SR #4- Waiting for Baby Jimmy!

My oldest brother James (I call him Jimmy though) and his wife Elizabeth are expecting their first baby. They found out it was a boy and they decided to name him James Blake (nicknamed Jimmy). He will be sharing the name with my brother, my dad, and Elizabeth's dad. That's a lot of James'! 

I'm super excited to become an aunt because I'm the youngest so I never got to be around babies. I am getting very impatient though because he was due on June 8 and it's now the 13th. What's taking to so long, kid? 

I just want him to be healthy so I suppose he can be born whenever he wants, but I want to see him now!

CE #4- Cafeterias Try to Curb Obesity

Childhood obesity is a major issue in the United States. The New York Department of Health did some research to see if they could encourage students to buy fruits and veggies instead of junk food.

They thought the problem was the cost, but they soon discovered that it was all about the presentation and marketing of healthy foods that boosted sales. Good lighting, prominent locations, and verbally asking students to purchase fruit or juice boosted sales a lot!

Many schools aren't sure how to tackle the issue of growing childhood obesity. Some think that they should just cut out cookies and french fries completely, but others argue that children will just get their fix elsewhere. The Department of Agriculture has been given $2 million to conduct more research on healthier food options. Several ideas to decrease child obesity are: smaller portions, paying in cash, or allowing parents to limit what their children can buy on their lunch card. 

I don't buy lunch in the cafeteria, but I have been through the lunch line, and I have to say that the presentation of fruits/veggies or healthy entrees is not good at all. It's hard to expect kids to pick healthy foods when the cookies are right next to the cash register and there are lights shining on the french fries. I think it would definitely help if healthier food options were placed in a more prominent location or the lunch ladies encouraged students to buy them. 

Read the article here. 

SR #3- Cincinnati, here I come!

After months of writing essays, taking SATs, completing applications, and interviewing, I have finally found my college home at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio.

My dad grew up in Cincinnati and went to this college and while he's been an avid Bearcat Football supporter for as long as I can remember, I never imagined that I would be going to the very same school as him.

Honestly, it surprises me that I will be attending a college so far away from home in a state where I don't have any family members at all, but I think I can handle the challenge. I chose Cincinnati because of the amazing business program that I will be apart of and all of the great opportunities I will receive as a student there.

After watching so many siblings grow up and go off to college, I'm excited to finally get to do it too. I can't wait for the chance to be on my own. It will be an adjustment starting over at a new school where I don't know anyone, because I've never had to do it before, but I'm hoping it will all go fine. Good luck to everyone, wherever you may go!

Go Bearcats!

CE #3 Florida's Standardized Test Issues

NCS Pearson, one of the largest education companies in the world, was responsible for scoring the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Tests (similar to Virginia's SOLs), but they have encountered issues with scoring.

These setbacks have caused a lot of problems for Florida's schools. Results have been delayed which makes it difficult to plan curriculums and to decide who to hire. All of these decisions had been previously made with the test data.

Another issue this year, is that only one reader was hired to grade all of the essays. In the past, 2 readers were hired and an average score was given. This practice was stopped to save money.

The author of this opinion piece sought another opinion from Todd S. Farley who used to work in the Standardized Testing business.

Farley states that ALL standardized tests experience scoring problems, but the public only hears about several (like bad SAT scores). He believes that tests that bear so much weight on a student's future should be graded by humans rather than machines.

I thought this was an interesting article because it is very relevant to me as a student. I have been frustrated by tests that are graded electronically, because sometimes there are errors that don't get picked up and my grades can suffer from it.

Click here for the article

Irish Dancing- Gra, Dilseacht, Cairdeas

That's Gaelic for Love, Loyalty, and Friendship in case anyone was wondering

I have been doing Irish dancing for 10 years now with the O'Neill-James School and I don't think I will ever be able to stop. Very little in Irish dancing comes naturally to me, but I am addicted to it so I have practiced a ton and I think I have improved :)

I am so fortunate that I have been able to participate in competitions, which have really drawn me closer to my mom and my dance friends. I have been to the Southern Region championships in Florida, Dallas, and Charlotte and been to more local competitions.

