Business
The article “Why Apple Is the Future of Capitalism” by Mihir A. Desai summarizes why the company Apple is so important, and shows just how big and dominant it is. It is so big that Apple is “now exceeding $1 trillion in market capitalization”. With 1 trillion dollars, you can spend a million a day for about 3,000 years. This article interested and stood out to me because I love technology and business and Apple products. I believe that Apple should be appreciated by all, due to its hard work and success. Yes their iPhones look cool, and their super light laptops, but beneath the fancy exterior is a money making business like almost no other. Other businesses have tried to copy their corporation model but almost all fail. “Six years ago, the company owed no debt and had never undertaken a share buyback or paid dividends.” Now that has changed, Apple has hundreds of billions of outstanding debt, and hundreds of billions distributed to its shareholders in the past 6 years. All of these statistics show how much of a mammoth Apple is in the business world and how much potential it still has. Other businesses like Amazon also are upcoming and very big, but Apple’s distinct style of businessing is very important for the future of capitalism in the United States.
Science and Technology
The Article “Parker Solar Probe Launches on NASA Voyage to ‘Touch the Sun’” by Kenneth Chang circles around NASA’s attempt to touch the sun with their newly built solar probe. Although there have been numerous failures and rocket ship crashes, I believe that this one will be successful and indeed help NASA with their understanding of the great sun. This probe will hit the outermost layer of the sun, and heat up the outside of the spacecraft to about 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the melting point of steel. However there is a protective shield made up of carbon composite that not only protects the equipment, but weighs in at only 160 pounds. Having a good grasp of what the sun does is of utmost importance, it could save us one day. For example, “occasionally, a huge explosion, called a coronal mass ejection, erupts from the sun, sending a larger-than-usual deluge of particles into space.” These ejections have hit Earth before, once in 1859 which disrupted many telegraph wires in America and Europe. One similar to the 1859 incident occurred in 2012, but luckily wasn’t aimed at Earth. If it had been directed at us then blackouts would occur and it could take years to repair all of the damages. This long term probe operation is set to complete 24 orbits around the sun, and to finish its mission in 2025. So, to conclude this long voyage will help NASA with its understanding of the center of our universe, the sun.
Education
The article “How to Write a Good College Application Essay” by Janet Morrissey very quickly stood out to me because I am looking into colleges at the moment and figured this could help me with my future. This article goes over the do’s and don'ts when “writing that all-important application essay”. I believe that yes grades and SATs are important to getting into a good college, but the application is also very crucial and is the deciding factor between getting accepted and rejected. One of the main points that intrigued me was that you need to “explain with knowledge and passion why you want to study at this particular college rather than at others.” I found this compelling because it didn’t cross my mind, I thought it mainly would have been volunteer work and grades that emerged to the college instead of this. Then there are the normal things, like correct spelling and proper grammar, punctuation etc. One last thing that stuck out to me was to always be yourself. “A good essay, rich with anecdotes and personality, will answer those questions and stand out from the pile.” In conclusion, all of these strategies will help get into that college that you’ve been looking at.
United States Government and Politics
The interactive map “An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2016 Election” by Matthew Bloch, Larry Buchanan, Josh Katz, and Kevin Quealy intrigued me due to the extreme amount of content it held. I believe that this type of interactive map can help figure out priorities certain areas have over others. Not only did it show the percentage of votes by county, it showed the amount of votes, and it went even deeper than the county region in some areas. For example, in Massachusetts I zoomed in on the Norfolk County area. From there it showed “precincts”, and it isn't just for every town, there were more than 3 detailed precincts for some towns. So if there are at least 3 precincts for every town in the country, and about 7 million towns, there were more than 21 million areas of precise data for the political election of 2016. By studying this collection of data, not only can you see which type of state favored one candidate, you can find out which type of county, or which type of town/city favored one candidate over the other. I found this very fascinating, because I can now use this to see how the town, city, or county is doing finance wise. With this you can see the priorities that each area had. So in conclusion, I believe that this interactive electoral map can help people see and discuss the needs and wants of every area in the United States.
Sports
In the article "La Liga Will Bring Regular-Season Matches to America" by Kevin Draper, the author goes over how the biggest soccer league in Spain is bringing some of their fixtures into the United States. I believe that this will lead to the United States becoming better in general at the sport of soccer. The third most populous country in the world that somehow managed to not qualify for the World Cup. This article interested me due to soccer being my favorite sport, and also because why would Spain come here? It turns out that the president of “La Liga” (the spanish league) thought that since American league play matches everywhere, shouldn’t they do the same? It also helped when La Liga signed an agreement Relevent Sports, a company that created the International Champions Cup and strives to spread soccer more so in America. The ICC is a highly competitive competition held in the US for teams throughout Europe. It is not yet known which teams are coming to play here and where, but rumors are saying that there’s going to be a big team, in Miami. Along with the agreement comes more broadcasting rights in Canada and the US, which will undoubtedly increase the popularity of soccer, otherwise known as football, inside of our country. Who knows, maybe this can be the spark of light leading to something great. And even help the United States qualify and become successful in the World Cup.
Sports
In the article "La Liga Will Bring Regular-Season Matches to America" by Kevin Draper, the author goes over how the biggest soccer league in Spain is bringing some of their fixtures into the United States. I believe that this will lead to the United States becoming better in general at the sport of soccer. The third most populous country in the world that somehow managed to not qualify for the World Cup. This article interested me due to soccer being my favorite sport, and also because why would Spain come here? It turns out that the president of “La Liga” (the spanish league) thought that since American league play matches everywhere, shouldn’t they do the same? It also helped when La Liga signed an agreement Relevent Sports, a company that created the International Champions Cup and strives to spread soccer more so in America. The ICC is a highly competitive competition held in the US for teams throughout Europe. It is not yet known which teams are coming to play here and where, but rumors are saying that there’s going to be a big team, in Miami. Along with the agreement comes more broadcasting rights in Canada and the US, which will undoubtedly increase the popularity of soccer, otherwise known as football, inside of our country. Who knows, maybe this can spark the light of something great and help the United States qualify and become successful in the World Cup.
Health
The article “Why Sitting Might Be Bad for Your Brain” by Gretchen Reynolds circles around long term brain health and blood flow, specifically relating to sitting and standing. Luckily there is a simple solution to this that I believe will help with not only health, but happiness; walking. “Getting up and strolling for just two minutes every half-hour seems to stave off this decline in brain blood flow and may even increase it.” This goes to show that short simple exercise (if 2 minutes of walking can really be considered ‘exercise’) can really go a long way. I believe that can also lead to a more happy and enjoyable life just because it helps you stay thinking, which is assisted by the fact that walking regulates blood flow to the brain. However, not only does this article speculate around the brain, it also mentions other parts of the human body. “Other research has shown the uninterrupted sitting dampens blood flow to various parts of the body.” This includes legs, which usually stay in the same general position when sitting down for long periods of time. So to conclude, short and simple walking can go a long way and help you with long term health and happiness.
The Environment
The Article “Tornadoes On the East Coast May Be a Sign of Things to Come” by Kendra Pierre-Louis discusses tornadoes and climate change. I think that there is a relation between the amount of tornadoes and climate change. This caught my eye due to the recent tornado not even an hour away from my home in Massachusetts. Another tornado that touched down that was mentioned in this piece occurred in Queens, New York. These rare occurrences not only were out of region, but at a different time than usual. Most happen prior to August, and in the midwest of the United States. However, there have “been reports of tornadoes hitting New York City as far back as 1880.” So, trying to relate climate change and tornado incidents is difficult and not straightforward. Although, there are more outbreaks, or tornadoes that occur in a bunch, and “the bunches are getting bigger”. One point made in the article was that when climate models are ran, an increased temperature leads to more twisters, and a decreased temperature leads to less twisters. So, in conclusion I believe that the hotter the environment gets, the more destructive tornadoes there is going to be, and they’re going to be in places where they aren't usually expected.
History
The Article “Civil War Portrayals’ Glaring Omission” by Daniel Arnold focused on Civil War Reenactments and why people acted in them. This captivated me because the Civil War was always one of my favorite topics to learn about in school. I determine that the actors in the reenactments weren’t in there just for fun (usually), but rather to honor the dead and previous fighters. An interesting point that was brought up was that “nobody really thought a lot about the social reasons of why the South went to war. It was just these poor guys who were underfed, undermanned, underequipped, fighting valiantly to the last man, until they couldn’t stand anymore.” I never really pondered on the fact that maybe some of these people are just fighting because they have nothing else to do, maybe they’re super poor. Furthermore, this article also brought up that a lot of younger people aren’t volunteering anymore to go into these reenactments. Also mentioned in this piece was how in one of the fake battles, how many confederate flags were blatantly being brandished. So in conclusion, I believe that these entertaining but harmless skirmishes were for educational purposes, and to honor the previous real soldiers.
Health
The article “Why Sitting Might Be Bad for Your Brain” by Gretchen Reynolds circles around long term brain health and blood flow, specifically relating to sitting and standing. Luckily there is a simple solution to this that I believe will help with not only health, but happiness; walking. “Getting up and strolling for just two minutes every half-hour seems to stave off this decline in brain blood flow and may even increase it.” This goes to show that short simple exercise (if 2 minutes of walking can really be considered ‘exercise’) can really go a long way. I believe that can also lead to a more happy and enjoyable life just because it helps you stay thinking, which is assisted by the fact that walking regulates blood flow to the brain. However, not only does this article speculate around the brain, it also mentions other parts of the human body. “Other research has shown the uninterrupted sitting dampens blood flow to various parts of the body.” This includes legs, which usually stay in the same general position when sitting down for long periods of time. So to conclude, short and simple walking can go a long way and help you with long term health and happiness.
Science and Technology
The Article “Parker Solar Probe Launches on NASA Voyage to ‘Touch the Sun’” by Kenneth Chang circles around NASA’s attempt to touch the sun with their newly built solar probe. Although there have been numerous failures and rocket ship crashes, I believe that this one will be successful and indeed help NASA with their understanding of the great sun. This probe will hit the outermost layer of the sun, and heat up the outside of the spacecraft to about 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the melting point of steel. However there is a protective shield made up of carbon composite that not only protects the equipment, but weighs in at only 160 pounds. Having a good grasp of what the sun does is of utmost importance, it could save us one day. For example, “occasionally, a huge explosion, called a coronal mass ejection, erupts from the sun, sending a larger-than-usual deluge of particles into space.” These ejections have hit Earth before, once in 1859 which disrupted many telegraph wires in America and Europe. One similar to the 1859 incident occurred in 2012, but luckily wasn’t aimed at Earth. If it had been directed at us then blackouts would occur and it could take years to repair all of the damages. This long term probe operation is set to complete 24 orbits around the sun, and to finish its mission in 2025. So, to conclude this long voyage will help NASA with its understanding of the center of our universe, the sun.
The Environment
The Article “Tornadoes On the East Coast May Be a Sign of Things to Come” by Kendra Pierre-Louis discusses tornadoes and climate change. I think that there is a relationship between the amount of tornadoes and climate change. This caught my eye due to the recent tornado not even an hour away from my home in Massachusetts. Another tornado that touched down that was mentioned in this piece occurred in Queens, New York. These rare occurrences not only were out of region, but at a different time than usual. Most happen prior to August, and in the midwest of the United States. However, there have “been reports of tornadoes hitting New York City as far back as 1880.” So, trying to relate climate change and tornado incidents is difficult and not straightforward. Although, there are more outbreaks, or tornadoes that occur in a bunch, and “the bunches are getting bigger”. One point made in the article was that when climate models are ran, an increased temperature leads to more twisters, and a decreased temperature leads to less twisters. So, in conclusion I believe that the hotter the environment gets, the more destructive tornadoes there is going to be, and they’re going to be in places where they usually aren’t expected.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/well/move/how-you-felt-about-gym-clas...
I found this article interesting because it claims that the way we felt during gym classes years or even decades ago may shape how we feel about exercise today and whether we choose to be physically active. From the questionnaire, the most consistent associations were between unpleasant memories of pe classes and lingering resistance to exercise years later. I found this very interesting because in high school right now, I don't enjoy gym class, but I am very physically active outside of school. Usually I am tired in school, and when I have to spend the next 45 minutes running around, it isn't very enjoyable.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/24/sports/urban-meyer-apology.html -
I found this article about Urban Meyer, Ohio State Football Head Coach, very interesting in terms of how he handled the situation . Urban Meyer assistant coach Zach Smith has been abusing his former wife Courtney Smith for a while now, and Meyer knew about it the whole time. Instead of taking legal action and bringing the situation to authorities, Urban kept his mouth shut. When news broke out about the situation, Meyer was investigated and ultimately suspended for the first three games of the season. Meyer's lack of judgement is what ultimately got him suspended. The thing that interested me the most was the thought that this could be going on around all of college sports, and it most likely is. Coaches probably try not to get involved with any misconduct of their peers, but if they are aware of these misconducts, it is very bad not to let authorities know about the situation.
This week in the Times I saw the article, "F.B.I. Agent Peter Strzok, Who Criticized Trump Tests, Is Fired." This interested me because i was mainly curious on what he said about it to get him fired. He did talk down about Trump, but I'm guessing he got fired for other reasons too. Trump seemed very happy when he was released. I chose this article because I usually like to read news about Trump.
This week in The Times, I was most interested in the article, "Should Parents Track their Teenager's Location." This interested me because I have been tracked by my parents before. I thought that it was annoying at first because, as any teenager, I do not want my parents knowing where I am all the time. After talking with them, I realized that they just want to know where I am so that if anything was to happen to me while I was out, they could know where I am. They have since turned the location off because they trust that I will make good decisions. I was very interested to learn that 16% of parents track their teenager's location because I thought I was the only one. Overall, I think that it is a good idea for parents because if anything does happen to their children, they can at least know where to find them.
What interested me in times this week was an article on the rapper Logic & his preformance at the VMAS this summer. In my opinion, he is one of the most influential people in the world. Logic is a very humble hardworking & dedicated individual & is absolutely passionate about his work. He uses his talent to spread important messages about the worlds problems & that we need to get together & do whatever we can to find a solution. This year at the VMA he preformed his new song about “ One Day “ in protest for Donald Trump’s separation &
detention policy. Last year he also shine light on suicide prevention preforming his song “ 1-800-273-8255 “. Logic is a big role model to because he literally came up from nothing. He had a broken home & had a really bad drug addiction with cigarettes, but he broke with the power of his music. He made a pact that if he released his debut album he will quit. Everyday he used to make rhymes in the basements when no one was listening for hours. He also is so close with fans , with his preformances at the VMAs he let his fans come onstage with him. Logic is a true role model because he shows you can achieve anything in the world you just have to believe in yourself & work hard.
“The News on Drug Prices? Nothing Good”
This editorial jumps right into the action and hooks the reader without giving them a moment to think. The author begins by mentioning two significant dates in the effort to lower drug prices, pointing out that nothing positive has come of either of them. This strategy is effective in immediately showing the reader that the Trump administration is losing this battle. It is then suggested that Trump’s attempts could have even made the price of drugs go up, which certainly puts the reader on the side of the author, because why would anyone want the president to make things worse? From here, more compelling points are made, such as how the administration gave too much swing to a pharmaceutical company and how they barred states from making policies on the issue while making no progress of their own. The author brings it home with a mention of federal refusal to put potentially effective plans into action. The argument as a whole definitely holds water. The author constructed it professionally with issue-related evidence and examples of slip-ups en masse. However, this piece could have been better if the author did not speculate so much on the relationships of the politicians and the respective pharmaceutical companies they communicated with without proof to back the ideas. This article did not need much help to be worth the read as it is written on a very hot subject that already has readers on the edge of their seats.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/04/world/africa/elephants-botswana-poach...
This article interested me from the very second i saw the title. It was shocking. I don't know about others but I for one find poaching animals especially 87 elephants at once, cruel and inhumane. I don't understand how people can live with themselves while killing these innocent and beautiful animals. It breaks my heart. I hope that one day breaking news stories such as this one wont have to ever be published again. I know deep down that one day this world will be a better place where not only animals will be protected and genuinely happy but also every single human will have the same rights.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/upshot/chores-girls-research-social-s...
Up until this point in my life i always thought that i did more work around the house than most girls but now i know i was wrong. From the often babysitting to doing dishes here or there i only spend about 2 hours if that doing housework and thats only if you count babysitting as housework.
The article mentions the fact that boys tend to learn to work for money while girls tend to work unpaid, at leasr in their younger years. This in a way sets up the way that our society is set up when it comes to the amount of money someone is paud based of gender. Growing up i only recieved alowance for about a month so i could never really tell that there could have been a difference in the money me and my sisters were making.
Unforntunatly there are many men in the world who do not think this is an issuee that needs to be fixed but i do and honestly we have to hit it at its roots and start teaching these equalities to the next generations.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/30/technology/vinod-khosla-beach.html?fa...
When i first started reading this article i thought it was just about a rich man having a fit because he couldnt get what he wanted but there was more to it than that.
Mr.khosla bought a beach villiage and then he tried to privatize the beach area around it which made other landbuyers and citizens upset so it was taken to court then taken to the supreme court where khosla had to settle for people being able to walk on his land while also maintaining his private property rights.
Honestly they shouldnt have let him buy the entire area if they were just gonna turn around and so " oh no you have to let people walk on you land because this is public property".
This week, I was interested in the article "Danny DeVito on the Joys of Getting Down and Dirty." This article interviews one of the stars of the hit comedy series "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," a show famous for its absurd irreverence. DeVito has always been an actor who I've been interested in. His way of fully embracing the tone of his show and character in his work is admirable. DeVito talks about his connection to his character Frank in this interview, saying that he admires how Frank romanticizes the most dire situations. This theme is reflected in the show as a whole, as the characters treat the most depraved circumstances with humor. The show-makers present things that most people would automatically reject with a positive tone. As is clear in DeVito's interview, everyone working on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" presents a hilariously ironic sense of optimism that resonates so strongly with the audience that the show will be renewed for its thirteenth season this week.
The Family Foundation School in Hancock New York closed because of many reasons. The school was for teenagers that had drug or alcohol additions. The school mistreated the teenagers. A few of the people who had been treated there, had said that they had gotten sexually abused and that they had been put in isolation areas. There were different types of isolation. One of the worst ones is being duct taped with rugs wrapped around you while being locked in a 8 by 8 room. Since 2015, over 100 former students had died. A former nurse that treated the students of the school said that she had treated students that tried to take their own lives. A few students had taken their own lives during their time at the school and after they left the school. My point is that many students have died because of this school and had been treated horribly. And my main question is, why had all of those people died? It was said that a few of them had died of overdosing and a few by suicide. A few by tragic incidents. Ms. Ianelli said that the students had left the school more damaged then when they entered, and what I would like to say is why did the staff treat the students like that in the first place? I know that the students went there because of their bad habits, but they are still people so it isn't right that they were treated that way. For people who are addicted to something they should be treated with care and respect, not the treatment they got at the Family Foundation School.
Iraq’s Forgotten Casualties: Children Orphaned in Battle With ISIS. Tens of thousands of children lost their parents under Islamic State rule or the battle against it. Iraq has few resources to care for them.
The article is important because there is so many children that lost their parents and there is barely anyone there to care for them. So what I suggest is that we send some army planes over to Iraq safely, and bring the children over to America so families can adopt them. I think that the children in Iraq need to come to America so they are safe and loved. No child should have to stay in a war area and be alone. Like what about the infants, who have no family. They need to be cared for. So why can't we just take the children here, so they have a chance to survive and live a happy life.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/31/opinion/public-school-constitution-ri...
I was interested in the article about public school students. This interested me because I fall under the category of a public school student. The main debate of the article is whether public school students have constitutional rights. To my surprise we actually do! The one thing that almost everyone is told was that if your a bad student you will get hit with a ruler. The supreme court passed a law saying that teachers can no longer hit their students. The right for the students is not being hurt in any way.
I always keep an eye on the news about our climate, especailly those with updates on global warming. This article concerns me a lot for its conclusion that the extreme heat we are expereincing this year is not yet the new normal but to become more and more severe. Also, it provided evidence that the unusual climate patterns are hitting everywhere on earth, as suggested by its name. I remember another news I saw the other day that says the temperature of somewhere near the arctic area has reached up to 20 Celsius degrees, and the ice there had melted. Scientists have warned us years ago, only few people actually realized the danger of global warming then. We still don't know the exact influence it will bring, but we already know that as sea level rises, some land will be covered by water, and the devastation it brought to the eco system in artic area. I trully hope that the United States could rejoin the Paris Treaty on climate change. Because with great power comes with great responsibility.
Music Therapy Offers an End-of-Life Grace Note
This article interested me because I grew up with music being an important part in my and my families lives. As far back as I can remember, my mom has always told me that music is deep. Of course at a young age I didn't really understand what that meant but now I do. This article explains how music therapy can improve the quality of life, create a feeling of hope and peace and reduce pain. I believe music therapy isn't just for individuals who are close to death, I believe it is for everyone. I can remember many, many times that music has helped me get through a rough time. From being bullied, to having close loved ones pass away, music was there for me and my family. This article also interested me because it explained that when making your own lyrics to music and creating a song, you are able to deeply connect to the song thus making it more therapeutic. The individual can visualize peaceful images and reflect on their thoughts and emotions through the music. This motivates people to look at the glass half full instead of half empty. This is the mindset i've always had and it is really beneficial in tough situations. Many people in nursing homes and hospitals are using music therapy and I feel this therapy should spread, should be used all around the world for all ages. Something as easy and amazing as music is being used to make "the end" not feel like "the end" and to me, that's amazing.
These Cultural Treasures Are Made of Plastic. Now They’re Falling Apart.
Its sad to see that there are millions of tons of plastic in the ocean today. We wish that all of this debris could just disappear from our lives forever. Although, there are some items made of plastic that we wished could stay forever. Artifacts such as Neil Armstrong's suit is slowly deteriorating from time passing. Now it has been taken off display from the museum. This includes other displays such as "Woman Eating" which was made in 1971. It is important to keep preserving these pieces of history towards the future and hope that it will continue to last.
How “Searching” Uses Tech Devices as Narrative Devices
In today’s world, we rely on technology in our every day life. Most of the time, we use technology to help us to make our lives easier, but in some cases, technology can put our lives and information in jeopardy. When we go onto some uncommon sites, they may ask us for our email and password and sometimes the site scams us and will take our information and use it against us. That’s why we have to be careful when we use the internet and about which sites we use and what information they need from us.
A Ballet Crowd, Bustin’ Out all Over Carousel
When professional dancers are in a company, they tend to have shows every night for long periods of time. In most cases, they are the as roles almost every night, which can make it boring and not as exciting to perform. Since they are doing the same roles and the same shows they aren’t really improving their overall technique. Think about it like this, you do the same math problem every day for two months, you get better at the problem but you don’t learn anything new. That’s why many dancers get upset and leave their company and further their career. @[email protected]
"Keep Your Gut Healthy and Your Skin May Follow"
By Courtney Rubin
The article by Courtney Rubin “Keep Your Gut Healthy and Your Skin May follow” greatly interests me. The article suggests that by the right combination of probiotics and a healthy steady diet, you will see improvements in skin. I find this article very interesting because I often struggle with acne breakouts and assumed it came from not taking care of my skin with the correct facial products. As it turns out you can see improvements in your skin through a change in your diet and a healthy gut. I found it very interesting that using certain probiotics such as Sonya Dakar’s “Acidophilus Flora” or Bobbi Brown’s “Pixie Sticks” result in improvements in complexion. I had no idea that what you ate had a certain effect on your skin. This article interests me because it shows the effects of gut health and the remarkability of a human body and its functions.
"Should I Still Root for My College Football Team?"
As a fan of college football this article caught my eye. I was interested in the topic so I decided to read the article. This article brought up the ideas that players have committed crimes and the danger of the sport. One of the main points in the article was should people still support these players with what they have done off the field. This is a very hard topic because some of the accusations against the players might be faked in order for the person to gain attention and others may be real. For this reason I find it to be very difficult to judge a players character especially if there is not a lot of evidence against them. Another reason people might not support their team is because of the danger in the sport. This shouldn't be a reason to not support the team because it are their lives that will be effected by the sport. Overall I believe that people should still support their favorite college football team.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/11/opinion/sunday/nerds-lebron-james-elo...
Jocks Rule, Nerds Drool
As someone who does occasionally indulge in the world wide web, I back the author of this article in her observation that nerds are no longer the caring underdogs media always made them out to be. What I didn't quite agree with, however, was her statement that jocks are suddenly seeming "pretty great" when compared to abusive "nerds."
I cannot deny that stereotypes exist, nor can I make the naive assumption that we will rid our society of them. Stereotypes multiply like rabbits; they will always exist because there will always be people who believe in them. What I can safely express is that stereotypes can only be fueled by what we feed into them, especially through media. While I don't think the author was necessarily trying to do that, I feel as though acting surprised that nerds are transforming into misogynistic, abusive men only rekindles the stereotypical fire that is the media today. Just because comic books and movies have portrayed them as the Mr. Nice Guys doesn't mean they always have been. It is the same situation when expressing surprise when jocks are portrayed as the "good guys." Pretending that they are only now being thoughtful again, feeds the media.
“Medical School Should Be Free, but Not For Everyone”
Recently, the New York University school of medicine announced that they would offer free tuition. Initially, this sounds like a charitable and kind offer on the part of NYU; however, Dr. Elizabeth Rosenthal has a very different viewpoint. According to Rosenthal, doctors are needed most in places where patients have the least. Most doctors are drawn to richer areas of our country because that is where the most lucrative medical jobs are. But in lower income cities, where many patients are on Medicaid do not attract doctors because most need high paying jobs to pay off student loans. While NYU is eliminating student loans, they are not insuring that doctors will pursue careers in cities where they are needed. Students can now graduate loan-free and take up high-paying jobs without ever helping those in poor areas. Rosenthal makes a good point. While the idea of free tuition draws a lot of attention, what essentially needs to happen is that free tuition should be given to those willing to work in poorer areas so that they do not have to pay off student loans and can make enough money to be satisfied with their job. To build her argument against NYU, Rosenthal, uses other programs as an example for what NYU school of medicine could be doing. She cites that NYU school of law waves tuition for 20 students who choose a field helping the public, rather than working in a corporate law firm.
Ice on the Surface of the Moon? Almost Certainly, New Research Shows.
I have chosen this article because of how interesting it is to know that water could be found on a nearby mass. Scientists found water on mars and other moons and planets, although even when the moon is so close to us, we couldn't find water until now. This brings a number of possibilities of the moon such as having water deep under the moon as solid matter. What scientists are trying to go for now is when and how that water got there depending on astroid or comet.
The article that interested me the most this week was titled," The student debt problem is worse than we imagined."
Colleges are making billions, while the students are left in debt in which they can not repay. "They take out $6,600 in a single year, averaging in $22,000 in debt by graduation." The federal government judges colleges just by looking at the student loans. over 1.3 million borrowers were not paying their loans back. The laws attempting to keep schools accountable aren't doing all that they can to stop the problems with student loans. This article interested me because of the statistics. The surprising amount of money that students are in debt of, and the overwhelming amount of people who do not pay them back. It interests me because student loans are something that most college students get, and I could be dealing with this problem in the future so it is good to know how students handle it.
I chose the article “ should these tests get a failing grade”. I chose this article because it grasped my attention. When we go back to school we focus on the amount of tests we’re going to have. Like the SHSAT. These type of test are the ones that allow us to feel stressful like a weight on top of us. We just focus on passing the test. Which makes it difficult for us to focus on something else.
Should I flush it? Most often, the answer is No.
This article caught my attention this week as to see that no one would second guess to throw something in the toilet. These minuscule items can't have any effect on our environment right? Nothing as small as contact lens could harm anyone right? But imagine having this happen to almost every toilet around the globe. These items accumulate getting greater and greater in size everyday. Most of these items are not biodegradable. Even those that claim that their product are biodegradable, aren't necessarily true such as disposable wipes which have rayon or viscose. These components are only biodegradable at high temperatures which bodies of water do not provide. Medicine is also tossed into the plumbing multiple times. A test conducted on 139 streams found that 80% of them had some form of medical chemicals running though them. We must also remember that this is later converted to drinking water so it is important what we are throwing into the toilet. Make sure to double check next time when simply "tossing it into the toilet".
What interested me in the New York Times this week was an article called "An Underappreciated Key to College Sucess: Sleep." It explained how students never get enough sleep because of studying which could make them fail tests and assignments. This interested me because I myself don't get enough sleep. I either have sports or tons of homework which leaves me sleep deprived the next day. I believe students should get more time by starting a school day later. More sleep equals better work by the students. Which means brighter futures. In conclusion students need to get more sleep. ([email protected])
The Stars of September
I did not think that the New York Times kept up with the current events in fashion, especially those of such large magazines. In this article, I was shown the statistics of how many women of color appeared on the cover of large fashion magazines.
It was very interesting to see what “people of color” was defined as. In one example was Gigi Hadid, known model, she speaks much impotence about her Arab and Dutch background and is considered a person of color. Another example also showed Zendaya, who in fact is biracial as well. I personally do not consider Hadid sister’s as “women of color”. This article was interesting to see what the writer of this article considered women of color. For me, a women of color is African American or has some kind of color to their skin.
I chose the article,'' An Underappreciated Key to College Success: Sleep.'' This article interested me because I am in high school now and i will be in college in four short years. Also I know how important it is to get sleep, especially before school. In the article it talks about how important sleeping is and how much it can improve test scores and grades. The article says,'' 16 hours wake in a row, brain function starts to decline. 20 hours awake in a row , you preform as if legally drunk.'' Kids in college don't understand how important sleep can be. Even some pull all-nighters.
([email protected])
The article that interested me the most this week in the Times was "A Truth Commission on Clerical Abuse," written by Rick Topper. I was most interested in this article for a multitude of reasons. Throughout the writing, Topper describes how in order for the Catholic church to finally put a stop to the endless amount of abuse cases involving Catholic priests, all 1.2 billion of us Catholics need to step up, speak the truth, and support each other so that we can all heal together. I strongly agree with Topper's ideas about how to ultimately end the awful sexual abuse that has been going on for years in secrecy. I, myself, am a Catholic teenage girl and am extremely sickened to think that there are priests that have gotten away with these terrible actions and I am even more disgusted that there are many people who were aware of the events going on at the time and chose to stay silent about them. I greatly concur with Topper and I think that the only way us Catholics, along with the rest of the world, will be able to move forward and restore the confidence we had in our Church is for everyone to finally speak the truth and stop keeping these events in secrecy.
Although there are so many things to read about on the internet this one caught my eye. its adorable and i think should be a thing everywhere. "Company is offering 'fur-ternity leave' for new pet owners", just by the name i already knew i was going to write about it. A marketing company in MInneapolis is giving their employees 'fur-ternity leave' to work from home for one week to adjust their pet to their home. An italian company allowed people to take paid time off to take care of sick pets. At mParticle in New York they allow a 'Paw-ternity- leave' vwhich gives them two paid weeks off for people who adopt a rescue dog. So many people could and have benefited from this and it really should be somthing companies look into and offer. I would very much appreciate some time off to get a new pet situated at home especially if it were a puppy or kitten (or any young animal).
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https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/world/americas/argentina-police-offic...
this week i saw that picture of a officer a women matter a fact breast feeding a child at first i thought it was her own child until i seen this article. It said that the hospital brought in a undernerished child and she was on duty and she can see the child was crying because he was younger so she started to feed him.Its amazing how she was not afraid to feed him for breast feeding in a public place because thats been a issue for a long time for women.It also so crazy how she did that she didn't know the child nothing just her mother instincts told her too it just shows how moms and women in general can do amazing things.
LaurenWHS | NC August 17th 2018
“Hundreds of reindeer died by lightning. Their carcasses became a laboratory”. While reading this article I noticed how as Sam Steyaert put it “from death comes life”, which is very true in this case. That’s what really made me interested in this article, hundreds of reindeer died leaving behind what could potentially become new grounds for a diverse number of species along with scavengers and vegetation. Whats even more fascinating is the science behind how over 300 reindeer huddled together all got shocked by lighting because of the wet ground, it may seem sad or morbid and is a very unpleasant sight, but it really opens peoples eyes to get people to understand honestly everything. Does this mean that if lightning hits the ground that someone is standing on they’ll be electrocuted? If we destroy the earth with pollution or some other way will it just create a better earth over time? Etc. I really think this event has hurt the ecosystem while making it better at the same time.
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What interested me this week was “Alphabet’s Plans for a China Comeback Go Beyond Google Search”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/24/technology/google-china-waymo.html?ac...
This article was a shocker for me as being Chinese I had been to China many times to visit relatives and travel. However, every time I was there, I would not be able to access Google or any of their products. This push that American companies are making onto China could be revolutionary. Although I am not a businessman, I can see the opportunities this gives China and America. As the article says, China is engrossed into technology and computers. Though many of the areas I was living in were rural, I was able to notice many computer cafes around the city. By pushing China to remove their strict code, it allows them to open up to new ideas and trade from other major industries. By doing so it might benefit everyone by increasing China’s technology and business in western countries. This idea interests me greatly as being able to access the same technologies in China as in my own house gives me the convenience i need.
"After a Cancer Diagnosis, Playing the Odds"
I was 12 years old when my mom and dad shared the news of my mother's cancer diagnosis to my three brothers and me. While reading this article, I suddenly became aware of how truly similar my mother's cancer journey was to Katie Palay's. Just like Palay, my mother traveled to Houston, Texas for her cancer treatment with a positive attitude and a fighting mentality. Their stories continue to be comparable when Palay relapsed just a year after going into remission. She went on a clinical trial that put her in complete remission and then began proton radiation to her lymphomas. After 35 rounds of radiation, she went into complete remission and once again began living her "life scan-to-scan and playing the cruel mental game of wondering what the chances were that the cancer would return." Similarly, my mother relapsed two years after going into remission, went back to Texas for her proton radiation, and is now also living her life scan-to-scan and wondering what the chances are of her cancer returning. My mother has been cancer free for almost three years.
I believe that Katie Play and my mother would both agree on the fact that their experiences have made them stronger and helped them realize who and what is genuinely important to them. As Palay says, "I choose to be present and enjoy all the moments that make life worth living."
Black Panther Issue:
There were arguments on whether it was racist or not that the cast was full of back cosplyers. Many argued that the superheroes should’ve been white since “white cosplayers can be superheroes but blacks should be the villain or the sidekick”. Many actors and actresses have opened up conversations of opportunities which they have hoped in the first place.
"Urban Meyer Apologizes to Courtney Smith, and for Not Doing It Sooner" by Marc Tracy
The news issue that I have been following this week is about the Ohio State scandal in which head football coach Urban Meyer did nothing to punish an assistant coach who domestically abused his wife. There are two things in this story that strike me as ridiculous. One is the fact that Meyer was only suspended for three games, none of which were important, and how unapologetic he seemed in his initial statement and how he did not apologize to Courtney Smith, the victim of the abuse. It is also appalling that he took to social media to finally apologize to Ms. Smith, and that the half-hearted apology only came after public backlash to his insensitive news conference. Although he handled the entire situation terribly, and received backlash, I feel that more should be done. Obviously he was not the abuser, but to stand on the side and watch without any intervention is as bad as the action itself. In a society in which issues of domestic violence have become such a focal point, there should be more serious repercussions and more done to help the Smith family.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/28/opinion/sunday/cardiac-defibrillator-...
As a volunteer in Israel's EMS service, MADA, I have had my fair share of hospices and age-related diseases. It sucks when you are left with an unknown but certain death. In many occasions, some of my patients didn't even want to endure the suffering of cancer or heart failure. Those things can be somewhat patched up in a hospital, but you are most certainly left on a path leading to death. This article really spoke to me, with the reluctance of the doctor in implanting the defibrillator, knowing it will likely prolong the patient's death very painfully. Yet, people are forced to endure and suffer through many deadly and terrifying diseases. I had a relative who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It is extremely lethal, with a less than 10% survival rate after 5 years. He was left with the daunting and horrible choice of having to endure surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, only to slightly delay the disease. The article brings me hope that people will not have to go down this painful path and instead have an easy and comfortable to go out. That said, it also brings me hope that our medicine is advancing rapidly and we may have an adept way of handling these diseases in the future
Should These Tests Get A Failing Grade?"
One of the first reasons this article interested is the fact that many kids are starting to go back to school. I've been thinking about all of the habits I will have to get back into to start the school year off right. One of those habits being testing. There are different kinds of testing, some of which I am good at, and others not so much. Testing in school tends to be easy for me when I understand the material. It's usually just being able to pay attention in class that gets me a good grade. Standardized testing on the other hand is where I struggle. I've always felt like taking tests like the SAT aren't enough to judge someone off for any school to be accepted.
"The State Should Stay Clear of the Confession Booth"
By: Waleed Aly
The article that caught my eye this week involved something that I am well aware of. As a Christian, I know about confession and how it works. I had not previously thought about the issue discussed in this article, but it interested me. After reading, I agree with the author. Confession is a sacred, holy time, where people admit to their sins and mistakes and are forgiven by God. Confession is confidential. If every time some one admitted a crime to a priest the priest was required to turn them in, that would defeat the purpose. If some one feels comfortable enough to confess their sin in confession, it obviously reveals their regret, and they are unlikely to repeat the sin. Therefore, they are likely not a threat, and need not be reported. Also, if people were reported, that would disturb the person's holy time with God. If God is all-forgiving, why shouldn't we be too?
“In Chicago, One Weekend, 66 Shooting Victims and Zero Arrests.” By Richard A. Oppel Jr. and Amy Harmon
What interested me the most this week was the title of this article which is shooting. The gun shooting is the common problem. On Sunday at midnight, 66 people were shot and 12 of them died. On Monday morning the Chicago police had no one arrested. It was so depressing that some random person decides to open fire and kill some innocent people. The people who you don’t even know. The mayor said he blames majority on the factors. Such as police department, citing too many gun circulation, the failure of courts to convict and hold accountable those caught with illegal guns, and the need for better parenting. Chicago police don’t even try to stop any violence. The judicial partners of this city need to start making repeat fun offenders feel consequences for their actions. But this time they should talk less and take an immediate action. I liked this article because this informed us how some cities go through such problems almost every day. The police force of every city needs to be really careful and stroke. Because of them we feel safe and free to walk around. I hope every city gets the solution to this problem.
I was interested in “Jeff McNeil lifts Mets with four hits in win over giants”. I was interested in this because Jeff McNeil is only a rookie, a rookie that is making a big impact to the Mets team. The Mets has their ups and downs but that doesn’t stop them from keep on playing. With the addition of Jeff the Mets seem to be organizing things, such as calling up other youth players like Austin Jackson and Dominic smith. I’m a mets fan as well and as I see it it’s a very good team. Hopefully next season we can do better.
By now, we have heard of the trilogy “Hotel Transylvania”. Even though, this might be a kids movie, parents are seeming to enjoy this film just as much. The newest one, “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation” Is number one on the charts! This animated film is towering over Dwayne Johnson’s film, Skyscraper. “Hotel Transylvania 3” made millions of dollars more than “Skyscraper”.
Hotel Transylvania is an animated movie series that stars Count Dracula and his family. Usually these films are centered around their family owned hotel, however, this time around they are taking a vacation from it all. Each of the three films have made at least $40 million, totaling over $100 million. While skyscraper has only made nearly half the amount of one of their movies, only bringing in $25.5 million. While the other two films were made for the Halloween fun, this movie was made specifically for the summer season. This was their best time to make it since all schools were on their summer break. In this movie, the hotel guests and Dracula's family, go on a summer vacation on a cruise ship. Even though Hotel Transylvania is taking “Skyscraper” by storm, Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures will be banking on big returns from China, since the film is directed in there. They are estimating a good $125 million.
This story helped me realize that The NY Times is really keeping up with the latest current events and knows what the latest trends are.
In the article “Bodega where Teenager was killed to Reopen, and community is angry”, I was very interested because it seems as if the new owner of the store doesn’t realize the tragedy that happens, is still affecting a lot of people. A lot of the people who still mourned for Lesandro Guzman, think that they should have made a church. Everyone wanted peace . I feel that everyone should still be grieving because close friends and family have lost a loved one, why should they open up the place that put him on his deathbed? But on the other hand, the new owner didn’t have any relationship with Lesandro, so I don’t think he has any feelings toward the situation anyways.Therefore, Lesandro has touched many hearts, the community residents don’t want anybody to forget who he was that bodega is a reminder that he was a good person that deserved to live another day.
Take a Look at These Unusual Strategies for Fighting Dementia by Schuetze
My great-grandmother sat at the table looking, overjoyed, at the little dancing mouse which we had gotten her for Christmas. She had watched it do its little jig for perhaps the tenth time in as many minutes, clapping and humming along as though it was the first time she had seen it. My step mom stifled a sob, turning away so her grandmother couldn’t see. The kind old woman had dementia, an incurable disease which keeps her from retaining any new memories for more than a minute or so.
Schuetze’s article, which talks about new treatments for dementia, spoke to me in a way that many other articles failed to. Recently, many Dutch facilities have been taking a more therapeutic approach to the treatment of their dementia patients. Rather than trying to force their patients into the moment through medication, they are allowing them to remain in the memories of their past, then using these memories as a foundation to bridge the gap to the present. For example, patients in the Christian Beth-San special care hospital are encouraged to take a simulated bike ride through their hometowns. By doing this, they can remember the days of their youth while seeing the area in the present. Also, patients’ rooms are decorated as their homes would have been when they were young. I can see how effective these treatments could be. My great-grandmother can stay in the moment the longest when she is telling stories of her past.
12 boys and one soccer coach ended up getting stuck in a flooded cave for three weeks. Chanin Vibulrungruang, Panumas Sangdee, Duganpet Promtep, Adul Sam-on, Somepong Jaiwong, Mongkol Booneiam, Nattawut Takamrong, Peerapat Sompiangjai, Ekarat Wongsukchan, Prajak Sutham, Pipat Pho, Pornchai Kamluang, and Ekapol Chantawong got trapped in the cave after soccer practice. It was said that “The boys went into the cave to celebrate Night's birthday. They brought treats and snacks along with them.” During that whole time, the boys and the coach wrote letters to their parents or relatives. Most of the letters said to not worry and that they’re okay. The rescue took 100 divers, medical personnel and support staff, 3 days to get them out of the cave. The process of getting them out took time because they took each boy one by one out of the cave while being assisted by two divers. They had to squeeze through some parts of the cave, so they each were attached to the divers by a string. After they were rescued they were transported to a hospital nearby and were being isolated because of the risk of infection. One life was taken during this process. It was of former Navy SEAL driver. He was carrying air tanks into the cave while he lost consciousness and drowned. Overall they all made it out safe and returned to their families. I wanted to read this article because I was very intrigued by the title of the article because I wanted to know if they made it out alive or how they got there.
Is Acne Cool Now?
My 12-year-old cousin and my 11-year-old self with a pigtail hairstyle used to have a childhood belief that once you enter the 'mystery-coated' zone of puberty, you have to wage a skirmish against your major adversaries, acne and Tinea versicolor or white fungal spots before blooming into a Selena Gomez or a Vanessa Hudgens. She got the fungal spots while I waited for my spell,but it didn't sprang out.Until last year.
With the fear of being tracked down by the sorceress of acne, I spent almost one-third of my monthly salary to invest in the ten-step Korean skincare routine.However, my source of rescue was also my source of peril.I had a part-time job in a souvenir shop where everyone was required to wear a "happy to serve you" cap.Since it was summer, my skin got married to humidity and the waterfall of sweat kept on flowing on my forehead.This lead to some infection and pimple breakout because sweat was trapped in the cap.I was deeply frustrated on how I looked,so I rushed to the nearest beauty store to buy tea tree oils and clay masks with my fingers crossed that I'd soon bid these visitors goodbye. I lose my self-confidence when someone notices these tiny dots, but they taught me how to embrace my flaws and value self-love.My Mom then assured me that if I stop noticing these pimples, they'll just go away, and they did! My unwanted friends stayed until fall,but I am thankful for what they taught me.Well,what I can say is acne is not that evil after all.
“How Goop’s Haters made Gwyneth Paltrow’s Company Worth $250 million”
The first time I heard of Gwyneth Paltrow, I only knew her as the actor who did an amazing job as Pepper Potts. The first time I heard of Goop, it was from following her on Instagram. The first post I saw was one on a Himalayan salt scrub. At the time, all I thought was “Oh, so she markets wellness.”
As it turned out, exclusivity was a large part of the success behind Goop. But I was more surprised that Paltrow’s “aspirational” lifestyle was an equal or perhaps even bigger part of it. Between living the perfect life and being accused of elitism, Paltrow was fascinating. Yet I couldn’t help but wonder about her and her company’s philosophy, that some people not being able to afford certain things shouldn’t mean no one can have those things. That line of thinking certainly wasn’t wrong. We cannot make sure everyone had everything, or the same things (not for lack of trying, but at what cost?). Perhaps we focus so much on not having certain things that we forget how unnecessary some of those things are, especially wellness products with dubious effectiveness. Certainly, we should never stop striving for greater equality, but perhaps that also means letting go a bit what we don’t need
¨This Conspiracy Theory Should Worry Trump¨
The reason I picked this article was because this had something to do with Donald Trump. Lately he has been making headlines with scandals. I wanted to write about something that is currently happening. He has been involved in crimes with Michael Cohen. He has been accused of eight crimes having to do with our president. This in fact can put him in risk of impeachment. I liked this article because it talks about something that can potentially change the future of our country by giving us a new leader. He is claiming that he committed no crimes with his lawyer but he has much evidence against him. He paid a prostitute to be quiet so it wouldn't affect his presidential candidacy. This is considered a crime and is being investigated. To conclude I hope that we can look into this and not led it slide because these are issues regarding are leader.
“The Secret to Ant Efficiency is Idleness” by James Gorman
This article was fascinating to me as it made me think about all of the ways humans can adopt this system and see that it functions properly in different situations in everyday life. For example, traffic jams in major cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles stop people for multiple hours at a time going to and from work. I know that this would be a stretch, but perhaps different sections of the city or different types of jobs would arrive earlier than other jobs to prevent traffic jams and car accidents. This sort of reminds me of the saying, “too many cooks spoils the broth”. This implies that when there are too many people or animals or anything trying to accomplish one single task all at once, there are going to be mistakes.
These ants instinctively know what is expected of them and they act in an orderly fashion, unlike the culture in the United States, which is usually dysfunctional. We as Americans try to fit pieces of the puzzle together that are not the same shade. I think that we should take certain Asian countries as an example of a cohesive unit that works together to achieve a goal. They have strong family values and are extremely supportive of each other. Much like the ants, they understand how to work as a team and know that reaching their goals as a unit is bound to be more successful, something I think that a lot of American families should take note of. Camaraderie is key to success.
Black Boys Feel Less Save in White Neighborhoods, Study Shows
This particular article caught my attention because I'm always hearing about how white kids don't feel safe in black neighborhoods. I wanted to hear the other side of the story. In the article, it states how black kids fear walking around in white neighbor hoods because in the past, the residents in the neighborhood had called the police on them for doing ordinary things like playing in the yard. I personally have been lucky enough to grow up in a setting where I've never feared walking down the streets as a Latina. I find it embarrassing that kids my age can't walk down streets without being judged just based on their skin color. I feel like its really hypocritical honestly. Judging one race because they have a bad history when, you yourself have a bad one too. I just hope that a day comes where anyone can walk through whatever neighborhood they please without fear.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/us/politics/devos-guns-in-schools.htm...
This week on New York Times I read an article about Congress trying to use funds to provide teachers with guns. This year has been a very active year with school shootings, from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to the Marshall County High School.I honestly think that arming teachers isn’t the best way to solve this problem. Instead of more guns, why don't we try and prevent them from being made. Why not use those funds to help school that really need help. Instead we waste our money on something that is killing us. If we really want to help our students, then stop making guns.More violence isn’t the answer,taking action and stopping violence is.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. The tree being the leader, Donald Trump, and the apple(s) being the 5 members from Trump's administration to plead guilty to fraud. If more of the president’s administration pleads guilty this will link Trump to an actual crime. Not only can this damage his name and his major companies, for example, is university. This could potentially make financial problems which could lead to safety problems. Trump had two hundred million dollars in damages for his university.
As more news outlets have report on this case the president could face multiple charges. If Trump’s administration keeps on being found guilty this will eventually lead to the president. This what many people call the “ the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
Michael Cohen has been doing Trump’s dirty work since the election. He paid off two women who had information that would hurt the president’s campaign. Cohen alone has five counts of tax evasion and he is being investigated for a twenty million dollar bank fraud . He faced sixty five years if he didn’t plead. In June, Cohen resigned his post as deputy finance chair of the Republican National Committee once word got out that he was in criminal investigation.
Since the president previously denied any knowledge of any payoffs and Cohen just plead guilty of that it’ll come back and make Trump look sceptical.
I have decided to write about "The Final Arrest of XXXTENTACION's Murder." I have chosen this article because I myself have strong ties to the artist and I too have been affected, guided and changed for the better by his music and message. Although it pains me to see brothers hurting other brothers over some money just for one of them to end up dead and the other in jail and maybe prison, It is good for Jahseh to get justice. That man was way before his time and was taken way too soon. But together we can make sure he and his message live on forever for the betterment of ourselves and overall the whole world.
Roderick Pitts
My response to the New York Times article
“A Non-Gamer’s guide to fortnite, the game that conquered all screens”
Fortnite is a game where you drop in a virtual island with either ninety nine through ninety six other gamers who all compete for the victory royale. The kids that have experience express these signs are kids who think by watching a highly skilled player will make them a skilled player as well. The emotions that affect the kids are anger, sadness, anticipation, joy, and surprise Throughout the gamemode you’ll go through all listed emotions. As if you were in the game and find a player extremely close to you is the lack of anticipation and a overflow of surprise leading to anxiety and you losing by shaking and not staying calm. The positive view that could of avoid the lose is to always be aware of your surroundings and always be calm. The negative way is to only look in the direction you want to go and stay on auto run until you get there. Before you know it you’ll get hit with either a sniper rifle or an assault rifle. Being optimistic is something we were taught from our younger years but, never demonstrated. So when parents would start questioning their children and why they’re so mad or sad all the time it’s mainly because they’re not optimistic and don’t know how change they’re perspective. Instead of being negative and being surrounded by their role models looking at the bad side of everything they pick up that mindset that their elders had.
I was shocked when I read the article “Miss America Slams the Miss America Organization” by Jonah Engel Bromwich and Sara Simon because when I think about the “Miss America Pageant” I think about beauty, grace, and intelligence, not marginalizing, criticizing, and bullying! I don’t understand how a woman can belittle another woman, especially if they are both working for an organization that is all about supporting women. Women honestly have enough to deal with, they don’t need other women to bring them down. Ms. Mund’s statement: “ She needs all of us if she is going to survive” can be applied to both the Miss America Organization and America. All women need to support all women, and not just women in the Miss America Organization. Regardless of your race, age, or sexuality, you need to focus on encouraging and helping all women, to thrive in life. Instead of doing what members of the organization did and telling women that they are “dispensable”, we need to remind women that they are invaluable. I wish that the Miss America Organization would take this as an opportunity to acknowledge their mistakes, work on fixing them, and then move past them.
What interested me the most this week on the times was an article I read called, "Black Boys Feel Less Safe In White Neighborhoods, Study Shows" by Sandra E. Garcia. This article interested me because it relates to the modern issues going on today with black boys. Black boys feel that they are unsafe when in a white neighborhood. They feel that way because of what their parents taught them or influenced them about white people. Now racism is not over. It still goes on until this day. Blacks being persecuted and judged because of their skin. In the text it said how blacks are getting the police called on them for selling water, playing outside, etc. Just for ordinary things. So no wonder why black boys feel unsafe when they go into white neighborhoods. What caught my eye is that "Ohio State University gave GPS smartphones to 506 black youths in Columbus ages 11 to 17, 250 of were boys." They then sent then children a survey 5 times a day to see if they were safe. Thats how serious this issue was and its quite sad.
