The Police and Media
By: Ivan Lores
The mainstream media doesn’t care about a police officer who does their job. The flood of negative press can easily outweigh the considerate and noble. The media picks the stories that help get them ratings. In some cases they even delude and exaggerate the facts of a case. You won't get thousands of hits per article on a story of a well-mannered police officer conducting a traffic stop that resulted in a drug bust; these aren't the stories that sell.
It's an injustice for the press to paint and slander the police as a militarized, racist, and sadistic force when this just isn't true. Studies show a low corruption rate among U.S. police officers. Yet ask the average person aware of the news and they would confidently and passionately disagree.
Why
is there such a widespread case of misinformation? The media cherry
picks what to show and what not to show to influence the manner in which
their articles are read. Black teenager. White officer. These are
characteristics use to define several articles on police misconduct.
Never are the words professional, devoted, ore even terrified used as characteristics. Just black and white. The question remains: why, when there is so much gray in the world?
Technology In Schools
By: Cicelys Pinon
Technology has the power to transform how people learn. In most classes, there will probably be a whiteboard instead of the traditional blackboard. The students may be using laptops and tablets instead of textbooks. "The world needs a new curriculum," said Marc Prensky at a conference dedicated to technology in education. He feels a new core of subjects is needed, subjects that will help today's learners in the future. Prensky thinks that change is needed and things such as flipped classrooms and classroom games might be essential for children and their education. Students are often bored in classes with just plain textbooks. They should be exposed to a different way of learning. My generation is already used to using technology in classrooms and it would really benefit the upcoming generations as well.
"Technology in Schools: Future Changes in Classrooms - BBC News." BBC News. Web. 11 May 2015.
The Smoking Toll Gets Worse
By: Sabrina Tutusaus
"The Smoking Toll Gets Much Worse." The New York Times. The New York Times, 14 Feb. 2015. Web. 9 Mar. 2015 <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/15/opinion/sunday/the-smoking-toll-gets-much-worse.html?_r=0>.
Genocide Didn't End in WW2
By: Kimberly Kelly
Genocide, the deliberate
killing of a large group of people, targeting a specific ethnic group or
nationality. For example, the
extermination of Jews in world war II.
Many people are oblivious to the fact that this still goes on
today. Currently there are North Korean
civilians being detained in “labor camps”.
Receiving the same cruel treatment the Jews, homosexuals, and Gypsies
received 75 years ago. The world vowed
that history would not repeat itself by allowing another Hitler to come into
power. So why are Hitler like atrocities
being committed and where? Well,
consider North Korea a modern day Germany, Hoeryong the North Korea version of
Auschwitz and Kim Jong-un the new Hitler.
But instead of having a fuhrer they have a “supreme leader”. The sad truth of the matter is, history is
repeating itself. And if this continues,
in a number of years, we’ll be reading about the Jewish holocaust and flipping
a couple pages to read about the North Korean one too.
"North
Korea's Hidden Holocaust." CNN IReport. Web. 5 Mar. 2015.
<http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-838571>.
Net Neutrality
By: Yemily Ruiz
Popular internet sites such as: Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook have been in constant anticipation since the announcement of a Federal Communications Commission Chairman of his proposal of sweeping new internet regulations. Same proposal was slowed down and dropped the first time the Chairman came out with it, but it has now gained more popularity as he is joining both his plan to let Cable Companies rule the Internet service with other changes that are sure to bring a new era for Net Neutrality.
The proposal states that broadband Internet service would be governed by the Cable Companies. This would also make providers not allowed to selectively slow traffic from websites which would make all internet access to all websites fair and square. Where this is obviously a good thing, given the fact that if this proposal was to be accepted in February 26th, it would give a real and fair sense of Net Neutrality, there is still people on social websites that contradict it.
Most people believe that what the FCC is trying to do is bring more power to cable companies and bringing some limitations to users, but this is not what the FCC is trying to achieve. Instead, this proposition will bring (If accepted) true equality to the internet, in which no website will have more or less power than another one because of who owns it.
"Net Neutrality: What You Need to Know Now." Free Press. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. <http://www.savetheinternet.com/net-neutrality-what-you-need-know-now>.
