Set as the American Revolutionary war pushes on Chains is the chilling account of a young slaves fight to freedom.
Isabel and her younger sister Ruth are orphaned and are sold to a wealthy loyalist and his evil wife in New York who makes it her mission to torment the siblings constantly.
Isobel then meets Curzon, the enslaved message boy of a rebel leader and agrees to spy on her Loyalist owners uncovering vital information on their plans.
The book can become quite shocking in parts as you read about how the African American slaves were treated and how much they had to overcome to gain some sense of freedom.
Overall this book is hard to put down and the author has done a great job of making up fictional characters that really fit the historical setting of the book.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, December 8, 2008
Drug trade booming despite recession
As retailers fall victim to the economic recession drug dealers are ‘reaping in the cash’ with many saying business is booming.
Consumers are tightening their belts with the recession doomed to carry through to 2009 however the current economic climate is not effecting illicit drug sales.
Several marijuana dealers who wish to remain anonymous told me that business is booming.
"People want it - I can hardly get enough to supply the demand" said one drug dealer.
The announcement comes after a series of drug busts on the West Coast with police continuing the operation in other parts of the country.
Consumers are tightening their belts with the recession doomed to carry through to 2009 however the current economic climate is not effecting illicit drug sales.
Several marijuana dealers who wish to remain anonymous told me that business is booming.
"People want it - I can hardly get enough to supply the demand" said one drug dealer.
The announcement comes after a series of drug busts on the West Coast with police continuing the operation in other parts of the country.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Check Out
This is the weekly post where we throw in some things which we think are definitely worth a mention.
Skim Boarding is all the rage at the moment and after giving it a go I can see why! It takes a few goes before you actually make it onto the board, although you do get the hang of it after a couple of humiliating head-first landings into the sand!
If you have the time for a bit of mid-evening reading grab a copy of In Search of Respect by anthropologist Philippe Bourgois. Bourgois spends about 4 years becoming good friends with addicts, thieves, and the drug dealers of East Harlem in New York. The book gives you a direct insight into a group that American society tries to hide.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Ladi 6 - Time Is Not Much review
Listen to our interview with Ladi 6 here
If you are unfamiliar with Ladi 6 you have probably heard her soulful, deep voice featured on some of your favorite tracks by Fat Freddys Drop, Shapeshifter and the Opensouls.
Three years in the making Ladi 6 has finally released her debut album Time Is Not Much and is unquestionably worth the long wait.
Ladi 6 proves herself as one of Aotearoa’s most adaptable musicians showcasing her soulful sound while also bringing out her hip hop roots throughout the album.
Her cousin Scribe even makes an appearance on the track Call You Out which is set to become a hit on the radio this summer.
Time Is Not Much makes for great listening this summer and isn't an album that will end up at the bottom of your CD rack any time soon.
If you are unfamiliar with Ladi 6 you have probably heard her soulful, deep voice featured on some of your favorite tracks by Fat Freddys Drop, Shapeshifter and the Opensouls.
Three years in the making Ladi 6 has finally released her debut album Time Is Not Much and is unquestionably worth the long wait.
Ladi 6 proves herself as one of Aotearoa’s most adaptable musicians showcasing her soulful sound while also bringing out her hip hop roots throughout the album.
Her cousin Scribe even makes an appearance on the track Call You Out which is set to become a hit on the radio this summer.
Time Is Not Much makes for great listening this summer and isn't an album that will end up at the bottom of your CD rack any time soon.
Exams dawn on high school students
With exams are dawning for thousands of secondary students, they are taking a break from underage drinking at the local park and are beginning to knuckle down and play the game that is NCEA. I found out how motivated students are leading up to exams.
NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) was phased in from 2002 till 2004 as a replacement to School Certificate. The system is based around students gaining credits, with one credit intending to represent ten hours of learning. Students can gain achieved, merit or excellence based on how well they complete the work, but they do not receive any extra credits for gaining a higher grade.
NCEA has suffered a number of controversies and as a result over 400 New Zealand schools offer qualification alternatives including Cambridge and GCSE exams.
Opponents’ to the system include Christchurch Boys’ High School Principal Trevor McIntyre who told The Press that NCEA encouraged a "non-competitive minimalist attitude" among pupils. McIntyre said he was initially a fan of the NCEA, but quickly became disillusioned saying that students use the system to build up easy credits.
