BR 12/4/13 Mans sues wife for being ugly.

1. I believe that there could be a similar case in the U.S, especially if the people involved are celebrities.
2. It shows that the husband is very shallow.

BR 12/3/13 Rush Limbaugh: Pope is preaching 'pure Marxism'

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/12/02/rush-limbaugh-vs-the-pope/?hpt=hp_t2

1. I think this is controversial because the pop is preaching against the love for money, and a wealthy man happens to attack his statements.

BR 11/13/13 SeaWorld challenges ban on whale-trainer contact

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/11/sea-world-killer-whales/3498437/
1. I disagree because the whales can't be trained without contact.
2. The trainer knows that the whale could kill them, and it's their choice. That's like banning police just because some of them die; They know what they're getting involved with.

BR 11/12/13 Injured hunter chooses death over paralysis

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/06/injured-hunter-chooses-death-over-paralysis/3461259/

If I were the hunter, I would have chosen life. Even though it would be poor, I could be there for my family. 

EUTHANASIA DEBATE 11/14/13

PRO
It's unfair to doctors, who should relieve pain and suffering, to have to watch a patient who's hopeless sit there in pain waiting for death when the doctor could bring them relief immediately.

CON
Do not harm would mean a doctor can't kill someone, even to relieve their misery.
It's against the doctors oath to do it, even when the person wants to die. There is always a possibility to get better. It's nothing more than assisted suicide, and people shouldn't be allowed to just give up.


CROSSFIRE

if it's legal, then people could go to the doctor and just ask for suicide, that's not right. What if the patient would be under and not want to die, then be euthanized for mercy when they don't want it? it's not right.

When there is no hope for a severe disease, the patients could be given the right to chose their own death at their own time, so they can die with dignity and be relieved of their pain.

BR 11/6/13: K-mart Thanksgiving/Gay Rights at Winter Olympics

http://money.cnn.com/2013/11/05/pf/kmart-black-friday-customer-outrage/

1 I don't agree with K-Mart. They should give employees at least a few hours off, and I thought black friday was to start friday, not early thursday. It's not right to take away from people just so these billionaires can make even more.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2013/11/05/sochi-organizing-committee-president-welcomes-the-world/3448741/

2. In America, you wouldn't have to fear showing that you are homosexual, but in Russia you do. However, they claim that they aren't discriminating during the Olympics.

BR 11/04/13 Ex-House speaker Jim Wright rejected for voter ID card

http://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2013/11/03/jim-wright-voter-identification-texas-speaker/3422047/

1. People will have to make sure they get correct ID's.

2. Some people may not be able to vote, which isn't good because all US Citizens should be allowed to vote.

Assignment 10/30/13

1. http://media.cagle.com/137/2013/10/21/139051_600.jpg
The artist uses analogy to show if we remove everything offensive, it could go a little too far.
2. http://media.cagle.com/81/2013/08/27/136610_600.jpg
The artist uses exaggeration to make MLK look bigger. He also used analogy to show that having the dream isn't enough compared to living the dream.
3.http://media.cagle.com/205/2013/09/12/137352_600.jpg
The artist uses exaggeration to make the Americans look really fat, to fit stereotypes.
The artist uses analogy to show that the American isn't exceptional because we fill our minds with things like Miley Cyrus.
4. http://media.cagle.com/77/2013/09/09/137129_600.jpg
Exaggeration is used in the amount of drills used.
Analogy shows congress isn't doing anything to control guns.
The worried children are used to symbolized the fear in school systems.
5.http://media.cagle.com/29/2013/08/26/136537_600.jpg
Exaggeration is used in the amount of people being killed
Irony is that a dance is more popular in news than all the death.
Analogy shows It's sad that miley was above Syria

Assignment for 10/29/13

1.Write five questions you have about the cartoon, and then categorize your questions into one of the categories

