tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post8417114088613937258..comments2023-06-21T09:25:35.299-04:00Comments on C&E Current Events Blog: November 19th current eventMs. Loganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108383017239186239noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-11982424174670502482010-11-20T15:07:39.123-05:002010-11-20T15:07:39.123-05:00Recently, the Transportation Security Administrati...Recently, the Transportation Security Administration has been tightening up their security. They've created new security checkpoint measures of which some travelers call "groping" and "virtual strip searches." The TSA has amped up the use of pat-downs and full-body scans to protect against non-metallic threats. Eighty percent of American's are in favor of these increased security measures, but there are many citizens and groups rising against it. One group from the University of California is saying it's a potential health hazard, while another groups have filed lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security, saying it's violating their 4th amendment right, the Privacy Act, as well as other laws. One man is facing a ten thousand dollar fine after refusing a full body scan (therefore opting for a full-body pat-down), and telling security agents "If you touch my junk, I'm going to have you arrested."<br /><br />I am in favor of the increased security measures. I think there's definitely a thick line between checking for weapons, and invading privacy, of which shouldn't be crossed. Some travelers may find it annoying and unnecessary, but having to take an extra three minutes to be thoroughly checked for weapons and explosives definitely beats facing another attack. If there was to be a terrorist attack, people would blame the TSA for not catching it in time. I believe when it comes to protecting our country, we can never be too careful. However, the TSA needs to edit this system to accommodate for pilots, flight attendants and frequent flyers, because the radiation emitted by the full-body scanners could pose serious health hazards if gone through frequently.<br /><br /><br />http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/11/19/airport.security.issues/index.html<br /><br /><br />Julie Wulforst<br />Period 6Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00398940075342864126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-78169460050807162232010-11-19T19:22:32.901-05:002010-11-19T19:22:32.901-05:00Tanner Gardner-7th Period
http://www.cnn.com/2010...Tanner Gardner-7th Period<br /><br />http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/10/12/shweeb.urban.transport/index.html?iref=allsearch<br /><br /> Shweeb, the brainchild of Geoffrey Barnett, offers the world a new, hyper-efficient mode of travel. The idea, meaning "to float" in German, came to the Britain teacher when he had to bike through hectic and hazardous Tokyo traffic daily. He envisioned a system of railways suspended above the chaotic streets that would carry his ingenious invention, a simple pedal-powered, Plexiglas capsule. The design reduces wind resistance significantly by having the passenger in a lying down position while cycling. Almost any passenger can pass 30 mph easily due to the fluidity of the system. Normally such a fantastical concept would not be instituted, if it were not for Google endorsing it with a $1 million grant. The idea was one of thousands submitted to the Project 10 to the 100, a Google contest searching for the most innovative ideas in the world. "The cost of innovation in public transportation is often very high, sometimes in the billions of dollars," Google spokesman Jamie Yood said. "We looked for a concrete project where the funding available to us with Project 10^100 has the potential to yield impact. Shweeb's innovative approach toward low-cost and environmentally friendly urban transport has the potential for significant impact in the future."<br /><br /> This idea is so brilliant because it's so simplistic. The cars require no energy but human's, providing them with a free workout of a commute everyday, if they so choose. This could be very successful in highly urbanized cities, where everything is in such close proximity to each other that a Shweeb system could be a money and time saver. The result, swift and futuristic transportation in cities, fewer motor-vehicle accidents, and less pollution.Tannerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01434112186499773951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-61303316213385566712010-11-19T17:37:31.863-05:002010-11-19T17:37:31.863-05:00http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/20/world/asia/20nz....http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/20/world/asia/20nz.html?ref=world<br /><br />In an mine explosion today in New Zealand, at least 27 men are trapped underground. The local news reported that two men were successfully removed from the mine, but the company that operates the mine did not report if the two men were counted in 27 or if they were an extra two. Fortunately, there were no deaths have been reported. Rescue teams are checking the vents of the mines for built up gas before going down the mines. The miners had with them a device that supplies oxygen for thirty minutes. The electricity in the mine reportedly went off before the collapse.