'How I Met Your Mother' ends a legendary run by Joi Ware

Summary: After 208 episodes How I Met Your Mother came to an end, and the nine year story that Ted Mosby has been telling has been hitting who the mother was since he beginning. Josh Radnor, main character, said that her knew the show would last when he saw the first episode with Ashley Williams and saw that they did things differently. Carter Bays said that having Britney Spears on the show really upped its ratings and helped the show tremendously. Colbie Smulders, who plays Robin Scherbatsky, says that at the shows last table reading everyone was crying. She tells of the great nine years so has spent with her co-stars.

Analysis: My friends talk about this show all the time and tell of how great it is!! I wish I would have watched from the beginning. I think it's absolutely crazy how people really stay on one show for 9 years and rarely go off to do extra things. Shows like Full House, Friends, and The Nanny are all long running shows with dedicated stars and co-star who stayed on the show from start to end. It's amazing to see celebrities get so invested in the people they work with and such a short time, they become a family in some sense!

For the full story visit, http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/31/showbiz/tv/himym-finale/index.html?c=showbiz

Patience Henderson 1st Period; Suspect in Craigslist slaying tells reporter she killed in 3 other states

Miranda Barbour a 19-year-old woman charged with killing a Pennsylvania man she met through Craigslist has given a second jailhouse interview and provided specific details about other killings she claims to have committed. She told the Daily Item newspaper of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, that she killed men in Big Lake, Alaska; Mexico Beach, Florida; and Raleigh, North Carolina.

In her first jailhouse interview in mid-February, she told the Daily Item reporter she had killed at least 22 men over six years across the country but didn't provide any specific locations.

Sunbury Police Chief Chief Steve Mazzeo told CNN he passed along the information to other jurisdictions.

 

 

Analysis:

 

How could someone kill multiple people without feeling or thing or having no type of emotion towards it? I find this very disturbing to know that we have people in the world that actually do this, it's crazy.

DEVELOPING STORY: THE SEARCH FOR FLIGHT 370 'The tragedy of an investigation gone awry'- Jessica Dicker

The last words heard from flight 370 seemed to have been altered. From what we as the public knew, the last works heard from Malaysian flight 370 that went missing a few weeks back was "All right, good night." Now we are hearing the real last words were actually, "Goodnight Malaysian three seven zero." While this could have been a simple mistake, it's more likely a clue as to whether the plane was hijacked or not. The whole situation is very odd. A giant plane with 283 people doesn't just disappear off the grid with no word. This is still a developing story and I'm sure the whole word is still tuning in waiting to hear the truth and what really happened. Source- cnn.com

Which College-and Which Major Will Make you the Richest- Meg Mickelsen

Obviously as we all approach the cusp of adulthood, that crucial 12 months before many of us will leave home, senior year, we begin to wonder where we will leave to.  To help us make this life-altering decision PayScale released tons of data about what colleges give the biggest bang for your buck.  

The top three schools with the highest earning graduates are Harvey Mudd College, MIT, and Caltech, but there are two different ways to look at what schools make one richest.  The top three schools with the best dollar-for-dollar investment prices are University of Virginia, Georgia Tech, and Harvard.  The most valuable degree?  Thats right, you guessed it, Computer Science.  

So what does all this data mean and why is it so predictable? In part it is predictable, because the most famous and prestigious schools attract the best and brightest students, who go out and earn the most money.  Meaning, that this data does not necessarily reflect the value of education that these schools offer.  I would be really impressed if a school I had never heard of made this list, because that would prove that it isn't simply prestige that is making it a great school.  Furthermore, an arts degree is considerably less valuable at any of these top schools than an Computer Science or Economics degree.  (also, side note, the mindless pursuit of wealth does not lead to happiness) So why even look at this list?  I recommend scanning PayScales lists and searching for schools you are interested in not because you should try to get into whatever school will make you the most money, but because colleges are businesses that are often starved for tuition money and will trick you into taking on student loan debt that is nearly impossible to pay off.  I want to go to art school, but if I know that the money I might reasonably make with an arts degree will never allow me to pay of my student loan debt, then I need to look for a different arts school.  These lists are important because America's higher education system is most often a trap, but it doesn't have to be. With a degree, one is saddled with debt and can only get a low paying job, and without a degree one cannot find a job at all.  Students should look at this list not to get rich, just to get a fair deal.  Be smart, artists.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/03/which-college-and-which-major-will-make-you-richest/359628/

