One of my families Christmas tradition is the Christmas tree. Yes, the dreaded Christmas tree. But, don't worry, our Christmas tree is about Sixteen years old and still standing. Each year our tree becomes faker and faker.I think my parents are just trying to get thier moneys worth.  I tell my parents every year that I would like a real tree. But every year that one tree goes up. I know i say i want a new one now but when it happens I know i'm going to miss it.








http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1gtDy--hQ4
Another Christmas tradition we have is watch the 1966 version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." I love this version because its short and cute. This grows my family closer, no matter what everyone was doing, we all watched The Grinch together. The newer Grinch is nothing like the original. I always get so excited around this time of the year just for that reason. I enjoy the song to when it comes on the radio.

Post Seven, Chapter Eighteen & Nineteen:)The End.

In Chapter 18, Malcolm realizes that whites nations only hate black because they can. Black have been brainwashed to think about whites are better. The non-whites are plight of the American blacks. Malcolm finds warmly received in Lebanon. Malcolm decides that he wants to visit around and he goes to Liberia, Senegal, and Morocco. But before he lefts for home a high commissioner in Ghana gives Malcolm a ceremonial robes. When Malcolm returned to New York, reporters asked Malcolm about the riots arounds the country. The fact that the reporters didn't notice Malcolm and his new look made Malcolm Mad.

In Chapter 19, The last chapter, He made a new Organization which was called "Afro-American Unity." He lets people know that its all about faith. But one major key to his organization is that there is NO white memberships. Malcolm says that he want to unify the black race before he asks white to join and fight racism. He decides to go back to Africa and the middle east, when he talks to the world leaders he predicts he's going to die. He believes its going to be violent and he won't live to see his autobiography. 

Post Six, Chapter Seventeen.

In Chapter 17, Malcolm X has decided that he want to visit Mecca. Ella has no problem supporting him and get him what he needs. She also withdrawn from the Nation of Islam to follow Malcolm and she didn't agree with what they did. Malcolm tried to get a hajj visa but he quickly learned that since he is a muslim he would have to be advised by Mahmond Youssef Shawarbi, a Muslim United Nations advisor. But Malcom get to leave the united states and goes to Cairo. He then flies to Jedda, Saudi Arabia and the high court doesn't believe that he is a Muslim so they decided whether or not he is. He runs into many different Muslims. Omar Azzam comes to help Malcolm out. Everyone is so generous to Malcolm and lent him a car to get to Mecca. Malcolm wrote a letter back home telling Ella that he has changed his views on racial problems in the United States. He meets a white-skinned Islamic people and who isn't raciest. He changes his name to "El-Haj Malik El-Shabazz." 

Post Five, Chapter Fifteen & Sixteen.

In Chapter 15,  is a very short chapter but The Nation of Islam buys Elijah Muhammad a house in Arizona because he is aging and is getting sicker. Malcolm X starts making a bigger amount of decisions without Muhammad knowing. He also starts going to universities but Elijah Muhammad disapproves of the university lecture circuit. Some of the Muslims accuse Malcolm of trying to take over the Nation of Islam. Malcolm's name starts showing up less and less to try and reduce the jealous of Elijah Muhammad.

In Chapter 16, Malcolm X's welcome at the Nation of Islam is getting very complex in the fact that, they thought he was trying to take it over. He changes is teaching to the moral code but eventually he goes to see Muhammad for advice. Malcolm assumes that Elijah Muhammad was going to confess to everyone but he did not. It made it worse when John F. Kennedy was assassinated because no ministers could comment on it. But Malcolm went ahead and called it the "the chickens coming home to roost." Malcolm was silenced for a ninety days. But all Malcolm can think about is that, they did this on prepose because they want to get rid of him. Malcolm can't believe the betrayal. Malcolm started hearing thing around town, like theres a warrant out for his death. After he was booted all Malcolm could think about is how to get back on the political and economic interests of the black people. He used his famous status to organization called "Muslim Mosque, Inc." in Harlem. 

Post Four, Chapter Thirteen & Fourteen.

