to interview director Harry B. and ask questions regarding his career.

Q. When  do you know that you wanted to be a director?

A.  My uncle Friday did a show where he draped white sheets over a table and then lit candles behind it. He used the shadows of stick figures and put on what I considered a fantastic show. That was where I caught the bug for the art. Of course I had no idea that it would manifest into what’s now filmmaking. Being from Liberia West Africa its difficult to realize a dream such as being a director/filmmaker because there are no real examples. There maybe a little bit of an example flaring up there now due to the Nollywood movement, but when I was growing up, all we saw was soccer and a little bit of basketball. I entered college thinking I wanted to major in ISOM information Systems and Office Management. After my first year, I ran into a friend with a camera one day and asked him what he was doing. He told me that he was working on a school project. He told me that the school had a film major. Well the rest is history.

Director Harry B. at work

Q. How did you achieve that goal?

A. The easiest answer to this question is that I actually directed a short film called “Switching Places.” Technically speaking, that gave me the right to call myself a director. Whether or not my peers considered me a good one, well now that’s a different story.
Another question here could be, how do you become a director?
The Hollywood answer would be, start out by becoming a Production Assistant put in about 6 years on set going through the different ranks on set. I.e copy and coffee maker to onset PA,become a walkie (walkie talkie)PA- which I was on Adam Sandler’s “Chuck and Larry.” eventually become a KEY PA- the person that heads the PA team, and then when you have put in about 6 years on major films and collected all of the paper work and credits, you can Apply to the DGA to become an assistant director.

The non-Hollywood answer is, get your self a nice camera and start directing. Write little skits and go to your drama department and beg those actors to act for you. Start making your mistakes now. Align yourself with writers who might write a script for you to direct. Start making friends of the same mind now.

Q. What type of projects do you do?

A. I am still in pursuit of Hollywood, however I direct short films. Music Videos, documentaries and commercials

Q. What has been your biggest obstacle in your career?

A. Literally Everything. Not having enough experience but nobody willing to help you get that experience. Once you decide to go independent, you need a good Reel to show people that you know what you’re doing. But getting that good Reel is another issue. You have to do a lot of free projects to get your Reel to a good level. Some people are blessed enough to not have to deal with all of these issues. They’re first project is a paid one and their careers take off.

Q. What advice would you give those who want to follow the same career path?

A. Get a good internship with a production company while you’re in school. If you can afford a nice digital camera get it or if your school has one, barrow it and start right now as you are reading. That’s how urgent it is. If you have friends who sing, rap, or have a band, offer to do a video for them. As to do a documentary on your teacher, or an interesting person in your life. If you have a computer with any editing software learn how to use it. Start by editing some of those footages that you’ve shot. You’ll notice that you skill level will start increasing from project to project. Filmmaking has a whole lot of different positions. If you know exactly what you want to do, then pour all of your energy into that. If you don’t know yet, its ok. You will start to develop a strong interest for specific position the more projects you work. This is all while still in school and then saved the best for last. Finish School.

Post-Undergrad answer is a little different.
You’re out of school and have no idea where to start? Use those contacts you made from your internship how in school. Post something on facebook that goes a little something like this “I just graduated school and I want an opportunity to start my film career can anyone help me. Also go on these Mandy.com and craigslist.com to look for film gigs.

I next decided to interview a local artist that goes to Hampton University. His name is Jeromyah Jones. you can watch the video below.

Both of these two show incredible drive and insight into how there going to make there dreams turn into reality. I just wonder if everybody had this type drive…what could we accomplish in this world.

-Del Jim Baxter

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/cavaliers-journal/2010/04/virginia_unveils_new_football.html

There is also talk that Cleveland may be revamping there nBa jerseys next year.

There is also rumors that Golden State Warriors are looking to change the logo and uniforms as well next year.

