2 Wheels or 4? Let's Just Split the Difference

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/automobiles/autoreviews/2-wheels-or-4-lets-just-split-the-difference.html?_r=1&no_interstitial&emc=Google-Earth
In England, new ideas are pulling into the driveway. Charles Morgan, who is also the chairman of the Morgan Motor Company, has designed a whole new car with only three wheels. The two front wheels of car handle steering while the single one in the rear end transmit power to the ground. Depending on the state, licensing a 3-wheel vehicle requires a car license. Everywhere else, a motorcycle license is required. Morgan says that such a great new car like this will be available in America by Christmas, ranging around $43,000.

To me, this article is very interesting. It brings a whole new style to cars around the globe. I've yet to hear a form of transportation that has two wheels in the front, much unlike a tricycle, which has two wheels in the back. It'd be very interesting to see such a unique car hit the streets.

An Economist for Nature Calculates the Need for More Protection

In Costa Rica, there was a species of insects, the coffee berry borer, that was damaging most of the coffee berry crops there. In response, an ecologist from Stanford, Gretchen Daily, studied the ecosystem, trying to learn the relationships between the insect and their predators. She has traveled to the Costa Rican site several times, while also studying the effects of the preservation of the environment on the global economy, due to the ecosystems being the greatest supplier of resources. Dr. Daily works hard to spread the idea of protecting nature to ensure the safety of the economy. This affects me because I believe preserving the environment is very important. Not only is that important, but now I can also say that it helps the economy.

Israel Isolates Itself

This is what the United Nation has to say about the Israel's raid last year on the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara of the death of a 19-year-old U.S. citizen on board: "At least one of those killed, Furkan Dogan, was shot at extremely close range. Mr. Dogan sustained wounds to the face, back of the skull, back and left leg. That suggests he may already have been lying wounded when the fatal shot delivered, as suggested by witness accounts to effect."

Dogan was an innocent, and important, U.S. citizen that wanted to be a doctor. He had won a lottery to travel to Gaze-bound vessel. The death of this one person made the Prime Minister David Cameron angry. He said "The Israeli attack on the Gaze flortilla was completely unacceptable."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/opinion/06iht-edcohen06.html?no_interstitial&emc=Google-Earth

Cell Phone Use Helps Health Care In Africa?

Summary:

This article is about how cell phone use has boosted the number of health care of malaria done correctly to the youth in Africa. Workers randomly chose to receive twice a day reminders to their phones to handle malaria. Six months later, the health care workers were better at treating it. Cell phones have penetrated much in Africa, to places that have never even had landlines because of the expenses and robbery. The messages would remind them when to test and how to prescribe weight- based dosages. Since each text cost less then a penny, they all can get their reminders and help the youth in Africa.

Refuse Collects Here, but Visitors and Wildlife Can Breathe Free

In Singapore, the Semakau Landfill, contains more than 700 types of plants and animals. The Semakau Landfill is a $360 million facility and has a 4.4 mile long sea wall that is consisted of sand, rock, clay, and a geomembrane of polyethylene which outlines the island to prevent leakage. Trash from the mainland makes its way here, and the wet ash is then emptied into "cells" or pits which are then eventually covered with dirt to form palm trees.

Shockingly, the Semakau Landfill is the only active landfill that gets waste while having a successful ecosystem. The Semakau Landfill has created an innovation that solves the need of solid waste management. Unfortunately, there is a little but most certainly real risk that the waste could potentially leak into the ocean. Semakau Landfill holds a significant amount of importance, since if landfill space ceases to exist, everyone is in trouble, therefore stating why this place is so critical.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/science/16landfill.html?_r=2&no_interstitial&emc=Google-Earth

Apple Cited as Adding to Pollution in China

In shanghai the environmental group have been accusing company’s Chinese suppliers have been discharging toxic and waste to the atmosphere which cause pollution. Reporters said that companies “fail to properly dispose of hazardous waste”, as well as that Apple has become a large company known all over the world. Apple has grown really popular in china and it became world’s business store. “Earlier this year Apple company was reported of 137 workers have been injured by the toxic chemical used in making the signature slick glass screens of the Iphone.” There is also issued that they have been using child labor which is against the law and fouled its waterway. Most experts agree that while conditions have improved at many work sites, labor violations and the discharge of toxic waste cause major problem to the atmosphere.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/02/technology/apple-suppliers-causing-environmental-problems-chinese-group-says.html?_r=1&no_interstitial&emc=Google-Earth

