current event kyla cakarnis

Thanks to a NASA physicist, the notion of warp speed might just travel out of sci-fi and into the real world. NASA's Harold White has been working since 2010 to develop a warp drive that will allow spacecraft to travel at speeds faster than light -- 186,000 miles per second.White, who heads NASA's Advanced Propulsion Team, spoke about his conceptual starship at a conference last fall. But interest in his project reached a new level this week when he unveiled images of what the craft might look like.Created by artist Mark Rademaker, who based them on White's designs, the images show a technologically detailed spacecraft that wouldn't look out of place in a "Star Trek" movie. Rademaker says creating them took more than 1,600 hours.At the SpaceVision 2013 Space Conference last November in Phoenix, White talked about his design, the concepts behind it and the progress that's been made in warp-drive development over the decades. He discussed the idea of a "space warp," a loophole in the theory of general relativity that would allow for massive distances to be traveled very quickly, reducing travel times from thousands of years to days.

This is actually really cool. It means that we are close to being able to travel to far away places, that might contain life, in the future. It was previously thought that we would never have the capabilities of traveling fast enough to reach any of these distant places. It is kinda funny that they based the designs off of fictional movies. But ultimately this is huge in the realm of science.

current event kyla cakarnis

U.S. fighter jets intercepted Russian bombers off Alaska and California this month, the latest incidents in a string of recent aerial encounters over the Pacific. On June 4, according to U.S. defense officials, four long-range Russian Tu-95 Bear-H bombers, accompanied by an aerial refueling tanker, flew into the U.S. Air Defense Identification Zone, an area extending 200 miles from the North American coast, off Alaska, where they were intercepted by U.S. F-22 fighter jets. Two of the Russian bombers peeled off and headed west, while the other two flew south and were identified by U.S. F-15 fighters within 50 miles of the California coast. Capt. Jeff Davis, a spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, said it was the first time U.S. jets had intercepted Russian military aircraft off California since July 4, 2012. Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren said it is believed the Russian planes were on a training mission. Davis said the Russian planes were entirely within their rights during the flight. "They followed all the protocols, and it was a very professional encounter on both sides," he said. "There was nothing that they were doing that was contrary to international law." The Russian planes never entered U.S. territory proper.

Even though the planes never technically entered our airspace , this is sketchy. Why would there be a need for them to fly so close? There are many other places they could be flying so why so close to our country? We have not had the best relations with russia in the past so i don't think they would just fly so close if there wasn't a different motive.

current event kyla cakarnis

A vacant luxury home is on the brink of collapsing 75 feet into Lake Whitney. The 4,000-square-foot home began crumbling into the water after the home’s foundation began eroding. A crack in the cliff near the home was noticed about one year ago, according to the Hill County Sheriff, and the house was condemned. The owners of the property reportedly moved out two weeks ago. The owners of the home will be responsible for the clean-up costs. The home was built in 2007 and is worth more than $700,000, according to tax records.

This is really sad. This family just recently bought this home and had no idea it was built on a fault line that would soon crumble. Also, they should not be forced to pay for this incident. It isn't their fault that this is happening and there is nothing they could do to stop it. I think they should not be forced to pay for this.

Current Event kyla cakarnis

Pressure for the United States to provide military support to Iraq's struggling government has increased, with conservative Republicans blaming Obama for the crisis by pulling out U.S. troops in 2011 to create a security vacuum. GOP critics also say that Obama's unwillingness to provide significant military backing to opposition forces in Syria's civil war has contributed to the ability of the militant Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, attack in Iraq. Taking questions from reporters after his statement, Obama acknowledged that the Syrian civil war has been spilling over into Iraq "for some time now," adding that the regional conflict "is going to be a long-term problem" and that the Iraqi government now sought U.S. help after previously resisting offers. Obama also noted that Iraqi troops weren't "willing to stand and fight" against the militant attackers, calling it a "problem in terms of morale" and commitment that reflected the political divisions in the country. Now, he said, the violence could worsen if Sunni militants sweeping across Iraq take over sacred Shia sites. Earlier, Secretary of State John Kerry mentioned some initial U.S. moves to back the Maliki government, but stopped short of spelling out further steps that could include air strikes intended to slow the progress of militants and help the Iraqi military regain its equilibrium.

This is concerning. We were just starting to remove troops and now we may go back. We helped the country to be able to support and defend itself and now they are not following through. Even Obama admitted that we cannot help them, only they can truly help themselves. We should not lose more american lives for a country that is unwilling to help itself.

