Decisions for Obama CC#1.3

In an expository article published to The Washington Post entitled, "Obama has power, determination to make own decision on Syria, administration says," Karen DeYoung, an associate editor for The Washington Post, an award winning reporter, writes about President Obama's authority to make a decision about a military strike against Syria for the use of chemical weapons.

 

According to DeYoung, "President Obama has both the authority and the determination to make his own decision on a military strike against Syria...."  The decision to make a military strike is not necessary a popular one, and many lawmakers are insisting on a chance to take a vote on the issue at hand.  A decision of such importance is not one to take lightly, and Congress, along with our allies, specifically Great Britain, feel that at the very least, a plan of "limited action" must be formulated as stated by Sen. Bob Corker (Tenn.).

 

DeYoung further states that Britain's Prime Minister, David Cameron, "having been deserted by rebels in his own Conservative Party, lost a parliamentary vote for provisional authorization for military action in Syria."  Cameron plans to respect parliaments decision.  Many in the British government feel that the vote is a result of their country's participation in the 2003 invasion and occupation of Iraq, believing the claims about weapons of mass destruction.  The occupation of Iraq began as a find and destroy mission, with the initial invasion by the US and Britain looming akin to a tall tree, our troops progression into Iraq, the branches, and our continued occupation, the roots, which kept our troops away from home and in harms way far longer than anticipated.  The invasion of Iraq produced no weapons of mass destruction, thus making Britain hesitant to rush to battle again.

 

A statement distributed by the White House said "The U.S. will continue to consult with the UK government....President Obama's decision-making will be guided by what is in the best interests of the United States.  He believes there are core interests at stake and that countries who violate international norms regarding chemical weapons need to be held accountable."  Administration officials state that Obama is suggesting a limited cruise-missile strike on Syrian military targets.  The decision to plan a strike is based on evidence, coming from our top national security officials, stating that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government killed hundreds of civilians in August in an attack using chemical weapons. The White House, having additional classified information about Assad's "undeniable" chemical attack, has decided to release an unclassified version to the American public.

 

The use of chemical weapons is in violation of human rights.  The issue of human rights affects everyone on the planet.  The U.S. and our President, along with our allies have a great responsibility in deciding to take military action in defense of human rights.  I can not imagine a government turning on its people with the use of chemical weapons for extermination. Only through education and continued surveillance can we be effective in making a difference in our world.

 

Keep informed of our government's actions; make a difference by getting involved in the voting process and communication with our congressmen.  We are the future leaders, and our decisions will make a difference in our world.    

STEM: An Education Stimulus CC#1.2

In a descriptive article entitled, "A New National Education Imperative," published on October 9, 2013, on Atlantic Media's website, a new approach to education is suggested.  STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, can provide American students with the ability to achieve future economic success, and promote the overall growth of our country.

An author for The Non-Profit Coalition STEM Advantage states, "Over the next decade, STEM-related job opportunities in the U.S. are expected to increase by nearly 17 percent." With our country's 7 plus percent unemployment, the number of workers with STEM skills could greatly increase the number of Americans going back into the work force; therefore, this would strengthen our economy.  America has around 136,000,000 jobs that are currently occupied, and 14.9 million in 2012 with a 20.6 percent growth expected through 2018 will require STEM Education.

According to Michael Cohen, president of Achieve, a non-profit organization that advises states on many academic matters, "Jobs that require workers to possess technical engineering skills, but not a bachelor's degree - occupations such as mechanics, carpenters, and electricians - are available to American's with technical training, whether they are college educated or not."  With such a wide use of these technical skills, the job market for STEM skills will be wide open for students of all backgrounds.  The skills taught for students to qualify for these jobs are standardized across the country and are not different from state to state.

"The CORPS - which employs over 36,000 civilian employees world wide - needs more STEM-skilled workers," states Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  It is necessary for the U.S. to ensure there are plenty of students engaged in STEM and ready for careers in engineering, natural science, and research and development.  The implementation of STEM subjects in classrooms from pre-schools to universities is already showing positive results with students performing at higher levels in mathematics.

