Eastern State Penitentiary

Seeing as to how the individuals who established the prison believed that all inmates had good inside of them in the potential to be rehabilitated, Eastern State Penitentiary was built to be progressive and meant to instill fear and pierce the soul. of course, this was not unconditionally regarded as a universal experience. As I will touch later, quite a large number of individuals Express their disdain towards the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation system that incorporates solitary confinement into most of the inmates time.

And so, as we entered the prison turned Museum, we learned about Henry Enlicker, who was 1 of 3 people born here. It actually said so on his birth certificate. His grandpa being deputy warden.

The courtyard Henry used to romp around in.

We then went on to tour the first cell block, which was meant to be a general waiting tank. Overall, conditions sucked. there was a lack of proper cleaning facilities, there were no windows in most of the facility, and it also came without any heating or air condition. Generally, the weather on the outside of the walls reflected the weather on the inside.

However, it was the first modern building, albeit with no front doors. They anticipated no rowdy crowds and no typhus outbreaks, and astonishingly enough, it was just as such. when the remodel came, there was heating and running water and it was more modern than the whitehouse. It had sophistication that the White House lacked, as even the president at that point in time, Andrew Jackson, was mostly using a chamber pot.

And so, we learned about solitary confinement. The goal of solitary confinement here was to allow time for reflection to become penitent, per the humane society of Philadelphia. Prisoners never saw other inmates, spent 23 hours in cell, working, weaving, crafting, shoe crafting, and got 2 half hour breaks a day. Approximately every 2 weeks he could bathe, and so, this is when he was allotted more time outside of his cell. whenever any movement occurred outside of the solitary exercise Courtyard or solitary room, The Prisoner was nearly always blindfolded buy a bag placed over the head so that he could not learn his way around the penitentiary or to see and interact with others.

Where they were took if they were injured.

Guards often wore bags on their shoes to muffle their footsteps, and they kept close eye on all inmates. There were severe punishments for talking, such as a straightjacket and gag. as such, Charles Dickens wrote that this prison put the person in a position that was one step between insanity and inmate.

Cell 4 eventually had life sentences. Some people are still incarcerated elsewhere that were once confined Within These Walls. by the 1940s, everyone had a job, including a band and choir.

On a secondary note, alot of inmates couldnt be tracked after release, so nobody knew how they did. It was largely known though, that in those days, inmates often times did not return to prison after their release. this, unfortunately, changed quite a lot throughout the years of mass incarceration.

Isolation to the extreme was most common in the PA system, but in NY, they workes and ate together, but in silence. Isolation, at this point in time, began to be too controversial and expensive, so the Pennsylvania system of penance eventually broke down by about 1870.

The guards we're not always the bad guy, though. Some of the guards had heart, especially Sloan. people had celebrated  holidays and had fun. And at one point, AL Capone got tonsils removed here in this present during one holiday.

The catwalk upon which they stood.

A lot of other individuals weren't enthused about the place, though. a lot of suffering happened here. And so, in 1971, it was shut forever.

Tickets run from $10 to $16, and is open for tour most weekdays. Check it out sometime!

Concerning Public Disparities

Through the cracks of my lips and the curled tufts at the end of my cheeks, I am forced to push forward a smile and talk about the good luck that I have had throughout my life. Although never affluent or markedly gifted to the point where it had brought me National or Global notoriety, I was able to work hard and use the talents I was given a gift to make quite a meaningful life for myself. So, forthright and wholeheartedly today, I'm talking about a very different subject altogether. Yea, I plead, I am here to discuss the circumstances less fortunate than my own.

Poverty-stricken communities are traveling all around the globe, more so often than not. As individuals walk around and Louis Vuitton suits and Versace underwear, with their Lamborghini Gallardo sitting in their garage and their very comfortable 401K plan and stock portfolio regenerating itself and the offset backgrounds, at least 75% of the rest of our globe is suffering. This is what first drew me into health and social sciences, anthropology, and the study of public policy from a freelance perspective. There are so many individuals around the globe that you're not kind of Market on these Enterprises, much less understand them even in their native tongue, and it is the reason why I always have dressed as simply and as frugally as possible.

Although I travel quite a good amount, I'm never rolling and the financial circumstances too late for have Ashley when I do so. nay, I go very basic and barebones, usually only consuming a meal and a half a day and either walking or taking it as much public transport as possible. I mostly do this out of humility, as there are many other individuals that could use the food.

