CNN-Need I say More?
CNN is a cable channel that covers news and more news. It was first launched on June 1, 1980 at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time by Ted Turner. They are on the news 24 hours a day, which can be really boring or really interesting for some people. They are still in distant second in international news coverage reaching only about half of the viewers that BBC news reaches.
In my opinion, CNN is very informative, but rather boring. As you waft the monotonous aroma of the program you will be forced into the ZZZ’s. Can’t they jazz it up a bit? They could add some humor or at least have an interesting tone in their voice.
This channel is mostly intended for the “old foagies”, or those of us who do not have fun in our genes. However, I must say it is very informative, except when you’re trying to figure out the weather. That is one thing they should add to attract more viewers.
The success of CNN will only continue to go up because they are known world wide, and world wide people need to know the news. It covers the news to its fullest extent. They are the station that will be there before the news happens.
Tiger, Tiger!
Imagine this: it’s Christmas day and you don’t really have anyone to spend it with so you decide to head on over to the zoo to hang out with your buddies and view some beautiful creatures straight out of Mother Nature. You think you’d be safe at a zoo, right? I mean, you would pretty much feel safe from the animals. Your only major worry would be if you bumped some little kid down and their mom decided to ream you out. But otherwise totally safe, right? WRONG. What if this happened to you…you’re strolling along when, out of no where, a tiger comes up and decides that it wants to claw your eyes out. Hmmm…sounds like fun to me!
Anyways, this is what happened to brothers Paul and Kulibar Dhaliwal and their friend Carlos Sousa Jr. Sources say the three were taunting the tiger. When the three decided to go look at another animal, somehow the tiger got out and began chasing them. Sousa distracted the tiger from his friends, but couldn’t escape the grasp of the tiger. Sadly, Sousa was killed in the attack. The brothers were injured and spent a few days in the hospital. They are now planning on suing the zoo for the attack.
Let’s think about this for a few seconds…first of all-how could a tiger possibly escape in a zoo??? I would sue the zoo too if I was them. Allow me to put myself in these brothers’ shoes. First of all, I just got all beat up from a tiger while I was at the zoo. I would understand if I was in Africa or somewhere like that on a safari, but no, I was at the zoo…where little kids hang out! Second of all, my best friend just got killed while trying to save my life. Where were the zoo workers? Why didn’t they try to save everyone who was there? Third of all, who cares if I was taunting the tiger? Ya, maybe I shouldn’t have done that, but the tiger shouldn’t have been able to get out and try to eat me!
Maybe the brothers had it coming…but probably not. The zoo should be sued not only for the tiger escaping, but also for the lack of help that it provided. The San Francisco Zoo should be served up a big heaping plate of justice, and pay those brothers back for their losses.
Questions:
1. What’s going to happen to the tiger?
2. Do you think it’s fair that the brothers are suing the zoo?
Diamonds and Jims (Gems)
Blood diamonds are diamonds that are mined in war-zone areas and whose profits are used to fund wars. They are also called conflict diamonds, dirty diamonds, and war diamonds. These diamonds are mined in Africa, in heavy war-zone areas, making them fairly risky to get. There are so many wars going in these areas because people are fighting over control of the land. Most of the people who are fighting over this land have never even seen a diamond. Once the diamonds are exported, they’re mixed in with other diamonds, which sellers then claim to all be “conflict-free” diamonds.
The movie “Blood Diamond” heavily focuses on these diamonds and the struggle to get a hold of them (hence the title). This film does an awesome job portraying people who want these diamonds and the fields that hold them more than anything. In “Blood Diamond,” you can truly see how people will do anything to get a hold of something of value, no matter if they have to become a smuggler or force children to be soldiers (two other major problems in Africa that this film depicts). The film also goes on to explain how most of the world’s diamonds are stored underground and how diamond companies have all control over how many diamonds are brought out and sold. This is how the companies keep the demand and price of diamonds high.
