What Will Go And What Will Stay?

Every person has a few things in life that they could easily get rid of; however, they often struggle deciding exactly which items can go. Some do not need a phone, others do not need a computer, a few may not need lots of clothes, but many need all of it. Most think all their possessions  are too important to let go of. I am one of the people that have a hard time deciding what goes. I think the item I can most easily give up is my TV. I mostly use it for background sound because I usually do not like sitting in a quiet room. But that sound can be replaced by another device, such as a computer. A year ago I would have been able to give up my computer as well, but since this school year I have needed it more than any item I own. It is now an item I can not live without because of the amount I use it. Another device I can let go of is my iPad. I use it a lot for reading and as a pass time, but I could use my computer in place of it. The cell phone is something I would not give up because that is my only means of quick communication with friends and family. If it really comes down to it I could get rid of more, but it would be hard to get used to a life without certain items. When an item becomes a regular part of one's life it becomes hard to let go of, even if it is not necessarily a needed possession. In order to give up items, one has to be willing to adjust to a life without it. Most are not willing to do so. 

Air Pollution

One would not think air pollution is that risky, but it leads to far more problems than people realize. The World Health Organization has reported 7 million deaths caused by air pollution. Air pollution has become the largest environmental health risk. In 2012, 4.3 million deaths were caused by indoor air pollution and 3.7 million from outdoor pollution. Indoor air pollution happens from cooking on coal or wood stoves, seen in China. Having stoves that work on coal and wood are equivalent to having a campfire in the kitchen. Outdoor pollution comes from factories and cars. The most deaths from pollution occur in China, they suffer from both indoor and outdoor air pollution.
Maria Neira, the agency's public health and environment director, has said air pollution is a greater risk than people realize, especially for heart disease and stroke. Women are exposed to indoor pollution more because they cook, but men have a higher chance of death because of health problems. Air pollution worsens underlying health issues such as heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and respiratory infection. A professor of toxicology, Michael Kleinman, says "people don't die of air pollution alone; they die of other things the pollution tends to exacerbate.”
- Tony Barboza
- March 25, 2014
- http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-air-pollution-deaths-world-health-organization-20140325,0,5308688.story

Colbert Report - Cross Controversy

In this segment The Colbert Report discusses atheists and the ridiculous statements they make. Apparently the 9/11 memorial ground, aka "Ground Zero", has displayed a cross made out of beams from the towers. Atheist believe that it is not okay to display a "christian cross" because it causes them discomfort. Stephen Colbert takes the opportunity to satire the atheist thinking process on this particular issue. Mentioning how the cross will cause them "anguish" but nothing else in the memorial ground would, as long as the cross is not there they would have a great time exploring the 9/11 memorial. Obviously that is untrue, cross or no cross a trip to "Ground Zero" would be saddening. In this segment satire is being used through obvious sarcasm. Stephen Colbert is out right making fun of the atheists. One could hardly consider this complaint by atheists an issue. It is more of a dumb statement and satire aids us in understanding the ridiculousness of it.
My opinion on this video is that Stephen Colbert goes about making fun of the atheists well. He is brutally honest in a sarcastic way and that is always humorous. I think this "issue" could not have been discussed in a serious way, it is something to be made fun of. The Colbert Report did a fantastic job at presenting this topic with satire.

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/433642/march-10-2014/cross-controversy-at-9-11-museum?xrs=share_copy

No More Complimentary Pressurization

American Airlines has been suffering from recent budget cuts. Recently they have decided  to take away complimentary cabin pressurization. This change will start on March 15th. It does not make "economies sense" for the airline to provide breathable air for its passengers. On the bright side, those willing to pay may be upgraded to first and business class. American Airlines is apologetic to those who will receive "altitude sickness, blood problems, dimmed vision, or hyperventilation that may result from air pressure less than a third normal levels" but they assure their passengers that it will go away as the aircraft descends. This airline has also been thinking about discounting landing gear for the flights under 4 hours. They are finding new ways to cut down on costs everyday.
Recently airlines have started cutting back in order to save money. There has been an occasion where an airline took out one olive from their salads to save money. In this article the budget cuts of airlines are being satired. At times the news over exaggerates in order to get a point across, therefore not always being completely accurate. This is funny because sometimes an airline will cut back on such ridiculous things. Although it would never come to cutting back on air pressure in the cabin, it is funny to even consider an airline having such a ridiculous cut back to save money.