<br /> I think that this is a tragedy especially after what happened a month ago with the Chilean miners. I think that the Chilean's situation will hopefully give the now trapped miners hope of survival. After all, the Chilean miners did survive sixty-nine days underground. I think that many people will now question whether or not to be a miner after these two incidents. I hope that they will be out of the mine soon!<br /><br />Jessica Batson<br />7thJessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16474773761681972717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-13762190994092740702010-11-19T13:09:23.750-05:002010-11-19T13:09:23.750-05:00http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/world/europe/19s...http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/world/europe/19start.html?_r=1&hp<br /><br />Jackson Wright<br />6th Period<br />11/19/10<br /><br /> Just two weeks after the election left Obama's party in shambles, Obama is already back on the offensive. He is beginning to confront senate republican's with a fight on arms control. Obama looks to win the republicans over by threatening that the country will have a disrupted relationship with Russia and coalition countries against Iranian Nuclear weapons if they do not help the bill. I agree mainly with the Liberal point of view on this subject that guns must be controlled. Even though I have relatives with many weapons and that enjoy hunting, I do not support the hunting or the possession of multiple weapons. I think the possession of one or two weapons, controlled, is alright, but not any un-controlled weaponry.jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01609280074886054153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-22970133724620268372010-11-19T12:52:25.912-05:002010-11-19T12:52:25.912-05:00Leila Doerfer
period-6
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm...Leila Doerfer<br />period-6<br /><br />http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101119/ts_nm/us_mexico_drugs<br /><br />The drug war in Mexico has killed more than 31,000 people in the last four years. The National action Party is trying to keep the president from having the laws he wants passed, to be passed. The laws that the president wants to pass are ones that he thinks are necessary for helping Mexico out of the drug war. Congress is split on the idea of passing the presidents laws so it will probably be a while before any progress is made regarding this situation. The president wants to make the police forces less corrupt and he wants to "hit the criminals where it hurts most, on the economic front." He wants to get rid of the money factor when it comes to solving the problem, because he knows that money is a contributing factor. The scare factors are making businessmen hesitate when it comes to investing in dealing with the gangs and the drug war. <br />I think that it's a really good idea to have a solution for this problem, that doesn't include money. Money would just be fuel on a fire. I think that congress should have these laws passed because I think it would be the best solution to the problem. The opposing parties need to work together for the common good of the people. I am shocked at the violence that the gangs are resorting to, such as beheadings, bombs, and assasinations. Right now the only way to end this brutality is to listen to the presidents plan.leilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17553501219718462453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-69836151958094246732010-11-19T11:13:27.193-05:002010-11-19T11:13:27.193-05:00Jose
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101119/ap_on_r...Jose <br /><br />http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101119/ap_on_re_as/as_koreas_nuclear<br /><br /> North Korea is now building a new nuclear powerplant. That fact that North Korea is a small country that has a high population, it is very dangerous that they do this without any one being affected. North Korea is looking forward to have a large asenal of nuclear weapons.<br /><br /> I dont agree with North Koreas idea of making nuclear weapons and powerplants, they have to many people that could have a bad accident and be infected.Jose STFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16685226607427718707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-106427201621515752010-11-19T11:01:35.565-05:002010-11-19T11:01:35.565-05:00The Transportation Security Administration began m...The Transportation Security Administration began more aggressive pat-downs of passengers at airport security checkpoints three weeks ago. Since the start of this pat-down there have been many traveler. The complaints seem to come from people saying ther feel innapropriately touched to others saying they feel humiliated. the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration, claiming that the new screening procedures violate Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure. But legal experts are trying to figure out whether or not the courts will find the searches reasonable. <br /><br />I personally think that the airport scanners and pat-downs are necessary especially after 9/11. Many people may think that they don’t need them but in my opinion we cannot afford another terrorist attack due to lack of security.<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/business/19security.html?