Earlier this year the NZ Qualifications Authority introduced endorsement in an attempt to tackle the issue of motivating students into gaining a higher grade. In order to gain the endorsement students must complete 50 merit- or excellence-level credits. Even with this introduction students still feel NCEA does not give them recognition for doing more than the bare minimum.
Bridget Vosburgh, a Year 12 student at Hagley Community College believes that the credit system is flawed. “You don’t get extra credits for something that passes with excellence so why should I bother”.
However former Education Minister Chris Carter believes that endorsement motivates students and the statistics are on his side. “Research by Luanna Meyer at Victoria University confirms that Certificate of her survey showed that students aware of endorsement overwhelmingly said Endorsement has had a positive impact on motivation and achievement and it was a motivating factor to them.”
The research by Luanna Meyer found that 68 per cent of candidates surveyed felt at least a little motivated to try to get an excellence or merit endorsement on their NCEA certificate.
Year 12 Student Damon Ross is on the other side of the percentage. “I can pass my year by only getting achieved so why should I bother going for merit and excellence grades – I will do what it takes to pass.”
So can we really blame lack of motivation on NCEA? Marie Striubling, an English teacher at Hagley Community College doesn’t think NCEA is to blame. “I believe that students' attitudes to work have changed. They are often not prepared to put in the hard work or the time it might take to get work up to standard, as that, for them, is time taken away from socialising, or earning money through part time jobs. School is no longer viewed as a student's main 'job', when, in fact, that is what it needs to be seen as”.
Although with a new National government promising to "fine-tune" NCEA there may be even more changes on the agenda.
NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) was phased in from 2002 till 2004 as a replacement to School Certificate. The system is based around students gaining credits, with one credit intending to represent ten hours of learning. Students can gain achieved, merit or excellence based on how well they complete the work, but they do not receive any extra credits for gaining a higher grade.
NCEA has suffered a number of controversies and as a result over 400 New Zealand schools offer qualification alternatives including Cambridge and GCSE exams.
Opponents’ to the system include Christchurch Boys’ High School Principal Trevor McIntyre who told The Press that NCEA encouraged a "non-competitive minimalist attitude" among pupils. McIntyre said he was initially a fan of the NCEA, but quickly became disillusioned saying that students use the system to build up easy credits.
Earlier this year the NZ Qualifications Authority introduced endorsement in an attempt to tackle the issue of motivating students into gaining a higher grade. In order to gain the endorsement students must complete 50 merit- or excellence-level credits. Even with this introduction students still feel NCEA does not give them recognition for doing more than the bare minimum.
Bridget Vosburgh, a Year 12 student at Hagley Community College believes that the credit system is flawed. “You don’t get extra credits for something that passes with excellence so why should I bother”.
However former Education Minister Chris Carter believes that endorsement motivates students and the statistics are on his side. “Research by Luanna Meyer at Victoria University confirms that Certificate of her survey showed that students aware of endorsement overwhelmingly said Endorsement has had a positive impact on motivation and achievement and it was a motivating factor to them.”
The research by Luanna Meyer found that 68 per cent of candidates surveyed felt at least a little motivated to try to get an excellence or merit endorsement on their NCEA certificate.
Year 12 Student Damon Ross is on the other side of the percentage. “I can pass my year by only getting achieved so why should I bother going for merit and excellence grades – I will do what it takes to pass.”
So can we really blame lack of motivation on NCEA? Marie Striubling, an English teacher at Hagley Community College doesn’t think NCEA is to blame. “I believe that students' attitudes to work have changed. They are often not prepared to put in the hard work or the time it might take to get work up to standard, as that, for them, is time taken away from socialising, or earning money through part time jobs. School is no longer viewed as a student's main 'job', when, in fact, that is what it needs to be seen as”.
Although with a new National government promising to "fine-tune" NCEA there may be even more changes on the agenda.
Young New Zealander's adopt American drug trend
Substances available from the likes of your local pharmacies or garden centers once popular in the 1960’s among hippies who were looking for a low-cost high are making a come back. American teens have been taking the likes of Morning Glory Seeds, Cough Syrup and are drinking Cactus Juice, in an effort to gain a high.
