The Griot

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THE GRIOT PROJECT: SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE KNOWLEDGE.

During my last week class project, I learned very important concepts on objective and subjective concerning my family history. The two concepts are important because my story is a mix of facts from my Grandfather about the family and interpretation thereon.I was born a man in the family of great wealth is objectively but to determine how much that wealth comprises of is very subjective and need to know all the facts about what we posses.

My grandfather the sole serving elderly member of the family who holds the all the information and culture is objective.To determine  and confirm that all the information provided is subjective and has to verified  by checking the facts from other sources. Equally other members of the family holds some pieces of the information and needs to be pieced together to provide a concrete and useful information.

Objectively our family history comprises of of our culture i.e owning livestock as a source of great wealth, our family tree i.e all the family members from fathers and mothers side and their relatives and the Do's and Dont' of the family(Committing crimes like murder not allowed) The rules to be followed before and after every generation.

Subjectively the teaching is universal and what is taught is individual knowledge that keeps on changing overtime.Our source of wealth the livestock has evolved and now we  don't have the cows anymore but hols cash as a source of wealth.

From what i have relearned from the project  objective and subjective knowledge always overlap each other even if they are different.

Compiling the manuals and audio of the family history is in the process and will be available in a short while and will be available on the media houses or the next TELA class semester. 

 

SELF SURPRISE

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7420710n

Speech

Never had that self confidence in giving a speech, always feared that since English is a third language the audience will criticise or not approve  of me, but during a communication class I surprised myself, I made it happen. A job well done.
The self fulfilling prophecy i.e a person expectation of an outcome and subsequent  behavior makes the outcome more likely to occur because i told myself that if others do it i will make it too. I worked hard on my speech, revised it and rehearsed it before the presentation.
The results were amazing and I felt motivated to do more, The teacher was impressed and the students too and now i am destined for greater heights in college. I am very much interested in politics and you have to do a lot of talking and now i have the courage to speak to a big audience without any problem.

ENERGY DRINK

Peter Njau
0714950 Eng 114
Prof Henry

ABOUT

Made for hard working people

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 Hot Last Friday evening, after a week of gruelling work, I was tired, exhausted and sleepy and had four and a half hours to go. But a 5- hour energy drink my friend had,  brought more harm than relief.

 There was a problem, a big problem. Could the energy drink last for five hours and be as effective when shared?

There was only one bottle of the drink and i really wanted to share but my friend would not give in.

His argument was "If we share then it will last for only Two and  half hours instead of the usual five" and he would not enjoy the drink because it would mean taking  half and would be too little.

My suggestion was it would last for five hours but not 100% effective and as team mates we had to share the little there was and see it as glass half full and not half empty.

Education

Do you want a better life?  Then education is the key. The doors open for you without struggle. it makes the life easier and smooth.

 I remember when growing up my parents used  to wake  me up early and  to go  to school. I used to think it like waste of time and money but they knew better. They taught me how nothing comes easy and perseverance pays.


The kids in the neighbourhood were missing classes, smoking  and doing drugs like the end of times. They were shooting their brothers and sisters hoping to satisfies their selfish greed.  If only they knew  what they were missing, I hope i was in a position to advice them. They missed the key to the new world and their future.

(A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education he may steal the whole railroad.)

(Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) American president) 

Today as i walk around and looking at what  i have gone through, the struggles from  my past,The bumpy road to the present and the bright future ahead, I say thanks to my parents for their  hard work and determination  to give me the right keys, I could not have asked for more. (Education).

WORKFORCE MOTIVATION

Most production based corporations emphasis on monetary rewards for good performance but does it really work?

If the task involves mechanical the higher the pay the better the performance, but if the tasks calls for higher skills the the rewards does not work.


 Experiment on other parts of the world shows that rewards can only work to a certain extent but after that, even worse performance  is obtained.The employees will give their best performance and the production will be of high quality. Good salaries are the key points when rewarding employees when high quality performance is expected.
The Experiment done in Australia is a good example, the employees were willing to give their best production performance in 24 hours for free, and the results were amazing



Based on research "rewarding something to get more or punishing something you get less" does not always produce the intended results.(Massachusetts institute of technology).

Identity

I am  from Nairobi, Kenya.. What does the world say about Kenyans? What do you know about Kenyans? Does being an African living in the United States make me an African American?

 I also have black Skin. Who- or what- do people think about people with black skin? About me?

How I am labelled depends on one who is making the label. Depending on who i interact with, I  am,

• African,
• Black,
• Kenyan, 
• African American,
• Negro. 

Quite often I am judged based on appearance and background. What people think about my Intelligence, my work ethic, my cultural tastes and values, and even my own humanity - is out of my control. This is true even for our President, Barack Obama. His patriotism, intelligence, and his leadership ability is often questioned because of his appearance and his Kenyan background.

But these judgements are not based on our character, not on what we do. Instead, those judgements are based on stereotypes and prejudice. I want to be seen as a person. A Kenyan person. But not better or worse. I want to be judged on how I lead my life, just Obama should be judged on his performance as a president.

