Friday, April 26, 2013
Victoria's Secret Fires Back at Ex-Model Kylie Bisutti's "Piece of Meat" Story: She Was No Angel!
She had made many fabrications, stories and false statements about working for VS. "Ms. Bisutti has made numerous fabrications and misstatements of fact regarding her brief association with Victoria's Secret," VS said in a statement." In 2009, Ms. Bisutti won an online amateur modeling competition and hasn't worked for us since that year. The prize for the winning contestant was the unique opportunity to a one-time walk in the 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Ms. Bisutti also participated in a swim photo shoot in 2009. That was the extent of Ms. Bisutti's involvement with Victoria's Secret. She was never a Victoria's Secret ‘Angel' as defined by the terms of our Angel model contract."
Ms. Bisutti says on her twitter page that she is not slamming Victoria secret and that she shops there.
I think the Ms. Bisutti is wrong only if these stories are made up and if she's lying and have never worked for Victoria Secret a day in her life. I think she should stop because she is getting unwanted attention from people. And if she has worked for VS, I think that they should stop trying to disown her. It's very rude and disrespectful.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Time for a Raise?
By Patricia Smith
This article is about how Barack Obama wants to change minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 an hour. It would be the first increase in minimum wage since 2009. The first minimum wage boost was in 1938 during the Great Depression when President Franklin D. Roosevelt had made a deal to change minimum wage to 25 cents an hour. If this plan comes into play millions of people will no longer be making so little money.
"This single step would raise the incomes of millions of working families," Obama said during the Union address in February. "It could mean the difference between groceries or the food bank, rent or eviction, scraping by or finally getting ahead. For businesses across the country, it would mean customers with more money in their pockets."
Some people agree with the new change and others do not. The people who don't agree with this is the people who are going to be kicking out more money to pay for employees and because they have to kick out more money to pay them they are going to hire less people, which would probably make it harder for people to keep their jobs or get one.
"Small employers often have to operate under very slim profit margins," says Randy Johnson of the U.S. chamber of Commerce, which represents business. "An increase has to be shouldered by the employer." If the law is passed, this plan will come into play in full effect by 2015.
I believe that this is a great idea. People won't really struggle like they have before. They will have more money and more income. but it will also be a bad one because people might be out of jobs, and some more than likely won't be able to get hired. I don't think it's a bad idea, i just hope it works out for everybody in the end.
This article is about how Barack Obama wants to change minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 an hour. It would be the first increase in minimum wage since 2009. The first minimum wage boost was in 1938 during the Great Depression when President Franklin D. Roosevelt had made a deal to change minimum wage to 25 cents an hour. If this plan comes into play millions of people will no longer be making so little money.
"This single step would raise the incomes of millions of working families," Obama said during the Union address in February. "It could mean the difference between groceries or the food bank, rent or eviction, scraping by or finally getting ahead. For businesses across the country, it would mean customers with more money in their pockets."
Some people agree with the new change and others do not. The people who don't agree with this is the people who are going to be kicking out more money to pay for employees and because they have to kick out more money to pay them they are going to hire less people, which would probably make it harder for people to keep their jobs or get one.
"Small employers often have to operate under very slim profit margins," says Randy Johnson of the U.S. chamber of Commerce, which represents business. "An increase has to be shouldered by the employer." If the law is passed, this plan will come into play in full effect by 2015.
I believe that this is a great idea. People won't really struggle like they have before. They will have more money and more income. but it will also be a bad one because people might be out of jobs, and some more than likely won't be able to get hired. I don't think it's a bad idea, i just hope it works out for everybody in the end.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Slaughter of the African Elephants
By Samantha Strindberg and Fiona Maisels
This article is about how African elephants are being slaughtered in central Africa and they may become extinct. Poachers are killing the elephants for their tusks. They sell them and make a great profit. 62% of elephants from central Africa vanished between 2002 and 2011. In China and in other countries "in the far east," there has been an astonishing rise in demand of ivory trinkets, that has really no use. They are buying these tusks and are not aware of the harm that it's causing not only the animals but the environment.
After they kill the elephants they cut the heads off and axe their tusks. Scientists say that elephants are very important to other animals. "The elephants are accomplished gardeners on a grand scale. As they move through their forest home, creating a network of trails used by other animals, they eat and scatter large quantities of seeds over many miles. Sprouting in countless piles of dung, new trees keep the forest healthy and contribute to the clean air we all like to breathe. Elephants also keep open salt-rich forest clearings that serve as giant salad bowls crucial for many animals, including gorillas."
"Poaching is big business, involving organized-crime cartels every bit as ruthless as those trafficking narcotics, arms and people. Existing international laws against money laundering should be used to follow the money trial and to prosecute these criminals."
I think that this is wrong. Killing animals for personal reasons, to use their body parts for unnecessary reasons. I think that this crime should be stopped now and to keep these animals from becoming extinct. they are very important to our society and very important to other animals around them.
This article is about how African elephants are being slaughtered in central Africa and they may become extinct. Poachers are killing the elephants for their tusks. They sell them and make a great profit. 62% of elephants from central Africa vanished between 2002 and 2011. In China and in other countries "in the far east," there has been an astonishing rise in demand of ivory trinkets, that has really no use. They are buying these tusks and are not aware of the harm that it's causing not only the animals but the environment.