After watching this movie and learning all these horrible things, I felt that I would never even want to own a real diamond. I would not want to fund the practice of illegal mining and war just so that I can show off my engagement ring to all my friends. Since America purchases about two-thirds of the world’s diamonds, we are most guilty for these wars in Africa. However, most people don’t know about these issues and the battle that was fought for their jewelry. More people should learn about this, and we, as consumers, should stress the fact that all the diamonds we purchase are conflict-free and come from mines and not war areas.
Homie-sourcing
Wikipedia defines homesourcing as “the transfer of service industry employment from offices to home-based employees with appropriate telephone and Internet facilities”. In other words, it’s people who work at home. They’re still employed through a company, but instead of working in an office building, the “office” might be anything from the kitchen table to the Jacuzzi tub in the master bathroom. Sounds pretty sweet, huh? That’s what most people and companies have been thinking, which is why homesourcing is a quickly growing trend in the business world. That’s right, there’s trends in the business world, and they are awesome.
Since technological advances are coming about faster and faster, customers are getting crabbier and crabbier because they’re too dense to figure this new stuff out. Therefore, customer service needs to get better and faster. Researchers believe that people who work at home (homesourcers) are happier, and therefore, get more work done. I guess this makes sense, who wouldn’t be happier working at home? Hmmm, let’s think here…would I rather be in a stuffy office filled with people who I don’t even like, or in my comfy bed-I mean home office-working around people who I like some of the time (my family).
Many people are pretty excited about this new homesourcing thing. Who wouldn’t want to “work” at home all day and get paid for every moment of it? Of course, this “work” may consist of running errands, doing chores, preparing dinner for the family, yelling at naughty children, and so on. So basically, you do all the other junk you need to get done, then finish the minimum requirement for your work, getting paid for every sweet minute of it. Who cares if you’re ripping the company off? I’m sure they would rip you off too if they had the chance. Have you been checking your paychecks lately? Maybe they have been ripping you off this whole time and you don’t even know it…
Some people argue that homesourcing is only for those who are anti-social. I mean, they are working by themselves, in a dark and secluded area…actually, I don’t know if it’s dark, but it’s definitely secluded. What kind of person likes to stay at home all by themselves? The answer is an anti-social one. Of course, there are these “virtual offices” so that the homesourcers can stay connected to their office and know what they’re supposed to be doing. But do these virtual offices have “virtual water coolers” that the employee can “stand” next to and “chat” with “co-workers”? I think not.
In conclusion, this homesourcing thing seems to be catching on pretty quickly. Who knows-maybe you’ll end up with a job where you can lay around all day…I mean, work diligently on assigned tasks. I wouldn’t mind having a job like that.
Prances with Bears
Timothy Treadwell was a quite interesting man. I’ve never heard of anyone else living, or even wanting to live with grizzly bears. What kind of crazy maniac would go live with these ferocious beasts? Treadwell however felt that it was his duty to serve and protect these grizzlies in Alaska since the government wasn’t doing a good enough job. Poachers, fishermen, and commercial people were harming these bears and Treadwell’s “duty” was to save these bears.
There’s many arguments surrounding the mental sanity (or insanity) of Treadwell. First of all, who just up and leaves society to go prance around with a bunch of bears? I mean, it’s not like they’re the most harmful creatures on the face of Alaska or anything. Of course, he was doing this for “research” and to achieve a better understanding of these bears. Why he couldn’t just pick up a book and read about them is beyond me. Of course, some people learn best hands-on, but to get hands on with bears seems just a little bit risky to me.
During the last few years of his voyages to Alaska, Treadwell took a video camera along with him and shot over 100 hours of film. These clips were used to help make the documentary “Grizzly Man” which told the story of Treadwell. While watching this documentary, one might find themselves thinking, “Hmmm…this guy seems like a nut job.” However, there is no substantial evidence to prove that Treadwell was insane. It’s not like he talked with animals like they were humans and reamed out the nonexistent people that were there.
Treadwell’s solution to every problem seemed to be a few strong words. Actually, there was mainly one word that he seemed to favor over the others. I don’t see how a man who went to schools to teach children about these bears could have such a bad vocabulary. I cannot believe that he kissed his mother with that mouth. A good bar of soap in the mouth might’ve done Treadwell some good.
