Summer Tips How To Have Summer Fun Without Partying by Kandice Moncrieffe
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Invite the besties to your home
Watch a Movie with Friends
Plan a Road trip
Find a Restaurant, Eat Out
Spend time at a Summer Camp
any teenagers believe that attending parties is the only way they can have fun, but this is far from true. There are many things teenagers can enjoy that are totally legal and still extremely fun. Partying nowadays can sometimes seem like a waste of time and money. Wouldn’t you prefer spending little to no money and still have a good time, while making memories that will last a lifetime? You do? Great! Here are some suggestions that will add an extra sizzle to your summer.
Movies are always a sure, cheap way to have fun. Instead of sitting at home trying to find a good quality movie online, plan a movie date with your friends and watch the latest releases on the big screen. Horror movies and romantic comedies or ‘chick flicks’ are usually great to watch when you and your friends are happy and want to have a great time. Comedies are perfect when you’re trying to cheer up a friend or yourself.
Who doesn’t love stuffing their face with food? Plan with your friends or family to go to a restaurant to have dinner and let the good times roll. Sports bars and grills are a fun spot for guys, since they’re usually more laid back and specific. Fine dining is usually more fun for girls because they get to dress up in their cutest outfit and have a girl’s night out.
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Even though you’re on summer break and all you do is probably sit at home and watch TV, Tweet, Facebook or play video games, chilling at home is perfect when money is low. Invite your friends over (with your parents’ permission of course) and chill with them, watch your favourite shows, play video games or buy a DVD. The key is to find something that everyone can enjoy doing.
Jamaica is known for having wonderful vacation spots, so have your parents take you and a couple friends down to the country to a family home, a nice villa or hotel to hang out and chill; go have some fun in the sun! If that’s too steep for your budget, then plan a day trip and visit as many fun and exciting places as you can. Also, you could check out any of Jamaica’s many beaches, which are always a great place to chill in the summer.
Usually during the summer time, organisations have camps based on age groups and interests. Whether it’s a day camp or a week-long getaway, this is a good way to meet friends and develop many skills you probably didn’t know you had. If you’re into music, dancing, acting or even if you’re a Jack of all trades, then you should find a camp that caters to your specific needs. teen spirit eZine
Cover Story The ‘Powa’ Behind Di Bus
by Francine Derby
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e’ve all heard of internet celebrities – those individuals who have used the far-reaching power of the internet to help them gain popularity, opportunities and even monetary gain. DJ Powa is one such individual – probably the first in Jamaica’s history. By now, you should have heard the “Nobody Canna Cross It” song; it’s been played everywhere – radio stations, parties and Kingston’s hottest nightclubs. But who is the man behind this hilarious display of creativity? Teen Spirit decided to find out. Kevin-Sean Hamilton, or DJ Powa as he is known in the entertainment world, arrived at the Teen Spirit office after making an appearance on a local television morning show and a week of other television and radio appearances. The first thing I noticed was his shirt, which bore the line that made him famous. The second thing I noticed was that he appeared to be on a very long, very important phone call. When he terminated that call, to my dismay, his phone rang again. I waited patiently until he finally smiled apologetically, shook my hand and indicated that he was ready to begin the interview. Although DJ Powa can now be considered a local celebrity, the success has not gone to his head, as he still displays those rare acts of chivalry such as opening the door for a female and allowing her to sit before he sits. One of the first things that DJ Powa will tell you about himself is that he is a devout Christian. He gave his life to Christ in 2009 and states that he is a Christian DJ. This simply means that he will play no secular music. When asked if he thinks this will hinder his progress as a DJ, he admits that it is a secular world and he will face difficulties in terms of gaining recognition, but he firmly believes that anything is possible with God at his side. DJ Powa is often a feature at Gospel events and weddings. Come September, he will be a third year student at the University of Technology, majoring in Marketing with a minor in Economics. He graduated from the Ardenne High School, where he played a number of sports. He was nicknamed ‘Powa’ after a football which he kicked collided into a teammate’s head, giving him an instant headache. Football is still one of his interests, along with volleyball and tennis. He also has an interest in music
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and video editing, which helped him to make his name. The inspiration for his comedic refix videos came from seeing the Bed Intruder [http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=hMtZfW2z9dw] video (hide yo’ kids, hide yo’ wife!) which went viral on YouTube last year. DJ Powa thought that nothing of the sort had been done in Jamaica before, but he had plenty of material to work with, given the colourful people that appear on local news.