Article: When Humans, Fueled by the Selfie Culture, Imperil Wildlife
Article Link: https://nyti.ms/1rWKhUA
The article I was most interested in this week was something that truly bothers me. Getting too intimate with wildlife animals just for a reaction from friends and families is something that i despise wholeheartedly. Whether it's swimming with dolphins, feeding monkeys or riding elephants, this...for lack of a better word compulsion to snap, post and share wildlife selfies is contributing to the exploitation of animals. Obviously not all wildlife tourism is harmful, however there are examples all over the world of animals being used for profit in ways that inflict suffering on them or endanger them. It's evident that there are people in this world who love animals, and want to have an authentic experience with an animal, however this just isn't it. To put these creatures in such conditions is so inhumane, especially after learning about their fates later on. Is the selfie really worth risking the animal's death later on? We need to respect wild animals’ behavior and territories, so as to avoid injury and live in harmony.
How to Do a Makeup Look in 5 Minutes.Tops.- This article was very interesting because like myself I like to stick to makeup that is quick and easy so I'm looking, just like the blogger said "a better version of me" but I also love to try new things and experiment with make up. This article gave me new products to look into and try, but also gave me tips and tricks to try put when doing my make up. It also gave the message that you don"t need a billion products to do your makeup or make yourself "feel pretty", all you need is a couple products and with the right technique enhance your beauty and make you ready and confident for whatever you are doing that day.
"Maggie Haberman: Why I Needed to Pull Back From Twitter"
This article caught my eye this week because of the fact that I myself use twitter in the same way that Maggie described it. I constantly check it, worrying about missing something important, and I even use it as a way to pass time and distract me from things that really should have priority over social media. I think it is interesting the points she made about twitter being 'democratic' because I have never thought of it that way. I feel as though the people with more followers or more retweets are the ones everyone looks towards. I do understand what she means when she says it gives everyone a voice, and I do agree with that. I gives people an opportunity to say what they feel and think, which is why I myself am constantly checking and obsessing over what my peers are doing and laughing at. Maybe I'll give the social media cleanse a try.
"Is This the Most Powerful Sculpture at the Met?"
Growing up in an Indian family, I am familiar with sculptures in the style of the one mentioned in the article: metal deities with ropey limbs, almond-shaped eyes, and content, otherworldly expressions. A twin pair stood on either side of my grandmother’s fireplace for most of my childhood. Although I have been an art enthusiast all my life, I never paid much attention to the traditional Indian art right in front of my nose. I relished dissecting the details in all sorts of visual art, from Bruegel’s landscapes to the graffiti on the side of my grandparents’ apartment building, but overlooked the traditional art surrounding me. I remember thinking that the stylized figures looked distorted and vaguely alien. This article caused me to reexamine the Indian sculptures familiar to me. The figure of Buddha subverts the traditional western expectation of concise realism typical of classical sculpture, like that of the marble greco-roman god featured in the article, and it is beautiful because of this. The artist is not aiming to recreate the human form exactly, but chooses to represent their god as an ethereal figure, subtly imbued with references to the natural world through shapes echoing flora and fauna. Art education in the US is so focused on the study of European techniques and art history that this article is an important reminder that western art is not inherently the world-wide standard.
“Air Pollution Is Shortening Your Life. Here’s How Much.”
This article caught my eye because since elementary school, we have been taught about air pollution and its negative effects on our environment. However, I had never thought that air pollution would reduce the average life expectancy. The article explains that outdoor air pollution cuts the average lifespan more in some countries than others. Air pollution cuts the average lifespan by 1.9 years in Egypt, 1.5 years
in India, and 9 months in Russia. In the United States, air pollution reduces the life expectancy of an American by 4 months. However, this number will most likely increase due to the Trump administration’s proposal to loosen pollution controls.The E.P.A has calculated that this new plan could lead to 1,400 premature deaths per year. This is concerning because although we should be taking steps to reduce air pollution, we are going in the opposite direction.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/health/sleep-productivity-economy.htm...
I don’t know about you, but I love sleeping, and somehow I’m always tired. Reading this article, I realized I wasn’t the only one. Insomnia is a familiar concept to me, and many of my friends, so hearing that people all over are having problems isn’t a huge surprise, however to see how much of a negative impact not getting enough sleep has on the country as a whole was surprising. Thinking about it, losing sleep must have a very negative impact on mental capacity and cause work to lose both quality and quantity. Sleep has become a laughing matter, when it is everything but. Joking about not needing sleep is unhealthy and unrealistic, since your body needs sleep no matter what.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000006024549/zero-tolerance-sep...
A child is taken from their immigrant parents and forced to represent themselves in court without a lawyer. Children as young as 18 months old, some who can barely speak, are forced to go to court and somehow convince the US government that they're eligible for citizenship. I don't know much about this immigration policy because I don't read into politics as much as I should, but letting something like this happen is disgraceful. How can our government come up with this idea, let alone enforce it? These kids are preparing for court from a coloring book because that is the only way they can understand what judge even is. I can't even imagine what their parents are going through. I am heartbroken, embarrassed, and ashamed that this has happened in our country.
"Should These Tests Get A Failing Grade?"
One of the first reasons this article interested is the fact that many kids are starting to go back to school. I've been thinking about all of the habits I will have to get back into to start the school year off right. One of those habits being testing. There are different kinds of testing, some of which I am good at, and others not so much. Testing in school tends to be easy for me when I understand the material. It's usually just being able to pay attention in class that gets me a good grade. Standardized testing on the other hand is where I struggle. I've always felt like taking tests like the SAT aren't enough to judge someone off for any school to be accepted. Someone like myself could be smart and do well in school, but they might be a bad test taker. Those tests can last up to two hours, and many kids have a hard time sitting for that amount of time. The way it is talked about in this article is very easy to relate to. The author talks about immediately finding out he got a question wrong, then being worried for the rest of the test and day on how it could have affected his grade. Personally, I do the same thing. In conclusion, I feel like everyone is to focused on these tests and how they will completely change their life when they shouldn't. People should be able to create a life and future for their self based off more than just a test.
The article titled “Immunotherapy Drugs Slow Skin Cancer That Has Spread this the Brain” interested me because it shows that improvements in cancer treatment are being made, and we may even possibly be getting closer to finding a cure for cancer. The article states that a combination of two immunotherapy drugs,ipilimumab and nivolumab were able to prolong the lives of patients with melanoma which has spread to the brain. This is a great achievement since melanoma is the most serious form of cancer and less than 20% of patients with melanoma that has spread to the brain are still alive after a year whereas, in the study where patients were given a combination of the two drugs, 82% of the patients were alive after a year. Hopefully, this new study will help patients with melanoma as well as create a better understanding for cancer treatments.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/climate/air-pollution-deaths.html?act...
This New York Times article discusses the disturbing details of air pollution and its detrimental effect on the health of the global population. Several troubling statistics were cited, most concerning of which was the fact that the growing air pollution shortens the average lifespan by 4 months or longer. This article alarmed me in the sense that air pollution has devastating life long consequences of which I was not entirely aware. Most unnerving to me however, was the fact that America appears to be moving in the opposite direction regarding the improvement of air pollution. In the midst of the Trump administration, intentions to loosen pollution control are growing more popular, which would do little to ameliorate the issue of air pollution. I had always tried to familiarize myself with environmental issues and do my part to better the environment, yet this article made me realize the magnitude of air pollution and the extent to which it affects the global population. The lack of government involvement to improve this situation is astonishing, as I now realize it is up to the public to push for change in environmental regulations and laws, particularly within America.
"I Don't Understand Why People in This Country Hate Us So Much"
As the daughter of a Muslim immigrant, the title of this article interested me because I thought I could relate to the article. Recently, Islamophobia has become increasingly prevalent in our society due to the rise of ISIS, however, I don't understand why Muslims are called terrorists just because of the wrongdoings of one Muslim group. In the article, Kelly Pinos, the daughter of an immigrant from Ecuador explains that her father, Nelson Pinos would either have to leave his family behind and move to Ecuador or bring his family along with him, leaving his children's education behind. Instead, Pinos took sanctuary at a church in New Haven. In the article, Pinos says "The people who support the deportation of undocumented immigrant parents...They don’t see the good. We work hard. We do the jobs Americans don’t want to do... all he wants is to have a better life for his family. He is just trying to raise three good children." I could relate to this because my parents also came to this country for a better life and may have even left this country long ago if it wasn't for our better future and education.After reading Pinos' story, I have realized that there are people who have it far worse than I do. Although I have experienced hate for Muslims as well as immigrants, I am grateful that I have always had my family beside me, whereas other families such as Kelly's have been separated.
On August 13th 3:31 am history was made. The Parker Solar Probe was launched into orbit on its path for the sun. This is the first spacecraft named after a person and the first man-made object to “touch” the sun. The probe is named after the famous astronomer Eugene Parker. Parker Solar Probe was attached to the top of a Delta IV Heavy Rocket. This is one of the most powerful rockets in the world. The probe is said to go past the Corona and study the magnetic field, hoping to figure out more about the sun,and, solar wind. Nasa has reported that Parker will pass within 3 million miles from the surface of the sun. If you think that’s far from the sun then listen to this, we are 93 million miles from the sun and the closest man made object to the sun was over 21 million kilometers from the sun. At that distance the probe will get about 2500 degrees F outside and 85 degrees F inside. The probe will near the sun about mid to late November. Over the course of 7 years the probe will orbit the sun 7 times eventually getting to the needed distance. Its orbit path will go around earth all the way to venus and around the sun. They solarwinds of the sun are still very confusing. In 1859 a coronal mass ejection erupted from the sun and hit the earth. It caused the wipe out of telegraphs all along the US and Europe. One of those same things happened in 2012 thankfully missing the Earth. If it did hit it would cause blackouts and the disturbance of all electrical objects in the world.
Betsy DeVos Eyes Federal Education Grants to Put Guns in Schools
School shootings have scarred our schools more than they should in recent years. This has prompted education secretary, Betsy Devos, to push for funding guns for schools. If this had been approved it would run contrary to the $50 million that funds gun prevention programs in schools. Robert C. Scott had said, “Granting funds for firearms would openly violate the spirit of the law, as well as common sense about gun safety.” Redirecting that money to arm teachers and school staff will recklessly endanger the safety of students and educators alike. I believe that arming teachers with weapons would be a huge mistake, because it puts unnecessary pressure on the teacher who has to carry a firearm, and potentially use it. There are many hypothetical situations where a child or even an adult could get a hold of the gun, and potentially fire it and hurt someone. Having firearms in the classroom setting would only increase the potential “gun incidence” and gun deaths each year. As said before, $50 million is used each year to prevent guns from finding its way into schools. Arming teachers does not solve the problem but puts them personally and the children under their charge at risk. Rather, federal funds should be used to purchase supplies and improve schools or give teachers a living wage.
“Access to Literacy” Is Not a Constitutional Right, Judge in Detroit Rules
On Friday, a Detroit district court judge had dismissed a class action lawsuit filed by students at struggling schools. This lawsuit argued that students at some of the city’s most underperforming schools, serving mostly minorities, had been denied access to literacy because of under funding, mismanagement, and discrimination. The complaints described in the lawsuit were overcrowding, shortage of teachers, poor climate control, lack of resources and supplies, all of which tend to be universal complaints in poorer school districts. What I find shocking were classrooms infested with rats and insects. No one, certainly not children and staff should be subjected to such conditions. While I believe that these schools should be adequately funded and that the students should have access to literacy, education, is not guaranteed in the constitution. There are federal laws such as ESSA and civil rights laws to protect the education rights of students across the country. Some laws described in the ESSA are that equality is advanced by upholding critical protections for disadvantaged and high-need students. The law requires that all students are taught to high academic standards, ensures that vital information is provided to educators, parents, students, and communities through statewide assessments to measure students’ progress towards those high standards, etc. I think the ruling was correct.
Transgender Girl, 12, Is Violently Threatened After Facebook Post by Classmate’s Parent
A 12-year old transgender student in Oklahoma was recently targeted in a incendiary social media post, by the parents of a classmate. This all started on Facebook when Jamie Crenshaw, had complained in a private Facebook group for student’s parents’ that Maddie, was using the girl’s bathroom. This was an outrage to the police and LGBTQ+ activists who read the Facebook posts. Following the threats made by the closed group, the school was closed for a few days. Personally, I think these parents’ behavior was inexcusable and making vicious comments and threats about a child bordered on criminal hate speech. No child should be subjected to such transphobia. On the other hand, I recognize that they have a right to their opinion on this subject but they shouldn’t have expressed their opinions openly in a closed group forum nor so negatively. Adults should set a good example but their hate speech should be condemned. Threatening a child is inexcusable no matter the reason. I would think that these parents would understand this but, I can see that I’m too idealistic. I think the superintendent didn’t take a strong enough stand when handling this situation. All he had done was hold a meeting about the issue instead of springing into action right away to stop this from going any further.
Responding to Criticism, N.F.L. Says Helmet Rule Will Not Change
This article interested me because it completely changed the way that football has been played for years. This rule was smart in instances when players would personally target one another but the lowering of the helmet has been beneficial to both offensive and defensive players. On defense helmet to helmet is a great way to cause big hit which could possibly free the ball causing a fumble. On the offensive side, lowering the shoulder may not just be enough. Sure the rule does make sense for keeping players injury free, but how far will the NFL go to change the game in the name of safety.
The article I read this week interested me since it was about the Iowa college student who went missing for over a month and then was pronounced dead. The college students name was Mollie Tibbetts. She was out jogging and then never showed up for work the next day. Mollie's disappearance was tragic to her family since they were the ones who called police to say she was missing. For about a month she was missing until her body was found in a cornfield. Mollie Tibbetts' autopsy showed she was killed by very sharp force objects, which led to authorities ruling this as a homicide. Prosecutors have filed first degree murder against Cristhian Rivera. No one knows if Rivera is guilty or not yet but if he is, he could get up to life in prison.
"There Are No Girls Left': Syria's Christian Villages Hollowed Out by ISIS," by Ben Hubbard.
The ISIS made all the people who had lived in the Christian village out and now there is no one living there. It could be considered a ghost town because all the buildings, houses have been all destroyed. All the villagers have fled out of the village and are now staying in different countries as refugees. The attacks are not only making the people leave their lives behind but they are also living their homes behind for who knows how long.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/06/sports/sports-cliches-metaphors.html
I think this article is very informative for those who do no understand sports terms and phrases. It wasn’t also very informative to me because some of the terms mentioned I did not understand before. I think this article would be a great read for anyone who doesn’t watch sports but uses funny phrases often. I’m sure some of my friends read the same article because the title would pique their interest.
“How Your Brain Morphes Stresssful Faimly Vacations Into Pleasant Memories”
As someone who travels almost every summer, from a young age I remember my parents stressing constantly about what the next thing we were going to do. My mom always wanted to see and do everything we could. She mainly stresses about not being able to fit everything into one week. My dad always stresses about spending money and worrying about not spending too much. However, the article talks about how parents always stress, but they leave wanting to go on another trip. They are left with positive memories. I like this article because it was interesting to read about why family vacations can sometimes feel too rushed. Now that I think about the vacations I have taken, I remember activities, but not as much as I remember doing them with my family and the memories we created together.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/16/well/family/family-vacation-memories-...
“Parkland Shooting Suspect Lost Special-Needs Help at School”
The Parkland shooting that happened months ago in Florida was a devastating event that left the country with condolences. While reading this article, I find interesting that Cruz was able to make the decision to stay at the high school. I’m concerned because I think it would be right for his parents to make that decision for him. I chose this article because it deals with an event that just recently happened. Months later, people are still looking for answers. One of the possible reasons was that he did make the decision to stay at the high school with no special needs help. After failed out, he acted and the shooting took place. Further in the article, it says that at a young age, he was psychologically evaluated as impulsive and expressed his feelings of stress and anxiety, explosively. After reading this, it makes me realize that people tend to overlook the possible warning signs of a potential outburst similar to this.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/04/us/parkland-florida-nikolas-cruz.html
“In Chicago, One Weekend, 66 Shooting Victims and Zero Arrests”
I was first interested in this article right from the title. The title was about another shooting that happened in Chicago. Unfortunately, news like this doesn’t even make the headlines anymore because shootings are so common now in America. It is so depressing that people are enjoying their day when, suddenly, someone decides they want to open fire to possibly kill innocent people. In the first main paragraph, it describes that this shooting was over the course of the weekend and it sounds like “The Purge” coming to life. The story then mentions Lallapalooza, where I knew of people who went, but was unaffected. However, just to think about how close those people were is terrifying. The mayor said that he blames a majority on factors such as citing too many guns, better need for parenting, and courts failing to do their jobs of holding those accountable with illegal guns. A different factor that could have possibly led to this shooting is the police force, which is not reliable in Chicago. I liked this article because it informed me about how there are certain factors that can cause an event. These factors can be overlooked most of the time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/06/us/chicago-weekend-shootings.html
@Jacqueline Jozefczyk
I liked how you looked for a different factor to explain the extreme amount of gun violence in Chicago.
“You Can’t Hurt Lindsay Lohan Now”
Growing up, I have watched Lindsay Lohan in many classic movies like Freaky Friday, Parent Trap, and more. Soon after she started showing up in less movies, everyone started hearing about her in the news and how she had gone off the rails. Unfortunately, once she had been getting arrested, many people thought to themselves that she was yet another Disney star that had become a bad influence. However, after reading this article surprised me because there was nothing bad about Lohan. She is actually fairly successful and she has done a good job of expressing her “revenge” since she said success is the best revenge. I chose this article because the title had Lindsay Lohan’s name in it and I haven’t heard anything about her in years. After reading this article, I am glad she is successful and at peace with her life. One thing that took me by surprise was what Donald Trump said about her which I would find extremely offensive. He said that people who have a dark past are usually good intimately. She handled that with extreme maturity when she said that it is in the past and he is the president now which is beyond her control. She is currently living in Dubai, so for all that matters, she is far away from America.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/26/style/lindsay-lohan-mykonos-beach-clu...
“Motherhood in the Age of Fear”
This article is about how mothers leaving their children in their cars for a few minutes can be considered child abuse and the mothers can be arrested for doing so. This article first interested me because of the title said “In the Age of Fear.” I reads this and thought to myself that we are living in the age of fear. Especially after reading this article, I realized that everyone gets judged for everything they do. A mother cannot leave their child in a hot car to simply run an errand for a few minutes. I do, however, believe that children should not be left in a hot car for more than fifteen minutes because that is too long and they can over heat. Another reason mothers are apprehensive about leaving their children in the car is because they are worried about being judged by other people and those people get concerned which can cause trouble. Those other people get into other people's’ business, so they take it upon themselves to get involved. I think that this article tackled the idea of how people are going to judge you no matter what you think is right or wrong, so you might as well base your decisions on your own choice.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/27/opinion/sunday/motherhood-in-the-age-...
“A Rainbow Wave?” 2018 Has More LGBT Candidates Than Ever”
Growing up, I have watched Lindsay Lohan in many classic movies like Freaky Friday, Parent Trap, and more. Soon after she started showing up in less movies, everyone started hearing about her in the news and how she had gone off the rails. Unfortunately, once she had been getting arrested, many people thought to themselves that she was yet another Disney star that had become a bad influence. However, after reading this article surprised me because there was nothing bad about Lohan. She is actually fairly successful and she has done a good job of expressing her “revenge” since she said success is the best revenge. I chose this article because the title had Lindsay Lohan’s name in it and I haven’t heard anything about her in years. After reading this article, I am glad she is successful and at peace with her life. One thing that took me by surprise was what Donald Trump said about her which I would find extremely offensive. He said that people who have a dark past are usually good intimately. She handled that with extreme maturity when she said that it is in the past and he is the president now which is beyond her control. She is currently living in Dubai, so for all that matters, she is far away from America.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/26/style/lindsay-lohan-mykonos-beach-clu...
“Indonesian Earthquake: At Least 98 Dead and 20,000 Homeless”
I was interested in this article because I enjoy learning and reading about natural disasters. Earthquakes are interesting because they make devastating disasters just by the shifting of tectonic plates. During this 7.0 earthquake, 98 lives were taken and 236 were injured. There are pictures in the article that show the devastation which show buildings and houses completely destroyed. There were many aftershocks which left people anxious. Tourists wanted to leave as quickly as possible given the quakes, but locals were left to sleep in safer places like the streets and in tents. I liked this article because it informed me about what is going on across the world. It was interesting because it showed how people needed to recover as well as how they were just simply trying to get back to safety.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/06/world/asia/indonesia-earthquake-lombo...
“We Use Sports Terms All The Time. But Where Do They Come From?”
Growing up playing and watching sports, I have heard the sports idioms and never stopped to think about where they had come from. Looking at the title of this article right away did make me think about where it all came from. In the article, it lists how certain terms that everyone has heard originated. For example, I did not know that “wild goose chase” came from Shakespeare when he described the battle between Mercutio and Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet.” Another example is saying “hands down” which came from horse racing. The term “back to square one” came fro soccer because the field was divided into “squares” and square one was the start of offense. I found this article very interesting because many of these terms were ones that everyone uses, however no one really knew where they came from.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/06/sports/sports-cliches-metaphors.html
“The Education Department is considering whether to allow states to access federal funding set aside for academic enrichment and student services to purchase guns for educators...” As a student in high school, this statement caused an alarming feeling; two reasons significantly resonated. First, I believe it is inappropriate that funding for academic enrichment and student services is being examined for the use of weaponry. Second, the purchasing of guns for educators... guns becoming an essential in the school environment...is frightening.
The article states that this fund's purpose is to offer underserved students support and opportunity. Additionally, it is intended to provide a well-rounded education, and improve the use of technology. How is weaponry enriching the education of a student? By introducing weaponry to the school environment does that improve the technology that focuses on digital literacy?
Imagine walking into your work environment, you see the glint reflecting off the safe located in management offices. It registers with you, the contents within. Panic sets off in you. What if someone unauthorized were to receive access, or the authorized, their mindsets took a drastic turn? Or possibly the rapid beating of one’s heart does not occur, and future generations become accustomed to a gun-friendly environment. Both situations are daunting. But, one or the other, or quite possibly both could be our future if guns are introduced to the school environment.
“The Silent Sam Confederate Monument at U.N.C. Was Toppled. What Happens Next?”
While the authors of the article, Ethan Kytle and Blain Roberts, believe Civil war monuments should be taken down, they in fact should not due to the historical significance and purpose of such monuments.
Kytle and Roberts say “confederate monuments, after all, glorify men who fought to break apart from the United States and create a nation discusses to the maintenance of slavery.” They also continue on about a Robert E. Lee statue that was taken down in New Orleans in the spring of last year.
However all of the reasons for removal are missing out on the significance and purpose of these statues. Their purpose is to honor the leadership of generals like Lee and others. In fact Lee would have fought for the Union, anti slavery North but claimed he just couldn’t fight against his home state of Virginia. This just goes to show his true intentions and beliefs lay away from slavery and are rooted in his home region in the state of Virginia which leads to the next point. These are pieces of history and cultural identity. Removing these statues would only take away the southern culture but also history itself. If we don’t know and learn about history, we are bound to repeat it as the saying goes.
On a personal note, I feel strong about the subject because I very much respect history and love learning from it. After all, knowing history will let us control the future.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/opinion/north-korea-nuclear-trump.htm...
I had always been interested on the topic of North Korea and its’ tensions with the United States. For quite some time now whenever there is a story on the news, that has to relate to North Korea or just Kim Jong Un, it was either about our relations with the nation possibly strengthening or weakening. The author of the article mentions that there have been previous agreements with North Korea back in 2005 but considering what is being said and done today says a lot on how that agreement in 2005 went. I don’t find it surprising however, there have been wars and international conflicts around the globe that have lasted for years. Yet, to be alive during the time of one (or many) is quite the thought because I’m actually witnessing something that will be in history textbooks one day. One It’s sad that we have so many weapons and with all the world's’ current nuclear weapons combined (known or not), it would be enough power to destroy the planet at least six times. Why do we need so much weapons? Our defenses is definitely something to be concerned about but I think it is obvious to see we have more than enough for a country that is ninety-nine times smaller than we are. Whether or not that is the case with Trump it could be a long while before we hear of any progress in the situation the two countries’ tensions with each other.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/12/business/china-influence-europe-czech...
I choose to write about this article because this topic is perhaps the most important one in the last couple of years. today we are standing at the beginning of the second cold war. This war is not between Russia and the US but between the US and China. This war has a significant difference to the first cold war. Today the US does not fight back. The first cold war was not only about the US and Russia threatening one another with nuclear weapons. It was a war of infloence, each side tried to make more countries capitalist or communist. Today China is not trying to make the world more communist, but she is trying to weekend the opposition against her. To make fewer countries to support Taiwan and to vote for statements that condemn Chin's human rights and policies. i am expecting the US to do something, to fight back. The article is talking about the Czech Republic, and their leader is saying that the previous government was submitting to the US. This is not good, and it does not matter what made the situation the way it is, the US government need to change it. Otherwise, China will be the next world leader. But she is not doing that, Trump returns home his ambassadors from all around the world. he is giving up his influence in a lot of countries, and this is almost like he wants a communist repressing regime to take over the world.
“At 59, a Gutsy Chef Makes Her Restaurant Debut”
One reason I chose this article was the topic, food. Food is like a universal language. Something from this article that inspired me was the fact that she made her debut later in life. This was a bit comforting since i’ve seen so many people start when they were younger. Another thing that inspired me was Ms.Alikhani’s story and what she had gone through. Many people believe it's tricker in a sense to start something once they're older but when you're starting anything at any age it will have its ups and downs. There are many companies that were started later in the ceo’s life. Food is also something I enjoy making and so it very nice to hear of Ms.Alikhani’s story and her success. Reading news like this really inspires me and reassures me that it is possible to do anything you set you set your mind to.
The article My Voice Got Deeper. Suddenly People Listened, gained my interest because by reading the title I was able to guess it was most likely either about a girl maturing and learning to speak out, or it was about the transition from a woman to a transgender man and the process as well as the impacts which that has on an individual. As I read, it became clear that the second guess was correct and this article then further interested me because my cousin Carter, is currently in transition as well, taking weekly testosterone shots, and I support them in what they’re doing. By the first person point of view the author Thomas Page McBee writes in, I was also able to develop a deeper understanding of how this possibly affects Car mentally and physically, allowing myself to become more aware about how the process might be impacting them past the surface. A concept which I give the author credit for admitting and adressing is that he didn’t forget where he came from and did not ignore his past. Because he was able to remember a time when he was in the female gender’s shoes, he was able to look at situations from a stronger perspective, where in many instances they unfortunately have less of a say, he broke down barriers in his work place and created an environment where woman weren’t nearly as held back as they had been previously, adjusting work meetings so everyone had a chance. Although his voice got deeper, he did not forget what it felt like not to have one.
“A Simple Way to Improve a Billion Lives: Eyeglasses”
When you put on your glasses, the whole world is no longer out of focus and you gain a new prospect as your surroundings transform. Most people who do have ideal eyesight take it for granted, while the remaining of the population who cannot afford glasses struggle with the most elementary tasks. More than a billion people in the world who need glasses do not have them.
Billions of money are spent on battling diseases in the developing world, while only $37 million is spent on those in need of an eye exam for glasses. Many of the jobs that provide for the families in these developing areas acquire almost perfect visual acuity. Even though glasses are very inexpensive to manufacture, it is still disheartening to know that many people attempt to achieve their full potential while being visually handicapped.
This article caught my attention because, like many others, I am not gifted with perfect vision. However, my family was fortunate enough to be able to afford glasses. Perfect vision should not be a prerogative that only people that can afford it can have, but rather a right everyone should have. Humans cannot progress economically if poor eyesight impedes people from being utilitarians and functional members of society. We need to shift our focus to improving the lives of billions, rather than the few who already receive most of our attention.
At Last! These Is Hope
For my final entry in this contest, different coping mechanisms for fighting dementia is what interested me the most. My grandmother concerns me at times. Sometimes, she forgets little events that have occurred, but at other times, she forgets some of the most cherished memories that I have had with her. My family says that this is normal and it is not dementia. I have a constant fear that she may develop dementia, but so far, she has not.
One of my main concerns was how she would be treated if she did have dementia. When people get outbursts, I heard that nurses may chain them down to try and stop it. The thought of my grandmother being chained down sends chills through my spine.
After reading "Take a Look at These Unusual Strategies for Fighting Dementia" by Christopher F. Schuetze, I don't need to feel petrified of that thought anymore. People have moved on from modern-day torture to pleasant images and soothing sounds. The elderly people that are suffering from dementia can combat it with happiness. There is no time needed to compare the thought of my grandmother in chains versus her smiling with delight. I will always choose the latter.
Although these events took place in the Netherlands, I have no doubt that the United States will learn from their ways.
The media circuits are waving the flags and banging the table because a lake has been discovered beneath the surface of Mars. Maybe it's because I'm in those 'teenage years', but this coverage is somehow irritating. This Martian revelation provokes so much attention when it impacts naught the earthly enterprise of 7+ billion. The media is on fire because this lake is a potential gateway to extraterrestrial life. I, for one, won't doubt the significance of that.
When I was in 8th grade, my dream was to visit and someday terraform Mars. My science fair project revolved around using blue-green algae to breath oxygen into the Martian atmosphere. My bookshelf is littered with books, travel, and projects for the Red Planet. And every time I see the night sky, I don't look for Orion's Belt or the Big Dipper, I look for Mars.
But now here I am reading page after page about the planetary life that might be, and I'm irritated. Sometimes I feel like searching for the 'what if' future takes away from the 'what is' present. Maybe we're looking to know that we're not alone, to know that we're apart of something bigger. That beautiful impulse to know what is unknown is the drive behind mankind (not to mention my 8th grade science fair project). But it might be a little irritating if looking up keeps us from seeing straight. Until the little green Martians—or lake-living microbes—come knocking on our doors, I say we shouldn't forget to focus on what's in front of us.
I was fascinated by the article, "An Underappreciated Key to College Success: Sleep". The title especially was an eye catcher because I can relate to this. As a high school student, I seem to lose sleep over the completion of assignments. Part of the reason could be that I am slightly procrastinating but I am also involved in extracurricular activities after school that take up most of the time as well. This article heavily focuses on how sleep is the number one factor to be truly successful in college and the importance that sleep holds altogether. The lack of sleep for an individual can interfere with their education and their personal life as well. If a student stays up excessively late to finish their assignments or study for a test, they're disturbing their circadian rhythm. If one stays up to study an enormous amount of information, study's explain that they won't remember much or they'll perform poorly on the exam. Getting enough sleep plays a huge role in achieving great success in one's education. If one runs on full sleep, they are more prepared for the day and have energy to start them off on the right foot which will last them throughout the whole day. Doing this continuously will create the individual's circadian rhythm. This will be a constant pattern of when the individual's body feels the need to rest and sleep, and when to wake up after its full cycle of rest.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/well/an-underappreciated-key-to-colle...
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/lens/finding-brotherhood-in-the-boxin...
Brotherhood in the boxing ring was the article that interested me the most this week. It was an article that explained the bond between boxers, and there coaches, and coaches to referees. When you first start boxing you want to make sure you have someone in your corner who will support you no matter how many times you get knockee down. I really admire the tenacity in a lot of boxers, because its probably quite hard trying to get up before the bell after getting knocked down over and over again. But they all just have this drive that's so unreal its crazy how they do what they do. Boxing is bringing people together from all over the world and if you're careful enough it might just hit you with a right hook, leading you into a boxing world of your own.
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"Mars Is Frigid, Rusty and Haunted. We Can’t Stop Looking at It."
The media circuits are waving the flags and banging the table because a lake has been discovered beneath the surface of Mars. Maybe it's because I'm in those 'teenage years', but this coverage is somehow irritating. This Martian revelation provokes so much attention when it impacts naught the earthly enterprise of 7+ billion. All of it because this lake is a potential gateway to extraterrestrial life; I promise I won't doubt the significance of that.
When I was in 8th grade, my dream was to visit and someday terraform Mars. My science fair project revolved around using algae to breath oxygen into the Martian atmosphere. My bookcase is littered with books on the Red Planet. And every time I see the night sky, I don't look for Orion's Belt or the Big Dipper, I look for Mars.
But here I am reading page after page about the planetary life that might be, and I'm irritated. Sometimes I feel like searching for the 'what if' future takes away from the 'what is' present. Maybe we're looking to know that we're not alone, to know that we're apart of something bigger. That beautiful impulse to know what is unknown is the drive behind mankind (not to mention, my 8th grade science fair project). But it might be a little irritating if looking up keeps us from seeing straight. Until the little green Martians—or lake-living microbes—come knocking on our doors, I say we shouldn't forget to focus on what's in front of us.
"Chinese State TV Mocks Trump in Sarcastic Video"
After Trump’s inauguration, I had an argument with one of my conservative friends. He asked me, “how can you call yourself American and hate the system that defines it?” It made me think: I loathe everything Trump's administration has stood for — but does that mean I hate America? Furthermore, does hating my government mean I’m not American?
My family abhors our current government. Here are a few reasons why: my mom’s connections with local immigrants from Africa and the Middle East, who were threatened by the travel ban and its subsequent bigotry; my friendships with students who attended Parkland High School during the shooting, the government’s response to which has been underwhelming; and our many LGBTQ+ friends and family who have been attacked by Trump’s vile comments. This article marks another criticism of Trump’s administration, one with which many Americans agree: “ ‘They [China] sense his increasing domestic weakness and see a chance to pile pressure on.’ ”
For a moment, stop being condemnatory of President Trump and consider the harm of acknowledging China. The conflict between our government and its people is embarrassing for our whole culture. We all wish our country to be a high standard for others, so hating our government does not mean we detest America. To preserve our nation’s status, we must join together and compromise with Trump — even if we do hate him.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/world/europe/francis-ireland-sexual-a...
As Pope Visits Ireland, Scars of Sex Abuse ‘Worse Than the I.R.A.’:
This article furthers the ebbing tolerance I have for such institutional harm. I grew up in the Catholic Church but have since moved away from the faith and institution due to personal beliefs; however, this does exclude the institution’s affairs from my personal life. Seeing such pure evil continue with the institution protecting its predators is disgusting. I find this article most interesting because the faith discussed is a crucial part of my paternal family’s identity. The reputation of the problematic organization dwindles, and with it the fear of coming out against sexual predators within the institution. I very much enjoy the growing confidence and recognition of victims as they come forth across the globe and across movements, notably the #metoo movement. I hope that with this growing movement against sexual predators in any form and environment helps to decrease the likelihood of such horrendous acts occurring without sacrificing natural interactive liberties.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/nyregion/sniper-upper-east-side.html?...
Sniper Terrorizes Residents of Upper East Side High-Rise:
This article completely startled me as my eyes darted past the headline and focused once again for a second-take. I find it very surreal that there would be sniper fire in New York City. I have never once heard of a story such like this in my years. Instilling fear in Manhattan residents of sniper fire from across the East River is nothing I could’ve dreamed of. I find this article very humbling as it highlights the corners that death and horror wait around, though conflict rages around the world I have just never experienced any such terror so close to home which also helps me to sympathize with victims of terror around the world, notably the Parkland shooting. I cannot begin to fathom how such a huge conglomeration of fear and horror affects a person. I am only shocked by such an article describing surreal sniper shooting in my city.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000006067682/president-trum...
‘Can the President Be Impeached?’ We Answer Your Questions:
I truly believe that in relation to the answer to the first question, that consensual sexual conduct, in general, should not be as publicly shamed or hushed as it is in politics. I do understand that using wealth and power to influence a political campaign is not good at all, and in a perfect world I’d love to have everything laid onto the table before the elections begin, but this flawed, beautiful world is ours and ours to keep. I feel that if Donald Trump didn’t have to indirectly pay adult film actresses to stay quiet about their interactions, and he didn’t have to bathe himself and his organization in lies, then more important matters could be attended to. This does not dismiss the fact that Trump did pay these women to stay quiet in efforts to secure to the presidency which many can and will argue is valid reason to call for an impeachment trial. He is our president nonetheless and every president should be wished good fortune to lead this country towards paths of prosperity, equality, peace, and intellect no matter their horrid controversy. We deserve a leader fit for serving our country justly and within the bounds of law, and if that is not Trump we must act.
'A Movie That Creeps to It's own Choreographic Best'
Without a doubt, Brian Rogers is a very talented man. I believe he shows that in his screenplay, "Screamers." Brain explains that this play came from a very dark place, a place of hatred and depression and having the strength to be able to turn this depression into something like a play is amazing. He describes feeling haunted, and that to me seems like an overwhelming sense of tiredness, maybe even scared. Brian was also able to relate the main protagonist to himself, kind of like a different version of himself.
"Giraffe Parts Sales Are Booming in the U.S., and It’s Legal"
I found this article very interesting, and that really surprised me. I have never been very engaged in environmental rights, but I was interested when I heard that the giraffe population is decreasing drastically, while the selling of products made with giraffe skin and bone is at an all time high. The sale of products made from giraffe; such as pillows, boots, knife handles, and bible covers is currently legal, but the Humane Society of the United States argues that restrictions need to be put into place. The organization has been trying to show the administration that the giraffe is a beloved animal to the general public, and that it is necessary for the government to take steps toward protecting the animal. The organization is also working toward showing the common person how terrible the giraffe trade truly is. I have never taken the time to learn about the mistreatment of animals before. It was very sad and touching to hear about some of the everyday items that can be made with giraffe. My main takeaway from this passage was that there is no reason to be killing giraffes. All of the examples of items made from the giraffe skin and bones could easily be made with other materials. They are not unique to giraffes, so there is clearly no need to be killing more and more of a nearly endangered animal.
The article that interested me the most this week was “ The ‘Zombie Gene’ That May Protect Elephants From Cancer” written by Carl Zimmer. This article interested me because it talked about elephants and I like elephant. The narrator started off by talking about how big animals are more prone to getting cancer, but not the elephant. They have a lower percentage of getting cancer the humans do. It is because of a zombie gene that elephants uniquely have. Every animal has a cancer fighter in its body and it is the p53 gene. This gene targets mutated blood cells and kills them. The elephants has 20 of these genes. The zombie gene they have is the LIF6. This gene is just another way the elephants can eliminate bad blood cells. It is called a zombie gene because it had gone away and came back. The article ended off by talking about where the gene came from and how the elephants got it.
"Before You Flush Your Contact Lenses, You Might Want to Know This" by Veronique Greenwood really grabbed my attention because I, just like "45 million other people in the United States" according to the article, use contacts. This article stated that several people who wear contacts often flush them down the toilet or throw them down the drain to dispose of them which actually can be very harmful for the environment. Contact lenses are not biodegradable so that means that days could go by and they could still be intact. This leads to "environmental damage and may add to the growing problem of microplastic pollution." as stated in the article. So as someone who uses contacts, this article really opened my eyes about all the harm my simple act of washing my contacts down the drain has on the environment. Not only will I think twice about where I dispose of my contacts, but I will also encourage others to do the same.
“Interviewing Elon Musk”- by David Gelles
This article definitely caught my eye because the title contained the name “Elon Musk”. The reason why is because Elon Musk is the Isaac Newton of the 20th century this man is a genius, he is CEO of Space X, Tesla, Neuralink, and co-founder of PayPal. In this Interview by David Gelles he explains that from his ten year career he has never had a CEO show such vulnerability, [“There were times when I didn’t leave the factory for three or four days — days when I didn’t go outside,” he said. “This has really come at the expense of seeing my kids. And seeing friends.”]- (Elon Musk). Also Elon Musk says that from a business stand point the worst is over but says that personally he feels like his own trails have just begun. It is extremely saddening to see that a genius of the century to be in such a bad shape mentally. Overall it is fascinating to be able to read on how CEOs are also just humans.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/nyregion/sniper-upper-east-side.html?...
Sniper Terrorizes Residents of Upper East Side High-Rise:
This article completely startled me as my eyes darted past the headline and focused once again for a second-take. I find it very surreal that there would be sniper fire in New York City. I have never once heard of a story such like this in my years. Instilling fear in Manhattan residents of sniper fire from across the East River is nothing I could’ve dreamed of. I find this article very humbling as it highlights the corners that death and horror wait around, though conflict rages around the world I have just never experienced any such terror so close to home which also helps me to sympathize with victims of terror around the world, notably the Parkland shooting. I cannot begin to fathom how such a huge conglomeration of fear and horror affects a person. I am only shocked by such an article describing surreal sniper shooting in my city.
Although Slender Man is not exactly the typical topic of discussion when it comes to current events, if one were to look back to just about 4 years ago, headlining the news would be the story of 2 girls, at the mere age of 12, who lured their third friend into the woods during a sleepover, and repeatedly stabbed her 19 times, only for her to survive and later to be found on the side of the road. At the time of this news I was 12 as well, so when I came across this story upon opening internet explorer, aside from the sick feeling that came with the thought that girls my age or anyone in general would even think to do this, my second thought was why. Simply put, their answer was Slender Man. I did brief research on him back in 2014 just so there was a slight understanding on the motive for an attempted murder, but since then, for me at least, it was just another crazy news story, occasionally brought up, but mostly forgotten. So that brings us to tonight, for as I was looking through the published articles from this week, I read the title How Slender Man Became a Legend, and for a brief yet distinct moment, I was brought back to the instance where like now I was staring at a screen, learning of the suspicions that created the identity of Slender Man, with chills running down my spine and paranoia filling my mind, sitting in the dimly lit basement at 2 am in a deathly silent house. The point which fear drives people to horrifies me, but it never ceases to amaze me.
The Secret to Keeping Black Men Healthy? Maybe Black Doctors
As one who is researching in a laboratory, specifically one that studies colon cancer, I have become aware the certain genetic and socioeconomic disadvantages African-Americans, particularly males, face. This article, however, interested me due to the idea that racial bias may play a larger role.
This article highlights a study that was conducted, in which found out that African-American Males were accepting medical screenings and advice more from an African-American doctor (at 63%) when compared to African-American males following through with tests and screenings recommended by white and Asian counterparts (at 43%). This significant increase may help reduce the deaths of African-Americans due to diseases,such as colorectal cancer--which can be fought through early detection.
Yet, playing as the devil's advocate, I must admit that I believe this may create a sense of tribalism, in which promotes segregation in a subtle way. This is because it would make African-Americans more eager to have a doctor of their same race, rather than a White or Asian doctor. This inherently creates a separation of races. Additionally, one would have to think of the effects of this attitude on other races, in terms of hiring medical professionals in certain ares, particularly where there is a higher population of a certain race.
This week the article that caught my interest most was an article titled " Is Netflix's 'Insatiable' as Offensive as it Looks? Let's Discuss."
I had already been interested in the show before reading this article due to the trailer going around social media over and over again so I had already felt compelled to watch the show. The first episode had already set some alarms off in my opinion but I continued to watch. But what really made me think was how Patty was set on losing her virginity to Bob her pageant coach and the fact that in the first scene Bob was already accused of being a sexual predator but then continued to say some crazy things about woman. As well as the body shaming publicizing that "skinny is better" if anything we should be broad casting no matter what your body looks like its beautiful rather than starving yourself by having your jaw wired shut by punching a homeless man. What I liked that they showed is food is almost an addiction or coping mechanism. I liked how they brought that into the show because so many people struggle with eating. I just felt as though the show needed more clarity when talking about more controversial topics such as LGBTQ+ and body image. If this show is set in present day then we need present ay experiences and examples.I just feel like there was so many instances that really needed some explanation. On especially with younger audiences watching because these kids are so influenced by any and everything.
https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/08/20/arts/ap-us-mtv-video-music-a...
What interested me in times this week was an article on the rapper Logic & his preformance at the VMAS this summer. In my opinion, he is one of the most influential people in the world. Logic is a very humble hardworking & dedicated individual & is absolutely passionate about his work. He uses his talent to spread important messages about the worlds problems & that we need to get together & do whatever we can to find a solution. This year at the VMA he preformed his new song about “ One Day “ in protest for Donald Trump’s separation &
detention policy. Last year he also shine light on suicide prevention preforming his song “ 1-800-273-8255 “. Logic is a big role model to because he literally came up from nothing. He had a broken home & had a really bad drug addiction with cigarettes, but he broke with the power of his music. He made a pact that if he released his debut album he will quit. Everyday he used to make rhymes in the basements when no one was listening for hours. He also is so close with fans , with his preformances at the VMAs he let his fans come onstage with him. Logic is a true role model because he shows you can achieve anything in the world you just have to believe in yourself & work hard.
The article that interested me the most this week was "How to Have a Better Conversation About Mental Illness." Mental Illness is something that many deal with and it is important for those who are mentally ill and for those who aren't to learn about it. It's important for both the mentally ill and people who are not to become educated because it is way more common than people know. It's also important to know more about it that way those who are diagnosed can feel accepted.
I spend a surprising amount of time digging through trash. I pull out clear plastic straws, used plastic utensils, and condiment containers (still covered in sauce). My whole recycling obsession started when I discovered how much waste we humans create, and more importantly, how much of it could be recycled. Most of my life, I have always asked myself, “Can I recycle this?”. To this day I am still confused on what can and can’t be recycled. Most of the people I know would respond to this question with, “Who cares?” That’s the problem. People across the U.S. are uneducated about recycling, and recycling programs sure aren’t helping. I chose this article because of how clearly it pinpoints the primary issues in recycling programs across the nation, and because of the hope it gave me when I read it. In the Article “The Conflict of Interest That is Killing Recycling”, the author David Bornstein interviews Mitch Hedlund (executive director of Recycle Across America), searching for a logic to why recycling in the U.S. is in a crisis. According to Mitch Hedlund, “The crisis stems from people throwing garbage in recycling bins, which contaminates the recyclables.” I witness this in my everyday life. Reading this article relit my passion for advocating for recycling programs across the country, and helped me realize that education and awareness of recycling go hand in hand with the success and efficiency of it. Maybe I’ll start by doing some recycling research myself.
"Elon Musk Wants to Take Tesla Private. Can He Make The Math Work?"
Elon Musk has made his company Tesla worth about fifty-five billion dollars over the years. It is possibly the greatest public startup company to surface in the last decade. After all the success and money Elon Musk has decided he wants the company to go private. He explained that he thinks his company could thrive in the private market without having to reach the demands of a public one. If he makes the switch his company will rise to be around seventy-one billion dollars in value. I think that Elon has been making very smart business decisions since the day he started Tesla, and this would just add to the list. Some might consider it greedy or unnecessary but this switch would be both profitable and safe for Elon.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000006067682/president-trum...
‘Can the President Be Impeached?’ We Answer Your Questions:
I truly believe that in relation to the answer to the first question, that consensual sexual conduct, in general, should not be as publicly shamed or hushed as it is in politics. I do understand that using wealth and power to influence a political campaign is not good at all, and in a perfect world I’d love to have everything laid onto the table before the elections begin, but this flawed, beautiful world is ours and ours to keep. I feel that if Donald Trump didn’t have to indirectly pay adult film actresses to stay quiet about their interactions, and he didn’t have to bathe himself and his organization in lies, then more important matters could be attended to. This does not dismiss the fact that Trump did pay these women to stay quiet in efforts to secure to the presidency which many can and will argue is valid reason to call for an impeachment trial. He is our president nonetheless and every president should be wished good fortune to lead this country towards paths of prosperity, equality, peace, and intellect no matter their horrid controversy. We deserve a leader fit for serving our country justly and within the bounds of law, and if that is not Trump we must act.
I chose the article “‘access to literacy’ is not a constitutional right, judge in Detroit rules”.
Personally, I feel that access to literacy should absolutely be a constitutional right. School-aged children should be granted not only access but receive a proper education in an appropriate environment, too. In this specific lawsuit it mentions that “some of the city’s most underperforming schools had been denied ‘access to literacy’ because of underfunding, mismanagement, and discrimination.” I one-hundred percent believe that a school is going to show much better results if the conditions are better and there are a sufficient amount of teachers for the students. I also think it’s true that the discrimination plays a role, maybe not as large of one, in the results of a schools performance. The government should not be allowed to let a school operate if it is rat infested, overcrowded, etc. Truthfully they should have much higher standards. The government should have to put out more funding to clean up schools across the country. I’m not saying that they all have to be in the absolute best condition or anything, but at least have a well looked after school. After all, these teachers are educating the leaders of the future.
An article that interested me was “New EPA chief closes dirty-truck loophole left by Scott Pruitt”
I think it is a very good thing that Andrew Wheeler did by reversing Scott Pruitt’s policy. I think that all countries should do anything and everything that they can do in order to reduce emissions, therefore reducing pollution. I agree with what Andrew Wheeler did and I think he should work towards changing the plan to exempt glider trucks from meeting regulations. Reading that glider trucks can produce 55 times the amount of pollution compared to newer engines is appalling. Companies should absolutely have to use modern engines that reduce emissions. Companies need to take initiative and work on helping with global warming and slowing climate change. It is good to see that large companies such as UPS and Volvo are supporting the actions to limit gliders. By having large companies supporting these environmental actions, it sets an example and will make it easier for other people to get on board and make it easier for other companies to step up and take more initiative in the future.
As our world’s society continues to advance, I’ve noticed that the world has started the movement to change (or at least raise awareness of) how we treat all people, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, race, religion, and other things. The idea of how babies are treated even before birth is no exception to the realization, and a person choosing to be pro-life or pro-choice is a heavily debated and controversial topic in today’s world.
One thing that interested me so much in this article was the stance of the church. It explains at the end how the church and the state are supposed to be two separate things, and how it isn’t looking that way in Argentina. Politi and Londoño write, “...opposition in Argentina hardened as Catholic Church leaders spoke out forcefully against abortion from the pulpit and senators from conservative provinces came under intense pressure to stand against the bill.” I have a family member who may be the most Catholic person in the world. Of course, he is against abortion just like the church is. The church in Argentina is indirectly pressuring the people to agree with them.
Another thing that interested me in the article was the determination of the people. A few short years ago, abortion wasn’t even a topic of debate in Argentina. It’s really amazing how an idea can become such a big deal in such a short amount of time.
"What Do Facial Recognition Technologies Mean for Our Privacy?"
Living in a generation somewhat dependant on social media and technology, the dangers of facial recognition should be made known to the public around the globe. The technologies used in one country could very easily be used in other nations with the simple click of a button. Jordan G. Teicher speaks of the app called FindFace, which allows for an individual to find a person's social media profile by simply inputting a picture. This could be a threat when put into the hands of someone who could misuse its power, such as stalkers who might find his/her next victim in the streets. Also, here in America, Facebook uses facial recognition to link uploaded pictures to an individual's account. Again, making it easy to directly connect to someone. We all must be careful with the advancement of technology and be well equipped in understanding its dangers before making ourselves vulnerable to the possible repercussions that may occur when becoming involved in certain websites. One way to keep up with this information is by remaining up to date with the news around the world. Ultimately, the only way to fully protect yourself from the dangers of social media, is to simply stay off of it entirely.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/world/europe/francis-ireland-sexual-a...
As Pope Visits Ireland, Scars of Sex Abuse ‘Worse Than the I.R.A.’:
This article furthers the ebbing tolerance I have for such institutional harm. I grew up in the Catholic Church but have since moved away from the faith and institution due to personal beliefs; however, this does exclude the institution’s affairs from my personal life. Seeing such pure evil continue with the institution protecting its predators is disgusting. I find this article most interesting because the faith discussed is a crucial part of my paternal family’s identity. The reputation of the problematic organization dwindles, and with it the fear of coming out against sexual predators within the institution. I very much enjoy the growing confidence and recognition of victims as they come forth across the globe and across movements, notably the #metoo movement. I hope that with this growing movement against sexual predators in any form and environment helps to decrease the likelihood of such horrendous acts occurring without sacrificing natural interactive liberties.