American students who learn and use STEM skills will make more money.  Research shows that 8 of the top college majors with high income were in STEM fields.  Employees in STEM jobs earn a wage up to 26 percent more than workers in non-STEM jobs.  Not only do STEM jobs help the individual, they will also help our country's economy.  Increasing American students proficiency in math to the levels achieved in other countries, like Canada and South Korea, makes it possible for the U.S. to increase our national yearly income by 75 trillion dollars over the next 80 years. 

In conclusion,  Our state governments should realize the importance of STEM education initiatives in order to ensure the connection between the education of our work force and the economic growth and development of our country. 

Money Matters at HBS CC#1

     The question "is class a more divisive issue at Harvard Business School than gender?" is presented to the reader by Jodi Kantor in an expository article published in the New York Times. This article is an extension of a study about gender equality at the school. 
     Kantor states, "New students are expected to write checks of 300-400 dollars to their sections, the groups whom they take first year classes with, if they want to participate in social events."  One example Kantor mentioned was that of second year students who organized a ski trip costing over 1000 dollars per student.  These costs pale in comparison to the parties organized by members of "Section X", a secret society of ultra-wealthy students, who take extravagant weekend trips to places out of the country.  This type of spending is very divisive depending on a students economic back round.
     "Class was the bigger divide than gender when I was at HBS," said Christina Wallace, director of the Startup Institute.  Ms. Wallace attended Harvard Business School on a scholarship and was told by class mates that spending more money, as much as $20,000, to fully participate in activities, would make the difference between a "good experience and a great experience."  Many readers of the article in the New York Times, who were past alumni, agreed with her comments.  This practice places great pressure on the students from middle and lower class back rounds.
      "HBS student body is somewhat economically diverse," according to a spokesperson, "with tuition costs alone of more than 50,000 dollars a year."  The class of 2013 included students from all types of American families, low to high income.  The "global elite" (Section X), typically students from the Middle East and Asia, have far more wealth than the American students, and the American income divide is growing.  This results in a student body that is grossly economically mismatched. It is of concern that even within one of the nation's top business schools the ultra-wealthy are segregating themselves by this means.
     The problem of economic division in this school is very real.  Students have stated that they borrowed tens of thousands of dollars a year to keep up socially.  One student said she never invited class mates to her home nearby because she was ashamed of her middle class lifestyle.  'Section X' might even be considered a group of 'bullies' for putting unwanted and unacceptable pressure and stress on those with less money in their attempt to fit in.  I can't help but wonder how many other colleges have this problem. With our country's current economic problems, and the fight to find good jobs after college, I hate learn that this type of stress is present for students who already have the burden of student loans.  The last thing a person needs to feel is that they must add this type of cost to the existing cost of their education.  Division, the separation of groups by economic class or for any other reason, is not an issue the college students in our country should be faced with.

Short Story Reflection: Jockey Joe



As soon as Mrs. Gillmore, my eleventh grade English teacher, assigned my class the task of writing a short story about a fictional super hero of our own creation, I knew it was going to be an interesting challenge.  I feel that being given this particular assignment, which is meant to be based around each of our own thoughts and creative abilities, is an opportunity that will allow our imagination to flow in a way that expresses how we feel about things and how to put it into a creative aspect such as a short story.

It was fairly easy when thinking of what type of hero I wanted my main character to be.  The part I have most enjoyed so far is the actual creation of my character in Hero Machine 2.5.  I enjoyed being able to piece together the super hero that would fit the perfect persona for my story with the options available on the site. 

The most difficult aspect of the short story assignment so far has been the creation of the actual plot and storyline.  I want to be sure to meet the guidelines as well as provide sufficient and interesting content so as to continually entertain the audience who I intend to be reading my short story. I have so many ideas that it gets frustrating when trying to put them all into place.

