This week I read “How to Write a Good College Essay”. I read this since I will soon be writing my own college essay and thought it might be helpful to figure out what I should be writing. It wrote about how your college essay is not just a resume but a way to voice your views and ideas to the college you are applying to. So, this means you should include extracurricular activities and other non profit things you have done. The college wants to know how you will make their college a better place. This was helpful to me as I now understand what I need to do in my essay and can better prepare myself by participating in more extacurricular activities to better my essay. Your essay should tell your story and who you are.
California Fire Now the Largest in State History: ‘People Are on Edge’
Out of all the articles that I have read in the Times this week, this article caught my attention because of the bravery of the individuals who are combatting this fire, despite the risk to their own well being. With everything that is being reported in the news these days including scandals, shootings, and racial tensions within the country, it is good to know that there are people out there who act out of genuine concern for others and engage in selfless activities while placing their own lives at harm’s way..
These men and women are doing their best to combat the raging inferno that has already destroyed many homes, lives, and families of the people who live near Redding, California. I was amazed that so many people were expressing their support for those affected by the fires, and even people who lived in other states were coming to California to help those whose lives have been overturned by the raging fire. Stories like these remind me there are people out there who are doing their best to save the lives of complete strangers for no reason other than the fact that they believe that it is the right thing to do.
"New York Without The Daily News Will Be Less Alive, and Less Democratic"
This editorial quickly proved to be one which felt genuine and put me on a side I was not already on. The author has a clear purpose of showing the reader that the loss of the Daily News is a loss to New York as a whole. I found one of the author’s most compelling strategies to be their use of the names and notable events captured by certain members of the Daily News team in order to display their dedication to the city and journalistic integrity. I was, however, irked by the author’s mention of Daily News bashing Trump as a reason for why this is such a tragedy. Plenty of reporters are already riding that train, no one needs a whole paper for that. However, I did agree with most of the author’s other points, such as how men like Mayor de Blasio fear the paper’s ability to tear them down for their wrongdoings on such a local and therefore personal level. It is certainly important to have a voice to keep such people in check. The author had a quite perfect stage set for this editorial. They were backing up a fellow New York newspaper on a platform entirely independent of it, which would quickly instill trust even in those who had not previously read the Daily News. The author also had the luck of this event happening with Trump shining the spotlight on news, so many people will be intrigued or upset by the Daily News shutting down in a new age for journalistic integrity.
How to talk to a racist.
I found this to be the most interesting article this week. Living on Long Island means living in one of the most naturally segregated areas; the percentage of white residents in Smithtown is more than 20% higher than that of the US as a whole. Coming from a Chinese family while being raised in the US is a complicated story in terms of racism. On one hand, you are often a victim of racism, but at the same time, the first generation of immigrants tend to be bigots themselves. They will often prejudge Muslims, Indians, black people, white people, even other types of Chinese and Asian people. For example, Fujianese people are only good at running restaurants or laundromats; black people are all criminals; Muslims should be removed from the country; Indians are stingy and backward people; white people are all pitted against them. This often leads to tight ethnic enclaves in parts of New York City, or in the case of Long Island, Stony Brook. They often bring up events centuries or decades ago as justification. This could include the Nanking massacre, the burning of Yuan Ming Yuan, even 9/11. Much of this is also engrained in their culture. Being tan is practically a sin for the women of China. Similar to India, skin whitening makes up a large portion of the cosmetic industry of China. Despite using the discussed tactics, I find that they're obstinate, citing statistics to hold they're beliefs. There is no solution to the bigotry ingrained in their culture.
How to Help a Teenager Be College Ready
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/well/how-to-help-a-teenager-be-colleg...
This article was most interesting to me this week because I am going to be a senior in high school in a little over a month, and I have no idea how to be ready for college or what to expect. I don't know where I want to go, or how far away from home I can manage, or how to even apply. After reading this article, I was helped with understanding what I can do to prepare myself for my hopefully not too expensive future. I think this article is so important for all teenagers to read, because it gives them an advantage to understanding what to expect, without getting too anxious or nervous about the best time of their life.
The article that I found most interesting this week in New York Times was: Faced With Crippling Sanctions, ZTE Loaded Up on Lobbyists"
" After being hit with crippling United States sanctions in April; A Chinese telecommunications company called ZTE chose a very American solution: It loaded up on Washington Lobbyists."
"For three months, the company, based in Shenzen, engaged in a furious and ultimately successful-campaign to win a reprieve from penalties that threatened to put it out of business and derail diplomatic relations between the United States and China. It hired former lawmakers, legislative aides and a Trump campaign to try to sway lawmakers with the kind of behind-the-scenes lobbying that president Trump has long derided as a problem of the "swamp.""
The article that I found most interesting this week in New York Times was "How Robot Hands are Evolving To Do What Ours Can". What caught my eye the most was the picture for the article which showed a robotic hand that resembled a human hand, and moved similarly. Inside of OpenAI, they have created a robotic hand called Dactyl. Dactyl has mechanical fingers that can bend and straighten just like a human hand. The robotic hand is able to spin and turn an item in its hand. Even though this may seem like a simple thing for a hum an hand to do, this shows how far this hand has gone. Also showing how far technology has developed over years of research. Possibly in the future Dactyl may move exactly like a human hand or even ore advanced.
-Jasmine_GHS_2020
What interested me this week?
The article I read was called “How Robot Hands are Evolving To Do what Ours Can.” It was about the AI that controls these robotic hands and how its learning to adapt. What caught my attention was not the AI but the fact that these limbs reminded me of a video game called Deus Ex.
Why?
In Deus Ex people have access to these robotic limbs called augs and they use them for various tasks because they can outperform regular human body parts. However, in the game the body parts get hacked making their owners go berserk. What I saw in the article was how the hand that they first showed was able to perform a difficult task with, what looked like, ease. So this raised the question when will robotic limbs surpass regular human ones? Will we be cutting off limbs in the next few years to replace our own? How will our society react when these new limbs go on the market? Will there be new sports divisions, naturals leagues and aug leagues? Will a travesty happen like in Deus Ex? After all this video game series did predict the twin towers falling. Regardless this is all over speculation in all likely hood not much will really change, because we will be prepared for it, and if we aren't then it still doesn't matter because humans are very good at adapting.
The New York Times Article that interested me the most this week was "Waging War From a Hotel Basement: Colombian Rebels Offer Hostages and Ask for Talks" written by Nicholas Casey. After reading this article I have developed immense feelings towards the matter at hand, and that is rebels who are bombing police stations and killing police officers. Whether you agree with your justice system/ government or not, it is wrong to ambush or hurt those who put your lives in front of their own. Unfortunately in order to solve such violent crimes, violent strategies are being implemented in hopes of finding order and peace among civilians, however thousands of deaths come as result. Although the government states they will solve the problem at hand, no progress is being made, causing the people to lose trust. It has proven to be quite difficult to find justice for this scenario because many feel violence is the only way to stop the problem, however that contradicts the entire goal of stopping violence. This entire article bring me sadness to think people are killing those who are trying to protect them, I hope improvement is made and people may finally live in safety and peace.
I chose the article "How to Help a Teenager Be College-Ready". This article interested me because I wanted to know what I needed to do to be ready for college in the next two years. My brother is also going to college within the next day so the article just seemed relevant. I agreed with the idea bout maintaining your mental and physical help but keeping a good sleep schedule, not procrastinating, etc. I found the article useful for my future.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/01/magazine/climate-change-l...
Climate change is something we hear about almost every day in the media, and in 2018, scientists warn it may already be too late to reverse its effects. Even in 1980, we were aware of carbon emissions' effects on the temperature of the earth and we knew that it would require decisive action to combat the change. Fossil fuels were to blame for the greenhouse effect, but we just couldn't commit to quitting our coal and oil addiction. This article interested me because this is truly a worldly issue, one that affects us all. The fact that we have been awoken to climate change as early as 1979, almost 40 years ago, and the US has still not made a drastic change or a lasting political effort to lead the world in reducing carbon emissions is astounding to me. And now, almost two decades into the twenty-first century, we might already be doomed.
"How to Help a Teenager Be College-Ready
This article interested me the most because I will be going to college in 3 years and I want to be prepared for this big change in my life. I am told that the transition from high school to college is difficult and this article helped me to prepare ahead of time. It is helpful to be reading this article now because it is important to prepare for college earlier in high school not right before you go. As you go to college you have to take on a new level of personal responsibility because you no longer have your parents there to rely on. When going to college, you take on new medical, academic, and administrative responsibilities. These responsibilities will take some adjusting, but you eventually figure it out.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/style/shiggy-challenges-inmyfeelings....
So many challenges have been breaking the internet lately especially the “In My Feelings” challenge by Drake. Social Media is the biggest way teens these days communicate and spend half their days. Challenges like the ALS ice bucket challenge or other things people come up with can be a great way to raise money and awareness to certain causes or problems in our society. Of course though there are always ways people can turn these great ideas into dangerous situation where people are getting injured or in trouble. With Drake’s new challenge people were putting themselves in danger on the road and causing commotion at traffic stops. This article interested me in the times this week because it is a subject my generation is greatly about and I can take part in these challenges.
"How Civil Must America Be?"
This article highlights the change in community discourse and communication within the city of Grinnell, Iowa--home to the president of the National Rifle Association--following the recent string of national tragedies involving gun violence. It was fascinating to read about the duality of contemporary and conservative values within one space and community, and how the bridge of compromise between the two adherents of these values had started to deteriorate as open communication began to diminish while the scope of gun violence problems had simultaneously begun to balloon. This article provided me with a new perspective on gun control issues, including how the revenue generated from firearm industries may promote the education and urban growth of a community. Through this article, I can see how the inner conflicts of Grinnell residents involve a complexity of opposing feelings that may invoke confusion into "how civil we should be" in a debate that may potentially risk the lives of innocent civilians in the future. On one hand, communities may experience greater funding for ventures such as school Robotics clubs and job expansions, but for how long can we be complacent with the source of this economic growth? Furthermore, how can we continue to maintain peaceful and open dialogue on competent public policies when the other side continuously chooses to avoid communication at all?
The article that interested me the most this week wad "How to Help a Teenager Be College-Ready" by Mark McConville. This article interested me the most because I will be going to college in two years and I want to be prepared for this big change in my life. I am told that the transition from high school to college is difficult and this article helped me to prepare ahead of time. It is helpful to be reading this article now because it is important to prepare for college earlier in high school not right before you go. As you go to college you have to take on a new level of personal responsibility because you no longer have your parents there to rely on. When going to college, you take on new medical, academic, and administrative responsibilities. These responsibilities will take some adjusting, but you eventually figure it out.
"Four Are Killed in New Brunswick, and Canada Repeats a Sad Ritual" written by Catherine Porter and Matthew Haag, exhibits the sense of community and humanity in New Brunswick as they remain strong while mourning the loss of four community members. A 48 year old local man killed four people, two of which were police officers who fearfully went to the the crime scene after a call that two people had been killed by the man for an unnamed motive. As homicides were almost nonexistent of in this area, this crime affected absolutely everyone as the felt an eternal gratitude for those deceased officers who put the lives of others at more worth than their own. After the homicide, many worked to enforce gun control in New Brunswick to prevent events like this to ever happen again, and to hopefully influence other parts of the world to do the same. In my opinion, I feel that gun control should have already been in effect so that incidents like this would never occur, and these four people would still be living. If gun control was enforced throughout the world, horrific events such as mass or school shootings, would be decreased or ideally eliminated entirely. In America, we take pride in the freedom we are so graciously offered, however, those who have or intend on buying guns should be intensely background checked, to prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands. Strong communities like New Brunswick will hopefully bring change to this world towards gun violence and gun control.
“How to Revive a Friendship”
This summer, I got into an big argument and falling out with my best friend, so the title of this article quickly caught my attention. Going from absolutely inseparable to not speaking was really tough, a huge hole was left in my chest and I didn’t think I’d be able to overcome the obstacles I was left to face.
The steps mentioned in this article were actually steps I personally used, which were successful. The only thing I’d really like to emphasize is that you should never come into the situation expecting a certain outcome, you have to be open minded and understanding. Attitude, Maturity, and Patience all will play a big part in trying to rebuild or rekindle a relationship with someone. People also need to remind themselves that if someone really cared as much as they did, they’d also be hurting as much as they are.
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The other article I chose is an article about, how robots can rule the world? Well its actually titled "An Artist Warns of a Robot-Ruled Future. Or Is It Our Present? Let’s Discuss." but close enough. So right off the bat the article drew me by the title and continued to draw me through the discussion. There has been talk about robots leading the future, but will they take over? Personally i think that there is a possibility because of the advanced technology that has been invented in the past decade alone. So its a tough discussion. Even though there are several virtual intelligence and artificial intelligence agencies already out there I find it slightly hard to believe that all of a sudden the world is going to be taken over by pieces of scrap metal put together with a hot glue gun with a computer based by product brain I just find it hard to believe, but then again maybe it is just me.
Understanding the process of creating a fully functional artificial intelligent is a difficult and long process no doubt. So the point was taken but is that going to stop engineers and scientists from going any further from going any further? the answer is no. Final thoughts, Robots are a thing of the future that i din't think, even if they were that advanced that they could become the future of the world or let alone the United States. But at the same time who knows what the future has in store. And who knows what could change in this country in just a decade and a half.
The article that I chose to read was "How to Write a Good College Application Essay". This article caught my attention because as an incoming freshmen with an older sibling as a senior you begin to realize the little things that may mean college or no college and or you have been accepted or you have not been excepted essays. As I analyzed the article it gave me interesting tips on how to grow my knowledge and make me seem more desirable to colleges and to highlight things that you know the college may be looking for. To speak about your extracurricular activities and any sports that you may have played during your school career especially in high school. Talk about honor roll, honors classes, speak on things you know your good at, your strengths. Sell yourself in the best way possible.
And lastly understand that all that you have may not be what their looking for, and that is ok and its also why you should apply to at least two or more colleges. I think that this article interested me more because how it made sure to highlight points in your application essay that you really want to sell. So final statements: I will definitely take what this article says into account and make sure to share it with my older sister who is in facts in that weird stage of visiting colleges, doing tours, leaving state and its all new to her. For me, glad that I get small peek into the life of a college freshman so that maybe for me ill have more knowledge about writing essays.
The article that I chose to read this week was "Taking Away the Phones Won't Solve Our Teenagers' Problems". The headline of this article caught my attention because, in today's society, teenagers are addicted to their smartphones, which cause depression, anxiety, and even suicide. Apple has introduced a new software designed to help users restrict the time they spend on their phones. Parents should look deeper into this new software because this might solve their child's mental issues and become less addicted. Silicon Valley insiders even demanded that Apple make its devices less addictive.
Our cell phones are destroying this generation because teenagers are too dependent on them and will get anxiety if they do not have their smartphone on them. They are also destroying this generation because these teenagers are growing up with uncertain truths and unreliable sources of news and facts that is on the internet and social media. Hopefully, this new software will help teenagers with their mental issues and help them to become independent without their phone.
Being the huge sports fan that I am, I decided to take a look at an article involving a dilemma that the former head coach of Maryland University's football team has on his hands. It was reported a couple of days ago that former Maryland offensive lineman Jordan McNair who died on June 13th, two weeks after failing to recover from a team workout, has his coach DJ Durkin to partially blame for the situation. The official cause of death was heatstroke and due to this Maryland was forced to send coach DJ Durkin on administrative leave and also the school was forced to part ways with top strength coach Rick Court. The University has now conducted a full on outside investigation into the circumstances into McNair's death, and these results are expected to go public some time in September. For myself as a sports fan, this is just the tip of the iceberg to a summer in college football that has been rather chaotic. First the story of Urban Meyer's involvement in a domestic violence case involving one of his former coached surfaced forcing him to take a leave of absence, now this story is the last thing I wanted to wake up to this morning. It is just horrible scrutiny that the NCAA is going to have to endure because of these two situations, and it unnecessarily ruins the game I have loved all my life.
The emotional connection we share between orcas and humans is immense, and this article gave a perfect scenario to be used in comparing the process of grief a mother orca may feel for her deceased calf. In this case, Tahlequah the mother carried her stillborn calf ten days and counting. The worry comes in when scenarios like this happen when we notice the anthropomorphic connection. Feeling the same feelings animals have anthropomorphic connection exhibits the emotions we feel as human beings to the whales it gives us a better understanding of how the whale feels represented to us by specific human concepts such as love, war, fertility, or beauty things and or feelings that we think a simple minded whale couldn't manage to feel and to me that's the most interesting thing to be brought up about orcas besides sea world's shamu show.
I believe that the whale felt the same feelings a human mother would show to her stillborn child on a less wildly raw scale, this drew my attention because of the constant controversy that has absorbed recent years speaking on killer whale attacks, animal rights, as well as animals in captivity. As humans it is quick for us to say that they are just animals but anthropomorphic connection may be able to change our perception into something we can better understand. To dig deep into the science of the whole ordeal would provide a different level of emotional connection, of sentiment. Maybe, just maybe things
would change things for better or worse.
“Watch Out, America: ‘Love Island’ Is Coming” by Alex Marshall
This article drew my attention because I have been religiously watching Love Island on Hulu. It is a fantastic show with a lot of British lingo. This isn’t a shock that Love Island is coming to America. Just like how The Office did so well in Britain America brought The Office to the states. My only fear is that it won’t be as enjoyable as the British version. The best part of Love Island is that what they are saying doesn’t make any sense sometimes. Overall I am very excited to see how Love Island USA plays out.
Taking Away The Phones Won't Solve Our Teenagers' Problems
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/14/opinion/sunday/smartphone-addiction-t...
This article intrigued me the whole time I was reading it because I was really able to see both perspectives on the idea of smartphones being addictive and possibly bad.
The author tries to contradict some statements regarding iPhones and the depression connected with them in a newer and younger generation of people.
While she does a good job at trying to blame it all on anxiety, it seems evident that smartphones might just be the case.
As a teenager myself I can easily see how addictive phones can be, and I honestly wouldn't blame anyone's related troubles on anxiety alone.
The smart phones do indeed contribute to such problems.
The article interested me because the opposing viewpoints were readily able to be observed as the article would carry on. Seeing which way I would be persuaded was another as well.
The New York Times Article that interested me the most this week was "Saudi Arabia Seeks the Death Penalty for Female Activist" written by David Kirkpatrick. Briefly summarized, Kirkpatrick's article describes the extreme penalties of female activists who are arrested for voicing their opinions on politics and their lack of rights. Saudi Arabian prosecutors are working to sentence six activists to the death penalty for their unnecessary and violent tactics to voice their opposition to politics. I have many mixed emotions on this article about both the Saudi Arabian government and the choices made by female activists. Unlike the U.S, Saudi Arabia seems to have struct rules against freedom of speech and requires serious penalties for those who fail to oblige. If this is how Saudi Arabia chooses to run, then that is totally acceptable, however the death penalty seems unnecessarily extreme for those who simply want to see change in their country. However, on the other hand, these female activists were aware of the consequences of their actions if they decided to start riots or protest, therefor the death penalty must have been expected and accepted by them. Although I am certain there is nothing anyone can do to sway the drive of the Saudi Arabian government towards the death penalty for female activists, I hope they decide against such an extreme punishment.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/us/carr-fires-california-explained.html
"The Carr Fire, the 7th Most Destructive in California History, Rages On"
This article interested me the most. Wildfires seem to be a very serious issue and I think that it is very important for us to look into them. I chose this article because I am not too familiar with the topic of wildfires and I thought that it would be pretty interesting to look into. I discovered and learned many new things about wildfires that really surprised me. That being said, the Carr Fire seems to be a big deal. It has damaged more than a thousand buildings and killed six people. The most shocking piece of the article to me was that the fire was also approximately the size of the city of New Orleans. I was really amazed by the fact that the fire was that big. I hope that everyone suffering or stressing over this fire can find safety since it seems to be like a pretty big deal in the state of California.
For years people have been saying that smartphones have been the cause of many problems for teenagers. In the article, "Taking Away the Phones Won’t Solve Our Teenagers’ Problems" the author stated that phones are not starting the problems with teens. It says that the electronics only make the issues worse but not create them. At times our phones are even used to help us get rid of our problems and focus on something else. I disagree with this article because I believe phones can be the cause of many of teens' issues. When teenagers use social media they can become self conscious about themselves seeing the photoshopped models all over the internet. Another way that someone can feel self conscious about themselves is cyber bullying. Many teens struggle with bullying only through their phones. It may not be a problem in real life because people tend to feel safer when they are behind a screen. People can become attached to their phones and feel naked without them leading to anxiety. This is not healthy behavior for anyone let alone a child or teenager. There can also be health related issues caused by phones. In my own life, my sister would get headaches whenever she would use her phone because of too much use in the past. Even though it is not a major health concern, it is something you should think about before using our phone too much.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/world/europe/pope-death-penalty.html
"Pope Francis Declares Death Penalty Unacceptable in All Cases". This article interested me the most because for the pope to declare the death penalty unacceptable in all cases is rather absurd to me. Personally I believe that some crimes committed are just so horrible that the perpetrator must pay with their own life. Yes, death is bad but I believe that intentional murder and massacres should be punished with the death penalty. Pope Francis says that executions are an attack on human dignity. If someone is even getting an execution in the first place they have no dignity to begin with. That person must have done something absolutely disgusting to even be getting that punishment in the first place. People who get the death penalty deserve the death penalty.
How to Write a Good College Application Essay
College application essays are a big part of the college application process. Every student who will be attending college will have to write a college essay, so getting extra help with it is very beneficial. The tone of this article is set out to help those who may be struggling with a college essay.
Since I will be applying to college this fall, I'm going to need all the help I can get. This article put some great ideas into my head, like using volunteer work or something that has to do with my major. The colleges I choose will most likely look for something unique and what might represent their college well. For example, I enjoy watching movies, so I could include a funny story or my favorite movie and why I enjoy it so much. Obviously, those are pretty bland and one-sentence ideas, but it's a good start to how I would want a college to find me interesting.
Although I won't be applying until late fall, getting a head start on a college application is always a good idea. My whole entire life could be based off of this decision, so beginning my adult life in a positive way isn't such a bad idea. This article definitely helped me decide what I'm going to write about for my college applications, and I recommend it to those who will be applying in the near future.
@Anna I think this deserves a 3.5-4 because it is insightful about the article and includes specific details. It is organized well and uses sophisticated language. It is written skillfully and adds a different perspective to the article.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/smarter-living/how-to-revive-a-friend...
I found this article interesting because I am able to relate to it. I use to be a similar situation by how I used to be a bad friendship but now I can use this to help bring back my friendship with the person. Sometimes friendships can end and go but sometimes you just need that one person who will always be with you no matter what. You always have to choose wisely about you make friends with because some will care about you and some will not. You should always surround yourself with friends who are positive and who care about you and will never leave you behind.
I read the article "Some College Students Choose a School Where They Don’t Fit, on Purpose." I specifically chose this article because I will be applying to colleges this year. I found it interesting that they decided to go to colleges where they won't necessarily fit in, because everyone usually says "find your perfect fit for college!" . After reading this article, it makes sense to go to a college where I don't fit in because it'll help find myself, like the people in this article. At the end of the article it said that going to a school where you fit in leaves all your questions answered about life and what you're interested in, and thinking about it, I 100% agree.
I read the article Kawhi Leonard Traded to Raptors for DeMar DeRozan. This was a very good article that discussed one of the game changing trades this NBA offseason Kawhi Leonard for DeMar DeRozan. Kawhi demanded a trade form the San Antonio Spurs, ultimately the Spurs agreed to a trade with the Toronto Raptors. Super star Kawhi Leonard was sent to Toronto and all star DeMar Deronzan was sent to San Antonio. At first glance this might seem like a major win for the Toronto Raptors but you have to look at the trade closer. The Raptors traded their loyal franchise player for a one year super star in Kawhi Leonard. Not only this but Kawhi has openly said that he is not interested in resigning with Toronto next offseason.
Meet Iceland’s Whaling Magnate.
He Makes No Apologies.
I selected this article because it´s about our reality in thesedays, the article talks of a whale that was hunted ,the point is that this creature is in danger of extinction , so this caught my attention because I think that this is a bad act , and I think that there have to be some laws that don’t permit this type of acts , or some types of economical fines for the main persons or companies that are exploiting the animals in the sea for their own benefit.
I liked this article because I felt a special connection with this situation , I feel that this is the reality in our world , and I think this is not only with animals , or the environment but this type of bad decisions and bad attitudes from the humanity are applied and can be visible in every area of activity , mediocrity and corruption are only some examples of the real problems that we face every day and every time you will see good persons and bad persons but in these times people only think in themselves they don´t care about the others , they don´t take care about the planet, and all these reasons are why I think that humans have lost sensibility and with this I mean that when we see these types of acts , or people that die in the news we don´t care it´s normal for us and we need to change these.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/17/technology/alexa-siri-con...
I read the article, "Alexa vs. Siri vs. Google: Which
Can Carry on a Conversation Best?". The article analyzes how different home AI systems respond to different situations. It was interesting to see how specific but simple to understand questions where not able to be sufficiently answered by the systems. This was due to the way they were programmed. Each system has to be individually programmed to respond to a certain situation and it's hard to think of every single situation in existence to code in everything the systems need to know. This results in these issues where you can't fully hold conversations and truly rely on these artificial intelligence systems to do even the simplest tasks such as recording items in your shopping list. The devices however, are quite good at recognizing pronouns when you've said something previously that would describe what that pronoun was referencing. An interesting thought that the article just briefly talks about is about the systems having opinions and other human-like qualities. None of them have any opinions of course, but I wonder if there was a way to expose them to only a certain amount of information and let them decide themselves how they would feel about it.
David Goodall, 104, Scientist Who Fought to Die on His Terms, Ends his Life
Euthanasia is the “painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma." It is illegal in many countries and often alluded to assisted suicide. However, a brave decision by Woodall has helped raise inquiries and enlightened the public.
To lose one’s mobility and strength to do activities once enjoyed and cherished does take a significant toll on a person. The frustration and lack of contentment can consume the thoughts of a person so physically limited. Similarly to the novel Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes, where the bubbly protagonist, Lou, is paid to be the caretaker of cynical Will, a wealthy man who suffered from a devastating motorcycle accident that paralyzed him. Throughout the novel, Lou learns that Will has made the decision to be euthanized in six months’ time in Switzerland, in which she and Will’s mother vicariously work in hopes of convincing Will to prolong his life. However, the quality of life is more important than life itself, and disagreeing Lou goes to Switzerland to be with Will before his death. Moyes’ philosophy of euthanasia illustrates Woodall’s reasoning to end his life.
The right to make a personal choice based on personal desires can be seen as empowering and closure. To end one’s life is never an easy thing but being able to make the decision is respectable and honorable.
FDA Approves First Drug Designed to Prevent Migraines
With such a medical discovery, many are bound to enjoy the feeling of hope and ardent happiness. However many controversies, such as the costs of the treatment and the irresponsible nature of the article must be called to attention.
The drug, Aimovig, is a monthly injection with a device similar to an insulin pen; with a “small” price of $6900 a year. It is understandable that drugs cost money to develop and procure. However, if Medicaid or any other assistance programs would not or refuse to cover the cost, it would be inaccessible to ordinary citizens who suffer from migraines. Migraines will not stop and will most likely never cease to exist so having such a drug being presented to the public seems only to shift the class differences. Those who do not have the funds are coerced into continually suffer from their migraines and laborious daily work.
This article also appears to be somewhat irresponsible. It quotes a doctor saying the new medicine is “fantastic” and gives the example of one patient whose headaches were dramatically diminished. Nonetheless, the new drug decreased migraine frequency by only two episodes per month, which is good but if one were to be having 12-14 episodes a month, it would hardly be considered “fantastic.”
In light of the social economy and the article’s lack of consistency and unconvincing components, the new “breakthrough” drug may not seem as integral or worth the cost.
I read the article, “ Mars is Frigid, Rusty, and Haunted. We Can’t Stop Looking At It “. I found this article very interesting. In the article, it says that it was the closest to Earth it has been in 15 years. It is bright and it is a red glow. This article also explains some facts about Mars. This really caught my attention and it was very interesting. Mars has always had people’s attention. Mars is a very interesting planet and now we know some moe about it.
I read the article, “ Beauty Is in the Eyes of These Beholders “. This is about an event called, BeautyCon. Women, and some men, gathered and did a full glam wing makeup. They also did their hair, not a normal style, but even with glitter. The outfit also plays a huge role, so the guest made sure they looked their best. I like the idea where people all join together and dress up and in such a sense, gets to express themselves and show off their personality and style. BeautyCon is held in Los Angeles and it is a time you don’t want to miss. This is when you can get together and show off your loud and confident looks.
I read the article, “ California Fire Now the Largest in State History: People Are on Edge “. This wildfire was the state's largest. The article states that, nearly 600,000 acres burned and more than 13,000 firefighters battling blazes. To fight this fire, it was extremely difficult for the firefighters. California was fighting 17 fires at the same time. California now has more firefighters deployed than at any other time in the state’s history. This is a very devastating thing to think about. The firefighters had to show determination and be brave. California is in my prayers and i’m sure many others. ( for week 9 )
What caught my eye this week was an article called, "Some College Students Choose a School Where They Don’t Fit, on Purpose". I saw this title on the article and immediately had to read it because I am currently in the process of deciding what type of college I want to go to. This title made me think- why would someone purposely chose a college in which they don't think they would fit in? Personally, I have been trying to find a college where I fit in academically, socially and athletically. After reading this article, it really opened my eyes to the way other people think about 'not fitting in'. Some college students see this social impasse as a challenge to find people who share the same beliefs. Many of them ended up finding people who felt the same way as them as well as share their beliefs. Hearing about experiences of people who went through the same thing that I am going through now, made me realize that there will always be somewhere to fit in at where ever college I decide to go.
The article that interested me was, “ the fight for the one-piece swimsuit emoji” this has stood out to me for many reasons. As a young woman it is to show that social media has taken a large impact on how a “girl” or “woman” should look like or dress like. Society has shaped the world today to be something that it is not, something that should have not as much attention as it is given in which pressures young women to want change in themselves. It definitively hurts to see that young girls are willing to do anything to reach societies expectations when they are fine the way they are. Furthermore the simple change to have a “one-piece emoji” is something I am for because all women are different not all want to wear the same things and feeling left out for that reason is something that needs to change. This is definitely something that should be considered by those in control
“How to revive a friendship”is the article that captured my attention. As a high school student so much responsibility is put upon the individual. Such as keeping there studies as their main effort but as well as keeping friendships. It might not sound like so much but Times certainly do get difficult. Things eventually change and friends are not forever but to maintain one true friend is to always choose wisely. Having friends or someone to talk to is always important in the lives of all and is scientifically proven that friendships build up social skills as well as being comfortable with many and not only this but there are so many health benefits from this. All in all friendships are not always forever and many will come in and out of your life but it is alway best to surround oneself with positivity
"‘Avengers: Infinity War’: It’s Marvel’s Universe. We Just Live in It."
I found this article very interesting because it highlights the strengths of my favorite movie of the year, "Avengers: Infinity War." There are many great things about this movie: the plot, the excitement, the build-up, and the controversial ending. However, I think the best thing about this movie and the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe is its diversity and inclusiveness. There are heroes in the story of different races, sexes, and ages. Black Widow,Scarlett Witch, and Gamora are strong female heroes. There are protagonists from different races, such as Black Panther, and even teenagers are well represented by the character of Spider Man and Groot. In such a popular movie franchise, this inclusiveness is very important because allows everyone to feel represented. It also allows people of all shapes, sizes, and genders to come together and enjoy one great film. In a genre that for so long has only been associated with one specific demographic, it is refreshing to see it opened up to all different people all over the world.
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Week 9:
The article "Largest King Penguin Colony in the World Drops by 90%" is the one that interested me the most this week. Penguins have always appealed to me as the are so rare. This is because they live in some of the most extreme conditions the world has to offer. Living in extreme cold with little to no precipitation, they must scavenge for food in the freezing cold waters of the arctic. Penguins are even more unique as they are among a handful of birds that cannot fly. So the article intrigued me because I wanted to know how and why these creatures died. I had a feeling it would be due to loss of habitat or food sources due to climate change and wanted to confirm my suspicion. The magnitude of 90% is unreal and further developed my interest in the article. As stated towards the middle of the article there are about 1.5 to 1.7 million king penguins in the world. This means that the loss of over 400 thousand king penguins from this colony has eliminated over 25% of the king penguin population worldwide. I hate seeing animals become endangered and especially extinct, so I clicked on the article hoping to see how we could prevent this unfortunate event from happening in the future. This will be further discovered after more research done by Dr. Trucchi. Overall the large number of lives lost of such a rare animal is what really caused me to choose this article.
I read the article, “ How to Revive a Friendship “. In this article, it explains what a good friend is and what healthy friendships are, and how to get back a lost relationship with a close or mutual friend. I think that this article is very helpful if someone needs good information on how to regain the friendship and trust. In the past, I have lost some friends and it would of been nice to have a good resource to read. The benefits of the article is that maybe someone doesn't want to necessarily talk to someone about their situation, or maybe they are not ready and they want a good reliable source. I also like how the article has steps that you can follow and directions if you will, on how to handle each step.
Link to the article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/world/asia/malaysia-child-marriage.html
The article that I read and found interesting was entitled, "11 and Married: Malaysia Spars Over an Age-Old Practice." In this article the author, Hannah Beech, wrote about the Malaysian practice of marrying girls at a young age. I felt very uncomfortable but still interested in reading this article because it blows my mind that marrying young girls still happen in other places around the world. In the article it talks about these two young girls who were friends and one of them marries the other friend's father. The young girl thought that it was weird that her best friend was marrying her father. The young girl was 11 years old and her husband was 41 years old. That is a 30 year difference! Not only this young girl marrying this man who is way older than her, but she will be this man's third wife. I find this so absurd. The thing that makes me the most upset is that there is really not a lot of laws to protect young girls from this. But i guess what also bothers me is that I am a young girl myself and I can't imagine getting married at this age.
Week 9:
The article "Largest King Penguin Colony in the World Drops by 90%"interested me this week. Penguins are one of my favorite animals helping to spark an immediate interest in this article.The reason that this article stood out from the rest was because of the idea that an already rare animal such as a penguin has lost so much of its population. 90% is a giant proportion of anything let alone deaths of a species. Also, I had a feeling that the cause of this destruction was due to climate change and wanted to confirm my suspicion. Climate change is a highly debated topic in today's world, further feeding my interest in this article. Though the concept is controversial, the majority of people can agree that it is a relevant concern for the future of all life on Earth. If climate change is still not a proven concept of science, then this article helps to strengthen the claim of climate change as a real threat. Stated further in the article the total population of king penguins is believed to be between 1.5 and 1.7 million meaning this loss of over 400,000 penguins is over a quarter of the world's king penguin population. News of such a large loss is what really intrigued my to read this article.
"Parkland Shooting Suspect Lost Special-Needs Help at School When He Needed It Most"
This articles title seems as if the writers are trying to justify Nikolas Cruz's actions which was the Parkland shooting. The reason for Mr.Cruz lack of support at school cannot only be blamed on the school. When Mr.Cruz began to struggle again in high school, after transferring from a school that was very helpful to him, he was told by specialists that he should transfer back. However because he was legally an adult he was able to stay at Stoneman Douglass instead of transferring back to Cross Creek.
After some time at Stoneman Douglas Mr.Cruz failed out of the school and then purchased an AR-15 assault rifle 3 days later. Which he then used a little over a year later in one of the deadliest school shootings in America.
I chose to read this article because I have worked with children who have special needs, and if they do something that could potentially harm others it is not brushed aside just because they have special needs. If a student has educational accommodations for any reason they should not be taken lightly especially in the aspect of changing or removing the help the student gets. Which the specialist failed to do for Mr.Cruz. However, I strongly do not believe this justifies his actions.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/world/asia/malaysia-child-marriage.html
Immediately the title of this article caught my attention. I was curious to read about how a 41-year-old man can marry an 11-year-old girl. I learned that it was possible because of religious freedom.
From what I understand, this should not be allowed. Not enough is being done to protect these young girls who are subject to child marriage. The article stated that in Muslim-majority countries like Egypt, child marriage is already banned, so why can it still happen in countries like Malaysia? I feel that more needs to be done to be done to prevent this from happening in the future.
What Interested Me?
The article I read was called “How do you want to die?” It was about defibrillators and how they can prevent a quick and painless death. What caught my attention was how the doctor was surprised by the fact that people didn’t want to die.
Why?
Typically people don’t want to die, however they also don’t want to suffer, most people want to go quickly or in there sleep. However Doctor Jauhar was shocked to discover that people pick living longer over a short death, but to me this only makes logical sense. Living longer follows with natural way we have evolved, after all it is in the organisms best interest to not die so as to pass down its genes or in the case of older people, their knowledge. So when picking living longer vs. dying quickly, the living longer will almost always be chosen, in this case that means using a small implantable defibrillator. It takes a person with a lot of courage to recognise their time has come and to pass away. Doctor Jauhar also mentions in the article how he tells his patients all the pros and cons when they have the option to get a defibrillator, and I think every doctor should do this for every procedure they can do for their patient. However for me, I feel like the way you die isn’t really important, what's important is how you impact the lives around you and living a very eventful and long life. My death could be either slow and painful or fast and painless, what matters to me is that I lead an eve
The article,”students pour into Dhaka’s streets to demand safer roads” has shown the alliance between these young individuals and how Times have change where as many use their strengths to proclaim immediate change. For many reasons being that in certain countries, certain actions amongst these individuals are looked down upon when all one wishes to receive something that will benefit their country, cities and communities safe in the long run. Wanting to prevent death and be more aware of what needs to change around them. Although in these certain situations what the people want is not always what will be received and potentially can make matters worse however the key to such a fight is to continue to do and know what is right so that maybe change will be attained.
Article: Cuomo Says America ‘Was Never That Great’ in Jab at Trump Slogan
We’ve all heard Donald Trump’s “make America great again” campaign slogan, but what time he is referring to? Shane Goldmacher wrote an article describing Governor Cuomo as he asks this question. I like that there is an article which gives voice to these sentiments since, in the words of Cuomo, America “was never that great”.
The United States began as land stolen from Indigenous Peoples by religious zealots and people seeking their fortunes. We spent our first years murdering, exploiting, and committing cultural genocide against the people already living here in the name of religion, wealth, and racial superiority. Our beginning gave an indication of the rest of our history.
America has gone through many periods of time, but none that I would consider to be great. Perhaps Trump was referring to the time when Jim Crow laws were considered constitutional. On the other hand, he could have meant the period of time before women could vote, or when lgbt people were institutionalized. Minorities in America have been systematically oppressed since the nation was founded. However, many of these groups have gained more rights in recent years, making this one of the greatest times in our history in that regard. In conclusion, Donald Trump has made it clear that he longs for a time in America’s past which he finds to be great. Although, looking at the our history, it is difficult to tell what time that might be.
One of my great hobbies is that I always like to be buying clothes. I like to combine between different brands that exist in the world. But there is currently a very famous brand called Gucci it is one of the largest companies until now. His designs are so fantastic that anyone could become addicted if they like fashion.
“The Article Behind the Gucci Slogans”, well this article talks about how they started everything, and the Gucci creator name is Alessandro Michele who was born in Seville, and he moved to London when he was just 17 years, so he was attended by The Central St. Martins and The Royal College of Art. He was helped by an Spanish Artist called Coco Capitán.
First Alessandro saw the work from the Coco Capitán in two or three years when he arrived to Gucci. Then Alessandro showed his creatived teams and everyone got impressed. So they started a collaboration for the New York Show. In 2017 he made an incredible exhibition of his new collection. Actually Alessandro is living in Haggerston and his studio is in the Hackney Wick: both are located in the East from London. For Alessandro it´s really important to move around the world so he can keep his imagination fresh and be in a breating space to make his writing and painting. At the moment he said that he had several projects in mind, and one of them is a book that is coming soon.
Complete:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19mh8tTiqrHhOWdT4ojRB-S9ruT8YtZ4z73Se...
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/05/movies/christopher-robin-mission-impo...
This article it's about the sales of the new movie christopher robin and its comparison. the movie has generated 25 million of the 70 that they need in their first week and that its not the best but for me it's good start but, the movie of mission impossible has better statistics in their first week they generated 330 million dollar and the movie of christopher robin would never reach that number.
I choose this article because i like to see that some movie it's going well in their sales and i choose christopher robin because when i was younger i used to like winnie pooh and the movie it's about winnie pooh in the life of christopher when he is an adult.
I can't relacionate to my life because i don't make any money but the most certain thing that i connect to my life it's that like the movie sells goes slow i am like that i am slow at everything and relacionate too much but i think that is the only thing i can connect to my life when i grow up and make my money i would relacionate more with the article but right now i can't relacionate too much.
A Closer Look At The Drone Attack on Maduro In Venezuela
I select this article because it is a controversial and a delicate theme, we are talking about the possible death of one of the most corrupt presidents of the world that is President Nicolas Maduro
The drone attack was released on August 4 when Nicolas Maduro was giving a speech to the Venezolan country and two minutes later two drones suddenly exploded in the air. moments later the crowd was panicked and abandoned the place immediately six people were involved in the incident and the president of Colombia Juan Manuel Santoverything points thats. Ether intellectual and financial responsables are the USA, they aren't sure that people said that it was an terrorist attack people said that it is the same community of Venezuela
I think that maybe it's not the way to eliminate your president and there can be other ways to solve like having elections to eliminate the president but I also think that the Venezuelan people are fed up of the corrupt government and that Nicolas Maduro had also to think in his country not only in himself because to many Venezuelan people escape from the country and go to the north like Mexico, United Estates etc. and other countries are receiving too many immigrants and that affects the other countries .
I also found this article important because these may be the start for a new era in Venezuela and that the country can grow up economically etc.
He Spoke for the Tree. Then He Got Fired.
This article just want to make justice by my own, because how is it possible that a man gets fired because he was speaking up for nature. The world is speaking out loud for opportunities and defending the turtles, to use less plastic and to make the environment better more good for the world. It's so immature from part. Not only are American people are changing the world mexicans ar too and more people from around the world. Sometimes we think we made the correct decision. Sometimes we need to hear voices from others just to know that the decision we are making is the right one.
I am just 17 years old and my plans for life is not to judge, criticize or send innocent people to jail. Pace and respectful are the only things that matters. “The hollow tree had friends and fans. Children played in it. Adults stood in it and contemplated the inside-out view of the landscape. It served as shelter in downpours. People called it the treehouse tree.” (nytimes. This made me so angry, so injustice and mother nature will be angry she is sad and so not fair for him and for the people that want that tree.
This is an example that shows how life is hard and the necessity to scream out loud because we have to heard. Last, speaking for others that are in need is the act of a human being more powerful than anything.
Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/18/world/australia/eurydice-dixon-murder...
At the beginning of the article I thought this would be an informative article with neutral information about what happened to Ms. Dixon, but as I was reading the article I felt more and more disappointed because of the comment from the Superintendent David Clayton about how the women must have a cellphone on their hands to call someone when they are in trouble or in danger of being attacked. As a woman that has experimented the abuse on streets I think that instead of trying to tell women not to be and not do certain things just to make them safe, why don’t we try to make a change in society?, especially in men as there are more cases of woman abuse.
Although when the article was about to end I felt a little happiness because despite that some of the community still think that women have to change themselves, there are people that want to change this idealism, that want to make persons see who definitely is wrong and how we can solve this. The words of women and men in the article gave me hope that maybe one day this would end, that there would not be another women murder, that we can go with our friends and walk at night not feeling unsafe, that in the morning when we are ready to go out the thought of “I hope I come back home safe or I hope I’m not the next one” don’t cross our minds.
“If tomorrow I am the next one, I’d hope I’m the last one”.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/world/europe/sanctions-russia-poisoni...
if it’s true, it’s a shame for us as humans trying to kill each other. I agree with the decision Donald Trump Made to Apply sanctions to Russia for this demeaning act. I think that Russia tense itself the doors to al the commercialization with United States just as Siria Did in 2013
In this paragraph the New York Times published “The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it would soon impose new sanctions on Russia for violating American and international laws by attempting to assassinate a former Russian spy.” Gardiner Harris. (2018). U.S. to Issue New Sanctions on Russia Over Skripals’ Poisoning. 14/08/2018, de The New York Times web site: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/world/europe/sanctions-russia-poisoni...
In case that that blame were real I think that both nations should take the things a little bit lighter, principally to avoid conflicts between The United States and Russia as what happened many years Ago in the Famous “Cold War”. It is very alarming that these things are still happening in full 2018. It is false that the cold War ended in 1991. The Cold War is still in our days
When I see articles like this one I really feel so sad, knowing that cases like this one occur so many times just because one nation wants to show others its “Superiority” killing people
For me traveling is one of the most amazing things that a person can do because we let ourselves know more cultures, languages, food or historic things that happen in those places. It is so amazing that a web article is giving us more information of cities or countries that we can go and visit with our family or friends. I recommend this page to the people that love so much of doing new things, and that really are interested in getting more experiences in different ways in life. My passion is travelling, and my dream is to get to know the world. When I was a child I really wanted to travel a lot because one day I saw in my Geographic class global warming, overpopulation, contamination and that we are ruined the planet with garbage, plastic bags, cans etc., and in that moment I really liked the idea of travelling, just because I wanted to know what it was going on in every country in the world. When I went to Europe a long time ago it was amazing because at that moment I could see with my eyes what was happening in the world, so for me this page that I found in the article about “52 places to go in 2018” can help people read about places to visit, what do they recommend to go, their location, a little bit of their history and things you can do in those places.
Week 9:
The article that interested me the most was "Students Pour Into Dhaka’s Streets to Demand Safer Roads" all the students want to do, is get a education, and not have to worry about their lives. It is very unfortunate to see people struggling to get good access to education. This article helped me to remember how lucky I am to be living in a place where I don't have to worry about being hit by a bus on my way to school. I wonder how all the kids feel when they are waiting to be picked up at the bus-stop. It is a great thing that so many kids can create such a big awareness for a great cause. It is also quite ironic that the kids are the ones enforcing the laws on adults as it is usually the other way around. It fascinates me how people will take bribes in order to not care about other peoples lives. This further demonstrates the power that money has. It is really sad how these disasters are very avoidable but the country does nothing about it. There are similar situations in major cities in America, how there is a lot of gun violence but nothing is done. Hopefully the students can get the safer roads they desire.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/technology/personaltech/internet-trol...
I chose this article at the beginning for the striking title, but when I started reading it I realized that there was so much interesting stuff about the theme also a lot of the theories are very obvious, like the one of the people are so toxic it’s because “people use the internet to get more of what they do not get enough of in everyday life” this is very true, because the persons in internet have more confidence to say the things they want behind a computer, instead of saying it in person, for the reason that it’s more risky.
It’s sad to see, that they are so many people that are toxic on companies like Twitter, and they don’t do nothing to stop them it would makes that more persons become toxic, and that would affect the companies, because no one want to be in a place with a toxic ambient.
Like the article says “there’s not much you can do” against the offensive comments, because it doesn’t matter how many people hate a comment, and want that gets deleted, it’s the decision of the platform what to do with it, and sometimes the best thing that someone could do in this case, is just ignore them, but for some people this is very hard, and affects them so badly in the emotional way, that they can’t stand it, and bad things happen, so this comments can strongly influence in a person's life, or in the best case don’t.
They Stole a Shark in a Baby Stroller and Briefly Got Away With It
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/us/stolen-shark-aquarium-san-antonio....
This article had interested me because I was curious of how everything would have had to happen for someone to steal a shark. I quickly learned it was a 16 inch shark taken from a petting area of the aquarium, but none the less I was still curious.
I wonder what goes through some peoples minds when they do things. A second thought at the minimum should surely help you decide that maybe taking a living creature out of its environment may not be a great idea, for the creature AND yourself.
It happened anyways and as I had figured, it didn't take long for such petty thieves to get caught. While there was some planning put into the "heist", like reconnaissance and watching the area, the guys behind it all were just clearly not thinking.
I find things like this interesting because I like to see how people think and to what extent will some go to pull some really dumb things off.
Want to Feel Happier? Your Phone Can Help. (Maybe.)
This article by Claire Coghlan goes into a topic that most people claim to have but many still struggle with: happiness. With suicide at a 30-year high, mental wellbeing and depression are clearly issues that need to be discussed more, and one of the ways to address them head-on is by helping others through apps on their phones. Smartphones are influencing many people’s lives, and as a result, apps are one of the easiest ways to reach thousands of people. The article presents different apps that target ways to become happier. From meditation to check-ins, there’s not one solution to this issue that will work for everyone, but with a wide variety of apps, one of these will surely help anyone.
What caught my attention to this article was the title. Nowadays, with technology integrated into every part of our lives, we are told to set down our phones and computers and go outside in order to live a happier life. However, this article sheds a different and positive light on technology and suggests that your phone could be the solution to becoming happier. In fact, the article quotes Poppy Jamie, the creator of an app that helps people with happiness, discussing this juxtaposition of technology designed to make us feel better and that which makes us feel worse. In the future, hopefully more people will see new technology as a way to improve our mental well-being rather than as an invention that “rots” our brains.
i chose the article which is called "As Carson Wentz Recovers, Nick Foles Waits in Wing. Again." This is basically about how the main quarterback has been injured and the 2nd string might be going as the quarterback position. i chose this because i play football and i know how it feels to be 2nd string and you have to wait until they get injured or they get tired. Also another reason i chose is because i saw the name the eagles in the title and they had won the Superbowl last year.
I read the article “ Racism at American Pools Isn’t New: A Look at a Long History “. I believe that racism is absolutely unacceptable. I still can't believe that after all of these years of people fighting for equal rights and making laws, there is still racism. At the end of the day, we are all human. There is no one who is more important than another. We are all here on God’s green earth and we need to learn how to accept each other. Skin color or ethnicity should not even be a problem, there are people who are ill and dying. The moral of the story is, us as people need to stop being so quick to judge and discriminate against people. We are all the same, in the same place, for the same reason.
I read the article, “ Some College Students Choose a School Where They Don’t Fit, On Purpose “. Personally, this article kind of irked me. I understand both sides of the story. For the college student, you could just be interested in a college for sports, friends, or the big reason, the education and schooling. But if these college students are going to colleges that they don’t fit in with, what is the point. Sure, the students could grow and adapt to the school, but if it just isn’t the right college for them, they are not just wasting their time, but their money as well. College is all about finding out who you are and what you want to do with your life. But then again, it is the students choice and whatever they decide.
I read the article, “ 11 and Married: Malaysia Spars Over an Age-Old Practice “. While reading this, I constantly was shocked. The part that got me was when Norazila said that her best friend was her step-mother, and her dad’s third wife. I can not believe that some people think that it is okay to take advantage of young children, male or female. Norazila’s dad, Che Abdul Karim Che Abdul Hamid, is 41 and he believes that it is okay to do this and it is acceptable. He believes that it is tradition. Tradition or not, this is a new era and it is not acceptable whatsoever.
Ever since I was little, I’ve told myself that I’m just not good at math. Even though I’ve always done pretty well in math classes, in my mind I would never be good at math. This mindset moved me to focus more on other subjects instead of trying to better my weakest subject, and honestly it bit me in the butt. After switching schools a couple times when I was younger I admit by foundation of math skills is pretty shaky, but I learned this doesn’t mean I am bad at math; it just means I might have to work a little harder now to fix it.
The article “Make Your Daughter Practice Math. She’ll thank you later” talked about how common these misconceptions are among young girls, and how to combat them. The article gave several different perspectives that opened many mental doors that I thought had been stuck closed.
I read the article, Review: ‘Black Panther’ Shakes Up the Marvel Universe for this week. This article discusses the history of the marvel hero Black Panther while also explaining the concept and plot of the movie very nicely. The hero Black Panther was originally created in 1996 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Since then Black Panther has gone through a series of alterations, the hero first appeared in Captain America Civil War. Black Panther now has his own solo movie which has done very well at the box office and has very high ratings from fans.
This week I read/listened to "Why songs of summer sound the same"
It talked about how in the 80s, music was more diverse. Pour "Some Sugar On Me" by Def Leppard, "Hold on to the Nights" by Richard Marx, and "1-2-3" by Gloria Estefan are the examples used in this audio article. These songs are very diverse, from their loudness, to their energy, their valence, to their acoustics, and their danceability.
In the summer of 2010, the article talks about how the songs from the summer had similar songs. Their examples are "California Gurls" by Katy Perry, "Your Love Is My Drug" by Ke$ha, and "Alejandro" by Lady Gaga, all similar songs from the summer of 2010.
Songs this summer have been more diverse which may lead to another period of musical diversity. "Psycho" by Post Malone and Ty Dolla Sign, "I Like It" by Cardi B, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin, and "Nice for What" by Drake.
Music has built off of itself for years and the amount of diversity that can be brought to the music industry could be huge. I'm interested in seeing how different artists implement different music types into their songs.
As a young woman soon entering adulthood and experiencing what real independence is the article “ how to help a teenager be college-ready” was definitely a topic that comes to ones mind. In particular those individuals in my position. The thought of possibly leaving home and being on my own when I’ve always had help at the top of my fingers will be a huge change.Not only for myself, but those around me, those closest to me. To know that their child has grown, has learned the key hinge to independence. What goes through a parents mind is most likely something that is unexplainable.however through comments made by parental figures it goes to show that they have doubts in their mind such as the “what if’s” and “if” their child will be able to take on such independence because that is definitely a change.
“Build border wall or government will be shut down”, trump says article stood out to me as an individual whom is related to immigrants themselves. Ones in which worked hard to support their family without the thought of a “wall” separating them from loved ones. Many of higher ranking positions in the political field are so quick to find a “solution” that may not be the best fit sparking up controversy in socially and financially.due to the current leader of our country being a very biased individual some decisions currently being approved or disapproved have started up nothing but controversy. What is very questionable is how the U.S. president can be so quick to to judge the country he claims he “loves” so much to be an embarrassment for past occurrences, is a major juxtaposition. All in all what has made the U.S. become nothing but the word in the media due to the presidents poor decisions. Making this topic being one of the many poor ideas because it is just another claim to create more issues.