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Cover Story The ‘Powa’ Behind Di Bus His first video, entitled “What Are Deading” features a woman giving her views on the Tivoli incursion which happened last year. His second video, “Patty Shop”, focused on Corey Todd’s feud with Vybz Kartel. But neither of these came close in acclamation to his third video, “Nobody Canna Cross It”, which features as its main act Clifton Brown– a resident of Mavis Bank in St. Andrew, who was appealing for a bridge. Dj Powa owes the popularity of this video to the fact that Clifton Brown’s story was already being circulated via the internet. He states that social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter catapulted the video to three-quarters of a million views. He also accredits the video’s success to international recognition from CBS, Comedy Central and even international news site Al Jazeera, which selected it as their internet video of the week. So popular is the video that it now appears automatically in YouTube’s search bar once you begin typing. There are several variations of the video on YouTube, each having thousands of views, but the original, uploaded by DJ Powa, has almost 750,000 views, and that figure increases exponentially each day. DJ Powa believes that this video will start a revolution in Jamaica. He hopes that Jamaicans will follow suit and use the Internet to their advantage – as a means of getting their names out there, a means of networking and showing off their creativity. He also hopes that a door will be opened for foreign agencies to invest in the rich diversity of Jamaican talent. DJ Powa states that he is now working on not only selling the Nobody Canna Cross it song, but also the creativity behind his work. He has been approached by a few companies and corporate bodies to work on videos and songs for their advertisements. DJ Powa has big plans for the future. After he completes his studies, he hopes to open his own studio and work with music full time. His message to teens – take advantage of all the opportunities available to you and always look at life seriously. Stay disciplined, work hard and have faith.
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Entertainment Movie Review by Alana Gardner
Green Lantern PG-13 G reen
Lantern is an a c t i o n - a d v e n t u re film from director, Martin Campbell and Warner Brothers Studios starring Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Tim Robbins, Taika Waititi, Temuera Morrison and Angela Bassett. In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. The Green Lantern Corp., protectors of peace and justice. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him unimaginable power, but when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected, Hal Jordan (Reynolds), a gifted and cocky test pilot. But the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before, but Hal is clearly the missing piece to the puzzle. And along with his determination and willpower, he has one thing no member of the Corp has ever had, humanity. With the encouragement of a fellow pilot and childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris (Lively), if Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax, but become the greatest Green Lantern of all.
A scene from Green Lantern.
as Hal Jordan and extremely likeable. Blake Lively shines and is much more than a pretty face. Peter Sarsgaard is great in playing his role of villainous Hector Hemmond. Overall everyone tried their best and at the end of the day did a really good job, but their efforts may not be worthy of an Oscar. The Green Lantern was a fun summer flick, although it is nowhere near the success of The Dark Knight.
Party Watch
Green Lantern earns itself three out of five stars. The special effects are pretty superb and extremely worthwhile to say the least. I have to say I was a little disappointed with how Parallax looked; it felt a little fake at times, but certainly not horrible. The main problem of the film was that they were trying to cram too many things in from the comics and the personal lives of the characters. The acting is good and Reynolds is great in his role
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Fashion
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Hot & Trendy Summer Must-Haves by Ava Gardner
his summer is all about bringing your ‘A’ game. It’s really about using your clothing to make a statement and dressing your very best. Well, have we got a list for you! In the midst of all the in style fashions, here’s a list of summer must-haves you’ll need from head to toe to update your wardrobe.
Hats
One thing guys and girls will need ‘to buss’ at least once this summer is a hat. For guys, you’ll need snapbacks. They are cool and show a bit of your hiphop persona. They are the best way to successfully leave the house in a white tee and not feel underdressed. It’s daring, but girls should also try snapbacks. If not, then sun hats and fedoras are also quite trendy.
Shades
Summer is definitely the time for bringing the ‘shades game.’ Most shades are pretty similar in design, so if you want to stand out, it’s important that you invest in a reliable and trendy pair of shades. Purchasing a sunglasses case will also help to prevent your shades from being damaged.
Feather Earrings
Feather earrings are an easy way to display your knowledge of current trends. Putting a pair of matching feather earrings with an outfit carries it up a notch, compared to simply adding hoops or other basic earrings.
Jackets
Not only are jackets perfect for summer−of course when it’s not as hot−jackets can be worn in every
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other season. They have the ability to make outfits look more formal. Jackets are one of the more expensive clothing purchases, but their usefulness and versatility make them a good investment. It’s best that you purchase jackets of neutral colours so you are able to wear them with many outfits, and purchase at least one, that has a print or abnormal colour.
Rompers
This is the easiest way to get dressed and out of the house in record time. The basic top and bottom of an outfit is covered with rompers. Most on the market are strapless, but some have straps while others have some very deep cuts in the back and in the front. They are also available in many colours and of late, in print. Prints make a bigger statement and are turning rompers into an evolved trend.
Graphic T-Shirts
There’s nothing like a good, unique Graphic T-shirt. For both guys and girls, it simply gets your fashion message across without much effort. You can also dress it up with a jacket. Girls can particularly dress it up and make it more feminine with a high waist skirt or shorts. However, try not to hide too much of the design.
High waist shorts
High waist bottoms are tricky; once you start you have to be willing not to stop. In seasons past, you may have been accustomed to high waist skirts but they’ve upped the ante with these super cool shorts. You can quickly put together a simple outfit with high waist shorts, especially if they’re print; all you need is a simple solid colour shirt to wear on the inside and a little jewellery.