Every single day, there are more human lives that are lost that contribute to the growing epidemic of genocide. Everybody has fingers two points the blame, but no heart to accept the blame for themselves. It is everybody's responsibility, truly, to try and move this world into a better place. It is possible if we try, although it will take quite a long time.

And so truly, my heart goes out to anyone who is stricken by shame, poverty, salmon, or any other misfortune. Instead of donating to your bank account, take a few seconds 2 donate to a charitable cause, or volunteer at one. There's a lot of work to be done, and it starts with us.

Where Time Stood Still

When I was a senior in high school and in honor's choir, our group got invited to go to New York City for a day and a half to perform and see the city. We also got to see a musical, Once. Our hotel may have been in New Jersey, but we lived pretty much the entire trip in New York City, besides travel time of course. Everything about my experience was a trip to remember.

I awoke on a Saturday morning around 6:30 in order to catch the bus from Frank's Theaters in York. There were about 50 of us who were going on this trip, all of us very talented, experienced singers and aspiring musicians. Five of us were coming from West York to go on this trip, myself included. Previously, the five of us had gone to the farm show complex in Harrisburg every year with our select vocal Ensemble to sing Christmas carols and more. This time, we would be putting on a small concert in St John's Cathedral, the largest church in downtown New York City.

The bus ride lasted four and a half hours, and included the pit stop for coffee and a bathroom break halfway through. They had Burger King at this gas station for whatever reason, so I picked up some hash browns and a sandwich to tide me over until we ate dinner. This was my first time ever setting foot in New York, much less New York City. As soon as we came through the tunnel that led into New York City and Lower Manhattan, all of us started cheering with enamored excitement.

The city was huge. The people were everywhere, and all of them usually friendly. You could literally go up to anybody on the street and strike up a conversation. It was the biggest cultural hub I ever seen, even more so than Paris and Switzerland. It was incredible. And who would have known that it wide Just a few hours north of me?

Normally, the honors choir goes to New York City and sings in the Rockefeller Center, and sings for a big audience. We weren't as lucky, and I had not gone there before. Simply because of monetary constraints, I was only able to go this one year. 

When we got to the cathedral, our mouths were agape after seeing how big the church was. We performed at 10:30 in the morning to a room of mostly parents. Our first song was "O sifuni mungu", an African spiritual, and we really got a feel for the sheer dynamics of this cathedral. The ceiling was 120 feet high, and echoed like mad. We hit our last chord and our next song, "Lux Aurumque" by Eric Whitacre, and our director pulled out a stopwatch. 8 Seconds. Our last chord run out in the cathedral for 8 Seconds. Chills ran down my spine. A tear ran down the face of the person beside me.

The powerhouse of a cathedral that we sang in.

The guys ensemble sang hello "Mary Lou" , a barbershop ensemble song, and the girls ensemble saying "mouth music", an Irish spiritual. We sang a song of joys, and mixed meter cantata. We sang a few more songs before ending our set with "Why We Sing", followed by an encore of "Let the River Run", as re-imagined by Carly Simon. This powerful song was originally a Quaker spiritual, but now would become the most powerful song I have ever song in a choir. There were four percussionists, including myself, but only two of us went on the trip. We slammed our drums loud and proud. 

What an incredible concert, only to be followed by a tour of Times Square, a few picture opportunities, and then our first Broadway show. We saw the musical ones, and it immediately became my favorite musical. I broke down about the soundtrack, as everything about this single stage single set  Broadway show was incredible and Unforgettable. Although I performed in musicals in my own I was never the biggest fan of them, until this day.

We then ate at Hard Rock Cafe, making sure to purchase souvenirs. I had a collection of drumsticks from Hard Rock, and this would be a addition number 5. We then had two hours to ourselves to roam around, where we checked out the Nintendo store, and their biggest candy store. We then met up in Time Square around 6 at night.

At this point in the trip, we all looked at each other, happy to be alive. Our director put up a high sign to get us all together as a group, and said that he had a wonderful idea to stand in the center of Times Square and start an impromptu acapella version of Let the River Run. And this is the magical moment where time Stood Still.

Some friends and I in Times Square. Wait for it...