Florida State looks like they getting some new unis as well. Check them out here.

http://boards.sportslogos.net/index.php?showtopic=73003

Suns beat Blazers in 6 games

Mavericks beat Spurs in 7 Games

Denver beat Jazz in 6 games.

In the east

Cavailers beat Bulls in 5 Games

Magic beat Bobcats in 5 games

Celtics beat Heat in 4 games

Hawks beat Bucks in 5 Games

Those are my 1st round predictions

This here is something personal- We see him walking along in the park and he stops in front of a water fountain. He keeps rapping the lyrics as he goes along.
I highly doubt this feeling is reversible
Knowledge is pain and that is why it hurts to know
That you attempt to hide, and put mistakes aside- It’s back to him and his girlfriend walking in the city. And hopping onto the subway
So I don’t ever question you were dumb
I can’t even find, the perfect brush-We see him and his girlfriend in a art museum, he picks up a brush and starts to paint something but when he stops it reveals he has painted nothing
So I can paint what’s going through my mind
Racing against myself, but I’m a couple steps behind why I gotta ask, is anything I’m doin brand new?—We’re shown him back in front of the white screen. We see a ghostly vision of somebody that appears to be the guy in front of him. However, he wipes him away as the chorus begins.

Brand new, brand new, brand new, brand new
Is anything I’m doin brand new? - We see him at the water fountain as the water sprouts up
Brand new, brand new, brand new, brand new
Brand new girl

Is anything I’m doing brand new [x6] We see him asking her to a New York Knicks game, but she doesn’t seem to impressed. We then see them on a date in the statue of liberty. Once again she doesn’t look interested.
Is everything I’m doing too late [x6] -  at all the date locations we see her looking attracted to other men. He finally takes her back to his place

Can he take off your clothes off just like this- He takes her to his bedroom and takes off clothes slowly and sensually.
Did he give you love and asjust like this- He massages her shoulders and begins to kiss her
Did you spend the night in his bed on the very first date- We see her on another date and in another man’s bed. Appearing to look like she’s about to spend the night
Tell me baby am I too late? We cut back to the guy in front of the white screen.

The end of the video shows the guy back at the water fountain. It then cuts to the girl leaving the guys bedroom before the guy can try anything on her. We next see her meeting the guy in front of the water fountain and they kiss.

Edwarduo’s place is a mess. With the baby’s things all over the place. We hear the baby crying, while Edwarduo is attempting to do some work

Edwarduo

What kid? What. I’m tired. I got all this work to do. Why are you crying?

The baby continues to cry

Edwarduo

Hat do you want some food. I just fed you. (Takes looks at clock)

Like 10 minutes ago. What do want?

The baby cries loudly

Edwarduo

I give up. After this week you’re gone.

Edwarduo goes back to the table he was working at and leaves the baby in his carriage. The baby cries and Edwarduo tries to ignore it for as long as possible, but can no longer do so after a dew moments and gets up again. He picks up the baby,

Edwarduo

What do you want from me?

Edwarduo proceeds to shake the baby up and down. The baby stops crying and begins to laugh.

Edwarduo

You’re laughing

He continues to bounce the baby.

Edwarduo

You’re laughing, (Edwarduo begins to laugh to himself)

Edwarduo continues to bounce up and down with the baby

In 2010, the United States Senate approved a historic landmark bill, which changes the shape of health care in America. Pushed by President Barack Obama, the new health care bill would go into effect in 2017. It expands coverage to more than 32 million more Americans. It requires all Americans to be covered with health insurance. Those who do not have insurance will have to pay a $750 fine for not being covered. This new plan also allows for children to stay under their parents insurance until the age of 26. While this plan does not have everything the President wanted such as the government sponsor public option. Even though no Republicans voted in approval of the bill. The democrats had the majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Thus this enables them to block any filibuster that the republicans could try to initiate.  Thus President Obama has managed to do something that many Presidents could only dream of which is passing a new Health care reform system.