In Chapter 13, Malcolm was working at the Ford Motor Company in this chapter and decides to quit his job. He decided to become a minister and started training. Malcolm was ready so Elijah Muhammed decided to send him to Boston to aid at the temple. Later on in the chapter Malcolm goes back to his old friends and Malcolm was trying to convert them into the Islamic beliefs. But Shortey loved white women and pork way to much to do that. He also talks to Ella and she don't join but he is very happy from Malcolm to get out of that lifestyle. Elijah Muhammed send Malcolm around to different temples to get them up and running, like Philadelphia and New York. Sammy the Pimp is dead, Malcolm finds out. Malcolm is doing such a good job converting Christians to the teachings of Islam. Malcolm meets Betty a member of the New York temple. He proposes to Betty over a phone and they got married and settle down in Queens, New York. They had Five Children. They have a problem with one of the police attacking one of the members. Calling it the "Fruit of Islam." The victim was goes to the hospital after Malcolm arguing to get him there. The Nation of Islam won 70,000 dollars with the lawsuit against the city. By 1965 the temple grow in Chicago, Detroit, and New York.



In Chapter 14, The Nation of Islam comes out with its own newspaper. The media go crazy about The Nation of Islam, C. Eric Lincoln comes out with a book called "The black Muslims of America. Then there was a television program called "The Hate That Hate Produced." Malcolm realizes that the media will twist anything to get a little shock. Then they got news articles including Life and Time. Malcolm ends up spending hours on end on the phone defending the Nation. Later on in the chapter Malcolm traveling to far away places where people wanted to start the Nation of Islam. He traveled to Egypt, Arabia, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana. In the 1960's they start holding rallies for the Nation of Islam and Make Elijah Muhammed as the main attraction. The Nation of Islam is being watched by FBI and the police. Malcolm goes after the prison mates thinking that he was in that same position.

Post Three, Chapter Eleven & Twelve.

In Chapter 11, Malcolm wants to expand his vocabulary and starts rewriting the dictionary, starting with the word "aardvark." Then he develops a system of beliefs for africans. He learns that the first men was african, great Western storyteller Aesop is African. The horror of slavery and the bold Nat turner and John Brown impacted him the most. Malcolm started going to debate program which introduce him to public speaking. He revoted the rest of his life to telling the white about himself or die trying (ironic). Reginald is suspended from the Nation of Islam because he got catch with a secretary. Malcolm has a vision of Elijah Muhammed and feels a stronger bond with Elijah Muhammed.  Reginald goes insane and Malcolm thinks its because of Allah punishing him for his sins.  Malcolm becomes closed to his faith then his family. Malcolm begins to follow his fellow prisoners.





In Chapter 12, August 1952, the prison released Malcolm on parole. He moved in with Wilfred, Wilfred took custody of malcolm. Malcolm gets so excited about his first temple meeting. In Chicago Elijah Muhammed publicly liken Malcolm to the biblical figure job. Malcolm is eager to work to attract new member in Detroit. Elijah Muhammed wants Malcolm to court young people. He decides that he is going to replace his last name with an "X" to represent the Africans that got slave names by their masters. Malcolm begins talking at Temple meetings. Elijah Muhammed appoints Malcolm to the assistant minister at Detroit temple. Malcolm learns a lot about Elijah Muhammed and his past. It reminded him a lot of him.

Post Two, Chapter Nine & Ten.

In Chapter Nine, after all the things that happened in Harlem, Malcolm tries to relax and let it go. But ends up sleeping, smoking marijuana, and playing records all day. But then he runs into doing cocaine again. Malcolm gets close to Sophia while her husband is away. Shortey begins seeing a seventeen year old girl, who happened to be Sophia's sister. Malcolm begins hustling again, with himself, Shortey, Ruby, Sophia, and her sister. They all do burglary ring. Sophia and her sister pretend to be salespeople and ask for a tour of their home. They look around and see what they want, then at night Malcolm and Shortey go in and take exactly that. Ruby is their get away driver. Then one day Malcolm decides to walk up to a white man who is talking to Sophia and her sister and blows her cover. Malcolm gets arrest at a pawn shop but he doesn't get charged with burglary but with the nature of his relationship with the women instead. He got ten years in jail.