After they kill the elephants they cut the heads off and axe their tusks. Scientists say that elephants are very important to other animals. "The elephants are accomplished gardeners on a grand scale. As they move through their forest home, creating a network of trails used by other animals, they eat and scatter large quantities of seeds over many miles. Sprouting in countless piles of dung, new trees keep the forest healthy and contribute to the clean air we all like to breathe. Elephants also keep open salt-rich forest clearings that serve as giant salad bowls crucial for many animals, including gorillas."
"Poaching is big business, involving organized-crime cartels every bit as ruthless as those trafficking narcotics, arms and people. Existing international laws against money laundering should be used to follow the money trial and to prosecute these criminals."
I think that this is wrong. Killing animals for personal reasons, to use their body parts for unnecessary reasons. I think that this crime should be stopped now and to keep these animals from becoming extinct. they are very important to our society and very important to other animals around them.
Sisters In Arms
By James Dao
This article is about how the pentagon is now allowing the same equality for men in the army to women. Women are now being accepted in the army and have more rights in the army as men. They thought that having women i the army would be different because they thought that having a woman die in the army would have people angry and that it would be more traumatic. But they found out that people react to a woman's death just the same as a man's.
The Navy, Air Force, and the Army has to make plans to carry out the policy. "Military officials say that more than 200,000 jobs could now open to women, including elite Special Operations commando units like the Navy SEALS and Delta Force. A high percentage of men fail to make the cut for those units."
All though the pentagon has allowed this new policy, they have vowed that "the standards will not be lowered to make it easier for women to join combat units."
Back in 1861, women used to disguise themselves as me just to join the army. In 1917, they were only allowed to become nurses, but never to fight in the Army. In the army or out at war, there are more men soldiers dying than women.
"When the military goes to full integration, it allows commanders to put the best person for the job, not just the best man," Greg Jacob says, whom is a former U.S Marine and is a supporter of this change. " If the best shot in the platoon is a woman, i can make her a sniper. But until now, i couldn't do that."
Some are skeptical about the change, questioning a woman's strength, and carrying out daily missions.
Duncan Hunter, a representative, and a Marine Corps Veteran, says that it's "incidental combat," he says that "the direct combat duties of our advanced and most elite ground operators."
"The question here is whether this change will actually make our military better at operating in combat, specifically finding and targeting the enemy." says Hunter.
I thought that women were already able to be in the army without a problem. A close friend of mine has been in the army for a long time and she works with guns and stuff. I never knew that it was a problem for women or that it was hard for women to get into the army until now. I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to serve their country. I'm happy about the change because it has made women and men fully equal in the situation and now women can be in the army and do what the do best. Serve their country.
This article is about how the pentagon is now allowing the same equality for men in the army to women. Women are now being accepted in the army and have more rights in the army as men. They thought that having women i the army would be different because they thought that having a woman die in the army would have people angry and that it would be more traumatic. But they found out that people react to a woman's death just the same as a man's.
The Navy, Air Force, and the Army has to make plans to carry out the policy. "Military officials say that more than 200,000 jobs could now open to women, including elite Special Operations commando units like the Navy SEALS and Delta Force. A high percentage of men fail to make the cut for those units."
All though the pentagon has allowed this new policy, they have vowed that "the standards will not be lowered to make it easier for women to join combat units."
Back in 1861, women used to disguise themselves as me just to join the army. In 1917, they were only allowed to become nurses, but never to fight in the Army. In the army or out at war, there are more men soldiers dying than women.
"When the military goes to full integration, it allows commanders to put the best person for the job, not just the best man," Greg Jacob says, whom is a former U.S Marine and is a supporter of this change. " If the best shot in the platoon is a woman, i can make her a sniper. But until now, i couldn't do that."
Some are skeptical about the change, questioning a woman's strength, and carrying out daily missions.
Duncan Hunter, a representative, and a Marine Corps Veteran, says that it's "incidental combat," he says that "the direct combat duties of our advanced and most elite ground operators."
"The question here is whether this change will actually make our military better at operating in combat, specifically finding and targeting the enemy." says Hunter.
I thought that women were already able to be in the army without a problem. A close friend of mine has been in the army for a long time and she works with guns and stuff. I never knew that it was a problem for women or that it was hard for women to get into the army until now. I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to serve their country. I'm happy about the change because it has made women and men fully equal in the situation and now women can be in the army and do what the do best. Serve their country.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Cyber War
By Patricia Smith
This article is about how hackers attacked Saudi Arabia's oil company called Saudi Aramco. The state-owned company valued at $7 trillion. Last August 15, over 55,ooo Saudi Arabia Employees were at home getting ready to celebrate the Muslim holiday. A computer virus started to attack the system at exactly 11:o8. The computer virus started erasing 75% of the data the "Aramco's corporate PCs, documents, spreadsheets, e-mails, files, replacing everything with an image of a burning American flag."
"U.S officials say that Iran was behind the attack."
After the virus was stopped, more than 3o,ooo computers were useless.
"It proved you don't have to be sophisticated to do a lot of damage," said Richard Clarke, a former white house counterterrorism official. "There are lots of targets in the U.S. where they could do the same thing. The attacks were intended to say: 'If you mess with us, you can expect retaliation.' "
A defense secretary says that the United States is facing a "cyber Pearl Harbor," which is making Washington worried.
The masterminds of the cyberwar are China and Iran. They are the ones who are doing most of the attacking. The United States don't start the war but will retaliate if need be. China's government has been trying to steal information the Pentagon. Intelligence officials think that Iran is responsible for the attacks on Wells Fargo and PNC bank.
I think that it's really stupid, these cyber attacks. I think that the U.S. should just try to create something to prevent these cyber attacks. They are easy to do, if your intelligent, and not much to prevent them. To protect their information, and to keep it from happening again.