Looking past the fact that Treadwell got killed by one of his “special friends” a.k.a. a bear, he proved that these creatures can be peaceful and gentle. I feel like I know him in a strange way. I think that everyone knows a Treadwell in their life. He’s like that crazy neighbor that you have that walks around their house naked. Treadwell has touched the lives of many people, and his legacy will live on.
AREA 57-A PLACE OF MYSTERIES AND MOLES
Room 57, a.k.a. the 
chemistry room, a.k.a Mrs. Ballard’s room is the coolest room in Campbellsport High School. It is strictly for juniors and seniors, but mainly seniors, considering we pretty much own college chem. 1 and 2. The main function is chemistry considering the fact that it’s a chemistry room. Activities that normally take place here are gaping at the smart board, not understanding a word that Mrs. Ballard is saying, spilling chemicals, making chemistry carols, and pretending to know what we are doing. The chemistry room is very interesting to the naked eye. When you take a first glance, you don’t know where to look because there is so much in there, from the desks to the counters, the sinks to the safety shower, and our very own fume hood. The sounds vary from students snoring in the back of class to gas leaking and glass breaking. Every once in awhile you’ll hear Mrs. Ballard make her Chihuahua bark, or make a smart comment where we can’t tell if she kidding or serious. The scents range from lit matches to spilled chemicals. The occasional smell of six molar hydrochloric acid will burn your nose, literally, causing the smell of burning flesh. All of these things take place during Mrs. Ballard’s favorite class of the day, that being first block.
To capture all of this excitement without being a hindrance, we will be positioned by the desks, because most of the action happens in the back of the room.
During our time here at Campbellsport High School many events of significance have occurred in the chemistry classroom. It all started our junior year in basic chemistry. Every time we would break out the .5 molar HCl, Sam would end up spilling it on Ann, even though they would be halfway across the room from each other. When we did one of our first experiments, we got our picture put in the Campbellsport News, and Ann got the picture sent to her in the mail by the governor, but Sam got nothing. We never got to choose our partners, except for the very last change. Ann was put with Katie Galligan, and Sam was put with Steph Ninnemann. Ann and Katie didn’t really have a thing for reading directions, and therefore, they would just watch everything Sam and Steph did, causing both groups to lose their magnesium. Overall, the junior year was pretty much a year of pretending to learn and spilling acid. The senior year, well to sum it up, is pretty much the same story, only now we bumped it up to 6 molar HCl!
Hannah Montana Ticket Crisis
Children’s parents everywhere are throwing fits due to the fact that they can’t get a hold of Hannah Montana tickets. Hannah Montana is a television show based on a teenage girl, Miley Stewart, who lives a double life. She has a secret identity at night as a pop superstar, Hannah Montana. Miley/Hannah is played by Miley Cyrus, who is the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus (whose claim to fame is the song and album Achy Breaky Heart). Billy Ray Cyrus also plays Miley’s dad/manager on the show.
The show has become so popular that Disney, the owner of the show, has created a whole line of Hannah Montana products. Miley Cryus is even going on tour now, where she will perform half of her songs as herself, and the other half as her alter-ego, Hannah Montana. Ticket prices for the concert have gone through the roof, due to some companies buying all the tickets and reselling them for big profit, as you can read in this article. Ticketmaster is even suing one of the companies, and parents are getting angrier than ever because they can’t make their kids happy.
This so called “crisis” doesn’t make sense to me at all. I thought our society was supposed to worry about more important things, like I don’t know, maybe the war in Iraq or the ever-increasing gas prices. Of course, I can understand why people are getting upset. It’s not fair that these big corporations have bought out all these tickets and are reselling them for unbelievable prices. I would be pretty upset myself if I couldn’t get tickets for something that I really wanted to see. But for crying out loud, this is Hannah Montana. This girl isn’t even real! It’s Miley Cyrus in a blonde wig lip-syncing a bunch of songs about who knows what.
I think that these parents should suck it up and tell their kids to get over it. Maybe they shouldn’t spoil their kids so badly that they’re used to getting everything they want. I don’t think that their children will die or not turn out normal if they don’t get to see the Hannah Montana concert. Besides, she’s not even that good at lip-syncing.
