Meteor Showers

Karen Kaplan writes about approaching meteor showers between sunset thursday night and sunrise friday morning in an article titled, "Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight; Comet Wirtanen May Add Sparks" published on December 13, 2012 in the Los Angeles Times. The Geminid meteor showers have become an annual show with the bright, streaking remnants of the asteroid Phaethon flying around the sky. It receives its name from the constellation Gemini because most of the flying objects seem to fall near one of its stars. The Geminid meteor showers are the first to be traced a to an actual asteroid, unlike others which are mostly related to comets. This would truly be a spectacular event to witness, unfortunately for most southern Californians it will be a difficult one to see because of the large overcast tonight. Sadly, there is also school tomorrow, therefore even if the show is visible, students such as myself will be sleeping. It is a lose-lose situation, however it will be a marvelous scene for those who have the opportunity to see it. The farther they are from the city lights the better their view of the show will be.

Religious Discrimination

In an article titled: "My Turban: Made in the USA" published on November 30, 2012 in the Los Angeles Times author, Dilveer Singh Vahali, writes about how being Sikhs in America are constantly and discriminated against. As a Sikh Vahali is mandated by his religion to wear a turban and keep a beard, however, unfortunately, because of the way he looks, Vahali is often taunted by onlookers and called a terrorist. Just in this past year several Sikhs have been murdered or assaulted as a part of brutal hate crimes. There has been recent progress however in the effort to make Americans respect and recognize the Sikhs who have been a part of their culture for over one hundred years. November was California's first Sikh Awareness month and in January, California's Workplace Religious Freedom Act goes into action. Which protects the rights of workers and job applicants to wear religious clothing or hairstyles. This is a positive step towards raising awareness for minorities that are discriminated against for showing their faith in their appearance such as, Jews, Muslims, and of course Sikhs. America is a land of religious freedom, therefore no religious groups should ever be taunted for "wearing" their faith.

Broken Heart

Many people have experienced this specific memory, however unfortunately it is not one that most would like to remember. Every body has or is bound to have a sad memory about a relationship that has affected their love life after its occurrence. In my case, a girl that I truly liked and had genuine feelings for, hurt me dearly by having relations with another man. Although, I was in pain emotionally I came to forgive her, however I have not talked to her since, other than the occasional hello and goodbye. This specific occurrence is the reason why I no longer trust women so easily, and refuse to show my true feelings towards them. No one would ever like to be hurt in this way, however it is a learning lesson. I do not allow myself to like women anymore and I no longer feel relationships are necessary at this age. It is all about having fun and living life. That is my piece of advice to every teen-aged boy all across the world.

Opinion or Racist

      In an article published in the Los Angeles Times on November 11, 2012, called "Woman Fired 
After Obama Facebook Post: 'I'm Not Racist' " the author discusses the case of Denise Helms, a Cold Stone Creamery employee. Helms was recently fired from her job in Turlock, California for her racial comments about President Barack Obama on her Facebook. Her statements on Facebook about the President being assassinated went viral almost immediately after the President's reelection Tuesday night, and promptly caught the attention of the Secret Service. After seeing Helms's outrageous comments the ice cream chain decided that they must fire her and apologize for her ignorance. As for the Secret Service, they carried out a thorough investigation, however did not fine Helms to be a significant threat. Although if she were, Helms would be facing felony charges.
     Even though I find this as a violation of our right to freedom of speech and press, Helms may have gone to far in her comments. After all it is not that easy to catch the Secret Service's attention, therefore she must have posed a legitimate threat. And, her comments were more racist than opinionated which is completely unacceptable. 

