By Ashley Smith (11/18/13)
1968 is considered the year that shook America. From the Vietnam War to the self-proclaimed Zodiac Killer, Americans realized that there was more to the world than “Dr. Who” and the latest music records. Something sinister was brewing,and the only light that seemed to cast out the darkness was none other than Martin Luther King Jr., a man who spent night and day cultivating positive ideas and putting them into action. It is evident that he was a powerful orator and an inspiration to many with his “I Have a Dream” speech, among many others. But there was one speech that never reached the airwaves, titled “ Why America Will Go To Hell."
This speech digs deeper into Dr. King’s psyche, and brings light to the darkness that taunted him throughout his childhood and career as an activist. The speech was allegedly written on the eve of his death. In short, he wrote the piece in preparation for the Poor People’s campaign, which King and many others organized in order to have fair pay and better working conditions for people of color. But what strikes me as interesting is the fact that he used an eternal place of torture and despair in his title for a speech that was supposed to be uplifting and promote change. He used the biblical story of Lazarus and Dives to catch the attention of his future listeners. Dives was a very wealthy man who didn’t see the poor. In contrast, Lazarus was a man who went to Dives's gate day after day in need of the basic necessities of life,and Dives refused him so he ended up going to Hell. King mentions in this speech that “His wealth was an opportunity to bridge the gulf that separated him from his brother Lazarus”, and follows this quote with “And I come by here to say that America too is going to Hell, if we don’t use her wealth.” Dr. King didn’t mean that America is literally going to hell, but strongly believed that America would suffer if the unfair treatment were to progress any further. He mentioned feeling discouraged and making the “wounded whole.”
With further research, I found out that he attempted suicide at 12 due to the death of his grandmother, and was suffering from depression near his untimely death. In a way, Martin was Lazarus and America was Dives the oppressor. With the pressure of having to please everyone, remain strong,and to have his life constantly threatened by envious onlookers, King started to break down mentally,and it’s quite sad to me. This speech is the most genuine heartfelt one that I’ve read by him, because it was written when he was the most vulnerable.
He wrote: "What I have been doing is giving, giving, giving, and not stopping to retreat and meditate like I should—to come back. If the situation is not changed, I will be a physical and psychological wreck. I have to reorganize my personality and reorient my life. I have been too long in the crowd, too long in the forest."
1968 is considered the year that shook America. From the Vietnam War to the self-proclaimed Zodiac Killer, Americans realized that there was more to the world than “Dr. Who” and the latest music records. Something sinister was brewing,and the only light that seemed to cast out the darkness was none other than Martin Luther King Jr., a man who spent night and day cultivating positive ideas and putting them into action. It is evident that he was a powerful orator and an inspiration to many with his “I Have a Dream” speech, among many others. But there was one speech that never reached the airwaves, titled “ Why America Will Go To Hell."
This speech digs deeper into Dr. King’s psyche, and brings light to the darkness that taunted him throughout his childhood and career as an activist. The speech was allegedly written on the eve of his death. In short, he wrote the piece in preparation for the Poor People’s campaign, which King and many others organized in order to have fair pay and better working conditions for people of color. But what strikes me as interesting is the fact that he used an eternal place of torture and despair in his title for a speech that was supposed to be uplifting and promote change. He used the biblical story of Lazarus and Dives to catch the attention of his future listeners. Dives was a very wealthy man who didn’t see the poor. In contrast, Lazarus was a man who went to Dives's gate day after day in need of the basic necessities of life,and Dives refused him so he ended up going to Hell. King mentions in this speech that “His wealth was an opportunity to bridge the gulf that separated him from his brother Lazarus”, and follows this quote with “And I come by here to say that America too is going to Hell, if we don’t use her wealth.” Dr. King didn’t mean that America is literally going to hell, but strongly believed that America would suffer if the unfair treatment were to progress any further. He mentioned feeling discouraged and making the “wounded whole.”
With further research, I found out that he attempted suicide at 12 due to the death of his grandmother, and was suffering from depression near his untimely death. In a way, Martin was Lazarus and America was Dives the oppressor. With the pressure of having to please everyone, remain strong,and to have his life constantly threatened by envious onlookers, King started to break down mentally,and it’s quite sad to me. This speech is the most genuine heartfelt one that I’ve read by him, because it was written when he was the most vulnerable.
He wrote: "What I have been doing is giving, giving, giving, and not stopping to retreat and meditate like I should—to come back. If the situation is not changed, I will be a physical and psychological wreck. I have to reorganize my personality and reorient my life. I have been too long in the crowd, too long in the forest."
Let's Call It Trading Places
By Jazmine Williamson
(5/29/13)
Imagine a gang banger, baggy clothes with a bandanna over their face, throwing up signs, selling drugs, and even killing. Now, picture the bandanna being removed and you see a woman. Would you be surprised? Female gang members are often overlooked, but sometimes they are just as, or even more, violent than the men. The norms for females have changed drastically.
Nowadays, women are committing crimes equal to their male counterparts. Many females join gangs for the same reasons males do, to replace the lack of family in their lives or to get away from abuse. Or they join for respect in the community through fear, for drugs. Some are just attracted to the lifestyle of the gangster: selling drugs, having a feeling of control throughout the city, and of course, the money. The only thing that is different is that many females join for love. When their partners are in gangs, these women may join to be with them.
The ways in to a gang are also similar to male initiation rites. Some may be jumped in, which consists of them getting beaten up without resisting. In some incidents, the members fighting them are allowed to use weapons on the person getting “jumped in.” Others are ordered to shoot, kill or participate in a performance of violence upon a rival gang member. But many are known for getting “sexed in”. This consists of them willingly having sex with more or all of the male members or being raped by them.
Female gang members are usually overlooked because of the stereotype that women would never try to commit a violent crime or join a gang. This allows the gangs an upper hand in many situations. An example of this is when gangs hide the money and/or drugs in a female members’ house, or on her person. Also they may have girls handle the sale of narcotics to avoid getting caught. This is a big problem for many city police forces.
People need to release this stereotypes of a man’s limitations to violence in gangs vs a women’s. Cause females are in gangs, they are killing, and they are selling drugs. Swiping this argument under the rug is helping it grow into an out of control beast, that overpowers us as a nation. So its times to remove the bandana and see the truth before it get too ugly.
(5/29/13)
Imagine a gang banger, baggy clothes with a bandanna over their face, throwing up signs, selling drugs, and even killing. Now, picture the bandanna being removed and you see a woman. Would you be surprised? Female gang members are often overlooked, but sometimes they are just as, or even more, violent than the men. The norms for females have changed drastically.
Nowadays, women are committing crimes equal to their male counterparts. Many females join gangs for the same reasons males do, to replace the lack of family in their lives or to get away from abuse. Or they join for respect in the community through fear, for drugs. Some are just attracted to the lifestyle of the gangster: selling drugs, having a feeling of control throughout the city, and of course, the money. The only thing that is different is that many females join for love. When their partners are in gangs, these women may join to be with them.
The ways in to a gang are also similar to male initiation rites. Some may be jumped in, which consists of them getting beaten up without resisting. In some incidents, the members fighting them are allowed to use weapons on the person getting “jumped in.” Others are ordered to shoot, kill or participate in a performance of violence upon a rival gang member. But many are known for getting “sexed in”. This consists of them willingly having sex with more or all of the male members or being raped by them.
Female gang members are usually overlooked because of the stereotype that women would never try to commit a violent crime or join a gang. This allows the gangs an upper hand in many situations. An example of this is when gangs hide the money and/or drugs in a female members’ house, or on her person. Also they may have girls handle the sale of narcotics to avoid getting caught. This is a big problem for many city police forces.
People need to release this stereotypes of a man’s limitations to violence in gangs vs a women’s. Cause females are in gangs, they are killing, and they are selling drugs. Swiping this argument under the rug is helping it grow into an out of control beast, that overpowers us as a nation. So its times to remove the bandana and see the truth before it get too ugly.