Burnt-Out Education:
The Importance of Being Educated
In
the recent decade, children and teenagers have been suffering from the
stressful “activity-cramming” epidemic. There is no time to go to the movies,
walk the dog, join one’s friends at the park, nor simply sit in a cushion at afternoons
sipping orange juice while watching the street lamps go on; the common student
most stay ahead of the competition. One does not simply disconnect from the
school world once one enters home, the student will be expected to practice
sports, attend class reviews, direct club meetings, conduct tutoring, tend
house essentials, have a job and work experience, and finally finish all the
homework assigned. The student is expected to sleep early, get a healthy sleep,
eat a hearty breakfast, and be excited to start another “new” routinarious day.
After the continuous nights of 4-hour sleep, the student is also expected to
stay awake for 8 hours of intense school activities and continue the cycle
until another weekend or break comes by.
"Most High School Students Are Sleep Deprived." Most
High School Students Are Sleep Deprived. Web.
26 Jan. 2015.
<http://www.cfah.org/hbns/2010/most-high-school-students-are-sleep-deprived>.
“The Latest US and World News." USA
Today. Gannett. Web. 26 Jan. 2015.
<http://www.usatoday.com/news/>.
"Overscheduled Kids, Anxious Parents - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network. Web. 26 Jan. 2015.
<http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/08/living/overscheduled-busy-children/>.
The
Sony Hack
By: Alejandro Rodriguez
As you may all know, Sony pictures
entertainment has been hacked several times in the past 3 months by a cyber-terrorist
group, all because of Sony’s new film “the interview”. The movie was set to release on Christmas day
but never made it to theaters because the group threatened to attack any cinema
that showed it. They also caused a lot of damage to Sony studios by hacking and stealing important company files. The group is known as the Guardians of Peace
and it is believed that they have connections with communist country North
Korea. Since the comedy movie is based on killing North Koreas leader, Kim
Jong-un, it is no wonder that they are somehow behind this attack. However, the
country denies all accusations even if the data collected by U.S. officials
says otherwise.
The question is this: If North Korea and Guardians of Peace
were able to hack such a technologically advanced company like Sony, who knows
what else they are capable of? FBI officials say they are capable of nuclear
disasters. A new computer virus implanted by hackers called Stux-Nex, which
sneaks its way into nuclear facilities and sabotages them. It has already
happened in Iran, and if a group of powerful hackers such as Guardians of Peace
get their hands on it, they can cause irrevocable damage to Sony, and America
as a whole.
Auerbach, David. "The Guardians of Peace Aren’t Like
Hackers We’ve Seen Before. They’re Cyberterrorists." The Sony Hackers Are
Terrorists. Slate. Web. 14 Jan. 2015.
Park, Madison, and Dana Ford. "North Korea Denies Being
behind Sony Hack - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network. Web. 14 Jan. 2015.
Rosenblatt, Seth. "The Sony Hack: 9 More Things You
Didn't Know - CNET." CNET. Web. 14 Jan. 2015
Space Elevator
By: Lourdes Gonzalez
Ever dream of going into space? Dream no more my sci-fi friends, because a space elevator is in the making. Through the use of nanotechnology, scientists at Penn State University have made diamond nano-threads that’re stiffer and stronger than any other polymer today.
The idea of simply stepping into an over-sized elevator to go into space just astounds me! The science behind the nano-threads is pretty amazing; it starts as a liquid called benzene that, when compressed slowly, turns into a new material. Once this material is put under pressure, it becomes highly reactive, causing it to turn into the diamond-core nano-thread. The entire process feels like it was ripped out of “2061: Odyssey Three”; with less exploding planets and new suns named “Lucifer”, of course.
A Japanese construction company named Obayashi might make the entire adored idea come to life. They’re made calculations and determined that by using a cable of these nano-threads tethered to to the equator, it’d have to be 96,000 km (about 59,651 miles) long. The travel up would only cost hundreds of dollars instead of the $20,000 it’d cost on a rocket! I’m sold on this. Now, to start saving up!
