Tuesday, May 11, 2010

6th Period Current Event 5/14

It's your last one... make it good!

19 comments:

  1. http://www.kidglue.com/2010/05/11/obamas-hampton-university-commencement-speech-education-is-a-responsibility/

    President Obama delivered the commencement speech on Sunday at the historically black college, Hampton University. He spoke mainly about responsibilties and the freedom of the students, their parents and Americans at large to see to it that their children get the education they need to succeed in a world where high school education is simply no longer enough. He also pointed out that the 1,100 graduates that sat behind him now had a responsibilty to be role models and mentors to their communities. He also advised them to put their education to good use as they go out into one of the harshest job climates since the Great Depression. He reassured graduates that their education would ultimately be the major thing that would see them through the uncertainties of their economic times. He pointed out that the founders of the school had seen education for what it was, a source of freedom.

    I thought it was a very honorable thing of him to do. I believe that the speech is going to empower and motivate many people(including me),especially African-Americans to view their college education not as a threat, but a bigger step to improve upon their lives. It definitely was a very inspiring speech that would change many minds and lives...

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  2. http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/11/starving-islanders-saved-by-sailors-chance-trip/?hpt=Sbin

    This article was about 24 people who live on a remote island and didn't get food for two months. They survived off of coconuts and fish. 10 of the people were kids. A British sailor stopped on Kanton Island while he was travelingfrom Hawii to Austrailia, and when he landed the severly malnourished residents greeted him. These people usually get food from a supply ship, but the ship couldn't get to the island and left them without food. The island is part of Kiribati, a pretty poor nation. The sailor contacted people in England, who contacted people in the US, who are helping the Kiribatian government get the islanders food. Kanton Island used to be an air base for the US during World War II, and then later was a missle tracking station. It's pretty scary to think that their government couldn't get them food for two months. Why did these people go to this remote island in the first place?

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  3. http://www.wfmz.com/news/23522367/detail.html
    Cut Hair To Help Clean Up Oil Spill

    Haircut places are donating hair to to help contain the oil spill. The BP is at fault for the oil spill. Effects are very broad for those who live down in the gulf area. The oil spill has threatened the livelihoods of fishermen and other gulf-based occupations. Hair soaks up oil and therefor would be useful in absorbing some of the oil in the gulf. There is no way that enough hair will be collected to stop the oil from flowing into the gulf but this will stem the flow of the oil, possibly helping the environment.

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  4. http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/05/11/haiti.then.now/index.html?hpt=C2
    Four months after 'the catastrophe,' Haitians still in emergency mode

    After four months since the earthquake, Haiti is still in despair. Relief operations have stopped widespread hunger and there haven't been any huge outbreaks of disease. However, progress has still been slow. People are mostly living in makeshift camps and any buildings that are still standing, which are usually schools. What the people of Haiti say that they really need are jobs and not handouts. They need jobs so that they can make money, which they need in order to rebuild their lives. Some have started their own little businesses in the big camps or will earn cash here and there in the cleanup process, but really they need steady jobs so that they can get money in order to move out of the camps and restart their lives. Many of them can't even go back to their houses because there is no place for them clear out the rubble. The situation in Haiti is still not fixed and it will take a long time for the government to work through all the problems. I think that it would be incredibly hard to face what Haiti is facing now and I think that it's amazingly good that the people there still have hope and faith.

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  5. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gaucWgfCTtDtYbZ6VRnnoq4CthmwD9FM6RGG0

    This article talks about the Obama administration beginning talks with China about human rights and the treatment of their citizens. Talk started today. Human rights have long been a sore issue between us and China, but i think it's a good thing to finally bring this up and try to come to an agreement between our nations. China has had a bit of a sketchy past when it comes to dealing with their citizens and I think that it's a good idea to occasionally play watchdog, especially with one of our closest allies. I wouldn't say that we should go around pushing our beliefs on everybody, but I think it's a good political move to finally discuss the difficult issues and try to help out the civilian population of China. As a nation with strong values and beliefs in freedom, we need to address the harsh censorship of the internet and religious persecution present in China. I just hope that we can find a good diplomatic middle ground between the US and China and strengthen our relations in the future.