What interested me this week in the Times was an article by Erica R. Cheng, Lauren G. Fiechtner, and Aaron E. Carrol entitled, "Seriously, Juice Is Not Healthy." With the high risk of obesity in the United States, Erica R. Cheng, Lauren G. Fiechtner, and Aaron E. Carrol present factual evidence that support juice is an agent to obesity. In the article, it states that "These children consume on average 10 ounces per day, more than twice the amount recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (Cheng, Erica R., Lauren G. Fiechtner, and Aaron E. Carrol)." Juice does not have nutritional benefits over whole fruit. By drinking too many fluids that contain sugar, children are not getting enough vitamins, calcium, and high consumption of sugar. Teaching kids at a young age to eat and drink healthy can help develop good habits (Cheng, Erica R., Lauren G. Fiechtner, and Aaron E. Carrol).
I agree that sugary beverages are one of the leading causes of obesity. Absorbing sugary drinks such as juice or soda negativity impacts the health of people. Instead of drinking sugary liquids resort to drinking water. Drinking and eating healthy can affect a person's mind and body positively. This article interested me because my grandmother had obesity and developed many effects from it such as heart disease and diabetes. Hopefully, by reading this article, many people will try to limit the number of sugary beverages they consume to prevent diseases and to stay healthy.
Comment: How Politics Took Over the Killing of Mollie Tibbetts by Jeremy W. Peters
The tragic story of a young woman being murdered by an immigrant has the country thinking about the source of danger this woman faced, "illegal immigration, or women discrimination?" Some may say it is both, but, some may disagree. The Trump Administration is starting to jump on the case, with a point to prove that we are not safe with illegal immigrants in the country, and that this could have been prevented if the border laws were changed. Many women have spoken up about being harassed or put in danger by immigrants, however, Trump has only chosen to speak on this specific case. With the midterm elections coming up, we can see why. "The news of the break in the Tibbetts case on Monday was a tragic ending to her disappearance a month ago. But the timing, as far as Mr. Trump and his allies were concerned, could not have been better," says Peters.
I often find myself thinking about how things could be different, changed, or prevented. I feel an urgency to restrain situations similar to ones that have caused problems in the past. You could declare that the Trump Administration is thinking the same way, however the sudden spark of action has been used more for a campaign, rather than a desire for difference. How have politics really impacted this world?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/16/obituaries/aretha-franklin-dead.html
"Aretha Franklin, Indomitable 'Queen of Soul,' Dies at 76"
I remember in the my 8th grade leadership class, when we all sang "RESPECT" and knowing that it was sung by Aretha Franklin. What I did not know at the time, was the huge impact she had on the music industry for so many years. It thought "Respect" was just a fun song, but in reading the article, I realized it was about equality and freedom. It was amazing to read about her impact on so many of today's most popular singers, and how they emulated her. The article talked about how she opened the door for so many women singers, and expressed herself in song unlike anyone else. Whether times were good or bad in her life, she expressed that in her music. I was surprised that she sang in so many genres as well, from gospel, jazz, blues, rock and even opera. She has won just about every award one can earn in the music industry and was the first woman inducted into the Rock n roll hall of fame. She sang for kings, queens and presidents. She was such a talented woman. I really enjoyed reading about Aretha Franklin. I had heard her name many times, but never really knew how much her music influenced so many people. It's sad that she is gone now, but I think she will always be remembered for her wonderful music, and the messages she expressed through that music. Whenever I hear an Aretha Franklin song again, it will have much more meaning.
The article “A Military Medal for ‘Our Four-Legged Heroes’” caught my attention while looking for an article, reading it really touched my heart and opened my eyes to the service dogs. The viewpoint from a dog handler/dog before current events was hard as the US government only recently recognized their acts of courage and bravery according to Sean Piccoli in paragraph 5. “Yet until now the U.S. military did not recognize the incredible service and sacrifice of working dogs and their handlers”. These dogs and their handlers really are as essential to wars and law enforcement as the respected job such as infantrymen or police officer. In paragraph 10 Piccoli states “I feel like they deserve the same amount of tribute and thanks and honor that we would give to any man or woman who’s gone before and fought to defend our freedom and our rights”. This just goes to prove my point above. The article in whole really warmed my heart knowing our furry little friends are finally getting the same respect as our soldiers on the front lines.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/20/us/when-humans-fueled-by-the-selfie-c...
Reading this just devastated me. I love animals, more than humans actually cause my dogs, they're always happy and in a good mood when Im with them. Animals roam peacefully, and we should too, but we don't. In this article, people don't understand respect. Yes, helping an animal is the right thing to do, but in these cases, they did it without reason because they didn't understand the animal and thought that it needed help. Why do we humans think we have so much power over everything? Animals are living things. They have eyes, a heart, legs, a face. They have human features sometimes. But we treat them as an object, as a toy, that has no feelings, no emotions, nothing. And the worst part is, like the baby dolphin who died because of tourists, they have no say in THEIR OWN life. Why do aquariums, zoos, circuses, etc. exist? For our entertainment? Tell me this, is 10-40$ worth an animals life? It is so inhumane. Im writing about this article because we need an end to animal endurance. I realize that one comment out of about 2500 comments won't make a difference. But we need more voices for these poor defenseless creatures that don't even get to be out in the open. There are more tigers in peoples backyards then in the wild! Thats terrible. They're all going to go extinct because US, WE humans are careless. And then at the end, when they're all gone, Im gonna say, I told you so.
Today I read an article titled" Back-to-School Shopping for Districts: Armed Guards, Cameras and Metal Detectors". This article really brought up a debate in my mind. In my eyes, getting metal detectors or having more police officers is not going to stop anyone from going in to a school and shooting, it will make it harder, but they will find a way around it. I don't find it fair for everyday kids who go to school to learn and have a safe place to go .
This article really interested me because there were so many different opinions throughout the article. Nowadays, this is a really pig issue with our society, but frankly I don't think there is anyway to stop it. I think what could help is trying to stop bullying in schools, kids are scared to report bullying but they need to step up and tell someone if they see something. If someone is eating lunch alone, someone should sit with them and have a chat. Bullying should be punished more harshly, because kids just get a little detention or something so they think its okay to continue.This bullying leads kids to depression which makes them have this anger to go into a school and shoot.
In the end, I feel like no matter how many metal detectors you put in a school, or how many teachers are armed , theres nothing thats gonna stop anyone from doing these things.
Forget Suits. Show the Tattoo. Female Candidates Are Breaking the Rules.
When I was a seven years old, I told everyone who would listen that I would be the first female president of the United States. Most people reacted to my ambition with a laugh, and the idea of a female president by giving me a pat on the head for bothering to dream at all.
Following my bold declaration, I became increasingly aware that girls were never invited to play tag during recess, that boys were mocked for being feminine. The suburbs of Seattle are staunchly liberal, yet I began to see the line that held women apart from men.
Throughout the years, I have witnessed more and more women running for office. From Patty Murray to Loretta Lynch, female candidates have become increasingly successful. Instead of trying to fit in with the men, today's female candidates tell their own stories, identifying as unique individuals. To see women being themselves, with the belief that who they are is enough, is so empowering to me.
Every day, I read about this ever-present issue in the news and in books. Every day, I hear about continuing instances of unfair pay and discrimination. Every day, I watch as #MeToo and Time's Up inspire women everywhere to speak up.
It may take decades, or even centuries, for women to truly be viewed as equal to men. But for the time being, rising feminist movements and women who are strong individuals serve as an inspirational influence for young girls today.
¨This Conspiracy Theory Should Worry Trump¨
The reason I picked this article was because this had something to do with Donald Trump. Lately he has been making headlines with scandals. I wanted to write about something that is currently happening. He has been involved in crimes with Michael Cohen. He has been accused of eight crimes having to do with our president. This in fact can put him in risk of impeachment. I liked this article because it talks about something that can potentially change the future of our country by giving us a new leader. He is claiming that he committed no crimes with his lawyer but he has much evidence against him. He paid a prostitute to be quiet so it wouldn't affect his presidential candidacy. This is considered a crime and is being investigated. To conclude I hope that we can look into this and not led it slide because these are issues regarding are leader.
Ecstasy.
Pride.
Relief.
Hope.
Waves of emotions coursed through my veins, prompting me to lean forward for a better look, a better listen, a better viewing experience of my highly anticipated film, “Crazy Rich Asians.” From clever references and displays of Asian culture embedded throughout the film, to my mother tongue being beautifully spoken and sung, I saw myself on the big screen. I was proud to be Chinese-American.
Unsurprisingly, Mike Ives’ article caught my eye, “For Some Viewers, “Crazy Rich Asians” Is Not Asian Enough.” The title made my stomach churn uncomfortably. If I thought it was Asian enough, does that mean I’m not Asian enough?
After reading, I realize that by “Asian,” the viewers meant the inclusion of all types of Asians. Not by the food, the traditions, or the fashion. Because the film is centered around the Chinese majority living in Singapore, other ethnic minorities also residing in Singapore would go unseen. It’s the exact empty feeling I, and many other minority groups, have experienced; It’s the feeling of being overlooked, of being rejected, and plainly disregarded.
I consider “Crazy Rich Asians” a huge step forward in the production of films with more Asian actors. But it is not a time to settle, nor say, “this is enough.” With different communities come different opinions and expectations. Therefore, we must continue the effort to include all voices, all faces, and all people. Everyone deserves to be seen.
The article that had interested me the most this week when I was scrolling through stories was "Johnny Kline, Globetrotter Turned Advocate, Is Dead at 86."
Kline was a pioneer in the field of basketball. At first. He was a cocaine addict until turning his life around by becoming a drug abuse counselor and advocating for future basketball players. The reason this has caught my attention because growing up I was always a massive fan of the Harlem Globetrotters, with their dazzling awestriking trick shots to the hilarious moves they perform on defenders. However, to be completely honest, I hadn't heard of Johnny Kline until now. It is sad to see such a positive influence in our lives pass away, but he is in a better place now.
This week I watched the video "Why Tech Companies are Booting Alex Jones". I found this article very interesting because the ripples of these events I feel will be felt around the internet for years if not decades. In the past few weeks, tech companies such as Google and Apple have chosen to completely wipe the influence of one Mr Jones from their sites. While yes, this move is utterly pointless as any content can be simply re uploaded in seconds as many of the work done to moderate these sites use either algorithms or bots, the symbol this move sends is far more important. That being that tech companies will not only watch for hate speech, drug use, and copyright abuse, but also will have an ideological bend to them and. This means that these sites assert themselves as leftist sites and this is what scares me. We've seen sites such as 4Chan, Gab, Breitbart, and now Bitchute arise as more conservatively geared websites, contrary to the typically left leaning, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and others. You may also know that, because they function as echo chambers, that these sites intensify and radicalize their viewers. This is what frustrates me about the modern internet, there is no discourse, no debate, conservatives go to Breitbart for news, liberals to Huff Post where they can hear that whatever politician disagrees with them is what is holding this country back. By banning Jones, these sites haven't stopped him or his questionable practices only built another chamber
"How Politics Took Over the Killing of Mollie Tibbetts". This was the first article that I saw upon opening the page. I surfed around for a bit but kept coming back to it. 'Mollie Tibbetts'. I had been hearing that name around my house for over a week now, each person giving their own opinion on what had happened to her. But the trumping comment was "she's probably dead".
I myself had never heard of a person going missing in my life, only on "Criminal Minds" or in movies, and I did not know Mollie Tibbetts, yet I was invested in her story, and it devastated me when I was told what had happened. Not only because she had been murdered, and her family should not have gone through that, but because the news of her death was carelessly thrown into a conversation about politics.
My house is divided between Republicans and Democrats, so both sides were shocked when they heard that Donald Trump was using a murder as personal propaganda. The more liberal members of my family had a field day, and it was the first time I had seen the Republicans remain silent.
I took a government class freshman year of high school and remembered throughout the article what I had learned about the panic of the party in office at this time of the year, and the different tactics they used. However, I never imagined it would be something like a college student's murder. After reading, this article peaked my interest in a future where we can focus on the people instead of the politics.
Trump Put a Low Cost on Carbon Emissions. Here’s Why It Matters:
I read this article because at my school, I am the president of GreenTeam, the environmental club that does recycling, road clean-ups, and teaches students about environmental problems. The title of the article immediately drew me in because both too much and too little has been happening for the environment in terms of policy during Trump’s presidency. The Dakota pipeline ordeal, the land grab of national parks, the removal of the U.S. from the Paris Accords, and the resignation of Scott Pruitt have made the past two years for environmentalists an absurd reality with lots of environmental policies being rolled back. It was only natural for me to try and see what exactly the government was going to do next in terms of carbon emissions. I want to get into environmental law and public policy in the future so when news like this pops up, it fuels me to get into politics and make changes myself. I see that a certain administration isn’t doing what I would like it to, I want to take matters into my own hands. The article really only made me more distraught over the conditions of environmental policy. Scientific facts are becoming politicized and the victim is everybody.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/books/steve-jobs-lisa-brennan-jobs-sm...
Steve Jobs’s daughter wrote a book about how her father treated her. I think that it good that she wrote about her childhood. But I don’t think everything that she wrote is truth. Because I don’t think that he was that mean to her. Like when she wrote that her father did not but air in her room. I don’t think he would be that cruel to his own kid. He had money because he’s the founder of Apple. What I really think is that she wants publicity. I don’t think that he was that bad because she also wrote that sometimes he would take her rolling skating. Mrs. Jobs Said that she thinks it would be an problem for the reader to forgive him but I don’t think it would be because some people didn’t know that this happen. Steve Jobs was probably stress and she was bother him and he was tired and he took it out one her. I don’t think it was nice that he rejected his own kids and not pay child support because he was rich. It was not like he going broke. Most of her book is about how bad her father was. She talks about how bad her childhood was but not all when she was with mother. When her mother was on welfare. Steve could have helped them. But I hope people like her book.
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"Catholic Priests Abused 1,000 Children in Pennsylvania, Report Says"
While this article discusses a very sensitive subject, I was very interested in it. I grew up in the Catholic Church attending church on Sundays with my family, and receiving several sacraments such as Confirmation, Communion, etc. To read about these allegations absolutely shocked me. Many members of the Church go to their Priests with trust and confidence. The fact that these highly respected individuals used their power to sexual assault/abuse children is horrifying. Reading the cases discussed made me sick to my stomach. One case discusses a child who was abused at the age of 18 months. This individual was barely a toddler and had to experience this trauma. What made this whole incident in Pennsylvania even worse, was that many members of the church covered up these allegations for so long. It was so long that people are fighting the court to bypass the statue of limitations that has passed. Many of these victims can't even get the justice they deserve because too much time has passed. Fortunately, the court has been able to charge and prosecute several of the offenders. However, that is no excuse for the many victims who remain silent or can't get the justice they deserve. Overall, this article interested me as the Catholic Church has been a big part of my life and I find these crimes despicable. If this is in Pennsylvania alone, who knows how many priests have done the same thing and got away with it.
In his angry and betrayed attack on the Catholic church, Mr. Nathaniel loses his logic.
In his August 23 piece "I Stood Up in Mass and Confronted My Priest. You Should, Too.", Nathaniel argues that the catholic population should lose their trust in the church and take their kids away from the danger. He as a catholic believes that after multiple reports of abuse from priests, that he should take his son away from that environment. He confronted his pastor and asked why he should allow his son to make his first communion. He says that Catholics should not fill the pews and not support the church.
The Church has been in the news lately, and for some pretty bad things too. A lot of people wonder why followers of the church should continue to follow and support their place of worship. These stories of abuse frighten parents who trust priests with their children. People should continue to support, believe, and follow the church more than ever. It is not the Religions fault that men acted unfaithfully and a small portion of them too. In order to overcome this time of struggle in the church, Catholics must come together and think of solutions to help clean the system of wrongdoers. They must come together to fix the problems.
This topic is important to me as well as a lot of people because these stories is how a religion dies out. I worry that the church will not be the same soon and it will be harder to go to mass. this scares me.
This week I read I Dated My Friends Ex. Will He Keep Hating Me Forever? This article starts off by telling us about a guy who dated a girl for 8 months and then broke up with her. Then his friend dated her 3 months after. He can’t understand what he did wrong because he told his friend that he was dating his ex. One of the people commented that he should hav talked to him first before telling him right away. This is a good answer becasue if this happened to me that would be the best way I would want to find out. This article interested me becasue this is a real life situation that could happen to me or my friends. I also wanted to see how to handle this situation. I’ve always wondered what if you like i your friends ex? What do you do? Now, I know exactly what to do.
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What interested me the most this week in the New York Times was the article, “Is Coconut Oil Good or Bad for You?” What interested me about this article was the topic because coconut oil is used a lot in my house. Recently, coconut oil has been dubbed as healthy and very good for you. Unfortunately, there is no data to support this hype. In fact, a Harvard professor called it pure poison. The saturated fatty acids, and saturated fat in coconut oil is linked to high cholesterol and heart disease. Compared to olive oil, olive oil is better to use than coconut oil because olive oil is heart-healthy contains less saturated fat. If you’re going to use coconut oil then make sure to use virgin coconut oil in small amounts.
The article I read this past week is called, “A Blended Family: Her Mother Was Neanderthal, Her Father Something Else Entirely.” The article, written by Carl Zimmer, talks about the discovery of a set of bones with an interesting heritage. The archeologists studying the bones discovered, through DNA samples and mitochondria examinations, that the girl’s mother and father were from two different branches of human. The mother was Neanderthal and her father Denisovan. This is one of the first such discoveries of interbreeding between the different branches of humanity exsisting back then. The existence of the child, a genetic hybrid, gives archeologists a glimpse of what life might’ve been like thousands of years ago. The possibilities of hybrids like the girl found could be higher than originally realized. This fascinated me to think that we know so little of the world before us that the DNA found in a tiny pinky finger of one’s dates remains can open up secrets of this past world. Trying to learn what the earth might’ve been then can prove just how far we’ve come, or retreated, since then.
This week, the article that interested me most was an article called "The 'Zombie Gene' That May Protect Elephants From Cancer". As soon as I read this title I was very interested in the article. Personally, I love the idea of studying medicine and the cure to cancer is a medical advancement that has yet to be discovered. After reading the article I learned a lot of new things. Elephants and their ancestors underwent "sloppy mutations" more than 80 million years ago and that caused the elephants to have 10 copies of LIF rather than the usual 1. The gene went dormant and then came back and were called LIF6. According to the article this gene kills any cells that shows signs of becoming cancerous. In my opinion it looks very promising that if this gene were to be studied a cure for cancer could possibly be found. Another thing that I found very interesting was that these genes are what allowed elephants to be so large. They were able to grow many cells without damage because they would kill the cells before they did a lot of damage. I am very glad I found this article and I would love to look father into the science behind this possible cure for cancer.
"Rivals Challenge Malcolm Turnbull, Australia's Leader, as Party Support Fades"
Australia has not been doing well with its political control in the past decade this being further proof. I stumbled upon this while researching global politics and being quite entertained with how much they change leader. Turnbull is just one of many prime ministers that will likely be kicked out of office. Many of his cabinets have been lost and are now running against him. With this mystery way of voting for the new leader nobody knows how it will be decided adding to the entertainment value.
Turnbull had destroyed the relationship with many of his allies over a dispute over a proposed energy plan to cut emissions being produced. A normal mistake politics can go back and forth but this one dispute has cost him his entire platform. The article describes how the prime minister cant get anything done because he is just trying to stay in office. If you cant get anything done then how can you be a productive leader causing my point to have more proof is how there leadership is like a game show gaining new contestants every other month. Could you survive in the show of politics? One wrong spin on the wheel could end your career.
What interested me the most this week in the New York Times was the article, “Melania Trump Could Be Our Greatest First Lady.” What interested me the most about this article was the author pointed out that Melania goes against her husband with a lot of things. For example, Trump questioned LeBron James’s intelligence in a tweet and Melania counteracted by releasing a statement of her admiration of LeBron’s work with at-risk children and was possibly interested in visiting the school LeBron helped start. The author calls Melania’s actions the start of a revolution. He points out that the first ladies before her usually just beautified highways, promoted reading, and planted squash. Melania could abbreviate a nightmare. It’s her job to taunt Trump because of his actions the author says.
Week 9; For the last and final week of the competition i chose an article that really effects everyone in the church. I picked the article titled, “ Catholic Priests Abused 1,000 Children in Pennsylvania, Report Says.” This was all about the big scandal going on in our world today. More and more cases of Priests sexually assulting not only women but young girls and even boys are coming about. As someone in the church we all should look up to the Priests. We all share something in common which is our love for our savior, Jesus Christ. The Priests should be setting examples for us and should be someone we can trust. Although, with this going around it makes that concept of trust very hard. You’d think the ones who love Jesus the most would be the most loving and caring but this is making millions think otherwise.
The article I chose this week for the New York Times was "Beauty & Bleakness: The Efforts to Conserve Coral Reefs" by Ania Bartkowiak. What I find interesting about this picture was the beauty of it. Something that is so beautiful and graceful looking on the outside can actually have a harsh life. Coral reefs are one of the oceans most delightful sights, but unfortunately, people do not seek to care about them. they are torn apart, trashed, and polluted. It amazes me that there are people out there who actually care about them and put for an effort to conserve these delicate sights. It is such a tragedy in this world how people do not care about creation anymore. The ocean especially is one of the most neglected things of nature. Do people even care about the life that is vigorously living in the deep blue? It really interests me on why people are that way. What I also find interesting is that how will this change over time. I wish our world wasn't neglected so much to a point where people have to actually try to save it. I imagine life living freely just how God created it. He created everything in his image and it is being destroyed more and more everyday. In my personal opinion, I wish the world was more of a caring place. There are not many people out there who actually care about the things around them. It is courtesy of nature. I hope more of these beautiful sights will be saved and not just left for dead.
"Trump Put a Low Cost on Carbon Emissions. Here's Why It Matters"
This article stood out to me combining two categories of the news the environment and U.S. politics and how most of the time it goes very poorly.
The Trump Administration has announced the new value of damage that a ton(measurement) of carbon will do on the environment. His entire team of resources and money had come up with the number 7$ which is not a lot of money which is the real problem. This article just reading I knew instantly it was not going to end well with the government. Obamas prediction for the price was 50$ which was still considered too low. Many people got very cross with this decision and many states plan to sue immediately as soon as the law hits the courts.
Reading this I can only just feel the passion of greed that this number gives off. Many people have argued that the information gathered to display this did not think about future generations and many other factors. Companies will now be able too pollute our cities with a much less "cost" to the environment. The government is killing the world and showing awful evidence to counteract that. What is the world coming too, oh yeah a black cloud.
This Man Deserves What He Gets’: In Queens, a Nazi’s Long Flight From Justice Ends:
I read this article and my heart was broken. Partially beacuse a man was uprooted form his life here in NY because of something that happened 75 year ago, and partially because of the deaths of three million Jewish people in the holocaust, in which this man aided. I chose this article because it's received so much controversy throughout the country. Some of his neighbors say that he was old and came to the US and minded his own business while others say he came here and hid from his crimes against humanity. Was is right for people to protest annually in front of this mans house? Was it right that he wasn't initially deported in 2004? This article, in a away, divided people of different moral groups and that is fascinating to me. How the intention of this article is to give the news, yet the perception of the public varies between religious, political, gender, and so many more dividers of people and society. So, all in all, i chose this particular article because of the contents of the article but also because of the way the article effected the public.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/health/melanoma-immunotherapy-brain-t...
Immunotherapy Drugs Slow Skin Cancer That Has Spread to the Brain
Today what i found interesting in Nytimes was an article titled,"Immunotherapy Drugs Slow Skin Cancer That Has Spread to the Brain" A type of skin cancer,"melanoma" has been found to spread thoughout the brain. but with the combination of two drugs has been shown to help slow that spreading of the skin cancer. And those two drugs are ipilimumab (brand name Yervoy) and nivolumab (Opdivo).
A problem though with getting the drugs are the price of them. The drugs made by Bristol-Myers Squibb are costing more than $100,000 a year.
What I found interesting about this article is I found out skin cancer doesn't just stay on the skin but goes to the brain too.
“Face Tattoos Go Mainstream”
Tattoos have always fascinated me, I’ve dreamt of getting one since I was a teenager. Nevertheless, I never truly understood the reasons behind them and why people wanted to experience the pain of needles digging into their skin. As years have gone by, trends have changed. Face tattoos have emerged and recently become popular, inspired mostly by rap artists and musicians. For the most part, I disliked them and thought they looked strange. After reading this article, I actually did get a clearer understanding of why people choose to get these ink creations. Many people who possess face tattoos want to express themselves and showcase to the world who they really are. Society has also become more accepting with this type of body art, which hopefully only continues as time goes on. Nobody should be able to judge anyone else on their own attributes and body, people should be able to feel comfortable in their own skin and satisfied with what they choose to do. Face tattoos give us an opportunity to set ourselves apart from one another, each of us are able to represent ourselves and artistically express our emotions, thoughts, and whatever else goes through our minds.
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Child sex abuse in the Catholic Church- https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/19/nyregion/catholic-church-sex-abuse-su...
This first caught my attention because I read the title and thought this should not be happening. When I read the article and saw the video of the man talking about this topic the one comment that really stood out was when he started to talk about all the changes that happened when he became bishop. He stated that the church has a zero tolerance policy on abuse, notifying law enforcements when something happens, and they immediately notify child line. Although this is a tragedy to hear about, I am very happy to hear about all the changes made to deal with the matter of child abuse.
Fake Youtube Views
As an avid consumer of Youtube over TV, I'm recommended irrelevant content all the time, just because of a view count that I now know can mean almost nothing. The mindless promotion of the content that was paid to be boosted severely hinders my desire to use the website at all. While of course, Youtube is attempting to stop Devumi and others like him, the massive, unrelenting amount of video uploaded to the website every day makes it a nearly insurmountable task. Then I step out of myself, and my annoyance, and realize the broader scale of this issue. This allows a manipulation of mainstream current news and information media, and though it may sometimes be benign yet skeevy, through advertising tactics, fake news websites can further their information and push it into the front page of Youtube to embed their fact chaos in the common consciousness. That scares me, in a world surrounded by believers of madmen spouting lies, just because they're on a screen. Some people believe that because it's online it's true.
"You really think that someone would do that? Just go on the internet and tell lies?"
- Buster from Arthur
That is much more concerning than being recommended videos of someone cutting a watermelon with a white-hot knife.
"How Many Teenage Girls Deliberately Harm Themselves? Nearly 1 in 4, Survey Finds"
After reading this article, I was left completely speechless. Personally dealing with anxiety and depression issues, it was not easy to comprehend the information found within this article, especially since I was the one out of the four. As mentioned in Baumgaertner's work, I do believe that different influences and observations can cause specific actions. For example, if an adolescent's best friend is obsessed over self-harming themselves, or a loved one has committed suicide in the past, one may be also curious or interested in trying similar activities as well. Still, that is not always the case and there is no excuse for this type of behavior. No matter how tough things may be, you are never alone, there is always someone who is willing to help. Learning that the prevalence percentage of self-harm is 18% was an extremely heartbreaking moment though. I am determined to make sure that our next generation makes changes and is able to prevent the percentage from growing any larger. I’m hopeful that the future will bring more positivity and love into each and every person’s life. People needs to be more forthcoming and open about their struggles and emotions. If we continue to hide suicidal and dark thoughts, we will never receive the proper treatment and never be able to overcome the obstacles that stand in our path.
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Man kills pregnant wife and two daughters:
This news story caught my attention at first because when I first read the headline I was shocked as to how someone could do such a thing to innocent people, especially family. What interested me the most about this article is when I watched the interview with the father and he was explaining about how the mom and daughters were missing but that interview was shot before he was charged with there murder. It was so werid to see how someone could not even have any emotion and could lie that easily about it. Another part that interested me was when the article stated, "The next day, Aug. 14, after his family was reported missing, he stood on his porch and pleaded in an interview with a television reporter for his wife and two young children to come home." I am still in shock how the man lied that way to try and cover up the murder.
One article that interested me was “Climate Has A Role in Wildfires? No. Wait, Yes.” by Henry Fountain. This article caught my attention because of the headline, but also the subject matter of the California wildfires, which have reached record-breaking size this past week. I was always interested in how such blazes could reach the massive sizes they do, and this article seemed to provide me somewhat of an answer. When asked what he believed was the reason behind the blazes, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke first dismissed climate change as the reasoning, but later admitted he agreed that it was indeed the answer. He then said “environmental terrorist groups” were what really caused such massive wildfires, but THEN said to claim that is was the fuel load and the lack of dead or dying trees being harvested from California forests. To put it simply, Ryan Zinke doesn’t really know why forest fires are more devastating than ever. However, Phillip B. Duffy, a climate researcher, says evidence shows that climate change in the West has made the California area drier and warmer than ever, which results in longer than usual forest fires. With climate change getting more and more extreme every year, this means worse forest fires and other natural disasters could occur in the near future. So while I did indeed find an answer, I’m now interested to see what the government does knowing this information, and what steps they will take to help reduce the factors of climate change in the future.
"How Well Do You Know The World?”
Whenever people ask me where a specific state, location, street, country, or any place is located, I instantly panic. Memorizing all 50 U.S States was never my strong suit in elementary school. As soon as I clicked on the title of this article, I knew I was going to be utterly unsuccessful. Seeing all the beautiful pictures I was pleasantly surprised, it was way different than what I had expected. I assumed the article would be lengthy and boring, but it was filled with interesting facts and cool places I couldn’t even correctly pronounce. I actually decided to do some research on some of the places mentioned in this interactive slideshow. Each and every place was absolutely breath taking and it was fascinating to see all the different things these spots had to offer. I hope to get the opportunity to travel to some of these countries and cities in the near future.
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"Parents Behaving Badly: A Youth Sports Crisis Caught on Video”
The title of this article specifically caught my attention since I’ve been surrounded by sports almost my entire life, as well as the drama that comes along with it. Over the years, I’ve seen violent fights break out and heard offensive words be exchanged. Surprisingly, parents and athletes don’t brawl with one another, they actually tend to bicker with the referees. Officials and Referees are crucial to every sport and hold high authority, but many people still choose to disrespect them anyways. These people are often discredited, event though they usually are volunteers that are willing to help make sure rules are followed and enforced. Watching the videos inserted in this article and learning about the situations that occurred completely disgusted me. Many spectators, players, and coaches also forget that these referees are just human as well. They will make mistakes and make calls you may not agree with, but that is no excuse for the actions of any angry individuals. Being an athlete myself, I have repeatedly witnessed officials being harassed and called out. I have even seen a parent go after a hockey referee in a parking lot after a game, attempting to throw hands and physically assault them. I believe that as times progress, this situation will only worsen if correct punishment is not handed out. People need to realize that these are just games played by their kids. Nothing more.
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“Miss America Ends Swimsuit Competition, Aiming to Evolve in ‘This Cultural Revolution’”
Pageants and beauty competitions are typically known for their swimsuit modeling section, The Miss America contest being the most well-known. Fashions and styles have changed over time, which caused bikinis, high heels, implants, and unnatural features to rise above. Believe it or not, many people do not feel comfortable strutting around in a bathing suit, especially not a revealing two piece. Getting rid of this part of the contest hopefully will make females feel more confident and excited to enter the Miss America competition. I believe that nobody should not ever be put in a position where they are judged off beauty and looks, there’s much more to a person.
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“Hip-Hop Is Evolving. Just Ask Its Superstars.”
Being interested in all types of music, especially Hip-Hop and Rap, I easily agreed with the title of this article. Over the years, I’ve watched different artists grow, but also plummet down. Most importantly, I’ve witnessed various people create careers out of nothing but determination and a few stories. This Hip-Hop era is very different from any other, mainly because artists are not afraid to be themselves and are open. Just like the article states, many artists now mention personal issues in their music, like hospitalization, drug addiction, relationship issues, and depression. These are tough things to publicize to the entire universe, especially since these are pretty private details and will permanently remain in the universe. To many listeners out there, this can make them feel as if they are not the only ones facing struggles. The audience can finally connect to the things that an artist is/was experiencing and can also develop a deeper meaning of the song. Musicians’s confidence and willingness to express themselves has been effective in setting this Hip-Hop generation apart from others. As time goes by, I hope to observe even more bold decisions and choices made by artists to better their music and connect with their audiences.
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Poetry & Disability
Writing is a fantastic form of coping. While I cannot relate to physical disability, I can relate to finding a world I am a part of in words, which drew me into the article.
I've written several songs and poems over the past three years, dealing heavily with mental illness, and I felt that energy of tiredness and desperation in many of the poems featured, particularly Elegy Across Two Bodies.
"no way it will survive
the night"
Spoke to me dramatically, calling me to my own line,
"I layed in misery
Waiting for my heart to falter
Again"
As the article spoke, I gave little regard for grammar throughout the song, and even now, my grammar check extension on Chrome is trying to fix "layed".
But "layed" is different than "lay" or "laid" or "lied"
It's "layed" and it is my own. It's how I see myself.
As well I saw myself in
"sometimes i dream of atrophy
the geography of this skin
when i no longer recognize it
as my own"
The flow and looseness of it reminds me of rolling in bed, tossing and turning at three in the morning after a panic attack, trying to sleep to stop the aftermath where it turns from fear to sadness. It's a world framed for experiences outside of what others see, and I feel it deeply, in my own way.
"Turning a Breakup Into a Positive Experience"
I chose this piece in particular since just about anyone can relate to this, regardless of their race, gender, or age. Many people now-a-days spend their time obsessing over relationships and trying to find love, especially teenagers. With romance there also comes heartbreak, which usually results in empty ice cream quarts, tissue boxes, and tears. I've seen family members, friends, and myself, completely shut down and ignore the entire outside world due to the split from their significant other. During this time, many people will refuse to accept their situation, stuck on the idea that things will never improve. After reading this article, I’ve realized that there is hope. Any situation can truly result in a positive outcome with desire, strength, and the right mindset. Author Marissa Miller, speaks out and tells readers that they must be willing to focus on themselves. Personally, I’ve always struggled with that, but over the years I’ve learned that self-love and improvement are the key to getting over breakups. So right after grasping Miller’s words, I knew that this article had the potential to be life changing and could help better the lives of the broken hearted humans out there. You must be able to focus on yourself and realize you don't need someone else to fulfill your happiness.
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Missing paperwork got him out of jail. Then, Police say, He raped and Killed:
I chose this article because when I saw the headline I was in shock about how someone would be capable of doing something like this when they just got out of jail. The section in the article that really came out was, "Two weeks after Danueal Drayton was released without bail, police say, he killed a woman he met on Tinder." How could someone have served his time and have come out of jail ready to start a life just throw it away so easily. It's unbelievable what people can do nowadays to innocent people without any reasoning.
“You Can’t Hurt Lindsay Lohan Now”
Rewind back to the year 2012. You’re sitting in your room painting your nails a shade of hot pink, your best friends are spending the night, and a rerun of Mean Girls has been playing on TV. Lindsay Lohan has just kissed Johnathan Bennet and the ending credits begin to roll. Life is good...
Stumbling across this article, I didn’t know very much about Lohan, besides the iconic roles she played in films and from what I read in tabloids about the alleged “partygoer”. After doing more research on the actress, I learned that she went through many struggles involving the media and Hollywood itself. Lohan eventually packed up her belongings and moved to Dubai, hopeful for change. From the article's description, it seems like Lindsay has successfully settled down and is very content with her current position in life. She finally has found a sense of protection and stability, telling The New York times that she feels comfortable enough leaving her own penthouse apartment unlocked. She has also opened multiple beach clubs in the area, with near future plans to design her own island. Lindsay Lohan removed herself from a situation she was unhappy with, which made it possible for her to find her happiness and peace. Witnessing Lohan's transformation has been inspiring and should be a message to other humans who are not satisfied with their own lives. You must be willing to make a change, in order for a change to occur.
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The Rich are Planning to Leave this Wretched Planet
This article interested me because I have always thought it would be so cool to go to space. It is crazy to think that some people that are not astronauts may get to go. I read that some extremely wealthy people are already looking into buying property in space. I also read that some rich people are even looking into vacations to space. It is so amazing that this is even possible at this day and age. I also read something about starting a civilization in space so humans will have some place to resort to when global warming takes over the world or if something else was to happen. I love reading about all of the possibilities that are currently being worked on to become realities. For example, freezing someone so the can travel for one hundred years to get somewhere in space without dying before. The amount of science behind all of this is just amazing and I am so fascinated by it. I would love to have the money to travel to space for just an hour to just look at Earth and see how small we really are. I think to get the most satisfaction out of life, for me, would be to get to go to space. I really hope this does become a reality in my lifetime so I can learn all about it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/sports/urban-meyer-zach-smith-Ohio-st...
With college football a week away fans across the country are preparing for another exciting season. But like the NFL domestic violence seems to find its way into the sport and this time within the Ohio State coaching staff. Zach Smith who was accused and proved of domestic violence was recently fired and news of what had happened and the corruption in Oho State Football came out. Head coach Urban Meyers was suspended by the Board of the university but the question of winning over the right thing came to mind. Soon to be entering the world of sports journalism the truth and right decisions are two of the biggest aspects of the field. So did Urban Meyer deserve to be fired? The right answer is yes; he didn't follow procedures, lied to the public and the school, and shouldn't be rewared for doing the illegal thing. But a two time Big 10 winner and past National Champion, the school choose winning over justice. In the coming weeks and years this move will continued to be questioned and criticized. But as someone whose job will someday be to critcize and question this move the wrong morals always seem to backfire. The turth is always brought to light and when the remaining facts are revealed Ohio State may regret their actions.
A Large Body of Water on Mars is Detected, Raising the Potential for Alien Life
This article interested me because it is about potential life on mars. I definitely do believe that there is life somewhere out there in space. There are millions of different galaxies and solar systems in space, and it is just almost certain that we cannot be the only life in space. Finding water on another planet is such a huge excitement and step in the space world. A lot of bacteria and single celled organisms can survive with just water. I really hope in my life time some type of life is found.
Tracy Dennis-Tiwary concludes in her article "Taking Away the Phones Won’t Solve Our Teenagers’ Problems," that getting rid of kid's phones will not eliminate their anxiety and depression.
Anxiety and depression is becoming more common in children and teenagers, and many blame this on cellphones. The author establishes, "One study notes a spike in anxiety and depression among teenagers in 2011 — around the time of broad smartphone adoption." Many people automatically assume this increase is because of phones and social media. She then later explains this assumption is wrong and that social media is a way for teenagers to express their problems, "This is especially important because if smartphones aren’t a direct cause of teenagers’ mental health struggles, their use might instead be a crucial way in which these struggles are expressed." She suggests that phones are not causing anxiety in teenagers, but rather are a way for kids to share their problems.
I strongly agree that phones are not the cause of anxiety and depression. I believe the increase in depression and anxiety occurred because teenagers now have a way to talk about their struggles online. Kids have the ability to express their feelings on apps such as twitter. This may make it seem that there is more depression and anxiety, but it is just a new way for more people to see it. Phones and social media give teenagers new ways to express their emotions and problems with others.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/well/an-underappreciated-key-to-colle...
Personally, I believe that self-care is an essential step in ensuring personal success. I’m glad that there’s another article out there that put a great emphasis on how sleep is so important to students. Since I’m a student myself, I find this article all the more relatable. I can relate to many of the dialogues that the author included about how many people had to pull all nighters to study for a test and ended up falling asleep in the middle of it. Sometimes, we all let ourselves to be driven by our own ambitions, which is to get good grades so that we can graduate well. However, in the midst of it all, we lose sight of what is most important to us- our health. The fact that the author included many facts and statistics about how the lack of sleep influences our behaviors and studying habits made her article more convincing to readers. Furthermore, the fact that she admits to the fact that students’ sleep deprivation are caused by stress made the article more realistic and relatable to students. I especially love her suggestions at the end to help us maintain our “sleep hygiene.”
Continuation of prior post:
I have never had a particularly bad time in gym class, and I had always found PE to be fun and appealing, especially during high school when it became more centered around the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. Those who may have not have been fond of PE may associate exercise with those unpleasant memories. This projects a new way of thinking about motivation and exercise. A person’s ability to exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle may be out of a their conscious decision leaving it to the ID, where prior experiences greatly impact future prospects. I found it interesting that there was a distinct pattern involving how a person who enjoyed gym class was more likely to work out, and vise versa. I also found it intriguing how long lasting the memories of gym class were for many people. The article builds upon this idea stating, “for some of them, the classes were two or three decades in the past, but they had not forgotten…” (NY Times). I find this true in my life as well. I find it easy to remember moments in middle school gym class and what we were taught, but I struggle to recount basic topics from last years chemistry course. I believe it is the unusual and experience based learning that makes gym class so memorable as being either motivating or mortifying.
This week I watched the video, "How Did New York's Trains Get so Bad?" I found this video interesting because it shows how public utilities can be used as political chess pieces. First with funds being transferred from the MTA into other programs. Next with the use of Wall Street capital (connected to the reelection of the governor) to refinance the debt caused by these cuts, two icons of New York City radically altering the lifeblood of the city. Next, the vast total of money brought in by the MTA is used for pet projects by whoever is in power at the time; Sheldon Silver, former speaker of the NY State Assembly, spent 1.5 billion dollars on Fulton Street, a single station all because it was in his electoral district. This is what I mean when I say utilities being used as political chess pieces, public money used essentially as a reelection campaign. This becomes a problem with aging infrastructure that DOESN'T benefit one single politician. The signal system the subway uses originates from the 30's, it's in dire need of repair, however, those in power felt that money was better spent on pet projects as stated previously. This comes to a breaking point when Hurricane Sandy occurs, badly damaging the aging subway lines. Since then, overcrowding, derailments, tunnel collapses, have occurred because those in power, rather than seeing the subway as the miracle it is that powers a metropolis, saw it as a way to buy votes. It's that conflict of interest that made this video
“Back-to-School Shopping for Districts: Armed Guards, Cameras and Metal Detectors.” Is all this feasible?
Back to school can be stressful, pencils, paper, notebooks, preparation for the upcoming barrage and workload. But this year back to school seems more stressful than the schools rather than the students. Countless schools across the country are considering arming teachers, having security guards, see-through backpacks, and even metal detectors. Even my own school put private security around the clock. It seems a heightened paranoia has gripped the American school system by the neck.
I took keen interest to the article, because it details how schools respond to such a threat. One piece of the article particularly stands out to me, a picture of a physics teacher, John MacFarlane, being trained to use a firearm by the school’s safety director. For me this picture brings up a moral quagmire, on one hand I would love a teacher who could stop a potential shooter right in his tracks, on the other I don't want my physics teacher, or any of my teachers for that matter, having a gun. I don't want gun violence to be on the mind of teachers, I want teaching to be on the mind of teachers.
That's just my opinion, however, I think people should take a look at this article, and wrestle with the morality of the issues of gun violence and how best to protect our schools and I think that's what this article does best, I brings up the facts so that people can make up their mind.
This week I found the article “A Pregnant Dolphin. A Fatal Gunshot. A Disturbing trend.” a very eye-catching topic. A dolphin was found dead on a beach in Mississippi. The man who found the dolphin called the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies. This was back in April, but they didn't find the bullet until they dissected the dolphin in July. The bullet was in the dolphin’s lung, it had been shot to death. The dolphin had been pregnant with a full-term calf and also died. I find this really sad that people are killing dolphins without a reason. Dolphins are intelligent mammals and would never do anything to hurt a human. There is an $11,500 reward for helping to solve the case. Since 2002, 21 dolphins have been found dead from a gunshot. Now, this was only from Florida to Texas, imagine how many more have been found dead for the same reason all around the United States. When people feed dolphins off of boats, the dolphins learn to go up to boats because that’s where the food is, and they teach their calves to do that too. Sometimes when dolphins get close to the boats, the fishermen will have bait on the end of their lines and the dolphins will eat it. Sadly, some people will purposely shoot dolphins for fun. When a dolphin is purposely shot, there is a reward for any information. The dolphin was very close to giving birth when it was shot. I feel that people should stop shooting dolphins without a reason.
How the brain morphs stressful family vacations into pleasant memories
This concept relies heavily on nostalgia, which intrigues me greatly. I am fascinated by nostalgia; that sick feeling it causes in your stomach even when the memory is abhorrent, and the emptiness of it. The remembered and experienced selves disconnect from each other, placing the memories on a greater plane than they were before. This makes me think as well about whether we are our past selves. The person I am now since my family's last vacation has started writing a novel, got a job, bought a new desk. We're vastly different people, that vacationer and I, he's never read Night Film by Marisha Pessl, he's never touched his longed-for copy of Poets in a Landscape. Maybe that's why I remember the Ben and Jerry's, the new camera I finally bought, the crow that lounged on the roof. Because I want to see this other person's good memories, not the long drive, the terrible eateries and the depressing things on the news. It's a story now, and I guess I want to see a nice one.
Aretha Franklin, Indomitable ‘Queen of Soul’, Dies at 76
In this article, I learned about the death of Aretha Franklin and her biggest achievements during her lifetime. She was only 76 with pancreatic cancer, but got to pass peacefully at her home in Detroit. I think one of the most interesting parts of this article was learning about her messages she portrayed in multiple songs she sang. Aretha liked to sing about romance, but like to put a twist on it using gospel music. She liked to address her belief in freedom and equality since she was a feminist. It is unbelievable that she originally started singing in the Baptist church that her father had been a reverend at and that she accomplished so much during her lifetime. Not only was she a great singer, but she was a great pianist. Aretha’s mother was as well. Her combinations of jazz, blues, rock, and even opera helped her reputation. It was also interesting to read about how Aretha Franklin taught herself how to play the piano on one of the two she owned in her house. This all happened before she was ten years old as well. One of the most interesting parts of this whole article was learning about the start to Aretha’s family. She had to dropout of high school when becoming pregnant at 13 and was soon pregnant again with a second child. This all happened after touring with her father to perform their gospel music together. Even though she is gone now, it is certain that she will never be forgotten.
First it was a ballistic missile threat, then torrential flooding, then a volcanic eruption, and now Hawaii is bracing for a category three hurricane. An article entitled "Hawaii Braces for a Rare Encounter With a Hurricane," details the recent disaster history of Hawaii. However what interested me most about this article was the pure abnormality of the event. As a kid, I was always the one to watch YouTube videos explaining how tornadoes worked, or the Top 10 Largest Tsunamis; extreme weather has always fascinated me. The sheer power of nature is simply unfathomable. What makes this hurricane even more bizarre is its path into the Pacific ocean. I have always found the idea of hurricanes to be catastrophic, but tame in reality. Memories of camping in my family room with my family watching the weather channel until late at night are what I used to associate hurricanes with. Outside of hurricane Sandy, most hurricanes that hit my home in New Jersey have done little more damage than a thunderstorm. This is what worries me about Hawaii and Hurricane Lane. It is such a rare occurrence for a hurricane to hit Hawaii, as it is New Jersey. I fear for the people of Hawaii that this may become 'Their Hurricane Sandy'. Flooding from such a slow moving hurricane can worsen very quickly, not to mention the storm has already caused several landslides. With that said, it is highly unusual for a hurricane of this power to hit Hawaii, and I am both curious, and fearful, to see its results.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/16/well/family/family-vacation-memories-...
This article caught my attention because I had personally went through some of the situations described in this article. my family's "family trips" isn't exactly what you would call a trip, because we always drives to the same place, have lunch there, and then we will go shopping for a while and go home. It has been that way for so long but still. I feel like every trip is a fresh, new adventure even though it's the same place everytime. My parents might argue about trivial matters while on the way and I'm sure that everyone gets frustrated or angry over little things sometimes but don't let that momentary bad mood affect the whole trip and the time that you get to spend with your family without a family member being too busy with work, homework or scrolling through social media on their phones; trips and vacations is a time that the whole family agrees to put down whatever they were doing and say "ok, let's spend some time together." I think that trips can be good or bad but the difference between them depends on if you choose to magnify a happy memory or a momentary bad mood.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/14/style/how-can-i-focus-better.html
"Finding It Hard to Focus? Maybe It's Not Your Fault"
Since the invention of the smartphone, earlier generations have been asserting their increasing disapproval of the technology. They state that the generations are growing up with "a very unsatisfying youth". I mean the amount of times my mom has blamed my phone because I complained of a headache is amusing. However, now technology has acknowledged that technology isn't good for us. This article states that there are apps now to limit the amount of time spent on a screen, which I think are wonderful ideas. We're in a society where the ratio of virtual to reality is severely imbalanced. People use their phones not only to suppress boredom, but to avoid awkward moments and situations. There have been numerous times where I'm in a packed subway and immediately divert my eyes to my phone after catching eye contact with a stranger.
I'm not saying I'm a Luddite because I extensively use technology on a day to day basis. I think there are an infinite amount of pros in modern technology. For example, the fact that we have access to an endless amount of education and self-improvement resources at the tips of our fingers is revolutionary. However, I do think there should be more of a balance between on-screen and off-screen use.
The article "Is Your Body Appropriate to Wear to School?" by Hayley Krischer talks about many recent events that have showed how strict school dress codes can be in modern high schools.The main opinion shown throughout the article is that dress codes are often too strict and cause distractions for the dress code violator rather than the surrounding students.
In some cases, I would agree. Certain rules that many high school make students follow are absurd. These rules can range from no hair extensions or no yoga pants. When a young student gets taken out of class in order to get punished for not following these guidelines, he punishment is usually the cause of the distraction rather than the dress code violation itself. Although it is understandable that there must be some sort of precedent placed in schools to avoid chaos, I believe it is often taken out of hand. To allow a distraction free environment, there should be different ways to go about dress code violators. Making a student miss out on multiple periods of education to make them change their clothing is irrational. In doing this, the school administration is taking away education as well as creating a distraction for the surrounding students that then place their mind on the new situation.
Being that I am a current high school student, this topic is highly consistent with situations I deal with everyday. I feel as though this article holds essential lessons that both school staff members and students can take away.
The article “Inside the Ring of Underground Wrestling” by Ben Detrick interested me because one; I am a gigantic wrestling fan and two; I like seeing people’s takes on wrestling that happens outside of the largest pro wrestling company in the world, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Non-WWE wrestling, more commonly “independent wrestling”, isn’t as flashy or over the top as it’s mainstream television leader, but it’s just as entertaining and interesting. Take JT Dunn for example, a wrestler highlighted in this article. He isn’t a super athlete or has a over the top character, or have trash talking skills, but Dunn is just as easy to be a fan of. He used his love of pro wrestling to overcome an almost fatal painkiller addiction, and became one of the best wrestlers in the eastern US. That’s not something a wrestling company wrote for his backstory or character, it’s just who JT Dunn actually is. It’s really cool, and what makes independent wrestling so different from WWE. Independent wrestling is also to be a good place to see new characters and more creativity without a corporate agenda holding them back. It’s not as big as the WWE fanbase, but its just as, if not more passionate. As an avid wrestling fan, it’s interesting to see people’s takes on the non-WWE side of wrestling, a side that does not often get as much attention as the corporate powerhouse of WWE, despite the clear passion and interest that is seemingly growing for it.
E.P.A Unveils New Coal Pollution Rules:
Coal and oil is a necessity in the present day, but doesn't have to be in the near future. With “The War On Coal” becoming a more popular political talking point in recent years, I am wondering how long the world, more specifically the U.S, will be dependent on expendable resources. Currently, the infrastructure of the United States is heavily dependent on “dirty” resources, so we can't necessarily cut off these resources completely. In order for the U.S., and eventually the world, to make the transition to clean energy, expendable resources need to be used as a stepping stone to a world run on clean energy. Clean energy needs to be used more and more throughout the years until we can comfortably rely on only clean energy. This change must happen sooner rather than later, “with more and more premature deaths being reported annually do to higher pollution levels,” according to Lisa Friedman of The New York Times. I find this topic interesting because of people’s tendency to put the issue of pollution in the back of their minds, as if it is a far off problem that doesn't need to be addressed now. If federal pollution restrictions are further reduced in the future for economic reasons, I fear that Earth won't be a liveable space for much longer.