_r=1&hpJaninehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12425831420262519897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-33883368319327520402010-11-19T10:53:55.649-05:002010-11-19T10:53:55.649-05:00My article waas about a mand that was killed and h...My article waas about a mand that was killed and his wife ws injuered during an invasion of their home. This all happened in Mich there basically it took a long time for the family to get help. they called gor help but really did not receive straight away. I personally think that people call on the authorities for help looking to reveive help. This family did not and i think that that was something that shoulf be reported. The job that people take up the poeple should acknowledge their responsibilitied.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05396406185862376701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-23470678067406956752010-11-19T10:50:59.548-05:002010-11-19T10:50:59.548-05:00The Iraq president would not sigh a death order of...The Iraq president would not sigh a death order of Saddam Hussein’s foreign minister who was sentenced to death last month. I will not sign Tariq Aziz's death sentence," Jalal Talabani to a French international meeting. He says “ as a social democrat I am against the death penalty. He wanted to stop the penalty to be pit in order on the grounds of un humane rights . The president is soon try to see the death penalty go to court but if it goes to international grounds than he will be sentenced to death.<br />I think that the president should just sigh the death penalty orders because this man has done great damage and needs to pay for his mistakes. I am not for the death penalty but when some one this evil has the chanced to be punished than he really should be put to death. I don’t know the exact reasons for him to hold back on the death penalty but there is a lot o speculation and he should make the speculation going away by sentencing to death.<br /> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/17/AR2010111706954.htmlconnor randolphhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10992516936474425146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-27287632499937872492010-11-19T10:25:24.869-05:002010-11-19T10:25:24.869-05:00http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/education/16clic...http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/education/16clickers.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=clickers&st=cse<br /> <br /> College students all across the country have been “clicking” their way through class. Not just by texting on their cell phones though. Students have been assigned “clickers” in class that count their attendance in class, allows them to answer questions and ask for help. All without raising a hand. These devices have been said to keep students focused in class, make it difficult for them to skip class, and make it nearly impossible to take that mid-class nap. Many students dislike the big brother aspect of the “clickers,” but many students actually like that it makes them focus during class.<br /> I feel that the remotes are a good thing. They really do force kids to attend and pay attention in class. I can see where some of the kids are coming from with the “Big Brother” aspect of the remotes, and it could be true that the remotes might be overbearing. Overall though, I think the remotes will bring grades up, because school is always easier when you actually attend, and participate in the class, and that’s what the “clickers” make you do.<br /><br />Brady Strine<br />6th periodBrady Strinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17269819666887671512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-69859682483331101142010-11-19T10:05:29.917-05:002010-11-19T10:05:29.917-05:00In the three weeks since the Transportation Securi...In the three weeks since the Transportation Security Administration began more aggressive pat-downs of passengers at airport security checkpoints, traveler complaints have poured in. <br /><br />Some offer graphic accounts of genital contact, others tell of agents gawking or making inappropriate comments, and many express a general sense of powerlessness and humiliation. In general passengers are saying they are surprised by the intimacy of a physical search usually reserved for police encounters. <br /><br />“I didn’t really expect her to touch my genitalia through my pants, said an elementary schoolteacher from Cle Elum, Wash., who was patted down at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport last Saturday because the body scanner detected a tissue and a hair band in her pocket. <br /><br /> <br /><br />The agency has so far responded to the complaints by calling for cooperation and patience from passengers, citing polls showing broad support for the full-body scanning machines. <br /><br />Still, it remains to be seen whether travelers approve of the pat-downs, especially as millions more people experience them for the first time during the holiday travel season. <br />I think that the TSA made a terrible choice with this new policy. In the three weeks, this new search has yielded no terrorists trying to bomb a national monument. In fact, all the searches have accomplished is to make several thousand people actually cancel their reservations for flights. When you read the article, you can see why. These airport security officers are MOLESTING people. They cite incidents of people hiding drugs and bombs in their genetalia or other body cavities, but this is still wrong. They cannot allow these people to do this because officers are clearly not patting people down to look for bombs, but to touch them. Reports have been made of agents making innapropriate comments as they pat people down! I know that if I fly and a security officer touches me innapropriately, there is going to be a big problem. The TSA needs to eliminate this policy because it is only hurting the airline business. You cannot tolerate your employees molesting your customers, which is exactly what they are doing.<br />Sam Freedberg<br />6th PeriodUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800895631360650492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-15506352163980914902010-11-19T09:30:08.354-05:002010-11-19T09:30:08.354-05:00Hannah Blackburn 7ths period