http://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report-2014

Will Scotland Divorce England? Francesca Bartos 2nd

     When the polls open on September 18, Scotland's People will decide the fate of the United Kingdom, or , if the votes swing that way, England and Scotland. If it happens it will not be a hostile separation, Scotland want to continue using British currency as well as maintain peaceful relations, after all they are stuck on the same Island.
      You may be asking yourself, what this has to do with the US, besides slightly different diplomatic relations and a new country to Compete in the Olympics. Does the US not have a territory that used to be a nation of its own? Are there not people who are more proud to be Texan than American? What if Texas decided to hold polls for independence? I'm not saying that we will, or even that we should. Even if a decision were desired, would we even be allowed to vote on it? The real marvel of the Scotland-Britain vote is not that it is happening, or that it would be surprising if Scotland became a country. Its the diplomacy, the willingness to part ways if Scotland really desired it. So my question is, could the US let Texas go, if Texas wanted it? Or would there be violence and outrage upon the mere suggestion of it?
Read the Scotland article here.

Griffin Johnston, 4th period, The importance of civilized protest

An article on BBC.com reports on the recent rioting and the police conflict in Albuquerque, New Mexico. These riots and protests have occurred as a result of the recent deaths of two men at the hand of policemen. One shooting was filmed by policemen using cameras and posted online shortly after causing the unrest. The police department in is said to be too violent, overaggressive, and, even, racist/prejudice towards their victims. This claim has been substantiated by the fact that the APD has shot and killed 23 people since 2010; this number stirs protests due to the small population of Albuquerque compared to much larger U.S. metropolises. The resulting riots and demonstrations have provoked the use of tear gas as well as several arrests due to conflicts escalating to physical violence (the throwing of rocks at the police). The APD is currently under the investigation of the U.S. Justice Department.

It is a hugely beneficial privilege that United States citizens are able to protest, march, speak their mind, etc. about things they see as unjust. This is the aspect of the U.S. government that not only causes there to be a constant, and consistent, demand for fairness and justice especially on the part of the government, but also ensures that the U.S. does not turn into one of the totalitarian dystopian societies so often written about in literature (i.e. Brave New World, The Giver, Hunger Games, etc.) However, as with anything, there is a point where modulation of this right is sometimes necessary. The Salem Witch Trials is a perfect example of this right being taken to the extreme. This situation in Albuquerque seems to have evidence that puts it in a similar category (though, the video of the homeless man being shot by the police was very disconcerting). Policemen, as with anyone, tend to get panicked and this panic can have too much influence over their actions. However, it was right for people to question the large amount of fatalities that have been the result of police shooting. It causes more vigilance and care with how the police carry out their jobs and helps to extract any corrupt officers that might be present. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/03/31/what-is-going-on-in-albuquerque-your-guide-to-the-police-shooting-protest/

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-26814976

Nia Edwards 4th period Mississippi Death row inmate Michelle Byrom to get new trial

Nia Edwards
4th period

Michelle Byrom hired a killer to murder her husband on June 4th, 1999. She was sentenced on November 18, 2000 to die on death row. A new trial has been ordered for the lady according to a Supreme Court opinion issued Monday. This now 57 year old woman was convicted of being behind "the murder for hire plot to kill her abusive husband, a killing her on had admitted to committing in several jailhouse letters." The court instructed that a different judge should be assigned to Byrom's new trial other than the one who imposed the death penalty on her. In 1999 Byrom was said to have plotted to kill her husband, who was fatally shot, while she was in the hospital receiving treatment for double pneumonia. Byrom Jr. said that he had committed the crime himself because he was tired of his father's abuse. It is still believed that Michelle Byrom was the mastermind for this murder. The trial is still being decided.

This is so weird that this trial has gone on for so long. I think the judge needs to come to a decision and properly end this trial. I don't think that the woman should be on death penalty but she does deserve to be in jail for the crime she committed. There could've been other ways she could have handled her abusive husband other that hiring someone to kill him. I hope that they come up with a fair punishment for the woman and stop dragging it out so long.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/31/justice/mississippi-michelle-byrom-execution/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Byron Otis-Female Killer Admits Serial Tendencies

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/30/us/craigslist-killing-suspect-interview/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Miranda Barbour, commonly known as the Craigslist Killer, for having found a man via Craigslist, a website allowing one to find people for a variety of services, and strangling him with her husband in their car, "for the thrill," has admitted to having killed in Alaska, Florida, and North Carolina, apart from her previous, known murder. I have to wonder about her motives in all of this. Many doubt her legitimacy. Is she desperate for attention? Is she a killer with a heavy conscience? Little can be known until authorities find some sort of body linking her to the murders she admits to, though she claims that cannot happen, because she chopped the body parts up, and most of the time hid them in places nearly inaccessible.