You have to wonder though. Why was President Obama successful in passing his version of Health care Reform in comparison to the last President who attempted for major Health Care reform which would be former President Bill Clinton. The purpose of this paper is to describe Bill Clinton health care plan. What were it benefits. The differences between Clinton’s health care plan and President Obama plan, and ultimately why Clinton was unsuccessful in passing his health care reform through.

Bill Clinton began his campaign for changing Health Care Reform when he was campaigning for President back in 1992. He ended up defeating the incumbent President at the time George W. Bush to become the 42nd President of the United States. Once in office, President Clinton went to work on his ambitious agenda. Early in the year 1993, he set up a task force which would review the subject of health care and come up with a plan that the President could present to congress. President Clinton named his wife, First Lady Hilary Clinton to become the head of this task force. The task force would work for months away from the public eye to come up with a plan. The task force ended up preparing a 1,000 page report that included a plan which would guarantee coverage for all Americans. On September 22, 1993 President Clinton announced this plan in front of Congress. In his speech he stated, “To fix a health care system that is badly broken…giving every American health security…health care that is always there, health care that can never be taken away.” The speech was looked upon favorably by the public, and the media. People were even more impressed by how First Lady Clinton was able to handle the questions asked by Congress about the proposed Health Care Reform.

So what was the plan that the Clintons were proposing to Congress and the American people. The plan would guarantee that all Americans would have basic health care insurance. Most Americans would be covered by their job employer. The plan was to be financed by payroll taxes. The plan would have also called for carefully regulated competition among HMO’s (Health Maintenance Organizations).  For Americans who were not employed the government would pay the costs of membership into a Health Maintence Organization. The Clinton Plan would also propose the creation of a new public organization that would be called the Health Care Alliance.

Everything seemed to be going well. It looked likely that America would join other countries like Canada who would have all there citizens covered with health care insurance. But in less than a year a once promising reality became nothing more than just a dream. On September 26, 1994 the Senate leader at the time George Mitchell announced that any new health care legislation was dead.  Many factors go into this reform not being able to go through. One factor would be public understanding of the bill. Many Americans feared that there taxes would rise to cover the cost of health care. They simply could not see or understand how costs could not go up to cover the costs of the bill. They also did not understand the concept of the Health Care Alliance and what its responsibility would be. Despite newspapers running articles devoted to breaking down the health Care plan and TV stations running specials on health care. Americans were simply concerned with the prospect of rising costs and simply misinformed.

Another factor would be the number of plans that were thrown out to the public by both Republicans and Democrats. The Democrats, who instead of rallying under President Clinton’s plan, came up with different committees to come up with an alternative plan. Republicans who were also disgruntled with President Clinton plan tried to come up with their own idea of reform as well. By the time Congress was done with the debate session, there were a total of 27 different proposals under a variety of different names which was difficult for the public to follow.

Many even point to the Clintons themselves for health care reform not going through back in 1993. By having his wife, Hilary name attached to the bill. The President thought that he wasn’t showing his personal commitment to this reform. However, this seemed to backfire on the President. The Republicans used this to there advantage. Instead of trying to work with the President on health care reform. Republicans worked to defeat the bill in order to gain an advantage in the upcoming midterm elections. According to the Wall street Journal they held focus groups showing a description of the health Care Plan. They showed the same plan only one with the Clintons name attached on it and the other plan had no label. The findings from the focus group showed that 70 percent of the people were in favor of the plan when they did not see the Clinton label. However when they saw the Clinton named attached to the other plan they saw that the plan approval dropped anywhere from 30 to 40 points. Thus showing that people were not too receptive towards the Clinton and did not have a good level of trust in them.

The Clinton Health Care Plan was an ambitious effort to cover all Americans with health care insurance. Unfortunately due to public misunderstanding, Democrats not uniting in support of the plan, republicans trying to gain an advantage in the upcoming Midterm elections, and ultimately the Clinton name being attached so closely to the bill, that a final bill was never approved by Congress.