Where Is the Justice?

"Police Killing Data Filled With Many Unknowns"
By: Allen G. Breed
The Huffington Post

In Missouri, New York, South Carolina and Ohio individuals that were all unarmed African Americans died at the hands of white policemen. "The FBI's Uniform Crime Reports, for instance, track justifiable police homicides — there were 1,688 between 2010 and 2013 — but the statistics rely on voluntary reporting by local law enforcement agencies and are incomplete. Circumstances of the deaths, and other information such as age and race, also aren't required" (Breed,1). On July 17, 43-year-old Eric Garner died after officers tried to arrest him on suspicion of selling cigarettes on a New York City street. Cellphone video captured the scene as one officer wrapped his arm around Garner's neck, and the black man repeatedly pleaded, "I can't breathe." Tensions escalated on Aug. 9, when Officer Darren Wilson fatally shot unarmed, 18-year-old Michael Brown in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson. On Nov. 22, a Cleveland officer shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice after responding to reports of an armed man at a city park. Rice was only holding a pellet gun. " 'Within the African-American community, there has been an experience of disrespect, offensive language, mistreatment in terms of stops and so on,' he says. 'And there's a sense that the police are out to get them'" (Breed,1). "African-American communities are tired of being over-policed, over-prosecuted, sent to prison, having men taken away from their communities, having families broken," says Chettiar, director of the center's Justice Program. "I think there's much more than just an instinctual sense that there is something amiss in these communities. I think people are tired of 'tough on crime.'"

Walk Like Spiderman?

"Scientists Figure Out How To Scale Walls Like Spiderman"
By: Kerry Flynn
The Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/21/gecko-inspired-gloves_n_6191728.html?utm_hp_ref=technology

Spiderman fans will be excited to hear that scientists have figured out how to scale walls like spiderman. A group of researchers have been working to try to find a way to have human beings walk on walls just as spiderman did. These researchers are from Stanford have developed a way to scale glass walls using pads attached to the person's hands. "The team is part of Stanford’s Biomimetics and Dexterous Manipulation Laboratory, a research group that previously created vertically climbing robots. The inspiration behind the design was not actually Spider-Man, but the gecko, which is able to climb up a variety of surfaces using what are known as van der Waals forces" (Flynn,1). This team has created hexagon shaped pads that are about the size of ping pong paddles in order to replicate these electric forces. Then they covered them in tiny tiles made from a silicon material found in water repellant coatings. "Elliot Hawkes, the engineering graduate student who took the climb, said the sensation felt more like climbing with hooks than sticky tape. The adhesive tiles are able to attach and detach in just seconds. The speed of movement is limited by the climber's posture, not the adhesives, and researchers said they see potential in further optimizing the system" (Flynn,1). Mark Cutkosky says the intent of this is not to climb, though he has been approached by a rock climbing entrepreneur who is interesting in the project.

"For now, the team is more interested in the technology's potential ability to move large pieces of glass without much energy and without leaving residue. It's also collaborating with NASA to create adhesive-equipped robots for capturing space debris." (Flynn,1). This is a new step for technology. 

Loud Silence

I am sitting on this plastic chair in my backyard and all I have next to me is a piece of paper and a pen. I have never tried this before, so let's see how it goes. As the minutes and seconds pass by the sky is becoming darker and darker, as the sun is being swallowed and the moon is shining above. I have never experienced a quiet that is so loud. The soft breeze sways the trees leaves and branches back and forth. I feel a sudden peace as I look above and focus on only what I see. I block out any sounds I hear and keep my eyes glued to the sky. The stars begin to appear and as I stare longer more and more stars are shown. Suddenly I am distracted by the sounds of laughing children next door and then to the sound of the airplane flying above. The sounds are so sensitive to my ears. As the wind blows a little stronger, I feel a sudden chill that runs up and down my body. I close my eyes and try to only hear. The sounds of barking dogs and the sound of the wind gets higher and higher. Nature really is a beautiful thing, that we should be taking advantage of. The wind is now carrying leaves across the floor. It is starting to become darker and darker and the sun is no longer shining in the sky. I can barely see my paper anymore, the three lights that were eluminating my paper are not strong enough for me to see. All I can hear are crickets and the wind. I start to smell the food my mom is cooking inside, I can not make out what she is cooking but the smell is strong.  Other than the crickets, it is extremely quiet now. This quiet is loud and obnoxious but there is something addicting and peaceful about it. Sitting outside in the dark made me stress free. I am not worried, nor am I thinking about anything. The only things I am focusing on are my senses and it is the most peaceful I have felt. The loud silence was beautiful. Nature is a beautiful thing that we take for granted.