- http://www.theonion.com/articles/american-airlines-to-phase-out-complimentary-cabin,35367/

Economy

Economy affects us more than people realize. Good economy means more spending money, bad economy means cutting back. I do not make my own money yet, my parents pay for the things I need and sometimes want. A few years ago the economy was bad, which meant my parent's business was not doing well. As a result my family had to cut back. I was being given less money to spend and we were being more wise with spending. It lasted a few months, but since then I have learned to spend more wisely. Depending on how well the economy is I may have more freedom with spending on things I want but do not necessarily need, such has new clothes and shoes. Even when I have more freedom to buy certain things, I try to do it wisely. For example, right now I am shopping for clothes to take on my trips this summer but I do not allow myself to buy items with unreasonable prices. It is important for me to know I am getting quality things for good prices. 

Recently my parents have started to look for something to invest in, to bring a stable income when economy is down, such as an apartment building. By making an investment like this it means my sister and I would have that building along with our current house to do whatever we see fit years from now. It is good to make investments during good economy, as a preparation for bad economy and the future in general.

Beef Recall

- Ricardo Lopez
- March 5, 2014
-http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rancho-cancer-cows-20140306,0,5117619.story#axzz2v9RAlqNZ

Rancho Feeding Corporation recently recalled nine million pounds of beef. According to the Freedom of Information Act the meat sent out to sell came from cows that had eye cancer. This corporation sold to many retail stores; such as Wal-mart, Food 4 Less, and Kroger. They also worked with Nestle who had to recall their Hot Pockets because of the beef. U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said they found two cattle heads with cancer and it made it into markets without having been inspected. Logically and thankfully, it is illegal to sell meat of diseased animals for human consumption. The recall started off with only 42,000 pound, later expanded to 8.7 million pounds, the largest recalls in recent history. Even though consumers are unlikely to get sick from this, regulators have been investigating Rancho Feeding. So far "they have accused of processing and selling 'diseased and unsound animals' without a full federal inspection". Along with this, more documents have been found stating unsanitary conditions in Rancho Feeding Corporation. In months before investigators  noticed fecal on carcass, excessive flies, and improper sanitization of surfaces and knives. Since then the slaughterhouse has reopened under new management.

Disconnect from Internet, Connect with Nature

In this day and age everyone has a phone, computer, tv, and/or other electronics. These electronics take over our lives and often cause us anxiety and stress. I will admit the internet causes me anxiety because I often find myself worrying about what is going on in my fandom that I am missing when I do not check twitter. I also find myself bored when my phone or iPad are not with me. Stepping outside with no electronics with me is something I have not done before, when I hang out in my yard I always have my phone or iPad with me. The little while I sat outside was actually quite relaxing. I went out at around noon, sat on the steps of my porch and looked out into my yard. It was a beautiful Sunday in LA. It was fairly warm out with a breeze. My yard was quiet, with the exception of the chirping birds and the humming of the cars in the distance. The trees were blowing lightly to the breeze. A few times birds flew down just low enough to skim the water of the pool. I decided to go dip my feet in the pool, the cold was felt nice against the warm weather of LA. I run my hands over the rough tile that outlines the pool, taking in the relaxing moment. To be honest, nothing that deep and philosophical came to mind as I thought. I did not think "what is the meaning of life?", "is there really an after life?", "how exactly did this world come together?". I tried to think about those things, but my mind would wonder elsewhere. I thought about the upcoming week, all I need to get done before Armenia and the bipolar weather in LA. I suppose the closest I came to thinking deeply was when I wondered why people do not leave all electronics behind and go out more often. I sat out for about twenty minutes and I decided I will do this more often. Disconnect from the internet for a while and just relax outside, maybe read a book or even study. Most of the time the weather in LA is perfect to be able to do that.

