Give juvenile convicts a shot at hope

Imagine being locked up for life when you are only fourteen? You would not know any life outside of a jail cell and be trapped inside of a cell 24 hours a day.  Next week the , "Supreme Court will be confronted with two cases that question whether juveniles convicted of murder may be locked away forever, without even a possibility of parole" and it is a heated debate. One boy is convicted because two of his friends went in to rob a video store when he waited outside, but the clerk was shot and he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without parol. Another case involves a fourteen year old brutally beating his neighbor with a baseball bat and then setting the house on fire, making it impossible for the immobilized victim to escape the flames. One case involves a boy who made a wrong decision, but did not kill the man himself, and the other involves a truly disturbed person, but the court's decision will affect them both. 

This article is a part of a country wide debate that involves 79 boys between the ages of 13-14 and their wrongdoings. I believe that if at that young age, if you are capable of capital murder, then you should be locked away for life, they are a danger to humanity. This article showed both sides to the story and was extremely interesting to read. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/give-juvenile-convicts-a-shot-at-hope/2012/03/15/gIQA3QZ2ES_story.html

A Meter So Expensive, It Creates Parking Spots

Traffic is a commuters worst nightmare and some city streets are clogged with angry people fighting for a prime parking spot.  "As much as a third of the traffic in some areas has been attributed to drivers circling as they hunt for spaces" (Cooper). A new program in San Francisco tries to raise the rate of the parking spots that are in high demand and lower the price on the emptier neighborhoods. It has shown that the spots are remaining open and available to more people when the rates were raised by a dollar. Parking sensors have been put in place to monitor the streets and the parking improvements. Some critics are saying that the city is ripping people off just because their work place is located on a busy street. 

This collaboration between Michael Cooper and Jo Craven McGinty show the benefits and downfalls to the ever growing traffic problem. For some it is an improvement while others are fiercely opposed. Many quotes and lots of logos complete this article that could determine the future of the parking situation. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/16/us/program-aims-to-make-the-streets-of-san-francisco-easier-to-park-on.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general

Michigan Woman Wins Lottery, Still Collects Welfare

            This is just ridiculous and proves how greedy people have become in today's society. It came after an anonymous tip came into a Michigan news station to do a story about people who won the lottery, but are still collecting welfare. They found that, "A Michigan woman who won a $1-million lottery jackpot last fall admits she's continued to collect $200 a month in public assistance" (Lynch) and the worst thing about this is that she believes that she deserves it because she is still without a job, even with her millions. She accepted the money after paying off her taxes and collected it in a lump-sum, making it easier to hind her wrong-doings. With her money, she bought two houses and a new car, so maybe if she saved some of it the welfare would not be needed. A new legislation is being made up to monitor anyone who wins over $1000 and to take them off the welfare list until they reapply. Michigan's state rep. say, "Public assistance is for those people who can no longer purchase food for their families, or pay their heating bills. It's not here to help those who win millions of dollars". 

              Rene Lynch knew her audience very well, hard-working tax payers who hate to see their money going to a person who already has a million. It used a lot of pathos and could easily anger many people in not only Michigan, but all over America. The logos was also another strong factor that Lynch used, getting quotes from the winner, the winner's mother, and the state representative. It was a great news story that will shed light on how states waste money on already wealthy people. 

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-nn-na-lottery-winner-collects-welfare-20120307,0,3643323.story

Preschoolers in Surgery for a Mouthful of Cavities

            No one likes a trip to the dentist, no imagine if 11 out of your 20 teeth had cavities. Youngster, Devon Koester, had to take a trip to the  Center for Pediatric Dentistry at Seattle Children’s Hospital for a surgery to remove some of the cavities while filling and putting crowns on the rest. His mother said, "I had a lot on my mind, and brushing his teeth was an extra thing I didn’t think about at night". This is a bad example and with dentists, "seeing more preschoolers at all income levels with 6 to 10 cavities or more" (Saint Louis), it is becoming a huge problem in the U.S.. Snacking constantly and sugary juice drinks are also contributing to the horrible decay seen in the preschoolers. Dental surgeons say, "The average age of patients is 4, and most have decay in six to eight teeth" and "The most severe cases have 12 or 16, which is seen several times a week", both of which are appalling to think about. 

