Arkansas blast fatally burns 3 beyond recognition

Dmitry P.
U.S.
Post #4
Arkansas Blast fatally burns 3 beyond recognition
CNN May 21, 2012
256 words

A three man oil crew was killed in an explosion in El Dorado, Arkansas, while dismantling an abandoned containment vessel filled with residual oil vapors, the Arkansas Emergency Management. The crew was working for the Long Brothers Oil Co. The blast occurred at about 4 p.m. Arkansas. EMS spokesman Chad Stover says that: "During the dismantling, there was an ignition of vapors inside one of the tanks, All three were killed and they were burned beyond recognition. The El Dorado Fire Department initially responded to the explosion and had since controlled the fire. Flames from the blast however ignited a separate fire in a wooded area near the abandoned oil site.

I think this article is important so we know how dangerous some jobs in the world can be. That this can happen to everyone and anyone. We must always take precautionary steps before completing any work.

Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. Teens facing diabetes

Dmitry P.
Post #3
Health
Nearly 1 in 4 teens facing diabetes
CNN May 21, 2012
567 words

The proportion of U.S. adolescents with diabetes has jumped dramatically since the 1990's. As of 2008 23 percent of all adolescents between the age of 12 and 19 have diabetes. Likewise, rates of other risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure  (14%) and high LDL cholesterol (22%), also known as bad cholesterol, remained high but largely unchanged from the previous decade. This spike should be interpreted with caution because adolescent health is very important researchers claim.Heart attacks, strokes and other forms of full-blown cardiovascular disease are extremely rare in adolescents, but there is some evidence that diabetes, high blood pressure, and unhealthy cholesterol levels can cause lasting damage in this age group, says Elaine M. Urbina, M.D., director of preventive cardiology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.


This article is very important because as an adolescent i am interested to know about the health level of other people my age. I think people my age should go out more for sports instead of sitting in front of a computer and eating lots of junk food. 

Next iPhone will have bigger screen, report says

AJ H
Post #2
Technology
Next iPhone will have bigger screen, report says
Jacqui Cheng
CNN May 16, 2012
160 words


Reports say that Apple is coming out with a new iPhone that has a bigger screen. The original screen size was 3.5 inches and making them 4 inches. The increase in size is being done because of the new Android Galaxy Note which is at 5.3 inches. Reports say that production is planned next month. The new iPhone will not be out till the fall.

FDA Panel Weighs Preventive Use of HIV Drug

AJ H
Post#1
Science
FDA Panel Weighs Preventive Use of HIV Drug
Denise Grady
NY Times May 10, 2012
1 page/1145 words 

As of Thursday of last week the FDA has considered of approving this new drug called Truvada. Truvada is a drug that prevent healthy people decrease their chances of getting HIV. The drug was created because 50,000 people get infected in a year. The panel suggest that it would be prescribed to people with high risks like gay men with multiple sex partners, prostitutes, and relationships with HIV+ people. This drug is not meant to replace condoms but to be used as added protection. This drug is used to treat HIV but can also prevent it.

Cynthia 04

Health

Nearly 1 in 3 have sleepwalking, study finds  by Elizabeth Landau

CNN May 14, 2012

742 words

Researchers published a study in the journal Neurology involving more than 19,000 American adults, and found that nearly 30% had sleepwalk at some point in their lives. Dr. Maurice Ohayon of Stanford University and lead author of the study says sleepwalking can be risky business; some people can harm themselves or others while wandering about. The study authors took into account the participants' usage of medications for sleep, anxiety, depression and other purposes. Those who took over-the-counter sleeping pills and tricyclic antidepressants were more likely to experience sleepwalking at least twice per month.

There have been some bizarre incidents recorded of people's behavior while sleeping. Sleepwalking has been used as a legal defense, sometimes successfully, for people who have allegedly committed crimes while sleeping. 

The precise causes are still mysterious. partly because sleepwalking is so hard to study. It is important to focus on safety measures for people prone to sleepwalking. 

While sleepwalking may seem as a rare thing to happen, it is more common than we think. About a third of American people reported to have sleepwalked some time in their lives, which can sound funny or irrelevant, however, it can be dangerous since people might hurt themselves while sleeping.

Studies have not being able to determine a specific cause or treatment for sleepwalking, however, some recommendations are done such as that of having a regular sleep schedule, reducing noise or light in the place where you sleep, and avoiding stress and fever. A legal question involving sleepwalking used as an excuse for committing crimes could be, was s/he really asleep?

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/14/nearly-1-in-3-have-sleepwalked-study-finds/?hpt=he_c2

Obama’s Switch on Same-Sex Marriage Stirs Skepticism

Ren G: 4th post
Topic: Politics
Title: Obama’s Switch on Same-Sex Marriage Stirs Skepticism
Author:  Peter Baker and Dalia Sussma
Publication: nytimes.com

A recent poll about Obama’s view of same sex marrige has shed new light. Most americans suspect that when the president declared his support for same-sex marrige he was motivated by politics and not by policy. 76% of the people surveyed believe that the president made his decision “mostly for political reasons, and only 24% said “mostly because he thinks it’s right.” Americans view that the president only made his decision because in 2010 vice president Joe Biden proclaimed his support first. Some believe that if Biden had not proclaimed his opinion, neither would the president. Most Americans believe that his point of view would not persuade their decision in voting. In my point of view it is a simple coincidence. People want to create chaos in things that do not have it to simply create it. It is human nature. Most americans here see things as he is a high power and not a human like us. They see him as a perfect person, who knows all and decides all. Not a human who can be indecisive at times. Most people put too much into believing.

A Generation Hobbled by the Soaring Cost of College

Jason Ang
Education
Posting #4
Article: A Generation Hobbled by the Soaring Cost of College

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/business/student-loans-weighing-down-a-generation-with-heavy-debt.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&ref=studentloans&adxnnlx=1337055518-MZEh8SL/OmfxEPNKnGje4A

The Article talks of a young woman, Kelsey Griffith, a to be graduate at Ohio Northern University, that has to start paying off her 120,000 dollar loan.  She works two jobs and will be living with her parents.  Her mom even had to go off life insurance to help pay.  These college debts have become a huge problem for students around the country.

Even though Kelsey's parents earn modest incomes from being a paramedic and a school teacher, their combined wages are not nearly enough to support Kelsey and her four sisters.  Private school seemed like the right path for Kelsey because of the attitude given from the staff, but 4 years later, was it the right decision?