Tranquility, Frugality, and Temperance

     During the last three days our assignment was to pick any three of Benjamin Franklin's thirteen virtues to achieve moral perfection and apply them to our life. I chose to work on tranquility, since I often engage in arguments, frugality because I tend to waste money from time to time, and temperance because most of the time I eat more than necessary.
     I achieved two of the three virtues in the given time period. I was not able to remain tranquil for the assignment because I became involved in an argument saturday night, however I was able to achieve frugality and temperance. Although my mind was telling me not to be disturbed at the trifle, I failed to hold myself back. I succeeded in frugality mostly by not spending extra money eating fast food and coming home for all of my meals. I spent my money wisely all weekend, which left me with more money in my pocket than usual. The third virtue I chose was temperance because I always eat out of boredom and tend to overeat a lot. I told myself that I would only eat of hunger and until fullness not satisfaction. I succeeded in achieving this virtue causing me to lose a few pounds.  

Auto Shop is Back

     In an article from October 28, 2012 called, "A Lot is New Under the Hood in High School Auto Shop Classes" Tony Perry and Howard Blume of the Los Angeles Times discuss the revival of auto shop classes in the San Diego Unified School District. Auto shop classes used to be major part of high school curriculums, however budget cuts and shift towards college preparation classes led to their decline. Recently, community leaders have found that auto shop classes may be beneficial to the students and keep them interested in earning their high school diploma. Therefore, they have put an effort to link auto tech classes with algebra, physics, and geometry. The electronic driven classes attract the students' attention and provide them with vocational training for the future. "San Diego officials believe the return of auto shop and other practical vocational classes has helped cut the dropout rate, which now stands at 6%, the lowest of any big-city district in the state" (Perry and Blume).
     The reinstatement of auto shop classes in public schools is extremely important because of the lack of special skill workers in America. This will only lead to more job growth and as one can see, a decline in the drop out rate. 

Dimmesdale vs. Chillingworth

After reading up to the somewhat predictable end of The Scarlet Letter it is safe to say that it is easier to sympathize with Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale rather than the evil Roger Chillingworth. Although Hester Prynne cheated on Chillingworth in New England while he was in Europe, Chillingworth's torturous punishment against Dimmesdale did not fit the crime. The marriage between Hester and the much older Chillingworth was not based on true love. It was one that was arranged, therefore the doctor could have easily moved on without adding to the misery of both the reverend and Hester Prynne. However, Chillingworth was only interested in causing more pain for the already ill Dimmesdale. Instead of helping the reverend while the two lived together, Chillingworth used the opportunity to confirm that Dimmesdale is, in fact, Pearl's father and Hester's lover and exact his revenge. Dimmesdale's agony led to his eventual death on the scaffold in the marketplace, leaving his audience in shock and Pearl fatherless. Dimmesdale did not deserve to die at such a young age nor did he deserve to be a victim of such wretchedness, therefore I feel more sympathetic towards him than the malevolent Roger Chillingworth.

"It was reported, and believed by many, that an Indian had drawn his arrow against the badge, and that the missile struck it, but fell harmless to the ground" (Hawthorne, 112).

This quote by the narrator is from chapter thirteen of The Scarlet Letter titled: "Another View of Hester". It has already been seven years since Hester Prynne was given the punishment of wearing the "scarlet A" on her chest. In that seven year span the community's view of Hester Prynne has changed drastically. Hester is no longer scrutinized or stigmatized. Rather, she serves as an inspiration to the townspeople who now refer to the "scarlet A" as Able rather than Adulterer, and continuously try to incorporate her into their activities. However, Hester still feels guilty for her actions and does not believe she deserves to be forgiven yet. There is more of sympathetic tone throughout this chapter than the reader is accustomed to. This quote is especially significant because it symbolizes Hester's strength to overcome all that she has gone through. It suggests that nothing can break her after the kind of punishment she has received. The "scarlet A" has made Hester Prynne indestructible. It also represents the power that the "scarlet A" had over all of the people that came across it.

