The Worthwhile Journal Volume 6

The

WorthWhile Journal WORTHWHILE JOURNAL

Vol 6

SUMMER 2015 RELEVANT STORIES

“we used to know...”

// VOL 6 // summer 2015

from RELIABLE SOURCES Featuring: Kyss Major “A Whore’s Prayer(Prelude To Success)” Entertainment/film: Eric Ramsey- “Unspeakable Indiscretions” Talk Dominican Republic FEATURING: Kyss Sports: Major “ABaseball Whore’s Prayer” (Prelude to Success) Music: Eruption,“Unspeakable Funk Shu, andIndiscretions” Crunch ENTERTAINMENT/FILM: Eric Ramsey Fashion: Ailbhe Doyle “Wont be In Limbo for long” SPORTS: “The Rooster Call Baseball in Dominican Republic” Lifestyle: “We- Are Created To Reproduce!”

FASHION: Ailbhe Doyle “Won’t be in Limbo for long” MUSIC: Eruption and Funk Shui LIFESTYLE: “Who is Really in Control?”

Vintage & Classic Vehicles Cars • Bikes • Trams • Prams Music • Hot Club of Dublin • Stalls Vintage Clothes and Mini Skirts!

Dalkey Town (Church Car Park) Bank Holiday Monday 3rd August from 12 Midday - on Charity of Choice: Down Syndrome Centre Contact: Camillo Borza - 086 8052226 camilloborza@gmail.com

WW J Editorial

Hello Everyone, If anyone would have told me two years ago that we would have made it to a Vol. 6, I would have believed them! The idea from the start was always to publish relevant stories from reliable sources and try to escalate with more interesting stories with each issue.

This issue, which was compiled during the filming our first film “The WorthJourney”, carries us over those targets and goals that we set for ourselves.

Mind you those goals were based on the response we have been receiving from our readers engagements and of course sharing via the new media platforms.

When Owen O’Connor submitted the Ailbhe Doyle Limbo Collection story fronted by top Irish model Thalia Heffernan, I knew that we had hit our mark with a qualitative method of delivery.

We tried to be as diverse as possible with covering Kyss Major and her book “Whores (Prelude to Success) to the now taboo recognized film of Eric B. Ramsey “Unspeakable Indiscretions”. The latter is flanked with the eye opening story on baseball in the Dominican Republic “Rooster Call - Baseball in Dominican Republic.”

Jenny Shank Maxwell reminds us Who Is Really In Control in regards to our domination of the planet Earth. It will leave you with questions such as; “Do we really think we can dictate nature?”

In our music section Philip Ailon of Crownn Records delivered a Q&A with two of Macedonia’s finest bands, Eruption and Funk Shui. If any of you are scorching the European live gig circuit throughout the year their shows are worth checking out.

I should hope all of you enjoy reading this issue with just as much fun as it was driving everyone insane creating it. – Thank you.

Jerome Grace and Love,

J. Beau Fitts

WW J Contents ENTERTAINMENT

Eric Ramseys “Unspeakable Indiscretions”

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Contributed by: Eric Ramsey & Jerome Fitts Unspeakable film cover: Kassandra Ohlsson Suit photography: Bobby Quillard Photography CainAbel Logo by Mason Portzer.

FILM

PHOTOGRAPHY

Landscape photography

FEATURING

Kyss Major “A Whore’s Prayer” (Prelude to Success)

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Photography: Owen O’Connor

Interviewed: Gilbert Moore & Jerome Fitts p h o to g ra phy Anelia Jeneva, Berlin p h o to g ra phy Tim Alexander co nce rt p hotography Boris Lehfield, Berlin

SPORTS

“The Rooster Call Baseball in Dominican Republic”

Report: Jerome Fitts Photography: Jerome Fitts

MUSIC

Eruption & Funk Shui

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Contributed by Crownn Records / Proper Distribution

FASHION

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Interview: Owen O’Connor Photography: Owen O’Connor

LIFESTYLE

“Who is Really in Control?”

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Ailbhe Doyle Designs

Contributed by: Jenny Shank Maxwell

Cover photography: Owen O’Connor www.owenoconnor.org Cover model: Thalia Heffernan, Morgan the Agency, Dublin.