The article that interested me the most this week was "An Artist Warns of a Robot-Ruled Future. Or Is It Our Present? Let’s Discuss." The article depicts a view of the future in the eyes of Chinese artist Cao Fei. The saddest part of it all is that these futuristic, farfetched systems are already being employed in the economy today. This is what ultimately got me the most fascinated on this topic. It's no surprise to us all that factories in the future could be completely automated. The truth is that machines get the job done much more efficiently, make less errors, and don't require a wage to pay. The video made by Fei depicts a factory with less than two workers, a symbol that references the waning need for human workers in factories. The video also shows a porcelain robot that scans the workers, which is also used in China under the name of the social credit system. The majority of this factory being run by robots shows our ultimate future without the need for many humans to work in some jobs. These reasons were why I found this article so fascinating. The seemingly distant future that is portrayed by Fei is actually quite close and speeding toward us at an alarming speed. The depiction of robots infesting our factories fills me with wonder but also with fear. It reminds us that our advances in technology mark a milestone for us all but come with their respective drawbacks. This thought-provoking topic and well written article was an excellent read.
Growing up I had only ever known Michelle Obama as the First Lady. I had always viewed the first lady as a very passionate, giving, loyal and caring person. As many past first lady’s have very well reflected these characteristics, the article tends to stray Melania Trump away from that perfect image. Not perfect as in looks, fashion and presence, but as to support and loyalty. The article views Melania Trump as becoming a defiant female figure against some of President Donald Trump’s notable negative qualities. As Melania’s mission against cyberbullying grows, so do Donald Trump’s negative comments and tweets. When I first read this article, I thought “how hypocritical that for someone being against cyberbullying is married to a man who is inevitably known for his rude comments and vengeful tweets”. This made me think further into the article and ponder Melania’s position. Is Melania “throwing shade” as suggested in the article? If so how will Donald Trump react? We may never know if Melania harbors a different intent than most first lady’s, but as we enter a revolution of feminism and strong, smart and defiant female leaders are beginning to emerge it is certainly possible Melania Trump is growing the confidence and strength to call action upon Donald Trump’s infamous reputation. I thoroughly enjoyed reflecting on this new perspective on Melania Trump's position through Donalds presidency. The observations made thoroughly intrigue me in looking further into this theory.
In the article, “My Voice Got Depper: Suddenly, People Listened,” Thomas Page McBee addresses social issues that he has experienced in the workplace. As a transgender male, McBee has seen what it is like to be a female and male working for the same job. He states that before he transitioned, he was frequently interrupted and talked over by other men and was often silenced before he could share his own points. Once he began taking testosterone and his voice became deeper, he felt more powerful and his voice had finally been found. He began to record evidence around the workplace and found that he talked over more women in meetings at a rate of three to one, he responded to emails of men more quickly, and he was less likely to question the opinions of men. McBee believes women are not shown respect like men are, and their opinions are often disregarded.
I agree with some of McBee’s claims about different genders and how they are treated in the workplace. Even though women have nearly the same rights as men, I believe there are still social stereotypes that men are better performers in a job setting. Women are often under-appreciated for the work they do. Personally, I experience this in school and I see it happen to others around me in class. Men often talk over females, especially in class discussions, and often girls are even too nervous to share their opinion on topics. We need to find more ways to be inclusive of women so they have the same opportunities as others.
“The World Doesn’t Need Trans Fats”
This editorial is about the dangers of consuming trans fats, which can lead to many health problems and can sometimes be the cause of death. In order to prevent and reduce the number of people who are diagnosed with heart disease and the people who die because of their medical conditions, the author tries to convince the readers to take a stand against the usage of trans fat among the Middle East, India, Pakistan and other countries. The article also features examples of “countries like Canada and Denmark [that] have taken action against the use of trans fats” (“World Doesn’t”) to show how the other countries can use them as a model when reforming their laws about the issue with trans fats.
In addition, the author includes ingredients that could potentially replace trans fats such as partially hydrogenated oils with something like olive oil, or any other monounsaturated fats. The article also features the plans that the World Health Organization has fabricated. For example, the author states, “The W.H.O. and Dr. Frieden [a public health group leader] say they will help countries assess how trans fats are used in food, educate consumers, promote alternatives and develop policies to eliminate these substances over time” (“World Doesn’t”). With this statement, the author is able to show the readers that this could be done and makes it ultimately easier to sway the readers to take a stand for this issue and agree with him/her.
In his op-ed, "What if Mother Nature Is on the Ballot in 2020?" Thomas L. Friedman discusses a plausible option.
Friedman explains the different topics for both parties in the 2020 campaign. One subject most people wouldn't expect, however, could be the climate change issue. When mentioning the projected population growth from 7.6 billion to 8.6 billion, the author states, "If even half of them get cars, have air-conditioners and eat high-protein diets like Americans now do, we will devour and burn up the planet beyond recognition." It is believed that if the democratic candidate runs on climate change, he/she will give Trump a run for his money.
I agree with Friedman as the conversationalist movement is growing due to the increase in climate change over recent years. During 2020, the climate will have changed even more so, making climate change an unavoidable topic in politics - one that cannot be brushed off with jokes and insults (Trump's usual).
This issue is urgent as 2018 is almost over; there are only two more elections until the next presidential election. With little time left, it is imperative that the democrats start preparing for the takeover of the white house through care of the environment and human race.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/14/style/how-can-i-focus-better.html#com...
"Finding It Hard to Focus? Maybe It's Not Your Fault'
Since the invention of the smartphone, earlier generations have been asserting their increasing disapproval for the gadget. They state that the generations are growing up with "a very unsatisfying youth". I mean the amount of times my mom has blamed my phone because of a headache is amusing.
However, now technology has acknowledged that technology isn't good for us. This article states that there are apps now to reduce the amount of time spent on a screen, which I think are wonderful ideas. We're in a society now where the ratio of virtual to reality is severely unbalanced. People use their phones not only to suppress boredom, but for avoiding awkward moments and situations. There have been numerous times where i've been in a packed subway and immediately divert to my phone after meeting eye contact with a stranger.
I'm not saying i'm a Luddite because I extensively use technology every day. I do think there are an infinite amount of pros to technology as well. For example, the fact that we have access to an endless amount of education and self-improvement resources is revolutionary. However, I do think there should be more of a balance between on-screen and off-screen use.
Touching the Sun
The journey that the Parker Solar Probe interested me because of how much it is going to achieve in its flight to the sun. The Parker Solar Probe is intended to become the closest a man made probe has been to the sun, and as a result, it will be the fastest machine built by humans. The work done at NASA has interested me, even at a young age. My grandfather worked as a physicist with NASA and used to tell me stories of the projects he worked on and the things he did. I am glad to see that NASA is continuing to make progress in exploring and examining our solar system.
This week in the times, the article that most interested me was, "Is Netflix’s ‘Insatiable’ as Offensive as It Looks? Let’s Discuss." I have watched the first couple episodes of this new series, and the trailer and I honestly did not see a problem with it. Maybe I did not have an issue with the show because I have not personally struggled with body image issues. Looking at the series from a different point of view, I can now see where the show has some controversial topics. Being that bullying and body shaming have been a big topic of discussion over these last few years, this show could potentially "trigger" some people. Not only is body image a topic of discussion in this show, but so is the sensitive topic of molesting. After reading this article, my opinion has definitely been changed, and I can understand where the speculative thoughts came in.
The article that interested me the most in the times today is the article titled "Finding it Hard to Focus? Maybe it's Not Your Fault." As summer comes close to an end, I find it extremely difficult to sit down and do my homework due to many distractions, especially my phone. Throughout this article, it is explained that being attracted to the many electronic devices that exist today is inevitable and is not our fault. Screen like tablets are everywhere and as Mr. Williams stated, they were created to grab our attention and distract us from whatever we were trying to accomplish. As I think about it more, my phone not only distracts me from my homework, but it also distracts me from many other things as well. Many individuals are able to see how much technology distracts us, and with that, they attempt to invent apps to stop us from using them so much. However, these apps are quite ironic because instead of providing help to ourselves, we are relying on our phones to provide assistance to us. Although it is quite unfortunate that so many of us are so attached to our electronic devices, it is truly not our faults because today's generation uses them for almost everything. Electronics such as our phones, are causing us to lose the meaning of life and our life’s purpose. They have many pros, but along with those many pros, come many cons.Therefore, I am going to put in an effort to not use my phone as much as I do now.
What interested me the most this week in the New York Times was the article, “When Medicines Affect a Child’s Mind and Behavior.” This article interested me because the doctor in the article works with A.D.H.D patients and my brother has A.D.H.D. The article explained the concerns that parents have with medicating children with behavioral problems. Most parents are concerned with the way it will affect their children and the side effects of the medications. Most parents aren't automatically willing to put their children on medications because they don’t feel safe doing so. The doctor in the article explains that they closely manage and watch children on medications and that parents don’t need to be as concerned as they are.
I read the article "The Challenge of Fighting California Wildfires". I chose this article because even though I live on the East Coast, I want to know more about the struggles and danger that these fires create in California. This article was not structured as I initially believed it would be, I was imagining a general description of the damage caused and how this is causing "challenges" for the firefighters trying to help. Instead the article focused around Jason Tamagni, a fire captain in California and his personal experiences with not just this fire, but his career in general. He tells about the adrenaline that you feel when the alarm goes off and even about evacuating towns that could have been in the fires' paths. I liked the way this article lets you connect to the story by talking about one person so that you can understand this tragedy from an individual's perspective. I think it was this detail that really made me appreciate the wildfire and also the article itself.
"Cost of New E.P.A. Coal Rules: Up to 1,400 More Deaths a Year"
I have grave concern over the actions of humans and their effects on the environment. The course of our action is leading life to the grave.
I understand the economic sense of scrapping the regulations. After all, it allows for an influx of jobs in the Coal Industry, especially in blue-collar states, such as West Virginia. That is good. But where do we draw the line between of adding a minuscule amount of jobs over the health of the world's populations. The industry is limited, and when it is depleted, those jobs would be gone in the first place.
What really interested me was the projection of annual deaths and calamities being worse than I would have predicted;and after reading the article, I agree with the stances. Additionally, I am more interested in the rebuttals that supporters of the current administration would make against this data. Even as a supporter for any administration, I will say that the lives of the future matter more than the amount of jobs the coal industry will provide.
Ny time article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/well/move/how-you-felt-about-gym-clas...
I found the article “How You Felt About Gym Class May Impact Your Exercise Habits Today” interesting because it touches upon subjects that I hold dear to me. Working out is an important aspect of my life, and I do feel as if my experience in gym class have altered my perception on working out. Working out gives me a sense of accomplishment and it energizes me when I feel tired. Although these benefits alone are enough to motivate me, many others struggle to find motivation to be active.
Throughout my life I have always worked about, but my amount of diligence and motivation towards exercising has always varied. When I was younger I only worked out when I wanted to, which rarely happened. Now I regularly push myself to become a better person both physically and mentally. I believe this motivation is due in part because of my positive gym class experiences. The old saying “first impressions count” have greatly contributed to my perception of exercise.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/health/melanoma-immunotherapy-brain-t...
Although we live in a world with advanced technology and knowledge, however, the treatment course of cancer is still a mystery territory that still plagues the medical community. Thus, the reason why that this article interests me so much is because that the article reveals a shocking discovery: immunotherapy might be the solution to stopping the spread of cancer. The article and the information presented in the article itself gave me a sense of hope. A sense of hope that our advanced technologies have given cancer patients a chance at prolonging their lives. A chance to be included as a sample population in the scientific community's discoveries.
"The Cruel Ploy of Taking Immigrant Kids From Their Parents"
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/opinion/immigrant-children-deportatio...
The article that interested me the most in the times this week was an article about children being torn away from their families. So many families are being separated and there's basically noting they can do about it. Now The Department of Homeland Security is trying to detain children and parents separately. As if removing them from their homes here in the United States wasn't enough. These separations are already happening. Children are being taken from their parents. Parents are being torn away from their children. All this is doing is harming these immigrant families even further. The parents are given the options to either leave the country with their children or leave without them and have them placed in a shelter. This separation is harming the children. They are taking them from the people that they are the closest to. Children should not be taken from their families. They should not have to go through that stress. They should be free to have a normal childhood just like anyone else. They should be able to live and stay with their families.
How New Abortion Restrictions Would Affect Women's Healthcare:
This article interested me because I have a strong opinion on abortion. I don't agree with having abortion restrictions in the first place. A woman should be able to do what she wants with her body, and the last person(s) that should be telling her what to do it the government. I will never understand how people, especially men, think it is okay to tell a woman she has to have a baby even if she is not ready. It should be up to the woman on whether she is financially, emotionally, physically, and mentally ready. There are so many children in adoption centers that will never get out, so why bring more into them? A women's health care should cover abortions if anything. If a woman cannot have an abortion she may resort to an unsafe abortion, for example, over-the-counter medications or clothing hangers. This will then end up resulting in her needing more health care.
“Your Spit Might Help You Learn to Eat Your Greens” was an interesting topic to read about. I know when I was a child, I did not like eating most vegetables. Studies are now showing that when kids were exposed to vegetables repeatedly, their saliva will change. It will produce more proteins that will make those flavors taste better to children. This could be good for kids who don't get enough vegetables in their diet. It will be a better way to keep them healthy physically and mentally. Researchers say that children don't like the bitter taste of vegetables, if they eat more vegetables and get used to the bitter taste, their bitterness ratings will decrease. Scientists did an experiment where over six weeks they had 64 people drink almond milk or cow’s milk with pure cocoa in it. As the weeks went on, the cocoa milk started to taste better. When they gave the participants chocolate milk with only four percent added sugar, they thought it tasted fine. In addition to this, their saliva changed, but if they don't keep eating or drinking that way, their saliva will change back to the way it was before. This means, since their bitterness ratings go down, they are more likely to start liking vegetables. As parents, they should expose their children to vegetables early in their life, so their bitterness rate will be lower so they are more likely to eat vegetables. I believe this is pretty cool that you are able to make yourself like something over a period of time.
"A Blended Family: Her Mother Was Neanderthal, Her Father Something Else Entirely" by: Carl Zimmer
My interest this week was attained by an article based on the prerecorded history of humanity. More specifically the interactions of past human species. Today only the modern human exists, but over 70,000 years back Neanderthals and Denisovans were also throughout the world. These species were close enough to interbreed and traces of them still exist today.
Bone fragments were found in a cave in Siberia, DNA extracted from the bone collagen matching genomes of both species showed a Neanderthal mother and Denisovan father. This was the first fossil evidence of hybridization of distant lineages of humans which very well brings to light our own species mingling in the migration out of Africa.
Many people today testing their DNA who lack African ancestry have traces of Neanderthal genome, and Denisovan DNA has been found in East Asia and Oceania. It is fascinating to see that we today are probably not as purebred as we think we are.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/business/animal-crackers-barnums-nabi...
This was an article that definitely interested me this week.
When I first read this article, I had to sit back and think for a little bit. While I understand the reason PETA would want to change the picture, is it really that important? I'm more than positive that there are more important cases PETA should be working on. It mentions in the article that PETA had made/sent the letter right before the "Ringling Brothers had recently announced that elephants would be retired from its acts. The next year, the circus shut down its entire show", which is important. But the animals on the boxes? I can understand the sentiment and the message being sent, but PETA should be working on causes that will make an impact on live animals in today's society. The animals on the boxes, while potentally sending a message to future generations about animal care, do not directly help animals in the now. The topic was very interesting, and while not exactly a 'world-breaking' topic, still shows that when people work together, change can happen, either small scale or large.
The article that caught my interest this week is the article "Trumps Vile Ploy on South Africa". The title alone captivated me with the mention of our president. I thought that I should read it in order to try and be more involved with what is going on in our country and I am glad that I did. The article exposes Trump for spreading a white-nationalist myth without even caring enough to research if the information he was spreading was correct. I found myself getting annoyed while reading due to our president thoughtlessness toward what he tells our country and his disregard to what harm his tweets could bring. In his selfish efforts to divert the negative attention he has been receiving lately he spreads poisonous messages to his country. Not to mention that the 54 million people who read his tweets, if they are not careful, might believe this myth. As the president he should pay closer attention to what message he puts out into the world and how it could effect other because as out president, he has a lot if not the most power and influence over people.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/sports/carmelo-anthony-houston-rocket...
This week I chose the article " Carmelo Anthony Officially Signs with the Houston Rockets". Carmelo Anthony signed a one-year contract at the leagues veteran minimum of $2.4 million. Carmelo is the Rockets primary replacement for the defensive specialist Trevor Ariza, who left to the Phoenix Sun on a free agency. In the article it says " Anthony, 34, agreed to waive his no-trade clause to facilitate the deal to Atlanta with the understanding that the Hawks would buy Anthony out the final season on his original five-year, $124 million contract signed with the Knicks in the summer of 2014". In the article it also states that Anthony isn't sacrificing any pay for his free agency.
“How You Felt About Gym Class May Impact Your Exercise Habits Today” By: Gretchen Reynolds
Before reading the article, the headline about how gym class may affect your exercise habits shocked me. Reading further into the article, hearing that most people, at least most of those who took the survey, had vivid memories of gym class had also shocked me. For me, I have just finished gym class for good, and I can hardly remember any of it. The only things I could remember were a few games I played in elementary school, or doing a few sports in middle and high school. Never vivid detail, and never too much more than what the game was. Sometimes I don’t even remember that far. As I read, however, things started to make more and more sense.
It’s pretty logical that the study found out that those who had a negative experience with gym had planned to work out a whole lot less than their gym loving counterparts. So that’s when I reflected on my own experience with gym, and my exercise habits. Gym was rather fun for me. Sure I wasn’t always the top pick, actually quite the opposite, but I always had fun just running around and playing, whether that be a game, or a sport, and I would always at least try to have fun with an activity a gym teacher gave me, no matter how much I didn’t like the sound of it. In a twist that will probably shock no one at this point, I like exercise. It was all making sense now. After reading this article, I believe that the researchers are onto something
"Hawaii Braces for a Rare Encounter with a Hurricane" by Jess Bidgood and John Schwartz. This article interested me the most because I love Hawaii and when I had heard about this I was very shocked. Hawaii went through the false missile attack, to the volcano erupting, and now this hurricane. There was 50 inches of rain in one day in Kauai and now there was flooding. They island may be facing a Category 3 Hurricane with the winds up to 125 miles an hour. This powerful hurricane could come very close to the islands of Maui, Molokai, and Oahu on Friday and Saturday. People in those islands are preparing for the hurricane by making sure their house's are sturdy enough for Hurricane Lane.
Still Can’t Believe It Worked’: The Story of the Thailand Cave Rescue
This article interested me because I have been seeing stuff about the Thailand cave rescue all over the news and social media. I am really fascinated on how rescuers were able to save twelve boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave. It is truly amazing that they all got out alive and survived. Some of the boys that were in the cave could not even swim. They were also very malnourished and weak after being in the cave for nearly two weeks before even being found. I read that the US Navy had to train these boys how to scuba dive and to be able to take their equipment off to get through very narrow cracks. Once their equipment was off they then had to push it through the crack with them and then put it back on. These boys had so much strength to keep pushing through as well as the army. I can only imagine how brave the army must be to risk their own lives for others. The boys families and the Navy's families must have been so scared. The Thailand cave rescue was truly a miracle and even I myself still cannot believe everything worked out and they all got out alive.
“Honey Bees Are Hurting. What Else Can Pollinate Our Food?” was an eye-catching article. Without honey bees, what will be able to pollinate our food so humans can get the nutrition they need to stay healthy? If honey bees stop pollinating, farmers will start to lose money because their crops will not be growing. Mr. Freese, a farmer, started to realize about four years ago that his crops weren't doing as great as they were before. That year, spring was cold and when its cooler, bees will sit in their hives to keep warm. He learned at a horticulture meeting, blue orchard bees could be an alternative for when it is cooler. Mr. Freese made a purchase of 12,000 cocoons and set them free. It was a good purchase because he doubled in cherry production. I find this really neat because I didn't know there was an alternative to crops being pollinated and actually having a positive effect on crops. Honey bees and Apis mellifera are known all over for pollinating crops and flowers but they are now threatened by all the chemicals used on plants now. This includes pesticides, parasites, pathogens and poor nutrition. It is sad that honey bees are being killed off by all these things. With the loss of honey bees, the price for farmers to rent honey bees has gone up four times the normal price. One-third of the food plate recommended by the government has to be pollinated in order to grow. Without honey bees, farmers have been trying to find and use different alternatives.
The article that interested me this week was " These women were told not to play soccer. Instead, they formed a team." I picked this article since I found it very inspiring that a group of women in Zanzibar Tanzania were able to form a soccer team despite what people were telling these girls that only men/boys play soccer. (stereotypical) They kept doing what they loved to do despite what as thrown at them. Its good to know that in other areas in the world there has been a progressive movement towards women soccer since some cultures look down upon women doing "manly" things. Hopefully aside from soccer women will be able to do many other tasks in the future.
The article the interested me the most this week was "Self-Care: A Working Definition" written by some employees of "The New York Times". This article interested me because I think it is very important to take good care of oneself and I wanted to learn some new ways to help myself. According to Oxford Dictionaries, self-care is "the practice of taking action to 'preserve or improve one's own health'". Taking care of myself is very important to me, so I was very interested in this article. This article provided lists of behaviors and diagrams from the employees that show how they take care of themselves both physically and mentally. These employees wrote about the different ways they each relieve their stress after hard days at work or whatever they are doing. These ideas will help me when I am stressed out because of school or anything else. It is important to try to relieve your stress because it helps you stay healthier and helps your mind.
I have been interested in science since I was little, but the study of the anatomy and genetics of living beings has always been especially fascinating. Learning about how bodies are made up and vary in species is also very interesting to understand. Similarities can be found in many species, including cancer, a genetic mutation caused by defective cell division. Theoretically, the larger the organism, the more likely cancer will be found in the species. But, in elephants, one of the largest animals in the world, less cancer is found in the entire species than humans. In the New York Times article “The ‘Zombie Gene’ That May Protect Elephants From Cancer”, author Carl Zimmer writes about how elephants use a unique gene to help kill of damaged DNA, and how it might be able to be used to help stop cancer in humans. In the investigation to find out what helps elephants fight cancer, researchers have discovered unusual numbers of p53 and LIF6 cells. While humans have one copy of p53, cells to find out if DNA is damaged, elephants have twenty copies. And, elephants have LIF6 proteins to kill of the defective cells. Dr. Lynch, an evolutionary biologist, believes that LIF6 was dormant and brought back into use to protect from the formation of cancer and that “As they developed more powerful defenses against cancer, the animals could begin reaching their enormous sizes”. With more research done in the future, maybe humans can use it to stop cancer in its earliest stages.
How to Not Let a Phone Ruin your Vacation:
This article is one that I found very interesting this week. The reason for that is I used to do this a lot before, as well as many people now. We all spend most of the time recording snaps or videos of the moment we’re in rather than enjoying it. We use our phones to record it as a memory and not enjoy the actual moment. I used to do this all the time before personally which is why I can relate. Now that I look back at them I think to myself if I didn’t take this snap or video I’d have way more fun. This is why I found this article interesting this week.
The Power of Positive People:
This article interested me because being more positive is something I am interested in. I did not realize how much being around positive people can effect your own positivity. I would say I do surround myself with pretty positive people for the most part and being negative is just a given sometimes, however, there are things you can do to help yourself escape that habit. Going into situations with a negative outlook will obviously affect the outcome in, most likely, a negative way. Positivity comes from others and of course from within yourself. Resilience is very crucial to becoming more positive. If you are able to bounce back from certain situations in an appropriate and positive way, obviously you will be more positive. However, not everyone is able to do this so finding the right people would be their first step. You are influenced very heavily by who you hang out with. I would love to have a more positive outlook on life because I catch myself thinking of the worst thing that can happen in almost every situation. If I take a step back and tell myself that I cannot do something, I probably will not be able to do it. This goes both ways, however, if I can tell myself that everything will be okay no matter how the situation plays out then I truly will be.
The article that I read was "Immunotherapy Drugs Slow Skin Cancer That Has Spread to the Brain" written by Denise Grady. To this day cancer is still a killer illness that takes too many lives of loved ones yearly. This article interested me because this shows that doctors are getting closer to a cure and are taking steps forward.
This article explains that doctors are now able to slow melanoma that has spread to the brain and make people live longer using immunotherapy drugs. This shows people that doctors are now getting a better understanding of how to cure cancer and what works and what doesn't.
When I get older and get through college I would like to enter the medical field as a career. I hope that we can keep taking leaps forward to a cure and maybe one day I can possibly be part of it.
August 7, 2018
Make Your Daughter Practice Math. She’ll Thank You Later.
In this article, the author talks about how you have to have a good foundation in math to understand all of the other STEM attributes. It is stated that math is the key to all of these. For a person to become better at math, they have to practice, a lot. Math is the language of science. It is also a big part of engineering. The article shows that research states that women are usually better at reading and writing than they are at math. And then it says that men are usually better at math than women. Although, they are still very close in statistics. The author of this article argues that girls are equally as good as boys in math, and better than them in language arts. She states that because it is known that girls are not as good at math at boys it lowers their confidence and makes them think that they are actually not as good at math as boys when they actually are. Thinking that you are bad at something and then automatically disliking it can lead you to veer from that subject altogether, even though you have a natural talent for it. Research shows that to become good at math, you have to practice it, just like any other thing in life. You can especially compare it to learning how to play a musical instrument. USA ranks as one of the lowest of thirty five countries in the SAT math section results. There are many open jobs in the math field especially for females.
How Not to Let Your Phone Ruin Your Vacation:
I picked this article this week because I feel like letting a phone ruin a vacation can happen to a lot of people including me. This article basically talks about the real reasons for going on a vacation and how a phone would never have to do with it. This is so important to not let things like work and social media get in the way of your vacation. A vacation is meant for relaxing and enjoying. I have found myself before spending hours on trying to get that perfect picture for Instagram and now I look back and ask why? I have grown out of the need to let the world know what I am doing quite a bit, however, I still am guilty of doing it. Asking myself why though has helped. I realize that there is really no one more important than whoever I am with on the trip. I have also realized that no one truly cares what you are doing. I do understand how using your phone for work purposes can distract you from your vacation which is where this article is most helpful. One of the tips that it gives, that I think is the most obvious but important, is to let people know that you are on a vacation. Most people will understand and respect that you are away. What I got from this article is to just relax and not worry about trying to impress others because being on vacation is a gift and you should enjoy rather than stress.
A ‘Generationally Perpetuated’ Pattern: Daughters Do more Chores:
This article interested me because I honestly do feel like it is true. When I was little I would think it was unfair, however, as I got older I realized I actually enjoy them. Doing chores makes me feel productive and good about myself as it probably does for most people. I do not necessarily think that it's just a hidden truth that all girls do more chores than boys though. I think doing your chores comes from a point of caring and as the article says girls do tend to care about household chores than boys do. I do not think boys should be discouraged by that and use it as an excuse to not get their jobs around the house done, rather they should take that as a competition. The article goes on to mention how women are paid less than men but start doing more of the labor at home as young girls than boys. In my opinion, I think daughters do more chores than sons because they simply care more and listen to their parents more as well. Whether parents divide the chores up evenly or not daughters may even take over their brothers chores because they just do not like the way he is doing them. I really do not think this "issue" is based on sexism like the article kind of gets into, it simply the willingness to do chores from girls.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/us/mollie-tibbetts-cristhian-rivera.h...
This week on New York Times I read an article about a young American girl that was murdered by an illegal immigrant in Iowa. This article caught my attention because everyday we see more and more innocent lives being taken away from us. Many of them being taken away by Latino/Hispanic people. As a Latina girl myself it hurts me to know that my "own kind" are being so cruel to this world and not only that but they are making Latinos/Hispanics look like heartless people.In this current time we are all in a battle against or for immigration laws that are being set by our current president Donald Trump. President Trump is taking these cases as an opportunity to turn people against us Latinos as if we were all criminals, especially towards illegal immigrants since most people think that just because they come here without papers it means they are criminals. In my opinion I think that murdering is not right no matter who does it but our president shouldn't blame all immigrants legal or not because we are all different people and just because one of us does something it doesn't mean we are all going to follow them. Most illegal immigrants come here to search for better opportunities or to escape from their countries but instead of helping we just judge them without realizing that it could be us in that situation.
August 15, 2018
Children of the Cube
In this article, many people are in awe of how fast certain people can solve the Rubik’s Cube. There is this one kid Joe, that has specific symptoms of Autism. Therefore, many people would not want to hang out with him. This led him to being by himself a lot. Which led to time to practice the Rubik’s Cube and other things like piano or jigsaw puzzles. His parents said that they finally saw him sitting around a table with a lanyard around his neck that 600 other competitors had too. Now, Joe didn’t win, but in those moments he could be himself and get along with others. Next, Max Park is a world record holding Rubik’s Cube champion. Max was diagnosed with Autism at a young age. One day he was handed a Rubik’s Cube and he fell in love with it. Max Park has a total of over 200 different kinds of Rubik's Cubes. When he gets a new one he will take ages tearing it apart and trying to figure out how it works. One he figures it out he is ready for a new one. There are now many clubs at colleges for people who can complete the Rubik’s Cube very quickly. This is a great idea because it can help people like Max and Joe find a group of people with similar traits. There is a world wide competition that can help people make friends. The competition, all though fun and friendly, is also very fierce and can teach many young kids friendly competition.
The article, “Killing of Mollie Tibetts in Iowa Inflames Immigration Debate” by Ann Klien really interested me because it brings up yet another factor in the ongoing debate about immigration to the United States. After being missing for a month, Mollie Tibetts’s body was found buried beneath cornstalks in a farm outside of Brooklyn, Iowa. Cristhian Rivera, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, was charged for murdering her after stalking her for hours. Many people have been quick to use this as evidence of relaxed border security and proof that the US needs to beef it up. The president said that he believes that the wall, the laws, and more regarding immigration to the United States need to be strengthened in order to prevent incidents such as Mollie Tibetts death from reoccurring. I find this whole ordeal interesting because the debate about immigration and how and who we should let in is so complex. While incidents such as an immigrant killing a US citizen are rare, they still happen. It is a constant debate between blocking rare occurrences from happening ever or letting people into the US because most of them don’t kill or commit crime. The Tibetts murder is just more fuel to the ever growing flame around immigration, and it will be interesting to see how or if Congress decides to deal with the issue.
August 18, 2018
Gymnasts Describe Emotional and Physical Abuse by a Prominent Coach
In this article, it is explained how gymnasts were verbally, and sometimes, physically abused by a Chinese gymnastic coach, Qi Han. There were around four women that spoke out about such abuse. Nothing has been done. Coaches have way to much power. They have the power to dictate what college you go to and the scholarships you can get. They have a lot of enough power to hurt women. This should be stopped, but you cannot stop it if people will not stand up for themselves. There was a specific event wrote about in the article that basically said that one girl was physically hit so hard that it left a handprint on her face. Someone else saw that this incident happened and decided to report it. The young girl who got hit only had a couple months left before she could go to college and get scholarships. She thought it would be a bad idea to switch gymnastic schools and ruin her chances of getting a scholarship. Therefore, her and her parents denied any form of abuse. Since, Larry Nassar was sentenced to 175 years in prison, because of sexual abuse, you would think that there would be more reason to check on whether coaches are being abusive or not. Although this has led to more awareness, and people telling others about any abuse that has happened to them, it does not fully fix the problem. These women can say something about it, but they need to have someone actually do something about it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/16/obituaries/aretha-franklin-dead.html
Reading the article about Aretha Franklin, the most interesting part to me was how she inspired so many people. Many say that she is a gift from God and she is the reason that women want to sing. I found this information the most interesting because it is important to influence people in positive ways and she did that through her music. I really like this article and how it told you all about her life. I think it is really cool how she started off singing in the choir and went on to receive 18 Grammys and preform for presidents inaugurations.
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2018 Is Shaping Up to Be the Fourth Hottest Year. Yet We’re Still Not Prepared for Global Warming
This article about global warming interested me because global warming is a real thing that is happening now. Scientists predicted global warming to happen many years ago and this is a now present problem. It is crazy to think that this problem that has been talked about for a very long time is now literally happening. I think people are not realizing that this is a current issue right now and needs to be somehow handled. The problem starts with us humans polluting the world. All of the fumes and gases are being trapped inside the earth's atmosphere and are warming up the world at an alarming rate. This results in the glaciers melting and breaking apart. The biggest glacier in the world, which is the same size in width that Mount Everest is in height, has now became to start melting away and breaking off. The glaciers are white and don't absorb much heat and light. Once the glaciers break of and fall apart, they leave the dark ocean open. This results in the ocean than absorbing the sun's heat and light because it is dark- almost black. The oceans temperatures are now rising and now adding to global warming as well. Although global warming does not seem to impact your day-to-day life just yet, it will eventually if we do not do something about it.
July 1, 2018
Thailand Cave Rescuers Report Progress in Search for Soccer Team
In this article, there is a search for a group of boys and their coach from a Thailand soccer team to get out of a cave. The boys and their coach had to go further and further back into the cave because it started raining and the cave started flooding. They went into the cave on June 23. The rainy season in the country of Thailand tends to be from July to November. The boys are aged eleven to sixteen and the coach is twenty five. The water level in the cave was reduced so then the SEAL’s were able to more easily find the soccer team and their coach. They ended up being found to be stuck in the Tham Luang Cave, which is a very popular place for cave explorers. Many different countries sent out people to help find a way to get the soccer team out of the cave. For example, the United States sent a team of seventeen Air Force rescue specialists to get the boys out. Once the boys were found, the rescuers had to find a way to get them food, water and oxygen. They pumped oxygen through the water and gave them the food similar to what astronauts eat. That food is high in protein, so therefore the team will get much nutrition. A doctor had to get to the boys to make sure that they were healthy enough to find a way to get out of the cave. The boys have to be in stable condition.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/us/mollie-tibbetts-cristhian-rivera.h...
This week on New York Times I read an article about a young American girl that was murdered by an illegal immigrant in Iowa. This article caught my attention because everyday we see more and more innocent lives being taken away from us. Many of them being taken away by Latino/Hispanic people. As a Latino girl myself it hurts me to know that my "own kind" are being so cruel to this world and not only that but they are making Latinos/Hispanics look like heartless people.In this current time we are all in a battle against or for immigration laws that are being set by our current president Donald Trump. President Trump is taking these cases as an opportunity to turn people against us Latinos as if we were all criminals, especially towards illegal immigrants since most people think that just because they come here without papers it means they are criminals. In my opinion I think that murdering is not right no matter who does it but our president shouldn't blame all immigrants legal or not because we are all different people and just because one of us does something it doesn't mean we are all going to follow them. Most illegal immigrants come here to search for better opportunities or to escape from their countries,and we should help them and not criticize them and let them down because of others actions.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/climate/air-pollution-deaths.html?rre...
I and everyone else in the world probably know how badly we hurt the earth with trash, pollution, littering, etc. But when we do these types of things we aren’t just hurting the earth, we also hurt ourselves. The article, “Air Pollution Is Shortening Your Life. Here’s How Much,” deals with how air pollution is basically shaving months or even years off of our lives. This article caught my eye because I hate air pollution or any type of pollution for that matter. Depending on where you live, the amount of time gets shaved off of your life varies. For example, Egyptians get 1.9 years off their lives because of air pollution. In America, the lifespan is shaved by a little over 4 months. Trump’s administration has proposed loosening of pollution controls. The proposal would be replacing the Obama-era Clean Power Plan, which is to use cleaner resources, unlike coal for energy. To help the lifespans go up Dr. Joshua Apte says to use cleaner electricity or more efficient cars for both health and climate. Dr. Apte’s team found that cooking with charcoal, wood, and animal dung can also severely hurt the earth and our atmosphere. If we all work together we can save the earth and each other.
July 10, 2018
Freed From Thai Cave, Boys May Still Face Health Problems
The boys have been freed from the cave with no casualties. The coach has also been freed. All the boys are remaining in quarantine and will be hospitalized for a while. They have all been injected with many different vaccinations and have gotten many screenings for various diseases. The risk of a serious infection is very low, but doctors are taking every precaution with them. All of the boys are in different stages of their recovery, but they are all staying in the same room. Some people that are with them are the Thai divers that stayed with the boys for more than a week after they were discovered by them. Only relatives of the first four boys rescued are allowed to see the boys, but only through a window. One danger the boys have is getting infected from bats or rodent. But, many specialists have said that there were probably no bats back as far as the boys were because then they would have been trapped. Also, the boys said that they did not see any bats. A danger to the boys is the Nipah virus. A disease from bats.The only thing the boys could have, besides anything physical, would eventually be panic attacks, nightmares, phobias, or PTSD. The boys are only really allowed to eat rice porridge. I feel very bad for these poor boys and coach that just wanted to explore the world. I am very happy that they were rescued, are in good health for the most part, and will be able to see their families soon.
July 30, 2018
‘All That Matters Is We’re Alive’: California Fire Evacuees Crowd Into Shelters
In this article, a family had to evacuate their home. They do not even know if they will have a home to go back to once the fire is completely contained. They have already been gone for three days and the fire is only twenty three percent contained. This is one family out of the 37,000 people who have also had to evacuate their homes. The Myers family is just happy that they are alive They are staying in a local Church that has become a shelter. There have already been six people that have died from this fire, Carr Fire. There are many things wrong with this. The mens restroom plumbing broke and families have to sleep in cots together. 240,000 acres have been burned so far by the six biggest flames and over 45,000 acres in the southwest. The fire has been thirty percent contains after weeks of burning. So far there have been three firefighters injured by the blaze. Many roofs have been blown off of houses and trees uprooted.Everyone who has evacuated is trying to keep their spirits up. Everyone is trying to stay positive in this drastic situation. For example, there is a pug names Winston who has become to shelters unofficial mascot. Many people are also thankful for those who have donated clothing and food. It is such a great effort on everyone's part to help them be stopped. Hopefully, the state of California can get through this with a little casualties as possible.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/17/arts/design/uffizi-islam-exhibition.h...
"Amid an Anti-Muslim Mood, a Museum Appeals for Understanding"
I absolutely loved this article as it made me very inspired and hopeful for the future of muslims and other oppressed cultures around the world. This museum that was made to exhibit and show off Islamic culture through its art is a perfect way to get the younger generation to truly appreciate Islam. Italy among other countries such as England and France is a country that has an alarmingly high number of people who see muslims as "terrorists" and "threats" to their culture and way of life. However, this is very ironic as Italy's infrastructure in early medieval times was built upon trade with Muslim nations. There is a huge influence of Islamic culture as many Italians had Islamic pots, carpets, and paintings as show of class and prosperity. Many Italians thought of Islam as part of their way of life. It's very unfortunate that the times have changed and many Italians have grown to hate and shun muslims these days. I hope that the new generation can take this opportunity provided by this museum to truly appreciate what Islam stands for and the contributions they made to the world. This way this ugly and ignorant racism can be abolished.
July 27, 2018
Let’s Talk About Beyoncé
In this article, the author talks about how Beyoncé has a wide variety a fashion. It tells about how she expands the landscape of fashion. It especially focuses on how she expands the fashion industry on her new tour with her husband, Jay-Z. There is an enormous amount of clothing designers clothes that Beyoncé has worn on stage. Some of these include; Balmain, Givenchy, Gucci, Michael Schmidt Studios, Peter Dundas, Tom Ford, Valentino (straight from the couture runway right after the show), Vex Clothing, and more. This seems to be a strategy with her image. She has worn many different designers in her past album tours as well. It also seems to work for her, because it gets her name out there. This is also a good thing for Beyoncé because than no brand can “claim” her. In doing this, she gets to work with many different designers and then those designers will talk about her to sell more of their clothing. Which is ultimately good for the fashion company, and in the same way, Beyoncé. Her choices in clothing also give a pop of color. This makes her very fun to listen to and amazing to watch as well. Another thing that Beyoncé is great with, is her accessories. For example,her shoes and her jewelry. Those accessories are normally always different for every show. So as a final thought, Beyoncé is a great person to listen to because of her amazing voice, but she is also a wonderful person to watch on tour because of her bold outfit choices.
June 20, 2018
Night Owls May Have Higher Depression Risk
In this article, it shows that a new study had found that people that sleep in later are more likely to be depressed than those who are morning people. The study was focusing on your circadian rhythm and or chronotype and depression. The new study is being done by the Journal of Psychiatric Research. The study could be a step closer to establishing whether or not sleep and depression are that closely related. For example, researchers gathered behavioral data on 32,740 women whose average age was 55 years old. Each of these women declared themselves as evening or morning type, somewhat evening or morning type, or neither. None of these women had depression, but after four years 2,581 of them developed it. Researchers concluded, after going through all factors, that morning people are twelve percent less likely to develop depression and night owls are six percent more likely to develop it. Celine Vetter stated that this research was just a beginning to the more enormous and vigorous research that she wants to complete in the future. I have learned to think that there are reasons my mom and dad do not want me and my sister to spend all day in our rooms. If this case is true than it makes sense that they want us to go to bed at a normal time and not sleep in all day long. Celine Vetter says that to deeper these studies than they need to get a much better look at “genetic and environmental contributions.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/06/sports/sports-cliches-metaphors.html
We Use Sports Terms All the Time. But Where Do They Come From?
This article caught my eye this week because it sounded the most interesting out of all the articles and because it was about sports. I can say I use these phrases when I am speaking to others. For example,"that was out of left field, or let's throw in the towel. I tend to say those the most often when referencing these phrases. It was interesting how they actually figured out where these came from.
This week in the New York Times, I read “An Artist Warns of a Robot-Ruled Future. Or Is It Out Present? Let’s Discuss.”, and it caught my attention because in sci-fi movies, we are presented with an idea that is not as far away as we may think; that idea being a world run by robots.
Robots already run multiple parts of our lives, like many means of mass production, control of stocks, and other important factors of human society, and in the article, it is stated that nearly everything is handled by a robot of some sort, and for good reason. Robots are efficient, and by using robots it leaves more time to work on other things rather than wasting people and time. However, an issue of this is that they will steal our jobs instead of merely doing them, messing with the economy and throwing off our balanced society.
In my opinion, I believe robots are a good idea in most circumstances, but as humans we should know when it goes too far, to protect our race above all costs, because robots can be replaced, humans cannot.
When looking through articles this week, I found that "Details of the Ohio State Report on Urban Meyer" by the New York Times was reallly interesting. In this article, many different facts about Urban Meyer's knowledge of Zach Smith's domestic abuse and misdeeds are revealed. For example in 2015, since there was no arrest in Smith's domestic violence case, Meyer along with AD Gene Smith, decided they didn't need to address it. Also as far back as 2009, Meyer did not belive Zach Smith's ex wife Courtney's alligations of domestic abuse. There are countless other examples of Meyer covering for Smith over a span of six years. Smith has made countless bad decsions during his time with the program, which include spending 600 dollers at a strip club during a recruting trip, and having a sexual relashonship with a secretary who worked on football staff. Finally, he also took sexual photos in team facilities. Most reasonable people would have cut someone like Smith from the team for his actions. But Meyer's personal emotions clouded his judgement. Urban Meyer had a great relashonship with Zach Smith's grandfather Earle. This may have been one of the main reasons why Smith was not disiplined for his actions. Meyer has only recived a three game suspension for his actions which I find is a very light punishment. Countless other coaches in many different sports have been fired for hiding allegations of domestic abuse, it should be no different for Urban Meyer.
This week in the New York Times an article called “A Blended Family: Her Mother Was Neanderthal, Her Father Something Else Entirely” caught my attention. The main reason this caught my attention was that I saw a similar concept of hybrid-humans on t.v. show Bones However in the show the parents were a Neanderthal and a modern-day human. While in this discovery in Russia the mother was a Neanderthal and father a Denisovan. Also in the show, it concluded that this interspecies family were outcast and subsequently killed because of it. However, hybrid families in the Paleolithic Age were not discriminated against, they were just rare. This is due to the fact that early human species lived in small tribes spread out through Europe and Asia.
I also found it interesting when the article mentioned how Neanderthals and Denisovans went extinct after modern-day humans migrated throughout the world. In the article, the theory is that these groups were absorbed into the homo-sapien population. If this is true then wouldn’t that lead people to believe that we are all hybrid humans. Whether it be Neanderthal, Denisovan or both’s genetic material in your sequence.
I listened to an episode called “Emotional Abuse―With Reema Zaman,” on the podcast Dear Sugars. When I first saw title appear on my screen, I froze, not sure what to do about this omen that had appeared in front of me. The months before I listened to the podcast had been sprinkled with therapist visit, all of which revolved around the trauma from emotional abuse by my ex-boyfriend. Throughout my abusive relationship, I found ways to justify my then-boyfriend’s behavior, saying to myself, “It’s not that bad. It could be worse,” but I found that many of the things I had tried to diminish were the very things discussed as incredibly harmful in the podcast.
A modern young woman in an ever-expanding world of opportunities, I never thought of myself as the kind of girl to be stuck in a relationship that was emotionally abusive, especially considering my bold personality and rebellious, independent spirit. I was always the girl everyone expected to do amazing things, to break the glass ceiling, to defy any and every toxic gender role thrown at me. But even I was caught up in the darkness of my abuse, being pulled deeper and deeper in by this weight on my shoulders. If I had heard this podcast during those dismal months of my life, it would have helped me immensely. Even though many young people like myself have been taught to always respect themselves and talk about their own issues, the topic of emotional abuse still needs to be broken free of the clutches of silence and shame.
June 28, 2018
Prosecutors in Rio Are Cleared to Pursue Criminal Case Against Ryan Lochte
In this article, the memory of Ryan Lochte lying about being robbed at gunpoint during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil was brought back to people’s mind. The people of Brazil were very embarrassed and then angry when it turned out to be false. It has been two years since then, but rio de Janeiro has not forgotten. Brazil’s Superior Court gave the right a way to pursue criminal charges against Lochte. Although Brazil has many other things going on, they said that Ryan Lochte’s case is worth it to pursue. Brazil was very angry because the false allegations of being robbed ruined and stained Brazil’s image until it was proved to be false. Days after Lochte said that he and three others on the swim team were robbed, it was found to be false. In fact, it was found that those members actually vandalized a gas station restroom prior to when they said they were robbed. Lochte did face some consequences. For example, he was banned from the United States Swim Team for ten months. Lochte created a false allegation, which provoked an investigation. Therefore, it is a crime. The case should end by the end of the year. It is very sad that the United States Swim teammates had the nerve to lie and say that they got robbed, but it is even more awful of them to vandalize a gas station in the very beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro. These swimmers could face up to 6 months in prison for their actions,
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/sports/basketball/lebron-james-akron-...
This week I chose an article named " LeBron James Opens Public School in Hometown Akron" by Reuters. This article interested me because I like how LeBron James is doing something good for his hometown by opening a school. The school he opened is called the I Promise School. I chose this article because I have not seen many NBA players do great things like this. In the article LeBron says "This skinny kid from Akron who missed 83 days of school in the 4th grade had big dreams.” LeBron also said that opening this school was one of the greatest moments of his life.
I read the article about "Black Panther" because I wanted to see what it was doing for society. I saw the movie as soon as it came out and I absolutely loved it, however I did not realize how much purpose there was around the movie. I think it is important to learn about how all races feel in today’s world and this definitely opened up my eyes. One point that was mentioned that specifically stuck out with me was that white characters can portray Asians characters, but when Black people dress up as the characters they love, they get ridiculed. As a kid, I always grew up dressing up as my favorite Disney princess and my neighbor always went as his favorite superheroes. It is hard to imagine that if I were a different race, I may not have been able to enjoy dressing up the way I wanted. I opened up my eyes into the racial biases of cosplay to realize that these are differences that could easily be prevented.
I enjoyed reading this article because not only did it open my eyes, but the article was compacted of the views of many different people in their twenties and thirties. The story was brought to life as people shared their opinions instead of the article being solely based on one writer’s thoughts. By reading the way they feel, it puts their thoughts into reality. This is not some stranger writing an article just for the money, this is real people sharing how they feel and hoping that this movie “Black Panther” helps to “disrupt the stereotypes of cosplay.”
June 21, 2018
Heading the Soccer Ball may Be Bad for Young Brains
Soccer is a universal sport. All people are reminded of that through the World Cup that occurs every 4 years. Heading is a major technique that is necessary for soccer players, especially those playing in the World Cup. After this study, showing that some harm may be done to the brain in the motion of heading a soccer ball, I am curious to as if heading the ball in soccer will begin to become less and less popular. Some countries have chosen to wait until later years to teach young soccer players the skill of heading the ball. I feel that as much as doctors and other try to get rid of younger soccer players heading the ball, nothing will change. The soccer players are going to look up to professional athletes that head the back frequently. Although heading the ball may end up causing brain damage to younger generations of soccer players, I feel that it would be extremely difficult to eliminate the teaching of heading the ball at that particular age. Since soccer is a universal sport, it would take multiple countries and soccer organization to end up on the same page. I found this article to be very interesting because it puts further emphasis on concussions and the harm they can potentially cause for all people.
July 5, 2018
How Entitled Parents Hurt Schools
What interested me this week in the New York Times? I thought that this article would be a very interesting one to read, and it sure was. I have always found it irritating when parents always have to give their “two cents” whether it is at school, sports or just in their own children's personal relationships with friends. Parents may feel the need to interfere because they feel as though they are protecting their child in a certain type of way. One topic brought up in the article How entitled Parents Hurt Schools is that children are assigned to certain schools because of the district they're in. The school cannot control where the parents reside. The school alone and the district is hurt because they have to continue to reassign students because angry parents feel that the system is “unfair.” Personally, I feel that all the parents should take a step back and realize the circumstances that the school is in. Rather than addressing the problem in an angry way, The parents could avoid stress upon themselves and upon the schools by handling the situation in a calm way.
August 16, 2018
Coffee Drinkers may Live Longer
What interested me this week in the New York Times? I have always had mixed feeling on coffee and whether it is good for your health or not. Just recently, I began to drink iced coffees, and no I see why some people just ‘cannot live without it.’ There are so many different options dn flavors, but most importantly, coffee gives you that boost of caffeine that helps you stay awake or wake up. Aside from all of that, he real question is whether coffee makes drinkers live longer. Manny people associate drinking coffee with lower mortality rates, but as stated in the article Coffee Drinkers may Live Longer, caffeine is not an effect of that. The studies showed that those who drink coffee daily have a 6-14% lower risk of cancer or other cardiovascular diseases. This article definitely changed my mind of coffee, pointing out that there are other benefits to drinking coffee than sustained energy.
They All Love a “Yellow Submarine’: Very Young Beatles Fans Sing Along:
This week I choose an article on the Beatles because I like them. This article is about a group of children and their families getting together to watch “Yellow Submarine” and sing along. I think it is really cool that bands like The Beatles have not been completely forgotten about and young children are still being exposed to them. It is nice to see that people care to not let this iconic band be completely unheard of to children. Some music now-a-days, in my opinion, has very vulgar language and expresses hate rather than love. This can potentially affect the way a young child's mind is developed. I think most of the songs by The Beatles are very appropriate for young children. They are very uplifting and happy songs that can help children's attitudes. Children may also find a love for music through events like this. I remember hearing the song “Yellow Submarine” when I was little and loving it. If children never have the opportunity to listen to bands like the Beatles, they will obviously never experience the potential feeling they get from these songs. Bringing the Beatles to light will teach kids to love rather than hate. It will help them learn about peace, positivity, happiness, and so much more as well. I believe bringing The Beatles back is a very smart move that should be done around the world.
In the last 16 years I have been alive, the crisis of restricted access to clean and safe drinking water has constantly been an overwhelming headline on the news, not only in our country, but around the world. Yet, in our country, countless regions still go without clean drinking water, particularly in low-income neighborhoods. 4 years ago, when I was about 12 years old, I remember watching a 60 minutes report on the Flint Water Crisis. “How could they not have access to clean water, and we do?” I remember asking my dad. “Well, the citizens of Flint were lied to, and now they have to clean up the mess” he responded. While the people of Flint Michigan have been left to fend for themselves, many regions in California still continues to have the issue of contaminated water as well. In the article, Safe Drinking Water For All, it states that “regulatory compliance with drinking water regulations can be a challenge for rural systems due to limited financial resources and technical expertise” (Firestone and De Anda). This is unacceptable in today’s society. We have been carried away with expensive and often useless technology and “things”, instead of prioritizing what is crucially needed for survival, clean water. Maybe it’s time to rethink what we invest our money in, and start to care about others in need.
