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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.

Vonn injured in giant slalom fall

In Lienz on Monday, American Lindsey Vonn suffered a pre-Olympic scare after a crashing fall in the World Cup giant slalom. Vonn damaged her left arm. She received lenghty medical treatment. Scans at a local hospital showed there were severe bruising and that she can compete in Tuesday's slalom. Her arm is placed in a splint. Vonn says that hurting her arm is way better than hurting one of her legs. Vonn's crash overshadowed a victory for Kathrin Hoelzl of Germany with Manuela Moelgg of Italy in second. Taina Barioz of France got third. Vonn's stands with 581 points ahead of Maria Riesch. Vonn looks to defend her crown as Kathrin Hoelzl is 50 points adrift. Vonn suffered an unusual injury at the world championships earlier this year. She had sliced her thumb opening a bottle. Vonn is still seeking her first Olympic medal.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/12/28/skiing.vonn.crash.injury/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

I am glad that Vonn is alright and can still compete. It is upsetting that this happened very close to the Olympics. I agree with Vonn in saying that at least it wasn't her legs. To slalom you zigzag between obstacles. Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline where you ski between poles or gates spaced closer together then in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill. In slalom the turns are also quicker and shorter. I think that Vonn should be very great full that she didn't hurt her legs, in order to compete she needs to be able to ski. I hope that in the upcoming Olympics, Vonn will receive her first Olympic medal. It would really show how all her hard work paid off, even though she got injured along the way. I wish Vonn and the rest of the Olympic team the best in the upcoming Olympics. I hope that they all do very well and represent the United States well.

Actress Brittany Murphy Dead at 32

The bubbly, free-spirited actress from "Clueless" and "8 Mile," Brittany Murphy has died. She was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m. Sunday. Murphy's family thanks everyone for their love and support and asks that everyone respects their privacy. The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the death. A final report on the cause of her death could take weeks. Including "Just Married," "Don't Say a Word" and "Riding in Cars with Boys," Murphy has starred in many movies. She also was the voice of Luanne from "King of the Hill." People thought that she was a great actress and was going to go far in her career! Many stars, including Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Simpson, and Alyssa Milano, wrote their reaction to the new through Twitter. Murphy was known best for her work in a string of romantic comedies in the early 2000s, but her roles had declined in the years. Last month, Murphy and the production of "The Caller" mutually parted ways.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/12/20/brittany.murphy/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 really sad that Brittany Murphy had to die at such a young age. I loved watching movies that she starred in. I hope that her family is doing well and that she may rest in peace. "Uptown Girls" is one of my favorites that she starred in. She could make a role very funny and she could make a role very romantic and serious.

I am wondering how exactly she died. They said that the police department was investigating it and that later on there would be robbery and homocide detectives there to investigate. The article never really told us is she just kind of died or was killed. I hope that they can figure out what happened for the families sake. They deserve to know as soon as possible.

I hope that everyone respects the families privacy as they ask. It is the right thing to do.

As I said earlier, I hope that Murphy's family pulls through this rough time that they are now facing and that Brittany Murphy rests in peace.

Boosting the Minimum Wage

Many voters supported Democratic efforts in Congress to raise the wage from $5.15/hour to $7.25/hour. This increase would bring up the take-home pay of Americans and with the assistance of food stamps and the EITC, full-time workers earning the minimum wage will be able to raise above the poverty level.

Supporters of the minimum wage increase are outraged that a full-time worker earning minimum wage would still live below the poverty line. They argue that raising the wage will help millions of American workers, including single mothers. Supporters say that more people with more money will boost our economy and counter negative effects of raising prices to cover increased wages. Some say that new tax cuts shouldn’t have been attached to the increase of the minimum wage. They argue that businesses already have received generous tax cuts. The supporters also fear that tax cuts will remove needed money for government funding.

Others think that the increase is counterproductive. Arguing that the minimum wage is a weak weapon for fighting poverty. They say this because it only affects a small percent of workers and almost half of workers who get paid minimum wage are teens. They think that the increase will hurt businesses and low-income workers because this will lead to higher prices and job cuts. People who oppose the increase in minimum wage insist that the market works best when laws of supply and demand determine the wage. They suggest that expanding the EITC would help better, rewarding work without interfering in the market.

I think that the minimum wage should be left along. Yes, it is sad that people are living below the poverty line, but when they say that raising the minimum wage would help millions of American workers, including single mothers, most single mothers are teenagers who still live with their parents. I agree that almost half of the workers who get paid minimum wage are teens, and if teens are the majority of the minimum wage workers then there is no need to raise the minimum wage. Also, when we raise the minimum wage, we will also have to raise the prices of food and businesses to make up for paying the workers more. The extra money that the workers make will just pay for the same needs that they would have paid for if the minimum wage had stayed the same.

In The New York Times article “Congress Passes Increase in the Minimum Wage,” Representative John A. Boehner criticized the wage provisions.

Issue #1:
http://jumpingjoeblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/all-things-being-unequal.html

Issue #2:
http://backstroker321.blogspot.com/2009/12/putting-welfare-to-work.html

Cyber-bullying - the improved kind of bullying

After reading Hayleys blog about cyber-bullying, I just had to write about it too. She says that a group of teenagers in Ohio followed a girl by the name of Alexis Xanders and her boyfriend, who were walking home after school one day, and were having an argument about what kind of music they like, all of this was caught on tape. The group and a nameless suspect were angry because Xanders doesn't like Insane Clown Posse. Xander prefers to listen to alternative and scream-o music.

Through out the video, the group egged on the suspect telling her to hit Alexis Xanders. They wanted to see a fight. Xanders and her boyfriend told the group to go away. At the end, the suspect punches Xanders in the face.

Alexis Xander was sent the video. After receiving the video, Xanders posted it on YouTube and CNN iReport, later a local news reporter alerted the police department.

The teenagers involved are being investigated for encouraging the punch, while the suspect, being charged as a juvenile, with individual counts of assault and menacing and unlawful restraint.

Hayley goes on to say that Cyber-Bullying is a new and improved version of bullying that involves posting embarrassing/harassing information on the Internet or sending it to people through text and instant messages. Cyber-Bullying is all about using technology to bully.

Hayley later says that Xanders never physically fought back, but did do something to fight against bullying. Her piece of advice to anyone in the same situation: "Tell somebody and do something about it. Don't just sit there and take it. You can use your words and not your hands."

I think that Xanders did the right thing by not fighting back. It would have just made the whole situation worse. As I read the article that Hayley blogged about, I found that the suspect had disliked Xanders since 5th grade and that earlier that week they had talked to the principal and an officer to try and figure out their problems. Well, as we found out, the session didn't help much.

What really irks me is that the group of teens who video taped the brawl decided to sent the video to Xanders. I personally think that that is very childish and a very idiotic idea. I was very surprised that Xanders, after receiving the video, decided to post the video online. I figured that she would have wanted the entire thing to not get out in the open. All Xanders wanted to do was make others aware that bullying and cyber-bullying is not cool and can really hurt people.

I hope that Xander is okay and that the group of teens and the suspect now realize that cyber-bullying and bullying are not okay. Also that anyone can listen to whatever kind of music they want to.

Article:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/12/10/social.media.bullying/

Hayley's Blog:

http://currenteventsbyhayley.blogspot.com/2009/12/advantage-of-cyber-bullying.html