Contents photography: Jerome Fitts for BCBF Media Group Design: Owen O’Connor owen@owenoconnor.com W ort h W h i le

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The WorthWhile Journal is a division of BCBF Media Corporation 9107 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 450, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 W orthW hil e

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Ailbhe won’t be in

LiMb0

for long.

p h o t ogra p hy & int erview m o del h a ir

Owen O’Connor

Thalia Heffernan

Sarah Kate Conway

designer & st ylist

Ailbhe (pronounced Alva) Doyle is a finalyear student at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in Dublin, Ireland, where she has just completed her lastest collection, Limbo.

She is a native of Clontarf and her view of materials and artistic influences reflect the multicultural changes that have taken place in that city.

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Ailbhe Doyle

After a couple of years of experimenting, Ailbhe decided to use alternative materials for her final collection at NCAD. These unique materials included Latex and black and white reversible Neoprene. Her innovation, visual creativity and technical mastery of garment construction is what makes Ailbhe a great designer.

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WW J Fashion Is there a specific reason you chose these colours?

For me, black and white has a time less quality; they are two classic colours that have always remained strong within fashion. I was influenced

by Japanese artwork and calligraphy and their use of line.

I brought nude into the collection as a smart update to the traditional black and white collections. The light cotton tops are sheer, hinting at the skin tone underneath. The nude latex texture and transparency creates an illusion of skin, adding another dimension to the clothing.

With this collection, Limbo, Ailbhe is making great strides in the transition from student to designer, showing her flair for style, understanding of materials and commitment to innovation in the world of fashion.

Ailbhe’s work has most recently been exhibited in the NCAD final-year fashion show, and she also represented her college in the Golden Egg Irish Innovation Awards in 2015.

What is the inspiration behind the collection?

My collection is concept-driven, aiming to highlight the constant connection our generation has to the world of technology. For me, smart objects have become an extension of the body.

I translated these ideas into the construction of these garments as I created a space between the model and outfit. I developed a suspension mechanism anchored at particular points on the body holding the garments in place. This creates an illusion of floating structures.

And for the structure of the material?

Each garment is suspended by an elasticated cord which allows the drape to hang from the body with a slight bounce as the model walks. This creates a very romantic and floaty aesthetic.

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I have a unique method of working, as I start by draping on the stand and conversing this back into 2D pattern pieces. I began by de-constructing tailored mens wear and distorting the traditional silhouette using one - piece patterns. I contrasted the simplicity and ease of Japanese draping with more angular lines of tailored garments.

Does your work reflect your personal fashion taste?

Yes, of course. I love draped garments. It has very feminine quality. I don’t follow trends and never play it too safe, I wear unusual cuts and designs. I like the minimalist approach in terms of accessories and add ons. I always let the clothes do the talking.

There is a huge emphasise on the high quality of the tailoring within my course, and this is something I pick up on when I look at clothes.

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Since this interview in June, Ailbhe has made it to the last 10 in the Dublin Fashion Festival Young Designer of the Year Competition.

Nude Latex dress layered with woven horse hair fabric.

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Black neoprene and cotton mix fabric bias cut.

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White neoprene and cotton mix fabric bias cut draped coat.

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Sheer light cotton cowl neck long sleeved top with drape transparent latex draped trouser.

Photography & interview with Owen O’Connor in his studio in Dublin.

The ha ir was styled

by Sarah Kate Conway from Peter Marks in St. Stephen’s Green.

Our model was the tall and beautiful Thalia Heffernan from Morgan the Agency, Dublin.

All this creativity was started by designer & stylist for the da y Ailbhe Doyle.

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Sheer cotton cowl neck long sleeved top with draped two way fabric suspended trouser.

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WW J Entertainment

Eric Ramseys

Unspeakable Indiscretions

i nte r v i e w

Beau Fitts

Un s pe ak a b l e f i l m c o v e r s ui t phot o g ra p hy C ai n Abe l L o g o

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Kassandra Ohlsson

Bobby Quillard Photography

Mason Portzer

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“You should know by now that I live my life the way my grandmother raised me. Whether it was the cold winters in D.C for all of those years to the sunshine out here in L.A., I am still from Homewood, Alabama.”