Practically a man-made island the Sekamau Landfill

Singapore Landfill http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/science/16landfill.html?pagewanted=1&_r=3&emc=Google-Earth&no_interstitial

Singapore’s last landfill had closed in 1999. Their landfill now is no dump though and is more of a manmade island. The Sekamau landfill has its very own ecosystem that it supports. Many people have come to visit this as its quite the tourist attraction as are many things in singapore. They have a eco-friendly landfill that is able to reduce waste by 90% and also 2% of their power comes from the islands 4 mainland incinerators. Some however oppose the idea of using incinerators. Singapore’s larger incinerators don’t tend to last and have short live spans with some needing replacement after just 10 years. Those from Greenpeace say that incineration only simply changes the waste problem to pollution. There are many quotes from Mr. Buakamsri which is the campaign the director. In Malaysia and Indonesia there have been public protests against the plans from the government for constructing more incinerators. The Philippines had banned incinerators in 1999 due to the health risks and on the same year as Singaporean government began to rely on them to operate the Sekamau Landfill. There a very small chance there would ever be a leakage because of all the protective measure taken to avoid it. One person had said that it would last for many decades but in end will fail and pose risk for the future generations. They have 2 mangrove forests surrounding the island that are very reactive to toxic material acting as “canaries in a coal mine should anything escape”. I found this very interesting and was happy that we have landfills such this.

The Story of a Dead Sailor, His Widow and a Bunch of Boneheaded Politicians

My summary is about the story of a dead sailor. The man had died in 2009 from mesothelioma, a disease caused by asbestos. Asbestos is a chemical that was used in naval ships for plumming and wiring. The mans wife had been on a campaign to ban the mining of asbestos in Canada. Canada is the only western country to mine asbestos. So basically the mans wife wants to ban all of the harmful chemicals being sent to third world countries so that people don’t die from cancer like her husband.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/03/opinion/the-story-of-a-dead-sailor-his-widow-and-a-bunch-of-boneheaded-politicians.html?_r=2&no_interstitial&emc=Google-Earth

WHY PUTTING ON SUICIDE BOMBS??

Roadside bombs have taken a big part in American troops in the war. Lots of the troops have to worry about the bombings. They are trying to find out how many people have died, and more than 12,000 Iraqis have been killed in about 1,000 suicide attacks. The suicide bombs have killed so many people and wounded lots of civilians, troops are having that issue and are trying to stop it. Child victims are more likely to die than adult victims. In my opinion is that this is a very sad and horrible because the civilians are the ones that suffer is this. The U.S troops are trying to find out a way to resolve this and it’s a good idea that there doing this.

http://http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/03/world/middleeast/03iraq.html?_r=2&no_interstitial&emc=Google-Earth

Current Event 1

Mexico: Police Officer Arrested in Deadly Casino Fire

A police officer was arrested for taking part of a fire that happened in a casino, in
Northern Mexico. The casino was on fire and left 52 people dead, with 5 others in custody. The police officer was arrested Thursday, he was one of the several men seen in surveillance camera. The mayors brother was questioned by prosecutors after seen in another casino collecting a wad of cash. He said the money was from him selling cheese and other products from his native state, Oaxaca. I beleive this police officer should be arrested, because police officers are supposed to be role models. If we cant trust a cop, who can we trust?

Yemen Protesters Vow to Stay on Streets

When Yemen citizens started fearing the threat of civil war after seven months after the uprising, thousands of furious protesters stand up for what they believe every Friday. Protesters are saying that they will not stop protesting until their demand is finally met. Even military officers are joining the civilian protest against the Civil War. Abdul Rahaman Abdullah also stated, after praying with all of the protesters, that they will still even be out there if there is a Civil War that starts.