July 26, 2018
15 Pop Music Festivals to Catch This Summer
What interested me this week in the New York Times? I was interested in this article because, just recently, I have gotten into listening to more different types of music. There are many music festivals that I have heard of, both close and far to home. One day, I especially hope to go to Lollapalooza in Chicago, Illinois. I know some people that have gone in the past years, and they say it's an unforgettable experience. Lollapalooza is also one of the music festival mentioned in the article. The music festival is four days and has a variety of artists and music types. As stated in the article you could see rap stars, attend an EDM concert, dance to to some tunes, and even go to a pop festival with artists like the weeknd and Bruno Mars, all in a four day period in the city of Chicago. This is definitely a festival that I hope to attend in the upcoming years because of all the variety in artists and fun it looks like it has to offer.
August 9, 2018
Is Fruit Juice Bad for You? Not So Fast
What interested me this week in the New York Times? I've always wondered whether juice was actually go or bad for you. From commercials, you hear that juice is very good for you and provides you with different vitamins that are necessary for your health. From other people, I’ve heard that juice really isn’t all that good for you because of the all the unnecessary sugar added. In the article Is Fruit Juice Bad for You? Not So Fast I read that there is no direct correlation for fruit juice being a direct factor in weight gain or obesity. Although juice is only good for you when obtained in moderation, juices play an important role for families that are not stable enough to carry a well balanced measure of foods. Juices are good sources of nutrition for all people.
"Nectarines Shove Peaches Out of the Picture"
When ripe, the peach is nature's most delectable fruit. A perfectly ripe peach has a fuzzy, welcoming exterior, an inviting aroma, tender, juicy flesh, and an intense, sweet flavor that is the very essence of summer. This year in particular I have had some of the best peaches of my life, including excellent fruit from Georgia, South Carolina, and New Jersey. For nearly six weeks, my breakfast consisted of a perfect fresh peach and oatmeal. Heaven. It isn't just the taste and texture either; peaches are filled with potassium, antioxidants, and fiber, making the peach one of the healthiest fruits.
Before I read the whole article, "Nectarines Shove Peaches Out of the Picture," the headline screamed across the page and grabbed my attention. Never before in my life had I seen such a wrong and unjust title. The words hurt me. The one thought that came to mind was, "how dare they?" (Fake News!)
To be fair, the article discussed using nectarines, instead of peaches, in cobbler. This, I am okay with, as nectarines are ... pretty good. I should note that the online version of the article has a different (fixed?) headline, “Step Aside, Peaches: Nectarines make a Bid for Best Cobbler Filling,” which is much less defamatory toward peaches and does not suggest that nectarines are better in general. Clearly nectarines are good in cobbler (I have since checked), but there is no way that they are pushing peaches out of the picture.
June 28, 2018
New York- Statue of Liberty Protester Charged with Trespassing
What interested me this week in the New York Times? I have been hearing a lot about the individual that climbed the Statue of Liberty just recently on the Fourth of July. At first thought, I was thinking that it may have just been someone looking to gain attention for an unnecessary
reason. After reading this article, I discovered that rather than trying to gain attention for a selfish unnecessary reason, this woman Therese Patricia Okoumou wanted to gain attention in taking a stand against Donald Trump’s immigration policies. At 44 years old, she is an immigrant to the United States. She emigrated in 1994 from the Republic of Congo. She wanted congress to see her standing up for herself and all the other immigrants in the United States. She visibly showed that she wanted change. Therese Okoumou chose the busiest day of the year for the statue to show her boldness. This article interested me because it showed the measures that some people go through, after already going through so much by being an immigrant, to let the United States know that they matter.
July 19, 2018
Is Avoiding My Body Issues an Issue?
What interested me this week in the New York Times? I am constantly worrying about what I eat and making sure I am exercising enough. Many people try to avoid the fact that their body need more attention than they are giving it. As stated in the article Is Avoiding My Body Issues Issue?, a commentator Cheryl Strayed says, “Women and girls are under enormous pressure to be thin...” This statement is so true, especially in our world today. All young women are supposevely looking up to these models, but each and every one of our bodies is different. No matter how hard a person works to have the same body as someone, it will not work. Each and every individual, male and female, was created differently. We cannot avoid our body issues. It is your own job to realize that your body may be struggling for whatever reason. I found this article to be interesting because it gave viewpoint of different women that have struggles with these pressures.
August 2, 2018
Taking Away the Phones Won’t Solve Our Teenagers’ Problems
What interested me this week in the New York Times? As soon as i saw the title of this article, I immediately became interested. I feel that since parents did not grow up in the same generation we are in, they do not fully understand how essential our phones are. Personally, I rely on my phone for communication, organization, and other things. I never really looked at my smartphone as something I went to because I wanted to hide my feelings. . The article Taking Away the Phones Won’t Solve Our Teenagers’ Problem states that there is no direct evidence that devices actually cause mental health problems. Teenagers go online as a way of avoiding stress, depression, or even anxiety. The problem is not the smartphones, rather it is not directly addressing mental health problems. I found this article to be very interesting because it gave me a new perspective on the way I look at how individuals, myself included, use social media and the internet to somewhat escape our feelings.
"How You Felt About Gym Class May Impact Your Exercise Habits Today"
This article warranted my attention because growing up I always enjoyed gym class and associated it with many fond memories from being a star at kickball to playing intense rounds of tag. However, the idea that these early thoughts of exercise remain relevant even decades later shocked me. The association of enjoyment in gym to future exercising years later seems relatively simple; after all I fall into the category of still exercising, but I believe the number of potential outliers who outgrew their initial thoughts of gym, positive or negative, disproves this direct relationship. Nonetheless, this study caught my attention for two major reasons: 1.) I enjoyed exercise and gym class as a kid and 2.) the correlation seemed almost too direct to be true.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/07/23/arts/good-fight-title-seq...
I, like most people I know, use the "Skip Intro" button that Netflix has recently handed to us to the max. This fact is the reason that James Poniewoziks' article Why You Should Never Skip the Opening Credits interested me enough to click on the title alone. Why wouldn't you want to skip the intro to get straight to the show and save a little time? I couldn't answer that question by myself. So I thought I'd read into the explanation. Poniewozik seems to think that the title sequence shows you all about the show itself and tells you about it and I can't disagree with that. At least not entirely. Yes I am sure there are some shows where it can be helpful and submerge you into the television world but if you are binging your favorite show and you remember exactly what is going on then you definitely do not need a recap. Not needing a recap renders the title sequence useless after seeing it a couple dozen times and added wasted time but I know there are pretty cool opening credits such as the one for "The Good Fight" that Poniewozik went on about.
July 12, 2018
Adopt 5 Healthy Habits, Live 12 to 14 years longer
What interested me this week in the New York Times? So many people always ask people that are older “what’s the key to a long life?” You always hear different responses whether its loving others, eating healthy, or staying happy. I was extremely interested in reading this article because a longer life is what I definitely strive for. I was curious as to if I already practiced these 5 healthy habits. The five habits that this article mentions include the following: keeping a normal weight, maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding smoking, exercising regularly, and moderating intake of alcohol. I feel that I already have adopted these healthy habits, but I can always improve each of them. I was fascinated by this article because of the 5 simple healthy habits they stated to live a longer life.
The Article I found most intersting in the times this week was “Ice on the Surface of the Moon? Almost Certainly, New Research Shows” by Jacey Fortin. I found this article interesting because even though we have landed on the moon numerous times, we are just now discovering that there is water in the form of ice on the moon. This discovery opens up then opportunity for further explanation of the moon’s surface. Additionally, as the document says, the discovery of water means that mankind has resources available for both drinking water and the production of fuels. The article demonstrates how technology has improved over the years— As the article says, instruments used allowed us to digitally map the surface of the moon. Overall, the discovery of ice on the moon is a breakthrough in space exploration and I found this article extremely interesting.
“How Slender Man Became a Legend”
Do you ever fear something so much that you wouldn’t dare shut your eyes at night? Imagine a faceless person in a suit, who is inhumanly tall, with long large fingers that looked like they belonged to death himself. Though a relevantly new myth, Slenderman has gained a lot of popularity and fear. Slenderman was already pretty terrifying and popular, but his popularity skyrocketed when the movie “Slenderman” came out August 10 of 2018. This movie is the very definition of paranoia.
Reading about the history of Slenderman interested me the most in the Times this week. Reading about this legend is always fun because it always makes me contemplate whether the legend is real or not. After all, mysterious disappearances, figures, and phenomena always interest me. The tale of Slenderman goes back to 2009 when Victor Surge created the website “Awful Forums). From there Slenderman’s popularity grew. The reason I picked this topic was because I enjoy reading about paranormal activity and mysteries. It always keeps me busy and is very enjoyable. I find it very interesting how people just disappear without a trace, and how the last thing seen was a tall man in a suit. I don't know about anyone else but that sparks my interest. Even though it can be rather frightening sometimes, I enjoy being scared. Even so, some things are just a little too much for me to handle. One thing I learned from this article, don't walk alone in the woods!
¨South and North Korean Families, Separated by War 65 Years Ago, Reunite Briefly¨
I took an interest in this article because it talks about families being separated for many years and the government is just know letting them have reunions after more than six decades. I made a connection to immigrants in the us being separated from their families because they are living here illegally. Why is the government letting families from North Korea and South Korea reunite as of now after 65 years? Some may say ¨well at least they can see their families now¨ however that is not the case. They only see eachother for a maximum of three days. The sad part is they must get approved for this privilege. I found it significant that the people who get approved are the ones that show the most love for the government and cooperate more. To conclude, both of these countries do not seem to be getting better any time soon but this is however a start.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/us/hurricane-lane-hawaii-live-updates...
Hawaii was hit by a category 4 hurricane on Thursday. It has been the biggest storm since 1992. One of the islands in Hawaii was hit with more than 18 inches of rain. When the hurricane hit in 1992 the state was left with horrible damage. There was damage worth 3 billion dollars, thousands of homes were destroyed and six people died. The people had no power or were able to use their phones to get in contact with any family or friends.
This week, I read the article "Catholic Priests Abused 1,000 Children in Pennsylvania, Report Says". I found this interesting due to the sheer magnitude of cases as well as how it is being handled due to the accused’s ties to the Catholic Church.
It is disgusting that the Catholic Church, which is a pillar of all that is good for numerous people nationwide, has been a front for the sexual abuse of children. What is even worse is that the church is seemingly aware of crimes, but has taken little to no action to bring their fellow priests to justice. While it may be out of a misplaced sense of loyalty to the church, condoning the sexual abuse of over a thousand children is unthinkable.
What makes matters even worse is the fact that there is seemingly no punishment and weak investigations in light of a rape allegation against a priest. According to the article, most accused priests are simply transferred to another parish. Essentially, the Catholic Church is allowing suspected rapists to maintain their jobs all the while providing an avenue for the priest to potentially sexually abuse more children in the next parish. By attempting to cover up the sexual abuse, the Catholic Church as a whole became as corrupted as the priests who have commited the crimes.
Overall, I hope that the Catholic Church begins to acknowledge the injustices performed under their watch and ensures that any perpetrators are punished to the full extent of the law.
"The Age That Women Have Babies: How a Gap Divides America"
Women in the 21st century do not seem to be in any hurry to begin a family, as opposed to in the past. Universities began studying the ages of women when they gave birth and compared data from 1980 and 2016. In 1980, it was more common for eighteen-year-olds to give birth, whereas in 2016 the most common ages for women giving birth ranged from 20-22 years old. The drastic discrepancies between the graphs immediately caught my eye. When taking a deeper look, I realized how many strings are attached to giving birth at certain ages. For example, many women that have their first child from ages 18-22 have a hard time going to or finishing school. By not having a college degree, they might not make a sufficient amount of money to support a family, causing their children to not experience basic childhood activities, such as trips to the amusement park and even participating in a sport. By seeing a shift from younger women to women in their thirties starting families, it allows us to make the conclusion that they waited until they got a desired education and felt stable enough to have a child. This fascinates me because my grandmother had my father when she was just 23 years old, however I plan on getting an education and finding a stable career before I have a child. By doing so, I feel as if I am filling my life with as many opportunities as possible and providing my son or daughter with a fulfilling childhood.
The article that interested me the most this week was called “Using DNA to Sketch What Victims Look Like; Some Call It Science Fiction” by Ashley Southall. By just looking at the picture next to to title of this article, I was automatically intrigued. What I was interested in most of this article was the technology that science has developed nowadays. Picture yourself staring at a murder scene, or any crime scene. At first, it might seem like the killer will be impossible to catch. Zooming in on each little detail of the scene could indicate more. One fingerprint, hair follicle, footprint, or remain can lead to the face of the killer. Isn’t that amazing? Just think to yourself you can create someone’s whole face by just a touch of DNA. A mind of a genius can catch a murderer, and the murderer makes a genius think beyond their limits.
I have always been intrigued with anything to do with forensics. What triggers a person to act this way? What caused it? How did they die? Could something go differently? Who did it? It’s like a real-life gigantic puzzle and you have to put the pieces together. The main issue is how and what clues can we do to find them? This new technology is what advances us on so many levels. We can cause comfort to families, put criminals in jail, and not have as many sickos on the streets. The only thing that makes me wonder is: Will this lead to a decrease in murders?
"In Serial Rape Case That Stumped Police, Genealogy Database Leads to Arrest"
The article discusses how police used a genealogy database in order to arrest a serial rapist. Using genealogy to solve crimes is "increasingly possible because of the popularity of genetic testing services like 23andMe or AncestryDNA".
This should scare you.
The fact that people who are simply looking to trace their ancestry through these services end up having their DNA stored in databases should creep you out. But to add onto that, police are now able to search these databases to assist in solving crimes? This raises up many privacy and ethical concerns.
I knew that at-home DNA testing had privacy risks. But this adds another element to it. If police can search these databases, your DNA could be used to incriminate a relative. DNA searches by police could also label you as a suspect, even though you are innocent, simply because your DNA was at the crime scene or your DNA was similar to the person that did the crime.
This is just another reason why we should not give our DNA to these companies. Our DNA can and will be used for non-genealogical purposes, such as data for scientific research, cloning, or, in this case, helping to solve a crime. DNA databases have the potential to be used for sinister purposes. Those who are concerned about their privacy (which should include everyone) should not give away their DNA to anyone, especially these companies.
A few years ago my family stopped paying for regular cable TV altogether, to use services like Netflix instead. We were watching cable less and less, and using Netflix more. This article stood out to me as something that directly relates to my life, and it made me think about my own experience with television and other types of media. It seems like a lot of the appeal of these media companies, at least in the beginning, came from being different than the kind of experience you would have with traditional cable TV. Growing up in the 2000’s, it was still a fairly new and exciting concept to be able to watch what you wanted, when you wanted, and all without commercials in between. Because of this, I think it’s understandable that some viewers are annoyed about Netflix introducing promotional videos, even if they technically aren’t ‘commercials’. It takes away some of what was unique about Netflix, and it reminds people of the mainstream television that we all grew away from, in one way or another. Many people now prefer to pay for services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon prime, or even Youtube. These on demand services using commercials, ads, and promotional videos can make it seem like they are shifting back to the ways of traditional TV.
Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/science/ice-moon.html?rref=collection...
So far there has been no true sign of water on the moon ever recorded, or so you thought. The article, “Ice on the Surface of the Moon? Almost Certainly, New Research Shows,” is about how recent studies are showing that there is almost definitely ice on some of the craters on the moon. This interested me because there are so many things we don’t know about space and one of its many mysteries is being uncovered. Space is so unknown that I had to click on this article. Though, scientists don’t know how deep it is, nor do they know how it even got there. The water on the moon could be drinking water for humans, or could even be used for rocket fuel. Dr. Li said scientists in the past have had trouble exploring the polar regions of the moon because of how dark the craters are. Dr. Li and his team did lots of researching and analyzing and came to the conclusion that there is in fact water on the moon. Ralph E. Milliken, a study author and an associate professor in the department of earth, said: “I consider this to be the most convincing evidence that you actually do have true water ice at the uppermost surface — what we call the optical surface — of the moon.” This article showed me that there is more to the moon than rock, that’s for sure!
“An Underappreciated Key to College Success: Sleep”
This article stood out to me this week because I find it interesting how not getting enough sleep and being sleep deprived can affect your performance in school and even in a sport. With the amount of school work students are given, and there being only 24 hours in a day, most students don’t have a choice whether or not they pull an all nighter. It suprised me how little some schools disregarded this information about sleep problems in schools and how it deprives students of their academic success and takes a toll on their physical and mental well-being. With some schools “ providing 24-hour library hours” this encourages students to stay up late and repeat the cycle on and on. With being a student in school, getting enough sleep isn’t one of my biggest concerns even though I definitely don’t get enough. But after hearing that being awake for 20 hours is like being legally drunk, really made me look at how not getting enough sleep has made some of my academic work a little bit harder than it probably should me.
"Half of Yeshivas Under Investigation Denied Entry to Education Officials, City Says"
The city of New York has got a problem with the Jewish community. A very bold statement I know but the problem isn't with the people so much as it is with the schools. Yeshivas(Jewish schools) have been under investigation for the past three years for not teaching students secular subjects. A very odd thing to read in todays world with education being number one priority. Yeshivas are all private schools but New York law states that the education must go beyond or equal that of a public school. The investigation has come to a halt though when officials weren't allowed in. This whole scenario pushes me the wrong way, how ca you do this to your kids. The people running these schools must be held accountable for stripping these kids of their futures. If your child was to stop being taught math at thirteen he would have been a genius or apparently go to a private school. Frustration is the main reason for choosing this story, blocking access to officials just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Could you handle your kid being treated this way? I couldn't.
The article that iterested me most this week was Betsy DeVos Eyes Federal Education Grants to Put Guns in Schools. I found the title to be extremely alarming as a student with two years left of school. If I don’t feel safe now how can I feel safe knowing my math teacher is armed? The idea that giving teachers guns will prevent future gun violence in schools is scary, and makes me concerned for the future of our country, especially for younger students who have to be in the system longer. In my opinion the only way to stop gun violence is to get rid of the guns, not add aditional guns. The start of school should be an exciting time for students, not a time of fear. Many people quote in the article said that they do not necessarily agree with the idea of putting more guns in school, but simply don’t know what else TO do. I think that we need to figure it out and fast, because I don’t want to be next. I don’t want there to be a next.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/14/style/how-can-i-focus-better.html
The reason I chose the article "Finding It Hard to Focus? Maybe It's Not Your Fault" by, Casey Schwartz is because I have this exact same problem. It's not that I'm a bad student or anything and I get decent grades it's just that sometimes it's hard for me to just sit down and concentrate on doing something and I want to find out why. In fact replying to these articles is a school assignment and I missed one week meaning I can only get up to an 80% on it even though I had the entire summer to do this, though I couldn't find myself to sit down and get it done. While reading this article the main reason for this didn't surprise me at all. Of course it was all because of technology and it's screens. There were studies that showed that we check our phone about 150 times a day. That's once every 10 minutes throughout the day. It makes perfect sense though because as the age of technology progress so do our minds along with it. We have to be able input what everything else is outputting but at what cost. That means shorter attention spans, less face to face and more face to screen interactions.
"FBI: Sheriff Was Bribed to Shelter Drug Dealer for 15 Years"
https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/08/14/us/ap-us-sheriff-arrested.html
Law enforcement officials always have the opportunity to become more corrupt than the criminals themselves due to their position or their power. In this article, A Mississipi sheriff initiates an infamous partnership with a teen drug dealer nearly 15 years ago today. As the drug dealer began selling methamphetamine to selling various forms of cocaine then proceeding to buy and steal from illegal suppliers. Every 2 weeks or so, the drug dealer would send the sheriff five hundred to six hundred dollars in return for protection.
Fortunately, the FBI did not release the name of the drug dealer but used him as an informant to incriminate the sheriff. The FBI used tactics such as using photographed bills and listening in. The sheriff continued to encourage the informant to become more careful and continue his illegal business. The FBI proceeded to arrest Brewer 15 days later. This was interesting due to the fact that a more likely movie plot turned out to be a real-life federal investigation regarding a partnership between a drug dealer and a corrupt local law enforcement sheriff.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/dining/mario-batali-lawsuit.html
I recently read an article involving Mario Batali, beloved chef who was most famously known as one of the stars of "The Chew". In the article, it explains how Batali has been accused of sexually assaulting a women at a Boston Bar in April of 2017. He went to take a selfie with the women where he then kissed and groped her without consent. This is just another of Batali's many accusations made against him. After several accusations of misconduct against women, he was fired from the ABC talk show "The Chew", and many of his food products and cookbooks were taken off shelves at Eataly. This article was just another reminder of how many celebrities we know and love that are accused of sexual assault. Harvey Weinstein, the former film producer who co-founded the entertainment company Miramax, was accused of many accounts of sexual misconduct. There are many many more, including Kevin Spacey, Bill Cosby, and even Morgan Freeman. All of these well-known and beloved actors were accused of such disturbing acts against women,and it is something very bizarre to think about. It reminds to always be vigilant around people, even people who I admire.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/20/us/christopher-watts-colorado-wife.html
The article that interested me in The Times this week was, "Charged With Killing His Family, Colorado Man Turns Blame on Wife." This interested me because I was watching the news the other and they were talking about this awful tragedy and it really interested me because I wanted to know why someone would do this. In the article I learned that Mr. Watts was having an affair and was telling his wife that he wanted to separate and later on after this, he saw that she had strangled their two daughters on the baby monitor. He then strangled his wife and hid the two daughters in oil tanks and put the wife in a shallow grave. This was his side of the story according to an affidavit. Frankly, I do not believe that his wife killed the two children, I think that he killed all three of them because why would he hide the bodies if his wife was the one that killed them. Overall this article really interested me because Mr. Watts's story just does not make sense and I believe that justice should be brought to Ms. Watts, her unborn child, and the two daughters because none of them deserved to lose their lives.
Elon Musk Wants to Take Tesla Private. Can He Make The Math Work?
Elon Musk has made Tesla worth about 55 billion dollars over the years. It is one of the greatest public startup companies in the last decade. After all the success and money Elon Musk had decided to go private for some reason. The billionaire has exclaimed that he thinks his company could thrive in the private market without having to reach the demands of a public one. If he makes the switch his company will rise to be 71 billion dollars in value. This fascinated me because Elon Musk couldn't ask for more and yet he is. It all most makes me frustrated how many companies go under and he is trying to make it worth 20 billion more. Tesla is a very progressive company that has started to thrive in this eco friendly market. I just cant understand how he can't deal with this pressure of a public company with all the resources he has. I think of him as a poster child for the new age of engineering and yet still think of him as childish. To even fund this it might be hard with his other company spaceX not having the cash to back this up. With this mounting issues and rising fees of the transaction the question is, why bother?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/us/hurricane-lane-hawaii-live-updates...
Since 1992 Hawaii has not been hit by a hurricane but this disaster-free era is coming to an end. 6 of Hawaii's islands are under the radar to be impacted by the category 4 Hurricane Lane and President Trump issued an emergency disaster declaration in preparation. The hurricane has already brought torrential downpours, power outages, damage to housing, 130 mph winds, and poses even larger threats to when it reaches the islands. It is frightening to watch how quickly a part of the world can spiral into major chaos. The majority of people never believe they could be affected by a natural disaster summoned by Mother Nature, yet these monstrous forces of nature create detrimental threats to their lives and land. Universally, the world is contributing to the increasing temperatures of global warming with the advances of technology, misuse of fossil fuels, and carefree attitude towards the environment. However, this global warming is increasing temperatures in the Earth's oceans and atmosphere and creating powerful catastrophes that strike the land and impact thousands. It is interesting to know that in a way, people can help to prevent natural disasters, like hurricanes, from forming and coming in contact with land, especially states that may not be equipped to handle them.
Today in the times today i read about the Black Panther and how black people are the stars in it.That means the cosplay community, made up of fans who dress in character at conventions, movies and just for fun on weekends, is overwhelmingly white. This means that many colored people aren’t usually interested in marvels and avengers. That's why when they heard about the black panther they were excited and ready to see it. The Black Panther character first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1966, but this film is Marvel’s first featuring a leading black superhero and a predominantly black cast. This is the first time ever that marvel had a black superhero that is why everyone is so excited.Since the superhero’s introduction, there have been other black superheroes including the Falcon (1969), Blade (1973) and Storm, the first black female superhero, who appeared in 1975.
They are not celebrated everywhere. Many African-American cos players believe that Instagram and Facebook cosplay groups tend to isolate non white cos players it states in the text. Colored Actors are very isolated because people do not want to be recognized.The goal, many cos players interviewed said, is to disrupt popular ideas of what cosplay can and should look like and to help create a more racially tolerant environment. So what the article is trying to say is that the black panther is supposed to break through the racial wall and that any color person can act
“Why Sitting May Be Bad for Your Brain” by Gretchen Reynolds
When you sit for multiple hours, the flow of blood to our brain starts to decrease and could cause problems for your brain long term. This is an issue for office workers, or anyone that sits for a long period of time. The blood flow to your brain is crucial, because the blood contains oxygen and other essential nutrients that are needed to function. When people sit for hours, their blood flow drops which can cause problems. However, when they got up and walked around frequently, the blood flow increased slowly. To help increased blood flow, they suggest setting an alarm for every 30 minutes so that you can get up and walk around. This helps the blood flow because if you sat for a long period of time, it would hurt your brain because they need the blood flow. This can help long term issues, so scientists suggest that if you start now with moving around and frequent walks, this can help your brain in the future.
"Ice on the Surface of the Moon? Almost Certainly, New Research Shows"
Every kids dream was too fly to the moon and discover the unknown. Now that science has progressed since the 60s there might be another reason to launch up to the huge cheeseball in the sky.
Scientists now have solid proof that liquids are on the moons surface. I you are anyone this should make you excited to see what they can do with this. They could build a lunar colony with this water now and have moon babies (finally). The water was discovered on the dark side of the moon which is why it was impossible to find before today. This jump in technology fascinates me with how we develop as a society and where it can take us further into the path of the unknown.
Space travel is a magnificent thing to try and wrap your head around shooting men into the vacuum of blackness. This article just shows you we have a lot more to discover about our little corner of the universe. Will you be the first person to swim a moon pool with its own water? I know I want to be.
Congress, Do Your Job
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/opinion/congress-trump-corruption.html
I'm sitting in my AP Language class realizing how the precious chairs taken in congress aren't much different than the plastic ones I sit in now. The members of congress are very much like High School students who put distance between those they don't agree with, turning a blind eye to the problems they don't care about.
The cliques in congress never seem to agree, they sit in silence while citizens roll their eyes in disbelief. While one side licks the dirt off the mean girl's shoe, the other is powerless to the majority in the room. Sure, there are people who talk of impeachment but based on our country's history with this matter, it's likely that it will never happen.
While the last branch wants to hammer down with justice, the ones with the power of law are doing nothing, they just watch it all play out, oblivious to the fact of the responsibilities they have. Lawmakers and people of position of power need to take action, not just for them but for the collective well being and stability for ALL of the American people.
"Overlooked No More: Doria Shafik, Who Led Egypt’s Women’s Liberation Movement"
It really swelled my heart looking at this title to know that someone with such courage and sacrifice would finally revealed to the world. Doria Shafik had lived an unnoticed existence in the minds of many people around the world. She was the biggest advocate of women's rights in Egypt during the 1950s she had started a women's revolt against the government for more rights. This was sadly destroyed right in front of her. She had then been erased from all historic documents and committed suicide in1975. This tragic story does not make me feel joy but what has happened all these years later with this story finally being told to people around the world. She can now be realized as the hero she was and gets what she deserves, all of our praise. During a time of hate she was the happiness and hope people needed which makes me appreciate this world we live in today. She may no longer be with us to be able to tell her story herself or do more charitable work.The mark she made in the history for women's rights was enough to make me happy to finally read this.
Recently, the President of Smith College had to apologize because a campus employee called the police on a “black” student. The employee had said “She seemed to be out of place” even though she was only eating lunch and reading in the common area. The student, Oumou Kanoute, was on her break when she was confronted by a campus police officer who had responded to the call. The officer had found nothing suspicious about her. The encounter was the latest example of a “black person” encountering unwarranted police intervention in recent months.
I believe that a “black person” should feel safe on their own school campus. These situations happen much too often, everyone deserves a chance to have a good education without having to worry about being targeted by others on campus. Not because of one’s skin color, race or religion. On the other hand, to give the employee the benefit of the doubt, he may have witnessed something suspicious in Oumou’s behavior and decided to call the police. To people of color, this is all too routine.
As you can see from this article, the scourge of racism and discrimination against “black people” is ongoing and police reports on their everyday activity, sadly a common occurence today. Personally, I don’t think such instances should occur at all. More than sixty years since the civil rights movement, society has made some progress towards integration but the underlying problem of institutional and structural racism has not yet been eradicated.
By using a heart-warming story to describe the barriers broken by women in Zanzibar, Shannon Sims, depicts the hardships and restrictions women have in some countries around the world.
Sims’ article talks about how only men and boys were allowed to play soccer in Zanzibar, but the women wanted to play too, so they formed a women’s soccer league of 6 teams. Many parents are not allowing their children to play soccer or do not fully support their passion for the game. One woman did not even let her daughter think about playing until the coach came directly to her house to persuade her.
Along with Sims’ interpretation of the issue as well as the opinions of the coaches and women’s soccer supporters, I agree that not allowing women to play soccer is outrageous. Many people in Zanzibar believe that “soccer is a man’s sport” and is “somehow interpreted by the government as supporting homosexuality” (which is illegal in Zanzibar). These beliefs are totally wrong and they should be thrown out immediately. Soccer is just as much as a woman’s sport as it is a man’s.
I enjoyed reading about this topic because I, myself, play soccer, and I could not imagine what it would be like to be told that I’m not allowed to play my favorite game. Soccer is a huge part of my life, and hopefully soon it can be important for any and all woman in Zanzibar.
The article that caught my eye this week was "Hurricane Lane: Hawaii Battered by Rain as Category 4 Storm Bears Down." A category four storm made its way through the Pacific Ocean, causing harsh rain on Hawaii's Big Island. The National Weather Service warned that Hurricane Lane could bring "life-threatening impacts" to the islands. The storm is very unpredictable, so the island is potentially vulnerable. Governor David Ige stated in an emergency proclamation that "Hurricane Lane is not a well-behaved hurricane. I’ve not seen such dramatic changes in the forecast track as I’ve seen with this storm. I urge our residents and visitors to take this threat seriously and prepare for a significant impact.”
I agree with Governor David Ige that people should take the storm seriously and prepare for it. This article relates to the recent, disastrous storms around the world in the past years. For example, the tsunami in Japan or the flash floods in Utah.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/07/30/technology/robot-hands.html
Remember when we were kids and we used to talk about robots taking over! Well, that wasn't completely true. I mean now they are helping us! Amputees are using these robotic arms to help them throughout life, but they do need some improving. Just so they can complete everyday tasks. Such as putting on shoes or eve making the bed.
Let's start off with the Spinner. The Spinner is a robotic hand that spins objects in its hands. Which might seem pretty simple but at the end of the day that was a huge improvement for Dactly. Until they invented the Gripper. The Gripper is a "two-fingered" machine that picks up objects and can release them into bins. The next machine is called the picker. As you can tell by the name the picker can pick up things. Like, a claw machine trying to pick up that teddy bear you've been trying for.
The next two machines are called bed maker and the pusher. These two machines are pretty simple. The bed maker can make your bed and the pusher pushes things into bins. After all of these machines though they came out with something even better! They created an anthropomorphic hand. This hand basically combines all of those other machines into one. This hand is improving by repeated trial and error. After all these amazing inventions who knows the future has stored for us.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/16/opinion/sunday/women-the-bible-metoo....
In Scott's "The Bible's #MeToo Problem," she portrays Christianity and the Bible itself as sexist and discouraging to women. She claims that because of stories in the Old Testament that depict rape, the Bible, along with Christian denominations, don't care about women and their experiences. She writes that these stories condition women into thinking that their experiences don't matter because the Bible does not say how the women in those stories respond. These assumptions could not be any more wrong. The Old Testament stories are not encouraging rape, rather they are examples of how not to behave. In the New Testament especially, women are integral to the establishment of the Christian Church. The most obvious example of a woman who is to be respected and revered is Mary, the mother of God. Without her, the Christian faith would not exist. In the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, there are many female saints and biblical figures who are respected and whose experiences are extremely important. Another famous example is the myrrh bearing women who came to anoint Christ's body. Without their experience, no one would have been told of Christ's resurrection, the most important aspect of the Christian faith. It is clear that the Church values women's experiences. Women have an extremely important role in Christianity and their experiences need to be shared. Writing otherwise discourages them from doing so.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/sports/jets-kacy-rodgers.html
The article "A Jets Coach has always supported His Son. But what about a spot on the team?" by Zach Schonbrun really caught my attention this week, as a die-hard fan of the Jets. The writer spent time discussing the backstory and father-son relationship that New York Jets coach Kacy Rodgers and his son Kacy Rodgers ll have. Because of the relationship between the coach and his son, the text shows how it may be hard to be an unbiased coach towards his own son. Kacy ll did not have the most successful career in the NFL. He went underrated and was often hopping around from team to team. Since a father would never want to see his son fail at doing something he loves to do, it is hard for Kacy Rodgers Sr. to decide if he should be biased towards his son, or if he should be an unbiased coach. It is evident in sports at the youth age that often times the coach’s son receives more playing time than others that may deserve it. This leads me to think… Can this happen on a professional level of sports? I intend on keeping up with the story the article highlights because it truly interests me what the outcome of the Kacy Rodgers Sr. and Kacy Rodgers II dilemma will be. As a Jets fan, I hope Coach Rodgers makes a decision based on skill instead of love.
This week in The Times, I was most interested in the article, "5 More Cheap(ish) Things That Could Disproportionately Change Your Life," by Tim Hererra. The article interested me so much because of the parts about the planners, the pens, and the budgeting. I constantly forget the things that I have to do day to day because I only write them down in my phone, which i do not check often. If I wrote all of the things i have to do in a planner that I keep next to my bed, I know I will check it when I wake up. Having a pen that makes me want to write will also help me to keep up with this planner.
Budgeting is one thing that I have a lot of trouble with. Once I get money, I immediately spend it on things that I do not actually need. Tracking all of the things that I spend my money on would help me figure out what I actually need to buy and what I just want to buy. This article interested me this week because I honestly think these tips can help me go through my day to day life much more efficiently.
Global Warming
I chose the article "2018 Is Shaping Up to Be the Fourth Hottest Year.Yet We're Still Not Prepared for Global Warming" because I read about Global Warming before and about how severe of a impact it will have on the world in the near future. Global warming may not be considered a huge threat to the earth yet but that does not mean it will not be later on.We are already noticing changes in weather around the world.This year was one of the hottest years recorded.Warmer climate can lead to many changes in people's lifestyles around the world.People that are undergoing poverty and can not afford to live with this hot climate are go to struggle greatly.Global warming will only worsen overtime if not given the attention needed.Rather than focusing on this problem people look into other problems that are currently affecting the world.Global warming may not have serious effects now but it will later and the world will not be ready for it.
This week, I read an article called, "Immunotherapy Drugs Slow Skin Cancer That Has Spread to the Brain." I decided to read this article as the topic of medicine somewhat appeals to me. Upon reading this article, I was confused as to what the author was trying to say, however, as I continued reading, it began to make much more sense. It is extremely concerning that scientists have not been able to find a cure for cancer, however, the article describes that scientists have found a combination of drugs that activate one's immune system; and by doing so, the drugs have been proven to shrink brain tumors. It is quite amazing that scientists have been able to find a combinations of drugs that forces the tumors to shrink, ultimately, stopping the tumor from being able to grow, and cause even more damage. I also find it interesting that melanoma, one of the most severe skin cancers, is able to spread to the brain since the cancer is in the cells of the skin. I find it especially odd that the article mentions how patients with brain tumors are often left out of treatment studies. I find this strange because if patients with brain tumors are left out of treatment studies, then how are scientists going to find a cure? As a result of this combination of different types of drugs, scientists may finally be on the right path to finally finding a cure or some sort of vaccine against cancer so that no more deaths will occur from this monstrous disease.
Today more and more fires are being set off in California. Firefighters are working their hardest to put them out. These fires are being started by careless people who leave their cigarettes around. Or some who just set off fireworks. There are many stories that lead up to these wildfires.
In 1965, there was a man named Johnny Cash. Johnny Cash, who possibly had overdosed, caused a wildfire. This had happened because of his overheated truck that set about 500 acres of land on fire. He ended up paying $82,000 which is about half of a million today. Other fires are started by the climate change. The extremely hot temperatures in California are also a big cause of their fires. The heat causes the vegetation to become very dry which makes it easier for a fire to start. Cars are also a big part in these fires. Most cars get overheated causing these wildfires. A fun fact is that 95 percent of fires are started by humans.
Another interesting story was about a hunter named Sergio Martinez. Who got lost in the woods. He needed help to escape so he started a fire to alert the authorities of where he was at. What he didn’t know was that the fire would spread so much. This fire became the third most destructive in the state history and it also killed 15 people. It also, destroyed more than 200,000 acres of land. Sergio eventually got in trouble, but he didn’t face any jail time. Instead he was placed doing community work.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/19/nyregion/mets-announcer-marysol-castr...
The article I read today in the times was about the first latina announcer in the history of the MLB. The Mets are deep in a season that defies adjectives. Puzzling? Disappointing? Maddening? Bizarre? All apply, which is why Marysol Castro considers herself a voice of hope. Or maybe a voice of reason. She is a public-address announcer for the New York Mets. “Those first 11 games were great,” she said the other day. “Then the rest happened. I still have to show up and be the voice, right? Is what she said. She believes that she is good luck to the Mets. It is a voice that die-hard Mets noticed from, well, Day 2. “I thought: “Oh, cool, a female PA announcer,” @BryanUF wrote on Twitter on June 1. “I had no idea that was only the second day on the job for @marysolcastro, the first female PA announcer for the Mets. Congrats on making history!” Were quotes from some of the people. To believe that you can be the first announcer that is a Latina lady in history is a huge accomplishment. Her job is not just about saying the words — lines like “Here is your lineup for your New York Mets” never change it is about finding the tone that sets, or captures, the mood in the stadium. It is a lot more than what you think. Congrats on the advancement in announcing to not only females but latina females.
The article that caught my eye was "The Real Problem With Video Games" by Seth Schiesel
Something I do on a regular basis has been and seemingly will always be controversial. This is video games, whether it is them brainwashing violence or it is that they hypersexualize women. I chose and was interested in this article due to the fact it poked at one side that you rarely see touched in comparison, which is the community's toxic and inappropriate behavior typically verbally. I play many games on many different accounts and toxicity is unavoidable and I have even had accounts banned due to the things I have said in a game. So this article did intrigue me, it talks about something that I deal with everyday and on top of that portray myself. The article talks of how this is the real issue and I can agree to a certain extent, there have been instances like the recent swatting which caused a man to die, many other things happen in video games such as death threats but those will never happen or will almost never happen due to the fact people act much differently behind a screen. Although I feel that things such as hate speech in games does not really matter, they are just people saying words that can be offensive. The article talks of how that can turn into emotional abuse which I can see the merit of and understand why it is a valid point especially with prominent things such as cyber bullying. This is a section of online gaming that is not talked about as much but need to be.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/science/foxes-tame-genetics.html
The article "Friendly Foxes’ Genes Offer Hints to How Dogs Became Domesticated" by James Gorman really captivated and allured my attention. As a younger child, I always knew that wolves were kindred to dogs, however, I consistently wondered if foxes ever had a connection to the domestication of dogs. I never was certain that foxes affected the process of taming a dog and keeping it as a pet. I have always perceived the rumor, that foxes were more closely related to cats than dogs. Under no circumstances, I've never presumed that statement. Foxes have always left a sense of mystery and good-natured to me, even though they are more so considered "feral" than "friendly" Although many foxes are untamed and wild, they do have the potential of being companionable toward humans. The way the article addresses the observation-- the experiment focused on the "tameness" these creatures possess by how desperately they attempted to flee human contact, and how aggressive they were while being handled. Personally, I definitely appreciated this article. I learned an abundance of information and facts about foxes. Questions that pondered my mind were answered. I always believed that foxes had to potential to withstand human interactions and this article assisted me to realize that these creatures can.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/19/movies/crazy-rich-asians-box-office-n...
As Brook Barnes mentioned in her article, “‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Tops Box Office, Proving Power of Diversity (Again)”, I am precisely one of the 38 percent of Asian ticket buyers who watched “Crazy Rich Asians” on its opening-weekend. How could I resist? For the first time, Hollywood represented my culture on the big screen.
In Asia, Americans are often regarded highly. The ability to speak English fluently comes with a sense of respect from peers and even strangers. Pieces of mainstream American culture are common knowledge in Asia: Hollywood movies are translated and played in theaters along with American music played on radios. There is never a shortage of American culture represented in Asia.
So, it gives me the tingles to know that the rest of the world is starting to view Asians as main character material instead of the nerd who knows martial arts.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/us/politics/devos-guns-in-schools.htm...
Recently, school shootings have become more of an issue within our society. People countlessly have had contrasting opinions with each other about what needs to be done. Throughout this entire process, educators, congressmen and more have objected to this occurring. In my personal opinion, this is a poor choice due to the fact that it would endanger not only the educators and staff but the students as well. The problem with school shootings is not solely the actual weapon and the access to it, but also the lack of mental health checks, or one-on-one time with students. The faculty of the schools should be more observant on each student and what their daily life is like for them. The lack of mental health funding within schools and society, in general, is completely ridiculous. If congressmen and educators want to prevent more school shooters from happening, then the most logical option is to focus less time and energy on the NRA and gun laws, and more time on the mental health aspect of this topic.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/24/learning/teaching-activities-for-vapi...
As a teen, in the world we live in today, I was interested in the article, "Vaping Can Be Addictive and May Lure Teenagers to Smoking, Science Panel Concludes". I know a few people who have done it and it seems to be getting more and more popular. There is little known about what is actually in these e-cigarettes. From what we do know they are harmful to everyone especially to underage children. In their advertising, it seems like their largest market is among young people. Many people have the stigma that e-cigarettes are not really bad and since they come in all different flavors many kids are attracted to the convenience, popularity, and representation of rebellion that vaping gives. It states, “And for kids who initiate on e-cigarettes, there’s a great chance of intensive use of cigarettes. As the regulator, we’ve got to factor all that in,” this just shows you that even if it does not end up taking a toll on your body, vaping can lead to more serious things. From this, I can take away that even if you think that vaping is not bad for you there is still a legal age limit because of the nicotine in it. Ask yourselves this: "Would it be illegal if it was really okay for young teens?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/16/well/family/family-vacation-memories-...
This week, I read an article entitled, "How Your Brain Morphs Stressful Family Vacations into Pleasant Memories," written by Nicole Slaughter-Graham. The name of this article caught my eye because I recently went on a triple to France and Italy with my family, which was my first time out of the country. Although the trip was amazing, there were definitely a lot of stressful moments, such as almost getting pickpocketed on the metro, the Eiffel Tower employees going on strike and not letting us inside, horribly long lines, etc.
As I looked back on my experience after reading this article I realized that I truly would love to go back to Europe. The bad memories seemed to completely slip my mind and I was thinking of how fun it was to walk around and look at all the little local stores, or to be inside such a stunning building as Le Duomo. The trip was one of the best two weeks of my life, and I hope that in the future I will be able to make more memories all around the world.
This week the article that interested me the most was "Catholic Priests Abused 1000 Children in Pennsylvania." As a Catholic, for several years I have attended church on Sundays and being part of such a good church it frightens me to hear stories about rape in a holy environment. I can personally say that I have never felt uncomfortable in Church and it is very sad to know that unlike me, several girls and boys have felt like the church is the last place they want to attend. In this article, it is illustrated that in Pennsylvania more than 300 priests over a period of 70 years have been sexually abusing victims and encouraging them to not speak out on the abuse. What intrigued me about this article is that every action that these priests and bishops took were so precalculated and not once they had regretted their actions. Furthermore, this article has shown me the point of view of someone that has been abused and is scared to speak out. After an abuse, a person becomes so vulnerable and frightened that they prefer to keep it to themselves than to tell someone who can help them. It is made evident in this article that women felt obligated to allow a priest to touch her because she felt that if she denied she would be going against God. This article really stood out to me because it showed me the extent that a person can go for their own sicking desires, regardless if they are priest.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/24/learning/teaching-activities-for-vapi...
As a teenager in an ever-changing world I was interested in the article, "Vaping Can Be Addictive and May Lure Teenagers to Smoking, Science Panel Concludes". I know a few people who have done it and it seems to be getting more and more popular. There is little known about what is actually in these e-cigarettes. From what we do know they are harmful to everyone especially to underage children. From their advertising, it seems like their largest market is among young people. Many people have the stigma that e-cigarettes are not really bad and since they come in all different flavors many kids are attracted to the convenience, popularity, and representation of rebellion that vaping gives. It state, “And for kids who initiate on e-cigarettes, there’s a great chance of intensive use of cigarettes. As the regulator, we’ve got to factor all that in,” this just shows you that even if it does not end up taking a toll on your body, vaping can lead to more serious things. From this I can take away that even if you think that vaping is not bad for you there is still a legal age limit because of the nicotine in it. Ask yourselves this: "Would it be illegal if it was really okay for young teens?
The article I picked was “Annoyed by Restaurant Playlists, a Master Musician Made His Own” By: Ben Ratliff. One thing that drew my eyes to the article was the topic, Music. Personally, music is an everyday topic so I was intrigued. I learned a bit in this article, especially hearing how Mr. Sakamoto feels about music played in a restaurant. I picked the article because I was curious and wanted hear someone else's opinion. I agree with Mr. Sakamoto's belief that music really helps set the mood whether your dancing or eating. When it comes to making in this case a playlist for someone besides yourself as Sakamoto expressed it truly is a task. There are many people who will travel in and out of that establishment and you have to take many things into consideration. For example the feeling the owners want to convey to the customers,the decorations of the establishment and the range of customers. Using those things you must try find a middle ground in a sense that will please many if not all. If there was anything I took from this article it was that music affects us more than we really know.
Is Coconut Oil Good or Bad for You?
'Don't judge a book by its cover' is a powerful quote that applies to everyday life. Society constantly believes what they see instead of looking deeper. In the 1900s, smoking ads promised better health, and people believed it because they only judged cigarettes by its positive packaging. Smoking became popular and trapped the world into thinking that it was beneficial. This year, fake news has been spreading globally. At first glance, information looks true, but with further investigation the information can be proved false. Society has been falling for this trick for centuries.
Coconut oil has become the new trend. Beauty guru's use it to remove make up, cooks use it as a healthier fat option, but coconut oil may not be what it seems. The article, "Is Coconut Oil Good or Bad for You?," writes that coconut oil is high in saturated fatty acids and causes heart disease and high cholesterol. When the media glorifies coconut oil, society is drawn to it, but with further examination, coconut oil has hidden complications.
This New York Times article is not only about coconut oil, but it highlights the spread of falsified information. The article shows us that society should not always believe what they see and use research to investigate the truth. We need to know what we are putting in our bodies and into our minds. The New York Times has taught me the importance of looking deeper and not making conclusions based on the pretty cover.
"The Criminalization of Parenthood," by Libby Copeland most intrigued me as it ventured into the struggle of raising children with independence and the cost that accompanies this method. The article outlines how the true risk is not as much abduction as it is someone seeing this child as neglected. I have always believed that children need early set independence in their raising. I believe someone raised with a little independence that gradually increases as they mature is more likely to understand how to handle themselves when on their own than someone raised without any space. Of course, giving them too much independence at a young age runs a higher risk of them making a stupid decision. Independence is all about balance. I like to think of it as having a dog on an extendable leash; if you have the leash too tight, the dog will resist more. However, if you let the leash go as far as it can, you have less control if the dog were to run out into the street. It is the same way with kids. You have to find the right balance of independence so you still have some control, but not too much that they resist or are too sacred to live their parent's side when the time comes. You have to let go sooner or later, but isn't it easier to gradually loosen the reigns rather than dropping them altogether?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/us/politics/devos-guns-in-schools.htm...
Recently, school shootings have become more of an issue within our society. People countlessly have had disagreements with each other about what needs to be done. However, recently Betty DeVos proposed that an option to prevent school shootings is by arming the educators with firearms. The funding for the guns would be coming out of the federal funding. The Education Department is currently considering this plan.
Throughout this entire process, educators, congressmen and more have objected to this occurring. In my personal opinion, this is a poor choice due to the fact that it would endanger not only the educators and staff, but the students as well. The problem with school shootings is not solely the actual weapon and the access of it, but also the lack of mental health checks, or one-on-one time with students. The faculty of the schools should be more observant on each student and what their daily life is like for them. The lack of mental health funding within schools and society, in general, is completely ridiculous. If congressmen and educators want to prevent more school shooters from happening, then the most logical option is to focus less time and energy on the NRA and gun laws, and more time on the mental health aspect of this topic.
Today in the times a read about a women announcer who is the first latina announcer in the history of the mlb.The Mets are deep in a season that defies adjectives. Puzzling? Disappointing? Maddening? Bizarre? All apply, which is why Marysol Castro considers herself a voice of hope. Or maybe a voice of reason. She is a public-address announcer for the New York Mets.“Those first 11 games were great,” she said the other day. “Then the rest happened. I still have to show up and be the voice, right? Is what she said. She believes that she is good luck to the mets. It is a voice that die-hard Mets noticed from, well, Day 2. “I thought: “Oh, cool, a female PA announcer,” @BryanUF wrote on Twitter on June 1. “I had no idea that was only the second day on the job for @marysolcastro, the first female PA announcer for the Mets. Congrats on making history!” Were quotes from some of the people. To believe that you can be the first announcer that is a Latina lady in history is a huge accomplishment.Her job is not just about saying the words — lines like “Here is your lineup for your New York Mets” never change it is about finding the tone that sets, or captures, the mood in the stadium. It is a lot more than what you think.When she announces the Mets lineup she is smiling and showing enthusiasm but when she is announcing the opponents team she is not smiling.This is what interested me in the times today.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/11/style/how-i-self-care.html
Seeing people open up about what they do to care about themselves is oddly charming. Everyone in this article had a different way of soothing themselves, and it made me start thinking. How do other people care for themselves? How weird can these small actions get, and how often does it need to be done? I have my own ways of self-care, and I do it frequently, so I am guessing it varies from person to person. It's fascinating how different and unique these acts can get for each different person. For instance, Natalie Shutler cares for herself by belting to Tammy Wynette while Francesca Donner cooks a recipe her dad used to make her when she was young. This small acts of care go long way for a person, and this article helped me realize that.
You’re Getting Very Sleepy. (So Is Everyone Else.)
Fatigue and lethargy are common symptoms in today's world, with students being hit particularly hard. The article discusses the detriments of a limited sleep schedule; especially for the economy. For students, the mundane tasks of childhood and adolescence become virtually impossible once a lack of sleep is factored in. For myself, without adequate sleep I find I am significantly less productive at school and at home. For some, lack of sleep has little to no effect on their work output, but for the majority of the population, sleep deprivation can destroy their productivity and increase their procrastination. Just this summer, I was assigned to do several hours of work per class in order to prepare for the upcoming school year. It is difficult to take personal initiative in work dealing with school, as when tired or weary, one tends to prefer to do an activity that brings immediate pleasure and satisfaction, such as video games or sports. The sleeping problem becomes even more rampant during the school year for students, as schoolwork, homework, and sports take a lot out of the day time wise, leaving less time to sleep. Because of this, teachers often see a downtick in the quality of a students work, as they rush to get it done rather than put a greater amount of time and effort into it. Sleeping more, although may evoke feelings of laziness, may produce better quality work, resulting in better grades and a better economy.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/us/politics/trump-fact-check-west-vir...