American media have been aware of the trend since 2005, with doctors saying the internet has made it easier for young people to access information about these drugs. A quick web-search found detailed reports within online communities including Erowid.com and TripMe.co.nz on the legal highs available. These drugs have similar effects to LSD and Ecstasy.
Legal alternatives young people are using include Lysergic Acid Amide (LSA) in Morning Glory Seeds which is a close relative to LSD and produces vivid hallucinations. Another drug found on the web-site is Mascaline in San Pedro cactus which enhances colours and causes hallucinations. Additionally Dextromethorphan (DXM) found in cough syrup produces a euphoric mood lift disassociating the user from the mind and body.
Members of the online communities share drug experiences, side effects and detailed information about the active ingredients, readily available to people of all ages. Chris Holstege, a doctor at the Virginia Blue Ridge Poison Centre, told the Washington Post that “kids are getting brighter, between the internet and magazines like High Times, they are learning about these alternatives”.
The trend is still relatively small in New Zealand with many garden centres oblivious to the fact young people are using their products as recreational drugs. Rosemary from the Portstone Garden Centre on Ferry Road told me they stock Morning Glory Seeds but she has not noticed many young people buying the product.
Although both Morning Glory Seeds and San Pedro Cactus are readily available to buy for ornamental purposes, it is illegal to consume these plants for recreational use.
I spoke to Ross Bell, CEO of the New Zealand Drug Foundation, who believed that these drugs aren’t causing significant problems in New Zealand.
“We certainly think people should be given good information about these drugs, but we should not put to many limited recourses in these issues, when there are more problematic drug issues to be working on such as alcohol – our biggest drug problem, cannabis, methamphetamine and tobacco”.
Professor Doug Spearing, from the National Addiction Centre, agrees saying these drugs account for less than one percent of the problem and thinks young people are more at risk from the alcohol and cigarette industries.
“They don’t have to go out looking for information about alcohol – it’s all over the media and we are exposed to it from a young age. The alcohol industry has made the majority of New Zealanders believe life cannot be enjoyed without drinking” said Professor Spearing.
However, I spoke to a 17 year old who has been using these legal drug alternatives since he was 14 after reading about them on Erowoid.
“I was like a wannabe druggie – I had no dealer contacts so needed to get creative in the drugs I was taking and Erowoid had all the info I needed”.
His first drug trip was on DXM in Cough Syrup and he said this got him enthusiastic about these alternatives as he never realised something which was so readily available could be so potent.
It is unclear how many young people are using these drugs, however Barbra Martin from Kings Seeds who manufacture Morning Glory Seeds have not noticed a significant sales increases. “We have bought approximately the same amount of Morning Glory seed in bulk from their supplier every year for the last ten years. I would have to say that sales have not increased significantly in the last couple of years.”
So is this trend really something to worry about? The user I spoke to believes they are gateway drugs. “Lots of my friends started out with stuff like cough syrup and the morning glory seeds and now they have moved into the harder stuff like acid and opium”.
Even though there is such a detailed library of information on the websites about the drugs, the user I spoke to said he really didn’t know what he was getting himself into. “I had tried morning glory seeds a few times and it was amazing, like the best time of my life. Then I had a bad trip on the seeds and it put me off drugs for a couple of months. I couldn’t even recognise my reflection - I never realised something so good could become like the worse time of your life”.
But are these drugs safer than their illegal counterparts? Users said they are as they don’t need to associate with gangs and dealers when obtaining them.
On the other hand Chris Holstege, of the Blue Ridge Poisoin Centre in Virginia, told the Washington Post that there is a misconception that they are safer than other drugs. “These kids have a misconception that it’s natural and safer than other drugs. They are not. It alters your perception and puts you at risk.”
Nevertheless Ross Bell, from the New Zealand Drug Foundation, told me that drug use addiction and dependence are all complex issues, but the safest drugs are no drugs at all.
American media have been aware of the trend since 2005, with doctors saying the internet has made it easier for young people to access information about these drugs. A quick web-search found detailed reports within online communities including Erowid.com and TripMe.co.nz on the legal highs available. These drugs have similar effects to LSD and Ecstasy.
Legal alternatives young people are using include Lysergic Acid Amide (LSA) in Morning Glory Seeds which is a close relative to LSD and produces vivid hallucinations. Another drug found on the web-site is Mascaline in San Pedro cactus which enhances colours and causes hallucinations. Additionally Dextromethorphan (DXM) found in cough syrup produces a euphoric mood lift disassociating the user from the mind and body.