In the Aftermath of ViolenceBy Kyra Johnson (5/17/13)
Over the past decade or so, violence in schools and public places has become increasingly more common. You can’t watch the news or read the newspaper without hearing of a gang fight that left 3 people dead, or a mass shooting in a school. While the victims of these events are being mourned, as they should be, and the perpetrators are being dealt with, there’s another underlying issue: what about those who witnessed the attack, and lived to tell about it? Many murders have witnesses, especially if they occur in a public place. For a street fight that turns deadly, there are more often than not multiple witnesses. For a shooting at a school, teachers, staff and other students see something they’d like to forget. So what happens to these people? The witnesses to violence are not only witnesses, but victims too. We may not be burying them or setting up a vigil in their honor, but these are victims who will always, always remember what they want to forget the most. We tend to ignore them and push them out of our thoughts, but what they saw was real too, just as real as what happened to those who died or those who lost loved ones. Take for example the Sandy Hook Shooting. Twenty children were shot, and six adults were killed trying to protect their students. But let’s not forget about all the other kids who were there, who watched their classmates die, saw a teachers life taken trying to shield her students. That is a burden those kids will carry the rest of their life, no matter how much time has passed. While time can often heal wounds like a broken heart, a tragedy such as watching your teacher die or seeing your best friend get stabbed to death in a turf war won’t be healed by time alone. It may lessen the pain, and become less significant, but it won’t heal the damage done in the past. Those that were witness often resort to violence themselves, having no other way to cope with the loss, which can end badly for even more people. Another thing that can greatly affect the way loss and violence are reacted to is the way our modern day society allows us to grieve. It is considered “unmanly” for a boy or man to cry, or have any feeling other than rage or anger about something like watching you best friend get stabbed to death in a dark alley. And thats not okay. Men have a right to cry, just as much as women do, and crying is a healthy way to grieve. Its better than the alternative- violence against yourself or others. what sometimes occurs after a deadly event is pain, and anger, anger can turn to a motive for revenge- and another life is taken. In an article written for the New York Times about Public violence by Alex Kotlowitz, violence and its effects on the public people is discussed. “The ugliness and inexplicability of the violence in our cities comes to define you and everyone around you. With just one act of violence, the ground shifts beneath you, your knees buckle and all you can do is try the best you can to maintain your balance. But it’s hard.” and the violence does define you. it defines how you think, how you talk, who you talk to, how you feel. It defines your life, and the lives of those who love you. That brings up the idea of how the people who love someone who was witness to a crime react. Often, when someone loses someone, we tend to not know how to respond, saying I’m sorry and leaving it at that. We put distance between us and the hurt, thinking anything could shatter them. but this may not be our best choice. When something this traumatic happens, even just being in the same room could help. We don’t always have to speak, just the thought that someone does care and is there can be enough. For someone who lives a life of violence and death, one more death is not seen as big deal in the eyes of many. in reality though, a life lost is a life lost, no matter how often you see it happen. for those gang members and witnesses, life will never be the same. they mistrust others, they have little faith in what's to come for them, they hate themselves for ever letting it happen in the first place. the carefree, happy life they lived before, if ever, is now gone. So what do we do with this information? Therapy is always an option, but not for everyone. theres guidance or grief counselors, medicine that can help and of course doing things that you love and make you happy. What works best for everyone depends on each and every person and their situations, but the first step is to let them know they aren’t being ignored. They are not alone. They are loved, and wished all the best in their process toward healing. |
Jeff Bliss VideoBy Christina Jones (5/15/13)
I’m pretty sure we’ve all ranted at a teacher once, or watched someone else rant at a teacher, but I don’t think I’ve seen anyone do it with passion and seriousness (and such beautiful long hair--just saying) as Jeff Bliss. Most of us have already heard and seen the video, shot in a high school in Duncanville High School in Duncanville, TX, of a teenager named Jeff Bliss, who was furious at his teacher and rants about her lack of performing her job. Basically, the teacher asks him to go outside, and while leaving, he begins to rant, with lines like, “You want kids to come in your class, get them excited for this? Well, you gotta come in here, gotta make them excited,” and “You can’t expect a kid to change if all you do is tell him.” With these lines, Bliss really captured my attention; he really made me think about what he was saying, which is the main reason why I keep rewinding and playing the video repeatedly. In the video, he made it very clear that he expected the teacher to teach and to use what she knows, not just by using something from a packet or in a guide. He also adds that “[Going to school] is his future and his education.” In an interview, he said that he wanted to see a teacher interact with his students, get involved, discuss, talk, question, and get deep into the subject. I think one of the biggest reasons this caught my attention was that it was unplanned and one of Bliss’s classmates just happened to catch it on tape. He was serious and didn’t seem to be irrational or joking around like most do when asked to leave the classroom. Plus, it turns out that Jeff Bliss dropped out at 17, but then returned to school, so he had strong ideas of the importance about the importance of education. In the interviews, Jeff says “I realized that without the education, I’m not gonna make any step forward into my future.” Now that I’ve watched the video and accompanying interview (for the seventh consecutive time), there are a couple of things everyone, including myself, can take from it. First, education is worth fighting for. From Malala Yousafzai to Jeff Bliss, we all need a proper education with the right tools and the help we need to succeed and sometimes, fighting for it can result in teaching the teacher a lesson. Wisdom can come from anyone. For the teachers, not everyone can absorb a packet and understand it all. We’re all different along the lines of learning and require someone to be there to help us out and teach. If we are to fully understand the lesson, someone who understands it too is needed. If you’d like to see the video of Jeff Bliss and his interview with News Channel 8 here are two links. Original Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ2VAV3HYdU Interview:https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=bKjqjpePhTc&NR=1 |
Cleveland: A Blessing and a SignBy Taisha Lopez (3/12/13)
Have you ever walked down your street or driven somewhere and felt as if something was very wrong? If only someone had followed through on that feeling in the Cleveland neighborhood where Amanda Berry, her daughter, and two other women were found on May 6th. Maybe they wouldn't have had to spend ten years in captivity. Amanda Berry managed to break through the door and yell for help and, by the grace of God, neighbors stepped up to save their lives. Amanda, along with Gina Dejesus and Michelle Knight, were abducted between 2002 and 2004. Michelle Knight was the oldest of all three when she was kidnapped (age 20 at the time). Ariel Castro is the man behind the kidnapping and he is being charged with kidnapping, rape, and possibly charges of murder because he made Michelle Knight lose her fetus multiple times by starving her and beating her stomach. But Berry was able to deliver a baby in a plastic pool during the captivity. After 10 years of horror, it’s finally come to an end. While I read this story, I thought about others who have had this horrible experience. It is a blessing some of the families didn’t lose hope in their children. It was also a sign of courage for society and communities to help out. I also wonder about Charles Ramsey, who broke through the psychological phenomenon of "the bystander effect" to save the girls. Ramsey didn't fear for himself; he helped out and took charge. I hope that this story reminds us that if we do have an intuition, we should follow up. We could save a life. |
Amanda Knox Trial "OvernightBy Jason Dunn
As of March 26th, 2013, the Italian high courts have overturned the acquittal of Amanda Knox, a bizarre turn of events after the recent publication of her newly released 463-page autobiography “Waiting to be Heard.” Beside this, she had her first interview of 2013 with Diane Sawyer on an ABC exclusive to discuss her book and to begin another chapter in her life, with a new trial lurking in her future. Since the murder of her twenty one-year-old English roommate Meredith Kercher in 2007, Amanda Knox has been wedded to the constant trail of headliner nicknames—“Seductress,” “Foxy Knoxy,” and “She-Devil.” Is Knox a She-Devil? It depends who you ask. Despite the lack of physical evidence connecting Knox to any such crime, and despite the fact that the Italian courts have already imprisoned the murderer, Rudy Guede, in 2008; Italy seems to be zealous in their very last attempt to point a scathing finger at the American brunette whose typical college-gal lifestyle has been publicized as anything but typical. The New York Times has quoted her lawyer, Carlo Dalla Vedova saying, “She believed the nightmare was over.” No word as to the specific date of the trial, nor is it clear if Knox will be expedited if found guilty. |
Mermaids For HireBy Jason Dunn (5/8/13)
The occupation of a full-time mermaid is the latest gem in the industry of odd jobs. Being a professional mermaid entails having the finest swimming skills, the strongest lungs, and of course, a tail, sometimes costing over thousands of dollars. Well-known professionals Linden Wolbert, Stacy McConnell, and Eric Ducharme are three of many fish in the sea that submerge themselves in the underwater culture. Thirty two-year-old Linden left her desk job in 2005 to find her inner mystical being and now entertains at celebrity parties and charity events in Hollywood. Twenty two-year-old Eric Ducharme had the idea to start his own company “Mertailor” while he was only sixteen, learning to build silicone tails that have been featured on Saturday Night Live and by pop star Lady Gaga. A typical day on the job, Linden told the Huffington Post, “is never the same thing. It can involve working on maintaining and designing tails, doing training, editing my “Mermaid Minute” videos for children, which is my passion, booking events like Hollywood parties or working with people to come up with neat fundraising ideas for ocean causes I believe in. I’m pretty much a one-woman show. Overall, I’m wearing about 50 different hats.” Nevertheless, while living every child’s dream, a professional mermaid will always have downtime, especially in the colder half of the year. On top of this, the vocation can be more demanding then it seems. The performer, suited in a tail weighing up to 30 pounds, can be in a cold tank of icy water for hours depending on the gig. “You don’t want to do a swimmer’s stroke when you’re being a mermaid,” McConnell explains, “It’s about being graceful and looking natural. You learn how to swim with pretty hands.” |
Youssif's StoryBy Alicia Avitabile (4/23/13)
Sometimes you’re watching the news and find a tragic story and want to know more about it. In September 2007, CNN Health reported on a 5-year-old boy named Youssif who was taken by masked men. The men took Youssif, poured gasoline on his face, and burned him. Although Youssif has handled the situation surprisingly well, the devastating experience will stay with him forever. After the tragedy occurred, Youssif stood tall and moved on with his life. His parents said he never complained and never asked about the scars on his face. His ability to move on shows bravery, fearlessness, and courageousness hopefully leading him to be happy and confident in the future. Just a few months after the terrible injury, Youssif and his parents moved to the United States with a single suitcase. His family had large medical expenses when they arrived. Their expenses were high, but soon enough their debts were paid off by friendly strangers and then it became a little easier for Youssif and his family to live happily in the United States despite the boys’ injury. Youssif’s dad noticed how well his son continued to let go of what happened in Iraq. Due to the injury, Youssif had to get 19 different operations and 61 different procedures done to help correct the damage. Youssif was asked by a CNN reporter, “If you were to have another surgery, what would you want to have done?” Youssif answered, “My Right Ear.” When a CNN viewer asked Youssif’s dad “Do you tell people what happened to Youssif?” Youssif’s dad answered, “Sometimes it bothers me when they don't ask and they keep just looking. It really bothers me. If they came to me and asked me, I would answer. I would love to answer and tell them what's going on instead of just looking at him.” The injury has definitely caused more pain to mom and dad than it did to Youssif. They had a very hard time dealing with it. Youssif is very smart and makes friends easily and they don’t ask him questions about the scars on his face. He goes about his life as if nothing ever happened to him and that is what his dad is most proud of. In an interview with CNN, Youssif’s dad talked about how happy he is in the United States. “I am happy, yes. I am happy especially because I see my kids happy. It means a lot to me...I'm here for their future.” On the Human Factor, CNN reports exclusive news about the family’s predicaments. Right now, Youssif's dad has two part-time jobs and is currently looking for a full-time job to support his family. His two part-time jobs (his pay is $9.00 per hour) are barely paying for rent, so they are getting help from the government to provide them with food. This includes food stamps and welfare. Youssif and his little sister sleep on the floor with nothing under them, using only a light, fringed blanket with a single pillow. California State Services is paying for Youssif's surgeries and unfortunately for Youssif, he will need a lot more surgeries done for many years. There is nothing wrong with getting a little help from those who truly care. As a reader of the article published on CNN Health, I believe that all of the family’s problems are only making them stronger, and closer. I know that I wouldn’t handle things as calmly as Youssif does, but I believe in his dad’s efforts. “It bothers me that when my son grows up, he’s going to ask why he his face looks the way it does and I don’t know what I’m going to tell Yousiff,” says Youssif's dad. Luckily, he won’t have to worry, because Youssif is growing up with love and support and doesn’t remember the injury at all. The family is still struggling and is beginning to get homesick. Sometimes Youssif talks about missing home, despite the friends he has made in the U.S. Pray for Youssif and his family and hope that they get past the struggles they have faced. I know I do. |
Blizzard of 2013!
By Taisha Lopez (2/11/13)
A massive blizzard hit the Northeast, leaving 650,000 business and homes without power and 18 people dead. Most of us are now getting back into the normal routine of our everyday lives, and as much fun as our snow days were, we are back at school following the daily schedule.
The snowstorm that hit early Friday morning and went into Saturday left Connecticut and other Northeast states paralyzed after dumping 1 to 3 feet of snow. The storm left people out of work for days and students out of school. Mother Nature has once again proven her strength, reminding us that we must be prepared for the worst. When things like this happen, it's good to be prepared with supplies and equipment to stay safe in case of a power outage. Always have extra food, water, flashlights, candles, batteries, and clean clothes. Stay with your family during such a storm; it’s good to stick together. I know it may be hard to be indoors with your parents for more than four days, but it is for your safety and you never know, you might build a bond.