Throughout this article, Trump says that America has one of the worst immigration laws in the world. He believes that building this wall will control the immigration laws and improve the system. On the other hand, the Republicans aren't happy with his decisions. I think that the title of this article is like a threat. Trump is giving no choice and he is saying it is one way or another. Immigration is a very important thing and it should be taken seriously. The wall will just make more segregation and division. On the other hand, it would control the system.
This article spoke to me. As I scrolled through the vast collection of articles this website holds, I saw something that made the raging feminist in me halt. "Daughters Do More Chores". That sentence made me angry. It's so simple and yet so accurate. I live in a very progressive household with two parents who you would never believe fall into this pattern, but yet they do. It's the ghosts of their pasts, the families they grew up in. I saw the statements in this article reflected into my own family. We don't get paid, but we are expected to complete chores. For me, making my bed and tidying up my room is of top priority. For my brother, mowing the lawn and helping repair the car. Not that I want to start up in the business of changing tires or trimming plants. But it was never really expected of me. Reading through this article, seeing the wage gap that was evident in even children, disappointed me.
However, I was hopeful. I was hopeful because even though there is still that gap, it is less. And it will evidently become even lesser as time continues. No longer is the expectation for a woman to work more and get paid less. People are starting to actively recognize the evil in that and start to repair it. It's going to be a slow process, but I'm hopeful.
In These Stories, Home Is Where the Heartache Is
In this article, the author, Lydia Millet, wrote the book Fight No More. She wrote a store of were home was not only a safe place but also a place of destruction and unwanted memories. Nina, as the main character and a real-estate dealer, undergoes stories of other people’s and how home for them was not the safest place. She, herself was a counselor for the people she was selling the houses for, as she heard their stories. I myself love to read books that have depth and meaning in the characters life. It practically brings the reader into the book and makes them feel as if they are right there with the character and feeling the same joy and pain as them. Millet’s work brought a combination of “lightning bolts of emotional acuity, moments of precise poetry and subversively dark comedy along with investigations of existential ideas and real-world concerns.” Millet shows that even in the most shimmering and beautiful garden, there will always be a snake lurking around. After reading the review of this book, I look forward to reading it and being there with the characters in the story.
The article "Trump Administration Unveils Its Plan to Relax Car Pollution Rules" Interseted me because I do beleive that global warming is an existing problem that can lead to catastrophic events. However I also own a truck which is not exactly the most fuel efficient car. Therefore I was curious what Trump would say about imessions and what his plans were moving forward. I was very happy to see that his plan was to lower the amount of miles per gallon obama had projected for 2025 from 54 to 37. I believe this is a much more reasonable number to shoot for and I think that it will give auto companies more time to create more energy efficient cars as well as keep the oil bussiness high. The other thing that was really untersesting to me about tthis article was the fact that Trump is trying to pass legislation that won't allow states like California to chage the law and imppse there own emission standards for there own state. I think this is good because as said in the article if allowed California could tear the auto market in to.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/education/learning/writing-college-ap...
This week in the New York Times, the article that caught my attention was How to Wright a Good College Essay. This caught my attention because this is what makes me most nervous about the college application process. I thought that college admissions officers only cared about scores and grades but i never would have thought that i can include just about anything i want. It makes the college application process less stressful and nerve racking to know that i can show the admissions officers who i really am instead of the kind of student i am.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/education/learning/generationz-igen-s...
In this article, the gap between millennials and iGens is emphasized as schools adjust their systems to fit their students' needs. As the next generation of students have grown up with technology, their learning abilities are different. I found it interesting that the author, Laura Pappano, chose to focus on how the widespread use of technology was positively influencing the students' lives at colleges. Pappano starts by discussing the development of an app for students to use to help them adjust to college. She also states that the Ohio State faculty, rather than battling device usage, issued iPads to 11,000 incoming students. Other colleges are using creative ways to engage their iGen students, such as nature study and stress-relieving techniques. Pappano interviewed Dr. Twenge from San Diego State University. Dr. Twenge states that,"iGen has a different flavor," and "This generation defies the stereotypes of young adults," speaking in terms of risk-taking. Having grown up in a different generation than millennials, I can safely say that most 'iGens' or any similar title of your liking, are simply the result of a different environment. Throughout the article, I really liked how the author discussed the adaptations being made to fit the needs of the next generation in a positive light. An upcoming freshman states, “Social media has helped me get a lot more prepared for Princeton."
The article "How Do You Want to Die?"interested me because I never thought that I would hear such a question. I have always viewed death as an unfortunate, yet inevitable part of life, so when the choice of how I would like to die was given, I was confused yet intrigued. The author of the article, Sandeep Jauhar poses a real life example of this peculiar question. Dr. Jauhar asked his patient if he would like had to have a defibrillator for his declining heart, and the patient, wanting to live as long as possible said yes without hesitation. Dr. Jauhar didn't know what the patient really wanted. The pros with the defibrillator his patient will definitely live longer, but only a few years maximum. The cons would be that the patient will die an agonizing death where he gasps for air like a fish out of water, while his lungs fill with fluid. Without the defibrillator the patient would dies relatively soon, but with a quick, painless death. The answer to the question proposed by Dr. Jauhar isn't an easy one. Most people on instinct would choose the option that gives them the most time on this earth, but this will result in happiness in the present and suffering in the future. Death is not something anybody likes to talk about, but when the time comes I think the majority of people would like it to be quick, seamless, and without pain. The overall question is which outweighs the other, minutes of agonizing pain before your death, or a few more years of happiness in your life.
The article "How Do You Want to Die?" really made me feel..off. I often try to avoid thinking about death since I'm still fairly young, but it's almost inevitable not to do so since death is truly everywhere. To me, what bothers me the most is really just how easy it is to die. For example, you could be walking down the street, get in an accident and you could die in less than a second. Just like that, everything would be gone. All your dreams, memories and aspirations, gone. To me, that is the real scary part about death, how easy and how random it is, how it could happen to just about everyone you know. Now, how would I want to die? If possible, in my own bed, when I'm old, and when I can smile and go without any regrets. I would also want it to be painless and I would like to be surrounded by people I care about. Is that possible though? Who is to say that I will live that long or that I will die when I'm old and happy? I could very well die today after I post this comment and I wouldn't even know I died. Again, life is extremely fragile and death is inevitable, so why bother thinking about it? While death fills me with sadness, it also motivates me. We're all going to die anyway, so might as well enjoy our limited time on this Earth right? Rather than fear death, let's enjoy life to the fullest. Let's all live every day without regret and live happy. Let's all go different places and try new things that bring joy to our lives. Death is scary, but it's also part of life.
"The Rise of the Ironic Racist" was really interesting. It shows how when one group understands a medium far better than others, they can dominate it. It also shows the dangers of dark humor and ironic jokes. While some people may have been making racist pepes purely as a joke to laugh at and not agree with, other real actual racists took it and ran with it.
This can be seen with other "ironic racist memes" as well. The somewhat popular "gamers rise up" meme is meant to mock the bigotry, racism, and sexism found in the video game community. It often showcases famous video game characters and imagery with captions about hating women and minorities ("Women and minorities" is often the exact phrase used). However, some actual racists see this, don't understand it's meant to mock them, and spread it with the intent of being racist. Thankfully the racist takeover is an extremely minor thing and not nearly as big as pepe, but it's still there. This probably due to the fact that these ironic racist memes are usually very clear in their intent, while the 4Chan pepe memes were much more ambiguous.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/10/science/eugene-parker-solar-wind-nasa...
The article on NASA scientist Eugene Parker predicting the existence of Solar Wind in 1958 was very interesting because it displayed a myriad of important values and life lessons. Dr. Eugene Parker was the first person to correctly predict the phenomenon of solar winds around the 1970's, but not one scientist believed his theories. Dr.Parker was a no name like many of us but still had the drive to do something great to help humanity and get his name to be remembered. Even though no one believed him, he kept pushing forward with his ideas and never gave up. To me, this is a very important lesson that can never be taught enough. People always tell you to never give up, and succeed when all odds are against you. But in the end very few people actually do this. I want to be one of those people who strive for greatness no matter what challenges are in front of me. This article is one of the many examples of not being afraid to be yourself and eventually you will be rewarded. Sixty years after his discovery, Dr.Parker was rewarded with NASA naming the latest solar probe after him. This is another example of good things come to those who work for it. Once you find out how to be yourself, the possibilities you can achieve are endless.
"How Do You Want to Die?"
In his piece, "How Do You Want to Die?," Dr. Jauhar shares how most of his patients will do whatever it takes to live as long as possible, even if it could mean a painful death.
In Dr. Jauhar's article, he explains that when people with heart problems are offered a defibrillator, they immediately take it. Even after he explains to his patients that defibrillators can take away the sudden death option and can make death very painful, his patients still want the device that can expand their lives, even if it's only for a couple of years.
Death is a scary thing for most people. Most people would like to know how and when they are going to die, possibly because they want to try to change their own fate. But, death is a spontaneous thing. It happens when it happens and no one wants to die young, but when the time comes, most people want to die quickly and painlessly.
One of the most feared things in the world is death. It's inevitable for every single person on this earth, which is most likely why it's so scary. That's what makes this article so relevant to everyone, because it asks the question: How Do You Want to Die?"
The topic of How Do You Want to Die? sparks an interesting conversation. Would you rather die fast or slowly and painful? This is an engaging thought because it shows how differently we all perceive death and how we all live. The author said he wondered why a patient of his wanted to use this device to help him live longer (he had heart problems) still with complications and pain rather than just wanting to die right then and there in the hospital. Some people would rather live as long as possible, no matter what it takes. Others might prefer to just go and not be in pain anymore. I think that when it’s your time, it’s your time. If your gut instinct is telling you to keep fighting, then your time hasn’t come yet. The concept of live and death is truly fascinating to me and I love hearing about how different people want to pass away because it really makes me think. Our lives are so precious and as long as we live them to the fullest, it doesn’t matter how we want to die. Dying is scary to think about, but what’s most important to think about right now is the quality of your life.
"How I Lost the Fiancé but Won the Honeymoon"
"What happened? What did I do wrong? What, really, have I won?"
This article illustrates the ugliness of heartbreak, but more so, the beauty of taking the best of any situation, whether good or bad. This article struck me because of how much I could relate to her way of assessing and thinking about her situation. This article spoke to me, because I've learned that you don't get everything in life, and there must be balance. This article made me realize that even if things may go sour, there's always a sweet underlying factor. There may have been many obstacles and heartbreak considering she had won a free vacation to India, but she had also lost in losing her husband. This article also made me realize that even if you haven't "won" there is always a way to be triumphant in the end, and take the best of it. In the end, she had found a way to be happier than she ever had been in her life, despite the tragedy that happened to her. What an inspiration she was to have turned her life around with a situation that would have otherwise been miserable. She ends the article with a reflection, "I wanted to crow to my heartbroken former self: 'You got the honeymoon, but you didn't have to have the husband.' What a coup! What a win!" And I agree, it truly was a win for her in the end
ttps://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/education/learning/wrong-fit-for-college.html
We are constantly being pushed to live outside our comfort zones, whether it involves something as simple as trying a new cuisine or, according to The New York Times article, “Some College Students Choose a School Where They Don’t Fit, on Purpose,” where choosing where to go college. It makes sense that by choosing to attend a university where the majority of the student body is unlike them, either in regards to race, religion, or financial background, students who stand out are given the chance to truly know themselves, and this experience offers a strong life lesson that grounds their personal convictions.
Sociologists say that “people…become more fully engaged with who they are, and what their core values are, by being in a place that feels foreign.” Entering a foreign environment gives students the chance to grapple with issues that are really important to them and “put their money where their mouth is” when it comes to affirming these beliefs.
I am impressed by the bravery of these students in challenging themselves in this way and think it is a model that can be used successfully after college graduation when it comes to career and business decisions. Wouldn’t the world be better, after all, if we all tested our principles in a trial by fire to determine how far we are willing to carry them with us?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/science/sharks-fossils-australia.html
The article I found the most interesting was ''Fossils on an Australian Beach Reveal a Shark-Eat-Shark World''. The reason this article interested me was how an ordinary person found a 25 million year old fossil without trying to. He contacted a paleontologists to excavate the site and they ended up finding around 40 shark teeth that were the size of their palms. The shark is estimated to be more than 30 feet long. Also they ended up finding more teeth belonging to another species of shark that were bottom feeders. They came to the conclusion that the 30 foot shark died and the other species ended up eating the dead shark.
"Asbestos in a Crayon, Benzene in a Marker: A School Supply Study's Toxic Results"
Of all the stories this week, this story is the one that warranted my attention and kept bringing me back. Is it particularly interesting? Not really. Besides the attention-grabbing title, this article has little to offer. It is brief, it loses attention quickly, and it can be lost in the swarm of daily news about what racist or misogynistic thing the president said this time. I say this with no disrespect towards the author. In fact, I applaud them. Of all the stories this week, I kept coming back to this one. Why?
I'll tell you why, it is BECAUSE it is brief and largely uninteresting. It is BECAUSE it has little to offer. These things make me curious. Was the study unbiased? How much asbestos and/or benzene was found in the markers? Why is the chemical in the product in the first place (its in there for a reason)? Do toxicologists think it is anything to be worried about? Most importantly, what, if anything, should be done about it?
This is a masterpiece of a story. It motivated me to answer these myself (for the sake of the character limit, I wont answer them here). Something many stories fail to do. Headlines today are so over analyzed that they leave little room for original opinion, regardless of the intention of the author. In conclusion, this article grabbed my attention because it has little to offer, other than an opinion of my own.
In the past few years, there has been an overflow of women coming forth about there experiences with physical abuse. Many women chime in from former Michigan state senator Gretchen Whitmer, to musician Taylor Swift. This left a big impact in many ways, and almost every news and entertainment outlet we’re talking about it. In the rise of all these women, men seemed left out entirely, the thought never even crossing my mind until I saw this article “ It Can Happen Even to Guys: Ohio State Wrestlers Detail Abuse, Saying #UsToo” this article took me a second to process, realizing,” I guess it can happen to men too” something I had never thought about. The more I thought about it the more I began to think about abuse and how it affect anyone and greatly impact your life, giving me more respect for all men and women coming forward.
How Robot Hands Are Evolving to Do What Ours Can
I found this article interesting due to its introduction of technology's newest advancements. It is amazing to see that things such as robots, which only a few short years ago were thought as fictional near impossible inventions, are now a reality and even doing everyday human actions. It is incredible to see how far technology has come in such a short time, I can't imagine what it will be like in the years to come. Due to these ingenious advancements, a new life style will begin to form, with new ways of doing things and technological aid in everyday chores such as making a bed. Artificial Intelligence is truly remarkable.
"How to Help a Teenager Be College Ready"
This week on New York Times, I was the most interested in this article about preparing teenagers for college. The reason why I was interested in this is because even though I’m only a sophomore, this topic is always on my mind because so much goes into preparing for college. Transitioning from high school to college is a big step because you must learn how to do things independently before you actually get there. You also have to learn to be more mature and responsible when going to college, it’ll take you a long way if you are able to do so. In the article it says, in my own words, that taking responsibility for your own actions is a signal that someone is transitioning into adulthood, and I have no problems with that. But I do worry that I might not be able to handle the academics in college, high school is already difficult enough for me. Most colleges don’t only look for grades, they look for people who participate in clubs, play sports, and involve themselves in school events. I struggle a lot with my work ethic at times which is one of my worst habits so in order to get into the college of my choice, I need to sharpen up and I will throughout the rest of high school. I will work on getting ahead on assignments and go above and beyond to get the grades I need along with being more responsible in my own way at home, school, and other places to prepare myself for my future.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/07/30/technology/robot-hands.html
The article "How Robot Hands Are Evolving To Do What Ours Can" interested me because it is always fun to see what new technology can do. This article included videos, and there were different hands each that could do different tasks, some could move objects, some could sort them, and some could do precise hand movements. This was interesting to me because some of them really did seem like real hands. Eventually these hand will be able to do more complex tasks and could have use in certain fields.
https://nyti.ms/2K3e2vT
Eating your feelings isn’t gonna solve your problems.
This article, Recognizing Eating Disorders in Time to Help by Jane E. Brody, interested me this week because I never knew how much an eating disorder can affect someone's health. I believe we should spend more awareness to the public in order to keep eating disorders from happening. I know it won’t cure the world of them, but it could help. The people need to know more about this. They could have a family or friend going through something similar and knowing how to help can make a big difference. Also, to know the warning signs would be something great because then you can help someone before it even starts. I do walk around school and wonder if anyone is going through it and I just hope that no one is. I have seen videos on YouTube and other social media sights about eating disorders, specifically anorexia, and I feel so bad for the girls (and boys). All the pain they must’ve felt, mentally, physically, and emotionally is insane.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/07/30/technology/robot-hands.html
The article "How Robot Hands Are Evolving To Do What Ours Can" interested me because it is always fun to see what new technology can do. This article included videos, and there were different hands each that could do different tasks, some could move objects, some could sort them, and some could do precise hand movements. This was interesting to me because some of them really did seem like real hands. Eventually these hand will be able to do more complex tasks and could have use in certain fields.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/us/stolen-shark-aquarium-san-antonio....
I chose to read the article "They Stole a Shark in a Baby Stroller and Briefly got away with it" because it seemed crazy and funny and like something you would never hear happening in real life. Just as I expected the more I read the crazier the story became, the thieves almost killed the shark along with hundreds of other animals and the article even includes a video of the shark being stolen. This article was interesting to me because news now is mostly negative and a story like this was a little funny.
After reading the article "How Do You Want to Die?", i'm left with some heavy subjects to contemplate, albeit important ones. This is especially prudent for me to do so, for my grandfather died this morning in a coma from a brain bleed. Although the way he died is unlike the way that was discussed in the article, it's just as relevant, for he passed in a rather peaceful way. While i am sad to see him pass on, i know that he is finally at peace, after fighting with Parkinson's disease for well over 5 years. To be perfectly honest, i'm relieved that he passed in this manner, for he was rapidly deteriorating mentally, and i can't bear to think about if he had awoken from his coma, not even knowing who he was, or all of the people in the room with him. In an odd sense, it's reassuring to know that there was an article published recently talking about the very thing that just happened, and it's comforting to see that others have a similar viewpoint on it as i do. I will miss him dearly, as he was not only an inspiration to everyone in my family, but also an amazing person who in the end was able to get the peaceful send off that he so desperately earned so long ago. It's a rather difficult subject to think about, but because of the article, i truly see how while it might not be seen by all as desirable, it beats what could've come from him surviving the coma. You will be missed Pappa, by all that knew you.
"Students Pour Into Dhaka’s Streets to Demand Safer Roads"
-By: Julfikar Ali Manik and Maria Abi-Habib
One of the most dangerous and lethal areas of the world are public roads. Despite our strict traffic laws in the U.S., we still have many fatalities. In South Asia, they occur much more frequently. Last year alone nearly 7,400 people died due to traffic accidents a year. This high number is due to the lax traffic laws and police officers that do not enforce traffic laws in Bangladesh, leading to these massive protests led by middle and high schoolers.
It's amazing to me that such young students care about the topic of road safety when many of them do not even drive. As an Indian who has visited South Asia many times, I know very well that nobody follows the road rules. People weave in and out of lanes, run stop lights, and speed dangerously down the roads, causing mass traffic and fatalities when gone wrong. The children in Bangladesh want to change this after seeing all of this chaos, leading to these protests and checkpoints across the country.
Its incredible to me that the government allows such corruption to occur under their noses, yet tries to stop these children from fixing a problem that they could not do themselves. It really goes to show that children are the future and have come to understand the problems of our society better than the adults due to their innocence and willpower to cause change.
I think that the essay "how do you want to die" by Sandeep Jauhar is very interesting, but it is very Controversial too. his essay also talks about the fact that we live longer because of medicines and medical equipment. the main question that I wanted to talk about is why not living longer?
Evolutionary, people have two designations: to reproduce and to make the environment the best fore the offspring. based on this principle, everyone will want to live as long as he can.
why it is not always true in our society?
the only answer is that people do not feel helping to the evolution of the human society. because of the strong social criticism, people feel like they are not evolutionary "successful", so they do not want to live longer. but there is one wrong thing with all those persons.
they are totally wrong.
everybody, but everybody, are evolutionary successful because any one of us helps the world, his own family, or his group of friends in one way or another. we must not give up and keep living, because in the end everything will be good.
"The iGen Shift: Colleges Are Changing to Reach the Next Generation."
As a member of generation Z, about to go through the college process, this article stood out to me. All my life I have received countless remarks about how addicted my generation is with technology. Not only that we are addicted, but how it negatively affects our learning careers. Reading this article made me think of the enormous strides in education due to technology. Technology has helped students all over the world gain resources that they would have never able to access before. It also helps the world stay connected with news and events. The fact that universities, such as Princeton have started to use social media as a form of education, shows how it can be effectively used. I understand that my generation has not used technology and social media for all the right reasons, but going into college we as a generation can change that to make technology and specifically social media at the forefront of education.
If I had been told a year ago that I would be writing a piece on the beloved, sadly discontinued musical "Be More Chill" for school because it was about to make its off-Broadway debut, I would ask my hypothetical messenger why they were so intent on lying directly to my face. Now, though, I can gladly rejoice!
Although Sara Krulwich's article "Review: A High School Meltdown Heats Up ‘Be More Chill'" ruthlessly bashes what is one of my favorite pieces of media, I do have to at least thank it for giving me an excuse to ramble about "Be More Chill" in a professional setting while getting credit for school from it!
Anyway, "Be More Chill", along with its, as the main character Jeremy Heere would say, "gnarly" soundtrack, has a wide array of bizarrely relatable characters which are all played by incredible actors. Musical theater fans will recognize the dorky Will Roland taking on the lead role this time around. Even though this part doesn't stray too far from his Broadway roots of "Dear Evan Hansen"'s Jared Kleinman, it is thrilling to see him take center stage for a change.
Being the fan favorite both in-character and out, George Salazar reprises his role as Jeremy's devoted best friend, Michael Mell. With his show-stopping number "Michael in the Bathroom", Salazar brings down the roof, and will continue to until September 23rd.
Well, hopefully my pitch of this lovable show has inspired anyone reading to buy tickets for its inevitable next reboot! I know I'll be there.
This week in the New York Times, I found the article titled, "Which Rookie N.F.L. Quarterbacks (if Any) Will Shine?" to be the most interesting. The article addresses the ongoing debate about which star rookie QB will play up to the hype. The quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Sam Darnold, and Josh Rosen, have all been compared to each and have a lot of pressure on them to succeed. Dealing with the hype from the media and fans, it is going to be a struggle for these quarterbacks. Personally, I believe Lamar Jackson is going to have the best career out of the star QBs. Playing behind the old and injured Joe Flacco, it will not be long until Jackson sees the field and becomes the starting quarterback. However, I think Baker Mayfield will have the best rookie season. He is going to start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. I think he will have a solid season and maybe bring the Browns close to their first playoff run in what seems like a lifetime.
"How Do you Want to Die?" is one question I've never thought I would hear. I always just thought that we die the way we do and there's nothing we can change about the situation. However, Sandeep Jauhar's article, "How Do You Want to Die?" challenges that idea by commenting on the use of "small implantable defibrillators" that may be able to prolong our lives. In this article, Jauhar discusses his opinion on the use of defibrillators in patients and whether or not he would rather a slow or sudden death for them and himself. Jauhar does not discourage his patients getting the implant, but also does not encourage it either; always making sure to lay out the pros and cons of this option for the patient. This is where they get to make the choice on how they want to perish: stay alive longer (maybe a year or so) or die a sudden death. Most people don't fear death on an everyday basis, but deep down we're all afraid of the day we drop dead and just disappear, thus leading patients to choose to have the implant. For me thinking about it right now, I say I wouldn't do it and would just let my body do what it's going to do eventually; however, I think that in a life or death situation I would choose to have a defibrillator just to keep me alive a little bit longer. In my opinion, this is just one of those things that will always have a to do or a not to do around it with neither option being a better choice. So, how would you choose to die: naturally or when you decide?
“ Americans Are Having Fewer Babies. They Told Us Why”. What struck me about this article is the direct connection between variables such as marriage status and education level to average birth age. Additionally, A common pattern throughout the article is the reasoning behind lower birth rates is that millennials feel economically insecure. This goes hand in hand with the shocking fact that women can get “earnings penalties” for having children. I do not believe that any future mother ready to support a child should have to deal with any sort of decreasing altercation to their earnings. To frame it perfectly, the article reads “Wages are not growing in proportion to the cost of living, and with student loans on top of that, it’s just really hard to get your financial footing". The importance of this is to demonstrate that economic instability is much more of a concern for millennials. Since opportunities like college costs significantly more than they did in past decades, paired with the persistence of the wage gap, it can be more reasonable for a woman to not become a mother - not out of laziness, but out of concern for the potential well being of their child. I do not believe that the statistic saying “millennials aren't having as many children” should be portrayed as something out of carelessness, but something out of genuine concern for the future well being of one’s child regarding the conditions in which they are raised in.
“Why We All Need To Drink More During Hot Weather Exercise”
This week in the New York Times I read an article on athletes being hydrated during summer workouts. As an athlete myself I know from experience that hydration is important. I found this interesting because it said that dehydration causes stress on the body, which can sound like an obvious factor, but i personally did not know. I usually don’t drink much water during my workouts and become short of breath quickly. This article gave me a known reason for that other than lack of endurance. Drinking water helps one feel more energized and ready to take on physical activity, especially if one sweats a lot during their activity. Hydrating your body before and during and exercise in the heat makes your body more capable of taking on the heat. I loved the study that was referred to in the article also because it showed evidence to other athletes that might have ready this that dehydrated is a serious matter. I’m not really sure why people thought that not drinking water would help then acclimated to the heat but this article clears up that doing that is not the right move to make.
The article that stood out to me this week was, "France Meets China in a Luxurious Custard" by Dorie Greenspan.
This article grabbed my attention through bridging two almost completely different cultures together. As I read through the article, I remembered being taught about cultural diffusion. This has indeed proved that despite the distance, delicacies were still able to reach different parts of the world. By adding their own unique twist to each recipe, each culture made it their own. However, the basics of each special dessert were still the same, thus tying the cultures together.
After reading this article, I also realize that these similarities do not only apply to desserts and custards. In fact, even foods such as pizza have their own variations among cultures. Though it is not made out of dough, the "Chinese pizza" is made similarly with a flour/starch based base, and then topped with vegetables and sauce.
In a way, food was able to bring the world together in its delicacies.
“Pope Francis Declares Death Penalty Unacceptable In All Cases”
Personally I wouldn’t call myself a very religious guy so I this week I found it pretty interesting how the religious beliefs of one man could effect so much in the world. This week the pope called the death penalty in all cases to be unacceptable. Pope Francis made some valid points saying all life is precious and that taking a man’s life for a crime he commited is more like vengeance than it is justice. At first I thought it was interesting how the Pope made this claim when a lot of catholic people don’t completely oppose capital punishment. Then I became even more interesting when I considered how the Pope’s decision could affect the world. 53 percent of American Catholics aren’t opposed to the death penalty and 42 percent are opposed to it. I wonder how this will change in the near future.Only 19 states don’t allow the death penalty and there are many catholics with the U.S in powerful positions within the government that could possibly change that. Until now the catholic church only resisted capital punishment and the Pope is hoping to completely abolish it worldwide. I can’t wait to see effects that this decision produces and the reactions and results of the Popes ambitious goal.
Since I discovered a personal connection to the emotional divide and struggle Mahtab Hussain’s faces between his two cultures, his visual diary, “Going Back Home to Where I Came From”, captured my attention this week. After his Pakistani parents immigrated to Scotland, Hussain recollects racism dominating his childhood. However, while most first-generation children try to strip away from their parent’s culture, attempting to conform to their new society, Hussain decided to investigate and learn about his roots. After visiting Pakistan to conduct research, Hussain fell in love with the culture and country and felt as if he finally found his true home. However, at the same time, Hussain identified himself as British, his current nationality. Similarly, Hussain remembers his cousin reminding him that Hussain’s home is England, not Pakistan. This saddened and angered Hussain, causing him to question where his true home is and why many try to enclose themselves in a single culture. From then on, Hussain tries to celebrate both of his cultures, later publishing his visual diary to inspire others to do the same. I felt a personal connection with Hussain's ideology as I am also a first-generation child, sometimes struggling to comprehend who I really am, with both Chinese and Vietnamese lineages. Despite this, I find that it is important to appreciate our entire identity instead of separating ourselves from our background or culture simply to fit in because every person is different
Niraj Chokshi’s article, “Racism at American Pools Isn’t New: A Look at a Long History”, caught my attention this week addresses the reoccurring stigma between blacks and swimming pools, and came to a hopeful conclusion.
Chokshi connects the barring of coloreds from pools to the stereotype that people of color can’t swim by explaining that since coloreds couldn’t swim the need to learn to swim was never a thought and became generational. Chokshi concludes her analysis of racial incidents at pools in the past and shines a light of hope by acknowledging Olympic gold medalist Simone Manuel by saying that her achievement could open the door to future generations of black taking up the sport of swimming.
This article not only explained the background of the issued but also tied it to how it still effects people today. It also serves as an eye opener as to what may be one solution to the large and complex problem that is race relations in America. I myself being a young black male, knew of segregation in places like public pools, but did not know of how extensive the struggle was. In addition, I also don’t know how to swim and have tried many times almost drowning twice, but by hearing the accomplishments achieved by Simone Manuel has made me think of getting over my own personal fear of water. That is why this article is so empowering to those who were previously afraid to do anything about making a difference in their own lives for the better.
This conflict throughout Yemen has been going on since 2014, and still there has been no call-to-action to limit these appaling actions. In the article, "Saudi Coalition Airstrike Hits School Bus in Yemen, Killing Dozens," it has occurred to me that there should be a initiative taken for the cause. The Coalition consists of USA, UK, France Turkey, Belgium, with the military support of UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Sudan, and etc. Children have been killed to the dozens: 43 killed, at least 29 being children under the age of 15. However, all that the world will do is just observe these unlucky events still occur around the world. All the Coalition had to say about this is that the attack was "a legitimate military operation" and it was "carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law." Unfortunately, nothing will be done by the US administration to help the Yemeni's. If the administration is going to be quiet about this acrocity, then the congress needs to step up and provide us, the citizens, with answers. Why do we keep supporting them when these innocent civilians keep being the victims of these attacks? What was gained with this airstrike? To my knowledge, if an aristrike is to be legal, the harm caused to civilians and their property must be proportional in relation to the military advantage anticipated, and be only on a military objective. All this airstrike brought us, is nothing but civilian death and no military advantage.
“Why We All Need To Drink More During Hot Weather Exercise”
This week in the New York Times I read an article on athletes being hydrated during summer workouts. As an athlete myself I know from experience that hydration is important. I found this interesting because it said that dehydration causes stress on the body, which can sound like an obvious factor, but i personally did not know. I usually don’t drink much water during my workouts and become short of breath quickly. This article gave me a known reason for that other than lack of endurance. Drinking water helps one feel more energized and ready to take on physical activity, especially if one sweats a lot during their activity. Hydrating your body before and during and exercise in the heat makes your body more capable of taking on the heat. I loved the study that was referred to in the article also because it showed evidence to other athletes that might have ready this that dehydrated is a serious matter. I’m not really sure why people thought that not drinking water would help then acclimated to the heat but this article clears up that doing that is not the right move to make.
In “Motherhood in the Age of Fear”, Kim Brooks delves into the harassment and over-correcting of parents in an age when everything is criticized. She describes pressure from the media and other parents to never let her children leave her sight, or even play outside. Brooks begs the question of when parenting became a worldwide task that needs everyone’s opinion and input.
I found it compelling to read as a teenager who grew up on the cusp of the era of fearful parenting. The article forced me recall the comparison between how my dad grew up and how my sister and I grew up. When everything points to the fact that our town hasn’t changed, why does the idealistic childhood that my dad had have to be banished from the parenting playbook?
All I want is for parents to send their kids outside and tell them to find something to do, like my dad and uncle. Instead, children are under the impression that if they take one step out of their house without supervision, that they'll come home hurt, or not at all. What happened to the only restriction being, “Be home by dark!”?
As a teenager who knows both of the worlds that my dad grew up in and I live in, all I'm is asking for is that life back. The one that we have all heard stories of from our parents, but never been given the chance to experience. The one where our parents don’t know where we are, and that be okay. The one where playing in your perfectly safe neighborhood with friends isn’t a crime of child endangerment or neglect.
https://paidpost.nytimes.com/qualcomm/5g-is-coming.html?tbs_nyt=2018--ny...
What interested me the most was an article about the introduction to 5G and how it can improve our lives. The article is written by Qualcomm, the company that is developing the technology themselves. They plan to improve the already fast 4G system to further improve our everyday lives and day-to-day problems. the 5G system is based on the idea of technologies connecting together to make things move much faster. An example that they mentioned in the article is improving traffic flow by connected GPS systems together to figure out the fastest route and navigate traffic. This system is set to be launched in 2019 and will be able to do many extraordinary things.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/us/politics/ohio-state-wrestlers-abus...
Last January, dozens of gymnasts (women) stood up to the power from Larry Nassar, who sexually abused them. Nick Nutter, a wrestler who went to Ohio State, watched this and connected their story to his own. He was sexually abused by the team doctor, Dr. Richard Strauss. He and many other boys soon realized that they were victims as well as these girls. The only difference was that the gymnasts had the courage to speak out about the abuse. The reasons for these men not to say anything was because they didn't think that these actions were abuse, and that they are men. Men are meant to be tough, people wouldn't think others can overpower them like this, especially ones who wrestled. I believe they thought, "If anyone finds out I am going to look like the weak one." That is why many of the men kept these tragic stories to themself and had to just move on. In 2005, the abuser, Strauss, killed himself, which led the men to never having a closer on their abuse. "Little things, I can't erase it from my head," Mr. Nutter said. 3 lawsuits have been filed against Ohio State University for enabling a sexual predator. Ohio State is not the only college with situatons like this. Michigan State University, Penn State, and University of Southern California also had cases of abuse. What has been noticed by the gymnasts, and now many men. was that it only takes a little courage to bring someone down.
On August 5, a devastating earthquake struck Indonesia killing at least 98 people, injuring 268, and leaving 20,000 people homeless. The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.0 and had several aftershocks that reached magnitudes up to 5.4. This article interested me the most in the Times this week because natural disasters have always been an intriguing subject for me. Due to the multiple aftershocks, many people did not feel safe sleeping indoors, so they have been living in anywhere from tents to the city streets. As quoted by the Times, “People were allowed to return home since last night, but some refused because they were still traumatized.” Others, however, do not have a choice of whether sleep indoors or outdoors,since their houses were demolished in the tragedy. Hotels and airports that were not destroyed are filled to capacity by the homeless. The citizens of Indonesia are getting some aid from volunteers but not enough to take care of all the emotional and physical trauma that has been caused. This article has made it apparent to me that as the very fortunate society we are, America needs to be more willing to send help and money to support the victims of natural disasters in foreign countries. I understand that evacuating our own citizens before trying to help others is our top priority, but I feel that it is wrong to have the victims of these natural disasters feel abandoned in their greatest time of need.
This week the article that stood out to me was, " How To Help a Teenager Be College-Ready" by Mark McConville. I found this article interesting because I can relate to it on a personal level. The article talks about how the different levels of responsibility we have as children, teens, and adults. As children we must take the responsibilities of homework and hygiene. As teens transitioning into adulthood we take on greater responsibilities pertaining to our personal needs and education. The article then moves on to students needing to take command of their life through personal management and not having your parents control when you get things done. The author provided an example of a student who did not have the ability to manage his time and he failed out of college. This example was a great way to open the readers eye into how serious this is. The last step to being ready for college is to know how the world works which the author explains through filling out forms and making appointments. After pulling all of the examples together this article helped me tremendously in my preparation for the next few years in my academic life.
This week I selected “As Catholic Hospitals Expand, So Do Limits on Some Procedures,” by By Katie Hafner. I recently found out the lengths people I know have went to preserve their religious values, when concerning their medical care. The connection to my new found knowledge drew me towards the article, and wanting to learn more about Catholic Hospitals. The article explains several procedures that are not practiced, “... such as abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, and direct sterilization.” In addition, the article noted a local Catholic Hospital in Rogers Ark, refusing to tie a women’s tubes. Even though, the consequences of the women becoming pregnant once more could be fatal. Therefore, this left me pondering if maintaining religious values was worth not practicing key procedures.
Moreover, I found it fascinating on how little Catholic Hospitals will advertise their unpracticed procedures, while they remain so passionate about their beliefs. Author Katie Hafner stated, “Only 17 individual Catholic hospital websites, fewer than 3 percent, contained an easily found list of services not offered for religious reasons.” Furthermore all 17 hospitals could be found in Washington state, where it’s a requirement to publish such information. Also, the article shares, “It took more than three clicks from the home page to determine that the hospital was Catholic.” Overall, I think it’s astonishing how closed off Catholic Hospitals are when they service such dedicated patients.
The article that interested me the most in the times this week is the article titled "How do you want to die". This article had drawn my attention because I figured it had something to do with a profession in the medical field. The article explains how defibillators cause a slow and gradual death that can be painful for the patient, which is not a good thing considering most patients would like to pass painlessly and quickly. I believe watching a family member or someone you love die quickly, is just as hard as watching one of those people you are so close to, die slowly. I myself have experienced one of my family members' slow death and it was not easy. My grandpa had a stoke and had passed in hospice within a week, but at the exact moment the stroke happened, he did not die. This caused him to have a slow death, but I do not believe it was a painful death for him. A lot of my aunts and uncles discussed whether or not it was time to pull the plug when the time came, and they did it without thought because we all knew that was what was best for him. Even though I do not believe he was suffering, many did, and we all thought it was best. With that being said, I agree with Dr. Jauhar when he explains how hard it is for families to decide what is best for the person they love. Being put on a defibrillator has so many pros and cons, but it is often hard for individuals to see both sides when someone you love is at risk and that is why deciding is so difficult.
The article that best caught my interest this week was, 'How to Revive a Friendship' by Anna Goldfarb. This article caused my attention to be brought to the reality that throughout the years, friends will come and go, friendships will both be built and destroyed. New people will come in and out of your life as will old. This is just the way the world works, although some friendships are worth saving, almost all of them will not last 'forever', as much as a lot of people like to think.
In reality, the people you consider your friends in your earlier years will grow up and eventually not be a big part of your everyday life as much as they may have been before. This pattern seems to be consistent when it comes to students in middle school and high school, like myself. Even if you have one person that you consider your 'best friend' throughout your middle school years, it does not mean that they will stay your 'best friend' throughout high school and beyond.
Eventually, people will change, loose interest in others, and therefore grow apart from them, most likely in preparation for a new stage in their life that is ready to begin. Although this can be a difficult time for both that person as well as the others involved in that situation, this happens to everyone and that individual will be forced to overcome these feelings caused by the event. This article brought my attention away from its original topic on how to fix friendships, and really fixated it on something more.
The article I was most interested in this week was the Carr Fire. The natural disaster had me thinking about how we all live in our little spheres. Americans who don't actively watch the news can isolate themselves. Some people in the US may never hear about the Carr fire. Many become concerned with their own lives they don't realize other events occurring around them. Specifically, California is approximately 2,300 miles away from Louisville. IN the 21st century the mindset that if it dissent directly effect ones life it isn't important. While 6 people have died. Those individuals could be a brother, a mother, a father, a beloved daughter or son.
Not only was I intrigued by the article due to its vast nature but more towards the thoughts after I read. Sometimes I feel I've lost my faith in humanity but then something will come around and restore my doubts. It's a constant battle.
"'There's No Law That Can Defend You'"
8/8/18
The article outlines how the country of Nicaragua has descended into chaos following President Daniel Ortega's announced changes to Nicaragua's social security program in mid-April. Since then, the country has erupted in protest, most of which have turned violent. As a result, businesses failed, protesters were massacred, and organizers of the protests were sent into hiding.
One major thing that this shows is the big difference between how our country and Nicaragua responds to political change. The main difference here is that our country won't devolve into chaos if a controversial change is proposed. Sure, there would be protests, but our economy won't collapse, nor will we be afraid to openly criticize what we will, as one source in the article was afraid to do. This is a gift that I think many of us take for granted - this gift of stability, of knowing that one controversial change won't set our country on fire.
‘Still Can’t Believe It Worked’: The Story of the Thailand Cave Rescue
8/9/18
Although the Thailand Cave Rescue happened last month, it still appalls me at how much dedication was put into the saving the children. Even, “Mr. Saman, the retired Navy SEAL member who left his airport security job to volunteer, died as he was placing air tanks on an underwater supply route.” Seeing how a man would give up his peaceful job to help save children locked inside a cave, surprises me. Nowadays, the news is full of diabolic people, seeing how volunteers all over the world would come and rescue a couple of kids warms my heart. However, as I was reading the article I started to question why so many people put their lives on the line to save some children.
Reading, “The Story of the Thailand Cave Rescue” made me realize just how important children are to society. We never give credit to kids as much as we should, considering that they are the future generation and hope for our society. Coming to this realization also answered the question as to why the whole world worked together to save 9 children from the cave: children must be protected. If the cave was filled only with adults rather than children, we would want to save the children. The bottom line is that, children hold our future in their hands and they are our number one priority.
www.nytimes.com/2018/08/06/world/asia/indonesia-earthquake-lombok.html
I remember it was the December of 2016, when I was in Lombok. I remember is seeing a boy and his father making a boat on the beach, one day, as the sun was setting, they seem really happy and having a great time. Seeing them made me think about what I can do to have more fun with my family. So after a few days later I left lombok and never returned.
2 years later on a lazy Monday morning, I picked up the newspaper not expecting anything much, but when I saw the headlines ‘14 killed as Earthquake hits tourist island Lombok’ , I couldn’t believe it because I was just at Lombok 2 years ago, but for the grace of God, it could be me. At the end, I disregarded it since it didn’t really affect my daily life.
After a week or , I felt bored so I read an article about the earthquake in Lombok on The New York Times to find. As I read read through the article, I started to really regret ignoring the news article about the earthquake in Lombok, because this is not minor tremor. This was an earthquake that happened in Lombok that had a huge impact on people. When I finished reading the article I learned that an event that happened may feel small to you but it’s be a huge impact to others and as I look back I wondered what happened to the boy and his father who were on the beach. I wonder if they are okay, I wonder if they are safe, and I wonder if they have a home to go back to at the end of the day.
Kanye West on Backing Trump: It's 'Not About Politics'
By Giovani Russonello
Frankly, I don't understand how it couldn't be about politics. Kanye West is someone that in theory should hate everything that Donald Trump stands for he has stated many times in his music that he is ant establishment and anti-big business. Two things that the president is for. It was more shocking than anything to see the endorsement from Kanye, it just didn't make sense to people that were fans of him and to the black community. I am apart of both these groups. And I was upset. There are only a handful of black artists as sucessful or popular as him, it shows younger generations that they can suceed despite the many prejudices and disadvantages that society may push on children of color. But when Kanye is supporting the same people who have oppressed many, minority groups and others this representation of a sucessful black man gets skewed.
I do think it was interesting that he went on these talk shows to in a way clear his name. People of the black community abandoned him in hoards and boycotted his music while on social media people with view points different to Knaye at the time relentlessly attacked him for his statements in support to our president. It was not a reaction I wanted to see. We're at a polarizing time in politics than anything that can be interpreted as having an opinion on politics will be taken seriously. We as a society have to decide how we're going manage such intensity.
I chose to read an article about the movie "The Incredibles 2" because I recently watched it at the cinema.
I read:" Incredibles 2’ Trailer: When a Superhero Is Also a Working Mom" By Bruce Fretts which published at April 13, 2018.
I know it's might look weird that I chose to read an article about the trailer after I watched it but I haven't watched the trailer before I watched the movie so I decided to watch it now, in addition to that the headline interested me because it's an issue that the creators of the movie presents to the observers of the movie that related to a topic that people talk about a lot- how to combine between a career and taking care of the kids.
like a lot of families Bob and Helen chose that one of them will work while the other one stay home to take care of the kids. the special about Bob and Helen is the fact they switched (and of course the fact that they are supers).
Even though I already watched the movie I still learned some new thing like: who is dubbing each character, which is something that I never thought about.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/28/opinion/sunday/cardiac-defibrillator-...
how do you want to die? - Sandeep Jauhar
When i saw the title of this article i was intrigued, i had to look what controversial topic was discussed about in there. should we let cardiac patients choose whether they want to live painfully or die painlessly.
Tough question indeed, but i think that we have to let people the option of killing themselves, especially if the other option is to live with a mechanic defibrillator in your heart that cause endless pain until they die. first of all i think that no matter what people have the right to decide whether they want to live or die, its their life and if they are not satisfied with it, they can pull the trigger.
its true that suicide is a sad topic we deal with often, but it doesn't mean its the wrong thing for an individual if he thought it through and decided he don't want to live anymore.
we as a society have to accept the fact that we can't make everyone happy and that no matter what we do some people will decide to end their life.
so in the case of cardiac patients, i think we have to tell the patients the consequences of putting a defibrillator in their heart. if the patient want to die peacefully instead of living painfully they should make the call.
Into the Wild With Kanye West
Maybe we made a mistake. Maybe we shouldn't have heralded certain people as "geniuses" or treat them as celebrity idols, and maybe we shouldn't look to celebrities for everything and treat them as if we have a personal connection. When Kanye West said he shared "dragon energy" with Donald Trump and posted selfies wearing MAGA hats, I felt personally disappointed. He was once an artist that championed progressiveness, rapping about and highlighting socioeconomic issues plaguing America. The issue is that all of that did happen early into his career, and now Kanye has spent controversy after controversy gliding his way through the muddy swamps of fame until he's reached a clearing in the woods where he no longer has to care about the problems he once stood against because they no longer affect him. The truth is that whether or not articles like these that highlight that Kanye Wants to clarify what he means in his outbursts on TMZ or his ravaging replies on twitter help him in what he calls our nation's "cancel culture," the damage is done. After all of this controversy struck back in April, I reflected upon everything else he'd done that I'd looked over because I only wanted to see the good in Kanye, every "Imma let you finish" that I didn't want to recognize. Maybe somewhere along the line we should've realized he was a bit of a jerk. Maybe we shouldn't have continued to glorify him. Maybe we made a mistake.
The Chesapeake Bay Watershed encompasses six states—Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia—and the District of Columbia, spans over 64,000 miles, and more than 18 million people call this area home. It is upsetting that states are more focused on playing the blame game than solving the real problem. I have lived in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed my entire life and some of my fondest memories are the weekends I spent at bay with my friends and family. It is troubling that government officials are focused on ensuring their state does have to fund the cleanup and not the health and safety of the people who want to swim, fish, boat, and use the bay. If not for anything else states should recognize the immense economic value of the Chesapeake Bay. The tourism the Chesapeake Bay brings to these states must be a huge source of income for these states, no one is going to travel to the polluted Chesapeake Bay, and a lot of valuable food items are produced in the Chesapeake Bay like crabs and oysters. Obviously, the Chesapeake Bay's health has not been stellar over the 50 years. Congress recognized this problem by setting aside money for the bay cleanup and analyses of the bays wildlife and marine life and there is a multi-state agency dedicated to the cleanup of the bay, not to mention many volunteer groups, but this amount of garbage shows just how far we still need to go.
“How Record Heat Wreaked Havoc on Four Continents”
By Somini Sengupta, Tiffany May and Zia ur-Rehman
Summer is a time I yearn for during the school year, yet I’m always slightly taken aback when it actually comes around the corner. As a kid, I don’t remember summer being so scorchingly hot, but now, it’s almost as if that’s all I notice. Every year, I visit Taiwan. Being a very small country surrounded by the seas, Taiwan has shockingly high levels of humidity. The effect of humidity multiplies and adds on to the discomfort of the heat.
This article caught my eye as I scrolled through because I spent the entire summer visiting relatives and teaching English in the countryside in Taiwan this year. Since public transportation is very convenient, many of us choose to commute by foot, bike, train, or bus. But with all of this walking, the heat really gets to you. Reports of record high temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit!) is almost a daily scenario. And it’s scary to say, but many of the older generations don’t like to turn on the air conditioning in their homes. As Saltvedt says, it’s “really frightening if this is the new normal,” because not only does this intense heat cause heat strokes and discomfort, but also droughts and other natural disasters.
Needless to say, I do hope we can do something about the issue, but that can’t start until we all realize the need to. Otherwise, mother nature will continue having other ideas planned for us.
Video: Zimbabwe Ousted Mugabe. The Economy's Still a Mess.
What interested me this week was a video about how Zimbabwe's economy is still crippled, even after they ousted Mugabe (an oppressive president from 1987-2017), and brought in a better president that promised peace and a shift in the economy. At the end of the election for the new president, citizens were actually very excited, but following that excitement was violence, 6 people were killed that day by the police. The economy in Zimbabwe is so bad, that the only successful market, is the black market. The amount of cash there is so low that people stand outside at ATMs for hours on end, to just get 20 bucks. In 2005 the government kicked 700,000 citizens out of their homes and placed them into squatter homes. The goal of doing this was to break up strongholds and place them into an environment that was dependant on the state. The results of their doing was a broken community. Many of the homes, if not almost all of the homes, lack basic infrastructure. Many of the women in this broken community are so desperate for cash, they end up prostituting themselves. Most of the lands in Zimbabwe are barren, which means a lot of trouble for the agricultural economy. In the past year of the new president being 'in office,' nothing has changed, what was promised has not been put into action.
This video interested me because it showed me a different perspective on how people in other countries live whether it's good or bad.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/arts/music/simon-rattle-berlin-philha...
Music is a form of expression and release of emotion that has the power to inspire and touch anyone. Creating music is both a fulfilling and joyful experience that many of us were introduced to as far back as elementary school. Unfortunately, many people seem to abandon their instruments after high school or college in order to focus on future wants and needs. I have seen fellow classmates, relatives, friends, etc. with real talent and passion decide to pack away their instruments in order to pursue their desired major or area of study.
Simon Rattle reminded me of my school’s old band director who had resigned only a year ago. He had inspired me to further explore music, to be more creative and ambitious. Just like with Rattle, it only takes one person to spread the love of music.
I was drawn to this article for how it showed that people could be brought together to reignite their love of making music no matter their age or profession. What interested me was how such a prestigious organization was willing to bring people in and rouse the love of music in a seemingly random variety of people. This article shows that creating music is not just for those who are willing to live and breathe music, but belongs to all of us.
Make Your Daughter Practice Math. She’ll Thank You Later.
One of my biggest regrets is falling short of my past reputation of being the math whiz. I tell my parents all the time that I wish they’d forced me to study harder during the past few years, especially in math. However, I’m now too old for my parents to be keeping an eye on me 24/7. I should have enough motivation to go the extra mile, since I’m well aware that it’ll only benefit me in the future. But why am I still not doing anything? Barbara Oakley explains that people tend to think that if they’re comparatively worse at one thing, they’ll think that they are simply incompetent in it, regardless of it being true or not; and because they’ve come to such a blunt conclusion, it discourages them to improve.
I could see this being relevant in many aspects of my life—one of them being the very premise of this article. I, too, am better at language arts than math, so I came to believe that I am just not proficient at math. Unfortunately, this article didn’t change my mind, but it did keep me wondering why. Why do I blame my disappointing grades on innate ineptitude rather than a lack of practice, when I know the real reason is the latter?
I’ve realized that’s because it’s the easy way out. It’s easier to blame something out of your control than something you are responsible for. Because when you face the fact that you could have made things better by changing something in the way you studied, it makes you feel guilty.
"They Stole a Shark in a Baby Stroller and Briefly Got Away With It"
This article caught my eye as I was scrolling though, simply because of how ludicrous it sounded. The title makes it seem like something out of a bad mystery novel, or one that is intended for children. I personally really like animals, and anything to do with them, so this was something I thought would be an interesting read. It didn't disappoint.
The fact that the shark was stolen in a baby carriage had the be the icing on the cake for me. The thieves also went to such great lengths to try and make it seem like what they did was legal and normal. They even got receipt. Albeit, probably a fake one.
Long story short, I really enjoyed this article. I would definitely read more things like this, if Times were to ever post them.
"Night Owls May Have Higher Depression Risks"
This article that was written by Nicholas Bakalar immediately grasped my attention when I caught a glimpse of "Night Owl," considering I classify myself as one. I also thought that the discussion on this topic was intriguing because there have been many studies on how sleep deprivation is both a cause and result of depression; so the further research into not only the lack of sleep, but also the sleep cycles is very interesting.
The brief article both summarized and analyzed the results of a Prospective Study of Chronotype and Incident Depression Among Middle and Older Aged Women. Out of the 32,740 patients who did not have depression prior to commencement of a four year experiment, 2,581 ended the study with diagnosed depression. After putting all ulterior variables aside, it was concluded that morning people were 12% less likely to be diagnosed while night owls were 6% more likely to fall victim to a depressive disorder, creating a linear relationship between the two.
Obviously, this data can be of use in many matters to demonstrate how these sleep patterns can take a toll on a human's mental health. As for the younger generations, schooling can become tiresome when their chronotype does not correlate with the times that focus is required, while other children that are more of a morning person have an advantage of obtaining more of an energetic persona. So how we fix this matter is debatable.
“Oscars to Add ‘Popular Film’ Category, Creating Questions” by Brooks Barnes
As someone who occasionally likes to think of themself as a film connoisseur, this headline made me take a second glance and ask myself, ”why would the Oscars ever do that?” It puzzled me why all of a sudden an institution as prestigious as the Academy would pay mind to popular movies. It pained me to think that the Academy—THEE ACADEMY had sat down and agreed that the popularity of a movie DOES somehow have a correlation with its quality. I wrongfully assumed the Academy would hold a higher standard for which films are worthy of an Oscar, and sorrowfully braced myself for the end of an era where popular did not necessarily mean good...
All drama aside, I understand why the Oscars decided to do this, yet I do not agree with it. Significantly less people are tuning in to watch the Oscars, so the Academy gave the people what they wanted: popular films. I recognize that to stay in business they must please their consumers, but will this tactical move only backfire by lessening the gravity of winning an Oscar? After all, it won’t be as exciting if every future Marvel blockbuster is bound to earn one. Additionally, I find it shameful that the Oscars will be providing more publicity for films that were nominated because of all the publicity they already had, rather than lesser known films that deserve to be in the spotlight. Will gaining viewership be worth compromising values?