Twitter Against Harassment Towards Women

"Twitter Teams with Advocacy Group to Fight Harassment Against Women"
By: Damon Beres
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/07/twitter-harassment-women_n_6122500.html?ir=Technology

Twitter has officially teamed up with an women's rights advocacy group in order to fight or stop gender harassment on social media. They have created a new tool which just got launched on Thursday. This tool allows victims to report harassment and allows them to report on behalf of others. The victim of harassment can describe their situation in detail. They can include the date the harassment started, if they are fearing for their personal safety or the type of abuse experienced. These details are then submitted to Women, Action and Media or (WAM!). This is a nonprofit that has been working for gender justice in social media since 2004. After this information is submitted to WAM, they work to find a resolution and then send it back to Twitter. "The joint effort follows months of heated discussion under the #GamerGate hashtag on Twitter that frequently resulted in abuse toward women -- sometimes so specific and violent that it drove victims into hiding out of concern for their personal safety" (Beres,1). This tool is represented on WAM, rather than Twitter itself. A representative form Twitter said this is the one of many ways they are trying to work against abuse.  Twitter still provides the option for users to report the form of harassment they are experiencing, but it does not provide all the options WAM does. "Though WAM! says it will bring reports of abuse to Twitter, the primary focus seems to be on data collection. According to the group's press release, information collected by the tool will ultimately inform how Twitter deals with harassment of women in the future" (Beres,1). This is a new step to help raise awareness and reach out to women who feel harassed.

Twitter Fights Harassment Against Women

"Twitter Teams with Advocacy Group to Fight Harassment Against Women"
By: Damon Beres
The Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/07/twitter-harassment-women_n_6122500.html?ir=Technology

Twitter has officially teamed up with an women's rights advocacy group in order to fight or stop gender harassment on social media. They have created a new tool which just got launched on Thursday. This tool allows victims to report harassment and allows them to report on behalf of others. The victim of harassment can describe their situation in detail. They can include the date the harassment started, if they are fearing for their personal safety or the type of abuse experienced. These details are then submitted to Women, Action and Media or (WAM!). This is a nonprofit that has been working for gender justice in social media since 2004. After this information is submitted to WAM, they work to find a resolution and then send it back to Twitter. "The joint effort follows months of heated discussion under the #GamerGate hashtag on Twitter that frequently resulted in abuse toward women -- sometimes so specific and violent that it drove victims into hiding out of concern for their personal safety" (Beres,1). This tool is represented on WAM, rather than Twitter itself. A representative form Twitter said this is the one of many ways they are trying to work against abuse.  Twitter still provides the option for users to report the form of harassment they are experiencing, but it does not provide all the options WAM does. "Though WAM! says it will bring reports of abuse to Twitter, the primary focus seems to be on data collection. According to the group's press release, information collected by the tool will ultimately inform how Twitter deals with harassment of women in the future" (Beres,1). This is a new step to help raise awareness and reach out to women who feel harassed.

New Generations

When my parents attended school a while back, the technological advances we have today did not exist. There were no computers, no phones, no nooks or kindles. It was a completely different lifestyle than what we live in today. My parents always tell me how they did not have Google to look up answers or solutions to questions. They had to go to libraries and find books on their subjects to solve their questions and do research. When my parents tell me these stories, I usually laugh because they make it seem as though they lived in an ancient time period. But I realized that once I graduate and have children in the future, I will probably be saying almost the same stories to my own children. As generations pass, technology is advancing more and more. Right now I always think to myself, how much more advanced can the world get? But I know for a fact that as the years progress, technology will also. High schools will be following a new form of tradition after years pass. Technology controls everything. Soon enough, students will only need laptops for school and no longer be needing a backpack or textbooks. Students will most probably be interacting with teachers online rather than face to face. Hopefully students will continue reading all the old classical novels, however this may not happen. I feel that as the years pass, the classical novel's significance will lower and schools will no longer require them for students. These technological advances are taking away the full high school experience, but I assume after a while it becomes a normal lifestyle. The future high school students will definitely not have the same experience as we did, just like we did not have the same experience as our parents did.

