Magic Johnson and Rappers Against Homophobia

GLAAD, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, reported today that Magic Johnson is teaming up with Rappers and Hip Hop stars to use their voices, their songs to speak against Homophobia and a fear of HIV/AIDS. Here’s what Johnson had to say on the matter:

 “What we’re trying to do is reach out to the hip-hop community because they have power — power with their voice, power with that mic in their hand and power with the lyrics that they sing. I have a lot of friends in that industry and so what we’re trying to do is rally them to get behind the cause, deliver the message to these young people that HIV and AIDS is big and it’s not going anywhere. They can make a difference right away by speaking out, because they have a big fan base.

So we’re finding out that a lot of them want to be involved; they’re just looking for a group like ours to latch onto and be a part of it. We haven’t really had any push-back from the hip-hop community.”

There will be a press conference later this year when Johnson plans to reveal who all will be joining him in this venture.

Seriously, guys, how cool is that? I’d say that’s very cool. Let’s hope he can get a LOT of star power to back him up.

To read the article as posted on GLAAD’s website, here’s the link: http://www.glaad.org/blog/magic-johnson-teams-rappers-address-homophobia-hip-hop

Teen Super Bingo

Come to the Central Library Teen Room on February 22nd at 3:30pm for a Super Awesome Game of Bingo!!!

We have a lot of wicked cool PRIZES!!! Which include: A USB drive/flash drive, ear buds, sketch book, a stainless steal water bottle, and more! Our Ultra cool grand prize will be announced at the start of the game. But if you’re a lover of music, you DO NOT want to miss out!!!

Also, regardless of whether or not you win, all players will get something before they leave, so keep that in mind. And no, I’m not going to tell you what it is. Why ruin the surprise?

So, February 22nd, that’s a Wednesday, at 3:30pm in the Central Library Teen Room. Be there. You won’t regret it. I promise.

Hark! A Vagrant – Book Review

Who knew you could learn some History while reading comics. In Kate Beaton’s Hark! A Vagrant, that’s exactly what you experience.  Sure, you’re thinking, learning while reading comics? I think I’ll skip this one.  But trust me when I tell you that this book will have you laughing out loud.  Beaton leaves no moment of History untouched with her witty comic strips; which range from history to literature to just plain random and hilarious observations. For example did you ever wonder how to spot a wise owl? Well obviously it’s the one with a beard.

I’ll admit though, there were moments were I had no idea who she was referring to in certain comics, but a quick browse through Wikipedia and I knew exactly who that person was and look at that, I learned something new. Sneaky Beaton! The author also adds some commentary to explain why she created certain comics, and at times a little brief description of the historical person she is referring to in her comic.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading comics, but also those who enjoy their history with a side of humor.

To get a taste of what’s in the book, you can visit Beaton’s website where she posts comics frequently.

Hark! A Vagrant

The Last Herald Mage – A Review

This is the fantasy/gay romance trilogy by Mercedes Lackey which begins with the book Magic’s Pawn, which I’ve previously reviewed here. All three books contained in this large, single volume are these: Magic’s Pawn, Magic’s Promise, and Magic’s Price.  Now that I’ve finished all three books, I cannot speak highly enough of all three. Mercedes Lackey is one heck of an amazing author. All three books deal with many serious issues (such as rape, death of a loved one, suicide, and others) in a straightforward way. Some issues can be hard to deal with in a real life setting, and she shows just how hard they can be even in a magical place. Yet, at the same time, you won’t find these books hard to read. The characters are easily relatable, and most of the magic is easily understood. Here, there are no wands or Harry Potter-like magic. Within the world, the magic used is commonly referred to as “mind magic”. Hard to explain, but once you read it, it makes perfect sense.

This trilogy is roughly twenty years old now, but it’s no worse for the passage of time. If you enjoy fantasy books and like gay romance, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. Hands down.

Congratulations to the Checkers Tournament Winners!

Wyclef Murat, Djosir Jor and Chedelyn Alexandre

The Checkers Tournament over at Mattapan was last night! Did you miss it? Don’t worry, we’ll be sure to have another one in the coming months!

But let’s congratulate Chedelyn Alexandre for being the grand prize winner of a new iPod shuffle!  Wyclef Murat and Djosir Jor came in close and managed to place in second and third place, respectively.

We want to thank all the other teens who also competed:

Christ, Kayden, Antonio, Ramsey Julmice, Enrique Espino, Johnae Johnson, Duckerson Pierre, Guy, Kepler, Maico Maisonneuve, Neida, Rosa Rodriguez, Zykeya Briddell, Abigale Parry, Rajai Edwards, Cristian Beato, Ricky Spiff, and Stanley Elie.

Make sure to keep practicing and be on the look out for the next tournament!

