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