Getting Ready

FICTION: Today was a tiring day in the DMZ. Tiring week actually. Got a decent amount done; made some progress on starting up the Coffeehouses again, worked on transfer applications.. And overall I must say it was a rather quiet week as of casualties.

Tonight the DMZ is hosting a occupational fair for companies to come and see if they support their workers being hired in the city. It's a stressful time for a lot of the agencies that run here. My company is even coming, not that they care very much - I persuaded them to send a rep to see the status of what I'm living through.

I also finally shot my piece on the Art District, which is a real bonus for myself. Finally established a task force to go out and document the arts and not just athletics and politics within the city.

It's going to be a long night, but I'm getting a sponsored flight North to spend some time with about 100 other old friends. Very excited.

It may sound luxurious, but just remember how many people die in here everyday. And how hard I'm trying to get out.

FACT: It's been a long week, but a nice one. All my classes were lax, and nothing went that long. I have a NFTY (Northern Federation of Temple Youth) event this weekend so I'm really excited for that because I see a bunch of people from like all corners of NJ and northern NY.

It's also back to school night at school and I'm representing photography and the radio station. I also shot a story on the Tech Department today with a bunch of Freshman who did an amazing job. Now all I have to do is finish my college application, and life will be okay.

"How can we be free if the water we drink is owned by some company?"

Soldier On

FICTION : So the last weeks have been difficult. Upper Guidance boulevard has been put on lockdown and you really can't get anywhere without proper documentation. It's depressing to see a turn such as this for the DMZ, but recently they installed electricity throughout the day - so I suppose everything levels out.

Being in the Senior class of society is a lot different, everyone else is just attempting to get by and make it to fight another day. But everyone in this class; we're all just focused on getting transfers to other cities next year. It's incredible to see how far everyones come and how hard they've fought to get out, and it's also really incredible to imagine how quickly all of that could end. A helicopter could crash on the way in or out at any point, or you could get gunned down or caught in cross fire with the military and rebels. But at this age, that doesn't seem to matter to these people. They just focus on themselves and their friends, and they make it out okay.

They soldier on.

FACT : School is really hard. I finished writing my college essays, ( I have several) and I'm really scared I won't be able to make a living out of photography. All I can hope is that I can use my talents and personality to make it out of the school and into the real world.

"Life is a balancing act. Too much work and too little play, and vice versa will lead you nowhere. You'll never, actually live."

Fresh Air

FICTION:

I took a helecopter to an outer down outside the DMZ's perimeter. It felt wierd not having to be aware of your surroundings as much, put down your guard; I didn't even have a guy riding shotgun. Made me uneasy. It was great though, went North and saw a plethora of people it's been months since I've seen. Tomorrow it's back to the DMZ, but you know what i've realized?

Every warring country/city has it's own personality with the civilians, and eventually if you spend enough time in there you get intergrated into that personality. You become part of the DMZ. I'm still getting the handle of driving a shift car in the most dangerous city in the world, but you know it'll get me into the schools I need to get my degrees and finish my internships.

I guess what's the most shocking to me is how different the world the world of Journalism and the world of civilians is. A Journalist would have died for the oppurtunity I have now, and civilians would die to get out of the DMZ for good. There are people who can't even get a ride in the helecopters and risk the roads into the DMZ through the outskirt towns and forests where predators of man and beast lurk. Maybe I'll skip out on a helecopter ride tomorrow and walk it, get a soldier escort of course. Sweet dreams kids.

FACT:

I had a NFTY event this weekend which was mad fun, (Northern Federation of Temple Youth) and I'm almost hired by Sportsography which is part of Lifetouch, so go me. I have school tomorrow and I'm shooting a few stories for Colonial Corner, which is our school TV station. It was nice to see all my friends again and I've realized distance is really at the heart of most teenage problems. Damn you distance.

Peace and love kids.

"Currency is the currency of the world.
And when currency controls the country, well it's a funny thing. Think about how many people die for a piece of metal, or a piece of paper. It's an astonishing process".