http://www.thenewstr...Hannah Blackburn 7ths period<br /><br />http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/11/17/1428078/un-radio-21-civilians-killed-by.html?storylink=<br /><br />(also used: Bonobo Handshake by Vanessa Woods)<br /><br />In 1994, Rwandan Hutus crossed the border into Congo. These Hutus, called Interhamwe, had participated in the genocide of Rwandan Tutsis and the Hutus who refused to kill them. It was a very personal genocide, with neighbours killing their Tutsi neighbours. When the Tutsis regained control of Rwanda, the Interhamwe fled to Congo. They have been there ever since, and war has completely destroyed Congo. Wilikale, in eastern Congo, is one example of the constant violence. This summer, 303 rapes were reported in four days. The latest news in this area, reported via UN Okapi radio, is that a civilian truck was attacked by Rwandan Hutus. Three people were initially reported dead, but the final number has not been reported yet. The reason civilians are being attacked more and more often is that militaries have forced the Interhamwes out of hiding. They attack civilians for food and supplies.<br /><br /><br />303 rapes in FOUR DAYS. We can't even imagine living in conditions like these. The war in Congo is the most revolting and violent war in the world right now, with the msot deaths since World War II. People chop each other up and eat each other to stay alive, and western powers take advantage of the chaos. They make deals with various war lords in order to mine Congo's rich soil. Congo has a lot of oil, diamonds, gold, and other precious metal and minerals. I find it frustrating that the extreme Hutus and Tutsis can't see the vicious cycle they are in. If a Tutsi kills a Hutu, another Hutu will kill two more Tutsis! There is no government and no western aid. The media should talk about the war in Congo as much or more than they talk about Afganistan and Iraq.Ginny Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11847406585584090414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-73975070484013610132010-11-19T01:19:14.305-05:002010-11-19T01:19:14.305-05:00http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/brain-ody...http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/brain-odyssey-offers-brain-exercises-in-a-social-game/<br /><br /> This Wednesday, a new game was introduced by Posit Science (a company specializing in educational games). This game is called Brain Odyssey, and is basically a social networking game that exercises your brain while you play. It has been proven to increase cognitive performance, and challenges players to think their way through a series of challenges. The creator of this game, Dr. Michael Merzenich, believes that it will also improve areas of the brain related to memory, and improve the brain's ability to process visual. This game has not been put on the market yet, but it hopefully will be soon.<br /> I think that this Brain Odyssey is a great idea. Many young people are very interested in video games/social networking, and are very uninterested in learning. This game could possibly link the two together in an appealing way for many people. I think that this game gives a real opportunity for so-called couch potatoes to learn and improve their brain's ability when they might not have willingly done this before. I also see this as a way for adults to enjoy video games, because it isn't just silly or violent, there's a real purpose and it's helping them. I hope to see this game put on the market as soon as possible, and I would love to play it myself, if only to just see what it's like and how they plan on meshing social networking and education. <br /><br />Kim Rubish<br />6th PeriodKimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09641007993113583583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-91881722145708352752010-11-19T00:36:43.302-05:002010-11-19T00:36:43.302-05:00Geoff Thomason - 11/19/10 - Period 7
http://www.ny...Geoff Thomason - 11/19/10 - Period 7<br />http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/business/19security.html?ref=business<br /><br />Three weeks ago, the Transportation Security Administration decided that more the pat-down security checks at airports, should be more aggressive and effective. Of course, along with the more intense security checks, came the enormous amount of complaints about them. Most of these complaint letters were either about the sheer embarrassment that came with the humiliating search, or the insulting and inappropriate comments made by the agents and airport employees. However, some of these complaints even include occurances of genital contact. Passengers are mainly saying that the new physical searches are surprisingly agressive and personal. One of the comments, by Kaya McLaren, an elementary schoolteacher from Cle Elum, Washington, was particularly graphic. Kaya, who was patted down at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport last Saturday, was quoted saying that the security officer searched her vaguely and then touched her genital