This week I read the article, "Trump's False Claims About Coal, the Environment, and West Virginia", being someone who tries to follow politics, this interested me. It discussed how President Trump inaccurately stated how well the environment was doing compared to other countries, and stated that coal was "indestructible", which is not true. As I further read through the article it made me wonder what other statements are not accurate and what would his motives be for saying these things. When things like this are said it gives citizens a false sense of security as to, in this circumstance, how well the environment is doing. Although this makes citizens feel proud about their country, when they find out that the President is making false claims it makes one less likely to believe the next thing that is said.
In the article "How To Get The Most Out Of College,” the writer really focuses on the fact that a student should be aware of what he/she wants to do in college, and not only look at where the college is located when deciding what college to attend. Students these days are now focusing on more where the college is located and not what the college actually has to offer for that student. my stance on this topic is very similar to the writer. Before a student picks which college they want to attend, they should look further than college and think about what they would like to do as a full time job, then choose a college that has the right academics to lead that student down the correct path. For an example, if a student realizes that he/she would like to be a doctor or nurse when he/she grows up, then he/she should take interest in enrolling in a university that has a good medical school. If students continue to choose their college based on its location, they may end up finding themselves in a tough situation after they graduate.
The article that interested me this week is called, "How Your Brain Morphs Stressful Family Vacations Into Pleasant Memories". This article discusses how your memory can turn a stressful experience into a pleasant memory due to the amount of value we put into the experience. When planning and going on family vacations, all members of the family want to enjoy their time at the location as well as have a good time with one another, so your mental state is positive, even though you may be experiencing some difficulties along the way. I was fascinated by this article because when I look back on some of my vacations, there have been many stressful moments and times where I wanted to go home, however, I still always look forward to my family vacations each year. As the article stated, I tend to only really remember the positive experiences I had on my vacations instead of the negative, which then leads to the excitement I have leading up to my next trip. Additionally, I feel as if this type of memory-altering situation happens with many other experiences in life other than vacations. The reason I think this occurs is that your brain only chooses the memories that were enjoyable, and then "removes" the ones that were unpleasant so you have good thoughts and past memories in your future. I found this article to be very eye-opening to what occurs in my everyday life.
The article "A Jets Coach has always supported His Son. But what about a spot on the team?" by Zach Schonbrun really caught my attention this week. The writer spent time discussing the backstory and father-son relationship that New York Jets coach Kacy Rodgers and his son Kacy Rodgers ll have. Because of the relationship between the coach and his son, the text shows how it may be hard to be an unbiased coach towards ones son. Kacy ll did not have the most successful career in the NFL. He went underrated and was often hopping around from team to team. Since a father would never want to see his son fail at doing something he loves to do, it is hard for Kacy Rodgers Sr. to decide if he should be biased towards his son, or if he should be an unbiased coach. It is evident in sports at the youth age that often times the coach’s son receives more playing time than others that may deserve it. This leads me to think… Can this happen on a professional level of sports? This really interests me because i love sports and i know that sometimes coaches can be biased, especially if it is to their own son. I intend on keeping up with the story the article highlights because it truly interests me what the outcome of the Kacy Rodgers Sr. and Kacy Rodgers II dilemma will be.
The article “Bleak New Estimates in Drug Epidemic: A Record 72,000 Overdose Deaths in 2017” really interested me because it led me to think why people continue to overdose on drugs. It is known that since 2017, there has been a 10% increase in deaths caused by drug overdoses. Most illegal drugs are usually used by people that are depressed or stressed so that they have something to fall back to when times get hard. It is also stated in the article at roughly 2.1 million americans had opioid use disorders in 2016. Nowadays, you can not trust most drugs because you don’t know if it could be laced with deadly substances such as fentanyl. With the number of drug overdoses increasing exponentially, I believe that it is very important to make sure you are aware of your surroundings because you never know when you can find yourself in a situation where people are using these harmful drugs.
In the fast-paced world we live in, everyone is looking for a new way to live more conveniently. That being said, it seems counterproductive that a government would prevent a company from enhancing technology that could improve the lives of its citizens. But in this case, Australian national security was top priority. Tech giant Huawei has expressed their disappointment towards lawmakers for banning them from building a 5G wireless network. This network could provide new developments in technology for the nation, but it is crucial that the country looks out for national security first. As technology continues to become more advanced across the globe, the opportunity for companies to take advantage of their influence grows as well. There will surely be consumers who object to the restriction imposed. This raises an important question that must be answered as technology becomes more invasive: is allowing consumers to be exposed to new developments more important than the security of the nation? If countries choose to lift bans that were put into place to protect their people, the consequences could be devastating. Sanctions are not put into place to restrict the freedom of the consumer, but rather to make sure that no group can abuse the power that they have been given by those who rely on their services to survive. Australia has set a precedent for how a nation should react when given the choice between their citizens and the freedom of foreign corporations.
"Before You Flush Your Contact Lenses, You Might Want to Know This"
I have worn contacts and glasses for the past three years. Because I am constantly going from things like school to sports to musical rehearsals, my eyes tend to get dry very quickly. It is also common for one of my contacts to fall out during a volleyball practice. This makes it extremely helpful to wear contacts that I dispose of every night. That way, if one falls out, I can replace it easily without wasting a contact that I could wear for two weeks or a month. I am also a culprit of taking my contacts out in the shower and letting them run down into the drain. Little have I known that this causes serious, controllable environmental damage.
While the proper form of disposal for contact lenses (throwing them away) does not cause environmental issues, flushing them down the toilet, sink, and shower all can affect our planet. The plastic that contacts are made of is not easily degraded in waste water treatment plants, and they can leave small pieces of plastic behind. These bits of plastic end up in surface water and contribute to micro-plastic pollution (Greenwood). Greenwood's argument that contacts contribute to the pollution is supported by research showing that flushed contact lenses weigh up to 22 tons, contributing to the micro-plastic floating in the ocean. This has a simple fix however. I agree that contact contribution to pollution is readily avoidable, and I intend to help end it.
“On a Ramshackle compound in New mexico, a Dead Boy and Mystery” was an article about the discovery of 11 malnourished children and a decomposing body of a young boy in a highly deserted area of Amalia, New Mexico. One of the bodies they found was believed ti be a 3 year old boy named Abdul Ghani- Wahhaj. I found this article interesting because despite of its gruesome content, it contained something that relates to earlier crimes that had happened in the nation. I found out that Mr. Wahhaj was training these 11 children to be future school shooters and it hit real close to home because of the recent shooting of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Since i am friendly with many students in that school, it really struck me that Mr. Wahhaj would do that because there are so many innocent people that lose their lives for no reason in these incidents. If this case wasn’t discovered sooner, there would have been many schools and innocent people affected by this.
Catholic Priests Abused 1,000 Children in Pennsylvania, Report Says
As our world goes on each day more and more places are becoming unsafe for children and families. We would think that the safest place for us to go is the Church, so we could hear the teachings of God, and to have a better relationship with God. Sadly it’s hard for Roman Catholic Christians to even go to Church anymore because many children are being sexually abused by the priests. In the Roman Catholic Church in Pennsylvania leaders have “covered up child sexual abuse by more than 300 priests over a period of 70 years, persuading victims not to report the abuse and law enforcement not to investigate it”. This sounds insane to me because the leaders of the church are supposed to be the closest people to God living on the earth but to hear that they are sexually abusing children and impregnating them is terrible. It does not just end here Priests are getting the women abortions after they get them impregnated, Priests raping a young girl in the hospital after getting tonsils taken out, and a Priest tied a person up and whipped the person with leather straps. All of these things are being covered up by Priests and other leaders in the church for many years. and not informing the community of the real reasons behind removing an accused priest. “Tell his parishioners that he is on ‘sick leave,’ or suffering from ‘nervous exhaustion.’
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/science/ice-moon.html?rref=collection...
This artical caught my attention because I love science and I thought moon is made up of only rocks or dust . This article talks about how there is a trace of water on the moon in a form of solid at where sunlight can’t reach. They have strong evidence to proof their claim but they still don’t know how and when it got there. The author of study also said that the water on the moon can attract more visitors to the moon,the water can also be a drinking water or a fuel. Shuai Li, the lead author and a planetary scientist at the university of Hawaii at Manoa said that it’s hard for them to explore the polar regions because it’s dark and his team think that only 3.5 percent of the polar area is covered by ice and they don’t know how deep it is. They used old data for research and they also used the map they got from India’s first lunar probe called Chandrayaan 1. Dr. Li went to Ralph E. Milliken, a study author at Brown University and he said that Dr. Li’s evidence were convincing . The researchers said it’s difficult for them to reasearch about the moon because the water there is mixed with dust. People hope there would be more evidences about it and they want to know how water got to the moon. Dr, Li hopes to see more lunar exploration in the near future.
What interested me in the times this week was the article, "Is Netflix’s ‘Insatiable’ as Offensive as It Looks? Let’s Discuss" https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/arts/television/netflix-instatiable.html
Although I have not watched the show myself, I have heard many mixed reviews on it, some positive but mostly negative. The show is about a young teenager who seeks revenge after she loses weight. I may not know much about the show but I know enough about teenage insecurities and bullying to know how the show is mocking these issues in society today. Before the "fat girl got skinny" no one had liked her for who she was but only judged her based off her appearance calling her names and straight up bullying her. However, when she had become a normal weight and having the "ideal body" everyone had completely changed their opinions and she had more admirers and boys had started to take interest. I strongly disagree with the message in this show it only teaches young girls to change their bodies rather than accept themselves for who they are and to have hate in their hearts and to hold grudges which is the total opposite in what I believe. I believe everyone should love who they are no matter what they look like and to forgive others, just do what makes you happy and not let others put you down for who you are. In life not everyone is going to like you, and that's okay but its your choice if you let it effect you or not. Just live your life because you only get one.
Titled "Jocks Rule, Nerds Drool", I had high hopes that this article would address modern day stereotypes. I was let down.
By referencing specific jocks' and 'nerds' the writer tried to show how stereotypes have switched.
But the author was missing something. I felt as if I had only read half of the article. There wasn't one female example in the whole article. I grew increasingly upset.
It seemed impossible to me that an article about stereotypes could be written while ignoring the biggest stereotype of them all. Women have successful careers as both nerds and jocks and yet weren't considered at all in this article. By only using male examples, the author suggested that the entire industries of both sports and math/science could be represented by men. Personally, I feel as though she denied women the recognition that they so desperately need. How are young girls going to feel motivated to follow their dreams if they are reading articles that ignore them completely?
As a female, I was prepared to hear about the authors' opinions on both genders in the jock and nerd communities. I found myself eagerly waiting for female representation that never came. This article interested me the most because I feel like there should have been more.
I am now looking out for that "other half" of the article. The half that does not categorize entire fields based on only males. The half actually that does include women. And maybe the half that even makes me feel proud to be a woman.
This week, I read an article titled "Katie Ledecky Crosses Into the World of Pro Sports. It Feels Like Home." Being a competitive swimmer myself, I was naturally drawn to this article when I saw that the greatest female swimmer of all time was in the title. A lot of the article focused on finding your own path and not focusing on others around you. Recently, I have had a tough time with swimming. I had a few disappointing seasons and I still am heavily debating quitting. Hearing what Ledecky said to a young girl on Twitter, (“Embrace the chase of those ahead of you. The times will come and you will have fun getting there.”) I began to reflect on the real reasons why I want to quit. I came to realize that it wasn't because I had a bad season but because those around me were having so much success. I'm not trying to say that this article alone will be the main reason if I decide not to quit a sport that I've put so much time and hard work into, but I now see that the success of others should motivate me to be better and not discourage me. I'd like to thank Lynda Falkenstein for being the one to ask Ledecky the question that provoked her response of "embracing the chase." Without those three words, I would be stuck in a situation that I don't think I could ever find a solution to.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/sports/katie-ledecky-swimming.html
In the article “Bleak New Estimates in Drug Epidemic: A Record 72,000 Overdose Deaths in 2017”, it made me wonder why people started doing drugs in the first place, Because this year there has been a 10 percent increase in death by drug overdoses. Well this made me think about all the people I see doing drugs in the public park because I feel as if they don’t really know what they are doing because if something goes wrong one of those guys could die. I also don’t blame them for taking drugs I feel as if they were just under stress and could only resort to doing.drugs to take care of the stress. But this article really interested me when it’s something I see every time when I go to the park, just people doing drugs near the benches. I feel as if we should make it harder for people to get drugs so they won’t be as exposed to it and won’t make it to a habit. This is why I found this article interesting so we could bring up this issue I see everyday
Ohio State Gives Urban Meyer a 3-Game Suspension (and the Benefit of the Doubt)
I have chosen to read this article with the new rising details of this story in the news and with this it has been confirmed that the law doesn't apply to college. Imagine being in this scenario with any other job or profession and having a domestic charge be covered up so blatantly and boldly. This is college athletics we are talking about where they need their noble coach who just happened to not have any texts on his phone for an entire year. Garbage man is told about domestic abuse and gets his phone taken away and before this happens deletes all his texts he would be fired from his position or maybe thrown in jail. I picked this to show how easy it is just too get away with such an easy to spot crime by just being famous or with a college. Money can certainly not buy you happiness but it can sure save you from the disgrace that is termination or jail time. Plus it was only three game suspension coach Meyer received (with not very good teams either).
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/12/world/asia/thailand-monks-obesity.html
What comes to mind when you think of Buddhist monks? I picture fasting, meditating, and repeating ummmmmm for hours. I certainly did not consider the possibility that monks could be obese. I now realize that my opinions were based on ignorance. Fat people are stereotyped as lazy and indulgent. Clergy are seen as too altruistic to overeat. After reading this article, I realised that most of what I believed is wrong.
First of all, the monks aren’t at fault. They eat fewer calories daily than the general population. They are forbidden to eat after midday, so they have to drink sugary beverages to keep their energy up. Local followers of Buddhism donate soft drinks and processed foods, some of which are spoiled. It can also be difficult to get exercise between all the praying and meditating.You also can’t blame the donators. Obesity affects 1/3rd of the general male population in Thailand (compared to ½ of monks), so they might not know how unhealthy their donations are.
What are we supposed to do? Healthy Monk-Healthy Nutrition Project is already helping some monks eat healthier and exercise. I think the big change needs to come from inside. Yes, a major part of faith is setting aside your own needs to do what you have been called to. But you can’t live to help anyone if you don’t take care of yourself. We need to stop seeing health consciousness as selfish and start seeing it as a basic human right.
What interested me in the times this week was the article named, "‘Let Us Have a Childhood’: On the Road With the Parkland Activists". https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/15/us/politics/parkland-students-voting....
What interested me about this article was the ability of these children to voice their opinions and take a tragic event and try to spread a message across the country to help prevent incidents like school shootings (which are becoming more and more common) to ever happen again by encouraging stricter gun laws. I just hope that these kids are able to achieve what so many adults have failed to do which is to pass stricter gun laws throughout the country. Children shouldn't have to worry if they won't come home from school that day. Not only children, but everyone has the right to feel safe and protected. If we do not stand together and do something about this issue we will continue to see more gun violence in the future.
The most interesting article in the times this week was "How Sneakers Intersect With Recent American History". The article highlights some of the stories behind a new sneaker history book. Even without reading the actual book I felt like I was already more knowledgeable about sneaker history. However, I think it would be interesting to see what other stories the book contains. The article I read talks about moments like the black power salute at the 1968 Olympics. I think that it is important for a book to look at the often overlooked sneakers in a story. Sneakers can be a way for people to express themselves, be a symbol for something greater, and even just reflect the time period. By looking at the sneakers an athlete wore during say a basketball game we can take a message or a theme of what is going on in then in time. For example, this year when Lebron James wore his "Equality" shoes. A person could look back on this game and understand the large scale fight for equality still going on in 2018. There are countless other example like this and there are many other negative example like people being killed for there shoes. I think that this is all important because shoes have become such a big symbol in the world today.
the article I would like to react to is called "Catholic Priests Abused 1,000 Children in Pennsylvania, Report Says". https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/14/us/catholic-church-sex-abuse-pennsylv...
What brought me to respond to this article is because I am shocked. I am so shocked to read about this woman's story about her sexual abuse from her local priest! A priest at her Catholic Church which we find out has also happened to many others along with children, I am so disgusted with these pedophiles. Not only were they able to persuade these poor children into keeping their abuse a secret but they were also able to manipulate authorities into not investigating. These priests have tainted the image of the church for the worst, a church is viewed as a safe haven for many but after this incident many may view it otherwise not being able to trust their community who lied to them for as long as 70 years violating thousands of innocent children.
These priests have stolen the childhood innocence from these kids forever scarring them, the fact they were abused by someone they thought they could trust will cause permanent damage for these children. I only wish them the best and I pray for their families and hope they don't lose their faith over this horrific incident.
“When Man Buns and Airlines Don’t Mix”
When Mr. Sid Ouared was let go from his position at British Airways for his so called feminine-do, I couldn’t say that I was the least bit surprised at the actions of the airline, or their definition of public indecency; a man bun.
I picture an airline and their staff a very conservative and mannerly system. Just take a look at their polished and suave uniforms; a modern twist on old time 1940’s chic. As a follower of fashion myself, I have to say I do appreciate the conservative attire; professional, modest and humble. It makes me feel as though I am receiving the quality service I paid for upon seeing those pressed blazers and perfectly-placed pins.
A man bun to me is no different; I have grown up hearing rather repetitively from my dear mother, “If he doesn’t cut that thing off, I’ll do it for him, gladly.” And I can’t say I disagree with her. But on one hand you have the freedom of self-expression. Who are we to take that away? Yet on the other, you have the expectations of society: be yourself, but only if you’re like us.
Mr. Ouared it seems, is caught up between the two sides. However, I can only speak for myself, and I will say that a man bun is not my favorite fashion statement, that’s for sure.
But at the end of day, I doubt I’ll be too tied up about it.
(Thou Shalt not kill)
I, you and all of the civilized world live in societies where we follow laws. We all sign a social and societal contract when we live in a country that offers us basic protections. Most of these laws are simply common sense, such as don’t steal from others, refrain from harassing fellow peers, and the most important law of all; unless in the protection of your own, don’t take from someone else which is most precious, their life. As an american citizen, I feel as though it is my right to feel safe from bodily harm, however,The Editorial Board of New York Times pointed out, in america, capital punishment is still all to legal. This year alone fourteen people have been given the death penalty and executed. If we as citizens have agreed not to kill, why should the government be able to do so without reprimand? Is killing a helpless person who poses no tangible threat, not in direct opposition to the clause in our constitution which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment? I don’t know, but to me, when one hundred and sixty two people have been exonerated from death row, it feels all too possible that an innocent can, will, and has been executed. In conclusion, I as an american cannot kill, I as an american should not kill. So, why should America be able to murder? Why should America, be able to butcher those who were promised the same rights as the rest of us?
Can Ultimate Frisbee Save the World?
There are few ways better to heal a rift than starting at the roots. While its unlikely the leaders of Israel and Pakistan are likely to play Frisbee together, they won't be in charge forever. Eventually, the new generation will come succeed them, and anything that can be done now to assure that these teenagers are willing to speak to each other, admit their own mistakes, and be their one referees, the better.
Ultimate Frisbee is a life changing game. Throughout my young years, every Sunday the local park hosted an Ultimate Frisbee game. It was here that I not only learned how to throw and catch, but to settle my problems quickly so we could get back to the field. As a (mostly) Americanized Ashkenazi Jew, with a former orthodox Jewish mother, the subject matter of a solution that would make both states happy was a touchy one. Being born in raised by people with one core idea and the belief that one side was all right and the other all wrong just exasperates the issues that caused the rift in the first place. Without learning the skills to speak face to face, its difficult to conceive that a true solution could ever be reached.
Most people don't realize that before proposing a solution, there must first be an open discourse. And with a distrust ingrained from birth, the only way to cure decades of turmoil could be on the field.
The article I want to react to is called "How to Fight ‘Fake News’ (Warning: It Isn’t Easy)".
The reason I am reacting to this article is because it makes me angry. Angry about the ignorance that the media shows about anything related to fake news. First of all, fake news is usually not about straight up lying for no reason, its about propaganda. People are not stupid and they know when they are lied to, so most of the "fake news" now a days is about making some articles bigger or recommended for the reader, unlike other articles that don’t support the news paper's narrative.
Another form of fake news is telling only some parts of the story or just one side of it. For example, its common to find articles about my homeland Israel under names like "Palestinian teenager was shot dead by an Israeli soldier". What you usually won't find in those articles is that the Palestinian threw rocks and molotov cocktails aimed for the soldier the second before he got shot.
The sort of fake news that we see examples of in the article is
a.The easiest one for the reader to call out as fake news.
b.The easiest one to fix. You just need to hire an editor without a political agenda and make him double check every article. Most of the main stream media will also inform they're audience/readers when a misinformation is caught.
to sum it up, i think that the New York times tries to make his readers belive that fake news is just about lying, and its only half of the truth. now this is fake news
What interested me the most in the New York Times this week was an article called "A Very Hungry Black Hole Is Found, Gorging on Stars" by Dennis Overbye. This article interested me because black holes have always fascinated me. To think that something can just disappear into a black hole and never return is mind-blowing. Where does it go? What is it like inside a black hole? I have so many more questions about black holes, and every chance I get, I like to learn a little more about them. The specific article that I read was about a very large black hole that is many times bigger and brighter than our sun. The things that this black hole can swallow in just a few days fascinated me. Overall, I loved reading this article, and it was very interesting. ([email protected])
"Trump's Tariffs Are Paying Off for Century Aluminum"
Tariffs, from a protectionist perspective, are necessary in order to keep domestic manufacturing jobs; whereas one who would support free trade, tariffs are a hindrance to the growth of trade and consumerist growth. I side with the latter option, not necessarily to increase consumerist growth (albeit it would be an important byproduct), but I would rather avoid the side effects of raising a broad tariffs on industries.
Let's take the example of aluminum. What would happen to the industry's pricing? For one, the tariffs raise prices on foreign aluminum, making it a much better incentive to buy American aluminum. However, American companies still have the right to raise the aluminum prices just underneath the tariff prices, still selling cheaper aluminum. This has drastic effects on the rest of the "supply chain" of aluminum distributing. Even the Aluminum Association would agree with my stance.
Primary distributors of aluminum, such as Century will benefit from the competition being lowered, in terms of threat, against them. Yet, small businesses and other manufacturers who require aluminum would have to cut costs somewhere else, such as jobs or even find alternatives to cheaper products. Either way, it is harmful to the consumer who has to pay wither a fee for the increased price of aluminum or a price for R and D. If they don't pay the price, then it would seem that costs were being cut somewhere.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/17/sports/north-carolina-suspensions-sho...
This article is an intriguing to me. Thirteen men from the UNC football team were suspended because they were selling basketball shoes they got from the university. These weren’t cleats, nor were they ever worn during a game. I do not see the problem with the players selling these shoes. But the NCAA and UNC do see a problem with it. And it is such a silly thing to be suspended over. NCAA athletes do not make any money and the NCAA makes specific rules to make sure that does not happen.
Also the article talks about how UNC was under fire because of its academic fraud with athletes. I believe that this isn’t far to students who do not participate in sports.I am an athlete and do not ask for any special treatment in school from teachers. I work hard to achieve academic success. These officials at the school are not setting these student-athletes up for success after sports. Because in reality, only 1.6% of football players go from college to the pros.
What is more important, to have athletes be eligible or to set them up for a successful future. If it’s to be eligible, than you should take a hard look at your program.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/04/learning/cyberbullying.html?rref=coll...
I have never encountered “Cyberbullying”, but I understand it a lot. It means bullying others by using offensive or threatening messages on social media. Then, we can find it mostly on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and so on. To everyone’s surprise, Cyberbullying becomes more and more serious than we’ve imaged owing to the digital generation. As you can know, in recent years, there have been more than seventy percent of teenagers facing with Cyberbullying and some of them end up committing suicide.
So, I think social media companies should do more to prevent online harassment. For instance, Instagram adds a new filter to weed out comments meant to harass or bully the 800 million users of the popular social media site. I believe that all of motivations like IG can be effective. In the end, I want to give some suggestions which is the reason why I choose this article at the same time to those who cyberbully others. The suggestions are what you did should be polite and never keep bullying as a joke.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/sports/jets-kacy-rodgers.html?rref=co...
This article caught my eye because I am a coaches son just like Kacy Rodgers II is. Being in a coach-son/daughter is not the easiest. My father is a successful lacrosse coach in the tri-state area. He has coached teams that I have been on before. Sometimes we clash because I think we should be playing one way and he thinks we should be playing another way. Sometimes we don’t know how to transition from father-son relationship to the coach-athlete relationship.
We have had a lot of fights about this. And I bet the same could be said about his family. But, the good times out weigh the bad. I have had some of my best moments with my dad during sports. He is one of my biggest supporters and he is always there for me.
I am also a Jets fan. Living as a Jets fan has been tough for the past couple of years. All of the losing seasons. Hopefully Coach Kacy Rodgers can bring back the jets dominant defense. Kacy Rodgers II backs up star safety Jamal Adams, which will be a good learning experience if he makes the final roster. This would be a cool duo to see. I am definitely rooting for Kacy Rodgers II this season.
"An Underappreciated Key to College Success: Sleep"
In this article, a one time college student tells about the unknown powers and productivity of a good nights sleep. Jane E. Brody mentions past experiences such as studying all night, only to fall asleep during the exam. She also mentions the lessening importance that young kids are putting in to getting a good night sleep. She stresses the bad nature of these thoughts.
She is correct.
More and more people are not taking the idea of rest seriously enough. As somebody who does both get enough sleep and not get enough sleep, I can tell the difference in how the body responds. There have been multiple studies showing the positive effects of rest both on the mind and body. More people, especially young ones, need to get a better night sleep.
I was interested in the article "An Underappreciated Key to College Success: Sleep". Anyone who is in or has been to college knows that good nights of rest don't happen super often. Having to wake up early for classes and staying up late into the night to study for that upcoming test makes a student's sleep schedule off. Without enough rest, the body won't be able to function properly and will get tired more easily. Becoming tired during class will make grades drop and make it harder for students to graduate. Sleep deprivation is said to even be worst than alcohol and drugs when it comes to low grades. This has not only been a problem for college students, but for most students in general. Students of all ages are expected to wake up early, sometimes even before the sun is out, and perform outstandingly in their classes. Studies have shown that the human brain isn't fully able to learn and retain information until 10:00 AM. Most schools start much earlier than that, even as early as 7:00 AM. With all the sleep that students lose over the week, they try to make up for it by sleeping in on the weekends. Although they may feel refreshed when they wake up, students are really doing more damage by throwing their internal clock even more out of wack. In order to fix these problems, either the school system will have to start school later, or students will have to give up their late night study sessions in favor of a good nights rest which, in the long run will help improve scores.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/world/europe/nazi-guard-deported.html...
The world knows the Holocaust as one of the many tragedies in history. German soldiers controlled the concentration camps and did extremely terrible things to Jewish prisoners. The article, “Ex-Nazi Guard in the U.S., Now 95, is Deported to Germany” deals with an ex-nazi guard who went to the U.S. after WWll. I chose this article because I think the Holocaust is a huge part of world history. The guard, Jakiw Palij, lied on his immigration papers about what he was doing during the war. He then proceeded to live in the U.S. for 14 years. In 1993, investigators first tracked Palij down. 10 years later a federal judge found out he served in the German army as a WWll concentration camp guard. After finding this out the judge stripped him of his American citizenship. Then in 2004, a federal judge ordered that Palij must be deported out of the U.S. But, he couldn’t be deported right away because no country would take him. Germany wouldn’t take him because he was technically born in Poland. Then, Germany finally took responsibility. On tuesday morning Palij went to the airport to fly back to Germany. One day at the camp he was at there were 6,000 deaths. Hearing this really made my heart sink. The article really caught my eye because I am very interested in the Holocaust and WWll era.
"Aretha Franklin, Indomitable, 'Queen of Soul,' Dies at 76."
Aretha Franklin had to be the most influential artist who's music brought people together. Franklin's music inspired women of all colors to stand up for themselves, and to feel empowered. She was one of the first female artist to speak about women's rights. The songs, "'Do Right Woman- Do Right Man', and 'Chain of Fools,'" describes how women should be respected as much as men. The lyrics from "Do Right Woman- Do Right Man" states, "She's not just a play thing, she's flesh and blood, just like her man." Based on the lyrics, Aretha was passionate about women's rights, she had a massive impact on not only women, but the black community as well. Aretha will forever be known as the, "Queen of Soul" because of her incredible voice and the emotion that was put into every song. What I admire the most about Aretha is how meaningful her music is, there is not one song that does not have a powerful message. Although Aretha has passed, her music will continue to speak for the generations ahead of us.
I watched the video Elon Musk's highs and lows: PayPal,SpaceX, and Tesla. Which are Musk's biggest successes in the business world which started with him co founding PayPal in the late 1990's.However the company lost hundreds of millions of dollars. Which in turn got Musk ousted from the turmoil after. He then received $200 million dollars because he owned 50% of the company.Then in the mid to late 2000's he then invested almost of the money into his more successful businesses Tesla,SpaceX, and Solar City.The Tesla car company reaching a company value of $50 billion dollars which is crazy. Even though he has had to conquer so many obstacles he has still been very successful by perseverance and ambition. That is how I aspire to be but I doubt I will make, however everyone needs a dream right. Any way He also has a growing space industry called SpaceX. Which is a commercial that designs and launches advanced rockets into space. The ultimate goal of the company is to get people to mars. Then there is the energy renewal company(Solar City) which is the biggest roof top solar power company in the USA. That is all that drew my attention for this week
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/11/us/back-to-school-security-guns.html
How is it that parents have to tell their children “be safe” before sending them off to school? The article that caught my attention this week was about the new safety enforcements and laws for school starting back up.To read about the shooting in Parkland,FL got my mind racing all over again about watching the news that day and videos from shooting. Not only for me but for a lot of kids it made you not even wanna go to school anymore because Florida wasn’t the first place this had happened and it could have took place anywhere or time. A lot of the article gave detail about how there would be more metal detectors or armed teachers but will those things really solve the problem? One peice from the text said “I know that guns have this illusion of making people feel safer, but if a depressed kid comes into a school, having an armed guard with a gun is not going to help that student,” said Ms. Dorcemus, 30. “I don’t know where the line is of making people safe — spending money on a resource that won’t be utilized every day like an armed guard — versus a counselor that would be utilized every day.” In ways I do agree with her that guards and weapons wont help the students feel safe. I personally don’t know how adding more guns to a problem that was caused by guns helps the situation but I do know that this kind of violence started long before any of our time and it will take ALL of us to put it to an end.
“‘LazyTown’ Villain Stefan Karl Stefansson Dies at 43”
My heart sank when I heard about Aretha Franklin’s death one week ago, but my heart sank even deeper when I heard that this legend passed away.
I remember the days when I used to watch LazyTown, ages ago, but this show has also become relevant in previous years. Its popularity returned when it was announced that Stefan was diagnosed with cancer, and grew even bigger when people starting meming one of the songs that his character Robbie Rotten was known for, “We Are Number One,” in order to raise awareness. I can’t count the number of times I’ve listened to it, it’s so catchy and upbeat. I loved how Stefan knew about this meme and performed the song again on YouTube about two years ago. It goes to show that he really loved his fans and loved to live life.
Stefan left us with a beautiful quote before he died. If you look it up I bet you’ll be left in tears.
Cancer is an atrocious disease and I hope a real cure will be here soon.
I barely knew this person, but I truly mourn for his passing, and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Stefan, you will always be number one in our hearts.
[email protected]
"Science Alone Won’t Save the Earth. People Have to Do That."by Erle C. Ellis
The dilemma of global warming and using too many nonrenewable natural resources is not a foreign concept to anyone who's watched the news, read an article or heard about it in their daily lives. Yet, some still reject the fact that these are real problems and will further effect our lives as time goes on without a solution.
I like how Ellis touches on the idea that we should leave this earth, in a sense, better than how we arrived on it. In todays world people are only focused on how to get ahead. They want their business to prosper at any cost. And they leave little thought in considering the effects their decisions can cause. Whether it be with lower priced energy. Like coal, which creates carbon emissions and pollutes our air. Or building factories that pump out their waste into clean water sources further depleting our supply. In addition, we constantly see and hear about how people are planning how to get to mars, and saying that mars will be our haven. What I don't understand is why they aren't putting all of that brain power into finding solutions on how to save the planet we already have. Also, the people on the planet we have. Millions suffer from starvation and dehydration and live without electricity all over the world. I believe before we throw away our chances on this earth we should come together and figure out how we can improves the lives of our people and the life of our planet.
"Betsy DeVos Is Said to Weigh Letting School Districts Use Federal Funds to Buy Guns" by Erica L. Green is a very troubling article to me. This article discusses a preposition by the Secretary of Education, Betsy Devos, to purchase guns for educators. But how does one fix a problem with the same problem? If thievery is on the incline, do we steal from the thieves? If bullying is becoming increasingly vicious, do we harass the offender and expect repentance?If guns are killing students in school, do we give guns to those who are not in law enforcement? People complain about gang violence and unsafe areas, but they don't realize that schooling plays a major factor in children growing up and avoiding living criminal ridden lives. Schools are supposed to be safe learning environments that offer a chance to escape dangerous living situations. But when the school isn't safe, the police don't care for children they suspect to be already criminals, and the gangs are the only ones offering protection for them and their families, what are they going to choose? No one else will keep them safe. Devos should be speaking out against the NRA, who pose a threat to the very students she is responsible for. The budget should be increased for computers and writing utensils, not guns. It should be increased so that teachers don't have to work three jobs to support their families. Teachers don't want guns, they want fair salaries and for the government to support America's future: students.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/18/opinion/sunday/victim-church-abuse-pe...
What brought me to the New York Times this week was a woman’s story about a sexual assault that was committed by her local priest. Recently, 300 clergymen in Pennsylvania on a newly released list have been accused of abusing over 1000 minors. This article grabbed my attention because I couldn’t believe that so many people, who were widely believed to be good people had committed such terrible crimes. Most shocking to me was the fact that the attacks were not isolated incidents but were calculated and premeditated. According to the author, Patricia McCormick, pedophile priests would give “optimal targets” gold cross necklaces to show other predator priests who to prey on next. What also surprised me was the fact that McCormick, who was a victim herself, let the priest abuse her because she thought that by complying, she was pleasing God. Thinking about how easily the priests were able to control their victims scares me since children are taught to listen and obey adults without questioning their motives. This makes young people particularly vulnerable because we believe what adults say, to the point where we may let trustworthy grownups, like priests, manipulate us, assuming listening to them is the right thing to do.
https://nyti.ms/2OGgHyn
I read about the origin of Slender Man.
Nowadays, social media is a big factor in our everyday lives. It is how news, pop culture, politics, etc are exposed to the human race. In 1986, Slender Man was only a conspiracy. A long, thin figure was photographed behind playing children and was a suspect in the disappearances of 14 children. Social media in this day and age has amped up “Slender Man” through video games, movies, and stories people make up to frighten each other. I chose this article to read about due to my fear of the dark. I have heard multiple stories and folktales that have contributed to my fear of the dark. I wanted to read about how a legend or scary tale comes to be, scaring people like me to the point of fear.
The article “3 Confederate Statues will remain in North Carolina’s Capital” by Adeel Hessan peaked my interest because I still find it fascinating how the Confederacy is still honored and enshrined in the southern United States. Two days after protesters at UNC took down one statue of a Confederate soldier, the North Carolina Historical Commission refused to comply with a request to remove three more statues in Raleigh at the State Capitol. The state’s commission believes that they can not do so due to a state law that prohibits the removal or relocation of public memorials except under “rare” circumstances. Governor Roy Cooper has asked for the law to be changed in order to safely move or remove Confederate Statues from the public. He says that North Carolina needs to realize it can learn about their history without “idolizing painful symbols” like those of the pro-slavery confederate soldiers and generals. But, the statues still have yet to move per request of the commission. Why do American people fight for memorials of soldiers and army generals who wanted to keep slavery of African-Americans, defected from the United States of America, and killed millions of Americans as well? It seems like such a strange thing to want to keep a statue of in a United States capital, but alas there are large numbers of people who do. I am interested to see how this goes over the coming months, and if North Carolina does eventually realize what those statues really stand for.
The article that interested me the most out of all the articles that were introduced this week was Monuments for a new era. The reason why this article interested me was because I found it fascinating how the artists re imagined these controversial monuments, and changed them into something that not just one group of socialites would be interested in but a majority of them. It is so captivating that just six artists in a huge country filled with so many artists could change these monuments of restriction, enslavement, and racism into one of freedom. That is why monuments of a new era caught my attention and interested me more than the other articles that were given to the readers.
One article that interested me was “You’re Getting Very Sleepy. (So Is Everyone Else.)” by Bilal Choudhry because as someone who is terrible at falling asleep, I was hoping this would provide me with an answer. As it turns out, I may not be the only one who may be the only one looking for why they can’t shut their eyes, as the number of individuals who sleep less than recommended is increasing. Dr. David Hillman, a sleep deficiency researcher, says maybe lack of sleep is simply just an accepted part of a working community. While that may be true, lack of sleep is known to be a major factor in fatigue and error, some as notable as major car accidents and even the Challenger space shuttle incident. It can easily cost somebody their job and sometimes their lives. Hillman says that there needs to be a change to the positive of a mindset around sleep deficiency and turn that into a healthy lifestyle of adequate rest. As somebody that is up later than wanted most nights, I found myself to also have this “ah, whatever” mindset around sleep that I didn’t even really think about. So thanks to this article, I’ll surely fall asleep much better and faster now.
The article I read this week was "You're getting very sleepy. (So is everyone else.)" written by Bilal Choudhry. With sports staring up again and school just around the corner, I know that I will soon be getting a lot less sleep than what I was getting over the summer. This is the reason this article caught my attention.
This article explains that when workers and employees don't get enough sleep their productivity levels decrease and safety issues start to arise. Due to this, billions of dollars are lost annually. It also states that the work force is becoming more competitive and a well rested person is more efficient when working and with most likely get a job over someone who doesn't get enough sleep.
This also interests me because it said that these bad sleeping habits are caused at a young age. I will soon be joining the workforce myself and this information can help me in the furture. If I can change my sleeping habits for the better now I may be able to get a job easier than someone else in the furture.
An Asian American Teen Idol Onscreen, Finally
By: Jenny Han
Hollywood has always been biased against Asians; and I have always resented and hated that. The blatant discrimination and racism behind Asians in Hollywood has always been shocking. But, through this movie, we can see Hollywood changing one step at a time.
I love the book “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.” Maybe it's because the main character is Korean like me or because I’ve always dreamed of having a romance like Lara Jean and Peter had. Either way, the book was a part of my childhood.
When I heard that “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” was going to be made into a movie, I desperately wished that the main character will be Asian. To me, if the main character wasn’t Asian, then the book would no longer have the same meaning it meant to me all these years. I have always dreamed of Hollywood having a movie that had a teenager that was Asian as I was. But, like all dreams are, I believed that it was only a fantasy, for I never believed Hollywood could change enough to cast an Asian-American as it’s lead.
I know I’m not the star of a rom-com movie. I know my fantasies will never be a reality. I know my idea of romance only exists in my imagination. But, it’s times like these, when a movie comes out with the main character that is similar to me, that I begin to dream that my dreams are more than just a fantasy. When my childhood dreams that have left me, start coming back to me.
“Review: ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Is a Party With a First-Rate Guest List”
In the movie Crazy Rich Asians, Rachel Chu, a Chinese-American girl and her Singaporean boyfriend Nick Young go to Singapore for a vacation. What Nick doesn’t fully clarify is that they are going to his friend’s wedding, where Rachel will meet Nick’s unbelievably rich Singapore real estate family. His family members hate Rachel before she even arrives because she is an American with different values and nowhere near as wealthy as the Youngs. Nick and Rachel get permission to marry each other in the end, but I saw this as unrealistic since Nick’s mother was so strict. Rachel was clearly going to make the least money out of the entire family. Even though Eleanor had faced some tough times in the past, it was way too nice of her to let her marry Nick, a major decision that would affect their wealth. Rachel acted so childish throughout the movie as well. She was told by Nick that they would be meeting his wealthy family. How did that invoke Rachel to make a complete fool of herself in front of every family member, even if she was nervous? I was mortified for her during the entire movie. Her reaction to scrutiny from stingy family members was the most childish: literally running away and crying from them. But the movie was beautifully shot and featured eye-catching animations and great music. I also give credit to the producers, who put much effort into forming the cast.
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I found the article, “Once ‘No Longer a Nuclear Threat’, North Korea Now in Standoff with the US” interesting because it deals with the historical yet very complicated peace talks between the US and North Korea. According to the article, North Korea will refuse to comply with the United States’s demands of a written disclosure of their nuclear inventory and locations of such facilities until the US officially declares the Korean War as over. Many people are a bit suspicious of these requests, such as National Security Advisor John Bolton, who says North Korea has not taken any steps necessary to denuclearize since being in talks with the US. Others feel as if we have no reason to even trust North Korea, as they have showed no loyalty or attempts for peace until just a few months ago. They refuse to give back the remains of 50 or so American soldiers that died during the Korean War, produce numerous anti-American propaganda all over their media, and has largely been bitter towards America since the 1970s. There have even been claims by some that North Korea will never disclose all of their nuclear arsenal or facilities to the United States, and may even been attempting to deceive us and surprise us with a nuclear ambush. While I doubt the last part is true, I am interested in the complicated peace talks between two of the world’s most bitter enemies.
The article “How Karate Helped An Aging Expert Age Better” by Karen Weintraub really interested me because of how absurd of a thing answers a complicated question such as how to preserve a younger look as you grow old. I would have never guessed an ancient Greek karate would be the answer, but according to 61-year-old aging expert Dr. Kirk Daffner it is so. Daffner claims that his karate instructor gave him better tactic to feel and look younger than anything the Harvard Medical graduate of neurology ever knew. His instructor, 90-year-old George Gonis, has ways of improving the health and aging of people that Daffner believes are decades beyond its time. They involve more than just physical exercise, but mental fortitude and commitment. The karate style that’s taught involves a lot of exercise, but also much discipline and cognitive thinking. Daffner was told the connection between exercise and mental health that would result in a younger feeling body by Gonis. When conducted extensive research on the idea, Daffner discovered a healthy body paired with a healthy mind slowed down the aging process in humans. So while it may sound crazy, doing karate may help you live longer and look better too.
The Flourishing Business of Fake YouTube Views
This article caught my eye because it made me laugh. I remember when I was young, I would want more followers and likes than all of my friends so I bought likes and followers for instagram. I was way too young to be doing that. The funny part is, people much older than me still feel like it is a competition and they do it to benefit themselves. Never did I know this was illegal however. Also, the amount of money someone can make over selling fake youtube views is quite fascinating. It is effortless work. Using these fake likes for publicity and to be better than someone else is crazy to think about. It makes humans sound… crazy. However, I am also being a hypocrite to my 12 year old self. I am glad I read this article because it gave me some interesting facts on the run down of fake views, likes, dislikes and followers. I thought it was interesting that this has been a recurring problem that YouTube cannot seem to fix. They keep trying but they cannot stop the fake views. They are always one step ahead it feels like.
The article “Back-to-School Shopping for Districts: Armed Guards, Cameras and Metal Detectors” interested me this week because as a highschool student I know safety is something I should be concerned about. I don’t often feel afraid at school but I know the threat of violence can affect any school anywhere. Not only do I think about my own safety starting my second year of high school, but I think about both of my siblings who are in college, and my mother who is a teacher in a middle school. My thoughts are that while using forms such as cameras with facial recognition, and handheld metal detectors for protection we can do more to find a solution other than installing new technology and hiring armed guards. However I appreciate the efforts and concern to make schools a better place, but I hope that in the near future these efforts will stop school shootings with fatal outcomes.
@[email protected]
This article interested me because of how determined all the rescuers were to save those boys. I can only imagine the fear the boys felt while trapped in the cave, and how heavy the rescuers’ hearts felt when they found the boys but could not yet save them. The team of rescuers included others from other countries, the navy and the air force. Most of the people involved in the rescue party did not have any relationship to the boys, yet they still risked their lives to save the team. It is truly amazing how in times of need people all over the world were able to come together and save a whole soccer team. With all the hate in the media and the world today, it is nice to hear such an uplifting story of how people despite their differences saved the a group of strangers.
@[email protected]
As a frequent user of Twitter, the article, “Inside Twitter’s Struggle Over What Gets Banned” by Celia Kang interested me. A question I have with many social media platforms I use is what do you actually have to do to be deemed fit to be banned from the platform. Many platforms I use claim that a violation of terms and services must happen in order for it to happen, but many users that do actively break or ignore those terms stay on. It’s not until a large number of people report or call out for a person to be removed that any action is taken. That can be very dangerous, as sometimes groups of “haters” and “trolls” falsely report posts to get that person banned wrongly. Thankfully though, Twitter seems to be above the problems other platforms such as YouTube and Facebook, which are notorious for banning innocent users while letting constant violators remain. Twitter’s CEO announced they will not ban Alex Jones, a popular conspiracy theorist podcast host, who had in the previous day had his podcast removed from Apple and all his posts and account from Youtube and Facebook. Though Jones has much controversy and has many people opposed to and calling for the removal of him from all social media, Twitter has decided it will stick to their policies and not ban Jones just because of his unpopularity. I find it comforting to know as a user of Twitter that they abide by their policy and will not remove somebody just because of the things they say or the people they oppose.
The article “2018 Is Shaping Up to Be the Fourth-Hottest Year. Yet We’re Still Not Prepared for Global Warming.” interested me this week because of the escalating changes we’ve seen in our environment. Wildfires have spread all over California, and the heat has been so extreme in some parts of the world that it has caused several deaths in Japan. Climate change has been detected since 2001, and we have not taken the precautions we should have.
“It’s not a wake-up call anymore,” says Cynthia Rosenzweig, who works with NASA. I think we have not taken climate change seriously. If the human race wants to see a better future for the next generation, now would be the time to start acting and fighting against global warming.
@[email protected]
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-israa-a...
“Saudi Arabia Seeks the Death Penalty for Female Activist”
I was interested the most this week about the article called “Saudi Arabia Seeks the Death Penalty for Female Activist” because I was shocked to read of a woman who is being put to death for her own beliefs. The woman is only twenty-eight years old and she is being killed for encouraging there to be more rights for the Shiite Muslim minority. The fact that this woman did no crime but speak her opinion and is being killed for her beliefs disgusts me. The government must be so afraid of people working against them that they kill anyone who disagrees with them. I was also interested in this article because I came to understand how lucky I am to be living in a country where there is freedom of speech. In the United States we are able to protest and say whatever we want without being persecuted by the government for having different beliefs. I was disgusted to read about this woman’s situation and reminded of how blessed I am to be living in the United States of America after reading this article.
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“Do the Asia Argento Allegations Discredit #MeToo? It's Founder Doesn’t Think So”
This article begins by summarizing the Asia Argento situation. The actress famously came forward as one of the many women assaulted by Harvey Weinstein, and has been very vocal in the #MeToo movement, however recently allegations have come forward towards Argento of the sexual assault of Jimmy Bennett shortly after he turned 17. After explaining this, the article highlights other recent instances of people coming forward, and then outlines responses of other prominent figures within the movement. All of the statements are similar, denouncing Argento but stating that her actions should not be used to discredit the movement.
Clearly, Asia Argento’s actions should not be used to the detriment of the #MeToo movement. The movement as a whole has provided a platform for people to come forward about their stories of abuse and has provided hope for the survivors across the world. The question is, should movements like these be associated with their leaders actions? Ideally not, but asking people to ignore them is unrealistic. There is not much that can be done in situations like these, except to learn from Argento’s mistakes. Rather than pinning Argento’s, or any member of a movement’s actions on their cause, people should value importance of that movement. Unfortunately, this rarely happens. Hopefully Argento’s situation shows that one member’s actions does not discredit the whole movement.
The article that made me the most interested this week was, "Air Pollution Is Shortening Your Life. Here's How Much." When I was looking through all of the articles, this one caught my eye. It caught my eye because, it says just in the title that air pollution is not allowing you to live as long. So, when I began to read, the article stated, "Air pollution is shaving months--and in some cases more than a year-- off your life expectancy, depending on where you live." After reading that first paragraph I was surprised because, I thought that air pollution would shorten our life expectancy by a month, not by a whole year. Although, the article states that how much your life expectancy gets shortened is based on where you live I found it very interesting yet extremly scary. The article also says, "For the United States, it's less, currently reducing the life expectancy of an American born today by a little more than four months on average." Even though this number is still large the amount of life shortening in the United states is still less than in other countries...for now. Now, Trump is replacing Obama's Clean Power Plan, and his new plan could lead up to 1,400 premature deaths annually. Finally, I found this article very interesting because I not only got to learn how the U.S. has a little better life expectancy than other countries, but I got to learn about President Trump and how he doesn't care as much about the people in the U.S. compared to Obama.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/arts/music/100000005428231/aretha-franklin...
“Aretha Franklin Remembered”
What interested me the most in the New York Times this week was the video about Aretha Franklin because she was a marvelous singer who grew up in Detroit. Franklin was called queen in her early twenties because she had an amazing voice. She could sing anything from Baptist to modern day songs. At the beginning of Franklin’s life, she sang Baptist music and later in her life she sang songs by Adel. I was also interested to know that Franklin was from Detroit. When I hear of famous people coming from my hometown, I get excited and interested to know that he/she grew up around the same area I did. I was inspired by how Franklin inspired so many people with her amazing voice. Many celebrities are going to her funeral to remember her and her fantastic and inspiring music.
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"Air Pollution Is Shortening Your Life. Here’s How Much." All of my life I have been acutely aware of the issue of global warming. From the constant reminders on the internet to actual evidence of it in the world. I have always known that global warming was a problem, but until reading this article, I had never considered how much a contributing factor to global warming, air pollution, could affect my life. I believed that the worst thing air pollution could do was block the stars or cloud a beautiful skyline. I never understood that air pollution could actually take years of of a life. The situation is so dire that the World Health Organization reports that air pollution is responsible for one in nine deaths worldwide. This fact absolutely blew my mind. How could such a large issue with very real repercussions be taken so lightly by people. Thanks to this article, I am now aware of this large issue and I will strive to find any way I can to make a difference in the world.
"The Flourishing Business of Fake Youtube Views"
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/11/technology/youtube-fake-v...
This article talks about the pesky businesses that supply Youtube, Facebook and Twitter content creators with fake views and likes. These businesses are shady and unfair to other content creators who work hard to gain a viewer base. It is very difficult for a creator on any social media to gain even 20 views, but with these websites, people can unfair gain a viewer base as creators with more viewers are generally more likable than other smaller creators. It's very unfortunate that shady businesses like these are able to earn large profits. Many times it doesn't help the person using it, as shown in the article where Dr. Judith Oppenheimer used the business to promote her book, but she found no boost in sales. These businesses are overall disgusting, shady and unfair to smaller creators. Even I have tried to create content on these social medias but gave up after a month of getting nothing. Overall, these businesses are unfair to smaller content creators, and shouldn't be allowed as view bots are against Youtube's rules.
Article: "Baseball Reaches Out to the Next Generation on Their Own Turf" (no author listed)
This article explains the game when MLB players played a game at the Little League World Series. The game was between the Phillies and the Mets, with many of the Little League teams in attendance. The Little Legaue players had the chance to play catch with and talk to the players. Some MLB pitchers even went into the crowd to talk to some kids during the game.
This article interested me because I was once in Little League, and I always wanted to have the chance to play in the Little League World Series. I also have met a couple of my favorite players, and I know that it is a memory that will last forever. It is cool to see baseball's future meet the greats in the big leagues today. All in all, this event takes me back to the days I was in Little League, with dreams of meeting my idols and playing on the largest stage.