I

t is no secret that the cotton state of Alabama, often referred to as “Alabama the Beautiful”, produces some of the most straightforward people on the planet. Honesty is a given considering its history as a Deep South State loyal to its way of life. It has a reputation for being the kind of place where integrity still exists. Perhaps this is due to its continuation of rich, longstanding traditions, which perpetuate the romanticism of a more simple time. Perhaps it is merely due to the way Alabama is portrayed in movies and country music.

Regardless, most people who live outside of the United States only know Alabama for its notorious role in the Civil Rights movement. However, to those who live within the States, Alabama is most lauded for its movement on

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the football field - particularly college football. If you want a genuine handshake instead of a knuckle shake, try visiting Alabama. If you expect a genuine smile and long for the good ol’ days of common courtesy, try visiting the State of Alabama.

This time around, Eric, who wrote, produced and directed this remarkable film, separates himself from his football notoriety by taking hold of and questioning one of those less-talked-about rich, longstanding traditions in Alabama - secrets.

In this feature, we are highlighting one of the state’s most notorious football players, Eric Ramsey. This article is not about rehashing the past and/ or recreating a debate on why he is infamous. Rather, this feature is intended to bring awareness to his new film, Unspeakable Indiscretions. In a nutshell, this film highlights sexual abuse within our society.

More specifically, it focuses on the unique viewpoints and experiences of those in the African American community.

When Eric was telling me about the film in March, I reminded him that he is becoming infamous yet again.

The difference is that this time he is becoming infamous for putting the Alabama truth in people’s faces.

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Upon absorbing what I had said, the “War Eagle” (a battle cry of Auburn football) looked me straight in the eye and said, “You should know by now that I live my life the way my grandmother raised me.

Whether it was the cold winters

in D.C for all of those years to the sunshine out here in L.A., I am still from Homewood, Alabama.”

The run-of-the-mill film critics have without question, overlooked the film, which displays the taboo secrets of rape and incest within the African American community. Once I reviewed the film, my mind was flooded with uncomfortable questions. I knew I had to reflect on it myself but also that I had to find out what others thought of the “unmentionable” facts Eric put forth in the film. The reaction

“I had to do this film”, he continued. “The more and more we hide our incest the more and more it’s tolerated. Someone had to say something. I just put it in film.”

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we received at The WorthWhile Journal was split. Some did not want to speak about it at all, while others ignored the subject matter. Just like so many other subjects that are either too fragile to venture into within the African American community, I had to ask Eric if he felt that his film was actually making a difference.

After taking a deep breath, Eric responded, “It’s sad, Fitts, you would think that in 2015, the subject sexual abuse is not be a top priority within our society. I flip through the social media pages to see if those that claim to be close to me would spread the awareness, and yet, to no avail, it just hasn’t happened. I would like to say for the most part it has, but that clearly isn’t the case.

I think they would rather see a man transform himself into a woman”.

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I laughed because I knew Eric was not taking a shot at Bruce Jenner but rather pointing out that the life-draining efforts of making a statement film often fail to yield the intended results.

So, I then proceeded to ask him if his decision to produce the film was simply about making more money or if it were about making a new name for himself after being ridiculed

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for his part in a separate matter - one pertaining to his college football days at Auburn University in Alabama.

Just as I was finishing the question, Eric replied, “No. This is something I have had to deal with all of my life, and I know others have as well. I just made a film about something we know exists in our society, yet we don’t deal with. Why? Who knows?

WW J Entertainment

If one were to look up Eric Ramsey, they would read about a totally different individual.

They would understand why he is considered “notorious” in Alabama. The irony of it all is that Eric is a very positive and passionate individual.

There are a number of reasons, but the fact is the African American community in America wouldn’t dare speak about [the issue]. Maybe some will speak about the film.”

After some light banter, Eric laughed and said, “Fitts, I am who I am, and it’s something that had to be done.”

All in all, Eric is proud of the outcome of the film, but he says he could never be completely satisfied because society is still not addressing the core issue of the film. “We are sweeping it under the rug more than ever”, he said. “Maybe it’s too “in your face” because the film brings some people back to their shell.”

The film and its remarkable crew highlight a number of subject matters that have been avoided or overlooked for generations. I thought, “How could we continue to over look someone’s passion for making his or her surroundings better. What about the African American community?”

I asked Eric, “You there?” He replied, “Yeah I’m here. Have I told you about my new film CainAbel?”

“The majority of the film festivals that we have submitted this movie to have turned us down due to the taboo of the movie subject.