"Israel Cements Right-Wing Agenda in a Furious Week of Lawmaking"
The basic law that declares Israel as the nation-state of the
Jewish people was presented to the Israeli parliament and people as a symbolic law. Members of the right-wing parties phrased the law carefully, making it look like they are stating the obvious with a few tinny modifications. The law's main article declares the land of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people. This statement is not new, as it is a part of Israel's declaration of independence and a guiding principle to many Jewish families that immigrated to Israel. Under the appearance of a formal and symbolic law, the government managed to pass an extreme and dangerous law as one of Israel's constitutional laws.
The new Nation law may seem symbolic, with nothing but a formal meaning on paper, but it's affects on our life are already present in Israel's latest laws and actions. The law allows exsolution and trampling the rights of anyone who is not an orthodox Jew or does not fit into what some see as the values of orthodox Judaism. Under its approval a conservative rabbi was arrested for marrying couples outside the orthodox rabbinate, the Knesset passed an amendment to the surrogacy law that specifically bans same-sex couple from using an Israeli surrogate.
Recognizing Eating Disorders in Time to Help
Jane E. Brody
At the beginning of last school year, I remember saying hi to one of my good friends from elementary school in the hallway. To my surprise, he barley responded and wouldn't carry a conversation with me. That was the weirdest thing to me and I had no idea why he acted like that. I never considered that something could seriously be wrong, and certainly never considered eating disorders.
Towards the end of the year, his condition became very serious and life threatening. He spent a long time in the hospital treating anorexia. I was completely shocked. We talked a good bit about eating disorders in health class for multiple years, and I never really though that it would be an issue in my life.
But he successfully recovered and I am glad to say that he is doing much better. It made my day the first time I saw him back in school and he approached me to say hi.
His story is why I was interested in this article. I think it is important to know that eating disorders are a very real problem for many teens everywhere. It can happen to anybody no matter what activities you do, race, or gender, and requires treatment. It IS NOT just something that a person can fix themselves. It is important to be able to realize when your closest family members and friends are struggling with an eating disorder because it is extremely difficult to admit to having one, and that you need help. We can be the first step in stopping eating disorders.
“Make Your Daughter Practice Math. She’ll Thank You Later.”
In elementary school, math was my favorite subject. I loved solving endless worksheets of long division and especially long multiplication. The routine practice that the article explains isn’t much fun, I looked forward to every day. In retrospect, I believe that the enjoyment I found in practicing math resulted from the routine of learning math and my friends who enjoyed math just as much as I did.
As a child, my dad printed out a multiplication table that he encouraged me to study every night before testing me. My dad would test me on the multiplication tables no matter how much I complained or protested that I couldn’t do it. Despite frustration and doubt, I eventually learned the entire multiplication table, a skill that helped me tremendously when learning long division and multiplication and a skill I still use in my high school calculus classes. I also learned the importance of practicing a skill and refusing to listen to the voice in your head that says you can’t.
The pattern of claiming that you can’t do something quickly turns into actual incompetence. A positive mindset is almost just as important as basic math skills. Therefore, it is essential to develop a routine of learning math from a young age. Perhaps after learning a new concept, a child is required to do two practice worksheets. Having friends who enjoy math is essential to enjoying math as well; friends can challenge but also help when needed.
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@Emily Axelsen this is great!
"How Broad, and How Happy, Is the Trump Coalition?" By Nate Cohn and Alicia Parlapiano.
This week, this article interested me the most, because it started out as a survey. It asked questions similar to "What percentage of President Trump's are happy with the job he is doing?" The answer was 82%. Quite frankly, I believe that number is actually much higher. Typically, a Trump supporter wouldn't even be looking at the New York Times, because the credibility is so low. The New York Times has fallen underneath the "fake news" category for quite some time.
This article discussed weather or not the Trump Coalition is still as willing to support him as much in 2018 as they did in 2016. Summing up the "survey" that was given, the poll numbers went down in almost every category of demographics except for the uneducated white men. This intrigued me, because out of all of the great things President Trump has done (Unemployment lowest ever, economy booming, making significant steps with North Korea, etc.), I never saw anything mentioned in the article. Somehow someway, the media will do all they can to put a negative spin on the job of our sitting president.
The article that interested me the most in The Times this week was "The iGen Shift: Colleges Are Changing to Reach the Next Generation" by Laura Pappano.
As I first started scrolling through the New York Times site, this article was very intriguing because I am a part of the iGen or Gen Zers generation. As a student of this generation, it is very inspiring to see other students of my generation start to create positive change. Whenever I see these changes, it allows me to ask myself; what positive change can I create in my environment? In my highschool, it has already gone through the technological change that these colleges are now going through using Microsoft surfaces to do our assignments, or using websites like Schoology to receive our assignments. So from first-hand experience of how this change affects the school, it would definitely be a step forward for these colleges as the students start to use resources that are already familiar to them while learning the things they need to know.
Another thing that caught my attention is how these colleges are now changing for the better. As a future college student, I hear many problems about the college environment and experience, from the crushing debt that getting your higher education leaves you with to the constant sexual harassment problems that appear rampant through college campuses. This seemed like finally, colleges are doing something right for the better of their students.
"Designing the Death of a Plastic"
By Xiaozhi Lim
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/06/science/plastics-polymers-pollution.h...
Currently, plastics made out of synthetic non-degradable polymers are plaguing the environment and wildlife. The reason these plastics aren't degradable is because the bonds that assembly the polymers take too much energy to be broken natural by bacteria and other decomposers. Initially, this was intentional. Stronger bonded polymers were meant to replace the metals and glass in the construction of automobiles and airplanes. However, the long-term consequences of these polymers weren't considered when they were originally introduced. To mitigate some of the damage caused by non-degradable polymers, degradable polymers are now being created. The potential of these new polymers which could create degradable plastics is immense. Landfill overflow and oceanic population could eventually be conquered if these new plastics became the norm. However, current plastics are vastly cheaper to mass produce in comparison and companies won't be willing to lose profit just to produce an ecologically safer alternative. Hopefully these new plastics will eventually become less cost consuming to produce or companies will realizing that these new plastics would be worth the extra funds to produce.
“Atlanta School: No More Pledge of Allegiance to Start Day”
Ever since elementary school, there has been a routine always engrained within my mind. For every American student, who wouldn’t know the pledge of allegiance? No matter if we actually understood it, since we were so young, our teachers would stress its importance. So without any questions, everyone would continue to mindlessly recite it. But as I grew up, I began to question it. Initially, I felt uncomfortable including God, but now I can no longer want to say the pledge at all since I found it unnecessary and personally viewed it as a disturbing practice.
I was interested in this article because I believe that what this school chose to do was right. They revised their own pledge to be inclusive and suitable for children. A chant promoting school spirit is more comprehensible rather than making kids understand what “pledging allegiance” means. After all, we as a free country should not be indoctrinating children so young. The Wolf Pack chant is said to focus on upholding responsibility and the importance of family, community, and a global society, which are significant and useful aspects to teach. There is nothing to take from a pledge that is being imposed; it just becomes a mindless recitation signifying nothing but conformity. Reciting words is not indicative of character, and there are more profound ways to teach youth how to love one another and their nation through action. The pledge is not important.
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"N.F.L. National Anthem Protests Resume With Players Kneeling and Raising Fists"
In my opinion, the National Football League has taken the completely wrong approach to players kneeling during the National Anthem. This started when a courageous player, Colin Kaepernick, took a knee during the National Anthem of a football game to stand up for African Americans in the league, and it became viral. Eventually, other players started to kneel and it became a huge debate in America. The N.F.L. has now implemented rules saying that players are obliged to stand. I find this to be completely outrageous, because a player has rights, and because them kneeling has become more of a fight against the president and the N.F.L. rather than its actual symbolic meaning. Why is it that someone is obliged to stand for something that maybe they don't agree with at the time? If people accepted the action and agreed to help raise awareness, this would not be a battle, but a symbol for unification. Players have every right to stand for their country, and kneel for their country. It is important to remember that they still respect everyone who fights for our country, they just think that the country as a whole could use some change, which is quite true for what is going on in our country today.
Do Dogs Really Love Us?
I am an animal lover. It is in my nature, especially since I have my own furry friend. Therefore, this article interested me from the second that I read the word “dogs” in the title. Any particle of information that I can acquire about dogs will never fail to captivate me. After all, knowledge is power.
As stated in “Friendly Foxes’ Genes Offer Hints to How Dogs Became Domesticated” by James Gorman, a few Russian scientists tried to breed foxes to display “friendliness towards humans” which led to the foxes adoring humans as much as humans adore them. This began as a way to interpret more about the abyss that is genetics. Although people have collected plenty of information on how genetics function, there are further materials on the subject to discover. We don't know much about the “diversity of roles [that genes] actually play” in our lives which is why scientists are performing more research in this matter.
To sum up, there has always been a part of me that was concerned about why dogs do not want to attack us, and this article answered some of my questions… even if it did open up new ones. Until then, I will keep my eyes open for any more research that comes my way about why our delightful friends look at humans with such admiration and love.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/01/technology/china-google-censored-sear...
Which is better for the Chinese, no Google, or a censored Google?
For an autocratic government, censorship is never sufficient. Since the establishment of the Great Firewall, the intensity of China’s censorship gradually increased. As a Chinese studying in Singapore, I know that years ago, The New York Times was blocked in China; months ago, BBC was blocked; now, even Lianhe Zaobao, a Singaporean newspaper that almost never criticizes China is blocked. Under the strict network control, should Google still compromise with the Chinese government?
Moreover, a censored Google may give the Chinese an illusion that political censorship is acceptable. With Google’s reputation as the most widely used search engine, if the censored Google is launched, the Chinese may even reach the conclusion that censorship is globalized.
Furthermore, according to the article “A Generation Grows Up in China Without Google, Facebook or Twitter” by Li Yuan, the majority of Chinese teenagers have not heard of Google, and some think that Baidu, the most popular search engine in China is good enough. Evidently, the censorship in China has been effective. How I wish these youths could know the true internet.
As a Chinese, I hope that one day, there will be a Google that does not compromise with power, a Google that does not censor facts, a Google that could present the true World Wide Web to the people of China.
How Not to Let Your Phone Ruin Your Vacation
https://nyti.ms/2OWngh9
Phones, emails, and social media are created for pulling people closer. But do they actually make people’s hearts closer? They are convenient and helpful tools that allow us to keep in touch with friends who live far away. However, as the article describes, they could also be like black holes that suck you into space where you cannot hear or see anything around you. Thus, in some aspects, their impact is the antithesis of their original purpose.
I love how this article provides multiple options and details for the readers. The readers can actually follow the instruction not just understand the ideas. Once, my friends and I tried to make not touching phones into a game during dinner time. We used to concentrate on our phones, but we talked a lot at that time and it felt good without using phones. We do not need social media to keep friends close, because they are right next to you. All you need is simply talk to them.
Honestly, it takes efforts to not touch phones, but it is viable. I tried a few days without phones and I was much more productive. I feel that we spend too much time on phones and leave less time for our surroundings than we suppose to spend. We should not limit our visions to those small boxes.
Most people probably don’t understand exactly how climate change works. They might hear about how there’s more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but what does that really mean? If someone tells them that it’s making more plants, they might think it’s a good thing. That’s why it’s important that people understand just how misleading the term “global greening” is.
Global greening may increase crop yields and photosynthesis, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. These benefits are insignificant compared to the damage carbon dioxide can do by warming the atmosphere. Those who say otherwise should realize that no matter how many lies they tell themselves, more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a bad thing, and we ought to be doing as much as we can to stop it.
This is such a critical issue to me because I’ve always been interested in how we can help the environment and slow down climate change. Misleading terms like “global greening” do great damage because they make people doubt the evidence, and doubt what scientists are telling them. People need to learn how crucial it is to reduce the levels of carbon dioxide we release.
“Emmett Till Sign Is Hit With Bullets Again, 35 Days After Being Replaced”
Hatred is a bullet. It penetrates. It stings. It kills. More than fifty years ago, hatred had left Mamie Till without a son. Today, this same hatred has left signs, made in remembrance of Emmett Till, shot up and destroyed. Despite all, past and present, his story will live on.
When reading this article by Matthew Haag, my heart broke for Emmett Till and his family. My anger grew quickly at the thought of how so much hatred could be directed towards a single individual. Had Emmett Till not endured enough in his own short lifetime? I was then calmed by another thought, one of a more optimistic nature. Emmett had won. He wasn’t dead. In fact, he is still very much alive – alive in the hearts of those moved by his story, including my own. Alive so much so that no amount of hatred or bullets can silence the cause his death has brought about. Emmett Till has become the face of historical and modern oppression in American culture. The signs now serve as symbols of the brutality of the Jim Crow era. These signs will continue to be shot at and vandalized as long as hatred exits, though the bullets will never be strong enough to kill the dead.
In recent years, hidden truths behind the case of Emmett Till have been revealed. The biggest truth of all being, the case was never just about Emmett Till. There was always a greater picture. And this greater picture shall never be tainted by the hatred of the world.
“Job Description for the Dumbest Job Ever”
Proposing motherhood as a sort of full time job illustrates the tribulations associated with this job in a manner understandable to the typical childless individual. Through this description, the reader comprehends that motherhood is more difficult than any regular job. Ancillary duties associated with motherhood including “Keeping co-workers alive,” make this a most taxing task.
Although this article accurately displays the majority of a mother’s obligations, one factor seems to be missing from the description: a father. Certainly, living with her spouse adds other challenges into a mother’s life, but fathers also contribute to parenting a child. Parenting necessitates a team. In the case of single mothers, although single mothers can provide for their children and perform exceptional parenting alone, often times her children lack paternal guidance, resulting in various difficulties for all those involved.
To not mention the role of the father in respect to the difficulties of the mother is acceptable for this article. After all, the author has a right to share her thoughts. But society discounting paternal guidance as extraneous creates a family ideal potentially damaging to child development.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/28/opinion/sunday/race-black-latina-iden...
In this article that discusses the lack of recognition of diversity, Natasha S. Alford uncovers the naked truth about how the acceptance of those is an effect from what media displays.
In "Overlooked by the Media, Women Like Me Took to Instagram," Alford reveals the ongoing conflict she had dealing with self-approval at a young age. This was an outcome of the archetypal image the media had drilled into the public minds'. Alford had stated that she was "mortified" about the idea of going up against fellow Latinas in a pageant who had the appearance of those she saw in the media. Nonetheless, Alford learned to acknowledge her identity as a young adult through the guidance of a social media platform well known as, Instagram. Here, she was exposed to accounts that shared photographs of people who identified just like her. As a result of this exposure, Alford expressed that she was "not the only one who’s found a sense of belonging."
Despite the negative connotation against the media, in circumstances such as Alford's, Instagram has the ability of bringing people together. Also, society is able to recognize each other for the traits that the media has not yet displayed before.
As for myself, I place confidence in the impact that the media has on people in both negative and positive ways, and its capability of shifting mentalities.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/technology/personaltech/internet-trol...
I had about info wars this week, the internet as we know it is dying due to internet trolls spreading information that is not true. The weird thing about that is these companies can't really do anything , and these companies like face book and Twitter.What does this tell you about companies?Facebook a well successful company with loads of money can't fix the problem,so how do we fix it? You really can't you just have to make sure yourself does not fall into that hole and bully or troll people only with comments its sad what people will do just feel good about themselves. There have been reports of people bullying school shooter survivors which baffles me why anyone would do such a thing.Its sad what we created and we don't know how to use the proper way.The internet was created to have easier access to information and we use it for ever thing that it was not built for.
"Kris Kobach Is the G.O.P at Its Worst"
The editorial “Kris Kobach Is the G.O.P at Its Worst” goes in depth about the recently elected Governor of Kansas. In the text it is argued how Kobach has portrayed himself as a character who is heavily Republican, almost radical-like, despite what he has said about himself. The argument goes on to list many controversial things that Kobach has done in the past that has started controversy. Including immigration laws he created in 2010, and highly offensive comments made on his local call-in show in 2014. The author does this to persuade the reader to join this side of the argument. However, none of his achievements are stated and counteracted which makes the argument seem weaker. The author strengthened the editorial by describing Kobach’s personality and actions with strong vocabulary, including instances where he is described as “pernicious” (The Editorial Board). There is also strong comparisons made in the argument that persuade the reader to not support Kobach. It states how he has his own version of the Make America Great Again slogan, replacing America with Kansas. Knowing how Trump lacks support from many Americans, this comparison gives the argument support against the Governor. This argument was written with the purpose to show Kobach’s side with has deep Republican roots that can hurt his party. With many facts and comparisons, this editorial is a strong argument despite lacking counter statements to Kobach’s good side.
“The Power of Positive People”
Have you watched the movie ‘Whiplash’? It’s about an aspiring jazz drummer who meets a terrifying teacher. This teacher is violent — slapping, kicking and throwing things at the student regularly. It was infuriating to watch the character suffer at the hands of a negative person.
It may seem as though the drummer’s enthusiasm would diminish following these events. But contrary to expectations, he only becomes all the more avid to prove himself. He practices until his hands bleed and eventually manages to play a problematic piece perfectly.
This reveals that some negative people can actually bring about positive effects. Criticism can motivate us to work harder, aim higher, and ultimately achieve more, like the drummer in 'Whiplash'. This is why we cannot easily rid our surroundings of negative people.
Of course, an excess of negativity can be harmful, so we must have a balance between the positivity and the negativity in our lives to obtain the best outcomes. In order to endure the hostility and judgment that are in abundance nowadays through platforms such as social media, we must have enough self-confidence (which we receive from optimistic people).
Unfortunately, it’s impossible for our lives to consist solely of positive people — at times it’s unavoidable to face people we don’t like. But just like how the best learning comes from the worst mistakes, keep in mind that the person you despise might be the key to your success.
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@Stephanie Min-Jae Kim love this!
"How I Lost the Fiancé but Won the Honeymoon"
My dad and I had finished moving my ex's possessions into a storage unit, and we were starting to head home. I looked for something to distract me. I scrolled through the radio stations but only found terrorists and death metal. I pulled out my phone only to see a classmate had texted me, asking if I had done that week's biology homework. My dad, noticing me scramble, offered to take me to the Small World Cafe in Princeton. I quickly agreed.
When we arrived, there weren't many people. We grabbed a table in the corner, and my dad realized he forgot his wallet in the car. I sat alone for a while, lamenting the day's events.
Then, this guy joined me. I asked him who he was, and he said that he was waiting for someone to pick him up. So I ignored him until he asked me how my day was. "Just peachy." He responded with a drawn-out "Good" before turning towards the baristas and then back at me. "You know, that blonde girl over there has some big breasts. Really big, huge, just coming out the top of her tank top. They're just about choking her." I died from laughing. Then, the oddest thing happened. We spent the next two hours talking, opening up about ourselves. I didn't know where my dad nor this guy's ride were, but I didn't care. I just felt happy for a change. No surprise I'm now dating the guy.
This article of finding love at unexpected times reminded me of that afternoon, equipping me with a smile to face the world with.
The iGen Shift: Colleges Are Changing to Reach the Next Generation
It’s basically tradition to hate the newcomers.
For the longest time, I grew up learning that Millennials would ruin the world. “They’re killing the suburbs,” one article said. “They’re killing the trees,” said another. And maybe that’s true - maybe we really do only have murderous, suburb-killing, environment-slaughtering twenty-year olds among us.
But I also know that before the Millennials, there was Generation X. Before Generation X, there were the Baby Boomers. And before them - well, as a Gen-Z kid, I kind of stopped listening to my teacher at that point.
But what I did hear from my teacher was that every generation touts the next as a gaggle of narcissistic, ignorant, apathetic jerks that are going to destroy the Earth. They’re - we’re - constantly generalized as something we’re not. We’re grouped into some label because somebody thinks they can accurately measure an entire generation by a couple of sentences and a diagram.
I disagree with the author of this article. Gen-Z isn’t made up of a group of children that can be summarized into a few sentences. We’re diverse, and different, and a unique body of constantly shifting perspectives and mindsets. To put it plainly - we’re queer, and we’re here.
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@Donna Ghosh omg donna this is great! I love your writing style :)
Growing up, I was never properly instructed about the raw history that shaped Puerto Rico and its citizens today, and figures like Julia de Burgos were just names to me. I did not think being Puerto Rican meant anything, especially when our existence was constantly overlooked globally.
Instead, I turned to U.S. media where I felt a sense of identity and found ways to forget about my real nationality. I was living a childhood where I knew more to the Star-Spangled Banner than to La Borinqueña. To further worsen my neglect, when acquainted with the political parties that divided my country, I believed the only solution was to run away from my roots– similar to what Julia resorted to.
But since then, I’ve reevaluated my thinking. I educated myself about the men and women that not only shaped my island but gave it something to be proud of. I learned that those who sincerely felt pride for their country were the ones I should have been looking up to. Learning about the stories of patriots like Julia, a woman unafraid to show her true colors and stand out in a world dominated by men, has inspired me to embrace who I am.
Having articles like this– whether they be reports or obituaries– that tell the stories of people from minorities could change the way that youth feeling like me look at themselves and believe they can be someone who makes their country proud. I think it’s what Julia de Burgos would have wanted.
(nytimes.com/2018/05/02/obituaries/overlooked-julia-de-burgos.html)
Abortion is a strong topic most people prefer to avoid but I actually enjoy talking about it and listening to other peoples thoughts and opinions and speak mine. When I read the title "They Lost Argentina's Abortion Vote, but Advocates Started a Movement" I was instantly interested in it. Along with the theses advocates, I believe abortion should be legal and honestly, I thought it was already legal everywhere. I do believe in the idea of abortion because as most arguments go, a woman should be allowed to do anything she wants with her body. I believe if a woman gets raped, in danger, or simply can not maintain the baby then they should be allowed to abort the baby. I know the Catholic Church prohibits abortion and that is the religion most people in Argentina follow, but in my opinion, religion should not make a final decision in your life. Religion to me is having faith in someone or something and praising to it, but nothing else. I am Catholic and I do get hate for being a supporter of abortion but I do believe it is up to no one, but myself to make a decision on what happens with my body. Now do not get me wrong, it does break my heart the idea of technically killing life. I have seen videos with an over voice of a baby in the womb telling its mom not to kill it, but I still do believe it is the best option sometimes. Seeing these people standing up for what they believe is right for their country gives me joy because I hope one day woman have the option we have here.
“Are We All ‘Harmless Torturers’ Now?”
Perhaps we always have been ‘Harmless Torturers’, just that the Internet made it that much easier. Having always found clever technical examples fascinating, this scenario reminds me of another theory— diffusion of responsibility. Arguably, diffusion of responsibility applies in the case of inaction (especially with regards to helping people). However, I find it could be another explanation for the Harmless Torturer effect. The more people there are, the less responsibility each takes for total damage inflicted.
Vanity would be another factor. I find that even in real life (as opposed to social media), there's a certain thrill in pointing out someone else's mistakes. As terrible as it sounds, it’s a way many of us validate ourselves. Everything is relative and so we tear others down to prove how good we are. That and righteousness can be addicting.
So when it comes down to it, it was about seeing the bigger picture. Or, seeing the right bigger picture. While we should criticise hateful opinions, we should also consider those we criticise. Even if they’ve committed wrong (which we can't be sure of), we need to remember they too are people, part of the better world we are trying to create. Hurting someone else, no matter how little, cannot make the world hurt less.
“There are millions of us, and we’re all turning the dial." We need to look not at our actions alone (it was just one like!) but at the context of the whole situation.
Anti-Vaccine Activists Have Taken Vaccine Science Hostage
By Melinda Wenner Moyer
When my high school AP psych teacher asked, “What’s the argument that is most often used to discredit the science of climate change?" I smirked.“The polar bears are still alive,”I responded whimsically, and while I’m sure Mr. Henderson must have appreciated my unparalleled wit and deduction skills, I don’t think that my answer is what he was looking for.
At the time, ignorance seemed so far away and insignificant in its reach that I could always find the humor in it. But Moyer’s op-ed considers the impact of misinformation on those who actually have the information. The idea that public opinion is undermining the quality of research—more than that—the honesty of scientists, isn’t something I had ever considered. Moyer explains (in the context of the anti-vaccine movement) that, out of fear of perpetuating popular (albeit) unfounded beliefs, scientists are under pressure to censor their work or avoid certain research projects, so as to circumvent unnecessary hysteria in the wake of ambiguous findings.
There is a very real problem with the misinterpretation or even overestimation of scientific findings in the public. Moyer’s example of this is the tendency to equate correlation with causality. This reality is what restrains scientists.
This editorial threw me for a loop. The idea that even science is making way to accommodate the uninformed is unsettling.
“Riders Wonder: With Uber as New York’s Plan B, is there a Plan C?”
I found this article particularly interesting because it showed how New Yorkers feel about the halt on issuing new licenses for ride-hail services. I have always been interested in NYC politics; especially the aspect of how public transit operates within the city. NYC has proven itself to not be capable enough to provide proper public transit to its citizens. With the introduction of ride-sharing companies into the NYC ecosystem there have been debates on how they should be regulated. The news story has shown that NYC is not in a position to place a cap on new vehicle licenses for ride-hail services. Before any decisions can be made we must take a hard look on the way public transit is run within the city.
Unfortunately for years, public transit has been far from adequate in the outer boroughs. Mayor deBlasio has done a poor job of improving transit in the outer boroughs. The Most of the effected area of this new legislation will be the outer boroughs, that have struggled the most with the problem of being able to travel within NYC. Until the city elects a new mayor, there probably will not be any improvements made to public transit. Before we can make decisions that will impact the way New Yorkers travel we must work immediately to improve our transit system. Until changes are made New Yorkers will be forced to use MTA New York City Transit in its current state.
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What interest me the most in The Times this week was definitely the Abortion video from Argentina. Both sides could be arguably right, as abortion can have both negative and positive affects to some. I personally believe abortion is cruel and wrong, as it takes away a life and soul of a future human. In other countries where people don't have much money, it's just populating an area with so many others that are in need of food, water, and shelter. If countries cannot even support the people they have now, how would they support others that come into the world? This was a very good video that shined light on an important topic.
The article that interested me this week was by Julia Jacobs. This article is titled “ The Carr Fire, the 7th Most Destructivein California History, Rages On”. The reason why this article was so interesting or was the one that caught my attention the most was because there has not been a day for the majority of this hot summer that the news doesn’t have a minute and a half long report about how the fire is. About how many people had to evacuate because of the fire. About how much more the fire has now taken over. About news reports going back to places were the fire went through and showing all of the burned homes. Homes that were a safe place to a family. Homes that had thousands of memories in them, homes that had family get together like Christmas and thanksgiving and birthday parties. Those homes are now gone. The thing is that its not just the one fire its three different fires. A few days back on Saturday l went out in the morning and there was a good size layer of ash over our family car, that ash kept coming for the next two days. Where was that ash going? People who were outside walking there dogs, out at the park, taking there morning run or even the afternoon jog every on was breathing all the ash. Can you imagine how bad that was for our lungs that all kinds of bad. Also another thing that the fires have caused is the color change of the sun, which you have probably noticed. The sun has been a darker shade of redish orangeish yet still bright.
Seeing the NBA brotherhood, riddled with decade-old rivalries and hatreds, come together to fight a single cause — defending LeBron James after Trump’s remarks on Twitter — does warm my heart. This NYTimes article, “Donald Trump and the Black Athlete,” also does well to point out Trump’s racist inclinations. However, I feel like by creating an aura of negativity around the issue, Trump is desperately trying to detract from the value of Mr. James’ contributions to his community.
So I prefer to focus on the positives. LeBron’s “I Promise” school is only one iota of a reason why he is an inspiration to me — an Asian kid 10,000 kilometers away from Ohio who doesn’t even play basketball. Rather, his charity project is just a testament to how in spite of his fame and fortune, he doesn’t forget his roots and handles his spotlight with class and poise.
The only sadness I gather from this is how Mr. James is the exception, not the norm for possibly the most idolized and looked-up-to figures of this nation. I hope the path LeBron James is forging is one that the rising prospects of the NBA will follow. After all, these young stars, despite their massive talent, were ultimately just like us - small kids watching LeBron’s actions on the television screen in awe, hoping to one day be just like him. And I sincerely hope that rather than attacking people like Trump with social media, they fight back by using their influence to shed light on the social issues facing our world today.
The “Extremely Detailed Map of the 2016 Election” has dominated every map forum on the internet that I follow - so, three forums (a perfectly reasonable number of map forums for anyone to follow). I have a mild obsession with cartography-related things: when I was 13, I learnt the flag of every country in the world; when I was 15, I tried to learn every country's area and shape. I admit I've been stuck on the latter for the past 2 years now, but nevertheless, it was natural that this interactive map drew me in.
I spent a good 30 minutes just clicking around and zooming into cities that have frequented recent headlines. I was awed. The immense amount of information compressed and displayed on the map was a testimony to the powers of data processing and brought new meaning to my understanding of "visual aid”. Not to mention it was oddly satisfying to roll the cursor across precincts and watch voting numbers shuffling in accord.
I found a tiny California precinct with only 2 total votes cast - 1 to Clinton, 1 to Trump. I thought this was unfortunately amusing given the cloud of today’s hyper-polarised political atmosphere. But otherwise, overwhelmingly, almost every precinct has large numbers of both Trump voters and Clinton voters to be found, even if shadowed by a 90% majority of the other. I couldn’t help but question a little the extreme polarity of politics depicted by the media and ranted about by politicians; is everything really as double-edged as it seems?
High school is the place friendships come to die, or at least that's what I've heard most of my whole high school career. It isn't until you reach senior year and realize that your friend group has significantly diminished. A freshman one moment, walking through those doors with a friend in either direction, fast-forward four years into a fully blossomed senior, realizing that you only have a friend on either arm (in my case, it was just the one friend).
Anna Goldfarb’s article , “How to Revive a Friendship” is relevant in my life now because my former best friend of nine or so years has been on my heart lately and I've wanted to resolve conflicts between us for quite some time. My only setback is in how I should approach her? Where should I start? Do I bring up why our friendship ended in the first place? In which case, the article proved to be very helpful providing professional suggestions from therapist and friendship researcher, Miriam Kirmayer, that encouraged individuals to discuss issues that took place in the past in order to move on successfully in the future. Another tip the article suggests is to take things slow by hanging out in groups of people until one-on-one hangouts can be established. After reading Goldfarb’s article, I am hopeful to try to mend our former friendship.
"Inside China's Dystopian Dreams: A.I., Shame and Lots of Cameras"
I found this article to be incredibly interesting because it brought to light my fear of technology becoming an all seeing, all controlling force. Technology is ever-growing and ever-improving, but not always in the greatest way. The situation in China, with the massive amounts of surveillance cameras, the facial recognition tools, and the projection of law-breakers (even jaywalkers) onto boards that foster public humiliation is not healthy. However, it is very easy to dismiss the overabundance of observation as completely and utterly unnecessary and harmful, but there are some definite benefits. Chinese authorities have been able to successfully catch multiple fugitives including murderers. The fact that in many places, like in certain intersections in China, jaywalking and reckless driving has reduced due to the risk of being seen as well as the possible consequence of your picture ending up on a large crime board. This process, while is cherished due to its resulting conformity and adherence to the laws, creates a society afraid of its authority figures and one built on exploitation of those who've small crimes. There are definitely feats that come from this use of technology but there at the same time the incitement of the worry that someone's watching you. I believe that all human beings deserve the right to walk around, unobserved, untracked, especially when they are just trying to live their lives.
I have never agreed with the idea that small talk is merely a way to avoid awkward silences. Unfortunately, these days, staring at cell phones has given us a way to ease awkward silences while standing in an elevator or waiting on line, making small talk no longer necessary.
Small talk is one way to innocuously shed one’s outer shell. It is a way to use small bits of knowledge, no matter how trivial, such as the weather, to begin the lines of communication with a perfect stranger—a stranger who may become so much more.
I chose “Americans Are Terrible at Small Talk”, simply for that reason: small talk is essential to the daily interactions of people with whom we know nothing. More importantly, it is an opportunity to connect with someone face to face and not via Internet. Without small talk, chances of finding a connection with another person are diminished, only adding to the independent yet secluded world we live in. The author ends with a disheartening truth, “The perfect in-between connection was small talk, but we missed that connection, so I was just a woman alone in the subway, smiling at a schnauzer.” Although this may not seem important, to me it was discouraging as it foreshadows a time in which people are so connected to cyberspace that they forget the importance of true human kinship. That is why I initiate small talk with strangers—in doing so, I hope that a common observance can blossom into a true conversation and eventually a relationship.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/education/learning/writing-college-ap...
As a rising senior, the article “How to Write a Good College Application Essay” by Janet Morrissey caught my eye. A year ago, I wrote a draft for the most “open ended” common application question for an essay class in hopes of being able to use it. But, after reading this article and looking back at the draft I had written, my essay titled “Yelllow Ochre” will not be used. I wrote a short bildungsroman reflecting my growth as an artist to my growth as an individual through elaborate metaphors. Although it does check most the boxes for a decent college essay, as it showcases my character, some of my values, my contribution to the community, and is mildly interesting (if you like art), it has nothing to do with what I want to do in the future had shows nothing regarding my field of interest. I wrote a whole essay about art, yet I had never taken an art class in my school and have absolutely no interests in going into anything related to art in the future. I shaped my whole high school “resume” to become some sort of STEM major, which my essay did not even hint to; art was just a hobby that I enjoyed. I realized, after I read this article, that I should focus on writing my essay on something that I’m truly passionate about and not about a weekend hobby that just made for a decent metaphor.
I read:How a Disappearing Sea Became a Town’s Main Attraction.
I personally have a strong affinity toward international news and geography and love to see unrepresented regions and or countries get coverage. The ecological crisis in central really grabbed my attention. It's not everyday that a literal sea almost vanishes. However, it is nice to see that the locals have turned this cultural and economic casualty into an economic gain. Although remnants of the past linger, such as paintings of the once prosperous sea, the people of Muynak have naturally allowed the "boat graveyard" become a popular tourist attraction. I think in a way, that is beautiful. They took something dead and barren and rejuvenated it into a something once more prosperous. It is truly beautiful.
An interesting article I saw for this week was "A Rebuilt Liverpool Hopes to Reach New Heights With Its Soul Intact". The article focuses on a new Liverpool team looking to win major trophies this season coming. Last season Liverpool finished 4th in their league and made it to the Champions League final. But this season Liverpool have made many extravagant signings such as Fabhino ,Neiba Keita. Xerdan Shaquiri,and Allison. These signings are very important to Liverpool and might even help them win a major trophy this season
The strong desire to travel has always run through my veins. Obviously, when you're out traveling the world, you need a place to stay. A hotel is the ideal staying option for most when it comes to traveling. However, affording a hotel isn't always easy. This is why the article "5 Tips to Save Money Booking Your Next Hotel Room" caught my attention. It provides tips that guarantee you to get the best possible hotel experience for your budget, whatever your budget is. The first tip is to not judge the hotel on its price alone. The hotel offering the lowest price doesn’t always mean that you’re getting the best deal. What this means is the higher priced hotel may have inclusions that add up to more value than the lower priced property. The second tip is to shop for flash sales. The travel industry has flash sales throughout the year where you can score discounted hotel rooms. The third tip is to stay loyal because many hotels reward travelers who join their loyalty program. It's free and you can get perks such as room upgrades and so on. The fourth tip is to use other memberships you have to get discounts on rooms. The discounts vary, but for example, one can get anywhere from five to 15 percent off usual rates at even expensive hotels and resorts. The fifth tip is to try using a travel agent. Many travel agents, have negotiated preferred rates with a range of hotel brands. In conclusion, these tips will help give you the best hotel experience, no matter what your budget is.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/business/for-sale-survey-data-on-mill...
As a high school student who has taken test administered by the College Board like the PSAT, the article "For Sale: Survey Data on Millions of High School Students" interested me the most this week on New York Times. For high school students who need guidance in their college-searching process and want to receive materials from college-related organizations, testing services like the College Board offer optional surveys. Many colleges, universities, and organizations buy this survey data to find potential students. More than 3 million students who graduated in 2018 took surveys with these tests. Surveys can be a great way to increase diversity on a college campus if the college purchases names of racial or religious minorities however, some services sell students' personal information that does not relate in any way to college searching. For example, Scholarships.com asks students for their home address, citizenship status, impairments like H.I.V. , or a relative with Alzheimer's. Questions like these on a survey is unrelated to a college search and in my opinion should not be shared to colleges. These programs are legal, taking advantage of the fact that there is no federal law regulating consumer data brokers, and have little oversight. The harm of these surveys is that the information can cause children to be profiled, stereotyped, and even manipulated.
This week I read a very interesting article containing information about the new Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and all of it's SPECTACULAR features. The New Galaxy Note 9 comes with a larger battery that will let apparently people "talk, text, and let people play games all day". Samsung also stated that the new Galaxy note 9 will be faster in speed and will have a 6.4 - inch screen. The funny thing is that that's only an inch bigger than the Galaxy note 8. With all of these AMAZING changes, the author of the article I read stated that the phone costs about 1,000 dollars. This really felt shocking because I felt as if this phone was just a carbon copy of it's predecessor. Even the iPhone X, which also costed 1,000 dollars, still had somewhat significant changes inorder to attract new customers. Apple had changed the phone's design by adding curved edges and an a11 processor. To be honest, Samsung should just reduce the price of the phone in order to receive an reasonable amount of profit. As the author of the article states, the Samsung Note phones aren't very popular to start with and it doesn't seem like this phone will bring Samsung further into the smartphone business, as it barely has any new features to intrigue any new/old/remaining customers.
"The Carr fire, 7th most destructive in California history, Rages on"
This is the story of a wildfire happening in California currently that has most recently been 27% contained. the fact that its only the 7th most destructive makes me wonder what was the 1st because this one was fierce. It claimed the lives of 6 innocent people and who knows how many animals. Its good that they evacuated animals as well as people showing they care for everything. Also I read this fire consisted of fire tornadoes, like whaaaattttt??? I've only seen stuff like that in Tv shows. I never imagined it was a real thing let alone its happening right now. In the article it says," The fire, which the authorities said was caused by a mechanical failure in a vehicle, has grown to cover some 110,000 acres. " First of all, How did a fire get this big and it wasn't even the biggest in the state. California has had some bad history with wildfires. Second, we need to do something about what is used in cars because the fact that this all happened because of a car malfunctioned bothers me. It couldn't have been in a worse location. This all could have been avoided.
This week, I was interested in reading the article, "The Carr Fore, the 7th Most Destructive in California History". This article interested me because where I live, there was a fire nearby that got tremendously bad that there was ash falling everywhere including cars, trees, the ground, etc. There were many wildfires that occurred this year in California. It left many people homeless since the fires took out a lot of property. The Carr Fire covered 110,000 acres and killed six people as well as 1,425 buildings being destroyed. Some animals manage to take care of themselves when there's a wildfire. They will either burrow underground and make their way to a place where the fire won't reach. Other animals, such as horses and cows, are transported and taken to animal shelters were they are provided with enough care. As of Tuesday morning, twenty-seven percent of the Carr Fire has been handled by 3,600 emergency responders. With this dry and hot climate in California, let's hope that wildfires don't ignite and spread causing land to be further harshly impacted.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/us/carr-fires-california-explained.html
Religion: the obscure backbone of our society and the boundless list of all it entails. Our world is ever undergoing change as our ancient beliefs prevail in the minds of many, growing more and more out of touch with society’s growing morality every decade they age. With many seemingly frightened by the idea of change, aspects of our world such as the justice system have fallen into a cycle of strictly obeying church teaching, which has long accepted the death penalty.
In, “Pope Francis Declares Death Penalty Unacceptable in All Cases,” by Elisabetta Povoledo and Laurie Goodstein, we gain insight into our current Pope’s attempt to break this pattern. The authors first introduce the Pope’s modification to the past ways of the church in describing his saying the death penalty is incorrect as a “definitive change in church teaching.” The word “definitive” can be defined as absolute, displaying to readers that the Pope is not afraid of public response—he is simply aware of the changes that must be made.
Further, he refers to executions as “an attack on human dignity.” The authors build the Pope’s pathos in using “attack,” an emotion-filled word, to describe something that hits a soft spot in all readers; dignity. In reading this passage, I can clearly see that with our Pope, we are not only in passionate hands, but we are guided by someone who is not afraid to carry out something extremely vital: the modification of poor past ways, no matter how long they have been practiced.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/well/how-to-help-a-teenager-be-colleg...
As my junior year draws closer, I realize time is moving quicker than expected, and I need to prepare for the future. I often ask myself if I’m doing too much or too little in terms of my classes and extracurricular activities, and I wonder how I will handle the transition from high school to college. I read “How to Help a Teenager Be College-Ready” by Mark McConville because I figured it would at least give me some insight into the process. The article appears to be geared towards the parents of teenagers, but I found it useful to make a personal checklist from it. McConville’s thirty years of experience translate well into his writing because he is able to break his ideas down into three simple, yet important, points. Soon-to-be college students need to be able to manage themselves physically, such as going to bed and waking up on time or eating right, and I would personally add being able to exercise on a healthy basis. They also should challenge themselves academically by taking tough courses because they will learn or improve upon habits, such as note-taking and studying. The third major check is being able to handle life tasks like scheduling appointments. I understand there is much more to the transition than that, as I have witnessed my two older siblings embark on their own college experiences, but these fundamental points help make me feel far more confident than before.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/sports/lebron-james-instagram-nba.html
This week the article that interested me the most in The Times this week is "If an N.B.A Workout Isn't on Instagram. Does It Even Count?" This article began by talking about Marcus Derrickson and how his friends told him to post about his workouts even though he barely posts on his Instagram. The article also told us that LeBron James posts his workouts often and many people have begun to copy him by posting their own videos on social media of themselves working out or rapping like LeBron does. Many N.B.A players post their workouts to show their fans life outside the regular season and to show the fans they are working hard to improve themselves in any way they can. Some athletes post videos that are professional quality like the video Levi Randolph has on his Instagram. He was offered to be filmed by a college student and he was impressed by the final product that he then after posted.
This article interested me because I wanted to learn why N.B.A players post their workouts often on their social media. Now I have learned that N.B.A players post their workouts their fans something other than themselves In an N.B.A game and to show their fans that they are working hard. This article also interested me because I workout and post it on social media sometimes. I wanted to know if they post it for the same reasons I do or if they post it for a different reason.
"How to Revive a Friendship" by Anna Goldfarb
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/smarter-living/how-to-revive-a-friend...
After moving to a new town in the eighth grade, I realized that I would not be in touch with some of my closest friends through elementary and middle school, even friends who I've known for 8+ years. Now, two years down the line I have an entirely different friend group, but I did not stop being friends with those from my old town.
“Pope Francis Declares Death Penalty Unacceptable in All Cases”.
Death penalty has been a controversy for decades and now for Pope Francis to come out and declare it unacceptable in any circumstance, maybe we have a chance and ending it. Now if we look at both sides of the debate, people against capital punishment believe that it is inhumane. Not only could criminals change in a lifetime but if someone is wrongly accused in a case, you lose an innocent life. On the other hand, people for capital punishment believe sometimes it is the only way, that there are crimes out there inexcusable, for example if someone just goes out and kills somebody just because they wanted to they’re not fit to be alive, they have taken a life for no reason imagine the family, and all of the emotional and mental distress. Many Catholics for capital punishment have used the reasoning that the church was not entirely against death penalty however now that it’s clear as day that both the pope and the church are strongly against it, what will the impact be? The church hopes that this will significantly lower the amount of death penalties in a year especially in America but I believe this won’t impact much at all. Most catholics don’t obey all practices and catholic judges could completely ignore this decree. I personally believe that capital punishment is wrong and i’m proud of the progress made but saying this decree will stop death penalty thoughout the entire world is completely unrealistic
The article that most interested me in the Times this week was called "How to Revive a Friendship" written by Anna Goldfarb. It interested me because it talked about the steps to take when you want to reach out to someone who you used to be close to. The article talked about how when friendships fade, particularly ones that are built over the years, a rare bond is lost. It said "moving from acquaintance to casual friend typically takes around 50 hours of shared activities and everyday talk, and it can take more than 200 hours before someone becomes a best friend". To me, this is interesting because thinking about how much time it takes to become friends with someone, or closer with someone who used to be your friend, isn't something that normally goes through peoples minds. The second thing that interested me in the article was when it said "It’s wise to keep one’s guard up, at least at the beginning. Keep sensitive topics close to your chest at first. Disclosing particulars about intimate relationships and finances can overwhelm your nascent friendship". This is interesting to me because if I were trying to get closer with someone I lost touch with, I would assume that they would already know a lot about me and there wouldn't be a need to keep secrets, or pretend that we don't know each other. Overall, this article was very interesting and helped me realize that the people we consider our best friends today, may not even be in our lives in ten, twenty, or even five years.
What interested me most in the Times this week was "Judge Blocks Attempt to Post Blueprints for 3-D Guns" by Michael D. Shear, Tiffany Hsu and Kirk Johnson. As a teenager in this country, I am filled with dread at the slightest bit of turmoil in any place I go. I find myself fearing for my life in my daily routine. Every day, I go to my school genuinely unsure of whether or not I will survive. So many mass shootings occur on the regular in our nation, that it would just be childish to assume that it couldn't happen to us. I've had to go through drills and preparation for the terrifyingly likely scenario that my life is threatened at school, and honestly, not one of them has made me feel any bit safer. There is no preventative action being taken on any level, only reactionary preparation to reduce the number of casualties we would suffer, when in reality, one is far too many. This idea of mass-distributed, cheap to make, untraceable guns is horrifyingly unsurprising to me. It has only gotten easier for mass shootings to occur, and cowardly lawmakers that are driven by donations from the NRA refuse to take any action. I, among many people like me, live in fear for my life, just so they don't have to be the one to speak out, and this development only heightens the daily terror I experience. I hope to see some form of defense from this widespread ease of access to tools of terror, but it is far from an expectation in my mind that anything will be done to stop it at this point.
“A Pregnant Woman Ordered a Latte at McDonald’s. She Received a Cup of Cleaning Fluid.”
I am a McDonald's employee. This article caught my attention very quickly, and I was intrigued to learn about the difficulties in other stores. There is a cleaning system designed for the cream and milk machine which, unfortunately for this costumer, Sarah Douglas, was connected to the milk supply line at the exact time she bought her coffee. She got her coffee, then headed to her son's baseball game. She was forced to travel back to the restaurant after ingesting the toxic chemical on the road. An employee brought her the jug full of the chemical she had consumed, and she contacted poison control immediately. They told her the chemical was acid-based, but she showed no symptoms worthy of a hospital visit. Douglas was very lucky that there was no necessity for hospitalization considering she was 8 months pregnant. When looking into the matter, Alberta Health Services learned that there was a similar incident about a month earlier. The rest of the article goes on to talk about a similar scenario happening on many different occasions, not only at McDonald's locations, but also many similar accounts of incidents at Starbucks. I enjoyed reading this article because it gave me some insight to some flaws that could potentially be encountered at my place of work. This article has benefited me because it reminds me that I can never be too cautious, and I should always make sure I'm being safe.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/science/mars-life.html
What interested me the most in The Times this week was the new discoveries made about the planet Mars. It interested me because anything having to do with new discoveries about our solar system is always riveting. Back in July the world got to witness the once in lifetime event of a blood moon, but that isn't the only thing they saw. They also witnessed the planet Mars near the Moon as the event transpired. This week it was discovered that Mars is the closest it has been to the Earth in 15 years. A recent discovery of a 12-mile-wide lake under the Southern ice cap on Mars has reignited our interest and curiosity of the planet. This is good news because it can prove that there might actually be life on Mars and it is an inhabitable planet. The idea that the life that occupies Earth started on Mars and that a microbe from the Red Planet was brought to Earth on an asteroid is no longer absurd. Science fiction has had us believing that for years Mars would become a planet we would inhabit if Earth would be invaded by aliens and that it is a planet inhabited by aliens themselves. Although the only thing to inhabit Mars so far have been our own robots. The hope that life exists somewhere else in the solar system is supported by the moons of Jupiter and Saturn who also have ocean worlds hiding under shells of ice. Earth will be uninhabitable and we will turn to Mars for answers and it will be a step in the right direction.
"Trump Unveils His Plan to Weaken Car Pollution Rules"
Although it may be pompous for myself to say, I believe that I have a rather more unique than ubiquitous viewpoint on the relationship between automobiles and the regulations regarding the health of the environment; as an automobile enthusiast, I relish in the sound of a naturally aspirated engine roaring--despite the fact that these engines have a low ratio of miles per gallon of gas. Furthermore, I acknowledge the impact of the automobile industry on the rising levels of carbon dioxide levels and the overall health of the planet. Personally, I hold my concern of the health of the planet over my love for cars.
The President's administration has a stance on climate change that I do not agree with.
Neil DeGrasse Tyson eloquently stated that science is "true, whether or not you believe in it. That's why it works."
Trump's stance, precisely, is one of beliefs trumping over science, and it is likely a pander to a larger minority of his base.This disregard of science has led the current administration on a path of waiving California's stricter emissions standard-- which is followed and adopted by 13 states. However, I do not believe that this policy will have a significant impact on manufactures as the article implies. This is due to fact that they are simply businesses. They have to sell product and make a profit. Consumers will take efficiency into consideration when buying a car, especially with the rise of gas prices.
An article I found interesting this week was “Judge Blocks Release of Blueprints for 3D-printed Guns” by The Associated Press. This article interested me because I personally agree with Judge Robert Lasnik’s decision to stop the blueprints for 3D- printed guns from being released. I believe that 3D-printed guns will potentially cause greater gun control problems in the U.S. Gun violence has recently become a big issue in American society, therefore it is surprising that the federal government is allowing guns to be more accessible. The federal government should be taking more precautions towards gun safety, so tragedies such as school shootings can be reduced. For years many Americans have been advocating for gun control, if 3D-printed gun plans become available to the public, it would be a step back for America. I believe Judge Lasnik blocked the release of the blueprints because he recognized that, the safety of Americans should be prioritized. I hope the federal government can do the same and realize that American safety is for more important than guns.
"Apple Is Worth $1,000,000,000,000. Two Decades Ago, It Was Almost Bankrupt. "
By Jack Nicas
Apple, one of the biggest and most well known companies in the entire world is officially worth a $1 trillion. It is crazy to think in 1997 Apple was worth $3 billion and had just went through a really bad year of losses. Not only that, but there was poor leadership and a lot of failed products. In 1997, after 12 years of Jobs not working there, he came back to redefine Apple.
Their campaign, “Think Different”, has reimagined how they not only put their products to together but has also reflected in their style as a company. In 1998, the iMac was released which snowballed into a whole line of new products, specifically the iPod and iPhone. From here, Apple had the ability to build an ecosystem off of their style and follower-base. Right from the beginning, if someone bought one of their products, they would be way more inclined to buy something else from them as to enhance their experience with that product. Apple’s genius plan. While some may criticize them for being very closed off, I respect Apple for how far they have come.
Now with the release of the iPhoneX, I have to ask “What are they going to do next?” If they do not continue to innovate, people will be eventually forced to leave as competitors may possibly pull ahead. Especially with this $1 trillion milestone, I think everyone will be wondering if they can really keep it up.
"They Stole a Shark in a Baby Stroller and Briefly Got Away With It" by Daniel Victor
The title of this article caught my attention right away because it is not everyday that you hear that a shark was stolen and put into a baby stroller.
In the video there is obviously three people in on this "Sharknapping", two males and a female in San Antonio Aquarium, Texas. They quickly snatched the 16-inch-long horn shark named Miss Helen who was in a tank where visitors are allowed to touch the animals (which is why it wouldn't be too suspicious for the "Sharknappers" to be putting their hands in the tank. Although the thieves were bad at covering their tracks, they actually turned out to be good at taking care of sharks because come to find out, one of thieves worked for the facility's salt supplier.
In conclusion, I found this article to be humorous. The things people do these days.
"They Stole a Shark in a Baby Stroller and Briefly Got Away With It" by Daniel Victor
When I first read this title I had to make sure I had seen it correctly. Also, I have grown up with a mom that loves sharks and watched shark week just under a month ago. I figured it was worth reading and would provide a bit a humor too. Even after reading the article and seeing the thieves reasons, I don't understand why people would steal a 16-inch shark from a petting aquarium. Similarly, the thieves thought that the perfect escape plan was to put a shark in a baby stroller and just drive away. Along with the slight confusion, the article incorporated some funny details and insights about the criminal masterminds too. With a lot of thought, they decided to empty a bucket of bleach and use the same container to scoop up and hold the shark. Even better, the police stumbled upon a big pool inside their house that contained other marine life. This is a trio of people I hope stay together for others amusement. Based on my enjoyment, I can clearly see why I was drawn to this article and I hope to encounter more stories similar to this one.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/world/europe/pope-death-penalty.html
Pope Francis Declares Death Penalty Acceptable in All Cases. by Elisabetta Povoledo and Laurie Goodstein.
I was mainly interested in this story, because this appears to be another example of liberal ideas making an unprecedented impact across the Christian world. I think that this Pope will be remembered with the likes of Pope Pius the 12th, for positively updating the ancient Catholic policies. However with the amount of times murder is set as a punishment in the New Testament, I think that the other leaders in the Catholic Church may disagree with his new choice. This, of course, isn't the first time the Pope has made a controversial decision.
I'm still very curious about what else the pope may do in his remaining years in this position. He could still inspire a conversation across the United States about the recently escalating political scene, and partisan politics, that are continuing to drive a wedge between Americans. In the past he made comments voicing his displeasure about the current President of the United States of America, Donald J Trump. Hopefully if he does start a dialogue, it will create a unity between people all across the spectrum, and lead to a better tomorrow.
The article that grabbed my interest this week was, "5 Killed After Plane Crashes in Strip Mall Parking Lot in California," by Sarah Mervosh. This article grabbed my attention because one of my biggest fears are planes. The possibility of crashing is the reason I am so terrified of flying. I find this article very upsetting because all five people on the plane passed away. The plane was on its way to the John Wayne Airport. These people just needed a quick form of transportation to get to where they needed to be. People usually go on planes to travel for things like work and vacation. Many people hop on a plane to go to someplace exciting and new. It's scary going onto a plane and not being a hundred percent sure that you will reach your destination. I find it incredibly sad that the people who die in plane crashes are probably heading to a place that they are very eager to visit. People get onto a plane to visit family or see something amazing, or simply just to explore, and all of that can be taken away by one malfunction. Another reason why planes are frightening is because of the lack of control. If something goes wrong, there is really no way to save anybody. If a plane is going to crash, most of the time, there is no way to stop it. I can't imagine what was going through the heads of the five people on the plane when they found out that they were going to crash. My thoughts and prayers are with their families. Overall, this article interested me because of my fear.
