Abdi Aden's Blog: The Sequel

This is the story of Vincent Lamar Carter. Currently on his 5^th team, Vince was once a Toronto Raptor. Vince’s athletic ability and eye-popping plays were a huge reason why the city of Toronto even has a team. I mean, look at what happened to the Vancouver Grizzlies in 1996. They didn’t have a star player that could create a buzz and a fan base. Ultimately, the team was moved to Memphis. His performance in the 2000 dunk contest was unparalleled. No player has since come close to the performance Vince Carter put on in Oakland. The Raptors first appearance in the playoffs resulted in a sweep by the New York Knicks. However, the following season it was the Raptors that put a hurting on the Knicks in the playoffs resulting in the franchise’s first playoff victory. The eastern conference final was just 1 shot away in Philadelphia, but all good things must come to an end. Vince missed the game winning shot. The following season showed promise but injuries plagued the Raptors resulting in a bust season. Frustration grew as Vince demanded a trade and was on his way to New Jersey. What came back for us was pathetic, but the welcoming boos that Carter received on his return to Toronto is incomparable.  Being a fan of basketball, most importantly a fan of the raptors, its safe to say that Vince carter was the best player in Toronto Raptor history. Fans can talk all about how Vince was a quitter and a crybaby, but it doesn’t hide the fact that without his spectacular dunks, eye popping plays, and most importantly his dunk contest performance, the city of Toronto would only have the Maple Leafs to root for. 

Supersize ME is a documentary film about Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker who decides to go on a McDonald’s only diet. We all know what eating fast food consistently does to our bodies but Morgan has more guts than I do. I would never do what Morgan did but hey somebody had to try it right? Never did I think a McDonalds only diet would do so much bad to you so quick. No wonder now any McDonalds you go walk to, you can’t get anything supersized. Obesity is no longer a title the United States can hold on to because it’s spreading everywhere. Parents must take control of what there kids are doing in school/private life, but also what they put in their stomachs.

The wiki leaks founder Julian Assange, and his accomplices would hack into private mainframes and expose video/important information regarding to wars and exposing the truth. They released a clip of Iraqi civilians being murdered by the US army. Wiki leaks wasn’t popular at first, throughout time it started gaining the attention of the world. Some are calling the founder an online “Robin Hood”. It’s a shame that the truth has to be exposed rather than publicly told. Wiki leaks shows Guantanamo bay a famous prison in Cuba its tactics to get their prisoners to talk.  This is a travesty and now people are much more open-minded to how specific governments work and what there true intentions are in this world.

Abdi Aden Blog

            Beyond Scared Straight is a documentary show that airs on Thursdays on A&E. The basis of the show is to scare young boys and girls to avoid prison time at any part of their lives. The guests are introduced to convicts, which they then begin to share their stories with them. One particular girl has an interesting story. Her own mother is incarcerated in the prison and she pleads for her daughter to not commit the same mistakes she did. Although the young girls are brought together, each ones has a significant story to share. In one segment, they are paired up with the inmates and they give these girls the motivation they need to keep them out of the prison system.

            The fifth estate is a very popular show on the CBC network, which is on every Friday night at 9pm. One particular episode that caught my eye was “The life and death of Abdinasir Dirie. He’s a young man whose family emigrated from Somalia to escape the civil war. After completing high school, he suddenly decides to leave to Alberta where the economy in Fort McMurray is booming. Being Somalian myself, this was a common trend amongst families in the city. Along of the young Somali kids would tell their parents that there going there to work but end up selling drugs, which was the harsh reality for Abdinasir Dirie’s family. All this resulted in 30+ unsolved murders, all Somali. One particular moment that shocked me in the show is the following hours before Abdinasir’s death. His own friend lets some people into his apartment, knowing that Abdi wasn’t close to these people. He then leaves him alone with these people only to come back and find his friend dead. He then calls the police and fled. Being Somali myself, all I can say about this is the young Somali adults have to understand that life is not worth fast money. It’s much better to earn it legally and live to tell about it.

            Sicko is a documentary by famous filmmaker, Michael Moore. Once again he attacks America’s government on health care. His previous installments were Bowling for Columbine & Fahrenheit 911. Sicko attacks America’s poor health system. He goes to different countries and compares wait times and service, with the United States ranking last in almost all categories. Being Canadian, I feel absolutely blessed that I can receive health care for free. In the United States, if you don’t have insurance, your sent packing. That is absolute travesty that Americans can be bleeding to death but the doctors have to check to see if you they got insurance first. Only then can the help you. Unbelievable.