Some of the festivals I have had to call my self,” Eric says.

This story will continue…

“[The] Black San Francisco Film Festival said it was too much of a taboo subject to screen the movie. Imagine that. Right there in the Bay Area, where the majority of Black Panthers resided or formulated, telling a kid from Alabama about taboo subjects. My response to them was, ‘Why are you writing me a lengthy letter of excuses if that is the case?’ I asked them what they were afraid of.”

He continued, “I thought it was the one festival that would have responded. So go figure.”

Unspeakable Indiscretions is available on DVD. page

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“Stalker” directed by Mark O’Connor

“Bully” directed by Stephen Gaffney

“Patrick’s Day” directed Terry McMahon

“Unspeak

THE PAV REEL FILM FESTIVAL 14th - 16th of August 2015 The Pav Reel Film Festival showcases young film director’s work.

The four topics we are looking for are: Suicide Awareness Drug Awareness Bullying Homelessness

Awards & Prizes

kable Indiscretions” directed by Eric B Ramsey

Best Suicide Awareness Short Best Drug Awareness Short Best Bullying Short Best Homelessness Short Best Feature over 70mins

“I am Me” directed by Jenni Mason Hawthorn Lodge, Ballincrannig, Ballinhassig, Co.Cork, Ireland email: hawthornproductions06@yahoo.ie

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Kyss Maj

Q&A

“A Whore’s Praye (Prelude to Success)

“I’m over coming my self destructive past and writing this book was the start/begining of my therapy.”

i n te r v i e w

Gilbert Moore & Jerome Fitts

pho to g ra p hy

Anelia Jeneva, Berlin

pho to g ra p hy

Tim Alexander

c on c e r t p h o t o g ra p hy

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Boris Lehfield, Berlin

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WW J Music 01. You seem to have to everything: a supportive winning partner in Joe Beast, youthful eternal looks, and a stable career. Why the book?

I have been working on the book for many years, and honestly, I’m about to do a reprint - I feel like I left to much out. But to answer your question, the book is part of my healing process. This life has not been easy, however externally glamorous as it may appear.

02. Most would think writing a book is for financial gain or cashing in on a downhill career. Since we both know that couldn’t be further from the truth, was it out of boredom?

I’m far from bored. I wrote this book so I could overcome my issues from my molestation to the abandonment I felt from both parents. My own self destructive star of being, this book, in a way, is part of my therapy. I mentioned earlier wanting to revise it. Because I feel by omitting certain things I wasn’t being honest with myself, and that is currently hindering my growth.... but that’s an entirely different topic.

Everyone look out for A Whore’s Prayer (Prelude To Success) Revised :)

06. Lets talk about the path or road that took you to Europe for nearly a decade.

The desire to reach my full potential and find myself led me to Europe.

03. What influenced you to write all of this now?

This was nothing I just woke up and decided to do. I have been writing this since 2008.

07. The reviews and feedback on the book have been phenomenal. Do you think writing has been your calling, or are you accompanying a growing DYI trend?

04. Unfortunately grandosity doesn’t come from those whom we love.

Did you hold back or leave anything out on purpose?

No, I have always had an affinity for words.

I’m very eloquent in my writing. I write songs, poems, stories, I’m an artist in the truest sense of the term!

Yes, entirely too much. So the revised version will be ready for publishing late July.

08. You do know that perhaps twelve years ago the book would have been an automatic best seller. For better or worse in any circumstance, how do you feel about someone that might look at the book as a blueprint for the future?

05. Sometimes people write things down as a platform to transmit a message or make them wake up to what they may have experienced with you. Were you protecting anyone out of “loyalty” to your relationship to them?

I want young women and men who are faced with some of the same dilemmas I have encountered to, yes, use this as a guide of what

Not at all. I’m very open and honest, I do not hold back, and I name names.

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WW J Music to avoid. And to take more positive leaps and chances early in life! Youth is wasted on the foolish and stupid. I have been both.

09. Is the music career on hold or are you and your team planning on transcending the music to compliment the book?

My EP is almost complete. I have a great management team, Deep Freeze Ent, headed up by Flip Mode Squad member Rampage. Yes, music is coming soon. I’m working with Grammy producer Luney Tunez and Felony Muzic. It’s about to be a HOT SUMER 10. I asked you and Beast two years ago about the wrath of LA LA land. Without question you could be a “forceful” international commodity. Why haven’t you exercised those tools? Or have you?