California suffers Measles

A baby with measles.

Just as the flu season comes to an end in California, after 278 deaths, another virus has arrived -- measles. Measles is an infection within the respiratory system that can be deadly. Fifteen California residents have come down with measles this year, nearly half had not had the childhood vaccination. The California Department of Public Health reported that six counties have been exposed to this virus. None of fifteen cases have been fatal, but authorities are concerned that many people have been exposed. Dr. Chavez says to every measles case they have to track dozens of people to make sure they do not have the disease as well. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says measles was eliminated from the United States in 2000, meaning the disease was not circulating year round. However, the virus can be contacted when traveling out of the country and when coming in contact with travels out of the states who may be a carrier. Many of the measles cases this year have traveled out of the states or have come in contact with a traveler who was a carrier. Many of the cases were not vaccinated. parents often avoid getting the vaccination because of a myth that they are dangerous. For this reason the virus keeps making a comeback. Getting this vaccination is highly encouraged. People should realize that getting a vaccination is probably safer than getting the virus.
- Eryn Brown
- February 21, 2014
- http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-measles-20140222,0,1197753.story#axzz2u6trvhYv

Community

A community can be many different things. Fandom, religion, culture, area, school, and many other things are considered community. In every community there is a different protocol. In a fandom there is a large group of people "fangirling" over a band/movie/celebrity, in a religion they practice the same beliefs, in a culture they speak the same language and practice the same traditions, in an area the people live in the same place and in school they cheer for the same team and achieve common goals. Every person has at least one community the are involved in. My community is a fandom, it has been for many years. The fandoms I am a part of are Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. I have admired these two people for four years. I look up to them and adore them. To me a community is a group of people who share common interests and beliefs. In my community we do all we can to show our support for two people. Being in a community seems like it is not that important, but it is because a group of people understand and support you. As unimportant as it may seem it is actually a great thing. All individuals should have that sense of community by their side.

Craigslist killer

Shopping on Craigslist seems harmless, but killings really do happen.It is not a myth, not made up for a movie, it is true. Imagine, going to see a piece of furniture and being murdered. It has happened before. A women and her husband from Pennsylvania were charged with the slaying of a man back in November, but turns out they have killed far more than just one man. From prison, nineteen year old Miranda Barbour, told the newspaper that in the past six years she has taken part in at least twenty-two killings which took place in California, North Carolina, Alaska, and Texas. "When I hit 22, I stopped counting," the young girl said during her phone interview. She also said that if she were given a map she could point out where those bodies could be found. Sunbury Police Chief Steve Mazzeo has said the proper protocol has been taken to find the proper leads. The FBI has said they will be involved in any way needed. Barbour continued to tell the newspaper that she participated in her first killing at the young age of thirteen. Soon after she joined a satanic cult. Barbour has encountered over thirty men on Craigslist, selling her body  and then with her husband killing those men. Troy LaFerrara was the first body they found in November 2013, he was stabbed twenty times before dying. Miranda Barbour says, "If I were to be released, I would do this again," because she only killed the "bad guys". This story seems like a movie one would watch on Lifetime, but turns out these things do not only happen in movies. It is truly horrific. 

By: Haley Draznin, Susan Candiotti and Chris Welch
February 16, 2014
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/16/justice/craigslist-thrill-killing-confession/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

The Great Gatsby movie

 What is your impression of the movie and how it relates to the novel? What did you like about it? What did you not like about it? Why?

The Great Gatsby was a well scripted movie, fairly close to the book. When making a book into a movie it is important for them not to venture too far from the book, otherwise there will be many unhappy viewers. This movie kept those important details that sometimes fail to stay true to the book, such as the color of the cars, Gatsby looking out into the dock, the placement of the homes, how and when people meet, and the use of quotes. Although there are some noticeable differences. Nick speaking to a therapist, not showing the meeting between Nick and Wolfshiem, and the relationship between Nick and Jordan is not clearly stated. I liked the acting in this movie, all the actors put on a great performance. I also really liked the clothes they used, it depicted that time period very well. Wardrobe is very important in movies, especially when they are set in a certain time period. I did not like how long the scenes got dragged out, it felt like one scene lasted for hours. It is important for a scene not to last so long because people's attention starts to waver. Over all it was not a bad movie.