New Fitness Tracking Device

"Microsoft's New Fitness Tracking Device Is a Welcome Surprise"
By: Molly Wood
NY Times
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/02/microsofts-new-fitness-tracking-device-is-a-welcome-surprise/?ref=technology&_r=0

Just last week Microsoft has introduced a brand new fitness tracking wristband. It also includes an app and cloud-computing technology for tracking health and fitness data. This band costs at $199 and it may be the most flexible wearable device on the market right now. This device includes useful smartphone notifications for calls, text messages, emails and calendar items. It also includes fitness tracking that has constant heart rate monitoring. All of these features are rare in different fitness bands. If this fitness band is paired with a Windows Phone the user will be open to a few more features. "You would be hard pressed to find a wearable that does as many things as the Microsoft Band and that also works across platforms. The Pebble Smartwatch works on iOS and Android, but does not include the advanced fitness features of the Microsoft Band. The Jawbone Up and Fitbit Flex have apps on iPhone and Android, but do not do smart watch-style notifications"(Wood,1). This new fitness band can sync with apps like RunKeeper and MyFitnessPal and also has built in work outs from different sources. You can only have one work out on the band at a time and it is a little hard to navigate. This band's battery life is good, especially compared to other smart watches.  "Microsoft tends toward blocky industrial design and this device is no different. It’s a thick, black rubber band with a basically uncurved display grafted on. A power button is in the middle of the band, while an “action” button is on the right side of the display. It comes in three sizes — small, medium and large" (Wood,1).  The band still needs some work done to it, but it seems like it is going to become a big deal.

Education by Emerson

Ralph Emerson has written an impressive essay that was published in the 1800's. Emerson has been able to create a persuasive argument that has helped readers become educated on education reformation. Emerson wants education to become reformed and advanced or changed. His goal is to persuade teachers and educators to reform education and make it better. He believes that teachers, educators and parents should be patient with their students or children. Children should be able to choose their own paths by letting nature lead them to which ever direction. Emerson has published this essay in the American Scholar and it is open for anyone to read. But this essay is mostly pointed out to inform and educate teachers. He believes that teachers should not be choosing children's paths. It is their life and their choices. He believes that students should learn the basic concepts in school and then be able to specialize in any subject they are interested in. He stresses the importance of nature and its role in student's lives. Emerson has done a magnificent job at persuading readers with his argument. He was able to pass this subject on to readers in a philosophical, professional, confident and considerate tone.

A Leap from the Stratosphere

"Google VP Alan Eustace Leaps from Stratosphere, Beats Felix Baumgartner's Record Jump"
By: Jacqueline Howard
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/24/alan-eustace-record-jump_n_6044598.html?utm_hp_ref=technology&ir=Technology


Alan Eustace who is a senior vice president at Google, has set a new world record on October 26, 2014. He has completed the highest altitude sky dive, by parachuting from 135,908 feet above the Earth. This record had been held by a skydiver named Felix Baumgartner. He had leaped about 24 miles above the Earth, in October of 2012. "'It was amazing,' Eustace told The New York Times. 'It was beautiful. You could see the darkness of space and you could see the layers of atmosphere, which I had never seen before' " (Howard,1). A high altitude helium filled balloon from the Paragon Space Development Corp. lifted Eustace to his peak altitude. He was wearing a self- contained space suit. He also used a small explosive device to cut him loose from the balloon and he then dove to Earth at a speed of 822 miles per hour. "Jim Hayhurst of the U.S. Parachute Association was the jump's official observer, the Associated Press reported. He told the AP that the team on the ground could hear the sonic boom as Eustace broke through the speed of sound barrier" (Howard, 1). His jump was a huge surprise because he had been secretly planning it with Paragon Space Development Corp. and their team. This company worked with Eustace and helped him develop, build and manage this system during this magnificent leap.