Ninety-four percent of students who earn a bachelor’s degree borrow to pay for higher education.  For all borrowers, the average debt in 2011 was $23,300, with 10 percent owing more than $54,000 and 3 percent more than $100,000, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reports. Average debt for bachelor degree graduates who took out loans ranges from under $10,000 at elite schools like Princeton and Williams College, which have plenty of wealthy students and enormous endowments, to nearly $50,000 at some private colleges with less affluent students and less financial aid.



Much like the mortgage brokers who promised pain-free borrowing to homeowners just a few years back, many colleges don’t offer warnings about student debt in the glossy brochures and pitch letters mailed to prospective students. Instead, reading from the same handbook as for-profit colleges, they urge students not to worry about the costs. That’s because most students don’t pay full price.
Even discounted, the price is beyond the means of many.

Yet too often, students and their parents listen without question.

- New York Times

America's Toughest Sheriff faces off against the U.S

Kevin
Civil Rights
Posting #4
Article: DOJ plans to sue Ariz. Sheriff Arpaio                                   By: AP/ Walter Berry

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2114495,00.html


This article talks about Arizona's Sheriff, Joe Arpaio, and his imprisonment (based on racial profiling) of over 520 latinos as well as numerous reports of civil rights violations. The government ordered that a court-ordered monitor be placed over Arpaio to observe and monitor his actions. Arpaio countered that, "by having a monitor, monitor me, you are nullifying my authority. I refuse." The government told Arpaio's lawyer that if he did not accept the court-ordered monitor than it would result in a federal lawsuit and would result in his temporary loss of ll authority in Arizona. No new news has surfaced regarding the Arpaio incident, but it is a national spotlight as the "Toughest Sheriff in America" faces off against the United States Government.

Puerto Rico on path to becoming bilingual

Colin

Posting #4

Topic: education

Publication:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/08/puerto-rico-governor-fortuno-bilingual_n_1501225.html?ref=education&ir=Education

This article is about a push in Puerto Rico to become bilingual. This effort is a part of the governor’s wishes for Puerto Rico to become the USA’s 51^st state. The territory is hesitant to embrace English, as it has spoken primarily Spanish until now. They are quick to note, however, that they do not intend to leave Spanish in favor of English. Not all classes will be taught in English, though bilingual classes will be receiving more funding. Puerto Rico is currently behind Europe in secondary-language skills, according to a European study. There is some resistance to this though, as English is associated with political motives. It is also rather impractical, because English is hard to learn. Thus, it would require heavy teacher and parent involvement to be successful, which is unlikely. Puerto Rico lacks good English teachers as well, further hindering this. The project is expected to cost $15 million.

Tennessee law bolsters PTA

Colin

Late posting #3

Topic: education

Publication:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/parent-report-cards-are-n_0_n_1507386.html?ref=topbar

This article describes a new Tennessee law that enforces the PTA. It provides a voluntary contract with parents and a self-grading rubric for PTA participation. Some other states have similar laws, but Tennessee is the first to have “report cards” for performance. The hope is that the self-grading will increase awareness of the PTA, rather than necessarily serving as an accurate judgment of participation. The legislation is not likely to be enforced much, but it provides a pathway in writing for parents, which supporters say is the first step. A 2002 study showed that similar programs greatly increased PTA participation. It is intended to address the common complaint that schools don’t get enough support. The law has much support, and the governor has said that he would approve it. The law involves two schools in a four-year pilot program. PTA involvement has already risen since the announcement of the law.

Campaign by health advocates to improve school health

Colin

Late posting #2

Topic: Education

Publication:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/09/us-government-urged-to-fi_n_1504319.html?ref=education

This article is about a campaign by a coalition of health-advocacy groups to improve health in schools. They urged the US government on May 9^th to increase the number of resources devoted to school health. The coalition, including the National Education Association and the American Cancer Society numbered more than 70 groups. Some claims made included that healthy children perform better in school than unhealthy children. They also want more health-oriented schools to combat the rising child-obesity epidemic. In the proposal, they want reimbursement by Medicaid to be made more convenient for schools. It also wants at least one hour of physical activity to be mandatory every day. In addition, it seeks to ban sugary beverages in favor of water. A part of the difficulty in making school-health progress is efforts are normally fragmented across a number of different branches of government. This campaign is an effort to bypass that.

Gluten-sensitivity may increase risk for schizophrenia

Colin

Late posting #1

Topic: health

Publication:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/11/gluten-schizophrenia-sensitivity-celiac-antibodies_n_1509531.html?ref=health-news&ir=Health%20News

According to the article, pregnant women that are gluten-intolerant or gluten-sensitive may be putting their children at risk for neurological disorders such as schizophrenia. Though the exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown, scientists observed a correlation between fetal gluten-antibody levels and schizophrenia development. Since a mother’s antibodies cross the placenta into the fetus’s bloodstream, the fetus develops the same gluten sensitivity as the mother. This also may put the fetus at risk for schizophrenia, the study showed. The study included 764 prenatal blood samples, 211 of which came from people who later developed schizophrenia. When testing the samples, no correlation was found with levels of milk antibodies (lactose intolerance), but a strong correlation was found with gluten antibodies. This is corroborated by earlier studies suggesting a similar relationship, such as the grain shortage in WWII coinciding with a drop in admissions to hospitals for schizophrenia. This study also factored in other risk factors for schizophrenia, and found that the conclusion regarding gluten sensitivity still stood. The scientist responsible said in a statement that this “suggests one potential cheap and easy way to reduce risk if we were to find further proof that gluten sensitivity exacerbates or drives up schizophrenia risk”. This suggests that pregnant women ought to have some gluten in their diet to lower their sensitivity to it, thus reducing risk for their child to later develop schizophrenia.

Retinal implants could restore partial vision

Ameya
Posting #4
Topic: Science
Title: Retinal Implants Could Restore Partial Vision
Author: Rachel Ehrenberg
Publication: Science News
Publication date: May 13, 2012
442 words

Scientists have found that it might be possigble to restore partial vision to people who suffer from blindness. This study implanted solar cell-like chips into rat retinas in order to improve vision, and found that the surgery required was relatively simple and uninvasive. The surgery hasn't yet been tested on humans, but scientists are optimistic based on their findings in rats. Such disorders as retinitis pigmentosa, which leads to night blindness and tunnel vision, and macular degeneration, which causes the loss of peripheral vision, can potentially be reversed. These disorders involve damage to the rods and cones, the light detecting receptors in the eye, for which no known treatment has been discovered; this method may be the first to cure damage to photoreceptors in the eye. This new treatment involves wearing goggles, on which a tiny video camera sits. The images the camera captures stream to a smart-phone-sized computer. The computer then projects the images through near-infrared lasers on the inside of the goggles, into the eyes. Instead of hitting ordinary rods and cones (which are damaged), the laser hits slender photovoltaic chips, which are the chips planted beneath the retina. These artificial chips then create a nerve signal which is sent to the brain, allowing the person to see. This method produces the highest resolution image to the patient of all methods used before; current testing is taking place with rats.