Members of the online communities share drug experiences, side effects and detailed information about the active ingredients, readily available to people of all ages. Chris Holstege, a doctor at the Virginia Blue Ridge Poison Centre, told the Washington Post that “kids are getting brighter, between the internet and magazines like High Times, they are learning about these alternatives”.
The trend is still relatively small in New Zealand with many garden centres oblivious to the fact young people are using their products as recreational drugs. Rosemary from the Portstone Garden Centre on Ferry Road told me they stock Morning Glory Seeds but she has not noticed many young people buying the product.
Although both Morning Glory Seeds and San Pedro Cactus are readily available to buy for ornamental purposes, it is illegal to consume these plants for recreational use.
I spoke to Ross Bell, CEO of the New Zealand Drug Foundation, who believed that these drugs aren’t causing significant problems in New Zealand.
“We certainly think people should be given good information about these drugs, but we should not put to many limited recourses in these issues, when there are more problematic drug issues to be working on such as alcohol – our biggest drug problem, cannabis, methamphetamine and tobacco”.
Professor Doug Spearing, from the National Addiction Centre, agrees saying these drugs account for less than one percent of the problem and thinks young people are more at risk from the alcohol and cigarette industries.
“They don’t have to go out looking for information about alcohol – it’s all over the media and we are exposed to it from a young age. The alcohol industry has made the majority of New Zealanders believe life cannot be enjoyed without drinking” said Professor Spearing.
However, I spoke to a 17 year old who has been using these legal drug alternatives since he was 14 after reading about them on Erowoid.
“I was like a wannabe druggie – I had no dealer contacts so needed to get creative in the drugs I was taking and Erowoid had all the info I needed”.
His first drug trip was on DXM in Cough Syrup and he said this got him enthusiastic about these alternatives as he never realised something which was so readily available could be so potent.
It is unclear how many young people are using these drugs, however Barbra Martin from Kings Seeds who manufacture Morning Glory Seeds have not noticed a significant sales increases. “We have bought approximately the same amount of Morning Glory seed in bulk from their supplier every year for the last ten years. I would have to say that sales have not increased significantly in the last couple of years.”
So is this trend really something to worry about? The user I spoke to believes they are gateway drugs. “Lots of my friends started out with stuff like cough syrup and the morning glory seeds and now they have moved into the harder stuff like acid and opium”.
Even though there is such a detailed library of information on the websites about the drugs, the user I spoke to said he really didn’t know what he was getting himself into. “I had tried morning glory seeds a few times and it was amazing, like the best time of my life. Then I had a bad trip on the seeds and it put me off drugs for a couple of months. I couldn’t even recognise my reflection - I never realised something so good could become like the worse time of your life”.
But are these drugs safer than their illegal counterparts? Users said they are as they don’t need to associate with gangs and dealers when obtaining them.
On the other hand Chris Holstege, of the Blue Ridge Poisoin Centre in Virginia, told the Washington Post that there is a misconception that they are safer than other drugs. “These kids have a misconception that it’s natural and safer than other drugs. They are not. It alters your perception and puts you at risk.”
Nevertheless Ross Bell, from the New Zealand Drug Foundation, told me that drug use addiction and dependence are all complex issues, but the safest drugs are no drugs at all.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Monday morning playlist
Well Monday is looming so that means back to slogging a 9-5 job, so heres some music to throw on your iPod to help you into the start of the week.Wale - W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E
From Washington DC this guy has been named by Entertainment Weekly as the one to watch in 2008, being compared to Lupe Fiasco. His single W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E has repetative, catchy lyrics matching the background which is a cool mix of samples. I wouldn't be surprised if this song motivates you into talking to Neville from I.T.
Portishead - Glory Box
I usually tend to listen to this song in front of a fire on a cold night with the bass turned up, but this song is good to ease your way into a cold Monday morning - it warms you up as you listen.
M79 - Vampire Weekend
Yes, I have been sucked into the catchy indie tunes from Vampire Weekend and I am proud of it. I love this song as it features a really catchy bass melody that merges with the piano and violin like Macaroni and Cheese (and there is even an idea for your lunch tomorrow).
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