Police: NY man, 86, shoots grandson, girlfriend before taking own life(Rhyann Lee)

Police: NY man, 86, shoots grandson, girlfriend before taking own life(Rhyann Lee)
Summary:An apparent dispute over housing ended with an 86-year-old New York man shooting his grandson and killing his grandson's girlfriend before fatally shooting himself, a law enforcement source said Saturday.

Police were still trying to sort out what led Heriberto Pagan to drive from his home in Brooklyn to his daughter's Staten Island house Friday and shoot two people before taking his own life.

A law enforcement source said investigators were looking into the possibility that the grandson "was trying to take over" the home with his girlfriend and Pagan "wasn't appreciative of the way" his daughter was being treated in the process. It was not clear whether the daughter was at home at the time.

Police found Pagan, a gunshot wound to the head, outside his car Friday evening near the home where the shootings occurred. He was hospitalized in critical condition, but died Saturday morning, police said.

In the vicinity, police were alerted to another shooting victim, Pagan's 47-year-old grandson, who was critically injured with a gunshot wound to the head and found outside the Staten Island house where he lived with his mother and girlfriend. The grandson has not been identified.

Inside the house, police found a second victim, Claritle Christina Huerta, 28, also shot in the head. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

 

Analysis: People Now a Days just don't think about others. This man must not have been in the right state of mind because why do have to kills others along with yourself. Those people had a life too live and he stole it from them. This makes me so upset. http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/29/justice/new-york-elderly-triple-shooting/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Mississippi Death Penalty

Byrom has been on death row since her 2000 conviction for capital murder. The 57-year-old woman was convicted of being the mastermind of a murder-for-hire plot to kill her allegedly abusive husband, a killing her son had admitted to committing in several jailhouse letters and, according to court documents, in an interview with a court-appointed psychologist.
He recanted when he was put on the stand, according to court records.
Attorney General Jim Hood, who had requested Byrom's execution, said Monday his office would seek the court's reasoning for the reversal.
"While we respect the Mississippi Supreme Court's decision, it is important that the trial court know and understand the specific errors that were found by the justices so that the lower court knows the best way to proceed," he said. "Our citizens can once again take comfort in the fact that we have a legal system that works for all parties involved."
The Supreme Court opinion noted that the decision "is extraordinary and extremely rare in the context of a petition for leave to pursue post-conviction relief."
Oliver Diaz, the former presiding justice of the Supreme Court, called the opinion "actually kinda amazing," from the order for a new trial to the ruling's release on a Monday instead of a Thursday, as usual.
"The lawyers filed a last ditch motion for additional post conviction relief. These are almost never granted. Defendants are limited to a single post conviction motion," he wrote in an e-mail to CNN. "It is extremely rare to grant and send back for a new trial."

Mississippi has rarely ever given anyone the death penalty, that being said it's both sad and interesting to see that this cruel punishment is going to someone of such unlikely stature. There again; she doesn't look like the type of woman to run a murder-for-hire plot. But, such is life. 

"Update: Dallas police say standoff suspect is being evaluated, no criminal charges yet filed" - Natalie H. - Class 2

Last Tuesday, March 25, my APUSH class was interrupted by our principle, instructing us to go into lockdown.
"Wow, this drill is really long," I commented in a hushed voice 20 minutes or so later.

A classmate heard, and whispered in reply, "This isn't a drill. There's a gunman about a mile away from the school."

This article was featured on the Dallas News at 10:51am, 3/24/14.

What I have gathered is that some man shot off a gun in the Dallas Arts District and then ran off towards the Vista Apartments. He remained inside the building for about an hour till the police cornered him and arrested him on spot. The gunman's name has not been revealed.

Luckily no one was injured that day. Of course, my back aches from being hunched over for so long, but I'll be okay.

Source: http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/2014/03/dallas-police-responding-to-active-shooter-situation-in-victory-park-area-apartment.html/

Craigslist Killer: Gloria Jones

Recently the craigslist killer spoke out again. The married couple of three weeks met a 42 year old man on Craigslist, then proceeded to stab and strangle him. They did it for the thrill of killing someone together. The also said they would do it again if they got out. The woman said she had killed 22 other people across the country, but there is no evidence this is true. She recently gave a location of where she had dumped one of the bodies.
She said though, that they would be hard to find because they wouldn't be whole bodies only body parts.

This is extremely creepy. I cringe to think there are people like that in the world. People who take somebody's life just for the thrill of it. I can't process how sick somebody would have to be in order to do this or think of it. So creepy. I wish more people like this would be caught without a murder happening.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/30/us/craigslist-killing-suspect-interview/index.html?c=us&page=2

Israeli Prime Minister by Addison Jordan

Summary: On Monday, a judge convicted Ehud Olmert, former Prime Minister of Israel, of taking bribes while he was mayor of Jerusalem. 