Losing eyesight is a major handicap to all people. Humans rely much more on their sense of sight than on any other sense. Losing the most important sense takes a significant chunk of an indivual's world from him; his life is permanently altered, and he feels as if he is completely disconnected from the outside world. This new method of treatment -- implanting photovoltaic chips beneath the retina of eyes -- has never been tested before, but is showing great potential. Although the image it produces is not perfectly clear, it has been making progress, and in the near future, it is possible that we may be able to find a reliable cure for blindness. All the thousands of blind people on earth can have their precious world returned to them.

A new mission to Mars

Chris C                                                                                                                       Posting #4
Science and Technology
A bold new chance for Mars exploration!                                                         by: Dirk Schulze-Makuch
Huffington Post 5/11/12

       In recent years, several space programs have been launching missions to find life on Mars as well as find if the planet can be suitable for future human colonization. NASA being the leading space program has proposed a new operation dubbed BOLD. This stands for Biological Oxidant and Life Detection. The mission will consist of sending six probes to various locations on Mars. The cones, each weighing approximately 130 pounds, are shaped like inverted cones and will parachute down to the surface. On impact each probe will shoot a soil sampler a foot into the ground and run various tests on the soil, relaying data to a nearby orbiter. The sampler will test for inorganic ions, PH values, and the concentration of oxidants. Scientists have concluded that it may be possible for organisms to survive the harsh environment by having internal fluids consisting of water and oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide. Other instruments on the probes will look for terrestrial micro-fossils as well as strands of nucleic acid created by life. Even with the latest technology, each probe has only a 50% chance of a successful landing, but having six probes brings the probability that at least one will work to 98%. The entire project will likely land in the price range of several hundred million dollars and will be ready to go around the year 2018. The BOLD project comes at an optimum time with space exploration funding steadily decreasing and the possibility of cutting future Mars mission. This mission could bring vital information needed to rejuvenate NASA and future space exploration programs. I feel that it would be very plausible to have humans on Mars within the next 50 years. We have the technology, what is needed is the political will to continue to explore the solar system.

In North Carolina, Beliefs Clash on Marriage Law

Jonathan
Posting #4
Topic: Civil Rights
Title: In North Carolina, Beliefs Clash on Marriage Law
Author: Campbell Robertson
Publication: NY Times
Date of Publication: May 11, 2012
Length:912

On Tuesday, the voters elected to join the voters in 30 other states in enshrining a ban on same-sex marriages. President Obama announced his personal support for same-sex marriage nationally. Gay rights are not an all-or-nothing matter, but something more nuanced. It was a surprise to many on both sides that the vote was so decisive in North Caroline, where a poll in March by Elon University. Most cities and college towns voted against the marriage ban, with corporate leaders and some Republican politicians from urban areas speaking openly against it. Evangelical Protestant leaders declared the choice unambiguous. Days before the vote, the Rev. Billy Graham, a native and one of the most respected figures in the state. "At 93, I never thought we would have to debate the definition of marriage." Black religious leaders were also unequivocal, and remained so even after the president declared his personal approval of same-sex marriage.
I think people should not banned same-sex marriage.  Although people see marriage as between men and women, people should agree gay marriage. In Elon University, 2/3 of the residents agree on gay marriage.

Wyatt Eberspacher
Post #4
Subject: World Politics
Title: Opposition: Shelling, gunfire torment residents across Syria
Author: Kamal Ghattas, Saad Abedine and Salma Abdelaziz
Publication: CNN.com
Date Published: 5/13/12
Word Count: 737 words

 Major conflict continues in Syria as the dispute between the government and opposition forces continues to escalate out of control. The latest report is that at least eight people died in Hama, in western Syrian, as government forces stormed the city. The attack was to put down one of the independent terrorist parties who are further confusing the dispute between Al-Assad and the opposition Syrian National Council. These independent terrorist groups have claimed responsibility for a number of suicide bombings, such as one on Thursday in Damascus. However, the Syrian National Council has released a statement that they believe that these attacks are malicious attempts orchestrated by Al-Assad in order to discredit and deride his opponents at the cost of Syrian citizen's lives. They support this claim by stating that the bombings took place in location where Al-Assad's security should have inspected them first. Such bombings claim many lives, with over 1000 civilian casualties since the country agreed to an cease-fire. Outside of Syrian borders, this conflict has begun to raise historic tensions in Lebanon, where violence has begun to start claiming lives of its own. The conflict in Lebanon is by the majority between residents of Bab al-Tebbaneh, a Sunni stronghold strongly against the current Syrian government, and residents of Jabal Mohsen who support Bashar al-Assad, the highly controversial president of Syria. These reports are trustworthy yet unconfirmed by the news source itself, as the Syrian government is strongly restricting the flow of information to the international press.

This conflict remains an important reminder of the ongoing fight for independence and the influence of the people. The people of Syria are split between support for a government that has been revealed to be faulty, and support for opposition to Assad. It shows that across the world, civil conflicts still rage. People have begun to raise their own voices rather that live in a situation they find unfair. Also, the explosive domestic conflict is a reminder of how extreme situation can get when governments are not responsive to the needs of its people. The occupy movement is a very mild sibling to the large-scale riots and revolts that have lead to full blown rebellions. The Syrian conflict is a chilling look at the uneasy dynamic of a civil war.

Truvada Recommended for Approval as HIV Prevention Drug

Tony Y.
Posting #4
Topic: Health
Title of Article: Panel Recommends Approving Truvada to Prevent HIV Infection 
Author: Saundra Young
Publication Name: CNN
Date of Publication: May 10, 2012
Length of Article: 787 words

The U.S. FDA advisory committee recommended on Thursday to approve the HIV medicine Truvada in a 19-2 vote. Truvada, a pill made by Gilead Sciences, Inc, is used to prevent HIV from replicating within the body and is often given to patients with HIV. Now, scientists have noticed that the drug can also be used by people who are at high risk of getting infected by HIV to prevent possible illness. Scientists call this prevention method PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis. Many studies have shown that Truvada can have great benefits in HIV prevention. Infection rates were reduced by 63% in a study done by the Center for Disease control and Prevention in Botswana. In a study done by the University of Washington, they saw a 62% reduction in infection rates with patients in Kenya using Truvada. When used with another HIV drug, Tenofovir, Truvada reduced infection rates by 73%. However, Truvada can also have side effects such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, loss of appetite, diarrhea, liver and kidney toxicity, and loss of bone density. Still, the probability and severity of side effects were determined to be safe enough for Truvada to be used.