This article is about how hackers attacked Saudi Arabia's oil company called Saudi Aramco. The state-owned company valued at $7 trillion. Last August 15, over 55,ooo Saudi Arabia Employees were at home getting ready to celebrate the Muslim holiday. A computer virus started to attack the system at exactly 11:o8. The computer virus started erasing 75% of the data the "Aramco's corporate PCs, documents, spreadsheets, e-mails, files, replacing everything with an image of a burning American flag."
"U.S officials say that Iran was behind the attack."
After the virus was stopped, more than 3o,ooo computers were useless.
"It proved you don't have to be sophisticated to do a lot of damage," said Richard Clarke, a former white house counterterrorism official. "There are lots of targets in the U.S. where they could do the same thing. The attacks were intended to say: 'If you mess with us, you can expect retaliation.' "
A defense secretary says that the United States is facing a "cyber Pearl Harbor," which is making Washington worried.
The masterminds of the cyberwar are China and Iran. They are the ones who are doing most of the attacking. The United States don't start the war but will retaliate if need be. China's government has been trying to steal information the Pentagon. Intelligence officials think that Iran is responsible for the attacks on Wells Fargo and PNC bank.
I think that it's really stupid, these cyber attacks. I think that the U.S. should just try to create something to prevent these cyber attacks. They are easy to do, if your intelligent, and not much to prevent them. To protect their information, and to keep it from happening again.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Colorado school bars transgendered 1st-grader from using girls' restroom
By Edd Payne, CNN
A first grader by the name of Coy Mathis who is said to be transgendered, was told by the school district that she could no longer use the girls restroom. Coy was born with sex male organs but she calls herself a female. She dresses as a girl and all of her important information including her passport and her state identification says she's a girl. Coy's mother and father said that they were shocked at the news
"We were very confused because everything was going so well, and they had been so accepting, and all of a sudden it changed and it was very confusing and very upsetting because we knew that, by doing that, she was going to go back to being unhappy," Mrs. Mathis told CNN. "It was going to set her up for a lot of bad things."
Mrs. Mathis was scared that people would start picking with her son/daughter, she took her/him out of school during the winter break. The attorney Michael Silverman from "the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund" is representing Mathis.
"For many transgender people, discrimination is a daily part of life. Unfortunately for Coy, it has started very early," Silverman said. "The world is going to be looking at the school, which can send a message to the world and teach tolerance, fair play and equal rights."
Mrs. Mathis said that she had got a call out of the clear blue and a letter saying that as Coy grows, his body is going to grow, and as his body starts to develop is going to make people uncomfortable and make the girls uncomfortable that he's using the restroom with. They are now filing a Civil Rights Complaint.
I think that it's so disturbing and so not normal for a first-grader to believe that he is a girl. The parents are allowing it and it's not cool. That's disrespectful, and I think that the reason for this boy to believe he's a girl has something to do with his parents. Coy i was born as a boy, and he should stay as a boy until he's old enough to understand what being transgendered and gay is. Right now, i don't believe that he knows what it is. I really think that the reason for him being a girl is because of family members, peers, or his parents. I definitely agree with the school district, he is a BOY, he was born with MALE ORGANS, and he should used the restroom with the rest of the BOYS.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/27/us/colorado-transgender-girl-school/index.html?hpt=hp_c1
A first grader by the name of Coy Mathis who is said to be transgendered, was told by the school district that she could no longer use the girls restroom. Coy was born with sex male organs but she calls herself a female. She dresses as a girl and all of her important information including her passport and her state identification says she's a girl. Coy's mother and father said that they were shocked at the news
"We were very confused because everything was going so well, and they had been so accepting, and all of a sudden it changed and it was very confusing and very upsetting because we knew that, by doing that, she was going to go back to being unhappy," Mrs. Mathis told CNN. "It was going to set her up for a lot of bad things."
Mrs. Mathis was scared that people would start picking with her son/daughter, she took her/him out of school during the winter break. The attorney Michael Silverman from "the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund" is representing Mathis.
"For many transgender people, discrimination is a daily part of life. Unfortunately for Coy, it has started very early," Silverman said. "The world is going to be looking at the school, which can send a message to the world and teach tolerance, fair play and equal rights."
Mrs. Mathis said that she had got a call out of the clear blue and a letter saying that as Coy grows, his body is going to grow, and as his body starts to develop is going to make people uncomfortable and make the girls uncomfortable that he's using the restroom with. They are now filing a Civil Rights Complaint.
I think that it's so disturbing and so not normal for a first-grader to believe that he is a girl. The parents are allowing it and it's not cool. That's disrespectful, and I think that the reason for this boy to believe he's a girl has something to do with his parents. Coy i was born as a boy, and he should stay as a boy until he's old enough to understand what being transgendered and gay is. Right now, i don't believe that he knows what it is. I really think that the reason for him being a girl is because of family members, peers, or his parents. I definitely agree with the school district, he is a BOY, he was born with MALE ORGANS, and he should used the restroom with the rest of the BOYS.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/27/us/colorado-transgender-girl-school/index.html?hpt=hp_c1
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Historically Incorrect Canoodling
By Stephanie Coontz
This article, "Historically Incorrect Canoodling," is about the history of valentine's day.Valentine's day was made by the Roman Catholic Church to limit sexual activities and love. They didn't want people to love each other, they believed that women were just for bearing children and that was all. You weren't allowed to love anyone back than. But later, people turned the holiday into a love fest. No one, back then, believed that love was real or that you should love someone or be in love with someone.