In Chapter Ten, In the Massachusetts state prison Malcolm was having drug withdrawals and he got himself in to solitary confinement and they called him "Satan." Malcolm meets Bimbi, he's gained the respect of the guards and the inmates as well. He stops thinking so much about hustling and more like a human being. He starts going to the library although it is very small. He likes to read arguments because it channels his rage. They moved him to Norfolk Prison Colony where there is less violence and inmates may study. Malcolm reads subjects like history, religion, literature, biology, and linguistics. This is when he gets into the Nation of Islam and stops eating pork. His brother Reginald tells him more about Islam and their leader Elijah Muhammed. They say that all white men are devils. Then he thinks back to all the white people he's had contact with the white people who split up this family, the teacher who discouraged him. All the white people have done him harm not good. Malcolm accepts the Nation of Islam. Malcolm began to write to Elijah Muhammed everyday and prayed.

Post One, Chapter Seven & Eight.

In Chapter Seven, Shorty is trying to get his band going and malcolm runs into Malcolm X. When Malcolm saw Sofia it was a lot less discreet because Sofia got married. Malcolm gets summons by the draft board but Malcolm got evaded. The railroad company permanently blacklisted Malcolm because malcolm walked up to a gambler during a card game and pulled out a gun and pointed it at the man. That was a down fall for Malcolm because he started robbing places, and also started trafficking guns. He started using harder drugs, primarily cocaine, to prepare for jobs. Then, Malcolm's brother, Reginald, moves in with him in Harlem. But later in this chapter Sammy and Malcolm duel it out because Malcolm hit one of Sammy's woman. Sammy pulls out a gun and threadens to kill him but they work it out. Then Malcolm starts increasingly depanding on Reginald.

In Chapter Eight, Malcolm can't find a job so he starts doing really oldd jobs. Malcolm started transports betting slips for the numbers lottery system. Then, after six months of that he starts working as a gambling parlor. Then, as a madam, steering white people from downtown to elaborate sexual fantasies can be fulfilled. Then, he was accused of robbing a craps game run by Italian racketeers. He Then begins importing bootlegged liquor from Long Island for Jewish businessman. By the end of the book the cops, the Italian racketeers, the hustler Malcolm has just punched, and the West Indian Archie are all out to get Malcolm's blood. But then Shorty Shows up.

What If..

If I could live anywhere and any way I wanted, I would... Live up Maine.

 I lived in Stonington, Maine its about five hours away from here.The reason is because its peaceful and away from a City. I don't like cities, traffic, or tourists. I absolutely love living in a small town and the only way to get here is over a big, long bridge. To achieve this I would have to move up Maine but first I'd have to find a job up there. Which would be hard because 70 percent of the people who live up there are lobsterman. I mean I could because my boyfriends a lobsterman but I don't think he'd want to move up there.  

If I could be anything I wanted, I would... be a Paramedic.

I've always wanted to be a paramedic because i love helping people. The only thing is whats going to make it hard to become a paramedic for me is my reading disabilaty. But I'm on my way there. I'm going to go to YCCC and get my basic class. Next year I'm going to take EMT basic. I'm either going to SMCC or UNE after YCCC. I determined to do this because I've wanted to do it since i was a little feller.

If I could do anything I wanted, whatever I wanted, I would... Buy a Clydesdale.

I'd love to have a Clydesdale horse because I don't have a horse of my own but if i did i'd buy a Clydesdale so that I could ride it when and where ever i want. But i'd need alot of money and a place to keep it and a trailer to hold it in. 

Malcolm X Quote.

Quote: "I had never tatsted a sip of liquor, never even smoked a cigaratte, and here I saw little black children, ten and twelve years old, shooting crabs, playing cards, fighting, getting grown-ups to put a penny or a nickel on their number for them, things like that."

          This quote is definitely been before Malcolm X started hanging out with Shorty and working as a shoeshiner. Malcolm was so use to Lansing and The whole Boston scene and he never know that playing cards and playing the number was okay at such a young age. He had just been introduce to a lifestyle that he had never seen before.