Judge David Rosen of the Tel Aviv District Court convicted Olmert of acquiring $161,000 in bribes through a controversial housing project in Jerusalem, called Holyland. Olmert received a third count of bribery by Judge Rosen.  He will be sentenced on April 28^th.

The developer of the Holyland, Hillel Cherney, had already been convicted for bribing Olmert and other officials in exchange for Holyland approvals.

He had also been accused of double billing government agencies for travel expenses and accepting cash from American businessman in exchange for legal favors.

Olmert started his career in 1973 becoming the youngest person ever to be selected to Israeli’s parliament. From 1993 to 2003 he was the mayor of Jerusalem and 2006 through 2009, Olmert was Prime Minister of Israel.

Analysis: Some people in this world are very greedy and can’t be satisfied with where they are in life. Being the Prime Minister of Israel seems like a very nice and high paying job, so I don’t understand why Olmert needed to be greedy and accept money illegally. This should teach us all a lesson to be hard working and honest.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/31/world/meast/israel-olmert-conviction/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

Kolina Hocevar period 5 Obamacare

Applicants ran into problems midday Monday when a technical issue temporarily blocked new users from creating accounts and picking plans. More than 100,000 people were using healthcare.gov at the same time, said a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services. Those visiting the site were told to wait to apply for coverage. They were also given the option to receive an email telling them when they could return to the site. The Obama administration is releasing the number of people who have picked plans, but that doesn't mean they are fully enrolled. That only happens after the first month's premium has been paid. Insurers say that payment rates have been in the 80% range, though it's been creeping up in recent weeks. Those who don't pay are dropped from coverage.

The true number of uninsured and truly unable to get insurance was under 10 million, and few of those are among the people Obamacare is "signing up". In fact, many who Obama takes credit for are simply Medicaid-eligible people finally filling out their paperwork because they don't want to pay the penalty. They're not actually gaining any protection from costs that they didn't already have.

Teen to government: Change your typeface, save millions - Nana Johnson 2nd Period

14 year old Suvir Mirchandani came up with an idea to save millions of dollar for the government all by switching the font we used. The idea all started with his science fair project, in which he was trying to save money and cut waste at his school. By collecting samples of his teacher's handouts, he was able to determine the weight of the most commonly used letters in different fonts. He analyzed that thinner fonts could save thousands of dollars by reducing ink consumption. Because the government prints so much annually, they are spending roughly $467 million just on ink. They could potentially save nearly $136 million per year by switching to the font "Garamond". The everyday user at home could also make the switch and save themselves money in the long run.

I really appreciate the fact that this kid, who is younger than I am, took the initiative to find more ways of cutting waste. Hardly any of us think about how much ink we are really using every time we print out an essay, but he actually analyzed such an unexpected source of waste. His experiment produces long term savings after viewing the amount of ink saved over time. Considering ink costs more than a bottle of French perfume, I think its a good idea to start printing out essays with a thinner font. As long as it is still legible, no one should have a problem with it. I don’t think the government would actually hop on board with his idea, but I think he is headed in a great direction.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/27/living/student-money-saving-typeface-garamond-schools/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Kolina HocevaR period 5 things get ugly at ABC

On Sunday, he notified ABC that he had accepted a job at the network's arch-rival, NBC. People at both networks immediately leaked the news -- ABC, to imply that "GMA" would be better off without Elliott, and NBC, to celebrate his arrival and destabilize "GMA." Elliott stayed silent. On Sunday, he notified ABC that he had accepted a job at the network's arch-rival, NBC. People at both networks immediately leaked the news -- ABC, to imply that "GMA" would be better off without Elliott, and NBC, to celebrate his arrival and destabilize "GMA." Elliott stayed silent. As Elliott's three-year contract approached its end, his representatives held informal talks with NBC about roles for him at NBC Sports, on programs like "Sunday Night Football," and at NBC News, on the "Today" show.

Shows how out of touch I am. I have no clue who this guy is. Since when is the news about the staff instead of what's happening in the world! These companies eliminate the investigative and foreign news teams and try to make the news about reporting on each other! I want back the JOURNALISTS, not the entertainers!

Kolina Hocevar period 5 moms death row

A new trial has been ordered for Mississippi death row inmate Michelle Byrom, according to a state Supreme Court opinion issued Monday. Byrom's capital murder conviction was reversed, and the case has been remanded to the circuit court for a new trial, the opinion said. Byrom has been on death row since her 2000 conviction for capital murder. The 57-year-old woman was convicted of being the mastermind of a murder-for-hire plot to kill her allegedly abusive husband, a killing her son had admitted to committing in several jailhouse letters and, according to court documents, in an interview with a court-appointed psychologist. "While we respect the Mississippi Supreme Court's decision, it is important that the trial court know and understand the specific errors that were found by the justices so that the lower court knows the best way to proceed," he said. "Our citizens can once again take comfort in the fact that we have a legal system that works for all parties involved." The defense attorneys also want to depose the prosecutor from her trial, Arch Bullard, regarding his knowledge of Byrom Jr.'s alleged confession to the psychologist.

