Obama: Don't Worry About Radiation Risks In U.S.

Landau, Elizabeth. "West Coast Officials, Obama: Don't Worry about Radiation Risk in U.S. - CNN.com." CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. 18 Mar. 2011. Web. 18 Mar. 2011. .


President Barrack Obama is reassuring Californians that they do not need to worry about radiation from Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant. Instead, we are told to prepare for the massive earthquake that is bound to hit us at some point. We are told to stock up on food and water in case of an emergency. Little, to if any, radiation is bound to hit California. The radioactive particles will disperse throughout the Pacific and if it hits anywhere first, it would most likely be Alaska. Overall, if any radiation get to us, it will be in non-harmful amounts.

Transplant Recipient Contracts AIDS

A patient who has received a kidney from a live donor has contracted HIV. This is the first documented case for the United States since HIV screenings began. According to officials, the donor contracted the virus between the 11 weeks fron when he was tested to the actual transplant. Since the CDC does not have an explicit policy about when infectious screenings should take place, the donor is not in the wrong. Both donor and recipient learned of the virus about a year after the surgery. Then the recipient developed AIDS because they were on immune depressants. This has been an extrememly rare incident and will hopefully never happen again.

AP. "New York Man Contracts AIDS Through Live Donor Kidney Transplant." Top News & Analysis, US, World, Sports, Celebrity & Weird News. Aol.com, 17 Mar. 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. .

Reflection

Today's discussion was interesting. I liked how you called on other people to speak up but I didn't like how I felt like at that time I couldn't retaliate to what people were saying just because it was time for the not-so-talkative students. I think that since they were caught off guard, they just said the first thing that came to their mind. I guess that since I want to become a first grade teacher, I am a bit bias but still! I don't understand why everyone is so against teacher unions?! Like I was telling the people around me, there will always be a few people that will give the whole group a bad impression (ie: our mosque discussion and how people are Islamaphobic) but you can't forget that there are so many great teachers being overlooked. To me, the teacher union is run by people that want to dedicate their lives to teaching children. Why else would they be teachers? I don't like having to talk over people. I have so much to say and there are never really any moments to speak because people all start then they go off the subject that I was wanting to talk about. At one point though I had it and just had to yell what I wanted to say. I didn't care anymore about talking over anyone else. I really do like our discussions. I think we need more. I like feeling heard by a group of people. I'm looking forward to our next class discussion.

8.9 Earthquake Causes Tsunami

After the 8.9 earthquake hit Japan, a huge tsunami was triggered, killing hundreds and causing chaos. Soon after, the tsunami hit Hawaii and warnings were sent to many throughout the Pacific coast. Alerts were sent out to South America, U.S coast, Alaska and Canada. The earthquake has caused tsunami waves of 23 feet and has had more than 50 after shocks that rate above 6.0. According to police, the death count is currently at 200-300 just in the northeastern city of Sendai.

"Japan Earthquake 2011: 8.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits, 30-Foot Tsunami Triggered." Thehuffingtonpost.com. Ed. AP/The Huffington Post. The Huffington Post, 11 Mar. 2011. Web. 11 Mar. 2011. .

WHIP

Apparently, the one and only U.S company that supplied the drugs for lethal injection has stopped production. The company has stopped making sodium thiopental, the sedative, because they wanted to switch to an Italian manufacturing plant. The manufacturing plant told the company that the only way they would allow the switch is that there is assurance that the drug will not be used for executions. What does this mean for the death penalty? Death penalty proponents like Dudly Sharp are saying that the court system will try to delay executions but are offering alternatives for the convicts.

I thought that this article was interesting just because the topic of capital punishment is so controversial. Who says that we have the right to judge a person's right to live? Then again, what gives these criminals a right to live when they are able to hurt and take lives so easily? I personally believe that there should not be capital punishment. I think a life in prison would be a far better punishment. Why would we want to take away their pain by ending their life early? Let them think about what they have done, the pain that they have caused.

Flam, Lisa. "End of Lethal Injection Drug in US Leaves Death Penalty in Flux." Aol News. 25 Jan. 2011. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. .

"Best Tutor"

Today was my first day tutoring someone new. The girl is a freshman at our school and is in need of help in Geometry. I quickly realized yesterday that I forgot everything from that class so I started to study. I studied for about an hour or so last night and two hours after school today. I got over to the girl's house at four and we got to work. I felt like such an ammeter. I could have sworn that I was making everything worse. I ended up helping her with all her homework for two and a half hours! I don't think I've even spent that much time on my own homework! (Which says something about my education)... So by the time yhat we were done, the girl said that I helped her understand her math a lot better! Her saying ghat made me so proud. Then her telling mg brother over Facebook that j was the "best tutor" made me feel any better. Knowing that she understood reassures me that I am going to become a teacher in the future. Of course, I am going to stick to teaching first or second graders. But still!! I'm very excited and grateful that j have found my calling. :)

More Than Half Million Teens Have Had Eating Disorder

A study based on kids and parents interviews from 2004 has come to the conclusion that more than half a million U.S. teenagers has had an eating disorder. Government research also shows that very few have sought treatment for it. This study is the largest for eating disorders since it has national data that represents 10,000 teens that range from ages 13 to 18. The most common eating disorder is binge-eating, which has effected about 1.5% of the kids studied. Then came Bulimia that has about 1% of sufferers, then Anorexia with about 0.3% of kids. Overall, about 3% of teens have had a lifetime prevalence of one of the disorders. This study has been released online on Monday in the Archives of General Psychiatry by co-author, Kathleen Merikangas.