I am not ashamed of being Kenyan. Oh no! I am quite proud. But that is only a label.

How I express myself in my body is what should be judged.

Voting Power for the Poor

 Should being a felon (a criminal) strip you your voting rights? This is a question i have been asking myself for long but without answers. Why should you be denied the voting rights just because of a  crime not related to voting?

The right to vote is enshrined in our constitution. it is your Constitution right to elect whoever you deem fit to run for the office without any discrimination.(Give our president Obama four more years).

The denial  to vote was imposed to limit the rights and powers of the lower class from becoming the advantaged (those who have) and be insignificant in the society.The upper class always tries to deny the lower class the entry to a better world this is confirmed by the fact that the lower class will commit crimes due to having less and once the crime is committed there is no "undoing". you are rendered powerless for ever.

I see it as it was a way to deny the African American the right to vote because they were more likely to commit crimes(from bureau of justice statistics(Black victims of violent crime Aug, 2007)

The disadvantaged(those who do not have) are denied their voice in the system and then always try to do their best to be like the advantaged. Its time to be allowed to vote for your choice.

"Changes" Tupac Shakur.

                            "Changes Tupac Shakur, 1998

The way we have been brought up, the society we live in and the choices we make in our lives determines who we are and who we will become. Do we have to change to be like the others?
Many times we have baggage from our past, Tupac points out that part of our history can include smoking dope, selling drugs, and shooting our African brothers and sisters. like ghosts, these activities haunt the African American community. 

His song "Change emphasizes these problems. At the same time he advises the African Americans to stand up and get on their feet. He really wants us to change.

But changing requires facing obstacles: government isn't committed to our community, the war on poverty has been lost, wars all around the world. But Tupac tells us not to sit back and expect handouts: "Quote song"

One way to change is through education. Here at SWC, students may  learn  new trades.The college is open to all no excuse. Its time you get up and look for a way like  joining "TELA"(a programme designed to help African American and other minorities to success and retention in school  to improve their way of live.

For me, the obstacles are many: I have been  brought up in the African society where you see poverty first hand and people just sitting back and waiting for handouts which are not easy to come.. I choose to move out of the country and join college for a better future. College could not have come to me in those conditions unless i show some commitments<I made a move.

The song teaches  more on standing up an leave the past and focus on the future. There is always a way out of every problem but you need to act now.  Not everything that is faced can be changed, but you can't change it unless you face it;"James Baldwin"

Entertainment Catherine G latterell

                       Entertainment:Catherine G latterell

 Is entertainment about diverting from the normal  routines and having fun. or does it have to be permanent change to lifestyle.? I think its more than that for you to be fully entertained.
 It takes some assumptions and personal choice  e.g people looking for fantasy word or emotional release from the regular schedule.
Every weekend i take time off my busy schedule to watch basketball. it makes me feel like i am the one playing especially when "Kobe Bryant" (lakers' superstar) makes a dunk. it blows my mind away and all my body and soul are in the game and not on my daily issues.My wife on the other hand watches Oprah and that what her fantasy world is in, its a choice that makes her happy and  at the same time have fun. At the end we are both entertained in two different ways.

The columbine high school shooting is a Good example of movie influence.The shooting was as a result of watching too much movie or trying to imitate the shooters.

The rock music has also helped to spark the sexual revolution, Everyone including the youth wants a piece of the pie and  its not good for the environment. The youth just wants to do what they see on the movies i.e behaving with no morals.    

The national rifle association  ( they own and licence the guns use)is also an influence but it tends to go both ways. some guns are used for protection while others are used to commit crimes but to some its some kind of fun.

Michelle Obama's Convention Speech

                                                             

                                      Michelle Obama's convention Speech 

The first lady introduction shows that she has travelled and seen first hand the task and problems the Americans people have.

She has seen the commitment the teachers have on their student by going without pay when the school district goes near bankrupt or the fire fighters fly  across the country to help put out fires.

She  appreciates that serving as a first lady is a privilege and notes that she has to interact with people to know the issues and the problems and persuade them again to vote the president  for a second term.

 She makes sure the audience knows that she was a common person like them before going to Washington.  She knows all their problems and will be doing all it takes to help them.

She makes sure to let the audience know that she has come from a humble background  and that the husband comes from the same background too. She tells them the president possessions was only a coffee table found at the dumpster.

She brings her humble upbringing  i.e her personal life to prove her point that she has seen it all.

The dad was just a regular worker who also struggled with  the tuition fees like then regular workers but was proud to send his kids to college.This what middle class parents go through every day and makes the people see it in themselves.

She  had college debts  and that why she knows how hard it is for students without financial aids.All students see the reality in this because without financial aid life would be tough for many.

Times are hard for everyone and she advices the audience that it will be along game and the change will be hard and slow and will never happen at once but you have to keep going. Keep the fire burning

If it took courage and determination to win independence then we go can go along way and win this election and move on.