I spent my time shoveling out my mother’s car and cleaning up my street, while others helped to clean around the neighborhood. I also got to build snowmen and go sledding with my sister. I hope you all had a safe blizzard and didn’t have any issues. As many of us get back into the groove, let’s keep on shoveling. And welcome back to school.
A massive blizzard hit the Northeast, leaving 650,000 business and homes without power and 18 people dead. Most of us are now getting back into the normal routine of our everyday lives, and as much fun as our snow days were, we are back at school following the daily schedule.
The snowstorm that hit early Friday morning and went into Saturday left Connecticut and other Northeast states paralyzed after dumping 1 to 3 feet of snow. The storm left people out of work for days and students out of school. Mother Nature has once again proven her strength, reminding us that we must be prepared for the worst. When things like this happen, it's good to be prepared with supplies and equipment to stay safe in case of a power outage. Always have extra food, water, flashlights, candles, batteries, and clean clothes. Stay with your family during such a storm; it’s good to stick together. I know it may be hard to be indoors with your parents for more than four days, but it is for your safety and you never know, you might build a bond.
I spent my time shoveling out my mother’s car and cleaning up my street, while others helped to clean around the neighborhood. I also got to build snowmen and go sledding with my sister. I hope you all had a safe blizzard and didn’t have any issues. As many of us get back into the groove, let’s keep on shoveling. And welcome back to school.
Student Tribute to Mitch Lucker
Fiction by Sophie Vasilopolous (3/7/13)
Dear Daddy,
I wish the day had never come. I never saw my mommy cry like that. They all raised their hands towards you, the inferno burning the night sky. I stare at the V.I.P passes from all your shows. Mommy had turned them into a small piece of modern art and it's hanging above the fireplace where you and I use to roast marshmallows. I’ve been a little scared to bother mommy. She hasn’t been eating and is going to bed earlier than me. I don’t think she’s sleeping though. I hear the faint sound of her weeping your name.
People have been doing so many things in honor of you. Uncle Feutes has been singing about you during every show. Do you see him when he looks up to the sky and smiles? Remember the picture you and Uncle Sykes took together? He hand signed over 2,000 copies of it and sold them, raising over $700 and donating it to me. Be sure to watch over him. You guys were like brothers, don’t you remember? Uncle Carlile sang one of your songs during a show in honor of you. Did you see him? Please protect him during his next heart surgery.
I’ve been listening to your songs and doing what you said. Live life hard. Make very second divine. You only get one shot. I’ve been living by that. Mommy always tells me to be careful, but I can’t blame her. She almost died when she lost you. She wouldn’t survive if she lost me too. I know I’m very young, but I already know what I want to do with my life. I want to be just like you. My first tattoo will be for you. Every song I ever write will be in honor of you.
I know the holidays will be hard now. Thanksgiving was always fun. You always made the best turkey. I’m going to miss breaking the wishbone with you. Uncle Kenny took me to see Santa this year. When he asked me what I wanted, I asked for you. Santa’s never failed me when it came to gifts. Do you think if I put out a lot of cookies this year he’ll make my Christmas wish come true?
It’s impossible to put into words how much I miss you. I would do anything just to feel your arms around me one more time. I would do anything to hear your voice or see you and mommy kiss again. I would love to see mommy smile again. Some people say you didn’t love me. If you did, then you wouldn’t have gone on that motorcycle that night. I know you love me though. I forgive you for doing what you did. November 1st, 2012 will forever be the saddest day of my life. I love you daddy…
Love, Kennadee Lucker <3
Dear Daddy,
I wish the day had never come. I never saw my mommy cry like that. They all raised their hands towards you, the inferno burning the night sky. I stare at the V.I.P passes from all your shows. Mommy had turned them into a small piece of modern art and it's hanging above the fireplace where you and I use to roast marshmallows. I’ve been a little scared to bother mommy. She hasn’t been eating and is going to bed earlier than me. I don’t think she’s sleeping though. I hear the faint sound of her weeping your name.
People have been doing so many things in honor of you. Uncle Feutes has been singing about you during every show. Do you see him when he looks up to the sky and smiles? Remember the picture you and Uncle Sykes took together? He hand signed over 2,000 copies of it and sold them, raising over $700 and donating it to me. Be sure to watch over him. You guys were like brothers, don’t you remember? Uncle Carlile sang one of your songs during a show in honor of you. Did you see him? Please protect him during his next heart surgery.
I’ve been listening to your songs and doing what you said. Live life hard. Make very second divine. You only get one shot. I’ve been living by that. Mommy always tells me to be careful, but I can’t blame her. She almost died when she lost you. She wouldn’t survive if she lost me too. I know I’m very young, but I already know what I want to do with my life. I want to be just like you. My first tattoo will be for you. Every song I ever write will be in honor of you.
I know the holidays will be hard now. Thanksgiving was always fun. You always made the best turkey. I’m going to miss breaking the wishbone with you. Uncle Kenny took me to see Santa this year. When he asked me what I wanted, I asked for you. Santa’s never failed me when it came to gifts. Do you think if I put out a lot of cookies this year he’ll make my Christmas wish come true?
It’s impossible to put into words how much I miss you. I would do anything just to feel your arms around me one more time. I would do anything to hear your voice or see you and mommy kiss again. I would love to see mommy smile again. Some people say you didn’t love me. If you did, then you wouldn’t have gone on that motorcycle that night. I know you love me though. I forgive you for doing what you did. November 1st, 2012 will forever be the saddest day of my life. I love you daddy…
Love, Kennadee Lucker <3
South Korea's Female PresidentBy Jason Dunn (1/3/12)
Look out Hillary and look out America, ‘cause South Korea has elected their first female president (Woo!). Winning by 51% and with a whole lot of guts, Park Geun-hye has earned the title of South Korea’s 11th president and Asia’s lady in charge starting December 19th, 2012. She was born to South Korea's third president, Park Chung-hee, and was raised in a strictly political family. She has held chairwoman for the Grand National Party and has spent four years as a representative for the Korean National Assembly. Park has been widely considered a ‘Queen of Politics’ and although having lost in the 2008 presidential elections, she is back on the ball with much work to do. Park has pledged to develop a stronger economy with a focus on supplying her country with a proper welfare system. “At this time of crisis, we need a prepared leader,” Park has said. But not all citizens are pleased, possibly because she's missing a specific Y in her chromosome alphabet soup. Of course the idea that she is an Atheist also brings up questions, as well as the fact that her father was considered a dictator, even being assassinated in 1979. These facts could make someone a skeptic, but I see her as strong for overcoming the big societal obstacles to gain what she wants. South Korea has done what America has been so desperately close to and with this spark of success, I predict many new tough and feminine faces in the ring of politics. |
Reflections on the Newtown TragedyBy Alicia Avitabile
On December 17, 2012, my chemistry teacher, Ms. Weires, helped us learn something new. At this point we were aware of the school shooting in Newtown. She told my classmates and I that an orange brings prosperity and life. She bought us oranges and we took the oranges in the hallway on the fourth floor and ate them. The point of this mini activity was to appreciate life; to appreciate and acknowledge how lucky we are to be alive and healthy. The Sandy Hook shooting brought grief and pain; lives were taken and now families, friends, and parents are suffering. NEVER at any point in any child’s life, should he/she experience a such a horror. Those children were precious and were gifts from God; they were only six and seven years old. Each little girl and boy had their entire lives ahead of them. At such a young age, they hadn’t experienced life yet. At six and seven, they had no worries in the world. Their happiness came from toys, television, videos games and much more. Each and every one of those children had beautiful souls and as an ordinary teenager, I will say that although this tragedy did not take a sibling of mine away, it has and still is affecting me. There should never be a good enough reason as to why this happened and I think that is something that will take a while to accept. This tragedy could have happened in any school, so this is a way to help us be thankful for everything and everyone we do have instead of what we don’t have. Third period that same day, my history teacher Mr. Landa, assigned our class to write in our journals, expressing what we took in from the shooting and to write down anything that we felt. Before classmates shared, Mr.Landa shared his entry. He told us that what happened last Friday has helped him understand why his students are so important to him and that he would put his life before his students just like the twenty-seven year old teacher did for her students. This is also helping me cope with understanding why life is so precious. Victoria Soto, 27 years old, was one of the victims killed during the shooting who gave her life to save her students’ lives. Victoria Soto is a hero for her actions and nobody will ever forget what she sacrificed. This relates to all our teachers who are also willing to risk their lives at any cost to protect us. The hardest thing to hear a child say is, “I Just watched my best friend die.” How do you respond to such a heartbreaking statement? Another child said, “Don’t worry, I know karate, I’ll lead us out of here”. Their names will always be remembered: Charlotte, Daniel, Rachel, Olivia, Josephine, Ana, Dylan, Dawn, Madeleine, Catherine, Chase, Jesse, James, Grace, Anne Marie, Emilie, Jack, Noah, Caroline, and Jessica. Their spirits will be lifted, so let us pray that God lets them in with open arms. This tragedy is a heavy load for everyone to handle as Barack Obama mentioned in his speech. Obama, President of the United States, also prays for the loss of all twenty-six victims that were killed. Some people who listened to Obama’s speech, could say that it touched a lot of hearts. Obama cannot express it enough, how much these tragedies must end. As a family, community, and nation, we can no longer tolerate the pain and suffering. This is a reminder of how much of a meaning life hands us. Obama said, “Unseen is internal, seen in temporary.” The pain will dwell upon us but eventually we will heal. As the President spoke with respect, he acknowledged that there are a lot of things we are NOT sure about, but one thing we ARE sure about is the love and care we give and receive from families, friends, neighbors, and our community is crucial. From a parent's perspective, Obama says, “If we do not succeed at the job of being a parent, we do not succeed at anything.” Obama said this with a big heart, being thankful for being a father and enjoying his life with his two young daughters. It should be inside of us to want to appreciate life. After we realize what we have, let us pray for the children who have been killed, the children who have witnessed a life tragedy, and let us pray that all families and parents get through it together. Twenty children and six adults are angels that were sent to God, with open arms. All my condolences go out to families and parents who’ve been affected by this. |
Thoughts About Sandy Hook
By Cynthia Garcia
One of American history’s worst school massacres occurred on December 14, 2012 at 9:30 am. The gunman, identified as Adam Lanza, was reportedly wearing black, a mask and a bullet-proof vest while carrying guns that were used to kill 27 people— including his mother, 20 first-graders and 6 staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. He then committed suicide. What has become of the world when senseless people like Adam Lanza slaughter 26 innocent lives?
My reaction was pretty similar to those who live outside of Newtown when I first heard the news--monotone and plainly shocked. My perspective of the incident changed when I realized that the mass media was constantly misreporting the actual situation for a few hours; such as mentioning that two gunman, Ryan and Adam Lanza, were involved in the crime instead of just Adam.