An article I found interesting this week was “Judge Blocks Release of Blueprints for 3D-printed Guns” by The Associated Press. This article interested me because I personally agree with Judge Robert Lasnik’s decision, to stop blueprints of 3D- printed guns from being released. I believe that 3D-printed guns will potentially cause greater gun control problems in the U.S. Gun violence has recently become a big issue in American society therefore, it is surprising that the federal government is allowing guns to be more accessible. The federal government should be taking more precautions towards gun safety, so tragedies such as school shootings can be reduced. For years many Americans have been advocating for gun control, if 3D-printed gun plans become available to the public, it would be a step back for America. I believe Judge Lasnik blocked the release of the blueprints because he recognized that, the safety of Americans should be prioritized. I hope the federal government can do the same and realize that American safety is for more important than guns.
This week I read: When Animals Are at Risk, Special Netherlands Police Force Defends Them. I decided to read this article because just like anyone else, I have a soft spot for animals and I enjoy reading about the good things people do for them. To learn that a police force in the Netherlands defends the animals in need, makes me only hope that the same special care can be done in the United States. The work that these police officers do is incredible, between rescuing animals like seals at the beach or saving a Jack Russell from a snowstorm. In the Netherlands they created the Animals Act law in 2013 to give the protection and freedom to all the animals who rightfully deserve it. The genuine concern that these people have for protecting the animals of their country is amazing and this article gave me so much respect for them. I hope that this article will inspire people the way it has inspired me, and I hope that more countries aim to develop the same kind of laws and special police groups to change the world for the better.
‘Disney’s Streaming Service Starts to Come Into Focus’
I wasn’t aware of any plans for a so-called “Disneyflix”, so that caught my attention. The first thing I thought was how niche it seems. How many people would subscribe to another streaming service for the sole purpose of watching Disney? That was before I took into account the combined strength of Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and more when it comes to brand. In a later New York Times article, Disney chief executive Bob Iger believes that they won’t need “anything close to the volume that Netflix has,” with the kind of brand power they have.
However, Disney isn’t competing with Netflix to replace it, but to get a much needed slice of the money pie.
“Disneyflix” is an effort to adjust to more people abandoning cable in favor of streaming. I’m worried about what Disney might do to appeal to these so-called “cord cutters”. Exclusivity is a selling point to any product. Couple that with Disney’s powerful brand and affiliates and a Disneyflix is feasible. But to have that, they have to cut ties. It’s inevitable. They’ve already decided to let their licensing deal with Netflix expire to make their service “more robust”. Next on their list is cable networks. One of the primary reasons I watch TV is slipping through my fingers and for what? The people who left them in the first place!
But, I would rather have them adapt than die. It’s more than clear to me that they need to follow the money and it’s just not on cable anymore.
Federal Authorities Say They Have Met Deadline to Reunite Migrant Families
Reading this article it has brought my attention on how serious this situation is. Families have been separated at the boarder and have been promised that they will reunite with their children at their home countries but when they arrive they have been misconceived. About 431 children appeared to have been deported without their parents and have lost which children belongs to who. Lee Gelernt, who lead a counsel for the American Cilvil Liberties Union has said that "the only deadline they are meeting is the one they have set for themselves" which isn't correct for the government to do because they have created that mess themselves. They have deleted files of children belonging to certain parents, some children's at the age 5-9 have not found their parents and do not know where they are originally from. When families go to the boarder, the boarder patrol should not separate the children's from their parents because they are newborns or underage to be without their parents. A migrant mother named Roxana was separated from Eduardo her 9 year old son. In New York they had released him and his mother found him with a heavy cough, beaten with a black eye and traumatized. They should not be able to lay their hands on these innocents children because they are not theirs to be doing these things to them.
"As America Grieved, Sports Helped Console a Nation"
This article, by Richard Sandomir, explains how Americans dealt with the hard times of the 911 attacks through sports. This article immediately grabbed my click and was a very enjoyable read. As a fan of sports, this article was interesting, but as someone who enjoys history, it was fascinating. Americans went through such a difficult time, and used sports to boost their morale. It is incredible to believe that something as simple as a game could help so many people in a time of need. This truly shows that sports are more than just a game, they are an escape from the hardships and stress of life.
This article also has some similarities to my life. I have played sports all my life, and turn to them to relax or have some fun. Although any situation in my life was not as intense as those following the 911 attacks, I have turned to sports to help me deal with problems that I faced. When I feel stressed from homework and school all day, I step outside and play basketball. I find a sense of relaxation shooting by myself, with no other sound beside the ball bouncing around. Sports are a gateway into that other place. A place where I, and many others, can go to deal with difficulties and come out triumphant.
The article "Why We All Need to Drink More During Hot Weather Exercise" was a very interesting article to me. My mom is a nutritionist, so growing up my siblings and me were constantly being told to drink plenty of water at all times, and that water could never have any major negative benefits in your life. Especially when going to the pool, or anywhere outside in the heat my mom always made sure we always had water. The fact that people thought it could be beneficial to go without water during a high-intensity workout in the sun baffles me. Though they say they had a bit of scientific evidence to back it up, it is still very interesting. These people thought that by depriving themselves of water, their bodies would somehow work harder and make them stronger. Which in a way is confusing. If your body is working harder, you would think it would be getting weaker, not stronger.
I found this article very intriguing because water is something that everyone knows they should constantly be drinking, however, these 8 men decided to test a theory otherwise. This article really grabbed my attention, because in a way it was a no-brainer; of course, we should always be drinking water, especially when working out in the heat!
Scientists have been warning people for years of the unsettling pattern of global warming which has been a result of human-made carbon emissions. It is truly a tragedy that it has taken up until now, when we’re finally feeling the repercussions of our ignorance, for many of us to realize the magnitude of this worldwide problem. I have a job in a public building that doesn’t have air conditioning in most rooms. Because of this, in addition to being able to enjoy to the lovely smell of asbestos in the morning, I also spend a majority of my time in sweltering heat.
While I’m working, I have to wonder what it’s like for people far less fortunate than I. Sure, there’s no air conditioning in the building I work in and the air quality is questionable, but at the very least I have constant shade. Occasionally, I’ll even find a safe haven in the form of a room with air conditioning already installed. It’s already this uncomfortable for me, so the idea of people in hotter climates with less shelter from the heat enduring the Summer is unfathomable. Anyone can just bundle up when it’s too cold, but what happens when they’ve done all they could to alleviate the heat to limited success? According to this article, the trend of global warming will not reach a plateau. It's expected to continue unless major actions are taken to prevent it. We’ve only just begun to feel the consequences of global climate change. I can only hope this dreadfully hot Summer will drive us into action.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/smarter-living/how-to-revive-a-friend...
The article that interested me the most in the Times this week was "How to Revive a Friendship." No one usually wants a healthy friendship to end, but as people grow and change, the circle of friends they have around them ends up changing as well. Even if a friendship ends on good terms, reconnecting in the future doesn't always work out. It's intimidating to reach out after such a long time, and even after doing so, it might end up that the friendship just isn't compatible anymore. This article interested me because it made me think about my social circle now. I'm grateful to have so many caring friends, and it's weird to think that one day I'll talk to some of them for the last time. I also have some people who I used to be close to, and it's nice to think that there's a possibility of rekindling those friendships someday. I don't know who will be in my life in ten years, or twenty, or thirty, but I'll worry about that then. As long as I surround myself with people who make me happy, everything will be okay!
https://nyti.ms/2vym7nM
This week, an article really caught my eye.
When I was younger, I romanticized common mental illnesses like anxiety and depression. I’m currently battling both. Still, some part of my mind whispers that I’m faking it, hoping for it to embroider me.
Right now, I'm battling my OCD to type. To stop picking at my skin long enough to think.
This week, I haven’t been doing so hot.
I’ve been looking for hope, to ease my symptoms, to be free of them, to live. I only see my friends struggle with theirs. It breaks my heart.
I see these things and wonder who they really help, why someone orders them. Who originally perpetuated harmful ideas, instead of telling an adult that a peer was hurting?
I, for one, can’t seem to figure out why schools can’t recommend a therapist unless they can pay for it.
This week, I’ve been wondering whether I would've coped better if I wasn’t so afraid of my demons, if I hadn’t been told countless times that they were either “2 cool 4 skool” or dangerous and required hospitalization.
At least I know that the overpriced gold anxiety necklaces won’t deteriorate for years and represent $48 that could have been used to fund therapy for a child, maybe one who both thought it was cool and didn’t understand that they had starter symptoms of it brought on by a toxic environment. Maybe, at least, one who needs a break or some hope. With all these necklaces and stereotypes, the world seems pretty hopeless. I hope that can change.
The Digital Sex Lives of Young Gay Teenagers
For many gay teens in the United States the internet is the first resource when looking for guidance and clarity about sexuality. However, there is an overwhelming amount of instant sex shopping in online gay culture that too many fall victim to. The majority of the browsers on these sites are old men who stalk and prey on these teens who are looking for help. Yet, as a lost queer adolescent there is something so exhilarating to know there are other real gay people just like you willing to meet and be a part of your life. It grants freedom when I lie about my age and have an entirely fabricated profile because I know I’m breaking the rules. But deceit is the norm within these websites. It feels as if there are no consequences, especially when misleading about physicalities or age. Nonetheless, there are others who are not so honest about much more serious issues such as their HIV status or sinister intentions.
This article brutally reminded me how unsafe it is to be tempt predators when the exchange of explicit photos between an adult and a minor are illegal. And how quickly things could go terribly wrong if there were ever any rendez-vous with them. Furthermore, it was a wake up call for how desperately resources and information needs to be available for the LGBT youth. I now know that it is a harrowing environment for both gay men and gay teens alike on the unsafe, uncharted, underground, digital hookup scene.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/12/arts/design/gregor-sailer-potemkin-vi...
While preparing to transfer to my third school in three years, I was overwhelmed by a sense of floating between parallel realities. The child of an expat family, my adolescence has fragmented across continents. In each place I live, I leave a version of myself molded by geographical context. As a result, vestiges of my person are bound to cities oceans away: distinct realities so far apart they feel mutually exclusive.
I also experienced this feeling reading about Potemkin villages: architectural facades often simulating faraway places, like a Harlem in western Sweden. Photos of fake conflict-zones far from any foreign fire reminded me of how contingent our internal realities are upon our physical realities, and how discordant these realities can be. As I struggle to reconcile the truths of my past selves, it strikes me that the experience of third-culture kids shares some ground with unreal places. Like us, they are at odds with their surroundings, as anomalous aesthetically as we are culturally. Like our old homes, they seem insulated from the societies in which they are situated. And, like my sense of universe-hopping, the actuality of a Potemkin village is false. Wallpaper curls on the edge of a fake brick, you're visited by friends from what you thought was a different world; the pines behind your cardboard Harlem make sense, and the sequence of your life is laid out in lopsided unity.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/travel/places-to-visit.html?rre...
It is this web page -- 52 Places To Go in 2018 -- interested me the most. It is a page consists of colorful photographs and gorgeous descriptions of these 52 wonderful tour sites. These descriptions are not lengthy but sound beautiful to me. More importantly, the photographs give me deep impressions. The contrasting colors in each photo just attract me and I want to go there. I guess that's why tour sites are called attractions.
Personally, I really love traveling and has been traveled to a lot of places at a relatively young age in my opinion. I enjoy staying at a foreign place, where I could temporarily forget all the intensity of life. It's always relaxing during a vacation. However, I haven't get a chance to travel this summer. This web page gives me the will to travel.
The article I chose was, The Carr Fire, the 7th Most Destructive in California History Rages On. This article was interesting to read because the wildfires that California has faced over a period of time. Wildfires cause a lot of destruction to people homes and property's. According to Cal Fire, The Carr Fire was the 7th most destructive in the state of California. Authorities said that the fire spread through 110,000 acres. 7 people went missing and 6 people died from the fire. This fire had 3,600 emergency responders working to contain it and left tens of thousands of people evacuating on Tuesday morning. Some animals were able to take care of themselves meanwhile others such as horses and cows were taken to animal shelters away from the fire. The report on Tuesday said the fire had been 27 percent contained and emergency responders are still working on it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/science/mars-life.html
"Mars Is Frigid, Rusty and Haunted. We Can’t Stop Looking at It."
The potential of exploring and colonizing Mars is something that many people, including me, have been interested and excited by for a long time. In recent times, this dream appears to be ever approaching. News of water and possibly life on the planet, as well as the prospect of traveling to Mars, thanks to space agencies and companies such as SpaceX, refresh this feeling of excitement. This article discusses mankind's long-held curiosity for the red planet, as well as recent developments and discoveries and some facts about the planet and its potential future. Recent discoveries, including liquid water and methane gas emissions, suggest that there may be life on Mars, and even that life on Earth could've originated there. While I doubt that there's any life on Mars, I am still definitely interested in these developments. Just think what the discovery of alien life would mean for us people here on Earth. Whatever the case may be, Mars remains a fascinating topic of discussion. It holds hopes for the future of our species. It may be our next frontier; our next great leap, to become masters of Mars.
I read: They Stole a Shark in a Baby Stroller and Briefly Got Away With It. This article caught my eye just by its tile. I thought to myself, who would steal a shark? I wanted to learn what happened instantly. It interested me the most when the police found the shark at the thief's house that it was found in an aquarium filled with more sharks and animals, which made me wonder if those animals were stolen as well. The shark was valued about $2,000 and I am glad that they got it back safely.
I read “Disney Reports Earnings, but Focus Is on Its Streaming Service” by Brooks Barnes. I believe that the streaming service market is like a pirate ship: full of treasure, but at risk of sinking if too many people come onboard. I read this article with an interest in the potential of Disney’s streaming service, as I predict it will create instability for the streaming market. Disney’s streaming service could influence the future of household life. The author mainly argues that the service is an uncertain solution for Disney’s financial troubles. He notes that Disney’s recent movie releases have been either hit or miss with audiences and cable products have decreased by 1% in operating income versus last year. There is concern that the service will repackage its own past movies without presenting new content. I think Disney should form a division for its content within a current streaming service. By introducing a new service, it would further divide the streaming services market. With too many expensive subscription fees for individual networks, people would be forced to choose between them, creating inconvenience. A Disney service would disappointingly not contain Nickelodeon’s Spongebob Squarepants. What if a sports fan were to choose between channels NBC, which typically presents football, and ABC, which airs basketball? People should have one service to provide a variety of options, rather than a variety of costly services that each only provide one network’s content.
"After Doctors Cut Their Opioids, Patients Turn to a Risky Treatment for Back Pain"
The reason I found this article interesting was because it gave me a understanding of how complex the opioid issue truly is in America, and revealed how finding a viable solution isn't so simple. The truth is, what maybe a solution to this crisis just brings about more problems, and in this case, doctors are recommending shots to relieve back pain in place of opioids, and these shots come with their own set of issues. Numerous people have suffered severe consequences as a result of this treatment, leading to the second reason this article caught my attention: it shows how ignorant some doctors can be. I was shocked to find that although there's been research showing that shots have no benefit over physical therapy when it comes to pain relief, doctors continue to administer shots with the FDA's approval. So the question is, just what will it take for the FDA and other doctors to take action to regulate the administration of these shots? Will they take action once research against the shots reaches a larger audience, or will they wait until it becomes it's own crisis?
"Where Fans of Rare Retro Soul Get Their Groove on"
By: Lisa M. Collins
We are all different in our own way, but there are certain activities that bring us together, such as listening to soul music in a bar. That is what brings together those at Botanica when D.J. Mr. Fine Wine arrives. The soul music brings all the bar go-ers together no matter the circumstances.
Music has the power to bring together people from all different backgrounds and with all different preferences. Even if they do not know the songs he is playing, everyone appreciates it and sometimes even dance along. Fans and collectors come from all over just to be in the environment with other people similar to them. They get to meet people with similar interests and have a genuine time listening to music.
The bonding capabilities of music and other art forms is the glue holding our world together in my opinion. We are in a time of turmoil and uncertainty currently, but music is the one things that can still bring everyone together. It is not hard to find music that you gravitate towards and to find other people that also gravitate towards it. There are whole scenes like the underground soul scene where you can socialize with people with similar interests as you.
D.J. Mr. Fine Wine is bringing that sense of unity to Botanica every night with his collection. He gives the bar go-ers a safe space to enjoy soul music. Music has the ability to bring some light to the darkness in the modern world if we let it.
"2018 Is Shaping Up to Be the Fourth-Hottest Year. Yet We’re Still Not Prepared for Global Warming"
Scientists have been warning people for years of the unsettling pattern of global warming. It is truly a tragedy that it has taken up until now, when we’re finally feeling the repercussions of our ignorance, for many of us to realize the magnitude of this worldwide problem. I have a job in a public building that doesn’t have air conditioning in most rooms. Because of this, in addition to being able to enjoy to the lovely smell of asbestos in the morning, I also spend a majority of my time in sweltering heat.
While I’m working, I have to wonder what it’s like for people far less fortunate than I. There’s no air conditioning in the building I work in and the air quality is questionable, but at the very least I have constant shade. Occasionally, I’ll even find a safe haven in the form of a room with air conditioning already installed. The idea of people in hotter climates with less shelter from the heat enduring the Summer is unfathomable. Anyone can just bundle up when it’s too cold, but what happens when they’ve done all they could to alleviate the heat to limited success? According to this article, the trend of global warming will not reach a plateau. It's expected to continue unless major actions are taken to prevent it. We’ve only just begun to feel the consequences of global climate change. I can only hope this dreadfully hot Summer will drive us into action.
Freedom of expression is a hallmark of American philosophy and a wonderful guiding aspiration for any society. Yet, Cody Wilson’s case makes it clear to me that important virtues can often exist in perfect opposition. We may value personal freedom, but in this case, it comes into direct conflict with public safety.
Mr. Wilson’s decision to make downloadable blueprints for guns is objectively dangerous. Perhaps ideologically speaking, there is a compelling case for it. Yet it utterly fails the test of pragmatism. It is equally fascinating and horrifying to see Americans convinced that more guns will bring safety: that fire will defeat fire.
President Trump himself advocates putting a gun in every American’s hands, even in the immediate aftermath of the Las Vegas and Stoneman Douglas tragedies. Just as more cars on the road necessarily means more car accidents, easier production of guns will necessarily mean more catastrophes.
In actuality, the repercussions extend far beyond America’s borders. If gun designs can be downloaded and manufactured easily with 3D printers, the resulting proliferation of ‘ghost-guns’ will be worldwide in scope. I shudder at the consequences.
"Trump Orders Establishment of Space Force as Sixth Military Branch" by Katie Rogers
This article interested me the most because I have always been fascinated by space. Personally, I think that the establishment of a Space Force would be very beneficial to the country. Katie Rogers seems to align with the idea that the creation of a space force would put too much of a burden on the armed forces who are already facing global issues. In her article, Rogers cites multiple politicians who oppose the creation of a Space Force. Rogers emphasizes her point by specifically citing Senator Bill Nelson who said, “Thankfully the president can’t do it without Congress because now is NOT the time to rip the Air Force apart. Too many important missions at stake.” Although I grant that the Air Force doesn't need further burden, I still maintain that a Space Force will be necessary in the coming years as Russia and China continue to develop space technologies that outpace our own. It seems that the politicians in this article fail to realize the need for a Space Force. While the possibility of a Space Force is still many years away, it is still important that the topic be brought to light so that all parties can have a say in the matter.
Religion: the obscure backbone of our society and the boundless list of all it entails. Our world is ever undergoing change as our ancient beliefs prevail in the minds of many, growing more and more out of touch with society’s growing morality every decade they age. With many seemingly frightened by the idea of change, aspects of our world such as the justice system have fallen into a cycle of strictly obeying church teaching, which has long accepted the death penalty.
In, “Pope Francis Declares Death Penalty Unacceptable in All Cases,” by Elisabetta Povoledo and Laurie Goodstein, we gain insight into our current Pope’s attempt to break this pattern. The authors first introduce the Pope’s modification to the past ways of the church in describing his saying the death penalty is incorrect as a “definitive change in church teaching.” The word “definitive” can be defined as absolute, displaying to readers that the Pope is not afraid of public response—he is simply aware of the changes that must be made.
Further, he refers to executions as “an attack on human dignity.” The authors build the Pope’s pathos in using “attack,” an emotion-filled word, to describe something that hits a soft spot in all readers; dignity. In reading this passage, I can clearly see that with our Pope, we are not only in passionate hands, but we are guided by someone who is not afraid to carry out something extremely vital: the modification of poor past ways, no matter how long they have been practiced.
An Illegal Street Sport Takes a Country Holiday
This article is important to me as I think that people should be allowed to practice dirt bike riding in most areas. Learning that this practice is widely illegal disappoints me since simple sports like dirt bike riding don't pose a threat so long as the rider is following normal safety precautions. By looking at the videos posted, the riders are driving both slowly and safely, therefore there isn't a safety hazard involved in their dirt bike riding. It's nice to know that these community-driven dirt bike races are popular and able to be held for dirt bike enthusiasts to race together.
bengal11jaden011402: Saquon Barkley and the Impossible Hype Machine
This article interested me because of its relation to football. As a football player and a student athlete this was something I felt I could relate to and be engaged in because it was about something I liked. This article was about rookie running back for the New York Giants, Saquan Barkley, and the sense of "hype" building for him throughout the course of training camp through coaches praise and fans' lofty expectations. Despite all the positive comments by players and coaches alike, many believe the hype could prove too much for the rookie. This is something I have found interesting because I have seen it happen to players. From the NFL to my high school varsity football team, I've seen "hype" and high expectations cause players to crumble under the pressure. However I don't think Saquan will fall under the pressure. This week i found this article to be most interesting as it relates to my life and it was about something I enjoyed: football.
As my eyes skimmed the list of recommended titles, “The Carr Fire, the 7th Most Destructive in California History, Rages On” brought my eyes to a halt. Fire is one of my biggest fears. Its uncontrollable danger and possibility of spreading always pressing in the back of my mind. I didn’t realize how serious the California fires were. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, over 430,000 acres have been lost to California’s raging fires – the Carr Fire alone contributing 110,000 acres. The extent to which the fire had affected California was shocking to me. The hot and dry climate, which being from New York is something I am definitely not accustomed to, serves as a the perfect nest for the fire to grow and spread. Additionally, due to climate changes, wildfires such as the Carr FIre may become more frequent. Adding to the magnitude of the fires, are fire whirls. To read about such severe natural disasters was quite depressing. I hope the best for the people (and animals) affected by these fires.
“Violence Intensifies as Student Protests Spread in Bangladesh”
Born and raised in America, the concept of no freedom of speech is foreign to me. I have seen Americans shove a video camera in policemen’s faces along with speak to them using inappropriate words. I have heard hate speeches towards minorities and participated in a few protests myself as well. Never have I seen or heard of anyone being sprayed with tear gas or shot at with rubber bullets for their opinions towards the government.
As a Bengali, it angers me to see my people get pushed around with little to no voice by the “democratic” government of Bangladesh. My family and I are appalled by the mistreatment our friends and family in the motherland are receiving for something as little as better road conditions. The only form of media about this riot are through Facebook lives or leaked pictures by photographers only to be removed and destroyed by the government hours later. I was interested by the dedication and resistance by the youth of Bangladesh as well. Not only have the younger generation stepped up and revolted towards the government but many Bengalis across the globe have taken up their part and informed the media about the protests since their family back home are not allowed to. I am glad to see all the Bengalis stick together hoping to overthrow the corrupt state Bangladesh’s government is in currently and provide a safer environment for not only students but all of Bangladesh.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/world/asia/malaysia-child-marriage.html
While browsing the "New York Times" website, the title "11 and Married: Malaysia Spars Over an Age Old Practice," really stuck out to me. It deeply saddens me that a practice that dates back to as early as 753 BC, is still used in many societies today. One of the main reasons that child marriages were so common back then, was that the average life expectancy used to be much lower than it is today. If couples waited too long to procreate, the chance of death for both parents would greatly increase. Another incentive of child marriage is the inclusion of a dowry. The included dowry would help combine the wealth of the bride's family, with that of the groom's. It was not uncommon for families of lower status to arrange marriages, with "higher class" families. In the case of young Ayu, an 11 year old who was recently married to a 41 year old man, her marriage was most likely for economic stability. The author Hannah Beech writes, "She grew up in a shabby, stilted wooden house with no running water." This quote indicates that Ayu's family is not wealthy enough to have access to running water in their home. In contrast to her new husband's home, which was described as "modern villa," it would appear that Ayu was married off for money. Whether or not it is ethical for a child to enter the contract of marriage with an older man, it goes to show that people will do anything to get a leg up in the world.
This week I chose to read: N.F.L National Anthem Protests Resume With Players Kneeling and Raising Fists. The article by Ken Belson and Benjamin Hoffman describes the current situation of the N.F.L. and it's player's decision to continue protesting for social justice, while entering the new season. I chose this article not because of whichever side of the argument I support, but rather more of a desire to observe the reaction of the N.F.L. from the previous season. I'm curious as to if the protests will continue despite the tighter regulations being passed along with the new season. In addition to this, I'm also curious to see what figures such as the president and some of the more recognized players leading the "movement" have to say in regards to the stricter rules and lower tolerance of the N.F.L. It truly does make me question the future of sports, its popularity and more specifically the media revolving around it.
“Japanese Students Use VR to Recreate Hiroshima Bombing”
Every Hiroshima commemoration, many remember August 6, the day of the bombing, but I remember a different day. I remember riding a train to attend a distant grandmother’s funeral who I had never met before. There was no picture of her anywhere at the funeral. As a Korean living in Hiroshima at the time of the bomb, she survived the initial bomb, only to have black scars all over her body. To forget the grief, the pain, and the black scars, no photo was left.
When she returned to Korea, people would be agitated near her, avoided her, and even treated her as a leprosy patient. In the end, she left her house less and led an isolated life. Her solitude eventually got so severe that she even avoided contact with relatives.
By rebuilding Hiroshima’s past buildings through VR, I hope we can rebuild the victims’ happiness. The creator of the VR said, “I felt it was really important to share this with others.” Once we realize the death and casualty inflicted on these victims who had very normal lives before the bombing, we can better understand and empathize with their situation. While I was not able to meet my distant grandmother and I don't even know what she looked like, all I want to do is hug her and share her grief and pain.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/01/sports/black-people-pools-racism.html
My mother and I recently got ourselves memberships at the local YMCA so that we could have full access to their pool facilities. Seeing as this has been one of the hottest summers we've experienced so far, we wasted no time in coughing up the funds to pay for a few hours of afternoon relief.
I thought nothing of our first trip to the pool. My mother and I were both black and immigrants, but being discriminated against because of my skin color wasn't a fear for me. It wasn't until we arrived that I found out the fear was very much real for my mother. Wrapped in a blue towel, with her kinky hair tucked underneath a tight silicone cap, she asked the question that drastically altered my perspective: "What if they won't let us into the pool because we're black?"
At first I thought her fears were irrational, but I soon realized they stemmed from the disheartening series of pool related incidents involving discrimination against blacks at pools.
I gained insight on the topic from the article, and was surprised to learn that racism at public pools dates far back to the days of racial segregation, and that those conflicts had stemmed from fear of diseases and interracial breeding. Though my mother had only heard a small fraction of these instances, they still gave her reason to worry for our safety. With such a rich history behind it, one can only wonder when racism at pools will no longer be an issue.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/well/how-to-help-a-teenager-be-colleg...
What interested me most in the times this week was the article on how to help teenagers be college ready. The reason this article interested me the most was because at the end of this up and coming year I will be halfway through my high school career. In a couple more years it will also be time for me to go off to college which is what made this article catch my attention. A lot of the things this article states are very true. No student will ever be 100 percent prepared for going into college. Students must learn a whole genre of things from learning how to finance all the way to the basics of time management. Students are put through lots of stress and only learn certain things through experience and actually going to school.
“A Large Body of Water on Mars Is Detected, Raising the Potential for Alien Life”
Recent findings of a watery lake by a group of Italian researchers show that humans may be a step closer to finding alien life on Mars. However, the aliens that we are looking for are completely different from the aliens scientists are looking for.
It’s interesting to see how aliens are so fictitiously described by entertainment media. For example, Hollywood suggests that aliens are beasts that will wreak all kinds of havoc. In “Independence Day,” they have tentacle-like appendages. In “E.T.,” they have irregularly large heads. In “Avatar,” they are blue. These motley images of aliens have become the mainstream perception. However, science, as astrobiologists claim, tells a different story.
Contrary to popular belief, the most likely version of alien life is microbial. In fact, biologists studying Antarctica claim that a body of water similar to the one found on Mars exists on Earth, where microbes are teeming. While some may be disappointed by this reality, the science behind the life’s survival can be equally interesting.
Chang and Overbye’s article was especially engaging because it doesn’t busy itself with myths. In fact, it actually refers to and corrects previous alien fantasies the human race has been preoccupied with. Indeed, the idea that life exists elsewhere is truly awe-inspiring, even if it doesn’t mean alien invasions.
“Trump’s Tariffs on Canadian Newsprint Hasten Local Newspapers’ Demise”
This week what had intrigued me was the article on the tariffs on the newspapers that the Trump Administration. This article is about how the administration is the tariffs on the newspaper, and this is leading to the prices of the newspapers to surge. The main newspapers that are being affected are “The Gazette in Janesville, Wis., the hometown paper of the House speaker, Paul D. Ryan,”. The tariffs are costing the publishers annually around $740,000, and this now made an impact to the companies they had to make cuts to the staff. These tariffs are supposed to help protect the American manufacturers, they do what Trump says “unfair trade practices”. “Paul Tash, the chairman and chief executive of The Tampa Bay Times, said the price per ton of paper had increased $200, creating an additional $3.5 million in printing expenses annually.” What made me interested all about this is that the administration and the President is that the tariffs are making the economy better in some ways, but they are also making the it hurt because people are losing their jobs because of the high costs. There are at least 50 people getting fired from various prints, and I feel the tariffs are hurting more than doing good. They are also impacting the reading of the papers, and that interested me because more companies should be converting to the internet to save costs.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/world/asia/malaysia-child-marriage.html
The article in The Times that I was most interested in this week was called "11 and Married: Malaysia Spars Over an Age Old Practice" by Hannah Beech. In this article a story was told about two friends named Norazila, 14 and Ayu, 11. They were best friends but Norazila was shocked when she found out her best friend had married her father and she was now her stepmother. Ayu secretly became Norazila's dad's third wife, and he is forty year 's old. This article really caught my attention because I think that child marriage is so wrong and it is something that should not exist. It's not right to marry a child to anyone. Before a person is eighteen years old they are not mature, they're brain is nowhere near fully developed and they cannot differentiate between right or wrong. At that young age children don't even fully know what marriage is or what responsibilities come with it. The children's brains are so young they don't even know what they are agreeing to do. Marriage isn't some small thing. It's a decision made by their parents that they are going to have to live with the entire rest of their lives. Even if the child does agree to marry they really don't know what it means. Child marriage is a very wrong thing and it needs to be stopped immediately.
Along with our brain, the unique nature of our hands brought humans to where we are today. The article–“How Robot Hands Are Evolving to Do What Ours Can”–shows that we are now at the point where artificial hands can be controlled semi-realistically by computers. Neural networks will play an important role as we approach Artificial General intelligence (AI that matches the intelligence of a human). In this article, machine learning and neural networks are used to bring robotic hands to the level of human motion. The complicated way that humans recognize objects and learn from experience is nearly impossible to translate to artificial intelligence with traditional programming. At the point of human intelligence, there is so much information passing through the computer that no human could create an algorithm that could process enough data to allow AI to match the intelligence of a human. As shown with Dactyl, a robotic hand, the only way to pass the barrier to more complicated robotic movement is for the robot to program itself through machine learning. This tool will allow scientists to create AI that can match human intelligence or even outmatch it.
Having a robot that can learn to pick up an object the robot has never seen before would further the use of robots in unexpected circumstances at a home, a disaster site, or on another planet. Machine learning used for complicated movement is a dramatic leap for robots being used to aid the advancement of the human race.
"The Fight for the One-Piece Swimsuit" - Vanessa Friedman
I have always been a modest person when it comes to clothing. For much of my childhood, I lived in turtleneck sweaters year-round, which prompted those around me to question my sanity more than once. This obsession with hiding my body translated into swimsuits as well; I loved my trusty Speedo one-pieces and the fact that they came with low risk and high coverage. As I got older, I slowly started to venture into the larger swimsuit world, but I still hold a special place in my heart for the classic safe one-piece.
When I read about the fight for a one-piece swimsuit emoji, I immediately thought about how nice it would have been to see some representation of clothing in which I felt comfortable in the emojis that I used every day, and how that may have made me feel like wanting to cover up my body wasn't something to be ashamed of.
Up until a few months ago, the emoji library had very few female emojis, including dancers and playboy bunnies. Additionally, the only women's shoe emoji was a high heel--no flat shoe in sight. The lack of female emojis in multiple styles enforces the "ideal woman" stereotype and makes aspiring female airplane pilots, politicians, and businesswomen feel like their dreams aren't worth anything at all. By making these small changes, from swimsuits to scientists, we're one step closer to making girls of all shapes, sizes, and styles feel welcome in this world.
This week I read an article titled "11 and Married: Malaysia Spars Over an Age-Old Practice". I was scrolling through the suggested list of articles to read and this one immediately interested me, in fact it shocked me. The article started with a story of how one girl became her best friend's stepmother through marriage. The entire idea of child marriage is unfathomable, and thinking of what these friends, and many other girls are going through is unbearable.
I learned in Malaysia that "If a Muslim receives approval from Shariah authorities, there is no minimum age for marriage", a conduct that is surprisingly legal. There is no place, nor ever has been for child marriage in a society. The article taught me to learn and understand other cultures, but also to reflect on some old traditions. Efforts have been made to outlaw this behavior, and hopefully they continue to make progress. No one should have to go through what these girls are going through: they're children, and they deserve their childhood for as long as it can last.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/technology/facebook-fake-accounts.html
What interested me the most, well, what article title caught my attention most was this one. It interested me because I see these kind of fake accounts and advertisements around Facebook. In my opinion, it was a good thing that Facebook suspended the account of Mary. It was being used as a tool to “show ahead of midterm elections” as stated in the article. In the ‘Resisters’ page on Facebook, apparently there was more than one fake account. The page was taken down along with other accounts being suspended as well. It was a good thing Facebook came to realization of these fake accounts/ pages and is shutting them down.
This week in The Times, the article "Build Border Wall or Government Will Be Shut Down, Trump Says" written by K. Rogers and N. Fandos, interested me the most. No president should or even think of threatening his own country to get what he wants. President Trump mentioned how shutting down the government would be no problem for him. It doesn't make sense to me that the safety and the well being of the country that he is supposed to be running is less important to him than building a wall to tear people away from one another.
Also mentioned by the President was, "We have the worst immigration laws anywhere in the world." This comment also confuses me because in a nation that was built by immigration, we should cherish our beginnings as a country and also be honored that people from all over the world still want to live in the place we sometimes take for granted. If this wall is built, the USA becomes secluded and maybe even hated.
Designing the Death of Plastic
This week I read an interesting article about a way to create self-destructing plastic, which would help eliminate pollution and wasted materials. I found this fascinating. Not only did the article talk about the material, but it also gave the science and facts behind it, making it even more compelling. Pollution is such a big issue in our world; it is the reason why tens of thousands of innocent animals face death each year. Additionally, plastic
waste--water bottles, straws, bags, etc...--piles up in massive landfills, and can be found in the ocean as well. It's time to start taking better care of our Earth--before it's too late. With scientists constantly inventing and improving materials, and the public doing their part by recycling, we are destined for a cleaner planet. This genius, reusable plastic is much more advanced and beneficial than the previous method of melting and remolding it. However, recycling is only a small step in a bigger journey to keeping our earth safe and clean. Furthermore, it's great that this new plastic is not just useful for recycling. Scientists are working on, and may be able to in the future, use the material for medical treatment, by creating capsule pills out of the unzipping polymer--filling them with medication for cancer patients, and having them degrade in response to different conditions.
https://www.nytimes.com/section/travel?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&...
Boise Idaho is a beautiful place to visit and live. It is full of history and culture and great food. The art and restaurants are great to visit. There is a neighborhood called the basque block where culture is really huge. Children can take basque dance lesson. One of the more fascinating things is the Basque festival, where Basque immigrants are celebrate. The weather is also very moderate during Spring and Summer.
https://nyti.ms/2mrdjLy
How many times does a person have to tell you they can’t breathe and stop fighting you back for you to realize that your killing them? Well for this man I guess not enough.The video I watched this week was probably the hardest story for me to finish so far in the New York Times contest.The video was about an indigenous Australian male prisoner who honestly never had a chance of living once his cell door opened. When the video began you would have thought this man was someone who you would have needed protection from but truthfully he was the victim. As soon as the door opened not only did at least 4 guards tackle this man onto the bed before he could even take a step out of the cell but they instantly just started beating him and killed him with him repeating to all of them over a dozen times that he couldn’t breathe.A lot of people believe that these kinds of thing only happen to African Americans but really it happens to all kinds of “colored” individuals which this man was,and not only colored but non-colored people too. I personally think that a lot of these heinous actions aren’t just coming from particular races but it has a lot to do with officers or guards feeling that they have authority or control.But in all actuality no level of power gives anyone the right to take the life of another or say that one life is more important than the other and until our society can overcome that fact then actions and tragedies like this one will continue.
“Is Baby Powder Dangerous? Does Industry Even Care?”
The editorial argues about the dangers of using baby powder and how the health industry is not preventing those dangers from harming others. The article explains how asbestos, a mineral present in baby powder, can lead to the development of ovarian cancer. There is not enough information in that field of study to prove the statement true nor false, but nothing else can explain the cause of ovarian cancer deaths of the “families who say the company failed to warn people that its talcum-based baby powder contained dangerous levels of asbestos” (“Is Baby”). With this, the readers find it easy to follow the author’s argument since they cannot understand the cause of their cancer as well.
The health industry is also a part of the issue because the Food and Drug Administration is the one to decide what comes into the industry. They can prevent harmful drugs from entering the business, thus stopping anything bad from happening. The author questions the FDA to make the organization seem untrustworthy with other examples to prove his/her argument. In the article, it states, “Essure, Bayer’s permanent birth-control implant, has been linked to a string of life-threatening side effects...It has since been pulled from the market — in every country except the United States” (“Is Baby”). This goes to show how unlogical the organization is, thus proving the author’s reasoning about the lack of prevention of risky products.
Beauty Is in the Eye of These Beholders
Ever since I can remember, makeup has always been a way for me to express how I felt. This stood true to me even as a child, when I first introduced myself to makeup. Picture a six year old girl feeling a bit of a rebellious flair that day, deciding to steal her mom’s makeup and create a look that consisted of too much black eyeliner and blue eyeshadow. That was how I first entered the realm of makeup (and yes, my mother probably had a heart attack when she came back from work to find her raccoon-eyed daughter, hastily struggling to remove her makeup).
Regardless of how unsuccessful my first makeup endeavor was, I was hooked. I had found a creative outlet that allowed me to put my energy into a beautiful form of art, makeup. The delicate blending and sculpting process brought me a certain peace and satisfaction, which is why my love for makeup has been constant through all these years.
The unfortunate fact is, though, that many do not see makeup as I do. Many still believe that makeup is a tool people use to make themselves look more attractive on the outside because what’s inside isn’t adequate. This outdated belief paints makeup wearers and artists as superficial and vain, thereby illegitimating this form of expression. That is why, when I came across this article, I was beyond elated to see that beauty conventions, such as Beautycon, were helping to clarify and spread the meaning of what makeup really is: true artistry.
In response to The Great God of Depression
As someone who has had suicidal thoughts and depression, I am incredibly grateful for people such as William Tyron, who was deemed “the great god of depression”. Knowing that Mr. Styron’s memoir, “Darkness Visible”, was in part of how mental illness is perceived nowadays is extremely comforting. His confession of his mental illness in his book allowed people to realize that even someone living a glamorous life can be suicidal.
Although mental illnesses are more accepted than it was in the 1980s, people continue to demonstrate little sympathy for those who suffer from mental illnesses and as a result, wish to end their lives. While suicide should not be celebrated, it should be acknowledged as a decision that one partakes to end his/ her life. With that said, suicide is not the best solution to hardships. It takes time and resilience to not let mental illnesses control us. But if I can do it, you can do it too!
As Mr. Styron puts it: “Everyone must keep up the struggle, for it is always likely that you will win the battle and nearly a certainty you will win the war.”
Check out https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ for more information.
While reading, "They Stole a Shark in a Baby Stroller and Briefly Got Away With It", I became very interested in the topic. Ever since I saw the movie, "Black Fish", which is all about Seaworld and how horrible they treat their marine animals that are being held captive, I have had so much sympathy for those animals. When I read that 3 people stole a baby shark from a safe aquarium and instead put her in a small container that could have eventually killed her, I was devastated. Although there will never be a complete end to animals being treated poorly and being held captive, I believe as humans we should at least treat them as if they were in their natural habitat. Stealing animals like sharks from an aquarium and putting them in an even worse one does not help this case. With the help of humans, animals can still be used for human advancements and used to be shown off, in a safe manner. To do so, people need to start treating animals as if they were all going extinct, this includes not putting a shark in a stroller. Overall, this article provoked many thoughts about animals, like Ms. Hellen, safety in our world.
"How to Help a Teenager Be College-Ready"
By: Mark McConville
I am currently a sophmore going into my junior year of high school, and constantly worry about getting into top colleges and more importantly, what major I want to pursue. This article interested me instantly, as I can relate to students' and their parents worrying about the college process. The author states that a parent can never be "100 percent certain that their child is ready for university life," but some good indicators are how a student understands responsibility; including the management of his or her personal health and initiative in grades and extracurriculars. Learning how to engage in basic life tasks such as filling forms can also show a student maturing into adulthood. After reading this article, I reflected on my studying habits, and how to better prepare myself for college.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/28/business/beautycon-beauty-industry.html
This week in the New York Times, I read about this years BeautyCon convention in Los Angeles, California. This convention, taking place in the Los Angeles Convention Center, is the Super Bowl of the beauty industry where every major makeup company is present in a theme-park like setting displaying their products in a way that was not present to people before. Brands are able to physically market themselves here in ways that displays in the window at Sephora could never accomplish. Another major element of BeautyCon is the face to face and personal connection that all fans of makeup get to have with major influencers in the beauty industry ranging from Kim Kardashian to Manny MUA. BeautyCon extends to so many different audiences, but it unites people through makeup which is something so universal. Even throughout the convention, staff members were seen wearing shirts with “all races, all genders, all ages, all countries of origin, all sexual orientations, all religions” printed on the back. That really shows how BeautyCon and the makeup community in general is such an inclusive place where anyone can find a home. Personally, I have too found a place in the beauty community as I am a makeup enthusiast and all heavily influenced by many amazing and inspiring people in the industry. Overall, BeautyCon does not only unite the thousands of people present, but an entire community of makeup devotees alike.
"Where Fans of Rare Retro Soul Get Their Groove on"
By: Lisa M. Collins
We are all different in our own way, but there are certain activities that bring us together, such as listening to soul music in a bar. That is what brings together those at Botanica when D.J. Mr. Fine Wine arrives. The soul music brings all the bar go-ers together no matter the circumstances.
Music has the power to bring together people from all different backgrounds and with all different preferences. Even if they do not know the songs he is playing, everyone appreciates it and sometimes even dance along. Fans and collectors come from all over just to be in the environment with other people similar to them. They get to meet people with similar interests and have a genuine time listening to music.
The bonding capabilities of music and other art forms is the glue holding our world together in my opinion. We are in a time of turmoil and uncertainty currently, but music is the one things that can still bring everyone together. It is not hard to find music that you gravitate towards and to find other people that also gravitate towards it. There are whole scenes like the underground soul scene where you can socialize with people with similar interests as you.
D.J. Mr. Fine Wine is bringing that sense of unity to Botanica every night with his collection. He gives the bar go-ers a safe space to enjoy soul music. Music has the ability to bring some light to the darkness in the modern world if we let it.
For week 8 I read about, NFL players continuously kneeling on one knee and raising their fist during our National Anthem. Players are continuing social justice protest during the playing of our country's song. The one and only Colin Kaepernick was the inactive player of the San Francisco 49ers that started all this commotion. Either people are protesting by showing everyone or they are keeping it to themselves by not walking out during the national anthem, which is also very disrespectful because by not walking out your being selfish and careless. Racism is a big problem in our world today, but the more and more they protest and promote it the worse it is going to get like for example a player from the Philadelphia Eagles warmed up wearing t-shirts that focused on various statistics about racial disparities in prison. Thankfully for the 2018 NFL season their is a policy that includes fines against teams and players who protest. In my opinion racism and stereotype need to stop because they not only put people in danger but it also puts our world in danger. People need to learn how to move on with life and ignore all the bad things in the world.
@[email protected]
“The Carr Fire, the 7th Most Destructive in California History, Rages On”
Tragedy strikes, and the news erupts in a frenzy. “Our thoughts and prayers are with you,” someone utters on a podium, and a nation grieves. It’s a sickening cycle that happens far too often.
The Carr Fire, which killed six and displaced tens of thousands, seemed to follow the same pattern of despair and helplessness. But reading the article, I realized that the comparison does not hold. The flames thrived because of dry conditions and high temperatures, both produced by climate change—and, by extension, our emissions and our dependence on fossil-fuel energy. And unlike other tragedies, these are conditions that are within our power to control; we can control our lifestyles and we can control our environmental footprints.
As firefighters risk their lives to end the blaze, we owe California not just our thoughts and prayers, but our actions. Until we realize this, the flames will never truly stop.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/us/carr-fires-california-explained.html
This week, I decided to read the article on the wildfire spreading throughout California. For a few weeks now, I had heard about the wildfire raging in California, but I didn't know the details. As I read this article, I fully understood the devastation and trauma associated with the Carr fire. Not only is the Carr fire occurring, the Ferguson fire is also burning through California as well. As I was reading the article, all I could think about was all the poor families that were required to relocate and the brave first responders fighting the fire and trying to contain it. I was also shocked to hear that 6 people died as a result of the fire. Another thing that was shocking to me was how widespread the fire was. The Carr fire destroyed more than 110,000 acres of land. Not only did people have to be relocated, but domesticated and farm animals as well. The number of wildfires each year cause me to wonder how much climate change is playing a role in this. Although, it seems like the end may be in sight. On Sunday, firefighters only had 5% contained, and by Tuesday morning, they had 30% contained. I am glad that many people in Redding who were evacuated are now able to safely return to their homes, even though not everyone is able to because firefighters are still keeping 1/4 mile radius around the fire. Hopefully, the fire will end soon and all victims will be able to safely return to their homes.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/world/asia/malaysia-child-marriage.html
“11 and Married: Malaysia Spars Over an Age-Old Practice”
By: Hannah Beech
The article I read in the news this week was about a young girl named Ayu who got married at the age of 11. Her best friend Norazila who is 14 quickly came to the realization that her once best friend is now her new stepmother. Ayu married Norazila’s 41 year old father who was a rubber trader and she soon became his third wife. Many say Malaysia’s new government does not protect their minors the way the should and has many restrictions on their rights. However, Ayu’s situation is described as complicated due to her and her new husbands expression of there love on social media. This topic is very interesting because putting myself in her shoes, even at the age of 15 is still a very scary thing to think about. We have always seen our culture getting married around their late twenties early thirties. When we read topics like this it seems almost surreal that an 11 year old is getting married not only to any 41 year old man, but her best friends father. As stated in the article many people are outraged because in many places getting married is illegal unless older than the age of 18. However, because Ayu’s new spouse is Muslim it is legal to get married at a younger age, but you must be granted permission, which they weren’t. I was so interested because this deals with a different culture that I got to learned a lot about.
"The Carr Fire, the 7th Most Destructive in California History, Rages on"
The article that grabbed my attention the most was the article about the Carr Fire in Redding California. It's always been interesting to me why there are certain locations on earth where it seems to be that everything that could go wrong does go wrong. California is a perfect example of one of those locations. It is located on the San Andrea Fault so it is very prone to earthquakes, but the thing that is so interesting to me is the enormous amount of wildfires that occur in that state. The Carr Fire has already claimed 6 lives and has consumed over 1200 buildings in it's rage, and yet it is only the 7th most destructive fire in California's history. It displays the very intense natural behavior that is emitted from California. The fire has increased it's size has increased to 110,000 acres. The Carr Fire is only one of seventeen different fires that have been blazing across California. About 410,000 acres of land have been consumed by all of the fires, meaning that the Carr fire takes up more than a quarter of the area of blaze in California. The fire was spread by a "firenado" caused by turbulent wind that blew over the terrain. As of now the fire is still going, but we pray for the first responders and any others that are helping aid the fight against this horrible tragedy.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/27/opinion/sunday/motherhood-in-the-age-...
We live in a world where children are constantly looked after and even when they are not under direct supervision, they are always only a phone call away. This world doesn't allow for proper growth, maturation or independence.
Kim Brooks shares her experiences as a parent during this time in her article, "Motherhood in the Age of Fear". Brooks was charged with negligent parenting for allowing her son to stay in the car during a quick errand. She immediately felt ashamed, however soon realized that she did not feel she did anything wrong. She then sought out support of other mothers who had also been shamed for their lack of fear for their child's safety.
Upon further research, Brooks discovered the stem of this standard fear parents experience. Dr. Sarnecka, a cognitive scientist, finds that the concern is not solely safety of children; it is the urge to uphold a social normality.
I was raised right on the brink of this turning point in parenting. I was allowed to go off on my bike with my friends for the day and not return until dinner, spending the day building forts and exploring the nearby forest. I feel that experiences similar to those of my childhood are essential for a child to become independent and confident. Not only is the age of fear punishing parents for more lenient supervision, but it is also effecting the growth of the youth.
url:https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000005012153/trump-vs-obama-on-green...
Week 8:
This weeks topic had been one in which information was shared on one of the many outrageous policies confirmed by president Donald Trump. It is common knowledge that Trump denies and viewpoints that share a say on the existence of global warming and climate change. As well as his passion for helping the greater man become...well, greater. So this new article is a perfect combination of the two passions. When former president Barack Obama had been in presidency, he had signed a new deal which would end up helping not only the environment but the common everyday man/woman as well. However Donald, being the businessman that he is decided to take away the policy to help his fellow businessmen, causing a major conflict in the place we call home. Earth. We have many many cars, and many many manufactured devices and object. However, one thing that we don't have such a broad source and amount of is earth. Which is why I feel as though it should be our first priority rather than fancy sports cars.
Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/08/learning/should-prisons-offer-incarce...
Title: Should Prisons Offer Incarcerated People Education
Opportunities?
When I read the title of this article, I immediately exclaimed "Yes!". However, as I began to read the linked article called "Turn Prisons Into Colleges", I became more hesitant with the ideas of Elizabeth Hinton. The first sentence, "Imagine if prisons looked like the grounds of universities" baffled me. The sheer reason for the creation of a prison is to legally hold a malefactor as punishment for the crime they have committed. How can we just freely provide Ivy League education and experience to people who already had the chance to pursue higher education, but instead went to drugs or killed people.
The thought of jails becoming Ivy League campuses and having "radios shows and jazz orchestra", is excessive and I completely disagree with it. However, allowing some kind of educational opportunities is something I completely advocate for. It would put criminals in a position where they would not reoffend because they would be accountable for their actions, but I believe the way in which the education is provided, should not be in such a highly pleasurable way.
The balance between allowing individuals to express their opinions on a public platform, while simultaneously ensuring that offensive content and hateful language is prohibited, is a complex issue with many different perspectives and seemingly endless "solutions." As the generation that was born into the widespread use of social media, we must be the individuals who decide what content is acceptable, and that which crosses the line. Many influential tech companies have provided their own guidelines for what is allowed on their public forums, however, the inconsistency between different companies’ regulations are why many people are shocked, confused, or outraged when their content or the content of someone they follow is tampered with. As a student who studies the ideas of historical figures who have fought to inspire change across the world, it is difficult to argue that tech companies should be allowed to censor content due to its potentially unpopular or negative social nature. In contrast, many people would argue that allowing someone to post an image or piece of text that causes direct emotional damage to another is immoral and can be prevented by simply blocking that specific user. Due to these two opposing opinions, many tech giants have been scrutinized for being unclear or unfair with their punishments. However, the main priority, regardless of company association, should be to create a clear and consistent set of rules that can fairly govern all public forums.
“Some College Students Choose a School Where They Won’t Fit, on Purpose”
By Kyle Spencer
This article caught my attention since it addresses the daunting decision of where to go to college especially for high school graduates. What interested me most was the written accounts of different students who chose to go to schools where they were considered outsiders. It was fascinating to see that by going to a different school, it allows students to figure out who they were as individuals, instead of being in a group.
As I read, I realized that when faced with going to a different school, there were pros and cons. However, the article focuses more on the pros. In general, the cons, if listed, were fears and doubts student and their parents might worrry about . Without taking the risk, they could have missed a very important opportunity because of their fears of being outcasts.
Different is sometimes good and in this case it certainty is. By taking ourselves away from our comfort comfort zones, we experience life at a level we haven’t reach. Different schools and areas gives more chances to see different opinions, cultures, and people, allowing youself as a individual to pick and choose what you like and the values you believe in. Fitting in takes away diversity from smart learners than need their own creativity. Without unique creativity, society cannot thrive or build toleration for differences.
Anyone who hears the word "war" knows exactly what it entails; violence- horror. Its basic meaning doesn't need a sentence to be understood. It provides its own context. However, the word alone doesn't always tell the whole story. To get to know war, you need to do a little digging. No one knows this truth better our veterans.
Recently, I've picked up “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien. Set during the Vietnam war, it highlights all of O’Brien’s complex experiences as a soldier, detailing what the war really meant to him and his platoon. It is very good. I’ve been on a Vietnam war kick ever since. Thus, what interested me most in the times this week was an article titled “I Served in Vietnam. Here’s My Soundtrack,” by Doug Bradley.