First world problems, no. (sydney c, 5th)

Water is Life is a non-profit organization that accepts donations to get water to people in countries where resources are scarce.  They recently made a video depicting people from third world countries quoting "First World Problems" against the dramatic backdrops of their small homes, run down villages, and barren farms. 

These dramatic images really speak of the growing gap between the rich and the impoverished.  People in countries where the government is functional, the infastructure works, electricity is readily available, and water is everywhere tend to take their higher standard of living for granted.  The development of the "first world problems" trend is proof of this thought system that many seem to have adopted.  We should stop complaining about leaving the milk out and losing charger cables, and start acknowledging the fact that we are ridiculously lucky to have milk and charger cables. 


Watch the video here.
http://waterislife.com/media/videos/index.php?id=6

" 'The Weed Fairy' visits Seattle, gives out pot " Tyra Harris, 5th period

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/25644652/the-weed-fairy-visits-seattle-gives-out-pot

Summary:

Yeni Sleidi, 23, the self professed "Weed Fairy" gave away free nuggets of marijuana to Seattle civilians over Memorial Day weekend. The broadcast it, she taped "free pot" on fliers around a city neighborhood. The 50 fliers had the weed nuggets attached to it. The fliers read: "These are tough times. Take this weed. And keep your spirits high." Sleidi says she does it to "amuse people and to give them a break from everyday stress. "She said the idea first came to her while she lived in New York during the government shutdown and several of her friends were affected by it. Sledi says she "wanted to distract them from the stress." Her distribution of marijuana in New York garnered a lot of media coverage. 

Analysis:
I think Sleidi should be careful not to get caught by the Seattle PD. Ownership, distribution and use of marijuana is illegal in the state of Oregon. It's interesting that calls to the Seattle PD were returned to comment on this report.


**Side note: You can follow "The Weed Fairy" on twitter: @danksyappleweed

"New bride under fire for attaching child to wedding dress" Tyra Harris, 5th period

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/25669588/new-bride-under-fire-for-attaching-child-to-wedding-dress

Summary: Shona Carter-Brooks of Tennessee walked down the aisle with her one month son old daughter attached to the bottom of the bottom of her wedding gown. The bride desired for the infant to be somehow apart of the ceremony. Some

people who have seen this picture feel she should be reported to Child Protection Services.
Shona has since defended herself by saying the baby was "awake, well secured and covered by Christ." She wrote on Facebook, "I see how it works. Regardless the situation...people are going to have something negative to say."

The bride walking down with the aisle with her infant daughter attached to the dress.

Analysis: There are several different ways to include your child in your marital ceremony, other than attaching her to the near edge of your dress that drags on the floor. However, I don't believe Shona did this with malicious intentions. At the time, she thought it was a good idea...and it is HER wedding after all. It's sad that a guest at her wedding, who of which she trusted, would spread this picture all over web and ruin the newlywed's memory of what is suppose to be one the happiest days of her life.

do we make bullying illegal? Devon Travis

Mark O'Mara reflects on his accounts of witnessing bullying as a criminal defense lawyer, and how they can affect all aspects of the victim and their families. Bullying isn't a little matter of name-calling and teasing, but blatant harm to one for no apparent reason, except to make one person feel humiliatingly miserable. O'Mara proposed a bill in Florida to make bullying illegal, but it quickly died out. People don't want to simply accept bullying as a crime. Photographer Rich Johnson recently completed a series of photos taken to show the internal pain bullying causes. The children look like they are abused, but the abuse is verbal. This puts things into a new perspective.

What are your views on bullying? Do we legally punish kids for calling each other names? Do we let kids whip their peers with verbal abuse that leads to tragic events? We need a common ground. We need to teach our kids to stand up to bullying and confront the "mean girls" into stopping a little fun and games for the bullies from turning into a tragic death of a victim.

Check out the pictures here: http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/03/opinion/omara-bullying-legislation/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

gay sam smathers 4th

"The Power in choosing to be Gay" by Suzanna Danuta Walters from the Atlantic
URL: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/06/whats-wrong-with-choosing-to-be-gay/371551/
Sam Smathers 4th

   This article talks about how being gay is a biological pre determination not a choice. The author said that making sure that society knows that gay people do not choose to be gay is an important fact to spread around because if being gay isn't a choice, that it can not be cured, so it has to be okay because it is natural. The author said that it is important that everyone has encounters with gay people on a daily basis because it will help the populous be more accepting and educated on this.