"Going Up! Cosmic Elevator Could Reach Space on a Cable Made of Diamonds - CNN.com." <i>CNN</i>. Cable News Network. Web. 14 Jan. 2015. <http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/10/tech/innovation/space-elevator-nanotechnology/index.html>.
iPhones Are The Future
By: Gabriela Garcia
iPhones are definitely the future! New helpful features and apps improve the phones with every new update. The devices always get improved physically, with higher resolutions screens that deliver more contrast and dual-domain pixels for an impressively clear and defined picture. The camera with new sensors, like focus pixels, improved face detection and exposure control to help anyone take better pictures.
If you place all the iPhone generations side by side, you can see the great changes that apple has made to the phones. Even form the original iPhone to the iPhone 3G there was a huge change, with the original using aluminum and the 3G using plastic. In those times, people really only cared about the software in the device but now, people want bigger phones and entire new looks for the devices. Apple does not disappoint, bringing a larger size and thinner model each time.
Apple spends about a year perfecting each new iPhone and perfect it always is. iPhone fanatics around the world, such as myself, are very pleased.
"IPhone 6. Bigger than Bigger." Apple. Web. 17 Nov. 2014. <http://www.apple.com/iphone/>.
Florida Medical Marijuana: Legalize one way or another
By: Arielle Velasquez
The legalization of
medical marijuana in Florida was decided by voters on November 4, 2014. Even
though the amendment did not pass, only 57.62% of voters voted yes for
amendment 2. 42.38% opposed it; ending
in results of a No, by 3%. The problem that many voters had was that the
amendment was too broad. Based on amendment2 it stated “marijuana would be
legalized by the measure proposed allowing doctors to prescribe cannabis for
the debilitating medical conditions, such as Parkinson’s conditions, HIV, Aids,
etc.” Despite the loss, the government is hoping to do another vote next year,
hoping Florida becomes another state to legalize marijuana.
Quis Custodiet Ipos Custodes
(Who Watches the Watchmen)
By: Ivan Lores
Trained as professionals and able to kill, police and correctional officers should be held responsible for their actions. Instead they are protected by their departments and superiors. All across America incidents arise between the police and those they are sworn to protect. There are divisions such as internal affairs and committees such as the civilian oversight committee to help combat corruption within our police forces. These forces do not seem to be doing their job. That raises the question of who is watching over the actions of our men and women in blue? This is a current issue and should be addressed by government entities such as the Department of Justice.
"To protect and serve." Whatever happened to the meaning of that? It seems every other month you see on the news an incident of police abusing their power. And even through all that, they stay protected within their departments. An example of this striking close to home is the incident of Darren Rainey; where Darren was allegedly left to burn in a scalding hot shower in a Miami-Dade prison. The cameras recording the area was said to have malfunctioned during this time. Prisoners later interviewed had told the Miami Herald of having to clean up burned skin from the shower.
79% of people surveyed on debate.org agreed with police brutality being an issue. 67% in a different survey on the same website said the police force has evolved in a negative manner over the last thirty years. Police should be viewed as the thin blue line protecting the public against its enemies, the good against the bad. With all these recent incidents working against this view, public opinion has swayed. Police chiefs and superiors must be held responsible for this and work to better serve the public.
"Is Police Brutality a Problem?" Http://www.debate.org/opinions/is-police-brutality-a-problem. Debate.org. Web.
The Police and Media
By: Ivan Lores
The mainstream media doesn’t care about a police officer who does their job. The flood of negative press can easily outweigh the considerate and noble. The media picks the stories that help get them ratings. In some cases they even delude and exaggerate the facts of a case. You won't get thousands of hits per article on a story of a well-mannered police officer conducting a traffic stop that resulted in a drug bust; these aren't the stories that sell.
It's an injustice for the press to paint and slander the police as a militarized, racist, and sadistic force when this just isn't true. Studies show a low corruption rate among U.S. police officers. Yet ask the average person aware of the news and they would confidently and passionately disagree.
Why
is there such a widespread case of misinformation? The media cherry
picks what to show and what not to show to influence the manner in which
their articles are read. Black teenager. White officer. These are
characteristics use to define several articles on police misconduct.