Honestly, I am ready to leave the USA behind and return to Europe where I can earn a living and not Struggle. In the US, it’s a constant struggle. LA is exactly what they call it, “La La Land”!

I need more authentic interactions than I have found here. The only thing that binds me to this land is Beast.

11. A return to Europe? Should we brace ourselves for a Beast Kyss landing tour?

At the very least, give us a hint as to when we should...?

Well, I have made it clear that this is MY last year in America if things do not drastically change. I would like to think that he is willing to take a leap of faith and move overseas with me, as I have entrusted my faith in him and stayed here in the US in spite of knowing what lay waiting for me in Europe.

However, only time will tell. Hopefully things change drastically and, regardless of the situation, you see us both in Europe taking it by storm together. If not, brace yourself for my return!

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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and famous?

Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlighted about shrinking so that people won’t feel insecure around you. Its not just in some of us, Its in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Our work is fashionably around the world...

BDT International Security Printing Ltd was founded in 1981 as a subsidiary of Irish Security Stamp Printing Ltd (1976) specifically to serve the overseas philatelic market. We are a family run security printing firm based in Dublin, Ireland dedicated to the production of postage stamps and related products.

We pride ourselves on the high quality of our products which we have supplied to over 100 Postal Administrations. We have earned the reputation with our customers of being the stamp printer to turn to when there is a need for urgent turnaround of stamp issues.

BDT International Security Printing Ltd Phone: +353 1 8423074

eMail: info@ bdtinternational.ie

Web: http://www.bdtinternational.ie

WW J Photography

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Lands

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scape Photography on my doorstep

p h o t o gra p hy

Owen O’Connor

o n lo ca t io n in Clo nt a rf, Dub lin

In 2006 I took a Studio in the Red Stables in St. Anne’s Park. The Red Stables were part of the old Guinness estate. It was a centre for artist with 10 studios.

I concentrated for three years in photographying my area, where I grew up, the park where I had played. The beach where I had learned to swim and to drive. Bull Island which is joined to the

Clontarf coast road by a wooden bridge. An island which is only 200 years old thanks to Captain Bligh. It is a perfect place for landscape photography with the backdrop of Howth Head, the Wicklow mountains and Dublin City. The winter is the best time with the late sunrises and low sun during the day.

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SPOR CHAN LIFE.

RT NGES USNISPORT FOUNDATION The School, 78 Mersey Street, Belfast, BT 4 1EY or call us on (011) 44 2890454964.

VICTORY SCHOLARSHIPS

CHANGING LIVES

SCHOLAR BLOGS

SCHOLARSHIP CHATTER

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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WW J Living The Egyptians developed the first irrigation system four thousand years after man developed crop planting. This system worked for many, many years.

ho is Really in Control? rep o rt by

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Jenny Shank Maxwell

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M

an has tried to control nature longer than the records of history. In the early days of man, he figured out which plants were palatable and edible for humans, learned how to plant and increase their availability, and eventually entered the realm of science where he learned to manipulate the genetics of plants to increase production.

Humans started out as hunter-gatherers, feeding themselves and their families with the flora and fauna found in the wild. The human population was much smaller in those early days. Although no one can really know, it is presumed that less than a million people lived in the world in the year 70,000 B.C. With inadequate tools available, man had to think smarter if he were going to survive. He observed the wildlife and used his reasoning skills to determine which vegetation was safe to eat. He developed better tools to hunt. As is inevitable whenever venturing into the unknown, some people became sick or even died because of miscalculations and misinterpretations. Despite these setbacks, the population increased, and with that increase, hunting and gathering became an impractical and insufficient way to feed growing masses.

By 10,000 B.C., there were almost 4 million people in the world. Man had developed a system to domesticate plants and animals. Evidence of this is seen in the wall paintings and hieroglyphs of ancient Egypt. More people were fed, and the population kept growing. As the men who developed this new system traveled, they took their knowledge and shared it with others, helping them increase their populations. This worked for quite some time, but things like weather were always a factor. Droughts would kill crops, as would heavy rains. Some locations were not friendly environments to grow in the

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first place. The Egyptians developed the first irrigation system four thousand years after man developed crop planting. This system worked for many, many years. It increased food production, and in turn, increased the population.