   I don't really get why people don't like gay people. They are just people. Judging someone before you get to know them based off of something the person doesn't even control is very rude. We should all be nicer to each other.

Apology circa Justin Bieber: Joan Milburn pd. 1

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/01/showbiz/justin-bieber-racist-joke/index.html?hpt=hp_t5

Justin Bieber was trying hard to do some damage control after a video of him making a racist joke was released. Justin did several promotional videos apologizing for what he said... and that he knew what he said was stupid and realized it after.

Response
Justin Bieber needs to get his stuff together. He's kinda going cray

12 year old girl stabbed 19 times by her own friends: Joan Milburn pd. 1

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/03/justice/wisconsin-girl-stabbed/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

2 12 year old girls were trying to prove something to an internet figure known as "slender man," so they lured a third into the woods where they stabbed her 19 times. The wounded child who was stabbed by her own friends had to crawl to her own rescue. It was said that the two who committed the crime wanted to enter the true internet realm- and in order to do so they had to kill someone

Response
This is so awful and twisted, I don't even know what to say. What has our youth and society come to? It's hard to think that there are so many of those perverted sites out there that are just sending the totally wrong message to kids. No child should be trying to kill another to prove something to an internet ghoul.

Teacher drops 100 pounds by dancing: Joan Milburn pd. 1

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/02/health/weight-loss-roni-tarver-irpt/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

In 2012, a 5 foot 6 agriculture teacher in the Fort Worth area weighed in at 235 pounds. Not only that- she was popping pain pills for her bad back and getting winded going up the stairs even though she quit smoking. She decided to embark on a weight loss journey- physically dancing off 100 pounds by 2014.

Response
I think this is really miraculous and so awesome! Americans are always looking for ways to lose some weight but I think that a lot of time they overthink it. It could all just be as simple as dancing! I also think that more americans need to take the initiative to better themselves, just like she did.

Children stabbed on way to get ice cream: Joan Milburn

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/02/justice/new-york-children-stabbed-elevator/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

2 children from New York City, aged 6 and 7, were on there way to get themselves ice cream when they were each stabbed in the elevator. The boy was stabbed in the torso and was fatally wounded, by the time he arrived at the hospital he was pronounced dead. The girl remains in critical condition. Police are still looking for the man that did this.

Response

This is so sad. I am also baffled that a man can just stab two innocent children in an elevator and then get away. I cannot imagine what the families of these two children are going through. I really just want the monster that did this to be caught. I can't fathom a child murderer just walking the streets.

Hurricanes Have Genders Now

Studies have shown that hurricanes with female names have had higher death rates than those with masculine names. Studies show that its because people assume a hurricane will be less destructive because its girly so more people are actually harmed as a result of not evacuating. Not only were statistics used to prove this but an experiment was conducting providing the same evidence. They asked people to rate hurricanes based on their names, the ones with female names were ranked lower than those with masculine names.

People are so ignorant because they assume that just because of a name, a hurricane will be less destructive. A name is irrelevant to the hurricane it merely just a way to classify it and making assumptions about it is unwise and can be fatal. Always be prepared for a hurricane or even better just evacuate.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/03/us/female-hurricanes-deadlier/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Two Missing Boat Accidents

Two incidents of missing boaters were reported on sunday at Lake Michigan. The first incident was caused when The boaters entered the water late Saturday night during a voyage from New Buffalo, Michigan, to Chicago. Officials didn't say what happened to their boat. When rescued, the people had cases of hypothermia. The second incident involved the boat riders getting in the water to cool off from the heat but the boat started drifting away and they couldn't get it back. Everyone was wearing lifejackets though. 

I think its kind of funny that people can get separated from their boat even when they are right there! Swimming should be a basic skill that everyone learns other wise, don't get in the water. Loosing your boat is irresponsible and childish but i guess it happens to some people. 

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/01/us/lake-michigan-coast-guard-search/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Man Arrested for Suicide Attempts

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/03/us/california-explosive-materials-suspect/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Ryan Kelly Chamberlain was arrested Monday night at Crissy Field, a popular tourist spot near the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco. He was arrested for obtaining a dangerous material in his home. They searched his house because of complainants stating that he had "items of great concern." He wouldn't elaborate to officials what the material was but none was found in his home. After the search a suicide note was found written by Chamberlain. Officials conclude that he was attempting to commit suicide.