The elaborate costumes, fake tans, wigs, and makeup have gotten really pageant-y since I first started, but it definitely makes it more fun. I would never want to give up my hot pink tulle ruffle dress either :) My favorite part about Irish dancing is doing performances because I love to see how the audience reacts to everything (plus, if I mess up, they don't know it.)

I'm not sure if I will be able to continue dancing in college. Whatever happens though, I don't think I will ever forget Irish dancing. I'm constantly going over my steps with my toes and fingers wherever I am so I think it will be hard to stop!

If anyone is interested in Irish dance lessons, here's my school's website :)

http://www.oneilljamesschool.com

CE #2- Texas's New Conservative Curriculum

The Texas School Board adopted a new social studies curriculum last week. Most members of the Board are Republicans and the new curriculum reflects more conservative views of American history.

Civil rights movements, slavery, and the UN are many areas which have been watered down. More liberal Texans as well as people all around the country have been angered by these changes because they feel it discourages kids from thinking critically as well as skewing national history. The board wanted to highlight the Judeo-Christian backgrounds of the founding fathers and they did not want to change B.C. and A.D. to B.C.E and C.E.

Texas's changes may affect other states as well, because textbook companies will have to change their information to fit Texas's curriculum.

I thought this was an interesting article because it kind of shows how the conservative/liberal debates aren't just in politics, they're in education too. It's actually kind of frustrating that that is happening because the 2 shouldn't have to overlap. I don't mind a more conservative curriculum and I would definitely be disappointed if they change Before Christ to Before the Common Era, but I understand that everyone has different beliefs and they should all be represented.

Click here for the article in the Washington Times.

Senior Reflection #1: The Snow!

One memory that I will always remember from my senior year will be the 2 big snow storms in December and February. I still can't believe how much snow that we got and how much everyone's lives were altered because of it. Like, being stuck in the house, missing school for over a week, and not having groceries.

In the past, I have usually looked forward to snow days, but I almost started getting sick of being at home. It was also kind of a bummer missing so many activities, like dance class. I even missed a college interview that couldn't be rescheduled :(

The storms weren't all bad though. The neighborhood looked very pretty blanketed in snow and it gave me some free time to go sledding, bake, and be with friends (if I didn't have to drive to their houses).

While the snow was kind of cool, I'm hoping it will be a few years before we get that much again!

Before and After photos of the snow from my front porch!

CE #1- A New Battle for Wounded Veterans

Many wounded veterans struggle to overcome the anger and depression of being injured in combat. When they are unable to continue fighting, they miss their sense of brotherhood.

In Colorado Springs, wounded soldiers have found a new kind of battle- the Warrior Games for wounded servicemen and women. Many participants want to be back in the wartime scenario and to get back into action. The Warrior Games are different however, because "it is a more friendly battlefield- no one's getting hurt, no one's in a war, but we're competing with each other." (Sgt. Mark Esposito).

The wounded soldiers are coached by military trainers and the U.S. Paralympics division in volleyball, cycling, shooting, archery, track and field, basketball, and swimming. 

The games have given these soldiers, who have lost so much, a new sense of brotherhood and motivation that keeps them healthy. 

Unfortunately, many competitors deal with the emotional strains for the need of constant medication and medical attention. 

But, the soldiers say that the brotherhood in the Warrior Games reminds them of the brotherhood in the service. "As soon as you meet another Marine, its like you have that instant connections." (Bradley Walker)

I really enjoyed this article because I liked to see that there are opportunities for US wounded veterans. These injured men and women lose limbs and get burns, but the hardest part is the mental discomfort that they have to go through. I was glad that this author interviewed the soldiers to see how much they enjoy being back in the competitive atmosphere. 

Please read the article here in the Washington Times. 