     1. Is the comic saying Republicans ruined congress while thinking it was right? (Meaning

     2. Am I correct in thinking this was a reference to the man knocking down the boulder statues, making the republicans look as stupid as the guy who pushed the rock formations over. (Use of techniques)

     3. Am I correct in saying the man arresting the republican elephant has voter on his arm showing that voters are more and more taking the side of the democrats? (Meaning)

     4.The capitol building was toppled, to symbolize republican's being the source of problems for congress, correct? (meaning)

     5. He says "we're heroes!" to show how the republicans believe their fixing things, correct? (meaning

2.Review the following guide to analyzing political cartoons: http://w

ww.wikihow.com/Analyze-Political-Cartoons

Post a summary of the steps from this site to your blog.

First, find what sticks out the most. Then, ask yourself what their doing, to whom their speaking, ect. Next, think of who the comic is intended to reach. After that, find out the context of the cartoon. Once you know the context, look for symbols that are easy to recognize. Finally, Try to find the humor the artist put into the comic.

3. Go to the following link: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/activities/political-cartoon/model.html

Complete the Practice and Test Yourself.  Provide an explanation on your blog post about each of the five techniques that political cartoonists use to make their point.

BR 11/1/13: Teen Shot By Neighbor Who Saw Him Toilet-Papering Principal's House

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/31/teen-shot-toilet-paper-house_n_4181745.html
1. No, it was an innocent prank, the kids should have been made to clean it up when caught.
2. It shows that people don't have the sense to not shoot kids.

BR 10/31/13: Woman to give 'obese' children letters, no candy

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/30/obese-halloween-letter/3312537/

1. A child may read the letter and be sensitive to it, Halloween is meant to be fun, not a reminder that you're obese.
2. She has a right to put the letter in, freedom of speech and petition, so I don't believe she should be legally stopped. I don't agree with her motives, however. There's a difference between effective and ineffective ways to protest.

BR 10/30/13: Young voters may be turning Virginia blue

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/29/virginia-politics-students-mcauliffe-cuccinelli/3285617/
1. The Democratic Party is getting more popular in virginia.
2. Yes, more young voters have been voting democrat.
3. We may have more democrats in office.

BR 10/29/23: Bulky troops turn to liposuction to pass fat test

http://news.yahoo.com/bulky-troops-turn-liposuction-pass-fat-test-153233372.html

1. I don't see a problem with the test, our soldiers need to stay in good physical condition if they are going to fight for us.
2. Your weight doesn't make you fit, but you need a good fat/muscle ratio to be fit. 
3. I'd find other tests to add on before judging someone's fitness.

BR 10/28/13: Confederate flag was the flag of traitors

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/25/opinion/obeidallah-confederate-flag/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

1. I agree with the article. I don't believe the flag should be flown in America.
2. Yes I feel the author was correct.
3. People claim the flag is "southern heritage" or something of the sort, but the flag stood for the nation who killed thousands of Americans because they wanted to keep their slaves. In my opinion, the flag is, and should be, offensive. 

10/25/13 PARTY TESTS

http://theadvocates.org/quiz/quiz.php#

Your PERSONAL issues Score is 70%

Your ECONOMICS issues Score is 80%

libertarian

http://www.blogthings.com/howliberalorconservativeareyouquiz/results/?S=75&P=50&F=50&E=75&D=100

Social Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Ethics: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal

http://www.politicalcompass.org/test

economic Left/Right: -6.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.28

Show graph on separate page for printing

http://www.people-press.org/political-party-quiz/?result

                 ^Overall, your political values are closest to those of a…

Liberal Democrathttp://www.people-press.org/typology/quiz/?result

Solid Liberal

Along with 14% of the public

According to these tests, I'm a Liberal. I'd agree with that, so far they believe most of what I agree with. I'm not as open to abortion as most liberals are, however. Other than that I agree with them. I'm glad to learn about political parties and where I fit in. I just hope it doesn't cause any problems with my highly conservative family.