area, claming that it was all part of the new test. Kaya was also understandably upset for the reason she had to be searched in the first place; the body scanner detected a tissue and a hair band in her pocket, and security thought that these could be dangerous for some reason and chose to search her. <br /><br />Personally, I think these new searches are uneccesscary in the long run, but are temporarily needed. The reason for the new searches was to try to eliminate allowing terrorists on board an airplane with concealed weapons. I think that this is a good cause and deserves some attention, but I also feel that there are better solutions than a more intense search. Although I think that these new searches won't last long, I do think that they should be kept in effect until a better solution is reached.Geoffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00302809698206389587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-16605743463660144632010-11-18T23:43:40.511-05:002010-11-18T23:43:40.511-05:00Thomas Nguyen
11/18/10 Period 7
http://www.nytime...Thomas Nguyen<br />11/18/10 Period 7<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/11/17/us/politics/AP-US-Airport-Security.html?ref=airport_security<br /><br /><br /><br />The government is responsible for the new security features at the airport. People have been complaining that the new security features which include pat-downs and airport scans reveal too much privacy of people. The body scans scan the entire body and upload images onto a screen without revealing the face of a person. If one does not like the full body scan, they can opt out for pat-downs, which allows TSA officials to slide their hands along the body. they slide their hands along the thigh and near the groin and the chest. A Traveler from San Diego resisted the full body scans as well as the pat-downs. He said this to a TSA official, If you touch my junk, I'm gonna have you arrested." Even some lawmakers disagree with the security procedures. Senator George LeMieux, R-Fla, says that he and his wife do not want the pat-downs like people are receiving in the airports. <br /><br /><br /><br />I think this is a major issue heading into the holidays, where a lot of people are traveling. This can cause major delays at the security checkpoint and people are going to miss their flight. Some people complain that this violates the 4th amendment, which states that unreasonable searches and seizures are not allowed. I personally do not like the full body scans and pat-downs even though I have never been through one of them before. This is a short term solution to our problems with terrorists on planes, but there has to be a better solution on security that does not breach the privacy of people. With the additional security such as pat-downs and full body scans, I think people are more opted to stay home and not travel. I would not want to travel by the airport any time soon.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10692266940496303648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-11739039737018079122010-11-18T23:33:24.258-05:002010-11-18T23:33:24.258-05:00Mount Everest Paintings
http://www.aolnews.com/wei...Mount Everest Paintings<br />http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/german-artist-juergen-staeudtner-paints-ill-fated-everest-climbers/19712073 <br /><br />Some recognition has been given to Mount Everest climbers thorough brilliant paintings. Juergen Staedtner of Germany has painted eight different climbers of Mount Everest who have either died or had severe injuries. Some of his subjects include Lincoln Hall and Usha Bista. Both were survivors but were severely injured. Hall made it off the mountain with black, frost bit fingers while Ms. Bista lost her thumb. Staedtner has also painted subjects such as Briton David Sharp who died in May on the Mountain. The German artist’s original attempt was to paint the mountain itself, but decided to portray the climbers of the Mountain instead. <br /><br />It’s touching to see how this artist recognizes these powerful people that climb Mount Everest. I think it’s beautiful that he decided to portray the people rather than the mountain because it’s only typical that one would paint the mountain. I also think that showing the people actually shows the power of nature better than painting the actual mountain. Painting the mountain just shows its physical attributes, but showing what the mountain does to people shows that nature is not a force to be reckoned with. I think that by painting this Staedtner is recognizing important, brave, and daring people, while showing the power of nature.<br />Tristin Van OrdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-26141547690798807342010-11-18T22:59:00.890-05:002010-11-18T22:59:00.890-05:00http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/world/asia/14mya...http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/world/asia/14myanmar.html<br /><br />Myanmar's symbol of democracy, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, was released from house arrest on Saturday, November 13th. She had been placed under house arrest for 15 of the past 21 years, and she stepped out of confinement at age 65. Thousands of supporters greeted her, many holding signs and shedding tears of relief. “We haven’t seen each other for so long, I have so much to tell you,” announced Mrs.Aung San Suu Kyi to the massive crowd, eager to continue her advocacy for human rights and political freedom as soon as she could. In addition, the government of Burma publicly described her freedom as unconditional, and in both Europe and the United States, the release of a global icon has countless supporters celebrating.