If there is going to be a death penalty, even if you are a supporter. I would say it should only be for the most extreme cases where there is indisputable evidence against that person. Cases like this obviously should not be death penalty cases.

Student banned for hair color? By Valerie Coahuilas

A Michigan high school student says he’s been force to leave his track team just because of his hair. Mike Barker, a 17-year-old junior at West Iron County High School, recently styled his hair into a pink Mohawk to show his mother support his mother, who is battling breast cancer.  When authorities allegedly told him to choose between his hair, which violated school policy, and the team, Barker says, “I picked family." News of Baker’s story has spread in social media with many people showing their support. In the end the school announced that they fully support breast cancer awareness and did not dismiss Baker from the team.

https://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/the-battle-over-a-teen-s-pink-mohawk-174432152.html

Police Officer Killed- Alexa Almaguer 4th Period

Two teenagers, Brandon Goode and Alexandria Hollinghurst, from Davenport, Florida are accused of shooting a Windermere police officer before they both committed suicide. During the rescue more gunshots were heard and the two teens' bodies  were found not far from where Officer Robert German had been shot. The five year Windermere officer was pronunced dead at an Orlando hospital. The two teens left their families suicide letters after running away from home together and claiming that they were engaged. Officer German's tragic death has greatly affected the close-knit community of Winderemere, and Goode's parents acknowledged their sympathy in their statement to the press.

This entire situation is very tragic and unfortunate. Like everybody else I don't understand as to why Brandon and Alex killed an innocent police officer and went on to commit suicide. Maybe if Officer German never showed up the two teens would still be alive. However, I hope that this recent tragedy helps to get the message out to others that suicide is not the answer.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/26/justice/florida-officer-teens-killed/index.html?hpt=us_t5

Search for Girl in D.C. continues and deepens- Ashley Barnes 2nd

8 year old Relisha Tenau Rudd disappeared and went missing last week from a homeless shelter. The search was intensified when Washington D.C. police were able to focus on a subject based on certain evidence. Police are hopeful to find the girl, but they cannot ignore the fact that the man under investigation, Kahlil Malik Tatum, might have killed her. Mr. Tatum is also wanted for the murder of his wife.

On March 2nd, Kahlil Malik Tatum purchased a carton of black, self-tie contractor trash bags. He was also in the homeless shelter during the last day that Rudd was seen. Apparently he was also given parental permission to be with Rudd not long before she went missing. The police investigation intensified greatly when they found Tatum's wife murdered in a hotel. Tatum has not been seen since March 20.

I really hope that they find this girl. She has been missing for a week now, and I can't even imagine how terrible and dreadful that must be. Kahlil Malik Tatum looks like a pretty likely subject. Whether he is guilty or not, I hope they find him as well. This issue needs to be resolved.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/27/us/dc-missing-girl/index.html?hpt=us_c2

How I Met Your Mother comes to an end: Devon Travis

It's true. After 9 years of airing on television,  CBS's "How I Met Your Mother" is coming to an end. With a song on Just Dance 3 for Wii, or coined catchphrases, this is a big deal for pop culture. It's a family that finishes their last words. I'm sure all of us (at least i hope) has seen one episode of HIMYM, and you're touched by it. It makes you laugh, cry, sympathize, and be involved with a set of characters that have been out since I was 5. It'll be a rough night tonight, but I'm glad Ted's kids have finally finished the longest story of how their dad met their mom.

Which brings me to another point, does anyone else get too emotionally attached to movies, music, or books? Personally, I have a special place for One Tree Hill, Teen Wolf, Twisted, and many books (particularly Divergent). Our society has made it it's mission to have new characters that can touch us, but they leave lasting impressions on us. We long for these fictional characters to be real, to talk to us, relate with us. Why are we so psychologically attached? What are some pop culture things you're attached to?

to see the top 20 moments of HIMYM, click here http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/31/showbiz/tv/himym-finale/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Carsin Ablon, 1st Period APUSH -Aging Successfully Reversed in Mice; Human Trials to Begin Next

Scientists have successfully reversed the aging process of cells in mice. Lead Researcher David Sinclair of the University of New South Wales plans to begin testing this breakthrough medical discovery on humans within the year. As a result, through extremely advanced and precise application, people will hopefully be able to reverse the physical withering of aging. The mice test showed that after administering a specific compound, muscle deterioration and related diseases reverse. The compound given to the mice seemed to not only strengthen muscles, but reduce inflammation in muscles, create insulin resistance as well as give the mice more energy.