I beleive that this article is very inspiring because when these people really want and beleive in something they stand up for it and want they want done instead of just sitting back and watching it happen like some people do. It also shows that they are very dedicated because they are there every single Friday. In my opinion, whoever they're trying to reach or prove a point to should take a second and look at what they are protesting.

Pakistan Points to Help From U.S. in Qaeda Arrests

On Monday, (the 5th) the American and Pakistani officials arrested three men who were senior operatives of the terrorist network Al Qaeda, which was created by Osama bin Laden. Al Qaeda, including the three arrested men, had plans of attack on America, Europe, and Australia. Despite the bitter tension between the Pakistanis and Americans from the American Navy Seal's raid in Pakistan which killed Osama, the two put that aside and united as one to combine they're intelligence and security agencies to track down Al Queda's next targets. Before dying, Osama bin Laden had directly assigned one man to follow through on targeting United States economic interests: gas/oil pipelines, power generating dams, and strike ships/oil tankers through explosives. For preventing a number of high-profile terrorist acts, it brought a relationship of respect between the Americans and Pakistanis for working together. I think it was good for the two to put their anger aside towards one an others country and focus on what had to be done for the safety on the world. Making the decision as uniting as one to stop Al Qaeda saved many lives that Al Qaeda had planned to destroy.

"Haitian Divers Hope to Aid Ailing Reef"

Newly trained Haitian divers hope to survey and one day help save Haiti's endangered coral reef with the team that taught them how to swim. Haiti's Coral reed is in a disastrous condition thanks to climate change, sedimentation but most of all, over fishing. Haitian fisherman were once able to catch larger predator fish,but after the fishes dwindling numbers had to move onto smaller herbivore fish.. Soon after the numbers of the herbivore fish dropped, algae and other plant life, that were once eaten by those fish, ran rampant and killed off 85% of the Coral. Thanks to the low amount of aquatic life now in the reef ,fisherman are catching less and less fish. Many of the volunteers to help survey and count fish, did not know how to swim and had to be trainer by the team. For many, the swimming and exploring of the reef is like exploring a whole new world that they previously did not know was so extensive and beautiful, and even proves to be very helpful in helping loosing some stress the earth quake left behind. In my opinion , helping to get the coral reef back to its original, thriving state would benefit not only the fisherman but many of the Haitian Divers.

One chuck, Two Chucks.

In the country of Panama, female frogs choose their mates by listening to the series of the chucks or grunts. During this study, scientists believe that female frogs prefer two chucks over one single chuck. In addition to mating, their grunts attract predators. At night there are bats who prey on these frogs. Scientist also figured out that the bats use the same strategy as the female frogs. Bats judge by the ratio of grunts when trying to find a mate. I found this article quite interesting. What came across my mind is that maybe this shows survival of the fittest. Male frogs compete between each other, so when they have offspring that generation will be a bit better than the previous one.

Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/science/09obfrog.html?_r=1&no_interstitial&emc=Google-Earth

Ned Kelly's (Thought to be) Skull

Ned Kelly was an Irish convict who was exiled to Australia. He was best known for his violent demonstrations against the British in Ireland. He was shot and executed and found in a mass have where they bury the executed prisoners. When the grounds were dug up in 1929 for servicing, workers found the mass grave. Upon seeing the opened grave, many schoolboys and people stole bones and skulls from the gravesite, those of which are believed to be Ned's. After being stolen, the skulls were recovered by officials, but no DNA evidence remained on any of Ned Kelly's still existing items, such as his boots and his sash, where dried blood was presumed to be. After a comparison with a relative, the skull was not found to be that of Ned Kelly's. At least the skeleton was found to be his. His skull's whereabouts are still unknown today.