I kept checking my iPod during my volunteer shift at Yale New Haven Hospital to see if there was a more factual update about the gruesome event.
Once 6:30 came, my family was in the van waiting in the front of the hospital for me. When I opened the brown van door slowly, I heard “Cindy you're alive!” My two sisters shouted as they jumped out of their seats to hug me. My mom was weeping in despair while my brother and father had a monotone facial expression. The rest of the ride home was; cars drove slower and lamp posts along the highway appeared like drooping flowers. The ocean water was not glistening (even animate objects were affected by the tragedy).
As Dad unhurriedly drove the van up the small slope of the parking garage, the radio station interrupted the last lyrics of Pay Phone and changed it to Heaven. The host said it was to commemorate the grieving families and the individuals who passed away.
“…when you're lying here in my arms, I'm finding it hard to believe We're in heaven…” were all the words it took for me to break down into tears. Although I live 45 minutes from Newtown, grieving doesn’t require distance and time for it to reach the empathy of humanity.
Surprisingly, Dad didn’t bother to turn off the music once he parked. Instead he requested us to leave the van doors open and he let the music seep and roam into the wintry night air.
Watching my sisters run up and down the stairs, I couldn’t help but think how lucky my siblings and I were. Even listening to my six-year-old sister’s adorable malapropism and glancing at my eight-year-old sister’s missing tooth made me realize that their lives have yet to mature, just as those babies at Sandy Hook.
I send my condolences to Sandy Hook and although I have not experienced the agony of a deceased loved one, the thought of losing my 1st grade sister brings a minuscule amount of empathy with those parents and family members who, in fact, did suffer such loss. May God be with them; they will remain in my thoughts every day.
The victims from the school are 12 girls, eight boys, and six adult women. The victims' names are: Students: Charlotte Bacon [6], Daniel Barden [7], Olivia Engel [6], Josephine Gay [7], Ana M. Marquez-Greene [6], Dylan Hockley [6], Madeleine F. Hsu [6], Catherine V. Hubbard [6], Chase Kowalski [7], Jesse Lewis [6], James Mattioli [6], Grace McDonnell [7], Emilie Parker [6], Jack Pinto [6], Noah Pozner [6], Caroline Previdi [6], Jessica Rekos [6], Avielle Richman [6], Benjamin Wheeler [6], and Allison N. Wyatt. Teachers: Lauren Rousseau [30], Mary Sherlach [56], Victoria Soto [28] Anne Marie Murphy [52], Dawn Hochsprung [47], and Rachel Davino [29].
One of American history’s worst school massacres occurred on December 14, 2012 at 9:30 am. The gunman, identified as Adam Lanza, was reportedly wearing black, a mask and a bullet-proof vest while carrying guns that were used to kill 27 people— including his mother, 20 first-graders and 6 staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. He then committed suicide. What has become of the world when senseless people like Adam Lanza slaughter 26 innocent lives?
My reaction was pretty similar to those who live outside of Newtown when I first heard the news--monotone and plainly shocked. My perspective of the incident changed when I realized that the mass media was constantly misreporting the actual situation for a few hours; such as mentioning that two gunman, Ryan and Adam Lanza, were involved in the crime instead of just Adam.
I kept checking my iPod during my volunteer shift at Yale New Haven Hospital to see if there was a more factual update about the gruesome event.
Once 6:30 came, my family was in the van waiting in the front of the hospital for me. When I opened the brown van door slowly, I heard “Cindy you're alive!” My two sisters shouted as they jumped out of their seats to hug me. My mom was weeping in despair while my brother and father had a monotone facial expression. The rest of the ride home was; cars drove slower and lamp posts along the highway appeared like drooping flowers. The ocean water was not glistening (even animate objects were affected by the tragedy).
As Dad unhurriedly drove the van up the small slope of the parking garage, the radio station interrupted the last lyrics of Pay Phone and changed it to Heaven. The host said it was to commemorate the grieving families and the individuals who passed away.
“…when you're lying here in my arms, I'm finding it hard to believe We're in heaven…” were all the words it took for me to break down into tears. Although I live 45 minutes from Newtown, grieving doesn’t require distance and time for it to reach the empathy of humanity.
Surprisingly, Dad didn’t bother to turn off the music once he parked. Instead he requested us to leave the van doors open and he let the music seep and roam into the wintry night air.
Watching my sisters run up and down the stairs, I couldn’t help but think how lucky my siblings and I were. Even listening to my six-year-old sister’s adorable malapropism and glancing at my eight-year-old sister’s missing tooth made me realize that their lives have yet to mature, just as those babies at Sandy Hook.
I send my condolences to Sandy Hook and although I have not experienced the agony of a deceased loved one, the thought of losing my 1st grade sister brings a minuscule amount of empathy with those parents and family members who, in fact, did suffer such loss. May God be with them; they will remain in my thoughts every day.
The victims from the school are 12 girls, eight boys, and six adult women. The victims' names are: Students: Charlotte Bacon [6], Daniel Barden [7], Olivia Engel [6], Josephine Gay [7], Ana M. Marquez-Greene [6], Dylan Hockley [6], Madeleine F. Hsu [6], Catherine V. Hubbard [6], Chase Kowalski [7], Jesse Lewis [6], James Mattioli [6], Grace McDonnell [7], Emilie Parker [6], Jack Pinto [6], Noah Pozner [6], Caroline Previdi [6], Jessica Rekos [6], Avielle Richman [6], Benjamin Wheeler [6], and Allison N. Wyatt. Teachers: Lauren Rousseau [30], Mary Sherlach [56], Victoria Soto [28] Anne Marie Murphy [52], Dawn Hochsprung [47], and Rachel Davino [29].
Affirmative Action: Where We Stand Now
By Xavier Sottile
In 2003, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) voted on the side of the University of Michigan Law School, affirming that race can be a deciding factor in college admissions. However, another case, where a young woman from Texas claims that she was not granted admission to the University of Texas because she was white, is now headed to the Supreme Court for a decision. And since 2003, the opposition to affirmative action policy taking part in the college admissions process has gained traction and support. It would not be surprising if, in both public and private higher education institutions, using race as a factor will be banned.
The term “affirmative action” was first associated with how race affects college admissions in the early 1960s. This policy was enacted by many highly selective schools, including but not exclusive to the Ivy League, in order to form a more diverse university population. When colleges use the affirmative action policy, those who are members of a racial minority are given a significantly higher chance at receiving an acceptance for admission. So, in the 1960s, when racial minorities like African Americans and Hispanics were largely discriminated against, this was upheld nationally, for the most part, so that schools could guarantee that a particular portion of the school’s student body would be of a certain racial minority group.
Most agree that affirmative action was necessary at the time. And thus, that 2003 case at the University of Michigan Law School came up to the SCOTUS, known as Grutter v. Bollinger, affirmative action was still held up. However, when Sandra Day O’Connor, a former associate justice of the SCOTUS, wrote the case’s opinion, she stated that this policy would be necessary within the next 25 years with an increasingly tolerant and diverse society. And that day may seem even closer than ever before.
In 2009, several New Haven firefighters sued the city for not promoting them because of a similar rule. New Haven did not promote nineteen white firefighters and two Hispanic firefighters because no black firefighters qualified for the position. Because of this, the city looked for a different way to promote the firefighters, so that some of the black firefighters would be promoted. The case, known as Ricci v. DeStefano, was eventually settled at the SCOTUS level. The SCOTUS voted in favor of the firefighters and against the city of New Haven. This was only six years after O’Connor’s predication.
The questions still remains: what is fair? When applying for a prestigious college like Yale University, the simple fact that one was born and raised in Uzbekistan, or one is Native American, et cetera, allows one to have an advantage over those who are not. And this advantage is of high significance, which is precisely why universities like Yale do not reveal how the admissions process works in accordance with affirmative action policy. Some minority students get into Harvard University with grade point averages of 3.2, much lower than the average grade point average, 4.0.
But is this necessary for a diverse student population? Would colleges not accept acceptable numbers of students who are members of minority groups without being forced to by affirmative action? Some say yes, and that affirmative action helps the country and the world at large with a more educated minority population, which is particularly hard for some minorities like Native Americans (1 in four Native Americans lives in poverty, and 1 in 10 lives as an alcoholic).
Just in the same way, others argue that the policy is condescending towards minorities, telling them that they do not have as to work as hard in order to get into as good of a school as a white student. Those same people claim that it makes students work less, since they can get into the most prestigious university in the country with a 3.2. grade point average, for example.
Overall, there are many different layers to the issue, but either way, it seems like that, as we move towards a tolerant and integrated society, affirmative action policies, both in employment and college admissions, are dying. New Hampshire, Arizona, Oklahoma, California, Michigan, and Washington have all banned affirmative action. And now, it seems like the Supreme Court may even choose to do so because of Fisher v. University of Texas, where a young girl claims that she was not admitted into college because she was white. This would force the overturning of Grutter v. Bollinger from 2003, and change a lot of college admissions’ policies nationwide.
In 2003, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) voted on the side of the University of Michigan Law School, affirming that race can be a deciding factor in college admissions. However, another case, where a young woman from Texas claims that she was not granted admission to the University of Texas because she was white, is now headed to the Supreme Court for a decision. And since 2003, the opposition to affirmative action policy taking part in the college admissions process has gained traction and support. It would not be surprising if, in both public and private higher education institutions, using race as a factor will be banned.
The term “affirmative action” was first associated with how race affects college admissions in the early 1960s. This policy was enacted by many highly selective schools, including but not exclusive to the Ivy League, in order to form a more diverse university population. When colleges use the affirmative action policy, those who are members of a racial minority are given a significantly higher chance at receiving an acceptance for admission. So, in the 1960s, when racial minorities like African Americans and Hispanics were largely discriminated against, this was upheld nationally, for the most part, so that schools could guarantee that a particular portion of the school’s student body would be of a certain racial minority group.
Most agree that affirmative action was necessary at the time. And thus, that 2003 case at the University of Michigan Law School came up to the SCOTUS, known as Grutter v. Bollinger, affirmative action was still held up. However, when Sandra Day O’Connor, a former associate justice of the SCOTUS, wrote the case’s opinion, she stated that this policy would be necessary within the next 25 years with an increasingly tolerant and diverse society. And that day may seem even closer than ever before.
In 2009, several New Haven firefighters sued the city for not promoting them because of a similar rule. New Haven did not promote nineteen white firefighters and two Hispanic firefighters because no black firefighters qualified for the position. Because of this, the city looked for a different way to promote the firefighters, so that some of the black firefighters would be promoted. The case, known as Ricci v. DeStefano, was eventually settled at the SCOTUS level. The SCOTUS voted in favor of the firefighters and against the city of New Haven. This was only six years after O’Connor’s predication.