Many scientists are extremely pleased with the results of the studies done on Truvada. Still, some are skeptical about the possible consequences of approving Truvada as a PrEP medicine due the possible popular conception that Truvada will prevent all HIV infections, when in fact it only reduces infection percentage by a certain amount. Truvada is also an expensive drug, which costs $1200 a month. However, the possible effects of Truvada being used as a HIV prevention drug could be enormous. It provides people at risk of HIV infection with another good option to prevent contracting the deadly disease, and along with the usage of other HIV prevention techniques, could greatly reduce the amount of HIV infections worldwide.

Caitlyn C
Post #4
Subject: Education
Title: Trying to assess learning gives colleges their own test anxiety
Author: Daniel de Vise
Publication: The Washington Post
Date Published: March 14th 2012
Word Count: 516 words

Eight years ago, leaders of the University of Texas set out to measure something few in higher in education had thought to question - how much their students learn. An unsettling answer emerged from the study: not very much. The University of Texas administered a 90 minute essay test to seniors and freshmen to gauge the difference in critical thinking and communication skills. U Texas and a few other public universities have joined a growing movement in accountability in higher education - embracing this test and others that attempt to quantify collegiate learning on a large scale. A few students and staff are outraged to see four years of higher education reduced down to the score of a single test. The poor scores have also seeded fresh doubts about the quality of our country's system of higher education. Up until now, most upper level learning institutions have been exempt from the accountability movement that has swept through the elementary and secondary schools - the No Child Left Behind law and other similar programs. In a shocking study using data from public and private colleges, sociologists found that a whopping 36% of students made no significant learning gains from freshman to senior year. More and more schools are taking gains in order to rectify this problem; around 150 schools have posted the scores of the freshman/senior test. Although many of these schools are taking responsibility for this great injustice, many universities are still abstaining from administering or posting the results of this test. The biggest fear is that the test scores may be put to ill use by the collegiate ranking industry. 

Universities are where we assume we learn the most. That's why it costs so much, right? Wrong. According to this study, 36% of college students do not make significant learning gains from freshman to senior year. That's 4 years of tuition at a higher education level completely gone to waste. It's not just state colleges - this study also took data from private universities. A few schools are taking the initiative to "up their game" by taking the time and resources to ensure that their students are actually learning during their time at college. Others are hesitant to administer or post the scores of the test, fearing that their overall ranking will go down in the collegiate world. Overall, what we get out of any experience is what we put into it. One cannot passively learn, and ultimately it is up to the student to actively participate in his or her own education.

While Obama Trumpets Gay Marriage, Foes Seek New Topic

Dongmeng L.,

Posting #4

Subject: Politics

Title: While Obama Trumpets Gay Marriage, Foes Seek New Topic

Author:  MARK LANDLER& JEFF ZELENY

Publication: New York Times

Date: May 10, 2012

Length: 2 pages



 In Washington, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. apologized to President Obama for hasten him for supporting gay marriage. In an Oval Office meeting with President Obama in Wednesday, Joseph R. expressed regret for the statement that went considerably further than the president's views on the matter.
  As the president traveled to west coat, he said American should succeed "no matter who you love", but Mitt Romney, the Republican leader in congress, tried to move the focus of the presidential campaign back to the nation's sluggish economy. Many conservative advocacy groups see an opportunity to drive a wedge between Mr. Obama and religious voters.      
  The internal White House tension over Mr. Biden’s comments threatened to distract from the presidential endorsement that was seen as overdue in some circles of the gay and Democratic communities. Mr. Biden upended a plan by Mr. Obama’s political trust to follow up last Saturday’s campaign rallies with a $25-million advertising purchase to promote the administration’s accomplishments.
  Many people had decided to open their wallets after hearing president Obama's comment on gay marriage.  
  Some conservative groups said they were already making plans to use marriage as part of their outreach efforts. 

Name: Claire H
Post #4
Subject: Leaders
Title: Obama campaign to spend 25 $ million on ads in may alone
Author: Sam Stein
Publication: Huffington post
Date Published: 5/7/12
Number of Words: 400

The Obama campaign has allotted $25 million for ads to air in May alone. This figure underscores the extent to which the President's political team is confident that its fundraising success will be continuous. Romney spent 55$ million on television advertisements, 90% were negative in nature. The Obama campaign has not responded with negative ads of their own. The one released this Monday was strictly positive in nature, portraying the president as making progress in turning the tide on the economic problems he inherited. The nature of the beast is that if you don't spend a lot of money on your ad campaign then you will not win. It doesn’t matter if you are the most qualified person on the planet, if you don't get your name out to the voters then you have no chance of winning their votes. When politicians pay for advertisements they are really paying for voters to see their face and remember their name when they go to the voting polls.

California State Students Plan to Fast in Protest over Cuts

Yannie Yip Posting #4

Topic: Education

Title: California State Students Plan to Fast in Protest over Cuts

Author: Jennifer Medina

Publication: New York Times

Date: May 5 2012

Length: 970

          A dozen students at California State University declared a hunger strike in protest over tuition increases and cuts in courses and enrollment. The fasting protest has appeared recently at the 23 California State University campuses. The students have pledged to forgo solid food for at least a week, and perhaps longer if the administration does not move to meet some of their demands. They are demanding a five-year moratorium on student fee increases. They also are asking for a rollback of executive salaries to 1999 levels, because protesters believe that the administration has allocated too much money for their own salaries and perks, but not enough for faculty and facilities. For example, last year San Diego State University hired a new president with a salary of $400,000, about $100,000 more than his predecessor, while increasing tuition by 12 percent. Faculty members have been supportive of the student protests. The union representing faculty members had voted to authorize a rolling strike at campuses statewide after efforts to reach an agreement on a contract stalled after two years of negotiations. This rolling two-day strike would most likely happen in the fall, and would be the largest strike in state history that would affect more than 400,000 students. Beside salary issues, the faculty is equally concerned that the university relies too much on part-time lecturers, who teach a full load of courses but do not have tenure. These lecturers make roughly $50,000 year, about half of what a tenured professor make. University officials are trying to end a policy that automatically renews contracts for such lecturers, while the union is arguing that such a change would limit academic freedom.