The more the population increased, the more food was needed. To complicate matters, more people required more space to live, but producing more food also required more land. Today,

the population has grown to over seven billion people. Food production is ever increasing, but where will the food be grown? Although man has significantly developed his reasoning skills and knowledge of science, we still face the same issues as those early hunter-gatherers.

the plants out. These pests are insects and weeds.

They developed chemicals called pesticides that were meant to kill the intruders. Although the early efforts did kill the pests, the chemicals also made humans and animals sick. Eventually, the pests developed a resistance to the chemicals, and the problem grew even bigger. Man needed a better solution.

To increase crop production, man started addressing the pests that ate, ruined, and choked

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Enter genetics. Scientists started experimenting with the DNA of plants and learned they could alter the plant’s genetic code to produce more food in one square foot of ground. In recent years, they discovered, through bioengineering, that they could do more than increase yield -

they can create plants that are resistant to pests, that provide a fuel source, that can clean up the environment, and that have medicinal purposes. Man forces the plants to accomplish these things, but nature has proven it will adapt and change. It will fight back… eventually.

Carrington, D. (June 13, 2012). GM crops good for environment, study finds. Theguardian.com.

Accessed June 3, 2015 from http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jun/13/gm-cropsenvironment-study.

Choi, C.Q. (October 15, 2007). Genetically Engineered Plants Could Clean Humanity’s Messes.

Livesciene.com. Accessed June 3, 2015 from http://www.livescience.com/1959-genetically-engineeredplants-clean-humanity-messes.html.

Concerned Scientists. (nd). Genetic Engineering Risks and Impacts. Ucsusa.org. Accessed June 3, 2015 from http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/our-failing-food-system/genetic-engineering/risksof-genetic-engineering.html#.VXFxa2Awf3t.

Science Daily. (December 7, 2010). Plants engineered to produce new drugs. Sciencedaily.com.

Accessed June 4, 2015 from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101103141533.htm.

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WW J Sport

“The Roo

Baseball in Dom

r e por t

Beau Fitts

Boca Chica, Dominican Republic pho tog rap hy

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Beau Fitts

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oster Call�

minican Republic

There is a rich tradition of baseball and a motivated infrastructure within their youth baseball academies. All of the Major League Baseball League teams have a year round farm team that is based on the outskirts of Boca Chica, Santo Domingo, and Santiago.

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In our featured sports section, we are covering the remarkable baseball system in Dominican Republic, which is the number one import into one of the world’s largest professional sports leagueMajor League Baseball. We are also exploiting the return from Major League Baseball to one of the world’s poorest countries.

Most training sessions in sports are started by alarm clocks. In the Dominican Republic, at 5 am each morning, the only alarm clock is the sound of the dominant rooster as well the sound of baseball cleats headed to the nearest baseball field. Ironically enough both give the sound of hope and glory.

There are 127 active Major League Baseball (MLB) players from the Dominican Republic and that number is trebled with players under contract with MLB farm teams. All of those farm teams have baseball academies that are based in Dominican Republic.

According to Forbes, at the start of the 2015 baseball season, the average major league baseball salary was $4.25 million dollars. (ref.1)

The multimillion dollar question is; “Why is an Americas sport (baseball) dominated by Dominican Republic players?”

The answer is simple; there is a rich tradition of baseball and a motivated infrastructure within their youth baseball academies. All of the Major League Baseball League teams have a year round farm team that is based on the outskirts of Boca Chica, Santo Domingo, and Santiago. It is without question their national sport and unfortunately the countries only glimmer of hope to lead them out of poverty.

It is a well-documented fact that the so-called “challenging” economical standards exist on the island, however it hasn’t been an excuse for the rooster call each morning year round.

The same can be written in regards to the minimal conditions in which these players practice on each year with a dream of being one of the 127 players in MLB. One could question why there not more finance from outside of the island that is put into the players’ home country.

Without question, that if a percentage of the players salaries were factored into the economy export total, which stands at $9.467 billion, there would be a steady rise in the economy.

The facts are the players and their families simple doesn’t know better nor are encouraged to look into the long term future based on the culture.

The players from DR are not subject to the Major League Baseball draft, which means the teams can sign the players reasonably cheap which is why there are more Dominican players on MLB rosters and farm teams.

