Dear City Council

I know that you are considering two options. One option is to reduce fares for subways and buses that are a great deal for people who are lower and middle income. The other option, which is even better, is to improve service by providing more frequent subways and buses. Improving service of subways and buses will get more people to be commuters. People will get to work on time, have time to relax, and will feel secure.

Improving service by providing more frequent subways and buses causes people be on time to work. One reason that makes people not want to commute is that people are waiting too long for the subways and buses. They wait subways and busses for more than 15 minutes. People are worried if they would be late to work. That’s why people choose to take a cap instead the subways. By increasing frequent subways and buses, people can be on time or early to work.

The other reason by providing more frequent subways and buses is safety. Waiting the subways and buses at night is dangerous. People might get robbed while they are waiting for subways and buses. My friend gets robbed while he waits the subway in the station after work. The more frequent subways and buses would lessen the chance that would be victimized. Providing frequent subways and buses will make people not worry about the time and safety. Therefore, it would encourage them to commute.

Improving service by providing more frequent subways and buses not only can save time and give safety, but also give people a good time to relax on their trip. Crowded subways and buses are considerable inconvenience. Because of the delay subways and busses, it makes queue in the station and when subways and buses are coming, people try to get in to subways and buses at once. Last time on my way to school, I saw a pregnant woman got push by people, who tried to get in to the crowded subway. The woman was screaming because she got push to her belly. For that reason people prefer not to use public transportation. And also people want to enjoy the morning by reading the news paper and want to get some work done during the trip. And they can’t do that if the subways and buses are crowded. Frequent subways and buses will mitigate the problem of overcrowding.

Providing frequent subways and buses will make people more convenience, bring safety to people who are waiting for subways and buses and make people to be on time to work. And we will be able to increase the number of commuters with public transportation if subways and buses operate more efficiently.

My Album

Savage Garden is an Australian pop duo, in which Darren Hayes is the vocalist and Daniel Jones is the keyboardist, sequence programmer, and guitarist. Truly Madly Completely is the best collection of Savage Garden was released in 2005 by Columbia Records. To the Moon and Back is the album recorded before Truly Madly Deeply, which are combination feelings of coolness from the modern world and eagerness to find romantic love in the youthfulness.

Truly Madly Completely has 17 songs and all are pop songs. All the songs are fantastic, but my favorites are Truly Madly Deeply and I Knew I Loved You. Those two songs have almost same tones. What I like is the song’s lyrics and the rhythm. Savage Garden has music that can make people calm and relax. It’s slow music and doesn’t have a lot of tension in it. The album, for me sounds like the writers are in love and adoring a beautiful woman. It‘s made of romantic songs.

I remember the first time I heard Truly Madly Deeply on air when I was in Indonesia. I was cleaning my room at that time, and I stop cleaning for a while when this song played on the radio. I enjoyed the song. I love every word in this album more than the music. The lyrics most likely are love letters for the reader. The writer pours out his feelings through the songs. The album is for adolescents and people who are twenty-something.

For me the lyrics of the Truly Madly Deeply not only show a romantic lyrics for lovers, but also confessing word for God. Here are the lyrics in first verse: I love you more with every breath Truly Madly Deeply do… I will be strong I will be faithful ‘cos I’m counting on a new beginning. A reason for living a deeper meaning. I interpreted the lyrics in light of my religion because the lyrics talked about faith, which means my trust in God. A” new beginning” is the time when I let God take over my life. The meaning “of live”, is my life is to worships God.
Actually I interpret Truly Madly Deeply as my beliefs not only in the first verse, but also in the chorus. I want to stand with you on a mountain. I want to lay like this forever. Until the sky falls down on me. That is the chorus and for me it means I will put my faith in God no matter what it’s going to happen in my life. “Mountain” means a big problem in life. “The sky falls down on me” means until the end of my life. I always remember these lyrics when I feel far from God and when I start complaining to God.

Sometimes romantic lyrics talk about the person who we are in love with but it can also be about God, who we adore as our lover. The interpretation depends on who the reader is. I really love these songs because they have beautiful lyrics. When I feel down, the lyrics make me strong. The lyrics remind me of the promise I made that I will stand with Him on “a mountain until the sky falls down on me”. I would give four stars for the rating, and I would like to recommend this album to my best friend, Angel. Angel is the one that I would share everything with.