Valentine's day was named after a Christian priest who was "martyred in the third century." It is said that Valentine didn't follow a rule with conducting marriages for soldiers and he fell in love with his jailor's daughter. He wrote a letter to her before he died and said "From Your Valentine."
The church then made the February of 14, St. Valentine's day. It wasn't in favor of love, it was to honor a roman goddess of marriage and love. A festival was created called Lupercalia on Feb. 15, and the night before was when boys drew a girls name from a jar to be their sexual partner for a year.
One-hundred years after the 17th century Europeans and Americans had agreed upon letting marriage be of love and letting women chose their own lovers.
I believe that how Valentine's day started was extremely crazy. First or all, they started it after some man who was executed for something that made absolutely no sense. He loved his jailors daughter and sent her a letter. And the fact that the day the Valentine's day used to be a day that boys could pick girls names at random as a sex partner for the year??! That's ridiculous. I'm glad that the holiday changed and Americans and the Europeans had agreed upon the whole marriage ordeal. I'm happy for Valentine's day because that's the day that the person you're with can show you just how much she/or he loves you!
This article, "Historically Incorrect Canoodling," is about the history of valentine's day.Valentine's day was made by the Roman Catholic Church to limit sexual activities and love. They didn't want people to love each other, they believed that women were just for bearing children and that was all. You weren't allowed to love anyone back than. But later, people turned the holiday into a love fest. No one, back then, believed that love was real or that you should love someone or be in love with someone.
Valentine's day was named after a Christian priest who was "martyred in the third century." It is said that Valentine didn't follow a rule with conducting marriages for soldiers and he fell in love with his jailor's daughter. He wrote a letter to her before he died and said "From Your Valentine."
The church then made the February of 14, St. Valentine's day. It wasn't in favor of love, it was to honor a roman goddess of marriage and love. A festival was created called Lupercalia on Feb. 15, and the night before was when boys drew a girls name from a jar to be their sexual partner for a year.
One-hundred years after the 17th century Europeans and Americans had agreed upon letting marriage be of love and letting women chose their own lovers.
I believe that how Valentine's day started was extremely crazy. First or all, they started it after some man who was executed for something that made absolutely no sense. He loved his jailors daughter and sent her a letter. And the fact that the day the Valentine's day used to be a day that boys could pick girls names at random as a sex partner for the year??! That's ridiculous. I'm glad that the holiday changed and Americans and the Europeans had agreed upon the whole marriage ordeal. I'm happy for Valentine's day because that's the day that the person you're with can show you just how much she/or he loves you!
Friday, February 22, 2013
Belly Button Bacteria
By The New York Times
This article,"Belly Button Bacteria," is about how scientists found a new species in people's belly buttons. Scientist "swabbed five-hundred belly buttons and analyzed sixty samples with surprising results." They found over two-thousand species. Over a thousand are new to the science world.
"Some of the bacterial discoveries were downright strange."
A man had a species in his navel "common in soil in Japan." He had never been to Japan.
Someone else had held bacteria from "Polar ice caps."
Scientists and researches are hoping to collect more DNA from the navel bacteria. More research may lead to find that belly button bacteria may play a role in people's health.
I think that belly button dirt is so nasty. I believe that it is one of the worst the that can be on your body. I mean, they are getting swabbed for the tests but why do they have the dirt in their belly buttons anyway? It shouldn't be there. I remember a time when a girl had showed me the belly button dirt on her finger telling me that it's supposed to be there, and if you take it off, your belly button will fall off or fall apart. All i could do was laugh. It was one of the funniest and the stupidest thing i have ever heard. And what made it even funnier was that she was dead serious.
This article,"Belly Button Bacteria," is about how scientists found a new species in people's belly buttons. Scientist "swabbed five-hundred belly buttons and analyzed sixty samples with surprising results." They found over two-thousand species. Over a thousand are new to the science world.
"Some of the bacterial discoveries were downright strange."
A man had a species in his navel "common in soil in Japan." He had never been to Japan.
Someone else had held bacteria from "Polar ice caps."
Scientists and researches are hoping to collect more DNA from the navel bacteria. More research may lead to find that belly button bacteria may play a role in people's health.
I think that belly button dirt is so nasty. I believe that it is one of the worst the that can be on your body. I mean, they are getting swabbed for the tests but why do they have the dirt in their belly buttons anyway? It shouldn't be there. I remember a time when a girl had showed me the belly button dirt on her finger telling me that it's supposed to be there, and if you take it off, your belly button will fall off or fall apart. All i could do was laugh. It was one of the funniest and the stupidest thing i have ever heard. And what made it even funnier was that she was dead serious.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Give Lance Another Chance?
Cnn
This article,"Give Lance Another Chance?, is about how Lance Armstrong cheating his way to the top and everyone seeing him as a disgrace. He lied about cycling and for a very long time. He apologized to his charity, and will be interveiwed by Oprah. Some say that he still has a chance to redeem himself despite of what he has done and others say that he shouldn't be forgiven and he is no longer trustworthy.
Frida Ghitis said,"Lance Armstrong's story of triumph over adversity captured the imagination of millions around the world, including people like me, who don't usually spend a lot of time absorbed in following sports news. That's because Armstrong's achievements recovering from cancer and then breaking records in the cycling world made him a source of inspiration, an icon of hope."