Editorial #5- FCC wants Broadband

Broadband has become a major part of Americans' lives. Over the past 10 years, the number of Americans who have broadband at home has increased by 192 million users.

The Federal Communications Commission has released the NAtional BRoadband Plan that faults the market for failing to "bring the power and promise of broadband to us all." What they're saying is that they want the government to fund broadband usage for everyone including the poor and those who do not currently receive it. They stated that it was like the necessity of a telephone. However this Washington Post editorial states that while Internet and Broadband usage has become an important part of daily life, it is not as vital as a telephone, which can be used to call for help in emergencies.

The FCC also wants to expand the broadband infrastructure. Washington Post believes this is an premature action because we can't tell what technology will exist in the future. Also, big businesses usually get involved and that's not what we want right now.

I agree that some of the FCC's assertions are a little hasty. They seem to want to expand their commission without any evidence that states that they need to. However, I think that Internet access is very important for the country. Students who live in poor or rural areas should also have access to telecommunications because that is the primary source of business in modern times.

Click here for the editorial in the Washington Post.

Editorial #4- Politicians' Pocket Money

Where does all of your tax money go? According to this Washington Times editorial, a lot of it goes directly into the pockets of Congressmen. 

It is difficult to win a Congressional election and the job requires a lot of experience and effort, but being a congressman also boasts some benefits. Congressmen's travel expenses are paid for by the government. They can receive up to $250 a day to cover hotel, food, and travel. This amount may not seem like much, but since most Congressmen attend events where their meals and travel expenses are already covered, they are left with extra cash. The Washington Post accuses Washington's politicians of pocketing this extra money to buy personal items or cover their spouse's travel costs. Former Rep. Sue Kelly (R-NY) "There's a tacit understanding that if lawmakers don't spend the money, they get to keep it."

I think it is very fraudulent for American politicians to use taxpayers' money dishonestly. It is clear that the money they receive is for travel purposes and they should be smart enough to realize that they don't get to keep whatever is left. My only complaint about this editorial is that it doesn't provide any specific examples of this occurring. I'm sure it does/has happened before, but they seem to be accusing all politicians of this without any solid proof. 

Click here for the editorial in the Washington Times

Editorial #3- Health Care Plan C?

According to the author of this editorial published in the Washington Post, there are 3 plans to handling the Health Care Bill. Plan A is the current health care system, B is what is being voted on by the Senate, and Plan C is a new idea that would deal with the costliness of health care. 

Plan C would mean the implementation of a "Cadillac tax"on expensive health care plans. The author thinks that these taxes are necessary to raise money for the subsidies of the uninsured and it would be the most effective tool in reducing the cost growth that threatens the nation. President Obama doesn't seem interested in starting this tax, which the author says might be bad for that nation because of the rising national debt. 

I thought that this editorial was interesting because of its proposal for a new health care plan, but overall, I don't agree with the author's ideas. I am not a supporter of the new health care plan so not only do I not want to see it change, I definitely would not want to see a new tax imposed to raise money for it. In terms of easing national debt, I think that there are others ways we could go about solving it other than taxation. 

Click here for the article in the Washington Post. 

Editorial #2- Health Care Summit

On Thursday, February 25, President Barack Obama met with several leaders of both parties for some "bipartisan chatting" prior to the start of the health care summit.

This editorial states that the attempts at bipartisanship were phony because President Obama talked much longer than anyone on the Republican side and often interrupted Republican speakers and didn't allow them to respond to his criticisms. Other Democratic speakers, such as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, also interrupted a lot. The author believes that Republicans had many good ideas, but the Democrats were unwilling to listen or compromise. He also believes that anyone who watched the summit on TV will probably agree that the White House made a fool of themselves.

I did not watch the summit on TV, so I can't definitely say that the author is correct here. This editorial sounds like a very strong opinion and was probably written by a Republican. But if what the author said is true, then President Obama and other Democratic leaders sound very arrogant. They claim to want bipartisanship, but the only way to achieve this is to really listen to each other. I feel like that's the only way we're ever going to get anything done in politics.