          The CSU system has lost roughly $970 million in state financing since 2008, and administrators said that it was inevitable to increase tuition. Since the 2007-2008 school year, tuition has risen to $5472 from the previous $2772. If voters do not approve a tax measure on the November ballot pushed by Governor Jerry Brown, the system will face another $200 million cut. The administration said that if this occurred, they would be forced to further cut enrollment, eliminate roughly 3000 faculty and staff positions, and end some academic and athletic programs.

Giussepe
posting #4
health
Does Medicine Discourages Gay Doctors?

by 

PAULINE W. CHEN, M.D.

published on april 26 of 2012

anyone thought about it?, i mean anyone ever seen a doctor admitting openly that is gay?, i haven't and apparently Pauline did. In the medicine world the word "homosexual" its used as a synonym for incompetence, failing and useless. Imagine being yourself homosexual and realizing that the environment and specially the senior Doctors, the masters, the people who teach you about it and more important the people who give you sponsoring and in colleges the ones that give you housing and help.

DR. Schuster  tells his personal experience, being himself a great doctor and having a great mentor in college, when his mentor was about to send his recommendation letter residence training program he told him that he was gay, the mentor didn't send the letter.

In my opinion is a stupid reason to make persons live harder.

Giussepe
posting#3
technology
"The Instagram Deal: A Mark Zuckenberg Production"
By EVELYN M. RUSLI
Published on april 12

As many people know, Facebook bought Instagram recently, and to be precise, exactly 9 days after it was released on Android. Interesting about this its to notice not only the speed of the decisition, but who "plotted" the whole thing. Facebook its well known for its buzz, not for its business model, wich directly contradicts buying Instagram and specially paying 1 Billion $ in cash and stocks for it.
Zuckenberg called on Kevin Systrom( Instagrams chief executive) and in 48 hours the whole del was done, even making it public on the third day. This Deal shows us how much power has Zuckenberg over Facebook as a company, owning 28.4% of all the B shares and through agreements with other investors voting power over 57% of all the B shares.
Since 2004(foundation of Facebook) Zuckenberg has been the "soul" of Facebook, but usually does not play a heavy role on the company acquisitions, this reveal how important was for the company and for Zuckenberg to adquire Instagram.

Chris
Posting #3
Health
"Treating Depression with Electrodes in the Brain."
By Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Andy Segal
CNN.com April 14 2012
1 page, 2005 words


A women by the name of Edi Guyton had been suffering from deep stages of depression for pretty much her whole life. As a little girl Edi told her mom that smiling was stupid because she felt like there was no reason to smile and that everyone else who did was faking it. At the age of 19 she first tried to commit suicide, she said it was because "I think I wanted it to get better or I wanted to die."This depression then controlled the rest of her life, until she found a doctor by the name of Hellen Mayberg. Hellen Mayberg in 1999 started experimenting with DBS, deep brain simulation, and was trying to use it as a way to cure Depression. The idea was to go into Area 25 of the brain, which controls your emotions and happiness. They would put little batteries that with the width of Angel Hair pasta into your brain to try and stimulate happiness inside the brain. In 2003 Mayberg had six patients that were all extremely depressed. After they put the two batteries in the brains of these patients in only minutes they started saying the colors of the room were brighter jumped out. Out of the six patients 4 showed great signs of depression going away. For 40 years Edi Guyton tried to put her depression by keeping her self working, she got Tenur at GSU and had two little baby girls. But alas the depression had caught up with her and she attempted suicide yet again by over dosing on her depression medication that she was given. As a last resort Edi went to Mayberg for this operation, out of 1,000 patients that applied 17 were chosen and Edi was one of them. During the operation Edi cried, not because it hurt but because she knew someone was drilling into her brain to fix her. After the batteries were put in her head Edi chuckled and laughed, Mayberg asked why, and she answered "because I almost smiled. So I chuckled." After fighting with depression her whole life Edi was finally cured and hasn't looked back since. Doctor Mayberg on the other hand has been wondering many things about this cure: "is this knocking down a wall? or flicking a switch?" "To be brutally honest, we have no idea how this works." But it has helped many patients for years now and is still helping many patients that are qualified for the operation.

The Iceberg Was Only Part of It

Dongmeng
Posting #3
Science
"The Iceberg Was Only Part of It"
by William J. Broad
NewYorkTimes, April 9, 2012
2 pages

With hundreds of books and studies, there're a lot of discussions about how a ship that so costly and well built ended so badly about Titanic. A century after the liner went down in the early hours of April 15, 1912, two new studies argue that rare states of nature played major roes in this tragedy. The first study says Earth's nearness to the Moon and the Sun is not matched for more than a thousand years, which resulted in record tides that explained why the Titanic encountered so much ice, including the fatal iceberg. The second study reported that the icy waters created ideal conditions for an unusual type of mirage that hid icebergs from lookouts and confused passed ships and delayed rescue efforts for hours.

The author Tim Maltin said:"There were no heroes, no villains. Instead, there were a lot of human beings trying to do their best in the situation they met." He just published his new book "Titanic: A Very Deceiving Night" as an e-book this week, point how mirage could make havoc with human observations.

From the start, news reporters and inquiries said the ice in the North Atlantic was unusually bad that year. The New York Times, after the sinking, posted a short article that quoted U.S. officials as saying that the winter had produced "an enormously large crop of icebergs".

Recently, a team of researchers from Texas State University-San Marcos discovered that Earth had come unusually close to the Moon and the Sun that winter, enhancing the gravitational pulls on the ocean and produced record tides, which took place between December 1911 and February 1912---about two months before the disaster.

In the case, the mirage occurs when cold air bends light rays downward, observers can see only the objects setting far over the horizon, the images often undergo quick distortions.

Wyatt Eberspacher
Posting #3
World News
"Syrians take to the streets amid a fragile cease-fire"
By CNN Wire Staff
CNN.com April 13 2012
1 page, 1074 words

       Governments the world over are experiencing political upheaval and public rebuke. In Syria, masses stormed the streets after prayers in order to protest the actions of the president, Bashar Al-assad, as well as test his honesty. He recently accepted a provision in a six-point peace plan that guarentees the people the right to peaceful protest and assembly, but it was uncertain how far it would carry weight. 

      The  protests are in response to the continued clashing of the Syrian Military and military defectors. The government has labeled many of the defectors terrorists, but it is suspected many are normal citizens. The protests continue despite the violent response by police. It is suspected that almost ten thousand Syrians have died since the protests began. 

      The aforementioned six-point peace plan was a cease-fire agreement. It includes the release of detainees and prisoners of the rebellions, allowing humanitarian aid to enter the country from various charities, and letting international media. Possibly the most important point is the section tat requires the police to respect the rights of peaceful demonstrators. The plan also calls for the withdrawal of troops and heavy weapons from residential areas.