Singles

Singles is a romantic comedy created and directed by Cameron Crowe in 1992. Singles was filmed in Seattle, Washington. Singles is a story about couple of young people who are looking for their soul mates and also story about friendships. Singles has two locations: Linda’s apartment and an apartment complex, where couples of young people are living. Linda, who lives alone after her breaking up with her boyfriend, is the main character.

Linda, the female protagonist, owns an apartment which has two floors and private garage with the remote control to park her car, and she lives by herself. She works at the Environment Department as an environmentalist with her best friend Ruth. In the past, Linda was in love with a rich boyfriend, but one day he told Linda that he lied about his inheritance. Also he says that he is going out again with his ex-girlfriend, so Linda packed him in because she felt betrayed. While in college, Linda met Andy, they lived together for two years, but the relationship didn’t work well, Andy was a boring person. Afterwards Linda decided to live alone without a man. Until one day in front of pet shop, she was accidental met Luiz, who is an engineering student from Spain. At first, Linda ignored him when he started to make a conversation. But when Linda started to leave, she couldn’t start the car. The car was broken. Luiz saw her struggling with her car; he came closer to her car and offered some help. This time Linda couldn’t avoid him because she really needed help for her car. That was beginning of their relationship, they starts to going together. Linda felt in love with Luiz, but unfortunately Luiz had to go back to Spain because his visa was running out. The night before he left, he promised Linda that he would come back in couple months after he renewed his visa. Ruth asked Linda whether she wants go to the club for dancing and Linda says that she’d love too. In the club, which they went for dancing, Linda saw Luiz hanging his shoulder around some wild girl accidentally. Linda wasn’t sure if it was Luiz or not, so she came closer to find out. Sure enough, it was Luiz, he knew that Linda was there, but he tried to ignore her. He gave an apathetic glance at Linda as if he had known her before. That action hurt her deeply. Linda didn’t react, she just left the club. She went the club and cried so much, and Ruth tried to make her feel calm.

The time went by, and Linda tries to forget her sadness. Actually, the last relationship that she had was overwhelming to her. She tried to deal with Luiz’s betrayal, and she did well. She did well at her job and having fun with her best friend, Ruth. They had a good time; they were going to dance as usual. Both were in a same common, they loved go to dance. One night, they went to a gig and they meet Steve and his friend, Bailey. Steve and Bailey they lived in the same apartment building. Steve worked in the department of transportation. Steve was interested in Linda and he tried to be close with Linda, but Linda refused. Linda didn’t want to know anymore about men, so she tried to push him off. But it seemed they had fate. After the gig finished on his way to go home, they bumped in the newsstand. Linda and Steve were having a small chat while Ruth and Bailey were waiting near the car, which was park on the street. Steve was in love with Linda, and he wanted to know more about her. He calls her at the office to go out for lunch, but Linda passed him up. Steve kept trying, so Linda gave in to him. They finally met for drink a glass of water in the café (because Linda said she already had a lunch) and have a chat. After a while, they get along together. Slowly, Linda felt in love with Steve, but she tried ignoring him because Linda was afraid to get close with Steve. Actually, she afraid to get hurt again because she thought he just played a game and Steve tried to console her.

Finally, Linda chose to trust Steve. They spent time together for a couple weeks and they had a good time. They became a perfect couple among his friends who lived in the same apartment building with him. After a “vacation” they spend time together after their relationship recover, Steve finds out that Linda is pregnant. Steve propose to her and they have a plan to get married. Linda was happy, but a car tragedy ruins her happiness because Linda lost her baby in the car accident. Linda was devastated by her loss, and Steve tried to console her. It seemed didn’t work Linda was totally devastated. She asked Steve to let her have alone. Linda decided to go for business trip for a month. When Linda was on business trip, Steve missed her so much. In this moment Steve realized how precious Linda for him.
After a month, Linda returns and she recovers from the accident that causes her to lose her baby. She makes decision also for her relationship with Steve. She decides to be just friends with Steve, and it makes Steve nervous. Steve thinks that after she comes back from her trip they will continue their relationship, but suddenly Linda just wanted him to be a friend. Linda thought that Steve proposed to her because of her pregnancy. Since she was no longer pregnant, so Linda thinks that there is no reason for their relationship to continue. Because of that reason, Linda breaks up with Steve. Steve still loves her and he tries to make up with Linda through the phone. Linda isn’t at home by the time Steve called. Steve leaves her a messaged and Steve confess his feelings that he loves her and can’t go on without her by his side, to Linda. And the other hand, Steve, who works in Transportation Company, got frustration because his subway proposal been denied by the mayor. Steve, who got dump from Linda and got proposal rejected, locked himself in his apartment. His neighbor tries to console him, but it doesn’t work. He is devastated. After a couple days, Steve hears someone is knocking his door and he remembers his neighbor said if she has good news she will knock the door three times as a sign. When he opens the door he is shocked, it was Linda came to his apartment. Steve was so happy and heals from his rejection. Steve is devastated because he was waiting for Linda. At the end they were hugging each other and they got back together. Linda was Steve true love.