The questions still remains: what is fair? When applying for a prestigious college like Yale University, the simple fact that one was born and raised in Uzbekistan, or one is Native American, et cetera, allows one to have an advantage over those who are not. And this advantage is of high significance, which is precisely why universities like Yale do not reveal how the admissions process works in accordance with affirmative action policy. Some minority students get into Harvard University with grade point averages of 3.2, much lower than the average grade point average, 4.0.
But is this necessary for a diverse student population? Would colleges not accept acceptable numbers of students who are members of minority groups without being forced to by affirmative action? Some say yes, and that affirmative action helps the country and the world at large with a more educated minority population, which is particularly hard for some minorities like Native Americans (1 in four Native Americans lives in poverty, and 1 in 10 lives as an alcoholic).
Just in the same way, others argue that the policy is condescending towards minorities, telling them that they do not have as to work as hard in order to get into as good of a school as a white student. Those same people claim that it makes students work less, since they can get into the most prestigious university in the country with a 3.2. grade point average, for example.
Overall, there are many different layers to the issue, but either way, it seems like that, as we move towards a tolerant and integrated society, affirmative action policies, both in employment and college admissions, are dying. New Hampshire, Arizona, Oklahoma, California, Michigan, and Washington have all banned affirmative action. And now, it seems like the Supreme Court may even choose to do so because of Fisher v. University of Texas, where a young girl claims that she was not admitted into college because she was white. This would force the overturning of Grutter v. Bollinger from 2003, and change a lot of college admissions’ policies nationwide.
Holiday Report: Hanukah Coexisting with Christmas
Cowritten by Christina Jones and Diamante Maldonado
This December, we are all prepared for not only the chilly weather and afternoons spent in the dark, but the long shopping lines and the hideous sweaters. That’s right, the holiday season is upon us. Or shall I say holi-daze, because the holidays sure do stun us with their bright colors and limited time. Christmas, Kwanza, and Hanukah and other holidays are ready to be celebrated with a bang.
We wanted to take some time to get Co-op views of the upcoming holidays. This edition is focused on Hanukah. Read on to see the bustling holiday spirit culminating right here in our school as we hear the thoughts of the beloved Creative Writing teachers, Ms. Englart and Ms. Katz, who reside in rooms S239 and S240.
Ms. Katz explains some of the history and traditions:
“Okay, Hanukah is a holiday that celebrates what most Jewish holidays celebrate…a person or people tried to get rid of Jewish people. There was a miracle; they didn’t get rid of us. We’re still here…let’s have a party. I think it has to do with the traditions that come out from a particular problem with the Maccabees. The miracle was 1 light normally stayed lit in the ancient synagogue. It burned and had pure special oil. The villains in the story broke the containers. However, with some miracle, the light stayed lit for 8 days instead of one. Spinning the dreidel, too, is a tradition. You play a game with it. You spin the top and bet on which letter will appear. The reason for this game is that Jews weren’t allowed to learn the Torah. So, when they were learning, they’d play the game with the Torah. This way, police wouldn’t know what Jews were doing. There’s a specific food for each Jewish holiday. In Israel, they have Sufganiyot (essentially jelly doughnuts), potato pancakes, and gelt. Really great, but bad for you.”
Ms. Englart answers some questions about her relationship to the holiday:
What does Hanukah mean to you? “Well, I was raised in a religious home, but I didn’t stick with it as much when I grew up. To me, Hanukah is about caring, family, tradition, presents for 8 days, lighting candles on the menorah, having family over, gelt. For me, it’s mostly about carrying on family traditions, not so much about my spirituality."
What is one of your earliest Hanukah memories? “Hmm…I don't have one particular memory; I just have this sense of the family coming together, eating, and playing together, a nice time.”
Any Special/Custom Traditions? “I light the menorah every night and say prayers, we eat traditional food, and play dreidel. But I also tend to make up my own traditions, which is so me. For example, I adapted a tradition from Christmas and made stockings out of my maternity jeans. Each night my daughter and I put Hanukah gifts in them.”
What’s your view of Christmas? “Well, the first thing is I’m jealous because it’s really celebrated in America and and it's so fun. It makes me feel a little left out because I am part of a minority.”
\Is there anything about your religion that you don’t like? “I am part of a religion that has been persecuted for, like, ever. It’s a bad feeling when people hate you when they don’t even know you.”
All right, that is it for this Hanukkah edition. Stay tuned for the next part of this Holidays report where me and my co author will be giving you our views on Christmas.
This December, we are all prepared for not only the chilly weather and afternoons spent in the dark, but the long shopping lines and the hideous sweaters. That’s right, the holiday season is upon us. Or shall I say holi-daze, because the holidays sure do stun us with their bright colors and limited time. Christmas, Kwanza, and Hanukah and other holidays are ready to be celebrated with a bang.
We wanted to take some time to get Co-op views of the upcoming holidays. This edition is focused on Hanukah. Read on to see the bustling holiday spirit culminating right here in our school as we hear the thoughts of the beloved Creative Writing teachers, Ms. Englart and Ms. Katz, who reside in rooms S239 and S240.
Ms. Katz explains some of the history and traditions:
“Okay, Hanukah is a holiday that celebrates what most Jewish holidays celebrate…a person or people tried to get rid of Jewish people. There was a miracle; they didn’t get rid of us. We’re still here…let’s have a party. I think it has to do with the traditions that come out from a particular problem with the Maccabees. The miracle was 1 light normally stayed lit in the ancient synagogue. It burned and had pure special oil. The villains in the story broke the containers. However, with some miracle, the light stayed lit for 8 days instead of one. Spinning the dreidel, too, is a tradition. You play a game with it. You spin the top and bet on which letter will appear. The reason for this game is that Jews weren’t allowed to learn the Torah. So, when they were learning, they’d play the game with the Torah. This way, police wouldn’t know what Jews were doing. There’s a specific food for each Jewish holiday. In Israel, they have Sufganiyot (essentially jelly doughnuts), potato pancakes, and gelt. Really great, but bad for you.”
Ms. Englart answers some questions about her relationship to the holiday:
What does Hanukah mean to you? “Well, I was raised in a religious home, but I didn’t stick with it as much when I grew up. To me, Hanukah is about caring, family, tradition, presents for 8 days, lighting candles on the menorah, having family over, gelt. For me, it’s mostly about carrying on family traditions, not so much about my spirituality."
What is one of your earliest Hanukah memories? “Hmm…I don't have one particular memory; I just have this sense of the family coming together, eating, and playing together, a nice time.”
Any Special/Custom Traditions? “I light the menorah every night and say prayers, we eat traditional food, and play dreidel. But I also tend to make up my own traditions, which is so me. For example, I adapted a tradition from Christmas and made stockings out of my maternity jeans. Each night my daughter and I put Hanukah gifts in them.”
What’s your view of Christmas? “Well, the first thing is I’m jealous because it’s really celebrated in America and and it's so fun. It makes me feel a little left out because I am part of a minority.”
\Is there anything about your religion that you don’t like? “I am part of a religion that has been persecuted for, like, ever. It’s a bad feeling when people hate you when they don’t even know you.”
All right, that is it for this Hanukkah edition. Stay tuned for the next part of this Holidays report where me and my co author will be giving you our views on Christmas.
Laughing PainsBy Sarah McManus
Have you ever heard of the expression “laugh until it hurts”? It turns out to be more than just a jovial expression to describe hysterical laughter; laughing for a period of time can actually cause physical pain. Researchers at Oxford University have found that laughing is actually a form of exercise. The muscles of the diaphragm and abdominal need to contract faster while the lungs release repeated forceful breaths. The studies found, though, that the pain from laughing causes the body to release endorphins, a natural opiate released while exercising. When the amount of endorphins released increases, the person’s pain threshold and sense of enjoyment are also heightened. Dr. Robin Dunbar, a psychology professor at Oxford, said, “Polite titters do not involve the repeated, uninhibited series of exhalations to drive the endorphin effect.” Sometimes, a strong laugh that makes you cry is all we need to feel a little bit better. |
What Is the Fiscal Cliff?By Xavier Sottile
Right now, the buzz on Capitol Hill is about the so-called cliff that the United States is about to fall off. No, it is not a literal cliff, but a figurative one; and if Congress does not do something about it by the end of 2012, well, the world may actually be ending. First, let’s explain what the deficit is. The deficit is the difference between the amount of money being spent by the federal government and the amount of revenue it takes in. Currently, the deficit is over one thousand billion dollars, which is $100 billion more than it was when President Barack Obama assumed office. The “fiscal cliff” refers to the deal made by Congress and President Obama in the summer of 2011. This deal was a compromise made by House Republicans and the President to reduce the deficit. The deal stated that if a better budget compromise was not agreed upon at the end of 2012, a series of budget cuts and tax hikes would instantly take effect. One of the tenets of the fiscal cliff is the expiration of the "Bush tax cuts"--tax cuts originally signed into law by President Bush in 2001, renewed in 2003, and then renewed in 2010 under President Obama. This expiration would instantly see taxes rise for citizens across the board, from the 1% to the 99%. In total, the Congressional Budget office estimates that an extra 19.63% in revenue would be garnered from these tax increases. Another tactic used to lower the deficit by the "fiscal cliff" would be cuts to defense spending. Congressman Barney Frank asserted that cutting defense spending from roughly $700 billion to $400 billion would instantaneously cut down the deficit by $300 billion a year. In accordance with this idea, the fiscal cliff would enact around $100 billion cuts from defense, an idea that is repugnant to most Republicans. In the current debacle to get a new deal on the table, President Obama proposes to extend the Bush tax cuts--except for the top 2% of Americans. Known as “The Buffett Rule” this original idea was manifested in the form of the Paying a Fair Share Act of 2012, which died on the Senate floor in a Republican filibuster (a process where Republicans in the Senate force the bill to receive 60 votes in the 100 person Senate for it to be passed, as opposed to 51). On the other hand, Republicans like Congressman and former Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan claim that it will discourage and halt job growth. In fact, last summer, Jon Kyl, a Republican Senator from Arizona, stated that he would quit the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction if severe defense cuts were imposed. Is compromise between Republicans and Democrats in sight? Hopefully. President Obama stated in the third debate that the United States would not be falling off the fiscal cliff this winter. A compromise at or above 1.2 trillion dollars, the amount that the fiscal cliff cuts, by the end of the year would put the fiscal cliff out of the equation. Recently, Speaker of the House John Boehner surprisingly conceded that increases in revenue are needed (he likely means capping deductions and loopholes in the tax code, however, and not increasing tax rates). President Obama has met with several large business CEOs, such as Xerox CEO Usrula M. Burns, to figure out what would be best for them and small businesses. All we can do is wait to see what all the politicians on Capitol Hill will come up with. |
Human Barbie TalksBy Jason Dunn (11/28/12)