Never are the words professional, devoted, ore even terrified used as characteristics. Just black and white. The question remains: why, when there is so much gray in the world?
Technology In Schools
By: Cicelys Pinon
Technology has the power to transform how people learn. In most classes, there will probably be a whiteboard instead of the traditional blackboard. The students may be using laptops and tablets instead of textbooks. "The world needs a new curriculum," said Marc Prensky at a conference dedicated to technology in education. He feels a new core of subjects is needed, subjects that will help today's learners in the future. Prensky thinks that change is needed and things such as flipped classrooms and classroom games might be essential for children and their education. Students are often bored in classes with just plain textbooks. They should be exposed to a different way of learning. My generation is already used to using technology in classrooms and it would really benefit the upcoming generations as well.
"Technology in Schools: Future Changes in Classrooms - BBC News." BBC News. Web. 11 May 2015.
The Smoking Toll Gets Worse
By: Sabrina Tutusaus
We are
blinded by the fact that smoking is killing thousands of people every day. A
huge authoritative study published last week has proven this fact. The
need to reduce smoking is more urgent than ever. 42 million American adults
still smoke, 15 percent women and 21 percent men. The average life expectancy
of people who smoke is estimated to be 10 years less than nonsmokers. The
landmark surgeon’s latest report last year estimated that there are 480,000
deaths each year in the United States due to 21 diseases and 12 different types
of cancer triggered by smoking. A study
by researchers at the American Cancer Society adds many more diseases and
60,000 deaths a year to the total. Including kidney failure, infections,
diabetes, heart disease and atherosclerosis.
If we
do not do anything to help smokers to stop smoking, there would be a total of
540,000 annual deaths in the United States. This huge number of deaths is
self-explanatory as to why we must use every possible tool to help smokers
quit.
"The Smoking Toll Gets Much Worse." The New York Times. The New York Times, 14 Feb. 2015. Web. 9 Mar. 2015 <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/15/opinion/sunday/the-smoking-toll-gets-much-worse.html?_r=0>.
By: Kimberly Kelly
Genocide, the deliberate
killing of a large group of people, targeting a specific ethnic group or
nationality. For example, the
extermination of Jews in world war II.
Many people are oblivious to the fact that this still goes on
today. Currently there are North Korean
civilians being detained in “labor camps”.
Receiving the same cruel treatment the Jews, homosexuals, and Gypsies
received 75 years ago. The world vowed
that history would not repeat itself by allowing another Hitler to come into
power. So why are Hitler like atrocities
being committed and where? Well,
consider North Korea a modern day Germany, Hoeryong the North Korea version of
Auschwitz and Kim Jong-un the new Hitler.
But instead of having a fuhrer they have a “supreme leader”. The sad truth of the matter is, history is
repeating itself. And if this continues,
in a number of years, we’ll be reading about the Jewish holocaust and flipping
a couple pages to read about the North Korean one too.
"North
Korea's Hidden Holocaust." CNN IReport. Web. 5 Mar. 2015.
<http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-838571>.
By: Yemily Ruiz
Popular internet sites such as: Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook have been in constant anticipation since the announcement of a Federal Communications Commission Chairman of his proposal of sweeping new internet regulations. Same proposal was slowed down and dropped the first time the Chairman came out with it, but it has now gained more popularity as he is joining both his plan to let Cable Companies rule the Internet service with other changes that are sure to bring a new era for Net Neutrality.
The proposal states that broadband Internet service would be governed by the Cable Companies. This would also make providers not allowed to selectively slow traffic from websites which would make all internet access to all websites fair and square. Where this is obviously a good thing, given the fact that if this proposal was to be accepted in February 26th, it would give a real and fair sense of Net Neutrality, there is still people on social websites that contradict it.
Most people believe that what the FCC is trying to do is bring more power to cable companies and bringing some limitations to users, but this is not what the FCC is trying to achieve. Instead, this proposition will bring (If accepted) true equality to the internet, in which no website will have more or less power than another one because of who owns it.