SEAL Team Six – A Book Review

 

 

SEAL Team Six, yes, it was on one of the school summer reading lists last summer. But did you stop to read it? Or did you pass over it for something that sounded more interesting? It took me awhile, but I finally sat down and read it last week, and let me tell you, I could not put it down. This is the story of one man’s life, from his abusive step father in his childhood, to his intensive Navy SEAL training, to the combat missions he went through on the other side of the globe. This is a DO NOT MISS book. Lots of hilarious stories, lots of action, lots of cool information on what it means to be a SEAL sniper in a SEAL “family”. Did you know you need a lot of math skills to be a sniper? This book will intrigue and surprise you.

If you’re interested in anything military, especially Special Ops, this is the book for you! It might be nonfiction, but it reads like a novel in first person point of view, making it an easy and accessible read. Check it out from your library today!

Checkers Tournament @ Mattapan Branch

Are you a fan of checkers? Are you also a competitive player?

Then join the teens at the Mattapan branch for the first ever Checkers Tournament.

When: Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Time: 5:00 – 7:30 P.M.

Prizes will be handed out to the top three players; the grand prize will be an iPod shuffle!

Refreshments will also be served, so come on down and play or cheer on your friends.

Oddities Banned In 2011

You never know what can happen in a year. It’s December and 2011 is slowly coming to a close as we get closer and closer to the holidays. So for something fun, let’s take a look back and see what people have been banning all around the world:

Baby Photos: Elton John and his long time partner, David Furnish posed for a picture with their new baby on the cover of Us magazine. But not everyone agreed it was an okay thing to do. A store in Arkansas put up the “family shield” over the magazine, the same way they put it up over other magazines that aren’t family friendly.

Service Dogs: A twelve-year-old boy with epilepsy was banned from going to school with the service dog that was specifically trained to save his life in the event he had a seizure.

Burqas: France arrested or fined at least 60 women wearing the traditional Muslim head-to-toe cloth covering while they tried to show their religious afflilation

Brown Bag Lunches: A public school in Chicago banned homemade lunches, stating that a schoo lunch was healthier.

Baggy Pants: Many schools across the nation banned baggy pants, or any pants that hung low enough to show too much skin or the wearer’s underwear. Some of these schools suspended students for wearing this style.

Babies named Lucifer: New Zealand bans the naming of children with this name because of its satanic association.

Teens Dying their hair: In Florida, teens are no longer allowed to dye their hair wild colors or cake on the makeup for fear that it will distract students in the classroom.

Airbrushing: British Advertising Standard Authority banned ads where the models were airbrushed too much.

Happy Couples: Interracial couples are banned from community church.

Skinny Jeans: College students are being turned away from exams because their pant are too tight.

Saying “bless you”: A teacher is fed up with the common courtesy of what is said after a sneeze.

Having Eyes: Women in Saudi Arabia who have suggestive eyes, meaning eyes that have a “nice shape”.

France bans ketchup: France wants its students to have a healthier diet.

For more things banned this year, check out the Yahoo! article linked here: http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/bans-baggy-jeans-burqas-babies-more-172200625.html

Magic’s Pawn: A Review

 

 

I started reading this book before I really knew what I was getting into. I knew it was a fantasy book written over twenty years ago now, and it had been recommended to me by a friend of mine who had mentioned something about gay romance in the book. I was a little interested, and unsure where it would go, considering the age and content of the book.

I have to say I was very surprised by it and once I got into it, I simply could not put it down. Please don’t let the cover fool you. It might look aged, but this is a truly ageless book. It is fantasy after all.

This is the story of a young man, 16-years-old, who is destined to take the place of his father in charge of the keep where they live. The only thing is, Vanyel doesn’t want that job. He wants to be a bard, to play music for others. He doesn’t want to fight, and the armsmaster who teaches him is ruthless and cruel to boot. But when he gets shipped off to his aunt who happens to be a herald mage, he finds that his life doesn’t have to be so boring. He falls in love with a fellow male student there, and it is this love, which he’d once thought forbidden, that changes his life forever. Young Vanyel has strengths he never knew he had, strengths he’ll need to learn to control, if he’s to survive, and save the country.

This is the first book in a trilogy, entitled The Last Herald Mage by Mercedes Lackey, and if you enjoy fantasy novels and gay romance, you’ll love this book! I don’t know what else I can say about it, other than it’s a book you need to check out today.

Words of Inspiration

As the winter months begin to settle in and it gets colder outside, I thought I would offer up some inspirational words for you to use however you see fit. These are great for repeating over and over again to yourself in front of a mirror, or written somewhere, where you can see them every day, like inside your school calendar or notebook. Wherever and however you use them, I hope they help inspire you to be awesome.

I am capable.

What’s inside counts, too.

I tell the truth.

My opinion counts.

I am thoughtful.

I am important.

My feelings matter.

I respect myself.

I am true to myself.

My friends are important to me.

I trust myself.

I can ask for help.

Nobody’s perfect.

I accept myself.