Wedges
Wedges are a must this summer, especially bright coloured ones and those with cut-outs in the heels. There isn’t much competition when your shoe game is up to par, so wedges should at least be tried once this summer girls. For further encouragement, wedges are actually less painful to wear than heels.
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Profile Chit Chat with Lindsey Lodenquai by Justine Powell
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eventeen year old Lindsey Lodenquai describes herself as an endangered specie, clearly stating that there is only one of her kind in the world. She laughs as she adds that she has been diagnosed with a special case of CRAZY! The young talent began dancing at age five, but she absolutely detested it, until she began dancing again at Vickers with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD0), which she labelled as serious stuff. After completing grade six at St. Hugh’s Prep, Lindsey enrolled at the Tony Wilson School of Modern Dance and has been dancing ever since. Lindsey, who dances about three times per week believes that dancing, like any other sport, is a great discipline that has taught her several things. She has learned how to walk with a sense of purpose and how to be confident, which is what she’s eternally grateful for. “Dancing is such a great outlet and an effective way of conveying emotions. I think that’s why I love it so much,” she explains passionately. For her, the motivation to continue dancing comes from her deceased grandparents. “They had never seen me dance, but whenever I’m on stage I get this reassuring feeling, knowing that they’re able to watch me now,” she says with a smile. Lindsey has earned numerous distinctions in her ballet exams, even going as far as receiving the highest grade at her ballet school. She says her most recent achievement would definitely be being crowned Miss Immaculate. Even after so many pieces, Lindsey says she still gets nervous before she performs. “It’s pretty cool knowing that all eyes are on you, but it also gets nerve-wracking because if you trip and fall it’s pretty embarrassing. These things allow your creative juices to start flowing though; it’s important that you trick the audience into thinking that that grand mistake was actually supposed to happen,” she states. Lindsey laughs as she tells Teen Spirit that the one thing many persons may not know about her is that she can spread her toes really far, and her parents called her the tree climbing frog, believing that she would never be able to wear sandals.
Photos by David Madden
bit unsure when it comes to her career choice. However, she would definitely love to venture into entertainment or something that involves interaction with people. Her message to teens is that everyone has a talent, and it is important to just embrace it and love it. “You have to enjoy life, which in turn means you have to do things you like and activities that bring you enjoyment. So it’s really important that you pursue what makes you happy regardless of the pressure people may put on you to do otherwise.”
“I’m an everyday teenager so apart from dancing, spending time with my friends and family is definitely high on my priority list!” she says charmingly. Even with such obvious talent, Lindsey is a
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News Teens Flock CHOICES Career & Education Expo
Students get on the spot hands-on basket weaving skills training courtesy of the HEART Trust/NTA.
Students gather at the CHOICES booth to get career-related info.
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oping to benefit from a variety of career options and advice, hundreds of students turned up at the University of Technology recently, for the 11th staging of the CHOICES Career & Education Expo. Similar to other shows, students were exposed to a plethora of information through booths from a variety of institutions, and had direct access to individuals who could help guide their career paths. From presentations to discussions, seminars and workshops, the organisers ensured that the educational needs of students, teachers and parents were met. Guest Speaker and Attorney-at-law, Ian Godfrey Wilkinson, challenged those present to find ways in which they can help to build Jamaica. His presentation was met with much enthusiasm, since many persons attended in order to get important career information that would prove beneficial to their futures. Interspersed among the career-related talks, was a lively stage show with trivia, performances, competitions and giveaways. Students were even able to get hands-on taste of skills training courtesy of the HEART Trust/NTA, by participating in live skills demonstrations in areas such as basket weaving, leatherwork, data processing and more.
Angela deFreitas, General Manager of CHOICES Career Advice, takes time out at the recent Kingston staging of CHOICES Career & Education Expo to talk with guest speaker and recently elected President of the Bar Association of Jamaica, Ian Wilkinson (right), along with students from Glendevon Primary & Junior High School in Montego Bay.
“With the heavy rains that we were experiencing, the turnout was especially good and we thank everyone who braved the weather to come out and get important career information,” she said. “These expos are important because CHOICES is committed to contributing to the Vision 2030 for education. Through our career expos, publications and seminars, we ensure that students are exposed to correct career information.”
Angela deFreitas, General Manager of CHOICES Career Advice, the show’s organisers, said the expo exceeded expectations.
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Through Our Lens On Da Party Scene Smudge by Ava Gardner
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espite the rain, this summer’s Smudge: Beach Chic Edition Negril Jump Off on July 3rd was a success. The event was again held on a lawn at The Police Officer’s Club located at 36 Hope Road. Like the rain in the beginning, persons trickled in but by 7p.m. the party was packed. As described by a patron, “Everyone and their grandmother was at Smudge.” Indeed the patrons enjoyed themselves and the extra additions the party offered this year. Patrons partied that Sunday afternoon until the party ended around 12:30 Monday morning.
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