Burnt-Out Education: The Importance of Being Educated
By: Jatniel Carvajal
In
the recent decade, children and teenagers have been suffering from the
stressful “activity-cramming” epidemic. There is no time to go to the movies,
walk the dog, join one’s friends at the park, nor simply sit in a cushion at afternoons
sipping orange juice while watching the street lamps go on; the common student
most stay ahead of the competition. One does not simply disconnect from the
school world once one enters home, the student will be expected to practice
sports, attend class reviews, direct club meetings, conduct tutoring, tend
house essentials, have a job and work experience, and finally finish all the
homework assigned. The student is expected to sleep early, get a healthy sleep,
eat a hearty breakfast, and be excited to start another “new” routinarious day.
After the continuous nights of 4-hour sleep, the student is also expected to
stay awake for 8 hours of intense school activities and continue the cycle
until another weekend or break comes by.
The
overscheduled modern life of students is both a blessing and a curse, the
paradox of contemporary American education. The burn-out produced by these overwhelming
schedules, producing heavily negative health side effects that may over run the
benefits of education in the future. Having a nation of smart students is
wonderful, but when those students are suffering from sleep deprivation,
stress, and anxiety problems as the result of overscheduling, its not so
wonderful. In an online survey by USA Today, the highly acclaimed news source,
it had been reported that out of 1,018 teenagers and 1050 adults, approximately
82% of subjects experienced moderate to extreme stress levels. Additionally, in
a statistical report by the Health Behavior News Service, it as found that on
average, approximately only 8% of high school students get to sleep they need
to develop. Is overscheduling worth the side effects? One would have to wait to
find out in the future, perhaps once it’s too late.
"Most High School Students Are Sleep Deprived." Most
High School Students Are Sleep Deprived. Web.
26 Jan. 2015.
<http://www.cfah.org/hbns/2010/most-high-school-students-are-sleep-deprived>.
“The Latest US and World News." USA
Today. Gannett. Web. 26 Jan. 2015.
<http://www.usatoday.com/news/>.
"Overscheduled Kids, Anxious Parents - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network. Web. 26 Jan. 2015.
<http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/08/living/overscheduled-busy-children/>.
The
Sony Hack
By: Alejandro Rodriguez
As you may all know, Sony pictures
entertainment has been hacked several times in the past 3 months by a cyber-terrorist
group, all because of Sony’s new film “the interview”. The movie was set to release on Christmas day
but never made it to theaters because the group threatened to attack any cinema
that showed it. They also caused a lot of damage to Sony studios by hacking and stealing important company files. The group is known as the Guardians of Peace
and it is believed that they have connections with communist country North
Korea. Since the comedy movie is based on killing North Koreas leader, Kim
Jong-un, it is no wonder that they are somehow behind this attack. However, the
country denies all accusations even if the data collected by U.S. officials
says otherwise.
The question is this: If North Korea and Guardians of Peace
were able to hack such a technologically advanced company like Sony, who knows
what else they are capable of? FBI officials say they are capable of nuclear
disasters. A new computer virus implanted by hackers called Stux-Nex, which
sneaks its way into nuclear facilities and sabotages them. It has already
happened in Iran, and if a group of powerful hackers such as Guardians of Peace
get their hands on it, they can cause irrevocable damage to Sony, and America
as a whole.
Auerbach, David. "The Guardians of Peace Aren’t Like
Hackers We’ve Seen Before. They’re Cyberterrorists." The Sony Hackers Are
Terrorists. Slate. Web. 14 Jan. 2015.
Park, Madison, and Dana Ford. "North Korea Denies Being
behind Sony Hack - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network. Web. 14 Jan. 2015.
Rosenblatt, Seth. "The Sony Hack: 9 More Things You Didn't Know - CNET." CNET. Web. 14 Jan. 2015
Space Elevator
By: Lourdes Gonzalez
Ever dream of going into space? Dream no more my sci-fi friends, because a space elevator is in the making. Through the use of nanotechnology, scientists at Penn State University have made diamond nano-threads that’re stiffer and stronger than any other polymer today.
The idea of simply stepping into an over-sized elevator to go into space just astounds me! The science behind the nano-threads is pretty amazing; it starts as a liquid called benzene that, when compressed slowly, turns into a new material. Once this material is put under pressure, it becomes highly reactive, causing it to turn into the diamond-core nano-thread. The entire process feels like it was ripped out of “2061: Odyssey Three”; with less exploding planets and new suns named “Lucifer”, of course.