USC Students Shot

Two USC students were shot in their parked BMW about a mile away from the campus. These students were 23-year-old Ying Wu and Ming Qu, engineering students. Bryan Barnes, their killer, was sentence life in prison but his codefendant ijs yet to be sentenced. After the killer was sentenced the students' parents called on USC to pay restitution and set up a scholarship in memory of these young students. A police officer and insurance salesman flew in from China to demand the death pendently, but that did not happen. The families have begun to accept the results but they are, "delighted that a killer was captured and convicted."  The parents asked USC for $200,000 refund for the tuition they had already paid, as well as $200,000 in rewards that the university and city officials promised in exchange for information. This money will be used for scholarships that help Chinese students pay their high school tuition in China. During a conference Wanzhi Qu said, "Fathers always wish for the best for their children. But our children will never return. Our dreams will never come back." He also thanked the Chinese community of LA for all their support. What the Qu and Wu families are asking for is not much, it is nothing compared to what they have lost. This is their way of closure, they should be given that much after such a terrible chapter in their lives. 

- Frank Shyong
- February 6, 2014
- http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-victims-parents-usc-20140206,0,4316260.story#axzz2saolF8ad

A Kindergartner's Weight Matters

Researchers say kindergartners that are overweight are four times more likely to be obese by the age of fourteen. The baby fat on young children's thighs, face, and tummy can be an indicator of their weight in the future years. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say one out of eight preschoolers in the United States are obese. The numbers are higher in African-Americans (one in five) and Hispanics (one in six). Researches collected data from 7,700 kindergarteners up until they were fourteen. At the start of the study they found 12.4% were obese and 14.9% were overweight. By the eighth grade 20.8% of these children were obese and 17% were overweight. Half of the 20.8% were a part of the overweight percentile in kindergarten. Obesity rates skyrocketed between first to second grade, numbers jumping from 13% to 18.6%. The children coming from a wealthy home were least likely to be obese and the children born heavy were likely to be heavy at every age. Childhood obesity cannot be fought without help, Steven Gortmaker and Elsie Taveras say improving a child's diet and increasing physical activity will reduce the chances of obesity. It may not seem like such a big deal to have an overweight child, but in the long run it becomes a struggle for the child physically and emotionally. It is an issue that can be controlled, all parents should be aware of ways to help their child's weight.  

- Jacque Wilson
- January 30, 2014
- http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2014/01/30/your-kindergartner%E2%80%8Es-weight-matters/?hpt=he_c2

Air-quality Alert

Early Thursday a fire broke out in Glendora, burning 1,709 acres and five homes. Over 1,000 firefighters worked to contain the fire on Friday, with the weather on their side they were able to contain it fairly well. Along with the firefighters, nine helicopters and two aircrafts helped settle the flames. The fire was sparked by an illegal campfire, the Santa Ana winds only made it worse. This fire caused L.A health officials to worry. The air quality of the San Gabriel Valley and Pamona are the worst for now. All areas that the smoke or oder is present are encouraged to refrain from any outdoor activities. Schools are told to put a holt to physical actives and after school actives until the air quality has improved. The best thing for one's health in the areas near the fire is to simply stay inside as much as they possibly can. This warning of bad air quality specifically applies to those with asthma, heart diseases, and respiratory diseases. Jonathan Fielding says,  it is difficult to tell where the ash will go, especially with the winds. They ask all individuals to be aware of their surroundings and how it may effect their health. L.A does not have the best track record for clean air, so this fire only made it worse for the time being. 