<br /><br />Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi's unconditional devotion to her country is extremely inspiring. I recall that few years ago, when she was given a chance to leave Myanmar without consequence, she chose house arrest to advocate for her selfless cause. Though Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi is officially freed, her struggle is far from over; in my opinion, she has been "freed" into a larger prison with a myriad of political and social issues. The future is uncertain for her, and the volatile nature of Myanmar's militaristic government may lead to a third round of arrest and confinement. However, I have faith that this symbolic act will propel the citizens of Myanmar in their journey to democracy. <br /><br />Jessica Gao<br />6th PeriodJessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14954729010499157954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-10346552862435425912010-11-18T22:55:18.544-05:002010-11-18T22:55:18.544-05:00http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_myanmar_suu_kyi
...http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_myanmar_suu_kyi<br /><br /> Recently Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi had been released from house arrest for nearly 7 and a half years, all for opposing the government. Now 65 years old Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi wants to reinstate her political party in time for the November 7th election. On Tuesday she had filed a affadavit with the country's high court in order to reinstate her party, now as she waits for them to reply she must tread carefully, most likely she'd be detained without hesitation if she does anything wrong. On Thurday November 5th, the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon telephoned Suu Kyi and paired a “warm and coidial conversation,” Ban's spokesman Martin Nersirky said. The world body leader expresed his admiration for Suu Kyi's courage and dignity as a source of inspiration for millions of people around the world. She has been detained for 15 of the past 21 years, but has remained the dominant figure of Myanmar's battered pro-democracy movement, and more than 2,200 political prisoners remain behind bars. <br /> I'm amazed at how much pain, and work shes' put in attempting to gain democracy for Myanmar. In 1988 at age 43 she returned home to care for her ailing mother, in her absence mass demonstrations were breaking out against military rule, and because of this she was quickly thrust into a leadership role because she was the daughter of Aung San. She's given so up so much in her life to save the people's freedom from this military regime, such as seeing her husband in 1999 before he died of cancer. She has also not been able to see her sons in a decade, and has never met her 2 grandchildren, and yet she still refuses to leave or give up her fight, even during her brief periods of freedom she refused to leave, fearing that she would not be able to return.Ayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13625895522761802634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-62061410497430479942010-11-18T22:47:12.965-05:002010-11-18T22:47:12.965-05:00Current Event
11/18/10
P6
This week since we’ve b...Current Event<br />11/18/10<br />P6<br /><br />This week since we’ve been talking about the House and the Senate I decided to do an article that related perfectly. This week in the news the House of Ethics committee wanted Representative Charles B. Rangel to censured or in other words punished for ethical misconduct. It was a very emotional day for Rangel and some of his other colleagues. At one point the article had said that he fought to keep his composure. He has been a representative of Harlem for 40 years. In 2007 he gained the position as the chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee. If this censure id approved fully by the House then Rangel will be the first member to have been accused of such a harsh accusation since 1983. As a part of this process he would be required to stand in the well of the House as he is basically read his dismissal papers. He was found guilty on 11 counts of ethical violations, including improper fund-raising, failure to pay taxes on rental income and failure to report personal income on his Congressional financial disclosure forms. He was also fined by the committee to pay thousands of dollars in taxes on his villas that he owns in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. However Rangel felt as though the media was “victimizing” him and his family. Rangel goes on to say that all of this was due to poor record keeping and a personal gain in profit was never intended while he held his position.<br /><br /><br />In this case I’m a little on the fence. I’m not really sure where to stand on this issue but it’s obvious that wrong doings were committed. There is no way that there was that much of poor record keeping that he happened to build up all of the debt he accommodated. I sort of feel sorry for him though, only because he’s now 80 years old and I can’t help but to think of my grandparents, so I have a little compassion in that sense. However, it’s doesn’t take away from the fact that he still committed a crime and therefore he has to be punished. It really surprised me that someone who has been involved in politics for so long slipped up this much and landed himself in such a bad position.