             The one thing that I learned from this is that whether or not your child enjoys brushing their teeth, you should make them because it could cost you in the future. Dental health is a part of your overall health and people should consider this to be as important as taking a shower and sleeping. Catherine Saint Louis is extremely passionate about this issue, clearly caring about these toddlers and their teeth issues. No matter the effects people just don't seem to learn, "Janine Costantini, the ambulatory practice director at Children’s Hospital Colorado, said the staff treated a 3-year-old who was making his second visit to the operating room for dental work. The boy arrived with a bottle of Coca-Cola" (Saint Louis). It is incredible to think about how careless and stupid people can be when making parental decisions. Saint Louis purpose in writing this is to inform everybody that this is becoming a major issue in the U.S. and needs to be taken much more seriously by parents. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/health/rise-in-preschool-cavities-prompts-anesthesia-use.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general

Five So-Called Health Foods You Should Avoid

            Do you think you make smart diet decisions? Maybe, maybe not. This article highlights five out of the many foods that are advertised as healthy, but in fact are actually hurting your body. Reduced Fat Peanut butter, enhanced water, energy bars, multi-grain foods, and Non-fried chips are all on the top of the list. The reduced fat peanut butter eliminates the peanut oil, the only beneficial ingredient in it. It is just replaced with sugar and artificial flavors. It is just recommended to eat regular peanut butter, which is proven to reduce the risks of heart attacks. Enhanced water is just filled with sugar plus a vitamin pill. Just drink water and enhance it with some lemon or lime juice, naturally. Energy bars are just "calorie bombs" with candy bars just being added with vitamins, protein, and fiber. Don't believe that multi-grain" is "whole grain" and non-fried chips are just added with refined grains and starches. 

           Everybody is now obsessed with themselves and their bodies and can sometimes be tricked into believing something when the opposite it true. This article written by, Katherine Tallmadge knew her audience very well, a health nut that needs to educate themselves with the truth. Everybody makes mistakes, but its how you fix them that makes you a better person. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/5-so-called-health-foods-you-should-avoid/2012/01/31/gIQA6E7vfR_story.html?tid=pm_pop

Does Couples Therapy Work?

              You see on television, couples headed towards divorce battling it out in therapy and you have to wonder if it really does anything. I, myself wonder if therapy is helpful or hurtful. Personally, yes some people cannot make their own decisions and need guidance, but now it just seems like everyone has to consult with a therapist. Author, Elizabeth Weil says when dealing with couples, "You often feel confused, at odds with a least one of your patients, out of control”(Weil). I can see her point, a therapist can't just sit there,  “You have to like action. To manage marital combat, a therapist needs to get in there, mix it up with the client, be a ninja. This is intimidating” (Weil).

                  It has been proven that therapy can rekindle love in marriages and it is worth the try if you truly love someone.Weil used logos effectively, using quotes from therapists and psychologists. It was a well put together piece, with evidence to back up the thesis. The audience would be couples in danger of divorce, a big issue in today's society. 

            

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/fashion/couples-therapists-confront-the-stresses-of-their-field.html?src=me&ref=general

The Secret Science of Stardom

           This article, The Secret Science of Stardom, reminds me of the article we read from Patterns, Fame-iness. Elizabeth Currid-Halkett defines what she believes fame is saying, "The basic criterion for being a star is that society is collectively interested in someone for things that transcend their talent". Halkett also reminds the readers that some people are only famous for being famous. Halkett and her partner studied hundreds of celebrities and how many times they were photographed and how it correlated with their celebrity status. They wanted to see if talented stars act differently than the ones driven by the media. Halkett wanted to see the different behavioral patterns in different levels of stars. Paris Hilton, is the most photographed celebrity, but that is not because of her level of talent, but because she has gone to the most events and has gotten her photo taken everywhere that she goes. Halkett explained saying, "Hilton attended over three times as many events as Oscar nominee Brad Pitt" and "Viola Davis a mere four events in the very same year that Hilton attended 95 events". Halkett is not impressed by Hilton and uses logos to back up her thesis. 