BR 10/22/13 Man seen toppling boulder claims 'debilitating injuries' from car crash in recent lawsuit

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/22/us/utah-boulder-boy-scouts/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

1. I think the whole lawsuit is a waste of time because he was destroying property when he claimed to be injured.
2. Those rocks were rare, taking years to form the way they did. It's not right for him to move them in the first place. He should be charged because those were like sculptures on the property.

BR 10/21/13 Take a vacation from your devices

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/personal/2013/10/20/take-a-vacation-from-your-devices/3014509

1. It's hard to break away from our devices because we use them often everyday, and it becomes a habit .

2. I have to go to my dad's without wifi a few times a year, and I do just fine without my ipod.

BR 10/17/2013 Obama signs budget deal, ending shutdown

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/16/government-shutdown-debt-limit-congress-deal/2993181/

The shutdown is over, what's next?

Now that the shutdown is over, the Government needs to work out the problems that caused the shutdown in the first place. Maybe then, we can avoid something like this happening in the future.

BR 10/16/13 Two girls arrested on bullying charges after suicide

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/15/florida-bullying-arrest-lakeland-suicide/2986079/

1. If they harass someone to the point of death, they should be punished, but I'm sure a felony would be too much. They're still to immature to really realize what their doing.
2. Felonies are given for more serious crimes, Misdemeanors are for lesser ones.
3.Schools need to start suspending people for bullying more often.

People who made a difference.

1. Alice Paul
     1. Led a Women's Right campaign.
     2. She really helped get the 19th amendment.
2. Margaret Sanger
     1. Parents worked in Women's rights and inspired her.
     2. Worked to get Birth control
3. Deganawida
     1. Prophecies about him
     2. Preached spiritual healing
4. Andrew Carnegie
     1. Richest man at the turn of the 20th century.
     2. Helped the steel industry
5. Eva Peron
     1. Father died in a car accident
     2.  Worked with working class women
6. Harriet Beetcherstoee
     1. Best known for book 'uncle toms cabin'
     2. Changed many American's view of slavery.
7. John Keynes
     1. Most influential 20th century economists.
     2. Had many affairs with men and women
8. Francis Willard
     1. Passages on the 18th and 19th Amendments
     2. Worked with Womens Christian Temperance Orginization
9. Eugene V Debbs
     1. Quit school at 14 to work as a railroad worker
     2. President of American Railway Union
10. Betty Williams
     1. Co founder of community peace people
     2. won peace prize
11. Emmaline Pankhurst
     1. Arrested several times for hunger strikes
     2.  Died after British Women got voting rights in 1928
12. Helena Rubinstein
     1. Provided funds to health, medical research, and rehabilitattion orginizations
     2. One of the first self-made female millionares.
13.Edward Jenner
     1. Found Smallpox Vaccine
     2. Studied surgery at 14
14. Dorothy Hodgkin
     1. Parents were archaeoligists
     2. Leading practincioner in crystalogrophy

BR 10/15/13 Mich. janitor offered students $1 to beat up 4th grader

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/14/michigan-janitor-offered-4th-graders-money-to-bully-student/2983263/

I don't really know what to say about this, It's bad that the janitor would feel he needed to pay a kid. Maybe they should make sure the janitors they hire don't find pleasure in watching children fight.

br 10/11/13

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/10/canyon-rushmore-shutdown-national-parks-interior/2962499/

1. No the gov. needs to stop being stupid and work.
2.I would like to see the grand canyon, because I think rock formations are interesting.

BR 10/10/13 Poll: Voters prefer hemorrhoids over Congress

http://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2013/10/08/congress-popularity-witches-hemorrhoids-poll/2944343/

1. It shows that the people are not very happy at all.
2. I would find a way to change to make the people happier and improve the country, since that's what I'm supposedly paid to do.

BR 10/9/13 Supreme Court appears divided on contribution limits

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/08/shaun-mccutcheon-supreme-court-campaign-finance-citizens-united/2939143/

1.No, it's our right to give our money to whomever we want.