Vice President Biden and Congressman Ryan Clash

     On Thursday, October 11, 2012 the United States of America witnessed its one and only debate of the 2012 election between Vice President Biden and congressman Paul Ryan. Mark Z. Barabak and Maeve Reston wrote about the debate in the Los Angeles Times on October 12, 2012 in an article titled: "Biden, Ryan Clash in Feisty Vice Presidential Debate". The title of the article sums up this debate perfectly. It was a feisty clash of opinions and beliefs over a ninety minute period. In contrast to the calm presidential debate, the vice presidential debate resembled more of a heated argument between two adversaries. The candidates debated over much of the same topics as Barack Obama and Mitt Romney the week before, however it was in a much more lively manner with no regard to typical debate etiquette. The two often interrupted each other and even spoke over the moderator several times. Throughout the entire debate both candidates took a numerous amount of shots at one another and their running mates.
     Most people judged the debate as a draw, however Biden definitely beat Ryan in this debate with his confidence and experience. Biden has proven time and again what a great debater he is why he and Barack Obama are the best for the future of America.

I Am Your Father

After reading up until page 109 of The Scarlet Letter it has become evident that Arthur Dimmesdale, the young minister of the community, is most likely to be Pearl's father and Hester's companion. The first clue is in chapter eight when Dimmesdale becomes extremely adamant on having Hester keep her child and he successfully convinces the governor, along with Mr. Wilson to allow this. The reader may also suspect this from the minister's guilty conscience and visions throughout chapter eight to twelve. He is somewhat tortured by Chillingworth into telling his deepest secrets, however Dimmesdale does not give in. He constantly refuses to tell Chillingworth anything that may cause suspicion. The final clue is Dimmesdale's insanity and the vigil he holds in which Hester and Pearl accompany him. As they stand on the scaffold on which Hester was condemned, a meteor lights up on top of them and creates a "scarlet A" in the sky. I predict that the evil and mischievous Chillingworth will exact his vengeance by killing Dimmesdale in a strange and torturous manner because ever since the minister has been under Chillingworth's care he has only gotten worse. It is only a matter of time before Dimmesdale takes his last breath. 

California Running Low on Gas

In an article published in the Los Angeles Times, on October 7, 2012 titled: "Gov. Brown Takes Emergency Action to Try to Reduce Gas Prices", Stuart Pfeifer discusses the recent gas crisis taking place in California, and the governor's initiative to reduce the ridiculous price per gallon of gasoline. Recently, a refinery in California burned down and another shutdown, while a pipeline from Kern County to San Francisco Bay area has closed down from contamination, therefore there is a shortage of summer-blend gasoline. Governor Brown has taken emergency steps this Sunday to reduce the prices of gasoline by directing the California Air Resources Board to the immediate use of the more available winter blend. "Winter-blend gasoline is a mixture that evaporates more quickly than gas sold in summer months. It’s considered more detrimental to air quality during warm weather" (Pfeifer). By law, California is not allowed to use the winter-blend until October 31st. On Sunday, gas prices in California hit an officially broke the record high at an average of $4.65, while the national average remains at a reasonable $3.81. I have personally, felt the effects of this gas crisis, having to fill up gasoline at $4.67 per gallon this week. If this continues, my prediction is that most people will begin using public transportation rather than driving, until October 31st. 

Missing Web Pages and Missing Children

Deborah Netburn writes in the Los Angeles Times about how 404 error pages can become helpful in finding kidnapped or runaway children in the article, "404 Error Being Used to Find Missing Children" dated September 28, 2012. Everybody has seen the 404 error pages that pop up on their page when they visit a website that does not exist, or is no longer working. It is just a blank, white page that says "404 error - page not found" in big, black letters. Notfound.org has come up with an ingenious idea to make these pages much more useful. Instead of just saying "404 error - page not found" the web page will display pictures of missing children and right above it, will state: "Page not found, and nether is this person". This initiative was introduced by a Belgian advertising agency called Famous and Missing Children Europe, an organization that focuses on missing and sexually exploited children. Any website can sign up to have pictures of the missing children presented on their error pages by visiting the Notfound.org webpage. Hopefully, this project will have a positive outcome and truly help in finding missing children all over the world. Four hundred eighty websites have already accepted the initiative and support the cause.