As you may be aware, Times Square is one of the busiest parts of New York, and  New York City is one of the busiest cities in America. There is hustling and bustling and lots of cars honking their horns everywhere. Lots of advertisements on the big screens in the Big Apple, mostly for musicals and products that are up and coming. When we started singing though, the crowds gathered at the outdoor Amphitheater at Times Square all came to a quiet halt. There were no words. No cars honking. Just the Euphoria of the moment, and at least 400 people listening to a group of high schoolers sing Carly Simon, recording us on their cell phones, taking pictures, and listening. 

And then all of a sudden, an image of us appeared on one of the Billboards, and the honors choir was on display for all who looked on the other wise illustrious advertisements. We finished our song on a high A from the sopranos and a middle D from the basses, swelling into an uproar, ferociously. A 5-second halt, and then the Applause started like mad. 

That just happened. Time Stood Still. No,;New York City, Stood Still, just to listen to us.

What an Incredible gift we had been given this day. We used our talents to give back in the only beautiful way that we knew how to. Triumphantly, we returned to our tour bus, ready to get dinner at a local pasta restaurant. Because we were part of a group, we got a discounted rate, and all of us got a four course meal out of the deal. Between this and the gracious hospitality, we had to thank them in the only way we knew how. My percussionist colleague Dakota and I started drumming on the table, and once again, the choir was letting the River Run. You should have seen the smiles on their faces.

And so it came to pass, that this would be my first glimpse into the wondrous world that is New York City. This was my first time going there, but most certainly not the last. Until next time I stumble upon the Big Apple, I would always continue to let the River Run. And I would let all of the dreamers wake the nation.

Concerning Martial Arts

Martial arts have been around as long as the art of war has been around. Some of the oldest martial arts reach back several thousand years. A few of the ones that are popular today came around within the last century or two, however, and our improvised improvements upon martial arts they have been around 4 many times longer.

Glove up, and get ready for action!

Learning a martial art is beneficial for nearly anyone. I went from doing no martial arts at all until I was 21, to becoming a mixed martial artist in 3 years. I trained professionally at a gym on and off, and also messed around with my friends and I mixed martial arts Club on campus. In 3 years, I learned the foundations for Judo, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Capoeira, and Aikido. I also touched on small bits and pieces of Sambo, Taekwondo, and Krav Maga. I do not claim to be an expert in any of the aforementioned by any stretch of the imagination, but I feel as though I know enough to hold my own grounds if an event were to occur. Here are a couple reasons why learning a martial art is beneficial; not just for travelers, but for everyone.

1) You learn practical skills.

At first it may not seem like it, but martial arts are full of practical skills. They are infrequently things that you can use in day to day activities, but the opportunities are out there. You will learn how to manipulate your environment surround you, which can always be of use.

2) You'll learn your own limitations and how to overcome them.

As a new martial artist, you will realize that there are quite a few things that you can't do yet. You will learn in time, and you also learn how to overcome the things that you couldn't do before. It will take some time, but you will learn how to overcome your limitations.

3) You can build your confidence.

Before joining martial arts, I will admit that I didn't have the most self confidence in the world. Starting martial arts though, I learned a lot about myself and how to build up my confidence effectively without limitations. Being a martial artist has helped me to be proud of who I am, and to take initiative in situations.

4) Build your endurance.

After watching mixed martial artists on the television, have you ever thought to yourself that surely, you would never be able last as long as they do in that sort of situation? Well, you will eventually be able to do just that. You will build up your endurance and activity tolerance too levels that you once thought to be impossible. What you could once do for two minutes without getting tired, you will actually be able to do for 5 minutes or more without getting tired.

5) You become one with yourself.

In martial arts, there is a huge connectivity to spirituality. Martial arts will help you find your center, to quiet your mind, to humble yourself. Through meditation and meditative techniques, doing martial arts will slowly change the way you view yourself. And you will definitely know that you have quieted your mind when you realize that you can take another's life into your own hands if need be.

Martial arts harmonizes mind, body, and spirit, and really gets all of them working as one functioning unit. When do you learn even one martial art, no matter how formally or informally, you will begin to learn to control your own consciousness and emotions.

6) You can relate to more individuals.

Taking martial arts, you'll never know who you will run into who has also learned to martial arts.

And for your friends that have not studied martial arts, you'll be able to impart some basic knowledge unto them as well. It is so much fun, that you will know how to keep away, and you'll make friends in the process of doing so.

This is a very short list of items, but all of them are applicable as a martial artist things outside of martial arts. You will also learn how to communicate with. I highly encourage anybody to learn a martial art, because for some, it could just be the difference between life and death.