Quote: "It hadn't taken me long on the job to find out that Freddie had done less sheshining and towel-hustling than selling liquor and reefers, and putting white "John" in touch with Negro whores.."

        This quote means that Freddie is a hustler and instead of doing his job, he'd rather live the exciting life and be a hustler. But I'm sure Malcolm X looked up to Freddie because Malcolm didn't want to be a shoeshiner. But at the same time it makes it look easy to become a hustler, so Malcolm has that in the back of his head.

Quote: " This was my really big step towards self-degradation: when I endured all off that pain, literally burning my flesh to have it look like a white man's hair. I joined that multitude of Negro men and women in America who are brainwashed into believing that black people are "inferior" - and white people "superior" - that they will even violate and mutilate their God-creared bodies to try to lokk "pretty" by white stadards."

This is a true quote pretty much all the black people are brainwashed to think they are inferior because of the white people. Back than if black stepped out of line white would be right there and wouldn't have a problem putting them in Jail.

Malcolm X terms

a man's suit with baggy, tight-cuffed, sometimes high-waisted trousers and an oversized jacket with exaggeratedly broad, padded shoulders and wide lapels, often worn with suspenders and a long watch chain and first popularized in the early 1940s. After Malcolm met shorty he started wearing the zoot suit.

 traditional black American cookery, which originated in the rural South, consisting of such foods as chitterlings, pig knuckles, turnip greens, and cornbread. In the book, this is what Malcolm's mother would make soul food for her family.

This is what was worn in the 1940's. Conk is the hair style Malcolm X wear in the book.

The Lindy Hop is a dance based on the popular Charleston and named for Charles Lindbergh's Atlantic crossing in 1927. It evolved in Harlem, New York City in the 1920s and '30s and originally evolved with the jazz music of that time. The Lindy Hop is Malcolm's favorite dance.

2010 Elections

Yesterday was the 2010 elections, i voted for the first time. It was pretty exciting. I'm glad that Paul LePage because thats who i voted for.
I read an article on  elections and it said that LePage got 38% of the votes. Elliot Cutler got 37% of the votes. Libby Mitchell got 19% of the votes. Right now the Republican are ahead of the Democrates.

My life as i know it.

My great grandparents lived in Halifex, Nova Scotia. My great grandmother had a lot of children but most of them died in the Halifex Explosion. Thats pretty much all i know about my great grandparents. My grandmother, Teresa Cousins ,lives in Millis, Massachusetts. She was born in 1929. She still works full time at Millis Town Hall. My grandfather isn’t alive anymore but his name is Allan Victor Cousins. He was a veteran in the Korean War. My grandfather died from a massive coronary. I wish I got to meet him because my mom says I am so much like him. I'm sure he’s up there somewhere, looking down on me. I don’t know any thing about my father's side of the family, except that my grandmother was a sweet, sweet lady. My grandfather left my grandmother when she was pregnant with her last baby. The only living grandparent is my mom’s mom. 

My parents are Janine Cousins Souza and Robert Gordon Souza. They are still happily married. Both my parents were born in a little town called "Millis, Massachusetts." My mother had one brother, Michael Cousins. My father, on the other hand, has 9 siblings. Ron Souza, Frank Souza, Fred Souza, David Souza, Mart Souza, Betty Lou Souza, Marg Souza, Rose Souza, and Billy Souza. Most of my uncles live in Massachusetts still. One of my dad’s brothers died in a car accident. Also one of them is in jail.

Anyway, my parents met through friends. My father was two years older than my mom. My dad was already graduated, but my mom was friends with my dadda sister. My dad first saw my mom at church, and he was sitting in his car. My mom was standing on the steps of the church. My mom and dad were together five years. My dadda is a truck driver for IBC aka Wonder Bread, over in Biddeford. My mom is a letter carrier for the Post Office in Kennebunk. 

I live in Kennebunk, Maine. When i was little, about six, i lived in Millis, Massachusetts. We moved up here because thats where my dad’s work was going. I have two sisters, Jillian Souza and Scherrie Souza. Jillian is a hair dresser at Super Cuts and she loves it. She’s nineteen years old. My older older sister, Scherrie, Lives in Texas. She lives in Texas with her baby, Bryce Robert Baros. Scherrie use to work at the bank up here before she moved back. 