I really love this movie. The movie has a good story and good ending. I was touched by the last part when Steve said to Linda “What you’re so long?” This story is also in common with twenty-something love reality. Many people, when they are twenty-something, are searching for love and they will find sometimes if they never give up. I learned that even though we are single, we still can be happy. And I learned that it is good to have friendships with many people when we are young. In additional, I learned not to be afraid of failure. Failure is success in delay.

Schools in Bad Neighborhood

I heard that you have just received a large donation and you are considering two options. The first option is to use the money to improve the schools in bad neighborhoods, and the second option is to improve the quality of neighborhoods near tourist attractions. This is important decision because of the election next year and so many people are going to vote you, this is an important decision since so many people are going to vote for you. Using money to improve the schools would be a better choice because it will provide new programs, create clubs, and improve the quality of the classroom.

Improving the schools in bad neighborhoods with new program is good for the people of the city. First of all, extracurricular activities after school will be offered. Students these days use their time unwisely. They spend their time after schools for a beer or drugs and hanging out with people who will be a bad influence for them. The extracurricular activities will give students healthy activities to do after class such as baseball, dancing, and cooking. Besides that, extracurricular activities will give students a chance to bringing out their talents and it will help them also with their future. Additionally, improving the schools with English classes would help students, who are not English native speaker. Many English classes are inadequate. For immigrant students, who are from outside the United States, English classes are needed to help them prepare for the college. Since in college, English is required for students. Students who have inadequate English skills will not be able to take credit classes in the college. Finally, improving the schools with daycare programs would help parents who want to study. With daycare programs in the schools people will be able to study without worrying about their children. They can leave their children in daycare while they are studying in the school. And that is good for the neighborhood because it gives a chance for people who need a job; they can work in daycare program to take care of the children. With new programs in the school people will have more healthy activities to do and it is good for the neighborhood because it provides jobs.

Improving schools with creating clubs is beneficial for neighborhood. Speech club would help the society to speak in appropriate ways. Considering some students who like to speak in public, but they don’t know how to speak appropriately. They can join speech club. A speech club will help students to speak in congress appropriately. Another club that will be beneficial for the neighborhood is tutoring club. Many students have mathematic problems. Provide tutoring club will help the students for mathematic solution. Students also get help with the homework, more practice and preparing for the exam. It’s also beneficial for the neighborhood because it will give an opportunity for job as a teacher in tutoring club. Moreover, improving schools with sports clubs will be beneficial for neighborhood. Since in this neighborhood sports club inadequate in order for people who need to work out. With opening sports club in schools will give people in neighborhood more facilities to exercise. Improving school with creating clubs will give a good impact to the society. Students will communicate and socialize with each other in the clubs.

Improving schools by improve the quality of the class room will be beneficial for students. First, improving school with class furniture will help students to study. Many chairs leg are broken so the students will fall down when they are using the chairs in the class. When one of classmate fall down, the class will get interrupted. By changing the chairs in the class room, students will study more comfortably. Second, improving schools with the new computers will save a lot of time. The computers in the LAB are getting slow. It takes ten minutes to turn on the computers and of course it such a waste of time. Students can work on their assignments in ten minutes. The new computers will help students do their work faster and efficiently. Finally, improving schools with a new painting will improve the quality of the class room. Students won’t enjoy studying if the walls are dirty. With fresh paint, it will comfort students to study in class like a new class room. New painting in class gives a new feeling for students. Students feel that they are study in terrific class. Improving quality of the class room will also impact the quality of the students.

Using money to improve the schools would be a better choice because it will improve the quality of the class room, create clubs, and give new programs. In additional, improving schools will give a good environment for the neighborhood to study well. And it will create an urban renewal by improving the quality of the schools in neighborhood.

Censorship

The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America gives people freedom of religion, press, and expression. Also, it gives people the right peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for injustice restoration. Since the controversy of music and arts has become a big issue in this day. People who have different opinions and see the issues from different lenses of music fight against each other for their opinion. Music and art can’t be doubts because we are protected by the First Amendment. The controversial that become issue are painting, musical lyrics, and dancing.