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  6. http://ballewcivics.blogspot.com/2010/05/6th-period-current-event-514.html

    Michael Brews

    The oil leak currently spewing out 210,000 gallons of oil per day could cause serious and long-term environmental damage should it continue at this rate. Many attempts have already been made to stop the leak and to clean up the spill, but thus far none have been successful. Thankfully however, mother nature has been on our side, keeping the oil away from the continental US. Prevailing winds and water currents have kept the oil from reaching the shores. The article says that thus far we have been getting "lucky" since it's very difficult to predict how the oil will spread exactly, since the currents and winds are subject to rapid change. Hopefully a solution will come about relatively soon so we can stop relying on luck and instead rely on science.

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  7. http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/13/gulf.no.other.choice/index.html

    In this article it states that our technology for cleaning up pollution is primitive. If we had the right technology, then the oil spill would be contained already. BP has tried many was to stop the spread of the oil. Including trying to siphon off the oil leaking from the pipes, which didn't work because of ice crystals forming. They are now trying to put a smaller dome in to try to siphon it off. If that doesn't work, then they'll try to clog the pipe by shooting it with rubber and garbage. I think that we should invent new technology to clean up pollution be fore we continue drilling for oil. If another spill comes up, then we'll have what it takes to stop it immediately.

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  8. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100513/ap_on_re_us/us_baby_sitters_sex_tapes
    This article talks about this couple who molested 4 kids and all between the age of 2 months and 6 years old. They have been sent to 125 which i think is weird because they aren't going to live to be 157 year??! they might as well sent to the life in prision right?. anyways i think that they got the right punishment, what they did was sick! But there are a lot of sick people in this world, if i were a parent i'd be scared for my child!. The guy said that he is going to try and appeal, but i really hope he changes his mind because i doubt they will lessen his punishment. I wondered why they don't just excecute them but i guess that would be a little extreme. I feel really bad for the victims they were really young but i'm sure it will impact their future. I'm also impressed that the little six year old girl was the one who told on them! Most kids would be scared to tell on them. But in the end i thing justice was served. good job Justice system!!

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  9. The Los Angeles City Council overwhelmingly approved a boycott of Arizona-based businesses and governments Wednesday unless the state repeals a new law giving police the power to question a detainee's immigration status.
    Several other California cities, including San Francisco and Oakland, have already adopted resolutions requesting city departments to not sign any new contracts with Arizona companies.
    The Arizona law requires immigrants to carry their registration documents at all times and allows police to question individuals' immigration status in the process of enforcing any other law or ordinance.
    The Los Angeles resolution passed Wednesday said Arizona's new immigration law "encourages racial profiling and violates Fourteenth Amendment guarantees of due process and equal protection for U.S. citizens, legal residents and visitors who are detained for suspicion of being in the country unlawfully." I think this boycott is a very good thing that the city of Los Angeles did. The law that Arizona passed is very wrong.

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  10. http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/05/13/481112/911-calls-released-in-chapel-hill.html

    A few days ago, a women jogger was almost abducted in the middle of the day on Franklin Street. Luckily, two good Samaritans were in close proximity and were able to stop the man from getting too far. I cannot believe that this happened. People always warn joggers to run in broad daylight and in places where there are a lot of people; this is exactly what this lady was doing, so this kind of creeps me out. If someone can come that close to be kidnapped on Franklin Street in the middle of the day, where is anyone going to be safe? I am definitely not going to feel as secure even running in my own neighborhood. I am really glad that these two men were in the right place at the right time, and were courageous enough to stop that man. I hope that people are inspired by this story and become more observant so that our community will stay safe.
    -Hannah Reynolds

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  11. http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/13/oil.spill.main/index.html?hpt=T2

    The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a huge disaster which our country is currently facing. BP will attempt to attach a new pipe to the source of the oil spill which will lead all the oil to a ship on the surface. If this plan does not succeed then the impact could be huge and the oil spill will spread dammaging more marine life and waters. BP has many plans incase attaching the new pipe fails. A previous plan to contain the spill has failed and they may try a similar one in the future. I think action is needed immediately because of the huge threat this oil spill poses.