A Japanese construction company named Obayashi might make the entire adored idea come to life. They’re made calculations and determined that by using a cable of these nano-threads tethered to to the equator, it’d have to be 96,000 km (about 59,651 miles) long. The travel up would only cost hundreds of dollars instead of the $20,000 it’d cost on a rocket! I’m sold on this. Now, to start saving up!
"Going Up! Cosmic Elevator Could Reach Space on a Cable Made of Diamonds - CNN.com." <i>CNN</i>. Cable News Network. Web. 14 Jan. 2015. <http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/10/tech/innovation/space-elevator-nanotechnology/index.html>.
iPhones Are The Future
By: Gabriela Garcia
iPhones are definitely the future! New helpful features and apps improve the phones with every new update. The devices always get improved physically, with higher resolutions screens that deliver more contrast and dual-domain pixels for an impressively clear and defined picture. The camera with new sensors, like focus pixels, improved face detection and exposure control to help anyone take better pictures.
If you place all the iPhone generations side by side, you can see the great changes that apple has made to the phones. Even form the original iPhone to the iPhone 3G there was a huge change, with the original using aluminum and the 3G using plastic. In those times, people really only cared about the software in the device but now, people want bigger phones and entire new looks for the devices. Apple does not disappoint, bringing a larger size and thinner model each time.
Apple spends about a year perfecting each new iPhone and perfect it always is. iPhone fanatics around the world, such as myself, are very pleased.
"IPhone 6. Bigger than Bigger." Apple. Web. 17 Nov. 2014. <http://www.apple.com/iphone/>.
Florida Medical Marijuana: Legalize one way or another
By: Arielle Velasquez
The legalization of
medical marijuana in Florida was decided by voters on November 4, 2014. Even
though the amendment did not pass, only 57.62% of voters voted yes for
amendment 2. 42.38% opposed it; ending
in results of a No, by 3%. The problem that many voters had was that the
amendment was too broad. Based on amendment2 it stated “marijuana would be
legalized by the measure proposed allowing doctors to prescribe cannabis for
the debilitating medical conditions, such as Parkinson’s conditions, HIV, Aids,
etc.” Despite the loss, the government is hoping to do another vote next year,
hoping Florida becomes another state to legalize marijuana.
"Florida Majority Votes for Medical Marijuana, but
Amendment 2 Fails." Smell the Truth. Web. 19 Nov. 2014.
<http://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/2014/11/04/florida-majority-votes-for-medical-marijuana-but-amendment-2-fails/>.
(Who Watches the Watchmen)
By: Ivan Lores
Trained as professionals and able to kill, police and correctional officers should be held responsible for their actions. Instead they are protected by their departments and superiors. All across America incidents arise between the police and those they are sworn to protect. There are divisions such as internal affairs and committees such as the civilian oversight committee to help combat corruption within our police forces. These forces do not seem to be doing their job. That raises the question of who is watching over the actions of our men and women in blue? This is a current issue and should be addressed by government entities such as the Department of Justice.
"To protect and serve." Whatever happened to the meaning of that? It seems every other month you see on the news an incident of police abusing their power. And even through all that, they stay protected within their departments. An example of this striking close to home is the incident of Darren Rainey; where Darren was allegedly left to burn in a scalding hot shower in a Miami-Dade prison. The cameras recording the area was said to have malfunctioned during this time. Prisoners later interviewed had told the Miami Herald of having to clean up burned skin from the shower.
79% of people surveyed on debate.org agreed with police brutality being an issue. 67% in a different survey on the same website said the police force has evolved in a negative manner over the last thirty years. Police should be viewed as the thin blue line protecting the public against its enemies, the good against the bad. With all these recent incidents working against this view, public opinion has swayed. Police chiefs and superiors must be held responsible for this and work to better serve the public.
"Is Police Brutality a Problem?" Http://www.debate.org/opinions/is-police-brutality-a-problem. Debate.org. Web.
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