2,400 Year Old Human Bones

A woman digging in her back yard found what looked like part of a human jaw and skull so she called the sheriff. The sheriff told her that they looked to of been there for about 75 years, but little did he know that radiocarbon dating tests would come to the conclusion that those bones are about 2,400 years old. The bones can be dated back to the time period of 200-440 B.C. Anthropologists have continued to find more pieces of the jaw, skull, arm, leg, foot, and back bones. The bones most likely belonged to two adults, one of them being female. Investigators believe the bones most likely were brought into the Keys years ago in fill dirt from an unknown location elsewhere in Florida. No artifacts were found with the bones. The bones are now with the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research, where they will be further examined.

Holewa, Lisa. "Human Bones Found in Florida Yard Date Back 2,400 Years." Top News & Analysis, US, World, Sports, Celebrity & Weird News. 05 Mar. 2011. Web. 06 Mar. 2011. .

Baby showers are kind of really boring. Right now, I am at one for my cousin, Erica, but it is lame. I've been here since two. Gosh, why won't it just end already? I don't know anyone except for the people that I came with. I've been talking to Dante the whole time. Good news is that I won a present. The bad news is that it's some weirdo dish. What the heck am I going to do with this big, glass dish? It is not like I throw any parties. I am just so bored. I would rather do anything else. It's sad that I've been texting for the majority of the time. I need more people to text. Haha! I hope to go home soon. Once my mom and brother get their tacos from the taco lady, I'm sure that they'll be ready to leave. :) well, hopefully anyways..

Gadhafi's Forces Overcome Rebel Defenses in Town Near Capital

In Tripoli, Libya, Moammarr Gadhafi loyalists tightened in on security in the city closest to Tripoli. The rebel forces have captured a key oil port. The fighting in Libya is now turning into a Civil War. The fighting could last for months since neither side has enough power to defeat the other. The government is doing everything that they can to protect Tripoli and it's surrounding areas but the rebels continue to push. Thanks to Gadhafi, hundreds more have been found dead as they continue to count. The pressure is on for other nations to help stop the riots. President Obama continues to insist that Gadhafi leaves and that they are considering many options like a "no-fly" zone over Libya.

Michael, Maggie. "Gadhafi's Forces Overcome Rebel Defenses in Town Near Capital." Aolnews.com. Aol.com, 05 Mar. 2011. Web. 5 Mar. 2011. .

Teen arrested for shotgun on campus

Today, a former student of Lakeside High School was arrested for carrying a shotgun, knives, and ammunition. The student went to a teacher and was arrested at 7:30 in the morning. The former student was sent to juvenile hall. No details will be given since the student is a minor. The incident had happened with not many people knowing since it was so early in the school day. What I want to know is why this student felt that he needed so many weapons while with him at school. School is suppose to be a safe enviornment, not a place where weapons are needed. Has this young adult's education system failed him so much that he doesn't even feel safe? Then to go to a teacher with these weapons? I'm just curious about this student and why he chose to bring such dangerous items with him on his way to school today.

New Planet?

Some astronomers are claiming that there is a planet hidden in our outer solar system. John Matese and Daniel Whitmire of the University of Lousiana-Lafayette have been claiming since 1999 that this planet, which they have named planet Tyche, is four times bigger than Jupiter and is located in the outer region of the solar system called the Oort cloud. Many astrologists believe that planet Tyche probably is not there. Matese and Daniel's case is that comets that originate there tend to have strange orbital patterns.
"There's evidence that some Oort cloud comets display orbital peculiarities," Matese said. "We're saying that perhaps the pattern is indicative that there's a planet there."
Scientists like Hal Levison disagree with Matese.
"What Matese claims is that he sees an excess of comets coming from a particular place, which he attributes to the gravitational effects of a large planet in the Oort cloud. I have nothing against the idea, but I think the signal that he claims he sees is very subtle, and I'm not sure it's statistically significant," Levison told Life's Little Mysteries.
Is there a new planet lurking out in the deep that is throwing off peculiar comets or is it just the random works of the universe?

Wolchover, Natalie. "FoxNews.com - Astronomers Question Existence of Solar System's Mystery Planet Tyche." FoxNews.com - Breaking News | Latest News | Current News. 16 Feb. 2011. Web. 01 Mar. 2011. .