More Strikeouts Than Hits? Welcome to Baseball’s Latest Crisis
By: Tyler Kepner
I have always been a fan of baseball and I love to see how the sport is changing. However, this increasing amount of strikeouts has been very subtle over the years and isn't being seen as much of a problem. From playing baseball myself, I can say that it is more fun to get multiple hits in a game but also be able to field the ball on defense. An increase in strikeouts means less defensive plays and more batters trying to hit home runs. This may not sound like the two stats correlate, but, it is known that the most efficient way to score is to hit a ball that guarantees a run, home run. Similarly, it is most effective for the pitcher to avoid hits by taking out the defensive side that could involve error. As a fan of baseball, I am drawn to this article to see how different the games appear from the stands. Clearly, it is very exciting to see my favorite team hit home runs, but that is not really worth the lack of hits and constant plays that keep my attention on the game. Overall, I am interested in this topic and hope to see a change in the upcoming seasons of professional baseball. As good as the players are, it's nice to have a game that grabs and holds my attention.
The article that interested me the most is "Nascars futur Depends on These 5- year olds". Mr. Shipman has more than 70 racing clubs designed for the thousands of children, ages 5 to 17, who race quarter-midget cars. these clubs are part of a vast tradition of American auto racing only as the children progress in age, size and experience are they permitted to compete in the more powerful classes. The history of quarter-midget racing as an organized sport dates at least as far back as 1954, when Doug Schiller, one of the first racers. The sport gained popularity on the East and West Coasts before spreading to all 50 states. A majority of young racers will try their hand at quarter midgets and will never race again .but some kids will transition to full-size racecars, including midget cars, sprint cars and stock cars. At some racing tracks in the United States, children as young as 11 are allowed to race full-size cars
Self Care: A Working Definition
By: The New York Times
The definition of self-care by the Oxford Dictionary is "The practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health." Self-care is an important part of maintaining a healthy and happy lifestyle. Self-care applies to both physical, mental, and emotional health and everyone handles self-care differently. Physical self-care is going for regular doctors checkup and/or eating right. Mental and emotional help is where there is no exact definition because it is different for everyone. In this article, a woman named Francesca Donner wrote about her father's spaghetti and red sauce recipe as a form of mental health because it reminded her of home and family. Another woman in the article, Jenna Wortham, says that when she learned the power to say no, she learned about her mental self-care. This article stresses the importance of self-care because it is a major part of life and at the end of the day the last person that you want to be standing in your way is you.
The article that interested me the most this week was, "Finding It Hard to Focus? Maybe It's Not Your Fault," because of how relatable it is to the society of today. Since the early 2000's technology has been advancing and capturing our attention by the minute. It is made evident that more than half of our generation have been fixated on their phones all the time. Matter a fact, several large companies are suggesting that the reason we spend several hours on the internet is that we are addicted to it. In the society of today, we see children from the age of three years old sitting down at a restaurant table playing with an Ipad because it has simply become part of their routine to use technology every day. Apple has suggested that their iPhone users unlock their phones for about 80 times a day. As a result, it can be demonstrated that we are just simply addicted to the internet and several benefits that come along with it. Furthermore, by using technology every single day, professors have suggested that our attention span is very low. On several occasions, we usually go to check our phone for one minute and then a half hour later we find ourselves on social media just scrolling along. This article intrigued me because it showed me that I do not want to be part of a generation where we spend more than half of our time looking down on our phones just simply because we are addicted to it.
The article that interested me this week was "How slender man became a legend" by Gabe Cohn. This interested me because I recently saw the new movie trailer for slender man. Which piqued my interest since I like a few horror movies. So I decided to look int the past a bit on how slender man became so known today. In the article, there`s an image where there is a tall dark figure with tentacles in the background with children. This image was found in the Stirling City library, a week later a fire had occurred at the library which is weird since it append after the photo had been discovered. Which is super creepy. It`s also pretty disturbing to know that 14 children had gone missing that day as well as the photographer Mary Thomas. It`s also crazy that this happened back in 1986 although I always feel like creepy/paranormal sightings happen back in earlier years.
'How Robot Hands Are
Evolving to Do What Ours Can'
I know technology is evolving, but the artificial intelligence we are making is remarkable. I have always loved the thought of robots and androids roaming around acting normal in society. But, if the technology can help us, that is even greater. The robots they designed only do simple tasks such as moving a toy block around its hand. But, in the future, these robots can do so much more.
What most interested me in the times this week is the article " A Non-Gamer's Guide to Fortnite, the Game That Conquered All the Screens by Sandra E. Garcia." As everybody knows kids, teens and even adults stay playing games whether is Call of Duty, GTA ,and etc for hours on their PS4 or Xbox1. A game that has been out for a while called Fortnite has been taking over. This game is very addicting, in general it's a video game where it allows as 100 different players meet on a virtual island the point of the game is to be the last one standing, to do that you gotta kill everyone else. Throughout the game you will find guns. and more accessories. In March fortnite made 223 millions dollars. Though the game is free, the game has accessories and skins which you would need to buy. At the end of the day a big population of people plays this game.
The article "Why your Brain Tricks You Into Doing Less Important Tasks" by Tim Herrara most interested me this week. I know I have many problems with procrastination, as do many kids and adults all over the world. I know the general reason why I procrastinate is because I don't want to complete the task at hand, it just doesn't appeal to me. But I never understood why I would rather put stickers on my waterbottle (something I would normally never make time to do) rather than getting down to business and writing this NYT blog, and completing my summer work. According to the article, our brains know that the thing we don't want to do is more urgent, yet it would rather recieve more instant gratification from a short easy task over a task we are forced to put more time and effort into. Although the more urgent thing would be better to complete in the long run, our brain can see a quicker payoff by doing the useless not as important tasks. Herrara also acknowledges the fact that our brain also has to overcome the obstacle of determining which tasks are more important than one another. He gives the readers a chart that helps one to seperate tasks into 'urgent' and 'non-urgent'. This article has definitly opened my eyes on why being able to focus on summer work (which is more important) is much less appealing compared to swimming all day.
The article that interested me this week is called "Netflix Tests Promotional Videos but Users See 'Commercials'" by Sandra E. Garcia. This article interests me because I am a user of Netflix and love that you are able to binge watch shows. To me it's insane that they would add " promotional videos" because most people love Netflix and are subscribed to it because of no commercials. Them adding this though changes the game completely. Why would people want to pay monthly for commercials when they can just watch regular TV. To me this is a really poor decision by Netflix because they will get way more hate then love for this. Yes it might promote some shows every now and then but is it worth losing customers for that. They already have a feature when you finish a series or a movie and it says shows like this one and that does a lot of promoting on there on. They don't need to annoy their fan base by adding promotional videos. As someone who uses Netflix and loves the way it is already I don't think it's smart to continue these promotional videos.
“What Interested You The Most in The New York Times This Week?”
Article: Finding It Hard to Focus? Maybe It’s Not Your Fault
This Article Interested me because society today is addicted to the internet and social media.
Many companies are finding ways to hook us in and onto their websites. Everything loads and moves so quickly while we are typing away on our computers. “Mr. Williams compares the current design of our technology to ‘an entire army of jets and tanks’ aimed at capturing and keeping our attention. And the army is winning. We spend the day transfixed by our screens, thumb twitching in the subways and elevators, glancing at traffic lights”. As a result of technology constantly moving fast, now when people finally find the motivation to sit down and attempt to be productive, their thoughts take time to form and do not move fast enough resulting in a loss of attention. I think everyone needs to work to avoid their own personal internet addiction because companies are always thinking of new ways to create this addiction. Their goal is to earn more revenue. Now back to the question, Finding it hard to focus? Well, I don’t think it's our fault.
Science Alone Won’t Save the Earth. People Have to Do That.
When it comes to earth, there will never be a win-win situation. By benefiting ourselves, we hurt the earth and when we try to conserve it, we just impede our ability to improve our every day lives. It’s funny how the world works… our own planet is one of the factors as to why we’re scared to advance. Earth is kind of like a gimmick in a way. We’re allowed to live, eat, and sleep on it, but as soon as one of us discovers a major breakthrough for society, the planet decides to shorten it’s existents, almost as if to taunt us. But all joking aside, it isn’t earth that is the problem, it’s us. It states in the article that there is simply no way to avoid environmental consequences in an industrial world. And if this is the case, then the least we could do is conserve it because lets get real, stripping away technologies from us is like telling a teenage girl to get off her phone during dinner - impossible. Everybody KNOWS that they should recycle, but there’s a fine line between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Recycling is one of the easiest ways to help conserve the earth and I hate to admit it, but even I forget to do that simple task. Hopefully in the future there will finally be something immense to help our earth, but in the meantime, doing the little things will hopefully bring light to this situation that should’ve been thought about long, long ago.
“ Back-to-School Shopping for Districts: Armed Guards, Cameras and Metal Detectors”
This article interested me because it shows the extent that many public schools have to go to in order to make sure their school is a safe environment for their students and teachers as well. With school shootings happening more recently than ever, and the recent school shooting in Parkland, Flordia killing 17 students and staff members, it’s becoming harder for people to see schools as safe. Ever since the Columbine High School shooting, schools have taken many safety precautions. But since more and more shootings are unfortunately happening, it’s becoming necessary for schools to have to increase the amount of security they have and can’t just keep doing lock down drills and have to have metal detectors or cops and security guards all around the school. This article is important because seeing that many schools are stepping up their security and technology to make schools become more safer to their students and staff and hopefully prevent more school shootings in the future.
The honeybee population has been slowly diminishing for years now. This decrease in population is making prices to rent honeybees skyrocket. This is causing farmers to switch to different options for pollinators. One of these options is blue orchard bees. They don't make honey and don't live in a hive, but their population is large enough to sustain an orchard. Farmers have seen their fruit production double since they have changed their pollinators. One third of all of the food that we consume must be pollinated in order to grow, which means the decrease in honeybees is also inhibiting our food supply. The Integrated Crop Pollination Project has been exploring habitat enhancement for wild bees in order to try and rebound the honeybee population. I chose to read this article because I was interested in the agricultural effects of the now rapidly decreasing honeybee population. I was also interested in learning how directly the decrease in honeybee population has affected the amount of food that is produced in the United States. The population decrease of honeybees is clearly a huge issue as it will affect the livelihoods of farmers as well as American's abilities to buy food at reasonable prices.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/science/bees-pollination-farming.html...
Today in the times I read an article called parenting the fortnite addict. It is about how fortnite is taking over the world and minds of all of the gamers around the world. In March fortnite made 223 million dollars. The game itself is free but kids around the world buy accessories and skins to change their game. In the article it states that fortnite is a mix of minecraft and the hunger games. Fortnite drops 100 competitors on an island and requires them to scavenge for weapons and other resources, build defensive structures and vanquish opponents in a quest to become the last player standing. Middle schools and high schools find themselves at odds because during the day they might be playing and teachers will get mad. The games can be played on gaming consoles, computers and cellphones. The game is even popular to adults and even professional athletes who incorporate the fortnite dances into their celebrations.While Fortnite can be played solo, it is often a social experience as friends can team up in pairs or fours. If they’re not together physically, they communicate — over FaceTime, a headset linked to a game system, or the like — to coordinate strategy, alert teammates to threats, root for one another and trade banter. The game is based on teamwork, strategy, and thinking. During fortnite you can build structures to protect themselves from enemy fire. Fortnite is a fun game but your mind cannot get sucked into it you should limit yourself to at most 2 hours a day.
This is for last week
I read about How to Do a Makeup Look in 5 Minutes. It told me about a girl who had trouble with makeup her whole life. She finally sees a real makeup artist and sees that it truly isn’t that hard. She also learned that she needed to give herself more credit than she takes. She said that she would never do her makeup because she really didn’t have time. Turns out you can do it only 5 minutes. This article interested me because I’m always in a hurry. Between school, sports, and trying to hang with friends it’s hard to do your makeup quick. Even though I go to an all girls school, I like to know how to do my makeup for other occasions quick. This really showed me its not hard to do a quick makeup routine and still look great.
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Moroccan Feminist Activist Arrested Amid Abortion Campaign
In this article a Moroccan activist was arrested for alleged public drinking and disturbance in order. This woman said her arrest was an attempt to quash a campaign for abortion access and LGBT rights. There was an online campaign as soon as she was arrested to demand her to be released. Besides the fact that the website was helping her get out of jail it's also a website that provides woman with abortion pills. I find this article interesting by how one woman took it far enough to get arrested and her group is helping other woman get their own equal rights. She sacrificed her own life and had a consequence of $50 and 2 years in prison. Hopefully they have a way to get her out faster and get the equal rights protested even more. [email protected]
The article “2018 is shaping up to be the fourth hottest year. Yet we’re still not prepared for global warming”. Article interested me because it talked about global warming and how it’s affecting the weather conditions. In this article I learned that there has been an increase in the deaths due to these heat waves. This made me realize how anybody could get sick or die to something that is around all the time when we’re outside. In the article it says how the efforts of trying to stop these heat waves have failed and now us humans have to evolve and get use to the new hot temperatures. I believe that we could fix this issue by making this issue more known and work together to stop these heat waves from occurring more, by being more mindful about our ozone layer which is protecting us from the sun rays, But would take part in helping the world become a better place?
Is Netflix's 'Insatiable' as Offensive as It Looks?
One of Netflix's series "Insatiable" was called offensive to many people who watched the trailer. The show is about a bullied girl who loses weight after an incident which makes her keep her mouth shut. Many people are fat-shaming the show and the Netflix vice president is defending why the show was released on their network. The show when it was released had gone into a different direction besides the girl being bullied. I find this article interesting by how people just shame a show before it even has its chance to become something bigger. The show is even more about sexual predators and how the main character is actually very bad on the inside even though her outside looks nice and pretty. Watchers need to give shows a chance before they even come out with the first episodes. [email protected]
https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/08/17/world/middleeast/ap-ml-moroc...
Freedom of speech gives the people the right to protest and speak out for what they want. When that right is limited, the people’s concerns and values are ignored, and that’s why the arrest of Moroccan feminist Ibtissam Lachgar is a big deal. Abortion is a crime in Morocco, and if people can’t speak out, then that will never change. When discussing female reproductive rights, women should be making the decision. Until men have to have the baby themselves, their opinions just shouldn’t matter as much. So, I believe that if laws won’t impact men, they shouldn’t be decided by men, and so her campaign for abortion is important. Her voice deserves to be heard as much as anyone else’s and imprisoning her for her opinion and activism obstructs her ability to work towards change. All of us should be able to express what we want our world to be, even if we don’t agree. There shouldn’t be any obstruction of anyone else’s voice. We can’t silence activists because they want to change the way things are. Over time, things always change, and that’s a good thing. Change can lead to a better, more accepting world.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/15/us/transgender-oklahoma-school-bullyi...
its sad when a child does not feel safe in a classroom or in a school.Being transgender was something that was not common in the olden days but now its becoming more out there people are sharing their stories and how they new they where different ,this young women put herself out their and she got torn down by parents and classmates. Its sad to see someone who is going throw an huge change in life and already didn't feel confident get stripped of the rest of their confident.have a cousin who is going through the change of becoming a women and i see what people say to him and it hurts me because he is my cousin and i love him for who he no matter the gender whats more sad is since its 2018 a lot of people still don't support the LGBTQ community or go against it and they shouldn't.
The article that interested me in the times this week was "Black Boys Feel Less Safe in White Neighborhoods, Study Shows". This article stood out to me because I think that it's outrageous that racism is still an issue. Everyone should be treated equally and it shouldn't matter if someones skin is white or black. In the article, it stated that "Many black boys have been racially profiled, arrested, or even killed in white neighborhoods..." I think that this is so unacceptable and cruel. We are all the same even though it may not look like it, and skin color should not be a reason to bring someone down.
The article “Does Canada Need Better Gun Control” by Jooyoung Lee is an interesting take on how Jooyoung, an american living in Canada, reacted to the shootings and a mass murderer being investigated in Toronto, Canada. As an american myself I found this article very interesting considering how frequent it is in the United States to hear about a shooting compared to another country like Canada. For a shooting to even reach the news media in the United States it has to have a certain amount of deaths and injuries, but in Canada this isn't the case because its not as normalized in the north of the border as it is down here in the south. So naturally when Canadians living in Toronto started to experience more and more frequent shootings close to home they lost their sense of safety. With their sense of safety slowly diminishing, Canadians, are feeling the pressure of a gun problem in Canada, even if it is happening less frequently than the United States.
The article that interested me the most this week in the Times was "Happy Children Do Chores," written by KJ Dell'Antonia. KJ believes that children should complete chores for multiple reason. One obvious reason being that it will set children up for a successful future. KJ supports their claim by including a survey that showed successful adults in their mid-20's; they all started chores when they were 3 or 4 and said doing chores taught them responsibility that they apply to their everyday lives. KJ also believes that doing chores will connect children to their parents. When children help their parents they'll feel happy and a sense of obligation which will make their parents happy too. KJ concludes their opinion by saying how sports and homework are not free cards to get out of chores because chores aren't just chores, they're life skills.
I strongly agree with KJ. Being a junior in high school, chores taught me a sense of responsibility. Responsibility such as managing my time with school, sports, and chores. Knowing how to manage my time will prepare me for my future. Chores also taught me how to do simple tasks such as washing clothes, cooking, and more. These are simple life skills that I will need when I graduate and leave for college. Chores should be a worldwide responsibility that every kid should have. Chores were beneficial to me, so I know in the future when I have kids of my own I will make sure they have chores as well.
"Surprise Gift: Free Tuition for All N.Y.U. Medical Students"
I have known from a young age that I have wanted to become a doctor. Becoming a physician for me has always been a dream and the ultimate end goal, but as I near the end of my high school career I worry and hope that I don't find myself swimming in a pool of thousands of dollars of debt. Reading this article for me was like a glimmer of hope because it allows for the possibility that other schools will adopt this wonderful policy. If other institutes adopt this, I bet that thousands of others will pursue the path of becoming a physician. The article mentioned that because of the debt, students are pursuing high paying specialties, I understand that this causing a shortage among other specialties, but I think that since you work so hard in medical school you should be living in a more than comfortable position. However, thousands of students enroll in medical school, and the hardest part of it all is going to be getting accepted into medical school, so it should be interesting to seeing how many get accepted now that all four years will be payed for. Hopefully when my times comes I will be accepted into medical school.
Many prestigious colleges around the US have race as a factor to whether not a student will get accepted into the university. Even though test scores and their GPA are a huge portion to getting admitted race becomes a strong factor too. I find this article interesting because the universities also take into effect if the parents are alumni, if their family makes big donations towards the school, if they excel at a niche sport, or if they were hailed from underrepresented state. It's not fair to students who work hard to get into the school of their dreams and they don't have enough back round to actually get in. If someone has an outstanding academic record and a weaker back round history their probability of getting in is low. The fact that these facts are true shows that colleges would rather have more of a race factor than a academic factor. [email protected]
Parenting the Fortnite Addict
Ever since the new Fortnite game came out it has been addicting to kids, teens, and adults of all ages. This game is free on multiple gaming systems including computers and mobile phones. Even though the game is free it made 223 million dollars in March alone on extra add on items to the game. I find this article interesting by how many people love and dedicate so much time to this game. The fact that so many users actually spend money to buy stuff in the game blows me away. The extra add ons do not help the players performance but just makes the character look more stylish. Parents are now watching their children's screen time on this game because researchers show the game was built to become addictive. Researchers also say that parents should learn the object of the game so they can interact and bond with their child. [email protected]
"Friendly Foxes’ Genes Offer Hints to How Dogs Became Domesticated"
89.7 million dogs live with humans as of 2017, eat with them, play with them, sleep and more. dogs are one of the most popular pets in the world, but what distinguishes the dogs from other pets? and when I took a moment to think about it I came to a conclusion - it is because of there friendliness, dogs are the most human-friendly animal in the world. but then another question comes up - why? the article "Friendly Foxes’ Genes Offer Hints to How Dogs Became Domesticated" tries to answer this exact question.
the article describes a research that tries to answer this question from an unconventional angle, they have examined the DNA of foxes instead of dogs because "The domestic dog is selected for so many different things, the fox is only selected for friendliness."
The researchers selectively bred foxes by how friendly they were to human, they bred the aggressive ones together and the friendly ones together.
They found out a gene that is different between the two kinds of foxes, that is also involved in regulating how the connections between brain cells work, which makes sense for a gene involved in social behavior.
this interested me the most this week because of the possibilities of applying this on humans, maybe in the future, we won't need any jails because we could just perform a gene surgery that will make you more friendly or kind, which is a huge step towards a better world.
I read the article “A conversation with my black son” because it’s interesting to me that black people are treated so differently from white people just because of their skin color. Black parents have to have talks with their kids to tell them the bad things that could happen to them just because of the color of their skin. I’m sure it’s hard for parents to tell their kids that just getting pulled over by a cop could lead to getting a gun pointed at you for doing nothing because they think that you could do something stupid just because of the color of your skin. I think black people aren’t treated the same as white people and I think it’s very hard to be a different race in today’s society. [email protected]
The article “An Underappreciated Key to College Success: Sleep” interests me because most students stay up all night to be ready for a test or have everything ready for school the next day. There was a lot of examples in the article that showed students who get more sleep exceed better with what they are doing or do better in school overall. Kids don’t sleep enough and it shows that it’s a health crisis but most kids think sleep isn’t that important and that you’ll be fine with pulling an all-nighter when it can mess up the whole sleep schedule. Stress is caused by sleep deprivation, kids will be so stressed out over school but it’s just because they aren’t getting enough sleep.
As the time for when I go off to college gets closer and closer, the question that always pops in my head is “How will i pay for it?, the cost of college tuition has always been unreasonably high, meaning many college students turn to student loans. But borrowing money to help pay for some of that college tuition is easy paying it back is the hard part. When hearing that people who have some of the most well paying jobs are struggling to pay off their student loans it shows how much of a problem it is. Some parents start saving for their child to go to college nearly as soon as their born, other start later. When I go to college I would most likely use loans to help pay the high tuition and thinking I might end up with thousands of dollars in dept is a scary thought. Barely out of college looking for a job is stressful enough but making sure to keep up with the payments or else the price needed to pay it off keeps going up is a problem. Seeing that this is a problem some colleges offer free tuition if they come from a low income household or work on-campus after graduation. One specific college, NYU School of Medicine, has become tuition free after realizing the problems today's graduates face with financial dept. Hopefully more colleges like this will open in the near future.
The article that interested me the most was " All- female Biker club ". this bicker club is a group of 13 women who loved riding motorcycles. they call them selves the "Caramel Curves ". they picked that name because of there color and because they are curvy women. when Hurricane Katrina came a few women reunited and started riding motorcycles together and started naming themselves that "Caramel Curves". to join the club you have to love riding motorcycles and you have to participate in a lot of community service events, like fund raisers to buy motorcycles for young adults. and They have to prove their riding skills to the rest of the group over months of ride-alongs, both around town and out of state, to Florida or Texas, or to one of the most popular bike gatherings in the South. this would take form 90 days to 1 year. they also made this motrocycle club because they belive that anything a man could do a women could do it better. for example Ms. Bell was riding one day when a male biker shouted out to her, “I bet you can’t do any tricks” She popped a perfect wheelie to prove him wrong.
After reading the NY Times Article "Report Ties Players at Top College Basketball Programs to Illicit Payments," written by Marc Tracy, I took a deep interest into the context of the passage regarding the illicit payments. Throughout this piece, Tracy analyzes the federal investigation regarding the nation's highest-ranked basketball players receiving financial payments from the country's most renowned universities that violate N.C.A.A. rules. Top college basketball programs were accused of such allegations, thus costing several coaches their jobs and tainting the brand of their program. Moreover, according to many conspiracies, the scandal is believed to have been the main reason why top teams, like Arizona, missed out on the N.C.A.A. tournament this year.
Personally, I feel as if the main problem with this entire situation has solely to do with the N.C.A.A.. Basketball continues to emerge among the most popular sports in the world, where revenue continuously flourishes. With that said, why is it that the players are the ones showcasing their skills day in and day out in order for their programs to make money, yet not get compensated for their work? All of these players deserve to be paid, because without them, their schools would not receive such high financial benefits. These are the top basketball players nationwide, in which some of them end up making the NBA. Therefore, they should be paid like it, without any secrecy. I believe there should be change; not punishment.
When I was looking through the paper today the article, “After the Bitcoin Boom: Hard Lessons for Cryptocurrency Investors,” by Nathaniel Popper and Su-Hyun Lee. They write about a Pete Roberts throwing away his savings to just make so money with bitcoin. Bitcoin was at its peak in January. After investing into the cryptocurrency the price started to drop and not recover as he expected it to do. He then started to go into financial debt. Investing into the stock market and investing into a cryptocurrency in my opinion are two very different things. The stock market doesn't have as much risk as a cryptocurrency has. In my opinion I would never invest in cryptocurrencies for that specific reason. Even though I have to make a profit. If I wanted to make money, I would invest into the stock market or use bonds. The stock market has some risk, but it’s a lot safer than investing in cryptocurrencies. I would also use bonds to get profit because there isn't as much risk. The only risk is if the company or government goes bankrupt. Also when the bond matures your original investment is given back to with the interest that you earned. Cryptocurrencies are very risky and I would never recommend investing into them.
"The Rich Are Planning to Leave This Wretched Planet"
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/09/style/axiom-space-travel.html
This article talking about people who can afford to leave earth and spend time in space caught my attention for many reasons. Awhile ago I remember hearing people talk about how the rich can be launched safely into space in rockets, but of course at an insane price. I have always loved the thought of space and if a civilization can survive on such an aircraft. Of course these people do not plan on living in outer space, well as of right now anyways but it is still very interesting. This article says that for $55 million people can have a vacation in space for eight days. It won’t be the most comfortable stay but the experience seems amazing and the creators of Axiom are trying their best to make it look as appealing and comfortable as possible. Recently I have been watching a show called “The 100” where people live in a spacecraft and they are able to survive. Inside of the ship is like a mini city and I’m wondering if maybe one day we could turn to that option if we can no longer live on Earth. It is reassuring to know that we have that option of be able to go into space because the Earth is becoming overpopulated and were are running out of resources. This article opened up my eyes and I was able to truly see how much money, research and effort goes into things like this.
Believed to be the the last ex-Nazi collaborator in the U.S., the government has been trying to deport Jakiw Palij for years. President Trump, having vehemently pushed for Palij's expulsion from the country, also used this event to make his immigration policies look better.
This article originally interested me because it was about the deportation of an ex-Nazi. Not only was it a personal issue, being that I have many cousins and friends who are Jewish, it was also because I was interested in an upcoming movie about an ex-Nazi. As I kept reading, I became more interested in the governmental side of the event with President Trump. I believe that the removal of an ex-Nazi guard from the U.S. is a huge benefit to the country and exemplifies good work for those involved in the investigation. I disagree, however, on the use of this singular event to justify the injustice trump's policies are doing to the families of illegal immigrants. Separating children from their parents is an atrocity, and no amount of captured war criminals can defend that.
The article referenced is "Ex-Nazi Guard in U.S., Now 95, Is Deported to Germany"
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/world/europe/nazi-guard-deported.html...
Amazon is trying to start up a grocery industry. Amazon is one of the many websites that people use to get products shipped to them. But when Amazon bought the Whole Foods Market it shook the grocery world with a $13.4 billion deal. Which lead to partnerships with different companies. I think being able to buy your groceries online can sometimes be more helpful for those who work and might not have the time. Amazon might have some competition going into a grocery industry because Walmart is the nations largest grocer. According to the article only “3% of the worlds grocery spending happened online last year.”
The article that interested me the most was "Between Sound and Silence" made by Irene Taylor Brodsky. I thought that this article really showed a new perspective on how people have been seeing other people with disabilities and how much that can impact so many peoples lives. I agreed completely with the girl who says that society has made people turn away from people with disabilities because some are afraid to make those people uncomfortable or they are uncomfortable themselves. I also thought that it was amazing that someone who is 100% deaf can get these machines to help them hear. Even when some of these people were little, they had older, less advanced machines that were also bigger that allowed them to ear. Though most of these people felt that it was an inconvenience because it made their disability known to everyone who they were around, I think that the machine is still an amazing thing to have when you have a disability such as hearing loss because it gives you the ability to hear, an it is something that not all people with the disability can receive or afford. These stories were heart touching and put a new perspective on disabilities and how people view them. I also really enjoyed this article and how it was set up.
The article I read was “Cost of New E.P.A. Coal Rules: Up to 1,400 More Deaths a Year”. This article explains how the Trump Administration wants to loosen the rules that the Obama Administration put on the coal industry. If allowed, Trump says that he’d be employing loads of people, but a study stated that there would be up to 1400 new premature deaths a year and tens of thousands of missed school days a year. Although the coal industry would be booming, working in it, and living around it is a danger to your life. According to the E.P.A., when coal is recovered there are tiny particles that float throughout the air and when they are breathed in, the attach themselves to your lungs and stay there. It was predicted that if the Trump Administration succeeds, there will be a bronchitis outbreak around the area, and up to 25,000 hospitalizations/coal related injuries. The Obama Administration had applied strict rules because of the global warming aspect of the coal industry, but Trump and his people think that the rules set in place are too strict. By loosening the laws, they’re also allowing cars to emit more pollution into the air, thus adding to the global warming problem we already face today.
Courtney Phillis
[email protected]
Response for “How do Bees Buzz?”
Bees, wasps, hornets, they all have something in common they sting, but most importantly they transfer pollen. This class of insects has always frightened me; it's easy to say they’ve never been my friends. I have dreaded the delay of not being stung by a bee yet; I want to get it over with. But I know bees are essential to the human race because they pollinate plants so they can grow and propagate. Bees are a considerable part of our world and human health as a whole. They carry pollen from one plant to another creating more plants thereby more oxygen for us to breath. Without them we wouldn’t be able to produce food at the scale we do without the transfer of pollen. While watching the video, I found that the sound made my skin crawl. You can always tell when you annoy bees because their buzzing gets louder and more frantic. When you hear the cacophonous buzzing noise from a bee... run, because you will feel a sting shortly.
This video has given me a new understanding of listening to the buzzing of bees. I found it interesting because bees are vital for our survival and learning a little bit more about there frightful sound and how its used to get pollen from a stamen of a flower to another has been eye-opening.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/science/100000005041278/why-bumble-bees-bu...
The article that interested me the most this week was "Ex-Nazi Guard in U.S., Now 95, Is Deported to Germany" By Katrin Bennhold and Julie Hirschfeld Davis. I was aware that some of these war criminals from World War 2 were currently alive and not incarcerated. I did not realize any had ever been in America. Of course when Jakiw Palij came to America he lied about his past, so it really isn't anyone's fault that he made it here. One thing I found humorous about this article was President Trump's high praise of the ICE agency for capturing the ex-Nazi, as if subduing a 95 year old man is a challenge. Although it's great we kicked him out, a simple task of retrieving a "frail" 95 year old man does not by itself defend keeping the ICE as an agency.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/arts/television/netflix-instatiable.html was the article that interested me the most this week in the times. The show is pretty interesting and critiques are really taking shots at it. Most are bashing on the fact that Debby Ryan an actress with a beautiful body has to wear a "fat" suit for her role. Many are saying its messed up for her to wear the suit especially since she's skinny. But, if Debby who's "skinny" isn't allowed to where a "fat" suit then why is it okay for British actors to imitate American accents to a role. But, then again weight is a more controversial then accents. Another, topic that is being hit at is the fact that Patty is trying too hit on a man who is the age of her dad and married but not only that he is her coach. One thing that really bothered me about the storyline was that Patty lost 80 pounds and was suddenly gorgeous to everybody and good enough to be a beauty pageant contestant. Being skinny is beauty is the basic storyline and being skinny gets you accepted. Which in my opinion you don't need. Debby Ryan was on Disney channel and many kids still look up to her and with her being on this type of show might not make her the next role model of preschoolers.
An article that I was curious in reading was "Ancient Burial Pits Reveal Sophisticated Rituals" by Karen Weintraub. I was highly interested in this discovery of the pillars that were buried along with an individual person, as it gave me more of an insight into ancient cultures and practices. Wientraub mentions in this article that this way of burying the dead suggests that there was a lack of a hierarchy, being that anyone could have been buried there, not just the "elite," or those of the highest social status. Additionally, a headdress was found that contained gerbil teeth, and the article mentions that gerbils are not associated with power. This again displays the lack of the idea that some individuals "should" be most highly regarded, allowing me to see the drastic change that has taken place in societies all over the world since then. This article was analytical focused on the culture behind the rare practice of burying pillars which I found to be fascinating.
"How to Read a Food Label"
In America, our youth is known for our ignorance to the effects of poor eating towards our health. The article opens with the essentials to remember, and some of them shocked me. As an aspiring athlete, I watch and worry about what I eat, but even though I keep myself in check, I still did not realize that I am breaking some of these "essentials" on the daily. For example, I did not even think that I was consuming significantly too much sodium until. According to the article, the average amount of sodium one should consume in a single day is 1,500 milligrams. Like the article suggested, I grabbed a food label (in my case, it was beef jerky). I was shocked to see that this small bag had almost half the amount of daily sodium I'm supposed to intake. I was completely shell-shocked! After this experience, I hope that more begin to check what they're eating, because I know that I need to watch myself more intensely than before.
"Nicki Minaj and Travis Scott Fumble Towards Yesterdays prize: A No. 1 Album"
The past Sunday, Travis Scott and Nicki Minaj went head to head for the title of “#1 Album in America.” Travis Scott with “Astroworld” and Nicki Minaj with “Queen”. Even though Nicki has put her tears & sweat into the album, Travis Scott took the title. With all the rage, Nicki tweeted to thank her fans on being the #1 album worldwide. She has later accused Kylie’s & Stormi’s appearance on Travis’s tour the reason for his hype on the album. With Nicki frustrated, Travis Scott did not speak and respectfully took the title.
The article that intrigued me the most is "Asia Argento Proves, Once Again, That Woman Are Human Beings" Written by Bari Weiss. The article highlights #MeToo activist, Asia Argento. This actress has come out and shared her story about being sexual assaulted by Harvey Weinstein. Along with many other woman who came out and shared their stories, Asia Argento described her sexual assault. Ironically, soon after speaking out, Asia Argento was found to be paying her own accuser money to keep quiet. Her accuser being a 17 year old boy that she previously worked with filming the movie "The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things." As more of the information began to come out many people came to her defense. #MeToo activist Rose McGowan was one of the many who defended the situation. I understand that sexual harassment and assault are serious and that they're different circumstances regarding situations but, if the tables were turned, where a man comes out about being sexually assaulted by a woman, I believe the reactions would be different. From what I have seen through media platforms, such as television, when a woman comes out as being sexually assaulted it goes mainstream. The exposure of the story is large, and many people come to aid the victim. In cases regarding men being sexually assaulted, I have found that they do not share the same support. This article highlighted this point for me, and demonstrated that the fairness of equality needs to be even among all genders.
"It was 6:00 am and the dreaded feeling of languor began to swat my body -at the first sight of daylight. A feeling of agitation soon followed the sound of the vexatious alarm. I hoisted my lifeless body to the ground -trembling to stay afloat. My first few attempts at walking were treacherous. After a few successful steps, I began to walk. With arduous haste, I finally reached the bathroom door. My hands convulsed as I lifted the corpulent cigar to my mouth. And finally embarked on a journey: I called, “Smoke city”. That was all I can remember though. Now I am in a hospital bed surrounded by everyone who knows my name. But, I can not even begin to site the first letter of each visitor."
"What article in the Times interested me the most this week?"
The excerpt you just read serves to illustrate the negative effects associated with excessive smoking. Habitual smoking, contemporarily speaking, shortens life expectancy -in the form of tissue death known as necrosis- affecting our loved ones and friends. What fascinates me is how Donald G. McNeil Jr. -a health and science expert at the New York Times- contextualizes this information to a real-world issue: the rampant use of tobacco in the Asian community. In the passage, "New York Confronts Rampant Smoking Among Chinese Men" McNeil discusses the reason "Behind this trend": a lack of support services towards this community. Leading into a plausible solution for this community: opening the door for a possible change.
In the article I read today a women who hasn’t shopped at walmart was taken to jail and forced to pay 200 dollars or face a lawsuit. She was taken to mobile jail and required to remove her fake tooth even though she didn’t do it. She hasn’t shopped at walmart in a year but she was being taken to jail for it.Four days after she returned home she got multiple letters requiring her to pay 200 dollars or face worse consequences. Shoplifting is a big problem for retailers, costing stores more than 17 billion a year.To get the money back, many companies employ aggressive legal tactics and take advantage of loosely written state laws, pushing for restitution even when people have not been convicted of wrongdoing. I was interested in the times today because it was harsh how this woman was treated after being falsely accused of shoplifting they made her take out her fake teeth and forced her to pay 200 dollars. That is not fair for her because she didn’t even do it. Also they arrested her without any evidence of it. That is not right they should have to have supporting evidence to make an arrest. This should never happened. In the article when shoplifting happens they have to take legal actions like they did to the women. But the problem was that she didn’t do it and they were forcing her to pay a big fine and it was not fair because she should have brought it to court for her not taking the stuff. Walmart can’t just make you give them money for you not shopping there in a year.
Is there such thing as having too much confidence? In honor of the Video Music Awards (VMAs) last night, I decided to catch up on the pop culture drama. Nicki Minaj, in my eyes, used to be very admirable within her music and lifestyle. I remember rapping to her song titled “Super Bass” when I was in 6th grade. Since then, other artists such as Cardi B and Drake have flourished within the public eye/ear.
In a series of tweets on Twitter, Minaj bashes another rapper, Travis Scott, about the quality of his music and claims that Spotify, another social media platform, did not promote her album as much as they do for other artists. Through these actions and words, Minaj reveals to the human race her “true colors”. For Nicki Minaj to “complain” on a social media platform for all of America to see is not only rude, but sets a bad example for others as well as tarnishes her name. It’s never nice or okay to say anything bad about somebody else but for a pop star to say that about a fellow pop star sets a bad example of bullying which is something we are trying to prevent. Due to the popularity of these artists, millions of people model what famous people do and have easy access to what is said by these artists. Instead of promoting hate, show love to each other. This tarnishes her name by revealing pettiness, how conceited she is, and the poor leadership skills she is teaching her fans.
"Honeybees Are Hurting. What Else Can Pollinate Our Food?"
I don't know anyone who doesn't know that honeybees are dying. "Save the bees!" It's a pretty well known phrase. But I'm not a farmer, so I don't know what to actually do about it, and as far as I can see, other people don't know either. This article was interesting, because it didn't focus on saving the honeybees. It focused on replacing them. On the one hand, that's a bit sad, because it seems to be accepting their deaths. But maybe it's just practical. While we worry about the honeybees and create hashtags, farmers' crops are suffering without pollination. If using different types of bees can save the crops, that's what needs to happen. Saving the honeybees is still a good goal, and I don't at all think that we should give up on it. But while we're doing that, the farmers should focus on what they can do for damage control. Honeybees are an important factor in farming, but they don't need to control it completely.
Allen George
France, a World Cup Champion That Stood Above It All in Russia
July 15, 2018 By RORY SMITH
What interested me?
What interested me from this story, was the unlikeliness of this even happening. When I visited India, this year, during the World Cup, I had seen a lot of Brazil, Argentina, and Portugal banners and fans all throughout the state of Kerala, my hometown. All soccer analysts were fixed on the playstyles of Messi and Ronaldo, more than the heart of the underrated France team. When I saw that Argentina and Portugal had been eliminated from the World Cup tournament, no one had quite knew who the next champion would be. It wasn’t until Brazil had collapsed, when people started to wonder if Croatia had a chance to win it all. Although I don’t watch or play soccer, I always love to be with the underdogs. The battle of France and their dominance in the last game (4-2) had really shocked the world and a lot countries. It had been 20 years since their last World Cup win, but the people were yet to believe.
Why?
Like I mentioned, I always love to be with the underdog team and group. “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog that really matters.” I really have lived by that phrase and so has France and their beliefs throughout the entire World Cup.
The article that interested me the most this week in the Times was "A Truth Commission on Clerical Abuse," written by Rick Topper. I was most interested in this article for a multitude of reasons. Throughout the writing, Topper describes how in order for the Catholic church to finally put a stop to the endless amount of abuse cases involving Catholic priests, all 1.2 billion of us Catholics need to step up, speak the truth, and support each other so that we can all heal together. I strongly agree with Topper's ideas about how to ultimately end the awful sexual abuse that has been going on for years in secrecy. I, myself, am a Catholic teenage girl and am extremely sickened to think that there are priests that have gotten away with these terrible actions and I am even more disgusted that there are many people who were aware of the events going on at the time and chose to stay silent about them. I greatly concur with Topper and I think that the only way us Catholics, along with the rest of the world, will be able to move forward and restore the confidence we had in our Church is for everyone to finally speak the truth and stop keeping these events in secrecy.
This week I read about the Supreme Court decision supporting the baker who refused giving service to gay people based on religious beliefs. I'll be talking about the line between respecting other's beliefs to hurting someone else's basic rights.
First of all, in my opinion, every person has the right to live his life in the way he wants, that means on one hand, gay people have every right to live their lives as gay people and not to apologize on who they are, but on the other hand religious people have the same right to live by their beliefs. That's a complicated situation because they have to live together without hurting each other, and that's why in my opinion we need a change.
We can't make gay people stop being gay it would not work and we can't ask people to stop living by their beliefs or to stop believing at all, in my opinion, the change we really need is a change in the education we give and I'll explain why.
A person's agenda is based on the his education and the society he lives in. Therefore, it's a dynamic thing that can be changed easily but only if someone would bother changing it, if we'll teach kids that being different is okay they'll grow up and they will be accepting and respecting the other.
In conclusion we have to find a way to live with each other while respecting other's choices, to do that we need to educate kids that being different is okay and that everybody has his own agenda, we might disagree about many things but we have to respect it.
‘Black Panther’ Cosplayers: ‘We’re Helping People See Us as Heroes’
Causing tons of arguments due to racial beliefs, many argued the fact on how the movie was a cast of African Americans. Many see black characters as sidekicks/villains. Black cosplayers aren’t celebrated everywhere. Portia Lewis has claimed “being an African-American cosplayer helps create a more open world within the world of cosplay & outside. They are changing more & are helping to challenge limitations on what African- American cosplayers can be.” This sums up to the fact that the film opened up conversation/change the rules for white & black cosplayers. Noah Trotter said “The film’s a chance to change the mindset of the comic & Marvel that are sometimes racist towards blacks” citing backlash that has experienced, including photoshopping & posting racially charged words/stereotypical imagery. This sums up to say that having a cast of African- Americans gave the chance to help change roles. Many black cosplayers faced harassment by white cosplayers by online communities/forums.
In his actions to plant a new seed for dieting, Paul Greenberg attempts to solve America's weight problem.
In his July 19 piece "How to Get America on the Mediterranean Diet," Greenberg suggests that Americans should open their eyes to a new possibility for dieting that has been around for centuries. He hopes to see more Americans each year to switch to the Mediterranean diet, which includes, "...a calorie-limited diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil and low in animal protein..." In preparing for making his argument, Greenberg displays many suggestions that the U.S. government can make with other countries concerning with our trading with them to help benefit the Mediterranean diet.
He can't always assume that every country will agree to his suggestions.
America's weight problem has resurfaced with young kids and adults of today's generation. Proposing that Americans should go on the Mediterranean diet may be an easy answer, but it may not suit everyone. Many people can diet themselves, but many can't sustain it. However, everyone has the capability of controlling there own diet.
People in America have access to the healthiest and unhealthiest food in the world. They need to learn how to make the right choice in what they eat. Dieting may have to be an option for some but doesn't have to be for everyone. Many people live healthy and active lives while pacing themselves with the food that they eat. Healthy lifestyles need to be more common.
“ A Military Medal for ‘Our Four-Legged Heroes’
This particular article stood out to me in the Times because it shows the hardworking military dogs who help fight for our country and save many lives are being recognized and treated as more than “equipment”. These military dogs are responsible for saving lives by “ sniffing out poison gas” and giving them recognition is something that they had always deserved and with being a big dog person and animal lover, this article helped me restore faith in humanity with treating animals the way they should be, especially military dogs. Not only do they get recognition, but these dogs also get the opportunity to become adopted after their service and get a second chance at life.
I chose the article, “The Bipartisan Cry of ‘Not in My Backyard’” by Emily Badger. Badger writes about Ben Carson, the secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, who wants to spur the creation of mixed-income and multifamily housing plans all over the country. Carson argues that if these developments were put into place, homes would be more affordable and there would be more options of where to live. With this idea, came opposition and complications. Zoning laws, permits, and state regulations block Carson’s idea. Liberals and conservatives both also dislike this idea due to the threat of the possible lack of voters due to this decision. Badger talks about how most of the voters happen to be home owners because they are more interested in what happens to where they live. The more expensive the house, the more likelihood that they will vote. Overall this idea isn’t likely to be per sued because of all of the roadblocks.
Ben Carson’s idea is revolutionary, but impractical. Segregated communities exist all over the country and without the cooperation from the federal government, as well as the individual states, mixed housing plans won’t come about. His idea is great and would lead to massive social development in today’s society, especially with the current debate about racism, but without the backing of the people, the idea cannot become real life.
"A New Policy on Race in College Admissions"
I found this article interesting because as an upcoming Junior, the stress of doing well on SAT's, completing common app, getting scholarships, and being accepted into college is starting to kick in. The article was written as an opinion-based response to a previous article “U.S. to Discount Race as a Factor in College Entry” which expresses that President Trump plans to reverse Obama's policy on affirmative action. An issue that is well known to many is, in the past, people of color were not given the opportunity to go to college. One of Obama's course of action was to establish affirmative action policies and race-based considerations in college entries. The goal was to create diversity and equal opportunities. Thankfully, nowadays there is a wide variety of races that attend college.
One of the points discussed was that historically "Prestigious colleges and universities have never admitted students solely on the basis of grades and test scores." There are various other factors that could gain "extra points". This could be beneficial to students who do not test well but, are related to alums or excel in a sport. This article explains that there should be some concern with the new policy on race. Affirmative action benefited many students, yet blacks and minorities will be most affected. This in fact will impact me directly as a minority applying to college.
"Back to School, at 64"
As the start of the school year approaches, I thought it would be fitting to comment on an article that explored a "Back to School" theme. This article does just that but shares the author's thoughts on education from a different perspective. The author, Anne Rudig, is a 64-year-old woman who decided to leave the workforce because she was "tired of hitting the glass ceiling and of policies that failed to protect employees from abuse." Rudig decided to attend graduate school at Columbia University's nonfiction writing program. In the article, she explains how she was worried about the age gap between her and her peers at Columbia. Rudig was also intimidated by the prospect of an Ivy League school. She doubted whether or not she was "smart enough" to succeed at Columbia. In her final semester, however, she realizes that her experiences with her younger peers taught her more than her professors did. Rudig saw all of the different backgrounds the younger students came from and learned to be more accepting of new ideas. She concludes her article by saying that her writing degree may not earn her much money, but the stories she has heard from her younger peer are more valuable than anything.
This article shows me that learning is never capped at one specific point. There are countless avenues that can be taken in order to learn something new. I think that this is a positive thought for students of all ages to harbor as they enter this school year.
tps://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000006054276/watch-california-police-evacuate-shelter-animals-from-wildfire.html
When I saw this article it made me very happy, knowing that animals were saved in these series of dangerous wildfires. These wildfires have been going on for awhile now killing many people, animals, houses, and more. Knowing that this team of police officers were taking their time to save many dogs in this shelter makes me very happy because some animals are just left there at times. As you can see in the video the fire was about to hit the shelter at any moment so the officers had to rush to rescue the dogs. They did in fact rescue the dogs which made me very happy to know that they care about animals as much as I do.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/11/us/back-to-school-security-guns.html
This article got my attention because I have close friends who live in Parkland Florida and one of them is a freshman at MSD High School. I moved to Raleigh when I was 3 and a half years old, and my parents told me that if we had stayed in Florida that I would've gone to that high school and I would've been a freshman when the shooting happened. It's scary to think that something that tragic could happen at any school. I think it's extremely important that every school is a safe place for students, and that there is action being taken. I know that my school this past year had many points of entry that weren't always locked leaving it possible for anybody to enter and exit the school. Gun control is a huge issue, and the schools all over the country should be taking all the caution they can. I want to be able to go to school and feel safe and be able to learn, and not feel like I have to be careful about who I'm walking past in the hallway. I hope that all schools keep providing more and more security so that all students are safe at school.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/movies/100000006037824/the-meg-scene.html
I chose this article because I saw this movie a week ago and wanted to learn more detail about the movie. This movie called "The Meg" is about researchers going through horrific stunts and coming into contact with a lot of wreckage in the past years and those researchers not knowing who or what was causing all this wreckage. Later in the movie they find out the wreckage was caused by a prehistoric shark that has not been seen in decades. In this video it shows actor Jason Statham going through many stunts to make the movie seem as real as possible and create as much suspense as he could. This movie did in fact scare me but it gave me a lot of information of sharks and Megalodon's which I find very awesome!
https://www.nytimes.com/video/movies/100000006057414/crazy-rich-asians-s...
I chose this article because I am in fact going to see the movie "Crazy Rich Asians" tonight. This movie is about a young rich Asian man falling in love with a Asian American woman, which leads to unpleasant situations involving the family of the Asian man. When the young man brings the Asian American woman to his home to meet his family, the Asian culture forms in to play. The mom of the man does not want anything to do with the woman because she is from America and not from Singapore which is the young mans home. Also in this article it shows the Asian man and the Asian American woman talking in a public place which then is seen by many eyes that know the young man. One girl that sees the two talking takes a picture and texts her friends about the situation trying to find a way to bring the Asian American woman down. They try to bring this girl down because the Asian man is a very well known person and they believe he shouldn't be married to an American. I liked this video because it showed me of the main plot, I will see in the movie and how to understand it better.
Scientist have found a large body of water beneath Mars for the first time ever. Because water is needed for life scientist believe they have a chance of finding new life forms outside of Earth. The water pool that was found is 12 miles wide and 1 mile deep. The water is salty and has rocks around and in it. These are all things leading us to believe that there is life there.
The water that was found matches the same water to the underground lakes in Greenland and Antarctica. Down in the lakes on Earth, there is microbial life, who says that the same isn’t for Mars too? Mars’ surface is made up of old gorges, canyons, beaches, ocean basins and giant volcanoes. The volcanoes eruptions could have kept things off of the surface. Where all the water went from the ocean basins, the scientist don't know. When it disappeared it took the atmosphere of Mars with it and possibly all of its life forms. Life forms could have gone underground as the surface of Mars started to cool and dry up. If the life forms had gone underground with the water it would be hard for them to survive because of how salty the water was. If they did go under they are eating the rocks for energy. Scientist are finding water in places we never thought we would find it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/25/science/mars-liquid-alien-life.html?r...
"Honeybees Are Hurting. What Else Can Pollinate Our Food?"
This situation, to me, has both a positive and negative outcome. On the positive end, the increasing reliance on varying species of bees allows for a more solid and diverse pollination system. Having only one species of bee, the Honeybee, ultimately limits which species of plants can be pollinated. However, on the negative end, finding a lucrative alternative to honeybees means finding a way to make money in the absence of those bees. In other words, finding a way to profit from a species’ extinction means that attention won’t necessarily be given to saving the dying species. In the future, if we allow climate change to persist so long as businesses find alternative profit streams, I fear little resources and attention will be diverted to stopping the effects of climate change and preserving the environment as it is today.
Harlem’s Trash Bins Were Overflowing. So the City Took 223 Away.
I chose this article because when I read the title it got me alarmed to why trash bins were being taken away. After reading I learned why this was happening and the affects it had on the people. All over NYC, trash bins made for pedestrians are being abused by households and businesses. There is a trash bin on the corner of the street I live on and it has been there longer than I have been alive. I also chose this article because I wanted to learn about a conflict that most people have never aware of.