       Government controlled news networks have been reporting the classes between the miliant groups and the armed forces as putting down terrorist cells. In a recent case where a militiant group was intercepted and attacked, the news released that "an infiltration attempt from Turkey to Syria by an armed terrorist group was thwarted."

This is an important topic because it highlights the success and influence of democratic liberty of America. Repressed groups have seen the multiple movements for civil and national rights as examples for hope and a brighter future. Now that there have been successful revolt and reforms around the world, anywhere where suppression and oppressive governmental remain are being highlighted and aided. It also relates to the US because Obama just signed a package to send aid the opposition movement of medical supplies and non-lethal weapons.

Ameya
Posting #3
Science
"Being nice may be in your genes, according to study"
by Michelle Castillo
CBS News, April 12, 2012
468 words

A study, conducted by Dr. Michel Poulin of the University of Buffalo and published on April 12, 2012, suggests that a person's kindness and generosity may in fact be linked to his/her genes. In this study, an online survey was sent out to various people asking their opinions of certain aspects of the world, such as civic duty, other people, and charitable activities. The 711 people who filled out the survey were then asked to provide samples of their saliva for lab testing. The tests revealed that people who have certain types of oxytocin and vasopressin receptor genes (which were detected in their saliva) are more likely to be more kind and generous, based on their survey responses. The study also revealed that oxytocin can increase empathy and improve personal relationships, earning it the name "love drug." Vasopressin is also linked to increased generosity, and may make men in particular more likely to bond with others. The reason for this may be that these genes help people to overcome their fears of being judged and be more inclined to help others. However, Dr. Poulin admitted that the genes are only one of many factors that determine how kind a person is. The study did not find a specific "niceness gene" -- one that always makes the person kind and generous. Rather, Dr. Poulin said that, as of now, multiple factors, such as how a person views his/her world and how he/she was brought up play a larger role in determining how nice he/she turns out to be.

For a long time, scientists have been trying to figure out what shapes a person's personality. The question of "nature or nurture" refers to whether it is a person's chemical genetic makeup -- "nature" -- that affects his/her personality, or whether it is how he/she is brought up -- "nurture." The accepted belief has long been that it is almost completely the environment in which a person is raised that shapes his/her personality. This study, however, suggests that a person's genetic makeup may have a much larger role in how kind a person is than was previously thought. If further research is done on this, we may be able to prove a genetic connection to personality, which could potentially change how we view the human race as a whole.

Instagrams Passionate users wary of Facebook takeover

Dmitry P.
Posting #3
Topic: Technology
Title: Instagrams Passionate users wary of Facebook Takeover
Author: Tyson Wheatley
Publication name: CNN
Date of Publication: 4/11/12
Length: 576 words

The popular mobile photo sharing app called instagram has recently been bought by Facebook. They offered Instagram a whopping 1 billion in cash and stock options to become part of Facebook, which made a scrappy San Francisco based startup with only 13 employers suddenly very rich. In just 18 months instagram has racked up over 35 million downloads and the newly released android version last week already has over a million downloads and counting. Many users of instagram are afraid that Facebook will completely change this app, and it will no longer be the free photo enhancing and sharing app it used to be before. In the end a lot of users dont blame instagram, it is quite a lot of money that facebook has offered and in the end they just want to get the bread.

This is quite interesting because why would Facebook all of a sudden want a little photo sharing app, what are they planning to do with it? What plans do they have in store, and what exactly could they do with this program anyway?

Silicon Valley in Need of New Levees

Caitlyn C

Posting #3

Topic: Leaders

Title of Article: Feinstein, business leaders, say new levees urgently needed to keep Silicon Valley above water

Author: Associated Press

Publication Name: The Washington Post

Date of Publication: April 12, 2012

Length of Article: 458 words

Business execs and Senator Dianne Feinstein have launched a 10-year one billion dollar program to keep some of the country's most innovative centers of technology from sinking - literally. Most of the money will go towards building an earthquake and storm proof levee system in the South Bay, namely Silicon Valley. Cash cow companies such as Apple, Facebook, and Google have headquarters set up in this technology-abundant region of California. Climatologists predict soggy times for Silicon Valley in the next fifty years due to the rising sea level which is a result of the climate change. To protect the corporate campuses as well as billions of dollars, Dianne Feinstein is in need of an impressive budget to tackle the upcoming problem. New levees would be built in order to control the sea level from reaching catastrophic proportions, and the rest of the budget would be reserved for the restoration of the acres upon acres of wetlands in the South Bay. The newly restored wetlands would not only become a thriving ecosystem, but it would also help to prevent any future flooding. At this stage, the coalition expects federal funding to cover for half of the cost, state funding to count for a quarter, and the last quarter to come from local taxes and/or corporate donations. Local business tycoons and corporations that are based in Silicon Valley are being urged to help foot the bill seeing as the program would benefit them the most. Dianne Feinstein strongly endorses this plan. It would be the largest wetlands restoration project in the nation.

Global warming has put Silicon Valley in a very difficult position. While Silicon Valley is home to many successful business ventures, it is at risk for immense flooding within the next half century. Raising the funds for this new levee system is important to the well-being of the community and the wetlands. If the money is not raised, then major businesses may need to relocate and then the industry of Silicon Valley will be severely damaged.

Director of Arizona Ethnic Studies Ousted

Chris Carlson                                                                                                              posting number 3
Education
Sean Arce, Director of Embattled Arizona Ethnic Studies Ousted Despite Protests
Huffington post, by Amanda Myers 4/11/12

Mr. Sean Arce head of Arizona's ethnic studies program is out of a job after the board terminated his contract as well as his program of Mexican-american studies. The superintendent of public instruction, Jon Huppenthal ordered that 10% of the school's government funding, approximately $1 million, be withheld until the district created a law targeting against the program. Governor Jan Brewer then signed a law making it illegal to hold a class that is mainly for students of a specific race. Many people including the students felt that this action was totally uncalled for. Approximately 100 students gathered and protested against the board ruling. The students stood outside board meetings, shouting and waving signs that said, "stop ethnic cleansing" as well as "no more racism" The protests soon escalated to the point that a smoke bomb was thrown at the board meeting. Police came to disband the protesters and after a small scuffle, the group was disbanded. At later board meetings, board president Mark Stegeman said he regretted the decision and was sorry that it came to end in the way that it did. Protesters continue to speak out against the decision at every board meeting as well as pass out burritos to everyone around.
This issue shows that racism is still very much alive and at large in the schools of america. For the board of directors to discontinue a program just because it is to 'race specific' is just blatant racism. I feel that people need to stop being so racist and realize that everyone is the same and people are not just going to go away. The continuation of racism should be struck down because all it does is create more problems.