The biology in the article linked bellow, although summarized by the author, is far to complex for me to even begin re-writing. However, I can say that the end results are spectacular. Although this new age reversing discovery defies nature itself, I think that the medicine can be used extremely effectively in preserving the world's most important people. I am excited to see the application of this significant of a drug and hope that it hasn't completely put the matter of life and death into the hands of humans.

http://guardianlv.com/2014/01/ageing-successfully-reversed-in-mice-human-trials-to-begin-next/

"He's all-Ivy-- accepted to all 8 Ivy League colleges" By: McKay Fugate

In the next month, Kwasi Enin must make a tough decision: Which of the eight Ivy League universities should he attend this fall? A first-generation American from Shirley, N.Y., the 17-year-old violist and aspiring physician applied to all eight, from Brown to Yale. The responses began rolling in over the past few months, and by late last week when he opened an e-mail from Harvard, he found he'd been accepted to every one. School district officials provided scanned copies of acceptance letters from all eight on Monday. Yale confirmed that it was holding a spot for Enin. For most of the eight schools, acceptance comes rarely, even among the USA's top students. At the top end, Cornell University admitted only 14% of applicants. Harvard accepted just 5.9%. But Enin has "a lot of things in his favor," says college admissions expert Katherine Cohen, CEO and founder of IvyWise, a New York-based consulting firm. For one thing, he's a young man. He ranks No. 11 in a class of 647 at William Floyd, a large public school on Long Island's south shore. That puts him in the top 2% of his class. His SAT score, at 2,250 out of 2,400 points, puts him in the 99th percentile for African-American students. He will also have taken 11 Advanced Placement courses by the time he graduates this spring. He's a musician who sings in the school's a capella group and volunteers at Stony Brook University Hospital's radiology department. Enin plans to study medicine, as did both of his parents. They emigrated to New York from Ghana in the 1980s and studied at public colleges nearby. Both are nurses. Being a first-generation American from Ghana also helps him stand out, Cohen says. "He's not a typical African-American kid." Once he decides, she says, he should write letters to the seven runners-up saying he's "honored to have been admitted." After all, he's got to keep his options open for graduate school.

Ok, I know that everyone is stressing about college right now, but this actually gave me some hope. This kid has a lot of things going for him in a college admissions counselor's eyes, but I know he also possesses a lot of qualities that Booker T. students have. From what I've read, he's driven, smart, well rounded, and loves the arts. Not saying that we will all be accepted into Ivy League schools, but at least we know we have a chance.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/31/ivy-league-admissions-college-university/7119531/

Making High Tech Cars: By Taylor Grant-Gates

The Unites States requires that all new cars have backup cameras. Automakers will be required to install backup cameras in most of their new vehicles by May 2018. There are nearly 210 back over deaths each year. NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) believes that the installation of back up cameras will significantly decrease that number.  Backup cameras would save between 59 and 69 deaths per year. It was recommended by the NHTSA before but has now been put into actual law. AS well as being a beacon for safety the backup cameras would also benefit the driver by making it easier to park.

This is really good that they want to install a backup camera to help with the safety issue. I applaud the people who fought for this law to be passed. I just have one question, if all of the cars are supposed to have back up cameras will student drivers be able to use them on their driving exams? I know it sounds and seems ridiculous to ask a question like that but seriously do they? If you take the test today and use some of those backup cameras to backup, you automatically fail your diving exam. The student drivers learning to drive will get used to the back up cameras in all of the drive times that they take, or will they? Will these backup cameras have the ability to be shut off? I am sure they will but you have to keep some things in mind......

Madison Ceurter 5th period: U.N. court orders Japan to halt whale hunt

The International Court of Justice ruled that Japan can't hunt whale's anymore.  There are no license's or permits being given out to the people of Japan to hunt whale's.  Japan's fleet has an annual whale hunt despite a worldwide prohibition of the activity, taking advantage of a loophole in the law that permits the killing of the whales for scientific research.  These scientific researchers go in environmental groups such as Sea Shepherd's in an attempt to disrupt the whaling.  These disruptions have led to collisions with ships and other activities.  I do agree that these whale's don't need to be hunted because they have families too.  The mothers shouldn't be separated from their babies, but what are the Japanese supposed to do about food.  I guess they can stop hunting and eating whale's and eat something else for food.  I think that would be the best solution, for the Japanese to stop eating whale.