"The important ethical question isn't wether Lance deserves a second chance. Chance to do what? Cheat in seven more tours? Lie about it seven more times? Bully seven more teammates into doping? He behaved badly and is rightly censured," said Randy Cohen. "But that should be the beginning, not the end, of this disheartening story."
"No, he gets no second chance from me," said Roxanne Jones. "There are too many reasons to question his apology."
"He's almost 42, forget about it." said Jeff Pearlman.
While others have their opinions about it, I have mine. I didn't really know anything about Lance Armstrong until I read this article. I've heard of him of course but i never knew what he was famous for. If he cheated his way to the top, who cares? Who says that this man shouldn't be given a second chance? Everybody makes mistakes and it may take a very long time for a person to learn from the same mistake. He more than likely lied about it because he didn't want to be viewed differently by the public eye as a bad role model. He wanted to be great and an encourager, so of course, he lied but people lie all the time. I believe that he should be forgiven because if the show was on the other foot, someone would probably want people to forgive them as well.
This article,"Give Lance Another Chance?, is about how Lance Armstrong cheating his way to the top and everyone seeing him as a disgrace. He lied about cycling and for a very long time. He apologized to his charity, and will be interveiwed by Oprah. Some say that he still has a chance to redeem himself despite of what he has done and others say that he shouldn't be forgiven and he is no longer trustworthy.
Frida Ghitis said,"Lance Armstrong's story of triumph over adversity captured the imagination of millions around the world, including people like me, who don't usually spend a lot of time absorbed in following sports news. That's because Armstrong's achievements recovering from cancer and then breaking records in the cycling world made him a source of inspiration, an icon of hope."
"The important ethical question isn't wether Lance deserves a second chance. Chance to do what? Cheat in seven more tours? Lie about it seven more times? Bully seven more teammates into doping? He behaved badly and is rightly censured," said Randy Cohen. "But that should be the beginning, not the end, of this disheartening story."
"No, he gets no second chance from me," said Roxanne Jones. "There are too many reasons to question his apology."
"He's almost 42, forget about it." said Jeff Pearlman.
While others have their opinions about it, I have mine. I didn't really know anything about Lance Armstrong until I read this article. I've heard of him of course but i never knew what he was famous for. If he cheated his way to the top, who cares? Who says that this man shouldn't be given a second chance? Everybody makes mistakes and it may take a very long time for a person to learn from the same mistake. He more than likely lied about it because he didn't want to be viewed differently by the public eye as a bad role model. He wanted to be great and an encourager, so of course, he lied but people lie all the time. I believe that he should be forgiven because if the show was on the other foot, someone would probably want people to forgive them as well.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Civil War in Syria Raises Questions About When to Intervene
By Ja'anai Delaney for NewsHour Extra
This article, Civil War in Syria Raises Questions About When to Intervene, is about a war that is currently going on in Syria. It is a war between the military that is loyal to the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and protest fighters. "However, in an attempt to justify his brutal crackdown, Assad has blamed foreign actors and terrorists for the initial uprising and continued violence." The war is making it unsafe for innocent people who live in the country. They are fleeing from their homes to refugee camps in need of food, water, shelter, and for those who are sick, medicine. "(UNHCR) The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that over 200,000 people have fled their homes for calmer parts of Syria or neighboring countries such as Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon."
"The united Nations estimates that as many as 2.5 million people have been affected by the crisis."
The other countries do accept the refugees but they don't have enough resources to care for other people outside of their community.
"The opposition is a patchwork of groups fighting to overthrow Assad and establish a democracy in his place. The opposition includes the Free Syrian Army, the Syrian Liberation Army and fighters across the region. Terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda have even joined the fight, worrying outside observers."
The United states is wondering wiether or not if they should intervene in this fight to see if they can help those "caught in the crossfire." The U.S and other peoples are seeming supporters of the "anti-regime groups, they said that they will not get in between the war unless Assad use Chemical Weapons."
Assad is also threatening that if the U.S gets involved that they would hurt them as well, so the U.s is trying to not have anymore people get hurt in the process for a fight that's not ours.
The armies in Syria have a lot of weapons and there have been reports of city massacres.
I do not think that United States should get involved because it would do more harm than good. The U.S is always seemingly to get into some nonsense that had nothing to do with us and then it backfires, like the reason for the 9/11 attacks. The war started over a fight for oil and it backfired and killed hundreds of people in the process. I think that the U.S should just wait it out and see what happens, weither the kill Assad or her kills his opposers, I believe that us intervening would make things worse putting innocent lives in danger and there could be another attack like the 9/11.
This article, Civil War in Syria Raises Questions About When to Intervene, is about a war that is currently going on in Syria. It is a war between the military that is loyal to the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and protest fighters. "However, in an attempt to justify his brutal crackdown, Assad has blamed foreign actors and terrorists for the initial uprising and continued violence." The war is making it unsafe for innocent people who live in the country. They are fleeing from their homes to refugee camps in need of food, water, shelter, and for those who are sick, medicine. "(UNHCR) The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that over 200,000 people have fled their homes for calmer parts of Syria or neighboring countries such as Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon."
"The united Nations estimates that as many as 2.5 million people have been affected by the crisis."
The other countries do accept the refugees but they don't have enough resources to care for other people outside of their community.
"The opposition is a patchwork of groups fighting to overthrow Assad and establish a democracy in his place. The opposition includes the Free Syrian Army, the Syrian Liberation Army and fighters across the region. Terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda have even joined the fight, worrying outside observers."