Campus Task Force Criticizes Pepper Spraying of Protesters

Jonathan
Posting #3
Topic: Education
Title: Campus Task Force Criticizes Pepper Spraying of Protesters
Author: Jennifer Medina
Publication: NY Times
Date of Publication: April 11, 2012
Length: 562

The 190 page report released Wednesday. The task force concluded that "the pepper spraying incident that took place on Nov.18 2011, should and could have been prevented." Campus police had sued to prevent the report's release, saying that it amounted to an internal investigation. The university agreed to remove the names of most police officers from the report. The campus police chief, Annette Spicuzza, estimated that 80 percent of protesters camping in the campus quad were not students. But student affairs administrators, who had spent time talking with the protesters and said that most campers were students. The investigation found that the counterargument was ignored and administrators reiterated their concern for students. The task force concluded that the concern for outsiders threatening safety was "not supported by anyevidence." The investigation also found that even if the concern for safety was valid, it "would not justify ordering the immediate dismantling of the encampment" The task force was led by Cruz Reynoso, a law professor at UC Davis and a former California Supreme Court justice, and relied heavily on an investigation by Kroll, a private firm hired by the University of California.
I think that the police should not have sprayed the campers with pepper spray. Even though several police had claimed that the campers were not students, they should not have sprayed pepper. They should have just taken down the tents.

Fake Angry Birds Space App Contains Virus

Tony Y.
Posting #3
Topic: Technology
Title of Article: Virus found in fake Android version of 'Angry Birds: Space'
Author: Doug Gross
Publication Name: CNN
Date of Publication: April 12, 2012
Length of Article: 428 words

A fake version of the popular app Angry Birds: Space has appeared that contains a virus that attacks Android platforms. On Thursday, the web security firm Sophos discovered fake versions of the new Angry Birds game on unofficial app stores. Graham Cluley, and analyst at Sophos, found the file called Andr/KongFu-L, which contains a Trojan Horse virus. The file appears to be a real version of the game, but actually downloads the Trojan Horse virus onto the user's tablets or smart phones. Sophos says the code then downloads even more malware to infect the Androids. This malware allows the creators of the virus to take control over all of the infected tablets and smart phones. Cluley says to be aware of this and potentially more malware risks that attack Androids, and to be very careful when downloading from unofficial stores. Unlike apps from Apple, Android apps are not screened by Google for potential harm. iPhone and iPad users are safe from this virus because Apple checks every app in their one official app store. Google has less control over what Android users can download, and also want to open up both official and unofficial stores, so Google is unable to screen their apps, which can lead to viruses like this new fake Angry Birds program.

Because of the immense popularity of Angry Birds, which has received over 300 million downloads, it has become a target for cybercriminals. The cybercriminals took advantage of Google's open unofficial Android market to release this harmful virus posed as Angry Birds: Space. Rovio, the creator of the real Angry Birds: Space app, confirmed that the fake application exists and urges users to buy from official stores. Security experts also suggest using only official markets, but say that malicious software has also been discovered in some official stores. Android users must be even more careful now when they browse through the Android app market because of these new viruses.

Cynthia 03

Politics

'War over women' kicks off Obama- Romney race by Tom Cohen

CNN April 11, 2012

1,673 words

President Obama has a clear and definite opponent, Mitt Romney. They are in election mode, and each one is looking to put the other as the future's hazard. Now, their campaigns have concentrated on women's issues. Romney wants to reverse a gender gap by attacking Obama's economic policies as bad for women. In a speech in Delaware, Romney declared " The President says, 'Oh I didn't cause this recession.' That's true," Romney said. "He just made it worse and made it last longer. And because it lasted longer, more and more women lost jobs, such that in this three-and-a-half years, 92.3% of the people who lost jobs have been women. His failures have hurt women."

However, nonpartisan organizations claim that jobs lost are cited from the beginning of Obama's administration, when his policies had not taken place yet. When Obama took office, women held a total of 67.3 million nonfarm payroll jobs, the highest level of female employment during the Bush administration. From that high point, the number of women with nonfarm payroll jobs fell for the 23 consecutive months. Since February 2010, women have actually gained 863,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, Obama tries to make Congress pass a tax measure, which will tax millionaires higher than middle-class workers. A Romney adviser initially hesitated when asked if Romney supported the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act that expands workers' rights to sue in the event of a pay discrepancy between a man and a woman.

We all are worried about the unemployment rate in the United States and the rise in prices of goods, therefore, the economy and country are in desperate need of a good leader. Politicians know that there is no stronger effect in people than answering to "their needs" to appeal to them as the best option. At the end, it all is a political strategy. But, who will actually do the best things to benefit not only candidates but all Americans?

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/11/politics/campaign-wrap/index.html

Eat more 'superfoods' to lose weight

Yannie Yip Posting #3

Topic: Health

Title: Eat more 'superfoods' to lose weight

Author: Jacque Wilson

Publication: CNN

Date: April 10 2012

Length: 850

The editor-in-chief of SELF magazine Lucy Danziger advocated a new way of diet by consuming superfoods. She was a former triathlete, and she is the author of a new weight-loss book called "The Drop10 Diet." Superfoods are nutritious food that contain high level of protein, fiber, and other nutrients, examples include blueberries, nuts, beans, salmon, green tea, quinoa, broccoli, spinach, and dark chocolate. The concept behind superfoods diet is that people should focus on what they should eat, instead of what they cannot eat, so that diet becomes something more appealing rather than negative.

Dr. Steven Praff is the author to his first book in 2004, "SuperFoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life." In fact, the term "superfoods" was coined by him in 1994. According to him, a superfood has to meet three qualifications: it has to be readily available to the public, it has to contain nutrients that are known to enhance longevity, and its health benefits have to be backed by peer-reviewed, scientific studies. The doctor also said that these foods contain high concentrations of crucial nutrients, and they are low in calories, which can aid in diet. In addition, these foods have been proven to help prevent and, in some cases, reverse the well-known effects of aging, including cardiovascular disease, Type II Diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers.

On the other hand, Marisa Moore, a registered dietitian with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, says that superfoods are healthy but they do not help with losing weight. Danziger agrees with the technicality, but she thinks that superfoods do help because they make people physically feel better and motivate them to exercise and eat healthier to achieve certain fitness goal. Dr. Pratt, who has been pushing for superfoods since the mid-1900s, concerns that the obesity rate and obesity-related disease in the United States are still very high. He believes that if people start investing in eating healthy, they can enhance their health and longevity.

