In his annual State of the Union address Tuesday – his second to last of his presidency – President Barack Obama issued several liberal proposals that would be very difficult to pass in the new Republican-led Congress. These programs include a child-care tax credit, free community college, and paid family leave. The president set a divisive tone early in the address. “Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well?” he asked rhetorically. “Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort?” Obama reaffirmed his call for a $3,000 child-care tax credit, calling it a “must have.”"It’s time we stop treating childcare as a side issue, or a women’s issue, and treat it like the national economic priority that it is for all of us. And that’s why my plan will make quality child-care more available, and more affordable, for every middle-class and low-income family with young children in America — by creating more slots and a new tax cut of up to $3,000 per child, per year." The president also called for universal paid family leave, noting the U.S. is the only advanced country whose government does not provide it to their citizens. “And that forces too many parents to make the gut-wrenching choice between a paycheck and a sick kid at home,” he said. Along the same lines, Obama called for Congress to pass a law that ensures a woman is paid for the same work as a man along with a minimum wage. The president also reiterated his community college program, which he announced earlier this month. He aims to reduce the cost of community college for those who maintain decent grades “to zero.” The address focused on the improved American economic situation.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Monday, January 19, 2015
Beach Party
On a Saturday in some time in the summer, probably around July, I will be hosting a large party. This party will be taking place at Malibu beach. The beach will be closed down and only open for those who will be attending the party. I will invite a large amount of people, from friends to family members. You will be able to bring a plus one with you to this party. This party will have a casual attire and will start at around 11 am. The reason I am starting the party so early is because it is taking place at the beach and the earlier the party starts, the more time there is to swim and enjoy the heat. Everyone will need to bring a bathing suit for tanning, swimming etc. There will be bonfires at the beach, so we will be able to cook burgers, hot dogs and such. During the day I am inviting several bands to come and perform for my guests. There will be a stage set up and there will be different artists coming to perform. These performers will also be staying and attending my party after their performance. This party will consist of swimming mostly and having a great time with friends and family, while listening to your favorite artists perform, for free. You will be having a free concert while enjoying the beach. After all the performers have sang, it will be already be night. After it gets dark and cold, we will light the bonfires and roast marshmallows. S'mores will be made and everyone will be given blankets and sweaters to stay warm. My party will not be something so extravagant, but it will be relaxing, soothing and at the same time will be a blast. Hope everyone can make it!
Be My Eyes
"Be My Eyes' App Helps Guide Blind With iPhone Video Calling"
Alejandro Alba
NY Times
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/eyes-helps-guide-blind-iphone-video-call-function-article-1.2083796
Copenhagen-based app Be My Eyes, which launched on Thursday, connects blind people and sighted people through their iPhones and iPads. If you're blind, you can sign up for the service and reach out to sighted users through a live video connection on the app. Once connected, blind users can ask sighted users questions over video chat. If you're sighted, you can sign up to help blind users.If you're a sighted user and you get a request, it will come through your phone as a push notification with a ringing sound. If you tap the notification, you'll be connected and a video will pop up, showing whatever the blind user is filming. You'll also be able to hear him or her speak and ask a question. Sighted users might be asked to help navigate a new place, read a sign or label, or help in some other way. iPhones and iPads have services built in to help blind users. You can use VoiceOver for iOS to get your iPhone or iPad to help you navigate your screen, type, read, use apps and more.If you're a sighted user and a notification appears but you don't answer it, the request will simply go to someone else. As of now, there are currently more than 17,800 sighted people and 1,500 blind people using the app, according to the Be My Eyes website. The entire service is free, and Be My Eyes is a nonprofit. It's only available on iOS devices for now, but you can request to be notified when the Android app is available. I think that with today's technology it is useful and helpful to use it in ways that can affect everyone. This is a different approach to using iPhones and iPads. Its a great idea and it can be of use to many blind and also sighted people.
Alejandro Alba
NY Times
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/eyes-helps-guide-blind-iphone-video-call-function-article-1.2083796
Copenhagen-based app Be My Eyes, which launched on Thursday, connects blind people and sighted people through their iPhones and iPads. If you're blind, you can sign up for the service and reach out to sighted users through a live video connection on the app. Once connected, blind users can ask sighted users questions over video chat. If you're sighted, you can sign up to help blind users.If you're a sighted user and you get a request, it will come through your phone as a push notification with a ringing sound. If you tap the notification, you'll be connected and a video will pop up, showing whatever the blind user is filming. You'll also be able to hear him or her speak and ask a question. Sighted users might be asked to help navigate a new place, read a sign or label, or help in some other way. iPhones and iPads have services built in to help blind users. You can use VoiceOver for iOS to get your iPhone or iPad to help you navigate your screen, type, read, use apps and more.If you're a sighted user and a notification appears but you don't answer it, the request will simply go to someone else. As of now, there are currently more than 17,800 sighted people and 1,500 blind people using the app, according to the Be My Eyes website. The entire service is free, and Be My Eyes is a nonprofit. It's only available on iOS devices for now, but you can request to be notified when the Android app is available. I think that with today's technology it is useful and helpful to use it in ways that can affect everyone. This is a different approach to using iPhones and iPads. Its a great idea and it can be of use to many blind and also sighted people.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
1920's Attire
"Fashion Clothing and Accessories From the 1920s"
The People History
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/20sclothes.html
The clothing attire in the 1920's is much different than the clothing that is worn today. Mena nd women dressed and looked much different. The two most iconic pieces of clothing worn by women were the cloche and the flapper dress. These two were usually worn together. The basic description of the cloche hat is that it is a very snug-fit hat that was often worn tilted, covering the forehead, yet allowing room for vision. The hair was often cut short and styled flat to fit under these types of hats. Cloche type hats often covered the ears as well, and even sometimes the ends of women’s short haircuts of the time. The flapper dress is much different than the regular dresses. The specific flapper type of dress was cut in a straight and loose style and throughout the decade the length of the flapper dress varied a little. In the early 1920s the length of dresses and skirts were about calf length, with some a little longer and some a bit shorter. From around the years 1926 to 1928, the hem lines of dresses were the shortest, and this is what most people remember when they talk of the flapper dress. During part of this decade the waist line of dresses dropped to the hip to promote more of a “boyish” look. The clothing did not only revolve around the cloche and the flapper dress. During this time a more casual look was introduced to the public. Women began to wear pants and wore different types of shoes. Some of the shoe styles included the ankle strap button shoe and the t-bar shoe. The men during this time began to dress casual also. They stopped wearing long jacked suits and started wearing shorter ones. Men also began to wear flannels. Some of the casual shoes that were worn by men were made with fringed tongues. The black patented leather shoes were still worn for more formal dress. However, the lace-up styled shoe was becoming more and more popular for men. The styles changed and differed greatly in the 1920's.