Education

When I first think of education, what pops into my head is a classroom, teachers, studying or taking notes. However education is much more than what is learned in a classroom. Education is the knowledge you gain from anything you do or read or see. For example traveling to a different country and seeing different cultures and learning different beliefs can provide knowledge to people. I do not believe that the only education one can receive is in school. Knowledge can be gained from anything at all. It can range from reading a book, magazine, newspaper, seeing a play, watching a movie. School limits education to only a few subjects that include math, science, history and english. Of course these subjects are important, but there is so much in the world other than just those four subjects. The world is full of so much that we as humans have not discovered yet. School should not be seen as the only way education is gained. For example, someone who has not attended school, but has read thousands of books and newspapers, can be just as intelligent as someone who has attended school. It all depends on the person. Anyone can learn and gain an education but it depends on their dedication and how much they want it. If someone is eager to learn they can do it on their own, school is not necessary for someone to have an education.

Comet's Interaction With Mars

"A Comet's Brush With Mars"
By: Agence France-Presse
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/science/a-comets-brush-with-mars.html?ref=science

In Washington, a comet that was about the size of a mini mountain flew past the planet Mars. This was a once in a million year encounter and was an astonishment to space enthusiasts. This comet was known as the Siding Spring and it made its encounter with Mars at 2:27 pm at 126,000 miles per hour. This comet was 87,000 miles from Mars which is less than half the distance between Earth and our moon. Before the comet actually passed, it was seen in space racing towards Mars. Scientists say that this comets encounter with Mars offers a chance to be able to study on Mars's atmosphere. The sensing team leader from NASA's Maven Mission to Mars, Nick Schneider said“What could be more exciting than to have a whopper of an external influence like a comet, just so we can see how atmospheres do respond?It’s a great learning opportunity" (France-Presse,1). This comet is believed to be originated a billion years ago from the Oort Cloud. Oort Cloud is a distant region of space that does not have to do with our solar system. Siding Spring is a ball of ice, dirt and pebbles. As this comet went through space, it created a meteor shower, which had the scientists worrying, because of their valuable space craft.“All it takes is a little tiny grain of sand traveling at that speed and you’ve got damage to solar arrays, or your propulsion line or critical wires,” Dr. Schneider said. This comet has traveled one million years and will not appear again for another one million years.

Community Service

Community service is unpaid work performed by a group of people or individual for the benefit of the community. It is done for a variety of reasons and is not exactly the same as volunteering because it is not always voluntarily done. Community service is done because a government may require it as a part of citizenship requirements, or courts may demand it because of committed crimes. In student's case, schools usually require students to perform a certain amount of hours of community service in order to graduate. There are many high schools around the country that require community service hours and others that do not. Students nowadays are only performing community service hours, just so they can be able to graduate from high school. The students are not doing community service because they want to, but to impress colleges and compete with other students. When students are required to perform community service throughout their years of high school, they do not complete the hours out of love. They only want to finish the hours, to in order to graduate and so it looks good on their college resumes. Community service however should be done by teens, because it is a learning experience. But the student should want to do community service and should want to help others. Students are also trying to use community service as a competition. They try to receive a load of hours just so it looks better on college resumes. Friedland says, "One implication of the study, which has yet to be proven, is that when civic engagement and volunteerism are used to achieve a short-term goal, the long-term effect of the activity may decline" (Chaptman,157). This statement made by Friedland, explains that students can achieve their goals by getting into colleges, because of many hours of community service, but they will lose their long term goal, which is actually learning from those hours put into helping the community. Schools requiring students to perform a certain amount of community service hours, does not help them learn the value it, because they are doing it for themselves rather than for others.

Ebola Victim's Journey

"Ebola Victim's Journey From Liberian War to Fight for Life in US"
By: Kevin Sack
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/06/us/ebola-victim-went-from-liberian-war-to-a-fight-for-life.html?ref=us&_r=0