I believe that no one should ever commit suicide no matter what, especially if it puts others in danger. Chamberlain can almost be considered ignorant and selfish because of his actions that put other people, innocent tourists, in danger. He should have consulted some one about his suicidal thoughts before they got out of hand.

12-year-old Wisconsin girl stabbed 19 times; friends arrested

2 twelve year old girls lured their friend into the woods after a sleepover over the weekend, saying they were going to play a game of hide and seek. Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier allegedly committed this crime as a way to move up on a website about the popular internet character Slenderman. On the website, creepypasta.com, in order to move up as a user, you must kill someone. The girl, who's name has not yet been released, managed to crawl out of the woods and was spotted by a cyclist, who immediately called 911. The girl is said to be okay and in stable condition. Geyser and Weier will be tried as adults and are currently in custody on 500,000 bond. How horrific. I cannot imagine middle schol students committing such a thing, they're not even teenagers yet. I feel terrible for the girl, her wounds may heal, but the emotional scars will be there for a very long time. I'm curious to see how the trail of the two girls goes, considering their young age and being tried as adults. http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/03/justice/wisconsin-girl-stabbed/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Paramedic Called A Hero For Risking His Life To Save Suicidal Man

An Orange County paramedic is being called a hero for risking his life to save a suicidal man. Mike Curtis, a local L.A paramedic ran swerving through cars on the I-5 Freeway screaming to a man on the overpass not to jump. Initially the man sans,t acting right and the police called for him to step away from the curb and come talk to them. He then ran over to the overpass and climbed up. Mike Curtis ran up there and tackled him to the ground, risking his own life in the process. “It’s not in our nature to have to chase down our patients and tackle them,” Curtis said, “but I felt this was the right thing to do.” What a great story of bravery. Suicide is never the answer, even if you think it is. Mike Curtis helped that man in ways the man probably doesn't even know yet. It gets better, and Mike Curtis showed that man that.

Hog hunt in Melbourne, Florida as wild pigs head for roads- Jessica Dicker

Around 30-35 wild hogs are loose in Brevard County, and they are causing a ruckus. These hogs have torn up soil and grass, causing grub worms to surface and take over the town. In the beginning, the townspeople weren't too worried, until the animals started causing car crashes. While authorities are worried fo a fatal crash, and the townspeople are worried for there crops, the town is quickly devising a plan to fix the situation. I really hope the town doesn't go on a hog kill. Maybe put them in a multi-acre fenced area for now until Brevard County can give the hogs to a zoo or something. Hogs are hard to catch though, and I hope no one gets hurt in the process of or become a victim of a car crash. http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2014/6/2/hog_hunt_in_melbourn.html?hpt=us_bn8

Two dead after fiery wreck on Highway 67 in Dallas(Rhyann Lee)

Two dead after fiery wreck on Highway 67 in Dallas(Rhyann Lee)
Summary:
Two people were killed in a vehicle wreck on Highway 67 in southern Dallas on Monday.
The accident occurred on Monday about 2:15 p.m. near the intersection with Loop 12.
Police said the black four-door sedan was traveling southbound in a closed HOV lane and hit a protruding concrete barrier, causing the wreck. The car rotated and burst into flames.
Sky4 showed the charred sedan perched up against the concrete barrier.
One lane of traffic was open in both directions during Monday evening rush hour.


Analysis: I saw this when I was on my way to get my nails done . it looked Horrifying and scary


Read more: http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/25673074/two-dead-after-fiery-wreck-on-highway-67-in-dallas#ixzz33aQ2YR49

MySpace. Gloria Jones. 4th Period

So fun fact Justin Timberlake bought Myspace in 2011.  Now it's trying to make a comeback, which is a little embarrassing. In fact, Myspace is essentially blackmailing old users by emailing them embarrassing photos to lure them back to the social network.
This is crazy. I think MySpace should accept it's demise, and move on.

http://gma.yahoo.com/myspace-tries-lure-back-members-embarrassing-photos-145513787--abc-news-topstories.html

6 missing Mount Rainier climbers believed to have fallen (Haley Hill, 4th)

6 missing Mount Rainier climbers believed to have fallen

Susanna Capelouto and Janet DiGiacomo for CNN

6 people attempted to climb Mount Rainier in Washington, but the last contact they had with people on the ground was wednesday. They were supposed to descend Friday, but no one has heard from them since. They are believed dead because inclement weather and high winds may have blown them off the face of the mountain which has a 50% incline. Searches continue to find the hikers, but rescuers say the chances of survival-even finding the bodies- are slim to none because it is almost impossible for ground searches to take place.