The main character I created in Hero Machine is named Jockey Joe.  Due to his super human stature, Joe is an outstanding football player with extraordinary abilities.  With players from the opposing team flying through the air every time Joe makes contact with one, everybody looks up to him when push comes to shove during a strenuous game. Joe stands a towering 6' 6" with arms and legs as big as the trunk of a tree, making him capable of the devastation he can cause in a football game. Off the field he is known as Jockey Joe, champion to students everywhere who need any type of help, ranging from bullies to turning homework in on time.  Representing his school colors, he wears black and orange while performing his superhero-like deeds.

 

I hope that by the time my short story comes to a close, the message I have attempted to deliver to my audience becomes clear.  Jockey Joe is meant to be taken as a popular football jock in high school that is not afraid to leave his comfort zone and stand up for kids that need help.  Hopefully through my imagination and developing skills as a writer I can create a short story that is both captivating and meaningful.

 

Police Drug Dog Alerts Valid?

     An expository article by Jonathan Stempel published in Yahoo!News on Tuesday, February 19, 2013, discusses the admissibility of police drug dog responses in court.  The U.S. Supreme Court made a ruling Tuesday, February 13, in favor of the police dog's alert in a Florida illegal drug case.
     "The question, similar to every inquiry into probably cause, is whether all the facts surrounding the dogs alert...would make a reasonably prudent person think that a search would reveal contraband..." stated Justice Elena Kagan.  The Supreme Court unanimously decided that the dog's "sniff is up to snuff when it meets that test."  This decision upheld the police dog, Aldo's, alert of a truck in Florida that uncovered methamphetamine ingredients inside.  The Florida Supreme Court had ruled to suppress the evidence found in Clayton Harris' pickup truck at the original trial.
     "Florida K-9 Officer William Wheetley allowed Aldo a 'free air sniff' outside Harris' pickup truck," reported Stempel, after a traffic stop in June 2006.  Harris had appeared very nervous to the officer and refused to agree to a search, thus prompting Wheetley to use Aldo's training.  Harris' attorney disagreed with the search, questioning whether Aldo's training and certification made him reliable.  The Florida Supreme Court decided that the state did not prove how well trained Aldo was, therefore, the drug items could not be used against Harris. 
     Justice Kagan stated that,"Wheetley reasonably believed there was contraband inside the truck based on Aldo's training and that Harris failed to show that Aldo was unreliable."  Kagan said is was enough that the dog's performance in training and certification gave the officer a reason to trust Aldo's alert, resulting in Officer Wheetley's discovery of the contraband.  The Supreme Court decision and this case could make it easier for police to use drug dogs evidence without first having to show how well trained the dogs are. 
     I have had personal experience witnessing how drug dogs are trained with a K-9 trainer in Little Rock, AR.  I learned how important the use of effective training and certification programs are to the Police Force.  Only accurate drug detection dogs help officers to locate contraband without unnecessary risks or wasting valuable police time and man power.  Considering the extensive training drug dogs complete, I believe that their response to contraband is as reliable as most human testimony in a court trial and should be admissible.
    
    

Raising Awareness about Wolf Protection

There are organizations in place who's objective, through research and education, is to strive to bring the wolf back to healthy populations in the wild.  The goal of these efforts is to offer refuge for captive wolves and wolf hybrids, and to offer communities education about the part of the wolf on our environment's ecological systems, along with ways to co-exist with wolves and the wildlife that we share with them.

Wolves once populated all of North America with numbers ranging about two million.  Today there are less than five thousand, with all subspecies facing extinction.  This is because of destruction to their wild habitats and extermination by humans.  Research shows that this extermination has definite effects on the ecological system.  "In 1930, the last known wild wolf in Yellowstone National Park was shot." The absence of wolfs was seen even in the vegetation.  Herd animal populations rose to unnatural levels and some plant species were brought to near extinction.  Wolves were brought down from Canada to the park and shortly thereafter, scientists began to see the return of herd animals and endangered plant species return to healthy numbers. 