Overnight Internet sensation Valeria Lukyanova, the Ukrainian “human Barbie”, has been the talk of the town in pop news. With outrageous eyes, long blonde hair, and the thinnest of waists, it's hard not to blurt out the words Photoshop and plastic surgery. She has been deemed body-focused, conceited, and sometimes even unreal, but this twenty-one year old model states she is comfortable. A self proclaimed spiritual practitioner, Valeria said in a rare interview by V magazine about the life outside her photographs. “Everything derives from my spiritual practices. My mood is created by meditation and energy techniques…I’m an idealist and a perfectionist.” She is a “new age opera” composer, makeup artist, professional mountain climber, lecturer in the ancient art of ‘Astral projection’, and still finds time to “make dinner for the man I love”--but her appearance overshadows all of this. When asked if her overglamorized look was built for attention, Valeria replied, “People don’t understand that it has nothing to do with my looks. There are plenty of good-looking young women, but why are they completely unknown? Because looks are just a bonus. If you spend time working only on your appearance and you forget about your inner self, people will not be interested in you because they will not feel anything.” And then she examines her skeptics. “Many people say bad things about people who want to perfect themselves. It’s hard work, but they dismiss it as something done by surgeons or computer artists. This is how they justify not wanting to strive for self-improvement. It’s how they explain their continued inaction. It’s just an excuse.” Whether you think her insane, an extremist, or just a fad, it is unjust to call Valeria anything but someone who is herself, an artist, and someone who has rewritten (surgically or not) the 21st century definition of striving for your personal best. |
Interview: "The Voice's" Avery [Branden] WilsonBy Taylor Mansfield
Taylor (T): “How was your experience on NBC’s 'The Voice'?” Avery: “My experience was great on 'The Voice.' I feel as if all singers or any performers that aspire to be on the big stage, they need that experience. You get the hair, makeup, the lights, the practices with the bands, and the reality coaches, which are the celebrity coaches that you get the one-on-one time with. You make great connections with vocal coaches and producers, and all these great things that really help to put you out there, and I feel like that’s what really made the experience great. To get close with all of the people on the cast of the show, we became brothers and sisters. There was never a competitive moment on the show. It might’ve come across that way on the TV, but there was never a competitive moment, it was like we really loved each other and just cared.” (T): “Do you have any regrets?” Avery: “I have no regrets. If I regret anything, there was no reason for me to be up there. I felt like every time that I performed, every time I even talked on the show, I really just lived in the moment. So, yeah, no regrets.” (T): “What was it like working with Cee Lo Green?” Avery: “He was very eccentric. From the birds and the cats, and the clothing, but honestly something people just don’t understand about Cee Lo is that he’s more than just a crazy character you might get to know or see on TV. He’s really a genuine person, and everything that he does has a purpose and a meaning behind it. He really cared about me as an artist, and everybody that’s still on the team to this day, he cares about them genuinely as a person before the artist because the person makes the artist, the artist doesn’t make the person.” (T): “Where do you go from here?” Avery: “Right now I’m working on a lot of original music, and just promoting myself. Meetings with executives, record labels, some major ones, and pretty much just working hard. I never want the ball to drop and I won’t let it drop.” (T): “Who’s your number one singing inspiration?” Avery: “Wow, that’s hard. I will definitely say that further back, probably Stevie Wonder. But new, more current, I don’t know honestly. I like a lot of people. I like Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, Beyonce, Jazmine Sullivan; all kinds of people that really inspire me.” (T): “Do you have any advice for new upcoming singers?” Avery: “Yes! Hard work seems like a burden to everyone in any situation, but I feel like if you work hard, it will pay off. Never let anyone deter you, and that’s from anything. That’s from you being the individual that you are because no one can be you but yourself. Whatever you do, just take it with all of the pride and dignity that you have, and put it out on the table because you never know what people need to see. People might need to hear your voice, people might need to see your paintings, to help them get through something. Just give everything that you have.” |
America's Next President: Who Will It Be?By Taylor Mansfield
The long road of America has had its fair share of bumps and cracks, though in typical American fashion, we will tread on under the guidance of Barack Obama, recently elected for his 2nd term as President of the United States. However, a question still pends among Congress, American civilians, and even Barack Obama himself: Who will run for the Presidency in 2016? A number of candidates have already been discussed by both the Democrat and Republican sides, as both are already preparing themselves for the next election. While it’s obviously important to focus on the country and where it stands currently, preparation is never a bad thing. The Democratic Party has already discussed a variety of potential contenders for the position as the main commander of the country. The two most talked about names at this time have been the Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, and the Secretary of State, former Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton. In 2008, Hillary Clinton was destined to be the main Democratic candidate in the Presidential election against John McCain. Fate beckoned for Barack Obama, shutting down the hopes for Clinton to possibly become the first woman President of the United States. One can only assume that with a fresh election nearing us in another four years, Clinton may very well push herself to run for office once again. As a collective nation, we could be looking at the first female President in the White House. The other most popular Democratic candidate of choice is Vice President Joe Biden. With Biden’s experience in politics, and his role sticking by President Obama’s side for the last four years, he has cemented his name within the hearts of Americans all over the country. If he runs for President in 2016, there’s no doubt that Biden will have the full support of Barack Obama and his administration. The Republican Party has also brought a few names of their own to the table of gossip. Paul Ryan, United States Representative for Wisconsin's 1st congressional district, is a big name being discussed by his party. Ryan became widely popular during the 2012 Presidential Election, serving as the Vice President nominee for former Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney. Junior United States Senator of Florida, Marco Rubio, has also been heavily discussed for the Republican Party, having his own personal experiences within government and leadership. But the question still stands: Who will run for President in the 2016 election? |
Regarding the Recent StormsBy Tiranee Blocker
Dear Co-Op, I hope all is well and everyone was okay through the storm. Many had their power tuned off, trees crashed on their streets, and many more tragic happenings occurred because of Hurricane Sandy. I was truly happy to see my friends after our days off. The great news about surviving the storm were the excuses many made to get out of doing their homework. The bad news is that in any catastrophic situation, many fare well and others aren’t so lucky. New York and New Jersey were those “not so lucky” places. People living there did not have power, and were locked inside of buildings due to excessive flooding. We must keep these people and these places in our prayers as they recover and rebuild. We were lucky this time around; however it could have been us. We must appreciate the saving grace of protection that surrounded our homes and loved ones, but never stop caring about others who are still suffering. Do not stop caring for those around us. We can help these families by volunteering our services or getting our parents to donate to food drives. Let us care for others as we would want their care if it were us! I encourage you and your families to stay safe this winter. I am thankful that all of you are okay, and I wish the best next time around as well. Ireland Ban On AbortionBy Jason Dunn (11/17/12)
Savita Halappanavar was 31 years old and 17 weeks pregnant when she was admitted to a university hospital in the city of Galway. She was miscarrying, and in those many hours of intense pain, she was denied an abortion that could save her life. After the fetus was removed, Savita was put under sedation, and eventually died of blood poisoning on October 28th. Her death was announced publicly on Nov. 14th, and already furious reactions have been pouring out on a global scale. The hospital’s rationale for not undergoing the procedure, as reported by Savita’s family, was that “this is a Catholic country.” Outlawed in 1861, abortions are given in Ireland only when the mother is in danger of losing her own life. Sadly, doctors cannot always determine the severity of the situation, as in this case where the woman died a day later. According to The Guardian, “138,000 women have gone abroad,” since 1980 to have their fetus terminated in England. For many, this is an eye opener to the old fashioned ways of Irish officials and one can only hope that this incident sparks progress regarding the government’s dire need to reconsider its abortion ban, and in effect help women like Savita. |
Breast Cancer AwarenessBy Tally Martin
Any type of cancer is deadly, but October was Breast Cancer Awareness month. As you may or may not know, breast cancer has the highest deaths rates besides skin and lung cancer. Breast Cancer Awareness month is put in place to support the women who have been diagnosed, to educate people and give them hope that this disease is something that can be fought and conquered. Though many women pass from breast cancer, many also survive, so there is hope for everyone. Prayers go out to all women who currently have breast cancer and let’s not forget about the small portion of men who are diagnosed with this illness. |
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Hurricane SandyBy Melba Flores
When the storm blew over, there was damage in New Haven and I wanted to see it. We drove to the nearest place we could think of: Morris Cove. Trees were down, covering the streets. We could not get through, so we took detours. Our goal was the Sea Wall, where the water would soon experience its high tide. We weren’t the only ones looking for damage. Many people were walking up and down the streets. “Amazing” was on the tips of their tongues, their faces mixed with shock and disbelief. Some houses that were facing the sea had only a single short wall that separated them. There were no signs of sand, but there was a three-foot wall of water next to a concrete one. Garages spilled with water as they were opened up, the owners silently observing the damage. At our destination, the water gushed and tricked me into thinking I was on a beach. The water was a dark green, rising. Yellow autumn leaves were floating inside the ocean. Maybe a bigger push would bring back the leaves where they belong; on solid, nourished earth to grow on. People were attracted to the waves crashing near the cliff. It was amazing to watch the water gain momentum, crashing against the iron fence, spewing water on the bystanders. People took out their phones to capture the moment the water was at its full height. The waves kept going, as if happy to entertain its audience. If it had streamed out on the day of the storm, running smoothly along the streets, it could have been much worse. We were so lucky to avoid that situation, but it still scary to think of the possibilities. As the water rose, it reflected the potential damage in the area. It was the reminder of the flooded subways in NYC and destroyed houses that people lost during the hurricane. The water crashing was the sign that the storm has passed and that the beaten cities can finally start recovering. |
The Worst Is Yet To ComeBy Janardhan Sutram
“The worst is yet to come… superstorm Sandy is no big deal.” Super storm sandy assaulted the East Coast, leaving millions without power and many victims in pain. Experts say we should prepare ourselves for many storms and hurricanes like this in the future. Hurricane Sandy broke records. Wikipedia states that the diameter of this hurricane spanned 1,100 miles. Sandy is estimated to have caused at least 21 billion dollars worth of damage. Professor Michael Oppenheimer from Princeton University said, “ It's a foretaste of things to come. Bigger storms and higher sea levels” will pile on to create a "growing threat" in the coming decades. This prediction can mean that the world would have to face many Hurricane Sandys. I believe the cause of Hurricane Sandy was a result of the melting of the Arctic. As the Arctic melts, the sea level rises. Rises in sea level can affect the strength of a storm. The stronger a storm, the more destruction it can cause. It is a huge cycle which can impact not only America, but the whole world. The main reason for the arctic to melt is because of global warming. The main reason for the Arctic melt is global warming, which is getting worse every day. It is making the ozone layer disappear. The ozone layer protects us from direct sun rays. And since the layer is fading, the sun’s rays are falling on earth directly, which is making the Arctic melt. Soon sea will conquer land. |
Half the Sky By Kyra Johnson