Police Kill Handicapped Man

An article by Matt Pearce titled, "Houston Police Shoot, Kill Pen-Waiving Amputee in Wheelchair" was posted in the Los Angeles Times on September 23, 2012, describing a series of tragic events that took place Saturday morning in Houston, Texas. Houston police killed a mentally ill, handicapped man, named Brian Claunch, with one arm and one leg in a personal care home, after he supposedly threatened them with a pen. Although the middle-aged man may have lost his sanity, the double amputee could not possibly hurt the policemen from his wheelchair with a pen. Therefore, there was no reason to shoot and kill him. Other, non-violent measures could have been taken in order to detain Claunch. Matthew Marin, the officer who shot and killed Brian Claunch has been placed on administrative leave until the shooting has been thoroughly investigated by the Harris County prosecutor's office and Houston Police Department's internal affairs division. Claunch's murder was both uncalled for and unjustifiable. Hopefully, Marin is punished accordingly.

"Speech in the Virginia Convention" SOAPST Disccussion

The "Speech in the Virginia Convention" is written by Patrick Henry during the American Revolution against the British in the 1770's. Patrick Henry presented this speech during the Virginia Convention to the President, his fellow delegates, and audience members. This speech is similar to the "Declaration of Independence" in that it criticizes the British government, however it is not nearly as detailed. Its purpose is to persuade and to inspire colonists to join the fight against the British and demand their independence from England. Patrick Henry's motive is to influence the crowd and fire them up with enthusiasm to take up arms against the British, although they are not evenly matched. Henry succeeds in his mission to persuade the colonists with his great passion. The subject of the speech is about freedom and American Independence. It is what Henry is fighting for, and he states that whether the Americans come along or not, he will battle for it by himself. The speech starts off with a scholarly and diplomatic tone directed towards the President, however as the speech progresses the tone becomes more enthusiastic and demanding. Enthusiastic to engage in war and demanding in help to fight against the British. The speech is culminated with the famous quote, "Give me liberty, or give me death!" (Patrick Henry), like the icing on a cake.

Murders Overseas

An article named, "Obama Says U.S. Doing Its Utmost to Protect Americans Overseas" in the Los Angeles Times by Kathleen Hennessy, dated September 15, 2012 discusses President Obama's speech during a ceremony at Andrew's Air Force Base. The ceremony was conducted in remembrance of the four Americans, including ambassador Chris Stevens, killed this week in Benghazi, Libya because of violent protests. Since then the United States has sent 50 marines and several destroyer ships in order to keep the rest of the American citizens safe. Obama claims that the United States of America is doing whatever it can to protect all Americans serving in Libya and Egypt. The angry protests began in response to a disrespectful, anti-Muslim video produced right here in southern California. However, there is speculation that the attacks on the American Embassy were pre-meditated by terrorist organizations such as, the Taliban, considering that they took place on 9/11. President Obama concluded his speech by giving his condolences to those who lost loved ones, affirming that, “They died as they lived their lives – defending their fellow Americans, and advancing the values that all of us hold dear.” 

Food and Attidude

An article named, "Taste Buds and 'Tude: The Food and Mood Link", from the Los Angeles Times, written by Emily Sohn on September 6, 2012 discusses recent research on how food affects one's attitude, and how their emotions can have an affect on the taste of food. Psychologists' research suggest that those who like sweet foods more, are often nicer, more agreeable, and generous. Studies have also concluded that visibly eating sweets in front of others make one more impressive and attractive. In addition, researchers have found that one's taste for food and morality are tightly linked to one another. For instance, one may give a morally harsh judgment to a questionable event after eating or drinking food that does not appeal to their taste buds. While, one who eats or drinks food that is more likable, may react more ethically and sensibly. However, morally loaded acts may also change the way food tastes.  "Given a neutral-tasting shot of diluted blue Gatorade, participants in a study in press at the journal PLoS thought the beverage tasted more delicious after reading about someone being morally virtuous and more disgusting after reading about a moral transgression (Sohn)." The research conducted by these psychologists raises questions about whether important decision's made by people can be affected by a recent meal.