"The decline in wolf population in the wild has also had an effect on the ecological system in cities, especially along rural boarders," stated research director Jean-Jacques Maleval for the Wolfgang Schlichting Research LLC.  Coyote populations are drastically rising.  Coyotes are not as shy as wolves and are scavengers, traveling into cities for food.  Incidents have been recorded of coyotes attacking children in parks and eating neighborhood pets.  The decline of the wolf has also effected deer populations, causing them to rise to levels that are out of control.  The increase in deer activity is causing automobile accidents, destruction of vegetation surrounding homes, increased risk of rabies, even the occasional story of a deer being stuck inside of a shopping center.  If there were more wolves alive in the wild, predation would allow nature to control these outstanding populations.

In 1980, a study was done by the Wolf Conservation Center (WWC) that declared the red wolf extinct in the wild.  Re-introduction program was started by captive breeding of full blooded wolves and releasing them into the wild.  Today there are still only about one hundred and thirty alive in the wild.  WWC also reported that the Mexican Grey wolf once highly population the south western United States and Mexico.  This species has also suffered in numbers with their re-introduction program being even less successful than the Red wolf.  Both species of wolves are still critically endangered but were removed from the Endangered Species Act last April.  Today, there are an estimated four thousand wolves alive in the United States and Alaska and they only live in four states in our country. 

A study by the WWC that started in 2004 has stated that because of the merciless extermination of the wolf, "DNA reveals a severe decline in the genetic diversity of Grey wolves." This is important because it means that with less separate blood lines in the wild there is more inbreeding.  This results in lower immune system health, skeletal deformities along with a multitude of other defects that will effect the survival of the species.  An example is the necessity for the wolves elevated immune system to perform their role as disease control.  Wolves control disease by eating weaker or sick animals, because of this, their bodies are exposed to contamination.  Their immune systems have to be strong enough to fight off any threats and keep the individuals healthy.  This is just one of the many problems that may result from lower genetic diversity.

WWC reports an alarming increase of breeding wolves in captivity.  Here they are hybridized and sold in the pet trade.  "Today there are over a quarter of a million wolves in captivity, most living under less than optimal conditions." People buy them and realize they cannot take care of them, leading to the possible death of that animal.  Wolves and hybrids are illegal in several states, yet people disregard the laws and buy them anyway.  Owners of wolves often do not even know about the regulations of having a wolf or knowing how to keep them healthy in a domesticated environment. 

It is obvious to me that there is a great need for wolf preservation and conservation.  Research and scientific study could lead to a better way for humans and wolves to co-exist.  Sadly, these facilities are limited at best.  The need for education on these issues is clear and appears to be the only way for people to be enlightened about the wolves plight. 

                                       (This is a picture of a full blooded Timber wolf named Shadow; A hybrid named Bailey, and myself at a wolf conservation meeting at UACCB)

Diet Soda: Helpful or Harmful? CC#3

     An expository article published on Friday, February 8, 2013, by Lylah M. Alphonse, Senior Editor, Yahoo! Shine/Healthy Living, confirmed results from a study done by French researchers, linking diet soda to increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes.  This article by Alphonse was written as part of a series over the past year stating claims by various research groups about the ill effects of consuming diet soda. 
     Dr. Honglei Chen, a study author from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, stated that artificially "sweetened beverages...have important physical and mental health consequences."  Dr. Chen's study, along with another study, performed by the Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, have stated that consumption of artificially sweetened beverages is contributory to conditions such as depression and weight gain rather than weight loss.
     The current French study to be published in the American Journal of clinical nutrition was done by France's National Institute of Health and Medical Research.  The study covered "66,118 middle aged women whose dietary habits were tracked from 1993-2007."  The study showed that people who drank light or diet soda's were at higher risk for Type 2 Diabetes than those who drank regular soda's.  Epidemiologists Francoise Clavel-Chapelon and Guy Fagherzzi, stated that "Women who drank about 12 ounces of artificially sweetened beverages per week were 33 percent more likely to develop the disease..."  Although these drinks have no calories or sugar, they are found to increase sugar cravings in consumers, causing them to eat more sugar containing foods.  Also, Aspartame, among other artificial sweeteners, causes a rise in blood sugar just like regular sugar. 
     The American Diabetes Association states that "About 25.8 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes...about 8.3 percent of our population."  Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in people 20 and older; and causes heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and nerve damage.  Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes in the United States. 
     In conclusion, I have learned that this disease is highly controllable by each individual.  If we are careful about what we consume, our weight and our overall health, we can completely avoid this type of diabetes.  Education regarding this disease is essential to the population of the United States as well as the world itself. 
    