Devastation in New Light

FICTION: The DMZ Diaries

Day Three went by almost without any casualties, but in my last course on the Upper Language Projects near the Flood Gates I realized I have a lot more to report on, and research. No confirmations but it's looking to be difficult to confirm facts. I sent in a summer summary of my resume to the coordinator down there, and got it back with a 59% written on it.

In other news, The Coffeehouse Cafes' are still being decided upon and reintergrated, I will meet with the DA soon to figure all that out. I hope to get that up and running. Radio Broadcast is behind schedule too, but it's looking like late September for transmition. Although I no longer reside in the Art District, i'll be working out of an office in there - it'll still get reported on.
Thanks Guys - The Jackal signing out.

FACT: Morristown Highschool, and 9/11/2001

I failed my first Psych Essay, I have no idea when we're running Coffeehouses, and I need a new coordinator since my Co no longer goes to the Highschool, and Radio isn't playing yet. It'll be up by the end of Sept. Listen for Thursdays 5-7 on 90.5FM.

I'd like to commemorate all who lost their lives in all devastation on this day around the world, but specifically to the Citizens of New York City and even more specifically Manhatten. You've heard it a thousand times but it really was, like a war zone, and it knocked the most powerful country in the world off balance and argueably pressured us into a war we don't fully understand or want a part in.

The stuff about the Mosque - think about this. One - you wouldn't complain if it was a Church or Temple would you? Two - It isn't even a Mosque - it's a location for Muslims to go and feel safe, and it's already a prayer sight. It's more like a religious youth lounge. (Need more info to back that up, but from what I've read that's the best explanation). Three - It isn't at Ground Zero, it's a few blocks away.

"Hater by David Moody."

I Laugh in the Face of Danger

FICTION

First week in the DMZ coming to an end. The English District is where I'm living now, near the underpass into Lower Guidance Blvd. It's pretty cut off from anything except for a few buildings I'm taking courses in.

Being a member of the radio station and press core is what's keeping me from getting jumped at this point. Nobody has seen a photojournalist in the DMZ in years, at least with my talent. Not to sound arrogant. I'm proud to be part of this project. Day Three on the way. Long way to go.

End transmition.

FACT

I'm currently working on a series of stories on Greystone Psychiactric Hospital, and need a specialist on architecture local to the area. Also, JSV kids seeing this - get at me if you want and have confidence to film and then EDIT afterwards. I can get you a tour of the grounds with a police essort.

Also, I'm working on writing a piece on the Art Departments in the Highschool since the focus seems to be on sports. I'd like to change that.

Night kids. Stay safe.

Also, I'd like to thank Reverand Alfonso Sherald for his contribution to society and amazing teaching skills. I got my backpack fixed man. I'll miss you. Dead at age 60.

"A warm arrival never left so cold."

Summer's coming crashing down

So this summer was a summer.

I did so much travelling and so much, just living. It's really hard to categorize or say anything like good or bad because it was such a mix. I really learned a lot about myself, and had a lot of fun but really grew up and matured too. I think summer is siupposed to help us grow up, by giving us freedom from school we go different directions whether it be a job, travel, fun, or something else I don't know of. And what track you ride and how much you mix it up helps you grow up, if you're catching my angle

Senior year in the DMZ is less than a week away, and for the first time in my life I am genuinely excited to go to school. :]

"Let the good times roll."

Background on the DMZ

The DMZ is a name I have given to the area I live in and more specifically my current highschool.

I call it this mostly because of the trials and tribulations all teenagers face growing up are very similar to that of a DMZ - lawless psychological and physical warfare. Depending on what group you belong to you war against drugs, alcohol, academics, other teenagers, emotions and a plithora of other problems very few would understand.

This blog will serve many purposes - displaying my photography, being a freeform newspaper, and working with the highschool to connect on a much more, "chill" level.

Check back often kids! I make no promises, but I will try to do a post a day.

"In a mad world, only the mad are sane".