3rd post
Claire H
Tech
Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin Wears Google Glasses
Huffington Post
4/6/2012
400 words
Google unveiled its “project glass” demo which is a futuristic “augmented reality” eyeglass. These glasses have become a target for more than a few parodies. The glasses have a few conceptual flaws but that didn’t stop Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin from wearing a pair of these glasses to a charity event in San Francisco. Unfortunately Google has revealed very little about the timeline for the project, but some say that an experimental version may be available by the end of 2012. This product would cost between $250 and $600 according to Electronista. Early reports say that the product will not be available for at least 2 years but that it may be worth the wait. One person who was able to try out the glasses gave a positive review to the New York Times. The tester said that it is much more convenient because you can press a button instead of reaching into your pocket. This piece of technology allows people to be even more portable than they are today. Now there no need to carry around a cell phone because it will be a part of your glasses. When this product is mass marketed it will be a success because it is so convenient and everyone is looking for a way to make things easier and take less time.

GIUSSEPE

topic: health

life, interrupted: facing cancer in your 20s

Suleika Jaouad NY Times

The articles points out the question that not many people have asked themselves: where is all the 15-40 years old people with cancer going?, what happening to them? and most important what are their chances to survive?.

As its clearly pointed out in the article, this young adults many times are over 18, wich makes them responsable for themselves.

what happens when you have 20 and no job, no insurance and no way to cover the (high) expenses of cancer?

Also pointed out in the article is how the doctors, since they are not expecting this kind of illness in young people, totally miss the symptoms.

Making the cancer spread even more before they start treating it.

Apple Stocks hit over 600$/share

Boot Bullwinkle 1st Post
Economy
Apple Will Spend $45 Billion to Pay Dividends and Buy Shares Back
Jesus Diaz
gizmodo.com


Apple recently hit the 100 billion dollar mark. 100,000,000,000$. They could buy Walmart and then some. With stocks over 600$ per share, the company has decided to give a little back to its shareholders. The company will begin to dole out 2.65$ per share quarterly which comes out to about 1.7% which is better than most savings accounts. When was the last time you earned 10 dollars with 600 dollars in the bank?

They'll also use a meager 10 billion dollars to start share buy back program. Tim Cook, new CEO of Apple Inc. made the following statement about the company's fiscal decision.

"We have used some of our cash to make great investments in our business through increased research and development, acquisitions, new retail store openings, strategic prepayments and capital expenditures in our supply chain, and building out our infrastructure. You'll see more of all of these in the future. Even with these investments, we can maintain a war chest for strategic opportunities and have plenty of cash to run our business. So we are going to initiate a dividend and share repurchase program."

Through their dividends and share purchasing programs, Apple Inc. will be spending 45 billion if their 100 billion surplus. 55 billion is the biggest, sturdiest safety net that I've ever seen, and this economy it's amazing what Apple has done. Better buy some shares before the 600$ mark rises anymore.

Joseph Kony - child soldiers

Wyatt Eberspacher

Topic: World  

Joseph Kony: Brutal warlord who shocked world—Hilary Whiteman, CNN

March 9, 2012

WC: 1,110

 In the light of our recent curriculum of the two World Wars and especially of the horrors committed by the Nazis in the second world war, it is deeply saddening leaders capable of committing horrible acts of cruelty continue in part today. There is man in the world today who continues to rule by an iron fist, and terrify his people. This man is Joseph Kony, the much talked about warlord from a recent viral 30 minute video. He enscrips children into his army and ruthlessly slaughters any malcontents.

Kony came into power because of his position as a spiritual leader to his people. Though Kony is not revered as a god, for now, he is revered as a kind of mystical priest and healer. The people of Uganda supported him much the same way that citizens supported royalty in the middle ages. They support him despite the fact that to punish fathers he sells their daughters into prostitution. He is on the list of the UN's most wanted, and we can only hope his reign is put to rest soon. Kony is a glimpse at the true tradegy and terror that can be created from blind faith and the twisted ambitions of cruel men.

Why the interest in illegal cell-phone Jammers

Chris B. 2nd post
Tech
Why the Interest in illegal cell-phone Jammers
Doug Gross
CNN.com
600 words

Cell-phone jammers have been illegal for the past few years but this past friday we saw a huge rise in google searches on "Cell-phone Jammers". Why is this? It is because in a man in Philadelphia began using them on the busses on a day-to-day basis. The man known as "Eric" said he started using this because he is fed up with these "A lot of people are extremely loud, no sense of, just, privacy or anything," ("Eric"). This caused a boom on google for the search of these cell-phone jammers, prices ranging from less then $40 to more than $1,000. Surprisingly people won't really notice that their cell-phones are being jammed IF they are using them at the time, so if your on the bus not on your cell and a jammer is activated you will not notice and your cell won't being affected. The jammers are still illegal though so "Eric" was arrested for doing jamming these peoples cell-phones.

This is important because it is slowly spreading and it actually might help or hinder our public areas. It will help because, if jammers are used, there will be no more people blabbering away extremely loudly around you in a public place. The downside to the jammers is if someone is making an important phone call or you are expecting a call from your boss to make sure the deal went through. You will then not be able to get that phone call or you will be interrupted, and this is still why they are illegal and should not be used.

Cynthia 02

Health

Opinion: 'Hot or Not?' Trust me, you're beautiful Teddi Noel Mattox

CNN Mrch 4th, 2012

788 words

A very intelligent 15-yearl old freshman at Montclair High School in New Jersey, Teddi, tells us how she feels about how other people expresses about her or others' looks. She says that literally society dresses all of us by saying what is "in" or "hot". Which does not mean that they are correct. Also, Teddi thinks that although a lot of times the comments are nice, it is not always the same case. Furthermore, that people's comments can affect a teenager self-esteem. Now, one of the biggest problems is posting pictures or videos of yourself to be accepted or "liked" by others, without seeing the damage that that does. Undoubtedly, Teddi makes a really good point by saying that we as teenagers are not in a good stage related with looks, and therefore, we are much more vulnerable than any other person. We have all those doubts, and worries, and just one comment good or bad can change our day or even mark our life.

I really liked to see an article like this, especially because it is from a teenager point of view. Maybe that way more girls would feel related to it, and understand that you all are beautiful and you are the one that decides how much by believing on you. I will love to have some kind of talk like this in our school, because many girls would be benefited from it.

http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/04/opinion-hot-or-not/?hpt=hp_bn8