Book Review #3

     Alexander Gordon Smith's Escape From Furnace:  Lockdown, Book 1 of 5 in the Escape From Furnace Series, kept me on the edge of my seat and, at times, made me cringe with its grotesque detail.
     The life lesson throughout the entire series is that regardless of what happens to you on the outside, however strong the force, never forget who you truly are on the inside.  Alex, the main character, is the victim of constant conflict with his surroundings throughout this book.  The majority of Furnace's inhabitants have already succumbed to the negative propaganda designed to steal all hope for their freedom.  One character committed suicide because of the environment, others gained personal strength from the pressures they faced.
     Smith's writing style is very appealing to me because he gives all the information you need to get a thorough picture of what is happening without giving so many details that he causes you to lose interest.  I found myself racing through this book with no need to retrace the story to gain full understanding of what was happening.  The author's descriptive ability evokes strong emotion while reading this book.
     The author makes the main characters very believable.  He gives them such qualities as strength, intelligence, and loyalty to one another.  These characters are ones you would admire for their determination and who you crave to see succeed.
     The physical setting of this novel has a great impact on the conflict.  The author's description of the prison is realistic as well as severely oppressive.  The Furnace Penitentiary appears to be impenetrable.  The great adversity the characters face pulls you into their struggle as you read along.
     Escape From Furnace:  Lockdown reminds me of an old favorite of mine, the Cirque du Freak series by Darren Shan.  The writing style of the authors is similar; I consider these books to be real page-turners.  The first book in this series is extremely suspenseful.  I would recommend this book to all those who enjoy reading a true thriller. 

Finding New Resources in Deep Space CC#2

 

    A recent article written by Irene Klotz and posted on Yahoo News dated Wednesday, January 23, 2013, informed  readers about a new company intending to mine asteroids in deep space for raw materials. This expository article, entitled "Into deep space:  second U.S. firm takes aim at mining asteroids" is very informative about the possibilities of retrieving resources from a source outside the limitations of our planet.
     Ms. Klotz reports that a team of entrepreneurs and engineers presented their plans for a space mining company that intends to find nearby asteroids and tap them for their raw materials.  The first mission is planned for 2015, and would send a small spacecraft called "Firefly" on a six-month trip to evaluate a suitable asteroid.  It is stated that "the 55-pound satellite, about the size of a laptop computer would be launched aboard a commercial rocket carrying a communication satellite and robotic probe."
     Mr. David Gump is the founder of the company called Deep Space Industries which is based in Santa Monica, California.  Mr. Gump has also co-founded three other space and technology companies, "including Astrobotic Technology, which is focused on exploration and development of lunar resources."  These companies plan to collect gases and metals from asteroids which can be turned into fuel and used in three-dimensional printers to make components for building solar cells in space.  His goal is to build a fleet of robotic ships to pull resources for fuel and to mine valuable minerals from asteroids that can then be used on Earth.
      John Mankins, a former NASA Jet propulsion Lab manager, who attended the presentation states that, "the technology may not have been used in space for the exact purposes that we propose, but the fundamental technologies are really at hand."  Although the technology exists to go forward with these missions, the cost is another factor.  "The cost of a Firefly mission would be about $20 million," half expected to come from government and research institute contracts and half from sponsors.
     I find this type of research and information fascinating because it proves that our technology is becoming so advanced that we will be able to accomplish amazing things in the near future both on and off our planet.  It is obvious that if we cannot make the necessary changes to the way we currently treat our Earth, we will be forced to explore finding our resources elsewhere.  This article informs us that there are people who are actively paving the way for future generations to find necessary resources in space.  This is an area of exploration that greatly expands our current limits. 