At my homestead, I live with my mom, my dad, my sister Jillian and all my pets.
I have four dogs and three cats. My dogs are all related and are all Yorkies. We bought the mom and dad and they had three cute puppies. We sold one and kept two for them. The dogs names are Pumpkin, Colby, Bear, and Clyde. My cats names are Boots, Michief and Leo. Leo can fetch, its pretty niffty. 

In comes me, i'm the youngest sister in the souza family. I'm much different than my sisters. When I was two years old, i had surgery above my left eye brow. I had a bump that they wanted to remove. When I lived in Massachusetts, I had chickens and ducks. We lived on five acres of land with a pond, a pool, and a trampoline. We moved to Maine in 1999 and on the two hour drive we had a dog, three cats and a goldfish. In 2010, I joined the fire department. I work at Ladawns Quarter Horses, got a second job and go to school. I love it because I love being able to do so much things. My hobbies are fishing, hunting, mudding and going to mud runs. I just love going outside.   

Malcolm X

What I have learned about Malcolm X is that he went to a foster home when he was little. When he turned sixteen he dropped out of school and moved to Boston. In Boston, he met up with his older step-sister and lived with her. Also, the zoot-suited "Detriot Red" ment you were a hustler.
When Malcolm X got assassinated on February 21, 1965, he was with his pregnant wife and three children. After Malcolm X was killed, people had mixed feels about him dying. Some people thought of him as "an irresponsible demagogue." Others, believed he was a great person.

Dave Navrro

In this blogger i read, about how Dave Navarro feels about the gays, bios, and tans-genders. I agree with everything that he says, especially when he says " However, it's that very strength and character that gives the world hope for a new way of thinking and acceptance in the future and when one of our childern gives in and gives up, it is not only a tragedy but a victory for those who fear diversity. Do not let them win." It's true. If you give in to everything that comes out of their mouths there would be more suicides than ever. I don't get insulted about being gay, well because im straight. But I get made fun of for other things, my height is one of them. I get made fun of some much but I don't care anymore because crying isn't going to solve anything. Making them think is bothers me, its just going to make them win. What I think of suicide is your quitting! your giving up, and I wont let them win :)

Cyberbullying

On the Press Herald, there was an article about a young man committing suicide over cyber bullying. 18 years old, a young man from Rutger University, jumped off a bridge. The reason he jumped was because a roommate posted videos of this man having sexual encounter with other man. What I think is that I don't think it's right that his roommate put up videos and pictures of his roommate. If they get 5 years in jail, I think that's well deserved, because in a way they pushed them to kill himself.

Netetiquette

What I learned from the introdution was not to offend others. Sometimes when you offend others you don't know you're doing it. Sometimes you forget that people on cyberspace are real people and they do have feelings. The internet is its own little culture. The reason they have a netetiquette book is to help the newbies and also the rules of the internet. Do unto others as you'd have others do unto you. In other words, don't do something to someone if you don't want it done to you. Remember you're not just texting to a screen. Don't write anything you wouldn't say to their face. Be ethical; also go by the rules.

About me.

Hey, Im Stevie.

Im a Senior in High School.
I think I've repeated myself about a thousand times this year, within the last four weeks. Every teacher has asked me at least two times. After awhile I sound like a broken record. I could tell you I'm on the fire department, I could tell you I volunteer at LaDawns Quarter Horses therapeutic riding. I could tell you that I work two jobs to pay for my jeep my grandmother gave me. But I wasn't always so, how do I want to say it, generous.

My Junior year, I decided to have a couple of my friends over, when my parents were out of town. So, two of my friends and I decided that we were going to play a little joke and we stole one of the teacher's at my school's SHEEP. Yep, cute little black sheep, great idea then. Not so much now. Well, three day suspension, a Friday detention, and a juvenile officer, 25 hours of community service we realized it wasn't such a good Idea. Not exactly my idea of a party.

But alot of good things came out of that. I got to ride horses, I get to fight fire and I get to work which I love. Hey, it'll be a good story to tell my kids when they're old enough not to do it.