The United states is wondering wiether or not if they should intervene in this fight to see if they can help those "caught in the crossfire." The U.S and other peoples are seeming supporters of the "anti-regime groups, they said that they will not get in between the war unless Assad use Chemical Weapons."
Assad is also threatening that if the U.S gets involved that they would hurt them as well, so the U.s is trying to not have anymore people get hurt in the process for a fight that's not ours.
The armies in Syria have a lot of weapons and there have been reports of city massacres.
I do not think that United States should get involved because it would do more harm than good. The U.S is always seemingly to get into some nonsense that had nothing to do with us and then it backfires, like the reason for the 9/11 attacks. The war started over a fight for oil and it backfired and killed hundreds of people in the process. I think that the U.S should just wait it out and see what happens, weither the kill Assad or her kills his opposers, I believe that us intervening would make things worse putting innocent lives in danger and there could be another attack like the 9/11.
Friday, January 25, 2013
All work no play: Why Your Kids Are More Anxious, Depressed
By Esther Entin
This article,"All work and no play," is about how children are becoming more anxious when they have no free time to play. Children don't have as much free time now as they did when their parents were younger and it's because the interference of school and parents. School and school work is taking up much more time than it has before and giving the children no free time to play. Parents are not letting children go outside and play anymore because of safety issues. Their time are being regulated and only giving them little time to themselves, which can cause depression and anxiety.
"Since about 1955...children's free play has been continually declining, at least partly because adult's have exerted ever-increasing control over children's activities," says the author Peter Gray.
The article lists five ways that play benefits children. "Play gives children a chance to find and develop a connection to their own self identified and self-guided interests, It is through play that children first learn how to make decisisions, solve problems, exert self control, and follow rules, children learn to handle their emotions, including anger and fear, during play; play helps children make friends and learn to get along with each others as equals, and most importantly play is a source of happiness."
Each benefit of play describes why children need more free time.
I agree with this article. I think that children deserve more free time because of the simple fact that most of their time is dedicated to school. The children are still young and they have to get out and explore. take an adventure and play. And then at least every decade the time children play gets lower and lower because of things getting in their way. A child being cooped up in a house all his or her life isn't going to help the child grow. they'll have a lack of responsibility because they hadn't gotten the chance to be responsible.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Philadelphia superintendent identifies schools he intends to close
This article,"Philadelphia superintendent identifies schools he intends to close," is about how the Philadelphia superintendent is trying to shut down 37 schools to save money. 11 of them are high schools, 22 of them are elementary schools, and four of them are middle schools. Thirty-seven schools are closing to get back $28 million. They are using excuses like, the schools aren't being used, schools haven't met the academic standards, and they don't have to pay for a lot of teachers, etc.
"This is a historic moment for us," William R. Hite Jr. said at a news conference.
Not only will people lose their jobs, but the students will have to be moved and learn to adapt to the new environment. Some good schools are being moved in to bad schools and some bad schools are being moved to good schools. For example, Paul Robeson is moving to Sayre and Communications Technology is moving to Bartram.
"Officials believe very strongly that our public-school system is an institution worth saving," Hite said.
"Many superintendents chose to kick the can and continue to just kick it down and let someone else deal with it," Hite said."There's no more room to kick the can," he said.
They plan on selling the empty schools to people who wants to buy them.
I think that this proposal is a bad idea. A lot of these children are coming from different areas of Philadelphia, so for children to travel from their original school to go to a father school is not good and is actually costing more money to hand out transpass's. I also think that the increasing the number of kids in classrooms will take a toll on the child's learning. It can cause problems and violence as well, being in a new school and the anger of getting switched can help cause fights.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Do We Have The Courage to Stop This?
By Nicholas D. Kristof
This article,"Do We Have The Courage to Stop This?" is about the children who died in the school shooting in Connecticut. Twenty children were shot and killed between the ages 5 and 10. Eight adults were murdered as well including the person who did the shooting and his mother. It is said that he had mental disabilities but no one knows why he did what he did.
This article is also about trying to eliminate as many of gun usages as possible. Everyone knows that we can't stop all gun violence but we can stop some of it. The U.S is really going to band guns, but people want to at least decrease the carnage.
"Ladders kill around 300 Americans a year , and guns 30,000."
No one will stand up to the N.R.A (National Rifle Association), not even the lawmakers will "regulate real guns as carefully as we do toys."
Some people say that regulating guns won't make much a difference because someone crazy will always be able to get a gun.
In Canada, you have to wait 28 days to be able to get a hand gun and need two people to vouch for them. It is too easy to get a hand gun in America. Why can't we do like Canada and make it harder to get a gun.
I agree with this article on the fact that guns are too easier to receive. I think that the law should change on being able to get guns so easily. It is not safe to just give out guns to everybody who wants one, especially because people are crazy and you never know what a person might do with that gun that your handing to them. I think if the lawmakers change the law and make hand guns harder to get that the world would be much safer than it is right now.
Marijuana law just creates criminals
By Hakeem Jeffries, Special to CNN
This article, "Marijuana law just creates criminals," is about how the law on marijuana has made arrests on it go sky rocket. The state made a law 30 years ago, making a private possession of marijuana of less than 25 grams a violation and having to pay an $100 fine. Having possession of the small amount out in public will still be a misdemeanor. Unfortunately, more than 50,000 citizens were arrested in 2011 in NYC for having small amounts of marijuana in their possession. Most of them were Latino and black. NYC spends about $75 million dollars on arresting people for having a possession of marijuana every year. "Marijuana is the number one arrest category in NY."