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  12. http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/13/latino.dropout/index.html

    So in this article, it says that just one in 10 Latino high school dropouts earns a high school equivalency degree, compared with two in 10 African-American dropouts and three in 10 white dropouts, the Pew Hispanic Center said Thursday. The equivalency degree, called the General Educational Development (GED) credential, "is widely regarded as the best 'second chance' pathway to college, vocational training and military service for adults who do not graduate from high school," the center said on its website. Latinos also have a much higher high school drop-out rate than blacks or whites. About 41 percent of Latinos 20 and older in the United States do not have a regular high school diploma, compared with 23 percent of black adults and 14 percent of white adults, Pew said. I saw this article was especially surprising to me mainly because of the fact that even after dropping out of high school (not very far in the first place) only 10% of those latin american students received their GED. That number is just very startling to me.

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  13. http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/05/11/haiti.then.now/index.html

    Remember Haiti, the tradegy the utter desolation. Oh yeah that's right you have forgoten. Well it's not over, rubble is still over the streets and garbage is filling the land.Haiti is still in emergencey mode yet we are here relaxing and living our life. Haitians can't find jobs and with the rainy season approching they will probably get flooded out of their huts. America is not the alpha and omega. We must remember the past to sustain and help the future. Until next time.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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  14. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37128693/ns/business-us_business/
    In this artical, it explains that the oil barg off the gulf coast is costing the counrty and the world a large amount of money and that the damage continues to get worse. I think that this is an imporant artical, however I think that people should be informing others of what greater effect this oil spill has had on the world, besides our wallets. I think that it is very aparent that the animals and environment surrounding the accident have undergone a large amount of dissruption and problems and should be put as the top priority. Its importnat that people put their energy towards the right things.

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  15. M.CNN.com/primary/_2htjhq-bpfbcargui
    There was a crutial scare that happened recently in the city of manhattan. Not long after a bomb scare in times square another thing happened that would threaten the lives of all the people there. Someone had called in earlier that day to tell the police that some one had been driving a car with two gas tanks In the back seat. Police ran rampent to try and figure out the severity of why was going on. They had as much as a bomb detecting robot searching the parked car. It all came down to figuring out that they in fact had a bomb on their hands. Luckily for them it was a bomb that failed to detonate and everyone lived happily ever afer.

    -matt Sobol

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  16. http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/05/13/thailand.journalist/index.html?hpt=C1

    This article is about the protest that occurred in Thailand, not too long ago. During this protest, the leader of the protest, was shot at by a sniper. Apparently he was standing still, not moving, and yet the sniper still only grazed his head.
    More than two dozen civilians and military personnel have died in police-protester clashes in the ongoing unrest.

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  17. http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/05/14/volcanic.ash.iceland.airport/index.html?hpt=T2

    This article discussed the impact of the volcanic eruption in Iceland. The airport in Iceland is still shutdown and this has effected many travelers negatively because their plans have been canceled and many have been forced to sleep at the airport. This is not good for the planet as a whole because millions have been effected directly or known someone who has been. This is also a hazard for the environment because animals and habitats nearby have been destroyed. This can be a potential problem in the future and this can not be helped.

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  18. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/20/soccer-players-suspended-green-card-stunt-majority-latino-rival/

    This article is about a soccer team in Lincoln, Nebraska. A majority of the students on one of the teams were latino. The rival team created "green cards" and distributed them to the stands. They the players proceeded to throw the cards at the players. All of the students in the stands were interviewed, and as of now five students are suspended. This act was very cruel to the latino players, and was very offensive

    Mikkie

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  19. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/20/ny-man-admits-strangled-wife-tried-make-disappearance-look-like-carjacking/

    This article is about a man who allegedy murdered his wife, and then tried to make it look like a carjacking. He was from New York. He killed his wife, by strangleing her. Then a reported her missing to the cops. Then he let a search go for two days until he finally faked a scene and made it look like she had been carjacked. This man is a horrible person. In my opinion I think that even though he admitted what he did, he still deserves life in prison.

    mikkie

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