Much of the music of the 1960s highlighted the political and ideological shifts of the time, most notably the anti-war sentiments gaining traction in the US. Though to Vietnam vets, the songs they listened to served mostly as a lifeline- a bridge between them and a world thousands of miles away. According to Bradley, the music that defines the Vietnam war is more or less the same as in all the movies.
Bradley provides a creative and eye opening take on an analysis of the Vietnam war. His article helped me see a clearer image of what war means- violence, yes. But also something more. War is vibrant and expressive, and truly, deeply meaningful. War is rooted in disagreement. There are reasons behind it, reasons that music helps to unveil.
I read “How to Help a Teenager Be College-Ready”. This article grabbed my attention immediately because I am an upcoming junior in highschool and I am very nervous on what to expect in college. I want to he mentally and academically prepared when I begin college. What interested me the most in this article was how it states in the Academics section, “By junior year, we want to see students take ownership of their academic careers. This shows up not necessarily in grades, but in academic initiative — schedule planning and management, and learning when and how to seek help.” This interested me because I personally also want to take ownership of my academic careers, to plan what I want my career to be, and how I will achieve that.
Apple Is Worth $1,000,000,000,000. Two Decades Ago, It Was Almost Bankrupt.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/technology/apple-stock-1-trillion-mar...
I really enjoyed reading this article because the story of Apple is amazing. It is hard to understand how close Apple really was bankruptcy. Steve Jobs was quoted saying that Apple was 90 days from going broke. Now we see Apple as the biggest company in the world and the first to join the 4 comma club. Apple has been through a lot just to get to where it is. Going to 1 trillion dollars was not easy because along the way Apple was the target for criticism. Steve Jobs was one of the reasons Apple is the biggest company in the world. Steve Jobs is one of my ideals because he did something different. Steve Jobs launched a campaign which focused on thinking differently. It shows that Steve Jobs was a large part in helping Apple because when he was pushed out by the board the companies stock slowly went down. A former software chief said that they did not think that they would ever get to 1 trillion. Apple is simple that is what makes them different. On the opposite side, we see Amazon who likes poke a hole in everything. I believe the iPhone has helped Apple get to the 1 trillion dollar mark because it has sold a whooping 1.4 billion units. This article really shows the ups and downs of Apple.
Pence Advances Plan on Space Force
The time has come where our military isn’t just operating on the ground and in the air. Vice President Mike Pence has verbally expressed that he wants the US Military to advance into the future and create a “Space Force”.
We have little knowledge of the this Space Force would do. Maybe they would just hang around at the ISS and make sure everything is in order and we aren’t being attacked by any other country. Or maybe they will fly around alerting NASA on possibly close comets that could come in contact with the Earth.
I think that this is a great idea, and when I saw this headline, I knew I wanted to write my editorial on this. I think Mike Pence recognizes that we need to move into the future more militarily, and this is a necessary step to do so.
I am fascinated with all things space, and if the US is the first country to enable a Space Force as part of a country’s military, it will be like the 1960’s Space Race turned into the 2018 Space Force saga.
"Mars is Frigid, Rusty and Haunted. We Can't Stop Looking at It."
With every new discovery, it absolutely blows my mind. In the article it tells how recently it was discovered that there is a twelve mile wide lake underneath Mars' southern ice cap, with lots questioning, "could life be lurking there?" and it's quite a fascinating thought. While there were experiments whose purpose was to search the soil of Mars, the results were deemed inconclusive. But, as stated in the article " the Curiosity rover confirmed that there are small amounts of methane periodically emitted into the atmosphere in Gale Crater, where it spends its time. On Earth a lot of methane comes from biological activity," which is exciting to read even when followed up by "but pure geological processes can also make it." Life outside of Earth has always been a hot topic, but we only know of our life and what the requirements are in order to be possible. This is something I have always wondered and is discussed in the article as well. It also mentions that we still don't quite know how life here on Earth began, or how "prevalent it is in the universe". It's a wild thought, that life may be out in the vast expanse of our universe. That if there is life outside of us, that it could very well be nothing like what we currently know. But until solid discoveries are made, all we can do is theorize.
“Inside the World of Racist Science Fiction”
During my time in scifi communities, I’ve seen many entitled white men who believe they alone lay claim to the genre. However, that did not prepare me for the content of the novels detailed in this article. Reading it over the first time, I couldn’t believe they weren’t joke summaries written by a satire group. Surely, I'd thought, that couldn’t be how some actually viewed the world?
But apparently, it is.
It is not the authors I’m talking about, but their readers. These authors are not all people who genuinely believe the victimization rhetoric is true, but, rather, racists who aim to sway audiences through fear-mongering.
It's ironic how readers could buy into it. The fear created- of a world where one race is suppressed, where one religion's beliefs are illegal- does it not seem familiar to then? How do they only see this as an issue when the race is white and the religion is Christianity?
As a white Christian myself, I have been lucky enough to live my life not knowing the fear racial and ethnic minorities face. However, I do know, first hand, that white Christian Americans will never know that type and magnitude of discrimination, so writing such a fear for this group is impossible. Instead, racist authors must write a future where, for some reason, they are the ones victimized for their race and religion. It just reveals the actual fear these people hold: one day, they will be hurt the way they hurt minorities.
The article that interested me most in the times this week is “ Argentina’s Senate Narrowly Rejects legalizing abortion “. This interested me the most because The article fully describes the battle that Argentina has been going through on if they should legalize abortion or not. The decision took sixteen hours to vote on, and lasted all the way to the early hours of Thursday morning. People of the community on both sides of the spectrum, stood in the coldness, waiting to hear the final decision on this potential law. The Roman Catholic Church held a mass, which was called the “mass for life” to pray for the best to come out of this event. During the whole time of this event, New York Times gathered opinions and thoughts from both sides of this topic (if it should be legalized or if it should not be) and they both make a valid point about why and why not it should not be legalized. The decision on this topic grabbed nationwide attention, for many countries are against it. The final tallied up votes was thirty eight of the board was against it, and thirty one of the board voted in favor of it.
I read the article about the judge blocking attempts to make 3-D guns. Honestly, with all the gun violence in America, I don't think it should be legal for any person to carry a gun that can be printed at any time and that is harder to detect. However, there will be some people who will stand by the second amendment for the right to bear arms. They should understand though that we cannot have people walking the streets with guns that are harder to detect. In conclusion, there is no possible way that we should carry plastic guns that are harder to spot with all of the gun violence on the news
"The Marines Didn't Think Women Belonged in the Infantry. She's Proving Them Wrong." by Thomas Gibbons-Neff exposes the hard truth about women in a male-dominated organization. It details the life of Lieutenant Marina A. Hierl and her journey on becoming the first woman in the Marine Corps to lead an infantry platoon. Since the very beginning, women have been rejected, criticized, and discriminated against from being able to pursue a role in combat, much less acquire a rank higher than that of a mans within the military.
But times are changing.
37 women have attended the intense Marine Corps training in Quantico,VA, and of those, only 2 have passed. Lieutenant Hierl is the only one of those two that has been given a platoon of 35 men to lead. She is prime example of leadership, determination, and drive all women should have. While people and men continue to doubt her abilities, time and time again she has proven them wrong--earning her rightful title.
Lieutenant Hierl has opened doors to a world where gender no longer dictates what you can and cannot do. She is a symbol for female empowerment, and a representation of the kind of strong-mindedness I hope all girls strive to achieve. Women like Lieutenant Hierl, who are making history in a world overrun by men, must be recognized and celebrated for their accomplishments. As a young woman, it is incredibly important to me that men and women be treated as equals, as for the future, this is a step in the right direction.
This week I was fascinated by Kyle Spencer’s article on the growing number of students purposely selecting colleges where they will be a social outsider and struggle to fit in. Many teenagers struggle to find their place in the social hierarchy of high school, so college is often looked at as a time for them find people who they truly connect with. In order to achieve this goal, an abundance of students meticulously mull over their possible universities based off whether the political climate, racial diversity, and activities offered match what they desire in a school. However, in this piece Spencer shed some light on how some students choose to utilize college as an opportunity for individualized growth and personal realization. For a large majority of people who choose to spend college embarking on an internal, personalized journey, it’s easier to do so when they do not fit in the crowd. This is why conservative students may choose to attend a liberal college where their views will not often be shared.
"Trump Mocks LeBron James’s Intelligence and Calls Don Lemon ‘Dumbest Man’ on TV"
As a student-athlete, I look up to and admire Lebron James for his accomplishments on and off the court. He has broken many records and achieved so much in the sport of basketball that he has separated himself from the competition and is considered by many as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. At the same time, Lebron strives off the court by helping communities around the nation and more recently building a school for at-risk kids in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. He has claimed that creating this school is his biggest accomplishment and hopes it is what his legacy is remembered for. This philosophy that basketball is more than a sport in which you can use the platform given for the greater good off all people is very inspiring to me as it shows kids can also make a difference in communities through sports. However, to see our president completely mock Lebron and another African American reporter about their intelligence is truly embarrassing. Not only do our nation's leader's words possibly prevent younger generations from understanding that we can make a difference in our communities through athletics, but they also use sports, something that many people love, to divide our nation instead of uniting it, which Lebron explicitly wants to do. I hope that many young, aspiring athletes can follow Lebron and use sports to make a positive change no matter what anyone tells them.
The fires of California caught my eye this week the whole event is terrifying, almost feeling unreal like a scene straight out of a movie. Unfortunately it's not a block buster and is a problem that is still occurring. Many people are feeling the effects from this fire and others. Many people have lost their homes and 6 people have perished. The Carr fire can be blamed on dry grass, heavy wind and heat waves. The fire has grow so immensely that it now has its mimicking its it's own weather system of firenados. As of tuesday the fire was 27% contained and is now moving westward. I find this whole situation to be scary and sad but it has left me with a question of, what will be done to prevent this in the future? I understand that no one can control the weather but we can do something about the rising climate of our planet. It's not much but its it's a thought towards our future.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/us/carr-fires-california-explained.html
“Workers Hardest Hit by Recession Are Joining in Recovery” by Nelson D. Schwartz and Ben Casselman
This article, shocked me. Before reading this, I would have thought that unemployment rates for those who are not college educated would’ve been much lower than they were. Yes I knew that the economy has been doing remarkably well, however I had always figured that unemployment would’ve stayed high for people that aren’t college educated.
After reading this article, however, it makes perfect sense that the unemployment rate for non college educated people is at an all time (recorded) low. As the article explains, the economy is doing well, so more jobs are opening up for those who previously didn’t have one. Of course, due to a stable economy and the lowering unemployment, employers are giving jobs to those who, normally would not have been given that job.
The article explains all this pretty well, and ads that the numbers are lower than was previously predicted by economists, and why that was. Companies such as Toys R Us going out of business costed 10’s of thousands of jobs, and did alter the numbers. Despite of this, it explains that the economy is going strong and is continuing to grow, and things look rather bright for the economy.
Here, in the 21st century, we take our safety for granted, or at least most of us do. The main purpose of government isn’t to protect each, and every individual, but to protect society as a whole. Individuals who commit heinous crimes such as murder must be removed from society for the greater good. After guilt has been determined in a court of law, we really have two options to remove them from society. We can lock them up indefinitely, and house, feed and cater to them for the rest of their lives, or remove them from society forever by means of death.
Capital punishment both deters further crime and is more humane than other forms of punishment. Each execution scares potential murders away. According to researchers at Emory University each execution prevents up to 18 murders. Capital punishment is also humane. Cruel and unusual punishment is banned in the United States, and the United Nations for good reason, but in truth, there is no “valid” definition of a cruel and unusual. It varies from person to person. I like seeing the sun, and for me, confinement would be torture. Being stuck in a small enclosed space with no hope and no happiness for the rest of my life would be cruel, more so than a quick death. For some people, I would argue capital punishment to be more humane than being stuck in a cell forever. While some may consider it to be cruel, I find capital punishment to both be humane and an effective deterrent of future crime.
http://nyti.ms/2KFIInh
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/climate/tornadoes-climate-change.html
The reason this article interested me the most was how there was a tornado in New York, which I didn’t even know was possible. Even though the tornado was weak there was another tornado in Massachusetts not too far away which damaged homes. Tornadoes are actually possible in New York but are very rare. The oldest dated tornado in New York goes back to the 1880s. The causes for extreme storms which can cause tornadoes are wind currents and potential energy in the air which green house gases can put more energy in the atmosphere. The article goes on to say that they ‘’…have strong evidence that at the large scale that global warming is likely to increase the atmospheric environments that create the kind of severe thunderstorm that produces tornadoes,”.
"The Age That Women Have Babies: How a Gap Divides America"
This article I read was really interesting to me, their has been new analysis of years of births portraying that women enter their motherhood are varied by their geography and especially education. The result is that children would be living in different diverse families and each of them are wanting their children to have a success life. Well, education dignifies the separation between a woman becoming a mother while finishing school in contrast to a woman that already has a college degree pursuing their career. I've been thinking that mothers that have a college degree can be a essential way to advance to the middle class wage. Also an important thing that a couple will talk about is at what the right time they would have a child. One way if I try to have a family, I would keep trying to make more money and if possible trying to get a higher degree, then that could attain your family and children as they live a healthy life style. Mothers that have a child and still completing school while also working can have a very difficult time to sustain some resources for their own children. I give those mothers that could sustain their children with resources lots of credit, they work hard enough to care and feed their children. But education really sets the whole situation of having a child at their own age, since their has been a gap between 4 decades as teen birthrates have been decreasing over the years.
I read "Pope Francis Declares Death Penalty Unacceptable in All Cases"
This article peaked my interest because death penalty has always been a controversial topic. It's not just the religious justification, the idea of whether the death penalty does help the society move forward is a question that not yet have a clear answer. Life is sacred, but when a sacred life is take, is the action punishable enough to use another life to balance the scale? Does the Ban of Penalty undermine the victim's sacred life? Is the death penalty a warning to the future potential criminal, or is it just a mean to take away the unsuitables in society that will do harm that are so damning that we have to eliminate them? There are still philosophical questions that we don't have answers for.
"Designing the Death of a Plastic"
By Xiaozhi Lim
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/06/science/plastics-polymers-pollution.h...
Currently, plastics made out of synthetic non-degradable polymers are plaguing the environment and wildlife. The reason these plastics aren't degradable is because the bonds that assembly the polymers take too much energy to be broken natural by bacteria and other decomposers. Initially, this was intentional. Stronger bonded polymers were meant to replace the metals and glass in the construction of automobiles and airplanes. However, the long-term consequences of these polymers weren't considered when they were originally introduced. To mitigate some of the damage caused by non-degradable polymers, degradable polymers are now being created. The potential of these new polymers which could create degradable plastics is immense. Landfill overflow and oceanic population could eventually be conquered if these new plastics became the norm. However, current plastics are vastly cheaper to mass produce in comparison and companies won't be willing to lose profit just to produce an ecologically safer alternative. Hopefully these new plastics will eventually become less cost consuming to produce or companies will realizing that these new plastics would be worth the extra funds to produce.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/well/recognizing-eating-disorders-in-...
Eating disorders, something surprisingly common among teenagers.
There are people in the world who are surprised at this occurrence. They think it is a phase, a fad, something that will stop without much interference. They might think those who have an eating disorder are just not able to see what the problem is, or they just brush off the entire thought. As different the two are, an eating disorder is like becoming dehydrated. For those who aren't, or haven't gone through it, they think that such a thing is stupid, something that can be easily avoidable. When it happens to you, it doesn't seem so.
Eating disorders are sometimes noticeable, sometimes they are hidden in a closet, unable to be seen.
I think i have an eating disorder. I tend to not eat, and when I do, it is usually a single meal and a snack. I am trying to improve, but after living like that for a while, it is easy to fall back into old habits.
Eating disorders are not something to be brushed off, not something to be ignored. As said in the article, even a small eating disorder can cause damage to the body, and a large one can lead to death, either because of the effects, or of suicide. The thoughts of "too fat" and "not skinny enough" are enough to start something. Eating disorders are also not limited to not eating, but eating to much.
No matter what age, gender, race, anything, an eating disorder can affect you.
Since I was eight, college has been a dream that has fueled my drive in school. Fooled by the idea that hard work, a high GPA, and a good SAT score could get me accepted into any school I wanted, I was terrified when I learned of college application essays. Understanding that one piece of writing had the potential to either have me accepted or rejected by the school of my dreams, I knew that when I eventually wrote mine, it had to be perfect.
Recently, I analyzed my life, what I've gone through, and what I may in the next three years leading up to college. I came up with nothing interesting or heartbreaking enough to write about, as I’ve always assumed that the only successful essays were the ones that made reader pity you.
Reading this article has put me at ease over this previously dreaded task. I’ve learned that my essay needs to capture me as a whole and not just one depressing part of my life. Most importantly, that my essay needs to prove ways in which my, “presence will make the college a better place.”
Furthermore, this article has given me ideas of ways I can aid my community in a way that is desired by colleges. As a result, over the next three years I will take part in organizations that relate with my possible majors, as suggested in the article.
Overall, with the insight this article has given me, I can now look at writing my college essays, not as frightening, but as an opportunity to show who I am, and the events in my life that have shaped me.
“Atlanta School: No More Pledge of Allegiance to Start Day”
Ever since elementary school, there has been a routine always engrained within my mind. For every American student, who wouldn’t know the pledge of allegiance? Even though we didn't understand what we were uttering, our teachers would stress its importance, so without any questions, everyone would continue to mindlessly recite it. But as I grew up, I began to question it. Initially, I felt uncomfortable including God, but now I can no longer bring myself to say the pledge at all, considering how I found it an unnecessary, yet disturbing, practice.
I was interested in this article because I believe that what this school chose to do was right.They revised their own pledge to be inclusive and suitable for children. A chant promoting school spirit is more comprehensible rather than making kids understand what “pledging allegiance” means. After all, we as a free country should not be indoctrinating children so young. The Wolf Pack chant is said to focus on the importance of upholding responsibility and the importance of family, community, and a global society, which are significant and useful aspects to teach. There is nothing to take from a pledge that is being imposed and it eventually becomes a mindless recitation signifying nothing but conformity. Reciting words is not indicative of character, and there are always more profound ways to teach youth how to love one another and their nation through action, not hymn.
The article, “Mars Close Up, had many strong points proving that Mars may inhabit life and be able to sustain human life in the future, there was a few paragraphs that seemed like the article could have gone without them and veered away from the path that was so clearly paved.
There were many statements throughout the article that helped in framing the main concept that we are continuing to search for life on Mars because of evidence we have proving that this may be true. One of these is a comparison between the real and fictional world stating, “A petri dish of Martian bacteria may not quite measure up to Ray Bradbury’s copper-colored creatures with telepathic skills(“The Martian Chronicles”)”(Editorial Board 2). This assisted by less relevant anecdotes from the past like, “H.G. Wells’s “The War of The Worlds” prompted a panic in 1938 when many listeners mistook a radio version of the novel as a real world report of an attack by aliens armed with ray guns.”(Editorial Team 2). This is a tidbit that did not belong in the article solely because it had no impact on actual scientific evidence. There was also many quotes from individuals who have fears and plans for what may happen to Earth in the future but since these are all open ended what ifs and are not proven to be true of our future yet, they can also be ignored unless the focus of the article was changed to the future of the human race as theorized by millionaires.
What intersted me the most was an article titled, "The Carr Fire, The 7th Most Destructive in California History, Rages On" by Julia Jacobs. Some background info about fires in California is that they spread and they destroy. The Carr fire is no different. Not only does it spread and destroy, but it kills. 6 people were reported dead. So sad to hear. But thousands more are displaced from their homes and families. Many had to be evacuated from their homes because of the fire. Can you imagine being told to leave your home because of a fire? Not a hurricane. Not a tornado. But a fire. That's how crazy it is in California because of these fires. I'm just glad I'm not in that situation. This fire started on July 23 because of a mechanical failure of a vehicle and is still raging. How tragic.
"Trump's National Security Chief Calls Russian Interference 'Incontrovertible'," was the title of the article I focused on this week. Normally I would do more background research, but instead I only focused on what was explicitly stated in the article this time around. What interested my the most about this particular article was how much further people can, and should look into it. Most likely president Trump knew about and corresponded with whatever Russian force was interfering in the 2016 election. That leads to the questions, what legal matters should be taken, knowing now that president Trump's election was indisputably meddled in? Is impeachment a possibility? Without a doubt, it should be, but the question remains 'Will the government follow through in enforcing justice after a fraudulent election?' These types of question entertain me the most. What if president Trump was ignorant to the Russia's influence, and some corrupt Russian force wanted Trump to hold office because he was inexperienced and arguably weaker? Though the United States and Russia are officially on good terms, that doesn't stop corruption from occurring. These types of conspiratorial questions interest me, and this article served as a perfect backdrop to design them upon. In short, what interested me the most about this article was how new of a subject it was to be and how much further I could take a page of flat information. Anything could be hiding behind the wizard's curtain, after all.
-Aidan C
What I found most interesting in the New York Times this week was “What Do Novels About Evil Children Say About Us?”. In this essay, Ruth Franklin lays the truth on parenting; you can’t control who your kid turns out to be.
Franklin mentions how kids may reflect their parents and what it reveals about them. “Part of what we fear in children is the way they are uniquely capable of bringing out unpleasant aspects of ourselves.” But on the other hand, parents may never be able to understand their child. The best that a parent might understand their child is at a very young age. Once their personality matures and they become their own person, the parent might not even know their child anymore. So Franklin asks the question, “Is that a consolation or a curse?”
I say this is a curse. You can raise your kid the best way possible, and they still might be a screw up. If it were 100% possible to pave the perfect path and set up a perfect future for every child, then things like school shootings and other crimes would be nonexistent. If you don’t know your own kid, then how can you help them and understand them? How can you prevent them from doing bad things and having bad intentions? How can you keep them from being “evil”? You can’t.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/education/asbestos-crayons-school-sup...
This article immediately caught my eye due to its impactful findings. The fact that harmful chemicals such as abestos and benzene were found in everyday school supplies such as crayons and markers was shocking and very worrisome due to the vast amount of people that it affects. Additionally, some other items such as binders tested positive for harmful chemicals. This is very alarming because many students across the world use these supplies daily, and their health may be affected by the harmful contents within them. Furthermore, I was surprised that such vastly used products used by a myriad of students and even adults weren't previously tested for these harmful chemicals. All in all, it was was very shocking to hear that these harmful chemicals were present in everyday school supplies, and I hope that exposure to these supplies won't have devastating affects on the health of the users.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/opinion/les-moonves-metoo-harassment....
There is nothing more patronizing than a man romanticizing sexual harassment.
This article highlights moments of famous men using their platform as a way to get ahead, in this case using sexual harassment as a bit to get a laugh from the audience. While bystanders laugh, the women who are subject to sexual harassment and abuse sit silently, watching as their own personal hell is brought to the public eye to be laughed upon. There is no greater form of public humiliation. This seems to me like a form of cruel and unusual punishment.
But I am a female. Ask almost any male in Hollywood and it's entertainment.
Why is voicing your actions of sexual harassment to the public not constitute sexual harassment? And why are the parameters of the law so confusing? What is the punishment?
Last year, there was a panel on sexual harassment at my school. Why am I not any less confused on the subject? Why are my personal experiences turned away and shadowed? How does this empower young women?
The #MeToo movement has romanticized being a victim. People think 'oh I'm just like so-and-so'. Does that really do any good? Or are we, as a society, raising awareness as well as the romanticism of the act?
The #MeToo movement was one step in the right direction toward better education and action against sexual harassment, but will it be enough?
I read the article titled: "They Stole a Shark in a Baby Stroller and Briefly Got Away With It". It immedistely caught my eye because I could not imagine how one could steal a shark. Further into reading, I found out that the shark was less than a year old and that the kidnappers knew how to properly care for sharks. This still doesn't make it okay for them to steal a shark from an aquarium in San Antonio. It reminded me of a story that my mom's friend told me when I was little. In the story, someone stole a penguin from a zoo and brought it home and kept it in their bathtub. I do not know if this story is true, I hope it's not! These stories got me to thinking: Why would someone want to steal an animal and take it out of its safe habitat? It just blows my mind how someone would have the courage to do such a thing, knowing it is wrong. I also do not understand why someone would want a shark in the first place. I believe that these stories are important to put in the news so that other aquariums and zoos can be more aware of who is entering and what is really going on. If someone seems suspicious, the workers should check to make sure everything is as it should be and have a closer look on the cages or tanks. It is sad to hear that innocent animals are being taken away. In this case, the shark was not harmed but you never know someone's intentions.
This week, I read “Racism at American Pools Isn’t New: A Look at a Long History,” written by Niraj Chokshi. This article got my attention because we all like to think that racism is nonexistent anymore, however, we all know it is very prevalent in today’s society. Every since the construction boom of them in the early 1900s, swimming pools have been a battleground of racism. Not even Martin Luther King Jr’s strive for equality has stopped the raging war. Just this summer, a black male was questioned by a group of white female managers and eventually had the cops called on him for swimming in a hotel pool, of which he clearly had a key card for. The author explains that “Pools are supposed to be places to relax,... [not] vulnerable spaces where prejudices have intensified and violence has often broken out” (Choksi par 4). Swimming pools are what should bring different types of people with different backgrounds together, not ripped apart.
This week, I read the article, "Review: 'The Meg' Goes On the Rampage, but barely Makes A Splash." I found this article very compelling and interesting because I myself was thinking about going to see this movie. The movie is based on the prehistoric Megaladon Shark. Megaladon Sharks peaked my interests years ago and I would always read about them and watch videos about them. Since Megaladon's are extinct, I thought that the movie concept would be very cool having a prehistoric creature reappear in real-world life. However, it looks to me as if the movie was a total flop and not worth my time. Despite having actors such as Jason Statham, it looks to m as if I will not be watching this film. Especially if I have to go in theatres and pay for it.
"P.C Langauge Changed My Life"
Most of my eighth-grade year was spent trying to figure out who I was. I knew I liked girls and I knew that I didn’t care what others thought about that. I let my sexuality fluctuate until I came to a rather obvious conclusion in June. I came out to my mom on camera “I’m a lesbian,” I said. It came out hard, and sharp. As I said it, I flinched because I knew that It wasn't the way I wanted to define myself. But I didn't have anything else.
Gioncarlo Valentine felt the same way until he found PC language. I have explored the use of PC language myself, and I even wondered if I was gender-fluid. It almost made sense. I’ve never felt the need to wear makeup or be feminine. However, that label wasn’t right either. I became frustrated and envious of people like Gioncarlo who had discovered themselves and their labels or pronouns through PC language. I looked everywhere, but nothing was making sense for me.
What I’ve realized is that we are all unique, we have many labels applied to us, and we can only influence some of those like honest, hardworking, or selfless. Other labels, however, we have to accept and live with like gender, sexuality, or skin color. What matters is that we define ourselves by the things we can control, and we support and wear proudly the things we can't because they are part of who we are. It's the things that we can control that set us apart. They define who we are to ourselves and the rest of the world.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/07/opinion/self-harm-cutting-teenagers.h...
"Surviving Myself", by Colton Wooten, is the article that caught my attention the most this week. I know many people who have or are struggling with depression and self harm, myself included. Wooten piqued my interest the most because of this. I think it is important to realize why people self harm when they are depressed and Wooten perfectly described many of those reasons.
Wooten described why he self harmed and why many others do the same, because they feel too much or feel not enough. I know the reason that I used to self harm was because I felt too much pain and needed an escape. Wooten helps readers understand why people self harm, and that they may not be suicidal if they do self harm. In a study done by the American Association of Public Health it was found that 19.4% of 15 year olds and 14.7% 18 year olds self harmed and were not suicidal.
At the end of the article, he describes the time he cut too deep. He severed a tendon and there was so much blood that it looked indigo. He was terrified. He did not want to die.
I believe that "Surviving Myself" is the most interesting and inspiring article from this week. Colton Wooten has given hope to every reader who is trying to cope with depression just by telling his story. By writing this article, Wooten has given those who are struggling hope and those who don't understand an answer.
The article that interested me in The Times is How To Revive a Friendship. This article interests me because it talks about how to revive a lost friendship and how to maintain a healthy friendship. "You have to show the best side of yourself, which is probably your most honest, upfront side." is great advice in my opinion because many people pretend to be something that they aren't for possible reasons of being embarrassed.
The article that interested me the most this week was, "If an N.B.A. Workout Isn’t on Instagram, Does It Even Count?" by Scott Cacciola.
This article interested me the most because it shows how the young generation are taking notes and learning from LeBron James and are posting everything they do on social media. They show off their gains and do not let a workout by without showing off on their social media. It does make sense why they do it because social media is starting to get bigger and bigger as the days go. Even if one started it, it was going to get their one way or another since social media is a big part of the new generation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/smarter-living/how-to-revive-a-friend...
"How to Revive a Friendship"
By: Anna Goldfarb
Going into high school I grew apart from many of my friends that I use to be really close to, and that is why I found this article most interesting in The Times this week. Friendships and good relationships are essential to our health, and losing a once really close friend can effect a person greatly. In most cases you can not just go back to the way things were before because people grow and change with time. Although past friendships are important some of them ended for a reason, we need to understand some relationships are toxic and needed to end for the well being of both people. Rekindling an old friendship can cause problems and both parties need to be willing to accept who the person has become and be respectful of how the chose to move on with their lives. Everything in life does not always go the way we want it to so a negative outcome is not always a bad thing, some people will not remain friends forever. A friendship can also be brought back together after growing apart, and the time that was spent apart could of helped the relationship grow and mature. Although all my friends are very important people in my lives I understand that people change and go separate ways. Some of the best relationships of our lives will not work out, but without having gone through that we would not be shaped into the people that we are today.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/us/politics/3d-guns-trump.html
This article caught my attention because it talks about a very serious and relevant issue that has been going on about whether people should have the right to possess a firearm. I believe that the judge in this case made the right decision by temporarily banning the ability to sell the blueprints to make a plastic 3-D gun. A plastic gun could even be more harmful because they are hard to detect. I believe that the judge should permanently ban the right to possess any type of firearm, plastic or not. If guns are permanently banned I believe that it will lower the number of school shootings and shootings in general. I do not agree that people need guns to defend themselves. If guns are permanently banned then there would be no need for people to carry firearms for protection. The First Amendment should be revised and rewritten so that people will not feel the need to carry firearms to protect themselves. If it’s agreed that people still have the right to possess a gun the least that could be done is that there should be stricter background checks to ensure that people who are mentally stable and won’t harm themselves or others. The best solution to this problem is to permanently ban the right to possess firearms. Without firearms we would all live in peace and be without fear of being shot and killed.
‘See Ya Later, Suckas!’ The Obituary of a 5-Year-Old Boy in His Own Words
I’ve always thought character is built with experience - that only hard work and time can enrich our personalities and temper our spirit.
But Garret Mathias, a five-year-old who died from cancer that left his temporal bone and inner ear inoperable, proved me wrong.
When I read the Times article, I could only feel grief at a life cut so short. But after reading some quotes from Garret, my outlook changed. “Funerals are sad,” Garret wrote in his obituary. “I want five bouncy houses (because I’m 5), Batman and snow cones.” Despite the bitterness of the situation, I can’t help but smile - his ability to still joke around is just that powerful.
Garret also shows that he can still be kind. He once told his grandfather, “come sit in this chair, it will be more comfortable for you,” as he struggled with cancer-induced paralysis. Even most healthy individuals can't express concern like this, which is what makes Garret so extraordinary.
Garret displayed optimism, humor, and kindness - key virtues that many of us lack - in his last days. The personality he exhibits left me shocked, not only at his ability to remain positive but also at the inability of the majority in our world to channel even a portion of his strength. Garret is an example of how we should face adversity. He may no longer be with us, but if we can learn from him, we will emerge stronger, and the spirit of his personality will live forever.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/business/for-sale-survey-data-on-mill...
“For Sale: Survey Data on Millions of High School Students” by Natasha Singer was an article that stood out to me more than the rest this week. This was not just an issue that solely concerned me… It is a problem that affects anyone who currently partakes in high school education.
The first PSAT I took was towards the end of my sophomore year in high school. Going into the test, I wanted to take full advantage of everything it had to offer. The moment I saw “college recommendations,” I scribbled in my email address and filled out the following information. Although the process was different than “...surveys that came with the SAT or the PSAT,” it was similar enough to get me concerned. When these teenagers signed away on these surveys, that also meant their personal information could be sold and shared.
How could something like this happen?
“The College Board charges educational institutions 43 cents per student name.” All of this information can be useful to data minors - information for student loan services, credit cards and other products. A system of acquiring personal information and selling it to companies is a capitalistic move. Companies can retrieve and eventually auction off personal information through Instagram, dating profiles and fitness apps to name a few. Currently these marketing practices are legal, with no laws restricting consumer data brokers.
The article that interested me most in the times this week was "Asbestos in a Crayon, Benzene in a Marker: A School Supply Study’s Toxic Results" by Niraj Chokshi. This article interested me most because it was so shocking to see that the school supplies children are using can be very harmful to them. It is crazy that we even have to test for these kinds of things that we are letting children independently play with. Dangerous chemicals like benzene, which can cause abnormal functioning of cells and bone marrow problems, are being found in magnetic markers that are being sold on Amazon, a major company that many people buy supplies off of. As a generation, we should create a way to make natural supplies for children in all school to preserve the health and safety of our future generations. This problem is very important and we should create more regulations on the manufacturing of these products so that we can prevent the input of dangerous chemicals in students school supplies.
"Recognizing Eating Disorders in Time to Help" by Jane E. Brody
As a teenage girl in 2018, I am all too familiar with body issues. It is sadly common for teenage girls to be insecure about their bodies. "I'm so fat" or "I need to lose weight" are phrases I hear frequently in locker rooms and daily conversations with friends.
It is not really a surprise to why so many young girls believe they need to have a perfect body. The famous models on magazines and Instagram are often portrayed as flawless. Even though these models are almost always photo shopped to perfection, young girls exposed to them begin to believe that they need to have that ideal body to be loved.
Because body insecurities are so common, people might not be able to tell when someone they know has a serious issue. This article genuinely interested me and helped me to recognize signs of a person with an eating disorder. I'm happy to have seen this article and to know I could hopefully recognize if one of my friends or family members had an eating disorder.
Riders Wonder: With Uber as New York’s Plan B, Is There a Plan C?
Often, preserving the free market at the cost of practicality in the real world is a hard balance to find. The struggle is shown here on a large scale with Uber's clogging of New York's streets. However, specifically capping the growth on Uber and Lyft seems like a strange solution to the problem. It's blaming the congestion on these large enterprises, when in reality, they aren't more at fault than yellow taxis just because the are more succesful. Finding a compromise between traditional taxi drivers and Uber seems to be the best solution to the problem. If Uber completely took over the taxi business in New York, then there wouldn't be several different enterprises clogging the streets at the same time.
The makeover of the private transportation industry has been long overdo, and was probably the eventual result of Uber expansion. However, with the new regulations, this trend will most likely stagnate, not doing anything to fix the problem but simply preventing the relief to city congestion that would come from a real solution. The cap seems not only unfair to the private enterprises, but to the general public who now has to deal with second or third-rate transportation purely because of bureaucracy falsely stagnating the growth of the business.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/education/learning/wrong-fit-for-coll...
When I read the title of this article, I became skeptical. Teenagers are almost infamous for going to the greatest extents to "fit in" and not be an outsider. I went into this article with confusion because wanting to be an outcast was foreign to me. My point of view made the idea of this article sound unlikely, and that is what lured me to read this.
As I was reading the article, I noticed that every student mentioned found support within their schools. These students held political beliefs, religious views, or unique backgrounds that were not popular in their perspective settings, but they found support groups that shared their beliefs or experiences and were able to thrive. These students were not the majority in their schools, but they were certainly not alone. I thought not fitting in was synonymous with being alone, but these students were not alone.
So, does that still mean that these students are outsiders?
The author's attempt to prove that being an outsider was helpful to these students is flawed when the validity of being an "outcast" is questioned. The listed benefits in the article are not unique to an outsider's college experience. Culture shock, gained confidence, and a profound impact on one’s sense of self are beneficial attributes listed in the article, but all college students gain these throughout their college career. Personal growth in college is a universal experience.
¨Pope Francis Declares Death Penalty Unacceptable in All Cases¨
The Death Penalty has been a very questionable punishment for many years due to it being unjust and inhumane. This has been questioned by officials in the Government and in society because of the emotional, mental and physical damage that it could cause to not only the individual but for the family members as well. Pope Francis and other very powerful people have commented on the The Pope who is very important in the aspect of Catholicism stated the penalty as ¨an attack on human dignity¨ for those who may have made a mistake which based on the Death Penalty could have them lose their life. This country has provided benefits for many individuals who left their homes because of personal situations. Even though most criminals face this death penalty because its what many claim to be what they deserve, there should be a sense of hope since they are human. It's interesting how some people can be cold hearted and forget that if they were in the same position as the criminal they would be petrified. The death penalty is a very serious matter and this article was able to raise awareness about how there needs to be a larger emphasis on finding a more effective way in having these criminals learn a lesson without ending their lives. Ending a life intentionally is a crime and this penalty is allowing for this crime to be permitted under the hands of authority, this is extremely cruel and quite a harsh punishment.
"The iGen Shift: Colleges Are Changing to Reach the Next Generation" By Laura Pappano
This article interested me the most in the times this week because I strongly agree that more electronics/ tablet use should be implemented into school systems. They could be used as a planner, map and bus routes, grades, textbooks, schedules, etc.) An iPad is customizable which could help to fit it to your classes needs. Studies show with the new "IGen", the new generation of kids, that they are changing the stereotypes of young adults. This group seems to fear failure and are much more cautious when it comes to academics. Studies have also been shown that this generation favors visual, as well as face to face learning. A young man recently shared his video on twitter of his acceptance to Princeton, which has hit 4.6 million views. He claims that his generation is criticized for social media use, but it has actually helped him. He claims that it helps him stay connected with everyone all the time. I believe that if we begin to integrate tablets into the classroom, it would give more motivation for the next generation of kids to succeed, helping their future. This overall showing them,that the the sky is the limit.
"Designing the Death of a Plastic"
By Xiaozhi Lim
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/06/science/plastics-polymers-pollution.h...
Currently, plastics made out of synthetic non-degradable polymers are plaguing the environment and wildlife. The reason these plastics aren't degradable is because the bonds that assembly the polymers take too much energy to be broken natural by bacteria and other decomposers. Initially, this was intentional. Stronger bonded polymers were meant to replace the metals and glass in the construction of automobiles and airplanes. However, the long-term consequences of these polymers weren't considered when they were originally introduced. To mitigate some of the damage caused by non-degradable polymers, degradable polymers are now being created. The potential of these new polymers which could create degradable plastics is immense. Landfill overflow and oceanic population could eventually be conquered if these new plastics became the norm. However, current plastics are vastly cheaper to mass produce in comparison and companies won't be willing to lose profit just to produce an ecologically safer alternative. Hopefully these new plastics will eventually become less cost consuming to produce or companies will realizing that these new plastics would be worth the extra funds to produce.
“Meet the Teenagers Leading a Climate Change Movement”
Global warming seems to have ubiquitously pervaded every newspaper headline, but not without good reason. The first time I seriously thought about climate change was in 6th grade when we were tasked with researching any topic of interest and writing a 2-page research paper. I picked up a copy of “An Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore and by the end of 20 weeks, I had not only the glee of an “A+” on my 9-page paper, but also a new global responsibility I had taken upon myself. For me, the truth was undeniable: melting glaciers in national reserves, rising sea levels, sinking islands, social and economic consequences of refugee migration, heat associated deaths, power grid stretching, and misalignment of global mating and flowering patterns.
Yet as time passed, my efforts never went beyond replacing plastics from the trash into the recycling bin.
However, after reading the Times article on the Zero Hour climate change movement, I was invigorated by the teen-led effort. I am happy that youth are playing an active role in the world whose environmental burdens are theirs to bear, but I am even more delightfully inspired by the feats of the members in organizing, financing, and advocating for change. Seeing how each individual’s forté plays in with their convictions for change, I am inspired to take part in this movement as well and offer my own contributions. I hope to fulfill the final words of my 6th grade paper: “—take action!”
I read an article titled "Pence Advances Plan to Create a Space Force" and what I read kind of shocks me in the fact that people believe that China and Russia are building antisatellite weaponry. As a young teenager that avoids talking about politics and the conflicts along with it, I don't really know much about why people would believe that other countries would try to attack satellites. Especially considering that the United Nations would go crazy on any country that enacts space warfare.
Probably due to me being naive, I think that having a "Space Force" would make other countries feel threatened, which will make them want to protect themselves with their own Space Force. I believe that the best solution is to have world leaders meet up and discuss what the best course of action is. With great minds collaborating, they could no doubt findthe best solution.
My main problem with this article is that all it says is "Proponents of a Space Force argue that the Air Force does not pay enough attention to outer space. What is more, they say, Russia and China are developing anti-satellite weapons that could pose a threat to American satellites." The article provides some evidence to support this claim is that a United States intelligence assessment of threats warned that Russia and China will be able to shoot down American satellites within two to three years. However, the keyword is that it says that they will be able to shoot down our satellites, not that they actually will.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/09/opinion/do-songs-of-the-s...
This article was really interesting to read. Starting with the format of the article, it kept my attention from start to finish. The musical feature of it also kept me interested throughout the entire thing. The visuals explaining the "fingerprints" really helped me understand more. Before reading this article i watched a video about the similarities between popular songs and it was basically saying that a certain beat can be addictive so they add it to the song to get people to listen more. this article showed the reader the energy, loudness, valence, acoustics and dancibility similarities. It opened my eyes and helped me realize how similar songs are to each other nowadays. We need more diversity!
The article that interested me the most in The Times this week is "Beauty Is in the Eye of These Beholders". This article grabbed my attention instantly. This article is about a convention held by the beauty industry, where new products are revealed and celebrities show up to launch their products into the profitable makeup business. It is called Beautycon. This article goes into depth about Beautycon, the process of creating Beautycon, the people at Beautycon, the support of “All races, all genders, all ages, all countries of origin, all sexual orientations, all religions, all glamazons, all natural beauties, all unicorns” at Beautycon, and the competitors of Beautycon. I am very interested in the beauty community. Ever since I was young, I would always find my way into my mom's makeup. I would pretend I was a famous beauty guru from youtube or one of the famous Instagram models. Now that I am a bit older, I have started a collection of my own. From drugstore makeup to every makeup brand in Sophora. It has always been a dream of mine to attend Beautycon and meet all my role models. Beauty to me is not about looking good for others, it is about looking good for me and expressing my creativity. ([email protected])
"Make Your Daughter Practice Math. She'll Thank You Later."
Since I was young, I have always preferred math over language arts. I understood numbers better than words. To read that girls commonly are better at writing than math is intriguing to me. The article states that girls and boys are equally skilled in math, but because girls believe they are better at writing, they might tend to dislike and avoid math.
For me, it is the opposite. While I am certainly able to add and subtract, reading comprehension and essay writing is a skill that I am lacking in. But the article made me question myself, am I lacking skills in language arts, or is it just me trying to convince myself that I am not good at it?
Because I feel more comfortable in math, am I pushing language arts to the side? Practice is what will answer my question. Picking up some books and reading news articles more and more are a few of the ways that are going to help me improve.
Over the summer, I have been drilling myself in language arts practice and the answer to my question of if I am bad is still left unanswered. Will I ever get better? Improvement is slow and this article helped remind myself that results don't show right away. With constant practice, hopefully my difficulty with writing and reading will lessen and maybe one day I will come to prefer language arts over math.
“My Father Staged His Suicide to Look Like a Murder”
The most interesting thing to me is how much connection a parent has to their children despite their relationship. A father who did not care for his child and was not a “parent” to his daughter. He divorced his wife and mother of his child after 28 years of marriage. Moreover, he received countless emails from his own child that he was a terrible father and she’d never forgive him and how if she died that she wouldn’t attend his funeral. Despite all the hatred and eventually remarrying and getting a stepson, he chose to reach out to his daughter in order achieve a relationship with her. He tried to come to terms and try to set up lunch, sit and talk, anything he could to possibly make up time lost. No, it was never the same as growing up with a father, but after almost neglecting a child from her childhood, he tried to come back. He was in great depression in front of everyone, yet no one knew because he cared too much to show. He “always woke up with a smile on his face”, so suicide would leave everyone is shock and awe. So, after nine years of researching different ways to make a human die (neither murder nor suicide), he wrote notes in his phone about his suicide, but framed a murder. He led police into an investigation leaning towards a homicide, but he did that so his kids were not even more hurt. Setting up a fake murder was the easiest was that him being gone was okay for them.
<https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/06/opinion/sunday/ant-man-wasp-movies-su...
Mark Bowden underestimates the themes and social relevance of superhero movies by claiming that superhero movies are meaningless, they are watched and quickly forgotten.
In "Why Are We Obsessed with Superhero Movies", Bowden argues that superhero movies favor brawn over brain, revenge over forgiveness, and the individual over teamwork. He claims that villains add no substance to the theme and are only there to "conquer and kill."
Bowden does a disservice to himself and the movies by failing to realize the true themes and impact of superhero movies. He has an inadequate view of films based on comics.
Every superhero movie I have watched, an important theme is conveyed throughout the film. For example, the plot of "Avengers: Age of Ultron" focuses on Iron Man facing the consequences of his actions, and not only does he face them alone, but he is only successful with the help of his team, the Avengers. Within these films, a lot of these characters are of high intellect, for example, Iron man and Shuri, of "Black Panther", rely on intelligence and creativity to succeed in the problems they face rather than relying on "superpowers".
I think Superhero films are very important to my generation because young people are very influenced by media. Superhero films are hugely popular and present real-world themes in fantastical settings. With great popularity comes great responsibility.
"Pope Francis Declares the Death Penalty Unacceptable in all Cases"
Many Catholics believe that the taking of one's life through the death penalty is wrong. I agree with these people. It is not fair for someone to be killed, even if they have done it to someone else. The belief is that life is to be respected from conception to natural death. The use of the death penalty is not keeping a life until its natural death. The death penalty used to be acceptable in practical ways. Many different Catholics didn’t think that it was totally immoral. This was when the Catholic teaching agreed with that thought in some circumstances. Recently, the teaching was changed by the Pope. This means that the death penalty is wrong in all cases according to the Church. If we were to focus in on the death penalty in the United States, we would see that 31 states out of the 50 allow the death penalty. I feel that the statistics may change as they hear about what the Pope has said towards the death penalty. Some people will still say that the death penalty is right, and they have their reasons for saying it. For example, the jails will be too full if the death penalty is legal. Also that if someone kills another person, they don’t deserve to live. The people who agree with the Pope’s statement will say that on the other hand, they still deserve a second chance and the right to life. Some people may change their beliefs on the issue from this, but many will still stay firm on what they feel.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/world/europe/pope-death-penalty.html
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What interested me the most in the Times this week was, "Pope Francis Declares Death Penalty Unacceptable in All Cases". I chose to read this article this week because I've actually done a school project where I've learned all about the death penalty and the pros and cons. I'm also Catholic and to see what the leaders of Catholics has to say about it is pretty cool to me. The Pope obviously disagrees with it though because he believes no matter what the case is it is inhumane to take a human life. Now this debate has been going on for a while now if the death penalty should be legal or not. In the USA 31 states have it legalized while 4 is chosen by the governor, and 15 states have it illegal. In the past though for the Catholic church John Paul the second said, "the death penalty is allowed if it was the only practicable way to defend the lives of human beings effectively against the aggressor". Now I personally agree with this because if the death penalty is allowed then it should be for the cost to save other innocent lives. Overall though the death penalty is inhuman but I believe that it should be allowed if it is at the cost to save other innocent lives.
“The next great chapter in the history of our armed forces.”
This article interested me because I like reading about the armed forces. Its interesting because they are introducing a new branch of the military called the Space Command. Some say it’s necessary to compete with countries like China and Russia. Pentagon officials were reluctant at first but have decided to back the program up. But many congress are skeptical about it. [email protected]
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/reader-center/free-range-parenting-ou...
Reading the article, “From Tokyo to Paris, Parents tell Americans to Chill,” I learned that in other countries, children are allowed to go to the park alone, hang out with friends alone after school, and even ride public transportation all alone, whereas, in America, parents often see these practices as bad parenting.
I live in America, and as a child, my parents would never let me go to a playground alone or hang out with friends without a trusted adult supervising us. They would even stay at a birthday party that I attended, even if some parents left in order to run errands. Some parents from other countries may disagree with the way that my parents have raised me; however, I have never been bothered with my parent's strict ways. If anything, I feel safe knowing that my parents know exactly where I am in case I find myself in an unpleasant situation.
Allowing a child to walk to the park alone doesn't mean that the parent is neglectful; however, it should still be something that is not done on a daily basis. The unfortunate truth is that children are vulnerable in any country, and this is because the world is a very dangerous place. I believe that all parents should watch their kids diligently, instead of assuming that nothing bad can happen to their child. I don't know about you, but in this dangerous world, I would never allow my child to go anywhere unsupervised.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/us/brock-turner-appeal.html
Brock Turner is a sore sight to see in any sort of publication. It is a reminder to us how the judicial system has failed the American people, letting a rapist walk free after only 3 months of jail time. He then had the gall to appeal the already light conviction, one his father claims has kept him from enjoying his "favorite meals". The victim of his actions had more than a loss of appetite to lose however, as she poetically describes the horrific aftermath of waking up in a hospital gurney whilst being told she had just been a victim of sexual assault. When news broke of Brock's appeal being rejected, it restored some semblance of hope in me. This was an indicator that the struggles of thousands of victims, including Emily Doe, Turner's victim, had an impact on societies view on assault, and how asinine the appeal attempt was in the first place.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/us/politics/trump-government-shutdown...
The articled that interested me this week was “Build Border Wall or Government Will Be Shut Down, Trump Says.” This article interests me because of the risk that our ‘President’ is willing to do anything to get what he wants. He said it himself, “If we don’t get border security after many, many years of talk within the United States, I would have no problem doing a shutdown. We’re the laughingstock of the world.” He clearly has no problem with the fear of a government shutdown threatening our economy and the country’s safety. All because Congress has not yet delivered on Republican demands to crack down on immigration by enforcing security on the border with Mexico and building his long-promised will, the one that he promised during his campaign that led to him getting elected in 2016. All because Trump promised that he would make Mexico pay for the building of a wall in order to keep unwanted illegal immigrants out of “our” country, the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. The crossing points for all different religions, ethnicities, cultures, races, and many other things that make everyone unique in their own way. Now our elected president is threatening to put the economy and safety of our country in harm’s way for what, a promised will that we have yet to come upon?
"The Carr Fire, The 7th Most Destructive in Californian History, Rages On"
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/us/carr-fires-california-explained.html
This article is upsetting to me. This is the seventh most destructive fire in California. That's one too many. My opinion is that we should put rules or systems in place to help prevent these fires from happening. Six people died and many were injured. Wildlife was disturbed and many homes were destroyed. We need to stand together to help these people move on. The damage is done, and I believe we need to help the victims recover from that by helping getting them new homes and supply or starting a go fund me page. We should also do things to prevent these fires from happening. They're extremely destructive and need to come to an end.
"A Rebuilt Liverpool Hopes to Reach New Heights With Its Soul Intact"
This article interested me the most in the Times this week because I completely disagree with it. Every year Liverpool is expected to do well because they buy top-class players, but they end up becoming flops. Liverpool has one problem that everyone notices except the club, the management team. The reason these big players flop is because the managers and the coaching staff do not know what to do them. They do not learn how to adapt to the team. On the field, there may be eleven world-class players, but they have absolutely zero chemistry. It has been almost a decade since Liverpool was considered one of the top teams in the Premier League. Ever since their best manager was removed, the club has not been able to achieve its full potential. I think the best thing for the Liverpool club is to sack their current manager and get a new one. The only Liverpool will succeed is with new management. THis way they will not just be wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on top-tier players every summer.
"The Earth Ablaze"
The opinion piece “The Earth Ablaze,” written by Don J. Melnick, Mary C. Pearl and Mark A. Cochrane, is about the worldwide increase in wildfires. Wildfires are indicative of carelessness on all levels in the U.S., from the federal government all the way down to the individual.
While both the local and United States government have shown effort in their responses to wildfires, their efforts to prevent them have been lackluster. For example, the controlled burning of combustible deadwood and brush can mitigate the spreading and strength of the wildfire, yet the government as a whole has failed to routinely do so, thus making wildfires more destructive and quick to spread. Just a simple thing like a controlled burn could potentially save lives as well as thousands of buildings and homes.
However, we can’t simply put the blame only on the government. We as people have failed each other as well. A seemingly trivial action like throwing a cigarette butt out the car window can cause unfathomable amounts of damage and pain for others. “Research on wildfires in the United States over the past 20 years found that 84 percent were started by people…” While the government may have been able to mitigate the effects of the fire, we as people could have prevented the fire itself.
This article interested me because it highlighted, albeit a bit subtly, that both the government and the people are equally responsible for wildfires instead of scapegoating either one.
“Pope Declares Death Penalty Unacceptable in All Cases”
Although the Pope is the figure with the most authority within the Catholic Church, his doctrine shouldn’t apply to the cases of mass murderers. The argument of killing someone as a result of a crime being portrayed as an attack on human dignity is unreasonable because crimes such as mass murders cannot be justified by anyone besides the murderer and those who share the same beliefs. As a result of unjustified homicide, the murderer takes the inalienable rights of his or her victims and denies the right for them to live. To allow such a person to live would attack the dignity of the families of the victims because the families will have to acknowledge the fact that that person, if given a life sentence rather than the death penalty, will still have many rights and will have more money spent on him or her than students in most states (CNN Money). There are certain crimes where the death penalty is justifiable and such people cannot be treated as individual lives that have inalienable dignity because of the violation of the dignities of those the murderer affected. A murderer who treats other human lives that low should not expect the same treatment from other people as a result
As I think about my relative innocence living in New York, I am struck by the horrible loss of childhood many young girls experience in other countries. The article, "11 and Married: Malaysia Spars Over an Age-Old Practice," really caught my eye and made me realize how lucky I am to be living in the United States. The statistics quoted about the 650 million girls marrying under the age of 18 served to contrast my life to theirs. While I'm worrying about what makeup to buy, something a girl should be concerned with, girls as young as 11 year's old are marrying men much older than them. This was the situation discussed in the article where young Aya married her friend's father who is 41 year's old. The girls' friendship reminded me of my best friend and me. We support each other through all our teenage problems; however, we will never have to face the conditions these girls have to contend with. Malaysia is divided in their opinion and support of child marriage. It was interesting to read about how on one hand the country is a modern democracy, and on the other hand there are many who still cling to very traditional Islamic traditions such as child marriage. Young girls are not being protected from this kind of sexual exploitation and when the husband suggests that he will not "touch" his wife until she is 16, it is heartbreaking. This is a crime that should not be tolerated. I know I live a pretty sheltered life and this article made me appreciate my freedoms.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/well/recognizing-eating-disorders-in-...