New Cameras for Cars - Emily Gray 5th period

New rear view cameras are to be out in all new cars by 2018. The cameras fit a 10 by 20 foot camera angle. These new cameras will help reduce the death of many pedestrians being ran over by drivers who don't have this rear visibility.

This article was written by Eric Beech by Yahoo! News on March, 31, 2014. This new edition to cars is spectacular in my opinion. Whenever I drive I always have the fear of running over something when I'm pulling out of the driveway or a parking space. I will be pleased to see this new law reduce deaths of this incident. New technology like this makes us hopeful for new ways to make us safer than before.

Emily Gray - 5th

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/u-require-cars-rearview-cameras-2018-163238213--sector.html

Climate Change Will Affect Everyone,Can We Help Change That? - Lizy Rutherford 4th pd

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report documenting the effects of climate change globally, on natural systems and human systems, as well as documenting already seen effects of global warming. The report was worked on 400 authors who collectively reviewed 12,000 reports. The effects range from acidification of our oceans to loss of species to changes in rainfall patterns. However, this report had 'guarded optimism' written in: "We have a deep pool of options, we have a deep pool of experience, and I think a deep pool of creativity and innovation that can be applied to managing the risks from global warming," said Christopher Field, co-chair of Working Group 2, the group that produced the document.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2014/0331/Climate-change-to-leave-no-one-on-planet-untouched-IPCC-chief-says

Climate change is both something I really care about and something that deeply scares me. It's not like the Earth is adjusting different climates like during the Ice Age - we have changed that due to industrialization over the past 150 years. It only took 150 years to get to this point. Our Earth is more fragile than we realize, and we need to do everything we can to protect it.

Felicia Padilla 5th period- "Party of the rich"

 Everyone assumes the Republicans are the party of the rich...This label has stuck for decades.  Democrats have been complaining about GOP opposition to raising the minimum wage and extending unemployment benefits. However, the richest people are most likely to be Democrats rather than Republicans. Of the 10 richest House districts, only two have Republican congressmen, while democrats claim the top six. 

The richest: New York's 12th Congressional District, which includes Manhattan's Upper East Side, as well as parts of Queens and Brooklyn. Is represented by Democrat Carolyn Maloney.

Per capita income in Maloney's district is more than $75,000 a year for every man, woman and child. The next highest income district in California comes in at $61,273, and is represented by Democrat Henry Waxman. 

 Democratic House districts have an average per capita income of $27,893. That's about $1,000 higher than the average income in Republican districts. 

During the 2012 presidential election, Republican nominee Mitt Romney declared, "We're not the party of the rich. We're the party of the people who want to get rich."

This is really interesting. Many people assume that Republicans are only Republicans because they are rich. However, it is good that there is this information to let other people know and have an accurate representation of the parties. 

http://news.yahoo.com/party-rich-congress-democrats-040228270--election.html

"Why Do We Make Students Sit Still in Class?" - Camille Farrar

            This article chronicles Carolina Blatt-Gross’s struggle to find a school that her sons would do well at. Her sons are extremely high-energy and move around a lot. She knew they wouldn’t do well in a traditional school setting, and searched for a place that would be able to accommodate their seemingly endless energy. Eventually, she found Hess Academy, which incorporates dance, music, yoga, and other physical activities into the students’ daily routines. They go to the playground during the day to look at the things they have been studying in the classroom. Students are allowed to sit wherever they like in the classroom during lessons. Blatt-Gross said that she has done lots of research and has found that most students do better when they are able to move around when they please.

            I thought this article was very interesting. Education and how we learn is one of the most important subjects. The advancements that schools such as Hess Academy are making in students’ performance are amazing. Hopefully, more schools will model themselves after Hess Academy so as to help students overall. I think that movement incorporated into the school day is extremely important for the development of children because children are naturally energetic and drawn to movement. It’s very hard for most small children to sit still for an entire day at school, meaning that they tend to zone out and lose interest after a little while. Those afforded the privilege to move around during the day are usually more engaged and interested in the subjects at hand. Hopefully there will be many more improvements to the education system like this in years to come.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/30/living/no-sitting-still-movement-schools/index.html?hpt=us_c2

A class of their own: 5 from Booker T. accepted to Juilliard Ilana Lemack

Booker T. already has an amazing reputation, producing stars such as  Grammy winners Erykah Badu, Edie Brickell and Norah Jones, but after an exciting event that occurred last week, the school has become even more prestigious. The Juilliard School accepted five Booker T. students into its 2014 freshman class. Dance coordinator Lily Weiss compared the 5 acceptances to winning a lottery. Madison Hicks, Alysia Johnson, Mason Manning and My’Kal Stromile will be among the 12 women and 12 men in Juilliard’s freshman dance class and Alicia Crodwer earned a spot amongst the 18 accepted for theater.Karon Cogdill, Booker T.’s theater coordinator, said Crowder’s talent lies in her nonverbal abilities on stage. Overall, Juilliard accepts only about 7 percent of those who apply, about the same as Yale University. Weiss said she especially was impressed by two male dancers making the cut in a field dominated by women. Scott Rudes, Booker T.’s proud principal, praised his students and their instructors for their dedication, passion and work ethic. 