The Democratic View

Barack Obama and Joe Biden at 2008 DNC

According to the article, "Democratic Party Platform: Pro-Gay Marriage, Immigration Reform, Shots At Romney, Squishy On Guns" from the Huffington Post written on September 3rd, 2012 by Sam Stein, the democratic party has officially unveiled its 2012 platform. The forty page document touches on subjects such as healthcare, medicare, taxes, unions, immigration reform, arts funding, abortion, gay marriage, and guns. It also makes sure to take a few shots at Mitt Romney, especially on the topic of outsourcing. The Democratic Party is all for developing our companies within the country, for the betterment of America. Therefore, it plans to give benefits to the companies which insource rather than outsource; while the Republican Party believes that outsourcing is the best way to move forward. One can predict that this topic will definitely be brought up in the President's speech at the Democratic National Convention, beginning on Tuesday, September 4 in Charlotte, North Carolina. However, one issue that is for sure, is that each party has drastically different views on nearly everything, which will make for a great last few weeks of campaigning. 

I Scream for Ice Cream

Ice Cream is the most enjoyable dessert anyone can have. First created before the common era in the Persian Empire, this dessert made of cream or milk, and different fruits or ingredients is usually eaten from a cup, or in a waffle cone. The best type of ice cream, and by far my favorite is strawberry cheesecake ice cream. This delectable frozen dessert is the most amazing way to finish off a meal or even have a snack on a hot day. It is sweet, and, smooth, and rich. You truly receive the best of both worlds, with both ice cream and cheesecake in one package. It will appeal to all your taste buds and definitely make you happy on the inside and outside. It is a little taste of heaven in one bite. And the strawberries in the ice cream just top it all off with their great texture. In my book, strawberry cheesecake ice cream is phenomenal, better yet extraordinary!

"The Declaration of Independence"

Declaration of Independence

"The Declaration of Independence"was written mostly by Thomas Jefferson, along with the help of fellow colonists, to King George III demanding the colonies' independence from England. It was formally adopted on July 4, 1776 by the Continental Congress, but it was officially signed on August 2. Although, this document is written to King George III, it was also published in all the newspapers in the colonies; therefore he is not the only audience. The Declaration was also directed towards all the American colonists in an attempt to convince them that they were all in this together. The purpose of "The Declaration of Independence" was first, to persuade King George III to allow the the colonies to be an independent state, and second, to inform the colonists of what measures the Continental Congress is taking and to inspire all of them to join the revolution and become one united group with the same goal. The tone shifts in this particular document play a huge role in how it is constructed. The document starts off with a very demanding tone that states all the wrongdoings of the British monarchy, and how the colonists want their freedom. It demands their right to "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" (Thomas Jefferson), capitalizing certain words to put added emphasis on them, and using literary devices such as, parallelism, to get its point across. "The Declaration of Independence" then shifts into a more inspiring tone that is more directed at the colonists. It mentions all the struggles that the colonists have faced against the English, everything that they have overcome, and the reason for their separation. The third tone shift is from inspiring to conclusive. This section of the document sums up everything and declares that the colonies will be their own state and that they have every right that any other country in the world possesses.

One-Sided Battle

Lance Armstrong as he wins his seventh Tour de France title.

This week seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong dropped his long battle against the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Michael Hilzik, author of an article from the Los Angeles Times called "Anti-doping authorities don't play fair against athletes", notes that it was quite an unfair and lop-sided victory for the USADA. The USADA has not only suspended Lance Armstrong from ever competing again, but it has also stripped him of his seven titles and all athletic accolades. This case was so overwhelmingly long and draining for Lance that in the end, he gave up and determined that this was not a battle worth fighting. The USADA has not yet proven in public, the accusations against Armstrong, however it has declared him guilty of charges. The system is flawed and so corrupt that an athlete defending himself has no chance in proving themselves innocent. The USADA is the prosecutor, the judge, and the jury, and they may change their rules and regulations depending on what benefits their case; therefore they cannot be beaten. Lance Armstrong does not deserve this kind of treatment until proven guilty, nor does any other athlete accused of doping charges. This case should be of serious governmental concern, and under immediate investigation.