What’s up with women?
Recent studies have shown that lately, women’s levels of happiness have been dropping and creating a larger and larger gap between the happiness levels of men. This article from the New York Times gives many possible reasons to why this could be. Some of the reasons include:
- More women have been joining the work force, causing women to spend more time on paid labor rather than cooking or cleaning at home.
- Men have replaced activities that they don’t enjoy with ones that they do enjoy, giving them more leisure time.
- Women create higher expectations for themselves, and, while trying to reach these incredibly high expectations, become stressed out.
The article goes on to talk about high school students as well. Girls in high school are apparently less happy due to the “hottie theory”. This is the theory that girls should be effortlessly hot. Many girls become stressed out because not only do they have to worry about their schoolwork and grades, they also have to worry about being flawlessly beautiful at any given moment.
Steven Levitt, otherwise known as the Freakanomics blogger at the New York Times, also writes about this subject in this blog entry. This article comments on how women used to feel pressure to appear happy on the outside, even if that wasn’t the case. Now that times have changed, women don’t feel this constant pressure to appear happy all the time.
I think that women should just suck it up. I’m not trying to sound mean or anything, but I don’t think women realize how good they have it. They’re getting better paying jobs and more equal treatment than they used to. Back in the day, it was frowned upon when women weren’t at home all the time cleaning or cooking for their family. Now it’s unusual to have a “stay-at-home mom”; instead, most women are out bringing in a second, or sometimes even main, income.
If women today had to live a day in the life of a woman in the 50’s, I don’t think they would survive at all. If they were to do this, I think they would be significantly happier.
Gas Issues?
Gas prices have been going up and down a lot lately thanks to the good old government. While some sources told me that the gas price would be increasing, others told me that gas prices would be decreasing due to the fact that Labor Day has passed and summer travel is done with. As you can see in this article, prices are expected to drop below $2.70 and stay down for awhile. On the other hand, this article talks about how gas prices are expected to increase since the oil supply was lower than anticipated.
How are we, as a nation, supposed to live like this? We keep having to readjust our budgets because of the constant rise and fall of fuel prices. Some people think that we should have a cap on the fuel prices. That way, gas could never be above a certain price. That’s a good idea; however I don’t think it would work with our government. They would always be changing the price because they just want more money for themselves and who knows what. I think that our government should come up with a good idea to keep our gas prices under control so we don’t have to worry about it anymore. Our government is supposed to be watching our backs, yet all they do is try to stab us in the back.
Microwave Death-corn?
I don’t know about you, but I’m one of those people that’s way too lazy to whip out my popcorn machine and make real popcorn before I watch a movie. No, no, no, I simply reach into my cupboard and pull out a bag of convenient microwave popcorn. As I nuke the bag and the scent of buttery goodness fills the air, I’m thinking about my delicious snack, not about the fact that an ingredient in the popcorn has been proven unsafe. I mean, I knew that microwave popcorn wasn’t that healthy for me, but I had no idea that it was potentially life-threatening.
The FDA found diacetyl, a chemical used to add a buttery flavor to microwave popcorn and other snack foods, to be toxic. I am certainly not happy to hear that I have been putting something toxic into my body for most of my life. While reading this article, I found out that hundreds of workers have been getting sick from this chemical for awhile now. Hmmm, do I really want to be eating something that is giving the manufacturer’s a disease called Popcorn Worker’s Lung? I think not.
The article also talks about a consumer who contracted popcorn worker’s lung. Granted, this guy did eat at least two bags of microwave popcorn everyday for the past fifteen years. I don’t know how he could stomach all that popcorn, but how do we know that we’re all not at risk for this deadly disease? The FDA didn’t even research this chemical enough to know that it wasn’t harmful. What’s up with that? How can we know that all our manufactured food isn’t contaminated with something harmful? My suggestion is to tell those government workers to get out of their leather recliners and start doing what they’re being paid to do. I don’t want to drop over dead just from eating a package of fruit snacks. The government needs to get back on their feet and make sure that we’re all safe when we’re eating.