"The vast majority of these people live in communities of color, and almost 90% are immediately released without arrest or even a summons."
Police approach young people often and make them empty their pockets and she them whatever they have. Those of them who have a small possession of marijuana, it is now in public view.
"Thousands of people are arrested and charged with misdemeanor possession, punishable by up to three months in jail and a $500 fine."
I think that what the cops are doing is wrong. Making young people, especially young people of color, empty out their pockets and being frisked. Basically what they're doing here is looking for people, just to look for them. I believe that they just want to have a reason to pull a black or Latino person over and give them a misdemeanor.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Suspect arrested in Kutcher-Bieber 'swatting' prank
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By Alan Duke, CNN
This article, "Suspect arrested in Kutcher-Bieber 'swatting' prank," is about how someone, possibly a youth, called 911 reporting an emergency at actor Ashton Kutcher's house in Hollywood, California. Los Angeles police says that they've captured the person that they think made the prank call. A California juvenile, who is not identified, is suspected of the prank calling on the October 3 swatting incident, who was also targeting Justin Bieber's home.The prank caller told 911 that there were about seven people shot in Kutcher's home and that there were men with guns and explosives."The comments of the call advised that there were individuals inside the location with guns and explosives, and that several people had been shot," police said.
Lots of cops and firefighters rushed to Kutcher's home after the report to find only Kutcher's workers and no emergency. Kutcher also rushed home after he found out. He was on the set of the sitcom "Two And A Half Men."
"Hollywood division detectives worked with the FBI and police in Long Beach, California, to find the suspect, who was arrested on December 10," police said.
"swatting is when computer hackers utilize their skills to place false emergency calls of serious crimes in progress to law enforcement and fire dispatch centers, thus a large number of first responders to arrive," police said. "The swatting practice is extremely dangerous and places first responders and citizens in harm's way."
The District Attorney's Office in Los Angeles County is looking over the case trying to figure out how to prosecute the suspect.
police also said that. "other incidents that may be linked to the suspect have also been identified."
I don't think that they should prosecute the youth just yet. I think that they should wait a little while longer to gather up more information first. I do think that what the person did was very wrong and not exceptable at all and whoever did it should serve some time in jail. Serious pranks like this is not funny and it can lead to harm. I hope they find the person who really did it and stop this from happening again weither it is a celebrity's home or a normal person's home.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/18/showbiz/kutcher-swatting-arrest/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Why it's taking so long to restore power after Sandy
By Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai, Mashable
Daily News Article
This news article,"Why it's taking so long to restore power after Sandy," is about how it is taking a long time to bring back power in the Northeastern coast of the United States after Sandy came. There are major power outages in lower Manhattan from 30th street down to the tip of the island and in New Jersey. Hurricane Sandy was one of the worst storms that the Northeast has ever encountered and it damaged the whole electrical grid.
"The severity of the storm hit us so bad that it really took a beating on both our underground and overhead systems." Said Alfonso Quiroz, a Con Edison Spokesman.
"Each circuit has to be checked to make sure it's in good shape." According to Sakis Meliopoulos, a professor of electrical energy.
Sandy's winds knocked out trees and overhead power lines, and the water flooded underground substations. 930,000 customers had no power within the last couple of days due to "the most devastating storm in company history," as Con Edison referred to it.
In New york, Hurricane Sandy knocked out distribution lines, flooded basements that held backup generators, and transformers, and overwhelmed underground substations and subway lines, which sometimes held electrical cables. Sandy even cause some of the transformers to explode.
In Manhattan, the flooding of the substations are seemingly the problem. Technicians have to pump out the water and then clean all the equipment to get rid of the salt water before drying them.
"If you re-energize the system without cleaning, you could cause more widespread damage," says Vijay Vittal, a professor of electrical engineering at Arizona State University.
After all the cleaning and drying, some of the equipment might have to be replaced or fixed. And then, it needs to be tested and checked before using them again.
My thoughts on this article is why are the engineers taking so long to fix the problem. It been a little over a month since Sandy hit and their still not done? I hope that everything goes back to normal and they fix them properly and hopefully there will not be any more severe storms coming in a long time. They have their work cut out for them and the faster they get it done, the faster things will go back to usual.
http://www.studentnewsdaily.com/daily-news-article/why-its-taking-so-long-to-restore-power-after-sandy/
Friday, November 30, 2012
Teens at the wheel
By Ted Gregory
Chicago Tribune Reporter
This article, Teens At The Wheel, is about how people want to raise the age of when teens can start driving. The article states that 16 is not the right age to get a driver's license because of safety issues.
Most of the accidents that happen in cars involves a teenager. The Insurance Institute research shows that "licensing at later ages would substantially reduce crashes involving teen drivers." Crash related deaths in New Jersey among 17-year-olds is 18 per 100,000 compared to the 26 per 100,000 in Connecticut, which had a minimum driver's license of 16 and 4 months.
The article says that raising age would cause crash related deaths because we're loosing a lot of teens each year. They want to raise the age of getting a license to 18. 50% of parents agree and support raising the age. Some do and some don't.
"Idealistically, I think it'd be great to raise the minimum age. But practically? No. There's no mass transit to get to work, to get to jobs." Said Ken Biggs, chairman of the driver's education department at Schaumburg High School.
"I don't think it matters what age you are," the Hinsdale Central High School sophomore said Monday,"as long as you have the practice and experience. "
"I think it would be better to wait." said Ryan Moore, 16, of Schaumburg. He got his driver's license in June.