In my opinion, it wasn't right for the DSNY to take away trash bins in Harlem and other towns. Citizens depended on this cans to dispose of waste sometimes that wasn't supposed to be in trash cans however taking away the trash bins wasn't the solution. A better decision would be to provide a space where households and businesses can dispose of their waste better.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/05/us/politics/trump-tower-meeting-donal...
Throughout history, leaders have consolidated power by persuading the public traditional media outlets to tell lies. Eventually, people will become tired of fact-checking and look straight to regimes for information. At this point, the government has all the power to convey the news that benefits the system. In today's "fake news" and all the ways the current administration has changed the truth, facts have no importance. Though I do not believe the current administration is close to a regime, it is clear the government is not telling us the truth.
My concerns about the truth in America gravitated me toward the article "President Admits Trump Tower Meeting Was Meant to Get Dirt on Clinton." I admired how the article took the reader through President Trump's conflicting Tweet discussing his meeting with Russian lawyers, yet did not inflate or add opinion to the matter. Despite the fact the article does address the legality of these acts, its fact-based approach allows the reader to make an opinion. This is something we are missing in America. An outlet to obtain the facts about our administration then allowing individuals to form there own opinions. That is why I enjoyed this article; amidst administration's claims of "fake news" and attacks on mainstream media this article gives straight facts that our administration cannot provide.
In the article I read today a women who hasn’t shopped at Walmart was taken to jail and forced to pay 200 dollars or face a lawsuit. She was taken to mobile jail and required to remove her fake tooth even though she didn’t do it. She hasn’t shopped at Walmart in a year but she was being taken to jail for it.Four days after she returned home she got multiple letters requiring her to pay 200 dollars or face worse consequences. Shoplifting is a big problem for retailers, costing stores more than 17 billion a year.To get the money back, many companies employ aggressive legal tactics and take advantage of loosely written state laws, pushing for restitution even when people have not been convicted of wrongdoing. I was interested in the times today because it was harsh how this woman was treated after being falsely accused of shoplifting they made her take out her fake teeth and forced her to pay 200 dollars. That is not fair for her because she didn’t even do it. Also they arrested her without any evidence of it. That is not right they should have to have supporting evidence to make an arrest. This should never happened. In the article when shoplifting happens they have to take legal actions like they did to the women. But the problem was that she didn’t do it and they were forcing her to pay a big fine and it was not fair because she should have brought it to court for her not taking the stuff. Walmart can’t just make you give them money for you not shopping there in a year.
The article, "2018 Is Shaping Up to Be the Fourth-Hottest Year. Yet We're Still Not Prepared for Global Warming" interested me because it is relevant to the heat we have been experiencing this summer. I was also interested in this article because I play an outdoor sport and the heat can be a major factor in how well the team performs. The article mentions important effects of global warming such as heat waves causing power plants to shut down because the reactors can't cool off. If people don't realize the change that is occurring in the environment, global temperatures will continue to increase. As temperatures increase, people will become increasingly uncomfortable and communities will suffer from the oppressive heat. Although efforts have been made to cool the Earth down, they have not been effective. Therefore, temperatures continue to rise as well as discomfort.
I found an article titled “ On a Ramshackle compound in New mexico, a Dead Boy and Mystery”, this article is about the discovery of 11 malnourished children and a decomposing body of a young boy in a highly deserted area of Amalia, New Mexico. This all started with a desperate plea for help, which found its way to the authorities. Shockingly they found malnourished children and a body, believed to be 3 year old Abdul Ghani- Wahhaj. I found this article intriguing because in despite of its gruesome content, it featured something that relates to earlier crimes that happens in the nation. I found out that Mr. Wahhaj were training these 11 children to be future school shooters and it hit real close to home because of the recent shooting of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. “What if it was my school?” That was the question that continues to linger in the back of my head after tragedy struck our neighboring school. If the authorities hadn’t discovered this case sooner, imagine the schools that would have been affected by them. This shows that violence will never end and that will always be in a continuous cycle. There is a lot of unanswered questions, but one question that everyone is dying to know is, When will we actually feel and be safe in our world?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/20/well/family/what-twins-can-teach-us-a...
What Twins Can Teach Us About Nature vs Nurture
As a twin myself, this article struck a particular interest. I find that with my twin, although unlike this article we are fraternal, we share similar interests. In terms of our interests my brother and I share, they are very similar. This is mainly due to my parents and their planning. With two kids the same age, it's much easier to schedule activities and things to do at the same time and the same. So for example, my brother and I both play chess, both run cross country, and throughout our lives have had a lot of shared friend. However, there are a lot of differences between us, whether or not they are due to our genetic composition or its because of different experiences. From a young age my brother liked math a lot more than me and I preferred the history and English side of things. Although, we both attended the same school for most of our life, we are now at different high schools. This is all anecdotal evidence like the article but I feel that nature has a stronger influence than this article suggests.
In her eye-opening piece about eating disorders, Jane Brody tells about the early warning signs and possible effects these disorders can have.
In the article, Brody explains that eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating, has effected over three percent of boys and girls, ages 13 to 18. She shares that it is not unusual for teenagers to adopt strange eating habits, but if the behaviors are starting to control the person's life, it is best to get help sooner than later. Brody believes that most disorders occur because of restrictive weight limits in sports and obsession with the numbers on a scale.
Sure, being concerned with weight isn't anything abnormal, but when it starts taking over a persons life, that's when it becomes serious. Eating disorders don't just come out of nowhere, though. They come because of someone's greatest insecurities and become worse and worse as time goes on. They come from the pressure of society in the need to be skinny and fit. For parents, the most crucial time to watch their child's eating habits is during their teenage years.
Everywhere you look, there's magazines and books about health and fitness, which makes this article relevant now more than ever. The new obsession is exercise and weight loss, which can be a good thing, if used correctly and in the right amounts.
The article that got me most hooked this week was, "Saving Turtles in Bali, Egg by Precious Egg". When I read the first few sentences I thought about what it said, "Some want save them. Some want to eat them." To hear people say they want to eat an endangered species makes me feel bad for the sea turtles, since they are trying keep the very small population alive, but are still getting eaten. What I found fascinating was that Alex Unwakoly and a colleague helped move 136 ping-pong size eggs to safer spot in a very little amount of time. In the article it states,"The plight of sea turtles has improved considerably since 2001...Catching, possessing or eating the animals was banned in 1999, but even so, tens of thousands of turtles were being killed." I find these few sentences to be surprising yet disturbing because, it is sad to think that even if there is a ban about not eating sea turtles or any animal, it doesn't make an impact on others, since people will still find a way to eat them. From reading the article I found out that, recently there haven't been many cases of people trying to eat and kill sea turtles but the issue does occur every once in a while. I feel that this article was very intriguing because you acknowledge that there are those few people who are there to help save the planet and the wildlife on it. But, you also learn about the others who just don't care at all and just demolish the animal populations that we need to save, so they don't become extinct.
What interested me in the The Times this week was the article "Kelly Marie Tran: I Won't Be Marginalized by Online Harassment"
The article explains how Kelly Marie Tran, the leading female role in a "Star Wars" movie and the first woman of color to appear on the cover of Vanity Fair, had recently received online harassment after appearing on the cover of Vanity Fair.
The actress speaks out on the online harassment, and how it affected her mentally, emotionally and physically. What interested me most is how the words of strangers can affect a person of such high status so much. Tran wrote about how she had looked at herself different and had begun to believe the words that were being said to her.
A part the really caught my attention in the article was when she spoke about feeling marginalized by what people had been saying about her. She seemed to think that as long as people had labelled her as a "colored woman," she would constantly be stuck in those margins, no matter how successful she had become.
Tran also explains how society has continuously limited less privileged people by making them think that as long as there are a minority in any sense, they will always be less than. This is a problem that we have been struggling with since the beginning. Now with advancements in technology such as social media, it has only become worse. We must take baby steps to solve these problems, and Kelly Marie Tran has definitely recognized that.
ESPN Won’t Show National Anthem Before Monday Night Football Games
Starting with Colin Kaepernick in 2016, multiple NFL players have kneeled during the national anthem to protest domestic injustices. In response to the kneeling, team owners like Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys require they stand for the anthem. This became more controversial when President Trump said the league should punish players who kneeled for the anthem, and that kneeling during it was an insult to those who served under that flag. The league came out with a rule that those not wanting to stand during the national anthem would be forced to wait in the locker room, but this rule was overturned. The latest update comes from ESPN not broadcasting the anthem on Monday Night Football.
Personally, I agree with the notion that people should protest injustices by any peaceful means necessary, and if that means kneeling during the anthem, then so be it. ESPN’s choice to do this was made to essentially take a neutral stance on the issue, thus appeasing both sides of the argument. NFL players use their fame and publicity to further effect change, which is being thwarted by others who perhaps don’t agree with their cause. People around the country should be in support of their protests as even in todays world, even in a first world country such as the United States, the system can be bias towards others resulting in social injustices.
"How To Get The Most Out Of College"
In this article the author talks about how to be aware of what you want to do in college and not just where the college is. Students these days are focusing on more where the college is and not what the college actually provides for that student. He says that they should focus on getting a connection with the professors and staff that are at the college because if you aren't happy then are you really going to enjoy being there. I agree with this because it shouldn't matter what the campus looks like or where it is, although that may be a plus, it matters what the college has to have something for the student. They can not just chose what they want to be when they are 18 years old but they can start to thin of a path that they would like to head down. Students need to really look into what the college is going to do for them and how it will help them as an adult in the long run, not just how it appears at first glance
"Touching the Sun"
https://www.nytimes.com/video/science/100000006012333/nasa-parker-solar-...
What interested me about this video was the Parker Probe, a spacecraft that is slowing heading towards the Sun. The goal of the mission is to learn about how we can prepare for events such as solar storms and coronal outbursts, which disrupt satellites, electrical grids but most importantly our magnetic field.
In 1958, Eugene Parker, and astrophysicist at the university of Chicago proposed that the sun constantly radiates charge particles also known as solar wind making long streamers. We hope to learn more about the sun's corona through the probe named after Eugene Parker.
New Russian Hacking Targeted Republican Groups. Microsoft Says
This article demonstrates the dangers of today’s world and how democracies like the United States are not prepared to handle them. As a teenager growing up in this cyber world, I am left to feel exposed and unsure about the future of our democracy, as well as democracies around the world. The goal to undermine the very fabric of society is disturbing as it can effectively cripple it, and in this case, cause its citizens to lose faith and trust in their government.
Partisanship is essentially the goal of Russia’s attacks on our elections. Living near New York City, I live in a dominantly blue area, but know multiple people that are Republicans in support of Trump. Having a political conversation in today’s political climate means having a heated conversation in which neither side sees your perspective. There is often little ground between the Democrats and the Republicans.
I personally believe that this was one of the goals of Russia’s hacking into our election. To divide us on a domestic level, so that we are not as cohesive when facing an international threat. People around the country think that Russia isn’t the villain here because they allegedly helped Donald Trump reach the White House, but they are sorely mistaken. Russia’s influence in our elections isn’t for a Democratic cause or a Republican cause, it is solely for a Russian cause and to advance their standing in the world order.
“Beyoncé in Vogue: ‘We Will All Lose’ Without Diversity” by The Styles Desk.
Young entrepreneurs have been in the light and rising to the eye of the public recently to work in powerful positions in the world, especially in Hollywood to work with big-named celebrities. Beyoncé touched upon the issue of lack of diversity and representation in the industry, and how she chose to be photographed by a 23-year-old African-American man for her Vogue cover shoot. This was the first Vogue cover to be photographed by an African-American, in its over one-century lifespan.
She told an important lesson that by hiring people with the same privilege and story, others won’t have the power to tell their story or to make a name for themselves because they wouldn’t be given the opportunity. Beyoncé lays out her idea and plans for social change for the world, starting in Hollywood, for more minorities in America to be more than an outnumbered group, but to be recognized by others for their work and talent.
This article interested me because I was confused by the fact that this was the first Vogue cover shot by an African-American, and the magazine has been around for nearly one-hundred-years. I hope that by this article being in the public, and with Beyoncé spreading the message of representation and social change of diversity, more minorities will be put in the light, as well as younger people being placed in positions of power in order to have a better-functioning human race.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000006056298/sanders-trump-...
Watching this article shows me that when your so famous and known that whatever you say can affect a lot of people and yourself. President Trump is a very famous person and he has to use his words carefully because his words are heard by millions even maybe in some cases billions. The N-Word is a very offensive word, in my opinion it should not be said by anyone. Saying the N-Word and knowing the background on it is a very cruel word to say and if President Trump would of said that word it would of been a outrage. This article shows that saying the N-Word or any offensive word at such a high class can ruin your reputation because it is heard by millions.
The article: LeBron James and Lakers to Play the Warriors on Christmas Day
I picked this article because I am very up-to-date with the NBA and I love to hear what are the best matchups of the upcoming season. I am also a very big LeBron James fan. I think he's the best player that has ever played basketball. He is the second to third greatest Laker that there has ever been. The upcoming season's Lakers have a very young team with the best player in the world. The Lakers have the most potential in the NBA. Coming from me I think in a year or two they'll go on a winning streak for championships. To me Golden State doesn't have enough to keep up with the Lakers. The Lakers could be the best team in the NBA just give them some time. LeBron and Lonzo are a very good duo. With Lonzo’s score vision and LeBron’s athleticism there is basically nothing that can stop the two. I think this could be the best duo that has ever been in the NBA. In my opinion, Lonzo had a better rookie year than LeBron James and Michael Jordan two of the best players that have ever touched the game. I'll leave it on that. This is my opinion on the new Lakers and on this article.
“Your Spit Might Help You Learn to Eat Your Greens”
This article interested me the most this week as it shows that there is still much more to learn about how our bodies adapt to different foods. Lots of research and money has been spent on trying to get obesity levels lower in the world but the experiments that this article describes imply that there may be no need to spend so much money on these health alternatives and plans. These experiments show that bitter foods, if taken consistently, can change the proteins found in our saliva to make it more tasty. These results can predict future health plans and how this can change our future health. This article also suggests that there is more to learn about how food affects our bodies in both negative and positive ways. This information may convince people to eat healthier foods if it means that they can enjoy it and improve their health. Although these results show how we still have a lot more to discover in the human body, this information may be able to create relationships between our health and food and our happiness and sadness. In addition, it can also predict ways in which our bodies can develop and adapt to factors in our lives; there may be a possibility that we can also change other areas of our bodies in response to external factors. Therefore, I find this article the most interesting this week as it can predict our future health and can help show how external factors can cause our bodies to adapt and evolve.
What caught my attention this week was “Behind Most Wildfires, a Person and a Spark; “We Bring Fire With Us”. By Time Arango.
Why this interested me because I didn’t know that most wildfires are from people. I thought a lot more wildfires were from nature like lighting. I didn’t know wildfires caused by people would cause a whole lot of damage. Also with a factor of rising temperatures and prolonged heat waves will make the fires go to an extreme amount. I also learned about more wildfires that I didn’t know of since I didn’t really pay attention to the news like the the third most destructive fire in the state history which was caused by a hunter named Sergio Martinez since he was lost in a forest in San Diego. So he set a fire to get attentions from the authorities of where he was but, that made a huge fire that killed 15 people. Of course many of the fires were not started that way some were caused by sparks when a man was using a hammer, or a man’s lawn mower struck a rock and set off a spark which caused a fire through a neighborhood. These are examples from the article. These were obviously not met to hurt anybody but, since they lived in a dry area with dry vegetation it can get dangerous. Even doing a barbecue would be extremely dangerous. A spark could come out of nowhere and start a fire.
Now when I hear about a wildfire that killed and destroyed a large amount of people I will think it was most likely caused by someone. This why this interested me this week.
In her avid defense of customers in "Netflix Tests Promotional Videos but Users See ‘Commercials’ ", Sandra Garcia argues that Netflix is trying to sneak in advertising as a helpful addition to their platform. She cites one customer as saying, "If Netflix gives us commercials i will cancel my subscription. I literally pay for no commercials." This customer is one of many that feel that Netflix is trying to force paying customers into watching advertisements that will give the company money. . Garcia then goes on to say, "Netflix said that it was interested in hearing from customers about its experiments but that it would ultimately be 'looking at their behavior within the service.' " Many customers do not see this as a positive response to their negative feed back, and instead interpret it as Netflix saying they don't care how customers feel. I agree wholeheartedly with Garcia and Netflix customers For years Netflix has been the top streaming service, their no commercial policy is one big reason for this. There biggest competitor, Hulu, makes the customer pay extra to view content without commercials. No commercials is one thing that sets the two streaming services apart from each other. As a paying subscriber to Netflix I find it difficult to disagree with many customers who believe that despite what Netflix says these promotional videos are in fact just commercials. Unfortunately for Netflix going through with this idea could end there reign as top streaming service.
I read an article titled "2018 Is Shaping Up to Be the Fourth-Hottest Year. Yet We’re Still Not Prepared for Global Warming." This article intrigued me because I always hear about global warming and how it is changing the world, and killing so many animals. But you never hear about what the world is doing to prepare for Global Warming. Most people think that global warming is just rising the temperatures, but it's doing much more than just that. In the article, it says, "Harvests of staple grains like wheat and corn are expected to dip this year, in some cases sharply, in countries as different as Sweden and El Salvador. In Europe, nuclear power plants have had to shut down because the river water that cools the reactors was too warm." The rising temperatures are causing more and more wildfires in California. There are fighting what has become the largest wildfire in state history. This temperature rise is causing deaths all over the world. This is an issue that needs to be talked about and something needs to happen. If that does not happen, more peoples lives could be at stake, as well as species all over the world.
These Women Were Told Not to Play Soccer. Instead They Formed a Team.
By Shannon Sims
Being a female soccer player my self i know what its like to feel love for this sport, and I'm so grateful to be able to play it with out being judged or looked down upon. My respect for these women is so high and i only wish to be half as strong as them to firmly stick and fight for what i want no matter what others think. This article just goes to prove how much we in this country take for granted, Women in America can play the sports they desire and work the jobs they want and support them selves with out any man. I wish nothing but success for these women and their soccer team, i hope they achieve all their goals in life ad set a path for women after them.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/dining/organic-label-restaurants-bare...
"When the Menu Says ‘Organic,’ but Not All the Food Is"
Many restaurants say that their food is organic, but it really isn't at all. This is not good because there are several bad things in these foods that are not good to put in your body. Many Americans struggle to eat healthy and nutritious meals, so some restaurants say that the food is organic to draw people in. But in reality, they really don't know. Not only restaurants do this, but also many food companies as well. Restaurants aren't required for Organic Certification, which really isn't a good thing. if they give a reasonable effort to make it organic, they are allowed to call it that. All in all, I learned to make sure that what I'm eating is what the companies say they are.
Catholic Priests Abused 1,000 Children in Pennsylvania, Report Says
As our world goes on each day more and more places are becoming unsafe for children and families. We would think that the safest place for us to go is the Church, so we could hear the teachings of God, and to have a better relationship with God. Sadly it’s hard for Roman Catholic Christians to even go to Church anymore because many children are being sexually abused by the priests. In the Roman Catholic Church in Pennsylvania leaders have “covered up child sexual abuse by more than 300 priests over a period of 70 years, persuading victims not to report the abuse and law enforcement not to investigate it”. This sounds insane to me because the leaders of the church are supposed to be the closest people to God living on the earth but to hear that they are sexually abusing children and impregnating them is terrible. It does not just end here Priests are getting the women abortions after they get them impregnated, Priests raping a young girl in the hospital after getting tonsils taken out, and a Priest tied a person up and whipped the person with leather straps. All of these things are being covered up by Priests and other leaders in the church for many years. and not informing the community of the real reasons behind removing an accused priest. “Tell his parishioners that he is on ‘sick leave,’ or suffering from ‘nervous exhaustion.’
The article “Carmelo Anthony Officially Signs with the Houston Rockets” I picked this article because I love basketball and my dream is to play in the NBA. I also picked this article because Carmelo Anthony is my favorite basketball player right now. I think Carmelo Anthony's move to the Houston Rockets was a very smart decision because he gets paid most of his salary at the Atlanta Hawks. He doesn't have to play for Atlanta and he went to his preferred team the Houston Rockets. This also benefits the Rockets because they're only paying $2.3 million dollars to Carmelo Anthony and the Atlanta Hawks have to pay $25 million. James Harden and Chris Paul both have very good friendship status with each other. This is very good since they know how each other plays. I think they have a really good chance to make it to the finals since they have 3 all stars and it is very rare for two out of three players to get injured during the playoffs and this also gives the Houston Rockets a lot more offense.
This week, I read Allison Arieff's "Life Is Short. That’s the Point".
Arieff points out a flaw in contemporary society that is engrained in our social and economic policies. For obvious reasons, humanity is obsessed with surpassing death in every way possible. In fact, longevity is practically another symbol of quality. What many seem to forget is that appliances are meant to be broken, lives are meant to end, and there is absolutely no meaning if something lasts "forever".
Demonstrated by Barbara Ehrenreich, an American author, Arieff suggests that life is meant to end, or else the experiences humans encounter in life will become meaningless. What is the point of living forever? Even if you do what you love every day, the experience will become dull and meaningless.
In my opinion, this pursue to extend lifespan beyond death is futile in the long run and will bring about no improvement to the quality of our lives.
Afterall, when the little girl begs her mother if she could play more, she desires to play only a little longer, not forever.
While I was scrolling through the New York Times post there was one article that has caught my attention, and that article was “Uber’s vision of self driving cars begins to blur” by Mike Isaac. This article caught my attention because I have the Uber app and have used it before. Uber has became a very popular app within the passed year. some people use Uber as much as once or twice now a week. Uber has made traveling around way easier for those who don’t have a car and rather not wait all day for a bus or taxi. Since Uber became as big as it is today Uber is trying to come up with a easier and more advanced way of transporting there customers around by using self driving cars. While Uber was doing their self driving project, they had already encountered accidents with pedestrians. The question that popped up when I was reading this article was, Is self driving cars going to making ubering around easier or is it actually going to make things are difficult by causing accidents?
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"Five Minor Leaguers Who Could Make a Splash in September"
The September call ups in baseball are right around the corner and these five prospects could help their teams out during that time. First off there is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. who could be a really big player for the blue jays when he gets called up with his high batting average and his power. Next there is Eloy Jimenez who is an outfielder for the White Sox who is hitting an impressive .346 batting average and is a good defender so he should be called up soon and stay there. These two among others could really help there team in September and be the possible franchise player for there teams.
"These Women Weren't Allowed to Play Soccer. Instead They Formed a Team."
I've never been more appalled to hear that the women of Zanzibar are restricted from playing the sport that has shaped me into who I am today. Behind the hours I've spent practicing, dedication I've put in and sacrifices I've made, there will always be a part of me that fell in love with the beautiful game.
In addition to being inspirational, this article also made me realize how privileged I am. Until now I've overlooked how lucky I am to have the financial ability to afford soccer training and two loving parents who continue to encourage and support me throughout my youth soccer career. Without these advantages I would never have made the memories and friendships that I cherish so deeply now.
All reasons aside, this article truly made me step back and ponder for a minute. I am truly inspired by the women who are brave enough to do what they love in spite of the gender roles that have been fabricated into their society. I am certainly more likely to recognize and appreciate the my privileges in the future and hope to see more inspiring women making a change around the world.
"Casual Anti-Semitism"
Semitism is the showing or feeling of hostility towards jews as a race, culture, or as an ethnicity. In this article, a woman was ID'd at a bank and received a comment from the woman behind the counter that Jews especially respond negatively to being asked for their ID's, obviously unknowing that her customer was in fact, jewish. The woman expressed how upset she was that a totally normal, happy conversation made her upset after a casual remark directed against her own people. What bothered me most about this article wasn't the fact that this specific woman faced discrimination, but the fact that I, belonging to not a single group of minorities, didn't realize just how casual not only anti-semitic, but how casual any discriminatory actions may be.
In the article "Jocks Rule, Nerds Drool," the author Jennifer Wright wrongly uses stereotypes in order to explain a person's behavior.
Wright emphasizes that in this day in age it seems the roles have reversed between the nerds and the jocks. She claims that nerds are no longer the kind hearted, sweet people; they are the people today who harass and abuse women. Wright also asserts that the so called jocks of today are the ones giving money to charity and donating their time to important things.
By using these stereotypes to explain why certain people are acting certain ways, she is only making things worse in a society already filled with haunting stereotypes. By claiming that jocks are the good people and nerds are the bad, Wright is only worsening the many stereotypes people have to live with today.
Wright is saying it is fine to go around labeling people. Someone may be into video games and comics, but that does not mean they are the harassers that Wright makes them out to be.
This topic is relevant today because many people struggle with the stereotypes society labels them with. By writing this, Wright only shows that stereotypes are normal, which only makes it harder to escape them. It's time to get rid of the labels people put on each other.
What Interested me in the Times this week, was the article "Something Digs Intricate Tunnels in Garnets. Is It Alive?" which was written by Veronique Greenwood. I found this article particularly interesting, because instead of being written about the perfectly cut gems found in jewlery, the article focuses on the studies of Dr. Magnus Ivarsson on the internal tunnels in some garnets. Dr. Ivarsson travelled to Thailand, where he discovered evidence that led him to hypothesize that the cause of the internal marrings may be something alive. He theorized that because garnets, being extremely hard stones, would likely not have been drilled out by other stones, but rather due to the unpredictable nature of the lines, some form of fungi. He cracked open a sample garnet, and found traces of fatty acids, which may indicate life. He has taken several samples back to his lab to grow them and see what results may come. This is fascinating to me, because it for one thing will answer what exactly is creating these tunnels, and for another, could be a sign of a prehistoric fungi that has survived inside of garnets for centuries.
¨The Secret to Ant Efficiency Is Idleness¨
You may think that ants are the perfect builders, but you are wrong. They come across difficulties too. In the New York Times Article, ´´The Secret to Ant Efficiency is idleness´´ talks about how ants interact while building their colonies. I was completely shocked. In the field of scientific studies, I guess everything is possible… Well not everything. At Georgia tech they did many experiments with ants, and how they interact.
In the article, it talks about a thing called ´´Ant Traffic Jams´´. Ant traffic jams are very common while constructing new tunnels in the colony. A traffic jam is the stop of motion. In the colonies it means work is put to a halt. To solve this difficult problem, the ants use what is called the ´´70/30´´ plan. The 70/30 plan is when 30% of the ants do 70% of the work. This made me realize how smart ants really are. In the article, it shows that we use the 70/30 plan everyday. For example, if one road is jammed you would use another. It's the same with ants.
The New York Times Magazine is not just a magazine, but a way to transfer information and thoughts to everyone. Ants might not be a significant part of our lives, but they can teach us how to interact like them. Next time you are in a traffic jam, say to yourself, ´´What would an ant do?´´ In life even the tiniest of things can make a huge impact.
"Nicki Minaj and Travis Scott Fumble Towards Yesterdays prize: A No. 1 Album"
This past Sunday, Nicki Minaj and Travis Scott went head to head for #1 Album in America during it's debut. Travis Scott ended the night taking home the title, as Nicki did not. This did not sit well with the 35 year old female rapper, and she took that anger to social media. She tweeted " Thank you everyone for my No. 1 album in ALL OF AMERICA!" Obviously Nicki did not in fact end the night in that position, but was frustrated that her with a new album after four years in the shadows, she did not take home the title. Travis Scott, 26 year old, male rapper, did not add fuel to the flame, and humbly took his title home.
This internet feud provides nothing but entertainment to the musical society and these artists are well aware.
The article that interested me most in the times this week was "Behind Most Wildfires, a Person and a Spark" this article was about the wildfires in California. in 1905 Johnny Cash started one of the biggest wildfires in California from his truck. California is experiences the worst of the fires during this hot dry season. one man started a wildfire by hammering a wooden post during dry vegetation. Another was started by a flat tire. Firefighters say this time is the worst for forest fires. Also a man was convicted of a wildfire because he threatened a fireman by saying that he was going to "make it burn" This article was interesting to me because in Pennsylvania it is really humid and so I never have seen a forest fire before. whereas in California it is much more dry and dense then here. I also really admire firefighters for what they do because they put their lives in danger everyday by saving ours. Overall this article was very entertaining and I really enjoyed learning more about forest fires.
An article that I found to be interesting was "For Babies, Solid Food at 3 Months May Lead to Sounder Sleep" by Nicholas Bakalar. It mentioned the healthier results of introducing solid foods to babies at three months of age rather than at six months. An experiment was conducted, which found that the eariler a baby is given solid food, about seventeen extra sleep minutes the child receives. I found this article to be very significant and relevant to the extensive research that is done today, as it may encourage further understandigs of child development and the overall maturation of the human body. Bakalar additionally stated that the more sleep a child gets, the decreased chance of future obesity. It really boggled my mind that by feeding solid food to babies three months earilier than normal, so many health issues would be involved.
“How Can I Focus Better” touches on every worry and question I’ve had concerning technological consumption and social media addiction. After multiple attempts to limit my screen time through use of apps or self-restraint, I always seem to fall back into old habits. I felt relieved to find I am not alone while also feeling concerned to learn the dangers regarding such technological relationships. The article expanded my screen limitation selection with new unique options including a feature recently released by Instagram which can assign time limits and reports detailing daily screen time. The article brings forth new perspectives including a new generational battle for children. While children have typically competed with siblings for parental attention, a new obstacle has formed: children must now compete with their parents’ ever-present technological companions as well. Educators quoted amidst the article revealed our phones and technological overuse can distract us from more than the present. Technology is constantly competing with our attention, even clouding our goals and future aspirations. With incidents such as a Red Sox baseman suspension for checking Instagram during a game, our current generation and those to come are in desperate need of a wake up call. While technology has played an invaluable role in our society’s progressions, recognition of our constant overuse must occur in order to reevaluate the art of being present.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/19/technology/uber-self-driving-cars.htm...
As much as people like to believe that flying cars will soon exist, we have to realize that we are still continuing to make process with other automobile technology, including self-driving cars. Companies like Uber are still working on making self-driving vehicles. Although many attempts have been made throughout the years, there still has not been a fully functional self-driving car or truck on the road. There are flaws here and there that need to be solved before we have the first real autonomous car. For example, an accident happened where a car did not detect a pedestrian, which lead to the death of a woman named Elaine Herzberg. Tragedy can sometimes be a result of taking risks with what we create. We often dream of life-changing creations because of quickly improving technology, but when will we learn to accept that perfecting a new invention takes time?
The article, "How Your Brain Morphs Stressful Family Vacations Into Pleasant Memories"interested me because my family always plans every minute of our family vacations in advance. This article addressed the fact that overplanning can cause exhaustion, making a trip seem less enjoyable. I have realized that sometimes the smallest events on any trip are the most memorable. The article also addresses small factors that seem to play a big role in the mood of a family on vacation such as bad weather. Although it can be disappointing when something unexpected changes your plans for the day, if you keep your attitude and expectations at a reasonable level, your family will be much happier. A balance between maintaining a structured schedule and leaving room for spontaneous moments can make all the difference on a family vacation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/12/world/middleeast/iraqi-spy-isis.html
This was a very interesting article which had a very intriguing way to hook you into reading the article. The title and thumbnail made it so you couldn't just scroll past this post. many people are interested in learning about terrorist groups, motives of terrorist groups, spies, and many other news articles correlating to this topic and I am one of those people. It was a very informative article that you wanted to keep reading. The author included many photos and videos and techniques that made you want to keep reading and learn more about the topic. This was an overall well written, informative article that I would recommend to anyone interested in this type of topic.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/t-magazine/100000006058253/amezaiku-shinri...
There are two things I find awesome in this world, that is art and candy. To see from this video that has those two things combined amazed me. Seeing how cool the Amezaiku art is, and realizing that you can eat it also is a amazing type of artistry. In this video it shows a man crafting a gold fish out of hot sugar syrup and it is so fun to watch and how he adds colors to it which brings the art alive. This is so fascinating because of how the art and the candy are combined which makes it a delicious masterpiece.
'Lassie got help, would your dog?'
The question of the article's title grabbed me in. I wondered what the question might mean and if my dog would ‘get help’. I am also a lover of all animals, so when I saw an article about dogs, I wanted to learn more. When watching the video, I was surprised that more than half of the dogs opened the door for their owner. I was also surprised that some dogs would look for help from humans. Overall, the article got me, and probably others, thinking if their dogs might do the same.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/science/100000006037692/how-ants-avoid-tra...
This article is very interesting to me in many different ways. One way is ever since I was growing up I always been fond of learning about insects. I got this fondness from my dad because my dad knows everything about every insect I know. I always liked learning about ants because there are so many different types and different jobs they have like people do. The cool thing about how the ants avoid traffic jams is how they know what to do in that moment and how they work together to get out of it. I find ants fascinating because they are very intellectual and cool.
"Children of the Cube"
This article caught my attention because in fifth grade, my teacher taught us how to solve the rubik's cube. I did know how to solve it, thought I was really cool, until I read this article. Although I am in high school now and I have forgotten how to solve the Rubik's cube, it still is fascinating to me. According to the article, there was a National competition held in Salt Lake City this year. With around 600 competitors who all came for the same reason. To attempt to beat the best of the best. It still amazes me just how fast people can move their hands, in different directions, in seconds. The Rubik's Cube will always hold a place in my childhood, but I am thankful that some people have made a career out of it.
This week in the times I read "Why sitting may be bad for your brain" by Gretchen Reynolds. This article interested me because I always thought sitting and realizing could help the brain slow down and regroup. However, this is the opposite. Sittig down for extended periods of time can slow blood flow to the brain, which can lead to long-term complications dealing with your brain. The brain needs oxygen to function properly and without normal blood flow to the brain, it will not get the oxygen out needs to function. According to studies, this can also happen with the legs too. I feel that people should better know how their bodies work so that they maintain a better overall health and perform to the best of their abilities.
Proteins in our saliva help with a new research showing that it can adapt to bitter compounds making them more edible. This is interesting because bitter taste is always rejected and the study shows that when you are repeatedly exposed to a bitter taste, your body produces proteins and allows for the taste to be less bitter. Many people tend to dislike the bitter taste because it gives a more toxic taste often found in leafy greens. Cordelia A. Running, an assistant professor in food and nutrition science at Purdue University in Indiana, and the study’s lead researcher explains that by binding to the bitter compounds, the salivary proteins may not only make the food taste better, but may also prevent your body from absorbing them fully. The leafy greens that taste more bitter help to stimulate the body to respond to threats in foods or other chemicals. Bitter foods are known for keeping hunger in control and kill your cravings for foods, in particular sweets. All in all, being exposed to more bitter foods can help you eat healthier and feel healthier because they help to trigger your digestive system and your absorption of food.
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“We urgently need more transparency, a seat at the table, and a commitment to clear and open processes: Google employees need to know what we’re building.” This statement from the open letter in “Google Employees Protest Secret Work on Censored Search Engine for China” really stuck with me because it marks the significance of the unique problem Google is currently encountering. No roadmap? Not enough transparency? Employees don't know what they’re building? I find this situation very appalling yet hopeful in the fact that there exists genuine concern about the imminent danger of neglecting ethical principles among the very people who are working on this specific project.
The problem this article points out is no minor accident like computer bugs: it's a new kind of problem, one that culminates not only technological pitfalls, but also economical, governmental, and ethical forces. One of the forefront technology corporations, Google, must face this unprecedented issue of deciding whether or not to introduce a government regulated censored version of Google in China. I elusively see that this issue prognosticates the future of convoluted problems my generation must encounter. I’ve realized that there is a pressing need to change our systems to adapt to the future conditions of technological dominance and to increase our preparedness for future problems before it's too late when we are all sadly regretting that we should’ve made better decisions.
The article "Self-Care: A Working Definition" by Francesca Donner was the article in the Times that interested me the most this week. The idea of taking care of ones self is something that's very important to do in my opinion. It also is something that can be hard for me to do with such a busy schedule and the idea of me always wanting to help others, rather than myself. Everyone needs time to them self, to make sure they can recharge their mind and make sure they're ok. In this article I really liked how Donner compared the different types of self care to different breeds of dogs. Different people have different ways of feeling better about themselves and caring for themselves. Some people enjoy pleasing others and some people enjoy doing things independently. This shows just how all people work differently from one another and how important it is to learn how to care for yourself and find what helps you care for yourself. Learning about how people can make lists of what makes they do for themselves and what they do for others can show me how what i do for others can help myself, or maybe how I need to cut out time in my day for just myself. I believe that everyone should read this article to learn more about how people can care for themselves in different ways and its normal. It can also help a person realize what kind of care they need to be mentally healthy and happy with them self.
As Carson Wentz Recovers, Nick Foles Waits in the Wings. Again.
This article interested me because I am a fan of football and I am intrigued by what the players are doing. This article questions if Carson Wentz will be healthy to start week 1. If Wentz doesn’t start, the Eagles will be in a familiar place as last year, when Wentz hurt himself and Nick Foles, the backup quarterback, won Super Bowl 52 and was the M.V.P. Wentz underwent surgery on his left knee last December after getting hurt against the L.A. Rams. I think the smart move for the Eagles would be to let him rest because their backup was good enough to win the Super Bowl and because it is never good to rush someone back from an injury.
“A German Opera Spotlights the Refugee Crisis, With Refugees”
A few months ago, my friends and I had created a student-led organization called Pack-It-Up where we made care packages to send to a company called New American Pathways that helped refugees assimilate in the United States. Sending these packages gave us a sense of joy that we were making an impact on the refugees’ lives, but I felt that we could have done more.
I was reminded of this incomplete feeling this summer when I watched a Youtube video showcasing how it would be if Americans were refugees. Watching the video made me feel thankful for the life I am given. I could never imagine or even go through the struggle refugees have faced and continue to face.
Reading this article showed me that more can be done in regards to the refugee crisis. Barone mentions how the play, “Moses,” “make[s] the process of migration” to Germany “a little less painful” as the Bavarian State Opera encourages refugees to act in the play highlighting refugee experiences. The Bavarian State Opera’s idea combines the passion of German citizens for acting and their desire to take action towards the refugee crisis. Not only is this a great way to aid refugees, but also to bring awareness to citizens of Germany on real experiences of these refugees. This initiative truly exemplifies a genuine approach to a sensitive and conflicting matter affecting our world today.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/opinion/we-are-merging-with-robots-th...
“The old boundaries of the human self are being blurred by technology. The risks are real, but the potential is astounding.”
In this new era of technology and the internet new things are slowly coming in and the way we live is evolving. Things such as robots can take jobs from people and online businesses. For example amazon is starting to take over and over run other business such as Toys R Us.
Artificial intelligences already outperform us at many task and are now able to train themselves to reach skills that we can barely comprehend. We are slowly merging with our new technology to become a full technological world but with this technology there could be many pros and cons. This has caught my interest because technology is very important to our lives and has many uses, but a full technological world sounds interesting but could have many risk and problems. Many people think this could be a great idea but others seem to disagree. I seem to believe that this could be a great Idea. What do you believe?
The article "Who Is Winning the War in Afghanistan? Depends on Which One" really spoke to me because I recently had the opportunity to meet one of the greatest men in the world. His name is Saber Rock, and he will forever be an American hero. He works for the U.S. military as a communicator. He speaks both Pasto and Dari (the official dialects of Afghanistan) and goes around convincing villages in Afghanistan that the Taliban are the enemy making citizens no longer a threat to the brave U.S. military soldiers. He is not afraid of anything, which in turn makes very dangerous and feared by the Taliban. Saber has only five fingers, died and was revived, and has brutal scars all over his body, but none of these have stopped him from returning to Afghanistan to finish his job... to do his part in these wars.
I say "wars" because Rob Nordland, author of the article says there are two wars occurring in Afghanistan, "the war of blood and guts, and the war of truth and lies." This stuck out to me like a sore thumb. If you think about it, isn't everyone fighting these wars? One being physical and one mental, every single person in this world has to endure these battles on a daily basis. So when will it end? If we can't even find peace within ourselves, how are we supposed to make peace with others? Wars may be won, but until this question is resolved, they will never truly end.
In San Francisco, Opioid Addiction Treatment Offered on the Streets
The most interesting thing about this article is that there are people that are searching for the homeless people giving out these addiction treatments on the streets. The city of San Francisco is spending approximately 6 million dollars on this project to protect the citizens of San Francisco. These people are injecting drugs on sidewalks and in other public places along the streets. Part of what this program has to offer is that members of the team will travel around to different homeless people offering them buprenorphine which will help with the addiction. I feel that this program will help save many lives with what their mission is. [email protected]
The article that interested me this week was "Aretha Franklin, Indomitable, Dies at 76." Aretha is well-known for her song Respect and she's also well-known for being a devoted Christian woman. Recently Aretha passed away in her home town Detroit. She was surrounded by her family and preachers from her local church. I think that when Aretha Franklin was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer she didn't let fear stop her from what she loves. Aretha Franklin was known for singing gospel songs at her concerts. Aretha was very proud that she got to share to the world that she is a Christian and that she is a daughter of God. When Aretha wrote "Respect'' she wanted to have equality all around the world. Aretha made history she was the first woman in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she sang at the inauguration of Barack Obama. As I may have mentioned in the beginning I think that she found out that she had pancreatic cancer she didn't let her fear get in the way of something that she was passionate about. Aretha Franklin was an amazing ,inspiring, unique woman. Aretha Franklin may forever be in our hearts and we will always have your influential words guiding us to reach our final destination.
The article, "Is Netflix's 'Insatiable' as Offensive as It Looks? Let's Discuss" caught my attention because my friends and I have recently been discussing the show. When I asked my friend if it was worth watching, she told me not to waste my time. I decided to watch the first few episodes anyway and found many issues that were brought up in the article. For example, the main character, Patty, decides to lose the weight after punching a homeless man in the face because he made a comment about her weight and the fact that she was eating a candy bar. The show never really addressed the hardships she faced regarding bullying and self confidence. The show is based more on revenge and winning beauty pageants rather than giving viewers an example of someone who is comfortable in their own skin and with who they are as a person. Another topic that was mentioned in the article was Patty's obsession with her pageant mentor, Bob Armstrong. Bob is a married man who only shows an interest in helping Patty to earn back his reputation in the town, since he was falsely accused of molesting a teenage girl. The show makes it seem as if the only way girls can get any recognition is to be the prettiest and that it is okay to do whatever is necessary to get revenge on those who have done things to you first. I think the show should have followed Patty's transformation into a person she is happy with and used her story to help other people who might be struggling through the same issues.
"We Are Conservatives and We Believe Climate Change Is Real" By MATTEEN MOKALLA and ANDREA HAVIS
Hi, my name is Matar, I live in Israel and I believe climate change is real.
Every year I see Israel becoming more affected of the worm weather. We can't live without Air Condition. We can't learn for about 3 months prior to the summer without air condition. So, yes Global warming is here to stay.
People all over the world are suffering because of climate change. Global warming is making a lot of damage, people are afraid that the high rise of the sea will wash out their countries. Many people in Europe during this last month had witnessed the warmest summer ever. It is simple to understand that everywhere in the world people are joining hands to fight global warming. So what is wrong with you America???
Mr. Trump you are the leader of the strongest and most important country, if you don't join this global fight it can't succeed. I am asking you for once to stop your "Fake News" and join the world. Maybe for now it is not affecting you and your country so much, it is "only" affecting us and the rest of the world. But not for long my friend.
In “Exercise Makes the Aging Heart More Youthful”, what caught my eye the most was that recent studies by Dr. Benjamin Levine, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and director of the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine in Dallas proved that even if you haven't exercised in your early ages of life, it's not too late. The studies have shown that men and women who don't exercise have little flexibility in their arteries and heart valves but others who were labeled as athletes have more flexibility. The group, labeled athletes, have scans of their hearts that look just as a young adults heart would. The men and women that didn't exercise in their early ages, were asked to start and they did. Their scans later showed better results. Their hearts were becoming stronger. This is very interesting because there are many people who have heart conditions. If older people would start to exercise, their conditions could be slowed down or even prevented. It's crazy to think about how a heart and arteries that were stiffened by aging and not exercising became stronger, more flexible, and is now more youthful.
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The article "Pope Francis Writes to Catholics Worlwide Over Sexual Abuse" interested me the most from The NY Times this week. I have already posted a response on the actual article, but I wanted to follow-up here. This article interested me the most because I am a young person and recent Catholic convert. The news of these uncovered sexual abuse scandals affect me because I am a newly Catholic, young woman living in the United States. Young people were the main targets for this abuse, the recent scandals occurred in Pennsylvania (a state not too far away), and as a new Catholic, I don't have all the answers on how to respond to this. A primary reaction is to feel scared and hurt. My secondary reaction is to remember that there is good in the world and to open my eyes and ears to our Catholic leaders that are speaking out against these cruel actions. I have faith that justice will come for these victims that have been silenced for too long, and the Truth will be revealed. I am full of sorrow, compassion, and love for the victims of these abusive actions. There is a definitive need for healing, prayer, love, and action right now.
The article “Harlem’s Trash Bins Were Overflowing..” really caught my attention because i am from New York, and i know first hand how much litter there is all over the streets of this city. People do not realize when they throw their little piece of trash on the ground what they are doing to the environment that they live in. What surprised me about this article was the fact that 222 trash cans were removed from the area because of “misuse”. The reason that this surprised me was because the way that i would handle this situation would be to add more trash cans, not to take them out. I believe that removing all of these trash cans would further enhance the problem by offering harlem residents less places to dump their trash, which will probably result in an increase in littering and pollution. This increase in litter attracts rats and other rodents which may end up in peoples homes.
More Strikeouts Than Hits? Welcome to Baseball's Latest Crisis
Throughout this year there has been many concerns that the game of baseball is becoming more of a power surge than just playing the way it was meant to be. The pitchers are trying to throw the ball as hard as they can instead of working on the right mechanics while the batters are aiming for home runs instead of base hits. As a spectator of Major League baseball I can see the difference from this years to past years play. This article interests me by how I love baseball and it explains that the game of baseball is changing. The league average has dropped very low compared to past seasons and is a big problem when it comes to attendance, Hopefully in the next couple year baseball takes a turn back to the way it was. [email protected]
More Strikeouts Than Hits? Welcome to Baseball's Latest Crisis
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/16/sports/baseball-mlb-strikeouts.html?r...
Throughout this year there has been many concerns that the game of baseball is becoming more of a power surge than just playing the way it was meant to be. The pitchers are trying to throw the ball as hard as they can instead of working on the right mechanics while the batters are aiming for home runs instead of base hits. As a spectator of Major League baseball I can see the difference from this years to past years play. This article interests me by how I love baseball and it explains that the game of baseball is changing. The league average has dropped very low compared to past seasons and is a big problem when it comes to attendance, Hopefully in the next couple year baseball takes a turn back to the way it was. [email protected]
My favorite article this week in the New York Times was the article about how gymnasts describe the abuse they went through in North Carolina. This article interested me because it showed how these people were mistreated and how nothing was done to help them. Articles like this raise awareness to issues like this one and show the world that abuse can happen anywhere. It compared this incident to the one of Nassar, who was a doctor who sexually abused around 150 girls and how nothing was done to stop him in his reign of terror. He was convicted in January which is a positive, but nothing was done to stop him from ruining lives, which is what this article shows the world.
Children of the Cube
Ever since the era of the cube thousands of children are mesmerized by it. There was a National Championship for cubing this year and there was a qualifying round to compete for it. There was more than 600 competitors for this competition. This article interests me by when I was a child I liked to play with a rubix cube, but I never realized how serious people take it. I find it amazing that there are kids that make this their hobby or sport they play. The rubix cube is extremely tough to play and it's fascinating how fast and precise kids solve it in seconds. [email protected]
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/climate/summer-heat-global-warming.html
“It’s hot. But it may not be the new normal yet. Temperatures are still rising.”
Global Warming is becoming a big problem not only to animals but everybody around the world. Global Warming or climate change is the observed century scale rise in the average temperature of the Earth's climate system and its related effects. Global Warming has been going on for years now but as the years pass the heat rises.
Now in this year it has become to be the fourth hottest year and is starting to look a lot like the future that scientists have been warning about in the era of climate change. The article states that about a dozen of heat related deaths had occurred in japan this summer from the cause of the extreme heat. Scientist have even concluded that temperatures are still rising and efforts to control the massive heat have failed. These heat waves are bound to get even more intense which means we need to start making a change in this world and protect the planet we live in.
The most interesting article in the New York Times this week had to be “LeBron James: The Strange Thrill of a One-Man Show”. One reason this article interested me was it was about basketball which is one of my favorite sports. This article also interested me as it brought up many points I find myself talking about with my friends. One of these points is that it is better to have a good all around team then a bad team with a single superstar. The author of the article says basketball is a “sport in which a bedrock assumption is that you’re better off with more good players — into a successful one-man show that just might be reaching its heroic limits.” This is proving true in the NBA finals has Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are down 2-0 against the strong Golden State Warriors in a best of seven series. Even though Mr. James was able to put up two ridiculous stat lines in both games the Cavs still found themselves on the losing end. Another point this article brings up that is constantly being debated amongst my peers is Lebron James greatness as a whole. The article agrees that Lebron is an all time great, possibly the best ever. The article talks about how Lebron is able to raise his play on the biggest stages to carry his team which is sometimes lacking. Comparing Lebron to one of the greatest guards of all time Allen Iverson.
Make Your Daughter Practice Math. She’ll Thank You Later .
This article interests me because it talks about how on average girls are better at language arts than boys. It also talks about how both boys and girls on average are both equally good at math. Many girls though seem to think that they are worse, but it is all in their head. More girls take interest in writing or reading than doing math, so they excel in language arts. Boys normally like math more so they will practice or do more math outside of school. @[email protected]
This week I read ‘Instagram Allows Longer Videos in Challenge to YouTube’. As an avid user of both of these apps, I was interested in reading about how Youtube felt about Instagram creating IGTV as a rival to Youtube videos.
Instagram has been copying other social media apps for a few years now. The app now has stories, face filters, and you can directly send a picture to another user, like on the app Snapchat; and the whole premise of Instagram, posting pictures for your followers to see, is rather like Facebook, which bought Instagram in 2012. Now it has created IGTV, a place where users can post longer videos, a concept vaguely similar to Youtube.
As time has gone on, Instagram has strayed more and more from its roots, and it has not gone unnoticed by its users. Every update brings a new feature that seems to be copied from another app. While there are some differences between what Instagram does and the app that originally had the feature, Instagram users and the creators of other social media apps are not fooled and continue to monitor what new updates Instagram comes out with.
If you ask me Instagram shouldn’t be copping other apps this closely, they should be coming out with their own ideas, even though I highly doubt people will ever stop using it
In Kiki Challenge, Muddy Indian Farmers Show World How to Groove
I chose to read this article because it had an interesting title. The Kiki challenge is a popular challenge that people are doing to Drake’s new song “In My Feelings”. In the article their were farmers dancing in the mud to the song. I think that is us crazy how a silly challenge that people are doing in the United States is also a thing in other countries around the world. If their were not technology this would have never happened because technology can bring the inter world together. @[email protected]
The article that interested me the most this week was “Devastating Toxic Algae Bloom Plagues Florida’s Gulf Coast.” I was recently in Naples, but spent my whole week away from the beach. This toxic algae bloom has caused so many fish to die, leaving a terrible smell behind. Everyone was coughing and it was very hard to breathe. “Empty beaches, empty roads, empty restaurants.” Florida’s southern Gulf Coast is a known place for the attraction of tourists but with the red tide taking over the Gulf Coast, many people decided to not vacation in places like Naples. Also resulting in loss of money for businesses. In Longboat Key, more than 5 tons of dead fish have been found and removed. marine life such as turtles, large fish, manatees, dolphins, and even sharks have been found washed up on the shore, dead. Gov. Rick Scott has ordered $1.5 million to be used on cleaning up beaches, and hopefully bring back tourists. This article made me wonder why the red tide is so intense this year. How can humans help fix this issue?