Katey Guinn "Bounce house flies away with kids inside" by CNN STaff

             While at a lacrosse game in Colorado, kids were playing inside of a bounce house. As the wind started to pick up rapidly, the bounce house began to flow away. A girl slid down the slide and the bounce house was tumbling over like a blowing bag in the wind about eight feet in the air. The bounce house went right through where all the players were standing so it was not to hard for people to stop the bounce house from getting away. Luckily. none of the children inside of the bounce house were too terribly injured, they just looked really shaken and beaten up by what happened. These poor kids will forever be scared for life.

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2014/06/01/nr-sots-co-bounce-house-flies-away.kusa.html

25 years on, Tiananmen barely known to China youth

Analysis: In this article it tells of this college student who had no idea of the rallies that were going on in protest of his hometown Beijing. What I think about this is how can this guy who lived there for 25 years not really know what was happened in his own city. I really can're believe this story and how he didn't find out about until he went to go to school in England and a fellow student showed it to him. It makes me wonder if there are other people who are living without knowing what is really going on in their own country and how they would react.

Katey Guinn "12 year old girl stabbed 19 times" by Katey Guinn

            Two 12 year old girls are being charged with attempted homicide for the stabbing of a fellow classmate 19 times. The two girls plotted for months to murder their friend and their plan was to lure the victim into the woods before stabbing her to death in the arms, legs, and torso. The two girls are being investigated to figure out how and what possessed them to do such a horrific crime. The two girls are being charged as adults even though they are not even teenagers. Both families of the suspects have no comments on the manner at this moment, only that they are very sad about what has happened and their sincerest apologies for the actions of their daughters.

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/crime/2014/06/03/dnt-12-year-old-stabbing-suspects.wtmj.html

Clues sought in deadly Massachusetts jet crash

Analysis: In this tragedy that happened this past weekend seven people have lost there lives when a plane went into take off and somehow just dropped out of the air and crashed. Many people this past week had mourned the loss of the people on board and many people are wondering what had happened. What I think of this tragedy is that nothing really might have happened and it might have just been an accident, while on the other hand it is kind of suspicious that something like this would happen. In the end if someone did something to the plane, I hope they catch that person soon to let the people who had lost their lives rest in peace.

FBI: Explosive suspect found after three day man-hunt.

Analysis: In this article it tells of the FBI finally catching an explosive suspect that had been attacking people. What I really think about this is that I am really happy that they had caught someone like this yet, in the article they said that the man who they arrested was a really nice guy and many people had liked him. What Of really want to know is if this guy really is as bad as they say he is or of he is innocent, but then again humans are capable of really anything.                                                    

Police: Wisconsin girl, 12, stabbed 19 times; friends arrested (Haley Hill, 4th)

Police: Wisconsin girl, 12, stabbed 19 times; friends arrested

Jason Hanna and Dana Ford for CNN

Two 12 year old girls, fixated on a wikipedia site that specifically posted horror stories, decided to create their own horror story by luring their friend into the woods by their house and almost stabbing her to death. Fortunately, the young victim crawled to a road and was rescued by a bicyclist and is in stable condition. The two girls who are suspects in the case are being tried as adults for the attempted intentional homicide and the evidence is stacked against them in court. 

Their reason for committing the crime was to prove to a fictional character who posted on the website frequently that they were the real deal. They had been planning the attack since February but planned to execute it this past weekend.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/02/justice/wisconsin-girl-stabbed/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Griffin Johnston, 4th period, The 2008 recession saved marriages

            In an article on CNN.com, Melanie Hicken describes how the 2008 recession saved marriages. Because of the greater vigilance towards ones credit/financial status due to the recession, couples saw that communicating with their spouses about money was imperative in the shaky economic times. Spouses became more willing to disclose more financial with each other, and this increased communication helped the couple’s financial status. Before 2008, only 35 percent of couples discussed their credit score as compared to after 2008, where 60% of couples divulged their credit score. After the recession couples stated that they were likely to discuss purchases that were more than (around) $256 as opposed to couples before the recession neglecting to discuss purchases of more than $1,000. By more effectively stabilizing the couple’s financial status, a married couple is less likely to undergo the discrepancies that usually provoke separation.