I don't think that they should raise the age of when we can get our driver's license. When I turn sixteen, I plan on getting my driver's license so i won't be so dependent on the bus or on other people to drive me places. I want to be independent and drive myself where ever I need to go and i also think it's cool to have a car.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Yay! Boo! So? Reactions to Obama win vary
Peter Mucha, Breaking News Desk, Philadelphia Daily News
This article, "Yay! Boo! So? Reactions to Obama win vary," is about how certain people feel about Obama being president again. If they feel as though Mitt Romney is going to become president or if Obama is going to serve another four years in the white house. This article is based on peoples thoughts on the election and the candidates. Some people found the candidates disappointing.
"I'm a little bit disappointed. I wasn't really happy with either candidate," said Marty Brenna, 49, from Laurel Springs who is a boilermaker, sitting outside of the Audubon Wawa in his car. "Obama apparently just ran a better campaign, mobilizing high voter turnout," he said.
"I'm not happy," said Chuck Rihl, who is 51, from Haddon Heights. "I haven't had a job in over a year.
Other people weren't amused at all. There were some people who were annoyed.
Scott, a caller from the morning show "The Big Talker," said that,"People are brainless. They'll believe whatever they're spoonfed." Scott was also annoyed about what he calls media racial bias. "Where's the white guys vote?" he said. "I'm tired of hearing about the black vote, the Latino vote."
"I'm pretty indifferent," said Lisa Pierce, who is 30 and is a medical research coordinator from Conshocken. "Either way, they need to get their act together," said Pierce, who didn't vote.
Others were happy, excited, thrilled about the debates, election, and the candidtates.
"I'm thrilled to death," said Barbara Drucker, who is 61, and a Collingswood flight attendant. "I would never have voted for Romney on women's issues alone."
"Very happy" is how Mary Szybist, who is 43 and of media, described her reaction. "I didn't feel like i got a sense of who Romney was and that i could trust anything he said," Szybist said. "Obama needs to fight hard to fulfill his campaign promises when it come to the economy, funding for education, women's rights and building America."
I feel as though, both candidates did a great job during their campaign. I was on Obama's side and have always been since he first ran for president back in 2008. He's been a great attribute to America and i think that he will continue making the economy, and other things better for the next four years. Romney was only for they upper-class citizens, i fell like. He was only going to enhance and make things better for those who alreadfy have everything and leave those who are not as fortunate behind. I'm so happy that this election went exactly how I hoped, Obama won!
Friday, October 26, 2012
Attention Disorder Or Not, Pills To Help In School
By Alan Schwarz
This article, "Attention Disorder Or Not, Pills To Help In School," is about how doctors are giving children medicine to help them in school. They use the medicine for children with disorders such as A.D.H.D (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and kids without it. Dr. Michael Anderson who is a pediatrician in Canton,Ga. says that the diagnosis is an excuse to give these children medicine and that it is made up. He also states, "I don't have a whole lot of choice," said Dr. Anderson."We've decided as a society that it's too expensive to changer the kid's environment. So we have to change the kid."
The medicine such as Adderall, Risperdal, Clonidine, and other medications is prescribed to help struggling children focus in school who are less fortunate and whose families don't have a lot of money. The article says that wealthy students are also using these medications to boost grades that are already good. In other words, people are abusing the medicine and using it the wrong way.
"We as a society have been unwilling to invest in very effective non-pharmaceutical interventions for these children and their families," said Dr. Ramesh Raghavan, a child mental-health researcher in St. Louis at Washington University."We are effectively forcing local community psychiatrists to use the only tool at their disposal, which is medictations."
9.5% of Americans who are children from ages 4-17 were diagnosed with A.D.H.D in 2007. Which is about 5.4 million kids,"according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." The number has increased rapidly for over a decade. The disorder and the medicine for the disorder is being handed out freely as if it's free food. Some of these medications have side effects that could harm the child such as growth suppression, psychotic episodes, and an increase of blood pressure.
I don't agree with giving just any child medicine and telling them that they have A.D.H.D. My brother has this diability and the medicine does help a lot. But i do not agree with just giving any one anything.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Using Ipads Before Bed
From the British newspaper "The Daily Telegraph"This article is about how people are using devices like Ipads, Tablets, and others before bed. It says that it is stoping users from getting any sleep. Because the room is dark when people are using them, the brain tells the body that it is time to go to sleep. But the light from the devices are stopping that pattern. The brain still thinks that it is still daytime when the bright blue light is shinning in the users face. The bright light is kindof mocking the daylight from outside. The longer the light is shinning in the users face and the brighter it is, the longer it'll take for the person to got to sleep.
"Neurologists have known for years that staring at screens late in the evening can disrupt sleep – be they television screens, computer screens or mobile phone screens." The article says. "However, because cell phones and tablets are by nature portable… more people are taking them into the bedroom."
People who do research at the Lighting Research Center, In New York at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, are saying that looking at a device for a really long time “leads to a suppression of our natural melatonin levels as the devices emit optical radiation at short wavelengths.” Which means that they emit the blue light. They say that if you are to use them at night, set the light down some. Make sure that it is not too bright and that it won't effect your sleep.
Even though sleep can be affected in this case, other things can be affected too. You can risk getting breast cancer and obesity.
This can also affect people who already have sleep disruption problems and those who have normal sleep patterns. This could not affect me because i dont use these things before bed or in the dark with high light. I usually turn the light down because the light will usually hurt my eyes if im in the dark. If you do not want to have a poor night's sleep everytime you use these portable devices, start by turning down the brightness on them.
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