Double Suicide Bombing Kills 21 People

In ISLAMABAD, Pakistan there were 21 people killed and at least 30 people were injured on Wednesday when two terrorist had did a suicide mission and strapped bombs to themselves to kill the Frontier Corps which is a paramilitary force commanded by army officers and stationed in the restive province of Baluchistan, including the provincial capital, Quetta. But they ended up killing a senior army officer. This took place in a high-security neighborhood of Quetta where there were a lot of government offices and homes of high-ranking government officials are located. The officials said that there were at least 110 to 150 pounds of explosives were used in the car bombing and that the second attacker had least 22 pounds of explosives in his suicide vest. One of the attackers was 21-year-old Afghan man, Ahmad Gul, in Peshawar in early 2010. I hope you enjoyed my current event.

Haitian refugees stay while Dominicans' Good Will Fades

Dominicans are blaming the Haitian refugees for the spread of cholera, less jobs, and higher crime rates. The government has started deporting Haitian refugees, denying entry into the country, and just making life more difficult for these people who have already lost everything. The police and military are deporting Haitians with nothing to go on except darker skin color and a failure to produce identification. The Dominican government has even passed a new law to deny citizenship of children of immigrants and deport people even though they were born and and have lived there for years. The deportations show that there is impatience with the slow recovery of Haiti and the fading international sympathy for its troubles. The tension became severe enough that the International Organization for Migration are paying Haitians $50 per person and relocation assistance to go home willingly.

Isolating Assad

While the killing of people continue in the mountains of Syria the U.S. and couple of allies are not the only ones declaring revulsion. Couple of Assad's people cannot stand the mute anymore longer. Over the weekend, the Arab League finally urged Syria to “end the spilling of blood and follow the way of reason before it is too late.” Foreign ministers agreed to send the group’s secretary general, Nabil el-Araby, to Damascus with proposals to end the conflict. According to Al Jazeera, those include holding presidential elections, withdrawing the army from cities, releasing political prisoners and forming a national unity government. While this is going on the Obama administration had frozen and banned business with Demascus. I think it was right for the Obama administration to stop any business with Demascus because making business with a country with problems or at war might bring the economy down & it is right to use reasoning before killing anyone without reasons.

Torture Survivor dies at age 65

Vann Nath, a brilliant artist finally rests in peace at the age of 65 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia due to a cardiac arrest. Painting is a very soothing activity, but for Vann Nath it describes a dark and depressing past during the 1977. He was one of the 14 survivors known to survive Tuol Sleng, where about 14,000 people were tortured and executed. When Nath was arrested, his life was miserable, tainted by the cruel torture. His great artistic ability helped him on his release when he painted the Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot. Nath’s most recent paintings described the lifestyle of the jail cells in Tuol Sleng. I believe that Nath was a brave man for painting the treacherous past he escaped. Most detainees would have been mentally scarred from the sights of daily death but Vann Nath had a healthy way to express that fearsome experience.

Source

Dead Human Feet Causing Disruption

In Vancouver, British Columbia, about 1 ½ weeks ago, a human foot in a running shoe was found floating in a downtown inlet. Eight feet have been floated up on the British Columbia’s coastline. Three more feet have been found on the Washington State coastline since August 2007. It is not sure if they are actual human feet because people had planted animal feet as hoaxes since the cases began. If they really are human feet, it would cause a big issue because then the question would be: “Where are they coming from?” But for now, the source of the feet seem to have no common ground, and the government officials are thinking that the cause of the feet might just be the result of the sheltered coastline in the geography of southern British Columbia.

Current Events Project #1

Students.  Find a current event from Google Earth and write up a summary and opinion of it and post it here.  

Welcome!

Hey students!  Welcome to the class blog.  We'll be using this space for a number of assignments, current events, cultural analysis activities, and will be engaging each other in dialogue about our thinking and learning.  Bottom line, we'll be making our thinking visible and we'll be reflecting on our growth.  I will always give you an assignment sheet that describes the blog assignment when you have one, so be sure to check regularly what that assignment is.  Also I will begin posting the assignment description on the blog as the first post so you can refer back here for more information about the assignment to remind yourself on what you should be doing.  Be sure to always label your blogs appropriately, spell check and write in the best academic language you possibly can!  Even though this is on the internet, we'll be practicing using academic discourse (LANGUAGE) with each other and making our ideas clear in writing.  Alright...if you can't tell, I'm excited to get started. And away, we, go!