What is your American Dream

     From a young age I have always wanted to be successful in life, to be wealthy and live a good life.  Any American, any human, would want that for themselves.  As I have grown up, my dreams for what I want to be have changed into more realistic things.  I no longer dream the stereotypical child's dream to be a superhero.  My ideas for the American dream for myself and how to achieve those dreams have been defined to me by four simple rules; work hard, always have a goal, stay focused, and have patience.  These four rules have shaped my mind so as to make me one hundred percent dedicated to achieving my goals, whatever direction they take me.
     Although I am just a Junior in High School, I have a good idea of what course I want my life to take.  I know what goals I have set for myself to pursue.  With the knowledge I have gained from studying history, books and documentaries, I have been surprised to realize that business is extremely intriguing to me.  I feel confident that finance is the field I am most excited to become a part of.  The branch I find most interesting is investing, such as in stocks and bonds.  Having invested some of my own money into stocks already, I find watching the numbers change and fluctuate throughout the vast scope of investments to be alluring and fascinating. 
     The college where I would love to study business and attend school is Stanford University in California.  My research shows that the school is ranked sixth best college in the United States.  Stanford offers a wide range of academic and extracurricular courses and activities to the students who attend there.  Stanford University offers every possible type of business focus from simple to complex to dual degrees.  I am excited to explore the courses available for me to choose from to help me shape my future.
     I know that when I graduate from college and have earned my degree, my rule of "having patience" will be very important to me.  I will need to be able to find employment to support myself, but be selective in my job search to be able to place myself in the best position to achieve my goals for the future.  I may not find my dream job for a while.  I may be faced with difficult personal choices to be able to follow my dream.  I will most likely need to start at the bottom and work my way up to the position I want.  I understand that college is just a starting point in my plan for myself and that joining the work force is a huge step to take toward fulfilling my dreams.
     In conclusion, I can see myself achieving my dreams, due to the drive and determination I have to see myself succeed.  One day I hope to see myself in an executive chair and look back on the past, congratulating myself on what I have worked so hard to accomplish.

Malian City Bombed by the French CC#1

A recent article posted on Yahoo news called "French jets bomb major Malian city in north" written by Rikmini Callimachi and Baba Ahmed described how the French bombed rebel targets in Mali's north on Sunday, demolishing many key areas used by the Al-Qaida linked Islamists who control the area. 

French president Francois Hollande authorized four hundred French troops to attack the towns of Konna and Mopti, which are both currently controlled by the rebels.  This decision was made after the rebels started to push further south to extend their control of the country.  Many believe that if the Isalmists seize Mopti, the potential outcome would be "A terrorist state at the doorstep of France and Europe," according to French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. 

The Islamists, which are made up of three separate rebel groups, are well armed and well trained and seized control of the territory in the north in March, 2011.  Mali was once a stable nation who gained it's independence from France in 1970.  The country is now suffering from poverty and unrest, which makes it a perfect target and nesting place for Al-Qaida linked groups.  "They obtained from Libya modern, sophisticated equipment, much stronger and more efficient than we had imagined," a French presidential aid stated. 

Oumar Ould Hamaha, a rebel commander, confirmed that the French fighter jets had hit training camps and depots.  He called them cowards and said, "The French attack has only heightened the rebels desire for jihad."  Hamaha went on to explain that, "Our elements are constantly on the move." "France is going to reap the worst consequences possible from this.  Now no French person can feel safe anywhere in the world." 

The French are asking for help from the United States and Europe in the fight against these terrorist rebels in Mali.  These terrorists impose their very strict form of Islam which is a form of religious fanaticism and oppression.  Terrorists fight for control of people all over the world, mostly in impoverished countries similar to Mali.

This article shows us how the French are taking the steps to exterminate terrorism from the country of Mali.  This should make us think about the fight for human rights everywhere in the world.