              There is a method to becoming a star and at first you may need to be in every photograph, but once you are an Oscar winning actor, the less events you go to, the more famous and in demand you are. I am fascinated with the idea of fame and would love to experience it for myself, but only for a week or two. There is something about going out to eat and everybody would know your name and envy you, it would be thrilling. Back to reality, this piece pointed out that even though you see the Kardashians in almost every tabloid, it does not mean that they are a truly famous. Being famous, means that you need to have a mysterious side to you and you draw people in just to be seen a couple of times a month. Halkett knew her audience and wrote the article this week because of the Oscars on Sunday. 

http://www.salon.com/2012/02/24/the_secret_science_of_stardom/

How to Wear a Tux

            Ladies, we always complain about how men have it so easy when getting ready for a formal event and they do, but a tux can be tricky to pull off. The tie has to be pointy, but no too pointy and do not even think about wearing a pant that is an inch too long! Author Guy Trebay says, "A tailor is your best friend" and he lives by that saying. A suit needs to look classic, either in a black or midnight-blue fabric paired with a classic, formal shoe. A tie is not acceptable at the Oscars and neither is a colorful jacket that could cause controversy. Joan Rivers will tear a man apart if their tux is ill-fitted or they are in a black shirt. George Clooney was at the top of Trebay's best dressed list because, "He has, of course, an obvious advantage".

           As a fan of watching the red carpet, I know what a good tux looks like and too often I see a gorgeous superstar in a horrible suit. I enjoyed this article, aimed at men, but also at women who complain that the men have it too easy. The logos was the strongest, with quotes from many men's designers and tailors. Little comments added humor throughout this timely article. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/fashion/formal-wear-tips-from-mens-fashion-experts.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=general&src=me

Happy (Early) St. Patrick's Day!

An Original Kaylee's Cupcake!

Key Lime Classic

-Graham Cracker Crust

-Lime Cupcake

-White Chocolate Ganache Center

-Lime Frosting

*Decorated with green sanding sugar and a mini shamrock*

The Things I Carry

         This article brought me back to when our class read, The Things They Carry. It was an interesting article about a traveler and the electronics needed for his job. The main question asked in this essay was, Is all of this stuff really made to make our lives easier? Author, Patrick Smith, seems to believe that in fact all of these gadgets are necessary as a journalist, but they are actually making his life harder. He did not even own a cell phone until 2006 and now he is carrying around all of these things to and from cities. He states his thesis as, "All of this, supposedly, to keep us “connected.” To make our lives easier and more productive. Does it?" (Smith). It is crazy to think that we really need all of these electronics, but some people do. If you have an iPhone, then you need the charger and then the connector and then you MacBook, but your camera does not work with the Mac connector so you need to get a different one and soon enough you have more wires than an electrician.
        Some people consider all of these things necessities, but are they really? I know that I could probably travel without some of these things, but Smith is a journalist who needs all of these to stay connected to his job. I feel bad for him, having to carry all of this around all the time, but I think he wanted to sympathy. If I was traveling I would most likely bring my phone and its charger, but I don't have a camera or laptop of my own, so that would cut down on the amount of cords. I always have my iPod and my headphones and my Burt's Bees lip balm along with a pack of gum and hand sanitizer. When I think about it, I too carry around probably more than I need, but hey, its the things that I carry.

http://www.salon.com/2012/02/15/the_things_i_carry/

Adele: Too Fat for Fashion Designer

            Tip for all the men out there, DON'T comment on women's weight, it will only get you in trouble. Top designer, Karl Lagerfeld, had to learn this the hard way, when he commented on pop singer Adele's weight earlier this month calling her, "a little too fat". The Chanel designer has co-authored diet books and has faced his own weight problems in the past, but he crossed a line. Adele is not trying to be a skinny pop singer who has to starve herself to stay on top and as a designer he should have respected a real women's shape. Lagerfeld also dug a deeper hole by saying, "If I was a woman in Russia I would be a lesbian, as the men are very ugly" and "Nobody wants Greece to disappear, but they have really disgusting habits – Italy as well". Some people in the fashion world shot back at Lagerfeld by posting on Twitter, "Love Adele, Boycott Chanel". In my opinion, Adele is perfect and I envy her voice. She should be proud of what she has accomplished and continue on singing. 
             Author, Mary Elizabeth Williams, states, "I actually prefer Adele, she is my favorite singer and I am a great admirer of her". I completely agree with everything Williams said in this article, defending Adele all the way. She used a lot of quotes from famous people defending Adele and used many of Lagerfeld's hurtful statements. Adele has nothing to be ashamed of, if anything she should be extremely proud of what she has accomplished in what some call, "The Year of Adele".

Internship

             My mind is full of "what ifs" at the moment, "What if they don't like me?", "What if I make a fool of myself?", "What if I just stand there with nothing to do?. If I did the last option my teacher might kill me (not really), but she would be disappointed in me and then I would feel guilty. I over think situations way too much and everyone tells me that everything will be fine, but there will always be the "What if?" looming in the back of my mind. I am thrilled to be going to my internship, but it is my first day, I am like a child going off to preschool for the first time, not knowing anyone and not knowing what to expect. I just want to make it through the first day and then I will be fine (deep breath). I will be fine (deep breath). They will like me (deep breath). I am ready. 