<br />http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/nyregion/19rangel.html?_r=1&hpBrinkleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06257743366427700824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-5491321188513671272010-11-18T22:45:29.852-05:002010-11-18T22:45:29.852-05:00http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/call-of-d...http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/call-of-duty-smashes-five-day-sales-records/?ref=technology<br /><br />The latest video game, Call of Duty: Black Ops, continues to break worldwide records. Since its release late last week, the video games has made a gross profit of over $650 million in worldwide sales, resulting in the largest five-day launch in entertainment across any media including theatre, movies, and gaming. In these first five days of Black Ops’ birth, more than 2.6 million people have played the game. The company who manufactured this game said it has seen a lot of interest in a 3-D version of Black Ops, even though few people actually have 3-D televisions.<br /><br />The statistics on this game really astonish me. I know boys like their video games, but this seems to be a much bigger deal for video gamers all over the world than I can imagine. Even though I don’t see the attraction of shooting aliens for hours and hours on end, this really makes me realize how advanced we have become in technology over the last few decades. I wonder about all the new the inventions that are yet to be made, and the types of games our children and grandchildren will be playing. Honestly, I can’t imagine anything more technologically advanced than touch-screens, 3-D TV’s and video games that don’t require controllers.<br /><br />Cerys Humphreys<br />7th PeriodCeryshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05060179156063450925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-26364141102492545412010-11-18T22:34:40.490-05:002010-11-18T22:34:40.490-05:00http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/18/umbilical.cor...http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/18/umbilical.cord.public.banks/index.html?npt=NP1<br /><br />Many people believed that only a private bank for storing a baby's umbilical cord blood cells was available. However, new parents are discovering that there is actually a public bank available where they can store the umbilical cord cells for free. Unlike in the private banks, the cells are available to anyone who may need it. If the donor baby is ever in need of his/her cells however, it will be there for him/her as long as it hasn't already been given to someone else. There's a 95 percent chance that your child's cells will still be there. However, not all cells are stored due to quantity and quality of the umbilical cord cells according to the director of the Carolina Cord Blood Bank at Duke University Medical Center. Transplant specialists and some private banks do say that the cells from the donor may not help him/her at all. This is due to the fact that the cord blood cells might contain the diseased cells, and cells with genetic mutations. Transplant specialists from Duke University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University Medical Center both say that they have never used a child's own cord blood cells to treat him/her. It is very rare for a child's own cord blood to treat him/her.<br /><br />I think that it's a good idea to donate a baby's umbilical cord blood to public banks because it may save a person's life. If you put it in a private bank and never use it, that cord blood is just going to go to waste. However, if it was in a public bank, it might have saved a life of someone who desperately needed it. It also says that it is rare to have a child's own cord blood benefit him/her. The doctor's practically never use a child's own cord blood. Therefore, there's really no reason to spend thousands of dollars putting it in a private bank in my opinion. Since the public bank is free, you don't really lose anything from donating. It's for a good cause. What could possibly make a person feel more special than the fact that they just have saved a person's life? Nothing in my opinion. Reading this article made me realize what a great opportunity it is, and I think that I will donate my children's cord blood to the public banks when I have kids in the future. <br /><br />Jenny Jin<br />11/18/10<br />7th periodJennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11372854903669685733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-56288640590594215562010-11-18T22:16:20.081-05:002010-11-18T22:16:20.081-05:00http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101119/ap_on_bi_ge/us...http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101119/ap_on_bi_ge/us_jobless_benefits<br /><br /> The holiday season picture for the unemployed just got a lot foggier as congress announced that because of budget cuts, the jobless benefits may be cut. The bill to extend them was overruled in the House and a bill has to be made by December 1st for the benefits to apply. The main concern is the cost of the benefits. They are approximately $310 per week for each of the 5 million people who have been unemployed for 6 months, which, if you do the math, totals up to 80.6 billion dollars per year, a huge amount. The republicans say they’ll pass the bill if the 12.5 billion dollar cost isn’t added to the national debt, which is at an astonishing 13.8 trillion dollars.