For those of you still in the dark, "Half the Sky" is a new movement created by Nicholas Kristof and his wife, Sheryl WuDunn. Both are reporters for the New York Times, who fight against women’s oppression in third world countries, the health care system in the US, and basically any human rights issue they see fit. The biggest issue "Half the Sky" deals with is education for young women. Every year, almost 50,000 women and children are brought into the US illegally. The organization believes that if young girls get an education, they tend to wait longer to have children, the have better access to jobs and a future, and they learn how to avoid dangerous situations that lead to trafficking and prostitution. The other way Nicholas and Sheryl believe they can make a change is through the economy in third world countries such as Cambodia, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Kenya. By supporting women and teaching them how to earn and manage their money, women can better support their families and give their children a better life. In these cultures, women often manage their family’s so empowering women can really save children's lives. Standing up for what you believe is never easy and it takes work. You don’t just wake up one day and say ‘Today I’m going to change the world.’ You may wake up and say ‘I want to make a difference,’ but even that isn’t easy. It takes guts to stand up for what you personally think could help the world or your town or even your neighbor. I bet there are a few of you out there who do wake up and decide to change the world every day. Generally though, that’s not the case. I think we can all agree that we need help to make a change, and maybe we can’t do it alone, but we can still make a change. That’s what is so amazing about Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. They aren’t afraid to stand up for what they believe in, no matter what people may say about them. With the help of celebrities like Olivia Wilde and Eva Mendes, "Half the Sky" is bringing awareness around the world. People like Nicholas and Sheryl can make a big difference, just by talking and writing. Imagine what just one of us could do when we talk and raise awareness about important issues that matter to us. For more information, or to find out how you can support "Half the Sky," go to www.halftheskymovement.org |
Superstorm Update 11/2: NYC & New JerseyBy Ashley Moran
Sandy has caused some major issues for New York City. The normal hustle and bustle has turned frustrating and slow. Subways are still not all running. Only a few routes have been opened, while other routes are still being drained. Buses are filling up to the brim with commuters trying to get to work. Taxis are having to carpool in order to get more people where they need to go. Gas stations have lines that go on for hours (link) with people trying to fill gas tanks, as well as generators to keep their families warm and safe. This also proves difficult because of the number of stations still left without power. Many people are left without homes, and as of this writing, 4.6 million are still in the dark, and others are without food. Workers and volunteers are currently handing out necessary supplies to those in need. President Barack Obama visited the ruins of New Jersey to inspect damage and to give the people a beacon of hope and some comfort to those who no longer have a place to call home. And, even though politics shouldn’t even be a consideration when it comes to a natural disaster, Sandy has given both political parties a leg up [link]). The amount of people who have died in this storm has risen to 80 (and rising) after rescuers are still searching through the rubble. Stories behind these recent deaths include that of a woman who survived, but lost her two sons when they drowned (link), as well as four deaths in Connecticut (link). What the upcoming future has in store for the East Coast is unsure, but people will rise up like a Phoenix from its ashes. Our communities are strong and our hearts are heavy for those affected. Here’s how you can help. This website contains many funds to which you can donate to help all that are affected by the Superstorm Sandy. The Aftermath of Superstorm SandyBy Ashley Moran
Ever seen "The Day After Tomorrow," when the huge wave overtakes Manhattan? That's fiction, but it came close to happening this week. October 28, 2012 is the date that a historical hurricane took over major parts of the East Coast. From North Carolina all the way to Massachusetts, Sandy has taken a destructive course. This video link (link) shows the devastation that took place at Seaside Heights, New Jersey. With 60-80 mph winds (link) and tides 9 feet past the normal rate (link), Sandy reduced homes to rubble and brought boats onto shore. In Breezy Point, New Jersey, a fire broke out destroying 110 homes and damaging 20 (link). Thankfully, no one has been injured (so far). New York City went black for a couple of hours of the night, and subway systems were flooded (they are now being drained [link]). Thousands of trapped people are being rescued from underwater apartments and homes as I write this article. With 18,000 flights cancelled, 6.6 million homes and businesses currently without power, no one could have predicted the damage that Sandy has caused (link). Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico were also affected; read more here: (link, link, link). In West Virginia, the whole state has been put on blizzard warning (link). With the height of snow rising by the hour, it is the opposite of what we have been seeing from the North Eastern states. The death toll is now at 46 (link), which could rise in the upcoming days (hopefully not) as rescuers search the rubble in many states to find survivors or worse, people that perished in the storm. Some of these tragic deaths have been linked to trees falling, possible drownings, and other causes. Now, after the storm has passed, people on the East Coast are trying to pull themselves together and restore what has been unthinkably damaged. We shall keep all of those affected in our hearts and thoughts, and hope for the best. Here’s how you can help. This website contains funds you can donate to help people that were affected by Superstorm Sandy. |
3rd Debate: Droning on Drones
Editorial By Xavier Sottile
At the third presidential debate Monday night on foreign policy, neither President Obama nor Governor Romney mentioned human rights in the United States, in China, or around the world. One may ask, why should they? The problems in Iran, Afghanistan, and Syria, as well as the economic adversary China surely pose more foreign policy threats than protecting basic human rights. After all, we take care of human rights so well in America, and things are pretty good across the modern world. Right?
Wrong.
The failure of the United States to uphold the human rights declared in 1945 after World War II within the last ten years since September 11th, 2001, is incredible, particularly by the Obama Administration.
As former President Jimmy Carter, renown for his work abroad on human rights during his administration and after, said earlier this year, “It is disturbing that...our government’s counter-terrorism policies are now clearly violating at least 10 of the declaration’s 30 articles.”
One of those articles unequivocally prohibits “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
The “War on Terrorism” started by the Bush Administration and continued by the Obama Administration has led to some of the most atrocious infringements of human rights, particularly through the use of unmanned, explosive drone strikes.
Let's use Pakistan as an example. The birthday of drone strikes on supposed Taliban and al-Qaeda members in Pakistan is June 18th, 2004. The New America Foundation reports that the Bush Administration ended up using them at least 46 times, killing, at the minimum, 319 people in Pakistan. The current President has ordered six times as many--nearly 300 in total--killing over 2,500 Pakistani people. According to a recent study conducted by Stanford University and New York University, only 2% of the drone strikes successfully kill a militant Pakistani, and 1 in 50 of those killed by drones are actually members of the Taliban or al-Qaeda. More than half of Pakistanis whose lives were ended by drone strikes had no involvement with terrorist organizations, disregarding the drone strikes in Yemen and Somalia. And those civilians died due to the fact that President Obama signed a sheet of paper telling the CIA to take out indirect threats to the United States who are members of nearly disbanded terrorist groups.
Without reporting to the United Nations about how these targeted militants are direct threats to the United States (which they are not), the United States decides that, without trial or any attempt at detainment, this target must die. And collateral damage is worth it. Speaking of which, how many innocent Pakistani lives are worth a militant Pakistani life? 10? 50? 100? The worst part is the sound of America scampering away. The only reason it can get away with this is because the US is the most powerful nation with the ability to bully the rest of the world into silence. President Obama, President Bush, and their officials have been neither censured nor held accountable for their inhuman decisions concerning the drone strikes in the Middle East. Only Malaysia has convicted former President George W. Bush for war crimes in the Middle East during the US occupation of Iraq and the counterinsurgency in Afghanistan. The question remains: Where does the buck stop?
At the third presidential debate Monday night on foreign policy, neither President Obama nor Governor Romney mentioned human rights in the United States, in China, or around the world. One may ask, why should they? The problems in Iran, Afghanistan, and Syria, as well as the economic adversary China surely pose more foreign policy threats than protecting basic human rights. After all, we take care of human rights so well in America, and things are pretty good across the modern world. Right?
Wrong.
The failure of the United States to uphold the human rights declared in 1945 after World War II within the last ten years since September 11th, 2001, is incredible, particularly by the Obama Administration.
As former President Jimmy Carter, renown for his work abroad on human rights during his administration and after, said earlier this year, “It is disturbing that...our government’s counter-terrorism policies are now clearly violating at least 10 of the declaration’s 30 articles.”
One of those articles unequivocally prohibits “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
The “War on Terrorism” started by the Bush Administration and continued by the Obama Administration has led to some of the most atrocious infringements of human rights, particularly through the use of unmanned, explosive drone strikes.
Let's use Pakistan as an example. The birthday of drone strikes on supposed Taliban and al-Qaeda members in Pakistan is June 18th, 2004. The New America Foundation reports that the Bush Administration ended up using them at least 46 times, killing, at the minimum, 319 people in Pakistan. The current President has ordered six times as many--nearly 300 in total--killing over 2,500 Pakistani people. According to a recent study conducted by Stanford University and New York University, only 2% of the drone strikes successfully kill a militant Pakistani, and 1 in 50 of those killed by drones are actually members of the Taliban or al-Qaeda. More than half of Pakistanis whose lives were ended by drone strikes had no involvement with terrorist organizations, disregarding the drone strikes in Yemen and Somalia. And those civilians died due to the fact that President Obama signed a sheet of paper telling the CIA to take out indirect threats to the United States who are members of nearly disbanded terrorist groups.
Without reporting to the United Nations about how these targeted militants are direct threats to the United States (which they are not), the United States decides that, without trial or any attempt at detainment, this target must die. And collateral damage is worth it. Speaking of which, how many innocent Pakistani lives are worth a militant Pakistani life? 10? 50? 100? The worst part is the sound of America scampering away. The only reason it can get away with this is because the US is the most powerful nation with the ability to bully the rest of the world into silence. President Obama, President Bush, and their officials have been neither censured nor held accountable for their inhuman decisions concerning the drone strikes in the Middle East. Only Malaysia has convicted former President George W. Bush for war crimes in the Middle East during the US occupation of Iraq and the counterinsurgency in Afghanistan. The question remains: Where does the buck stop?
Next Up: Anti-Slouch Screen
By Nicole Morales
According to New York Times magazine writer, Jason Fagone, it is predicted that in about two years computers will be able to determine whether or not you should sit up straighter. Crazy, right? Here’s how it works: your Philips ErgoSensor monitor will have a built in camera which will be able to follow the position of your pupils to figure out the angle of your head, and how far away you’re sitting from the screen. If you’re too close to the screen, slumped down or your neck is tilted a bit too much, the sensor will suggest how to adjust your body, “to achieve ergonomic correctness” which is just another fancy way to say that this method will help achieve comfort and avoid any injuries. The monitor can also suggest when it’s time to take a break or give the computer a rest; automatically shutting down when it senses you’ve left. This advanced technology will help office workers avoid backaches and tired eyes, as well as improve the posture of you teens who spend hours on the web and are accustomed to slouching in your chairs during class.