In 1999, the Brooklyn Museum of Art had an exhibition with a controversial painting. Chris Ofili, a young English painter who had African roots, made a painting called The Holy Virgin Marry, using elephant excrement and obscene pictures cut from adult magazines. Mayor Guiliani and some Catholics more offended by the painting. They believed it was disrespectful for Catholics and The Virgin Marry. Guiliani threatened the Brooklyn Museum Art that he would take away public funding if they kept the picture in the exhibition. The Brooklyn Museum Art wanted to challenge him by keeping the painting in the show. The censorship wasn’t successful because it was against the first Amendment. Joan Bertin, the head of the National Coalition against Censorship, supported the Brooklyn Museum Art also. She thought that the community had the right to make the decision about what they want to see or not. The government is not allowed to take away financial support just because it was offensive for some of them. I agreed with Joan Bertin because I believe the Amendment gives us the freedom to express our religion into the art.

This controversy is not only shown in painting, but also in musical lyrics. In 1980, CBS records released the song with controversial lyrics. Ozzy Osbourne, an English singer-songwriter for Black Sabbath, wrote a song with the title Suicide Solution. It’s a heavy metal song that had the lyrics “[g]et the gun and try it shoot, shoot, shoot”. John McCollum’s parents were offended by that song because their son, John, committed suicide with a handgun while he was listening to Ozzy Osbourne’s music. According to the McCollums “the lyrics poem, tones, and rhythm” of Osbourne’s music had the collective power to push someone to hurt and to kill his or herself. And furthermore that both sides, CBS Inc and Osbourne, deliberately created musics for the immature people who are have a problems with their youth. The McCollums wants to punish Ozzy Osbourne and CBS Inc. Because of the death of their son, the McCollum’s brought the case to the Court, but were not successful. McCollum’s appealed to the higher California Court of Appeals and their decision was a same as the first court. Both Courts decided that Osbourne has the Constitutional right to put the lyrics to his music. And the Courts, agreed that none of Osbourne’s musics could be described as a literal suggestion to commit suicide. They also said that “musical lyrics and poetry” should not be read literally. Rational people know that they can’t interpret lyrics and poetry in literally because music is expressions people. Osbourne has constitutional right to express his feelings. I agreed with court’s decision that we can’t translate music lyrics to the real word because music has a figurative meaning. Music is expression of the people who writes the song, and we are all protected by the First Amendment. We have freedom of expression.

The controversial of arts not only show in painting and music, but also in dancing. In 2005, Jogjakarta, one of the cities in Indonesia, wanted to perform at the “culture center” of Java. Ainur Rokhimah, an Indonesia artist, who had a stage name Inul Daratista, performs “drill dance” or sexy dancing, which consists of intense rotation of the hips and definitely showing sexual action. The Indonesia Ulemas Council, Indonesia Muslim Council, was offended by her performances. They interpreted her dancing as pornographic and they said her performances were legally forbidden by Islamic law and moreover were disrespectful for Muslim people. The Indonesia Ulamas Council wanted to ban her shows. In addition, she was prohibited for doing her performances anywhere in Indonesia because it was offensive to Muslim people. The censorship wasn’t successful, however, because seventy eight percent of Indonesians supported Inul’s right to freedom of expression. Now, she is be able to continue her performances. And I agreed with that decision because dancing for performances are expressions of our feelings and it’s nothing to do with a religion even if the majority are Muslim.

People can have different opinions, but they can’t against fight each other to stop someone action because of their objection. We have the right and freedom to express our feeling. As long the expression does not directly cause immediate crimes, we in the USA are protected by The First Amendment.

I love My English Class

I love my English class. First of all, I love to speak in English since I was three teen years old. Speak English well is promising to contribute in the world society, in my opinion. Especially now I am living in united state. Speak English is important. I want to speak grammatically. In addition, speak English grammatically prerequisites before I get to the credit class in college. Secondly, my English class in CLIP helps me to improve my English skill since my ability to speak English is inadequate for a good speaker. The teacher filled me in with an excellent explanation. He shows me how to write an essay perfectly, he teaches appropriate grammar, he gives me a new vocabulary and idiom every day, and he makes me see the forest for the trees. He is a good teacher. Finally, I made a lot of friend from a different country in English class. It’s fun when we meet many friends with a different culture. I could learn their languages and their cultures.