            It is human nature to look upon an event such as the 2008 economic downturn and solely focus on the negative aspects that came out of it. This trait is there because it helped humans (and, undoubtedly, countless other animals) survive (and continues today: a nomadic hunter-gatherer family would remember that when their friend sat under a tree by the river, they were swarmed by bees; they would not remember that they had previously had a great night’s sleep. While it is certainly helpful to remember the negative side of things so one can learn something from it, by constantly searching for the good in everything, one can go through life with a much more optimistic, positive attitude. The ability to look for the good that comes out of things regardless of whether it has glaring negative aspects, will enable a person to enjoy life more.

http://money.cnn.com/2014/06/02/pf/marriage-money/index.html?iid=SF_E_River

Nia Edwards 4th period--Children stabbed in Elevator

Nia Edwards
4th period


Sunday June 1, 2014, A man stabbed two children. New York police are still searching for this man who police described  as a "heavy set" black male, approximately 6 feet tall, between ages 25 and 35, and last seen wearing a gray shirt. He stabbed a 6-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl inside an elevator in their apartment building in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn and fled, police said. Prince Joshua "PJ" Avitto, 6, was stabbed in the torso and transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The girl was also stabbed in the torso and remains in critical condition, according to police. Families of both children have been coping with grief and have struggled to comprehend the situation.

I just can't wrap my head around how someone could do this. These poor children. It makes me so sad. People are really messed up now a days. I can't imagine what these families must be thinking right now. Hopefully this man is found and put in prison for this horrific crime.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/02/justice/new-york-children-stabbed-elevator/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Breaking the cycle of homelessness (Haley Hill, 4th)

Breaking the cycle of homelessness

By Ciara Musson for CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/02/us/iyw-covenant-house/index.html?hpt=us_t2

For Cherise Peters, the ambition to earn a doctorate in the medical field seems unattainable for a woman who was homeless the previous year. However, upon finding the Covenant House, a doctorate seemed like something she could achieve. 1 in 45 children experience some form of homelessness according to the National Center on Family Homelessness. The Covenant House International is aimed at eliminating that. Not only have they have helped over a million children, but they've aided children in the US, Canada, and Latin America as a "bridge from poverty to opportunity."

The Big Bra-blem-Meg Mickelsen

A problem in our society has recently come to my attention that I feel far too strongly about to preserve my silence on the matter.  Despite the fact that wearing a bra is completely unnecessary for me and many women, society pressures us to wear bras at all times in public. So, I am starting a movement. Let us shun the perceived necessity of bras, and be comfortable with our natural selves. Breasts are an idolized and obsessed over symbol of sexuality, but the public imagination has become entirely out of touch with their natural appearance.  The shape, size and silhouette of the breast has become only acceptable as a standardized distortion, lifted and squished  by pointless push-ups, padding, and wire.  We fear visibility of the nipple above all, never mind that the nipple is a trait common among all humans, The pressure to wear bras is overwhelming, harmful to self esteem, and pointless for many women.  For some women it is painful to not wear a bra, but most women, especially young women wear a bra for appearance only.  A French study (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/11/women-bras-study-france-false-necessity_n_3062114.html) even suggests wearing bras is harmful to health.  The connective tissue lifting the breast may strengthen with exposure gravity and a natural bounce, while the compression of the breast may actually increase risk of breast cancer.  Luckily, the solution is simple. We should treat bras like we treat makeup.  They may be an appearance enhancer but they are certainly not necessary.  In protest I encourage women to take off their bras and go out in public.  You may feel uncomfortable at first, but ultimately you will be empowered to love your natural body. So take off your bra, love yourself, and tell your friends.

Who pays for first lady's fabulous fashions?- Sarah Klein 4th period

 Michelle Obama's fabulous clothing is the subject of endless public fascination and one very hot question: Who pays for these beautiful designer outfits?
 Her fashion choices combine everyday fare with custom creations from designers whose prices can easily run into five figures. It takes a lot of money to keep up that wardrobe. 

But do taxpayers foot the bill? Despite the critics, the answer is no.

The financing of the first lady's wardrobe is something that the Obama White House is loath to discuss. It is a matter that has plagued presidents and their wives for centuries. First ladies are expected to dress well, but the job doesn't come with a clothing allowance or a salary. Mostly, these clothes are paid for by the President's own income, and often the clothes come at a discounted price, especially for the extraordinary publicity.