Based on the MLB investment into the baseball youth academies in Dominican Republic, the reproduction is not slowing down anytime soon. This leaves us with the reality check that Dominican Republic is still the starting point of the herd reproduction for slave labor.

The players that are in the Major Leagues salaries combined amount to $104,590,000.

REFERENCE: (1) Retrieved on June 24, 2015 by. Jerome Fitts. http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/04/ major-league-baseball-average-salary-meal-money-2015-mlb

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Well, we were rehearsing for a tribute to Van Halen that we did in Bitola and the singer/guitarist insisted that we go with the name Eruption. We all agreed with the name and continued to work under that band name and it kind of added up with the whole energy on and off the stage.

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WW J Music Is there any difference between Bitola, which is smaller city and Skopje - the Capitol of Macedonia, in regards to opportunities and the existense of a band?

Yes, it is quite different considering that Skopje is a much larger town and it is obvious that there are more venues in which we can perform. Also the number of people is much larger than the one in Bitola, so yeah you can say that there is much more prosperity as a band in a bigger city.

What is more important for you; the energy in the air at a show or the number of people?

Well, it is safe to say that they are both equally important because the more people that are present on the show the energy grows bigger both on stage and in the crowd. But if we have to choose it’s definetly the energy because we love what we do and we’re going to have a great time playing no matter if we play in front of 5 people or 500.

Is your band name connected with your passion and the energy that you are bringing on the stage?

Well, we were rehearsing for a tribute to Van Halen that we did in Bitola and the singer/ guitarist insisted that we go with the name Eruption. We all agreed with the name and continued to work under that band name and it kind of added up with the whole energy on and off the stage.

If there is a song for the new begining of the world, what would it be your choice?

When and how did you started with the story with “Eruption”?

It all started while drinking coffee in a venue in Bitola a year and a half year ago. We are close friends with the manager of the venue and he just came straight forward and said; “You guys should do a tribute to Black Sabbath”, and we simultaneously agreed and started with rehearsals one week after.

Are you brave enough to stand in front of the music industry world wide?

Of course! The sooner the better, we are certain that this is what we want to do with our lives. We have the talent, the material and the energy on stage and we’re good to go.

In which order is going “Eruption” and what is the motivational key for that?

Eruption was our way of having fun and making some money at the same time, but now it’s a full time job consideration of all the rehearsals and gigs.

Anyway it’s a way better job then working in a factory from 9 to 5 for a minimum wage.

We spent a lot of precious time building ourselves as musicians and we don’t want to just throw that away so that’s our motivation.

Eruption kicks off their European tour in July 2015.

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Definetly “What A Wonderfull World” from Louis Armstrong, considering that there’s no politics, no cars, no pollution and so on.

And to close the world/ for the end of the world, what song would it be and why?

“Child in Time” from Deep Purple, because the song simply speaks for itself, it speaks things that cannot be described with words.

Is there any connection between the life style that you are living and the style of the music that you are playing?

Of course there is in order play that kind of music one first needs to understand it and know exactly what it has to say so you can dig deeper in it. Considering our lifestyle which evolves around music, whether it’s rehearsals, live shows or drinking with our buddies everyone constantly talks about some new album or DVD or something.

What is the secret that you are keeping which is making your fans to come again to your shows?

We have no secret ingredient, we’re pretty straight forward and we just get up on the stage and start playing and eventually there are more and more people coming to our shows.

We don’t know how that happened, it just kind of did. Maybe all the hard work is finally paying off.

WW J Music

Funk Shui (Skopje, Macedonia), was formed in 2007, when founding member bassist Stefan Stojanov and guitarist Luka Gjorgievski (vocalist/ guitarist)were only having an idea of playing music. Sounds funky?

It wasn’t until 2010, when those musical ideas were sealed as a collective unit with the David Nikolovski (drummer). The same year the band took giant leaps in recording their first demo “Got Funk” which was subsequently embraced by the local live venue punters in Skopje.

It was a mere two years of gigging, rehearsing in Macedonia and Serbia while learning how to write more songs that saw the birth of their first full length album “Aether”. The band considers the album that

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incorporated their producer Mihail Namichev, as their permanent basses.

The album was reviewed as “a piece of nine innocent, young-adolescent-perspective, spontaneously made and harsh recorded music, which was played and recorded by 4 guys at the age of 16.”