"Graduation"

"Graduation", written by Maya Angelou, tells about Angelou's experiences at her graduation. Maya is both the author and the speaker in the essay. She does not have any particular biases and is a very trustworthy and reliable source. Maya appreciates everything she is given and does not take anything for granted, although the story takes place in a time where African-Americans were constantly being discriminated against. One could say she looks at the cup half full rather than half empty. In the beginning paragraphs she implies that she loves her school and the environment even though they were segregated and did not have the same opportunities as the white children. The audience in this case is he reader, and more specifically an experienced graduate, whether it be high school or college. The audience should be open to the message that Maya Angelou is spreading, but may not be. Depending on the reader, there may be particular biases involved. For example, if the reader is of African-American descent they may relate to the story more so than others, but if the reader is discriminative against African-Americans they may ignore Maya's message completely. However, that should not be the case in modern times. Maya Angelou's purpose in this essay is to inform and inspire the reader. To inform them about her graduation experience and how she, along with her entire race, was discriminated against by the guest speaker. And, to inspire the reader by how she overcame that occurrence and went on to become a famous author that is highly respected; in addition to, never letting anyone put you down, and always chasing your dreams.

Heat Kills

Transporttion Secretary Ray LaHood advocating the "Look Before You Lock" campaign.

In a record setting week of high temperatures from August one to seven, eight children died in steaming cars across the country. This according to the article "'Worst week' for children dying in hot cars; officials raise alarm" by Richard Simon on August 18th, 2012 in the Los Angeles Times. Stunned by these occurrences federal officials along with leaders of Head Start directors have launched a "Look Before You Lock" campaign in order to prevent child deaths in unattended cars. This is a growing trend that calls for nation wide attention. Adults must be educated enough not to leave children unattended in a car, especially during the summertime. It is inhumane and despicable. It is important for parents to remember that they have a child in the backseat, therefore federal officials have been looking into new technology that may inform the driver that there is someone in the back seat. However, their efforts have yet to turn out a useful product. Hopefully, in the future, occurrences such as this can be prevented by more cautious caregivers. Young children should not become a victim of death as a result of carelessness.   

My Favorite Book

Although I have read many great novels throughout my life, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is by far my favorite of all time. It is a story about a young man named, Edmond Dantes who is accused of treason by three of his envious, so-called friends, and arrested on the day of his wedding. After spending countless years in prison, Dantes eventually escapes with his new found knowledge from the Abbe Faria, who also shows Dantes a map to a hidden treasure in Monte Cristo. With his newly acquired fortunes, Edmond Dantes exacts his long-awaited vengeance on those who sent him to jail. Dantes' revenge is not only well thought out, but it is extremely intricate and elaborate. He does not just go out killing his enemies, but he manipulates them, and makes them experience all the despair and agony that he did during all the years he spent in prison.In one case, Dantes causes one of his enemies to commit suicide by tainting his entire reputation and making his family flee from him. In another, Dantes leaves one of his enemies penniless after opening many false bank accounts under his name. Dantes also takes advantage of his enemies dishonest wife and uses it against him. The Count of Monte Cristo is truly an intriguing story that never ceases to amaze the reader. For example, in several scenes Dantes disguises himself as another person and through his new character carries out his revenge against his enemies all while the reader does not know who the character is. Dumas takes the audience through the mind of a suffering man who carefully plans his vengeance against his former friends turned enemies. And although The Count of Monte Cristo is approximately six-hundred pages long, each page is more captivating and engaging than the previous; therefore it is my favorite novel until another beats it.