The Absurd Life of an Abercrombie and Fitch Model

            This hilarious article about a twenty-six year old being "discovered" in New York tells the tale of Terry McCoy, an ex-Abercrombie and Fitch model. He began his day like any other, walking down the street, it was raining when a women came up to him and asked him if he had ever modeled, stunned Terry said "No". She "loved his look" and then took his contact information, McCoy never expecting this women to call him, but two days later she did. He was called into a recruiting session and got the job as an Abercrombie and Fitch model, getting paid $9 an hour. He had to learn catch phrases to say when people would enter the store and how to pose while folding clothes. To him, "It’s a confounding, bombastic and erotic slice of our American zeitgeist. Put another way: White people love it" (McCoy). On his first day he showed up late, hungover, and smelly, but to his surprise no one cared, not even the manager. He was given an outfit, but had to change many times because the pants were never tight enough. His job description was to be friendly and adorable, nothing more. McCoy also learned that, "At Abercrombie, I cannot overstate the cultural impact of wearing very skinny jeans, then plunging a thumb into each front pocket. This stance is very important. If you haven’t tried it before, I suggest you do" (McCoy). He quit two hours into his six hour shift, but no one really cared his manager saying, " Thanks bro! Catch you later!". 

            I laughed in my head many time while reading this story. His sarcastic and witty comments throughout his tale were perfect and charming. His ethos and personal experience made his story seem like it was playing out in front of you. This is my favorite article that I have read this year, actually reading every single word of it, even re-reading some. Apparently all you need is the right look and then you too could be an Abercrombie and Fitch model. 

http://www.salon.com/2012/02/04/the_absurd_life_of_an_abercrombie_fitch_model/

One's A Crowd

               Apparently, being lonely is the new relationship status when it comes to living in a city. More people are living alone more than ever, especially in busy cities, but compared to other countries America's percentage is low. Germany, France, Britain, and other world powers have a higher percentage of one-person-per household. Three of these world powers, China, India, and Brazil, all having fast growing economies. Could there be a link between single adults and a better economy? Is the fact that they are not committed to a person provide more time for them to focus on work, thus bettering the economy? Living along also," ... promotes freedom, personal control and self-realization" (Klinenberg). Another upside to being single is, "In fact, living alone can make it easier to be social, because single people have more free time, absent family obligations, to engage in social activities" (Klinenberg). Predictions show that living along will become more and more popular in the future.  

              The fact that living alone is no longer looked down upon is uplifting news for single people across the world. Maybe being single is not  so bad after all. I enjoyed reading this article and its positive outlook on life. Clearly written for single people, Eric Klinenberg, uses logos to defend his position. The possibility that being single could actually help the economy could suggest social change for the future and tax deductions for single people, who are helping the economy more than married couples. This article has the ability to change how people perceive being single. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/opinion/sunday/living-alone-means-being-social.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general

The Upside of Dyslexia

          The upside to dyslexia is that a person affected by this reading disorder might be superior in science and art. Early evidence proves that "many people with dyslexia possess distinctive perceptual abilities" (Paul) and have sharper peripheral vision than others. People with dyslexia can also see a scene and rapidly "get the gist of it" quickly. Maybe dyslexia should not be seen as a disability, but as a talent? This early evidence is leaning in a positive direction for those impacted by dyslexia. 

          This optimistic article written by Annie Murphy Paul is truly good news for the 15% of Americans suffering form dyslexia. There is a lot of logos and pathos in this article using emotion and logic to make suggestions and prove her point. I am glad that many people are excited about this news and it will be helpful to tell a child having trouble with reading that they are better in other areas that some kids are not as good in. This also proves that there is an upside to everything. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/opinion/sunday/the-upside-of-dyslexia.html?hp

How Tanning Changes the Brain

           Tanning is bad, no matter what way you look at it and this article is just another piece of evidence proving that it should be outlawed. New research proves that tanning is addicting and that your brain can tell when you are experiencing UV rays and when you're not. The exposure to ultraviolet rays was suspected to be addictive and now scientist have proven that they are. Some people go tanning to reward themselves for their hard work and  "'What this shows is that the brain is in fact responding to UV light, and it responds in areas that are associated with reward,' said Dr. Bryon Adinoff" (O'Connor). Even with all of the warning about skin cancer and possible health risks tanning remains as popular as ever with about 30 million people tanning at salons every year. The experiment is set up so, "The tanners, questioned after each session, expressed less desire to tan after the real sessions, indicating they had gotten their fill. But on days when the tanners were unknowingly deprived of the UV rays, their desire to tan after the session remained as high as it was before the session began" (O'Connor). 