How would we ever really know if taxpayer money went to personal expenses of the President and his wife? However, I'm sure that every designer will knock a few digits off their price for a piece that garners attention from the first lady.

http://news.yahoo.com/pays-first-ladys-fabulous-fashions-080001794.html

Byron Otis-Horrifying Story

Recently, inspired by internet horror stories, two middle school girls turned murderous. This is insane. This is awful. Yet in a way, I understand it. I remember being that age, and I remember the impact that the media I consumed and loved had on me. I can recall how the suspension of reality brought by these stories and tv shows and such could often continue into common life, following me and warping the world. At that age, reality doesn't have as strong a hold on you, and I imagine that, when one's mind is consumed with this gory mess, at that age, and reinforced by the similar dreams of another, terrible action could be taken. Two girls in middle school, obsessed with these stories, lured a friend of theirs into the woods after a sleepover under the pretense of "hide and seek" and proceeded to stab her nineteen times. She came very close to death after they abandoned her there, and was nearly unconscious when she crawled to a road nearby and was able to be helped by a passing cyclist. She is in stable condition now, and the two near-murderers are in custody and will be tried as adults.
God. This is so terrible. Makes me sick.

Apple Introduces iOS 8 And Texting Will Never Be The Same- Sarah Klein 4th period

Apple introduced its latest update to the iPhone operating system, iOS 8, on Monday at its annual World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco. If you love to text, some of the changes will make your life easier. iOS 8 will be available in the fall for the iPhone 4S and above this fall..

While some are still recovering from iOS 7, the iOS 8 changes are nowhere near as big as the last software update,  with it's radical redesign of the iPhone interface. Some iPhone users liked the modern design. Others, of course, complained of the new look.

I don't like iOS 7, but I am interested to see how Apple thinks it will change the world of texting forever.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/02/ios-8_n_5431083.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

Actress Ann B. Davis, Devoted 'Brady Bunch' Housekeeper, Dies Ilana Lemack

Davis fell and hit her head on Saturday morning and never recovered. She suffered a subdural hematoma and never regained consciousness.  Davis, who lived in San Antonio, Texas, had been in excellent health and had used a walker prior to the accident.  She was known for her light blue housekeeper's uniform with a white apron on the hit show "The Brady Bunch". Her character was crucial to the show and even after it was cancelled in 1974 still appeared on spin offs. Davis received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 following the success of the series.

I found out she died on the way to school this morning. I was shocked that she was healthy prior to falling. I guess you could say I am a huge fan of the Brady Bunch and I have seen every episode multiple times and own them all on DVD. When i found out she died i started a group text with my mom and dad because i was so surprised! she was truly a great actress and a person and i am sure she'll be missed by her many co workers and fans. 

http://news.msn.com/pop-culture/actress-ann-b-davis-devoted-brady-bunch-housekeeper-dies?ocid=ansnews11

Florida governor signs record $77 billion state budget- Sarah Klein 4th period

 Rick Scott, governor of Florida,  signed a record $77 billion state budget that balanced spending on Republican-favored programs in the state legislature against the concerns of fiscally conservative voters.

In his announcement, Scott emphasized the budget's tax cuts and increases in state education support.

Democrats point out that although the bottom line for education is higher, the per-pupil state spending is $177 below its level of 2007-08.

Scott, who dubbed his plan a "tax-cut budget" when he submitted it to the legislature early this year, used his veto power to cut only $69 million from the budget for the fiscal year, which begins July 1.

I think it is ridiculous that the government is spending, or has, that much money.

http://news.yahoo.com/florida-governor-signs-record-77-billion-state-budget-213516739--business.html

beka canfield 5th

http://wreg.com/2014/06/01/jackson-woman-ties-baby-to-wedding-dress/?hpt=us_bn8

A Jackson woman made the decision to place her 1 month old child on the train of her wedding dress for a wedding photo recently. This photo quickly went viral, many people believing that the woman tied her baby to her wedding dress and proceeded to walk down the aisle with the child attached. This was untrue, and the woman is receiving a lot of comments about being "ghetto" and various other insults.


The Jackson woman was just representing the things that were most important to her in the picture. She could have staged the picture so it didn't look so disconcerting, but truly people have taken this too far. It was a picture of family, and that's the picture she wanted. The baby was not harmed, nor was the intent to harm the baby in any way.