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The article that has interested me the most in this weeks New York Times is “Recognizing Eating Disorders in Time to Help.” I feel this article is very important to our society today, especially teenagers and young women. Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia or binge-eating are serious problems which need to be recognized more by parents. Parents, as well as other family members and friends, can play a critical role in recognizing people with an eating disorder. “Eating disorders can ultimately be fatal. People with eating disorders can die of medical complications, but they may be even more likely to die of suicide. They become tired of having their lives controlled by eating and food issues,” said Dr. Laurie Hornberger, a specialist in adolescent medicine at Children’s Mercy Kansas City. These problems are especially common among gymnasts, dancers, models, wrestlers and other athletes, who often struggle to maintain the “perfect body.” To conclude, I believe it is very important for parents to recognize their child’s eating disorder and guide them to becoming healthy again.
The article that has interested me the most this week is the article entitled “Recognizing Eating Disorders in Time to Help.” This article is most interesting to me because there are so many girls and young women in today’s world struggling with eating disorders that we don't even know about. This problem is most common among models, gymnasts, wrestlers, dancers and other athletes who struggle with keeping slim bodies. “According to the Family Institute at Northwestern University, nearly 3 percent of tennagers between the ages of 13 and 18 have eating disorders. Boys as well as girls may be affected.” This quote stands out to me because it shows that boys can also struggle with eating disorders. Although some eating disorders may not reach that level of a clinical diagnosis, the disorders can still have seriously distorted the girl or boy’s eating habits. It is of the utmost importance that you diagnose the eating disorders as early as possible. Parents or adults in the lives of these teens need to be alert to “telltale signs” and take the necessary actions to stop the disorder or the problem at hand before it becomes an even bigger problem than it already is.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/02/learning/the-ninth-annual-new-york-ti...
"At the Rubin Museum, the Future Has Arrived. And It's Fluid."
Time is very sacred and precious to us. After all, worrying about time is part of our nature and quotidian life. Time can be thought of as magical, mystical, strange in essence. Sometimes we cannot wrap our heads around it; our minds do not contain such capacity.
The use of historical pieces for the sake of comprehension has always been a classic move. But there is something about these specific pieces that add more awe to it. The people have chosen well. The art found at the Rubin Museum display qualities that seem magical, mystical and strange in essence. One example of this is The Road to Sanchi, a sculptural installation created by an Israeli-born American artist.
History has always been used to visualize why the present is the way it is, but it is fascinating to see that it is now being used to visualize our upcoming future.
Gatekeepers or Censors? How Tech Manages Online Speech
The Alex Jones and Infowars bans across media platforms interested me when I first heard about them. At first I thought, oh great, now the conspiracy theorists have more reasons to claim they are being 'silenced' or 'oppressed'. While I don't agree with the views of Alex Jones, I do feel strongly that he and his associated deserve a platform to express their views. I believe that many people feel this way. However, the part of this article that got me thinking was in regards to the vagueness of the terms of conditions of these media websites.
The companies that removed Jone's content claim many different things like hate speech and child endangerment. However, the fact that there is much content of equal of greater controversy on these platforms. It may be that most content violating Terms of Service fly under company's radars, but it does seem as if Alex Jones content was specifically targeted. Whether or not you believe the ban was justified, I think that these bans just highlight that even though tech companies claim to have a terms of service, they are really free to control whatever content they want on their servers. I believe that the Terms of Service in many of these companies are not specific enough to be able to hold all users to it. Vague rules allow room for companies to abuse power and censor unwanted information. After all, these are private companies.
This week i read The Real Problem With Video Games written by Seth Schiesel and it really resonated with me. I could say with absolute certainty that in League of Legends, despite Blizzard’s attempts to stop it, 90% of games i play I either experience someone getting made fun of or called horrible at the game. I can see how this could clearly get underneath someone’s skin. Many players often retort with their own toxic comments or some even rage quit the game resulting in bans or other repercussions. Blizzard the company in charge of League of Legends instituted a 14 day ban where if they catch you being toxic through a report system used by players, they will not allow you to play on your account for 14 days. On the next offense they will permanently ban your account. Over time I’ve noticed how easily disregarded this system is. Making a new free account is an easy solution.
However I’m not saying this system is pointless. I feel that just the looming thought of a ban is enough to hold some players back. I feel the fact that there is an attempt being made is a step in the right direction to end toxicity and in return decrease violence due to the toxic culture of video games. Even then I feel like it is impossible to completely remove toxicity without removing key communication aspects of the game. I feel that this article shows an important issue that is key that we look into. Cyberbullies can use video games to hurt others instilling anger in these people.
When I first heard that the book “Crazy Rich Asians” was to be made into a movie, I was indifferent. But as I consumed articles written in anticipation of the movie’s release, I realized that I should be excited. Growing up in America, the TV I watched lacked Asian characters who weren’t geniuses, nerds, black belts, or all of the above. Now, I get to see myself on the big screen for the first time not just as the smart sidekick or martial arts master, but in literally every role.
We live in a society that’s becoming increasingly critical of lack of representation and whitewashing in media. I hadn’t even realized it was a problem until the issue was thrust into the spotlight. The article “‘Crazy Rich Asians’: Why Did It Take So Long to See a Cast Like This?” brought some interesting facts to light. The last majority Asian cast in a major Hollywood studio movie was “The Joy Luck Club” in 1993, nine years before I was even born. I remember the accusations of whitewashing when Tilda Swinton and Scarlett Johansson, both white, were recently cast as characters who were originally Asian. A producer even wanted to change the ethnicity of Rachel Chu, protagonist of “Crazy Rich Asians,” from Chinese to white. I wish I could say I was surprised.
As a nation, we are still far from equal representation and treatment in media in any aspect - whether it be race, gender, or sexuality - but with movies like “Crazy Rich Asians,” I hope we can start to take more steps in the right direction.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/opinion/cost-diabetes-obesity-budget....
The weight of Americans is a very popular controversial topic. The question of the article was: is obesity rates and economic inequality somehow correlated? When it comes to obesity, the burden it has on your body can affect your life expectancy in a negative way. Beyond the toll of human suffering, obesity and diet-related diseases impose massive and rapidly growing economic costs. I am not sure if many people know that fact and maybe if they did they would take their diet more seriously. The long term affect of obesity neds to be brought to attention in order for a change to be made.
"What Is Sadness, and What Is Depression?"
Mental health is an issue that is never taken as seriously as it needs to be. People often confuse depression with sadness. Sadness is a common emotion, a natural response to certain stimuli. However, depression is a beast of a different color. Depression is the unnaturally long period of emptiness that is caused by imbalances in the brain. Depression is a dark cloud that follows you everywhere and numbs down the entire body, even causing fatigue and digestive issues. Depression, unlike sadness, lasts for an unusually long period of time, such as months, or even years. Depression can also cause other mental health issues such as anxiety. In extreme cases, it can even lead to suicide.
However, depression is not taken as seriously as it needs to be, Too often, people who suffer from depression are told to just get over it, and to have a positive outlook on life. Depression is not solved by ‘just getting over it’. It is a long process to recovery and usually it takes therapy, possibly medication. I believe treating depression as if it’s sadness can contribute to suicide. Many people reach out for support, but are told that their depression is an overreaction, and over-dramatic. Being shut down when you reach out for help is heartbreaking. I feel that if depression and mental health issues are taken more seriously, it could lead to people getting help to manage their mental health.
Reading the article "A 'Generationally Perpetuated' Pattern: Daughters Do More Chores" reminded me of three things my mother occasionally says to me: I should be financially independent, get married and have kids before I'm thirty, and that it is impossible to be a mother and work full time. These pieces of "advice" obviously contradict each other, and each time I heard one I was confused about what that meant for my future. Another time I remember washing the dishes after dinner and she told me that I was going to make a fantastic housewife one day. After reading this article I understand how the "chore gap" between boys and girls is "generationally perpetual". Chores prepare children for adulthood, and the gender gap in household chores sets the stage for the gender pay gap. Furthermore, the differences in how girls and boys are rewarded for certain activities perpetuates the notion that boys deserve more than girls, for the same or less work. For example, the article mentions that boys' chores include brushing teeth and showering, elements of life that do not deserve a reward. Contrarily, girls spend more time on valuable household work and are still payed the same, or often less. Although evidence does suggest this gap is narrowing, there is still a dramatic difference between men and women's work at home. As the article shows, how children are raised shapes who they will become as adults, and all parents must struggle with the task of raising their children in equality.
"11 and Married: Malaysia Spars Over Old-Age Practice"
The article "11 and Married: Malaysia Spars Over Old-Age Practice" caught my eye when I was browsing this weeks list of NYT articles. Child marriages have often been connected to cultures and religions in different parts of the world including South East Asia. Although the right to marry under age girls is granted in some cultures and customs such as Sharia Law in Malaysia, the basic rights of these children must be considered and secured. I believe when protecting the human rights of any human being, the customs and traditions of those infringing should not be taken into consideration. As knowledge and awareness of child marriages spread, I hope we can take steps to supply aid to those in need.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/us/carr-fires-california-explained.html
What interested me most about this article is how big the fire got in such a short amount of time. The fire started on July 23rd and it is now August 9th. The fire is already 110,000 acers and has destroyed pretty much everything in it path! There are so many people working, risking their lives to stop this fire and they don't even know when and/or if it will be contained any time soon. people have lost their lives and their homes. its amazing but very saddening how something like this could cause so much harm in so little time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/opinion/are-we-all-harmless-torturers...
This week I read "Are We All 'Harmless Torturers' Now?" The article came to my attention when I saw it talked about the effects of bashing people on social media. From personal experience, I've seen this on multiple occasions. Whenever anyone states an unpopular opinion, there is immediately a huge group of people that disagree and sometimes even threaten the person with the unpopular opinion. The article talked about how these comments can build up and have a bigger effect on the person than was intended.
As a frequent social media user I've disagreed with some opinions in the past. I've joined in with the "mob of people" and disagreed, not thinking how much it might actually effect someone. From reading this article I think people as a whole need to become more accepting of other's opinions, whether you agree or not. Everyone has the right to say or think whatever they want, whether we agree with it or not. Bashing and threatening people on social media for what they believe isn't a productive way to handle things. Is this something that we can realistically fix? No, probably not, but we can all do our part and think twice when we interact on social media, and how we react to peoples’ opinions.
Article: Trump Administration and Unveils it’s Plan to Relax Car pollution Rules
This article interested me the most this week because of how ridiculous it is. What is ridiculous about the article is the fact that people in this day and age still deny global warming, and it is alarming that one of those people is our own President. The article discusses the Trump administration‘s proposal to stop the anti-pollution and fuel efficiency standards for cars, combating Obama’s efforts against global warming. Just reading that statement should strike fear into anybody. Most of us know the consequences of global warming, and this proposal is simply bringing us closer to that outcome. It was surprising to see that even auto industry representatives are opposing the Trump administration on this. Even those that could benefit from the proposal are still opposing it. Every single person in this country needs to come to an understanding that climate change is our own doing, and that building on obama’s advances to slow global warming is essential, what’s happening right now is a step in the wrong direction.
I read "how to Write a Good College Application Essay" this week. Being a junior in high school this article stood out because the college application process is just around the corner. Also, I have heard the rants from many of my Upward bound friends who were drafting their essays over the summer and hoped that this article would make the process less painful for when it is my turn. It is important to know how to write a really nice essay in general. The author quotes an analogy by Hafeez Lakhani of Lakhani Coaching that sums up the whole process of writing an amazing college essay. "Every college is like a dinner table. What will make you the most interesting contributor to that dinner table conversation? What will make you help everyone else have a more interesting experience?” The analogy makes sense because a college essay is like having a conversation at dinner. The article explains that it needs to be more like a story and less like a resume of what you have done in your high school career. Who would want to read a resume that briefly describes volunteering with the elderly when they could be reading an essay about your life in and out of DCF and the volunteer work you did at the nursing home created a sense of security. This analogy really helped me wrap my head around how an essay is not really hard to write.
In other words, this article turns a college essay from a dreaded chore to an exciting process. -Emily_GHS_2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/world/asia/malaysia-child-marriage.html
Marriage, a common thought on every girl's mind. The luminous white dress and Prince Charming husband. However, in the article I read today, it talked about a young girl named Ayu who had secretly became her best friend, Norazila, father's third wife. Mind you, Ayu is only 11. She is Muslim and is growing up in Malaysia. Norazila's father is 41 and explains he has reignited this Islamic tradition in today's modern society. Charles Santiago, a lawmaker with the governing coalition, explained how child marriage is unacceptable. As time went on, Ayu's marriage went viral on social media all around Malaysia. Mr. Che Abdul Karim, the 41 year old, had his second wife post pictures of the wedding online. Critics say that the government hasn't done enough to protect minors. Malaysia's prime minister called this an "alleged incident." There are cases of children that have been married under Islamic tradition, some being at least 15. People still question about children being married is part of Islamic tradition, but most countries have outlawed it like Egypt and Morocco. Latheefa Koya, a human rights lawyer explained how we cannot use the Prophet Muhammad as an example of him condoning child marriage. As a result, this is an outrage. This article really opened my eyes to see what a child's life is like in other countries. Children should be having fun, not being forced into marriage.
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"Designing the Death of a Plastic"
By: Xiaozhi Lim
Plastic has been affecting this planet since it became very widespread because of its low price and durability. That is why when I saw in the article "Designing the Death of a Plastic" I was extremely pleased. It was nice to see that someone was recognizing plastic as a problem and was working to find a solution. According to the article, only 10 percent of plastics are recycled every year, and the other 90 percent has ended up in landfills or natural environments. This is an extreme amount of plastic that is going to waste and affecting our earth. I thought it was amazing that these scientists have been working to find a solution that is durable but degradable on command. The polymers that they found could seriously help the environment in the future by cutting down on the pollution problems caused by plastic. I hope that they continue to work on this idea and that people keep making steps forward to undo some of the damage we have caused this earth.
“Some College Students Choose a School Where They Don't Fit, On Purpose”
Being a rising junior in high school, the pressure of finding “the right college for me” continuously grows, becoming more daunting with every letter, email, and text I receive. Being the first daughter of two smart and successful parents, the pressure to go to a school where I can learn and succeed at the same time is nerve-racking. Not only do I have to make sure to maintain good grades, I also have to worry about “fitting in” and supporting myself by myself.
It seems like everyday where I learn of a new college to research and quite honestly, it’s overwhelming. There are many things I’m nervous for when I get to college. And though the academics will be challenging, I’ve been in school long enough to have learned how to adapt to different teachers and teaching styles. However, I have not had as much practice at finding “my place” because I have grown up with the same people of my town for 16 years and with the comforting fact that my family there if I needed them.
Reading this article gives me confidence that I can flourish in any school even if I don’t “fit in”. It gives me hope that I can adapt to different surroundings and people, and explore new ideas with people who don’t all think the same way I do.
“The Stars of September”
The most respected magazines in the fashion industry such as Vogue and Harper Bazaar, now have colored women on the front page of their prized magazine. 22 time Grammy winner, Beyoncé Knowles, is on Vogue’s September issue for 2018, and had chosen Tyler Mitchell as her photographer. Mitchell just happened to make history by being the first black photographer to shoot the cover of Vogue. In addition, Rihanna, a famous artist, was recently on the cover for British Vogue. Our society has been changing, and barriers are being broken down everyday. After decades of racial discrimination, the color of one’s skin is now unimportant and insignificant to this world. More and more colored models, and celebrity figures, are being showcased on magazines, whereas in the past, this was not the case. Times are changing, and women of color are starting to become more appreciated. However, famous magazines like Elle, has not had one person of color to be on the cover of a September issue in the last decade. To me, this is extremely disappointing because I am tired of seeing the same faces on the cover of newsstand magazines. However, I believe that in the near future, popular magazines will follow the footsteps of displaying women of all color everywhere and anywhere around the world.
"Oh, the Humanities!"
I'll be honest: STEM petrifies me. I'm fine at math and I like to know the facts behind science. But I find many science labs to be daunting and I'm hopeless when it comes to any sort of engineering. I have piss-poor fine motor skills. Thus, the humanities offer a safe haven for me, where I can find seclusion within my own mind and pursue what makes people people. I enjoy learning about how different people live their lives, even if it lacks practicality in a world where we have cyborgs in our pockets.
Yes, the humanities aren't as important in as technological a society as ours... at first glance. But, as your average Joe becomes disillusioned at how technology has severed ties with loved ones and how it has given them a warped sense of reality, humanism will rear its head and remind them of their own individuality. Even those dedicated to pursuing STEM jobs need to remember what actual flesh feels like versus cold metal.
It's understandable why STEM jobs are smiled upon in colleges and in our government. They help our country look better on a national scale which helps to boost Donald's ego. But, as we delve deeper into the century, we need to be wary of any government that advises us to forget how to be human. No leader should downright tell the commonwealth to get a tech job, because telling people how to think is a dystopian ideal, one that the humanities have worked so far to stray us away from in the first place.
The article that interested me this week was, "39 Months for Man Who Confessed 90 Minutes After Bank Robbed" by The Associated Press. This article interested me because it reminded me to an article that was about a man that robbed a bank with a plastic gun. This article also proved the point that banks don't keep money on hand. The article says this when it says, "He told an investigator he had been having trouble paying his bills when he walked into the bank branch with a note demanding money and left with more than $1,100." This proved the point that banks don't keep money on hand.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/us/politics/3d-guns-trump.html
Judge Lasnik's refusal to allow the release of 3-D printed weapon blueprints has temporarily protected our country from an exponential increase in gun-related crime. Allowing virtually anyone to bypass background checks and obtain a firearm would not only allow criminals easier access to weapons, it would nullify future efforts to tighten regulations.
Common sense, bipartisan legislation that could improve instant background checks would be rendered completely useless in years to come if firearms do not need to be purchased from a licensed seller. Not only would the printed firearm be untraceable and easy to obtain, but fully-automatic firearms that are currently extremely expensive and heavily regulated could be quickly mass produced. It's no surprise the NRA hasn't made up their minds about this, as they must appease the arms industry (who would lose money if the blueprints are released) but at the same time not look "anti-gun" to their members.
People often argue that strict regulations do not prevent violence, yet according to the ATF there have only been about three homicides committed using a fully-automatic weapon since 1935 (not including legally modified semi-automatics) when purchasing one legally became an extremely long and expensive process.
Allowing the release of the blueprints will allow criminals unlimited access to faster firing weapons far deadlier than anything readily available today.
How Do You Want to Die?
With the advancement of technology we are able to increase the amount of time that people are able to live. One way to we are doing it is by defibrillator, if someone has a weak heart then a defibrillator is used as a paddle. A defibrillator can sometimes prolong a death, cause fluid to build up in a person's lungs.
Increasing your life when it is almost time does not seem like an appealing thought to me but others want to. The defibrillator is available to most people and you do not need to have had a cardiac arrest.
This article was interesting to me because wanting to prolong your life even by a year even though it can cause many problems does not seem like something many people would like to take part in but there is a large number of people that want to. The context of prolonging a persons' life is seem in different lights for me, for example if a person is not at the typical of death than that is seem as something I can see why but if it is someone at a older age than I cannot see the appeal.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/us/carr-fires-california-explained.html
"The Carr Fire, the 7th Most Destructive in California History, Rages On"
I caught myself surprised by a lot of the information in this article. To start off, the article states that the Carr Fire is the 7th most destructive fire in the state's history, and that it is only one of the 17 fires currently ablaze in California. This fire on its own has also claimed 6 lives and covered 110,000 acres of land (and all the fires in total have taken over 430,000 acres). All of this has happened in a very short amount of time as well (only a little more than a week). The good news is on Sunday the fire was 5 percent contained and in only from then to Tuesday it has brought up to 27 percent contained. Unfortunately the weather is only helping the fire spread, as it stays very hot with almost no rain. Strong winds mixed with the terrain the fire is on causes it to spread quickly. In terms of animals, it is estimated that over 1,000 have had to be moved due to the fire. Fortunately, most wild animals seem to take care of themselves during wildfires.
Even though it is more than two years until the next presidential election, political scientists have been analyzing and predicting the results of the 2020 election. I suggest we wait until at least the 2018 midterm election determines whether Democrats gain seats or whether Trump still has a fervent, loyal base. Nonetheless, Bret Stephens created an op-ed titled "How Trump Won Re-election in 2020." Following the title, he writes that it serves as a sneak peek for coverage on Nov 4, 2020 if the country's fate is to have President Trump for four more years.
The points and predictions he makes really do have some substance. For instance, is it really that far fetched for citizens to vote for Trump again if the economy continues to grow? After all, for the average American, the rhetoric and hate spewed out of Trump's mouth or typed online do not really affect their livelihoods. People ultimately aim for a purposeful and sustaining job. Unfortunately, people might not care how unconventional the President acts, as long as their pay checks continue to grow.
However, this country has a lot to get through in the next two years in order to see whether Trump gets re-elected. Every day seems to bring a new revelation or additional drama. Perhaps the country will see something unforgivable, or evidence of collusion will escalate.
No matter what happens in the next few years, I am certain that the results of the election will be a tossup until the votes are finally tallied.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/us/politics/ohio-state-wrestlers-abus...
This article caught my interest since many people believe that Men cannot get sexually harassed. This was a tough read for me since the descriptions were very disturbing and disgusting. It goes to show how powerless people can be in these situations. I'm glad that more people are stepping out and saying how Dr. Richard Strauss the team doctor at Ohio State sexually harassed them. It's sad to see that these men had to deal with being sexually harassed. Terry Crews also dealt with sexual harassment but when he filed a case to court, it was rejected since he was a male. Terry Crews was violated but people kept telling him to forget it and let it go. This goes to show that people can get sexually assaulted and get away with it. People need to be held accountable. My sympathies to the people who had to deal with being sexually harassed.
I read "The Internet Trolls Have Won. Sorry, There’s Not Much You Can Do." by Brian Chen. I found this article to be both intriguing and insightful. As many of you may already know, the internet can be a cesspool of hate and outrage. People always seem to be at each others throat for their opinions on politics, sports, or anything. This article begins by discussing the infamous "Info Wars" and how they managed to get their internet followers to harass the families who had children die in the Sandy Hook Shooting. A classic example of how someone with a large social media following can control their fans to do horrible things. Info Wars was subsequently banned on many different media platforms and brought to light the fact that the user has very little control over content they find offensive or harmful online. This article then asks the question "why are people so toxic online?". As someone who plays video games in their free time, I honestly don't understand the hateful and angry attitude people have when playing. The article suggests that the internet brings out the worst in people when they are protected behind a computer screen and have little to no repercussions for their actions. Something I find to be entirely accurate when thinking back to past experiences with people online. Finally, I believe that this problem is here to stay and that people should learn to deal with the hate and understand that this is the future.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/07/us/asylum-aclu-migrants-border.html?r...
This article sparked my interest because the title was alarming. As i began reading i wondered why the immigration attorneys thought they had the right to decide if irene's fear was real enough. If an individual is coming to immigration for asylum it is for serious life threatening reasons. Every case brought to them should be dealt with by either relocating the individual(s) immediately or granting them asylum. The case should never be ignored.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/us/politics/3d-guns-trump.html
The idea of a 3D printed gun interests, and morally divides me. I believe in freedom to do as one pleases so long as it doesn’t impede on another’s rights. I also believe in allowing someone to post anything of their choosing no matter what it is. Finally I believe in the right to bear arms and to own any firearm of my choosing to use as I see fit so long as it doesn’t prohibit someone else’s rights or cause harm to a person or ecosystem (as in killing as many deer between my crosshairs as I see). Dispite all this I still am not convinced that allowing untraceable weapons should be legal. Firearms exist as a tool, one to entertain one’s self at a local range, collect food through hunting and harvesting game or to protect ones self with when in a dire situation. All of these things can be done with a metal firearm which can be distributed and regulated within the capabilities of our knowing. This isn’t the case with plastic guns. Plastic guns do not have the same capabilities as metal ones such as hunting and entertainment, only defense. It’s unnecessary to use and more dangerous in the wrong hands. It can only add to the gun problem in America, not solve it which won’t progress our nation, only make it more unsafe. This divide in moral interests me because by while I firmly believe in my second amendment rights, I believe safety should take precidence here above all.
Jake_GHS_2018
‘Crazy Rich Asians’: Why Did It Take So Long to See a Cast Like This?
When I sit in the theater watching a mainstream film, I rarely see Asian actors or actresses starred in it. As a child, I simply admired a movie’s story plot without taking into account of the cast’s predominant race. Now, I know that there is more behind fairy tales and superhero action in the cinematography world.
This article speaks to me because it hints at a revolution, a divergence from the film universe I know today. I have watched films that casted white celebrities as Asian characters and wondered why Asian celebrities weren’t casted instead. I have watched films that casted Asian celebrities as characters with stereotypically “Asian” traits and wondered if that was really how the rest of the world viewed Asians.
Each time I watched these films, I felt a strange mixture of dismay and indignance. As a Korean-American, I feel empowered by the fact that Asian actors and actresses are being casted to play characters with identities that closely match their own.
In today’s society where representation is more relevant than ever, this endeavor is impressive because it not only introduces greater diversity but also redefines Asian identity. Perhaps in the near future, I won’t have to worry about Asians being under-represented or misrepresented when I walk into the theater.
“‘Crazy Rich Asians’: Why Did It Take So Long to See a Cast Like This?”
Growing up, I loved watching actors on the big screen. I remember watching the James Bond series or Star Wars. But I also watched movies which may not be so well acclaimed, such as The Great Wall, Death Note, and The Last Airbender. My grandparents who came to the States from Taiwan wanted me to keep a part of my Asian identity; thus, my family and I watched these so-called “Asian” movies.
These movies were a representation of part of my cultural identity. As such, they meant the world to me. As a young boy, they showed fighting scenes which is all anyone really cared about anyways, but as I grew older, a big issue began to emerge.
While the films had a great story line, one major issue concerning all of them was the lack of an Asian lead, an issue dubbed as “whitewashing” by critics of the movie industry. As a young child, watching these white actors play the part of Asian characters was confusing. I wondered what it said to how the Asian population was perceived.
As an Asian-American, this article made a big impact as it relates to a topic in which my family has been discussing for many years. Now there is a movie which shows Asian actors portraying every character type. I’m thrilled to see that new film Crazy Rich Asians is setting a new standard for diversity in the movie industry.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/science/mars-life.html
For years, Mars has been of great interest to many people, from authors to astrologists to biologists. When we began to take notice of the red planet, we thought there might be advanced life like us, little green aliens surviving out there along with us. Sadly, pictures taken on the surface of the planet showed it a lifeless planet. However, there is evidence that indicates that it used to have bodies of water across the planet and an atmosphere that warmed it. Now, instead of searching for little green men, we search for microbes. If we do find microbes we must then focus on how we should engage the planet. Should we leave these "Martians" alone? Would it be permissible to terraform the planet for our own needs, possibly killing off these developing neighbors of ours? I choose this article because I am also interested in our neighbor planet. I believe that, should we find any microbes on Mars, we should continue to observe them, but find some other planet to go to when ours fails.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/opinion/cost-diabetes-obesity-budget....?
The article that interested me this week was about obesity. Obesity has greatly increased through the country since the late 1900s. Fast food joints and restaurants are available on every corner nowadays. It is very convenient for people if they are too busy to cook. It’s also a very cheap option, however, it’s extremely unhealthy and harmful to the body if consumed frequently. Most organic and healthy foods are a little pricey and this is another reason to why people choose fast food. Other illnesses can also result from obesity such as depression, diabetes, heart disease, etc. The fact that these illnesses are tied with obesity decreases the amount of working individuals and increases Medicare and Medicaid. I personally think that fast and processed foods can taste good but we as people, need to realize what we are putting in our bodies. These foods are constantly being advertised all over the media catching attention of many people. If more healthy foods were displayed on social media and TV, people may start to change their eating habits. Cooking homemade meals does not have to be as hard or expensive as people make it out to be. This article really opened my eyes to how much this country struggles with obesity and how common it has become. If we do not do something about this issue, it will increase even more and will be detrimental to more and more people and generations to come.
"Actually, Republicans Do Believe in Climate Change"
I clicked on this article with skepticism. I see republicans as the backward idiots who want to revert back to the 1960s and democrats as the stubborn, unorganized counterpart. So does it actually surprise me that partisanship is what will lead us quickly to our impending doom? Nope.
However, my initial assumption was that educated Republicans knew that climate change was a very real phenomenon, but they chose to ignore this in favor of keeping harmful industries alive. Because when they talk of "deregulation" and "free market capitalism", they just means that making money is more important than protecting the people.
I also must point out, does it even matter if Republicans do in fact believe in climate change, if they don't plan on doing anything to prevent the devastating impact? Clearly not, as we look at recent events. For example, the Trump administration's plan to loosen environmental regulations on the auto industry. I never expected much from the Republican party and this article has not changed any of that.
The article that interested me the most this week was ‘How to Quantify a Nurse’s ‘Gut Feelings’’ by Theresa Brown. I was scrolling through and I noticed this article which stood out from others because most articles today seem so gloomy and have a negative outlook on life. I see So much hate for our president, sadness about the wildfires and more which just overall bring down your mood. But this article I even liked the picture for, it was pink and just seemed bright and hopeful instead of a picture of a once beautiful forest completely destroyed. I was interested because I saw the word nurse and lately I have been very intrigued by nurses, not sure if it’s because of my sister who has recently graduated high school and wants to go into the nursing field or if it’s from my friend who showed me Greys Anatomy. Either way this article just seemed very up my alley and so already I knew I would like it. Upon first reading I had to look up the definition of ‘quantify’ in the title and it means to express or measure the value of. This article just had so much to do with what goes through nurses heads and how sometimes from their knowledge they get a gut feeling but without proof it just isn’t enough and it isn’t a diagnosis to make a treatment option. I feel tremendously bad for the nurses who have had a feeling that a patient just was off or something wasn’t quite right but it wasn’t serious so they couldn’t do anything, and I am glad that there is now The Rothman Index.
"A Sunflower Farm Invited Tourists. It Ended Up Like a 'Zombie Apocalypse'."
In The Times this week I read the article "A Sunflower Farm Invited Tourists. It Ended Up Like a 'Zombie Apocalypse'". In this article the author was writing about how the Bogle family had to deal with a good idea gone bad. The bad idea that the Bogle family faced were that tourists who would come visit the eye-appealing sunflower farm would be leaving trash, picking the sunflowers off the stems to use as props, and just overall not giving the farm the respect that it needed. It was interesting because I feel like everyone now, because of social media, wants to get that picture perfect Instagram shot or Snapchat and in doing so people forget to respect the area they are in. I feel that people get so carried away about social media that they just blur out everything else. In my opinion I think that if you are going to go somewhere to take pictures then you should at least respect the property. Leaving trash, stomping on the sunflowers, and picking them off the leaves like they are nothing is just wrong. If the owners of the farm are generous enough to let tourists onto their property to take pictures and such then the tourists should give some sort of respect back. Also I think that tourists should be taking in the sunflower farm with their eyes and actually experiencing the farm and not just trying to get that perfect picture with the selfie stick even though it may be nice to post on social media.
The thing I had found the most interesting this week was "39 Months for Man Who Confessed 90 Years After Bank Robbed" by The Associated Press. I found this to be the most interesting thing I had read this week because the article was both surprising and interesting as for why would a man confess to a robbery he would have gotten away with?
The article that interested me the most is called "11 and Married: Malaysia Spars Over an Age-Old Practice". This article talks about a shocking event that just happened recently. A 41-year-old man married a girl who is only 14, who is also the best friend of one of his daughters.
In my opinion, the adult shouldn't be married young adolescent who did not even turn 18 years old. I remember clearly a court judge in the article mentioned that if the girl has her menstrual cycle and has reached puberty, her body is the same as the body she will have when she turned 18 years ago. I disagree with this saying. The body of young people is always developing before they turn into an adult. Some people even grow taller after they passed 18. Having a menstrual cycle doesn't mean anything. Also, especially, the early sexual experience will increase the risk of having gynecological problems, or even cervical cancer. Either way is not good for the girl's body.
I think if the man truly loved the girl, he should wait until the girl turns 18. Also, the girl's mind may change as well as she grows older and sees more people and things. She might not love this man anymore. She might fall in love with another young, attractive boy. The girl is only 14 years old right now. Her mind is not fully made up yet. She has the right to experience more people in her life. But she might now be aware of this right, and this is the time when she needed the guidance from an adult.
11 and Married: Malaysia Spars Over an Age-Old Practice
After reading this article, my heart is completely broken. To think that children as young as 11 are forced into a situation that most don’t want to be in is heartbreaking. The fact that these little girls that aren’t even fully developed or able to make their own decisions are going through this is disgusting in my opinion.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/education/asbestos-crayons-school-sup...
Today I read, "Asbestos in a crayon, Benzene in marker: A school Supply's Toxic Results. I was shocked to hear that everyday school materials can have such toxins that can affect the human body.
For crayons it has been found to have asbestos in the green crayon. In markers, there has been found to have Benxne, tuluene, ethylbenzene, and xylne in dry erase markers.
This was interesting to me because school supplies is the last place i would expect there to have toxins because of the children who use it
This week in the times, the article "The Carr Fire, the 7th Most Destructive in California History, Rages On" interested me most. This article caught my attention mostly because the raging wildfire fires in California have been a big source of news in the past few years. In the article it states that these intense fired are occurring because of the very dry land and are affecting many people. The first thing I thought of when reading this article is how scary it must be for the people of the cities affected and the firefighter that are trying to contain these huge fires. I pray for the safety of all the people affected by these wildfires and hope that they can be contained soon. [email protected]
"Judge Blocks Attempt to Post Blueprints for 3-D Guns"- Michael D. Shear, Tiffany Hsu, and Kirk Johson
I chose to comment on this article because it had interested me the most this week. This article shows that there are more ways that guns are becoming more easily available. Cody Wilson has tried to post blueprints for making plastic guns with a 3-D printer. This brings up many problems. In the world today, guns and violence are already a huge concern. As it is, guns are easy to get a hold of. If people can now 'download guns', who knows just how many people are able to make one? And because these guns are plastic, metal detectors will not detect them. They are also harder to track. This would mean the safety of people everywhere is at risk. In the past, Wilson has already tried to get his blueprints approved, and attorneys in eight states had filed a lawsuit to make the Trump administration stop Wilson's organization from posting the blueprints. A spokesperson for Trump had said that he,“is committed to the safety and security of all Americans”. Yet, didn't say what was being done about Wilson's blueprints. The decision to stop Wilson from posting the blueprints would save lives. At this point in time we need to limit access to guns and not encourage making your own. This would only promote violence. There has been too much violence to and too many lives lost to guns, and passing these blueprints would be a step in the wrong direction.
"Marine Mammals Have Lost a Gene That Now They May Desperately Need"
As technology progresses, pollution increases as well. With the increase of more factories, the environment around us becomes polluted. Though most people think of pollution, they think about factories and thick black smoke. However in this case, the pollution is pesticide from farms.
Pesticides are used to kill or repel insects that eat or destroy crops and fruit. The chemicals from these pesticides are then carried from "farm fields into coastal waters." This means sea animals end up being exposed to these chemicals that put their lives at risk.
A big issue is that many sea animals are missing an enzyme that "provides a defense against certain kinds of pesticides." This enzyme is called paraoxonase. Paraoxonase is found in land mammals and breaks down other harmful molecules that our own bodies produce.
Some marine mammals are exposed to pesticides used on farms on a daily basis. This ingestion and exposure to these chemicals may have extremely detrimental consequences if not dealt with soon.
"BTS Becomes First K-Pop Act With Two Hits on the Pop Songs Chart as 'Fake Love' Debuts"
By Gary Trust
This article stood out to me because I am a huge fan of BTS and I was extremely proud when BTS made it on Billboard this year with their new song "Fake Love." BTS started as a small group from a small kpop agency. Through their unbreakable camaraderie, captivating choreography, inimitable genius, unique singing and rapping styles, and incessant practice, BTS has been able to reach a global audience and become international superstars. BTS has previously made it on Billboard last year with their song "DNA," and has won Top Social Artist two times already. Both of BTS' performances were the highlights of the nights at the BMA events and BTS has received positive reactions from American celebrities and the American audience both times. Many American celebrities were very welcoming of BTS' appearances, and BTS has been able to become close friends with the Chainsmokers, Halsey, Shawn Mendes, Khalid, Ansel Elgort, Camilla Cabello, and Ellen. These were monumental landmarks for not only BTS but also for the kpop industry as a whole. No kpop group has been able to make it on Billboard before, let alone twice. BTS has been able to "break the curse" that deters most kpop groups from penetrating the American music industry and have paved the way for more kpop groups and Asian artists to enter Hollywood. I hope BTS will continue to reach even more impressive milestones in the future!
This week I read Recognizing Eating Disorders in Time to Help
by Jane E. Brody. This article interested me because of how prevalent eating disorders are in society. One reason may be due to unrealistic social media portrayals that many young children are exposed to. This may contribute to body dissatisfaction. What makes this problem even worse is the colossal long term impact it can have. When signs of an eating disorder show, it is absolutely crucial that both physical and psychological testing is complete. However, along with timely detection, it is also important to identify the causes of eating disorders.
“The iGen Shift: Colleges are Changing to Reach the Next Generation”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/education/learning/generationz-igen-s...
This article caught my attention. Given that I am considered a “Gen Z kid” and I am going to be in college in a couple years I was curious as to what this article would say. I like that colleges are starting to adapt to the new technological changes. It was very interesting what psychologists had to say about our generation, not labeling us as most do as “lazy” and “always on our phone”. Many claim this makes us anti social and unprepared for the real world, when really our phones make us more connected than ever with people. It is nice to see that colleges are trying to reach out and connect to us, seeing as we are the future. This article also really captured what our generation truly is an acts which distinguishes itself from all the other articles written by someone of an older generation claiming they know ours. It will be interesting to see how college will further implement the ideas said in this article by the time I start college.
As a person belonging to the catholic church, the article that interested me the most this week was entitled, "Pope Francis Declares Death Penalty Unacceptable in All Cases". The article talks about the Pope declaring the death penalty unacceptable. This came as such a shock to me because very few religious figures have spoken out about the topic since it gets very political. Several states have already outlawed the death penalty as they see imprisonment as a more humane punishment. The topic becomes even more controversial when it comes to politicians who are very catholic but are also in favor of the death penalty. I guess that brings up the argument of separation of church and state but again catholics tend to believe that your religion follows you everywhere and in every part of your life. This topic is very personal to me and i'm very concerned on how it will impact the catholic community.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/world/europe/pope-death-penalty.html
The article I read this week was titled "Pope Francis Declares Death Penalty Unacceptable in All Cases." Compared to past judges and rulings, capital punishment was something that the capital church was not openly against. However, now it is openly condemned by the Pope of the Catholic Church himself. This could cause controversy since the majority of Catholic Americans deem the death penalty acceptable in certain cases. I wouldn't care much for this article except for the fact that it hits home, because many of my fellow Americans along with myself are Catholics. In my opinion, there shouldn't even be controversy over this topic. We are creatures and have evolved from the most chaotic and violent of creatures. We are only an advanced form of packs of wolves or a tribe of monkeys. If a wolf is slowing down the pack, then it is abandoned and left in the dust. This would be considered prison or exile. Then, if a wolf is hurting or damaging the pack, it would be hunted, killed or hurt? The person who is this wolf only deserves it, as for all of those who commit horrible foul crimes and sins. There is no arguing that the one weakness of mankind is to be too less of man, and too much kind. In my overall opinion, the Pope outlawing the death penalty only brings our society a step closer to collapse.
This article “Indonesia Earthquake: At Least 98 Dead and 20,000 Homeless” was very sad to read. I was very concerned for the victims who are suffering from this disastrous earthquake. The video in the article shows people running for their lives to get somewhere safe. Watching the video made me feel scared for the victims that found themselves in this situation. I wish no injury upon nobody. Injuries are so bad.. Also, the video entitled “Indonesia Earthquake Survivor: There Is ‘No House Anymore’” effectively depicts the hardships that the people of Indonesia are facing. One thing that was very surprising to me is that a woman who gave birth at a health post right after the earthquake decided to name her child a word that means earthquake. I think that this shows how something good can come out of a horrible tragedy. I hope that the people of Indonesia can get help and everyone can recover quickly.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/13/your-money/summer-job-students.html
Preparing for college and adulthood is not an easy feat. As a highschool student myself, I feel this pressure as well. Nowadays, students are rushing to fill their resumes with the most impressive extracurriculars and demanding courses. They spend their summers enrolling in expensive college summer programs and focusing on standardized test prep. As a result, getting a summer job is no longer a priority.
In this process, students are missing out on an experience that truly builds character. From developing communication skills, building a sense of responsibility, and cultivating hard work and resilience, employment gives teens a chance to transition into adulthood. Truth be told, many jobs offered to adolescents are not the most glamorous and provide very little wage. However, summer employment can foster an opportunity for financial education. A job can teach teens the value of money and the proper way to manage it.
In the end, there is only so much we can learn from a textbook. Test scores and endless list of activities are not the only testaments to someone’s abilities. Summer jobs provide teenagers with a way to apply themselves and sometimes help them find their passions. Although it is easier said than done, students should pursue something that can develop them as people rather than something that is simply an ornament on a resume.
What interested me the most in The Times this week was the article, Marine Mammals Have Lost a Gene That Now They May Desperately Need. This captured my interest in how it portrayed marine mammals losing genes that the land mammals still possess. The article stated that most of the genes that the sea mammals lost had to do with their sense of smell. However, one of the genes had to do with creating immunity to chemicals found pesticides. It is intriguing how marine animals lost traits that were found in the animals from whom they originated (land mammals). This could be potentially hazardous for ocean mammal species, because pesticides from farmland could contaminate the water and could cause these species to die out. It would devastating to the ocean ecosystems if manatees, dugongs, whales and dolphins were to die out from pesticide poisoning. Even though the article mentioned that these ocean mammals may have some immunity to pesticides, I can not help but wonder if the oceans could even recover from the potential loss of so many mammal species. If we lost even a few ocean mammal species, it could be a horrific, global event.
What interested me the most on NYT website was the article on Patent Pending a Cafe by Day and Speakeasy by night. This reminded me of “The Great Gatsby” and I kept reading on because of it. I was interested in the idea of a modern speakeasy so I kept on reading. It is such a cool idea of how it’s a regular cafe by day and then at night it turns into a secretive club where many of Manhattans elites go to. I do find their music selection a bit cheesy having mostly indie music at a speakeasy.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/25/nyregion/dirt-bikes-bike-life-ride.html
I read an article about an illegal street sport that interested me. This article interested me because it is about riding dirt bikes and quads on the streets which is illegal. When I was younger I would ride quads in the woods. Recently I went to a go kart track where we raced on indoor and outdoor tracks. This relates to the article because in the article a guy named Benjamin Charles rented a track for dirt bike riders to ride without the fear of police stopping them from from riding their dirt bikes in the streets. After that this was a local event that happened in Pennsylvania. In the article enthusiasts got to ride freely. Usually bike riders were in constant trouble with police. One New York City police officer posted a video on twitter of confiscated bikes getting broken down. There has been campaigns to support dirt bike parks so enthusiast can ride legally. Last year the Cleveland City council raised 2.3 million in funding for a dirt bike park. The park will help keep the riders off the streets. By renting the track it was like therapy for the riders many of whom drove for hours just to ride freely. They traveled with their bikes strapped in uhauls or on the back of trucks. Around 400 people came out to this event. I think a bike park would be really cool to have in my town. RIders could stay safe and have fun and the police can spend their time chasing bad guys and not bike riders.
This week I read an article on a new breed of tick quickly spreading along the Eastern Seaboard. This tick species is callled the Asian long-horned tick. This article interested me because ticks as been a problem where I live the past few years. In Asia, the native land of this tick, it is known to carry a disease that kills 15%of its victims. U.S. docotors are concerned about this new tick but not fully alarmed.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/us/carr-fires-california-explained.html
“The Carr Fire, the 7th Most Destructive in California History, Rages On”
This article sprang out to me because the idea of a forest fire seemed so foreign, otherworldly, and utterly terrifying. Having grown up in the northeast, the effect of climate change I’m more accustomed to would be flooding. And though falling trees and the 100 mph winds caused by hurricanes don’t exactly sound appealing to me, the thing described as a “firenado” seems so ridiculous that it looked at first to be dreamed up by a mischievous child.
The absurdity of it all shocked me and kept me captivated as I related the catastrophe to the stories in the fantasy and sci-fi books I often read. But, the most chilling relation that seemed to jump out of the story was its striking resemblance to the grim and mysterious descriptions in the book of Revelation. Similar to the description of a large percentage of the Earth going up in flames, the article describes how wildfires can rage for weeks and how one covered a patch of land “roughly the size of New Orleans.”
Though the first time I read those verses, I simply couldn’t believe them, the current state of the world has made me realize their truth. And, now especially, it seems the evidence is there to convince anyone, religious or not, that there is a problem and, if we don’t change our ways, mayhem will ensue.
“Already at Movie Theaters Near You: Ticket Subscriptions”
This article by Brooks Barnes goes into the depths of the movie subscription services that have sprung up and caught many eyes in the past year. Of course, at the top of this is MoviePass, the service that allows users to watch a movie a day at the theaters for the low price of $9.95 per month. Like many, my first thought was that this was a great way to watch a movie every single day and not suffer any financial consequences. Looking more deeply, however, every member who watches more than one movie will lose the company money. This problem does not seem to get better with more users, as every few dollars the company loses from one person multiplies with each extra member who signs up.
This article interested me most because of the recent headlines about MoviePass’s attempts to stay afloat. In the past few weeks, word came out from the company that MoviePass had to borrow $5 million to stay in business after a service blackout left users unable to watch their movies. From the outside looking in, it’s hard not to see MoviePass as just a company with a novel idea and a failing business model, but it’s interesting to see all the other companies enter this service with profit in their sights despite the top competitor seemingly bleeding money. Looking back on this month old article, it’s easy to read it with hindsight bias corrupting our view, but I think we might have all seen MoviePass’s demise before their fall.
I found "Apple Is Worth $1,000,000,000,000. Two Decades Ago, It Was Almost Bankrupt"interesting this week.
Apple, the creator of the I Phone, MacBook, I Pad, Apple Watch, and more, is now to date worth $1,000,000,000,000. About 20 years ago, no one would have thought there would have been almost 11 generations of I Phones, a watch you can use as a phone, and tablets the size of a school desk. “On Thursday, Apple became the first publicly traded American company to be worth more than $1 trillion”(New York Times Nicas). As a 15 year old young lady, I have grown up with having an I Phone to communicate with my friends, use social medias, and do many other things my parents couldn’t do. It has changed many things from the past to now.
In 1998, the company released the I Mac G3, and it gave them a chance to redeem themselves. Over the course of the years, Apple released the I Pod, which at the time was the music player, which became an even bigger hit. People were then able to listen to music at any time of the day. Then the I Phone hit markets, which became an even bigger deal then the I Pod. To date, because of the I Phone, Apple was able to reach the worth price of $1 trillion dollars.
In conclusion, not only is Apple worth this large amount of money, it also was able to change the lives of the people who used the first Mac to the generation we have today.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/technology/apple-stock-1-trillion-mar...
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Aliens have always intrigued me; not particularly the green, big headed, “we come in peace” stereotypical image of an alien, but more the idea that Earth’s inhabitants are not the anomaly of the galaxy. Surrounded by infinite galaxies, containing infinite planets, there is no way that Earth happens to host the only multicellular organisms.
As a Christian, one main component of our faith is that God made us, and everything around us, because we are special to him. But just as science can’t explain everything, neither can religion. Water is a necessary building block for life of any kind; just in our galaxy alone there are multiple planets producing water. With time, there’s no limit to how these planets could progress. Though it may be frowned upon in the Christian community, I think it’s impossible to say you’re absolutely positive there is no life other than on earth.
Knowing there is likely life outside of Earth is fascinating, and leaves me with a sense of wanderlust. I chose the article “A Large Body of Water is Detected, Raising the Potential for Alien Life” because to me, it proved that we shouldn’t be asking if there’s aliens, we should be asking how we will find them.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/education/learning/wrong-fit-for-coll...
I found this article quite captivating because, as a student approaching their last year in high school, the responsibility of choosing a college has begun to loom over myself as well as many other students. The factors that go in to deciding what college is a good match for a student includes thorough research; one of those factors is, without a doubt, how comfortable you feel, or think you would feel, on that campus.
I agree that this factor needs to be considered heavily when choosing schools. A student should feel relatively comfortable at the school of their choice, however they should not feel relaxed. To feel relaxed means that the student feels like there is limited pressure on them at that particular school. However, in my opinion, the point of receiving a higher level of education is to ready you for a demanding job after college. If a student feels too comfortable at a school, then they may begin to let themselves slack off from working their hardest.
I feel that all students should find a school that is slightly out of their comfort zone,to ensure that they are forced into taking charge of their own lives and learning to their maximum capacity. I strongly like and agree with the idea that this article presents; stating that the majority of students who push themselves are able to better find themselves and succeed in life.
“A Space Force? The Idea May Have Merit, Some Say”
Humans are the most powerful species on Earth, not because we have the biggest teeth or the thickest skin, but because we are smart, curious, and use cooperation to overcome problems. These qualities have the capacity to elevate us and so it's that much sadder when we use them to destroy each other. America’s satellites are being pointed the wrong way: not at a well of infinite possibilities, but back at ourselves to see our “enemies”.
Space is a frontier dear to me, and I have wondered about it since I first had the neck strength to look up. It stretches farther than we can comprehend yet we barely look past the iron-sights of our own rifles. Studies of space unlock answers to the origins of our universe, and where the human race may go. It is our future and our distant past. The thought of relegating it to house and employ weapons seems like an idea concocted by a Batman villain.
I admit that reading about a space-force makes me feel a childish excitement, as I imagine Halo-esque fights on the moon. But, I am scared to realize that this kind of excitement has overtaken the most powerful man on the planet.. It is painfully shallow to invest time, money, and lives to limit the potential of human ingenuity and curiosity to make a small piece of the Earth dominant over the other small pieces.
I see a bleak and near future where N.A.S.A. is replaced with an organization whose sole purpose is to redirect space rocks at Russia.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/09/opinion/do-songs-of-the-s...
This week, I read "Why Songs of the Summer Sound the Same" by Sahil Chinoy and Jessia Ma. This article caught my interest because similarly sounding songs is a topic often discussed around Christmas time with certain Christmas music, like with "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey and "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" by Phil Spector.
The article talks about a certain algorithm that Spotify uses to determine which songs people would like based on the ones they listen to, using loudness, energy, valence, danceability, and acousticness as criteria. So, for instance, one song could have more energy and be louder with less acoustic instrument usage, while another could have more danceability (beat) and cheerfulness but little energy. In the past, around the 80's and early 90's, songs made in the summertime had varying levels of each criteria. In the 2000's, these levels seemed to get closer and closer, making the songs have more similar levels. This year's summer songs, though, are starting to become more diverse in their levels of each criteria.
In my opinion, songs are going in the right direction. While many early 2000's songs became hits that I still listen to now, it's nice to hear songs that don't feel programmed or structured; ones that are more relaxed and original are nicer to listen to. Therefore, songs this year are going on the right path.
“The Swim Test for Smartphones”
Initially what caught my attention in this particular article was its title. It reminded me of those videos on Youtube where they put the latest smartphone to test up against various liquids or materials. I had thought the article would be a recap of an experiment similar to those videos, like a showdown between different phones. It was more or less the same but it was less technical and more informative than I expected.
I enjoyed the article because I never knew that there was a scale on how waterproof or water resistant a device could be. I had figured that it was just one degree of being waterproof. I always appreciate learning something new especially when it relates to things that I encounter everyday in my life. What puzzled me the most about the waterproof aspect of a smartphone was how it could be completely waterproof. It turns out that it is not. Most smartphones on the market are in actuality water resistant, not waterproof as they claim to be. This article cleared up a misunderstanding for me and informed me on the details of a feature I never understood and never paid any mind to.
Review: “Japanese Medical School Accused of Rigging Admissions to Keep Women Out"
Medicine is a field advancing so rapidly that the people who decide to go into the field have to be extremely intelligent. When one pursues the medical field, they have to be prepared to constantly be learning. One cannot be competitive in the field of medicine if they are not prepared to learn something new everyday.
That is why this article angered me, because these women may be able to contribute just as much to medicine as the men going to this medical school will. Just because they may not be able to handle the pressure of the field after childbirth is no reason to tamper with their scores. Instead of biasing against these women, the medical school should provide facilities to assist mothers who attend medical school.
This article also made me think about how I recently received admission into a medicine based magnet school, and the population of my school is 66% female. All the females in my high school deserve the same chance as me for success. Now, after reading this article, I wonder if other medical schools have also biased their admissions process, and whether this will affect my fellow female classmates.
Yet, it reassured me that now, there is awareness of this bias in the world, because people need to understand that everyone is equal, no matter sex or gender. This is something that has affected our world for so long, so this is a start to ridding the world of discrimination.
Today I read the article Pence Advances Plan to Create a Space Force by Helene Cooper. I found it interesting because I think it would be very exciting to have a concept such as space force in reality. It seems so far away that we could be fighting wars in space, but technology has brought us so much closer to bringing science fiction into reality. It seems ridiculous to some but rivals of the U.S. could be a real threat to us from a new view of war. On the other hand we are acting on a possibility, and this could just be the United States acting too early and wasting billions of dollars and resources on unnecessary costs. If the air force could create a defense system for this then we may not need to prepare for a war. Finally, I think the space force should be delayed but still developed. We have a powerful military currently available to defend us and I do not feel the space force is necessary as of now.