According to New York Times magazine writer, Jason Fagone, it is predicted that in about two years computers will be able to determine whether or not you should sit up straighter. Crazy, right? Here’s how it works: your Philips ErgoSensor monitor will have a built in camera which will be able to follow the position of your pupils to figure out the angle of your head, and how far away you’re sitting from the screen. If you’re too close to the screen, slumped down or your neck is tilted a bit too much, the sensor will suggest how to adjust your body, “to achieve ergonomic correctness” which is just another fancy way to say that this method will help achieve comfort and avoid any injuries. The monitor can also suggest when it’s time to take a break or give the computer a rest; automatically shutting down when it senses you’ve left. This advanced technology will help office workers avoid backaches and tired eyes, as well as improve the posture of you teens who spend hours on the web and are accustomed to slouching in your chairs during class.
The Televised Killer
By Sarah McManus
After coming home from a long day at work or school, it is natural to want to sit on the couch, kick back, watch TV, and relax. Who doesn’t love some TV time? However, startling news has been published recently from the Australian "Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle Study." Watching too much television can kill you.
The researchers found that sitting down and watching television leads to a less robust life, and for every hour of watching TV over the age of 25, the viewer’s life is reduced by 21.8 minutes (this averages 4.8 years of a person's life). In contrast, smoking a single cigarette has been shown to reduce life expectancy by only 11 minutes. The study also found that someone who exercises yet still watches 6 hours of TV can have the same mortality risk as someone who watches TV and doesn’t exercise at all.
In fact, many adults spend half of their lives sitting, due to the increase in desk jobs. Sitting for extended periods of time during a person’s lifetime leads to less skeletal muscle contractions. The fuel that would go to these muscles goes through the body as surplus blood sugars, contributing to an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes, among other ailments.
Let’s try to set the right tone for our generation and generations to come by taking the advice to watch less TV and to exercise more. Even if you’re not exercising, stay active, sit less, and stay healthy.
After coming home from a long day at work or school, it is natural to want to sit on the couch, kick back, watch TV, and relax. Who doesn’t love some TV time? However, startling news has been published recently from the Australian "Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle Study." Watching too much television can kill you.
The researchers found that sitting down and watching television leads to a less robust life, and for every hour of watching TV over the age of 25, the viewer’s life is reduced by 21.8 minutes (this averages 4.8 years of a person's life). In contrast, smoking a single cigarette has been shown to reduce life expectancy by only 11 minutes. The study also found that someone who exercises yet still watches 6 hours of TV can have the same mortality risk as someone who watches TV and doesn’t exercise at all.
In fact, many adults spend half of their lives sitting, due to the increase in desk jobs. Sitting for extended periods of time during a person’s lifetime leads to less skeletal muscle contractions. The fuel that would go to these muscles goes through the body as surplus blood sugars, contributing to an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes, among other ailments.
Let’s try to set the right tone for our generation and generations to come by taking the advice to watch less TV and to exercise more. Even if you’re not exercising, stay active, sit less, and stay healthy.
Exploring Space?By Janardhan Sutram
Have you ever wondered about aliens? Are they real? Well, some of the world's creative geniuses are trying to solve this mystery. I am sure you know about “NASA’s Curiosity.” It’s the cute little rover that is searching for life on Mars. By exploring the origin and evolution of life on the Earth and beyond, we learn practical things than can benefit life on Earth and settling space. Why search for life in another planet when you can find it on earth? The answer might be something like what Charles Cockell stated, “We are confronted by a future with a single challenge--build sustainable human settlements in the cosmos, whether on Earth or in space.” Astrobiologists dig the surface of earth to discover more about the existence of life elsewhere. Will they find another planet where life exists? I don’t know. Patience, my readers! What are your thoughts about this mystery? Email me your views. |
Gentlemen, Just the Facts, PleaseBy Xavier Sottile
“We’re not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact-checkers,” said Romney pollster Neil Newhouse on the 28th of August. On October 3rd, 2012, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama came together for the first of three presidential debates, the first time they had met since late 2008. There have been a myriad of political pundits voicing their opinions about who “won” or “lost” the debate, and by how much; however, there is still another angle to consider. It is something that is bothering a lot of Americans who are watching the debates, and if fixed, the debates would serve to be much more reliable and productive. President Obama and Governor Romney debated over one thing that cannot be changed by the majority’s opinion – reality. It cannot be overstated how futile it is to debate facts during one of the few meetings between the two candidates for the President of the United States. They should be talking about which policies would better help the country, and why, but rather, they are arguing the legitimacy of facts. “Governor Romney's central economic plan calls for a $5 trillion tax cut, on top of the extension of the Bush tax cuts, so that's another $2 trillion, and $2 trillion in additional military spending that the military hasn't asked for.” President Obama said at the debate. Only a few minutes later, moderator Jim Lehrer turned to Romney. “What is the difference (between your two tax policies)?” Romney explained, “…[if] the tax plan he described were a tax plan I was asked to support, I'd say absolutely not. I'm not looking for a $5 trillion tax cut. What I've said is I won't put in place a tax cut that adds to the deficit...” There’s the difference, Mr. Lehrer. One candidate’s tax plan doesn’t have a massive five trillion dollar tax plan, according to the candidate, but according to another candidate, it does. So, President Obama denied Romney’s reality in favor of his own. Obama claims that Romney has “been running on this tax plan,” and that a little more than a month before the election, Romney is saying “never mind”. The two continued to counter each other’s points, proclaiming that their own studies were clearly much more accurate than that of the other’s. It was only later that night and the next day that the truth was confirmed. As the New York Times reads, “he (Romney) has proposed cutting all marginal tax rates by 20 percent -- which would in and of itself cut tax revenue by $5 trillion.” There was only one example of fact-checking in this presidential season. On January 26th, 2012, at one of the last Republican Primary Debates, CNN reporter Wolf Blitzer asked Mitt Romney about an ad that had played against former Speaker of the House and adversary Newt Gingrich. “I haven’t seen the ad,” Romney began. “So I’m sorry, I don’t get to see all the TV ads.” He finished with, “I doubt that’s my ad.” Romney continued to question the content of the ad against Speaker Gingrich. Several minutes later, Blitzer came back with that rare instance of “fact-checking.” “We did double-check, just now, Governor, that ad that we talked about...it was one of your ads. It’s running in Florida, it’s on the radio, and at the end you say, ‘I’m Mitt Romney and I approve this message.’” A series of “boos” perk up the audience, and Romney makes his ‘I don’t like this guy because he’s telling the truth’ look. A few weeks ago, the moderators for the three presidential and one vice presidential debates were announced. All of them, including Lehrer, are incredibly experienced and objective reporters, yet, they allow candidates like Mitt Romney to lie about a multitude of inaccurate “facts.” Why don’t these moderators speak up and stop candidates for the most powerful office in the world from lying? Is it not the case that the Presidential Debate Commission can send a care package containing a fact-checker to sit next to Jim Lehrer? Is it not the case that this election is of the utmost importance in the United States of America and the Earth? |
Presidential Debate PerformanceBy Melba Flores
At 9 pm on October 3, most local news channels across the country switched from their daily planned programs to the stage set in Magness Arena at the Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness at the University of Denver. Jim Leher, former news anchor of PBS NewsHour, opened the debate, summoning the two leaders. Current President Barack Obama and former governor of Massachusetts Mitt Rodney stepped behind podiums to either ease or raise panic in American citizens’ minds. This was the first of the Presidential Debates, which was each candidate’s last chance to raise voter support for the final election in November. After a coin toss, President Obama started the debates. The debate revolved around questions posed by the majority of American citizens that were collected and chosen by Jim Leher. Going from the economy to domestic issues to the role of government, both candidates argued their perspectives. By the second half of the argument, both candidates were interrupting each other while making their point. At the end, some politicians criticize that Romney had won. While news websites have polls and analysis of the presidential debates, Co-op has its own valuable sources who watched the debates. The majority of this group could agree that Romney was aggressively attacking Obama’s points of argument, while Obama continued to reinforce his points. Romney’s body language was depicted as passionate and forceful, while Obama’s body language was negative. Romney had a clear message; Obama was speaking in the moment, but his rhetoric strengthens toward the closing of the debate. In the debate, Obama specifically reached out to the American citizens and the needy. Romney, as one pointed out, kept referring to his home state, Massachusetts. Another interesting fact that was brought out in the debates is that Rodney has money stored in other countries. It looked like Romney, as another said, stunned Obama, but that Obama recovered from it. This was the first debate and the candidates will be fighting even harder for support in upcoming debates. If you are interested in reading more about the debates and what's true or not, try to stay updated with http://www.politifact.com/. |
SARS-Like Virus in the Middle EastBy Taisha Lopez
Does anyone know what SARS is? Well, I didn't either, but while reading the news this morning, I saw that a "SARS-Like Virus" was detected in the Middle East. SARS is an acronym for a severe acute respiratory syndrome. This virus became an epidemic in 2003 when it killed about 800 people in 30 countries worldwide (10 percent of the people infected), mostly in Asia. The virus was first found in Hong Kong and attributed to human contact with the civet, which is a type of cat native to tropical Asia and Africa. Maybe we shouldn’t be concerned or maybe we should be. “We don’t know if this is going to turn into another SARS epidemic or if it will disappear into nothing”, said Michael Osterholm, a flu expert at the University of Minnesota who was interviewed in an article by Maria Cheng a writer for Yahoo News. He also said it was concerning that at least one person recently died from the disease. “You don’t die from a common cold”, he said. The current case comes from Saudi Arabia and left one person dead and another in critical condition in Britain. British officials contacted the World Health Organization about the outbreak. The man was transferred from Qatar to London, and is suffering from kidney failure. No one knows whether it might spread as rapidly or kill as many people as it did in 2003. So far there is no connection between the cases except for a history of travel in Saudi Arabia. Not only that, but the Saudi officials said they were concerned the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage, which brings millions of people to Saudi Arabia from all over the world, and could provide more opportunities for the virus to spread. They advised pilgrims to keep their hands clean and wear masks in crowded places. The Hajj has previously sparked outbreaks of diseases including the flu, meningitis, and polio. Stay tuned and watch the news; its better to stay alert about our world news instead of sitting around and being unaware of things that could potentially affect New Haven. I sure want to make it through my senior year with any sickness. So remember,wash your hands, use sanitation wipes, and cover your cough, children. |