Click here for the editorial in the Washington Times.

Editorial #1- Washington Snow!

This editorial talks about how DC handled the major snow storms that hit last week. The author believes that Washington forces handled the snow as best as they could. There were minimal deaths and streets were plowed quickly.

However, the author also states that 2 areas could be improved if, (hopefully not anytime soon) DC is hit with other large snow storms. He thinks that we should have changed the way metro operated during the storm and that the federal government should have done more to help out. He also believes that there were several issues with clearing sidewalks and parking.

I agree with the author that those 2 issues are something that need to be sorted out for future storms, but based off of what I heard on the news, I believe this author is being too optimistic. DC isn't designed to handle this large amount of snow, but many residents were frustrated that snow plows took so long to arrive and plowed snow right into cars. I really don't see a solution to solving snow-related problems in the Nation's Capital. I think we will just have to deal with it and learn from our mistakes.

Read the editorial from the Washington Post here

Celebrate MLK Day!

Today is Martin Luther King Jr Day. A lot of people enjoy this day because there is no school/work, but here are some interesting facts about the holiday.  

MLK day was declared a holiday by then-President Ronald Reagan in 1983, but was first celebrated in 1986. That's not a long time when you think about it. It is one of only 4 holidays that Americans celebrate honoring a specific person. After doing some research, I learned that South Carolina was the last state to recognize the day as a paid holiday for all state employees in 2000. Prior to this, employees could choose between celebrating Martin Luther King Day or one of three Confederate holidays. 

MLK Day is in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement. He protested racial discrimination. He was assassinated in 1968.

Since we are so close to DC, we are lucky that there are many activities and celebrations nearby that we can go to today!

Take a look at this list in the Washington Post. There are lots of marches, parades, speeches, and parties to go check out. 

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

Political Cartoon 6

1.) Dave Granlund drew this cartoon.

2.) It was published on politicalcartoons.com on January 15, 2010.

3.) The cartoon shows aid arriving in Haiti after the huge earthquake earlier this week. 

4.) The author is saying that although help is arriving in Haiti, thousands of people have already died and many others are missing. The entire country is in a state of disarray and there is only so much that foreign aid can do to help the Haitian people. 

5.) The earthquake in Haiti was a horrible event and I feel so sorry for all of the Haitian people. I know that the relief efforts that are coming now could not have stopped the earthquake, but they definitely show the world coming together to support each other. It was an unfortunate act of nature and all that we can hope for is that Haiti is able to rebuild. 

Obama Administration: 2010

Happy 2010 everyone!

I hope that the recent problems that have arisen in the country will be resolved, or at least start to be resolved this year. One issue is national unemployment. President Obama needs to try and fix double-digit unemployment because this affects American families as well as Democrat candidates in upcoming elections. 

Another thing that will be on the agenda for most of the year is the health care bill. Although the bill passed in the Senate in December, Obama and other Democrats will have trouble compromising the Democrat version and Republican version of the health care bill. 

I don't think that recent decisions have improved the situation in the Middle East. The increased spending on more troops for Afghanistan is difficult since so many American are unemployed. Plans to leave Iraq in 2011 will also be difficult because there have been more bombs in Iraq. Obama sticks by his plans and hopes that withdrawal from Iraq will leave more spending for Afghanistan. 

Overall, there has been evidence that the economic downturn is improving, but there are still plenty of issues that need to be addressed this year. 

Political Cartoon 5

1. This political cartoon was drawn by Parker

2. It was published in Florida Today on January 8, 2010.

3. The cartoon jokes about the attempts of a government program to help mortgages. 

4. The government wanted to help people avoid foreclosure, by buying mortgages. Unfortunately, this program has not worked well at all. The picture shows the homeowners floundering in the waters while the overturned boat represents the failure of the program.

5. I agree that the government program wasn't as effective as it could have been, but I think that it definitely shows a step in the right direction. At least the government is trying to help citizens who are struggling because of the economic downturn, rather than letting them suffer.