From 1989 to 2003, the civil war that terrorized Liberia, had left the population 5 percent dead. People tried their best to escape. More than 700,000 fled from the nation. Among the people that fled the nation, was Thomas Eric Duncan. Duncan was the man who brought the ebola virus to the United States. Duncan flew to Dallas, Texas to meet Louise Troh. "The arrival of Ebola with Mr. Duncan put Dallas so on edge that parents kept children home from school and officials with the State Fair of Texas programmed Big Tex, their talking mechanical mascot, to urge fairgoers to wash their hands" (Sack,1). This called for attention from the president and health advisers,  and it started a national debate over whether to restrict travel to and from afflicted countries. "On Sunday, the director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, said that Mr. Duncan’s medical condition was quite critical and that he was “fighting for his life" (Sack,1). On September 19, M Duncan prepared to catch a flight to the Belgian capital, where he would then fly to Dallas. He was screened for Ebola at the Monrovia airport. When asked if he had been exposed to ebola in the past 21 days he replied, "no". On September 25, Duncan kept complaining to Troh about the chills, so she drove him to the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital . "He arrived in the emergency room with a mild fever of 100.1 degrees and reported having abdominal pain for two days, a sharp headache and decreased urination, according to the hospital. When a nurse took his history, the hospital has reported, he said he had not been around anyone ill but had recently been in Africa" (Sack,1). The nurses did not consider the possibility of Ebola, so Duncan was sent home with antibiotics. He is now fighting for his life and has been in contact with people, which can cause harm to others.

Volcano Erupts in Japan

"More Than 30 Believed Dead After Japan's Ontake Volcano Erupts"
By: Mari Yamaguchi
The Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/28/ontake-volcano-erupts_n_5895658.html?utm_hp_ref=world

On September 28,2014 more than 30 hikers were found in cardiac arrest at the peak of the erupting mountain, Ontake, in Japan. The people who were found by rescue workers on the mountain peak, were either unconscious or dead. It has been said that about 30 hikers had heart and lung failure and at least four victims were saved and brought down from the mountain. Mount Ontake is located in central Japan and erupted on Sunday before noon. The volcano spewed large white gas and ash into the sky. The area was surrounded and covered completely in ash. Mount Ontake is a popular climbing destination. Initially about 250 people were trapped on the slopes, but most of them found their way down the mountain. Before the unconscious victims were found in the mountain Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said 45 people had been reported missing. Keita Ushimaru, an official in nearby Kiso town, said, "Nagano crisis management officials had informed the town that at least four people with heart and lung failure were being brought down to the town, and that there were others in the same condition. The journey was expected to take about three hours" (Yamaguchi,1). Rescue workers took saved victims into mountain lodges and helped treat them. Military helicopters also helped save people from the mountains.The Self-Defense Force, as Japan's military is called, has deployed seven helicopters and 250 troops. Police and fire departments are also taking part in the rescue effort (Yamaguchi,1). Rescue workers are still working to find any other people who were left behind in the mountains.

A Memorable Flavor

Everyone has a different flavor of ice cream that they prefer and enjoy eating. I do not consume ice cream on a regular basis, I usually have it on special occasions or with my friends and family. Anytime my family and I go out for ice cream, I always know which flavor I am picking before entering the ice cream shop. The flavor that brings me happiness and brings a crave to my taste buds is cookie dough ice cream. Cookie dough ice cream has all the delicious ingredients that creates an incredible flavor. This flavor includes small amounts of cookie dough scattered through out the scoop you receive and the flavor of the ice cream is vanilla. This flavor may sound a bit boring, but once a spoonful of it is consumed, you will not want to stop eating it. One scoop is never enough, I always need seconds because the taste is so amazing. Cookie dough ice cream has a special meaning for me and reminds me of my everlasting memories with my family. My parents used to always take us out for ice cream when we were kids, and I remember eating cookie dough ice cream while laughing at jokes my sister made or  at stories my parents told me. Cookie dough ice cream has given me many moments of laughter and has helped me make memories that will never be forgotten. This magnificent flavor that tastes like a chocolate cookie with ice cream, should be tasted by everyone because it has a heavenly taste that everyone should be able to enjoy.