"I Used Apple’s New Controls to Limit a Teenager’s iPhone Time (and It Worked!)"
Every night around 10 PM my parents expect my phone and my laptop to be put away in their room. As much as I don't like being away from my phone, I'm forced. The title of the article seemed like such a parallel to my life, except for the fact I don't own an Apple iPhone. I really wanted to read what the teenager had to report on how she was impacted by the restrictions. I was less interested in the actual technical aspect and instead, I was intrigued to learn of the actual results. As a teen put under the similar limitations I face, learning just how much Sophie's attitude and overall performance in academics changed was an eye-opener.
All of these realizations were not what I was expecting to find. When I first read the title I was a bit angry. I wanted to read the article to fight in my own mindset over how unfair this new update could be. It seemed like such an intrusion of life. By reading the article I could relate to and defend the teen, which I already assumed was unhappy about the situation.
Yet as I read, I realized just how wrong I was with my assumptions. Rather, I learned of a potentially great new program which could help many students and adults who struggle to focus. Now I will be able to go to sleep with the peace of mind that I am bettering myself when I restrict my screen usage, even if I'm not using the Apple program.
I read the article on how you would want to die. I want to die quickly and with no pain. I don't want to suffer. Just get it over with. But, I would want to get everything I want to do done and I want to die in peace. In contrast, a lot of people want to live as long as possible and would rather go through a long slow suffering death. Just get it over with. It is going to eventually happen, so why suffer?
"A New Generation of Food Magazines Thinks Small, and in Ink"
How often do you take pictures of your food for Snapchat or Instagram? The answer for many teens today is most likely "whenever I have the chance." This habit first emerged when food magazines started to embrace the"individualism movement" by incorporating dishes from various cultures as a symbol of diversity. Aspiring journalists clambered to create their own visionary food project, making meals not only look appetizing but also "up to date." Soon the ability to make food into art became a major industry.
However, the publication of food for profit has removed the authenticity of how delicacies are prepared and enjoyed. People are now more concerned with capturing a new snap rather than savoring the taste. As a result, ridiculous "hipster" trends- galaxy bagels, ramen burgers, or sushi burritos- suck teens into the visual rewards of food rather than those of sustenance.
I have also fallen victim to this habit, constantly searching up the most "instagrammable" desserts whenever I visit new cities. Unfortunately, taking pictures has become more a chore than a pleasure, and the pressure set by these companies to share food art creates unhealthy obligations. Thus, this article, while praised for its attempt to address diversity sheds negative light on American culture regarding food, and sadly most people are too distracted by pictures of of overloaded desserts to even realize the problem.
The article that grasped my attention this week was "Police Chief's Son Charged in Attack on Sikh Man in California." Just from reading the title I would have expected that the attacker would not do something unlawful like attacking an innocent man but as I continued to read the article I saw that the son was a rebellious lawbreaker. I wish that we did not live in a society where innocent people are attacked for what they look like or they are attacked just because they seem defenseless and weak. The man in the video that was attacked was 71 years old and the attackers did not bother to care what could've happened to him. At the end of the video, one of the attackers go back to kick and spit on the defenseless man that was lying on the ground. I think it was an act of ignorance on the attacker's part. That man that they attacked is someone's father or grandfather. How would the attackers like it if someone did that same thing that they did to the people that they love the most in the world.
“Beauty Is in the Eye of These Beholders”
By: Elizabeth Holmes
This week in The Times, what interested me the most was an article about beauty. Since I am a beauty lover myself, I have a big interest in makeup, skincare, and of course the people who taught me all my makeup skills on youtube. So earlier this month, they had a convention for people to express their love for everything beauty at a convention called Beautycon. For 2 days, more than 200 booths were filled up with brands like Lime Crime, Kylie Cosmetics, Maybelline, etc. And of course the people behind it all were there too .( Manny MUA, James Charlies, Kim Kardashian, etc.) So you know many people can in with the most outrageous faces of makeup, but they did it all in style expressing them selfs. ([email protected])
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/world/europe/pope-death-penalty.html
I found the article about Pope Francis' views on the Death Penalty very interesting. I was unaware of the Catholic stance on the death penalty and, quite frankly, I did not even know how I feel about it. It struck me when the Pope said, “every life is sacred, every human person is endowed with an inalienable dignity, and society can only benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes.” This made me think about the reality of the death penalty. At the end of the day, it is taking away a human life. Though my beliefs do not align with those of the Pope, I can say that I do agree with the point he makes about human life being precious. As a Christian, I believe that anyone can be forgiven of their sins when they accept Jesus into their lives - even if they are a convicted criminal. By Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, He washed us clean of our sins and allowed us to have a relationship with God; He did this for all of us, even those who have committed terrible crimes. Finally, this article gave me yet another reminder of the power of God. Pope Francis said that the church would work to have the death penalty abolished worldwide. He sincerely believes that through God we can connect to the whole world and stop others from taking away one of the greatest gifts God gave to us: life.
This week I read "The Impolite Pleasure of People-Watching". The article featured various photograpghs of stragers on New York City streets, reminding me of a photographic book I own called Humans of New York. The article talks about day to day observations of people throughout New York. The author crafts this article in such a way that makes simple encounters and people we pass on the street seem like art. People watching is common practice in big cities, and in New York especially, there are a lot of very interesting people. In taking these photographs, the photographers made the strangers into an art form. Whether it was two women in bright blue wigs, or two brothers playing in the park, normal sights of New York are a little more appretiated and significant through the photographs and writing of this article. This reminds of the word wonder, which isn't in the dictionary but is used to describe the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness. How many strangers have we passed on the street, or waited in the same line for coffee, or drove by on the highway? It is wild to think of the lives all of these people have, we'll never know who they really are. This article makes that realization a little more apparent and helped me appretaite the ongoing lives of everyone around me.
The article that interested me in The Times is Pope Declares Death Penalty Unacceptable in All Cases. This article interests me because it talks about how 31 states allow the death penalty, 4 state imposed on the death penalty, and 15 states do not allow the death penalty.also, 53 percent of American Catholics favor capital punishment and 42 percent disagree in the punishment.
The iGen Shift: Colleges Are Changing to Reach the Next Generation by Laura Pappano
As a member of iGen, the generation this article described, I was interested because this was essentially reading what somebody else thinks about me. There are parts of the author’s description I believe she got correct, like the fact that we don’t read emails, we “breathe” through social media, and we feel isolated and stressed. What surprised me was that she explained us as “crazy driven” and wanting to solve the world’s problems. Maybe this is true for iGen college students, but personally, my community currently labels us lazy or spoiled.
Colleges should be, and are, now changing their campuses thanks to incoming iGen students. From relying on traditional all-books learning to implementing technology in their courses, they’re learning that iGen students aren’t millennials and shouldn’t be treated like millennials. We’re shaped by public shootings and terrorism, so we are more observant and aware. The new generation wants courses that are more hands-on and job-relevant, with the help of familiar technology that we grow up with learn exactly how to solve world problems. Instead of fighting the phones and computers, colleges should embrace them. So yes, there are ways colleges can adjust to engage new students, but it’s not only up to the colleges. How can we help professors adjust to change? What can us individuals do to have the best college experience and education we’re paying for?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/education/learning/writing-college-ap...
With junior year starting in a couple of days, I am more aware as to how I spend my time. A typical question in my head is “Is the activity I’m doing going to benefit me this upcoming school year or for getting into college?”
I watch a variety of videos about how to get into the right college and what I still need to accomplish my junior and senior year. Sometimes the flood of information can be overwhelming. But when it’s broken down into more manageable sections, it doesn’t seem so bad. This is part of the reason why I appreciate articles like “How to Write a Good College Application Essay.” It provides valuable information in an “easy to digest the material” sort of way. I can remember important tidbits such as: “A college application needs to tell a story with passion using personal anecdotes to showcase one’s character; emphasize volunteer work related to the subject one wants to study; tell why the school’s size, curriculum, social atmosphere, location, professors or history influenced the choice.” It is motivating, helpful, and inspirational, without being overwhelming.
Although the thought of college and all the upcoming tests can sometimes feel suffocating, doing a little something each day to chip away at this massive block labeled “to do” is not only a productive way to pass the time, it can reduce a little stress, all the while preparing me for the future.
"Mendocino Fire reachers record size in California"
Mother nature is not hurting us, but crying for help. She was beautiful, serene, and unblemished, Until we took her for granted. Fires are coming to life because the innocent sun shines through trees and through broken glass that was left to burn the grass.
When I watch the news, I hear, "Houses burned down," "People dying in wild fire," "Firefighters doing everything they can to stop the fire," If it wasn't for that broken glass on the grass, or lit cigarettes on the grass, abandoned camp fires and so on, these things wouldn't happen so frequently or maybe at all.
It hurts to know that 90% of wildfires in America are caused by us. This is our home and it's falling apart. There is no where to escape to, but there is a way to save our one and only home. Global warming may increase wildfires, melt the glaciers, escalate temperatures, and water tides, but it does not start them. We do and we can also prevent it from increasing. I only wish and pray people understood the dangers that can come if we don't do anything.
I chose this article because reading it touched my heart and made me want to speak up. I think it's time people realize our Earth can become uninhabitable if we don't do something.
"Apple Is Worth $1,000,000,000,000. Two Decades Ago, It Was Almost Bankrupt."
I have always found finance a little boring, important to understand, but boring. However, there is nothing boring about one trillion dollars (also I am always in the mood for a good tech story). It seems that it took Apple two things to get to this point: profit and excitement.
Apple is not the leading seller of smartphones, it's not even second. One would think that would be bad news for Apple seeing as its famous iPhone is its cash cow, but it's not that big of a deal because Apple makes an absurd amount of profit on its phone and other products. According to Forbes, Apple is the most profitable company in the world, and shareholders LOVE profits meaning that the price per share keeps going up.
Excitement has played a huge factor in Apple's net worth. Groundbreaking announcements like the iPod and iPhone really drove up the companies value because many people want to be part of this new wave. Excitement is often overlooked when it comes to the stock market. For instance, look at Tesla; the company is rarely profitable yet their value keeps going up. Why? because people are excited about being involved with a company that seems to be driving society towards the future (and for more serious investors, the excitement of Tesla becoming profitable in the upcoming year). Apple has come a long way, but along its journey to one trillion dollars, it laid out a blueprint for others to follow.
Article: Disgusted With Donald Trump? Do This
Like many of my peers, I watched and cheered on the Parkland student activists as they initiated a stream of protests that swept across the nation. Yet while the new surge in student activism fills me with enthusiasm and hope, Frank Bruni reminds us of an important fact: true change occurs only at the ballot box.
The reality is that millennials like me don’t vote. Political analysts explain this phenomenon as young people’s lack of faith in the political process. In short, we do not think that our votes will make a difference, but it reminds me of a Chinese proverb: constantly dripping water will wear away stone. Similarly, while a single vote rarely decides an election, the votes of an entire demographic can affect the outcome.
While we may not believe in the power of our votes, numbers tell a different story. Research by the Pew Research Center shows that we are the largest age demographic in the electorate. Contrary to what we think, our votes matter.
This November, let us finish the work our protests have started. Compared to the clamor of our voices on the streets, a ballot processed by a voting machine is only as loud as water dripping on stone. But every ballot adds another drop to a potential blue wave that can finally bring about our vision of America.
The article that interested me the this week this was “How to Talk to a Racist” by Margaret Renkl. In this reticle the writer says that we need to make that person understand that we will listen to them. This, I believe is very important. How do we expect a person to listen to us if we we not listen to them? A lot of times we see people just calling the other person “racist” but never actually explain why that person’s view are prejudice and discriminatory towards people of a different race. Racism has been embedded into these people’s thoughts since birth and have grown up around people that think the way they do that they believe that there is nothing wrong with the way they think. We all need to have conversations to get our points across and both sides need to listen. It can be extremely frustrating to talk to a person who thinks the total opposite as you, but we all need to be patient. We are not going to get anything accomplished screaming at one another.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/world/asia/north-korea-south-summit.html?
My attention was caught this week by the headline, "North and South Korea to Discuss Plans for a 3rd Summit," written by Choe Sang-Hun. Being a Korean American, the idea of a peaceful North Korea has always felt so alien to me, given our history. However, this year so far has been a big step in a new direction, with what seems to be some dramatic change. I believe that President Moon Jae-in of South Korea really has done a great job in easing tensions since he took office. Real progress has been taken by the North to denuclearize, showing that they are really willing to negotiate. I really do hope that North Korea does their bit and denuclearizes, but I do know that they might just be being nice for their own purposes. Anyway, another meeting sounds pretty good and should be a great help to establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula.
https://nyti.ms/2mrEbet
“Parents Behaving Badly: A Youth Sports Crisis Caught on Video”
There are few things more bothersome than a hostile parent at a sports event. They are passionate, unflinching, and will do nearly anything to defend their children. I have witnessed parents like these at many a basketball game, ones who insult referees nonstop. It makes sense that I see the same officials at every game; the others were tired of the verbal abuse.
Two years ago, I witnessed an incident where parents from the opposing team were yelling at the refs and making fun of players on my team. It escalated so much that my coach actually called them out for being rude and disrespectful, and reminded them that we were only eighth graders. Like this article mentions, sports officials say that this behavior is worse among younger players, and I agree. Parents are too concerned with their young children receiving NCAA scholarships that when a referee makes a “bad” call, they immediately receive the blame.
There are times when referees make unfair calls, and they should be held accountable. Nonetheless, there is a fine line between calling someone out and harassing that person. Hostile parents lead to a decrease in referees, then to an increase in less-experienced referees who make bad calls, then back to hostile parents. It’s a constant cycle that only ends when violent sideline behavior does. I’m glad that states are passing legislature and people are actively working to solve this.
“The Great God of Depression”, by Pagan Kennedy, details some of the accomplishments of author William Styron, a man who, despite suffering from depression himself, became famous for his opinions and views on depression that helped shape contemporary knowledge of depression. It began 30 years ago when Styron wrote an Op-Ed for the New York Times detailing the depression he experienced that lead to him being admitted to a psych ward. This was a very big confession for someone to make at the time, as people who were depressed were often ostracized by society. The article was met with a flood of positivity, and Styron quickly became a figurehead for people suffering from depression. As time passed, his fame only grew, as he published books and memoirs that shaped the way that people suffering from depression were seen and treated. When people suffer from a mental illness, they can feel compelled, for whatever reason, to keep their problems to themselves, because they don’t want to burden other people with their problems or they fear that people will ostracize them for their illness. However, if they keep their problems to themselves, the outcome could be much worse. That is, doing so could cause them to hurt themselves or other people. This article could potentially teach people, just like Styron did so many years ago, that it’s acceptable to talk about depression, that there are people that they can confide in, and that help is available.
How Trump’s Populist Appeal Echoes George Wallace
https://nyti.ms/2q1Vlkn
“segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever”. These words are an example of the history of racial segregation in the United States. They were said by George Wallace, the former governor of Alabama, who last ran for President in 1968.
George Wallace was known for his staunch racist views that opposed integration and the Civil Rights movement so far as to attempt to refuse orders from the Supreme Court to integrate schools.
Wallace echoed racism in his populist politics, in which he garnered the attention of white, working-class citizens by claiming they were threatened by liberal politicians who advocated for racial equality. This helped him gain immense support and earn 46 electoral votes in the 1968 Presidential election.
Unfortunately, our current President also insists to his supporters (of similar demographics) that they have been “forgotten” by the government, and uses populist strategies to gain backing. An example is how he uses vulgar terms to describe immigrants from neighboring countries. His racist and bigoted ideologies are overturning centuries of consensus that the USA was a hub of diversity and acceptance.
Remarkably, it was only 2 years ago that the President fought for equality and rights. Now, our current President champions sentiments used by racist segregationists of a time when equal rights didn’t exist for all people.
"New Alzheimer's Drug Slows Memory Loss in Early Trail Results"
By: Pam Belluck
A new drug BAN2401 has shown positive results in treating Alzheimer's. It is the first drug to reduce plagues and slow progression of dementia. In testing, a group of patients showed a 30 percent slower decline than the placebo group.
Some Alzheimer's treatments have caused side effects such as swelling or bleeding in the brain. BAN2401, at this point, seems relatively safe because less than ten percent of patients have experienced these types of side effects.
BAN2401 works by attacking amyloid tendrils which from before they start sticking together to form plaques. Even if the trial studies continue to be positive, it could still take years to make the drug widely available to patients. I found this article interesting because my grandfather had Alzheimer's. This drug could make a huge difference for Alzheimer's patients and their family members.
I often like to associate art with paintings, music, and dance. However, after reading the article “What Do 525 Ventriloquists Do at a Convention? Ask Their Dummies”, I realized that ventriloquism belongs to that list. Although there are only two subjects - the puppet and the performer - the mimicry, juxtaposition, and balance between the two determine what emotions are conveyed to the audience. To develop this balance between subjects, ventriloquists must combine a painter’s visual intuition, a musician’s understanding of voicing, and a dancer’s mastery of motion, all into one performance. On top of that, the performer must have the versatility to alternate between two contrasting personalities after every spoken line. Ventriloquism is truly a multidisciplinary act.
Today, ventriloquism is regarded as geeky, outdated, and even creepy. Yet even as its popularity dwindles, it was relieving to see ventriloquists of all levels of expertise join hands to revitalize their art. More importantly, some look to modernize and diversify their styles to suit more audiences. After reading this article, I had a renewed hope that ventriloquism will survive and even grow in the coming years.
In an age when any delicate art or culture can be easily overrun by the mainstream trends, I believe that two strategies are critical to staying afloat: 1) convening often to spread new ideas and inspiration, and 2) adapting to the contemporary audience while retaining distinctive traditions.
https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/08/08/us/ap-us-film-crazy-rich-asi...
Can you believe it has been 25 years since a major Hollywood studio put out a film with a primarily Asian cast? This film, "Crazy Rich Asians" is breaking a lot of barriers in Hollywood today. For instance, the lead is a female Asian American. 37 of the top 100 films of 2017 had no Asian American speaking characters, which is insane. As an Asian American, I grew up watching films with a primarily white cast and that was just the norm, I was fine with it. However when there was an Asian American part of the cast, I would be surprised that there was actual representation in that particular Hollywood film. Although this film doesn't portray all Asians, it does pave a way for more big Hollywood studios to put more Asian representation in films.
I believe it's important to have representation for every type of person because it'll make whoever in the audience connect with that character. This film is breaking the boundaries of a white majority cast and that's amazing. Different ethnicity and races are so beautiful that they should be portrayed more in Hollywood films. I think this is a huge step for representation in Hollywood and the film industry will only go up from here.
How to Quantify a Nurse’s ‘Gut Feelings’
In an age of rapidly growing and improving technology, it is incredible to see how vital areas of our lives are slow to utilize the possibilities placed at our fingertips. One of these areas is the medical field. It had never crossed my mind that, in this day and age, hospitals were not utilizing data collection and monitoring systems to their full capabilities. Nurses and other medical professionals, despite being extraordinarily qualified and intelligent, cannot spend every waking moment monitoring a patient's status. A computer program, however, could. And therefore, could catch an acute change before any person could. This article and the Rothman Index itself impressed me and gave me hope for the future of medicine. I genuinely believe that as humans and technology continue to work together, the medical field can only become more responsive and inept to handle any situation.
"Kill Me,’ Parkland Shooting Suspect Said After Rampage" by Patricia Mazzei
For the past decade, we have repeated the same cycle over and over again after each mass shooting: children die, adults argue, no reforms are made, repeat. One topic that comes up every time is how to treat the shooter. Nikolas Cruz is no exception.
On one hand, you can’t let potential shooters think that they can get attention through violence. That says to a suicidal and low-empathy teen that if they shoot up a school, they will at least be remembered after they kill themself. On the other hand, we want to know all the details of a tragedy. What could have led him to do such a thing? If we weren’t told his name, I wouldn’t have known that his mother died unexpectedly 4 months prior, that he watched his father die of a heart attack at age 5, and he was showing red flags for years. This doesn't justify what he did, but it could be helpful to have a face, a name, and a story, so that we can recognize the Nikolas Cruzes in our own lives.
I can't decide if I should feel angry at or sorry for Cruz. I'm sad that he believes he’s worthless and wants to die. But I also think his self image reflects reality. Considering that he murdered 17 people, I think that he actually is worthless and deserves to die. Cruz is currently facing the death sentence or life in prison. Even though he doesn’t deserve our sympathy, hating him doesn't help anyone.
This is a sad situation no matter how you look at it.
Article: "Recognizing Eating Disorders in Time to Help"
This week a topic relating to a friend of mine interested me the most. As I scrolled through articles this one caught my attention as recently a close friend of mine was diagnosed with Anorexia. Since then, I have taken an interest in the topic in hopes of coming to a better understanding of what she is going through even going to the lengths of completing a psychology project on eating disorders. As I began reading I quickly began thinking about signs I could have seen sooner of her disease and may use able to help future friends. The article states that eating disorders affect people psychically, academically, psychologically, and socially. While I certainly noticed the physical aspects, the others were not as prominent or easy to see. My friend did spend time at a hospital, and is now in a care home where she can be monitored to ensure that she is eating; just as the article explains happens to most who suffer. The article also points out that eating disorders are more common in gymnasts, dancers, models, wresters, and other athletes. This caught my eye as both myself and my friend have been dancing together since a very young age. As I see where pressure to be a certain weight exists in the dance world, I do not feel as if I have ever been pressured this way. This article helped me shed light on a topic very prominent in my life right now making it the most interesting to me in the New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/us/politics/3d-guns-trump.html
In the article "Judge Blocks Attempt to Post Blueprints for 3-D Guns," a man named Cody Wilson wants to post the blueprints for how to create 3D guns, but others say it would do more harm than good.
Mr. Wilson and others claim that the First Amendment gives him the right to publish and share the instructions online to anyone who has a 3D printer. In addition, they argue that it would be too hard to regulate in the first place, and the plastic guns are innovative pieces of technology use to represent advancement.
Although they make a few good claims, there are negative consequences to think about. First of all, these "ghost guns" can avoid being detected because they're made from plastic and don't have serial numbers. Also, people who might not be able to pass a background check would be able to obtain one of them. More guns doesn't necessarily mean more violence, but it's most likely to happen as a result. If Americans want to be innovative, they should find new ways to help people, such as creating automobiles with less air pollution.
Most people only want trusted individuals to be able to wield a weapon. With these blueprints, society will become more dangerous because ideally, anyone would be able to own one. It could make school, concert, and other shootings easier, and that's something many people don't want.
Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/smarter-living/how-to-revive-a-friend...
This week in the Times, an article about how to take steps towards rekindling a past friendship caught my eye. With the age that we live in, more and more people find themselves feeling alone and isolated due to the false sense of socializing it gives us. Unlike face-to-face human connection, media can be tailored and trimmed into a more perfected version of ourselves. However this comes at the cost of sometimes overtaking genuine friendships, which, as stated by the author, can have a multitude of both physical and mental health benefits.
While it appears that this article was written with an older audience in mind over teenagers, I feel as though many of the same suggestions can be useful. Even though we are young, the impact of reaching out still can be huge. Many teenagers' lives are a whirlwind and sometimes friendships can come and go quite quickly. As we move into college, many of us will face the very real possibility of losing touch with our closest friends, our ride-or-dies, and most trusted confidants. With a little work to reach out, using these tips proactively instead of reactively may help to maintain friendships when people can be literally thousands of miles apart. Without close connections and true friendships, you could be missing out on a fantastic source of love, support, and joy in your life- making it even more important to work to make our friendships last.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/us/carr-fires-california-explained.html
This article interested me the most as it discusses local events. Being from Yuba City, California, (2 hours from Redding ) I could see the impacts the fire has had on the environment. Even though the fire was 120 miles from here, you can see the difference. For instance, the sky appeared with a more red tone, ash was raining from the sky, and the overall air quality had decreased. The fire has caused tens of thousands of people to leave their homes behind and seek refuge. The fire has destroyed many homes and buildings.Dry land and extreme heat allowed the fire to grow and spreading rapidly. The fire created a tornado-like whirl of fire while raging through California towns. This wasn't the first wildfire that has occurred. For quite some time, wildfires have been emerging n Northern California due to the dry conditions. The effects are devastating and hopefully a new solution will be created to contain these horrific flames.
"The Disability Trap"
This article interested me because I never knew that having a disability could create stress about things besides the actual disability. I didn't know that you could be separated from your family. I didn't know you could be forced to stop doing the things that make your life enjoyable. I didn't know that those things could happen because of lack of help and not because of the disability itself. Reading the article helped me understand what millions of people have to face throughout their lives. It made me want to help give them the help that they need to be able to be with their kid or do what they love.
This week in the times I read “Riders Wonder: With Uber as New York’s Plan B, Is There a Plan C?” by Winnie Hu and Mariana Alfaro. This article specifically sparked my interest because of the current warfare happening in between ride hail companies and taxi companies in the world today. These new and thriving companies like Uber take regular and local taxi drivers out of business and giving them a hard time to make a living. The article really stood out to me because I personally use ride-hail companies for my major commuting needs when my parents are not around. Overlooking the fact that these ride-hail companies are very beneficial, there are many disadvantages such as how much traffic they cause in urban cities like New York. These companies are very beneficial to people that find public transportation very hard to use and for those who live in neighborhoods where taxi drivers refuse to pick up people from. The government is now becoming involved in this problem because they believe that Uber and other ride-hail companies are the cause of the exponential increase of traffic in urban cities along with a large sum of pollution. The people of New York are on both sides of this argument since this is a convenience for some , while not so much for others. This article brought out the part of me that wants to learn more about the world and see why things happen. These ride-hail companies are very important to the growing economy and are the future of America.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/world/europe/pope-death-penalty.html
This week I was intrigued by the Pope's decision to claim the death penalty unacceptable in every situation. He surely thought well about this topic especially considering his words are heard worldwide. I don't think this was too suprising considering killing is not justified in the 10 commandments. I feel this can make an impact on the US because there are a fair number of Catholic politicians. Several Catholic politicians believe the penalty should be used under certain circumstances, this could definitely sway them in the other direction. If the US change their ways I believe other countries will follow suit. Although I understand this is a tricky subject this can add another element to the table . Personally, I believe it would be unwise not to listen to the Pope if you are Catholic since he represents your religion on the world stage.
"Mendocino Fire Reaches Record Size in California"
Mother nature is not hurting us, but crying for help. She was beautiful, serene, and unblemished, Until we took her for granted. Fires are coming to life because the innocent sun shines through trees and through broken glass that was left to burn the grass.
When I watch the news, I hear, "Houses burned down," "People dying in wild fire," "Firefighters doing everything they can to stop the fire," If it wasn't for that broken glass on the grass, or lit cigarettes on the grass, abandoned camp fires and so on, these things wouldn't happen so frequently or maybe at all.
It hurts to know that 90% of wildfires in America are caused by us. This is our home and it's falling apart. There is no where to escape to, but there are ways to save our one and only home. Global warming may increase wildfires, melt the glaciers, escalate temperatures, and water tides, but it does not start them. We do and we can prevent it from happening. I only wish and pray that people would understand the dangers that can come if we do nothing.
I chose this article because reading it touched my heart and made me want to speak up. I think it's time people realize our Earth can become uninhabitable if we don't do something.
The article that interested me the most this week was "11 and Married: Malaysia Spars Over an Age-Old Practice". This article caught my attention because it introduced me to the ways of another culture. Although all cultures have differences, it is still crazy that child marriages are still an ongoing practice. I would have thought that this would be illegal everywhere. As a young girl myself, I couldn't even imagine being married at the age of eleven, especially to someone who is thirty years older than me. To even think of that is disgusting. Why would a man even want to be married and have sexual relations to a child in the first place? Considering this man has many children of his own, including a child who is friends with his eleven-year-old wife, why would he be interested in this young girl. I wonder how he would feel if his fourteen-year-old daughter was married to a forty-year-old man. The practice of child marriage should not be allowed in any culture. It should be frowned upon by all people because it is a disgusting thing, not an act of love. They are teaching these young girls that they should be in love with an older man and have sex with him when they have just barely begun to experience puberty. They should be able to have a normal childhood experience, one filled with playing with friends who are their own age. They should not be forced into child marriages, where they will also be forced to become mature at a very young age.
The article this week in the Times which I found to be the most interesting was a piece by Elisabetta Povoledo and Laurie Goodstein titled, “Pope Francis Declares Death Penalty Unacceptable in All Cases”. I thought this would be an especially interesting article because the death penalty is commonly used as a punishment in the United States, especially in my home state of Texas, for the most heinous of crimes. The article proved to be quite interesting because it described how several Supreme Court justices are Catholics, notably Chief Justice John Roberts. Moreover the article touched on the fact that the governor of my home state of Texas, Greg Abbott, was also a Catholic. This decree by the Pope puts these political leaders in a bit of a complicated situation as many Conservatives for example in Texas, the Governor included, are staunchly in favor of the death penalty. It will be interesting to see how this statement from the Pope will influence the mindset of Catholic politicians in regards to capital punishment.
I read “Tornadoes on the East Coast May Be a Sign of Things to Come” by Kendra Pierre-Louis. This post caught my attention right away because I live on the East Coast. When I was younger I was paranoid about a tornado coming. Anytime we got a tornado warning anywhere near our town, which only happened a few times, I would run to the basement and hide. Now that there has been more tornadoes recently on the East Coast, professionals are starting to question why. Researchers say that the connection between tornadoes and global warming is “far from straightforward”. They do know however that more greenhouse gases in the air is causing more potential energy in the air, one thing that makes a tornado. Overall this indicates that global warning could cause more tornadoes in some climates, which is very frightening.
This article is so heartbreaking to read about a father kill his own child. The father worked as a transit worker and that specific day the father had visitation rights to see his baby. The same day the father decided to throw his baby Mason into the Brooklyn Bridge river where the baby had unfortunatly died. The mother didn’t deserve to lose her child this way. The baby couldn’t make it in time when a medical doctor who was a tourist of NYC tried to help the baby. It’s crazy to think a parent would ever do this to their child. I could only imagine how the mother feels she must be so heartbroken that the father of her child would kill their child. However, the article did state that the two weren’t legally together meaning each had vistation rights. After the death of the baby the father then went to Thailand where the police had caught him. There was no criminal records prior to the babys murder. So the question is why would the father do such thing to the baby? The father lived in Co-Op City by himself. Therefore, the father wasn’t with anyone else. Seemed as if the father thought of this plan on his own to kill his child.
Article : Father of Baby Found in East River Detained in Thailand
"When a Female C.E.O. Leaves, the Glass Ceiling Is Restored"
I was drawn to this article at first because I found the metaphor in the title quite interesting. The 'Glass Ceiling is Restored' is both a tricky and truthful metaphor; and through my understanding the "glass ceiling" is a visual for women not being able to rise up in business environments. I was fascinated to read this article and learn about the details of women in the corporate workplace. I was already partially aware of a gender-biased issue related to the workplace, but not in such detail. The article goes on to explain that men and women are treated very differently in the workplace, for example the article mentions that a man will be "heralded" for his efforts, while a woman would be questioned for hers. To me, no explanation of bias toward hardworking women will ever make sense. This topic is one that still remains complicated and continues to grow more troubling throughout the years but one that I will always follow.
"How Record Heat Wreaked Havoc on Four Continents"
This story caught my eye because it addresses the issue of climate change occuring now. People around the world groan because of the heat, and working, practicing, and playing become something to dread. In Oslo, there is a burn ban. Oslo is near the shore of a sea, with plenty of water to take in the heat trapped in the atmosphere and brought in by the heat waves. That temperatures even there are so dangerously high speaks to the severity of climate change, and preludes a miserable future. Our reliance on oil must come to an end, even if there is a massive industry behind drilling and shipping it for fuel. In several locations like Ouargla, Nigeria, temperatures reach over 120 degrees fahrenheit, and "by 11 A.M., he [the worker] and his colleagues walked off the job" of working a petroleum plant itself. At this rate, even the oil industry will have to shut down as the global temperature continues to rise. The Law of Conservation of Energy dictates that the trapping of energy in the form of heat can be reversed, and the climate may be sustained. However, the reversal of damage from what the use of fossil fuels and other human processes have caused can only be successful if we limit those methods that caused the rising issue in the first place. A supranational organization--be it the U.N. or another--must take responsibility as mankind for the damage and take global measures to cease harm, organize, and mobilize for recovery.
“Dancing Is Not a Crime”
Juxtaposition between cultures different from my own has always intrigued me due to the fact that something completely normal in one culture can be outlawed in another bewilders me, and in turn, makes me want to learn more about it. I find it crazy that this is still a thing in our day and age. This was the exact reason I was drawn to the video about Maedeh Hojabri, an Iranian teenager who was interrogated by the police for posting Instagram videos of her dancing in her room. Shocking something as harmless as dancing can cause such an outrageous act by the police.
Though the video’s main topic was the outrage of Hojabri’s situation, it was also about something much bigger. In protest of the misogynistic tendencies of the Iranian government, people began to post their own videos of themselves dancing, standing in unity for Maedeh. It shocks me, in a positive way, when people from around the world unite to protest a common issue, despite existing conflicts. The fact that humans can stand together even through language and physical barriers is a powerful thing, and it gives me hope for a brighter future where we can all stand together as equals.
How to Write a Good College Application Essay
https://nyti.ms/2KkIaTy
This article inspired me since I came back from the science camp. It reminded me of Dr. P who told me I should start writing my essay for a college application. However, because I haven’t really learned the most important principles for writing, I thought this article would help me to follow each step. In order to get accepted to the college that one might have considered, it is essential to tell a story with passion, interests, values, and life experiences. Also, it is important to mention any internships, summer courses, extracurricular activities that reveals that you know the field that you had selected for your major. According to this article, many students missed emails asking follow-up questions, which I also didn’t know before. Therefore, this article not only inspired me to know what are important to write a college application essay but also taught me that I should watch out for grammars and punctuation mistakes.
U.S. Officials Scrambled Behind the Scenes to Shield NATO Deal From Trump
While reading this article, it was difficult for me to decide whether separating Mr. Trump from the newest declaration from NATO was the right thing to do or whether it was wrong to keep our country's commander in chief in the dark. On one hand, The United State's POTUS hasn't made good decisions in the past regarding international organizations and keeping him out of the picture might be for the greater good. However, Mr. Trump is the elected head of the United States and keeping any president out of international policy is downright wrong, no matter how bad their decisions are. However, NATO got productive without Mr. Trump and in the process past good policies that will only strengthen the countries within it and protect their people from any future threat.
Out of the numerous articles I have come across this week "If My Father Steps Outside This Church, He Could Be Deported" by Kelly Pinos has moved me the most. Kelly, a 16 year old girl, outlines the difficulties her family faces and in particular her father trying to remain in this country. Nelson Pinos (Kelly's father) has came to the U.S. from Ecuador over two decades ago so he could provide his family with a higher quality life. Since he has arrived he has been doing regular check-ins with immigration officials and worked in a factory to support his family. Mr. Pinos was a regular tax payer, had no criminal record, and all three of his children are citizens in America. However, last October officials asked for him to go back to Ecuador by November 30, 2017. Shortly after hearing the news an officer placed a brace on his ankle so they can track him. Mr. Pinos did not want to leave his family so he had to figure out a way he could remain here without being deported. The Pinos family drove to First and Summerfield United Methodist Church which was able to provide a sanctuary for Mr. Pinos where he was safeguarded by a ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) policy until his case is reviewed by the immigration court.
Immigrants coming to the U.S. has been an ongoing dispute. Immigrant families bear unimaginable circumstances each day with the goal of a better life. I want to see the U.S. be a role model for the world and help these people in their pursuit of happiness.
Recently, the weather in terms of temperature on both coasts of the United States have been severely ruthless. There have been high spikes in temperature especially in the beginning of the month of August. This overly intense heat evidently has voluminous amounts of negative affects to the citizens in these specific areas. Not only does the powerful temperature generate potentially life-threatening heat strokes, it can also cause treacherous conflagrations throughout cities. In the New York Times article “The Carr Fire, the 7th Most Destructive in California History, Rages On,” written by Julia Jacobs, the author explicitly demonstrated a cause of the recent extreme heats of California. While reading this informative article, I was very interested in reading this article for many reasons. I obtained a lot of information, but also lots of sympathy and gloom. I actually live in the state of California, so this topic brought lots personal feelings, which I admire the author of doing. I appreciated the way the author included statistics about the history of fires in California and also the statistics about this current fire. This included the amount of deaths and those injured, as well as how far the fire has spread. I think it is soul crushing to think of all the homes being annihilated by this fire and all the acquitted lives being put at danger and there is nothing us, as a population, can do to make this fire situation any better.
“They Stole a Shark in a Baby Stroller and Briefly Got Away With It” by Daniel Victor
This week, this article stood out in a worrisome yet funny way. It got me confused, because how can one steal a shark in a baby stroller? Before I read the article, I was thinking of the ways they could have done it. I was expecting people breaking in and running out, how it normally is when people steal. How else? Then as the article told me just exactly how, I was surprised. Three people in daylight and open hours, they just grabbed the shark with their own net. It was even captured by the cameras! That blew me away because they just casually left with the shark in the stroller and not one single person saw. It’s a good laugh but it worried me a bit. The shark could’ve died, but luckily they retrieved it back soon after. It just gets to me, if they can steal a shark, what else can they steal? If no employee paid attention or just simply another person didn’t speak up about it, how safe are the animals? Although it’s a thought, I don’t think it’ll happen again.
"How Empathetic is Your Dog?"
I watched this video about dogs trying to reach their owners who were trapped behind an easily opened glass door. I really liked this piece because it showed that dogs really do have a strong connection to their owners. Some of the dogs got anxious if they could not figure out how to get passed the door. Dogs have just as much feelings as humans do and care for us strongly. This video gives a perspective about how dogs think.
I liked this video because I have a retired racing greyhound. She is a very sweet dog, but can come off as stand-offish and hardly ever barks. My family jokes around that if someone ever broke in the house she would quietly greet them instead of warning us or trying to scare them away. This video however gave me some hope that even in a time of crisis my dog would come through and help the family out!
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/science/mars-life.html
Since humanity’s beginnings, we have looked up into the sky and wondered what was out there. In recent times, one of the focal points of these musings is the fourth planet, Mars. Scientific research implies that Mars is cold and dead, so why do we keep searching there? Well, the article “Mars Is Frigid, Rusty and Haunted. We Can’t Stop Looking at It.” gives some insight into our interest.
Recently, a lake under Mars’ southern ice cap was found by the Mars Express orbiter. This discovery is important, since lakes like these on Earth are known to contain microbes. If this is true for the Martian lake, then life on Mars would be confirmed. However, it is possible that we will never find life on Mars, if only because we wouldn’t be looking for non-DNA-based life, as that kind of life is our only example.
I, like many people, love space, and the mere mention of the red planet was enough to pique my interest. Now, I’m left wondering. If there is life on Mars, do these lifeforms have the right to continue to live on their own, or can Earthlings spread and terraform for themselves in disregard of our microscopic Martian neighbors? As much as Mars would benefit us as extra space, I think I must agree with the latter. If we must head to Mars, then wouldn’t it be easiest to let these creatures be if they pose no threat to us? We will be the invaders to their home, so we must come in peace.
"How to Revive a Friendship"
High School is a time where you are able to start many new relationships with different people across a four-year span. In these few years, people get caught up with these relationships resulting in strong bonds among peers or unnecessary drama. As a high schooler myself, I have experienced what it is like to create new friendships as well as have old ones exit my life. For example, I was once best friends with a fellow peer in middle school and as we transitioned our way to high school, we stopped communicating due to the lack of classes and shared interests we had for each other. When reading this article, I’ve realized that there was so much for me to do to keep the friendship going. Looking back at it, I never really put in the effort or work to keep my best friend and it evidently caused the downfall of our friendship. With this, It’s hard to accept how things have changed, but it’s naturally built into our human nature. We grow and we change to new circumstances and often leave behind what we once held close. Change is inevitable, but all we can do is keep moving forward.
Into the Wild With Kanye West
It's a polarizing controversy like the case of Kanye West's that makes me wonder if somewhere along the line we all made a mistake. Maybe calling people "geniuses" and treating them as idols wasn't the right move. When Kanye first started tweeting about his "dragon energy" and posting selfies in MAGA hats, I felt personally disappointed. He once boldly stated that "George Bush doesn't care about black people" and pleaded for his fellow rappers to stop being homophobic. Kanye West was a man who both saw and was affected by society at the time. He had songs where he rapped about the socio-economic problems that plagued his neighborhood growing up and continue to plague them today. He'd establish himself as somebody "legendary," and people became willing to overlook his narcissism and infamous rude outbursts at awards shows. I, for a fact, know I was. I recognized that he had flaws at the time and was still willing to look up to him and see him as a celebrity idol like many others. I trusted Kanye West, and I think that was the mistake. Celebrities have influence, everyone looks to them for their opinions on just about anything. The same applies to Kanye. We put too much faith into people with his status, and when they do things that let us down, we feel personally attacked. There's a whole lot more to unpack in Kanye's case, but at the end of the day he doesn't have to be concerned with it. Maybe we should be less concerned with him.
This week I read Happy Meal Ad is O.K. for Children, U.K. Regulator Says. Coco Pops Ad Isn't. In this article Palko Karasz explains that the U.K. has banned Coco Pops Ad from airing during children's shows. This restriction was implemented in attempt to reduse the rates of childhood obesity and diabetes. The British government ruled Coco Pops unhealthy due to its high sugar and fat content. This decision is controversial because people are comparing it to the government's allowance of Happy Meal ads during children's television shows. I am glad to see the government making steps to prevent obesity in children; however, I believe they must must be transparent with the exact critera they follow for deciding wether or not a food item is fattening. It is unfair for one company to restrict them from promoting their product when other company is free to do so despite their product being equally unhealthy.
Article: How Robot Hands Are Evolving to do what ours can
In the future, I think the robots are going to be taking over the world. Technology is so amazing these days and they can do anything humans can do. To me it's scary because robots are usually in the movies and now they are making the robots come to the real world.
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2018 Is Shaping Up to Be the Fourth-Hottest Year. Yet We’re Still Not Prepared for Global Warming
For over a decade temperatures have become increasingly hot each year and 2018 has been the hottest yet. The article, “2018 Is Shaping Up to Be the Fourth-Hottest Year. Yet We’re Still Not Prepared for Global Warming”, discusses this issue and calls attention to the real threat that it poses. I found this article to be very interesting because for a long time people have brushed off the idea that global warming is a threat but readers may finally be able to see why it is so crucial to pay attention to global warming.
Mortality rates from heat are growing staggeringly high in many countries and other countries are experiencing a devastating loss in their agricultural business because of the heat. This struck me because even though this issue may not effect me personally it effects so many people all over the world. A direct link can be made to the huge wildfires burning out of control in California. Many are feeling the direct repercussions of global warming and the article makes it increasingly clear that steps can be taken to decrease the intensity of the problem. The way we choose to live, such as reducing the amount of food waste we produce, can help many people all over the world and I think that we must all take steps to change our lifestyle in an attempt to, in some part, solve this problem.
"Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change". By: Nathaniel Rich
This week an article that captivated my interest was on climate change, of a topic I know many look away from. The knowledge of future ramifications was well known in the early 60's and was shunned and attacked by carbon companies seeing the danger to their profit and the case was lost to confusion among the public. The world leading nations met to address the issue, and the United states was set to lead the world to combat the carbon emissions in the 80's. Yet, inactivity towards the necessity of change in energy lead to the continuation of the problem, well known to those in power and eventually obscured to the public.
The author successfully describes the leading up of one of today's most debated topics which I see needs no debate or association with any political group. It has turned political so the world would turn its attention of this topic as just controversial rambling. This article legitimizes and allows understatement of the argument which is reiterated in media and news with highly polar stances in today's world. In all, climate change is real in it will have very real consequences sooner then later. The issue could be solved as was the hole in the ozone layer by the world coming together, and the world must realize this in order to break the trend of inactivity toward climate change.
Alaska Airlines Panned After Gay Couple Had to Give Up Seats |
The article I read this week was about a Gay couple who had been forced to give up their seats to a straight couple because of mix ups from a full flight. Without describing the sexuality of the couples, this sounds like a normal thing that tends to happen. But because it was made known, the whole thing was blown up and made huge. This was at an Alaskan airport. It didn't really mean anything to me because the place doesn't affect me, but apparently this airport is known for its accepting of homosexuality. That makes this a little more surprising, but its not really that important to me. It just makes it easier for me to accept the airports apology and that it was probably people working the system who were homophobic, or just honestly made it accidentally rude. This situation was blown way out of proportion in my opinion, so to me, this was just an overreaction that was caused by the media getting wind of it. The airport apologized, so I see nothing wrong with the situation currently. Okay, bye.
This week I read about the wildfire that is raging through California, the title of this article is The Carr Fire, The 7th most destructive in California history. This fire has been going on for a couple of weeks and as of right now it is 27% contained. Many homes and natural areas have been destroyed so far. Only six people have been killed as of right now and the wild animals have their ways of protecting themselves. The fire marshal's and government are trying to sop this fire which I think is very good, but the sooner would be the best thing for thing fire. The sooner the better to save people lives and they're homes .
“2018 Is Shaping Up to Be the Fourth-Hottest Year. Yet We’re Still Not Prepared for Global Warming.”
This article interested me thebes most this week because California has been having a lot of fires and many people are being affected by it. The heat just keeps rising and rising. The more it rises thebes moreeee crops we will lose. With all of these fires many of outbreaks harvested crops aren’t being destroyed. Even the homes that people live in are being destroyed.
People do not really think the fires steven that big of a deal, but homes aren’t being destroyed, people could be getting hurt, and crops that we eat are also being destroyed.
The thing is will we be able to keep up with the rise of heat in order to prevent people’s homes from being burnt down and crops from being destroyed? It’s going to be something that has to be worked on, but can we do it?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/world/asia/aral-sea-disappearing-uzbe...
While the rest of the world is talking about global warming and rising ocean levels, it is very interesting to see that in Northern Uzbekistan the water is instead doing the opposite and drying out.
This posed as a problem for the community of Muynak, who was once a port town of the sea, but now lies over 75 miles away from the nearest source of seawater left. Their entire livelihood of fishing is gone. But what intrigues me is how they can adapt to the situation. Instead, they turned it into a profit! They replaced their old source of main income with a new one: tourism. The ingenuity is brilliant, because many people will want to know what happened, what it was before, how it used to be, and it draws interest to many - including myself.
While I cannot relate to what length of work these people have gone through, it shows me that people can adapt when faced with a problem. Humans are intelligent creatures, they know how workarounds. If it can apply here, it can apply anywhere, no matter how big it may be.
"Designing the Death of a Plastic"
By Xiaozhi Lim
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/06/science/plastics-polymers-pollution.h...
Currently, plastics made out of synthetic non-degradable polymers are plaguing the environment and wildlife. The reason these plastics aren't degradable is because the bonds that assembly the polymers take too much energy to be broken natural by bacteria and other decomposers. Initially, this was intentional. Stronger bonded polymers were meant to replace the metals and glass in the construction of automobiles and airplanes. However, the long-term consequences of these polymers weren't considered when they were originally introduced. To mitigate some of the damage caused by non-degradable polymers, degradable polymers are now being created. The potential of these new polymers which could create degradable plastics is immense. Landfill overflow and oceanic population could eventually be conquered if these new plastics became the norm. However, current plastics are vastly cheaper to mass produce in comparison and companies won't be willing to lose profit just to produce an ecologically safer alternative. Hopefully these new plastics will eventually become less cost consuming to produce or companies will realizing that these new plastics would be worth the extra funds to produce.
The article that interested me the most is The Carr Fire, the 7th Most Destructive in California History. This article interests me the most because of how much the fire has taken over. There have been many fires in California history such as three quarters of Northern California have been burned and affected by all fires combined.
How to Write a Good College Application Essay
The reason I chose this one was the strange fact that I didn’t want to choose this one. I scrolled past it at first due to the fact that in the pit of my stomach I felt tinge of fear that went along with it. The idea that opening it meant that I must finally address the application process for college. It fills me with fear I have never experienced before. The notion of moving forward in life and into adulthood. If I’m being completely honest, that terrifies me. The idea of truly taking full responsibility of my life and jumping into unknown waters can be a strange concept at times.
As I was looking through other articles none seemed satisfying enough. None were what I needed to hear or what I was meant to hear tonight. I know the article wasn’t very long by any means, but it gave me a good reminder that going into this new stage of life I just needed to be me. And that’s all that matters.
Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/21/us/politics/zero-hour-climate-march.html
The article I read was titled "Meet the Teenagers Leading a Climate Change Movement." I was immediately drawn to this article because climate change is something that is very important to me. Unfortunately, humans continue to destroy the Earth daily, whether it be from air pollution or from the overuse of disposable plastics. The most interesting part of the article to me was a quote from one of the student activists, Nadia Nazar. “In our generation when we talk about climate change, they’re like: ‘Ha ha, that’s so funny. It’s not something we’ll have to deal with." The reason this intrigued me is because I have also heard a lot people say this. While it may be true that the Earth won't be completely destroyed in our lifetimes, it is so important to start protecting our planet now before it's too late. I believe that the efforts that these students are putting in to educate people and stop harmful environmental practices is not only incredible, but necessary if we want to save our beautiful planet.
‘Lopping,’ ‘Tips’ and the ‘Z-List’: Bias Lawsuit Explores Harvard’s Admissions Secrets
This article had interested me quite a bit since I also read three of the four related articles right after this one. It caught my attention because it relates to me in the sense that I am also an Asian-American. It is unlikely that I am in the same position academically as the plaintiff in the lawsuit, but I do have my own opinions on affirmative action. I do believe that affirmative action is a positive rule in sectors of the world such as career development, but I would not feel as if it is positively affecting Asian-Americans in education. My family did not come from riches, but it is never in my interest to make someone that is feel as if they are required to "give up" their advantages to accommodate for people like me. It is not their fault that they were born into prosperous families just as much as it is not their fault if they were born into a poor family. The race relations of our modern world would have brought Martin Luther King joy, but we have yet to satisfy his dream. The decisions soon to be made in regards to this racial issue will define the demographics of the class of 2023. I am interested in what the prestigious schools of America have to say about this court case and how it affects me in the near future.
I choose this article because I think it’s important information that some rising junior or anyone in high school could benefit from knowing. I am interested in knowing what colleges really look for when they see college application essays and what they want to know. Especially knowing that having a good essay can greater your chance of getting into your dream college. I think writing is important because you get a chance to speak your mind. In this article it talks about how sharing your views on the world, mentioning personal experiences, and having entertaining anecdotes makes your essay interesting and appealing. The article states that describing in detail how you helped your community is probably a good way to show that you are someone with strong character for example all the volunteering that you did during high school. The most important thing I think mentioned in this article was, that colleges basically want to see how your presence will make the college a better place. Writing in your essay about how you are a really passionate person will grab the staff/ faculties attention. Talking about why you think the college’s size, curriculum, social atmosphere and location influences your choice of college. Obviously having good spelling, grammar and punctuation is necessary. As the article says, writing with sophistication is important
I read the article “Meet the Teenagers Leading a Climate Change Movement.” This automatically caught my attention because climate change is an issue I feel very strongly about. Now more than ever it is our job, being teenagers, to fight for what we believe in and be the spark that enacts change. I find it very inspiring that a group of high school students are able to create the powerful platform “Zero Hour.” I think it proves the power that my generation has to make a difference, and movements like “Zero Hour” show adults we are a force to be reckoned with. Jamie Margolin, the founder of “Zero Hour” is showing adults how serious our current condition is. It is hard to understand why people can still be doubting climate change with the icebergs melting, sea levels risings, and the heat waves causing droughts and fires. This article also really captivated me because it shows that teenagers are beginning to be heard and create powerful movements, not just this one but “March for our Lives” as well. Climate change is happening and it is our job as teenagers to stand up and fight for environmental-friendly energy regulations and come up with solutions, so that we can create a safe and healthy world for us and future generations.
“Food Quality Trumps Variety, Experts Say”
The article’s title was interesting from the start. Normally, people try to eat many types of food in order to stay healthy. However, experts try to abolish this claim by stating that food quality is more preferable. I decided to check the article and see what it was about.
Inside the article it talked about how having more variety is actually more unhealthy than just eating food that is enjoyed by yourself. The reason is because research shows that eating a variety of foods also leads to an increased chance of eating junk food as well. I found it pretty surprising that people who eats a lot of different kinds of food tend to also eat the “bad” side of food as well. I know some people who try to eat many kinds of food as possible to become healthier. However, new research debunks this claim and suggest to eat healthy foods that people tend to enjoy.
Not only food affects people, but also habits as well. For example, it’s a habit that people eat a variety of food. However, doing so leads to bad habits such as eating junk food. It was a nice, informative article that really explains how humans evolve. This is because the article tells that humans are not as malnourished anymore and food evolves more and more daily. This is shown when now experts claim that “food quality trumps variety.” Overall, the article taught me a lot about how food can really affects people.
The article I chose this week was "The Internet Trolls Have Won. Sorry, There's Not Much You Can Do." By Brian X. Chen.
As someone who has seen internet trolling this caught my attention. This article talks about a few different topics. One thing it talks about is why people are so offensive online. There are many reasons people are mean, but there are a few theories about why. One theory is people have been taught "...to resist being impulsive in the real world, on the internet they cave to their temptations to lash out."
Another topic the article touches on is fake comments. This is when a bot comments on a site. Fortunately, it can be detected.
The last thing they talked about was what other users can do to help. The article simply says to report the comments. I believe this can help in small situation, but nothing big. Overall I think this article was helpful and had a lot of information.
@[email protected]
“Congressman Faces Charges Of Insider Deal”
I find this article interesting because Chris Collins was one of the first Trump supporters in government , as the article mentions. This indictment shows how corrupt Trump’s America is and it isn’t surprising that this occurred. It’s also interesting that Rep. Collins was even allowed to be such an important memeber of this company as he is a sitting member of the House of Representatives and of on the House’s Energy and Commerece committee, as the article says. People holding a major public office should not be allowed to have such noticeable conflicts of interest and then allow a member to get other officials buy this stock as well. This is is basically a “pump and dump” scheme and the fact that a Congressman is involved makes this an interesting trial to watch unfold.