The People History
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/20sclothes.html
The clothing attire in the 1920's is much different than the clothing that is worn today. Mena nd women dressed and looked much different. The two most iconic pieces of clothing worn by women were the cloche and the flapper dress. These two were usually worn together. The basic description of the cloche hat is that it is a very snug-fit hat that was often worn tilted, covering the forehead, yet allowing room for vision. The hair was often cut short and styled flat to fit under these types of hats. Cloche type hats often covered the ears as well, and even sometimes the ends of women’s short haircuts of the time. The flapper dress is much different than the regular dresses. The specific flapper type of dress was cut in a straight and loose style and throughout the decade the length of the flapper dress varied a little. In the early 1920s the length of dresses and skirts were about calf length, with some a little longer and some a bit shorter. From around the years 1926 to 1928, the hem lines of dresses were the shortest, and this is what most people remember when they talk of the flapper dress. During part of this decade the waist line of dresses dropped to the hip to promote more of a “boyish” look. The clothing did not only revolve around the cloche and the flapper dress. During this time a more casual look was introduced to the public. Women began to wear pants and wore different types of shoes. Some of the shoe styles included the ankle strap button shoe and the t-bar shoe. The men during this time began to dress casual also. They stopped wearing long jacked suits and started wearing shorter ones. Men also began to wear flannels. Some of the casual shoes that were worn by men were made with fringed tongues. The black patented leather shoes were still worn for more formal dress. However, the lace-up styled shoe was becoming more and more popular for men. The styles changed and differed greatly in the 1920's.
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March in Paris
"National Unity March in Paris Draws World Leaders and Crowd of Over a Million"
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/11/charlie-hebdo-rally_n_6451286.html
On Sunday, about 1.6 million people gathered in the heart of Paris, along with about more than 40 world leaders. They all gathered together for a rally of national unity to honor the 17 victims. The french officials have claimed that this march was the largest demonstration in national history. The aftermath of the attacks remained raw, with video emerging of one of the gunmen killed during police raids pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group and detailing how the attacks were going to unfold. "Also, a new shooting was linked to that gunman, Amedy Coulibaly, who was killed Friday along with the brothers behind a massacre at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in nearly simultaneous raids by security forces.'Today, Paris is the capital of the world,' said French President Francois Hollande. 'Our entire country will rise up toward something better' (Huffington Post,1). There were also rallies planned in London, Madrid and New York. These three days of terror broke out when brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi stormed the newsroom of Charlie Hebdo and killed 12 people. "Al-Qaida's branch in Yemen said it directed the attack by the masked gunmen to avenge the honor of the Prophet Muhammad, a frequent target of the weekly's satire" (Huffington Post,1).On Thursday, Coulibaly killed a policewoman on the outskirts of Paris and on Friday."The terrorists want two things: they want to scare us and they want to divide us. We must do the opposite. We must stand up and we must stay united," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told French TV channel iTele on Sunday.
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/11/charlie-hebdo-rally_n_6451286.html
On Sunday, about 1.6 million people gathered in the heart of Paris, along with about more than 40 world leaders. They all gathered together for a rally of national unity to honor the 17 victims. The french officials have claimed that this march was the largest demonstration in national history. The aftermath of the attacks remained raw, with video emerging of one of the gunmen killed during police raids pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group and detailing how the attacks were going to unfold. "Also, a new shooting was linked to that gunman, Amedy Coulibaly, who was killed Friday along with the brothers behind a massacre at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in nearly simultaneous raids by security forces.'Today, Paris is the capital of the world,' said French President Francois Hollande. 'Our entire country will rise up toward something better' (Huffington Post,1). There were also rallies planned in London, Madrid and New York. These three days of terror broke out when brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi stormed the newsroom of Charlie Hebdo and killed 12 people. "Al-Qaida's branch in Yemen said it directed the attack by the masked gunmen to avenge the honor of the Prophet Muhammad, a frequent target of the weekly's satire" (Huffington Post,1).On Thursday, Coulibaly killed a policewoman on the outskirts of Paris and on Friday."The terrorists want two things: they want to scare us and they want to divide us. We must do the opposite. We must stand up and we must stay united," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told French TV channel iTele on Sunday.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
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.'"
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.'"
Sunday, November 23, 2014
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.
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.
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