After a short hiatus in 2012, the band recorded the single “Ogledala (Mirrors)” in 2013, which created their passion and direction as musicians.

Fast forward 2015, and the budding teenagers that have since reached the final stage of puberty is set to release their 3rd full length album “Rapideyemovement/R.E.M” coinciding with extensive tour of Europe.

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WW J Contributors Jerome Fitts The funny thing is, I have always been into listening to remarkable stories from around the world. The day four of my closest friends came to my apartment in Berlin for a dinner party was when the idea of The Worthwhile Journey was created. The Journal part is based on the excitement we had to share our adventure from the previous year. It was the first time we had gotten together in a year as we were all in different parts of the globe experiencing different things.

The best part of it was none of us discussed the one thing that tears up a group of cool people- Stupidity, Greed, Ego or Money. I do hope to continue to build a wider reader base.

In between commuting from Dublin to Berlin, Jerome spends summers in Rodos, Greece. In 2010, whilst completing his post grad studies in media in Los Angeles, Jerome ventured into the Journalism, where he has exercised his skills within the fashion, music and sports industry.

He is the founder of BCBF Media Group, which consists of Crownn Records, Bofi Clothing and of course The Worthwhile Journal.

Owen O’Connor “I have had a camera in my hand since I was seven. An Agfa with a cube flash and 110 film.”

How times have changed, I am now on my tenth Mac and sixth digital camera. But the goal is still the same... to produce beautiful photographs of the highest technical standard and in a style, which is modern yet timeless.

Since graduating from the Dun Laoghaire College of Art & Design, I worked initially in the advertising industry as a Graphic Designer and am now an award-winning Photographer working on a range of projects including portraits, landscapes, private commissions and commercial work.

I am based in Dublin, Ireland but have worked in Europe and for American companies.

The quality of my work has been recognised by industry awards such as IPPA Best Fashion Portfolio 2012, IPPA Avante Garde Portrait Image 2008, IPPA Pictorial Image 2008, SWPP & BPPA Portrait Photographer of the Year 2007.

Philip Ailon Philip Ailon was born and raised on the Island of Rhodes, Greece. A DJ, Remixer, Radio Speaker, Club Owner and Music Designer, studying management in Athens but his passion for music gained him and graduated from SAE University of Sound on 2006 as Music Producer, since then he was already DJing in local bars and clubs around Greece.

In 2007, Philip Ailon great the first beach club on Rhodes Island and boost the dance scene to a whole new level cooperated with many guest DJs around the glow as is John Digweed, Felix da Houseut, Eric Frydz, Serge Devant, Joe T Vannelli, Matt Jhon, Oliver Huntemann, Bruno Bronsato, Katou, Julie Marghilano, Luca Bacchetti, Yellowheads, G-Pall and more. In August 2011, his live changed, electrocity festival with 15,000 people in Poland invite him for a DJ set. Since then his sounds (deep, dirty, and tec house to minimal and techno) is been his philosophy to get cluber’s back on a dance floors! https://www.facebook.com/philip.karageorgiou

Jenny Maxwell Shank Jennifer Shank-Maxwell is a published author in the Mountain Springs House Anthology, Lost Tales from the Mountain, and has produced several YouTube videos. She is a graduate from Full Sail University, and pursuing her Master of Art in New Media Journalism. Currently, Jennifer lives in her hometown of Winamac, Indiana.

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Pho togra p h y Se s s i on i n st u d i o , Co ntact Sh e e t and 14 ” x 1 0 ” Pri nt Fra m e d .

Val ue E 360.

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A wild beauty, captured.

Photobreaks.ie is a new venture by award winning photographer, Owen O'Connor in photography workshops in some of the most beautiful and photogenic parts of Ireland, spending a couple of days learning more about your camera, photographic techniques and staying in some of Ireland's best known hotels. “I have had a camera in my hand since I was seven. An Agfa with a cube flash and 110 film.

How times have changed, I am now on my eighth digital camera and tenth Mac. But the goal is still the same... to produce beautiful photographs of the highest technical standard and in a style, which is modern yet timeless.�

I hope you enjoy the photographs on the website and would like to join us on a photo break.

Please call + 353 87 233 2619 or e-mail owen@photobreaks.ie for more information.