Egyptian Journalist Hunger Strike

"Egyptian Journalists Join Hunger Strike Against Protest Law"
By: Mariam Rizk
The Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/14/egyptian-journalists-hunger-strike-protest-law_n_5815748.html

In Cairo, Egypt a large number of Egyptian journalists all joined together with political activists in a hunger strike. These political activists were protesting against a law that was imposed last year. This protest includes different crowds of people; it includes political hostages, activists and rights advocates. This group of people are all protesting against the same law and are demanding to free the ones imprisoned under it. This protest also includes key icons, as well as people from the 2011 revolt. "Head of the journalists union, Diaa Rashwan, said he notified authorities that 10 journalists have started a hunger strike inside the syndicate's headquarters in downtown Cairo" (Rizk,1). Around tens and thousands of people, who were mostly the supporters of the Islamic president were arrested after the military overthrew Mohammed Morsi. "The protest law, deemed by the government as necessary to bring stability to the country, bans demonstrations without a permit and toughens penalties on violators" (Rizk,1). It has been said that about 60 hostages have joined the strikes, as well as 83 people who have been let free from jail. These journalists who have joined the strikes said they believe in "freedom of expression through protesting, writing and any other peaceful form is an entrenched right" (Rizk,1). The journalists have created a peaceful protest to spread their word out. Protests that are peaceful like this one, should be the kinds of protests people should hold. Having rebellious protests does not help people support the cause, it makes people go against it, because they are afraid.

The Giver Movie Review

"The Giver"

By: Peter Travers

The Rolling Stones

http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/the-giver-20140815

Lois Lowry's 1993 Newberry Medal winning book, The Giver has become a motion picture and many movie critics have given it reviews. Peter Travers is a famous movie critic and has made comments on this specific movie. Travers uses automatic ethos, because anyone reading the review knows that he is a reliable source. He mentions that The Giver moved at the "speed of syrup" and that it failed to carry out a philosophical message out to adults. Peter says, "She wrote of a futuristic society that terminated pain, starvation, suffering and war by stifling emotion and making everyone and everything worship as the altar of Sameness", (Travers, 1). Travers is not fond of the director of this new film. He uses logos by explaining how the main character Jonas was eleven years old in the novel, but a 24 year old played him in the movie. He provides the audience with facts about The Giver. Travers compares the novel to the new motion picture. He explains how Lowry took chances with her novel, but the movie took none and was a bore to him. He says that the movie went from dull to vivid and happiness quickly with barely any explanation. This is an example of pathos. Peter uses claim of facts by providing the facts that Jonas was played as a 24 year old instead of an eleven year old. Claim of values was also used in this review, because he provides his opinion on this movie. He says that the movie was dull and did not provide the people with an intriguing plot. Travers says that he wishes the plot could have been changed to a more detailed one. This is an example of a claim of policy. Peter was not fond of this movie and critiqued it harshly with one and a half stars. Although Travers enjoyed the book, he did not like the way the director put the movie together and wish he had set it up differently.

Apple Smartwatch

"Can Apple Build a Cool and Convenient iWatch?"

By: Brian X. Chen

NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/08/technology/can-apple-build-a-cool-and-convenient-iwatch.html?hpw&rref=business&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=HpHedThumbWell&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well

About 13 years ago, Apple took digital music into the mainstream when it created the iPod, even though it was not the first company to create a digital music player. Apple is not going to be the first company to create a smartwatch either, but if Apple creates it right it can be the start of a popular device. In the last year Samsung, Apple's biggest rivalry, created about six smart watches and have displayed many commercials of them. Motorola and LG have also created the smart watch, but they were not as popular as Samsung's. Some people think that if Apple can be involved with industries such as health care, then the product will do well. There is a variety of people who think the product will not do well. They do not think that consumers will buy the smart watch only because Apple is creating it. “Smartwatches, as they currently stand, are trying to meet needs which most people simply don't have," Mr. Dawson said, (Chen,1). But these people are not aware that this smart watch will be holding other activities, than the usual watches do."But making the product is just the first step. Apple needs the support of partners, like app developers, health care companies and medical technology companies, that will help create the functions that give people a reason to want to wear a computer around their wrist all the time in the first place", said Mark A. McAndrew (Chen,1).

This smart watch will be a great new technological advance, because it is small and convenient and also provides the owner with different helpful functions. This smart watch will receive much more attention and buyers than the Samsung smart watch did, because of the company creating it. Apple is known for creating amazing products and the smart watch will add to the long list of advancements they have made in technology.

