Senior Reflection #2

I cant wait for college, its gonna be amazing. But Im still going to miss high school, I dont usually like changes, but this will most likely be a change for the better. Not waking up early...lots of girls...keg parties what??...oh yea and studying. Just kidding, I gotta study hard if I want to be an orthopedic surgeon:0

Senior Reflection #1

This last week of school went by so fast, definitely the best part about it was the senior prank. That was freaking ridiculous, it was like being in a war zone. A war zone of water balloons haha. I got hit like 5 times, and then trying to escape was impossible because the floor was slippery, but it was sweet. I sprinted to my car as soon as i got out in case they decided to try to lock us in the school!

4th Quarter Post #4

Gay people are complaining about their not being allowed to serve openly in the military. Both the president and congress are reluctant to end the ban on homosexuals in the military. In 1993, Bill Clinton's "dont ask, dont tell" policy was placed on the military, after an unsuccessful attempt to overturn an existing ban on gay service members. This allows homosexuals to serve, as long as they are quiet about their sexuality and refrained from homosexual acts.

4th Quarter Post #3

Being an undercover cop, and black, is a very dangerous job. A black man wearing street clothes whipping out a gun could be mistaken for a criminal, and shot by fellow cops. Omar Edwards, a New York City police officer was shot to death while chasing a suspect by another office her who thought he was a criminal. According to Christopher Cooper, a member of the National Black Police Association and a sociologist, lawyer and former police officer who studies this problem, says that on average, two incidents per year occur where black cops or killed or beaten up by their colleagues by mistake. The governor of NY is creating a task force and bringing in outside experts to give officers better training to recognize friends, and also to fix this tragic problem.

4th Quarter Post #2

Because of the millions of deaths and potentially fatal illnesses caused by smoking, the senate passed a bill giving the FDA the power to limit the regulation of tobacco products, overwhelmingly. Although the act doesn't allow the FDA to ban smoking altogether, because of the strife from smokers and free market agents, but it does give them the power to enforce lower nicotine levels, and more importantly, restrict advertising and promotion to children.This is a huge step in the right direction for public health.

4th Quarter Post #1

I read this article on prisons and how their populations have been recently declining. :0 The two power house jailing states, Texas and Kansas, have developed new programs to help Ex inmates stay out of jail and help them get their lives on track...they are pretty much making it harder to get into jail, once youve been in already. New state sponsored community programs are helping in mamtes with their drug addictions and other issues so that they can get back to a normal life.

Editorial #5

The Obama administration is now beginning to focus its military power in Afghanistan, where the real threat to American security lies, rather than Iraq. it is greatly encouraging simply to see the president actually focusing on this war and placing it in the broader regional framework that has been missing from American policy. That is a good first step toward fixing the dangerous situation that former President George W. Bush created when he abandoned the necessary war in Afghanistan for the ill-conceived war of choice in Iraq. In order to receive full global support for this effort, Obama is repeating the message that if Afghanistan or Pakistan were to fall, extremists will unleash their fury, creating a threat to everyone.

Editorial #4

Homeland security is doing its very best to keep Mexico's viscious drug war from leaking over the U.S/Mexican boarder by sending 100s of agents to patrol the boarder and by bolstering screening technology at border crossings to root out drugs, drug money, guns and violent fugitives. The administration is, helpfully, stressing the importance of sharing information and resources with Mexico. It is also acknowledging the role of the United States in Mexico’s agonies. Americans, after all, are the addicts whose desperate consumption fuels the drug trade, and the gun merchants whose illegal profiteering has turned feuding cartels into bristling armies. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was right to have explicitly conceded that point this week. It is good news that our government will soon be stepping up screening for guns in trucks and train cars heading south.

Editorial #3

This editorial is about what the name of the structure replacing the world trade center should be. A lot of people are worried that, if it is named "Freedom Tower", that it will instantly become a terrorist target, as it would be an ideological symbol of American freedom.Now, quietly and sensibly, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is promoting the place as One World Trade Center, its legal address, as it seeks to market leases in the building. Governor Pataki, aware that tenants will be reluctant to rent space in the new tower, promised that state offices would move into the tower when it is finished in 2013. But the authority would do better to find more profitable commercial tenants, like the Chinese real estate company that agreed this week to lease six high floors for at least 20 years.

Editorial #2

This editorial is about how In six states, including Alaska, it is illegal for a defendant to use DNA to prove innocence. One particular case, Mr. Osbourne of Alaska, was accused of raping a woman. He claims his innocence, and says he can prove it too with a DNA test, however there are no laws in which he can use a DNA test to prove his innocence. Many people believe this is unconstitutional, and in some cases, an obstruction of justice, because the defendant cant utilize all of the possible evidence in his favor.

Editorial #1

This editorial is about how there are thousands and thousands of particles of debris floating in orbit around the earth, which pose a threat to future space travels. Old worn out satellites that arent being used anymore often times collide with other satellites, creating debris. There isnt a way as of now to clean up the debris, nor are satellite companies active in taking down their unused satellites, which can make for a disaster. Human controlled spacecraft face fatal collisions with debris if something isnt done soon to clean up the space junk.

Blog #4

This political cartoon is funny, yet sad in a way. It is a picture of the world...and three captions under it saying "Wow, think for a moment how amazing it is that Obama is president." The next text bubble says "That America may once again be a beacon of hope, optimism, and inspiration..." The last bubble says "Ok Breaks over...back to chaos and mayhem." This captures the feeling that for one day, Americans could celebrate a new president and a hopeful change for the future...but only for a day. The day after the inauguration, it is back to all of the troubles America and the world is facing.

Blog #3

I thought this Political Cartoon was kinda funny. It shows the reality of the inauguration experience for many of the two million Americans who stood in the freezing cold to watch it, in a sarcastic way. Half of those people, who braved the jam packed subway stations and bitter cold, probably could have seen the same things they saw, except from the comfort of their own homes. Yet, I still think it is awesome that so many people showed up to watch Obama take the oath into office and it makes me proud to be an American!