               I agree with writer, Anahad O'Connor, and his beliefs about tanning. Tanning indoors should be taken more seriously than it is today, there are just too many health risks related to extreme exposure to UV lights. The article is full of logos, O'Connor saying many statistics and scientific findings to prove his viewpoint. 

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/how-tanning-changes-the-brain/

Memoir #2

I chose my second memoir, Death Be Not Proud, by John Gunther, thanks to Talia Flamos and her persuasive presentation and description of the book during our english class. Hopefully, I will be able to easily compare my two memoirs in an essay. I am also looking forward to reading this book because my other memoir got dull towards the end and this book seems more interesting and more modern.

A Piece of the Manhattan Dream

          Many dream about moving to New York to make it in the big city, but never for $332 a month, that is just unheard of. Arnold Warwick’s has a beautiful four-bedroom apartment in New York City's Greenwich Village that happens to be rent controlled and if it wasn't he would have been paying upwards of $5,000 a month. People are fighting for this prime real-estate and also for its glorious rent controlled agreement. The properties are owned by Angelina Fiordellisi, the executive director of the Cherry Lane Theater bought eight of the properties and was not planning to make a large profit from them. Most of the original buyers are still living in those properties holding on to them and passing them down to their children. 

        Elizabeth A. Harris knew her audience very well, dreamers who want to move to the Big Apple. She lures people in with a tempting illusion that they too could own an apartment in a big shot neighborhood for only $332 a month. I must say it was tempting and one day I believe that it would be fun to live in New York City, but for now I am happy in Massachusetts in a quiet town that almost no one knows about. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/nyregion/rent-controlled-paradise-above-a-greenwich-village-theater.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general

Not All College Majors are Created Equal

           A parent's nightmare is confirmed in this realistic article about a recent graduate's difficulties when entering the work force. Sometimes they can't even enter the work force because their major is holding them back. Some majors are just not practical is this troubled economy. Author Michelle Singletary plays a game with herself when she asks what people have majored in to see if they will have a job saying, "An English major with no internships or any plan of what she might do with the major to earn a living? No job" and "Engineering major with three relevant internships in the engineering field? Ding. Ding. We have a winner. Job.". I hate to say it, but I often do this as well. When I hear people say that they want to major in history my mind automatically jumps to, "Well, you can now either become a historian, a history teacher, or work at a historical museum", I don't do it to be mean, I do it because I am practical. Unemployment is at an all time high so this is something that the other students in my graduating class will have to think about. The thesis states, "They should do their homework before picking a major because, when it comes to employment prospects and compensation, not all college degrees are created equal". This article is a slap of reality for those who chose the wrong major.

           I strongly agree with this article, not all majors are created equal and I'd rather know that going into school than coming out with an almost useless degree. Taking a quote from a movie that many of my classmates hate to admit to viewing, " Major in philosophy, because there's no way to make a career out of that" (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse). Singletary is extremely logical in this article and her primary audience is high school seniors and juniors along with college freshmen. This is an extremely helpful article that teachers should read to their high school students.  

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/not-all-college-majors-are-created-equal/2012/01/12/gIQAfz4XzP_story.html?tid=pm_pop

Texting While Walking

                  Texting is an addiction, you cannot travel more than ten feet in public without seeing someone looking down at their cell phone, either responding or creating a text. According to Ohio State University, "more than 1,000 pedestrians visited emergency rooms in 2008 after they were injured while using a cellphone to talk or text" (Neistat). Really? You can't see where you are going and somehow you end up in the hospital, this is getting ridiculous. Maybe, people should learn when it is appropriate to text in public instead of just anywhere. 

                 Writer, Casey Neistat, was sarcastic and found humor in our blunders saying, "Let’s stop acting like hollowed-out zombies, with BlackBerrys and iPhones replacing eye contact, handshakes and face-to-face conversations.  It’s time to live once again in the present and simply be where we are". I agree, walking down the street to get a coffee should not be dangerous because someone decides to see what his or her friends are up to that evening. Let's be more considerate and think about the people around us, that is tough seeing as everyone around us is always texting too. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/opinion/texting-while-walking.html