The article “Meet Golf’s Odd Couple: Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson” interests me the most in The Times this week because it is about two of the best players in the history of golf. I enjoy watching them compete and play well. The article moderately gives reason why the title symbolizes the two golfers as an odd couple. The word “odd” refers to them having a divergent style of play; “couple” refers to the golfers as being the two best golfers in recent decades. The article captured my interest by Karen Crouse - the author - explaining the similarities and differences between the two greats. Crouse mentions, “Mickelson has striven to put his family ahead of golf: Last year, he bypassed the United States Open, the only major he has not won, to attend the high school graduation of his firstborn, Amanda.” Woods explains that he enjoys spending time talking to and being with his kids, but later adds, “When it’s time to play, it’s time to play, and when it’s not, it’s just different.” Both Tiger and Phil appreciate their family, but it appears to me that only Phil prioritizes family over golf. Crouse elucidates that Tiger and Phil are not the same people they were in their primes. She mentions that Woods joked about bad shots and his early Sunday finish, which he would have never done in his prime; and that Mickelson has never considered playing in the event Tiger hosts every December, but he said he is seriously considering playing in it this year.
“Lebron James’s open promise schoool inbox Akron Ohio “
This topic caught my attention as soon as i started reading because I am a big fan of sports and lebron James is my favorite player.I never thought that a nba player would think to open up a public school.this school is not like any other because it will not only support the student but will also provide support for the parents.this school will lead to the children who are most challenged by school.This is not only a school but it is a family that’s shows support and compassion for each other .The big motive in This school for The kids is going to Be lebron James because he was in there spot once and made it out with big dreams.the school will start from 3rd to 4th and then later would expand to 1-8 grade be year 2022.This is great because it will leave a lot of room for improvement and changes.The students who attend there have to promise to respect teachers do homework and live a healthy life. Not only that but lebron promise school has free tuition,uniform,transportation,food,and free tuition to every student who graduates.now that is just unforgettable to be coming from Nba basketball player.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/business/dealbook/tesla-stock-short-s...
The article that interested me this week was “Elon Musk is Beating Short-Sellers, for Now” This article interested me because it is all about how Tesla is such a risky company to invest in. Both actual investors and short-sellers have risks with investing, and no one knows who will make profit in the end. Short sellers borrow shares, then sell them. They then hope that the share price drops before buying back, making a profit in the end. This doesn’t hurt the company per se, but it benefits off of the losses of the company. Tesla is among the most shorted stocks in the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index, with about thirteen billion being shorted. Earlier in the year, short sellers seemed to be doing well as as the company lost 21 percent at their low point for the year. Elon took to twitter saying that short sellers would have three weeks to get out before their short position exploded. Since the start of April, Tesla’s shares have rebounded 40 percent causing short sellers 4.4 billion dollars. This isn’t a new trend, however. Those betting on Tesla’s stock to fall have lost more than 6.4 billion dollars since 2016. All in all, short selling Tesla’s stock is a risky game, but one that so many people have tried.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/12/world/asia/thailand-cave-rescue-seals...
In this article, the risky rescue of the Thai soccer team that had been stuck in the Tham Luang Cave for 18 days was revealed. Towards the end of June 2018, I had heard of this incident, but was not aware of the elaborate efforts taken to rescue the boys. As I read more about how this mission planned and executed, it became evident to me that the rescue was based at a level of humanity since multiple countries were ready to help.
The soccer team had been trapped one-mile underground in the cave due to heavy rainstorms. Rescuers used cocoons, low-density stretchers, and rope in their mission. Since this cave is isolated and has no GPS tracking, maps were hand-drawn. The synchronization in the extrication was intriguing and praiseworthy since the boys had to be kept underwater for up to 40 minutes at a time in certain locations.
In addition, I was astounded by the number of people that were involved with this mission overseas. The United States provided logistics, Great Britain navigated the cave, and volunteers from Finland, China, and Australia joined to help. With each person having their own skillset, this may have been difficult to coordinate. But, the unity that people showed during this time was heartwarming. So, while the team’s adventures into the cave may have started as a birthday present for one of the players, the biggest gift was from all those who participated in the rescue.
We Use Sports Terms All the Time. But Where Do They Come From? Terms originating from athletics have become engrained in the vocabulary of many (including myself). When I use terms such as “taking home the gold” or sayings of the like, the fact that it originates from sports completely goes over my head. This article stood out to me as I finally got to see where many of these expressions stem from. “Tossing your hat in the ring”, contrary to my belief, had nothing to do with trapeze rings, but the act of signaling you are ready to rumble by throwing your hat in a boxing ring. “A wild goose chase” came from a horse-chasing-horse sport from the 17th century. The saying I hear the most, “hands down”, comes from a near-victorious jockey relaxing and putting down, well, his hands. It was nice to see where these common terminologies started, and how they have developed over the years. Many sayings in the English language have little or nothing to do with their origins. It’s almost like a game of telephone that has lasted for years, sometimes centuries. It really goes to show you how easily things can be twisted over time. This isn’t necessarily seen with these phrases, but many others it is. It makes one wonder- how many important historical events been “altered”? There are no winners and losers to morph the meanings of adages, but there certainly are for battles throughout history. This article really opened my eyes to that.
This week I was truly fascinated by the article "The Internet Trolls Have Won. Sorry, There's Not Much You Can Do". Ever since social media bloomed on the internet, comments have played a major role on people whether positively or negatively; however, after reading about the Infowars scandal, I realized how little action the Tech Companies are taking. With the overwhelming amount of personal comments roaming the internet today, it is difficult to determine if the comments are safe or not, including the harsh and insensitive ones. Yet the Tech companies do have complete power over these comments and should be taking more actions on highly offensive ones such as the Infowars' false statements. While people should and do have the right to express their opinion on the web, some statements can be taken too far, leading to major cyberbullying and long lasting damage. Even though there is not much a witness could do, awareness could be spread to control the thoughtless comments spoken online.
"Pope Francis Declares the Death Penalty Unacceptable in all Cases"
Many Catholics believe that the taking of one's life through the death penalty is wrong. I agree with these people. It is not fair for someone to be killed, even if they have done it to someone else. The belief is that life is to be respected from conception to natural death. The use of the death penalty is not keeping a life until its natural death. The death penalty used to be acceptable in practical ways. Many different Catholics didn’t think that it was totally immoral. This was when the Catholic teaching agreed with that thought in some circumstances. Recently, the teaching was changed by the Pope. This means that the death penalty is wrong in all cases according to the Church. If we were to focus in on the death penalty in the United States, we would see that 31 states out of the 50 allow the death penalty. I feel that the statistics may change as they hear about what the Pope has said towards the death penalty. Some people will still say that the death penalty is right, and they have their reasons for saying it. For example, the jails will be too full if the death penalty is legal. Also that if someone kills another person, they don’t deserve to live. The people who agree with the Pope’s statement will say that on the other hand, they still deserve a second chance and the right to life. Some people may change their beliefs on the issue from this, but many will still stay firm on what they feel.
The article that I found to be the most interesting this week is, “Racism at American Pools Isn’t New: A Look at a Long History” by Niraj Chokshi. The reason for this is because I went to be more knowledgeable about racism were I live. I don’t see racism much myself as I don’t leave the house but I know it is out there. This article helps me understand a point of racism in American, in our swimming pools. While reading about those men and women getting hurt for no clear reason but that they have darker skin makes me feel sick and disappointed. They just wanted to have fun and enjoy the water like everyone else but someone decides to ruin their day just cause god decide to give them a darker skin color. This has serious effects as stated in the article, “that 64 percent of African-American children have no or low swimming ability.” Not being able to get into the swimming pool to learn how to swim means that never learn how to swim. Not learning how to swim meaning that it is more likely for them to drown in deep waters. Being more likely to drown in high waters mean that they are taking a risk that can cause death when getting on a boat. The white people that do this should all have their time in prison. I am thankfully for this article and wish you all for a good day.
"Mars Is Frigid, Rusty and Haunted. We Can’t Stop Looking at It."
by Dennis Overbye
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“An astronaut,” announced my wide-eyed, 6 year old self.
I’ve always been fascinated by the mysteries of nature. I asked many a bizarre question as a kid. What makes stickers sticky? What was it like before I was born? Why does my brain hurt when I eat ice cream too fast? I had an innate need to learn; and as much as I possibly could.
By the first grade, I had my career goal set for the stars. Our solar system seemed so vast; the idea that people had the technology to travel out into the night sky left me mind-boggled. Since then, I’ve discovered that my love for learning extends beyond that of interstellar wonders. I also enjoy looking back into the past through history classes, literature, and art. I like to soak in all of the information that I can handle.
My love of learning is perhaps what drew me to this particular article, as well as some nostalgia as I reflected on my boundless childhood dreams. We are making great advances in technology that allow us to further study the solar system, and as humankind we inch towards landing a man on Mars; perhaps even planets beyond our red neighbor.
We are gradually learning more about this strange world, so it is intriguing as well as relieving to know that someday we may find a cure for Alzheimer’s, an alternative energy source, and so much more as we make scientific progress.
1 and Married: Malaysia Spars Over an Age-Old Practice"
Norazila (14) and Ayu (11) did everything together from sleepovers to talking about cute boys, until one-day Norazila found out Ayu had become her father's third wife. Ayu is now Norazila stepmother. Ayu has married her best friends father Che Abdul Karim Che Abdul Hamid who is a 41-year-old rubber trader. Mr. Che Abdul Karim has stated "he loves her and will not touch her until she is 16." I was interested in this article because I found it outrages for such a young girl to in the first place be married and to a 41-year-old man! Ayu is not even a teenager yet. She does not have an instinct yet and cannot make her own decisions. Extremely young marriages need to stop. Especially when there is such an age gap. I myself do not hear many stories or see many articles about topics of this sort. So it is nice for me to see this article. We can not make a difference if we do not know what is going on in our world. Young marriages need to be outlawed young girls have to stop being forced into situations they are not ready for and cannot handle. [email protected]
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/climate/trump-auto-emissions-californ...
Environmental pollution isn't something relatively new, it's just been something that hasn't been greatly acknowledged until now. With many factors like media to spread the word on this issue, many organizations and movements have arisen as a way of people to spread awareness about this severe problem that will impact the Earth greatly in the near future. But recently, President Trump has voiced his opinions on completely disregarding environmental problems. A recent goal formed by him is his effort to loosen rules regarding car pollution, which is one of the main factors in pollution. This action can cause the effects of pollution to increase further, causing pollution to be threatening for humans much sooner than predicted. With a big influence in the media and country, this decision will truly affect the perspectives and opinions that citizens have on pollution and its effects. The mindset of delaying any action will truly be prominent and will cause immense problems that one way or another, future generations will have to deal with.Getting rid of any actions taken to improve the problem will be the utmost setback in the efforts that people have dedicated their lives to, all in the name of ensuring the endurance of the human race, along with the health of planet Earth. Without these efforts, there would truly be no hope in ensuring a healthy environment for living things in future generations.
"Build Border Wall or Government Will Be Shut Down, Trump Says"
By Katie Rogers and Nicholas Fandos
This article caught my eye immediately, mainly because of the juxtaposition between the maturity of the protection of our country and the immaturity of threatening to shut the government down. In this article the President goes on to say that "we're the laughingstock of the world." and "we have the worst immigration laws of anywhere in the world." Although Mr. Trump is right about the fact that we are the laughingstock of the world, it is not because of our immigration laws, but rather our joke of a President. He goes on to explain that the only reason the wall has not yet been build is because the Democrats have not yet allowed it to be payed for. He continues to blame others for issues he has created, using rhetoric that seems to make people forget that he promised Mexico would pay for the wall.
"The Marines Didn't Think Women Belonged in the Infantry. She's proving them wrong."
The article talks about the power of women changing even in the military. Currently through out the world women are projecting there voices and showing that they are as important as men are. Some people to this day still believe men and women aren't equal, but that didn't stop Lieutenant Hierl who has become the first female to lead an infantry platoon in the Marine Corps. Before she became the first women to lead an infantry platoon the leaders were typically men. Even though she knew that men where the primary leaders she changed history and showed that it doesn't matter what gender you are anyone can become a leader. People think that they can't do certain things because they are a certain sex and give up but gradually people are showing others that anything is possible. Women are changing history by doing tasks that people thought were generally tasks for men but that is not true. There are tasks that men can only do but not everything is limited to men only and people are starting to understand that. Lieutenant Hierl is a brave women who knew the odds and still tried her best everyday and got the result she deserved. I believe we need more women to show people that anything is possible there isn't limits to everything. The only thing that holds people back is not there sex or race but there courage to do the impossible.
"Racism at American Pools Isn’t New: A Look at a Long History"
The topic I read about talked about how racism in American pools progressed over time. This article interested me because it focused on a serious topic that should be talked about more often. Millions of people are verbally and physically harassed to this day just because of the color of their skin. I think the article did a good job explaining certain events that happened and educating those about the topic.
In order to examine the change in men and women financial expectations or norms you first need to fully understand the change in men and women financial condition. The article “When Wives Earn More Than Husbands, Neither Partner Likes to Admit It” looks at the financial expectations using the data from the Census Bureau research. How fast does the percentage of woman who out-earn their husbands increase, and what is the effect of the increase on the financial expectations?
In the article two measurements are shown, one from a research done in the 80’s which found that 18% of women earned more than their husbands. The second research made in 2013 shows that little under 25% of women were getting bigger pay checks. This 7% increase within 25 years is surprisingly small, and at first glance suggests it will take another couple centuries to reach full economic equality between men and women. Actually the slow increase in percentage is likely due to the increasing rate in which the gap between genders lessens, a faster change in the topic is expected in near future.
With change in the world comes comprehension of it, but not as an immediate response, rather a delayed one that derives from how easy it is to accept a default. For example a man that was born in the 21st century usually agrees with the idea of feminism, in contrast to a 20th century born. I think the idea does apply to the financial topic, and it will disappear from the world in twenty to thirty years from now.
"Trump Mocks LeBron James’s Intelligence and Calls Don Lemon ‘Dumbest Man’ on TV"
As a student athlete, I look up to and admire Lebron James for his achievements both on and off the court. He has achieved many records and accomplishments in the sport of basketball which separate him from his competition and make him a candidate for one of the greatest basketball players of all time. At the same, Lebron has been doing a lot to help communities around the nation and most recently, as spoken about in this article, has created a school for at-risk kids in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Lebron himself has called this his greatest achievement and what he wants his legacy to be know for. This philosophy that basketball is more than a sport and can be used as a platform is very inspiring. Many kids like me who follow sports can use these actions displayed by Lebron to understand that we too can make a difference in our community through sports. However, to have our president completely mock Lebron and another African American reporter is truly embarrassing. Not only can the words of our nation's leader stop the youth from understanding that we can make a difference through sports and other things we love, but they are also racists and continue to divide our nation, which Lebron explicitly wants to unite through basketball. I hope other young, aspiring athletes strive to make a difference in the world by taking advantage of the platform sports give us and do not let anyone stop them.
"Are We All 'Harmless Torturers' Now?"
This week in The New York Times Paul Bloom and Matthew Jordan published the article “Are We All ‘Harmless Torturers’ Now?”. The authors chose to present their claim through the use of metaphors found often in the article. With each comparison, they are persuading readers to consider the larger consequences of seemingly small actions. The idea of the 'Harmless Torturer' resulted after an experiment that was in 1986. In the test, one thousand people turned a dial that shocked a victim once per person as compared to a case where one singular person turned the dial one thousand times. As stated, "And yet morally it feels different, since nobody caused any real harm to any single individual (Bloom & Jordan 1). They go on to compare this philosophy with social media and the concept of public shaming. The central idea is that one comment can be easily shrugged off and ignored. However, a thousand comments can cause serious pain to the victim. The authors stress the point that instead of posting hate to hurt someone, people often do so to make themselves look like good people for opposing racism, sexism, etc. The authors present the argument again to compare uploading hate to stoning. Though no one knows who ultimately threw the stone that killed the victim, each person helped. The authors end by driving home the point that even if the victim seems deserving, people should make an effort to limit the amount of hate they put on social media.
This week I read the article, Beauty is in the Eye of These Beholders, written by Elizabeth Holmes. The piece was about a beauty convention held in Los Angeles, California called Beautycon. The article follows the guests at the event, makeup artists, youtubers, and a few well known celebrities. The title of this article is what initially drew me into reading it. I found the title interesting because it is something that everyone can relate to, because everyone is beautiful in their own way. This week I could have read an article about politics, or medicine, or even things happening in other countries. However, I chose this article because I wanted to read about the author’s views on beauty, and what it meant to them. In the article, the author wrote about how everyone was invited to this event. Regardless gender, sexual orientation, origin, race, everyone who attended was recognized for their beauty and how they express themselves. This piece was engaging to read due to the author’s modern tone, and experiences mentioned in the text. Beautycon, a welcoming, loving, and fun atmosphere as portrayed by the author. The author's writing style is exciting to read because of her use of quotations, her tone, and the flow of the passage. I think that my favorite aspect of Holmes' writing is the style that she illustrated her story in. Overall, I am very happy that I chose to read this article because it was informing, and entertaining.
Article: Trump’s Tariffs Are Changing Trade With China. Here Are 2 Emerging Endgames.
As I read through the headlines of the Times this week, this article grabbed my attention. Recently, the US government has been making stronger decisions in an attempt to correct our economy. Because of this, I have been closely following these decisions in order to keep up with what is happening and understand where the future of the American economy is going. In this article, two possible ending to the escalating trade war were suggested: the US and China arrive at a stalemate with only slight changes to both nations economies or a negotiated truce is made where both nations change their current trade policies and both have mutual benefit. These possible endings are interesting to me from an economic standpoint as the current tariffs that are in place are hurting both nations and the companies located within them. For the US, if a stalemate were to occur, the largest changes seen would be companies leaving the US and going where the tariffs do not exist, or the companies would take the more expensive route and change their supply chains. However, the more likely negotiated truce would have smaller economic impact yet improve national relations between the US and China. These considerations of the consequences of this trade war have interested me and that is why I have chosen this article for this week.
The iGen Shift: Colleges are Changing to Reach the Next Generation
As a member of Generation Z and a rising senior who will be applying to colleges this fall, this article immediately caught my attention. Initially, based solely on the title, I was prepared to read a piece about my generation's sense of entitlement and dependence on technology, and how Generation Z had joined Millenials in habitual industry-ruining. However, this article surprised me in that it focused more on the new ways that iGen communicates, and the increased sense of responsibilty and financial awareness that characterizes the iGen college experience. Rather than ranting about dependence on technology and inabaility to interact with people and the environment, this article provided several examples of how colleges are adapting to communicate effectively with students in the digital age, while still satisfying the need for human interaction. What interested me the most about this article was how well the author's characterization of the typical iGen student fit me (which is not surprising, given how the author also mentions how Gen Z think of themselves as individuals and expect to be treated as such). I enjoyed this article because of the emphasis on balancing the traditional college experience and the need for interpersonal relationships with adapting to the new needs and perspectives of students in a rapidly changing age of technology.
Judge Blocks Attempt to Post Blueprints for 3-D Guns
I've always had anxiety that I would encounter terrorism in real-life. Only two years ago, I thought this was finally the case. My family and I decided to spend the day at our local mall for clothes shopping. At this point, my dad, sister, and I, were walking back to our mom while she shopped.
I heard yelling and the sounds of shoes hitting the floor frantically. Then, we saw running. Everyone around us was sprinting in the opposite direction. Everyone assumed that someone had opened fire. My dad immediately grabbed both of our hands, and we all ran down several stores before hiding in one. My dad spammed the call button to our mom, while I watched the once-busy mall become empty. She didn't answer. I feared for our lives and my mom's. The situation was later announced as just a scare. But it didn't matter because scares and real situations like these are now a seemingly normal occurrence in our country today. We are accustomed to this.
The fact that the U.S.'s mass shooting rate is increasing at an alarming rate, but individuals like Cody Wilson that want to release DIY plastic guns to the public, is senseless to me. I still question how gun advocates like Wilson argue that printed guns are a right when all it could do is increase the amount of illegal, unregistered, and undetectable weapons to get into the wrong hands. We shouldn't promote experiences like mine to become real shootings.
It’s difficult to overestimate the feeling of chaos that has permeated the American media since 2016. I’ve found the most devastating developments to be those of our crumbling environment. The consequences of our recklessness has lead to the annihilation of countless species globally.
Such a depressing news cycle was added to this week when, on the morning of August 5 I learned of the passing of Alan Rabinowitz, a zoologist famed for his contributions to big cat preservation and a passion for wildlife that was unparalleled.
While his accomplishments are truly extraordinary, what I find most inspiring about Rabinowitz was his origins. Rabinowitz coped with his childhood stutter by confiding in his pets and, later, in the jaguars he saw on trips to the Bronx Zoo. He promised them that “one day, if I find my voice, I would become their voice.” As a native Long Islander, I, too, was captivated by the gracefulness of the animals at the Bronx Zoo acting as ambassadors for their wild cousins. Tiger Mountain, an exhibit which features the titular Siberian Tiger, was always my favorite. The majesty of these cats inspired an insatiable desire for knowledge in me. I owe this passion to the work of Rabinowitz, without whom these species could have been in even graver peril.
Dr. Rabinowitz’s work in his lifetime may have come to an end, but his legacy lives on in the hearts of those he inspired who dedicate themselves to becoming a voice for those with none for generations to come.
"Lassie Got Help, Would Your Dog?"
As an avid dog lover, I couldn't help but read and watch the video about dogs. I've always noticed how my own dog is so protective of my family whenever people come by my house, but I was still fascinated by what I read in this piece.
Some dogs came to the rescue and were able to knock down the door, but others appeared to do nothing. I still find it remarkable, however, that the dogs who did nothing showed higher levels of stress and anxiety. This helps to show how dogs really do care about their owners and have an emotional connection.
I was surprised that the dogs reacted no differently based on the tone of voice. I have always felt as though my dog reacts differently based on how I talk to her, but this experiment did not back that observation.
I have always loved having a dog, not only because she is cute, but because I feel as though I am so emotionally connected to her. There's a reason people say dogs are a man's best friend, and their loyalty as shown through this article is why humans love them so much.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/20/opinion/china-women-birthrate-rights....
Browsing through the New York Times this week, I encountered an article discussing how birthrates are still falling in China despite the end of the one-child policy. Fearing an old-age bubble that the younger generation cannot support, China dropped this restraint on birth rights to pursue an opposite path: encouraging women to birth more children. As a motivated female scientist, the question of whether to have kids has often been turned over in my mind. Although children sound like fun and a way to pass on my interests to the next generation, they would minimize the time that I can devote to my career and lower my productivity. Since reading this article, I imagine that many Chinese woman are facing the same decision. Because higher educated women tend to have fewer children, China is focusing most of its advertising for bearing children on the educated. For example, advertisements featuring women graduating college with babies are being mass produced. At the same time they discourage the “wrong women” to bear children: unmarried women or minorities. I believe that it should be any women’s right to choose what she devotes her time to and this decision should not be influenced by government power. Regardless of whether the government is limiting children or encouraging them, they are limiting female’s rights by viewing them as a means to acquire the state’s next generation.
I read the article "Beauty Is in the Eye of These Beholders". This article interested me because many girls these days show up to school, and other ordinary places, often wearing full - and I mean full - faces of makeup. Caked on foundation, over-accentuated eyeliners, drawn-on eyebrows, over-lined lips, all parts to the whole that is make-up. However, despite the fact that some people wear a lot more make-up than they probably should,many people are actually very talented with applying make-up. There are videos all over the internet and various social media sites of people showing the make up skills. So whether they put too much make up on, or they know a "good" amount of make up, tons of people love the idea of getting dressed up and trying new things with their make up, whether that be eye shadow, eye liner, lipstick, or all of the above.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/science/blue-crystals-sun.html?rref=c...
I read the article "The Young Sun’s Outbursts Were Trapped in Blue Crystals From Outer Space." I was drawn to this article because of the bright blue block in the picture. I was further intrigued seeing that this article was about space. I love space, and though it's an uncomprehendingly enormous, unknown entity, I feel captivated by its beauty.
As I read the article, I became amazed that, how by analyzing meteors, we could even reconstruct the behavior of the sun, (somewhat) shortly after it formed 4.6 billion years ago! I've learned about the age of the universe and our own earth in earth science classes before, but I'm still impressed we were able to pinpoint an estimate of the age of these (compared to our insignificant human presence) ancient, ANCIENT celestial bodies at all.
In Marc Tracy’s breakdown of collegiate athletics, he comes to a pitiful conclusion about the devotion required to play college sports.
In his article, "How College Sports Killed Summer Vacation", Tracy breakdowns the tenacity that comes with being an athlete. He argues that the competitive attitude of universities enables coaches to be more motivated in keeping their players on campus all year round. Thus, he insists the sacrifices do not balance out to the success. Tracy deems the schedule of a typical college athlete as “grueling”, and he is baffled with the obligation schools dwell upon their athletes.
Although the requirements to be a college athlete may be enduring, I disagree with Tracy’s disreputable claim about collegiate sports. Scholar athletes know the dedication essential for greatness as well as the sacrifices given to achieve their goals. Using scholarships and career pathways offered from universities, athletes are more than willing to give their time. Though lots of stress ensues, student athletes recognize the discipline needed to succeed not only in sports, but in life.
Going into my junior year of high school, I relate to the meticulous schedule of a scholar athlete. As college approaches, I realize what it is going to take to further my academic and athletic career. While an abundant amount of effort and time must be committed to achieve success, many high school students are willing to do whatever it takes to follow their ambitions.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/education/learning/writing-college-ap...
The article that caught my eye the most this week in the New york times was about College. More specifically it is how you can write a good application essay. This is important to me and because the title was so upfront and to the point it made me want to know more. The article specified important things that should be included in your college application. For example “Mention internships, summer courses, extracurricular activities or lab work that show steps you’ve taken to learn and understand your field of interest.” I found it very helpful because it was very informative and opened my eyes to the things I should mention rather than just the things I have done. Especially with college right around the corner i felt the need to know the information in the article. I will definitely look back at this article and use the tips I learned in it when it’s time for me to start my Essay.
Trump recently stated that he would have no problem shutting down the federal government if the wall at the Mexican border is not built. Trump states that the United States has the worst immigration laws in the world. This is a very extreme method of getting his way, even republican senators have disagreed with his idea of shutting down the government. Several people have been dismissing this idea and claiming that Trump's idea is very unintelligible, according to Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois. I agree and personally don't think Trump is doing the right thing in this scenario, and I do believe there is a better solution.
This week going through the New York Times I came across the “How a Disappearing Sea Became a Town’s Main Attraction.” Although the article does not put much focus on the attraction part of it, the article puts it out that it has become mainly an issue. Main points to take in from the article was that it happened to the Aral Sea, a strong windstorm blew salt in the air, making it hard to wash off and left the seabed full of “rusting trawlers” making it look like a graveyard for ships. I was interested to read that this happened to a sea leaving off salt on the nearby town of Muynak, Uzbekistan as well as having had this event take place in the midst of three days, and the way that the article includes Helena Fraser’s quote, “‘...is not just a tragedy, as many people have said, it is an active hazard unfolding before our eyes,’” revealing that we shouldn’t be worried about what already happened, but we should be more worried over the fact on what will happen next to nearby locations or to sites from across the world. Another interesting point was how the article describes that the farmers were worried for their crops as they mainly live off of that and with little water in the area but two rivers. It is interesting to read that the changes of the sea shrinking have been noticed further years back but was little change, proving that we should strive for change in many ecological challenges in today’s world.
I read "Does fidgeting counter the harmful effects of sitting?" by Gretchen Reynolds and as a high school student, I found it interesting that simple dynamic movement while sitting for long periods of time can increase blood flow and the amount of calories burned each day. Movement as small as a simple foot tap or fidgeting has proven to be beneficial to the health of students and employees. When blood flow to major arteries in the legs slows down, it weakens the blood vessels and could potentially cause arterial stiffening over time. I found this article interesting because if research has proven that sitting still for long periods of time can be harmful, why are schools still forcing students to sit statically in desks all day. If something as simple as tapping one's foot can be so beneficial, imagine the impact moving around the classroom or sitting on exercise balls could have for the physical and mental health of students and employees. What also surprised me was the fact that by keeping one’s legs completely still, the blood flow to the legs does not just stay the same, but actually decreases. Low blood flow to the legs can cause narrowed vessels and restricted blood flow which can lead to numbness and increased blood pressure. I believe students and employees in the workforce who sit at their desk for hours on end should be educated on this topic so we can avoid static sitting and improve our calorie loss and overall health through simple dynamic movement.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/20/business/media/james-gunn-fired-offen...
"Disney Fires Guardians of the Galaxy Director Over Offensive Tweets"
I have always been a huge fan of the Marvel Franchise and especially the Guardians of the Galaxy so when I read that the director James Gunn was fired I was shocked something from such a long time ago in his life came to strike him in the back. Gunn got into an argument on his twitter as he criticized President Trump, two defenders looked back and found his old tweets to use against him. Many were disgusted by the tweets relating to pedophilia. Gunn apologized for his statements claiming he was changed however, Disney still fired him anyway. The reaction to this case is far from one-sided. fans of the films including the actors have already backed Gunn up, even creating petitions to hire him back, while others say he deserves punishment for what he said. I found the argument very interesting because its very similar to one that Trump was involved in during his campaign with his rape allegations, yet I find the the people that were against Trump are defending Gunn, and even vise versa. It comes to show how opinionated we all are in our arguments.
“Riders Wonder: With Uber as New York’s Plan B, is there a Plan C?”
I found this article particularly interesting because it showed how New Yorkers feel about the halt on issuing new licenses for ride-hail services. I have always been interested in New York City politics; especially the aspect of public transit. NYC has proven itself to not be capable enough to provide proper public transit for its people. With the introduction of ride-sharing companies into the NYC ecosystem there have been debates on how they should be regulated. The article shows that NYC is not in a position to place a cap on new vehicle licenses for ride-hail services. Before any decisions are made we must look at the way transit is run. Unfortunately for years, public transit has been far from adequate in the outer boroughs. Mayor deBlasio has done a poor job of improving transit in the outer boroughs. It is especially disappointing to see that in his 4 years in office has not made any true progress in the outer boroughs. Most of the effected area of the new legislation will be the outer boroughs that have struggled the most with the ability to travel within NYC. Until the city elects a new mayor, there probably will not be any improvements made to public transit. Before we can make decisions that will impact the way New Yorkers travel we must work immediately to improve our transit system. Until changes are made New Yorkers will be forced to use MTA New York City Transit in its current state.
Upon reading the headline “The Age That Women Have Babies: How a Gap Divides America”, one might imagine that the article following would perhaps be about the gradual shift in the age of first-time mothers over history, from the socially-acceptable early twenties of the twentieth century to today’s increasingly common mid-thirties. However, this particular article discusses a much more complex gap in American motherhood culture: the present-day difference in age between first time mothers in urban vs. rural areas. Those living in liberal urban areas are more likely to be older, since they tend to get an education and save sufficient funds before giving birth, whereas those living in conservative rural areas, where abortion and college degrees are less typical, are commonly younger. What is most striking to me about the article is its ability to open readers’ eyes to the impact of mothers. Their positions in life when giving birth, whether single or married, uneducated or graduated, broke or wealthy, affect their children for the rest of their lives. Everybody knows that mothers are beyond impactful on their children, but it appears that they have the same effect on America’s economic dynamics. The trends in first-born mothers’ ages are slowly widening the financial gap between rich and poor, urban and rural. Mothers, as a collective unit, have the ability to affect change over the entire nation.
Since taking office, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has executed a "war on drugs," resulting in the deaths of over 12,000 Filipinos. The Times article, "In Dueterte's Philippines, Having a Beer Can Now Land You in Jail," reveals Mr. Duterte's new strategy to win the war. Recently, Mr. Duerte authorized police officials to arrest individuals for minor infractions like "drinking in the streets, public urination or even being outdoors without a shirt." If police start cracking down on minor wrongdoings, Mr. Dutete believes that a drop in major infractions will occur. Comparing Duterte's strategy to the Volstead Act, Duterte should rethink his approach. The Volstead Act banned the manufacturing and selling of alcoholic beverages in the United States to help Americans, but it failed as it caused the death of thousands and crime rates to increase. Likewise, just one month into Mr. Duterte's policy, one person has died after being beaten to death in an overcrowded prison. Besides, the majority of the public is against the policy which should hint at the possible disobedience and rise in crime rates Duterte's policy can prompt.
This week I read "How to Revive a Friendship."
This article interested me because friendship can be a complicated topic and the article was able to explain the issues that are difficult to put into words. People sometimes find themselves unable to rescue dying friendships. I myself have gone through this experience. A friendship with a lifelong friend can seem dull and colorless at any moment. This situation is difficult for friends and can be very unpredictable. The article mentioned that big life changes such as marriage and children can greatly affect friendships and people need to comprehend change and learn compromises.
Another reason this article was engaging was because I personally thought it was nice to see an article regarding friendship and the problems so many people face and struggle with. In a problematic world we sometimes forget our friends or our problematic friendships. So it felt good to read and take the time to think about friends and friendship in the midst of our busy world.
"See America's New Ellis Island: A South Texas Bus Terminal"
This interactive immediately captivated me with its title. Growing up in New York City for most of my life, Ellis Island has a special place in my heart. It's a symbol of the opportunities that I have been blessed with. The risks that my parents were willing to take, leaving their people and lives behind, have opened the doors to my hopes and dreams.
At the McAllen bus terminal, the migrants have been jailed by authorities when they first arrived in the United States. And despite the fact that hundreds of families have been separated due to the zero-tolerance immigration policy, thousands continue to make the harsh journey over mountains to come to America. Most are from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to escape violence and poverty.
Some wear GPS monitors on their ankles to track them while their immigration cases are being processed.
Nonetheless, the migrants are hopeful about their future and the future of their families. They were uncertain about their immigration status, but they were certain that they would take advantage of every opportunity if given the chance. Working in Miami, playing soccer at school, and small things that make up our daily lives mean the world to these migrants. Although my parents didn't physically cross mountains to arrive in America, they have given me everything they could to ensure that I was happy, healthy, and gifted with tremendous opportunities. I am incredibly grateful.
"Build Border Wall or Government Will Be Shut Down, Trump Says"
This article by Katie Rogers and Nicholas Fandos stood out from the list of displayed for this contest. This was mostly based on the juxtaposition between the seemingly mature mention with the safety of our country and the immaturity of announcing that he would enact a government shut down if things do not go his way. The President then goes on to say that "We're the laughingstock of the world." and "we have the worst immigration laws anywhere in the world." Although Mr. Trump is right about the fact that we are the laughingstock of the world, it is not because of our immigration laws, it is because of our joke of a President.
"How Record Heat Wreaked Havoc on Four Continents"
Having grown up in a place where a few 100+ degree weeks in summer is common, this article quickly caught my attention. It seems that every year where I live there are more and more 100 degree days. Every year gets noticably hotter and hotter. This article brings to light the fact that rising temperatures is not isolated to one location, but is a common fact across the globe. Climate change is a pervasive problem in today's world. The article reported that 86 people died during Japan's recent heatwave this summer. Climate change is a potentially deadly occurance. The fact that some people do not belive it is real or they just choose to ignore it is beyond me. The evidence is out there and it is important that people realize its dangerous potential. Articles such as this one are important because they shed light on the reality of climate change. Hopefully, as articles like these come out more people will accept the truth and do more to prevent climate change.
The horrors of child marriage are not often discussed in our daily lives. But it definitely still exists in other places around the world such as Malaysia. The article "11 and Married: Malaysia Spars Over Old-Age Practice," discusses child marriage in Malaysia. This article interested me the most because it's hard to believe that children as young as 11 are forced into marriage. It made me realize how little I know about other cultures, and now I want to research these age-old customs and how they still influence societies today.
I read: BTS Becomes the First K-POP Act to Top Billboard Album Chart. This article grabbed my attention instantly. As a member of the BTS fandom, ARMY, I am extremely proud of them. BTS create amazing songs that captivate the youth due to the contents of the song. They talk about the struggles of the youth and express the need for attention towards extremely important topics like mental health. Also, BTS is known for their complicated choreographies and high level skills in rap and singing. Furthermore, BTS shows genuine care and love for their ARMYs and ARMYs show a great amount of passion for their idols. Unlike many other idol groups, BTS treat each other like family and show genuine care and support towards each other whenever a member is going through struggles. They went from unpopular rookie idols living in a small apartment room to now worldwide superstars living in one of the most expensive and luxurious complexes in Seoul, Korea, but still being humble and never letting their fame get to them. For these reasons, BTS stand out among other K-POP groups. Through all their hard work and passion, they deserve to be where they are right now. I am very proud to see them grow and gain more attention and love. BTS truly is amazing.
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“Has Anything Changed in Post-#MeToo Hollywood?”
The article by Nell Scovell in the “Opinions” section of the Times caught my eye immediately when I was scrolling through the web page. I’ve been following the movement closely, and although I am happy to see condemnation towards the likes of Weinstein, the buzz is dying away.
Sexual harassment in the form of comments have always been brushed off in the past, but times have changed. When Scovell mentioned her colleagues expressing frustration over the “confusing” rules for such behavior, I couldn’t help but wonder why. Sexual harassment is any form of unwanted sexual attention, whether it be a grab of someone’s waist or a comment regarding someone’s butt. The rules haven’t changed; the definition of sexual harassment hasn’t changed over time. What has changed is the willingness of the victims of sexual harassment to come forward and tell the truth.
Moving my attention back to Hollywood, there has to be change within that industry starting now. It’s great that the #MeToo movement started the conversation, but I think that is all that it did start. The #MeToo is quietly fading away as the conversation fades, so we as a society can’t let it fades. Who knows how many more women are being harassed in that industry? Hundreds? Thousands? The number doesn’t matter; the fact that it’s happening matters. We can’t let this conversation die because if we do, we have allowed for another woman in Hollywood to be harassed.
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When I read "Ohio Teacher Sets Record for Rowing Alone Across the Atlantic" by Christopher Mele, I felt empowered by the possibilities of the human body. I felt amazed by the psychological barriers that the mind can push through. The fact that someone could row across the Atlantic is incredible. The biology teacher from Ohio completed his row in 38 days 6 hours and 49 minutes, setting a new record by 15 days. I find this amazing because some people give up too easily to minor challenges and are easily distracted by outside stimuli (That is why it took me almost an hour and a half to write this paragraph). That is why I found it empowering to read about someone who does not give up and conquers an “impossible” challenge. We should take inspiration from this story to conquer our own obstacles and break through barriers. The Biology teacher coped with numerous psychological barriers, but pushed through reminding himself “' Spending any mental energy looking back cannot help you move forward."' As a population, we need to adopt this mantra as to help overcome our own struggles. I often find that we allow our psychological challenges to beat us down and overpower our will to work out or our will to do homework. But if one person can row across the Atlantic, we can surely motivate ourselves to push down our mental block.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/world/europe/pope-death-penalty.html
What interested me this week was “Pope Francis Declares Death Penalty Unacceptable in All Cases” by Elisabetta Povoledo and Laurie Goodstein. Pope Francis said that executions were unacceptable in all cases. He believes that they are “an attack” on human dignity. The Vatican announced that the church would work to abolish capital punishment worldwide. A lot of countries have already banned the death penalty, so the Pope’s decree should affect the United States the most. Although, in America, a majority of Catholics support the death penalty. Now, all Catholic politicians that have presided in executions are in a difficult situation. This is because they are now disregarding Orthodox Church teaching, according to John Gehring. This is the same for Catholic judges because some death penalty cases might conflict their beliefs. Overall, this is a very controversial topic in America. 53 percent of Catholics favor capital punishment while 42 percent oppose it. This topic is very split in views, and will be interesting to see how Pope Francis’s decree affects America.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/us/carr-fires-california-explained.html
This article interested me because I've been hearing about these wildfires all the time, but I never actually read about it. When I read it, the fact of how much harm it caused the environment and people attracted me. It was scary to think that a fire that started from almost nothing can reach 110,000 acres. The fire also destroyed many houses and buildings. Many people will be out of jobs and homes because of this natural disaster, and that is pretty sad. On a happy note, many animals were safe as they were smart enough to evacuate from the fire, either by going underground or running from it. Also, I learned how wildfire starts from reading this article. Most wildfires start from high temperatures and dry land and it spreads from winds that give the fire oxygen. The fire is still being controlled today, but many residents were able to return back home. They had a buffer zone a quarter mile away from the fire to be safe, so anyone that lives in the buffer zone couldn't go back home. This really opened up my eyes that many unfortunate events happen around the world and that maybe I should read the news more often to learn about the world. This article interested me and inspired me to spend more time learning about the world and what happens around it.
The New York Times article that was most intriguing to me this week was,"Pence Advances Plan to Create a Space Force." The reasons I find this article both entertaining and interesting on an educational level are the relevance, controversy, and significance of the article.
I wish his article was around for my AP Seminar class because of its relevance. In order for a topic to be relevant, it has to be fairly recent, and have a high level of importance. The protection of our nation itself and its values are the core of this article. If other world powers including Russia and China had access to a space force before the United States they would have an unfair advantage to say the least. While the amount of government money dedicated to the Department of Defense is already such a controversial topic, adding the funding for an entirely new military branch would present even more controversy. What is even more interesting is the fact that some Democrats support this plan created by a Republican VP. I believe the significance of this topic has the ability to bridge some of the gap between the Democrats and Republicans on a plan that could prevent the cost of multiple Pearl Harbors in the sense that if other nations destroyed our communication and reconnaissance satellites the United States would be susceptible to an invasion with imaginable consequences.
This article was interesting because a Space Force may be the solution to preventing another world war.
'The Meg' Goes on the Rampage, but Barely Makes a Splash
By: Jeannette Catsoulis
I was interested in this article because I was really looking forward to seeing 'The Meg', but now after reading this article I'm not sure I'm going to like it. The reviewer claims that the movie doesn't really have a plot and is excessively loud.The author compared this movie to Sharknado, which I have seen parts of and disliked it. The appeal of this movie is that it is a China-America produced movie which was supposed to be a global blockbuster. I'm going to see it tonight and I hope it is better than the reviewer says it is.
Between Sound and Silence
I was born without a hearing impairment, fully capable of experiencing all sounds that float and drift, or are abrupt and vehement. I firmly believe that I am blessed to have the ability to hear all of the beautiful and unexpected sounds that the world has to offer. However, this exquisitely written piece has awakened me to a whole different perspective, one where Brodsky expresses the feelings of some of the deaf community on the ability to hear as indifferent, causing them to bristle at such a thought. Now I wonder, what causes one to reject what I consider an indescribable life altering experience, the ability to hear which is now available by means of a cochlear implant.
Bees buzzing quietly through an open field. The whispering of the wind on a cool summer’s day. The crashing of the waves on the sandy shore. Wild music at a party. An abrupt honking of a horn. A wailing siren from a nearby ambulance. The deafening screams of someone who is in a desperate situation. The peaceful and soft sounds of nature or the unforeseen clamorous warnings of danger. Are those sounds not as vital as I once thought? In spite of my beliefs, this piece has provoked me to consider all of the times when a deep silence is as significant as the sounds created by the world, a break from the chaos that surrounds us.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/09/opinion/african-americans-national-an...
In this article featuring patriotism, Brent Staples unmasks the veridical idea that most African Americans regard the National Anthem with disdain because of its controversial history and unfulfilled meaning.
In "African Americans and the Strains of the National Anthem", Staples holds that many only consider someone patriotic if they hold the anthem with respect. He observes that during segregation and civil rights, it was very common for people to be unaccepting of the anthem and that this attitude is still strongly held among people today. Interestingly, he maintains that African Americans who don't fully support or stand as expected during the anthem are subject to feeling partially included in society, referring to the term "double consciousness".
His observations, exposed criticisms of the anthem, and display of African Americans' views on the anthem are verifiable. A poll also confirms many whites disagree with anthem protests and deem them unacceptable. But as Staples points out, absolute freedom should include the choice to sit, stand, or even protest.
As an African American student myself this article pulled me in because I've recently decided the anthem just doesn't ring true in my heart given the racially unjust things that go on in the world. This article really couldn't be more relevant in times today, with Colin Kaepernick kneeling and the numerous discussions about it.
This article interested me the most this week because of its focus on women from all walks of life as their own people. These women and girls weren’t photographed as an accessory or edited to be “perfect”. They were photographed as independent people with their own story to tell.
This is fascinating to me because growing up I always saw photos of women as “sex icons” and accessories to men. I rarely ever saw such candid photos of women with such diversity. It’s inspiring and I would love to look at the entire photo journal.
I am not a woman, but being afab I still was heavily influenced by the women I saw in the media, as are many of my peers. So hopefully, girls growing up now will see diversity within the media and see strong independent women that are not always there to support and cater to men.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/01/lens/melissa-ann-pinney-girl-transcen...
“Dancing Is Not a Crime”
Juxtaposition between cultures different from my own has alway fascinated me- the fact that something completely normal in one culture can be outlawed in another bewilders me, and in turn, makes me want to learn more about it. This was the exact reason I was drawn to the video about Maedeh Hojabri, the Iranian teenager who was interrogated by the police for posting Instagram videos of her dancing in her room.
Though the video’s main topic was the outrage of Hojabri’s situation, it was also about something much bigger. In protest of the misogynistic tendencies of the Iranian government, people began to post their own videos of themselves dancing, standing in unity for Maedeh. It shocks me, in a positive way, when people from around the world unite to protest a common issue, despite existing conflicts. The fact that humans can stand together even through language and physical barriers is a powerful thing, and it gives me hope for a brighter future where we can all stand together as equals.
A quote from the video that especially stuck with me, when talking about how many politicians who interact with Iran’s leaders ignore the country’s prejudice against women, was “It’s time to put people before politics.” Maedeh Hojabri’s story inspired me, as well as other people all around the world, and while the initial headline certainly piqued my interest, the substance was far greater than I could have imagined.
As a student who strives for all-around academic excellence, the underlying assertion made by Ms. Oakley that the mathematical abilities of scores of young girls suffer under an imprinted sense of innate inferiority in STEM subjects, resonates deeply. I’ve witnessed how crippling this sense of inadequacy can be in fostering a love of Math and precision. Feeling incapable of solving and isolated from difficult Math questions can not only diminish one’s self-confidence but also perpetuate a negative perception of the humanities, as a natural alternative for girls unequipped to tackle more rigorous academia.
As Ms. Oakley’s unanticipated engineering prowess demonstrates, the interests of kids are diverse and ever-changing. Proactive parents who want their daughters to love Math should be wary not to ingrain a hierarchy of learning in their minds. So often self-doubt can emerge when educators convince a student that their intellectual worth hinges upon fluency in calculus and differential equations. It’s imperative that kids who decide to pursue their love of public policy or Victorian literature know that their work is also valuable. Immersing girls in the “deep learning” Ms. Oakley encourages is vital, but so is assuring boys of the importance of the humanities, and the counterproductive nature of apathy towards them.
So do your son a favor, and read more with him. He’ll roll his eyes and find it boring, but maybe he’ll learn a little from Atticus Finch, too.
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@Laura Haight https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/07/opinion/stem-girls-math-practice.html
LeBron James Opens Public School in Hometown Akron
This week, the story about Lebron James opening the I Promise School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio caught my attention. I first heard about this story when Lebron James starting posting pictures about this school on his Instagram. I am always interested to hear what professional athletes have to say. It was very intriguing to see what Lebron’s school was promising to these kids and their families who were in need. At first the school will focus on third or fourth graders who fell behind a year or two in their reading skills. I Promise principal and Akron native Brandi Davis told USA Today. “We are going to be that groundbreaking school that will be a nationally recognized model for urban and public school excellence.” In a number of interviews Lebron mentioned his difficult times growing up in Akron, Ohio. Lebron understands how education can help kids succeed in their lives. What caught my interest is how Lebron values education and how he will positively impact the lives of these kids for a very long time.
While I know our country has not gone through a trauma so great that it shook the entire country since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but attacks just like these still happen in other countries, mainly in the Middle East. In fact, just earlier today, a news story titled "Dozens Killed, Including Children on a Bus, in Yemen Air Strikes" was reported and posted in the NYTimes.
Now, you can probably imagine what this story was about just by reading the title. The missile strike was actually based on revenge from another missile strike that occurred in the recent past. But what I found interesting about this attack was the fact they felt it was necessary to target public markets full of shop owners and families, and above all, a bus full of children riding back from there summer school. So far, 141 have been injured and 72 dead. 59 children were among the victims, 29 of them dead and 43 were martyrs. Another reason I find this story interesting, while horrifying, is that it was the plan to attack civilians and the innocent, totally disregarding the rules of war when they attacked those innocent people, in order to accomplish their goal of destroying the missile launchers involved in the attack I previously mentioned in this comment.
While these events are horrific and definitely should NEVER happen, it is reality, and now we must live with the fact that some people are willing to risk and sacrifice anything in order to achieve their goals and satisfy their thirst for revenge.
The article that interested me was "Build Border Wall or Government Will Be Shut Down, Trump says." This article interests me because of the great disagreements that this issue withholds. In congress case, a government shutdown is not the end of the world, and can/has prove(n) effective to get necessary votes in. As we've seen in the past, Trump is not one to mess with on the topic of immigration, especially if the terms could ultimately jeopardize the safety of "his" American people. The construction of a wall was also one of the main promises of his campaign in 2016, and he will be damned if it is not fulfilled.
Immigration is a huge topic of debate in this country. From photos of children in cages (which were from the Obama era) to states proclaiming themselves as "Sanctuary Cities," it's hard to see what is the most efficient way to take on this problem. However, the fact of the matter is this: to this President, American security comes before immigration. The president feels a good percentage of illegals have a sense of an entitlement to be able to flee to America, obtain a job, and in turn provide for their family better than they ever could back home... and I happen to agree. It shouldn't be that easy, considering this makes the threat of terrorists and other extremists being able to circumvent our system that much more considerable.
While I do agree the vetting system should be quickened, it is totally necessary. The pressure is on congress, and Trump will apply it.
"The Marines didn't think women belonged in the Infantry. She's proving them wrong."
The debate whether females should be able to join combat roles in the military has gone on for a while now, but women are starting to make military history. A good example of this is Marina A. Hierl.
Marina is a First Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, and first female infantry platoon leader. The integration of of females into combat jobs of the military has been heavily opposed by the "male-dominated industry."
More and more women are starting to join military combat related jobs, though not all are facing success. For example, the Marine's Infantry Officer Course at Quantico, VA is a training school for Marine officers. So far, 37 females have attended the course, but only 2 applicants have passed the strenuous school. First Lieutenant Hierl was one of the 2, and given a platoon of 35 male Marines.
According to Captain Pena of the Marines' Training and Education Command, said "the men and women attending the Infantry Officer Course are evaluated by the same standards and are provided an 'equal opportunity to succeed.'"
The US currently has about 1.3 million active duty personnel, with 15% of them being women. For the elite courses military branches offer, some have up to an 80% failure rate for female applicants. In the future, we as a nation will start to see more and more females in combat roles, along with other male dominated jobs in the civilian world.
https://nyti.ms/2vxR2ki
6th grade, I was friends with three boys. They were hardworking students with superb grades. I refused to be a compliant student. I procrastinated on projects and forgot my homework. I'd read rather than work during class. My only good grades came from my essays, when I recalled the assignments. While my grades didn’t show me as a capable student, I thrived in anything outside of school. One thing had always been an issue. Those three boys, no matter what, always beat me at math. They managed to finish quicker, stay focused, remember. I never understood why I wouldn’t.
According to Ms. Oakley, boys don’t excel at math over us. Since our advantage is reading and writing, we belive that we aren't talented at math. The mind-set stops us from concentrating and focusing. It keeps us from doing are best under the pretense that we just aren’t wired that way.
Midterms, seventh grade. I was having to use little or no effort in math class. I was following, listening, and trying. My grade was a perfect 100, my midterm was a perfect 100. I had ever realized that maybe I didn’t suck at math, I just never gave up because i was better at English. Ms. Oakley helped me realize deeper that it's mind games. I never had a hard time with math, but a hard time with myself. I resent my mother less for forcing me to repeat the same mind-numbing questions. This article also inadvertently concluded that girls are smarter than boys, so my life searching is complete.
"Who Wants to Be a Bust in the Hall Of Fame?" By Jennifer Finney Boylan
In her analysis of fame and mortality, Jennifer Finney Boylan nails exactly why we remember people in the first place.
In her piece, Boylan claims that just being famous in this day and age is considered more important than doing anything actually being worth remembered for. She cites figures in the past such as Charles Dickens and Claude Monet, who destroyed their own works so that things they potentially considered awful would not see the light of day, even though now those works might be considered masterpieces and could have even bolstered the public opinions of these figures. She also cites modern figures such as Donald Trump, who is well-known for crude and often times disgusting remarks.
She's correct, as modern "sellebrity" culture idolizes those like the Kardashians, who did little to earn their fame and success, yet ignores those who rightly earn their success and do good for the world at the same time. Modern media and culture seems revolved around 24/7 news coverage for a few specific people, such as the Kardashians and Trump, regardless of whether their actions make them deserved of so.
I read the article "Judge Blocks Attempt to Post Blueprints for 3-D Guns". I found this article interesting because anyone can make a gun using a 3-D printer then. It is scary that we are living in a world where gun violence is an issue and posting this blueprint could lead to a negative outcome. For example, metal detectors can not detect plastic and guns made from plastic will be able to get through easily. Obviously freedom of the press is a first amendment right, but is it just to put peoples lives at risk doing so?
This week I read an article on how President Trump and Vice President Pence are trying to create a militarized space force. The article called "Pence Advances Plan to Create a Space Force" caught my attention because outer space is the future. This article describes the actions of Pence and Trump as they try to get congress to support the creation of a space force. This article is intriguing to me because I wonder what the future will hold for my generation. I think this space force is a good idea because if America as a country wants to colonize outer space we will need protection. As the world is becoming overpopulated and the natural resources on earth are being depleted. Governments all around the world are looking for other places to find land and resources. One of the most popular places is Mars. If multiple countries are all fighting for land on Mars, a space force would be very beneficial for the United States. The way the world is going a space for would be very helpful to provide safety and peace of mind for the citizens of the United States colonizing the stars.