2. It stops our ability to freely express support for a candidate.

3. No, we should be free to spend money as we chose.

4. Some candidates would have a lot less funding for their campaign.

BR 10-08-2013 NFL, Oneida Indians to talk Redskins name

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/redskins/2013/10/07/oneida-indian-nation-name-change-washington/2936531/

I believe the name should be changed because It's offending that group of Indians. Although it isn't that bad of a racial slur, it can still be used as one and shouldn't be used as a team name. I'm surprised they haven't changed it already, with everyone trying to be "politically correct".

BR. 10/01/13 Shutdown stalemate: Where things stand today

I think that the Government needs to get back up as soon as they can.
1. Why can't they clean D.C streets
2. What happens if the shut down lasts too long
3. Are we vulnerable to attacks?

BR 9/19/13 Do violent video games play a role in shootings?

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/18/opinion/bushman-video-games/?hpt=hp_t2

I've seen expirements where people played violent video games and actually relieved stress, and were calmer
than they were before. If you have the maturity to play a game and know that it's a game, then they are fine.
People who do shootings have a variety of things that add up to it, if you put the ratio of video game players
to shooters, you'd see that most people who play games aren't violent.

BR 9/18/13 California school district hires firm to monitor students' social media

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/14/us/california-schools-monitor-social-media/index.html

1a. Watch possible suicides
b. See possible threats
c . See possible drug use.

2. I don't believe it's invading privacy, the posts are public.

3. I don't post anything on my social media sites that would be of concern, so It wouldn't bother me is the schools in Barbour County decided to watch my posts.

BR 9/17/13 Nina Davuluri's Miss America 2014 Win Prompts Twitter Backlash Against Indians, Muslims

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/16/nina-davuluri-miss-america-religion_n_3934428.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

1. These reactions show that instead of being a melting pot, its a pot of ignorance and predjudice.
2.This is in a way a slap in the face to all of the people in the civil rights movement. They fought for all people, not just african americans, and it just shows that we have a long way to evolve as a society.

BR 9/16/13

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/15/sixteenth-street-baptist-church-anniversary/2813165/

It's sad that racism brought people to bomb a church 50 years ago. The people who died were only a fraction of the victims of predjudice, and I'm sure they aren't the last. The article talks about how they died for nothing.

America's broken; Fix it.(essay)

You know what's wrong with America? The fact that in every social issue I see, no one can agree but everyone is wrong. People are arguing but no one is taking the time to sit everyone down and talk about a compromise, no one is trying to come up with a solution. America becomes divided in half, and a house can not stand with a split foundation. The United States need to be re-united.

 Take an issue such as marriage equality, I believe that America was founded on the beliefs that all my regardless or race, religion, or lifestyle, could come and live the life they chose. In that case, homosexual couples should be given the right to have a legal marriage, but maybe have a way to marry them without a priest or church. That way both sides can live the life they want, and we could try to live in harmony.

 Another issue would be the people complaining that video games are causing problems, they just seem to be attacking game companies when they themselves know nothing about the subject their ranting about. Playing a game does not make you violent, dwelling on negative thoughts makes you violent. The one thing I can't stand in the world is ignorance, and when people complain about problems when they don't know both sides, it aggravates me to no end. Someone needs to sit everyone down and explain how targeting video games will not stop violence. If anything, I've seen where playing games like that relieve stress because you can virtually cause violence, and it could relieve stress.

 I think that if American citizens would take the time to listen to each other regardless of different beliefs or race or religion, then we could come together as a nation and take our previous spot as the best nation in the world.

9/11 Activity

http://www.voanews.com/content/september-eleven-wtc-marriott-survivors-recalls-collapse/1747171.html

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/this_just_in/2002/09/an_unlikely_hero.html


http://www.hlntv.com/slideshow/2013/09/10/hero-dogs-911-september-11th-survivor

I didnt understand the other part of the assignment.