Ban on Single-Use Plastic Bags

"California lawmakers send governor a ban on single-use plastic bags"
By: Patrick McGreevy
LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-lawmakers-governor-ban-plastic-bags-20140828-story.html

On Friday August 29, the Senate provided legislative approval to stop the usage of plastic bags in supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies. The government is trying to make an effort to stop littering on streets. This measure is allowing stores to charge customers 10 cents for a paper bag or reusable bag other than the single plastic bag being used already. California is the first state senate to ban the usage of free plastic bags, although the bags are also banned in Hawaii. Senator Alex Padilla says, "We have seen a groundswell of action in this direction at the local level, but this is a statewide problem meriting a statewide solution" (McGreevy, 1). On July 1, 2015 the ban will take action in pharmacies and grocery store. The ban will take place in liquor stores and other convenience stores. Some Republicans are opposing this ban. For example, Ted Gaines of Rocklin says to his colleagues, "I'm quite frankly offended by having the state dictate what we need and don’t need in our lives" (McGreevy, 1). Some say that the plastic bags used today are not all wasted. The legislation is going to provide $2 million in competitive loans to the bag-makers so they can produce reusable bags, instead of plastic bags.

This current event article will become important when the ban takes place in July of 2015. People will need to take their own reusable bags to grocery stores, in order to avoid paying an extra 10 cents for plastic bags. "More than 14 billion single-use plastic bags are distributed by retailers each year and 88% of plastic bags are not recycled, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  In California, only 3% are recycled," according to CalRecycle, (McGreevy,1). Banning the usage of plastic bags will help our ecosystems and decrease the amount of litter on the streets. 

 

Speech to the Troops at Tilbury

             In 1588 Queen Elizabeth I conveys her famous speech to the English troops, who were preparing to fight the Spanish Armada. When Queen Elizabeth was conveying this speech to her audience she was wearing armor. The Spanish Armada had been preparing to invade England for three years and the Spanish outnumbered Queen Elizabeth’s troops. SOAPST allows the readers to carefully analyze and understand the main important points of the writing.

            The speaker of this speech is the Queen of England and she is providing her troops with the hope they need to face the battle with confidence and courage. She has said this speech in 1588 at Tilbury. This speech is meant for the English troops gathered around her and also to anyone in England. The subject of the speech Queen Elizabeth conveys, displays support to her troops. The purpose of this speech is for Queen Elizabeth to let the soldiers know that she will fight with them and support them. She lets the army know that she is one of them, by using the word “we”. She is providing the army with the confidence to fight for their country. Queen Elizabeth sets a specific tone when saying this speech to the English soldiers and all of England. Queen Elizabeth uses the word “we” throughout the speech, in order to let the audience know that she is with them. She is offering her life for her kingdom. The tone of her speech is humble, because even though she is queen she downgrades herself to one of the soldiers. This speech is inspiring to the soldiers and provides them with the confidence to fight. This piece of literature is completely effective, given the fact that Queen Elizabeth makes herself as one of the English people. This speech gives the soldiers the inspiration and braveness to fight for their country.

Napa Valley 6.0 Earthquake

      “California Hit With Earthquake Of 6.0 Magnitude”
        
        By: Ellen Knickmeyer
        Source: The Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/24/california-earthquake_n_5703959.html

       On August 24 at around 3:20 am a 6.0 earthquake struck 6 miles away from the town Napa.  It left the town with destroyed water mains and ruptured gas lines.  An afternoon press conference took place in Napa Valley, after all the damage had been done. Napa’s Queen of the Valley hospital representatives said that 120 people had been treated and six people were critically injured.  President Barrack Obama was aware and told of this earthquake. Federal officials have sent and been in touch with local emergency responders.  Governor Jerry Brown sent emergency responders and helpful equipment to Napa. Napa’s Fire Department said they had to extinguish six fires. They needed to rescue trapped people from their homes and send injured individuals to hospitals.  The 120 people that were sent to hospitals, mostly had cuts, bruises and bumps from either trying to escape their homes or while cleaning up.  USGS says, “The earthquake is the largest to shake the Bay Area since the magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta quake in 1989”(pg. 1).  In Napa valley, about at least three buildings have become damaged which included the county courthouse. Different crews were rescuing people and assessing any type of damage. Freeways became cracked and damaged, although there were not reports of people stranded in their cars. Pacific Gas and spokesman J.D. Guidi said, “Close to 30,000 lost power right after the quake hit, but the number was down just under 19,000, most of them in Napa" (pg. 1). The earthquake did not cause too many damages, but the town and Red Cross are still repairing the town.