Scientists Have Discovered A Planet They Thought Was Impossible- Sarah Klein 4th period

Based on knowledge of how solar systems are formed, scientists thought that a gigantic rocky planet could not possibly exist. YET they just found one that IS 17 times the mass of Earth. They call it the Mega-Earth. The new planet may have "profound implications for the possibility of life" on extra-solar planets, according to scientists.

Mega-Earths were previously thought to be impossible since a planet that large would attract hydrogen gas, forming a gaseous planet like Jupiter.

Mega-Earth, also known as Kepler-10c, is 18,000 miles in diameter and 2.3 times as large as Earth. It appears to be as solid as our Earth.

I can't say whether I think this is possible, but I do think that space and the objects within it are so vast that it is difficult to comprehend. 

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/scientists-discovered-planet-thought-impossible-170448463.html

Two 12 year old girls attempt murder - Emily Gray

Two 12-year-old Wisconsin girls stabbed another 12-year-old girl in the woods and were charges as adults with a attempted murder on Monday, June 2. Thankfully the girl survived this brutal attack. A bond of 500,000 dollars were placed on each of the girls and their attorneys have no comments.

This article was written by Brendan O'Brien on June 2, 2014 by Yahoo! News. This was very sad to hear about little girls attempting murder. Sometimes it makes you question everyone around you and what they are really like. It was said that the three girls were friends and played together. I would hate to see these type of people betray people who are harmless and have done nothing. This was very sad but thankfully she survived.

Link : http://news.yahoo.com/wisconsin-girls-12-charged-trying-kill-classmate-001252312.html

- Emily Gray 5th period

Beka Canfield 5th

http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/2014/05/27/anacostia-student-overcomes-obstacles/9643023/?hpt=us_bn8


Rashima Melson has graduated from her DC high school's senior class as valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA. Rashima has overcome endless obstacles to end up where she is today- she and her family are homeless. They live in their local homeless shelter, which has been converted from a hospital, with countless other families and people in the DC area.


Rashima has the most beautiful smile- especially when talking about her family. A strong percentage of the kids at Anacostia High School are homeless/ struggling financially, and Rashima says that the teachers at her school are genuinely invested in brightening their students' futures.

King of Spain by Addison Jordan

Summary: King Juan Carlos of Spain said on Monday that he will be stepping down, after nearly 40 years as king.

            “It is time to hand over to a new generation -- younger, with a lot of energy -- that can, with determination, take on and carry out the changes that the current situation demands, and to face with intensity and determination the challenges of tomorrow," he said in a televised statement, according to a CNN translation. "The long, deep economic crisis we are going through has left a lot of scars socially, but it has also pointed toward a future of hope," he said.

            Prince Felipe, age 46, will be the successor of his father. The prince states, “The king said he decided it was time to prepare and pave the way so that he who is in better conditions can continue."

            Spaniards hold King Juan Carlos, age 76, in high regards for his service to the nation and his defense of democracy after the death of the dictator Francisco Franco in 1975. Although, the king's popularity took a hit in 2012 over a controversial elephant-hunting trip to Africa while the nation was stuck in a deep economic crisis.

Analysis: I think this was a smart decision for King Juan Carlos to leave office. The country of Spain is very fortunate to have a king that is looking out for the country instead of his own self.  I hope that Prince Felipe will be successful in his job as king.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/02/world/europe/spain-king-abdication/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

Sexist Dress Codes By:Valerie Coahuilas

A teenage girl who was suspended from school recently for wearing denim short shorts has publicly challenged the dress code, declaring it sexist. 

Lindsey Stocker, an 11th-grader at Beaconsfield High School in Quebec, Canada, says that she and several female classmates were asked to stand up for an outfit inspection during class. The girls were instructed to put their arms by their sides so school officials could assess whether the bottom of their shorts or skirts lined up with their fingertips. If their fingers reached beyond their hemlines, the girls would be considered in violation of the school's dress code. “When I started explaining why I didn’t understand that rule, they didn’t really want to hear anything I had to say, and it was in front of my entire class. I felt very attacked … and I wanted to tell them how I felt," Lindsey told Canadian news. "They should approach it in a way that doesn’t target girls at least — for starters — because that’s the first problem. They don’t really care what guys wear. They just kind of target the girls first."

https://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/lindsey-stocker-dress-code-shorts-beaconsfield-high-school-quebec-canada-153056456.html