<br /> I think that the benefits should still go on because without the extra money that the unemployed get they can’t keep there homes and can’t live normally. I think it’s weird that they’re never budget increases; only budget cuts. While I don’t like the idea of increasing the national debt, I also know we shouldn’t have gotten there anyway. Besides, it’s almost Christmas time and you don’t want the jobless stranded.<br /><br />Mark Stouffer<br />Period 7Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15888462462700850988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-70781295031879473092010-11-18T22:06:04.515-05:002010-11-18T22:06:04.515-05:00http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20101115/...http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20101115/us_yblog_thelookout/gay-michigan-student-defends-suspended-teacher<br /><br /> In Howell Michigan, Jay McDowell, a teacher at Howell High School, was suspended for a couple of reasons: he asked one student to remove a belt featuring the Confederate flag and kicked two other students out of class. One of these two students was junior, Daniel Glowacki. Glowacki argued with McDowell over why the girl should have to remove her Confederate flag belt when other students wore purple for Spirit Day, “a voluntary event for students designed to raise awareness about anti-gay bullying”, on October 20th. Glowacki is against homosexuality and was reported to have made “inappropriate and offensive statements regarding gay students”. Howell was simply following the school policy of asking students not to wear inappropriate clothing, the Confederate flag being a symbol of hate. A Facebook group was started several years ago using this flag as the profile picture and contained hate speeches and in the 1970s and 80s, there was an active Ku Klux Klan north of Howell.<br /> I really don't know what my opinion is on this topic. On the one hand, does the one studetn not have the freedom to wear what she wants although somewhat limited in school. However if she wore the belt as a sign of support for the two hatw groups, it seems only proper to have asked her to remove this item of clothing. I don't think Glowacki had the right to compare this incident to Spirit Day as the Confederate flag is a symbol of hate for this community whereas Glowacki's poor outlook on homosexuals is personal.<br /><br />Jacob Harris 7thJacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00000411589666066325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-53692801219307443812010-11-18T22:03:17.851-05:002010-11-18T22:03:17.851-05:00http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101119/ap_on_re_la_am...http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101119/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_cuba_fidel_castro<br /><br /><br /> Fidel Castro says he is happy with the direction Cuba is taking under the leadership of his brother Raul. He commented to some students that he is happy that his country is moving forward. Castro stepped down in 2006 due to a serious illness that almost killed him. Castro, 84, remains head of the Communist Party. Dispite that he is nolonger making the choices but his brother Raul is. <br /><br />I think that peolpe ing cuba are prisoner in their own country because they are not to leave the counrty of cube, if it's not illigal, or if you dont get married. I think it is not far for them to live like that. I think they should leave and get distroy fidel and become free. i also belive that when Fidel dies the Raul is no longer going to rule like him I think that he is going to free them.Soniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09897529763295834742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065930044872741375.post-88418062974991002472010-11-18T22:02:09.071-05:002010-11-18T22:02:09.071-05:00http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372994,00.as...http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372994,00.asp<br />Scientists have recently discovered an even more successful way to store antimatter and from this they have crafted an idea. Scientists have decided that since they now can store antimatter effectively and it uses 100% of the energy released. This means that we can increase the amount of energy used by nearly 99% and some scientists believe that with this vast increase in efficiency they will be able to craft stars hips. They believe that the only way a star ship could be created was if they had an increase in the efficiency of energy used and this definitely could lead them. Some other scientists were much more skeptical about this claim from some scientists, but nonetheless this is a great breakthrough in science.<br />I think that this is so cool. It isn't every day that you can look in the news paper and see that they might begin making star ships soon. It seems like every day we're becoming more and more futuristic and this is one of the coolest advancements in science that we've had in a long time. Once we have star ships we can begin exploring and we will learn a whole lot more about the universe. This is also an advancement because it means that we can do a whole lot more with antimatter that we couldn't do before. Learning how to store antimatter is a huge achievement and thats another cool part about this article. Overall, this article grabbed my attention because its such a cool concept that in just a few years we might have the initial designs for star ships like in Star Trek.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04466874118983334937noreply@blogger.com