BR 9/13/13 Official says a car bomb has gone off near the U.S. consulate in western Afghanistan.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/09/12/car-bomb-afghanistan-consulate/2808089/
This attack's significance is that we are still having violence after the war is supposed to be over, and Americans in that country are not safe.

In my opinion, every war is a failure. With the taliban still attacking, however, the war we had in Afghanistan was a failure to prevent further violence.

9/12/13 BR Glitches blamed for big drop in jobless claims

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/09/12/jobless-claims-down/2803343/

1.According to this article, statistics for employment had been changed due to the computer system having a glitch. This could hurt job seekers by changing the information that they want to know about their jobs.

2.No, it means the economy is stil the same, the computer had just made it seem like it was getting better.

BR 9/11/13 U.S debates privacy/security

<sup>http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/10/us-debates-security-vs-privacy-12-years-after-911/2796399/


There should be a definite line between security and invasion of privacy. If all this had started because of 9/11, then obviously it was Al Queda, not average American citizens, who would deserve to have their private lives looked into. Maybe if an IP adress was looking at websited about making large bombs there would be an excuse to look further, but to do things such as look at the facebook profiles of average people is ridiculous, and in my opinion violating our constitutional right to not be searched without a warrent. I'd like to know that my discussions with friends weren't being monitered just because somone overseas attacked the United States. To be honest, having the government look into my private life makes me feel less secure, because if for some reason we would need another revolution we would be hopeless. We are supposed to have privacy in our own nation.</sup>

BR 9/5/13 McDonald's tests $1 menu with higher price points

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/09/04/mcdonalds-dollar-menu-extra-value-menu/2763981/

The way I see it, you can't raise the prices of the "Dollar Menu" and still call it, the "Dollar Menu."
If you raise the prices, then it will no longer be a dollar, it will be a big fat lie.
McDonalds makes enough money every day to afford to pay workers enough to survive. Maybe if you balance making a profit with the wellbeing of your employees, the world would be a better place.

BR 9/4/13 Data measure value of a college degree

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/03/how-higher-education-pays/2755345/

According to this article, engineering, computer science, and buisiness majors have higher salaries than most other careers around other majors. I'd have like the article to maybe talk about the different types of engineering degrees, such as audio engineering. Since audio engineering is what I'm going to go to college for, the article only helped show that engineering is a good choice.

BR 9/3/13 Governments sought info on 38,000 Facebook users

9/3/13

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/08/27/facebook-governments-demanded-data-on-38k-users/2706071/
Facebook giving away our information is a complete invasion of our privacy, but in the terms and conditions it may state they are allowed too. I havent read them, but my facebook really just has the information that I love cats so the NSA arent getting much information from me. If we agree to it on the terms and conditions, then it technically is not against our 4th amendment rights.

BR 8/30/13 Black S.C. man says Wild Wing Cafe refused to seat his group after woman said she felt threatened.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/26/south-carolina-charleston-wild-wing-cafe-black-americans/2704125/

In my opinion, the manager of the restauraunt should have been able to see that the party was not causing any harm. Just because the white customer had some sort of predjudice, doesn't mean the manager should have kicked them out. To me it seems that the manager just used that as an excuse to kick out some African American people who she couldn't have kicked out before.

Also, the apology offer of free meals can not just fix everything. When people feel they are excluded for something they can not control, it hurts more than a few free wings could fix.

I HAVE A DREAM ASSIGNMENT

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

I believe that Dr.King meant that if people do not speak up, then nothing will change and the rest of their lives won't matter. When people do nothing to make a change, then it's like their already dead and can't do anything.

It was relevant for the time period because many African Americans sat around letting America push them around. People weren't standing up and demanding what the Constitution and Emancipation Proclamation promised them as American citizens.

BR- 8/29/13

Martin's speech said that no matter what color someone is, they should be treated completly equal. He said that the Negros were given a bad check, that came back with insuficient funds, but that the bank of justice is not bankrupt. He said now is the time to get out the quicksand of unequality and stand on the rock of brotherhood. Those are the phrases that stuck out the most to me.