Shoutout to my school for going down in the books. It is an amazing feat to have 1 student get accepted to Juilliard let alone have 5 students be accepted. I was able to be in the same class as the 4 dancers when they found out they had been accepted and it was a great feeling to see all of the positive energy in the dance studios. There is an energy at Booker T. that is unlike the energy at any other school and I'm lucky to be able to go to a school with so much talent and such good vibes. 

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/headlines/20140328-a-class-of-their-own-5-from-booker-t.-accepted-to-juilliard.ece

Best Toilet Paper - Zien Lin (P4)

Summary: They don't make toilet paper like they used to due to downsizing. So a test was conducted to see what brand of toilet paper has the best strength, softness, disintegration, and ease of tearing. The winner? White Cloud 3-Ply Ultra sold at Wal-Mart.

Response: I wish I knew this before I went and loaded up on supplies/groceries at Sam's today..

Source: https://shopping.yahoo.com/news/the-toilet-papers-that-top-consumer-reports--tests-001516205.html

Two Teens Commit Suicide After Killing a Cop Jack Mckay

It was a saturday morning when officer German was found dead after calling for back up. He had signaled for help after finding Brandon Goode, 18, and Alex Hollinghurst, 17.  A few days before, the two teens were reported missing by their parents. Both had left notes to their parents the morning of them running away. Both letters were filled with goodbyes and talking about committing suicide because of the trouble they had caused to their loved ones lives. The two teenagers had been arrested several times for underaged drinking. Officer German found them a few days later and thats when he called for back up. When helped arrived police found German with fatal gun wounds  and the two teens dead under near by brush, also with gun wounds. All three were announced deceased that day.

I think the general moral of the story is to not get into trouble. If you have issues, not matter what, there are always ways to solve them in a good way. Y'all, I think committing suicide is not the solution to a hard situation and should not even be considered by any one. There are better ways to making you life better.

Author: Vivian Kuo
Date: March 27, 2014

Link:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/26/justice/florida-officer-teens-killed/index.html?hpt=us_t4

Deaf woman hears for the first time Peyton Wilson 5th period

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2014/03/29/deaf-woman-hears-for-the-first-time.cnn.html

A woman in the UK who had been deaf her whole life had a life changing procedure done and there is a video of her hearing for the first time, later saying that the procedure was the most emotional endeavor of her life.

Analysis:

I find it remarkable that technology has come so far that a woman, deaf since birth, can get a procedure, allowing her to hear.  She later asked a friend to make a playlist of songs because she had always wanted to know what music sounded like. What songs do you play for someone who has never heard music? I know that, personally, a day without music sounds like torture, so imagining 40 years without it is absolutely astounding.

Kid saves tons of money and the environment- Peyton Wilson 5th

Reducing paper use through recycling and dual-sided printing had been talked about before as a way to save money and conserve resources, but there was less attention paid to the ink for which the paper served as a canvas for history and algebra handouts.

"Ink is two times more expensive than French perfume by volume," Suvir Mirchandani says with a chuckle.

He's right: Chanel No. 5 perfume costs $38 per ounce, while the equivalent amount of Hewlett-Packard printer ink can cost up to $75.

So Suvir decided to focus his project on finding ways to cut down on the costly liquid.

Collecting random samples of teachers' handouts, Suvir concentrated on the most commonly used characters (e, t, a, o and r).

First, he charted how often each character was used in four different typefaces: Garamond, Times New Roman, Century Gothic and Comic Sans. Then he measured how much ink was used for each letter, using a commercial tool called APFill® Ink Coverage Software.

Next he enlarged the letters, printed them and cut them out on cardstock paper to weigh them to verify his findings. He did three trials for each letter, graphing the ink usage for each font.

(There is more to the story which I encourage you to read at http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/27/living/student-money-saving-typeface-garamond-schools/index.html?hpt=us_c2)

Analysis: 

I am thoroughly impressed that a kid, in today's world, did all of this research to essentially save schools money and make incredible discoveries on how to do little things to help the environment. It would have been so easy to just be like "Oh someone else will think of this" or "someone else has probably already done the same thing", but he went for it and impressed Harvard and all these big names.