Michael Jackson's Kids to Honor Father at Grammys

During the Grammy tribute to Michael Jackson, his two eldest children, Prince Michael (age 12) and Paris (age 11), will appear on stage. It will be the first public appearance for them since their appearance at the memorial service 12 days after their father's death.

The kids were going to accept their father's Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at a smaller event Saturday night but Katherine Jackson (their grandmother and guardian) agreed to the change. At the Saturday night event, Frank Dileo, former Jackson manager, appeared and told CNN the kids would be at the Sunday night tribute.Until last week, no members of the family had been invited to participate in either of the Grammy tributes.

Joe Jackson says that he is proud of his grandchildren and that he and Katherine are the ones who initiated their participation. Blanket (age 7) in not expected to attend the show, but that could change.On behalf of the family, Prince Michael is to read a statement during the Grammy tribute.

Instead of entering the Los Angeles Convention Center on the red carpet, the kids will be escorted backstage by Katherine Jackson.

The kids were often hidden by veils/blankets when seen with Michael. The first time the public had heard the children was when Paris spoke at the massive memorial in July. "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just want to say that I love him so much."

Neil Portnow, Recording Academy President, says Sunday night's Jackson tribute will be "an extraordinarily emotional, moving and fitting tribute." Carrie Underwood and Smokey Robinson are two of the stars to take part in the tribute.

Based on Michael's pro-environment "Earth Song" for his "This Is It" tour, a segment of a 3-D video produced by Jackson will be shown.

Just before he was to begin the series of comeback shows in London, Michael died at 50 years old on June 25, 2009. The Los Angeles County coroner ruled Michael's death a homicide from a combination of drugs. Primarily Propofol and Lorazepam.

Although no charges have been filed, a criminal investigation on Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael's personal physician, who was with him when he died.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/31/grammys.michael.jackson/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

I think that having Paris and Prince Michael show up at the Sunday night Grammy tribute to their father is very sweet. I think that having them accept their father's Grammy will be very touching and moving. As many people have said, Michael will be missed and if you create a playlist of your life there is at least one Michael Jackson song on it. Although the kids first public appearance was at their father's memorial, this will be a new experience for them because they will be there representing their father. I think that it is a better option for the kids to enter the Grammy's through the back because there won't be as many people and paparazzi trying to talk to them and get their picture. I, personal, can't wait to see the tribute. I hope that it is as emotional, moving and fitting as they describe it to be. Michael Jackson has been and will be missed forever. May he rest in peace. I also hope that many people don't try to follow the kids around and constantly ask them questions because they deserve to be left alone and live a happy life.

Afghanistan postpones parliamentary election until fall

On Sunday Afghanistan said they are posponing election until September. Reasons for their decision include: security concerns, logistical challenges and a budget shortfall. Dauod Sultanzoy, a member of parliament, said, "The purpose of the election is for the people to manifest their will through their votes." He also said that they cannot manifest their will due to issues of security, technology or fraudulent practices. He finds it better to postpone the election so time can solve these issues. The delays allow more time to put election reforms in place, which will please Western donors. The reforms have been asked for from the Western nations to prevent the widespread fraud. Postponing the election gives electoral institutions additional time to carry out preparations for the election. The postponement provides time for improvements. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul respects Sunday's decision.


http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/01/24/afghanistan.elections/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29


I think that if the postponement will provide more time to better prepare the elections, then the postponement was a good decision. I also think that it gives the people more time to decide who they want to elect. Who they elect determines what life in the future could be like. The people in Afghanistan need the time, so they can elect the person who will benefit them the most. I agree that the postponement of the election from May to September with provide time for improvements that will make everything better for the people. I think that security concerns, logistical challenges and a budget shortfall are some very good reasons to postpone the elections.

I think that Afghanistan made a great decision to postpone the election until September. I wish them all the best to picking a leader that will listen to the people.

Start of New Semester

Early U.S. History Online

Traditional Security is Best

Hayley Thull wrote a blog about airport security. She wrote that Homeland Secruity has funded a new project called Future Attribute Screening Technology (FAST). It is a technology that measures bodily functions. Examples are breathing, eye-movement, heart-rate, facial temperature, and blinking. She states that Robert Burns, project manager, believes that this will be the future of airport security. He thinks that a terrorist will naturally show signs of high-stress.

Article:http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/10/06/security.screening/index.html#cnnSTCText

Hayley hopes that this isn't the direction we are headed. She says that anyone can show signs of stress because of a delayed flight, the thought of flying, or a mother scared of lossing a family member in the hustle and bustle of the airport. Hayley also says that she finds airport security intimidating and that would stress her out. She believes that a person under stress doesn't necessarily have something to hide.

She then states that terrorists aren't normal people who get stressed out in normal situations. They could be calm nad collected right before they high-jack a plane. She thinks that they might be able to pass right through FAST detectors.

Hayley thinks that the FAST system could be used as a back-up plan and she isn't comfortable with getting rid of the rest of the security and relying on a machine that measures bodily functions.

Hayley's Blog: http://currenteventsbyhayley.blogspot.com/2010/01/traditional-security-is-best.html

I agree with Hayley on everything. I have never flown in a plane before so of course I will be nervous of my first time flying and probably stressed out. FAST would most likely detect this and probably think that I have something to hide when really I am just nervous. I think that measuring bodily functions for our security is not the only thing we should rely on. As Hayley stated people can be stressed out for many different reasons. Yes, getting rid of the intimidating airport security would be nice but I think that there needs to be some more research done on FAST to show that it is 100% effective. Also terrorists aren't really normal people so they probably won't be wigged out about kill people. So they might not be showing any signs of being stressed out. I think that we should do more research and still use our airport security that is being used now before we make a major switch to the FAST system.

Quake leaves 20,000 homeless in Tajikistan

According to reports in Russia and Tajikistan, about 20,000 people were left homeless Sunday after a 5.1 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Tajikistan on Saturday. At 7:15 a.m. the quake shook Tajikistan's mountainous Gorno-Badakhshan province. The people were left homeless in the villages of Rog and Gishkon. 1,050 mud dwellings were destroyed. No fatalities were reported. The hardest hit was the Vanj district. A hospital, two schools, a recreation center and a prosecutor's office were destroyed about 249 miles southeast of Dushanbe. The U.S. Geological Survey classified the quake as 5.3 magnitude. The earthquake was centered 50 miles north of Korough and about 27.7 miles below the Earth's surface.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/01/03/tajikistan.quake/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

It is sad that a lot of people lost their homes. I hope that the people in the villages of Rog and Gishkon are all doing well and that their homes will be rebuilt quickly so they can all go on with their lives. It is truly sad that a hospital and schools were destroyed. It is also sad that a recreation center was destroyed because that would have been a place for the people who had lost their homes to stay while their homes were being rebuilt. I wonder what the magnitude of the quake was because the Russia and Tajikistan media said it was a 5.1 magnitude and the U.S. Geological Survey said it was a 5.3 magnitude quake. I hope that all the people will soon be in their homes again and everyone is all right.