- By Jason Wells and Ari Bloomekatz
- January 17, 2014

- http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-colby-fire-glendora-air-quality-alert-20140117,0,452802.story#ixzz2qum4oDiT

Partying with no budget

If I had no budget to throw a party I would go all out. The party would take place at my mansion, located in Hollywood Hills. Almost every room will have at least one wall that is all window, over looking the amazing Los Angeles view. My backyard will be large, with multiple lounge areas for my guests. As my guests arrive I will have waiters all around, ready to meet their every request. There will be a full bar and bartenders, for those who choose to drink. The food will be steak, chicken, salmon, mashed potato, grilled vegetables, and salads of all kinds. Along with the main course finger food will be served, such as pigs in a blanket, stuffed mushroom, mini sandwiches, spinach dip with chips, shrimp, and meat balls. Their will be a room dedicated to desserts. Cupcakes, cake pops, chocolate fountain, macaroons, candy, milkshakes, ice cream, brownies, fruits, and so much more will be given. Preparing the food will be the finest chef in Los Angeles. The dance floor will be in the large living room, where the dj will play the music of the guests' choice which will be heard through the house and yard. Throughout the weekend long party performances from Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Miley Cyrus will take place. Since the party will last through the weekend, guests will be given "freshen up bags" at midnight, these bags have a tooth brush, tooth paste, comb, razor, shaving cream, soap, and anything one would need to freshen up. For the women of the party comfortable flats will be provided, for when their heels hurt from all the dancing. To keep guests entertained there will be trapeze acts coming down from the high ceilings. For all the cars that will be coming there will be a charge free valet services and to ensure the safety of the guests there will be security guards all around. Upon leaving the party the guests will be handed gift bags full of top of the line products. For the women there will be facial products, a piece of Tiffany jewelry, a large bottle of perfume, and a $1,000 American Express gift card. For the men there will be mini bottles of alcohol, a trimmer, keys to their new car, and a $1,000 American Express gift card. I feel that if one is  extremely rich it is important to give a luxurious gift bag as a way to say "thank you for coming". It would cost a lot of money to pull all this together, but you cannot put a price on a good party.

1920s Fashion

During the "Roaring Twenties" the Flapper fashion emerged. This type of fashion was all about the modern times. The dresses of the 1920s had less fabricate and more color. The designers incorporated more colors, textures, and patterns. The hemlines of the dresses and skirts were shorter than they ever had been before, just under the knee. The dresses and skirts had slits and gathers to allow the movement of dancing. The waist of the dresses were dropped and the bodices were straight. Dresses of this time also started to have collars. Short sleek hair was the style every women embraced and over the hair went a close fitted cloche hat. This was the period of a boyish look and to accommodate that more, women would flatten their chest and hips. The evening dresses and coats often were trimmed by fur. With the hemline of the dress rising the shoes and stockings become more visible, therefore more important to incorporate into the outfit. Stockings came in all colors. Day time dresses were not closely fitted and had flowing sleeves, along with bows and artificial flowers. Evening dresses were embellished with beads and fringes. Coco Chanel had a great impact in fashion during this time, she was one of the first to embrace the boyish look.

http://www.1920-30.com/fashion/
http://history1900s.about.com/od/1920s/a/flappers.htm
http://www.1920s-fashion-and-music.com/1920s-fashion.html

Smart Onesie

Intel Technology has come out with a onesie that can detect the temperate and position of the baby as it sleeps. Detecting wether the baby is in a certain position can help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which is a common fear amongst parents. Intel is also working on detecting when the baby wakes up. How does it do this? There are intelligent fibers that go through the garment and send information to a chip called "turtle". The turtle is also imbedded on the onesie, but it is secularly placed so that it does not become a choking hazard for the baby. All this detected information is sent from the turtle to the parents' smart phones or other device. A lot of questions arise with this new technology. First and foremost, how safe is it? Intel Technology assures consumers that the baby will not be harmed by this onesie, it is made to be completely safe for them. The technology uses little power and it is well tested to make sure no harm comes across to the baby. Another question is, can one wash this smart onesie without damaging it. The answer is yes, the garment is machine washable. This onesie will be sale very soon for $100.99.

January 9, 2014
"CES 2014: Smart onesie can watch baby"
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2014/01/10/hln-smart-onesie-baby-technology.hln&iref=allsearch&video_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Fsearch%2F%3Fquery%3DCES%26x%3D-1155%26y%3D-31%26primaryType%3Dmixed%26sortBy%3Drelevance%26intl%3Dfalse